“Kate, write two notes, one to Mrs. Georgia Clifton, and one to your brother Carl, asking each of them to come here this evening to witness a deed—or rather _two of them_, my dear Kate—the signing of my last will and testament, and the solemnization of your marriage—for both must be hastened, Kate. My dear child, take your pen and write at once.” Deeply troubled, extremely agitated, yet struggling to govern her feelings, Catherine found the writing materials and penned the two notes; but when she had finished them, in the abstraction of her great grief, she misdirected them—and sent the note intended for Mrs. Georgia to Carl Kavanagh, and that intended for Carl to Mrs. Georgia. When she had dispatched these notes by different messengers, and returned to the parlor, Mrs. Clifton said— “Call Henny, my dear Kate, and let her assist you in getting me up stairs. It has come at last, Kate.” Almost dismayed by sorrow, Catherine rung the bell that brought the servants into the room. And between them they raised the lady to her feet. Mrs. Clifton took a long look around the room, as though she were taking a last leave of every dear familiar object in it; and then suffered herself to be supported up to her chamber. * * * * * Mrs. Georgia Clifton was pacing her chamber floor, in all the distraction of excited evil passions, racking her brain for an expedient to ruin her rival and break off the impending marriage, when the “spirits that tend on mortal thoughts,” furnished her with one. A messenger entered and handed her a sealed envelope, directed in the hand-writing of Catherine Kavanagh. She opened it in surprise, curiosity, and even in some degree of vague, guilty fear, and found within the misdirected note of Kate to Carl. It read simply as follows: “DEAR CARL:— “Mrs. Clifton is almost dying. She says you must come to the house this afternoon, at four o’clock, to meet a lawyer and a clergyman, and with Mrs. Georgia Clifton, to witness the signing of her last will, and also my marriage. Do not keep her waiting. “CATHERINE.”