itful at the present moment in mortification and unhappiness,
must not be considered altogether an event of unmingled misfortune. In
my opinion, Ferdinand, it is better to be despised for a moment than to
be neglected for a life.'

'Despised! Katherine, for God's sake, spare me; for God's sake, do not
use such language! Despised! Katherine, at this moment I declare most
solemnly all that I feel is, how thoroughly, how infamously unworthy I
am of you! Dearest Katherine, we cannot recall the past, we cannot amend
it; but let me assure you that at this very hour there is no being on
earth I more esteem, more reverence than yourself.'

'It is well, Ferdinand. I would not willingly believe that your feelings
towards me were otherwise than kind and generous. But let us understand
each other. I shall remain at present under this roof. Do not
misapprehend my views. I seek not to recall your affections. The past
has proved to me that we are completely unfitted for each other. I
have not those dazzling qualities that could enchain a fiery brain like
yours. I know myself; I know you; and there is nothing that would fill
me with more terror now than our anticipated union. And now, after
this frank conversation, let our future intercourse be cordial and
unembarrassed; let us remember we are kinsfolk. The feelings between us
should by nature be amiable: no incident has occurred to disturb them,
for I have not injured or offended you; and as for your conduct towards
me, from the bottom of my heart I pardon and forget it.'

'Katherine,' said Ferdinand, with streaming eyes, 'kindest, most
generous of women! My heart is too moved, my spirit too broken, to
express what I feel. We are kinsfolk; let us be more. You say my mother
is your mother. Let me assert the privilege of that admission. Let me be
a brother to you; you shall find me, if I live, a faithful one.'

CHAPTER XV.

_Which Leaves Affairs in General in a Scarcely More
Satisfactory Position than the Former One_.

FERDINAND felt much calmer in his mind after this conversation with his
cousin. Her affectionate attention to him now, instead of filling him as
it did before with remorse, was really a source of consolation, if that
be not too strong a phrase to describe the state of one so thoroughly
wretched as Captain Armine; for his terrible illness and impending death
had not in the slightest degree allayed or affected his profound passion
for Henrietta Temple.