“‘Wife,’ indeed!” she once retorted. “A woman who divorced herself from you in the way she did, coolly severing the bonds, which you seem still to hold in such reverence, is not worthy the name.” “But I loved her, Miriam—I love her still; I shall be true to her till I die,” her brother answered. “Our separation has been the strangest thing in the world—it is wholly incomprehensible to me; but if I ever find we have been the victims of treachery, let the enemy who has meddled beware!” Twice during these last eight years he had crossed the Atlantic and renewed his search for Virgie, but without obtaining the least clew of her whereabouts, and so he returned again to his home. He never intruded his sorrow upon any one; indeed his life flowed along so calmly and smoothly that a stranger might have supposed that he had remained single from choice, although there was a wistful sadness in his eyes that impressed every one. Of late he had interested himself considerably in politics and been in Parliament, having been returned for his borough several times. But to return to the breakfast table, from which we have roved, and where an animated discussion was in progress, together with the disposition of the many tempting viands. “I am sure I do not know what I am going to do without you during the next six months, Rupert,” Sir William remarked. “Here I was anticipating having you all to myself for awhile, after you got through school, and now you want to go roving the first thing.” “Yes, I do want to see a little of the world I live in, I confess, before I choose my profession; and you have told me so many interesting things about America, and American people, that I have a curiosity to see the country and mingle with the people myself. Why can’t you come with me, Uncle Will? then we need not be separated,” concluded the young man, wishfully. “I should be glad to, my boy, but my time and attention will have to be given to the interests of the borough for this year,” responded his guardian. “The troubles in Ireland, too, bid fair to be pretty serious, and every true-hearted Englishman ought to give careful thought to the questions that are arising in connection with them.” “I hope that I am a true-hearted Englishman, but since I cannot cast my vote until next year, I presume you will not consider me disloyal for running away for a little while,” Rupert said, earnestly. “No, indeed, I want you to go, since you desire it so much, and, considering all things, this is the best time for you to go. Let me see; it is a Raymond excursion to California that you have decided to join after reaching New York, I believe.” “Yes, the circular which Raymond has issued is so attractive I could not resist it. I feel sure that by joining this party I shall see more of the country, in less time and to better advantage, than I could to travel by myself and lay out my own route.”