uth, he was unwilling enough to interfere, and would have
declined to come at all could he have dared to do so. Eton was now
more pleasant to him than Desmond Court, which, indeed, had but
little of pleasantness to offer to a lad such as he was now. He
was sixteen, and manly for his age; but the question in dispute
at Desmond Court offered little attraction even to a manly boy of
sixteen. In that former question as to Owen he had said a word or
two, knowing that Owen could not be looked upon as a fitting husband
for his sister; but now he knew not how to counsel her again as to
Herbert, seeing that it was but the other day that he had written a
long letter, congratulating her on that connection.

Towards the end of the month, however, he did arrive, making glad his
mother's heart as she looked at his strong limbs and his handsome
open face. And Clara, too, threw herself so warmly into his arms that
he did feel glad that he had come to her. "Oh, Patrick, it is so
sweet to have you here!" she said, before his mother had had time to
speak to him.

"Dearest Clara!"

"But, Patrick, you must not be cruel to me. Look here, Patrick; you
are my only brother, and I so love you that I would not offend you
or turn you against me for worlds. You are the head of our family,
too, and nothing should be done that you do not like. But if so much
depends on you, you must think well before you decide on anything."

He opened his young eyes and looked intently into her face, for there
was an earnestness in her words that almost frightened him. "You must
think well of it all before you speak, Patrick; and remember this,
you and I must be honest and honourable, whether we be poor or no.
You remember about Owen Fitzgerald, how I gave way then because I
could do so without dishonour. But now--"

"But, Clara, I do not understand it all as yet."

"No; you cannot,--not as yet--and I will let mamma tell you the
story. All I ask is this, that you will think of my honour before you
say a word that can favour either her or me." And then he promised
her that he would do so; and his mother, when on the following
morning she told him all the history, found him reserved and silent.

"Look at his position," said the mother, pleading her cause before
her son. "He is illegitimate, and--"

"Yes, but mother--"

"I know all that, my dear; I know what you would say; and no one can
pity Mr. Fitzgerald's position more than I do; but you would not on
th