"Your happiness shall be my
study."
"There can be no rest for me," continued his mother, "unless all
division in our family ends. Ronald, I, who never asked you a
favor before, ask one now. Seek Dora and bring her home
reconciled and happy."
A dark angry frown such as she had never seen there before came
into Lord Earle's face.
"Anything but that," he replied, hastily; "I can not do it,
mother. I could not, if I lay upon my death bed."
"And why?" asked Lady Helena, simply, as she had asked Dora.
"For a hundred reasons, the first and greatest of which is that
she has outraged all my notions of honor, shamed and disgraced me
in the presence of one whom I esteemed and revered; she has--But
no, I will not speak of my wife's errors, it were unmanly. I can
not forgive her, mother. I wish her no harm; let her have every
luxury my wealth can procure, but do not name her to me. I
should be utterly devoid of all pride if I could pardon her."
"Pride on your side," said Lady Earle, sadly, "and temper on
hers! Oh, Ronald, how will it end? Be wise in time; the most
honest and noble man is he who conquers himself.
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