Both grew more shy of speaking of the Elms, feeling with the keen instinct peculiar to youth that there was something unnatural in their position.
Visitors came occasionally to Earlescourt.

Sir Harry and Lady Laurence of Holtham often called; Lady Charteris came from Greenoke, and all warmly admired the lovely daughters of Lord Earle.
Beatrice, with her brilliant beauty, her magnificent voice, and gay, graceful manner, was certainly the favorite.

Sir Harry declared she was the finest rider in the county.
There was an unusual stir of preparation once when Lady Earle told them that the daughter of her devoted friend, Lady Charteris, was coming to spend a few days at Earlescourt.

Then, for the first time, they saw the beautiful and stately lady whose fate was so strangely interwoven with theirs.
Valentine Charteris was no longer "the queen of the county." Prince di Bergezi had won the beautiful English woman.

He had followed her to Greenoke and repeated his question.