At college he won the highest honors; great things were prophesied for Ronald Earle.

They might have been accomplished but for the unfortunate event that darkened Earlescourt with a cloud of shame and sorrow.
Lord and Lady Earle had gone to pay a visit to an old friend, Sir Hugh Charteris, of Greenoke.

Thinking Ronald would not reach home until the third week in June, they accepted Sir Hugh's invitation, and promised to spend the first two weeks in June with him.

But Ronald altered his plans; the visit he was making did not prove to be a very pleasant one, and he returned to Earlescourt two days after Lord and Lady Earle had left it.

His father wrote immediately, pressing him to join the party at Greenoke.