"Next," continued the parson, "you choose to torment yourself by
contrasting your own origin and fortunes with the altered circumstances
of Miss Digby,--the ward of Lord L'Estrange, the guest of Lady Lansmere.
You say that if Lord L'Estrange could have countenanced such a union, he
would have adopted a different tone with you,--sounded your heart,
encouraged your hopes, and so forth. I view things differently. I have
reason to do so; and from all you have told me of this nobleman's
interest in your fate, I venture to make you this promise, that if Miss
Digby would accept your hand, Lord L'Estrange shall ratify her choice."

"My dear Mr. Dale," cried Leonard, transported, "you make me that
promise?"

"I do,--from what you have said, and from what I myself know of Lord
L'Estrange. Go, then, at once to Knightsbridge, see Miss Digby, show her
your heart, explain to her, if you will, your prospects, ask her
permission to apply to Lord L'Estrange (since he has constituted himself
her guardian); and if Lord L'Estrange hesitate,--which, if your happiness
be set on this union, I think he will not,--let me know, and leave the
rest to me."

Leonard yielded himself to the parson's persuasive eloquence. Indeed,
when he recalled to mind those passages in the manuscripts of the ill-
fated Nora, which referred to the love that Harley had once borne to
her,--for he felt convinced that Harley and the boy suitor of Nora's
narrative were one and the same; and when all the interest that Harley
had taken in his own fortunes was explained by his relationship to her
(even when Lord L'Estrange had supposed it less close than he would now
discover it to be), the young man, reasoning by his own heart, could not
but suppose that the noble Harley would rejoice to confer happiness upon