Part 53 (2/2)

”Madaline,” she said, quietly, ”you have suffered much through me--will you pardon me?”

The next moment Lady Arleigh's arms were clasped round her neck, and the pure sweet lips touched her own.

”It was because you loved him,” she whispered, ”and I forgive you.”

The Duke of Hazlewood did not understand the quarrel between his wife and Lord Arleigh, nor did he quite understand the reconciliation; still he is very pleased that they are reconciled, for he likes Lord Arleigh better than any friend he has ever had. He fancies, too, that his beautiful wife always seems kinder to him when she has been spending some little time with Lady Arleigh.

In the gallery at Verdun Royal there is a charming picture called ”The Little Lovers.” The figures in it are those of a dark-haired, handsome boy of three whose hand is filled with cherries, and a lovely little girl, with hair like suns.h.i.+ne and a face like a rosebud, who is accepting the rich ripe fruit. Those who understand smile as they look at this painting, for the dark-haired boy is the son and heir of the Duke of Hazlewood, and the fair-faced girl is Lord Arleigh's daughter.

The Earl of Mountdean and his wife, _nee_ Lady Lily Gordon, once went to see that picture, and, as they stood smiling before it, he said:

”It may indicate what lies in the future. Let us hope it does for the greatest gift of Heaven is the love of a good and pure-minded wife.”

By The Same Author In Uniform Style

Dora Thorne

From Gloom to Sunlight

Her Martyrdom

Golden Heart

Her Only Sin

Lady Damer's Secret

The Squire's Darling

Her Mother's Sin

Wife in Name Only

Wedded and Parted

Shadow of a Sin

<script>