Lady Desmond was at first inclined to refuse the courtesy; but she either thought better of such intention, or else she had not courage to maintain it; for at parting she did give him her hand.
"Good-bye, Lady Clara;" and he also shook hands with her, and it need hardly be said that there was a lover's pressure in the grasp.
"Good-bye," said Clara, through her tears, in the saddest, soberest tone.

He was going away, happy, light hearted, with nothing to trouble him.

But she had to encounter that fearful task of telling her own crime.

She had to depart with her mother;--her mother, who, though never absolutely unkind, had so rarely been tender with her.
And then her brother--! "Desmond," said Fitzgerald, "walk as far as the lodge with me like a good fellow.

I have something that I want to say to you." The mother thought for a moment that she would call her son back; but then she bethought herself that she also might as well be without him.