"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Far and near nothing was spoken of but the ball at Earlescourt.
Anything so brilliant or on so grand a scale had not been given
in the county for many years.
Lord Earle felt proud of the arrangements as he looked through
the ball room and saw the gorgeous array of flowers, tier upon
tier of magnificent bloom, a sight well worth coming many miles
to see. Here and there a marble statue stood amid the flowers.
Little fountains of scented water rippled musically. He stopped
for a few moments looking at the blossoms and thinking of his
beautiful child.
"How she loves everything bright and gay!" he said to himself.
"She will be queen of the ball tonight."
As Lord Earle stood alone in his library that evening, where he
had been reading, stealing a quiet half hour, there came a gentle
knock at the door.
"Come in," he said, and there stood before him something that he
thought must be a vision.
"Grandmamma sent me," said Beatrice, blushing, "to see if I
should do. You are to notice my diamonds, papa, and tell me if
you approve of the setting.
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