"He loves you," cried Kate, much moved by her cousin's recital; and she spoke her true conviction, "he must love you, and we do not know what motives he may have. Yet, I fear he must be selfish, and cold-hearted, to think so little of your feelings. Oh, dear Georgy, try not to love him; how can you love where you do not trust? pray to God to help you, and make up your mind to endure a little present pain, in the hope of future peace; let us leave this place, and go away from him--he has no right to make you wretched--let us go." "No--impossible," said Lady Desmond, faintly, as if wearied by her own emotions. "Never was the spell so strong on me as now. I cannot--nay more, Kate, I _will_ not break it; do not look so sadly, so shocked. I will be reasonable; you said just now we could not know his motives--fate seems to have thrown us together again--for God knows I came down here to get out of London, lest he might suddenly re-appear, to make me writhe under the consciousness of my thraldom. Let us see what another month may disclose. I feel that, before long, all doubt will be at an end, though now, at times, I think he loves me." "Yes, he loves you--he must," cried Kate, gazing on Lady Desmond's beautiful face, as, glowing with the animation her reminiscences had called up, "but he loves himself better." "Then I am free," returned her cousin, "he is too grand a creature to be selfish--no there is none like him. Whatever his faults may be, they are not petty--he can love. We will remain here another month. What do you advise?" "Whatever I advise, dear Georgy, you will stay; and perhaps it is better to give Lord Effingham a fair trial, though he might follow us; at all events, you do not quite disapprove my counsel, I would fain have you go." "Do not ask me, I cannot; but is not that two o'clock--to bed--to bed, Kate, how could I have kept you up so late. Good night." "God bless you, and give you peace, dear Georgy--good night." CHAPTER V. AN ECLAIRCISSEMENT. The note of invitation, which Lady Desmond had despatched to Mrs. Storey, was quickly answered in the affirmative; that worthy woman having a strongly marked preference for fashion and the aristocracy, though if the truth must be told, it was an act of heroic accordance, with her principles to spend an entire day with Lady Desmond, who had impressed her with a sincere feeling of awe. "Mrs. Storey has much pleasure in accepting my polite invitation. _Cela va sans dire_; write, Kate dear, and say I will send the carriage to meet her at Kingston. Mr. Storey is engaged till six o'clock, but will come down for her, _tant mieux_." Kate felt her cousin's civility to her friend as the most delicate kindness, and thanked her with an eloquent glance.