the idea had never suggested itself to
her. She wished them happy with all her
heart, and could see no reason why they
should not be happy, since they had always
been dear good children, both of them.

And so the matter rested. Lady Irwin,
satisfied with having averted the evil for the
present, revolved her plans at her leisure,
and was content to bide her time. She was
not, however, permitted to enjoy much repose,
for she was harassed by the mute solicitations
of Frank's anxious looks, and by the open
remonstrances of her own son.

Edward heard the news at first with
displeasure, and was inclined to feel himself
aggrieved because Catherine loved any
one better than himself; but when the first
emotions of dissatisfaction were over, he
entered with spirit into the interests of the
lovers, and, having espoused their cause, he
supported it with a warmth characteristic
of his temperament, and which increased
with opposition. Proud of the victory he
liad gained over himself, and irritated by
a suspicion that his mother was actuated by
love to him, he was never weary of urging
his brother's claims, till his galling solicitations
goaded her to madness, and confirmed
her in her resolution.

"Inconsiderate and thankless boy! " she
exclaimed one day, thrown off her guard by
his importunity; " blind to your own interest,
as you are careless of the affections of your
mother."

"My interest! " retorted Edward, " how
can it affect my interest; except that it must
be my interest to see Frank and Kitty
happy."

"And yourself a beggar, and your mother
a pensioner on the bounty of a country
parson's daughter! Foolish child, how will
it be with you when you are but an inmate
on sufferance in the house beneath whose
roof you were born?"

"Mother, that'll never be! You don't
know of what true stuff Kitty's heart is
made; if I ever want a home, and she has
one, never fear that she 'll grudge me share
of her's. Besides, have I not hands, arms,
and wits; can't I hire myself out for so much
a day to be shot at, or get a handsome income
for wearing a fine coat, and a sword at some
foreign court, and writing lying letters about
nothing! Frank and Mr. Birkby, both say
I've capital abilities, and I'm sure if I
take after you, I must be a long-headed
fellow with a first-rate genius for politics.
Only think now, mother, would it not be more
gratifying to be pointed out as the mother of
the eminent diplomatist Mr. Edward Irwin,
in time Sir Edward, and soon my lord
viscount, or what not, than to look handsome
in your black velvet and diamonds as the
maternal relative of Sir Francis?"

"It is because I long to see you crowned
with self-won honours, that I am impatient
of this preposterous scheme of your brother's.
Hampered with him, his wife, and perhaps a
host of children—women who bring their
husbands no fortune, always have large families
—how is your father to give you the necessary
start? How is he to put you properly forward
in the world? On the next ten years the
fortunes of your life must depend."

"Ten years! then Frank and Kitty are to
wait ten years? Come, mother, that's too
bad—why she'll be quite elderly by that
time; just think, you are only five-and-thirty
now, and you've been married these sixteen
years. Depend upon it, I shall never get on
the better for Kitty's fretting herself to
fiddle-strings. No, no, mother, it won't do;
there's no romance in a bride over twenty.
If I were Frank, I'd carry her off in a chaise
and four and bring her home a married
wife— I declare it would be splendid— I'd be
postilion, and I don't think you'd have
much chance of overtaking us, unless you
swept after us in a whirlwind."

The idea of an elopement, and the exciting
adventures by which it could not fail to be
accompanied, was so agreeable to Edward
that, though it had occurred to him as a jest,
he did not fail to suggest it seriously to his
brother.

"You may look as grave as you please,
Frank," he said, impatiently ; " I tell you my
father would be delighted to have it settled—
the dear old fellow is as fond of Kitty as she
deserves—you'd be gone just a couple of days,
and I'd undertake to draw mother off while
you begged pardon, he'd forgive you almost
before you could ask him. Mother is splendid
for holidays, but you know we sadly want a
little household deity to nurse us when we
are ill, and put us in good-humour when we
are cross. Mother couldn't say anything
when it was done, or if she did, it wouldn't
so much matter."

"She would never forgive us, Edward,"
returned Frank, with a grave smile; "and we
should feel that we had given her reason for
her displeasure. Kitty's heart would break
under the weight of such a resentment as my
mother can feel, and all my love and yours
would not support her under it. It is hard,
but we must be patient."

"Then I'll tell you what it is, Frank, you'll
have plenty of exercise for your patience ;
you may wait and wait till you are both old
and cross. Mother will not give her consent,
she'll mock you with vain hope, like that
scoundrel Pygmalion and his poor sister Dido
in Virgil. She has made up her mind—she
says you are too young now, she'll find reasons
just as good to keep you asunder till she can
say you are too old, and ought to be thinking
of the other world."

"Kitty would never consent," said Frank,
not unimpressed by the boy's representations.
The thought was not new to him, the shadow
of such a fear had been darkening on his
mind for some time.

"Don't ask her! " cried Edward, with