arle turned quickly to look at the speaker. He saw before him
a young man, evidently a well-to-do farmer from his appearance, with a
calm, kind face and clear and honest eyes; and he was asking for
Dora--Dora who was to be his wife and live at Earlescourt. He could
hardly control his impatience; and it seemed to him that evening would
never come.

Dinner was over at last. Lord Earle sat with Sir Harry Laurence over a
bottle of claret, and Lady Earle was in the drawing room and had taken
up her book. Ronald hastened to the favorite trysting place, the
brook-side. Dora was there already, and he saw that her face was still
wet with tears. She refused at first to tell him her sorrow. Then she
whispered a pitiful little story, that made her lover resolve upon some
rash deeds.

Ralph Holt had been speaking to her father, and had asked her to marry
him. She had said "No;" but her mother had wept, and her father had
grown angry, and had said she should obey him.

"He has a large farm," said Dora, with a bitter sigh. "He says I
should live like a great lady, and have nothing to do. He would be
kind to my father and mother; but I do not love him," she added.

Clasping her tender little hands round Ronald's arm, "I do not love
him," she sobbed; "and, Ronald, I do love you."

He bent down and kissed her pretty, tear-bedewed face, all the chivalry
of his nature aroused by her words.

"You shall be my wife, Dora," he said, proudly, "and not his. This very
evening I will tell my father, and ask his consent to our marriage. My
mother is sure to love you--she is so kind and gracious to every one.
Do not tremble, my darling; neither Ralph Holt nor any one else shall
take you from me."

She was soon comforted! There was no bound or limit to her faith in
Ronald Earle.

"Go home now," he said, "and tomorrow my father himself shall see you.
I will teach that young farmer his place. No more tears, Dora--our
troubles will end tonight."

He went with her down the broad walk, and then returned to the Hall.
He walked very proudly, with his gallant head erect, saying to himself
that this was a free country and he could do what he liked; but for all
that his heart beat loudly when he entered the drawing room and found
Lord and Lady Earle. They looked up smilingly at him, all unconscious
that their beloved son, the heir of Earlescourt, was there to ask
permission to marry the lodge keeper's daughter.

Chapter V

Rona