"So it turned out that she was Sombourne's grand-daughter," resumed Sir Horace, "daughter of that Lady Vera, who made a bolt of it instead of marrying Sir Job Gilderman. Lord, what a hub-bub! I remember it like yesterday. The girl has not lost her looks, and, by all accounts, she will have a good fortune. I say, what do you think?" "Oh, I think I'm going to speak to her," replied his nephew, who had risen to his feet, yielding to an impulse he only half understood. "All right; don't mind me." Captain Haig walked a few paces across the turf and confronted Verona, and swept off his hat. "Oh, Captain Haig, how do you do?" she exclaimed. "I did not know you were at home." "I arrived a month ago--sick certificate." "Let me introduce you to my aunt, Lady Ida Eustace--my grandfather, Lord Sombourne." What a different class to the former family to which she had made him known! "I believe we met in India," said Lady Ida, offering her five and three-quarter hand. "Positively this has been a real Indian day; we came out for a breath of air and are just going home to tea, close by. Will you join us?" Captain Haig accepted the invitation with flattering alacrity, and presently fell behind with the young lady. As they passed close to Sir Horace that gentleman made a quick little sign to his nephew, as much as to say: "Bless you, my children!" Lord Sombourne's town house was spacious, imposing, and at the present moment delightfully cool and dim. Tea was served in a lofty drawing room, lined with priceless old tapestry, and opening out of which was a conservatory full of palms and tropical plants, cooled by a splashing fountain. Here indeed was a home in every way worthy of Miss Verona; and as Captain Haig furtively surveyed the powdered servants, the Queen Anne silver, the rare old Sèvres service, all his former admiration for his Princess suddenly flamed into life! He felt convinced that she was the one woman in the world for him. There had been a temporary interregnum, but no one had been exalted to the throne! Yes, he assured himself--he had always been true to her. Could he persuade _her_ to believe this? After tea Lady Ida, having excused herself to write a note, departed into the front drawing room, and the pair were alone. "It is hot enough, as Lady Ida says, to recall India!" exclaimed Captain Haig as he passed a delicate silk handkerchief over his forehead. "I don't suppose you care to be reminded of anything out there! It must be all like a bad dream." "Oh, I don't know," she responded; "there were some good days, and I made some good friends." "The Lepells, for instance." "Yes; I came home with Mrs. Lepell." "And so you were not a Chandos after all!" "No; I have had a most varied circle of connections, and now I belong at last to my real relations." "I cannot somehow call you Miss Hargreaves." "To tell the truth I have hardly got accustomed to it myself!" and she laughed.