gentleman was so overcome that he paused in his speech, and gave way to
an emotion, for which, surely no man who has been in the same condition
with Lord Farintosh will blame him.

Miss Newcome was also much touched by this exhibition of natural
feeling; and, I dare say, it was at this time that her eyes showed the
first symptoms of that malady of which the traces were visible an hour
after.

"You are very generous and kind to me, Lord Farintosh," she said. "Your
constancy honours me very much, and proves how good and loyal you are;
but--but do not think hardly of me for saying that the more I have
thought of what has happened here,--of the wretched consequences of
interested marriages; the long union growing each day so miserable, that
at last it becomes intolerable and is burst asunder, as in poor Clara's
case;--the more I am resolved not to commit that first fatal step of
entering into a marriage without--without the degree of affection which
people who take that vow ought to feel for one another."

"Affection! Can you doubt it? Gracious heavens, I adore you! Isn't my
being here a proof that I do?" cries the young lady's lover.

"But I?" answered the girl. "I have asked my own heart that question
before now. I have thought to myself,--If he comes after all,--if his
affection for me survives this disgrace of our family, as it has, and
every one of us should be thankful to you--ought I not to show at least
gratitude for so much kindness and honour, and devote myself to one
who makes such sacrifices for me? But, before all things I owe you the
truth, Lord Farintosh. I never could make you happy; I know I could not:
nor obey you as you are accustomed to be obeyed; nor give you such a
devotion as you have a right to expect from your wife. I thought I might
once. I can't now! I know that I took you because you were rich, and
had a great name; not because you were honest, and attached to me as
you show yourself to be. I ask your pardon for the deceit I practised on
you.--Look at Clara, poor child, and her misery! My pride, I know, would
never have let me fall as far as she has done; but oh! I am humiliated
to think that I could have been made to say I would take the first step
in that awful career."

"What career, in God's name?" cries the astonished suitor. "Humiliated,
Ethel? Who's going to humiliate you? I suppose there is no woman in
England who need be humiliated by becoming my wife. I should like to see
the one t