quickly succeeded by pleasurable sensations
in the breast of his father, by angry consternation
in that of Lady Irwin, while Edward
could hardly restrain his admiration and
satisfaction at a promptitude so much in
harmony with his wishes.

The tumult of feeling with which he beheld
his son, travel-worn and haggard from recent
illness, prevented Sir Edward from remarking
the uncontrollable emotion of Lady
Irwin. But Frank, whose perception was
sharpened by anxiety, read her unspoken
anger. His quivering lips hardly touched
the cheek she mechanically presented to him;
and she felt that if not before, now, at least,
he knew the purpose lying in her heart. As
by mutual consent, they shrunk from each
other's gaze; for each felt the need of
concealment. But Lady Irwin was stung almost
to madness by the unrestrained joy with
which his brother's return was welcomed by
the child for whose aggrandisement she was
prepared to jeopardise soul and body.

"Helen, you look pale, love," said Sir
Edward, when the first excitement was over,
and he had leisure to think of his wife.
"This mad freak of Frank's has startled the
blood from your cheeks. No wonder, either,
—the silly fellow to come back without a single
word of warning. Bringing such haggard
looks, too. Your mother was growing anxious
about you, Frank, and had just persuaded
me that it would be pleasant to go and have a
look at the old places again, when you must
needs come blundering back. I am heartily
glad to see you, nevertheless; and Kate, I've
a shrewd guess, will not be sorry. She is not
quite so rosy as she was, poor little girl, but
your absence has told more on yourself than
on her."

"She'll be all right now," exclaimed
Edward, unable to keep silence longer. "I'll be
up betimes in the morning, and run over and
give her a hint. She is not a colossus of
strength; and there's no telling what might
happen if she saw you all at once and
unexpectedly. She might take you for a pallida
imago, instead of a true flesh and blood
lover."

"I have not heard Catherine complain of
illness," said Lady Irwin, "you should not
frighten your brother without reason,
Edward."

"Yes, yes; Kitty will be well enough now,"
said Sir Edward, "never fear, Frank. Love
tortures, but he seldom kills, if the poor
victims only continue of one mind."

"I acknowledge that I was drawn home,
in great measure, by anxiety for Catherine,"
said Frank, cheered by his father's cordial
kindness. "Not that I doubted your
indulgence to one so very dear to me, or that I
should have ventured to return without your
permission if I had been in health to use my
time either profitably or agreeably."

"Well, we should have liked a little notice,
if it were only to have the opportunity of
welcoming you with proper honour; but who has
a greater right to be here than you? I thought
a little travelling would be of use to you.
Besides, I had a fancy to test the quality of
your love, which your mother thought might
possibly have no more stuff in it than first
attachments often have. But since it was
strong enough to render Italy, with all its
charms of climate and association, distasteful,
we are quite satisfied, are we not, Helen?"

"I assert no authority over Frank," said
Lady Irwin, "however my interest in his
welfare may have induced me to offer him.
unpalatable advice."

"So the young signor is returned," said
Agnese," as she combed her lady's hair,
"without warning, and unexpected!"

"He knows that he can insult me with
impunity," returned Lady Irwin, "and that
my influence over his father is gone."

"His love for the Curé's daughter has
made him mad," said Agnese.

"Yes; and not him alone. She has won
my husband from me. My very child she
would not leave to me."

"He knows not what he does. She has
won him with her false smiles, and he is
entangled in her meshes; but fear not,
Madonna; we are not yet overcome."

"The joy of life is gone," returned Lady
Irwin, with fierce depression, "it were well
for me to die."

"Be not troubled, Madonna, or let your
purpose be shaken by the pride of this self-
willed boy. Rouse your great heart. Let it
never be said that you have been wronged
with impunity."

"Do not tempt me, Agnese. Leave the
dark thoughts in my soul, and do not make
them more familiar by clothing them in words.
I am sick and weary. I am alone—my very
child arrays himself with my enemies."

"O! he knows not the interests at stake;
he is still a child. No blood of mine flows in
his veins; yet for your sake, Madonna, and
for the memory of the long days and nights
when he lay cradled in my arms, I would
count life little to serve him!"

"Senseless as you are!" cried Lady Irwin,
with an impatience not unlike that of an
untamed horse excited beyond endurance by
the application of the spur, "do you talk
of what you would do, you who have never
borne a child—who have only rocked to rest
the child of others? Is he not mine—mine
in mind and body? The hair that clusters
on his brow he had from me; and in
which of the tame Irwins would you see
the flash of such an eye as his? He is
the one thing on earth that is mine; and
do you think there is anything I would not
do for his sake? But were he nothing, I
have still sufficient motives. They have
treated me with scorn—almost with open
defiance. They have turned from me the
affections of my husband! But if I must be
miserable, they at least shall not rejoice."