“Now,” he exclaimed, after she had gone, “it is clear, I think, that the girl entertains something more than a mere moral objection to this match.  I would have taxed her with some previous engagement, but that I fear it would be premature to do so at present.  Dunroe is wild, no doubt of it; but I cannot believe that women, who are naturally vain and fond of display, feel so much alarm at this as they pretend.  I never did myself care much about the sex, and seldom had an opportunity of studying their general character, or testing their principles; but still I incline to the opinion, that, where there is not a previous engagement, rank and wealth will, for the most part, outweigh every other consideration.  In the meantime I will ride into Ballytrain, and reconnoitre a little.  Perhaps the contents, of this communication are true—­perhaps not; but, at all events, it can be no harm to look about me in a quiet way.”

He then read the letter a third time—­examined the handwriting closely—­locked it in a private drawer—­rang the bell—­ordered his horse—­and in a few minutes was about to proceed to the “Mitre” inn, in order to make secret inquiries after such persons as he might find located in that or the other establishments of the town.  At this moment, his daughter once more entered the apartment, her face glowing with deep agitation, and her large, mellow eyes lit up with a fixed, and, if one could judge, a lofty purpose.  Her reception, we need hardly say, was severe and harsh.

“How, madam,” he exclaimed, “did I not order you to your room?  Do you return to bandy undutiful hints and arguments with me?”

“Father,” said she, “I am not ignorant, alas! of your stern and indomitable character; but, upon the subject of forced and unsuitable matches, I may and I do appeal directly to the experience of your own married life, and of that of my beloved mother.  She was, unhappily for herself—­”

“And for me, Miss Gourlay—­”

“Well, perhaps so; but if ever woman was qualified to make a man happy, she was.  At all events, sir, unhappily she was forced into marriage with you, and you deliberately took to your bosom a reluctant bride.  She possessed extraordinary beauty, and a large fortune.  I, however, am not about to enter into your heart, or analyze its motives; it is enough to say that, although she had no previous engagement or affection for any other, she was literally dragged by the force of parental authority into a union with you.  The consequence was, that her whole life, owing to—­to—­the unsuitableness of your tempers, and the strongly-contrasted materials which formed your characters, was one of almost unexampled suffering and sorrow.  With this example before my eyes, and with the memory of it brooding over and darkening your own heart—­yes, papa—­my dear papa, let me call you with the full and most distressing recollections connected with it strong upon both of us, let me entreat and implore that you will not urge nor force me into a union with this hateful and repulsive profligate.  I go upon my knees to you, and entreat, as you regard my happiness, my honor, and my future peace of mind, that you will not attempt to unite me to this most unprincipled and dishonorable young man.”