“I am glad you did; you are working too hard, Uncle Will, and need more recreation. But come, I have a friend here whom I want you to know,” Rupert concluded, linking his arm within his guardian’s and leading him toward Virgie, who was examining an elaborate piece of embroidery on the opposite side of the room. “Ah! a young lady!” remarked Sir William, archly, as his glance fell upon the pretty figure; her face he could not see, for it was turned from him. Rupert colored slightly at his tone, but he said nothing until he reached the side of his betrothed, then he remarked: “Miss Alexander, I want to introduce you to the best friend I have in the world, my guardian, Sir William Heath.” Virgie turned, a smile of pleasure on her lips, for she had longed to meet Rupert’s guardian, and something in the fair face which she lifted to him, in that delicate profile, in those refined features, in the glancing of her eye, and in the very movement she made, as she stepped forward to greet him, suddenly smote the baronet with the strangest sensation that he ever experienced, yet he never dreamed that he was looking into the face of his own daughter! It almost seemed to him as if he had known her before in some previous state of existence—as if somewhere in the dim and misty past their souls had met and held sweet and genial converse. For a moment he hardly knew whether he was in the body or out; a mist obscured his sight, a mighty ringing was in his ears, dulling every other sound, while the very earth seemed quaking beneath his feet. “Uncle Will, you are ill!” was the startled remark that recalled him to himself, and made him suddenly realize that he was conducting himself very strangely. “No, my boy, it is only a sudden dizziness; it will pass in a moment; it is gone even now, and I beg pardon for alarming you and your friend,” the baronet replied, as his vision began to clear and he met the beautiful dark eyes of the young girl fixed upon him with a look of deep concern. He put out a hand to steady himself, even as he spoke, and she took a step forward, drawn toward him by a power of attraction she could not understand. “Pray sit down, Sir William; have this rocker,” she said, as she drew forward a light but roomy willow chair for him. “Thanks,” he returned; “let us all sit; we can chat a few moments more comfortably so,” and he gladly sank into the rocker, still feeling as if the floor was slipping from under him. Rupert drew another chair for Virgie, and then went to get a glass of water for his guardian, for his pallor alarmed him greatly. But he was soon entirely himself again, making light of his sudden attack, and they sat and talked some time about the curiosities around them.