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father, for that he wished her to marry, and had even insisted on her fulfilment of his and Lady Belnovine's promise, though she had been quite candid with them in her own resolve.

During this explanation, Lord Vahl's cane had demolished a flower-basket near the ottoman. "In the first place, Miss De Lastre, I must tell you," said he, throwing aside the cane, Darmaya would not have conversed

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with you, had he meant to have fought with me. Belnovine has set him at ease on that point, so you may be at peace on all that nonsense yourself. Darmaya makes use, or tries to do so, of every casual event to answer some scheme; and he is struggling now to make us man and wife, happy, or unhappy, or to use his own phrase, coûte qui coûte, that he may have my father's estates still under his thumb, instead of letting Lord Delainey slip safely out of his power. It's too long to narrate, and wholly uninteresting to us, so I'll drop the theme for Jews and money-lenders to take up. But be certain of this fact, that Lord Darmaya is a man of revengeful habits, and intri

cate speculations: he would aid and assist me to carry you off by stratagem: he never meant you to have any will in the affair; so look to yourself, or you'll be sold for a song. Would I were your legal protector! — but I now see that is a hopeless aspiration. But as to Darmaya and Lady Belnovine insisting on your marrying me," Vahl exclaimed, retaking his cane and dashing it again at the basket: "let me have a word in that, if you please; I positively refuse to accept any woman's commanded acquiescence. I am neither to be bribed by paltry gold, nor reduced to lead a Venus to the altar on such terms as compulsion. No! she must appreciate, and even seek my attachment; and not view me under deceptive colours and arbitrary law: therefore, Miss De Lastre, you are free."

Ellen hardly understood him, for she had felt free before; and though she had, to exculpate Lord Darmaya and her mother, intimated that they desired her compliance, she had no intention of inducing Lord Vahl to imagine that she meant to alter her decision. Looking at him with doubt, he recommenced.

"Do not be triste! Let not our suit be one of controversy, and by mutual shyness and misunderstanding insure the ends of our arch adversary by the betrayal of ourselves. Rather let us be friends, and brave and foil those who have made us suffer by their falsehoods, and we shall become the conquerors. It is stated that strength lies in numbers; but my opinion is, that courage beats a phalanx of cowards, though cunning sides with, and leads them on. I am, Dieu merci! strong in nerve, and can cope with any man, or defend an injured female under any oppression. So now, then, I will go to Lord Darmaya, and make him quail under my indignation. I will refuse to marry you; the negative shall proceed from my own voice, and you may proclaim it on every handpost.-Adieu."

Ellen was in a perplexed and delicate position, and not knowing what to reply, simply offered Lord Vahl her hand in acknowledgment of his candid, open declaration. He slightly pressed it, and rejoined: "A man of honour has no right to complain at not inspiring mutual affection, unless he has been deceived by

the lady herself. Now, Miss De Lastre, I fully acquit you of all that girlish vanity, for you are above your years in solidity of character; and though I confess that my enthusiasm has imbibed a chill, I must ever retain the respect and esteem due to virtue."

Ellen followed him with her eyes to the door, and for the first time fancied that he resembled Lord Belnovine.

CHAPTER XIV.

"L'on se repent rarement de parler peu, très souvent de trop parler, maxime usée et triviale que tout le monde sait, et que tout le monde ne pratique pas."

LORD DARMAYA persevered in cold, gloomy reserve: he avoided entering into general conversation, and shunned Lady Delainey and Villetta in the most palpable manner. He called on the two Morgans, and invited them to dinner which for the great desire they both had to know their relative, Miss De Lastre, and to be with Belnovine, they accepted. They were both pleased with Ellen's affectionate greeting of them. Morgan looked at her with surprise, she so strongly resembled his cousin, her grandmother, and wished at his heart that she might appreciate his son; that is, were she

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