e the matter, Rupert. I will go down to the lodge tomorrow, and
persuade them to send the girl away; and then we will take Ronald
abroad, and he will forget all about it in a few months."

All night long the gentle lady of Earlescourt was troubled by strange
dreams--by vague, dark fears that haunted her and would not be laid to
rest.

"Evil will come of it," she said to herself--"evil and sorrow. This
distant shadow saddens me now."

The next day she went to the lodge, and asked for Dora. She half
pardoned her son's folly when she saw the pretty dimpled face, the
rings of dark hair, lying on the white neck. The girl was indeed
charming and modest, but unfitted--oh, how unfitted! ever to be Lady
Earle. She was graceful as a wild flower is graceful; but she had no
manner, no dignity, no cultivation. She stood blushing, confused, and
speechless, before the "great lady."

"You know what I want you for, Dora," said Lady Earle, kindly. "My son
has told us of the acquaintance between you. I am come to say it must
cease. I do not wish to hurt or wound you. Your own sense must tell
you that you can never be received by Lord Earle and myself as our
daughter. We will not speak of your inferiority in birth and position.
You are not my son's equal in refinement or education; he would soon
discover that, and tire of you."

Dora spoke no word, the tears falling from her bright eyes; this time
there was no young lover to kiss them away. She made no reply and when
Lady Earle sent for her father, Dora ran away; she would hear no more.

"I know nothing of it, my lady," said the worthy lodge keeper, who was
even more surprised than his master had been. "Young Ralph Holt wants
to marry my daughter, and I have said that she shall be his wife. I
never dreamed that she knew the young master; she has not mentioned his
name."

Lady Earle's diplomacy succeeded beyond her most sanguine expectations.
Stephen Thorne and his wife, although rather dazzled by the fact that
their daughter had captivated the future Lord Earlescourt, let common
sense and reason prevail, and saw the disparity and misery such a
marriage would cause. They promised to be gentle and kind to Dora, not
to scold or reproach her, and to allow some little time to elapse
before urging Ralph Holt's claims.

When Lady Earle rose, she placed a twenty-pound banknote in the hands
of Stephen Thorne, saying:

"You are sending Dora to Eastham; that will cover the exp