the world was only made the other night at your cousin's house! you
ought to feel ashamed of such a passion, Mr. Fitzgerald."

"I am very far from being ashamed of it, Lady Desmond."

"At any rate, let me tell you this. My daughter has promised me most
solemnly that she will neither see you again, nor have any
correspondence with you. And this I know of her, that her word is
sacred. I can excuse her on account of her youth; and, young as she
is, she already sees her own folly in having allowed you so to
address her. But for you, Mr. Fitzgerald, under all the
circumstances I can make no excuse for you. Is yours, do you think,
the sort of house to which a young girl should be brought as a
bride? Is your life, are your companions of that kind which could
most profit her? I am sorry that you drive me to remind you of these
things."

His face became very dark and his brow stern as his sins were thus
cast into his teeth.

"And from what you know of me, Lady Desmond," he said,--and as he
spoke he assumed a dignity of demeanour which made her more inclined
to love him than ever she had been before,--"do you think that I
should be the man to introduce a young wife to such companions as
those to whom you allude? Do you not know, are you not sure in your
own heart, that my marriage with your daughter would instantly put
an end to all that?"

"Whatever may be my own thoughts, and they are not likely to be
unfavourable to you--for Patrick's sake, I mean; but whatever may