the impropriety of going on; but she cannot draw back because of her promise to you. She thinks that she cannot do it, even though she wishes it.'
'Wishes it! Oh, mother!'
'I do believe she does, because she has sense to feel the truth of all that your friends say. Oh, Frank, I will go on my knees to you if you will listen to me.'
'Oh, mother! mother! mother!'
'You should think twice, Frank, before you refuse the only request your mother ever made you. And why do I ask you? why do I come to you thus? Is it for my own sake? Oh, my boy! my darling boy! will you lose everything in life, because you love the child with whom you have played as a child?'
'Whose fault is it that we were together as children? She is now more than a child. I look on her already as my wife.'
'But she is not your wife, Frank; and she knows that she ought not to be. It is only because you hold her to it that she consents to be so.'
'Do you mean to say that she does not love me?'
Lady Arabella would probably have said this, also, had she dared; but she felt, that in so doing, she would be going too far. It was useless for her to say anything that would be utterly contradicted by an appeal to Mary herself.
'No, Frank; I do not mean to say that you do not love her. What I do mean is this: that it is not becoming in you to give up everything—not only yourself, but all your family—for such a love as this; and that she, Mary herself, acknowledges this. Every one is of the same opinion. Ask your father: I need not say that he would agree with you about everything if he could. I will not say ask the De Courcys.'
'Oh, the De Courcys!'
'Yes, they are my relations; I know that.' Lady Arabella could not quite drop the tone of bitterness which was natural to her in saying this. 'But ask your sisters; ask Mr. Oriel, whom you esteem so much; ask your friend Harry Baker.'
Frank sat silent for a moment or two while his mother, with a look almost of agony, gazed into his face.
'I will ask no one,' at last he said.
'Oh, my boy! my boy!'
'No one but myself can know my own heart.'
'And you will sacrifice all to such a love as that, all; her, also, whom you say that you so love? What happiness can you give her as your wife? Oh, Frank! is that the only answer you will make your mother on her knees?'
'Oh, mother! mother!'
