“A mother’s eyes are very sharp,” the lady resumed, “and it has not required much penetration to see that you were learning to regard my Virgie with more than friendly affection; besides, Mr. Knight told me of the conversation that he had with you at San Jose, and warned me of what I might expect when you returned to New York. And now I will confess to you freely that I was very much opposed to the idea of having Virgie become the wife of an Englishman. I had reason for the prejudice, which I will explain to you some other time; and I resolved you two should not meet again if I could help it. I did help it, as you know; that was the reason why I left New York so early; but only to be overreached by fate, which decreed that we should all come aboard at the same time. The moment Virgie introduced you to me, on board the Cephalonia, I felt that I was powerless, and so resigned myself to the inevitable. I must admit, however,” Mrs. Alexander added, with a genial smile, “that I was disarmed of my prejudices before I had known you many hours, and as I became better acquainted with you, I could but acknowledge with Mr. Knight, who, by the way, is a strong champion in your favor, that I should be proud to give my daughter to so true a man; and so, Mr. Hamilton, you have my full and free permission to win my darling if you can, and——” “Oh, thank you!” Rupert cried, seizing his companion’s hand in his gratitude, his face luminous with joy; “you have made me the happiest man in London.” “I like to see young people happy,” Mrs. Alexander replied, still smiling, but with a little sigh; “and I imagine it is safe to tell you I think you have no cause for fear. But now tell me something about yourself and your family; I should not like to make inquiries about you of other people.” “There is not very much to tell,” Rupert said. “I am an orphan; my mother died when I was an infant; my father was a major in her majesty’s service, and the only relatives I have living are an uncle and his family, by the name of Shaftonsbury, so my home has been with my guardian in Hampshire County——” “Ah! Hampshire! Who is your guardian?” hastily asked Mrs. Alexander, paling a little at the familiar name. “He was my father’s dearest friend, Sir——” began Rupert, but before he could speak the name the door opened, and Virgie, looking flushed and beautiful from her exercise in the open air, stood upon the threshold, and the young man, forgetting both question and answer, sprang forward to greet her. The conversation became general then for a little while; but by and by Mrs. Alexander excused herself, saying she had letters to write, and left the young couple alone. Rupert’s eyes had been seeing a great deal ever since Virgie came in; so much that she could not meet them without her color coming and going with tell-tale consciousness; and when, the moment the door closed after her mother, he arose and came to her side, she knew instinctively what was trembling on his lips.