‘Venetia,’ he at length said, turning the conversation to a more interesting topic, ’your father and myself have disburthened our minds to each, other this morning; I think we know each other now as well as if we were as old acquaintances as myself and his daughter.’

‘Ah!  I knew that you and papa must agree,’ said Venetia; ’I was saying so this morning to my mother.’

‘Venetia,’ said Cadurcis, with a laughing eye, ’all this is very strange, is it not?’

’Very strange, indeed, Plantagenet; I should not be surprised if it appeared to you as yet even incredible.’

‘It is miraculous,’ said Cadurcis, ’but not incredible; an angel interfered, and worked the miracle.  I know all.’

Venetia looked at him with a faint flush upon her cheek; she gathered a flower and plucked it to pieces.

’What a singular destiny ours has been, Venetia! ’said Cadurcis.  ’Do you know, I can sit for an hour together and muse over it.’

‘Can you, Plantagenet?’

’I have such an extraordinary memory; I do not think I ever forgot anything.  We have had some remarkable conversations in our time, eh, Venetia?  Do you remember my visit to Cherbury before I went to Cambridge, and the last time I saw you before I left England?  And now it all ends in this!  What do you think of it, Venetia?’

‘Think of what, Plantagenet?’

‘Why, of this reconciliation?’

’Dear Plantagenet, what can I think of it but what I have expressed, that it is a wonderful event, but the happiest in my life.’

‘You are quite happy now?’

‘Quite.’

‘I see you do not care for me the least.’

‘Plantagenet, you are perverse.  Are you not here?’

‘Did you ever think of me when I was away?’

’You know very well, Plantagenet, that it is impossible for me to cease to be interested in you.  Could I refrain from thinking of such a friend?’

’Friend! poh!  I am not your friend; and, as for that, you never once mentioned my name to your father, Miss Venetia.’

‘You might easily conceive that there were reasons for such silence,’ said Venetia.  ’It could not arise on my part from forgetfulness or indifference; for, even if my feelings were changed towards you, you are not a person that one would, or even could, avoid speaking of, especially to papa, who must have felt such interest in you!  I am sure, even if I had not known you, there were a thousand occasions which would have called your name to my lips, had they been uncontrolled by other considerations.’

‘Come, Venetia, I am not going to submit to compliments from you,’ said Lord Cadurcis; ’no blarney.  I wish you only to think of me as you did ten years ago.  I will not have our hearts polluted by the vulgarity of fame.  I want you to feel for me as you did when we were children.  I will not be an object of interest, and admiration, and fiddlestick to you; I will not submit to it.’