“Heathdale!  What a pretty name!” Virgie cried, but still unsuspicious of the title which would become hers when she should go with him as his wife to England although he had almost given utterance to it, then hesitated, and substituted those last two words.

“Yes, it is a pretty name, and, Virgie, the place is the pride of my heart.  At some distance from the mansion there are the stables and kennels, where the horses and dogs abide.”

“Why, Mr.——­Why, Will, what an extensive establishment!  You must have——­”

Virgie began in a tone of surprise, then stopped in confusion.

“Well, I must have what?” he asked.

“A great deal of money to support such a place,” she replied, flushing.

“And is there anything very alarming about that?” he questioned, with a quiet smile.

“No; but—­I thought——­”

“You thought that I could not have very much of this world’s goods since I had come here to work a mine,” Sir William said, completing her sentence.  “But, darling, all that was only a ruse; I have been working more for my wife than for gold.”

“Will!”

“Darling, it is true; that was my only reason for becoming the purchaser of your father’s interest here.  I saw you; I loved you; I must have some good excuse for tarrying near you to try to win you, and now that I have attained my object, the mine will have to be disposed of, as I have no further use for it.”

Virgie regarded him with astonishment.  She had never suspected anything like this.

“How strange,” she said, with a beautiful flush.  “I have thought it almost unaccountable that a man like you should come here to remain.  I have imagined that you were an author or a student, and might be investigating the formation of the mountains or studying character in order to write a book, but I never dreamed of anything like this.”

Sir William laughed heartily.

“You were making me out to be quite a lofty character truly,” he said; “and now you find your hero only a very human being after all—­one who, for the sake of a beautiful woman, has been almost willing to barter his birthright.  Have I fallen very low in your estimation, Virgie, because I am not to become a distinguished public benefactor on account of my research and investigation?  Has my confession shocked you very much?”

“Your confession has made me a very, very happy woman.”  Virgie whispered, slipping her hand confidingly into his, her heart thrilling with a tender pride and love that this grand man should have sacrificed so much to win her.

“And I am exceedingly proud of this happy woman,” returned Sir William, fondly.  “I shall take the loveliest bride in the world back with me when we go home to Heathdale.”

“Where you will be Lady Heath my Virgie.  Ah, I am very thankful that my child will occupy so proud a position in life,” said the voice of Mr. Abbot, just behind them.