“Do not be proud to me, Ronald. Remember, we played together as children. Do you think, after all these years, you could have a pain I did not feel, or a happiness I did not share with you?”
Her beautiful eyes were bright with tears as she spoke; he hurriedly clasped her hand.
“God bless you, Clarice! you are very kind, but I cannot bear it.”
And then he galloped hastily away.
CHAPTER XVI.
“THE ALDEN PRIDE.”
Time did not bring comfort to Sir Ronald Alden; the blow he had received was too heavy and too cruel. He felt not only annoyed, but aggrieved, that Clarice knew his secret.
“Lady Hermione must have said something to her about it. Most probably all young ladies boast to each other how many men they cause to suffer; yet one would have thought her as far above that kind of feeling as the clouds are above the earth.”
It was some relief to him to know that no one else appeared to guess the story. The “Alden pride” was strong in him. It was hard enough to bear; it would have been doubly hard if the world had known it.
Lord and Lady Lorriston continued for some time to send him invitations, to wonder that he did not call, to express that wonder to him.
It so happened that an eminent writer paid a visit to Leeholme, one whose acquaintance all men were proud and honored to make. Lord Lorriston immediately issued invitations for a large dinner party.