’I did; and I would do so without hesitation, if any duty or any prudence required it.  But, after having heard all the circumstances, I can only tell you that I willingly resign the pleasure of your company.’

‘But tell her, my dear Lady Berryl,’ said Lord Colambre, ’excellent friend as you are—­explain to her you can, better than any of us, all that is to be known; let her know my whole conduct, and then let her decide for herself, and I shall submit to her decision.  It is difficult, my dear Grace, to restrain the expression of love, of passion, such as I feel; but I have some power over myself—­you know it—­and this I can promise you, that your affections shall be free as air—­that:  no wishes of friends, no interference, nothing but your own unbiassed choice will I allow, if my life depended upon it, to operate in my favour.  Be assured, my dearest Grace,’ added he, smiling as he retired, ’you shall have time to know whether you are happy or not.’

The moment he had left the room, she threw herself into the arms of her friend, and her heart, oppressed with various feelings, was relieved by tears—­a species of relief to which she was not habituated.

‘I am happy,’ said she; ’but what was the invincible obstacle?—­what was the meaning of my aunt’s words?—­and what was the cause of her joy?  Explain all this to me, my dear friend; for I am still as if I were in a dream.’

With all the delicacy which Lady Clonbrony deemed superfluous Lady Berryl explained.  Nothing could surpass the astonishment of Grace, on first learning that Mr. Nugent was not her father.  When she was told of the stigma that had been cast on her birth; the suspicions, the disgrace, to which her mother had been subjected for so many years—­that mother, whom she had so loved and respected; who had, with such care, instilled into the mind of her daughter the principles of virtue and religion; that mother whom Grace had always seen the example of every virtue she taught; on whom her daughter never suspected that the touch of blame, the breath of scandal, could rest—­Grace could express her sensations only by repeating, in tones of astonishment, pathos, indignation—­’My mother!—­my mother!—­my mother!’

For some time she was incapable of attending to any other idea, or of feeling any other sensations.  When her mind was able to admit the thought, her friend soothed her, by recalling the expressions of Lord Colambre’s love—­the struggle by which he had been agitated, when he fancied a union with her opposed by an invincible obstacle.

Grace sighed, and acknowledged that, in prudence, it ought to have been an invincible obstacle she admired the firmness of his decision, the honour with which he had acted towards her.  One moment she exclaimed, ’Then, if I had been the daughter of a mother who had conducted herself ill, he never would have trusted me!’

The next moment she recollected, with pleasure, the joy she had just seen in his eyes—­the affection, the passion, that spoke in every word and look; then dwelt upon the sober certainty, that all obstacles were removed.