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 calmly, too, but her dreams were
different from Ronald's. She thought of the time when she would
be mistress of that fair domain, and the wife of its brave young
lord. She loved him well. No one had ever pleased her as he had
--no one would ever charm her again. Valentine had made the
grand mistake of her life.

The morrow so eagerly looked for was a fair, bright day. The sun
shone warm and bright, the air was soft and fragrant, the sky
blue and cloudless. Lady Charteris did not leave her room for
breakfast, and Valentine remained with her mother.

When breakfast was ended, Ronald lingered about, hoping to see
Valentine. He had not waited long before he saw the glimmer of
her white dress and blue ribbons. He met her in the hall.

"Will you come out into the gardens, Miss Charteris?" he asked.
"The morning is so beautiful, and you promised me one half hour.
Do not take that book with you. I shall want all your attention
for I have a story to tell you."

He walked by her side through the pleasure gardens where the lake
gleamed in the sunshine, the water lilies sleeping on its quiet
bosom; through the fragrant flower beds where the bees hummed and
the butterflies made love to the fairest blossoms.