Although her son looked sad and care-worn, he
seemed more like an elder brother than the father of the two
young girls.
There was some little restraint between them at first. Lord
Earle seemed at a loss what to talk about; then Lady Helena's
gracious tact came into play. She would not have dinner in the
large dining room, she ordered it to be served in the pretty
morning room, where the fire burned cheerfully and the lamps gave
a flow of mellow light. It was a picture of warm, cozy English
comfort, and Lord Earle looked pleased when he saw it.
Then, when dinner was over, she asked Beatrice to sing, and she,
only pleased to show Lord Earle the extent of her
accomplishments, obeyed. Her superb voice, with its clear,
ringing tones, amazed him. Beatrice sang song after song with a
passion and fire that told how deep the music lay in her soul.
Then Lady Helena bade Lillian bring out her folio of drawings,
and again Lord Earle was pleased and surprised by the skill and
talent he had not looked for. He praised the drawings highly.
One especially attracted his attention--it was the pretty scene
Lillian had sketched on the May day now so long passed--the sun
shining upon the distant white sails, and the broad, beautiful
sweep of sea at Knutsford.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260