surroundings, and liked the gentle but self-possessed tones of the
old lady. She noticed the foxgloves.

'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, 'they are the fruits of yesterday's
expedition. My two children, as I call them, brought them home in
triumph. I cannot tell you what pleasure Lord Kirkaldy's kindness
gave them--and many more.'

'I am glad,' said the lady, while she said to herself, 'now for it,'
and sat forward. 'It struck me,' she said, 'on hearing your name
that you might be related to--to a young lady who lived a good while
ago in the family of my sister, Lady Adelaide Egremont.'

A strange look came into Miss Headworth's eyes, her lips trembled,
she clutched tightly the arm of her chair, but then cast a puzzled
glance at her visitor.

'Perhaps if you heard of me then,' said the latter, 'it was as Lady
Margaret Kerr.'

'Yes,' said Miss Headworth, then pausing, she collected herself and
said in an anxious voice, 'Do I understand that your ladyship is
come to inquire for my niece, being aware of the circumstances.'

'I only became aware of them yesterday,' said Lady Kirkaldy. 'I was
in Turkey at the time, and no particulars were given to me; but my
nephew, Mark Egremont, your niece's old pupil, came to consult us,
having just discovered among his uncle's papers evidence of the
marriage, of which of course he had been ignorant.'