. Norton; Mrs. Mainwaring, at
your service."

"Ah, indeed! Then you have changed your condition, as they say. Well,
I hope it is for the better, Mrs. Mainwaring; I wish you all joy and
happiness!"

"Thank you, Sir Thomas, it is for the better; I am very happily
married."

"I am glad to hear it--I am very glad to hear it; that is to say, if
I can be glad at anything. I feel very ill, Mrs. Mainwaring, very ill,
indeed; and this blunt, plain-spoken doctor of mine gives me but little
comfort. Not that I care much about any doctor's opinion--it is what
I feel myself that troubles me. You are not aware, perhaps, that my
daughter has abandoned me--deserted me--and left me solitary--sick--ill;
without care--without attendance--without consolation;--and all because
I wished to make her happy."

"This, Sir Thomas," replied Mrs. Mainwaring, avoiding a direct reply as
to her knowledge of Lucy's movements, "is, I presume, with reference to
her marriage with Lord Dunroe."

"Oh yes; young women will not, now-a-days, allow a parent to form any
opinion as to what constitutes their happiness; but I cannot be angry
with Lucy now; indeed, I am not. I only regret her absence from my sick
bed, as I may term it; for, indeed, it is in bed I ought to be."

"Sir Thomas, I, came to speak with you very seriously, upon the subject
of her union with that young nobleman."

"Ah, but I am not in a condition, Mrs. Mainwaring, to enter upon such a
topic at present. The doctor has forbidden me to speak upon any subject
that might excite me. You must excuse me, then, madam; I really cannot
enter upon it. I never thought T loved Lucy so much;--I only want my
child to be with me. She and I are all that I are left together now; but
she has deserted me at the last moment, for I fear I am near it."

"But, Sir Thomas, if you would only hear me for a few minutes, I could
satisfy you that--"

"But I cannot hear you, Mrs. Mainwaring; I cannot hear you; I am not in
a state to do so; I feel feverish, and exceedingly ill."

"Five minutes would do, Sir Thomas."

"Five minutes! five centuries of torture! I must ring the bell, Mrs.
Mainwaring, if you attempt to force this subject on me. I should be
sorry to treat you rudely, but you must see at once that I am quite
unable to talk of anything calculated to disturb me. I have a tendency
of blood to the head--I am also nervous and irritable. Put it off, my
dear madam. I trust you shall have another and a bette