sion.

"What can he mean?" said Thomas to his sister. "Surely he would not be
mad enough to make Sir Thomas's house the place in which to produce Lady
Gourlay's son, the very individual who is to strip him of his title, and
your son of all his prospects?"

"Oh no," replied Ginty, "certainly not; otherwise, why have lent himself
to the carrying out of our speculation with respect to that boy. Such
a step would ruin him--ruin us all--but then it would ruin the man
he hates, and that would gratify him, I know. He is full of mystery,
certainly; but as he will disclose nothing as to his movements, we must
just let him have his own way, as that is the only chance of managing
him."

Poor Lucy could not be said to have awoke to a morning of despair and
anguish, because she had not slept at all the night before. Having got
up and dressed herself, by the aid of Alice, she leaned on her as far as
the boudoir to which allusion has already been made. On arriving there
she sat down, and when her maid looked upon her countenance she became
so much alarmed and distressed that she burst into tears.

"What, my darling mistress, is come over you?" she exclaimed. "You have
always spoken to me until this unhappy mornin' Oh, you are fairly in
despair now; and indeed is it any wonder? I always thought, and hoped,
and prayed that something might turn up to prevent this cursed marriage.
I see, I read, despair in your face."

Lucy raised her large, languid eyes, and looked upon her, but did not
speak. She gave a ghastly smile, but that was all.

"Speak to me, dear Miss Gourlay," exclaimed the poor girl, with a flood
of tears. "Oh, only speak to me, and let me hear your voice!"

Lucy beckoned her to sit beside her, and said, with difficulty, that she
wished to wet her lips. The girl knew by the few words she uttered that
her voice was gone; and on looking more closely she saw that her lips
were dry and parched. In a few moments she got her a glass of water, a
portion of which Lucy drank.

"Now," said Alice, "that will relieve and refresh you; but oh, for God's
sake, spake to me, and tell me how you feel! Miss Gourlay, darlin', you
are in despair!"

Lucy took her maid's hand in hers, and after looking upon her with a
smile resembling the first, replied, "No, Alice, I will not despair, but
I feel that I will die. No, I will not despair, Alice. Short as the time
is, God may interpose between me and misery--between me and despair.
But if I