"The resemblance struck us all, Mrs. Valchester. I, for one, believe that it is little Lina herself. She had a wonderful voice."
"I thought—thought every one believed that she was dead, or that Gerald Huntington had carried her off again," stammered the lady.
"Every one must have been mistaken," said Walter. "I think there can scarcely be a doubt that Madame Dolores is only the stage name of Jaquelina Meredith."
"Ronald, what do you think?" the lady asked, looking up half timidly into the face of her son.
He had stood by her chair, pale and silent as a statue, hearing every word but taking no part in the conversation. He looked down at her now and answered in a low, quiet voice:
"It is Lina herself."
"Are you sure?" cried Walter.
"I am quite sure," Ronald answered.
Then he saw that they were all looking at him inquiringly, and nerved himself to explain.