beautiful
face of Beatrice Earle her lover read nothing but happiness and love.

"I have something here for you, Beatrice," said Lord Airlie, showing
her a little packet--"a surprise. You must thank me by saying that
what it contains will be more precious to you than anything else on
earth."

She opened the pretty case; within it there lay a fine gold chain of
exquisite fashion and a locket of marvelous beauty.

She uttered a little cry of surprise, and raised the present in her
hands.

"Now, thank me," said Lord Airlie, "in the way I asked."

"What it contains is more precious to me than anything on earth," she
said. "You know that, Hubert; why do you make me repeat it?"

"Because I like to hear it," he answered. "I like to see my proud love
looking humble for a few minutes; I like to know that I have caged a
bright, wild bird that no one else could tame."

"I am not caged yet," she objected.

"Beatrice," said Lord Airlie, "make me a promise. Let me fasten this
locket around your neck, and tell me that you will not part with it
night or day for one moment until our wedding day."

"I can easily promise that," she said. She bent her beautiful head,
and Lord Airlie fastened the chain round her throat.

He little knew what he had done. When Lord Airlie fastened the chain
round the neck of the girl he loved, he bound her to him in life and in
death.

"It looks charming," he said. "How everything beautiful becomes you,
Beatrice! You were born to be a queen--who am I that I should have won
you? Tell me over again--I never grow tired of hearing it--do you love
me?"

She told him again, her face glowing with happiness. He bent over her
and kissed the sweet face; he kissed the little white hands and the
rings of dark hair the wind blew carelessly near him.

"When the leaves are green, and the fair spring is come," he said, "you
will be my wife, Beatrice--Lady Airlie of Lynnton. I love my name and
title when I remember that you will share them. And you shall be the
happiest Lady Airlie that ever lived--the happiest bride, the happiest
wife the sun ever shone upon. You will never part with my locket,
Beatrice?"

"No," she replied; "never. I will keep it always."

They sat through the long bright hours under the shade of the old cedar
tree, while Lillian lay with head and heart aching, wondering in her
gentle way why this sorrow should have fallen upon her.

She did not know, as she lay like a pale