She
died, and he lived--noble and beautiful, is she not? Now look
at the Lacy Alicia--this fair patrician lady smiling by the side
of her grim lord; she, at the risk of her life, helped him to fly
from prison, where he lay condemned to death for some great
political wrong. She saved him, and for her sake he received
pardon. Here is the Lady Helena--she is not beautiful, but look
at the intellect, the queenly brow, the soul-lit eyes! She, I
need not tell you, was a poetess. Wherever the English language
was spoken, her verses were read--men were nobler and better for
reading them. The ladies of our race were such that brave men
may be proud of them. Is it not so, Ronald?"
"Yes," he replied, calmly; "they were noble women."
Lord Earle then led his son to a large painting, upon which the
western sunbeams lingered, brightening the fair face they shone
upon, until it seemed living and smiling. A deep and tender
reverence stole into Lord Earle's voice as he spoke:
"No fairer or more noble woman ever ruled at Earlescourt than
your mother, Ronald. She is the daughter of 'a hundred earls,'
high-bred, beautiful, and refined.
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