of the wreck of Dermot's youth, and those desultory habits
of self-indulgence and dissipation which were overcoming that which was
good and noble in him; and the good old man showed that he blamed
himself for what he had conceded to his sister in the first shock of
her misfortune. Harold had told him of the warm feeling shown by the
tenantry when Dermot was lying in danger of his life, and their
rejoicing when he turned the corner and began to recover, and he asked
anxiously whether all this affection might not awaken a responsive
chord, and draw him to "what was undoubtedly his proper sphere."

"It will," said Harold.

"You think so? And there is little doubt but that your cousin's
influence at such a critical period may have great effect in turning
the scale?"

Harold nodded.

"More especially as, from the intelligence I have received, I have
little doubt that the connection will be drawn a good deal closer
before long," said Lord Erymanth with a benignant smile at us both. "I
suppose we must not begin to congratulate one another yet, for I may
conclude that nothing had actually taken place when you came away."

"Nothing."

"When my sister became conscious of the condition of affairs and wrote
to consult me, I had no hesitation in replying that, though Viola's
connections might warrant greater expectations in a worldly point of
view, yet I thought that there was every reason for promoting an
attachment to a gentleman of family equal to her own on one side at
least, and whose noble exertions during the past two years for the
welfare of all concerned with him, not only obliterate all recollection
of past disadvantages, but in every way promise honour and happiness to
all connected with him."

I was not a little excited, but one of the worst fits of restlessness
under Lord Erymanth's harangues had come upon Harold. He only sat it
out by pulling so many hairs out of his beard that they made an audible
frizzle in the fire when he brushed them off his knee, and stood up,
saying gruffly, "You are very good; he deserves it. But I must get
Lucy home in good time. May I go and speak to your coachman? Tracy
gave me a message for him."

Harold was off, and Lord Erymanth observed, "A very fine young man
that. It is much to be regretted that he did not employ the advantages
he enjoyed at Sydney as his cousin Eustace did, and left himself so
rugged and unpolished."

"You must learn to like him, dear Lord Erymanth,