We must introduce the girls to our
neighbors. I can foresee quite a cheerful winter."
"Let us get over the summer and autumn," said Ronald with a
smile, "then we will look the winter bravely in the face. I
suppose, mother, you can guess who has managed to procure an
invitation to Earlescourt!"
"Lord Airlie?" asked Lady Helena.
"Yes," was the laughing reply. "It did me good, mother--it made
me feel young and happy again to see and hear him. His handsome,
frank face clouded when I told him we were going; then he sighed
said London would be like a desert--declared he could not go
to Lynnton, the place was full of work-people. He did not like
Scotland, and was as homeless as a wealthy young peer with
several estates could well be. I allowed him to bewilder himself
with confused excuses and blunders, and then asked him to join us
at Earlescourt. He almost 'jumped for joy,' as the children say.
He will follow us in a week or ten days. Lionel will come with
us."
"I am very pleased," said Lady Earle. "Next to you, Ronald, I
love Lionel Dacre; his frank, proud, fearless disposition has a
great charm for me.
Pages:
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312