g so early. Mr. Lorton, if you do
not go on with your breakfast, I will run away again. I am so glad to
meet you. Now, pray, pray, sit down again."

But Dick, who knew that the countess wished to have Nell alone, declared
that he had finished, and took himself off. Then the countess drew Nell
to her and kissed her.

"My dear, I am come to try and tell you how glad I am! Last night Drake
and I sat up late talking of you. He has told me all your story. It is a
romance--a perfect romance! And none the less charming because, unlike
most romances in life, it has turned out happily. And we are all so
pleased, so delighted--I mean up at the Hall; and I am sure the people
on the estate will be as pleased, for I know that you have become a
general favorite, even though you have been here so short a time. Lady
Wolfer begged me to let her come with me this morning, but I would not
yield. I wanted you all to myself. Not that I shall have you for long, I
suppose, for Drake will be sure to be here presently."

Nell's blush grew still deeper. She was touched by the great lady's
kindness, and the tears were very near her eyes.

"Why are you all so glad?" she faltered, gratefully and wonderingly. "I
know that there is a great difference between us. I am--well, I am a
nobody, and Drake is stooping very low to marry me. You must all feel
that."

"My dear," said the countess, with a smile, "no man stoops who marries a
good and innocent girl. It's the other way about--at least, that's my
feeling; but then I'm an American, you know; and we look at things
differently on the other side. But, Nell, we are glad because you have
made Drake happy. None of us could fail to see that he has been wretched
and miserable, but that now he has completely changed. If you had seen
the difference in him last night! But I suppose you did," she put in
naively. "He seemed to have become years younger; his very voice was
changed, and rang with the old ring. And you have worked this miracle!
That is why we are all so delighted and grateful to you."

The tears were standing in Nell's eyes, though she laughed softly.

"And yet--and yet he ought to have married some one of his own rank."
The color rushed to her face. "I did not know who he was when--when I
was first engaged to him at home, at Shorne Mills."

"I know--I know. He has told me the whole story. It was very foolish of
him--foolish and romantic. But, dear, don't you see that it proves the
reality,