Pale, trembling, and frightened, Margaret led the way. It seemed to the earl that his heart had stopped beating, and a thick mist was spread before his eyes, that the surging of a deep sea filled his ears. Oh, Heaven, could it be that after all these years he was really going to see Madaline's child, his own lost daughter? Very soon he found himself looking on a fair face framed in golden hair, with dark blue eyes, full of passion, poetry, and sorrow, sweet crimson lips, sensitive, and delicate, a face so lovely that its pure, saint-like expression almost frightened him. He looked at it in a passion of wonder and grief of love and longing; and then he saw a shadow of fear gradually darken the beautiful eyes. "Madaline," he said gently; and she looked at him in wonder "Madaline," he repeated. "I--I--do not know you," she replied, surprised. She was lying, when he entered the room, on a little couch drawn close to the window, the sunlight, which fell full upon her, lighting up the golden hair and refined face with unearthly beauty. When he uttered her name, she stood up, and so like her mother did she appear that it was with difficulty he could refrain from clasping her in his arms. But he must not startle her, he reflected--he saw how fragile she was. "You call me Madaline," she said again--"but I do not know you." Before answering her, Lord Mountdean turned to Margaret. "Will you leave us alone?" he requested, but Lady Arleigh stretched out her hand. "That is my mother," she said--"she must not be sent away from me." "I will not be long away, Madaline. You must listen to what this gentleman says--and, my dear, do not let it upset you." Mrs. Dornham retired, closing the door carefully behind her, and Lady Arleigh and the earl stood looking at each Other. "You call we Madaline," she said, "and you send my mother from me. What can you have to say?" A sudden thought occurred to her. "Has Lord Arleigh sent you to me?" she asked. "Lord Arleigh!" he repeated, in wonder. "No, he has nothing to do with what I have to say. Sit down--you do not look strong--and I will tell you why I am here." It never occurred to him to ask why she had named Lord Arleigh. He saw her sink, half exhausted, half frightened, upon the couch, and he sat down by her side. "Madaline," he began, "will you look at me, and see if my face brings back no dream, no memory to you? Yet how foolish I am to think of such a thing! How can you remember me when your baby-eyes rested on me for only a few minutes?" "I do not remember you," she said, gently--"I have never seen you before." "My poor child," he returned, in a tone so full of tenderness and pain that she was startled by it, "this is hard!" "You cannot be the gentleman I used to see sometimes in the early home that I only just remember, who used to amuse me by showing me his watch and take me out for drives?"