People talked of the Earl of Mountdean's daughter, of her strange disappearance, of the mysterious silence that had fallen over her.

Then, as the years passed on, it was agreed that she would never be found, that she must be dead.

The earl's truest friends advised him to marry again.

After years of bitter disappointment, of anguish and suspense, of unutterable sorrow and despair, he resigned himself to the entire loss of Madaline's child.
* * * * * Nature had made Philippa L'Estrange beautiful, circumstances had helped to make her proud.

Her father, Lord L'Estrange, died when she was quite a child, leaving her an enormous fortune that was quite under her own control.