But while the proud mind was debating which ought to be the first to speak, a vision stood between the two which riveted the gaze of both, and turned the current of young Manvers's thoughts. It was the Lady Amabel, who in all the purity of beautiful and innocent sixteen, suddenly appeared--the lily of the dazzling parterre. She leaned on the arm of the Duke of L--, and moved up the room to the dais, on which the Duchess was seated with the handsome and favourite aide-de-camp. But love is ever at cross purposes. The heart of this gentle being stirred not, the eye was not illumined, as the young and handsome baronet bent over her. She smiled when Sir Adrian came to greet her; but he, at whose approach she blushed and trembled like a rose at morning prime, was Daveney, then a young ensign, without a prospect in the world save that to which blind fortune might lead him. But the reader has seen that Daveney thought not of his gentle cousin. Both were much together in the early part of that brilliant Dublin season: but the young soldier changed his quarters--some said he withdrew purposely from the light of those eyes, that tempted him to love one whom it would be ruin to marry--some, that he was blind--some, that he was heartless; no matter--they were sundered. Meanwhile Sir John's heart was chilled towards one in whom he might have found a friend; and when some months afterwards he saw that Lady Amabel suffered Sir Adrian to talk to her for hours, the circumstance widened the gulf. Later, at the age of eight-and-twenty, Manvers became associated in Ireland with the sweet and gracious being who eventually became his wife. She had wealth, connection, talent, and, above all, the most amiable disposition. The grave, austere young soldier was drawn imperceptibly towards this happy, ardent being. She shone upon him like sunlight upon snow--she was like a beam from heaven gilding the darkest recesses of a mine. He might have told her all. Many a time he was disposed to throw himself at her feet, and disclose his early history; but her father--it was from her mother she derived the stamp of aristocracy--was a _parvenu_. Manvers dreaded, to lose this first real love, this darling of his heart and albeit she would have gone with him to the desert, he knew full well that his title and military interest, weighed heavily in his favour with the father. He kept his secret, and married the heiress; and, in the course of time, he had almost forgot the very existence of his eldest born, when one day he received a letter from the woman Watson, informing him that his son had run away from her home; the boy, she said, must have been led astray, and she hoped to trace him. The annuity must be paid as usual. She doubted not he would be found, in same of the haunts of the metropolis, and she would inform Sir John as soon as she received tidings of the boy.