“Immediately on receiving the telegram yesterday, she prepared to go to Gettysburg to bring her father home. I also was ready to go with her, when the visit of Mr. Sales with the joyful news of your return stopped my journey. And so Elfie, after kissing and congratulating, and laughing and weeping over _me_, and sending what she called ‘lots of love’ to you, left in the three o’clock train alone.” While the sister and brother conversed, the time, unheeded, passed away, and now it was nearly noon, when the door bell rang. “Oh, I hope that is Britomarte. Did she say she would come early?” inquired Erminie. “She said she would come this morning—she did not specify the hour,” answered Justin, rising to open the drawing-room door. Britomarte it was, for Justin met her on the threshold, in the act of being ushered in by Uncle Bob, the old servant of Elfie, who also found a home at the parsonage. Justin warmly welcomed Miss Conyers, but was cut short in his demonstrations by Erminie, who flew to meet her friend, and fell weeping for joy on Britomarte’s bosom. “How pale you are, my darling. You have suffered much since I saw you last,” said Miss Conyers, tenderly caressing Erminie. “Oh, much! much! How much you do not know or guess. But it is all over now, dear Britomarte, quite over, now that I see you and Justin safe, and all is well, now, very well, since the tide of war has turned, and the invaders are flying before our victorious army,” she answered, smiling through her tears. “And do you know what they are saying outside, my darling?” inquired Miss Conyers, brightly glancing back her smile. “No! what?” eagerly demanded Erminie. “Haven’t you been out this morning, Justin?” inquired Miss Conyers, turning to Mr. Rosenthal. “No—why?” “Nor received a visitor?” “No visitor except yourself.” “Then I have the happiness to be the first to announce the news to you. Vicksburg has capitulated!” “Vicksburg capitulated!” echoed both Justin and Erminie, in a breath. “The words are in everybody’s mouth. The stars and stripes are waving from half the windows on the avenue.” “Oh, Justin, go! go out and learn the particulars, but don’t stay long. I cannot bear you out of my sight long, lest I should wake up and find your return all a dream,” urged Erminie. And Justin, snatching up his hat and gloves, departed.