Now, farewell; the sunshine, the hope, the happiness of my life go with you, but I shall keep my word.

See my solicitor, Mr.Burt, about your money, and he will arrange everything in my place." "Father," cried Ronald, with tears in his eyes, "say one kind word, touch my hand once again!" "No," said Lord Earle, turning from the outstretched hand; "that is not the hand of an honorable man; I can not hold it in my own." Then Ronald bent down to kiss his mother; her face was white and still; she was not conscious of his tears or his passionate pleading.

Lord Earle raised her face.

"Go," said he, calmly; "do not let your mother find you here when she recovers." He never forgot the pleading of those sorrowful eyes, the anguish of the brave young face, as Ronald turned from him and left the room.
When Lady Earle awoke to consciousness of her misery, her son had left her.

No one would have called Lord Earle hard or stern who saw him clasp his weeping wife in his arms, and console her by every kind and tender word he could utter.
Lord Earle did not know that in his wife's heart there was a hope that in time he would relent.