It was all for the best, painful as it was. If for these long months they must be parted, it was better for him to be abroad--he dare not have trusted himself at home. He loved Leone so well that he knew his love would have broken down the barriers which the law had placed between them. He would go to River View, and, let it pain him as it would, he would tell her all, he would leave her as happy as was possible under the circumstances. He would stay away until the time was over; then, the very day he came of age, he would return and remarry her. He laughed to scorn his mother's prophecy. He prove untrue to his darling! The heavens must fall first. Not for him the mill-wheel story--not for him the broken ring. How happy they would be, then, when the time had passed, and he could introduce Leone as his beloved wife to the whole world. He would try and think of that time without dwelling more than he could help on the wretched present. He went home to River View, but the first glance at Leone's face told him that she knew all. It was not so much that the beauty had gone from it, that the beautiful eyes were dim with long, passionate weeping, or that the lips trembled as she tried to smile. Her whole face had changed so completely; its tragic intensity, the power of its despair, overmastered him. Lord Chandos clasped her in his arms, and covered the sad young face with kisses and tears. "My darling," he said, "you know all; I can see you know all." The ring of happy music had quite died from her voice--he hardly recognized it. "Yes," she answered him, "I know all." "My darling," he cried, "it is not my fault. You will think I ought to have known it; but I swear to Heaven that I never even thought or suspected it. I would rather have been dead than have put you in a false position, Leone--you know that." She laid her fair arms on his neck, and hid her white face on his breast. "I am sure of it," she said, gently; "I have never thought of that: I know that you intended to make me your wife." "So you are my wife, let who will say to the contrary--you are my beloved, revered, honored wife, Leone. Why, my darling, all the strength has left you! Look up, Leone. They have done the worst they can do, and what is it? They have parted us for a few months. When the parting is ended we shall be together for life." She tightened the clasp of her fair arms around his neck. "I know; I have faith in you, but it is so hard to bear, Lance. We were so happy, and you were all the world to me. How shall I live through the long months to come? Lance, perhaps you will be angry with me--I have done something that perhaps you will not like." "That would not be possible, Leone. I must always like everything you do. Why, my darling, how you tremble! Sit down, there is nothing in all the world to fear."