ved
that I would become the purchaser. I would come here and remain to study
the character of your daughter, and if she proved all that I fancied her,
I would strive to win her for my wife. This, my dear sir, is why I am
here; and now--will you give her to me?"

"Have you said anything to Virgie about this?" Mr. Abbot asked, looking
very grave.

"No, sir; I have not breathed a word of my intentions to her; but I
accepted her invitation to tea this evening with the determination to tell
you this, if I could make the opportunity, and ask your sanction to my
suit before speaking to her."

Mr. Abbot looked gratified.

"That was honorable of you," he said. "It meets my estimate of your
character."

"Thank you, sir," Mr. Heath returned, flushing slightly, then continued:
"I am not given much to rhapsody or extravagances of language, but I know
that I can never be a happy man unless I win Virgie, and if you will give
her to me, I promise most solemnly to devote my life to her happiness."

"Is William Heath your true name?" Mr. Abbot questioned, determined to
know all about him before committing himself.

"Yes, sir. I hope you do not think I have been masquerading under a false
name," returned the young man, a quick flush mantling his cheek.

"Pardon me; but you must remember that I could not account for your being
here, and--and I was a little suspicious, I own, that you were not quite
what you pretended to be," said the invalid, apologetically, and yet
regarding him keenly.

The flush on William Heath's face deepened. He looked very thoughtful for
a moment, then said:

"Mr. Abbot, you have read between the lines better than I thought. I would
have preferred to remain plain William Heath to every one until after I
had won my love; but perhaps I had better be perfectly frank with you. I
am not an American."

"I thought so," returned his companion, quietly.

"Did you?" asked the young man, looking surprised. "I compliment you upon
your penetration then, for I have passed for one of your countrymen almost
everywhere since coming to this country."

"I think you are an Englishman," said Mr. Abbot.

"I am, sir. I have an estate called Heathdale in the county of Hampshire,
England. I own another in Surrey. Mr. Abbot, I am an English baronet, and
I have simply been a visitor and traveler in this country during the last
year."

"You, an English baronet!" exclaimed Mr. Abbot, excitedly, a vivid flush
suffusing his fa