There is no doubt that he would not have been n.o.ble enough to do this, had he thought he had himself any chance of being successful; but still there was something chivalrous in his resolve, something magnanimous in his determination to do all he could for the happiness of her he really loved, when everything in his own prospects was gloomy, dark, and desperate. As he entered his father's room, feeling that it would probably be very long before he should be closeted with him again, he determined that he would not quietly bear reproaches, and even felt a source of satisfaction in the prospect of telling his father that their joint plans were overturned--their schemes completely at an end.

"I'm disturbing you, my lord, I'm afraid," said the son, walking into the room, not at all with the manner of one who had any hesitation at causing the disturbance.

"Who's that?" said the earl--"Adolphus?--no--yes. That is, I'm just going to bed; what is it you want?" The earl had been dozing after all the vexations of the day.

"To tell the truth, my lord, I've a good deal that I wish to say: will it trouble you to listen to me?"

"Won't to-morrow morning do?"

"I shall leave Grey Abbey early to-morrow, my lord; immediately after breakfast."

"Good heavens, Kilcullen! what do you mean? You're not going to run off to London again?"

"A little farther than that, I'm afraid, will be necessary," said the son. "I have offered to Miss Wyndham--have been refused--and, having finished my business at Grey Abbey, your lordship will probably think that in leaving it I shall be acting with discretion."

"You have offered to f.a.n.n.y and been refused!"

"Indeed I have; finally and peremptorily refused. Not only that: I have pledged my word to my cousin that I will never renew my suit."

The earl sat speechless in his chair--so much worse was this catastrophe even than his expectations. Lord Kilcullen continued.

"I hope, at any rate, you are satisfied with me. I have not only implicitly obeyed your directions, but I have done everything in my power to accomplish what you wished. Had my marriage with my cousin been a project of my own, I could not have done more for its accomplishment. Miss Wyndham's affections are engaged; and she will never, I am sure, marry one man while she loves another."

"Loves another--psha!" roared the earl. "Is this to be the end of it all? After your promises to me--after your engagement! After such an engagement, sir, you come to me and talk about a girl loving another?

Loving another! Will her loving another pay your debts?"

"Exactly the reverse, my lord," said the son. "I fear it will materially postpone their payment."

"Well, sir," said the earl. He did not exactly know how to commence the thunder of indignation with which he intended to annihilate his son, for certainly Kilcullen had done the best in his power to complete the bargain. But still the storm could not be stayed, unreasonable as it might be for the earl to be tempestuous on the occasion. "Well, sir,"

and he stood up from his chair, to face his victim, who was still standing--and, thrusting his hands into his trowsers' pockets, frowned awfully--"Well, sir; am I to be any further favoured with your plans?"

"I have none, my lord," said Kilcullen; "I am again ready to listen to yours."

"My plans?--I have no further plans to offer for you. You are ruined, utterly ruined: you have done your best to ruin me and your mother; I have pointed out to you, I arranged for you, the only way in which your affairs could be redeemed; I made every thing easy for you."

"No, my lord: you could not make it easy for me to get my cousin's love."

"Don't contradict me, sir. I say I did. I made every thing straight and easy for you: and now you come to me with a whining story about a girl's love! What's her love to me, sir? Where am I to get my thirty thousand pounds, sir?--and my note of hand is pa.s.sed for as much more, at this time twelve-month! Where am I to raise that, sir? Do you remember that you have engaged to repay me these sums?--do you remember that, or have such trifles escaped your recollection?"

"I remember perfectly well, my lord, that if I married my cousin, you were to repay yourself those sums out of her fortune. But I also remember, and so must you, that I beforehand warned you that I thought she would refuse me."

"Refuse you," said the earl, with a contortion of his nose and lips intended to convey unutterable scorn; "of course she refused you, when you asked her as a child would ask for an apple, or a cake! What else could you expect?"

"I hardly think your lordship knows--"

"Don't you hardly think?--then I do know; and know well too. I know you have deceived me, grossly deceived me--induced me to give you money--to incur debts, with which I never would have burdened myself had I not believed you were sincere in your promise. But you have deceived me, sir--taken me in; for by heaven it's no better!--it's no better than downright swindling--and that from a son to his father! But it's for the last time; not a penny more do you get from me: you can ruin the property; indeed, I believe you have; but, for your mother's and sister's sake, I'll keep till I die what little you have left me."

Lord Cashel had worked himself up into a perfect frenzy, and was stamping about the room as he uttered this speech; but, as he came to the end of it, he threw himself into his chair again, and buried his face in his hands.

