Lady Linton stood for a moment or two utterly motionless, almost paralyzed by the startling revelations which her brother’s former wife had just made to her, and then she, too, tottered from the place, murmuring: “To think that she, of all persons, should have had that during these years! What a fool I have been! But,” she continued, with an ominous glitter in her steely eyes, “the die is cast—it will now take desperate measures indeed to secure my own safety and accomplish her defeat.” She returned directly home, for she had neither the strength nor the heart to purchase fashionable gewgaws for Lillian; at least until she had recovered somewhat from the shock she had just received. Upon her arrival she found still another letter from Sir William awaiting her, and one which filled her with astonishment and put an entirely different aspect upon the future, while a portion, at least, of its contents was calculated to electrify his whole household as well as society at large. CHAPTER XX. A STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT. Lady Linton’s letter was handed to her by the butler just as she was sitting down to lunch. She had come in just as the bell rang, and leaving her bonnet and wraps in the hall, went directly to the dining-room without going, as usual, to her room to make a change in her toilet; she was far too weary and shaken to mount the stairs. She broke the seal absently, and began to read in a listless, preoccupied way, when all at once she uttered a startled exclamation, and the paper dropped from her nerveless fingers upon the table. “Why, mamma, what is it? You are as pale as a ghost. Is Cousin William worse or—dead?” exclaimed Lillian, regarding her mother with mingled curiosity and astonishment. “No, but the strangest thing in the world has happened.” “It must be something strange to disturb your equanimity like this; but what is it?” inquired the girl, eagerly. “Your Uncle William is going to be married!” “You cannot mean it, mamma?—at last!” cried Lillian, amazed; then she added, with a gay laugh: “The dear old bachelor! Well, you will have your wish, after all. You have wanted him to marry for the last dozen years.” “Yes; and—I am glad—I am delighted!” replied Lady Linton, slowly, but with strange exultation in her voice, while her eyes gleamed with almost ferocious triumph. “Well, I am astonished. I had given Uncle Will up as a hardened case,” Lillian said, growing more and more surprised, as she considered the matter; “but do tell me who is the happy woman?” “A niece of Lord Norton who has just died; you know we read of his death last week, and I have been wondering why your uncle did not write. This accounts for it,” replied Lady Linton. Then taking up his letter, she continued: “I will read you what he says. The epistle is very brief, and does not sound like him at all, but I suppose we must excuse it under the circumstances.”