’Well，dear，andwhatfrightensyou？’
continuedshe。’Areyouafraidofatitle？
Whathashedonetoalarmyou？heisneitheroldnorugly。’
Iwassilent，thoughImighthavesaid，’Heisneitheryoungnorhandsome。’
’MydearFanny，’continuedmymother，’insoberseriousnessyouhavebeenmostfortunateinengagingtheaffectionsofanoblemansuchasLordGlenfallen，youngandwealthy，withfirst-rate——yes，acknowledgedFIRST-RATEabilities，andofafamilywhoseinfluenceisnotexceededbythatofanyinIreland。OfcourseyouseetheofferinthesamelightthatIdo——indeedIthinkyouMUST。’
Thiswasutteredinnoverydubioustone。IwassomuchastonishedbythesuddennessofthewholecommunicationthatIliterallydidnotknowwhattosay。
’Youarenotinlove？’saidmymother，turningsharply，andfixingherdarkeyesuponmewithseverescrutiny。
’No，madam，’saidI，promptly；horrified，aswhatyoungladywouldnothavebeen，atsuchaquery。
’I’mgladtohearit，’saidmymother，drily。’Once，nearlytwentyyearsago，afriendofmineconsultedmeastohowheshoulddealwithadaughterwhohadmadewhattheycallalove-match——beggaredherself，anddisgracedherfamily；andIsaid，withouthesitation，takenocareforher，butcastheroff。SuchpunishmentI
awardedforanoffencecommittedagainstthereputationofafamilynotmyown；
andwhatIadvisedrespectingthechildofanother，withfullassmallcompunctionIwouldDOwithmine。Icannotconceiveanythingmoreunreasonableorintolerablethanthatthefortuneandthecharacterofafamilyshouldbemarredbytheidlecapricesofagirl。’
Shespokethiswithgreatseverity，andpausedasifsheexpectedsomeobservationfromme。
I，however，saidnothing。
’ButIneednotexplaintoyou，mydearFanny，’shecontinued，’myviewsuponthissubject；youhavealwaysknownthemwell，andIhaveneveryethadreasontobelieveyoulikely，voluntarily，tooffendme，ortoabuseorneglectanyofthoseadvantageswhichreasonanddutytellyoushouldbeimproved。Comehither，mydear；kissme，anddonotlooksofrightened。Well，now，aboutthisletter，youneednotanswerityet；
ofcourseyoumustbeallowedtimetomakeupyourmind。InthemeantimeI
willwritetohislordshiptogivehimmypermissiontovisitusatAshtown。Good-
night，mylove。’
Andthusendedoneofthemostdisagreeable，nottosayastounding，conversationsIhadeverhad。ItwouldnotbeeasytodescribeexactlywhatweremyfeelingstowardsLordGlenfallen；——
whatevermighthavebeenmymother’ssuspicions，myheartwasperfectlydisengaged——andhitherto，althoughIhadnotbeenmadeintheslightestdegreeacquaintedwithhisrealviews，Ihadlikedhimverymuch，asanagreeable，well-
informedman，whomIwasalwaysgladtomeetinsociety。Hehadservedinthenavyinearlylife，andthepolishwhichhismannersreceivedinhisafterintercoursewithcourtsandcitieshadnotservedtoobliteratethatfranknessofmannerwhichbelongsproverbiallytothesailor。
Whetherthisapparentcandourwentdeeperthantheoutwardbearing，Iwasyettolearn。However，therewasnodoubtthat，asfarasIhadseenofLordGlenfallen，hewas，thoughperhapsnotsoyoungasmighthavebeendesiredinalover，asingularlypleasingman；andwhateverfeelingunfavourabletohimhadfounditswayintomymind，arosealtogetherfromthedread，notanunreasonableone，thatconstraintmightbepractiseduponmyinclinations。Ireflected，however，thatLordGlenfallenwasawealthyman，andonehighlythoughtof；andalthoughI
