She shivered slightly as she recalled all this and Virgie wondered what should make the fine-looking woman grow so suddenly pale, and why she should regard her with such a fixed and startled gaze. But she gave the circumstance only a passing thought, and then turned to speak to Lady Royalston, to whom Lady Huntington also presented her, only to find herself again the object of a curious and astonished stare. Sadie Farnum turned to her mother as the maiden passed on, and the eyes of the two women, as they met, expressed a great deal. “Her name is Virgie, and she looks like that woman,” whispered Mrs. Farnum, in an agitated voice. “She certainly does; but Lady Huntington introduced her as Miss Alexander.” “Don’t you understand? That was the name of her father—that man who defaulted from the —— bank, in San Francisco.” “True! I had forgotten. But—it cannot be possible that this girl was that baby?” “Why not? She is just about the age that child would be. You know, it is eighteen years since we were in America.” “So it is. How time does fly!” Lady Royalston remarked, with a sigh of regret for the lost hopes of her youth. “And, you know, that girl threatened to come to England some time to claim her position.” Mrs. Farnum had confided all the plot against Virgie to her daughter after their return to England, and upon learning that a divorce between Sir William Heath and his wife had been secured, she had gathered fresh hope that Sadie would yet become Lady Heath. “I know you said she did; but so many years have elapsed without anything happening, I supposed she had given up that idea, particularly as she obtained a divorce.” “She was a high-spirited thing,” replied Mrs. Farnum, with a troubled look, “and I believe she procured a legal separation simply to show him that she would not hold him bound if he wished to be free; but I imagine that she has never relinquished the determination to prove her child the heiress of Heathdale. I am afraid Lady Linton’s plans will come to grief after all, and if they do, we may become involved in the unpleasant business.” Lady Royalston looked disturbed for a moment, then she replied: “Pshaw! I would not worry over a fancied resemblance.” “It is not fancied,” returned her mother, “it is very striking. You have seen it as well as I.” “Where is the girl’s mother?” “I do not know. Lady Huntington simply said that they arrived from New York ten days ago, bringing a letter to Sir Humphrey from a friend who requested his hospitality for them.” “If that is the case, they must have been moving in good society,” remarked Lady Royalston, reflectively. “Yes; and they must have means. Did you notice the girl’s toilet? It was simply exquisite.” “Yes; the finest of everything, and in the best of taste. I cannot understand it, for you told me that Sir William brought all his wife’s fortune back to England with him.”