I dared not look at her as she did so, but a proud swelling triumph at my heart nearly choked me.
"Now Collins," said Lady Callonby, "I cannot find the Alpen tree I brought home from the Grundenwald." Collins hurried forward to her ladyship's side.
Lady Catherine was also called to assist in the search.
I was alone with Lady Jane.
"Now or never," thought I; I hesitated--I stammered--my voice faltered.
She saw my agitation; she participated in, and increased it.

At last I summoned up courage to touch her hand; she gently withdrew it--but so gently, it was not a repulse.
"If Lady Jane," said I at length, "if the devoted--" "Holloa, there," said a deep voice without; "is Mr.Lorrequer there ?" It was Lord Kilkee, returned from his coursing match.

None but he who has felt such an interruption, can feel for me.

I shame to say that his brotherhood to her, for whom I would have perilled my life, restrained me not from something very like a hearty commendation of him to the powers that burn-- "Down, dogs, there--down," continued he, and in a moment after entered the conservatory flushed and heated with the chace.
"Mouche is the winner--two to one--and so, Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand pounds." Would to heaven that I had lost the wager, had it only taken a little longer to decide it! I of course appeared overjoyed at my dog's success, and listened with great pretence of interest to the narrative of the "run;" the more so, because that though perhaps more my friend than the older members of the family, Lord Kilkee evidently liked less than them, my growing intimacy with his sister; and I was anxious to blind him on the present occasion, when, but for his recent excitement, very little penetration would have enabled him to detect that something unusual had taken place.
It was now so nearly dark, that her ladyship's further search for the alpine treasure became impossible, and so we turned our steps towards the garden, where we continued to walk till joined by Lord Callonby.

And now began a most active discussion upon agriculture, rents, tithes, and toryism, in which the ladies took but little part; and I had the mortification to perceive that Lady Jane was excessively 'ennuyee', and seized the first opportunity to leave the party and return to the house; while her sister gave me from time to time certain knowing glances, as if intimating that my knowledge of farming and political economy was pretty much on a par with my proficiency in botany.
One has discovered me at least, thought I; but the bell had rung to dress for dinner, and I hastened to my room to think over future plans, and once more wonder at the singular position into which fate and the "rules of the service" had thrown me..