, to Lord ----.
Before a real contract can subsist, you must be an assenting party
to it. I know of no casuistry subtle enough to involve you in any
engagement whatever, without such an ingredient. Tush! you have an easy
card to play.'

'Well,' said the young man, 'I will think on what you have said; in the
meantime, I will write to my father to announce my immediate departure,
in order to join him.'

'Excuse me,' said Dwyer, 'but I would suggest that by hastening your
departure you but bring your dangers nearer. While you are in this
country a letter now and then keeps everything quiet; but once across
the Channel and with the colonel, you must either quarrel with him to
your own destruction, or you must dance attendance upon Lady Emily with
such assiduity as to commit yourself as completely as if you had been
thrice called with her in the parish church. No, no; keep to this
side of the Channel as long as you decently can. Besides, your sudden
departure must appear suspicious, and will probably excite inquiry.
Every good end likely to be accomplished by your absence will be
effected as well by your departure for Dublin, where you may remain for
three weeks or a month without giving rise to curiosity or doubt of
an unpleasant kind; I would therefore advise you strongly to write
immediately to the colonel, stating that business has occurred to defer
your departure for a month, and you can then leave this place, if you
think fit, immediately, that is, within a week or so.'

Young O'Mara was not hard to be persuaded. Perhaps it was that,
unacknowledged by himself, any argument which recommended his staying,
even for an hour longer than his first decision had announced, in
the neighbourhood of Ellen Heathcote, appeared peculiarly cogent and
convincing; however this may have been, it is certain that he followed
the counsel of his cool-headed follower, who retired that night to bed
with the pleasing conviction that he was likely soon to involve
his young patron in all the intricacies of disguise and intrigue--a
consummation which would leave him totally at the mercy of the favoured
confidant who should possess his secret.

Young O'Mara's reflections were more agitating and less satisfactory
than those of his companion. He resolved upon leaving the country before
two days had passed. He felt that he could not fairly seek to involve
Ellen Heathcote in his fate by pledge or promise, until he had
extricated himself from th