He saw
that Miss Nugent might love him tenderly, passionately; but that duty,
habit, the prepossession that it was impossible she could marry her
cousin Colambre--a prepossession instilled into her by his mother--had
absolutely prevented her from ever yet thinking of him as a lover. He
saw the hazard for her, he felt the danger for himself. Never had she
appeared to him so attractive as at this moment, when he felt the hope
that he could obtain return of love.

'But St. Omar!--Why! why is she a St, Omar!--illegitimate!--"No St.
Omar SANS REPROCHE." My wife she cannot be--I will not engage her
affections.'

Swift as thoughts in moments of strong feeling pass in the mind without
being put into words, our hero thought all this, and determined, cost
what it would, to act honourably.

'You spoke of my returning to Ireland, my dear Grace. I have not yet
told you my plans.'

'Plans! are not you returning with us?' said she, precipitately; 'are
not you going to Ireland--home--with us?'

'No--I am going to serve a campaign or two abroad. I think every young
man in these times--'

'Good heavens! What does this mean? What can you mean?' cried she,
fixing her eyes upon his, as if she would read his very soul. 'Why? what
reason?--Oh, tell me the truth and at once.'

His change of colour--his hand that trembled, and withdrew from
hers--the expression of his eyes as they met hers--revealed the truth to
her at once. As it flashed across her mind, she started back; her face
grew crimson, and, in the same instant, pale as death.

'Yes--you see, you feel the truth now,' said Lord Colambre. 'You see,
you feel, that I love you--passionately.'

'Oh, let me not hear it!' said she; 'I must not--ought not. Never,
till this moment, did such a thought cross my mind--I thought it
impossible--oh, make me think so still.'

'I will--it is impossible that we can ever be united.'

'I always thought so,' said she, taking breath with a deep sigh. 'Then
why not live as we have lived?'

'I cannot--I cannot answer for myself--I will not run the risk; and
therefore I must quit you--knowing, as I do, that there is an invincible
obstacle to our union, of what nature I cannot explain; I beg you not to
inquire.'

'You need not beg it--I shall not inquire--I have no curiosity--none,'
said she, in a passive, dejected tone; 'that is not what I am thinking
of in the least. I know there are invincible obstacles; I wish it to
be so. But, if invincibl