Yet, strange to say, when Ronald told his pretty, weeping wife
all that happened, he made no mention of Valentine Charteris--he
did not even utter her name.

Ronald's arrangements were soon made. He sent for Stephen Thorne
and his wife, and told them how and when he had married Dora.

"I am sorry for it," said Stephen. "No good will ever come of
such an unequal match. My girl had better have stayed at home,
or married the young farmer who loved her. The distance between
you is too great, Mr. Earle, and I fear me you will find it out."

Ronald laughed at the idea that he should ever tire of Dora. How
little these prosaic, commonplace people knew of love!

The good lodge keeper and his wife parted from Dora with many
tears. She was never to brighten their home again with her sweet
face and gay voice. She was going away to strange lands over the
sea. Many dark forebodings haunted them; but it was too late for
advice and interference now.

The first news that came to the villa on the banks of the Arno
was that Stephen Thorne and his wife had left the lodge and taken
a small farm somewhere in the county of Kent. Lady Earle had
found them the means, and they had left without one word from
Lord Earle. He never asked whither they had gone.

Despite his father's anger and his mother's sorrow, despite his
poverty and loss of position, Ronald for some months was very
happy with his young wife. It was so pleasant to teach Dora, to