“You must be very lonely to be separated from him for so long a time,” said the woman, in a sympathetic tone.

“Indeed I am,” said the young wife, with a long-drawn sigh which did not escape her companion’s notice, “but our separation is compulsory.”

“Ah, he was away at the time of our arrival, was he not?”

“Yes, he was called to his home nearly three months ago by the illness of his mother.”

Mrs. Farnum assumed a look of surprise.

“And could not you accompany him?” she asked, as if she thought it very strange that Virgie should not have done so.

“No, my physician would not allow me to travel; the summons came only a short time before the birth of my baby, and he said a sea voyage could not be thought of for me, so my husband was obliged to go without me.”

“A sea voyage!” repeated Mrs. Farnum, with a start.

“Yes.  My husband’s home is in England,” Virgie answered, flushing vividly.

A blank look came over Mrs. Farnum’s face, then she assumed a grieved expression.

“In England! and you never told us that you were our countrywoman, Mrs. Heath!” she said, reproachfully.

“I am not.  I am a native of California,” Virgie explained with some confusion; but I seldom speak of myself to strangers.”

“With good reason, my pert young woman!” mentally retorted Mrs, Farnum, for her companion’s last words had been rather coldly uttered.  Then she said aloud, in a pitying tone: 

“It must have been very trying for you to let your husband go on such a journey without you?”

“Yes, indeed, it was,” Virgie replied, with lips that quivered painfully; “but, of course, I could not keep him from his dying mother.”

“Was her condition so critical as that?”

“Certainly, or my husband would not have consented to leave me.  Mrs. Heath was suddenly stricken with paralysis.”

Again Mrs. Farnum started, and bent a long, searching look upon her companion—­a look that made Virgie feel very uncomfortable and wonder what it meant.

“Is—­is she still living?” the woman asked, still regarding Virgie searchingly.

“Yes—­at least, she was the last I heard; but her condition was still considered so critical that she could not bear the least excitement.”

“Then it is some time since you have heard from her?” remarked Mrs. Farnum, pointedly.

Virgie bridled a trifle at being so closely questioned.  She thought her guest was trespassing beyond the bounds of good breeding.  But, after a moment, feeling as if she must share her burden with some one, she said, in an unsteady voice: 

“No, I have not, and—­I am afraid that my husband’s letters have miscarried, and the suspense has been very trying.”

“Ahem!  Mrs. Heath, there is something very strange—­very inexplicable about what you have told me,” Mrs. Farnum said, in a grave tone.