Her kind friends at Brook Farm, who fancied from some things they drew from Agnes, that her home at the Fairlands’ was not in all respects a happy one, urged her most earnestly not to return there, but without success.  Agnes was convinced that there the path of duty lay, at least for the present, and nothing could make her swerve from it.

“Remember then, my sweet niece,” said her uncle, as he kissed her at parting, “this is your home, whenever, for any reason, you will make us so happy as to return to it.”

The winter passed by very quietly to Agnes, in her accustomed round of duties; indeed she was happier than she had yet found herself under Mr. Fairland’s roof, in consequence of the absence of the two young ladies, who having by some means or other succeeded in securing an invitation out of some acquaintances in the city, to make them a short visit, inflicted themselves upon them for the whole winter, and did not return to Wilston till the spring was far advanced.  Their hosts, in order to rid themselves of such persevering and long-abiding guests, began to make their preparations long before the usual time for closing their house and going to the country, and the Misses Fairland, invulnerable as they proved all winter to anything like a hint, were obliged to take this intended removal of their friends as a “notice to quit,” which they accordingly did.

One bright spot to Agnes this winter, was a visit of a week from Lewie, who took his vacation at the time of the holidays to run up and see his sister.

He had his guitar with him, and his voice, which had gained much in depth and richness, was indescribably sweet.  It seemed as if Mr. Fairland never would tire of hearing the brother and sister sing together.  His mills and everything else were forgotten, while he sat silently in his great chair with his eyes closed, listening hour after hour to the blended harmony of their charming voices.

That happy week was soon over, and the brother and sister parted.  The next time Agnes heard the sound of her brother’s guitar, under what different circumstances did its tones strike upon her ear!

XV.

The Strangers in the Rookery.

   “If thou sleep alone in Urrard,
   Perchance in midnight gloom
   Thou’lt hear behind the wainscot
   Sounds in that haunted room,
   It is a thought of horror,
   I would not sleep alone
   In the haunted room of Urrard,
   Where evil deeds are done.”

   —­UNKNOWN.

“What do you think, Calista?  What do you think?” exclaimed Miss Evelina Fairland, one day soon after their return from the city, bursting in, in a great state of excitement.  “Two of the handsomest men have come to the village, one of them is a Mr. Harrington; isn’t it a lovely name? and he has purchased “the Rookery” do you believe! some say that he is a young man, others that he is a widower.  They have come down to hunt and fish, and he was mightily taken with “the Rookery,” and in spite of ghosts and goblins he has actually bought it;” and here Miss Evelina paused to take breath.