"So you saw all the flowers at Downsbury Castle?" he continued, in the tone of one who asks a question. "Yes, and beautiful enough they were; but I saw something even fairer than the flowers, papa." "What was that, Doris?" "I saw--listen gravely--I remember the whole of the name--I saw the Lady Estelle Hereford, only daughter of his serene and mighty highness, the Duke of Downsbury." He laughed, but there was something forced and unnatural in the sound. "I know her," he said, trying to speak calmly; "they are very dear friends of mine. What did you think of her, Doris?" It was wonderful how he learned to appeal to and rely on the judgment of this fair young daughter. "I thought her perfectly beautiful, perfectly graceful, perfectly gentle, but tame, papa." "Tame, child! What do you mean?" he asked. It was such a novel and not over-pleasant sensation for him to hear a mother called "tame" by her daughter, although it was done in supreme ignorance. "I cannot explain the word, papa, if you cannot understand it by instinct. Earle would if he were here. I liked her very much; but she puzzled me; her face kept changing color: she was proud, yet familiar; haughty, yet gentle. She talked to me about love and marriage, just as Mattie would have talked." "Poor Estelle!" murmured the earl; then he said aloud: "How would Mattie have talked? Give me an example." "My lord!" cried Mrs. Brace, in alarm, "I am quite sure that Mattie never said a wrong thing in her life." "I am equally sure of it," said the earl, kindly. "Mattie, like Lady Estelle, has great notions, papa--duty and all those disagreeable things were first." "That is right," said the earl. Even to himself he did not own how the introduction of Lady Estelle's name had startled him. Doris hastened on among the flowers. Lord Linleigh lingered behind, while he said to Mark and his wife: "You are tenants of the Duke of Downsbury, are you not?" "Yes," replied Mark. "Then I do not mind telling you, in all confidence, that you will probably hear or read something about Lady Hereford and myself which will please you." Mrs. Brace understood him at once. "My lord," she said, "I am so sorry that Lady Doris called her tame." He laughed good-naturedly. "She speaks her mind frankly," he said, "and that, at least, is a recommendation. Lady Estelle would only be amused if she heard it." "He means to marry her," said Mark to his wife, as the earl hurried after his daughter; but Mrs. Brace had the strangest expression on her face. "What is it?" Mark asked. "Surely you are not ill?" "No, I am not ill; but I will say this, Mark, it is a most awful world--no one can understand it." "Do as I do, my dear; the world never troubles me, because I take no notice of it." But that philosophy was not in the way of Mark's wife. "Doris," said the earl, when he overtook his daughter, "I wish to consult you."