f was really
good,--unselfish, affectionate, religious, actuated by a sense of
duty in all that she did, whose life had been almost austerely moral,
entertained an idea that young men, such as Fred Neville, very commonly
made such promises with very little thought of keeping them. She did not
expect young men to be governed by principles such as those to which
young ladies are bound to submit themselves. She almost supposed that
heaven had a different code of laws for men and women in her condition
of life, and that salvation was offered on very different terms to the
two sexes. The breach of any such promise as the heir of Scroope could
have made to such a girl as this Miss O'Hara would be a perjury at which
Jove might certainly be expected to laugh. But in her catalogue there
were sins for which no young men could hope to be forgiven; and the sin
of such a marriage as this would certainly be beyond pardon.

Of the injury which was to be done to Miss O'Hara, it may be said with
certainty that she thought not at all. In her eyes it would be no
injury, but simple justice,--no more than a proper punishment for
intrigue and wicked ambition. Without having seen the enemy to the
family of Scroope, or even having heard a word to her disparagement, she
could feel sure that the girl was bad,--that these O'Haras were vulgar
and false impostors, persons against whom she could put out all her
strength without any prick of conscience. Women in such matters are
always hard against women, and especially hard against those whom they
believe to belong to a class below their own. Certainly no feeling of
mercy would induce her to hold her hand in this task of saving her
husband's nephew from an ill-assorted marriage. Mercy to Miss O'Hara!
Lady Scroope had the name of being a very charitable woman. She gave
away money. She visited the poor. She had laboured hard to make the
cottages on the estate clean and comfortable. She denied herself many
things that she might give to others. But she would have no more mercy
on such a one as Miss O'Hara, than a farmer's labourer would have on a
rat!

There was nothing more now to be said to the heir;--nothing more for the
present that could serve the purpose which she had in hand. "Your uncle
is very ill," she murmured.

"I was so sorry to hear it."

"We hope now that he may recover. For the last two days the doctor has
told us that we may hope."

"I am so glad to find that it is so."

"I am s