Mrs. Alexander’s face fell at the mention of the young man’s name. She had scarcely slept during the previous night, for many things troubled her, and, among others, the thought that Virgie’s engagement to Rupert Hamilton seemed likely to complicate matters very much when she should be ready to make her claim upon Sir William Heath. “You can leave a note telling him that we are obliged to leave town for a while, and we can explain further to him when we ascertain just how we are to be situated,” her mother replied, after considering a moment. So, when Rupert called that evening, he found only a note awaiting him instead of the bright face he had hoped to see, while it told him that his betrothed and her mother had been unexpectedly called away from London upon important business, which might detain them a week, perhaps longer. “It is very strange that she does not mention where they are going,” he said, as he read the note over for the second time, and remarked this omission. “Mrs. Alexander acted very strangely last evening. I wonder if this sudden departure can have had anything to do with that?” He retraced his steps, feeling unaccountably depressed over the absence of Virgie, and he resolved to seek an interview with Sir William and acquaint him with the fact of his engagement that very evening. He did not, however, find his guardian upon his return; he had gone out upon a matter of business, his valet told the young man, and would not be back until late; so he retired, resolving to improve the first opportunity on the morrow. The next morning, after breakfast, he said, in a quiet aside: “Can I have a few moments’ conversation with you, Uncle Will?” “Certainly, my boy. Come into the library in about ten minutes, and I will be there.” Lady Linton, always on the alert for everything of a mysterious nature, and doubly keen now to suspect mischief, heard this request, and at once resolved to become acquainted with the nature of the interview. Sir William’s chamber was just back of the library, although there was no door communicating with it. The same furnace-pipe, however, conducted heat to the two rooms, and, by stationing herself close to this, her ladyship knew she could overhear whatever might pass between the two men. She therefore slipped quietly into her brother’s bed-room, locked the door, and, creeping close to the register, laid her eager ear against it. Rupert was already with Sir William, for the housekeeper had detained Lady Linton for a few moments with questions regarding some domestic matter, but she was in season to hear him broach the subject so near his heart. “I have come to make a confession to you, Uncle Will,” he said, as he seated himself opposite his guardian. “A confession! Nothing very serious, I hope,” said Sir William, glancing keenly into the flushed face of his ward.