"Ah! hers is a beautiful nature--sweet, frank, candid, transparent--no
two lives there, Edgar. Her face is as pure as a lily, and her soul is
the same. No need to turn from me, dear; I read your secret when she
came in. If you give me such a sister as that I shall be grateful to
you."

"Then you think there might be some chance for me if I asked her to
become my wife?"

"Assuredly. Why not?"

She said no more, for at that moment Coralie returned; she had been in
the garden gathering some flowers for Clare. The brightest bloom was on
her face; the brightest light was in her eye. Looking at her, it was
impossible to believe that she was anything but a light-hearted happy
girl.

She glanced round the room.

"Your visitors are gone," she said. "I felt sure they were staying for
dinner."

"Coralie," I asked, "Lady Thesiger tells me she has been here a good
deal, yet you do not seem to be on very intimate terms with her?"

"No," she said, with that frank smile that was lovely enough to charm
any one. "I neither like nor admire Lady Thesiger."

Clare uttered a little cry of astonishment.