But Sadie was so broken-hearted over the blighting of all her fond hopes, and grieved so sorely that her health began to suffer in consequence, and when Sir William’s return began to be talked of, Mrs. Farnum decided to take her daughter traveling and thus avoid any unpleasant meeting and fresh grief when the young Lady Heath should come to take possession of her new home.

Accordingly they sailed for America, and knowing that the baronet was in New York, went directly to the Pacific coast about a fortnight previous to Sir William’s return to Heathdale.

The letter which Lady Linton sent her friend was written, as we know, the morning following her brother’s return, and five weeks later, upon the very day of little Virgie May Heath’s birth, there came to her an exceedingly gratifying reply.

A portion of it read thus: 

“Regarding the important questions which you have asked about the ——­’s.  I will not write the name for fear this letter might sometime chance to meet other eyes.  I find that such a family resided here a number of years ago.  They occupied a high position in society appeared to have unlimited means at their command and were much respected, but they were suddenly overtaken by terrible misfortunes which cut them instantly down from their high estate and they were obliged to flee from the city in disgrace.  It is quite a complicated story, and I have not been able to learn all the details.  I can do so, however, if you wish.

“But what is your object?  What do you know about the family?  Has it anything to do with that girl whom your brother so rashly married in such a romantic manner?  If it has, let me know, and I will gladly search the continent over for material to make her bitterly repent for striking such a blow to my Sadie’s, and indeed to all our hopes.  Answer immediately and whatever instructions you may give me, I will follow most faithfully.  I am ready to join you heart and hand in any vendetta against the disturber of our peace.”

Lady Linton smiled curiously after reading this epistle.

“I imagined as much,” she muttered, “and they presumed to aspire to an alliance with a Heath of Heathdale, when their own name was so hopelessly disgraced that they did not dare to own it or be known by it, and were forced to hide their guilty heads in that low mining district.  No, sir; my Lord of Heath, your shameless bride shall never enter this sacred ancestral house if there are any means, lawful or otherwise to prevent it.”

After the examination of the portfolio which she had found in her brother’s trunk, Lady Linton’s curiosity had been insatiable, and simulating an air of friendliness and resignation which she was far from feeling, she had encouraged him to talk of his wife, hoping thus to learn more of her history, and trap him into acknowledging something of the mystery which surrounded her.

But though Sir William was never loth to talk of his darling, and always spoke of her in the fondest terms, he would never commit himself regarding her past; that was to be a sealed book in England, and not even to his mother and sister would he ever breathe one word of that sad story, that Mr. Abbot had told him when he pleaded for his daughter’s hand, or aught that would cast a shadow upon any member of her family.