“I presume you have heard,” she resumed, “that we came abroad to take possession of the estates of Sir Charles Thornton, whose death leaves mamma the nearest of kin, and therefore we shall all henceforth occupy a very high position in this country.” “Indeed?” Star responded, as if it were a matter of no moment to her. “I have heard of Sir Charles Thornton, but I did not know that you were ‘nearest of kin’ to him.” “Well, you know it now,” Josephine retorted, sharply, beginning to lose her temper at Star’s immobility; “and fortunately we can do exceedingly well without Uncle Jacob’s money, which you so cunningly managed to wheedle him out of. We shall not return to America, for we can enjoy so much more here among the nobility, where, as I told you before, our position is so high, and mine _particularly_, you know, as—as Lady Carrol, is one to be rather envied.” This last, she thought, must be a dagger in the fair girl’s breast, but she was wholly unprepared to have it turned against her own. “May I take the liberty to ask Miss Richards what she means by the statements which she has made—to explain herself, if indeed that is _possible_,” said a deep, stern voice just behind her. Both girls started and turned instantly at the sound, and both uttered a cry—one of surprise, the other of dismay. Lord Carrol himself stood in the door-way of the conservatory from which Josephine had entered, and through which he had passed on his way from another portion of the building back to the drawing-room. He had seen Ralph Meredith and Mr. Rosevelt but a moment or two after Star slipped away. They told him that she was there, and he had instantly left them to seek her. He had seen her standing there in the anteroom through the glass as he approached, and he recognized her instantly, although the sight had nearly unmanned him. As he drew near, however, he heard Josephine’s voice, sharp and scoffing, and addressing the strangest words to her. He stood still and listened, perfectly aghast at what she was saying, until he comprehended the whole situation; and, when she made that last amazing assertion, he could endure no more, and entered to confront her. Star, with one look into his white set face, and a glance of astonishment from him to Josephine, whose countenance, for once in her life, expressed blankest dismay, sank back pale and shivering into the chair from which she had risen when Miss Richards addressed her. That young lady felt for the moment as if she would like the ground to open and swallow her forever from sight. But the situation was a desperate one—so desperate that she did not care for anything; so, quickly rallying, she tossed her dark head and retorted with a light laugh: “Miss Gladstone was just telling me, my lord, that she had heard of my marriage, and I was only carrying out the joke a little further.” “I _understand_ you,” he said, briefly, but in accents of intense scorn.