“It would be very strange if I did _not_ know him, for he is my father’s brother,” she said, calling to her lips her blandest smiles; “but I am sure I had no idea that he was here in Newport. Come, Josephine, we must go and speak to him;” and she drew the astonished girl away before they could question them any further, and she wished to collect her own scattered senses a little before encountering those two whom she had so deeply injured. “What can it mean, mamma?” Josephine repeated, with a blank look, for she had no longer any doubt about the identity of the strangers. “I don’t know, but I am going to find out,” she answered resolutely. “Then you are convinced that it is Stella?” “Yes, it is _that girl_ fast enough; there can be no mistake about it; and what a sensation she is making! She seems to checkmate us at every move.” “Where can they have been hiding all this time?” Josephine asked. “How do you suppose I know?” retorted her mother, sharply. “I am more interested to know where all the money comes from to enable them to cut such a swell. Why, the dress she has on must have cost a cool three hundred, to say nothing about her other expensive fixings; and then you heard what Pendleton said about her carriage and ponies.” “Well, he said she was the author of ‘Chatsworth’s Pride,’ and if that is so, it must have brought her a good deal.” “Pooh! you don’t suppose one book is going to enable her to live and dress like a young empress, do you?” returned Mrs. Richards, scornfully. “No; Uncle Jacob has recovered his fortune, or else——” “Or else what?” “He has played it upon us.” “Played what upon us?” “Why, poverty, you goose!” “Mamma! that would be too dreadful. I never thought of such a thing,” Josephine said, feeling almost faint. “Nor I, until this moment; but I can account for their appearance here to-night in no other way. If he has done this thing, and that girl gets all his money, it will be a bitter pill to swallow, I can tell you.” “But she could inherit nothing; she is no blood relation.” “But he could make a will.” “And we could break it.” “Not a bit of it; your Uncle Jacob is keen enough to look out for that, I assure you. But come this way; they are passing out into the hall, and I am going to sift this matter at once.” She drew her daughter from the upper door of the parlor, just as Star and Mr. Rosevelt passed out at the lower one, intending to waylay them and demand an explanation of their presence. They turned and came toward those waiting women, walking slowly and chatting pleasantly, and wholly unconscious of the exciting interview in store for them. CHAPTER XXVII. DEFEATED. When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.