“Miss Nugent is indeed--very much attached to you, mother, I am convinced,” said Lord Colambre, beginning his sentence with great enthusiasm, and ending it with great sobriety. “Indeed, then, she’s a sweet girl, and I am very partial to her, there’s the truth,” cried Lady Clonbrony, in an undisguised Irish accent, and with her natural warm manner. But, a moment afterwards, her features and whole form resumed their constrained stillness and stiffness, and in her English accent she continued, “Before you put my _idears_ out of my head, Colambre, I had something to say to you--Oh! I know what it was--we were talking of embarrassments--and I wish to do your father the justice to mention to you, that he has been _uncommon liberal_ to me about this gala, and has _reelly_ given me carte blanche; and I’ve a notion--indeed I know,--that it is you, Colambre, I am to thank for this.” “Me, ma’am!” “Yes: did not your father give you any hint?” “No, ma’am; I have seen my father but for half an hour since I came to town, and in that time he said nothing to me--of his affairs.” “But what I allude to is more your affair.” “He did not speak to me of any affairs, ma’am--he spoke only of my horses.” “Then I suppose my lord leaves it to me to open the matter to you. I have the pleasure to tell you, that we have in view for you--and, I think I may say, with more than the approbation of all her family--an alliance--” “Oh, my dear mother! you cannot be serious,” cried Lord Colambre; “you know I am not of years of discretion yet--I shall not think of marrying these ten years, at least.” “Why not? Nay, my dear Colambre, don’t go, I beg--I am serious, I assure you--and, to convince you of it, I shall tell you candidly, at once, all your father told me: that now you’ve done with Cambridge, and are come to Lon’on, he agrees with me in wishing that you should make the figure you ought to make, Colambre, as sole heir apparent to the Clonbrony estate, and all that sort of thing; but, on the other hand, living in Lon’on, and making you the handsome allowance you ought to have, are, both together, more than your father can afford, without inconvenience, he tells me.” “I assure you, mother, I shall be content--”