to me has been
so noble, that, by heaven! I am yours to take or to leave. If you will
have me, here I am: I will enlist: I will work: I will try and make a
livelihood for myself somehow, and my bro----my relations will relent,
and give us enough to live on.' That's what I determined to tell her;
and I did, George. I ran all the way to Kensington in the rain--look, I
am splashed from head to foot,--and found them all at dinner, all except
Will, that is. I spoke out that very moment to them all, sitting round
the table, over their wine. 'Maria,' says I, 'a poor fellow wants to
redeem his promise which he made when he fancied he was rich. Will you
take him?' I found I had plenty of words, and didn't hem and stutter as
I'm doing now. I spoke ever so long, and I ended by saying I would do my
best and my duty by her, so help me God!

"When I had done, she came up to me quite kind. She took my hand, and
kissed it before the rest. 'My dearest, best Harry!' she said (those
were her words, I don't want otherwise to be praising myself), 'you are
a noble heart, and I thank you with all mine. But, my dear, I have long
seen it was only duty, and a foolish promise made by a young man to an
old woman, that has held you to your engagement. To keep it would make
you miserable, my dear. I absolve you from it, thanking you with all my
heart for your fidelity, and blessing and loving my dear cousin always.'
And she came up and kissed me before them all, and went out of the
room quite stately, and without a single tear. They were all crying,
especially my lord, who was sobbing quite loud. I didn't think he had so
much feeling. And she, George? Oh, isn't she a noble creature?"

"Here's her health!" cries George, filling one of the glasses that still
stood before him.

"Hip, hip, huzzay!" says Harry. He was wild with delight at being free.

CHAPTER LVII. In which Mr. Harry's Nose continues to be put out of joint

Madame de Bernstein was scarcely less pleased than her Virginian
nephews at the result of Harry's final interview with Lady Maria. George
informed the Baroness of what had passed, in a billet which he sent
to her the same evening; and shortly afterwards her nephew Castlewood,
whose visits to his aunt were very rare, came to pay his respects to
her, and frankly spoke about the circumstances which had taken place;
for no man knew better than my Lord Castlewood how to be frank upon
occasion, and now that the business between