-bred wonder. She saw her husband's white, angry, indignant
countenance--gestures full of unutterable contempt. Ah, no, never
again! Nothing could heal that quarrel.

"You must take your place in the world," continued Lady Earle. "You are
no longer simply Mrs. Earle of the Elms; you are Lady Earle, of
Earlescourt, wife of its lord, the mother of his children. You have
duties too numerous for me to mention, and you must not shrink from
them."

"I refuse all," she replied, calmly; "I refuse to share your son's
titles, his wealth, his position, his duties; I refuse to make any
advances toward a reconciliation; I refuse to be reconciled."

"And why?" asked Lady Helena, gravely.

A proud flush rose to Dora's face--hot anger stirred in her heart.

"Because your son said words to me that I never can and never will
forget," she cried. "I did wrong--Lady Helena, I was mad, jealous,
blind--I did wrong--I did what I now know to be dishonorable and
degrading. I knew no better, and he might have pardoned me,
remembering that. But before the woman I believe to be my rival he
bitterly regretted having made me his wife."

"They were hard words," said Lady Earle.

"Very hard," replied Dora; "they broke my heart--they slew me in my
youth; I have never lived since then."

"Can you never forgive and forget them, Dora?" asked Lady Helena.

"Never," she replied; "they are burned into my heart and on my brain.
I shall never forget them; your son and I must be strangers, Lady
Earle, while we live."

"I can say no more," sighed Lady Earle. "Perhaps a mightier voice will
call to you, Dora, and then you will obey."

A deep silence fell upon them. Lady Helena was more grieved and
disconcerted than she cared to own. She had thought of taking her
son's wife and children home in triumph, but it was not to be.

"Shall we speak of the children now?" she asked at length. "Some
arrangements must be made for them."

"Yes," said Dora, "their father has claims upon them. I am ready to
yield to them. I do not believe he will ever love them or care for
them, because they are mine. At the same time, I give them up to him
and to you, Lady Earle. The sweetest and best years of their lives
have been spent with me; I must therefore not repine. I have but one
stipulation to make, and it is that my children shall never hear one
word against me."

"You know little of me," said Lady Helena, "if you think such a thing
is possible. You