, and Miss Arnold said, "I suppose his bride
engrosses all his attention."

"Do you know anything of this Mrs. Holbrook?" asked Gertrude.

"Not much," answered Mr. Arnold. "I have seen her occasionally at Mr.
Clinton's. She is a handsome, showy woman, fond of society, I should
think."

"I have seen her very often," said Anne. "She is a coarse, noisy,
dashing person, just the one to make Miss Emily miserable."

Gertrude looked distressed, and Mr. Arnold glanced reprovingly at her.
"Anne," said he, "are you sure you speak advisedly?"

"Belle Clinton is my authority, father. I only judge from what I used to
hear her say at school about her Aunt _Bella_, as she always used to
call her."

"Did Isabel represent her aunt so unfavourably?"

"Not intentionally; she meant the greatest praise, but I never liked
anything she told us about her."

"We will not condemn her until we can decide upon acquaintance," said
Mr. Arnold; "perhaps she will prove the reverse of what you suppose."

"Can you tell me anything concerning Emily?" asked Gertrude, "and
whether Mr. Graham is soon to return?"

"Nothing," said Miss Arnold. "When did you hear from them yourself?"

Gertrude mentioned the date of the letter from Mrs. Ellis, the account
she had given of a gay party from the north, and suggested that probably
Mrs. Graham was the widow she had described.

"The same, undoubtedly," said Mr. Arnold.

Their knowledge of facts were so slight, however, that little remained
to be said concerning the marriage, and other topics of conversation
were introduced. But Gertrude found it impossible to think of any other
subject; the matter was so vitally important to Emily, that her mind
constantly recurred to it. The conversation was interrupted by the
sudden entrance of Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy. The former held in his hand a
sealed letter, directed to Gertrude, in the handwriting of Mr. Graham;
and, as he handed it to her, he rubbed his hands, and looking at Anne
Arnold, exclaimed, "Now, Miss Anne, we shall hear all about these famous
nuptials!"

Finding her visitors eager to learn the contents of her letter, Gertrude
broke the seal, and hastily perused its contents. The envelope contained
two or three pages closely written by Mrs. Ellis, and also a lengthy
note from Mr. Graham. Surprised as Gertrude was at any communication
from one who had parted from her in anger, her desire was to hear from
Emily, and she preferred the housekeeper's document