, that the heart once widowed
should remain a widow through all time. I, for one, think that the
heart should receive its new spouses with what alacrity it may, and
always with thankfulness.

"I suppose Lady Desmond will let us see Clara," said Emmeline.

"Of course you must see her. If you knew how much she talks about
you, you would not think of leaving Ireland without seeing her."

"Dear Clara! I am sure she does not love me better than I do her. But
suppose that Lady Desmond won't let us see her! and I know that it
will be so. That grave old man with the bald head will come out and
say that 'the Lady Clara is not at home,' and then we shall have to
leave without seeing her. But it does not matter with her as it might
with others, for I know that her heart will be with us."

"If you write beforehand to say that you are coming, and explain that
you are doing so to say good-bye, then I think they will admit you."

"Yes; and the countess would take care to be there, so that I could
not say one word to Clara about you. Oh, Herbert! I would give
anything if I could have her here for one day,--only for one day."
But when they talked it over they both of them decided that this
would not be practicable. Clara could not stay away from her own
house without her mother's leave, and it was not probable that her
mother would give her permission to stay at Castle Richmond.

CHAPTER XXXV.

HERBERT FITZGERALD IN LONDON.

On the following morning the whole household was up and dressed very
early. Lady Fitzgerald--the poor lady made many futile attempts to
drop her title, but hitherto without any shadow of success--Lady
Fitzgerald was down in the breakfast parlour at seven, as also were
Aunt Letty, and Mary, and Emmeline. Herbert had begged his mother
not to allow herself to be disturbed, alleging that there was no
cause, seeing that they all so soon would meet in London; but she
was determined that she would superintend his last meal at Castle
Richmond. The servants brought in the trays with melancholy silence,
and now that the absolute moment of parting had come the girls could
not speak lest the tears should come and choke them. It was not that
they were about to part with him; that parting would only be for a
month. But he was now about to part from all that ought to have been
his own. He sat down at the table in his accustomed place, with a
forced smile on his face, but without a word, and his sisters put
before