“I am grieved, Heaven knows how deeply grieved to hear you say so, Alberta.” And then Erminie paused, in doubt as to what she should say or do next. Had the visitor been her own personal enemy coming to her in this seemingly inoffensive guise, she would have made her very welcome, and treated her very kindly. But her country’s enemy was another affair. Had she the right to entertain a secessionist? Would it not be aiding and abetting secession? Erminie hesitated in much distress of spirit. Her gentle heart pleaded for the worn and sorrowful-looking woman before her, but her scrupulous conscience warned her not to yield to these feelings. While Erminie thus hesitated, the visitor turned to Elfie, and said, in surprised recognition: “Why, this is Elfrida Fielding, is it not?” “Yes, that is my name, and it is very nearly all that the confederates have left me,” answered Elfie, without even raising her eyes to the face of the questioner. “And have _you_ no welcome for me, Elfie?” sadly inquired Alberta. “No. I should have no welcome for my grandmother, were the old lady a guerrilla’s wife,” relentlessly answered Elfie, averting her head. “But I am no guerrilla. And I have taken the oath of allegiance, or you would not see me here,” said Alberta, with a strange, discordant laugh. But these words seemed to set Erminie’s spirit free. “Have you? have you? Oh, have you, indeed, Alberta? Then you are welcome! welcome! thrice welcome! to my heart and home, and to our country’s cause, Alberta. Sit down, love, and rest here, and let me take off your wrappings,” she said, gently forcing her visitor into the easiest chair, and tenderly untying and removing her bonnet. “You wonder at seeing me here?” said Alberta. “No, indeed; I wonder at nothing in these days,” smiled Erminie. “I must tell you, however, why I have intruded upon you.” “Your visit is no intrusion, and you shall tell me nothing more, dear Alberta, until you are rested and refreshed. Tea will be ready very soon, and after you have had it, you shall share my chamber, and in its privacy tell me what you like. Just now, it is enough for me to hear that you have returned to your old allegiance, and to see that you are weary and sorrowful.” Again that strange discordant laugh broke from Alberta’s pallid lips, and jarred harshly upon the ears of her hearers. Erminie felt that she would rather have seen her weep than heard her laugh so strangely. Her act was more like hysteria or even madness. The girls had been sitting in the light of the fire, which the chill of the early autumn evening rendered very welcome. But now Erminie arose and lighted the gas. And then they saw their visitor plainly.