“Oh, Mrs. Barrett,” she cried, when she caught sight of the well-remembered features. “I did not dream of seeing you. When did you come? Oh, I _am_ so glad, and so will Mrs. Schuyler be. I wish she were here.” There was no question as to Gertie’s joy, and Mrs. Barrett wished she was as sure of as hearty a welcome from her own daughter as she received from this stranger, who was removing her bonnet and shawl and talking to her so fast. “You must be very tired, and I’d take you to your room at once, only I hardly know which Mrs. Schuyler would wish you to have. The best, though, of course, as you are her mother. Yes, I think I’ll venture that. Come with me, please;” and Gertie led the way up the broad, long stairs to the guest chamber of the house, the one reserved for people like Mrs. Gen. Morton and Mrs. Gov. Strong, who sometimes visited at Schuyler Hill. But Mrs. Barrett knew better than to take it. _She_ was not so sure of Edith’s delight, while the colonel, she felt, would never forgive her if he found her in his best room. So she said to Gertie: “I do not believe I had better take this, as I shall probably remain a long time, and a smaller, plainer chamber will do for me,—one near you, if I can have it,” she added, with an instinctive feeling that in Gertie she should find her strongest ally and friend. “Come to my room, then, and wait. Mrs. Schuyler will soon be here,” Gertie said, and while she spoke, there was the sound of wheels, and looking through the blinds, Mrs. Barrett saw her daughter in her carriage coming up the avenue, and scanned her curiously. “What a great lady she is, though,” she said, aloud, “and what a handsome house. I wonder if she blames me now?” From having lived alone so much, Mrs. Barrett had acquired the habit of talking to herself, and she was startled when she met Gertie’s eyes fixed wonderingly upon her, and became aware that she was speaking her thoughts aloud. “That’s she; that’s Edith; I hear her voice,” she said, beginning to tremble with excitement, and anticipation, and dread. “Would you mind telling her I’m here?” she added, feeling intuitively that if she was to have a shock Gertie would stand between her and the battery, and thus make it easier to bear. “Certainly, I’ll tell her,” Gertie replied, while there began to dawn upon her a faint suspicion that possibly Mrs. Barrett might not be altogether welcome.