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