e soft musical words which she had spoken in that long three hours'
colloquy had been spoken on this special point. It had behoved her to
tell him all; and she thought that she had done so. Nay, she had done
so with absolute truth--to the best of her heart's power.

"You were so young then," he had argued; "so very young."

"Yes, very young. I am not very old now, you know," and she smiled
sweetly on him.

"No, no; but a year makes so much difference. You were all but a
child then. You do not love him now, Clara?"

"No; I do not love him now," she had answered.

And then he exacted a second, a third, a fourth assurance, that she
did absolutely, actually, and with her whole heart love him, him
Herbert, in lieu of that other him, poor Owen; and with this he,
Herbert, was contented. Content; nay, but proud, elated with triumph,
and conscious of victory. In this spirit he rode home as fast as his
horse could carry him.

He too had to tell his tale to those to whom he owed obedience, and
to beg that they would look upon his intended bride with eyes of
love and with parental affection. But in this respect he was hardly
troubled with more doubt than Clara had felt. How could any one
object to his Clara?

There are young men who, from their positions in life, are obliged to
abstain from early marriage, or to look for dowries with their wives.
But he, luckily, was not fettered in this way. He could marry as he
pleased, so long as she whom he might choose brought with her gentle
blood, a good heart, a sweet temper, and such attraction of person
and manners as might make the establishment at Castle Richmond proud
of his young bride. And of whom could that establishment be more
proud than of Lady Clara Desmond? So he rode home without any doubt
to clog his happiness.

But he had a source of joy which Clara wanted. She was almost
indifferent to her mother's satisfaction; but Herbert looked forward
with the liveliest, keenest anticipation to his mother's gratified
caresses and unqualified approval--to his father's kind smile and
warm assurance of consent. Clara had made herself known at Castle
Richmond; and he had no doubt but that all this would be added to his
cup of happiness. There was therefore no alloy to debase his virgin
gold as he trotted quickly into the stable-yard.

But he resolved that he would say nothing about the matter that
night. He could not well tell them all in full conclave together.
Early after brea