couldneverexpecttolovehimintheromanticsenseoftheterm，yetIhadnodoubtbutthat，allthingsconsidered，I
mightbemorehappywithhimthanI
couldhopetobeathome。
WhennextImethimitwaswithnosmallembarrassment，histactandgoodbreeding，however，soonreassuredme，andeffectuallypreventedmyawkwardnessbeingremarkedupon。AndIhadthesatisfactionofleavingDublinforthecountrywiththefullconvictionthatnobody，noteventhosemostintimatewithme，evensuspectedthefactofLordGlenfallen’shavingmademeaformalproposal。
Thiswastomeaveryserioussubjectofself-gratulation，for，besidesmyinstinctivedreadofbecomingthetopicofthespeculationsofgossip，IfeltthatifthesituationwhichIoccupiedinrelationtohimweremadepubliclyknown，Ishouldstandcommittedinamannerwhichwouldscarcelyleavemethepowerofretraction。
TheperiodatwhichLordGlenfallenhadarrangedtovisitAshtownHousewasnowfastapproaching，anditbecamemymother’swishtoformmethoroughlytoherwill，andtoobtainmyconsenttotheproposedmarriagebeforehisarrival，sothatallthingsmightproceedsmoothly，withoutapparentoppositionorobjectionuponmypart。Whateverobjections，therefore，Ihadentertainedweretobesubdued；
whateverdispositiontoresistanceI
hadexhibitedorhadbeensupposedtofeel，weretobecompletelyeradicatedbeforehemadehisappearance；andmymotheraddressedherselftothetaskwithadecisionandenergyagainstwhicheventhebarriers，whichherimaginationhadcreated，couldhardlyhavestood。
Ifshehad，however，expectedanydeterminedoppositionfromme，shewasagree-
ablydisappointed。Myheartwasperfectlyfree，andallmyfeelingsoflikingandpreferencewereinfavourofLordGlenfallen；andIwellknewthatincaseI
refusedtodisposeofmyselfasIwasdesired，mymotherhadalikethepowerandthewilltorendermyexistenceasutterlymiserableaseventhemostill-
assortedmarriagecouldpossiblyhavedone。
Youwillremember，mygoodfriend，thatIwasveryyoungandverycompletelyunderthecontrolofmyparents，bothofwhom，mymotherparticularly，wereunscrupulouslydeterminedinmattersofthiskind，andwilling，whenvoluntaryobedienceonthepartofthosewithintheirpowerwaswithheld，tocompelaforcedacquiescencebyanunsparinguseofalltheenginesofthemoststernandrigorousdomesticdiscipline。
Allthesecombined，notunnaturally，inducedmetoresolveuponyieldingatonce，andwithoutuselessopposition，towhatappearedalmosttobemyfate。
Theappointedtimewascome，andmynowacceptedsuitorarrived；hewasinhighspirits，and，ifpossible，moreentertainingthanever。
Iwasnot，however，quiteinthemoodtoenjoyhissprightliness；butwhateverIwantedingaietywasamplymadeupinthetriumphantandgraciousgood-humourofmymother，whosesmilesofbenevolenceandexultationwereshoweredaroundasbountifullyasthesummersunshine。
Iwillnotwearyyouwithunnecessaryprolixity。Letitsufficetosay，thatIwasmarriedtoLordGlenfallenwithalltheattendantpompandcircumstanceofwealth，rank，andgrandeur。Accordingtotheusageofthetimes，nowhumanelyreformed，theceremonywasmade，untillongpastmidnight，theseasonofwild，uproarious，andpromiscuousfeastingandrevelry。
OfallthisIhaveapainfullyvividrecollection，andparticularlyofthelittleannoyancesinflicteduponmebythedullandcoarsejokesofthewitsandwagswhoaboundinallsuchplaces，anduponallsuchoccasions。
