What is the difference between us?
Your beauty--nay, do not think me rude or abrupt--- my heart is in every word that I say to you--your grace would ennoble any rank, as your friendship would ennoble any man." She looked up at him, and said, gently: "I do not think you quite understand." "Yes, I do," he declared, eagerly; "I asked the duchess yesterday who you were, and she told me your whole story." It was impossible for him not to see how she shrank with unutterable pain from the words.

The point-lace fell on the grass at her feet--she covered her face with her hands.
"Did she?
Oh, Lord Arleigh, it was cruel to tell it!" "It was not cruel to tell me," he returned.

"She would not tell any one else, I am quite sure.

But she saw that I was really anxious--that I must know it--that it was not from curiosity I asked." "Not from curiosity!" she repeated, still hiding her burning face with her hands.
"No, it was from a very different motive." And then he paused abruptly.
What was he going to say?
How far had he already left all conventionality behind?
He stopped just in time, and then continued, gravely: "The Duchess of Hazlewood and myself are such true and tried friends that we never think of keeping any secrets from each other.

We have been, as I told you before, brother and sister all our lives--it was only natural that she should tell me about you." "And, having heard my story, you ask me to be one of your friends ?" she said, slowly.