public-house, a gentleman
stopped with a portmanteau, and soon afterwards went away with it on his
shoulders. I returned to Richmond with the tidings of my ill-success
about a week after I had first called there. Cecilia was much affected
and cried very bitterly. I could not help asking Lady de Clare why she
took such a strong interest in your fortunes. 'Who ought,' replied
Cecilia, 'if his poor Fleta does not?' 'Good Heavens! Miss de Clare, are
you the little Fleta whom he found with the gipsies, and talked to me so
much about?' 'Did you not know it?' said Lady de Clare. I then explained
to her all that had latterly passed between us, and they in return
communicated your events and dangers in Ireland. Thus was an intimacy
formed, and ever since I have been constantly welcome at their house. I
did not, however, abandon my enquiries for many months, when I thought
it was useless, and I had to console poor Cecilia, who constantly mourned
for you. And now, Japhet, I must make my story short: I could not help
admiring a young person who showed so much attachment and gratitude
joined to such personal attractions, but she was an heiress and I was
a younger brother. Still Lady de Clare insisted upon my coming to the
house, and I was undecided how to act when the unfortunate death of my
elder brother put me in a situation to aspire to her hand. After that my
visits were more frequent, and I was tacitly received as a suitor by
Lady de Clare, and had no reason to complain of the treatment I received
from Cecilia. Such was the position of affairs until the day on which you
broke in upon us so unexpectedly, and at the very moment that you came
in, I had, with the sanction of her mother, made an offer to Cecilia, and
was anxiously awaiting an answer from her own dear lips. Can you therefore
be surprised, Japhet, at there being a degree of constraint on all sides
at the interruption occasioned by the presence of one who had long been
considered lost to us? Or that a young person just deciding upon the most
important step of her life should feel confused and agitated at the
entrance of a third party, however dear he might be to her as a brother
and benefactor?"

"I am perfectly satisfied, Harcourt," replied I: "and I will go there,
and make my peace as soon as I can."

"Indeed, Japhet, if you knew the distress of Cecilia you would pity and
love her more than ever. Her mother is also much annoyed. As soon as you
were gone, they desir