‘My dear, you cannot help yourself; be quiet,’ said Lady Berryl; ’I will take the whole upon my conscience; and I hope my conscience may never have anything worse to answer for.’

Grace was the first person who, from her window, saw Lord Colambre, the instant the carriage drove to the door.  She ran to her friend Lady Berryl’s apartment—­’He is come!—­Now, take me away!’

’Not yet, my sweet friend!  Lie down upon this sofa, if you please; and keep yourself tranquil, whilst I go and see what you ought to do; and depend upon me for a true friend, in whose mind, as in your own, duty is the first object.’

‘I depend on you entirely,’ said Grace, sinking down on the sofa; ’and you see I obey you!’

‘Many thanks to you for lying down, when you can’t stand.’

Lady Berryl went to Lady Clonbrony’s apartment; she was met by Sir Arthur.

‘Come, my love! come quick!—­Lord Colambre is arrived.’

’I know it; and does he go to Ireland?  Speak instantly, that I may tell Grace Nugent.’

’You can tell her nothing yet, my love; for we know nothing.  Lord Colambre will not say a word till you come; but I know, by his countenance, that he has good and extraordinary news.’

They passed rapidly along the passage to Lady Clonbrony’s room.

‘Oh, my dear, dear Lady Berryl, come! or I shall die with impatience,’ cried Lady Clonbrony, in a voice and manner between laughing and crying.  ’There, now you have congratulated, are very happy, and very glad, and all that—­now, for mercy’s sake, sit down, Lord Clonbrony! for Heaven’s sake, sit down—­beside me here—­or anywhere!  Now, Colambre, begin; and tell us all at once!’

But as nothing is so tedious as a twice-told tale, Lord Colambre’s narrative need not here be repeated.  He began with Count O’Halloran’s visit, immediately after Lady Clonbrony had left London; and went through the history of the discovery that Captain Reynolds was the husband of Miss St. Omar, and the father of Grace; the dying acknowledgment of his marriage; the packet delivered by Count O’Halloran to the careless ambassador—­how recovered, by the assistance of his executor, Sir James Brooke; the travels from Wrestham to Toddrington, and thence to Red Lion Square; the interview with old Reynolds, and its final result; all was related as succinctly as the impatient curiosity of Lord Colambre’s auditors could desire.

‘Oh, wonder upon wonder! and joy upon joy!’ cried Lady Clonbrony.  ’So my darling Grace is as legitimate as I am, and an heiress after all.  Where is she? where is she?  In your room, Lady Berryl?—­Oh, Colambre! why wouldn’t you let her be by?—­Lady Berryl, do you know, he would not let me send for her, though she was the person of all others most concerned!’

’For that very reason, ma’am; and that Lord Colambre was quite right, I am sure you must be sensible, when you recollect, that Grace has no idea that she is not the daughter of Mr. Nugent; she has no suspicion that the breath of blame ever lighted upon her mother.  This part of the story cannot be announced to her with too much caution; and, indeed, her mind has been so much harassed and agitated, and she is at present so far from strong, that great delicacy—­’