‘What—­where,’ he stammered, as if even his words were startled away; ‘is not Miss Durant well?’

‘She was here just this moment,’ said Mr. Kendal.

‘I will go and see for her,’ said Sophy.  ‘Come, children.’

Whether Sophy’s powers over herself or over Genevieve would avail, was an anxious marvel, but it did not last a moment, for Maurice came clattering down to say that Genevieve was gone out into the town.  In such a moment!  She must have snatched up her bonnet, and fled one way while Ulick entered by the other.  He made one step forward, exclaiming, ‘Where is she gone?’ then pausing, broke out, ’Mrs. Kendal, you must make her give me a hearing, or I shall go mad!’

‘A hearing?’ repeated Mrs. Kendal, with slight malice.

‘Yes; why, don’t you know?’

‘So your time has come, Ulick, has it?’ said Mr. Kendal.

’Well, and I were worse than an old ledger if it had not, when she was before me!  Make her listen to me, Mrs. Kendal, if she do not, I shall never do any more good in this world!’

‘I should have thought,’ said Albinia, ’that an Irishman would be at no loss for making opportunities.’

’You don’t know, Mrs. Kendal; she is so fenced in with scruples, humility—­I know not what—­that she will not so much as hear me out.  I’m not such a blockhead as to think myself worthy of her, but I do think, if she would only listen to me, I might stand a chance:  and she runs off, as if she thought it a sin to hear a word from my mouth!’

‘It is very honourable to her,’ said Mr. Kendal.

‘Very honourable to her,’ replied Ulick, ‘but cruelly hard upon me.’

‘I think, too,’ continued Mr. Kendal, stimulated thereto by his lady’s severely prudent looks, ’that you ought—­granting Miss Durant to be, as I well know her to be, one of the most excellent persons who ever lived—­still to count the cost of opening such an affair.  It is not fair upon a woman to bring her into a situation where disappointments may arise which neither may be able to bear.’

’Do you mean my family, Mr. Kendal?  Trust me for getting consent from home.  You will write my father a letter, saying what you said just now; Mrs. Kendal will write another to my mother; and I’ll just let them see my heart is set on it, and they’ll not hold out.’

‘Could you bear to see her—­looked down on?’ said Albinia.

‘Ha!’ he cried, with flashing eyes.  ’No, believe me, Mrs. Kendal, the O’Mores have too much gentle blood to do like that, even if she were one whom any one could scorn.  Why, what is my mother herself but a Goldsmith by birth, and I’d like to see who would cast it up to any of the family that she was not as noble as an O’More!  And Genevieve herself—­isn’t every look and every movement full of the purest gentility her fathers’ land can show?’

’I dare say, once accepted, the O’Mores would heartily receive her; but here, in this place, there are some might think it told against you, and might make her uncomfortable.’