“I am very sorry to miss Mrs. Alexander; but perhaps _you_ could get it for me?” she said, insinuatingly. “I do not think I should like to do that without mamma’s sanction,” Virgie answered; “but I will tell her your errand, and no doubt she will take measures to return the package to you at once.” “Very well,” replied Lady Linton; “tell her to send it immediately to my brother’s residence; the street and number are on my card, which you have. I shall leave town to-morrow, and would like it before I go.” Virgie promised to deliver the message, and her ladyship took her leave, with a heart lighter than she had known for years, for the burden of a great dread had been rolled from it. But she did not receive the package before leaving for Heathdale, as she had confidently expected. She had arranged to go on the fifteenth, taking Lillian with her, and although she waited until the last minute, hoping for the appearance of her long-lost diary, she was obliged to depart without it. She did not worry over it very much, however, for she told herself that if it had been kept all these years with the seal unbroken, there was not much danger of its being disturbed at this late day. Just as she was about to enter the carriage there arrived a telegram from her brother. It contained just two lines: “Shall leave Englewood Wednesday noon; arrive at Heathdale on the 7:30 express. Meet us there if you like.” “Rather a curt bidding to a wedding feast,” Lady Linton sarcastically observed, showing it to her daughter; but she would have been more than content had she not been bidden at all, for her brother’s marriage was, to her, an unlooked-for triumph over her enemy, a release from a much dreaded doom. CHAPTER XXI. THE ARRIVAL AT HEATHDALE. Upon her arrival at Heathdale, Lady Linton was considerably surprised to find that Sir William had engaged the services of a professional decorator to prepare his home for the reception of his bride, and great improvements had been made in many of the rooms. The suite over the library, and looking out upon the river, had been exquisitely fitted up in blue and white, and gold for his wife’s special use, while several new pictures and pieces of statuary had been added to the already choice collection which the old mansion possessed. Still, with all this added elegance, it needed the touch of a tasteful woman’s hand to make it really home-like, and both Lady Linton and her daughter exerted themselves to make everything as attractive as possible.