e,
and where we sail, and bathe, and fish during the summer months. Over the
library there is a lovely suite of rooms, commanding a wide expanse of
meadow and upland--a scene that is like a picture all the time--which will
henceforth be devoted to the use of the future lady--of Heathdale."

"Heathdale! What a pretty name!" Virgie cried, but still unsuspicious of
the title which would become hers when she should go with him as his wife
to England although he had almost given utterance to it, then hesitated,
and substituted those last two words.

"Yes, it is a pretty name, and, Virgie, the place is the pride of my
heart. At some distance from the mansion there are the stables and
kennels, where the horses and dogs abide."

"Why, Mr.----Why, Will, what an extensive establishment! You must
have----"

Virgie began in a tone of surprise, then stopped in confusion.

"Well, I must have what?" he asked.

"A great deal of money to support such a place," she replied, flushing.

"And is there anything very alarming about that?" he questioned, with a
quiet smile.

"No; but--I thought----"

"You thought that I could not have very much of this world's goods since I
had come here to work a mine," Sir William said, completing her sentence.
"But, darling, all that was only a ruse; I have been working more for my
wife than for gold."

"Will!"

"Darling, it is true; that was my only reason for becoming the purchaser
of your father's interest here. I saw you; I loved you; I must have some
good excuse for tarrying near you to try to win you, and now that I have
attained my object, the mine will have to be disposed of, as I have no
further use for it."

Virgie regarded him with astonishment. She had never suspected anything
like this.

"How strange," she said, with a beautiful flush. "I have thought it almost
unaccountable that a man like you should come here to remain. I have
imagined that you were an author or a student, and might be investigating
the formation of the mountains or studying character in order to write a
book, but I never dreamed of anything like this."

Sir William laughed heartily.

"You were making me out to be quite a lofty character truly," he said;
"and now you find your hero only a very human being after all--one who,
for the sake of a beautiful woman, has been almost willing to barter his
birthright. Have I fallen very low in your estimation, Virgie, because I
am not to become a distinguished publi