misunderstand me;
there is no generosity, nothing for me to give up in the case. I did not
refuse Mr. Salisbury from generosity, but because I did not love him.
Perhaps my seeing this at first prevented me from thinking of him as
a lover; but, from whatever cause, I certainly never felt love for Mr.
Salisbury, nor any of that pity which is said to lead to love; perhaps,'
added she, smiling, 'because I was aware that he would be so much better
off after I refused him--so much happier with one suited to him in age,
talents, fortune, and love--"What bliss, did he but know his bliss,"
were HIS!'

'Did he but know his bliss,' repeated Lord Colambre; 'but is not he the
best judge of his own bliss?'

'And am not I the best judge of mine?' said Miss Nugent; 'I go no
farther.'

'You are; and I have no right to go farther. Yet, this much permit me
to say, my dear Grace, that it would give me sincere pleasure, that is,
real satisfaction, to see you happily--established.'

'Thank you, my dear Lord Colambre; but you spoke that like a man of
seventy at least, with the most solemn gravity of demeanour.'

'I meant to be serious, not solemn,' said Lord Colambre, endeavouring to
change his tone.

'There now,' said she, in a playful tone, 'you have SERIOUSLY
accomplished the task my good uncle set you; so I will report well of
you to him, and certify that you did all that in you lay to exhort me
to marry; that you have even assured me that it would give you sincere
pleasure, that is, real satisfaction, to see me happily established.'

'Oh, Grace, if you knew how much I felt when I said that, you would
spare this raillery.'

'I will be serious--I am most seriously convinced of the sincerity of
your affection for me; I know my happiness is your object in all you
have said, and I thank you from my heart for the interest you take about
me. But really and truly, I do not wish to marry. This is not a mere
commonplace speech; but I have not yet seen any man I could love. I like
you, cousin Colambre, better than Mr. Salisbury--I would rather live
with you than with him; you know that is a certain proof that I am not
likely to be in love with him. I am happy as I am, especially now we are
all going to dear Ireland, home, to live together: you cannot conceive
with what pleasure I look forward to that.'

Lord Colambre was not vain; but love quickly sees love where it exists,
or foresees the probability, the possibility of its existence.