der the shade of green trees. Beatrice Earle began by
wondering if Lord Airlie cared for her; she ended by loving him herself.

It was no child's play this time. With Beatrice, to love once was to
love forever, with fervor and intensity which cold and worldly natures
can not even understand.

The time came when Lord Airlie stood out distinct from all the world,
when the sound of his name was like music, when she saw no other face,
heard no other voice, thought of nothing else save him. He began to
think there might be some hope for him; the proud, beautiful face
softened and brightened for him as it did for no other, and the
glorious dark eyes never met his own, the frank, bright words died away
in his presence. Seeing all these things, Lord Airlie felt some little
hope.

For the first time he felt proud and pleased with the noble fortune and
high rank that were his by birthright. He had not cared much for them
before; now he rejoiced that he could lavish wealth and luxury upon one
so fair and worthy as Beatrice Earle.

Lord Airlie was not a confident lover. There were times when he felt
uncertain as to whether he should succeed. Perhaps true and
reverential love is always timid. Lord Earle had smiled to himself
many long weeks at the "pretty play" enacted before him, and Lady
Helena had wondered when the young man would "speak out" long before
Lord Airlie himself presumed to think that the fairest and proudest
girl in London would accept him.

No day ever passed during which he did not manage to see her. He was
indefatigable in finding out the balls, soirees, and operas she would
attend. He was her constant shadow, never happy out of her sight,
thinking of her all day, dreaming of her all night, yet half afraid to
risk all and ask her to be his wife, lest he should lose her.

To uninterested speculators Lord Airlie was a handsome, kindly,
honorable young man. Intellectual, somewhat fastidious, lavishly
generous, a great patron of fine arts; to Beatrice Earle he was the
ideal of all that was noble and to be admired. He was a prince among
men. The proud heart was conquered. She loved him and said to herself
that she would rather love him as a neglected wife than be the
worshiped wife of any other man.

She had many admirers; "the beautiful Miss Earle" was the belle of the
season. Had she been inclined to coquetry or flirtation she would not
have been so eagerly sought after. The gentlemen were qui