“That is her sister Gwyneth. Miss Duncan, if you felt for me one tithe of the love I entertain for you, you would say yes, when I asked you to be mine.” “Should I?” replied she, wondering, and yet thoughtfully. “I do not know.” “Dearest, sweetest Gwyneth! will you not?” “Oh, no, it would be too selfish, too cruel to think of such things now! Hilary wants my whole time and thoughts, and you would ask them for yourself!――I ought not――do not tempt me.” “No, I would not engross them, I would only ask to share your anxieties, and if I could, to lighten your sorrows and cares. I only wish to have a right to joy and grieve with you. Could you not love me, would you not be my wife, if all were well here!” “All is not well,” replied she, blushing crimson, and turning away, “why ask?” But her manner was so little repulsive, that Lord Dunsmore persevered, and before long, won from her an admission that she would rather he should continue to frequent their society on the understanding that she would try and like him, than that he should go away altogether from the neighborhood. “But I am so young,” said she, “I can not promise――ask Maurice.” “I will!” said her suitor. “I have still another guardian,” continued Gwyneth, with a sigh. “You have; shall I refer to him?” She assented softly, and he went immediately to Captain Hepburn. Hilary, of course, was beside him; Maurice, too, was there. “Dear Mrs. Hepburn,” said Lord Dunsmore, “do you remember the wish I once ventured to express to you about your sister?” “Gwyneth! oh, yes!” said Hilary, eagerly. “And you do not retract?” “No, no indeed!” “And will you then plead my cause with these two?” looking from Maurice to his brother-in-law; the latter lay with his fine eyes fixed on him, listening, with the most lively interest, to the conversation, but evidently without surprise; while the former evinced considerable astonishment. “Ask for yourself, Lord Dunsmore,” said Hilary. “I will. Will you two guardians trust your ward to me? Give me Gwyneth?” “Ah, with pleasure!” said Maurice, “if she says _yes_ herself.” “You have had my best wishes for these two months,” replied Captain Hepburn; then turning to his wife, he added, “Do you think she would come here, Hilary? ask her.” “You would frighten her,” said the lover, anxiously; but Hilary went to look for her at once. “I am so glad,” said Captain Hepburn, “I hoped to see this settled; it is my last concern on earth, and I shall leave her with confidence in your charge, my lord. Hilary told me.” It was an effort to him to speak, and his words were faint and slow. Hilary found her gazing from the window, but her black eyes were dim with tears, and at the sight of her sister, she threw herself into her arms, with an entreaty that she would not think her cruel and selfish; much as she liked Lord Dunsmore, she cared more a hundred times for her.