!' continued Ferdinand. 'It seemed to me
I never knew what virtue was till I knew her. So frank, so generous! I
think I see her now, with that dear smile of hers that never more may
welcome me!'

'My child, I know not what to say; I know not what advice to give;
I know not what even to wish. Your situation is so complicated, so
mysterious, that it passes my comprehension. There are others whose
claims, whose feelings should be considered. You are not, of course,
married?'

Ferdinand shook his head.

'Does Miss Grandison know all?'

'Nothing.'

'Your family?'

Ferdinand shook his head again.

'What do you yourself wish? What object are you aiming at? What game
have you yourself been playing? I speak not in harshness; but I
really do not understand what you have been about. If you have your
grandfather's passions, you have his brain too. I did not ever suppose
that you were "infirm of purpose."'

'I have only one wish, only one object. Since I first saw Henrietta, my
heart and resolution have never for an instant faltered; and if I do not
now succeed in them I am determined not to live.'

'The God of all goodness have mercy on this distracted house!' exclaimed
Glastonbury, as he piously lifted his hands to heaven.

'You went to Bath to communicate this great change to your father,' he
continued. 'Why did you not? Painful as the explanation must be to Miss
Grandison, the injustice of your conduct towards her is aggravated by
delay.'

'There were reasons,' said Ferdinand, 'reasons which I never intended
anyone to know; but now I have no secrets. Dear Glastonbury, even amid
all this overwhelming misery, my cheek burns when I confess to you that
I have, and have had for years, private cares of my own of no slight
nature.'

'Debts?' enquired Glastonbury.

'Debts,' replied Ferdinand, 'and considerable ones.'

'Poor child!' exclaimed Glastonbury. 'And this drove you to the
marriage?'

'To that every worldly consideration impelled me: my heart was free
then; in fact, I did not know I had a heart; and I thought the marriage
would make all happy. But now, so far as I am myself concerned, oh! I
would sooner be the commonest peasant in this county, with Henrietta
Temple for the partner of my life, than live at Armine with all the
splendour of my ancestors.'

'Honour be to them; they were great men,' exclaimed Glastonbury.

'I am their victim,' replied Ferdinand. 'I owe my ancestors nothing,
nay, worse than no