matter. Pardon me--but did you reflect well--were you quite
convinced that the whole happiness of your life was at stake? If
so, I need say no more. It is an unequal marriage, one not at
all fitting in the order of things."

How strange that she should use his father's words!

"Tell your father at once," she continued. "You can never
retrace the step you have taken. You may never wish to do so,
but you can and must retrieve the error of duplicity and
concealment."

"You will try and make my mother love Dora?" said Ronald.

"That I will," replied Valentine. "You sketched her portrait
well. I can almost see her. I will speak of her beauty, her
grace, her tenderness."

"You are a true friend," said Ronald, gratefully.

"Do not overrate my influence," said Valentine. "You must learn
to look your life boldly in the face. Candidly and honestly I
think that, from mistaken notions of honor and chivalry, you have
done wrong. A man must be brave. Perhaps one of the hardest
lessons in life is to bear unflinchingly the effects and
consequences of one's own deeds. You must do that, you must not
flinch, you must bear what follows like a man and a hero."

"I will," said Ronald, looking at the fair face, and half wishing
that the little Dora could talk to him as this noble girl did;