In the midst of this trouble came letters from the Goldsboroughs. One from Papa Goldsborough to Papa Rosenthal, inviting him, his family and his guest to come down to the Rainbows on a visit for the season; and another from Alberta to Erminie, urging her to use her influence with her father to induce him to accept the invitation and be at the Rainbows to spend the approaching Fourth of July. No interference on the part of Erminie was needed. Dr. Rosenthal, with the concurrence of his son and his guest, wrote to Mrs. Goldsborough to say that he and his party would be at the Rainbows on the evening of the third proximo. And as this letter was dated on the thirtieth of June, there were but two days left to prepare for the journey. As soon as this letter was written and posted and fairly on its way, Erminie went to look for her brother in the library, where, in study, he passed his mornings. “Justin, do I interrupt you?” she inquired, in a deprecating tone, as she opened the door and found him at his books. “No, my dear, you never do,” replied Justin, closing the volume in his hand and drawing forward a chair for his sister. “Justin, I want you to do something for me this afternoon, please,” she said, as she seated herself. “What is it, dear?” “Oh, Justin, it is now four weeks since Britty went away, and we have heard nothing from her, and we do not know where to address her.” “Well, my dear?” “And to-morrow evening we start for the Rainbows, to be absent from the city for the whole remainder of the season.” “Yes.” “But, Justin, I cannot, indeed I cannot bear to go away without first trying to find out something about my dear Britomarte.” “Well?” “And so I wish you, if you please, to get a carriage and take me across Benning’s Bridge to Witch Elms, to ask about her.” Justin could refuse his sister nothing, so the carriage was ordered and Witch Elms was reached after a tedious drive through a heavy rainstorm. The entrance was stoutly barred, but the travelers were at last admitted and shown into a wide parlor, the door being instantly shut and locked upon them. Justin, amazed by this proceeding, began to search around for another exit. The person who had admitted them had left them in total darkness, so it was no easy matter making one’s way about. At last Justin came to a flight of stairs leading upward, and bidding his sister take his arm, they ascended. On reaching the upper hall, Justin whispered: “Listen; do you hear anything?” There was an unmistakable murmur proceeding from some dark room in their vicinity, and then an angry voice spoke aloud: “Why the foul fiend, then, didn’t you take them in to see the old woman?” The muttering voice made some reply, to which the loud voice responded: “Bosh! What danger? That’s all over now. The verdict of the coroner’s inquest settled that. Suicide. Nothing more likely. After that there was nothing more to be said.”