Then Lady Earle held out her delicate white hand, and the man
bowed low over it. Before the sun set that evening, Stephen
Thorne had taken Dora to Eastham, where she was to remain until
Ronald had gone abroad.

For a few days it seemed as though the storm had blown over.
There was one angry interview between father and son, when Ronald
declared that sending Dora away was a breach of faith, and that
he would find her out and marry her how and when he could. Lord
Earle thought his words were but the wild folly of a boy deprived
of a much-desired toy. He did not give them serious heed.

The story of Earlescourt might have been different, had not
Ronald, while still amazed and irritated by his father's cool
contempt, encountered Ralph Holt. They met at the gate leading
from the fields to the high road; it was closed between them, and
neither could make way.

"I have a little account to settle with you, my young lordling,"
said Ralph, angrily. "Doves never mate with eagles; if you want
to marry, choose one of your own class, and leave Dora Thorne to
me."

"Dora Thorne is mine," said Ronald, haughtily.

"She will never be," was the quick reply. "See, young master, I
have loved Dora since she was a--a pretty, bright-eyed child.
Her
father lived near my father's farm then. I have cared for her
all my life--I do not know that I have ever looked twice at