How guilty
am I? That man believed he was about to raise Beatrice in the
social scale when he asked her to be his wife, or as he says, he
would never have dreamed of proposing to marry my daughter. If
he merits blame, what do I deserve?"
"It was a false position, certainly," replied Lionel Dacre.
"This secret must be kept inviolate," said Lord Earle. "Lord
Airlie must never know it--it would kill Lady Helena, I believe.
One thing puzzles me, Lionel--Fernely says Lillian met him. I
do not think that is true."
"It is!" cried Lionel, a sudden light breaking in upon him. "I
saw her with him. Oh, Lord Earle, you may be proud of Lillian!
She is the noblest, truest girl that ever lived. Why, she
sacrificed her own love, her own happiness, for her sister! She
loved me; and when this wedding, which will never now take place,
was over, I intended to ask you to give me Lillian. One night,
quite accidentally, while I was wandering in the grounds with a
cigar, I saw her speaking to a stranger, her fair sweet face full
of pity and compassion, which I mistook for love. Shame to me
that I was base enough to doubt her--that I spoke to her the
words I uttered! I demanded to know who it was she had met, and
why she had met him.
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