‘I don’t wish to intrude upon your confidence.’

’You cannot intrude upon my confidence; I am ready to give it to you entirely, frankly; I hesitated only because another person was concerned.  Do you remember, at my aunt’s gala, a lady who danced with Mr. Salisbury?’

‘Not in the least.’

’A lady with whom you and Mr. Salisbury were talking, just before supper, in the Turkish tent.’

‘Not in the least.’

’As we went down to supper, you told me you had had a delightful conversation with her—­that you thought her a charming woman.’

‘A charming woman!—­I have not the slightest recollection of her.’

’And you told me that she and Mr. Salisbury had been praising me A L’ENVIE L’UNE et L’AUTRE.’

‘Oh, I recollect her now perfectly,’ said Lord Colambre; ’But what of her?’

’She is the woman who, I hope, will be Mrs. Salisbury.  Ever since I have been acquainted with them both, I have seen that they were suited to each other; and fancy, indeed I am almost sure, that she could love him, tenderly love him—­and, I know, I could not.  But my own sentiments, you may be sure, are all I ever told Mr. Salisbury.’

‘But of your own sentiments you may not be sure,’ said Lord Colambre; ‘and I see no reason why you should give him up from false generosity.’

‘Generosity?’ interrupted Miss Nugent; ’you totally misunderstand me; there is no generosity, nothing for me to give up in the case.  I did not refuse Mr. Salisbury from generosity, but because I did not love him.  Perhaps my seeing this at first prevented me from thinking of him as a lover; but, from whatever cause, I certainly never felt love for Mr. Salisbury, nor any of that pity which is said to lead to love; perhaps,’ added she, smiling, ’because I was aware that he would be so much better off after I refused him—­so much happier with one suited to him in age, talents, fortune, and love—­“What bliss, did he but know his bliss,” were his!’

‘Did he but know his bliss,’ repeated Lord Colambre; ’but is not he the best judge of his own bliss?’

‘And am not I the best judge of mine?’ said Miss Nugent; ’I go no farther.’

’You are; and I have no right to go farther.  Yet, this much permit me to say, my dear Grace, that it would give me sincere pleasure, that is, real satisfaction, to see you happily—­established.’

’Thank you, my dear Lord Colambre; but you spoke that like a man of seventy at least, with the most solemn gravity of demeanour.’

‘I meant to be serious, not solemn,’ said Lord Colambre, endeavouring to change his tone.

‘There now,’ said she, in a playful tone, ’you have seriously accomplished the task my good uncle set you; so I will report well of you to him, and certify that you did all that in you lay to exhort me to marry; that you have even assured me that it would give you sincere pleasure, that is, real satisfaction, to see me happily established.’