She still clung to him when he released his right hand, and almost lay upon his breast when he seated himself on the sofa.

She looked into his eyes for tenderness, and he could not refrain himself from bestowing upon her the happiness.

"Oh, mother," she said, "he is so brown;--but he is handsomer than ever." But though he smiled on her, giving back into her eyes her own soft look of love, yet he must tell his tale.
He was still minded that she should have all but the one thing,--all if she would take it.

She should not be Countess of Scroope; but in any other respect he would pay what penalty might be required for his transgression.

But in what words should he explain this to those two women?
Mrs.O'Hara had called him by his title and had claimed him as her son.