They frequently had occasion to laugh over the fact of their striking resemblance and the ludicrous mistakes which sometimes occurred. For instance, Dr. Winthrop and his brother were once invited to a reception which the young physician was unable to attend. When Mr. Norman Winthrop presented himself before his hostess, she inquired for his brother and he explained that an important engagement had detained him. But chancing just then to glance toward the other end of the room, he exclaimed: “Why, no! there he is now!” And excusing himself to the lady, he went to meet his brother and walked straight up to a full-length mirror that had been let into one side of the room, to find that he had mistaken his own reflection for the young doctor. But Miss Sadie Rochester had never yet been guilty of mistaking one for the other, let her meet them where she would. She had thought, the first time she saw Dr. Winthrop, that she had met her fate, for she had been attracted toward him as no other man had ever attracted her. She recognized in him a nature more lofty, a character more true than other men of her acquaintance possessed, and she believed that if she could win him for her husband and thus secure also the two great fortunes, she would have nothing left to wish for. But when Norman Winthrop suddenly made his appearance upon the scene she realized at once her mistake. The moment he greeted her—the moment his hand clasped hers and his eyes looked into hers she recognized a magnetic influence which his brother lacked, and from that hour he began to weave a strange spell about her. She could not say that she liked Dr. Winthrop less, and had she never seen his twin she would have believed that she loved him; but there was a subtle power in every look, tone, and movement of Norman, which set all her pulses thrilling, as if they had been wrought upon by some weird and fascinating music. Was it the element of wickedness inherent in both their natures which recognized in each other a kindred spirit? The young man, on his part, seemed fascinated from the hour of their introduction, and, despite the fact that he knew Miss Rochester had for years been the destined bride of his brother, he devoted himself to her, attending her upon every possible occasion, calling upon her frequently, and constantly sending her fruit, flowers, or some other reminder of himself. Mrs. Rochester saw danger ahead from all this attention, and the evident pleasure with which Sadie received it. She was very much troubled, heartily wishing that Norman Winthrop had never made his appearance in Paris; but she seemed powerless to change anything, or to prevent the development of the acquaintance, and was therefore obliged to let matters take their own course. It was a very gay winter, in spite of the fact that death had so recently visited both families.