"Never; no tortures should induce me! I am convinced she would make me wretched," continued Edric, hurrying through what he meant to say. "Our tempers don't assimilate. We should both be miserable. I should be very sorry to cause either you or the duke a moment's uneasiness--very sorry--I would die first! But to marry Rosabella would be worse than dying a thousand deaths--we should be the most wretched of human beings, and you would be unhappy at seeing me so." "Mercy on me!" cried Sir Ambrose, heaving a deep sigh, and feeling almost out of breath at the volubility of his son. "I thought you dumb just now, but I see that you can use your tongue fast enough when the subject pleases you. Not marry Rosabella! Is the boy mad? Is she not young, beautiful, and highly accomplished? What would you have, I wonder? You certainly must be out of your senses to refuse such a woman; and one too, so superior to yourself, in rank and fortune." "In fortune I allow her to be superior; but I think the mystery attached to the name of her father, more than compensates for any difference of rank." "Don't talk about what you can't understand. Duke Edgar is dead, and his faults should be buried with him; besides, it is hard the girl should suffer for the sins of her father." "What were those sins, my dear Sir? I have often heard them darkly hinted at, as something almost too dreadful to mention; but I never heard the particulars." "Edric," said Sir Ambrose, solemnly, "if you have the least regard for my feelings, or entertain any duty for me as a son, never again advert to that subject. Circumstances there are relating to it, of a deep, awful, and mysterious nature, with which I am well acquainted, but which I have taken a solemn oath never to reveal. Never speak of them again; the bare remembrance makes me shudder--oh! would to Heaven I could forget them!" "I am very sorry, Sir, that my question was such as to give you pain: but rest assured that my curiosity shall never again annoy you." "I am not angry with you, Edric. You could not know the feelings your question would create in my bosom, and it was natural you should wish to know something of the father of your intended wife. However, think no more of him. Consider the present duke as your future father-in-law; and if possible forget that such a person as Duke Edgar ever existed." "You forget, Sir," said Edric, firmly but respectfully, "that I have before declared my determination never to marry Rosabella." "Nonsense!" rejoined his father, "you don't know what you are talking about. The world would call me as mad as yourself if I were to let you act so foolishly: besides, what would the duke say?" "To speak candidly, Sir, that is what principally annoys me; for I trust that your good sense and affectionate disposition will soon enable _you_ to see the affair in its proper light."