"Oh, as to him, it doesn't matter much. He was an old man, gouty and disagreeable," replied Mrs. Fitzgerald, frankly, adding: "The interest of the matter centres in his son and heir--Leland, now Lord Putnam--your betrothed! I was surprised to read here that several years ago the old lord and his son had a bitter quarrel--so bitter that the heir was driven from home, and vowed that he would never return while his father lived. He went to America, and all trace of him was lost. Now there is a great hue and cry for him everywhere, for he is wanted to return and assume his rank and estate. But, of course, he will be found, as missing people always come back when they inherit money." CHAPTER XLII. "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I HATE TO RAKE UP THE ASHES OF THE PAST." "Vast the empire Love rules over-- Held in bonds his subjects are-- Firmly shackled is each lover By the boy-god everywhere. Yet we could not live without him, So, young tyrant, let him rove, Though by turns we doubt and fear him, Still we cling to Love, sweet Love." FRANCIS S. SMITH. Geraldine was so relieved that her mother had not come to upbraid her about the personals to Hawthorne that she affected a great interest in what she had just heard. "Do let me read it myself, mamma," she exclaimed, eager to get possession of the newspaper before the lady should find any more startling paragraphs in it. Mrs. Fitzgerald readily gave up the paper, her excitement over the news she had just read having destroyed all interest in anything else. "I shall write to my cousin at once, to condole with her on her bereavement," she said, rising to go, and adding: "It is quite a coincidence that both of us should be widowed almost at the same time." When she was gone, Geraldine glanced over the personal, and hastily destroyed the paper, though she sighed: "I feel mean over keeping this from my dear mother, but what can I do? I must not forsake my true-hearted lover for the sake of a mere prejudice." And believing that she would be sure to hear from the personal very soon, her heart grew light with joy. Soon it was time to go and meet Cissy. Mrs. Fitzgerald accompanied her daughter to the station to meet her friend, and when she saw Miss Carroll, she liked her at once. She had been dreading to see a very ordinary girl indeed; but Cissy's beauty and style, above all her lady-like manners, won their way at once to her proud heart. And she was so glad, too, over Geraldine's happy looks that she felt almost grateful to Cissy for accepting her invitation. What a happy day the girls spent together! They had so much to tell each other that the hours passed like minutes. Cissy was rejoiced when she heard of the discomfiture of Clifford Standish, whom she had always disliked and distrusted. "You know I warned you against him, but you would not listen," she said.