“Then I can put your mind at ease, at once, my dear friend, by assuring you that I shall think of him no more. That I have thought of him, I do not deny--I have thought, that if, notwithstanding the difference in our ages and other differences, he had preferred me, I should have preferred him to any person who has ever yet addressed me. On our first acquaintance, I clearly saw that he was not disposed to pay court to my fortune; and I had also then coolness of judgment sufficient to perceive that it was not probable he should fall in love with my person. But I was too proud in my humility, too strong in my honesty, too brave, too ignorant; in short, I knew nothing of the matter. We are all of us, more or less, subject to the delusions of vanity, or hope, or love--I--even I!--who thought myself so clear-sighted, did not know how, with one flutter of his wings, Cupid can set the whole atmosphere in motion; change the proportions, size, colour, value, of every object; lead us into a _mirage_, and leave us in a dismal desert.” “My dearest friend!” said Miss Nugent in a tone of true sympathy. “But none but a coward or a fool would sit down in the desert and weep, instead of trying to make his way back before the storm rises, obliterates the track, and overwhelms every thing. Poetry apart, my dear Grace, you may be assured that I shall think no more of Lord Colambre.” “I believe you are right. But I am sorry, very sorry, it must be so.” “Oh, spare me your sorrow!” “My sorrow is for Lord Colambre,” said Miss Nugent. “Where will he find such a wife?--Not in Miss Berryl, I am sure, pretty as she is; a mere fine lady!--Is it possible that Lord Colambre should prefer such a girl--Lord Colambre!” Miss Broadhurst looked at her friend as she spoke, and saw truth in her eyes; saw that she had no suspicion that she was herself the person beloved. “Tell me, Grace, are you sorry that Lord Colambre is going away?” “No, I am glad. I was sorry when I first heard it; but now I am glad, very glad: it may save him from a marriage unworthy of him, restore him to himself, and reserve him for--, the only woman I ever saw who is suited to him, who is equal to him, who would value and love him as he deserves to be valued and loved.”