Ilivedwithmynewmasterandmistressthreeyears。Theyhadnochildren。AttheendofthatperiodMr。Norcrossdied。Hewassharpenoughtoforeseethathisyoungwidowwouldmarryagain，andhebequeathedhispropertysothatitallwenttoMrs。
Norcrossfirst，andthentoanychildrenshemighthavebyasecondmarriage，and，failingthat，torelationsandfriendsofhisown。Ididnotsufferbymymaster’sdeath，forhiswidowkeptmeinherservice。IhadattendedonMr。Norcrossallthroughhislastillness，andhadmademyselfusefulenoughtowinmymistress’sfavorandgratitude。Besidesmeshealsoretainedhermaidinherservice——aquadroonwomannamedJosephine，whomshebroughtwithherfromtheWestIndies。EvenatthattimeIdislikedthehalf—breed’swheedlingmanners，andhercruel，tawnyface，andwonderedhowmymistresscouldbesofondofherasshewas。TimeshowedthatIwasrightindistrustingthiswoman。IshallhavemuchmoretosayaboutherwhenIgetfurtheradvancedwithmystory。
MeanwhileIhavenexttorelatethatmymistressbrokeuptherestofherestablishment，and，takingmeandthelady’smaidwithher，wenttotravelontheContinent。
AmongotherwonderfulplaceswevisitedParis，Genoa，Venice，Florence，Rome，andNaples，stayinginsomeofthosecitiesformonthstogether。Thefameofmymistress’srichesfollowedherwherevershewent；andtherewereplentyofgentlemen，foreignersaswellasEnglishmen，whowereanxiousenoughtogetintohergoodgracesandtoprevailonhertomarrythem。Nobodysucceeded，however，inproducinganyverystrongorlastingimpressiononher；andwhenwecamebacktoEngland，aftermorethantwoyearsofabsence，Mrs。Norcrosswasstillawidow，andshowednosignsofwantingtochangehercondition。
WewenttothehouseontheYorkshireestatefirst；butmymistressdidnotfancysomeofthecompanyroundabout，sowemovedagaintoDarrockHall，andmadeexcursionsfromtimetotimeinthelakedistrict，somemilesoff。OnoneofthesetripsMrs。Norcrossmetwithsomeoldfriends，whointroducedhertoagentlemanoftheirpartybearingtheverycommonandveryuninterestingnameofMr。JamesSmith。