CHAPTER XXIV.
Lord Airlie gazed long and earnestly at the beautiful girl who looked so utterly unconscious of the admiration she excited.
"I must ask Lady Downham to introduce me," he said to himself, wondering whether the proud face would smile upon him, and, if she carried into practice her favorite theory of saying what she thought, what she would say to him.
Lady Downham smiled when the young earl made his request.
"I have been besieged by gentlemen requesting introductions to Miss Earle," she said.

"Contrary to your general rule, Lord Airlie, you go with the crowd." He would have gone anywhere for one word from those perfect lips.

Lady Downham led him to the spot where Beatrice stood, and in a few courteous words introduced him to her.
Lord Airlie was celebrated for his amiable, pleasing manner.

He always knew what to say and how to say it, but when those magnificent eyes looked into his own, the young earl stood silent and abashed.

In vain he tried confusedly to utter a few words; his face flushed, and Beatrice looked at him in wonder .-- Could this man gazing so ardently at her be the impenetrable Lord Airlie?
He managed at length to say something about the beauty of the grounds and the brightness of the day.