Earle tried to smile, but the words struck home, and were fixed in his heart beside the thought of Doris.
Meanwhile Doris danced off home, and framed her lovely countenance in the vines about the kitchen window.
"And what have you been doing?" asked Patty, reprovingly.
"Turning Earle Moray's head," responded Doris, promptly.
Mattie started and paled a little.
"He thinks I'm lovely!" cried Doris, with a laugh.
"So you may be, but no thanks to you," said Patty, "and if you set yourself to head-turning, mark my words, child, there will some terrible evil overtake you both."
CHAPTER XI.
THE FOSTER-SISTERS.
Summer day glided silently after summer day, and at Brackenside Farm Earle Moray was re-telling for himself the story of Eden—the love of one man for one woman, to him the only woman in the world. Alas, that his had not been a more guileless Eve! The love-making was patent to every one, and the family at the farm wondered where it would end. Mark Brace was truly sorry that Earle had set his heart on the lovely, fantastic Doris; and yet, honest man, he did not wonder that any young fellow should be beguiled by so fair a face, and he could not but be heartily amused at the queenly airs with which the farm foundling, believing herself a tenant-farmer's child, received the homage of Earle Moray, poet and gentleman, owner of the little estate of Lindenholm.