affections anywhere else.  But I tell you no, Wilton!  Quite the contrary is the case.  The discovery that she has done so, at once banished all the anger and indignation that I felt.  If with a free heart she had so decidedly refused my son, I should have considered it as little less than an insult to my whole family, and, in fact, did consider it so till Sherbrooke himself expressed his belief that she was, and has been for some time, attached to you.  His words instantly recalled to my memory all that I had remarked before, how the colour came up into her cheek whenever you approached her, how her eye brightened at every word you said.  That made the matter very different.  I could not expect the poor young lady to sacrifice her first affection to please me:  nor could I wish her, as you may well imagine, to marry Sherbrooke, loving you.  This is the reason that makes me say that you area most fortunate man; for the service that you have rendered her, the immense and important service, gives you such a claim upon her gratitude, as to make it easy for her at once to avow her attachment.  It gives you an enormous claim upon the Duke, too; and I have one or two little holds upon that nobleman which he knows not of—­by which, indeed, he might be not a little injured, if I were a revengeful man, but which I shall only use for your best interests.”

“But, my lord,” replied Wilton, “you seem totally to forget my humble birth and station.  How—­situated as I am—­could I dare to ask the Duke for his daughter’s hand, the only remaining child of such a house, the heiress of such immense wealth?”

“Fear not, fear not, Wilton,” said the Earl, laying his hand upon his arm.  “Fear not:  your blood is as good as the Duke’s own; your family, older and as noble.”

“I have sometimes thought, my lord,” replied Wilton, wishing to gain as much information as possible—­“I have sometimes thought, in the utter ignorance wherein I have been left of my own history, that I am the son of one who has indeed been a father to me, Lord Sunbury,—­the natural son, I mean.”

“Oh no!” cried the Earl, with an air almost of indignation:  “you are no relation of his whatsoever.  I knew not who you were when you first came hither; but I have since discovered, and though at present I must not reveal anything farther to you, I tell you, without hesitation, to set your mind at ease, to pursue your suit towards Lady Laura, if you have really any regard for her, and to aspire to her hand.  In a very few months more you shall know all.”

Wilton cast down his eyes, and mused.

“This is not a little strange,” he said; “but I know I may place implicit reliance on your lordship’s word, and proceed in a matter where I own my heart is deeply engaged, without the risk of calling upon myself a charge of gross presumption.”

“You may, you may,” answered the Earl, eagerly; “and if the Duke should discover your mutual affection, and make any objection, merely refer him to me.  But now let us hear more of your adventures of yesterday and last night.”