“She has had a severe nervous shock. Such strokes must be epidemic among those who live amid ‘war’s alarms,’ you know, Mrs. Hedge.” “Yes, of course. But all war’s alarms are not disastrous. What a glorious deed young Leonidas Force has done! I congratulate you on your nephew, Mr. Force.” “Thank you, madam. Will you take my arm down to dinner? There is the gong.” The whole party arose and went down into the dining room and took their places at the table; the party filled up a large one. After dinner they returned to the drawing room for a little while, and then the visitors from St. Mary’s bade good-night, and—accompanied by Capt. Grandiere and Rosemary Hedge—went away to take possession of their rooms at a boarding house that had been found for them in E Street. Mr. Force and Lord Enderby lighted a couple of cigars and walked out on the bright and busy avenue to smoke and stroll. Between the gas lamps and the illuminated shop windows the scene was almost as light as day, and, with its crowd of pedestrians, as noisy as a fair. Up and down they strolled and smoked until, tired of being jolted, or, as the earl put it, “walked over,” they turned up the west side of Fifteenth Street, where the sidewalk was brilliantly lighted, yet almost vacant of passengers. Here they walked and talked in the cool of the evening, unconscious of a dark figure approaching them from the north end of the street, whose advent was to have the most important effect on the destinies of several of our friends. They were going to meet the form that was approaching them. Both looked up carelessly and saw a tall, soldiery looking man, who, coming up, held out his hand with an exclamation of surprise and pleasure: “Enderby!” The earl stared for a second and then seized the offered hand, crying with delight: “Anglesea!” “When did you arrive?” This question was put, in the same words, at the same time by both. “But three days since,” answered Lord Enderby. “Only this afternoon,” replied Gen. Anglesea. “I have come to America to see your sister.” “Let me present you to my brother-in-law—Mr. Force, of Mondreer, Maryland. Mr. Force—Gen. Anglesea, late of the East Indian service—the real Simon Pure, you understand, Abel!” The two gentlemen, thus introduced, bowed deeply. “You say you have come over to see my sister?” inquired the earl. “Yes! On very important business! You may judge how important when I tell you that it has brought me across the ocean at such a time as this.” “My sister is at this time indisposed. I think it will be a day or two before she is capable of attending to any business. But here is her husband.” “Of course. I am very happy to meet Mr. Force, and shall be ready, at his convenience, to enter upon this business. It concerns Lady Elfrida’s first marriage.”