When supper was announced it was evidently hailed by Clara as a
great relief. And after the meal was over she arose and excused
herself to her cousin by saying that her guest, Miss Black, had been
exposed to the storm and was doubtless very much fatigued and that
she would show her to her chamber.
Then, taking a night lamp, she invited Capitola to come and
conducted her to an old-fashioned upper chamber, where a cheerful
fire was burning on the hearth. Here the young girls sat down before
the fire and improved their acquaintance by an hour's conversation.
After which Clara arose, and saying, "I sleep immediately below your
room, Miss Black; if you should want anything rap on the floor and I
shall hear you and get up," she wished her guest a good night's rest
and retired from the room.
Cap was disinclined to sleep; a strange superstitious feeling which
she could neither understand nor throw off had fallen upon her
spirits.
She took the night lamp in her hand and got up to examine her
chamber. It was a large, dark, oak-paneled room, with a dark carpet
on the floor and dark-green curtains on the windows and the
bedstead. Over the mantelpiece hung the portrait of a most beautiful
black-haired and black-eyed girl of about fourteen years of age, but
upon whose infantile brow fell the shadow of some fearful woe.
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