The door bell had rung, and a servant was moving along the passage.

A moment of suspense, and then light steps were heard and the rustling of a woman's garments.
"Jessie!" exclaimed Mrs.Loring, as Mrs.Dexter entered the sitting-room.

She was enveloped in a warm cloak, with a hood drawn over her head.

As she pushed the latter from her partly hidden face, her aunt saw a wildness about her eyes, that suggested, in connection with this unheralded visit of the feeble invalid, the idea of mental derangement.

Starting forward, and almost encircling her with her arms, she said-- "My dear child! what is the meaning of this visit?
Where is Mr.
Dexter?
Did he come with you ?" "I am cold," she answered, with a shiver.