Sir William turned a questioning look upon Rupert.
“I met Miss Alexander during my trip, Uncle Will,” he said, quietly, but coloring beneath his glance.
“Alexander!” repeated the baronet, with a sudden start.
“I did not quite catch the name before. Is New York your parents’ native place?”
“No, sir. Mamma’s early home was in the West, and my father—oh! what have I done?”
In her nervousness, caused by speaking of her father, Virgie had swept something from the table, by which she was sitting, with a motion of her arm, and it had fallen with a crash to the floor.
“No harm,” Rupert returned, as he stooped to pick it up, “it is only a metallic paper knife and could not break. It is, however, a curiously carved affair; had you noticed it?” and he passed it to her to examine, for he observed that she was disturbed and excited by the mention of her father.
Virgie took it, glad of an excuse for changing the subject, and then they all fell to discussing the skill and ingenuity of the Japanese.
While they sat thus, a face suddenly looked in upon them from the hall.
It was the face of Lady Linton.