‘So,’ thought Grace, ’that is the best possible arrangement which takes us away.’

‘If I like it!’ said Lady Clonbrony; ’to be sure I do, or I should not propose it.  What is Colambre thinking of?  I know, Grace, at all events, what you and I must think of—­of having the furniture packed up, and settling what’s to go, and what’s to be exchanged, and all that.  Now, my dear, go and write a note directly to Mr. Soho, and bid him come himself, immediately; and we’ll go and make out a catalogue this instant of what furniture I will have packed.’

So, with her head full of furniture, Lady Clonbrony retired.  ’I go to my business, Colambre; and I leave you to settle yours in peace.’

In peace!—­Never was our hero’s mind less at peace than at this moment.  The more his heart felt that it was painful, the more his reason told him it was necessary that he should part from Grace Nugent.  To his union with her there was an obstacle, which his prudence told him ought to be insurmountable; yet he felt that, during the few days he had been with her, the few hours he had been near her, he had, with his utmost power over himself, scarcely been master of his passion, or capable of concealing it from its object.  It could not have been done but for her perfect simplicity and innocence.  But how could this be supposed on his part?  How could he venture to live with this charming girl?  How could he settle at home?  What resource?

His mind turned towards the army; he thought that abroad, and in active life, he should lose all the painful recollections, and drive from his heart all the resentments, which could now be only a source of unavailing regret.  But his mother—­his mother, who had now yielded her own taste to his entreaties, for the good of her family—­she expected him to return and live with her in Ireland.  Though not actually promised or specified, he knew that she took it for granted; that it was upon this hope, this faith, she consented; he knew that she would be shocked at the bare idea of his going into the army.  There was one chance—­our hero tried, at this moment, to think it the best possible chance—­that Miss Nugent might marry Mr. Salisbury, and settle in England.  On this idea he relied as the only means of extricating him from difficulties.

It was necessary to turn his thoughts immediately to business, to execute his promises to his father.  Two great objects were now to be accomplished—­the payment of his father’s debts, and the settlement of the Irish agent’s accounts; and, in transacting this complicated business, he derived consider-able assistance from Sir Terence O’Fay, and from Sir Arthur Berryl’s solicitor, Mr. Edwards.  Whilst acting for Sir Arthur, on a former occasion, Lord Colambre had gained the entire confidence of this solicitor, who was a man of the first eminence.  Mr. Edwards took the papers and Lord Clonbrony’s title-deeds home with him, saying that he would give an answer the next morning.  He then waited upon