The latter was the portrait of a young man, in high-collared coat, stock, and fancy waistcoat.

His hair, worn long over the ears, was smooth with a shine that suggested oil, and in his shirt front was a large pin, which might possibly have been mistaken by a credulous observer for a diamond.

Mrs.Coffin looked at the daguerreotype, sighed, shuddered, and laid it aside.

Then she opened the packet of letters.

Selecting one from the top of the pile, she read it slowly.