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had all but yielded himself up to the

passionate impulse; upon his arrival at

home he found a letter on the table

awaiting his return; it was from his

father to the following effect:





          'To Richard O'Mara。

          'September; 17; Lm; England。



     'MY DEAR SON;

 'I have just had a severe attack of

my old and almost forgotten enemy; the

gout。 This I regard as a good sign; the

doctors telling me that it is the safest

development of peccant humours; and I

think my chest is less tormenting and

oppressed than I have known it for some

years。 My chief reason for writing to

you now; as I do it not without difficulty;

is to let you know my pleasure in certain

matters; in which I suspect some shameful;

and; indeed; infatuated neglect on your

part; 〃quem perdere vult deus prius

dementat:〃 how comes it that you have

neglected to write to Lady Emily or any of

that family? the understood relation

subsisting between you is one of extreme

delicacy; and which calls for marked and

courteous; nay; devoted attention upon

your side。 Lord  is already offended;

beware what you do; for as you will find;

if this match be lost by your fault or folly;

by  I will cut you off with a shilling。

I am not in the habit of using threats

when I do not mean to fulfil them; and

that you well know; however I do not

think you have much real cause for alarm

in this case。 Lady Emily; who; by the

way; looks if possible more charming than

ever; is anything but hard…hearted; at

least when YOU solicit; but do as I desire;

and lose no time in making what excuse

you may; and let me hear from you when

you can fix a time to join me and your

mother here。

          'Your sincere well…wisher and father;

                    'RICHARD O'MARA。'





In this letter was inclosed a smaller one;

directed to Dwyer; and containing a

cheque for twelve pounds; with the following

words:





'Make use of the enclosed; and let me

hear if Richard is upon any wild scheme

at present: I am uneasy about him; and

not without reason; report to me speedily

the result of your vigilance。

                    'R。 O'MARA。'





Dwyer just glanced through this brief;

but not unwelcome; epistle; and deposited

it and its contents in the secret recesses of

his breeches pocket; and then fixed his

eyes upon the face of his companion; who

sat opposite; utterly absorbed in the perusal

of his father's letter; which he read again

and again; pausing and muttering between

whiles; and apparently lost in no very

pleasing reflections。 At length he very

abruptly exclaimed:



'A delicate epistle; trulyand a politic

would that my tongue had been burned

through before I assented to that doubly…

cursed contract。 Why; I am not pledged

yetI am not; there is neither writing;

nor troth; nor word of honour; passed

between us。 My father has no right to

pledge me; even though I told him I liked

the girl; and would wish the match。 'Tis

not enough that my father offers her my

heart and hand; he has no right to do it;

a delicate woman would not accept professions

made by proxy。 Lady Emily! Lady

Emily! with all the tawdry frippery; and

finery of dress and demeanourcompare

HER with  Pshaw! Ridiculous! How

blind; how idiotic I have been。'



He relapsed into moody reflections;

which Dwyer did not care to disturb; and

some ten minutes might have passed before

he spoke again。 When he did; it was in

the calm tone of one who has irrevocably

resolved upon some decided and important

act。



'Dwyer;' he said; rising and approaching

that person; 'whatever god or demon told

you; even before my own heart knew it;

that I loved Ellen Heathcote; spoke truth。

I love her madlyI never dreamed till

now how fervently; how irrevocably; I am

hershow dead to me all other interests

are。 Dwyer; I know something of your

disposition; and you no doubt think it

strange that I should tell to you; of all

persons; SUCH a secret; but whatever be

your faults; I think you are attached to

our family。 I am satisfied you will not

betray me。 I know'




'Pardon me;' said Dwyer; 'if I say that

great professions of confidence too

frequently mark distrust。 I have no possible

motive to induce me to betray you; on the

contrary; I would gladly assist and direct

whatever plans you may have formed。

Command me as you please; I have said

enough。'



'I will not doubt you; Dwyer;' said

O'Mara; ' I have taken my resolutionI

have; I think; firmness to act up to it。 To

marry Ellen Heathcote; situated as I am;

were madness; to propose anything else

were worse; were villainy not to be named。

I will leave the country to…morrow; cost

what pain it may; for England。 I will at

once break off the proposed alliance with

Lady Emily; and will wait until I am my

own master; to open my heart to Ellen。

My father may say and do what he likes;

but his passion will not last。 He will

forgive me; and even were he to disinherit

me; as he threatens; there is some property

which must descend to me; which his will

cannot affect。 He cannot ruin my

interests; he SHALL NOT ruin my happiness。

Dwyer; give me pen and ink; I will write

this moment。'



This bold plan of proceeding for many

reasons appeared inexpedient to Dwyer;

and he determined not to consent to its

adoption without a struggle。



'I commend your prudence;' said he; 'in

determining to remove yourself from the

fascinating influence which has so long

bound you here; but beware of offending

your father。 Colonel O'Mara is not a man

to forgive an act of deliberate disobedience;

and surely you are not mad enough to

ruin yourself with him by offering an out…

rageous insult to Lady Emily and to her

family in her person; therefore you must

not break off the understood contract which

subsists between you by any formal act

hear me out patiently。 You must let Lady

Emily perceive; as you easily may; without

rudeness or even coldness of manner; that

she is perfectly indifferent to you; and

when she understands this to be the case;

it she possesses either delicacy or spirit;

she will herself break off the engagement。

Make what delay it is possible to effect;

it is very possible that your father; who

cannot; in all probability; live many

months; may not live as many days if

harassed and excited by such scenes as

your breaking off your engagement must

produce。'



'Dwyer;' said O'Mara; 'I will hear you

outproceed。'



'Besides; sir; remember;' he continued;

'the understanding which we have termed

an engagement was entered into without

any direct sanction upon your part; your

father has committed HIMSELF; not YOU; to

Lord 。 Before a real contract can

subsist; you must be an assenting party to

it。 I know of no casuistry subtle enough

to involve you in any engagement whatever;

without such an ingredient。 Tush!

you have an easy card to play。'



'Well;' said the young man; 'I will

think on what you have said; in the

meantime; I will write to my father to

announce my immediate departure; in order

to join him。'



'Excuse me;' said Dwyer; 'but I would

suggest that by hastening your departure

you but bring your dangers nearer。 While

you are in this country a letter now and

then keeps everything quiet; but once

across the Channel and with the colonel;

you must either quarrel with him to your

own destruction; or you must dance attendance

upon Lady Emily with such assiduity

as to commit yourself as completely as if

you had been thrice called with her in the

parish church。 No; no; keep to this side

of the Channel as long as you decently

can。 Besides; your sudden departure must

appear suspicious; and will probably excite

inquiry。 Every good end likely to be

accomplished by your absence will be

effected as well by your departure for

Dublin; where you may remain for three

weeks or a month without giving rise to

curiosity or doubt of an unpleasant kind;

I would therefore advise you strongly to

write immediately to the colonel; stating

that business has occurred to defer your

departure for a month; and you can then

leave this place; if you think fit;

immediately; that is; within a week or so。'



Young O'Mara was not hard to be persuaded。

Perhaps it was that; unacknowledged

by himself; any argument which

recommended his staying; even for an

hour longer than his first decision had

announced; in the neighbourhood of Ellen

Heathcote; appeared peculiarly cogent and

convincing; however this may have been;

it is certain that he followed the counsel of

his cool…headed follower; who retired that

night to bed with the pleasing conviction

that he was likely soon to involve his

young patron in all the intricacies of

disguise and intriguea consummation which

would leave him totally at the mercy of

the favou

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