Final answer:
The pronoun 'her' refers to the main female character in the excerpt, identified by context clues surrounding sentences that mention her sister Josephine and her husband's friend Richards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pronoun 'her' in the excerpt, "It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her," refers to the main female character, who is the sister of Josephine. The pronoun inference here can be made based on the context provided before and after this particular excerpt that identifies 'her' as the main female protagonist who is present in the scene.
The excerpt mentions the presence of her husband's friend, Richards, and the fact that it was indeed Josephine who conveyed some emotionally charged news to 'her' in broken sentences, providing additional context. Pronouns like 'her' demand careful interpretation within their surrounding textual environment—temperature is metaphorical here—to ensure proper understanding.