Lord Kilcullen was standing with his back resting against the mantel-piece, with a look of feigned indifference on his face, which he tried hard to maintain. But his brow became clouded, and he bit his lips when his father accused him of swindling; and he was just about to break forth into a torrent of recrimination, when Lord Cashel turned off into a pathetic strain, and Kilcullen thought it better to leave him there.

"What I'm to do, I don't know; what I am to do, I do not know!" said the earl, beating the table with one hand, and hiding his face with the other. "Sixty thousand pounds in one year; and that after so many drains!--And there's only my own life--there's only my own life!"--and then there was a pause for four or five minutes, during which Lord Kilcullen took snuff, poked the fire, and then picked up a newspaper, as though he were going to read it. This last was too much for the father, and he again roared out, "Well, sir, what are you standing there for? If you've nothing else to say; why don't you go? I've done with you--you can not get more out of me, I promise you!"

"I've a good deal to say before I go, my lord," said Kilcullen. "I was waiting till you were disposed to listen to me. I've a good deal to say, indeed, which you must hear; and I trust, therefore, you will endeavour to be cool, whatever your opinions may be about my conduct."

"Cool?--no, sir, I will not be cool. You're too cool yourself!"

"Cool enough for both, you think, my lord."

"Kilcullen," said the earl, "you've neither heart nor principle: you have done your worst to ruin me, and now you come to insult me in my own room. Say what you want to say, and then leave me."

"As to insulting language, my lord, I think you need not complain, when you remember that you have just called me a swindler, because I have been unable to accomplish your wish and my own, by marrying my cousin.

However, I will let that pa.s.s. I have done the best I could to gain that object. I did more than either of us thought it possible that I should do, when I consented to attempt it. I offered her my hand, and a.s.sured her of my affection, without falsehood or hypocrisy. My bargain was that I should offer to her. I have done more than that, for I have loved her. I have, however, been refused, and in such a manner as to convince me that it would be useless for me to renew my suit. If your lordship will allow me to advise you on such a subject, I would suggest that you make no further objection to f.a.n.n.y's union with Lord Ballindine. For marry him she certainly will."

"What, sir?" again shouted Lord Cashel.

"I trust f.a.n.n.y will receive no further annoyance on the subject. She has convinced me that her own mind is thoroughly made up; and she is not the person to change her mind on such a subject."

"And haven't you enough on hand in your own troubles, but what you must lecture me about my ward?--Is it for that you have come to torment me at this hour? Had not you better at once become her guardian yourself, sir, and manage the matter in your own way?"

"I promised f.a.n.n.y I would say as much to you. I will not again mention her name unless you press me to do so."

"That's very kind," said the earl.

"And now, about myself. I think your lordship will agree with me that it is better that I should at once leave Grey Abbey, when I tell you that, if I remain here, I shall certainly be arrested before the week is over, if I am found outside the house. I do not wish to have bailiffs knocking at your lordship's door, and your servants instructed to deny me."

"Upon my soul, you are too good."

"At any rate," said Kilcullen, "you'll agree with me that this is no place for me to remain in."

"You're quite at liberty to go," said the earl. "You were never very ceremonious with regard to me; pray don't begin to be so now. Pray go--to-night if you like. Your mother's heart will be broken, that's all."

"I trust my mother will be able to copy your lordship's indifference."

"Indifference! Is sixty thousand pounds in one year, and more than double within three or four, indifference? I have paid too much to be indifferent. But it is hopeless to pay more. I have no hope for you; you are ruined, and I couldn't redeem you even if I would. I could not set you free and tell you to begin again, even were it wise to do so; and therefore I tell you to go. And now, good night; I have not another word to say to you," and the earl got up as if to leave the room.

"Stop, my lord, you must listen to me," said Kilcullen.

"Not a word further. I have heard enough;" and he put out the candles on the book-room table, having lighted a bed candle which he held in his hand.

"Pardon me, my lord," continued the son, standing just before his father, so as to prevent his leaving the room; "pardon me, but you must listen to what I have to say."

"Not another word--not another word. Leave the door, sir, or I will ring for the servants to open it."

"Do so," said Kilcullen, "and they also shall hear what I have to say.

I am going to leave you to-morrow, perhaps for ever; and you will not listen to the last word I wish to speak to you?"

"I'll stay five minutes," said the earl, taking out his watch, "and then I'll go; and if you attempt again to stop me, I'll ring the bell for the servants."