ken to her about this she declares that she is
engaged to Herbert Fitzgerald."

"Engaged to him! yes, I know that; I do not doubt that. It has been
dinned into my ears now for the last six months till it is impossible
to doubt it. And she will marry him too, if no one interferes to
prevent it. I do not doubt that either. But, Desmond, that is not the
question that I have asked. She did love me; and then she was ordered
by her mother to abandon that love, and to give her heart to another.
That in words she has been obedient, I know well; but what I doubt is
this,--that she has in truth been able so to chuck her heart about
like a shuttlecock. I can only say that I am not able to do it."

How was the earl to answer him? The very line of argument which
Owen's mind was taking was exactly that which the young lord himself
desired to promote. He too was desirous that Clara should go back to
her first love. He himself thought strongly that Owen was a man more
fitted than Herbert for the worshipful adoration of such a girl as
his sister Clara. But then he, Desmond, had opposed the match while
Owen was poor, and how was he to frame words by which he might
encourage it now that Owen was rich?

"I have been so little with her, that I hardly know," he said. "But,
Owen--"

"Well?"

"It is so difficult for me to talk to you about all this."

"Is it?"

"Why, yes. You know that I have always liked you--always. No chap was
ever such a friend to me as you have been;" and he squeezed Owen's
arm with strong boyish love.

"I know all about it," said Owen.

"Well; then all that happened about Clara. I was young then, you
know,"--he was now sixteen--"and had not thought anything about it.
The idea of you and Clara falling in love had never occurred to me.
Boys are so blind, you know. But when it did happen--you remember
that day, old fellow, when you and I met down at the gate?"

"Remember it!" said Owen. He would remember it, as he thought, when
half an eternity should have passed over his head.

"And I told you then what I thought. I don't think I am a particular
fellow myself about money and rank and that sort of thing. I am as
poor as a church mouse, and so I shall always remain; and for myself
I don't care about it. But for one's sister, Owen--you never had a
sister, had you?"

"Never," said Owen, hardly thinking of the question.

"One is obliged to think of such things for her. We should all go to
rack and ruin, the wh