The smooth-chinned giant in the dust-colored clothes opened the nearest door to the right, and said: “Go in there.” With Erminie tucked under one arm, and his hat in his hand, Justin entered the room. It was a neatly-furnished sitting-room, lighted, like the hall, by a small, clear lamp, hanging from the ceiling. Under this lamp stood a large, round center-table, covered with flowered green cloth, and laden with books, bookmarks, hand-screens, smelling-bottles, a small open workbox, and, in short, all the paraphernalia of a lady’s table. Beside it, in a large resting-chair, with her feet upon a foot-cushion, reclined a very old lady, bent with age, and trembling with palsy. She was wrapped in a light-colored French chintz dressing-gown, and her shaking head was covered with a fine lace cap, whose deep borders softly shaded her silver hair and withered face. “You’ve come to see me?” inquired the old lady, in a shrill and quivering voice. “Yes, madam; I hope to see you in your usual health,” said the young man, bending his head. “To business, sir,” snapped the old lady. “I suppose you come from Trent, my agent?” “No, madam; I——” “Then, what did you come for? I receive no visitors except upon business,” interrupted the old lady, impatiently. “Pardon us, madam. We are friends of your niece; and not having heard from her for some weeks, and being on the point of leaving the city for the season, we came here to inquire about her.” “About—whom?” demanded Miss Pole, in a shrill, impatient voice, as she began to tremble with excitement. “Your niece, Miss Conyers.” Shaking violently, the old lady moved her hand to the bell and rang it. The weird handmaid appeared. “Nan, Nan, show these people downstairs, and tell Dole to see ’em out! and to mind how he sends unwelcome visitors to me again!” exclaimed the old lady, shaking more and more violently with growing excitement. “I hope I have given you no cause for offense, madam,” said Justin, deprecatingly. “Offense! off—offense!” stammered the old lady, with her head nodding fast between palsy and anger. “How dare you mention the name of Britomarte Conyers in my presence?—a toad! a beast! a snake!” And at every epithet she spat with spite. “Show ’em out! show ’em out! show ’em out, Nan!” “I am very sorry, madam, to hear you speak in this intemperate manner of your niece. I have the highest respect for Miss Conyers,” said Justin, gravely. “Go! go! go!” sputtered the old creature, letting fall her cane, and seizing a book, which, with all her trembling strength, she launched at the offender. But, of course, the missile fell wide of its mark. Erminie, shocked, amazed and terrified, clung to the arm of her brother. “I wish you a better spirit, Miss Pole,” said Justin; and, bowing as courteously as if he were leaving the presence of a queen, who had conferred upon him a grace, he passed out of the room with his sister.