"Enjoy it," was the laughing reply.
But Mattie looked grave.
"It seems to me," she said, "that beauty such as yours is full of peril."
"I do not see it," was the laughing answer. "Now, Mattie, it is time we went to the drawing-room; in one half hour from this my lord and my lady will be at home."
Faster and faster they seemed to drive; and with every minute that brought them nearer, Lady Linleigh grew paler.
"It is an ordeal, Ulric," she said, in her clear, sweet voice; "it seems to me that all I have gone through is as nothing compared to this. It was very hard of papa—very hard."
"He meant it for the best, Estelle, and we must bear it, love; it might have been much worse."
"Yes; but to hear her speak, to be with her every moment of the day, yet never once to call her child, or hear her say 'mother'—it will be very hard, Ulric—you do not know how hard."
"I can guess, my dear; but why dwell on this, the darkest side? Think of the happiness in store! Your father and mother both friends with us, having quite forgiven us, and, I venture to think, growing quite fond of me; they will come to see us, and we shall visit them; and you will always have Doris with you. Think of all those things!"