But she could distinguish nothing, and Mrs. Markham went to ascertain who the strangers were. Half-way down the stairs she met old Aunt Axie, who held in her hand a black-bordered card on which was engraved the name, “MRS. J. E. FORREST.” “The young lady done gin me this to fotch to Miss Hastings,” Axie said, as she handed the card to Mrs. Markham, who twice repeated the name “MRS. J. E. FORREST.” “Who can she be? Had the judge any near relatives?” she asked Axie, who replied: “Not’s I knows on. I never hearn tell of any J. E. Forrests, but Mars’r Everard.” “Where is the lady?” was Mrs. Markham’s next question, and Axie replied: “In the ’ception room, kind of shivrin’ and shakin’ as if she war cold. I reckon she’s come to stay a spell, case the four big trunks is all in a pile in de side entry, and she acts as ef she think she belong here, for she ask sharp like, ‘Ain’t thar no fire you can take me to? I’m chilled through.’ “‘Thar’s a fire in Miss Rossie’s room,’ I said, ‘but she’s sick.’ “‘Miss who?’ she said, sharper still. ‘Is it Miss Hastings you mean? Take her my card and say I’d like to see her if possible,’ and that’s every blessed thing I know ’bout ’em, only the old one looks queer and scart like, and nothin’ in the house for dinner but a bit of bacon,” and having told all she knew of the visitors, Axie went on her way to report the same to Rosamond, and confer with her about the dinner and the rooms the guests were to occupy, while Mrs. Markham went down to the reception-room to meet MRS. J. E. FORREST. Josephine had greatly surprised her sister by walking in upon her unannounced one morning a few days previously, and had still further astonished her by saying that Judge Forrest was dead, and that she had come home in order to go at once to Rothsay and her husband. She laid great stress on that word, and gave Agnes to understand that he had written to her of his father’s death, and that it was at his request she had crossed the sea to join him. “But won’t he come here for you? Seems to me that would have a better look,” Agnes said, and her sister replied: “He is quite too busy to waste his time that way, for we can go alone; he knows I am accustomed to traveling. We will start at once, I am so anxious to be there. We can shut up the house for the present, until matters are adjusted, when you or I can come back and see to the things.” Could Agnes have had her choice she would have preferred remaining where she was, for she dreaded change of any kind. But go she must, for her presence would add weight and respectability to Josephine, who was very kind to her, and made the leaving Holburton as easy as possible. To a few of her old friends Josephine told the secret of her marriage, showing her certificate, and saying, now her father-in-law was dead there was nothing in the way of publishing the marriage to the world, and that she was going to her husband.