ature of his actions--so indifferent to
the agony of another as to please himself at all risk to her, although
he believed he loved her, and perhaps did love her better than any one
else in the world. For Donal did not at all trust him regarding
Eppy--less now than ever. But these thoughts went on in him almost
without his thinking them; his attention was engrossed with the
passionate creatures before him.

The father too seemed to have lost the power of motion, and lay with
his eyes closed, breathing heavily. But by and by he made what Donal
took for a sign to ring the bell. He did so, and Simmons came. The
moment he entered, and saw the state his master was in, he hastened to
a cupboard, took thence a bottle, poured from it something colourless,
and gave it to him in water. It brought him to himself. He sat up
again, and in a voice hoarse and terrible said:--

"Think of what I have told you, Forgue. Do as I would have you, and the
truth is safe; take your way without me, and I will take mine without
you. Go."

Donal went. Forgue did not move.

What was Donal to do or think now? Perplexities gathered upon him.
Happily there was time for thought, and for prayer, which is the
highest thinking. Here was a secret affecting the youth his enemy, and
the boy his friend! affecting society itself--that society which,
largely capable and largely guilty of like sins, yet visits with such
unmercy the sins of the fathers upon the children, the sins of the
offender upon the offended! But there is another who visits them, and
in another fashion! What was he to do? Was he to hold his tongue and
leave the thing as not his, or to speak out as he would have done had
the case been his own? Ought the chance to be allowed the nameless
youth of marrying his cousin? Ought the next heir to the lordship to go
without his title? Had they not both a claim upon Donal for the truth?
Donal thought little of such things himself, but did that affect his
duty in the matter? He might think little of money, but would he
therefore look on while a pocket was picked?

On reflection he saw, however, that there was no certainty the earl was
speaking the truth; for anything he knew of him, he might be inventing
the statement in order to have his way with his son! For in either case
he was a double-dyed villian; and if he spoke the truth was none the
less capable of lying.

CHAPTER XLIX.

FILIAL RESPONSE.

One thing then was clear to Donal, tha