ed by the sweet music of the marriage bell. What right had any
one to assert publicly that he intended to marry any one? In his
wretchedness and anger he would have indicted this newspaper also for
a libel, had not his lawyer assured him that, according to law, there
was no libel in stating that a man was going to be married. The other
paper accused him of rapacity and dishonesty in that he would not
marry the lamb, now that he had secured the lamb's fleece; so that,
in truth, he had no escape on either side; for Mr Maguire, having
at last ascertained that the lamb had, in very truth, lost all her
fleece, was no longer desirous of any personal connection, and felt
that he could best carry out his pledge by attacking the possessor
of the fleece on that side. Under such circumstances, what was such
a man as Sir John Ball to do? Could he marry his cousin amidst the
trumpets, and the halo, and the doggrel poetry which would abound?
Was it right that he should be made a mark for the finger of scorn?
Had he done anything to deserve this punishment?

And it must be remembered that from day to day his own mother, who
lived with him, who sat with him late every night talking on this one
subject, was always instigating him to abandon his cousin. It had
been admitted between them that he was no longer bound by his offer.
Margaret herself had admitted it,--"does not attempt to deny it," as
Lady Ball repeated over and over again. When he had made his offer he
had known nothing of Mr Maguire's offer, nor had Margaret then told
him of it. Such reticence on her part of course released him from his
bond. So Lady Ball argued, and against this argument her son made
no demur. Indeed it was hardly possible that he should comprehend
exactly what had taken place between his cousin and Mr Maguire. His
mother did not scruple to assure him that she must undoubtedly at one
time have accepted the man's proposal. In answer to this John Ball
would always assert his entire reliance on his cousin's word.

"She did it without knowing that she did so," Lady Ball would answer;
"but in some language she must have assented."

But the mother was never able to extract from the son any intimation
of his intention to give up the marriage, though she used threats and
tears, ridicule and argument,--appeals to his pride and appeals to
his pocket. He never said that he certainly would marry her; he never
said so at least after that night on which Margaret in her