按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
struggle was in vain； and she burst into
floods of tears； bitterer than she had ever
shed before。
I cannot tell how passions rise and fall；
I cannot describe the impetuous words of
the young lover； as pressing again and
again to his lips the cold； passive hand；
which had been resigned to him； prudence；
caution； doubts； resolutions； all vanished
from his view； and melted into nothing。
'Tis for me to tell the simple fact； that
from that brief interview they both
departed promised and pledged to each other
for ever。
Through the rest of this story events
follow one another rapidly。
A few nights after that which I have
just mentioned； Ellen Heathcote disappeared；
but her father was not left long
in suspense as to her fate； for Dwyer；
accompanied by one of those mendicant
friars who traversed the country then even
more commonly than they now do； called
upon Heathcote before he had had time to
take any active measures for the recovery
of his child； and put him in possession of
a document which appeared to contain
satisfactory evidence of the marriage of
Ellen Heathcote with Richard O'Mara；
executed upon the evening previous； as the
date went to show； and signed by both
parties； as well as by Dwyer and a servant
of young O'Mara's； both these having acted
as witnesses； and further supported by
the signature of Peter Nicholls； a brother
of the order of St。 Francis； by whom the
ceremony had been performed； and whom
Heathcote had no difficulty in recognising
in the person of his visitant。
This document； and the prompt personal
visit of the two men； and above all； the
known identity of the Franciscan； satisfied
Heathcote as fully as anything short
of complete publicity could have done。
And his conviction was not a mistaken
one。
Dwyer； before he took his leave；
impressed upon Heathcote the necessity of
keeping the affair so secret as to render it
impossible that it should reach Colonel
O'Mara's ears； an event which would have
been attended with ruinous consequences to
all parties。 He refused； also； to permit
Heathcote to see his daughter； and even
to tell him where she was； until circumstances
rendered it safe for him to visit
her。
Heathcote was a harsh and sullen man；
and though his temper was anything but
tractable； there was so much to please；
almost to dazzle him； in the event； that he
accepted the terms which Dwyer imposed
upon him without any further token of
disapprobation than a shake of the head；
and a gruff wish that 'it might prove all
for the best。'
Nearly two months had passed； and
young O'Mara had not yet departed for
England。 His letters had been strangely
few and far between； and in short； his
conduct was such as to induce Colonel
O'Mara to hasten his return to Ireland；
and at the same time to press an engagement；
which Lord ； his son Captain
N； and Lady Emily had made to
spend some weeks with him at his
residence in Dublin。
A letter arrived for young O'Mara；
stating the arrangement； and requiring his
attendance in Dublin； which was accordingly
immediately afforded。
He arrived； with Dwyer； in time to
welcome his father and his distinguished
guests。 He resolved to break off his
embarrassing connection with Lady Emily；
without； however； stating the real motive；
which he felt would exasperate the resentment
which his father and Lord
would no doubt feel at his conduct。
He strongly felt how dishonourably he
would act if； in obedience to Dwyer's
advice； he seemed tacitly to acquiesce in
an engagement which it was impossible for
him to fulfil。 He knew that Lady Emily
was not capable of anything like strong
attachment； and that even if she were；
he had no reason whatever to suppose that
she cared at all for him。
He had not at any time desired the
alliance； nor had he any reason to suppose
the young lady in any degree less
indifferent。 He regarded it now； and not
without some appearance of justice； as
nothing more than a kind of understood
stipulation； entered into by their parents；
and to be considered rather as a matter of
business and calculation than as involving
anything of mutual inclination on the part
of the parties most nearly interested in the
matter。
He anxiously； therefore； watched for an
opportunity of making known his feelings
to Lord ； as he could not with propriety
do so to Lady Emily； but what at
a distance appeared to be a matter of easy
accomplishment； now； upon a nearer
approach； and when the immediate impulse
which had prompted the act had subsided；
appeared so full of difficulty and almost
inextricable embarrassments； that he
involuntarily shrunk from the task day after
day。
Though it was a source of indescribable
anxiety to him； he did not venture to write
to Ellen； for he could not disguise from
himself the danger which the secrecy of
his connection with her must incur by his
communicating with her； even through a
public office； where their letters might be
permitted to lie longer than the gossiping
inquisitiveness of a country town would
warrant him in supposing safe。
It was about a fortnight after young
O'Mara had arrived in Dublin； where all
things； and places； and amusements； and
persons seemed thoroughly stale； flat； and
unprofitable； when one day； tempted by
the unusual fineness of the weather； Lady
Emily proposed a walk in the College
Park； a favourite promenade at that time。
She therefore with young O'Mara； accompanied
by Dwyer （who； by…the…by； when
he pleased； could act the gentleman
sufficiently well）； proceeded to the place
proposed； where they continued to walk for
some time。
'Why； Richard；' said Lady Emily； after
a tedious and unbroken pause of some
minutes； 'you are becoming worse and
worse every day。 You are growing absolutely
intolerable； perfectly stupid！ not
one good thing have I heard since I left
the house。'
O'Mara smiled； and was seeking for a
suitable reply； when his design was
interrupted； and his attention suddenly and
painfully arrested； by the appearance of
two figures； who were slowly passing the
broad walk on which he and his party
moved； the one was that of Captain
N； the other was the form ofMartin
Heathcote！
O'Mara felt confounded； almost stunned；
the anticipation of some impending
mischiefof an immediate and violent
collision with a young man whom he had ever
regarded as his friend； were apprehensions
which such a juxtaposition could not fail
to produce。
'Is Heathcote mad？' thought he。
'What devil can have brought him
here？'
Dwyer having exchanged a significant
glance with O'Mara； said slightly to Lady
Emily：
'Will your ladyship excuse me for a
moment？ I have a word to say to Captain
N； and will； with your permission；
immediately rejoin you。'
He bowed； and walking rapidl