Iwasnotsorrywhen，afterafewdays，LordGlenfallen’scarriageappearedatthedoortoconveyusbothfromAshtown；foranychangewouldhavebeenarelieffromtheirksomenessofceremonialandformalitywhichthevisitsreceivedinhonourofmynewly-acquiredtitleshourlyentaileduponme。
ItwasarrangedthatweweretoproceedtoCahergillagh，oneoftheGlenfallenestates，lying，however，inasoutherncounty，sothat，owingtothedifficultyoftheroadsatthetime，atediousjourneyofthreedaysintervened。
Isetforthwithmynoblecompanion，followedbytheregretsofsome，andbytheenvyofmany；thoughGodknowsI
littledeservedthelatter。Thethreedaysoftravelwerenowalmostspent，when，passingthebrowofawildheathyhill，thedomainofCahergillaghopenedsuddenlyuponourview。
Itformedastrikingandabeautifulscene。
Alakeofconsiderableextentstretchingawaytowardsthewest，andreflectingfromitsbroad，smoothwaters，therichglowofthesettingsun，wasoverhungbysteephills，coveredbyarichmantleofvelvetsward，brokenhereandtherebythegreyfrontofsomeoldrock，andexhibitingontheirshelvingsides，theirslopesandhollows，everyvarietyoflightandshade；athickwoodofdwarfoak，birch，andhazelskirtedthesehills，andclothedtheshoresofthelake，runningoutinrichluxurianceuponeverypromontory，andspreadingupwardconsiderablyuponthesideofthehills。
’Thereliestheenchantedcastle，’saidLordGlenfallen，pointingtowardsaconsiderablelevelspaceinterveningbetweentwoofthepicturesquehills，whichrosedimlyaroundthelake。
Thislittleplainwaschieflyoccupiedbythesamelow，wildwoodwhichcoveredtheotherpartsofthedomain；buttowardsthecentreamassoftallerandstatelierforesttreesstooddarklygroupedtogether，andamongthemstoodanancientsquaretower，withmanybuildingsofahumblercharacter，formingtogetherthemanor-
house，or，asitwasmoreusuallycalled，theCourtofCahergillagh。
Asweapproachedtheleveluponwhichthemansionstood，thewindingroadgaveusmanyglimpsesofthetime-worncastleanditssurroundingbuildings；andseenasitwasthroughthelongvistasofthefineoldtrees，andwiththerichglowofeveninguponit，Ihaveseldombeheldanobjectmorepicturesquelystriking。
Iwasgladtoperceive，too，thathereandtherethebluecurlingsmokeascendedfromstacksofchimneysnowhiddenbytherich，darkivywhich，inagreatmeasure，coveredthebuilding。Otherindicationsofcomfortmadethemselvesmanifestasweapproached；andindeed，thoughtheplacewasevidentlyoneofconsiderableantiquity，ithadnothingwhateverofthegloomofdecayaboutit。
’Youmustnot，mylove，’saidLordGlenfallen，’imaginethisplaceworsethanitis。Ihavenotasteforantiquity——atleastIshouldnotchooseahousetoresideinbecauseitisold。IndeedIdonotrecollectthatIwasevensoromanticastoovercomemyaversiontoratsandrheumatism，thosefaithfulattendantsuponyournoblerelicsoffeudalism；andImuchpreferasnug，modern，unmysteriousbedroom，withwell-
airedsheets，tothewavingtapestry，mildewedcushions，andalltheotherinterestingappliancesofromance。However，thoughI
cannotpromiseyouallthediscomfortgenerallybelongingtoanoldcastle，youwillfindlegendsandghostlyloreenoughtoclaimyourrespect；andifoldMarthabestilltothefore，asItrustsheis，youwillsoonhaveasupernaturalandappropriateanecdoteforeveryclosetandcornerofthemansion；buthereweare——so，withoutmoreado，welcometoCahergillagh!’
