The next day Lady Charteris and her daughter left Earlescourt.
Lord Earle gave no sign of the heavy blow which had struck him.
He was their attentive host while they remained; he escorted them
to their carriage, and parted from them with smiling words. Then
he went back to the house, where he was never more to hear the
sound of the voice he loved best on earth.
As the days and months passed, and the young heir did not return,
wonder and surprise reigned at Earlescourt. Lord Earle never
mentioned his son's name. People said he had gone abroad, and
was living somewhere in Italy. To Lord Earl it seemed that his
life was ended; he had no further plans, ambition died away; the
grand purpose of his life would never be fulfilled.
Lady Earle said nothing of the trouble that had fallen upon her.
She hoped against hope that the time would come when her husband
would pardon their only son. Valentine Charteris bore her
disappointment well. She never forgot the simple, chivalrous man
who had clung to her friendship and relied so vainly upon her
influence.
Many lovers sighed round Valentine.
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