n."

Satisfied with having seen what kind of face accompanied the voice, the
young earl left the pretty rose thicket. His friends must have thought
him slightly deranged. He went about asking every one, "Who is here
today?" Among others, he saluted Lord Dolchester with that question.

"I can scarcely tell you," replied his lordship. "I am somewhat in a
puzzle. If you want to know who is the queen of the fete, I can tell
you. It is Lord Earle's daughter, Miss Beatrice Earle. She is over
there, see with Lady Downham."

Looking in the direction indicated, Lord Airlee saw the face that
haunted him.

"Yes," said Lord Dolchester, with a gay laugh; "and if I were young and
unfettered, she would not be Miss Earle much longer."

Chapter XXIV

Lord Airlie gazed long and earnestly at the beautiful girl who looked
so utterly unconscious of the admiration she excited.

"I must ask Lady Downham to introduce me," he said to himself,
wondering whether the proud face would smile upon him, and, if she
carried into practice her favorite theory of saying what she thought,
what she would say to him.

Lady Downham smiled when the young earl made his request.

"I have been besieged by gentlemen requesting introductions to Miss
Earle," she said. "Contrary to your general rule, Lord Airlie, you go
with the crowd."

He would have gone anywhere for one word from those perfect lips. Lady
Downham led him to the spot where Beatrice stood, and in a few
courteous words introduced him to her.

Lord Airlie was celebrated for his amiable, pleasing manner. He always
knew what to say and how to say it, but when those magnificent eyes
looked into his own, the young earl stood silent and abashed. In vain
he tried confusedly to utter a few words; his face flushed, and
Beatrice looked at him in wonder.--Could this man gazing so ardently at
her be the impenetrable Lord Airlie?

He managed at length to say something about the beauty of the grounds
and the brightness of the day. Plainly as eyes could speak, hers
asked: Had he nothing to say?

He lingered by her side, charmed and fascinated by her grace; she
talked to Lillian and to Lady Helena; she received the homage offered
to her so unconscious of his presence and his regard that Lord Airlie
was piqued. He was not accustomed to being overlooked.

"Do you never grow tired of flowers and fetes, Miss Earle?" he asked at
length.

"No," replied Beatrice, "I could never grow tired