Virgie lifted her face, all radiant with a sweet new joy, a sense of exultation in her heart.

“And you were willing——­” she began, wondering at the great love that could thus level what she had had feared would be an insurmountable barrier.

“Willing, love, to make myself the happiest man on earth,” he interrupted, in a voice that actually trembled with joy.  “What Mr. Abbot told me does not affect your worth or character, nor his either, and some time I believe the wrong will be made all right.  Even were the facts more serious than they are, they need not trouble us, for I could take you far away from every breath of evil, and as my wife it could never touch you.  So you will give yourself to me, Virgie?”

“Yes,” she answered, with grave sweetness; “if papa thinks it is right, I cannot put my cup of happiness away untasted.”

Sir William Heath bent and touched the beautiful girl’s lips with his first lover’s kiss.

“My beloved,” he said, “life looks to me now like one long vista of happiness—­may it prove so to both of us.”

They sat there beneath the shadow of the great pine for more than an hour, wearing bright plans for the future, while the twilight gathered around them.  But as yet Sir William had not told his bethrothed who he was, nor of the title awaiting her when she should become his wife.  Somehow, he felt strangely reluctant to do so.

Once he had spoken of his home, and Virgie looked up with sudden interest, and asked: 

“Where is your home, Mr. Heath?”

An amused smile played about his lips at her question

“My friends—­that is those who love me—–­call me ‘Will,’ there,” he said, significantly; “and surely, darling you need not treat me with so much formality.  Do not call me Mr. Heath any more, Virgie.”

“Please tell me where our home is to be—­Will,” she said, looking up at him with a shy smile, and blushing as the newly spoken name left her lips.

He bent and touched them fondly with his own.

“In England, love,” he returned.

“England!”

“Yes.  Shall you regret leaving your own country?”

“No; I think I shall be glad,” Virgie answered, with a little sigh of content and relief.

Sir William looked gratified.

“Shall I describe our home to you?” he asked, thinking that perhaps now would be as good a time as any to tell more about himself and what her future position would be.

“Yes, do, please.”

“Well, then, imagine a large, old mansion, with many turrets and gables, its time-worn stones grown with ivy and moss, and set in the midst of extensive grounds, with grand, beautiful trees scattered all about.  There is a great hall in the center of the house, with spacious rooms on either hand.  At the end of this hall is the library, with two large bay-windows overlooking a winding river, which is the pride and glory of the place, and where we sail, and bathe, and fish during the summer months.  Over the library there is a lovely suite of rooms, commanding a wide expanse of meadow and upland—­a scene that is like a picture all the time—­which will henceforth be devoted to the use of the future lady—­of Heathdale.”