had　all　but　yielded　himself　up　to　the
  passionate　impulse；　upon　his　arrival　at
  home　he　found　a　letter　on　the　table
  awaiting　his　return；　it　was　from　his
  father　to　the　following　effect：
  'To　Richard　O'Mara。
  'September；　17；　Lm；　England。
  'MY　DEAR　SON；
  'I　have　just　had　a　severe　attack　of
  my　old　and　almost　forgotten　enemy；　the
  gout。　This　I　regard　as　a　good　sign；　the
  doctors　telling　me　that　it　is　the　safest
  development　of　peccant　humours；　and　I
  think　my　chest　is　less　tormenting　and
  oppressed　than　I　have　known　it　for　some
  years。　My　chief　reason　for　writing　to
  you　now；　as　I　do　it　not　without　difficulty；
  is　to　let　you　know　my　pleasure　in　certain
  matters；　in　which　I　suspect　some　shameful；
  and；　indeed；　infatuated　neglect　on　your
  part；　〃quem　perdere　vult　deus　prius
  dementat：〃　how　comes　it　that　you　have
  neglected　to　write　to　Lady　Emily　or　any　of
  that　family？　the　understood　relation
  subsisting　between　you　is　one　of　extreme
  delicacy；　and　which　calls　for　marked　and
  courteous；　nay；　devoted　attention　upon
  your　side。　Lord　　is　already　offended；
  beware　what　you　do；　for　as　you　will　find；
  if　this　match　be　lost　by　your　fault　or　folly；
  by　　I　will　cut　you　off　with　a　shilling。
  I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　using　threats
  when　I　do　not　mean　to　fulfil　them；　and
  that　you　well　know；　however　I　do　not
  think　you　have　much　real　cause　for　alarm
  in　this　case。　Lady　Emily；　who；　by　the
  way；　looks　if　possible　more　charming　than
  ever；　is　anything　but　hard…hearted；　at
  least　when　YOU　solicit；　but　do　as　I　desire；
  and　lose　no　time　in　making　what　excuse
  you　may；　and　let　me　hear　from　you　when
  you　can　fix　a　time　to　join　me　and　your
  mother　here。
  'Your　sincere　well…wisher　and　father；
  'RICHARD　O'MARA。'
  In　this　letter　was　inclosed　a　smaller　one；
  directed　to　Dwyer；　and　containing　a
  cheque　for　twelve　pounds；　with　the　following
  words：
  'Make　use　of　the　enclosed；　and　let　me
  hear　if　Richard　is　upon　any　wild　scheme
  at　present：　I　am　uneasy　about　him；　and
  not　without　reason；　report　to　me　speedily
  the　result　of　your　vigilance。
  'R。　O'MARA。'
  Dwyer　just　glanced　through　this　brief；
  but　not　unwelcome；　epistle；　and　deposited
  it　and　its　contents　in　the　secret　recesses　of
  his　breeches　pocket；　and　then　fixed　his
  eyes　upon　the　face　of　his　companion；　who
  sat　opposite；　utterly　absorbed　in　the　perusal
  of　his　father's　letter；　which　he　read　again
  and　again；　pausing　and　muttering　between
  whiles；　and　apparently　lost　in　no　very
  pleasing　reflections。　At　length　he　very
  abruptly　exclaimed：
  'A　delicate　epistle；　trulyand　a　politic
  would　that　my　tongue　had　been　burned
  through　before　I　assented　to　that　doubly…
  cursed　contract。　Why；　I　am　not　pledged
  yetI　am　not；　there　is　neither　writing；
  nor　troth；　nor　word　of　honour；　passed
  between　us。　My　father　has　no　right　to
  pledge　me；　even　though　I　told　him　I　liked
  the　girl；　and　would　wish　the　match。　'Tis
  not　enough　that　my　father　offers　her　my
  heart　and　hand；　he　has　no　right　to　do　it；
  a　delicate　woman　would　not　accept　professions
  made　by　proxy。　Lady　Emily！　Lady
  Emily！　with　all　the　tawdry　frippery；　and
  finery　of　dress　and　demeanourcompare
  HER　with　　Pshaw！　Ridiculous！　How
  blind；　how　idiotic　I　have　been。'
  He　relapsed　into　moody　reflections；
  which　Dwyer　did　not　care　to　disturb；　and
  some　ten　minutes　might　have　passed　before
  he　spoke　again。　When　he　did；　it　was　in
  the　calm　tone　of　one　who　has　irrevocably
  resolved　upon　some　decided　and　important
  act。
  'Dwyer；'　he　said；　rising　and　approaching
  that　person；　'whatever　god　or　demon　told
  you；　even　before　my　own　heart　knew　it；
  that　I　loved　Ellen　Heathcote；　spoke　truth。
  I　love　her　madlyI　never　dreamed　till
  now　how　fervently；　how　irrevocably；　I　am
  hershow　dead　to　me　all　other　interests
  are。　Dwyer；　I　know　something　of　your
  disposition；　and　you　no　doubt　think　it
  strange　that　I　should　tell　to　you；　of　all
  persons；　SUCH　a　secret；　but　whatever　be
  your　faults；　I　think　you　are　attached　to
  our　family。　I　am　satisfied　you　will　not
  betray　me。　I　know'
  'Pardon　me；'　said　Dwyer；　'if　I　say　that
  great　professions　of　confidence　too
  frequently　mark　distrust。　I　have　no　possible
  motive　to　induce　me　to　betray　you；　on　the
  contrary；　I　would　gladly　assist　and　direct
  whatever　plans　you　may　have　formed。
  Command　me　as　you　please；　I　have　said
  enough。'
  'I　will　not　doubt　you；　Dwyer；'　said
  O'Mara；　'　I　have　taken　my　resolutionI
