for whom he had lost all.

"You will like to see the children now," said Lady Helena. "I will
ring for lights. You will be charmed with both. Beatrice is much like
you--she has the Earle face, and, unless I am mistaken, the Earle
spirit, too."

"Beatrice," said Lillian, as they descended the broad staircase, "I am
frightened. I wish I could remember something of papa his voice or his
smile; it is like going to see a stranger. And suppose, after all, he
does not like us!"

"Suppose what is of greater importance," said Beatrice proudly "that we
do not like him!"

But, for all her high spirits and hauteur, Beatrice almost trembled as
the library door opened and Lady Earle came forward to met them.
Beatrice raised her eyes dauntlessly and saw before her a tall, stately
gentleman with a handsome face, the saddest and noblest she had ever
seen--clear, keen eyes that seemed to pierce through all disguise and
read all thoughts.

"There is Beatrice," said Lady Helena, as she took her hand gently; and
Ronald looked in startled wonder at the superb beauty of the face and
figure before him.

"Beatrice," he said, kissing the proud, bright face, "can it be
possible? When I saw you last you were a little, helpless child."

"I am not helpless now," she replied, with a smile; "and I hope you are
going to love me very much, papa. You have to make up for fifteen
years of absence. I think it will not be very difficult to love you."

He seemed dazzled by her beauty--her frank, high spirit and fearless
words. Then he saw a golden head, with sweet, dove-like eyes, raised
to his.

"I am Lillian, papa," said a clear, musical voice. "Look at me,
please--and love me too."

He did both, charmed with the gentle grace of her manner, and the fair,
pure face. Then Lord Earle took both his children in his arms.

"I wish," he said, in a broken voice and with tears in his eyes, "that
I had seen you before. They told me my little twin children had grown
into beautiful girls, but I did not realize it."

And again, when she saw his proud happiness, Lady Helena longed to
plead for the mother of his children, that she might also share in his
love; but she dared not. His words haunted her. Dora would be forgiven
only in the hour of death.

Chapter XXII

The evening of his return was one of the happiest of Lord Earle's life.
He was charmed with his daughters. Lady Helena thought, with a smile,
that it was difficult to realiz