Did the curling rings of black
hair fall as gracefully as ever? Had the blushing dimpled face
grown pale and still? And then, chasing away all softened
thought, came the remembrance of that hateful garden scene. Ah,
no, he could never forgive--he could not speak of her even to
these, her children! The two pictures were laid aside, and no
more was said of framing them.
Lord Earle said to himself, after his daughters had retired, that
both were charming; but, though he hardly owned it to himself, if
he had a preference, it was for brilliant, beautiful Beatrice.
He had never seen any one to surpass her. After Lady Helena had
left him, he sat by the fire dreaming, as his father long years
ago had done before him.
It was not too late yet, he thought, to retrieve the fatal
mistake of his life. He would begin at once. He would first
give all his attention to his estate; it should be a model for
all others. He would interest himself in social duties; people
who lamented his foolish, wasted youth should speak with warm
admiration of his manhood; above all matters he dreamed of great
things for his daughters, especially Beatrice.
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