r!" said the colonel, with that affectation of bluntness he had
determined upon.

Mr. Force, with hands on knees, bent forward and stared at the speaker.

"You--love--my--daughter!" he slowly repeated.

"Yes! I cannot help it. If it be a crime, I cannot help it! If I were to
be shot for it, I could not help it!"

"But, man alive! she is only sixteen, and you must be near forty! Quite
old enough to be her father!"

"Yes, quite! You are right, and that is the worst of it! And doubtless I
am a fool! But there! I love her! I cannot help it, I say!"

"But, dear me, Anglesea, you know it is of no sort of use your loving
Odalite. She is to marry her cousin, you know."

"Yes, I know."

"I am very sorry for this, Anglesea."

"If it were only myself that is concerned I pledge you my word of honor
that I would go away at once and bear my disappointment like a man. But,
oh! Force, it is not only myself. I am not the only one whose happiness is
at stake in this matter," said the colonel, solemnly.

Mr. Force stared at him uneasily.

"You do not mean--you do not mean---- What do you mean, man?" he demanded
at length.

"Let me be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Force. Nothing was further from
my--from our--intention than that which has happened. We drifted into
this. When I discovered that my heart was irrevocably given to your
daughter, and remembered that you had other views for her than my poor
alliance, I was shocked and disgusted with myself, and I would have
finished my long visit here, and would have gone away to distract my
sorrow in extended travel; but when, too late, I also discovered
that--well, it seems strange--but there is no accounting for such
occurrences."

"In a word, what do you mean?" demanded Mr. Force, more and more
disturbed.

"I mean that this attachment is reciprocal; that your lovely daughter
returns my affection. Seeing that--as a man of honor, not to say a man in
love--what could I do? I have made your daughter an offer of my hand,
subject to your approval. She bids me say to you that her happiness is
dependent on your consent to our marriage, and then to give the matter
entirely in your hands, where I now place it, and leave it."

"Good heavens, Anglesea! this is a great shock to me! a very great shock!"
exclaimed Mr. Force.

"I am sorry for it--very sorry. We place ourselves absolutely at your
disposal, and submit ourselves to your will. We can do no more."

"How long has this been go