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.