he replied; "there is no time now to tell all he
said. He sent this note," and Lillian gave the folded paper into her
sister's hand, and then clasped both hands in her own.

"Let me tell you, Beatrice darling, before you read it," she said,
"that I tried to soften his heart; and I think, if you will see him
yourself, and ask for your freedom, you will not ask in vain."

A light that was dazzling as sunshine came into the beautiful face.

"Oh, Lily," she cried, "can it be true? Do not mock me with false
hopes; my life seems to tremble in the balance."

"He is not cruel," said Lillian. "I am sorry for him. If you see him I
feel sure he will release you. See what he says."

Beatrice opened the letter; it contained but a few penciled lines. She
did not give them to Lillian to read.

"Beatrice," wrote Hugh Fernely, "you must tell me with your own lips
that you do not love me. You must tell me yourself that every sweet
hope you gave me was a false lie. I will not leave Earlescourt again
without seeing you. On Thursday night, at ten o'clock, I will be at
the same place--meet me, and tell me if you want your freedom. Hugh."

"I shall win!" she cried. "Lily, hold my hands--they tremble with
happiness. See, I can not hold the paper. He will release me, and I
shall not lose my love--my love, who is all the world to me. How must
I thank you? This is Tuesday; how shall I live until Thursday? I feel
as though a load, a burden, the weight of which no words can tell, were
taken from me. Lily, I shall be Lord Airlie's wife, and you will have
saved me."

"Beatrice," said Lord Earle, as the sisters, in returning, passed by
the chess table, "our game is finished, will you give us a song?"

Never had the magnificent voice rung out so joyously, never had the
beautiful face looked so bright. She sang something that was like an
air of triumph--no under current of sadness marred its passionate
sweetness. Lord Airlie bent over her chair enraptured.

"You sing like one inspired, Beatrice," he said.

"I was thinking of you," she replied; and he saw by the dreamy, rapt
expression of her face that she meant what she had said.

Presently Lord Airlie was summoned to Lady Helena's assistance in some
little argument over cards, and Beatrice, while her fingers strayed
mechanically over the keys, arrived at her decision. She would see
Hugh. She could not avert that; and she must meet him as bravely as
she could. After all,