It was evident that he also experienced pleasure in her society, for, when he took her to Mrs. Richards—as she made a signal that she wished to retire from the company—and was introduced to her, and then accompanied them both to the foot of the staircase leading to their apartments, he asked and obtained permission to call upon them on the morrow. CHAPTER XII. THE CAMEO RING. A fortnight passed, and the Brooklyn beauty, as Miss Richards was designated, together with the attention she was receiving from the handsome English lord, formed the principal theme of conversation at the fashionable watering-place. Mrs. Richards was in her element, and conducted herself remarkably well. His lordship considered her a woman of very fine appearance and of wonderful tact; and it was noticeable that when he was in her presence he paid her full as much homage as he did her daughter; but people of course said this was all for a particular purpose. “By the way,” she said to him, one day, when they were comparing the merits of their respective countries, “I am more than half English myself. The late Lady Thornton, of Hallowell Park, Devonshire, was an aunt of mine—at least, my mother was her half-sister—and I have other distant relatives living in the same county.” “Indeed!” said Lord Carrol, his face lighting at this intelligence. “I had no idea that you had any English blood in your veins; I thought you were purely American. I have often heard my father speak of Sir William Thornton, of Devonshire, and his son, Sir Charles, was at Oxford with me. I was only slightly acquainted with him, however, as he took his degree a year before I took mine. I am very happy to learn of this fact,” and, as if by some fascination, the young nobleman’s glance sought Josephine as he spoke. “I once visited at Hallowell Park when I was a young girl,” Mrs. Richards continued, although a flush arose to her cheek as she remembered all that had transpired during that visit, for it was then that Star’s mother had saved her from drowning. “It is a lovely place, and a very large estate, I believe.” “So I have been told. Sir William was quite an active statesman before his death, which occurred only a year after his wife’s. They had only one child, Sir Charles, I believe.” “Has _he_ a family?” Mrs. Richards asked, quickly. “I think not—at least, I have never heard of his marriage. If he should die without issue, I suppose the estate would pass into other hands.” Mrs. Richards started, and gave the young man a quick glance at this. “Whose, I wonder?” she said, reflectively, and suddenly seemed to lose all interest in the conversation, and the young lord turned his attention to the more appreciative Josephine. The month which the Richardses spent at Long Branch was an eventful one; it was the most brilliant season that Josephine had ever known.