r Dunroe, I am anxious you should know that I have
had a long conversation with Sir Thomas Gourlay, upon the subject of
your marriage with his beautiful and accomplished daughter."

"Yes, the Black Baronet; a confounded old scoundrel by all accounts."

"You forget, sir," said the Earl, sternly, "that he is father to your
future wife."

"Devilish sorry for it, my lord. I wish Lucy was daughter to any one
else--but it matters not; I am not going to marry the black fellow, but
twelve thousand a year and a pretty girl. I know a prettier, though."

"Impossible, John," replied Lady Emily, with enthusiasm. "I really think
Lucy Gourlay the most lovely girl I have ever seen--the most amiable,
the most dignified, the most,accomplished, the most--dear John, how
happy I shall be to call her sister!"

"Dunroe," proceeded his father, "I beg you consider this affair
seriously--solemnly--the happiness of such a girl as Lucy Grourlay is
neither to be sported with nor perilled. You will have much to reform
before you can become worthy of her. I now tell you that the reformation
must be effected, sincerely and thoroughly, before I shall ever give my
consent to your union with her. There must be neither dissimulation nor
hypocrisy on your part. Your conduct must speak for you, and I must,
from the clearest evidence, be perfectly satisfied that in marrying you
she is not wrecking her peace and happiness, by committing them to a man
who is incapable of appreciating her, or who is insensible to what is
due to her great and shining virtues."

"It would be dreadful, John," said his sister, "if she should not feel
happy. But if John, papa, requires reformation, I am sure he will reform
for Lucy's sake."

"He ought to reform from a much higher principle, my dear child,"
replied her father.

"And so he will, papa. Will you not, dear brother?"

"Upon my honor, my lord," said Dunroe, "I had a conversation this very
morning upon the subject with Tom Norton."

"I am glad to hear it, my dear son. It is not too late--it is never too
late--to amend the life; but in this instance there is an event about
to take place which renders a previous reformation, in its truest sense,
absolutely indispensable."

"My lord," he replied, "the truth is, I am determined to try a course of
religion. Tom Norton tells me it is the best thing in the world to get
through life with."

"Tom Norton might have added that it is a much better thing to get
through de