gree, have shaken her
confidence in high and upright generosity of feeling, it might have
made her doubt whether, in all respects, she had found a heart
perfectly responsive to her own.
"My dear father," she replied, gazing tenderly upon him, and laying
her two hands on his, with a faint smile, "what is there that I would
not do for such objects as you mention, were it ten thousand times
more than marrying the man I love best, even with such terrible
suddenness.--It is very sudden, indeed, I must say; and I do wonder
that Wilton required it."
"Why, my dear Laura," replied the Duke, "it was not exactly Wilton
himself. It was Lord Byerdale took it all on his own shoulders: but
of course Wilton prompted it; and in such circumstances as these I
could not hesitate to consent."
Lady Laura looked down while her father spoke; and when her first
agitation was over, she could not but think, that perhaps,
considering her father's character, Wilton was right; and that the
means he had taken, though apparently ungenerous, were the only ones
to secure her own happiness and his, and her father's safety also.
The next instant, however, as she recollected a thousand different
traits in her lover's conduct, and combined those recollections with
what her father said concerning Lord Byerdale, she became convinced
that Wilton had not made such conditions, and that rather than have
made them he would have risked everything, even if the Duke were
certain to deny him her hand the moment after his liberation.
"I do not think, my dear father," she replied, as this conviction
came strong upon her--"I do not think that Wilton did prompt the Earl
of Byerdale. I do not think he would make such conditions, on any
account."
"Well, it does not matter, my dear Laura," replied her father, whose
mind was totally taken up with his own escape. "It comes to the same
thing. The Earl has made them, if Wilton has not, and I have pledged
my word for your consent. But hark, Laura, I hear Wilton's step in
the outer room. I will leave you two together to make all your
arrangements, and to enter into every explanation," and he turned
hurriedly towards the door which led to his bedroom.
Ere he reached it, however, he paused for a moment, with a sudden
fear coming over him that Laura might by some means put an end to all
the plans on which he founded his hopes of liberty.
"Laura," he said, "Laura--for heaven's sake show no repugnance, my
dear child. Remember, your father's safety depends upon it