Florence, after awhile, made a confidante of Aunt Ella and told her about Captain Hornaby. She confessed her interest in him and said that notwithstanding his crime she loved him, but that her father would never forgive him.
“What part of England did he come from?” asked Aunt Ella.
“He said from Hornaby—that the place was named after his family. Their home was called Hornaby Hook, because, as he said, it was built upon a promontory in the form of a hook.”
“What is his father's name?”
“Sir Wilfred, and Reginald is the fourth son.”
“No chance of his ever getting the title,” remarked Aunt Ella.
“I wonder where Hornaby Hook is,” said Florence.
“That's easily found out. Linda has Burke's Peerage and I'll write to her to-day.”
Lady Fernborough more than kept her promise, for in her letter she told the Countess Florence's unhappy love story besides asking for information about the Hornaby family.
Linda's reply was a revelation.