No shadow came into the blue eyes as she raised them to her mother's face.
"I am as sure of it," she replied, "as I am of my own existence."
"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."