“We can’t help that,” rejoined his friend. “You’ve a duty to perform in life, and you must go through with it. You’re not to live for yourself alone; and look how many people are interested in this question. In the first place, there’s your cousin. In consequence of this will they’ve found, you have been the innocent cause of robbing her of a princely inheritance; this is the only method by which you can replace her in her former advantageous position. It was evidently intended all through by your uncle and your poor aunt that this marriage should take place, and their wishes ought to be your law. Then the General has set his heart upon it, I _know_, and you are both under great obligations to that kind old man. But all these considerations are as nothing compared with the feelings of Blanche herself. Charlie, would you begin by supplanting her in her birthright, and finish by breaking her heart?” Charlie looked wofully disconcerted. This was altogether a new light, and he stammered out, “Of course I should like to do what’s right, but I don’t want to give up the army;--and--and--I’m very fond of Blanche, you know, and all that, but I don’t think I quite like her well enough to marry her.” “Not like her!” exclaimed Hardingstone, to whom this latter reason was totally incomprehensible, “not like such a girl as that--the loveliest, the sweetest, the most angelic, the most ladylike creature on the face of the earth--I’ve never seen anything the least to be compared to her in _my_ experience; and you talk of not liking her!” “Hang it, Frank!” interposed the lad, “I wish you’d marry her yourself. I’ll go shares with her in fortune; there’s more than enough for us both, and you’re much fitter to be a respectable man than I am.” The shaft went deep into his heart, but the strong man never winced or failed for a moment. “What right have you,” he broke in, almost fiercely, “what right have you to talk of giving her money, and laying her under obligations? Like Falstaff,” he added, relapsing into his usual manner, “you owe her yourself and the money too. For Heaven’s sake, Charlie, don’t tamper with the happiness of a lifetime--honour, duty, expediency, all point one way--do not, for a mere whim, neglect that which, left undone, you will repent ever afterwards. Promise me, _now_ promise me, Charlie, that you will marry your cousin before you again leave Newton-Hollows.” Charlie bit his lip, stroked his moustaches, looked first one way, and then another; and finally, blushing crimson over his wasted face, exclaimed, “Never, Frank--if you must know it, you had better know it now--never, I tell you, and for the best of all reasons; of course it goes no farther, but the fact is, I--I like somebody else much better.”