n once
how much a peer of England owed to his country and to his order;--how
such a one is bound by no ordinary bonds to a life of high resolves, and
good endeavours. "Sans reproche" was the motto of his house, and was
emblazoned on the wall of the hall that was now his own. If it might be
possible to him he would live up to it and neither degrade his order nor
betray his country.

But as he thought of all this, he thought also of Kate O'Hara. With what
difficulties had he surrounded the commencement of this life which he
purposed to lead! How was he to escape from the mess of trouble which he
had prepared for himself by his adventures in Ireland. An idea floated
across his mind that very many men who stand in their natural manhood
high in the world's esteem, have in their early youth formed ties such
as that which now bound him to Kate O'Hara,--that they have been silly
as he had been, and had then escaped from the effects of their folly
without grievous damage. But yet he did not see his mode of escape. If
money could do it for him he would make almost any sacrifice. If wealth
and luxury could make his Kate happy, she should be happy as a Princess.
But he did not believe either of her or of her mother that any money
would be accepted as a sufficient atonement. And he hated himself for
suggesting to himself that it might be possible. The girl was good, and
had trusted him altogether. The mother was self-denying, devoted, and
high-spirited. He knew that money would not suffice.

He need not return to Ireland unless he pleased. He could send over some
agent to arrange his affairs, and allow the two women to break their
hearts in their solitude upon the cliffs. Were he to do so he did not
believe that they would follow him. They would write doubtless, but
personally he might, probably, be quit of them in this fashion. But
in this there would be a cowardice and a meanness which would make it
impossible that he should ever again respect himself.

And thus he again entered Scroope, the lord and owner of all that he saw
around him,--with by no means a happy heart or a light bosom.

CHAPTER VI.

THE EARL OF SCROOPE IS IN TROUBLE.

Not a word was said to the young lord on his return home respecting the
O'Haras till he himself had broached the subject. He found his brother
Jack Neville at Scroope on his arrival, and Sophie Mellerby was still
staying with his aunt. A day had been fixed for the funeral, but no one
h