The sunshine and western wind brought no warning to the heir of Earlescourt that he was forging the first link of a dreadful tragedy; he thought only of the shy, blushing beauty and coy grace of the young girl! Suddenly from over the trees there came the sound of the great bell at the Hall.

Then Dora started.
"It is one o'clock!" she cried.

"What shall I do?
Mrs.Morton will be angry with me." "Angry!" said Ronald, annoyed at this sudden breakup of his Arcadian dream.

"Angry with you! For what ?" "She is waiting for the strawberries," replied conscious Dora, "and my basket is not half full." It was a new idea to him that any one should dare to be angry with this pretty, gentle Dora.
"I will help you," he said.
In less than a minute the heir of Earlescourt was kneeling by Dora Thorne, gathering quickly the ripe strawberries, and the basket was soon filled.
"There," said Ronald, "you need not fear Mrs.Morton now, Dora.

You must go, I suppose; it seems hard to leave this bright sunshine to go indoors!" "I--I would rather stay," said Dora, frankly; "but I have much to do." "Shall you be here tomorrow ?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied; "it will take me all the week to gather strawberries for the housekeeper." "Goodbye, Dora," he said, "I shall see you again." He held out his hand, and her little fingers trembled and fluttered in his grasp.