make the scheme go wrong, "I trust to you, and only beg you to
remember, that if this does not succeed, my father will never forgive
either you or me."
Some farther conversation upon these subjects ensued, and all the
arrangements of Laura and Wilton were made as far as it was possible.
There were feelings in the mind of Wilton--that doubt of ultimate
success, in fact, which we all feel when a prospect of bright and
extraordinary happiness is suddenly presented to us, after many
struggles with difficulties and dangers--which led him to linger and
enjoy the present hour. But after a time, as he heard the clock chime
two, and knew that every moment was now of importance, he hastened
away to seek the Earl of Byerdale, and hear farther what was to be
done for the escape of the Duke.
The Earl was not at home, however, nor at his office, and Wilton
occupied himself for another hour in various preparations for the
events that were likely to ensue. At the end of that time he returned
to the Earl of Byerdale's house, and was immediately admitted.
"Well, Wilton!" exclaimed the Earl, as soon as he saw him, with a
cheerful smile, in which there was, nevertheless, something
sarcastic--"have I not done well for you? I think this proud Duke's
stomach is brought down sufficiently."
"I am only grieved, my lord," replied Wilton, "that either the Duke
or Lady Laura should have cause to think that I made it a condition
she should give me her hand before I aided in her father's escape.
There seemed to me something degrading in such a course."
The Earl's brow, for a moment, grew as dark as a thunder-cloud, but
it passed away in a sneer, and he contented himself with saying, "Are
you so proud, also, my young sir?--It matters not, however. What did
the Duke say to you? He showed no reluctance, I trust. We will bring
his pride down farther, if he did."
"I did not see the Duke, my lord," replied Wilton, a good deal
mortified at the tone the Earl assumed--"I only saw Lady Laura."
"And what said she?" demanded the Earl. "Is she as proud as her
father?"
"She showed no repugnance, my lord," replied Wilton, "to do what was
necessary for her father's safety; and when she saw how much pained I
was it should be thought that I would make such a condition with her,
she only seemed apprehensive that such feelings might lead to any
derangement of your lordship's plan."
"What?" said the Earl. "You were very indignant, indeed, I suppose,
and abused me heartily for doing the very thing t