likely he would find her? What was there in common between
the beautiful daughter of Lord Earle and Hugh Fernely, the captain of a
trading vessel? Nothing, save folly and a foolish promise rashly asked
and rashly given.

Three days before Lord Earle left London, he went by appointment to
meet some friends at Brookes's. While there, a gentleman entered the
room who attracted his attention, most forcibly--a young man of tall
and stately figure, with a noble head, magnificently set upon broad
shoulders; a fine, manly face, with proud, mobile features--at times
all fire and light, the eyes clear and glowing, again, gentle as the
face of a smiling woman. Lord Earle looked at him attentively; there
seemed to be something familiar in the outline of the head and face,
the haughty yet graceful carriage.

"Who is that?" he inquired of his friend, Captain Langdon. "I have seen
that gentleman before, or have dreamed of him."

"Is it possible that you do not know him?" cried the captain. "That is
Lionel Dacre, 'your next of kin,' if I am not mistaken."

Pleasure and pain struggled in Lord Earle's heart. He remembered
Lionel many years ago, long before he committed the foolish act that
had cost him so much. Lionel had spent some time with him at
Earlescourt; he remembered a handsome and high-spirited boy, proud and
impetuous, brave to rashness, generous to a fault; a fierce hater of
everything mean and underhand; truthful and honorable--his greatest
failing, want of cool, calm thought.

Lionel Dacre was poor in those days; now he was heir to Earlescourt,
heir to the title that, with all his strange political notions, Ronald
Earle ever held in high honor; heir to the grand old mansion and fair
domain his father had prized so highly. Pleasure and pain were
strangely intermingled in his heart when he remembered that no son of
his would every succeed him, that he should never train his successor.
The handsome boy that had grown into so fine a man must take his place
one day.

Lord Earle crossed the room, and going up to the young man, laid one
hand gently upon his shoulder.

"Lionel," he said, "it is many years since we met. Have you no
remembrance of me?"

The frank, clear eyes looked straight into his. Lord Earle's heart
warmed as he gazed at the honest, handsome face.

"Not the least in the world," replied Mr. Dacre, slowly. "I do not
remember ever to have seen you before."

"Then I must have changed," said Lord