Wenowenteredthehallofthecastle，andwhilethedomesticswereemployedinconveyingourtrunksandotherluggagewhichwehadbroughtwithusforimmediateusetotheapartmentswhichLordGlenfallenhadselectedforhimselfandme，Iwentwithhimintoaspacioussitting-room，wainscotedwithfinelypolishedblackoak，andhungroundwiththeportraitsofvariousworthiesoftheGlenfallenfamily。
Thisroomlookedoutuponanextensivelevelcoveredwiththesoftestgreensward，andirregularlyboundedbythewildwoodI
havebeforementioned，throughtheleafyarcadeformedbywhoseboughsandtrunksthelevelbeamsofthesettingsunwerepouring。Inthedistanceagroupofdairy-
maidswereplyingtheirtask，whichtheyaccompaniedthroughoutwithsnatchesofIrishsongswhich，mellowedbythedistance，floatednotunpleasinglytotheear；andbesidethemsatorlay，withallthegraveimportanceofconsciousprotection，sixorsevenlargedogsofvariouskinds。Fartherinthedistance，andthroughthecloistersofthearchingwood，twoorthreeraggedurchinswereemployedindrivingsuchstraykineashadwanderedfartherthantheresttojointheirfellows。
AsIlookeduponthisscenewhichIhavedescribed，afeelingoftranquillityandhappinesscameuponme，whichIhaveneverexperiencedinsostrongadegree；andsostrangetomewasthesensationthatmyeyesfilledwithtears。
LordGlenfallenmistookthecauseofmyemotion，andtakingmekindlyandtenderlybythehand，hesaid：
’Donotsuppose，mylove，thatitismyintentiontoSETTLEhere。Wheneveryoudesiretoleavethis，youhaveonlytoletmeknowyourwish，anditshallbecompliedwith；soImustentreatofyounottosufferanycircumstanceswhichIcancontroltogiveyouonemoment’suneasiness。ButhereisoldMartha；youmustbeintroducedtoher，oneoftheheirloomsofourfamily。’
Ahale，good-humoured，erectoldwomanwasMartha，andanagreeablecontrasttothegrim，decrepidhagwhichmyfancyhadconjuredup，asthedepositoryofallthehorribletalesinwhichIdoubtednotthisoldplacewasmostfruitful。
Shewelcomedmeandhermasterwithaprofusionofgratulations，alternatelykissingourhandsandapologisingfortheliberty，untilatlengthLordGlenfallenputanendtothissomewhatfatiguingceremonialbyrequestinghertoconductmetomychamberifitwerepreparedformyreception。
IfollowedMarthaupanold-fashionedoakstaircaseintoalong，dimpassage，attheendofwhichlaythedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththeapartmentswhichhadbeenselectedforouruse；heretheoldwomanstopped，andrespectfullyrequestedmetoproceed。
Iaccordinglyopenedthedoor，andwasabouttoenter，whensomethinglikeamassofblacktapestry，asitappeared，disturbedbymysuddenapproach，fellfromabovethedoor，soascompletelytoscreentheaperture；thestartlingunexpectednessoftheoccurrence，andtherustlingnoisewhichthedraperymadeinitsdescent，causedmeinvoluntarilytosteptwoorthreepacesbackwards。Iturned，smilingandhalf-
ashamed，totheoldservant，andsaid：
’YouseewhatacowardIam。’
Thewomanlookedpuzzled，and，withoutsayinganymore，Iwasabouttodrawasidethecurtainandentertheroom，when，uponturningtodoso，Iwassurprisedtofindthatnothingwhateverinterposedtoobstructthepassage。
Iwentintotheroom，followedbytheservant-woman，andwasamazedtofindthatit，liketheonebelow，waswainscoted，andthatnothinglikedraperywastobefoundnearthedoor。
’Whereisit？’saidI；’whathasbecomeofit？’
’Whatdoesyourladyshipwishtoknow？’
saidtheoldwoman。
’Whereistheblackcurtainthatfellacrossthedoor，whenIattemptedfirsttocometomychamber？’answeredI。
’ThecrossofChristaboutus!’saidtheoldwoman，turningsuddenlypale。
’Whatisthematter，mygoodfriend？’
saidI；’youseemfrightened。’
’Ohno，no，yourladyship，’saidtheoldwoman，endeavouringtoconcealheragitation；