"'The expression of my least wish ought to suffice, Estelle,' said my mother, haughtily. 'I tell you to avoid Captain Studleigh whenever you possibly can; and if you are compelled for a few minutes, by unavoidable circumstances, to talk to him, I insist upon it that you show no interest whatever--that you treat him with studied coolness and reserve.' "'Will you tell me why, mamma?' I asked gently. "'Yes, I will tell you. The love of a Studleigh never yet brought anything with it save sorrow. Secondly, were it even otherwise, Ulric Studleigh, a younger son, is no match for my daughter, Lady Estelle Hereford. You hear this?' "I had heard, and at first my only emotion was one of sorrow that a pleasant intercourse must be ended. It was very evident that I must not look again at the laughing face and tender eyes. I hardly understood the cloud that came over me, or why the thought that he was so soon to be taken out of my life darkened it. "He was at the _fete_, strange to say, with my only and dearest friend, Lady Agnes Delapain. We had been schoolmates, and the year previous she had married Lord Delapain. I felt pleased when I saw him with her. My mother did not see either of them. After a time Lady Agnes left her companion and came to me. My mother, who knew our great affection for each other, had no scruple in leaving us together while she joined some friends of her own. "'Estelle,' said Lady Agnes, as we wandered through a beautiful grove of trees--'Estelle, you have accomplished a miracle.' "'What have I done?' I asked. "'You have written your name where no one ever inscribed a woman's name before,' she replied. "I had not the least idea what she meant. "'Where is that?' I asked. "Lady Agnes laughed aloud. "'On the hitherto invincible heart of Ulric Studleigh,' she said. 'I should imagine that he has admired more pretty girls than any one ever did before, but you are the first who has made a real impression on him.' "'Who says I have done so, Agnes?' "'I say so. He has been sitting by me for half an hour, and all his conversation has been of you. I assure you, Estelle, he is hopelessly in love.' "'The love of the Studleighs always brings sorrow, my mother says.' "Lady Agnes laughed again. "'I am sure your mother will not like him--no mothers do. Mine used to torture me about him before I was married. You would not find a dowager in London who approves of him.' "'But why?' I persisted. "'A handsome, graceless, penniless younger son? What dowager in her senses would approve of such a man?' "'He cannot help being a younger son and having no money,' I said. "'No; he cannot help it. A man cannot help being born blind or lame, I suppose; but then he does not expect to fare the same as a man who can walk and see.' "'It is not a just world,' I said gravely; and again Lady Agnes laughed. "'Yes, Ulric ought at least to have been a prince,' she said; 'there is now only one resource for him.' "'What is that?' I asked.