“Yes. What is the matter, Miriam?” and he sprang forward and caught her in his arms, just as she was falling to the floor in a well-feigned swoon. CHAPTER XVII. SOME STARTLING DISCOVERIES. Of course the attention of all centered at once upon Lady Linton, and Sir William’s interest in his beautiful but unknown daughter was, for the time, merged in his anxiety for his sister. As it happened, there was no one else in the room just then, and Rupert and his guardian laid the apparently unconscious woman upon a lounge that was standing near, and immediately exerted themselves for her recovery. Virgie, too, was very helpful, dipping her own dainty handkerchief into some water that Rupert brought, and bathing Lady Linton’s face with it, while she gave directions to Sir William about chafing her hands to assist in restoring circulation. When the woman began to show signs of recovery and opened her eyes, she found herself looking directly into the face of the lovely girl whose presence there had caused her so much concern. “Where is my brother?” she demanded, jerking her head away from the gentle hand that was ministering so tenderly to her. “I am here, Miriam,” said Sir William, bending over her. “What shall I do for you?” “Take me home,” she replied, with a shiver, as she glanced darkly at Virgie, who had drawn back and was standing beside Rupert. “I will, as soon as you are able,” her brother replied. “I am able now,” and she sat up with surprising energy for one who but a few moments before had appeared so seriously ill. “Very well; I will attend you immediately,” Sir William responded; “but,” he added, as he regarded her anxiously, “what could have caused this sudden attack? I never knew you to faint before.” A guilty stain shot for a moment into Lady Linton’s cheeks. “I imagine the rooms are overheated, and I have not been quite myself this evening,” she said, which was true enough, for there had been a deadly sinking at her heart ever since her encounter with her brother’s former wife. She glanced uneasily toward the door as she spoke, for she was in mortal terror lest she should chance to make her appearance there in search of her daughter, and she felt that she would rather drop dead, there at her brother’s feet, than to have those two, so long parted by her plotting, meet and become reconciled. Her purpose now was to get him out of that house and away from London as soon as possible, and she resolved to stop at nothing to accomplish her object. It was a terrible blow to her to find that woman there. So many years had elapsed, during which she had kept silence, that she had grown to feel very secure in her position as mistress of her brother’s home, and she had fully expected that she would retain it as long as she should live, and had come to regard the threats which the injured wife had made in the past as so many idle words.