"Sir Thomas Desmond, my dear Georgy, is returning thanks that his life was spared, in that desperate leap of yours." "I fear I nearly rode over you," said she, addressing the veteran, who stood gazing with admiration at her beautiful face, glowing with the rich color, imparted by her gallop--her luxuriant black hair falling in masses from under her hat, and her large dark eyes beaming with the excitement of her own thoughts, though little shown by the careless ease of her manner. "I fear I almost rode over you." "Pray do not mention it; what is an old general more or less, compared to the gratification of so charming a young lady's taste for crossing the country?" "You will forgive me?" said she smiling. "Georgy, you know Mr. ----, and Lord Arthur," said the Colonel, waving his hand towards the other gentlemen of the party, and Miss O'Brien acknowledged them with a careless grace, a certain, wild, natural dignity, that did not escape the observant Sir Thomas. From this time, the General constantly, and avowedly sought the society of his host's _protégée_; and she, pleased by his kindly admiration, and flattered by the notice of an individual in his distinguished position, found a new charm in the rides and walks she was beginning to tire of. But never, in her dreams of the future, had she an instant thought of using matrimony as a stepping stone to position; and the pleasant, polite _Chevalier Bayard_, but elderly General, whom she looked upon as a second Colonel Vernon, and of whom, in a short time she made a confidant, was the last person she would have dreamt of espousing--meantime Sir Thomas prolonged his visit, and when at length he departed, leaving Georgina, inconsolable for his loss--it was only for a short period. His return was heralded by the announcement in Saunders' Newspaper of the death of the Dowager Countess of C----, "who has, we understand bequeathed large estates, both here and in England, to her ladyship's nephew, Sir Thomas Desmond, K.C.B., who served with great distinction at----, &c., &c." Miss O'Brien, overjoyed as she was to see him again, could not help being struck by an indefinable change of manner in her faithful ally. He seemed more deferential and less gaily cordial; still she was unspeakably astonished, when, after a few words of, to her, unintelligible preamble, Colonel Vernon, in a private and solemn interview, informed her that Sir Thomas Desmond had made proposals to him for her hand, as her guardian and next friend. "I confess I was a good deal startled when he broached the subject," continued the Colonel; "nevertheless, Georgy, I would have you weigh the proposition; there are few men who would show such disinterestedness as to fly back to lay his newly-acquired fortune at the feet of an obscure though very charming girl; and although the disparity--" "I have made up my mind," said Miss O'Brien, deliberately, as if of her own thoughts, and deaf to the Colonel--"I will accept him."