She will be here with Valentine tomorrow." "I am very glad," said Lord Earle, looking up with pleasure and surprise.

"We must ask Lady Laurence to meet them." Ronald sighed; his parents busily discussed the hospitalities and pleasures to be offered their guests.

A grand dinner party was planned, and a ball, to which half the country side were to be invited.
"Valentine loves gayety," said Lady Earle, "and we must give her plenty of it." "I shall have all this to go through," sighed Ronald--"grand parties, dinners, and balls, while my heart longs to be with my darling; and in the midst of it all, how shall I find time to talk to my father?
I will begin this very day." When dinner was over, Ronald proposed to Lord Earle that they should go out on the terrace and smoke a cigar there.

Then took place the conversation with which our story opens, when the master of Earlescourt declared his final resolve.
Ronald was more disturbed than he cared to own even to himself.

Once the words hovered upon his lips that he had married Dora.