he had just witnessed.
Why describe it at all? That is what we should all say. He had come
there to talk about other things--about other things which must be
discussed, and which would require all his wits. Let him keep that
poor woman on his mind, but not embarrass himself with any mention of
her for the present. This, no doubt, would have been wise if only it
had been possible; but out of the full heart the mouth speaks.

But Lady Desmond had not witnessed the scene which I have attempted
to describe, and her heart, therefore, was not full of it, and
was not inclined to be so filled. And so, in answer to Herbert's
exclamation, "Oh, Lady Desmond, I have seen such a sight!" she gave
him but little encouragement to describe it, and by her coldness,
reserve, and dignity, soon quelled the expression of his feelings.

The earl was present and shook hands very cordially with Herbert when
he entered the room; and he, being more susceptible as being younger,
and not having yet become habituated to the famine as his mother was,
did express some eager sympathy. He would immediately go down, or
send Fahy with the car, and have her brought up and saved; but his
mother had other work to do and soon put a stop to all this.

"Mr. Fitzgerald," said she, speaking with a smile upon her face, and
with much high-bred dignity of demeanour, "as you and Lady Clara
both wish to see each other before you leave the country, and as
you have known each other so intimately, and considering all the
circumstances, I have not thought it well absolutely to forbid an
interview. But I do doubt its expediency; I do, indeed. And Lord
Desmond, who feels for your late misfortune as we all do, perfectly
agrees with me. He thinks that it would be much wiser for you both
to have parted without the pain of a meeting, seeing how impossible
it is that you should ever be more to each other than you are now."
And then she appealed to her son, who stood by, looking not quite so
wise, nor even quite so decided as his mother's words would seem to
make him.

"Well, yes; upon my word I don't see how it's to be," said the young
earl. "I am deuced sorry for it for one, and I wish I was well off,
so that I could give Clara a pot of money, and then I should not care
so much about your not being the baronet."

"I am sure you must see, Mr. Fitzgerald, and I know that you do see
it because you have very properly said so, that a marriage between
you and Lady Clara is now