with the particulars. You might have succeeded in stopping what has
happened."

"Your sister and O'Connell were married this morning by special
licence and left this afternoon for Liverpool, en route to America."

"I cannot begin to tell you how much I deplore the unfortunate
affair. It will always be a lasting sorrow to me. I cannot write any
more now. My head is aching with the thought of what it will mean to
you. Try not to think too hardly of me and believe me"

"Always your affectionate cousin,"

"Mary Caroline Wrexford."

Kingsnorth's head sank on to his breast. Every bit of life left him.
Everything about his feet. Ashes. The laughing-stock of his friends.

Were Angela there at that moment he could have killed her.

The humiliation of it! The degradation of it! Married to that
lawless Irish agitator. The man now a member of his family! A cry of
misery broke from him, as he realised that the best years of his
life were to come and go fruitlessly. His career was ended. Despair
lay heavy on his soul.




CHAPTER XII