It is unnecessary for us to repeat what Nellie and her brother had to relate concerning themselves since the night when Ashton so unceremoniously took leave of his home.  With the important points in their history the reader is already acquainted, so for the present we leave them, while we take a brief glance at Mrs. Carrington.  The reader will doubtless think that for once in her life that estimable lady has done a good deed, although her motive was not the best in the world.  Before Julia went to New Orleans, Mrs. Carrington so far overcame her dislike as to ask her to write.  Julia did not promise to do so, but probably concluded she would, for soon after her arrival in New Orleans she wrote to her a letter, in which she hinted at the probable result of her visit.  She was then a guest of Dr. Lacey, and she spoke of his attention and politeness in the most extravagant terms.  This so provoked Mrs. Carrington that she determined at once to write to Dr. Lacey, and give him an insight into Julia’s real character.

The letter was accordingly written.  We must do Mrs. Carrington the justice to say that though her object in writing was purely selfish, she asserted nothing in her letter but what she knew to be strictly true.  She was ignorant of Julia’s conduct concerning Fanny, consequently she said nothing upon that head, but she spoke of her generally deceitful character, and mentioned several instances in which she had not hesitated to stoop to the basest falsehood for the accomplishment of her purpose.

As she was folding the letter it occurred to her that by some accident Julia might possibly get hold of it.  “And then,” thought she, “she will recognize my handwriting, and curiosity will impel her to open the letter, after which she wouldn’t hesitate a moment to destroy it.”

The next moment Mrs. Carrington was rapping at the door of Mrs. Miller’s room.  Kate opened it and was greatly surprised at beholding her visitor, who seldom came there.  Mrs. Carrington, however, smilingly presented her letter to Mr. Miller, saying that she had business with Dr. Lacey, which rendered it necessary for her to write to him, and as she did not care to have the post office clerks gossip about her writing to a gentleman, she wished him to direct it for her.  Mr. Miller complied with her request and the next morning the important document was on its way to New Orleans.

As our readers have twice made the voyage of the Mississippi, they will not refuse, again, to run the risk of its floating snags, sandbars and boat races; so stepping on board the same steamer which bears Mrs. Carrington’s letter, we will once more, visit Louisiana, and stopping with Dr. Lacey, will see how much of Julia’s letter to her sister was true.

CHAPTER XX

Rondeau digs up the missing letter

The first three weeks of Julia’s stay in New Orleans were, as we have learned, spent at the house of Dr. Lacey.  His mother was present, and although she readily acknowledged the uncommon beauty of her fair visitor, yet from the first she disliked her.