14 We must now pass over three years of our hero's life, during which he frequently visited the seat of his ances- tors, and as frequenty renewed his vows of fidelity to his Maria with redoubled argour, for whom his love grew more ardent, and in whose presence alone he enjoyed real happiness. During that period M.Pherson was con- tinnelly urging his suit, but was invariably treated with indignation. Still, however, he did not despair, and felt a confident hope his purposes would yet be attained, from the knowledge he had of Sir Neale's ambitious views for his son. Arthur had now arrived at the age of manhood, and began to think of some expedient to induce his father to agree to his connection with Maria. Several plans occured to his mind, but they were all rejected as futile. While thus undetermined, one morning, towards the latter end of the summer of 1796, his father desired to have some private conversation with him, and after a pre- faratory address called his mind to the necessity of form- ing on alliance suitable to his rank, observing at the same time, that, from some hints thrown out by a nobleman of distinguished eminence, who had a lovely daughter, and with whom Arthur was well acquainted, he would be received as a welcome suitor. To this harangue, Arthur. from his confusion, could give no decisive an- swer, he stammered out his disinclination for a matri- monial connection at so early a period of his life, and hoped his father would give him time to consider of the proposition. Sir Neale laughed heartily at his son's modesty, as he termed it, and jokingly desired him to take care that a more successful candidate did not jockey him. In a few weeks Arthur again returned to the country, and finding there was little chance of bringing his father to his terms, he came to the desperate, resolution of privately marrying his Maria through the medium of a Roman Catholic Priest. Considerable difficulties aross in accomplishing this object; but, to the infinite delight
