id Lady Clonbrony, 'pray let us
go immediately, before the thing gets wind, else I shall have Mrs.
Dareville, and Lady Langdale, and Lady St. James, and all the world,
coming to condole with me, just to satisfy their own curiosity; and then
Miss Pratt, who hears everything that everybody says, and more than they
say, will come and tell me how it is reported everywhere that we are
ruined. 'Oh! I never could bear to stay and hear all this.
I'll tell you what I'll do--you are to be of age the day after
to-morrow, Colambre--very well, there are some papers for me to sign--I
must stay to put my name to them, and that done, that minute I'll leave
you and Lord Clonbrony to settle all the rest; and I'll get into my
carriage with Grace, and go down to Buxton again; where you can come for
me, and take me up, when you're all ready to go to Ireland--and we shall
be so far on our way. Colambre, what do you say to this?'

'That--if you like it, madam,' said he, giving one hasty glance at Miss
Nugent, and withdrawing his eyes, 'it is the best possible arrangement.'

'So,' thought Grace, 'that is the best possible arrangement which takes
us away.'

'If I like it!' said Lady Clonbrony; 'to be sure I do, or I should not
propose it. What is Colambre thinking of? I know, Grace, at all events,
what you and I must think of--of having the furniture packed up, and
settling what's to go, and what's to be exchanged, and all that. Now,
my dear, go and write a note directly to Mr. Soho, and bid him come
himself, immediately; and we'll go and make out a catalogue this instant
of what furniture I will have packed.'

So, with her head full of furniture, Lady Clonbrony retired. 'I go to my
business, Colambre; and I leave you to settle yours in peace.'

In peace!--Never was our hero's mind less at peace than at this moment.
The more his heart felt that it was painful, the more his reason told
him it was necessary that he should part from Grace Nugent. To his union
with her there was an obstacle, which his prudence told him ought to be
insurmountable; yet he felt that, during the few days he had been with
her, the few hours he had been near her, he had, with his utmost
power over himself, scarcely been master of his passion, or capable of
concealing it from its object. It could not have been done but for her
perfect simplicity and innocence. But how could this be supposed on his
part? How could he venture to live with this charming girl? How could h