the same time, that their consummation was
dependent on the will of two others, whose assenting voices, she feared,
could never be obtained. From Mrs. Mowbray I received a more decided
reply. All her haughtiness was aroused. Her farewell words assured me,
that it was indifferent to her whether we met again as relatives or as
strangers. Then was it that the native tenderness of Eleanor displayed
itself, in an outbreak of feeling peculiar to a heart keenly sympathetic
as hers. She saw my suffering--the reserve natural to her sex gave
way--she flung herself into my arms--and so we parted.

"With a heavy foreboding I returned to Rookwood, and, oppressed with the
gloomiest anticipations, endeavored to prepare myself for the worst. I
arrived. My reception was such as I had calculated upon; and, to
increase my distress, my parents had been at variance. I will not pain
you and myself with any recital of their disagreement. My mother had
espoused my cause, chiefly, I fear, with the view of thwarting my poor
father's inclinations. He was in a terrible mood, exasperated by the
fiery stimulants he had swallowed, which had not indeed, drowned his
reason, but roused and inflamed every dormant emotion to violence. He
was as one insane. It was evening when I arrived. I would willingly have
postponed the interview till the morrow. It could not be. He insisted
upon seeing me.

"My mother was present. You know the restraint she usually had over my
father, and how she maintained it. On this occasion she had none. He
questioned me as to every particular; probed my secret soul; dragged
forth every latent feeling, and then thundered out his own determination
that Eleanor never should be bride of mine; nor would he receive, under
his roof, her mother, the discountenanced daughter of his father. I
endeavored to remonstrate with him. He was deaf to my entreaties. My
mother added sharp and stinging words to my expostulations. 'I had her
consent,' she said; 'what more was needed? The lands were entailed. I
should at no distant period be their master, and might then please
myself.' This I mention in order to give you my father's strange answer.

"'Have a care, madam,' replied he, 'and bridle your tongue; they _are_
entailed, 'tis true, but I need not ask _his_ consent to cut off that
entail. Let him dare to disobey me in this particular, and I will so
divert the channel of my wealth, that no drop shall reach him. I
will--but why threaten?--let hi