o her; she will pretend to read
it, and would, if it were in Hebrew or Sanscrit," said Maxwell, who then
repeated the caution he had before given, not to betray the fact of his
presence in the city.

Vernon presented the note to the negress, who, with a business-like air,
opened it; and, though he could perceive that she held it up-side down,
she examined it long and attentively, sputtering with her thick lips, as
though actually engaged in the to her impossible operation of reading
it.

"Dis alters de case, Massa. Why you no show dis paper before?" said
Dido, with an air of huge importance, which would have done credit to
the captain of a country company of militia.

"Open the door, and don't stop to chatter!" replied Vernon.

"Yes, Massa, I have read de letter, and now I knows dat Massa Guy wants
you to see de leddy. Dat alters de case. I has nussin furder to say,"
muttered Dido, as she unlocked the chamber door.

Emily was seated on a sofa, reading a book she had taken with her to
while away the time on board of the steamer.

"Missus, a gemman, who hab brought a letter from Massa Guy," said Dido,
as she opened the door.

"Bring the letter, then," replied Emily, scarcely raising her eyes from
the book.

"No, Missus, de letter am for me, and I hab read it. It orders me to
'mit dis gemman."

"That is sufficient," said Vernon, pushing the attendant back, and
closing the door.

Emily rose; and great was her surprise at perceiving the son of her late
benefactor. An avalanche of doubt rushed through her mind, and she could
not conjecture the occasion of this visit. She had left him at his
father's house. Had he forsaken his new-born repentance? Was he again
the minister of Maxwell's evil purposes? She had been a prey to the most
distressing anticipations, and had now settled down into the calmness of
resignation. Resolved to die rather than become the bride of Maxwell,
she had spent the hours and days of her imprisonment in nerving herself
to meet whatever bitter fate might await her, in maintaining her purity
and her principle.

The appearance of Jerome Vaudelier caused her a thrill of apprehension,
but it was quickly supplanted by a feeling of interest in the individual
himself. Her own gloomy position seemed divested of its sombreness, as
she felt that the penitence of the erring soul had not been a reality.

"Jerome Vaudelier, are you, too, the minister of a villain's wishes?"

"Nay, Miss Dumont--"

"