dvances here to her, as he did in
Ireland--you did not know that. Even before we left for Virginia he came
to see us, and brought her books and flowers, and here, on our arrival,
he brought her choicest blooms of his garden. She is rich, and he
would be glad of an estate that brings in scores of thousands of pounds
yearly. He has asked us to stay at King's House, but we have declined.
We start for Salem in a few hours. She wants her hand on the wheel."

"Lord Mallow--he courts her, does he?" His face grew grimmer. "Well, she
might do worse, though if she were one of my family I would rather see
her in her grave than wedded to him. For he is selfish--aye, as few men
are! He would eat and keep his apple too. His theory is that life is but
a game, and it must be played with steel. He would squeeze the life out
of a flower, and give the flower to his dog to eat. He thinks first and
always of himself. He would--but there, he would make a good husband as
husbands go for some women, but not for this woman! It is not because he
is my enemy I say this. It is because there is only one woman like your
daughter, and that is herself; and I would rather see her married to
a hedger that really loved her than to Lord Mallow, who loves only one
being on earth--himself. But see, Mrs. Llyn, now that you know all, now
that we three have met again, and this island is small and tragedy is
at our doors, don't you think your daughter should be told the truth.
It will end everything for me. But it would be better so. It is now only
cruelty to hide the truth, harsh to continue a friendship which will
only appal her in the end. If we had not met again like this, then
silence might have been best; but as she is not cured of her tender
friendship made upon the hills at Playmore, isn't it well to end it all?
Your conscience will be clearer, and so will mine. We shall have done
the right thing at last. Why did you not tell her who her father was?
Then why blame me! You held your peace to save your daughter, as you
thought. I held my tongue for the same reason; but she is so much a
woman now, that she will understand, as she could not have understood
years ago in Limerick. In God's name, let us speak. One of us should
tell her, and I think it should be you. And see, though I know I did
right in withholding the facts about the quarrel with Erris Boyne, yet
I favour telling her that he was a traitor. The whole truth now, or
nothing. That is my view."