The end of the speech rewarded Louis for the conflict by which he had kept himself still to listen to the beginning.  Lord Ormersfield had pity on him, and went in search of Mary; while he, remembering former passages, felt that his father might be less startling and more persuasive, but began to understand what James must have suffered in committing his affairs to another.

The Earl found Mary in what had been her mother’s sitting-room, striving to brace her resolution by recalling the conversation that had taken place there on a like occasion.  But alas! how much more the heart had now to say!  How much it felt as if the only shelter or rest in the desolate world was in the light of the blue eyes whose tender sunshine had been on her for one instant!

Yet she began firmly—­’If you please, would you be so kind as to let me go to Aunt Melicent?’

‘By-and-by, my dear, when you think fit.’

‘Oh, then, at once, and without seeing any one, please!’

‘Nay, Mary,’ with redoubled gentleness, ’there is one who cannot let you go without seeing him.  Mary, you will not disappoint my poor boy again.  You will let him be an amendment in my scheme.’

’You have been always most kind to me, but you cannot really like this.’

’You forget that it has been my most ardent wish from the moment I saw you what only your mother’s child could be.’

’That was before—­ No, I ought not!  Yours is not a family to bring disgrace into.’

’I cannot allow you to speak thus.  I knew your trials at home when first I wished you to be my son’s wife, and my opinion is unchanged, except by my increased wish to have the first claim to you.’

‘Lord Ormersfield,’ said Mary, collecting herself ’only one thing.  Tell me, as if we were indifferent persons, is this a connexion such as would do Louis any harm?  I trust you to answer.’

He paced along the room, and she tried to control her trembling.  He came back and spoke:  No, Mary.  If he were a stranger, I should give the same advice.  Your father’s own family is unexceptionable; and those kind of things, so far off—­few will ever hear of them, and no one will attach consequence to them.  If that be your only scruple, it does you infinite credit; but I can entirely remove it.  What might be an injury to you, single, would be of comparatively little importance to him.’

‘Miss Conway,’ faltered Mary, who could never remember her, when in Louis’s presence.

’A mere delusion, of our own.  There was nothing in it.  He calls you the only woman who can make him happy, as I always knew you were.  He must explain all.  You will come to him, my dear child.’

Mary resisted no more; he led her down stairs, and left her within the dining-room door.

‘Mary, you will now—­’ was all Louis said; but she let him draw her into his arms, and she rested against his breast, as when he had come to comfort her in the great thunderstorm in auld lang-syne.  She felt herself come at length to the shelter and repose for which her heart had so long yearned, in spite of her efforts, and as if the world had nothing more to offer of peace or joy.