"With her own consent--it will be the dearest wish of her heart."

"Could you name her husband?"

"I could and will. Lord Dunroe will be the man, and he will make her
Countess of Cullamore."

"Well, now," replied the other, "I believe you can speak truth, and are
somewhat acquainted with the future. The girl certainly is attached to
him, and I have no doubt the union will be, as you say, a happy one."

"You know in your soul," she replied, "that she detests him; and you
know she would sacrifice her life this moment sooner than marry him."

"What, then, do you mean." he asked, "and why do you thus contradict
yourself?"

"Good-by, Thomas Gourlay," she replied. "So far as regards either the
past or the future, you will hear nothing further from me to-day; but,
mark me, we shall meet again---and we have met before."

"That, certainly, is not true," he said, "unless it might be
accidentally on the highway; but, until this moment, my good woman, I
don't remember to have seen your face in my life."

[Illustration: PAGE 350-- How will you be prepared to render an account]

She looked toward the sky, and pointing her long, skinny finger upwards,
said, "How will you be prepared to render an account of all your deeds
and iniquities before Him who will judge you there!"