The old, fierce jealousy rose
in her heart, crushing every gentle thought. She tore the
letter, so full of Valentine, into a thousand shreds.
"She drew my husband from me," she cried, "with the miserable
beauty of her fair face, and now she will win my children."
Then across the fierce tempest of jealous anger came one thought
like a ray of light. Valentine was married; she had married the
wealthy, powerful prince who had been Ronald's patron; so that,
after all, even if she had lured Ronald from her, he had not
cared for her, or she had soon ceased to care for him.
Beatrice thought it still more strange when her mother's reply to
that long, enthusiastic letter came. Dora said simply that she
had never named the Princess di Borgesi because she was a person
whom she did not care to remember.
Fifteen months passed, and at length came a letter from Lord
Earle, saying that he hoped to reach England before Christmas,
and in any case would be with them by Christmas day. It was a
short letter, written in the hurry of traveling; the words that
touched his children most, were "I am glad you have the girls at
Earlescourt; I am anxious to see what they are like.
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