one with this weary searching after rank! And now what could
her mother mean? Thomas Thwaite had been there, but it was impossible
that her mother should think that Daniel Thwaite would be a fit
husband for her daughter. "No, mamma;--why should I?"

"It must be thought of, my dearest."

"Why now?" She could understand perfectly that there was some special
cause for her mother's manner of speech.

"After all that we have gone through, we are about to succeed
at last. They are willing to own everything, to give us all our
rights,--on one condition."

"What condition, mamma?"

"Come nearer to me, dearest. It would not make you unhappy to think
that you were going to be the wife of a man you could love?"

"No;--not if I really loved him."

"You have heard of your cousin,--the young Earl?"

"Yes, mamma;--I have heard of him."

"They say that he is everything that is good. What should you think
of having him for your husband?"

"That would be impossible, mamma."

"Impossible!--why impossible? What could be more fitting? Your rank
is equal to his;--higher even in this, that your father was himself
the Earl. In fortune you will be much more than his equal. In age you
are exactly suited. Why should it be impossible?"

"Oh, mamma, it is impossible!"

"What makes you say so, Anna?"

"We have never seen each other."

"Tush! my child. Why should you not see each other?"

"And then we are his enemies."

"We are no longer enemies, dearest. They have sent to say that if
we,--you and I,--will consent to this marriage, then will they
consent to it also. It is their wish, and it comes from them. There
can be no more proper ending to all this weary lawsuit. It is quite
right that the title and the name should be supported. It is quite
right that the fortune which your father left should, in this way,
go to support your father's family. You will be the Countess Lovel;
and all will have been conceded to us. There cannot possibly be any
fitter way out of our difficulties." Lady Anna sat looking at her
mother in dismay, but could say nothing. "You need have no fear
about the young man. Every one tells me that he is just the man
that a mother would welcome as a husband for her daughter. Will
you not be glad to see him?" But the Lady Anna would only say that
it was impossible. "Why impossible, my dear;--what do you mean by
impossible?"

"Oh, mamma, it is impossible!"

The Countess found that she was obliged to give the