Nell of Shorne Mills

Was it any wonder that Nell should lie awake that night asking herself

if this sudden joy and happiness that had come to her was real--that

Drake loved her still--had never ceased to love her--and was hers again?

Perfect happiness in this vale of tears is so rare that we may be

pardoned for viewing it with a certain amount of incredulity, and with a

doubt of its stability and lasting qualities. But Drake's kisses were

still warm on her lips, and his passionate avowal of love still rang in

her ears.

And next morning, almost before she had finished breakfast, down came

the countess to set the seal, so to speak, upon the marvelous fact that

Nell of Shorne Mills was to be the wife of the Earl of Angleford.

Nell, blushing, rose from the table to receive her, and the countess

took and held her hand, looking into the downcast face with the tender

sympathy of the woman, who knows all that love means, for the girl who

has only yet learned the first letters of its marvelous alphabet.

"My dear, you must forgive me for coming so early. Mr. Lorton, if you do

not go on with your breakfast, I will run away again. I am so glad to

meet you. Now, pray, pray, sit down again."

But Dick, who knew that the countess wished to have Nell alone, declared

that he had finished, and took himself off. Then the countess drew Nell

to her and kissed her.

"My dear, I am come to try and tell you how glad I am! Last night Drake

and I sat up late talking of you. He has told me all your story. It is a

romance--a perfect romance! And none the less charming because, unlike

most romances in life, it has turned out happily. And we are all so

pleased, so delighted--I mean up at the Hall; and I am sure the people

on the estate will be as pleased, for I know that you have become a

general favorite, even though you have been here so short a time. Lady

Wolfer begged me to let her come with me this morning, but I would not

yield. I wanted you all to myself. Not that I shall have you for long, I

suppose, for Drake will be sure to be here presently."

Nell's blush grew still deeper. She was touched by the great lady's

kindness, and the tears were very near her eyes.

"Why are you all so glad?" she faltered, gratefully and wonderingly. "I

know that there is a great difference between us. I am--well, I am a

nobody, and Drake is stooping very low to marry me. You must all feel

that."