"Of course, of course. I care not if all the men and very near all the women in England saw me. His good wife, Lady Anne, and Georgiana, are the exceptions: the first because her dear old heart would be grieved; the second, because, as an invalid, it might injure her; the third—oh! how could I bear that those sweet blue eyes and blushing cheeks, which first beheld me through a vista which she supposed concealed her wholly, and, in the beautiful benevolence of her own sisterly heart, fancied I was a hero, because I had merely performed a commonplace service to my own beloved brother—how could I bear that she should shrink and tremble to behold me—to feel she was bound to that which she feared to gaze upon?"

"But she is not bound; her mother's consent is not her consent. It is true, I believe a letter was written, but you have never received it"

"That won't do, Frederic. I know more than you do. My grandfather—God bless him!—has told me every thing: how he married her for me, and kissed her blushing cheek, down which the purest, warmest tears were flowing. I know she holds herself to be mine."

"Whilst you are young and handsome, lose a leg and an eye, and what is to be done then? such, at least, is your own doctrine."

The dispute was ended by the entrance of Mr.