"But," said I, fixing my eyes upon her face, where the flickering firelight made the shadows play, "the stranger has not been able to retain the peaceable possession of his purchase!" "What--what mean you, Agnes!" exclaimed Mathilde, in alarm. "I mean that the late proud lady of Wolfbrake still carries the keys, and unlocks doors at will!" "Heavens! do you know that?" "Ay! I know much more than that. I know the portrait that performed the humiliating office of firescreen in the next room is the likeness of the haughty Madeleine Van Der Vaughan! I know, beside----" "What more do you know?" "That our travelers have arrived!" I said, as the sound of footsteps and voices at the hall door fell upon my ear. It was true. We were interrupted. As if "borne on the wings of love," the slow old stage-coach was so much earlier that evening that our friends arrived an hour earlier than we had expected them, while Mrs. Legare was still superintending the arrangement of her supper-table, and Mr. Legare was grating nutmeg over his huge bowl of eggnog, so there was no one to welcome the visitors except Mathilde and myself. As they entered the parlor we arose and advanced to meet them. "Mathilde! Miss Legare! Can it be possible! This is, indeed, indeed, a joyous surprise," exclaimed Frank Howard, as he recognized his ladylove, and with an eager smile extended his hand; while my brother, without ceremony, embraced me cordially. "I thought you knew to whom you were coming," said Mathilde, with simple candor. "No! I scarcely dared to hope for such happiness!" "Hey-day! Hal-loe!--do you know anybody here, Frank?" exclaimed my wild and thoughtless brother. But before Mr. Howard had time to answer, I pinched Jack's arm, turned him around, and presented him to Miss Legare. The refined and elegant presence of Mathilde immediately brought my rude cadet to order, and he gracefully expressed the pleasure and honor he felt in being permitted to make her acquaintance. Miss Legare welcomed my brother with more cordiality than she had bestowed upon her lover. And I turned to receive Frank Howard's offered hand, and responded to his expressions of satisfaction at the present opportunity of renewing our acquaintance. When these rather commonplace ceremonies were over Miss Legare invited her guests to be seated, and we resumed our chairs. A deep blush settled upon the beautiful face of Mathilde. But, whatever might have been the emotions of Mr. Howard, he suppressed them through that regnant self-control that ever distinguished his manners. And he was the first to perceive the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Legare, and to arise and advance to receive them. My brother presented Mr. Howard to Mr. Legare, who received him with cordial politeness, and in his turn introduced him to Mrs. Legare, who smilingly welcomed him to Virginia.