“No; he was rather weary, and begged me to make his excuses to Lady Huntington.”
“You have never told me who your guardian is, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Haven’t I? Then I have been very negligent, for he is the best friend I have in the world. He is Sir William Heath, and I hope to have an opportunity to introduce you to him soon.”
“Do you intend to remain in London?” Virgie asked.
“For the present. Sir William Heath has a house in town, and we shall all be here for several weeks. By ‘all’ I mean Sir William’s sister, Lady Linton, her daughter Lillian, who is a young lady a little older than yourself, and—your humble servant,” explained Rupert.
“Lady Linton!” Virgie repeated, thoughtfully; “where have I heard that name before? It is very familiar, and yet I cannot recall the person to whom it belongs.”
“Very likely you have heard it spoken in society here, as Lady Linton is in the habit of going out a good deal when in town,” returned the young man.
“Perhaps so,” Virgie assented, and yet almost positive she had heard it before ever coming to London.
They chatted a little longer, and then the young girl said she must return to the company, and Rupert, giving her his arm, conducted her back to the drawing-room.
But once there, she was again surrounded by a merry company, and he had no further opportunity to converse with her.