  have；　I　think；　firmness　to　act　up　to　it。　To
  marry　Ellen　Heathcote；　situated　as　I　am；
  were　madness；　to　propose　anything　else
  were　worse；　were　villainy　not　to　be　named。
  I　will　leave　the　country　to…morrow；　cost
  what　pain　it　may；　for　England。　I　will　at
  once　break　off　the　proposed　alliance　with
  Lady　Emily；　and　will　wait　until　I　am　my
  own　master；　to　open　my　heart　to　Ellen。
  My　father　may　say　and　do　what　he　likes；
  but　his　passion　will　not　last。　He　will
  forgive　me；　and　even　were　he　to　disinherit
  me；　as　he　threatens；　there　is　some　property
  which　must　descend　to　me；　which　his　will
  cannot　affect。　He　cannot　ruin　my
  interests；　he　SHALL　NOT　ruin　my　happiness。
  Dwyer；　give　me　pen　and　ink；　I　will　write
  this　moment。'
  This　bold　plan　of　proceeding　for　many
  reasons　appeared　inexpedient　to　Dwyer；
  and　he　determined　not　to　consent　to　its
  adoption　without　a　struggle。
  'I　commend　your　prudence；'　said　he；　'in
  determining　to　remove　yourself　from　the
  fascinating　influence　which　has　so　long
  bound　you　here；　but　beware　of　offending
  your　father。　Colonel　O'Mara　is　not　a　man
  to　forgive　an　act　of　deliberate　disobedience；
  and　surely　you　are　not　mad　enough　to
  ruin　yourself　with　him　by　offering　an　out…
  rageous　insult　to　Lady　Emily　and　to　her
  family　in　her　person；　therefore　you　must
  not　break　off　the　understood　contract　which
  subsists　between　you　by　any　formal　act
  hear　me　out　patiently。　You　must　let　Lady
  Emily　perceive；　as　you　easily　may；　without
  rudeness　or　even　coldness　of　manner；　that
  she　is　perfectly　indifferent　to　you；　and
  when　she　understands　this　to　be　the　case；
  it　she　possesses　either　delicacy　or　spirit；
  she　will　herself　break　off　the　engagement。
  Make　what　delay　it　is　possible　to　effect；
  it　is　very　possible　that　your　father；　who
  cannot；　in　all　probability；　live　many
  months；　may　not　live　as　many　days　if
  harassed　and　excited　by　such　scenes　as
  your　breaking　off　your　engagement　must
  produce。'
  'Dwyer；'　said　O'Mara；　'I　will　hear　you
  outproceed。'
  'Besides；　sir；　remember；'　he　continued；
  'the　understanding　which　we　have　termed
  an　engagement　was　entered　into　without
  any　direct　sanction　upon　your　part；　your
  father　has　committed　HIMSELF；　not　YOU；　to
  Lord　。　Before　a　real　contract　can
  subsist；　you　must　be　an　assenting　party　to
  it。　I　know　of　no　casuistry　subtle　enough
  to　involve　you　in　any　engagement　whatever；
  without　such　an　ingredient。　Tush！
  you　have　an　easy　card　to　play。'
  'Well；'　said　the　young　man；　'I　will
  think　on　what　you　have　said；　in　the
  meantime；　I　will　write　to　my　father　to
  announce　my　immediate　departure；　in　order
  to　join　him。'
  'Excuse　me；'　said　Dwyer；　'but　I　would
  suggest　that　by　hastening　your　departure
  you　but　bring　your　dangers　nearer。　While
  you　are　in　this　country　a　letter　now　and
  then　keeps　everything　quiet；　but　once
  across　the　Channel　and　with　the　colonel；
  you　must　either　quarrel　with　him　to　your
  own　destruction；　or　you　must　dance　attendance
  upon　Lady　Emily　with　such　assiduity
  as　to　commit　yourself　as　completely　as　if
  you　had　been　thrice　called　with　her　in　the
  parish　church。　No；　no；　keep　to　this　side
  of　the　Channel　as　long　as　you　decently
  can。　Besides；　your　sudden　departure　must
  appear　suspicious；　and　will　probably　excite
  inquiry。　Every　good　end　likely　to　be
  accomplished　by　your　absence　will　be
  effected　as　well　by　your　departure　for
  Dublin；　where　you　may　remain　for　three
  weeks　or　a　month　without　giving　rise　to
  curiosity　or　doubt　of　an　unpleasant　kind；
  I　would　therefore　advise　you　strongly　to
  write　immediately　to　the　colonel；　stating
  that　business　has　occurred　to　defer　your
  departure　for　a　month；　and　you　can　then
  leave　this　place；　if　you　think　fit；
  immediately；　that　is；　within　a　week　or　so。'
  Young　O'Mara　was　not　hard　to　be　persuaded。
  Perhaps　it　was　that；　unacknowledged
  by　himself；　any　argument　which
  recommended　his　staying；　even　for　an
  hour　longer　than　his　first　decision　had
  announced；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Ellen
  Heathcote；　appeared　peculiarly　cogent　and
  convincing；　however　this　may　have　been；
  it　is　certain　that　he　followed　the　counsel　of
  his　cool…headed　follower；　who　retired　that
  night　to　bed　with　the　pleasing　conviction
  that　he　was　likely　soon　to　involve　his
  young　patron　in　all　the　intricacies　of
  disguise　and　intriguea　consummation　which
  would　leave　him　totally　at　the　mercy　of
  the　favou