‘I ought to be happy,’ said George, and sighed.  ’The fondest wish of my heart is attained.  You remember our conversation on the Lago Maggiore, Venetia?  You see I was a prophet, and you will be Lady Cadurcis yet.’

‘We must keep up our spirits,’ said Venetia; ’I do not despair of our all returning to England yet.  So many wonders have happened, that I cannot persuade myself that this marvel will not also occur.  I am sure my uncle will do something; I have a secret idea that the Bishop is all this time working for papa; I feel assured I shall see Cherbury and Cadurcis again, and Cadurcis will be your home.’

’A year ago you appeared dying, and Plantagenet was the most miserable of men,’ said Captain Cadurcis.  ’You are both now perfectly well and perfectly happy, living even under the same roof, soon, I feel, to be united, and with the cordial approbation of Lady Annabel.  Your father is restored to you.  Every blessing in the world seems to cluster round your roof.  It is selfish for me to wear a gloomy countenance.’

‘Ah! dear George, you never can be selfish,’ said Venetia.

‘Yes, I am selfish, Venetia.  What else can make me sad?’

‘You know how much you contribute to our happiness,’ said Venetia, ‘and you feel for our sufferings at your absence.’

‘No, Venetia, I feel for myself,’ said Captain Cadurcis with energy; ’I am certain that I never can be happy, except in your society and Plantagenet’s.  I cannot express to you how I love you both.  Nothing else gives me the slightest interest.’

‘You must go home and marry,’ said Venetia, smiling ’You must marry an heiress.’

‘Never,’ said Captain Cadurcis.  ’Nothing shall ever induce me to marry.  No! all my dreams are confined to being the bachelor uncle of the family.’

‘Well, now I think,’ said Venetia, ’of all the persons I know, there is no one so qualified for domestic happiness as yourself.  I think your wife, George, would be a very fortunate woman, and I only wish I had a sister, that you might marry her.’

’I wish you had, Venetia; I would give up my resolution against marriage directly.’

‘Alas!’ said Venetia, ’there is always some bitter drop in the cup of life.  Must you indeed go, George?’

‘My present departure is inevitable,’ he replied; ’but I have some thoughts of giving up my profession and Parliament, and then I will return, never to leave you again.’

‘What will Lord ——­ say?  That will never do,’ said Venetia.  ’No; I should not be content unless you prospered in the world, George.  You are made to prosper, and I should be miserable if you sacrificed your existence to us.  You must go home, and you must marry, and write letters to us by every post, and tell us what a happy man you are.  The best thing for you to do would be to live with your wife at the abbey; or Cherbury, if you liked.  You see I settle everything.’

‘I never will marry,’ said Captain Cadurcis, seriously.