doubt. I only spoke as I did to show you I could not think
twice, when my heart was given to one whom I so entirely love,
respect--and--and approve."

Lord Kilcullen's face became thoughtful, and his brow grew black: he
stood for some time irresolute what to say or do.

"Let us walk on, Fanny, for this is cold and damp," he said, at last.

"Let us go back to the house, then."

"As you like, Fanny. Oh, how painful all this is! how doubly painful to
know that ray own love is hopeless, and that yours is no less so. Did
you not refuse Lord Ballindine?"

"If I did, is it not sufficient that I tell you I love him? If he were
gone past all redemption, you would not have me encourage you while I
love another?"

"I never dreamed of this! What, Fanny, what are your hopes? what is it
you wish or intend? Supposing me, as I wish I were, fathoms deep below
the earth, what would you do? You cannot marry Lord Ballindine."

"Then I will marry no one," said Fanny, striving hard to suppress her
tears, and barely succeeding.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Kilcullen; "what an infatuation is
this!"--and then again he walked on silent a little way. "Have you told
any one of this, Fanny?--do they know of it at Grey Abbey? Come, Fanny,
speak to me: forget, if you will, that I would be your lover: remember
me only as your cousin and your friend, and speak to me openly. Do they
know that you have repented of the refusal you gave Lord Ballindine?"

"They all know that I love him: your father, your mother, and Selina."

"You don't say my father?"

"Yes," said Fanny, stopping on the path, and speaking with energy, as
she confronted her cousin. "Yes, Lord Cashel. He, above all others,
knows it. I have told him so almost on my knees. I have implored
him, as a child may implore her father, to bring back to me the only
man I ever loved. I have besought him not to sacrifice me. Oh! how
I have implored him to spare me the dreadful punishment of my own
folly--wretchedness rather--in rejecting the man I loved. But he has
not listened to me; he will never listen to me, and I will never ask
again. He shall find that I am not a tree or a stone, to be planted
or placed as he chooses. I will not again be subjected to what I have
to-day suffered. I will not--I will not--" But Fanny was out of breath;
and could not complete the catalogue of what she would not do.

"And did you intend to tell me all this, had I not spoken to you as I
have done?" said Kilc