"'He has no money, and he cannot make money. Military fame is very empty; but he could, at least, marry some one who has money.' "And Lady Agnes, who, I believe, had a decided liking for him, looked sharply at me. "'Why can he never make money?' I asked. "'It is not the habit of the Studleighs: they have a reckless fashion of spending, but I do not know that they are capable of making money. Captain Ulric is a soldier, and we all know how empty is fame.' "At that very moment he joined us. Lady Agnes turned to me. "'I leave you in safe hands,' she said. 'I promised to look after little Nellie Plumpton, and I have not seen her yet.' "Then she went away. It was kind of her in one sense, but wrong in another. I was terribly frightened. What should I do if my mother found me here in this grove of trees with Captain Studleigh? I remembered, too, that I had promised to be very distant and reserved with him: yet there I was, looking at him, blushing and smiling, utterly unable either to look or feel anything save happy. "He saw, and was quick enough to detect the anxiety on my face. "'Ah! Lady Hereford,' he said. 'I was a true prophet--I see it.' "Then, without waiting for any answer, he began to talk to me about the _fete_. I forgot everything else in the wide, world except that I was happy and was with him. "Earle Moray, the sun will never shine for me again as it did that day; the sky will never be so blue, the flowers so sweet and fair. "When he saw Lady Agnes returning to us in the distance, he said, quickly: "'You will not be unjust to me, Lady Estelle--you will not visit the sins of my race on me?' "'No,' I said, 'I will never do that.' "'Sometimes you will let me forget graver anxieties, graver cares, the troubles of my life, in talking to you?' "Then I saw my difficulty. "'I will do all that I possibly can,' I said; 'but----' "'But what?' he asked. 'Tell me the difficulty.' "How could I? I could not look into his face, and tell him my mother disliked and disapproved of him. "'I think I understand,' he said, with a low laugh. 'If I were a duke, with two or three fine estates, there would be no objection to me; as it is, perhaps her grace has told you the Studleighs are unfortunate?' "'Yes, she has told me so, but I do not believe it,' I hastened to reply. "'Thank you; you are generous. I shall trust in your generosity, Lady Hereford.'