"
"I wished to make her my friend," said Ronald; "I never thought
of anything else."
He stood aghast when he remembered why he had tried so hard to
win her friendship. What if Valentine misunderstood him?
"Others thought for you," said Lady Earle, dryly. "Of course, if
I am mistaken, there is no more to be said; I merely intended to
say how happy such a marriage would make me. If you do not love
the young lady the matter ends, I suppose."
"Can you not love her, Ronald?" asked his mother, gently. "She
is so fair and good, so well fitted to be the future mistress of
Earlescourt. Can you not love her?"
"Nothing was further from my thoughts," he replied.
"Surely," interrupted Lady Earle, "you have forgotten the idle,
boyish folly that angered your father some time since--that can
not be your reason?"
"Hush, mother," said Ronald, standing erect and dauntless; "I was
coming to tell you my secret when you met me. Father, I deceived
and disobeyed you. I followed Dora Thorne to Eastham, and
married her there."
A low cry came from Lady Earle's lips. Ronald saw his father's
face grow white--livid--with anger; but no word broke the awful
silence that fell upon them.
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