‘Dear Plantagenet,’ she said, ’for indeed you are very dear to me; I told you last night that I would speak to you to-day on your wishes, that are so kind to me and so much intended for my happiness.  I do not love suspense; but indeed last night I was too much surprised, too much overcome by what occurred, that exhausted as I naturally was by all our pleasure, I could not tell you what I wished; indeed I could not, dear Plantagenet.’

‘My own Venetia!’

’So I hope you will always deem me; for I should be very unhappy if you did not love me, Plantagenet, more unhappy than I have even been these last two years; and I have been very unhappy, very unhappy indeed, Plantagenet.’

‘Unhappy, Venetia! my Venetia unhappy?’

’Listen!  I will not weep.  I can control my feelings.  I have learnt to do this; it is very sad, and very different to what my life once was; but I can do it.’

‘You amaze me!’

Venetia sighed, and then resumed, but in a tone mournful and low, and yet to a degree firm.

‘You have been away five years, Plantagenet.’

‘But you have pardoned that.’

’I never blamed you; I had nothing to pardon.  It was well for you to be away; and I rejoice your absence has been so profitable to you.’

‘But it was wicked to have been so silent.’

’Oh! no, no, no!  Such ideas never entered into my head, nor even mamma’s.  You were very young; you did as all would, as all must do.  Harbour not such thoughts.  Enough, you have returned and love us yet.’

‘Love! adore!’

’Five years are a long space of time, Plantagenet.  Events will happen in five years, even at Cherbury.  I told you I was changed.’

‘Yes!’ said Lord Cadurcis, in a voice of some anxiety, with a scrutinising eye.

‘You left me a happy child; you find me a woman, and a miserable one.’

’Good God, Venetia! this suspense is awful.  Be brief, I pray you.  Has any one—­’

Venetia looked at him with an air of perplexity.  She could not comprehend the idea that impelled his interruption.

‘Go on,’ Lord Cadurcis added, after a short pause; ’I am indeed all anxiety.’

’You remember that Christmas which you passed at the hall and walking at night in the gallery, and—­’

‘Well!  Your mother, I shall never forget it.’

’You found her weeping when you were once at Marringhurst.  You told me of it.’

‘Ay, ay!’

‘There is a wing of our house shut up.  We often talked of it.’

‘Often, Venetia; it was a mystery.’

‘I have penetrated it,’ replied Venetia in a solemn tone; ’and never have I known what happiness is since.’

‘Yes, yes!’ said Lord Cadurcis, very pale, and in a whisper.

‘Plantagenet, I have a father.’

Lord Cadurcis started, and for an instant his arm quitted Venetia’s.  At length he said in a gloomy voice, ‘I know it.’