our wish to you," continued Lord Earle, "but years ago
your mother and I hoped you would some day love Miss Charteris. She is
very beautiful; she is the truest, noblest, the best woman I know. I
am proud of your choice, Ronald--more proud than words can express."

Still Ronald made no reply, and Lady Earle looked up at him quickly.

"You need not fear for Valentine," she said. "I must not betray any
secrets; she likes you, Ronald; I will say no more. If you ask her to
be your wife, I do not think you will ask in vain."

"There is some great mistake," said Ronald, his pale lips quivering.
"Miss Charteris has no thought for me."

"She has no thought for any one else," rejoined Lady Earle, quickly.

"And I," continued Ronald, "never dreamed of making her my wife. I do
not love her. I can never marry Valentine Charteris."

The smiles died from Lord Earle's face, and his wife dropped the pretty
blossoms she was arranging.

"Then why have you paid the girl so much attention?" asked his father,
gravely. "Every one has remarked your manner; you never seemed happy
away from her."

"I wished to make her my friend," said Ronald; "I never thought of
anything else."

He stood aghast when he remembered why he had tried so hard to win her
friendship. What if Valentine misunderstood him?

"Others thought for you," said Lady Earle, dryly. "Of course, if I am
mistaken, there is no more to be said; I merely intended to say how
happy such a marriage would make me. If you do not love the young lady
the matter ends, I suppose."

"Can you not love her, Ronald?" asked his mother, gently. "She is so
fair and good, so well fitted to be the future mistress of Earlescourt.
Can you not love her?"

"Nothing was further from my thoughts," he replied.

"Surely," interrupted Lady Earle, "you have forgotten the idle, boyish
folly that angered your father some time since--that can not be your
reason?"

"Hush, mother," said Ronald, standing erect and dauntless; "I was
coming to tell you my secret when you met me. Father, I deceived and
disobeyed you. I followed Dora Thorne to Eastham, and married her
there."

A low cry came from Lady Earle's lips. Ronald saw his father's face
grow white--livid--with anger; but no word broke the awful silence that
fell upon them. Hours seemed to pass in the space of a few minutes.

"You married her," said Lord Earle, in a low, hoarse voice,
"remembering what I said?"

"I married her," rep