, the rooms are so full."

Miss Charteris smiled in replying, wishing Sir Harry had waited ten
minutes longer.

"Promise me," said Ronald, detaining her, as Sir Harry passed on, "that
you will give me one half hour tomorrow."

"I will do so," replied she.

"And you will listen to me, Miss Charteris?" he continued. "You will
hear all I have to say?"

Valentine made no reply; several other people came, some to admire the
alcove filled with ferns which drooped from the wall by which she was
standing, others to breathe the fragrant air. She could not speak
without being overheard; but, with a charming smile, she took a
beautiful lily from her bouquet and held it out to him. They then went
back into the ball room.

"He loves me," thought Valentine; and, as far as her calm, serene
nature was capable of passionate delight, she felt it.

"She will befriend me," thought Ronald; "but why did she give me this
flower?"

The most remote suspicion that Valentine had mistaken him--that she
loved him--never crossed the mind of Ronald Earle. He was singularly
free from vanity. Perhaps if he had a little more confidence in
himself, the story of the Earles might have been different.

Lady Charteris looked at her daughter's calm, proud face. She had
noticed the little interview in the conservatory, and drew her own
conclusions from it. Valentine's face confirmed them there was a
delicate flush upon it, and a new light shone in the lustrous eyes.

"You like Earlescourt?" said Lady Charteris to her daughter that
evening, as they sat in her drawing room alone.

"Yes, mamma, I like it very much," said Valentine.

"And from what I see," continued the elder lady, "I think it is likely
to be your home."

"Yes, I believe so," said Valentine, bending over her mother, and
kissing her. "Ronald has asked me to give him one half hour tomorrow,
and I am very happy, mamma."

For one so calm and stately, it was admission enough. Lady Charteris
knew, from the tone of her daughter's voice, that she loved Ronald
Earle.

Ronald slept calmly, half hoping that the end of his troubles was
drawing nigh. Valentine, whom his mother loved so well, would
intercede for Dora. Lord Earle would be sure to relent; and he could
bring Dora home, and all would be well. If ever and anon a cold fear
crept into his heart that simple, pretty Dora would be sadly out of
place in that magnificent house, he dashed it from him. Miss Charteris
slept ca