"Tell me! of course you ought to tell me. I don't see what youngness
has to do with it. What did she say?"

"Well, she said but little; and a man should never boast that a lady
has favoured him. But she did not reject me." He paused a moment,
and then added, "After all, honesty and truth are the best. I have
reason to think that she loves me."

The poor young lord felt that he had a double duty, and hardly knew
how to perform it. He owed a duty to his sister which was paramount
to all others; but then he owed a duty also to the friend who had
been so kind to him. He did not know how to turn round upon him and
tell him that he was not fit to marry his sister.

"And what do you say to it, Desmond?"

"I hardly know what to say. It would be a very bad match for her.
You, you know, are a capital fellow; the best fellow going. There is
nobody about anywhere that I like so much."

"In thinking of your sister, you should put that out of the
question."

"Yes; that's just it. I like you for a friend better than any one
else. But Clara ought--ought--ought--"

"Ought to look higher, you would say."

"Yes; that's just what I mean. I don't want to offend you, you