"
"Then," thought Margaret to herself, "I am mistaken; all is well between
them."
Madaline did not intend to remain very long with her mother, but it was
soothing to the wounded, aching heart to be loved so dearly. Margaret
startled her one day, by saying:
"Madaline, now that you are a great lady, and have such influential
friends, do you not think you could do something for your father?"
"Something for my father?" repeated the girl, with a shudder. "What can
I do for him?"
A new idea suddenly occurred to Mrs. Dornham. She looked into Lady
Arleigh's pale, beautiful face.
"Madaline," she said, earnestly, "tell me the whole truth--is your
father's misfortune any drawback to you? Tell me the truth; I have a
reason for asking you."
But Lady Arleigh would not pain her mother--her quiet, simple heart had
ached bitterly enough. She would not add one pang.
"Tell me, dear," continued Margaret, earnestly; "you do not know how
important it is for me to understand."
"My dear mother," said Lady Arleigh, gently clasping her arms round her
mother's neck; "do not let that idea make you uneasy.
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