not allow the word
disreputable to be used in regard to any of my friends."

"You do know people of the name of O'Hara?"

"Of course I do."

"And there is a--young lady?"

"I may know a dozen young ladies as to whom I shall not choose to
consult Lady Mary Quin."

"You understand what I mean, Fred. Of course I do not wish to ask you
anything about your general acquaintances. No doubt you meet many girls
whom you admire, and I should be very foolish were I to make inquiries
of you or of anybody else concerning them. I am the last person to be so
injudicious. If you will tell me that there is not and never shall be
any question of marriage between you and Miss O'Hara, I will not say
another word."

"I will not pledge myself to anything for the future."

"You told your uncle you would never make a marriage that should be
disgraceful to the position which you will be called upon to fill."

"Nor will I."

"But would not this marriage be disgraceful, even were the young lady
ever so estimable? How are the old families of the country to be kept
up, and the old blood maintained if young men, such as you are, will not
remember something of all that is due to the name which they bear."

"I do not know that I have forgotten anything."

Then she paused before she could summon courage to ask him another
question. "You have made no promise of marriage to Miss O'Hara?" He sat
dumb, but still looking at her with that angry frown. "Surely your uncle
has a right to expect that you will answer that question."

"I am quite sure that for his sake it will be much better that no such
questions shall be asked me."

In point of fact he had answered the question. When he would not deny
that such promise had been made, there could no longer be any doubt of
the truth of what Lady Mary had written. Of course the whole truth had
now been elicited. He was not married but he was engaged;--engaged to
a girl of whom he knew nothing, a Roman Catholic, Irish, fatherless,
almost nameless,--to one who had never been seen in good society, one of
whom no description could be given, of whom no record could be made in
the peerage that would not be altogether disgraceful, a girl of whom he
was ashamed to speak before those to whom he owed duty and submission!

That there might be a way to escape the evil even yet Lady Scroope
acknowledged to herself fully. Many men promise marriage but do not
keep the promise they have made. This lady, who hersel