s the excess of her
affection for me. Dear Alice," she said, addressing her, and for a
moment forgetting her weakness, "come with me; I cannot, and will not
bear this; come with me out of the room."

"Very well; I'll go to plaise you, miss, but I've made up my mind that
this marriage mustn't take place. Just think of it," she added, turning
to her master; "if you force her to marry this scamp of a lord, the girl
has sense, and spirit, and common decency, and of course she'll run away
from him; after that, it won't be hard to guess who she'll run to--then
there'll be a con. crim. about it, and it'll go to the lawyers, and from
the lawyers it'll go to the deuce, and that will be the end of it; and
all because you're a coarse-minded tyrant, unworthy of having such a
daughter. Oh, you needn't shake your hand at me. You refused to give me
satisfaction, and I'd now scorn to notice you. Remember I cowed you, and
for that reason never pretend to be a gentleman afther this."

Lucy then led her out of the room, which she left, after turning upon
her master a look of the proudest and fiercest defiance, and at the same
time the most sovereign contempt.

"Lucy," said her father, "is not this a fine specimen of a maid to have
in personal attendance upon you?"

"I do not defend her conduct now, sir," she replied; "but I cannot
overlook her affection, her truth, her attachment to me, nor the many
other virtues which I know she possesses. She is somewhat singular, I
grant, and a bit of a character, and I could wish that her manners were
somewhat less plain; but, on the other hand, she does not pretend to be
a fine lady with her mistress, although she is not without some harmless
vanity; neither is she frivolous, giddy, nor deceitful; and whatever
faults there may be, papa, in her head, there are none in her heart. It
is affectionate, faithful, and disinterested. Indeed, whilst I live I
shall look upon her as my friend."

"I am determined, however, she shall not be long under my roof, nor in
your service; her conduct just now has settled that point; but, putting
her out of the question, I trust we understand each other, and that you
are prepared to make your father's heart happy. No more objections."

"No, sir; I have said so."

"You will go through the ceremony with a good grace?'

"I cannot promise that, sir; but I shall go through the ceremony."

"Yes, but you must do it without offence to Dunroe, and with as little
appearan