With her beauty
and grace, her magnificent voice, her frank, fearless spirit, and
piquant, charming wit, she would be a queen of society; through
his daughter his early error would be redeemed. Beatrice was
sure to marry well; she would bring fresh honors to the grand old
race ha had shamed. When the annals of the family told, in years
to come, the story of his mistaken marriage, it would be amply
redeemed by the grand alliance Beatrice would be sure to
contract.
His hopes rested upon her and centered in her. As he sat
watching the glowing embers, there came to him the thought that
what Beatrice was to him he had once been to the father he was
never more to see. Ah! If his daughter should be like himself
if she should ruin his hopes, throw down the air castle he had
built--should love unworthily, marry beneath her, deceive and
disappoint him! But no, it should not be--he would watch over
her. Lord Earle shuddered at the thought.
During breakfast on the morning following his return Lady Helena
asked what his plans were for the day--whether he intended
driving the girls over to Holte.
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