She had demurred at first, but when he said, “Your daughter, too, needs the change; I do not like her looks at all,” her mother-love prevailed, and she nerved herself for her long contemplated voyage to England, feeling that perhaps the proper time had come for her to act in the matter of Virgie’s inheritance, and thus it chanced—if chance it was—that they were booked for the same steamer in which Rupert had sailed. But, alas! for Virgie’s boast that she was “determined to be a good sailor,” for she had not been on deck many hours before she was prostrated by that much dreaded enemy of all voyagers, sea-sickness, and thus all the pleasant _tête-à-têtes_ and promenades which Rupert had begun to plan immediately upon discovering that she was on board the steamer, came to naught. The poor girl was hardly able to lift her head from her pillow during the whole voyage, and when they arrived at Liverpool she was so reduced that she had to be carried off the vessel. She began to rally at once, however, after landing, and continued to improve during the journey to London. Mrs. Alexander had borne it all wonderfully well, suffering but very little from “qualms,” which she had so much dreaded, and Rupert having constituted himself her constant attendant, they had become the best of friends during the eight days that they had spent together. When they arrived in London, Rupert assisted them in finding pleasant lodgings in an excellent locality, and then began to think of his own friends at Heathdale. “I shall be in London again soon, and may I beg the privilege of coming to see you occasionally?” he asked, as he was taking leave of the two ladies. “Yes, indeed, we shall be very glad to see you, Mr. Hamilton,” Mrs. Alexander rejoined, cordially, while Virgie blushed with pleasure at the request, and a shy smile dimpled the corners of her pretty mouth. “But,” she added, “you have not yet told us whither you are going—in what portion of England is your home.” “I have no home really, as yet, Mrs. Alexander, but I have friends in Hampshire County, and I am going to them for a while,” Rupert replied. As was his custom, he seldom talked about himself, and this was the first intimation that Mrs. Alexander had received of his having friends in Hampshire, where Sir William lived. She grew a trifle pale as he mentioned the fact, and longed to ask him if he knew the baronet; but she checked herself, and they separated without a suspicion on her part of his being in any way connected with the man whom she had come to England to seek. Mr. Knight had given her letters of introduction to some friends of his residing in Grosvenor square, and, upon seeking them, she found them to be most delightful people. Sir Humphrey Huntington and his family occupied a high social position in London, and thus had it in their power to make it very pleasant for any one in whom they were interested.