emotion. "To me it means station, hope, worldly success, happiness,--ay,
life itself. I cannot longer tamper with your feelings, nor my own.
The ambition of which I speak, is to be your son; not alone in the
affectionate love which already I bear you, but by the closest and
dearest ties, to be bound to you in the same chain by which she is, who
owns all my heart and all my destiny."

He stopped as if overcome; and Corrigan, compassionating the agitation
he seemed to suffer, said,--

"Be calm, my dear friend; this takes me by surprise. I was not in any
way prepared for such an announcement; nor have I courage to look at its
consequences; poor, old, companionless as I should be--"

"Nay, such cruelty was not in my thoughts. It was with far other
intentions I became possessed of the property; it was in the glorious
hope that it would be our home,--yours and mine together; not to render
your hearth desolate, but to give it another guest, whose duty would be
his title to be there."

"Let me think,--let me reflect on this,--let me separate my own selfish
thoughts from the higher ones that should guide me. You have not spoken
to my daughter?"

"No, sir; I deemed the more honorable course to have your sanction; or,
if not that, to bury my sorrows in silence forever."

"There is so much to consider, and I am so weak and infirm, so
inadequate to decide. Your proposal is a proud one for any girl,--I
know it; and we are proud, although poor. Ay, Mr. Linton, poor to very
necessity! If her affections were engaged by you, if I saw that your
high qualities had made the impression upon her that they have on me, I
own this offer would delight me; but can you say this is the case?"

"I hope, sir, I am not indifferent to Miss Leicester. The humble fortune
which has restrained me hitherto, and prevented my prosecuting an
attachment to which I felt I had no claim, exists no longer. I am
independent in means, as in opinion; and, however conscious of my
personal unworthiness, in all that regards station and condition I 'm
in a position to satisfy you. I only ask your sanction to address Miss
Leicester, to know, in fact, that if I should prove acceptable to _her_,
that _you_ will not look unfavorably upon me."

"This appears most candid and fair on your part; and it is a time
when we must both use candor and fairness. Now, Mr. Linton, there
are circumstances which at this moment involve me in considerable
difficulty; I cannot enter int