The story was fairly told.  It recalled to the minds of the public that some time previously Lord Arleigh had made what appeared a strange marriage, and that he had separated from his wife on their wedding-day, yet paying her such honor and respect that no one could possibly think any the worse of her for it.  It reminded the world how puzzled it had been at the time; and now it gave a solution of the mystery.  Through no act of deception on the part of his wife, Lord Arleigh had believed that he knew her full history; but on their wedding-day he found that she was, to all appearance, the daughter of a man who was a convict.  Therefore—­continued the story—­the young couple had agreed to separate.  Lord Arleigh, although loving his wife most dearly, felt himself compelled to part from her.  He preferred that his ancient and noble race should become extinct rather than that it should be tarnished by an alliance with the offspring of crime.  Lady Arleigh agreed with her husband, and took up her abode at the Dower House, surrounded by every mark of esteem and honor.  Then the story reverted to the Earl of Mountdean’s lost child, and how, at length, to the intense delight of the husband and father, it was discovered that Lady Arleigh was no other than the long-lost daughter of Lord Mountdean.

As the earl had said, the only obscure point in the narrative was how Lord Arleigh had been deceived.  Evidently it was not his wife who had deceived him—­who, therefore, could it have been?  That the world was never to know.

It was extraordinary how the story spread, and how great was the interest it excited.  There was not a man or woman in all England who did not know it.

When the earl deemed that full reparation had been made to his daughter, he agreed that she should go to Beechgrove.

The country will never forget that home-coming.  It was on a brilliant day toward the end of July.  The whole country side was present to bid Lady Arleigh welcome—­the tenants, servants, dependents, friends; children strewed flowers in her path, flags and banners waved in the sunlit air, there was a long procession with bands of music, there were evergreen arches with “Welcome Home” in monster letters.

It was difficult to tell who was cheered most heartily—­the fair young wife whose beauty won all hearts, the noble husband, or the gallant earl whose pride and delight in his daughter were so great.  Lord Arleigh said a few words in response to this splendid reception—­and he was not ashamed of His own inability to finish what he had intended to say.

There had never been such a home-coming within one’s memory The old house was filled with guests, all the elite of the county were there.  There was a grand dinner, followed by a grand ball, and there was feasting for the tenantry—­everything that could be thought of for the amusement of the vast crowd.