Some one was approaching them and he knew he must leave her, though she had never seemed so lovely to him as in that shy, sweet mood. “I leave early to-morrow morning, therefore I must say good-night and good-by now,” he said, trying to smile as he extended his hand to her, though his voice was a trifle unsteady. She laid hers within it and looked up archly, as she replied: “I shall not say good-by to you, Mr. Hamilton. I do not like the words. I will bid you good speed, wishing you a pleasant voyage and a safe return.” His fingers closed over the small hand with a fond, lingering clasp, then with one last look into her dear face, he turned away, to make his adieus elsewhere, knowing that he should not see her again for months, but feeling as if his soul had quaffed some strangely inspiring elixir during that last moment or two in her sweet presence. CHAPTER XI. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. It seemed very dull to Virgie for a while after the departure of Rupert, who had been a very lively and agreeable traveler; indeed, the whole company missed him; but Mr. Knight and his sister exerted themselves to fill the young man’s place as far as possible, and, with the memory of that last interview, and the hope of meeting him again in New York in the spring, Virgie resolved not to pine, and gave herself up to the hearty enjoyment of her sight-seeing and other pleasures of the journey. The trip proved to be a most enjoyable one in every way, and when Virgie returned to her mother, in March, looking rosy and happy, and full of life and enthusiasm over what she had recently seen, Mrs. Alexander felt well repaid for the loneliness she had experienced during this, their first separation. Mr. Knight told her confidentially of Rupert Hamilton and his evident admiration for her charming daughter, and warned her that she might look for the young man’s return about the first or middle of May. Mrs. Alexander was at first inclined to laugh over the romantic episode, until her friend mentioned that Rupert was an Englishman, whereupon she grew very grave and sad. “I hope they will never meet again,” she said, sternly. “I do not want my child to marry an Englishman; it is enough that her mother’s heart was broken by one of that nationality.” “Surely, my friend, you do not imagine that all Englishmen are knaves simply because one has proved himself such?” said Mr. Knight. “I suppose I have no right to judge them so, yet I have a prejudice against them that I cannot overcome,” responded Mrs. Alexander, with a sigh. “I hope my darling, if she ever marries, will become the wife of a stanch American.” “The young man is a noble specimen of his countrymen, I can assure you,” Mr. Knight answered, anxious to do Rupert justice. “I confess I should be rather proud of him for a son-in-law.”