"That is all forgotten, love," he said, and she felt that she would have given the whole world if it had never happened. CHAPTER LXVIII. A CLEW AT LAST. The morning that followed was beautiful. The Lady Doris felt more cheerful than she had done for many long days. Earle would manage it all for her; she should find a way out of all her difficulties. Lord Vivianne would not follow her to Linleigh; even if he did, she could foil him again and again. When once she was Earle's wife, she could defy him; it was not likely that she would fear him then. Her heart and spirits rose alike, she smiled at her own fair image in the glass; early as it was, a fragrant bouquet of white hyacinths lay on the toilet table, sent by some adoring lover who evidently hoped that the flowers would say for him what he could not say for himself. She smiled over them, inhaling the rich odor with delight, thinking to herself the while, "What a poet Earle is; what a rapture he went into last night about flowers and summer." She felt better. The sun was shining in at her windows, the sweet breath of the hyacinths reached her. It seemed impossible that sorrow or death should come into such a bright world. She smiled to herself when she heard that Earle was with her father. "He has most certainly lost no time," she said to herself. Yet, nearly an hour passed before the earl left the library; then, owing to strangers being present, he could not speak to her of what had passed. He merely touched her hand. "Doris," he said, "I have been having a long talk with Earle, and I must have one with you before dinner." "I will remember, papa," she said. Then as the day was so fine Earle prayed her to ride out with him. "An hour in the park would be so pleasant," he said. And Lady Linleigh thought the same. Doris was quite willing to go. When they were under the shade of the trees, Earle went more slowly. "My darling," he said, "I knew that you would be anxious to hear what has passed. I think," he continued, bringing his handsome face on a level with hers, "I think that I shall make an excellent diplomatist in time." "I never doubted it," replied Doris. "I was quite pleased with myself," Earle went on to say; "I made quite an impression on the earl." Her lips grew pale, and parted with a long, quivering sigh; she looked at him anxiously. "In one word, Earle, is it to be as I wished or not?" "Yes," he replied, "in every particular." Then she resigned herself to listen. "I never mentioned you at all in the matter," he continued. "I told him that I had observed your health and strength failing, and that I felt quite convinced, unless you rested at once, you would suffer seriously from the effects of over-fatigue. He agreed with me, and said that Lady Linleigh had remarked the same thing, and was equally anxious over you; and said that the wisest thing to do was to leave town at once, and go to Linleigh."