Virgie looked up, astonished both at the words and tone.

“I do not understand you,” she returned.

“You know, of course, that we are English people,” began her companion.

“Yes.  Miss Sadie mentioned the fact to me during the first of our acquaintance.”

“Did she ever tell you that we know people in England by the name of Heath?”

“No.  Do you?” Virgie cried, eagerly, her face lighting as she thought perhaps she might learn something regarding her long silent husband.

“Yes, and they are a very fine family.  They belong in Hampshire, and I may as well tell you that they are a very proud and aristocratic family, laying great stress upon their unimpeachable honor and untarnished name.”

Virgie flushed a painful crimson at this, which her companion noticed with a thrill of exultation, and then resumed: 

“The oldest daughter, who married a peer of the realm, has been my most intimate friend for many years.  Sir William, also——­”

“Sir William!” Virgie interrupted, catching her breath, face growing radiant.

“Yes, that’s the name of the son and heir.  I was about to remark that he is a baronet and that it is a singular coincidence that he should also have been here in America while his mother was stricken with paralysis.  It is strange, too, that his first name should be the same as your husband’s; but——­”

“Oh, Mrs. Farnum,” cried Virgie, leaning forward and seizing the woman’s hands in a transport of joy, as she believed she was about to hear some definite news regarding her loved one, “Sir William Heath is my husband—­can you tell me anything about him?  I have not heard a word from him for more than a month, and I am nearly distracted from anxiety and suspense.”

Mrs. Farnum drew back in well-feigned astonishment.

“Child! are you mad?  Sir William Heath your husband?  It is simply impossible.”

Virgie straightened herself, and yet it seemed as if somebody had suddenly struck her a cruel blow upon her naked heart.

Mrs. Farnum had just told her that for years she had been the most intimate friend of Lady Linton and yet to all appearances she had been literally astounded to learn that Sir William was married.

Could it be possible that her husband had never acknowledged her as his wife to his family?

The thought almost paralyzed her for a moment; then she put it indignantly away from her.

No, he had written letter after letter to his mother and sister—­at least he had spoken of so doing, though she had never read them—­telling of their marriage, and speaking of their return to Heathdale.  Of course his friends must have been apprised of all that had occurred during his absence; still it was very strange that the “most intimate acquaintance of Lady Linton” had not been made acquainted with the fact.

All at once, however, she brightened.  Mrs. Farnum had been traveling in America also, for how long she did not know, and perhaps that accounted for it.  If she did not correspond with Lady Linton she had no means of knowing of the baronet’s marriage.