obleman with nothing but expectations. Were I to follow
your advice the doors of my home would be closed against me. I should
have a title, by courtesy, to offer my wife, and nothing more. She
would, perhaps, be compelled to go on the stage to support me--a poor
substitute for these two vast estates which these old people hope to
unite in us."

CHAPTER XXV.

HOW LADY CLARA GOT HER OWN WAY.

Lady Clara turned on the young nobleman with glowing anger.

"Lord Hilton," she said, "it is the land they are thinking of; but an
earthquake may swallow it before I will sell a corner of my heart at
their price. I am only a girl, Lord Hilton, and, perhaps, this ancestral
grandeur seems less to me on that account; but the noblest possession
that can be given to me is liberty--liberty of heart, limb and
conscience--liberty to love and hate--though I do not hate any one very
much--but to love that which is splendid and good without regard to
anything else. The grandest thing upon the face of the earth, Lord
Hilton, is to own oneself. If I were a man no one should own me but the
woman I loved."

Was the girl inspired? You would have thought so from the sparkle that
came into her eyes, like sunshine striking the dew in a violet--from
the quick, generous curve of her lips, and the flush of color that
rushed over her face.

Lord Hilton looked at her with such admiration as would, perhaps, have
made obedience to the wishes of his family an easier thing than he
dreamed of; but he knew something of the world, and had, more than once,
searched the female hearts that came in his way, for the gratification
of vanity alone. He read the one before him on the instant.

"The man you speak of is without these advantages," he said. "I
understand--they are a wall between you and him."

"No. This morning my grandmother told me that I was to be her heiress;
but I entreated her to take time. Before she decides, I wish her to
judge of this man as he is, without prejudice or favor. Then she shall
know all, and if she is willing to endow us with her wealth, there never
was so grateful a girl as I shall be; but, if not, I will fall upon my
knees, kiss her dear old hand, thank her for what she has done, and go
away to America, where a man's talents and energies can work out
something that will answer very well for a patent of nobility."

"And you will carry this out? give up the title?"

"The title! Ah, that may be of value in America," ans