“She is connected,” answered Mr. Garthwaite, “with an extraordinary story, which relates to a family once settled in an old house in this neighborhood.  Her name is Miss Welwyn; but she is less formally known an among the poor people about here, who love her dearly, and honor her almost superstitiously, as the Lady of Glenwith Grange.  Wait till you have seen her before you ask me to say anything more.  She lives in the strictest retirement; I am almost the only visitor who is admitted.  Don’t say you had rather not go in.  Any friend of mine will be welcome at the Grange (the scene of the story, remember), for my sake—­the more especially because I have never abused my privilege of introduction.  The place is not above two miles from here, and the stream (which we call, in our county dialect, Glenwith Beck) runs through the ground.”

As we walked on, Mr. Garthwaite’s manner altered.  He became unusually silent and thoughtful.  The mention of Miss Welwyn’s name had evidently called up some recollections which were not in harmony with his every-day mood.  Feeling that to talk to him on any indifferent subject would be only to interrupt his thoughts to no purpose, I walked by his side in perfect silence, looking out already with some curiosity and impatience for a first view of Glenwith Grange.  We stopped at last close by an old church, standing on the outskirts of a pretty village.  The low wall of the churchyard was bounded on one side by a plantation, and was joined by a park paling, in which I noticed a small wicket-gate.  Mr. Garthwaite opened it, and led me along a shrubbery path, which conducted us circuitously to the dwelling-house.

We had evidently entered by a private way, for we approached the building by the back.  I looked up at it curiously, and saw standing at one of the windows on the lower floor a little girl watching us as we advanced.  She seemed to be about nine or ten years old.  I could not help stopping a moment to look up at her, her clear complexion and her long dark hair were so beautiful.  And yet there was something in her expression—­a dimness and vacancy in her large eyes—­a changeless, unmeaning smile on her parted lips—­which seemed to jar with all that was naturally attractive in her face; which perplexed, disappointed, and even shocked me, though I hardy knew why.  Mr. Garthwaite, who had been walking along thoughtfully, with his eyes on the ground, turned back when he found me lingering behind him; looked up where I was looking; started a little, I thought; then took my arm, whispered rather impatiently, “Don’t say anything about having seen that poor child when you are introduced to Miss Welwyn; I’ll tell you why afterward,” and led me round hastily to the front of the building.