Now
I have one more thing to say--I shall never control or force
your affections, but in my heart there is one great wish."
Lord Earle paused for a few minutes; he was looking at the face
of Lady Alicia Earle, whom Beatrice strongly resembled.
"I have no son," he continued, "and you, my daughters, will not
inherit title or estate--both go to Lionel Dacre. If ever the
time should come when Lionel asks either of you to be his wife,
my dearest wish will be accomplished. And now, as my long
lecture is finished, and the bell has rung, we will prepare for a
visit to Sir Harry and Lady Laurence."
There was not much time for thought during the rest of the day;
but when night came, and Beatrice was alone, she looked the
secret of her life in the face.
She had been strongly tempted, when Lord Earle had spoken so
kindly, to tell him all. She now wished she had done so; all
would have been over. He would perhaps have chided her simple,
girlish folly, and have forgiven her. He would never forgive her
now that she had deliberately concealed the fact; the time for
forgiveness was past.
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