"It was a terrible blow," he said.
Then he thought to himself that it was because he had loved his daughter that Lord Vivianne wished for the picture.
"I fancied once or twice," he said, "that you admired her. I did not know you loved her."
"I did. If any one had told me it was in my power to love any woman, or to mourn for any woman as I have done for her, I should have laughed at the notion. My life is blighted."
They sat then in silence for some time; then the earl said:
"I am glad that I have met you. Lady Linleigh and I have often spoken of you. Will you pay us a visit at Linleigh Court?"
"No," replied the wretched man, with a shudder. "You are very kind. I thank you, but my visiting days are over. I am nothing but a curse to myself and to others."
"You will get better in time," said the earl.
It was a new idea to him to play the part of comforter to a man of the world, and he did it awkwardly.
"I grow worse; not better," was the desponding reply. "I suppose, Lord Linleigh, nothing more was heard of that dreadful occurrence—the crime was never traced?"