It was some time after they had had tea in the library, and had gone into the drawing-room, and it was while Erminie, her uncles and her lover were at the piano, singing some of the finest selections from the German operas, that the doorbell rang and Mr. Goldsborough was announced. Old Dr. Rosenthal started up with the agility of youth to welcome his friend. Erminie stopped singing and playing, and turned around with a frightened look. Her first impression, that came quick as lightning at the sight of Mr. Goldsborough, was that he had come to Washington in fierce pursuit of Vittorio Corsoni; but she arose to receive her father’s guest with all the calmness and courtesy she could command. Mr. Goldsborough’s first words somewhat allayed her fears. “You look surprised and even shocked to see me here so unexpectedly, at this late hour, my dear young lady; but you will be pleased to learn that I have come to withdraw your friend, my daughter Alberta, from her convent school,” said Mr. Goldsborough, cordially shaking her hand. “I am very glad to see you at any hour,” replied Erminie, smiling. “Thanks! The boat was behind time in getting in, or I should not have been so unseasonable in my appearance,” added Mr. Goldsborough. “You are not unseasonable at all, my old friend. It is not yet eleven o’clock. And we had not begun to think of retiring. For, you see, here are my two brothers, just arrived, and one come all the way from Germany! Let me present them to you: Mr. Hans Rosenthal, Mr. Friedrich Rosenthal—Mr. Goldsborough.” The Virginia gentleman bowed with old-fashioned ceremoniousness as the simple-hearted German merchants were introduced. And then he sat down and became one of the party. “Have you supped?” hospitably inquired the young mistress of the house. “Yes, my dear, on the boat. Give yourself no trouble,” said Mr. Goldsborough, with a bow. “I am very glad that you are going to take my favorite, Alberta, out of the convent,” said the doctor. “Yes! my doing so before the half-yearly term has expired may seem very capricious; but, in fact, it is not so. There are grave reasons why all we Virginians should gather all the scattered members of our families under our own State roofs. The progress of public affairs makes it imperative that I should take my daughter home, or risk the being separated from her for a long and indefinite period. I believe that I am speaking among friends and sympathizers here—the presence of Colonel Eastworth in this house, indeed, assures me that I am. And I know, also, that my esteemed host, although not a native of the country, has been a citizen of the South for many years. I may, therefore, say that Virginia will certainly secede from the United States, and that she is now arming herself in defense of her right to do so.”