sed as a prelude to his viler proposal. And, though he loved the girl
after his fashion, he desired to wound her by no such vile proposal. He
did not wish to live a life of sin, if such life might be avoided. If he
made his proposal, it would be but for her sake; or rather that he might
show her that he did not wish to cast her aside. It was by asserting to
himself that for her sake he would relinquish his own rank, were that
possible, that he attempted to relieve his own conscience. But, in the
mean time, she was in his arms talking about their joint future home!
"Where do you think of living?" asked Mrs. O'Hara in a tone which shewed
plainly the anxiety with which she asked the question.

"Probably abroad," he said.

"But mother may go with us?" The girl felt that the tension of his arm
was relaxed, and she knew that all was not well with him. And if there
was ought amiss with him, how much more must it be amiss with her? "What
is it, Fred?" she said. "There is some secret. Will you not tell it
to me?" Then she whispered into his ear words intended for him alone,
though her mother heard them. "If there be a secret you should tell it
me now. Think how it is with me. Your words are life and death to me
now." He still held her with loosened arms but did not answer her. He
sat, looking out into the middle of the room with fixed eyes, and he
felt that drops of perspiration were on his brow. And he knew that the
other woman was glaring at him with the eyes of an injured lioness,
though he did not dare to turn his own to her face. "Fred, tell me; tell
me." And Kate rose up, with her knees upon the sofa, bending over him,
gazing into his countenance and imploring him.

"There must be disappointment," he said; and he did not know the sound
of his own voice.

"What disappointment? Speak to me. What disappointment?"

"Disappointment!" shrieked the mother. "How disappointment? There shall
be no disappointment." Rising from her chair, she hurried across the
room, and took her girl from his arms. "Lord Scroope, tell us what you
mean. I say there shall be no disappointment. Sit away from him, Kate,
till he has told us what it is." Then they heard the sound of a horse's
foot passing close to the window, and they all knew that it was the
priest. "There is Father Marty," said Mrs. O'Hara. "He shall make you
tell it."

"I have already told him." Lord Scroope as he said this rose and moved
towards the door; but he himself was almos