He seemed to be listening with thoughtful respect to his companion, a young female by his side, who was speaking to him with an earnestness visible in her gestures and her animated countenance.

And though there was much to notice in the various persons scattered over the scene, not one, perhaps,--not the graceful Vernon, not the thoughtful scholar, nor his fair-haired, hard-lipped son, not even the handsome listener she addressed,--no, not one there would so have arrested the eye, whether of a physiognomist or a casual observer, as that young girl, Sir Miles St.John's favourite niece and presumptive heiress.
But as at that moment the expression of her face differed from that habitual to it, we defer its description.
"Do not," such were her words to her companion,--"do not alarm yourself by exaggerating the difficulties; do not even contemplate them: those be my care.

Mainwaring, when I loved you; when, seeing that your diffidence or your pride forbade you to be the first to speak, I overstepped the modesty or the dissimulation of my sex; when I said, 'Forget that I am the reputed heiress of Laughton, see in me but the faults and merits of the human being, of the wild unregulated girl, see in me but Lucretia Clavering'" (here her cheeks blushed, and her voice sank into a lower and more tremulous whisper) "'and love her if you can!'-- when I went thus far, do not think I had not measured all the difficulties in the way of our union, and felt that I could surmount them." "But," answered Mainwaring, hesitatingly, "can you conceive it possible that your uncle ever will consent?
Is not pride--the pride of family--almost the leading attribute of his character?
Did he not discard your mother--his own sister--from his house and heart for no other offence but a second marriage which he deemed beneath her?
Has he ever even consented to see, much less to receive, your half-sister, the child of that marriage?
Is not his very affection for you interwoven with his pride in you, with his belief in your ambition?
Has he not summoned your cousin, Mr.Vernon, for the obvious purpose of favouring a suit which he considers worthy of you, and which, if successful, will unite the two branches of his ancient house?
How is it possible that he can ever hear without a scorn and indignation which would be fatal to your fortunes that your heart has presumed to choose, in William Mainwaring, a man without ancestry or career ?" "Not without career," interrupted Lucretia, proudly.

"Do you think if you were master of Laughton that your career would not be more brilliant than that of yon indolent, luxurious coxcomb?
Do you think that I could have been poor-hearted enough to love you if I had not recognized in you energies and talents that correspond with my own ambition?
For I am ambitious, as you know, and therefore my mind, as well as my heart, went with my love for you." "Ah, Lucretia, but can Sir Miles St.John see my future rise in my present obscurity ?" "I do not say that he can, or will; but if you love me, we can wait.

Do not fear the rivalry of Mr.Vernon.I shall know how to free myself from so tame a peril.