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certainly include Lady Constance. But there is also, added the opinion, a direct contradiction between the two positive enacting clauses, by which, on the extinction of the title of Mowbray, the estates shall go to Lord Cleveland; yet, on the failure of Lord Mowbray and his heirs (in which the extinction of the title is included) they are to go to the heir male of Lady Eleanor. This is so irreconcilable, that it will probably vitiate the whole deed, and then Lady Constance will take as heir-at-law.

This was too far from satisfactory for Lord Cleveland to be content with it; and, accordingly, another opinion from another conveyancer, equally eminent, was taken, who said, that though the words "heirs" and "failing the heirs," if left unexplained, would certainly include Lady Constance, yet there were abundant explanatory passages to oust her, and particularly the clause by which, on the extinction of the title of Mowbray, the estates should pass to the Cleveland family, and, emphatically, the provision of money for female descendants.

So far, so good; but the opinion went on to say, that these last clauses were wholly contradicted by the preamble, which might possibly let in the descendants generally of Maria, Countess of Mowbray; and then the contest would lie between Lady Constance and Lady Eleanor, or Mr. De Vere.

The last opinion was wormwood to the feelings of Lord Cleveland, as, not only was it adverse to his own claim, but set up that of another family, whose success, of all persons in the world, he least thought of, and most deprecated.

A third opinion was therefore taken, which crowned all his wishes.

"For though," said the sage, "it were doubtful (which it is not) whether Lord Cleveland or Lady Constance should take; if there is one thing more certain than another, it is that none of the other descendants of Maria, Countess of Mowbray, can take. For, however it may be in wills, nothing can be more clear than the rule of law as to deeds, that the most definite statement of the party's intentions in a preamble shall go for nothing in opposition to a known technical form (bearing one, and one only meaning), or a plain, unambiguous provision, such as that upon the extinction of the title of Mowbray, the estates shall go to the existing Earl of Cleveland, in tail male."

As for Lady Constance's claim, the oracle asserted that it was not worthy consideration, females being ousted in express terms; and Mr. De Vere's was equally defenceless, as, though heir male to Lady Eleanor, Lady Eleanor herself had no claim; and that whole branch, therefore, could only come in under the implication of the preamble, which, as has been stated, can never stand against a positive, known, and technical form of conveyance.

Fortified by such a preponderance of opinion against the rights of Lady Constance, and the De Vere claim being too shadowy to think of, Lord Cleveland was resolved to take the field. But first he wished to disburthen himself of what, to do him justice, weighed heavily, if not upon his virtue, at least upon his fears for his reputation, namely, the treaty with the villain Silverlock. For this purpose he wrote a letter to Lord Clanellan, and in his quality of guardian; in which he fairly enough stated the transaction, which, as he observed, had been thrust suddenly and unexpectedly upon him.

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Finding myself, however," said the letter," as irrevocably as unaccountably plunged in an interview with a scoundrel, it was not easy for me to extricate myself, nor, for your sakes, any more than my own, to make an inactive retreat, and leave a document of such immense importance to one or other of us in his possession. I trust your lordship will agree with me, that it was of far more consequence for the rightful owner to repossess himself of this deed, than by conniving at the crime by which it had come to his possession, to let one wretch more loose upon the world. My first impulse was, indeed, to arrest him; but not only from his desperation this might have required more force than I was singly master of, but it might have endangered the entire and perfect possession of the writing. There was no time to plan, and I purchased a document to which I find I have no right, and which I am therefore ready to deliver to whomever your lordship will appoint, for the proper

owner.

"But though I have no right to the parchment, the rights with which its contents invest me, are, I find, incalculable. The law people have given their opinions, some more, some less favourable to me; but all unfavourable to the possession by Lady Constance of that part of her estates which her father derived from my family.

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Upon this it is most necessary that I consult your lordship; and as it involves a question of still greater and dearer consequence to me than the estates themselves, I request of your complaisance that you will give me a meeting upon it before you communicate the contents of this packet to any human being."

And what was it that was of greater and dearer consequence to Lord Cleveland than the estates themselves? Is it possible that this worn-out son of the world could still continue to love a person who had so repeatedly, we will not say disdained, but declined his affection? Could the natural reaction of the heart be so different in him from all others, that he could still love, in spite of what he thought ill-usage, spite of anger, of thirst of revenge, and even of hopelessness itself?

It was even so; though were we to analyze this wayward heart correctly, we might find nothing really unnatural in these feelings. That a man may be refused, be angry, and desire revenge, and yet feel his breast filled with the object who has occasioned all this, is of every day's occurrence. Whether what he may feel be true tenderness, or only an uneasiness under slight, which nothing can effectually cure but success in the end, may be made a question. Yet, while the uneasiness continue, it may pass for love with the world, and even with the patient himself. But can he feel thus, and yet be really hopeless? We ask, on our parts, hopeless of what? If of inspiring real tenderness, which he perhaps cares not for, and possibly himself never felt, we say yes! If of producing some change, of sacrificing to vanity, or of finally conquering whatever it was his object to conquer -we say no. When hopes, even such as these, are thoroughly abandoned, so is the pursuit.

Now, mark the application! Was Lord Cleveland capable of real love? that love which almost worships its object, and is the delight of a pure and delicate heart? In an earlier time we might be disposed to answer in the affirmative. The character and disposition of Constance had certainly moved him more than ever he had been moved before; and had he succeeded, his mind would have enjoyed the only chance it had of recovering its long-lost tone. But, as it was, that could not be. His desperation had banished those purer notions about her which had gleamed, though faintly, in his memorable conversation at Castle Mowbray with De Vere. They

were now like images that move us in a light sleep, too indistinct to be imbodied, too fleeting to be remembered. No; there was yet passion, but no purity in the love of Lord Cleveland. What, then, so excited, what so enchained him, as to give an air of constancy to his affection, which rather raised than hurt him in the world? Let him who knows that world answer; Vanity! Pride! the pride of conquering difficulties; a natural ardour and haughtiness wounded to the quick. All these would find consolation from success, in the end, quite sufficient to keep up the pursuit, though love had never been felt, or had changed (which it had not) into absolute disgust.

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This, therefore, must explain, what we own requires explanation, the phenomenon, as it may be called, which closed the end of the letter to Lord Clanellan. Lord Cleveland, from some or all of these causes, had never been able to banish Constance entirely from his mind; and he had conceived fresh hopes, from the important acquisition he had recently made.

He at least thought he had found an opportunity of appearing in a new character for generosity and disinterestedness, by the use he intended to make of it; or, if that should fail, it still remained an engine of terror, and, at worst, of vengeance. How all this was developed, how conducted, the changes it produced, and how it ended, remains to be seen.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE MISTAKES OF PRIDE.

Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I'll woo you like a soldier-at arm's end.
SHAKSPEARE.

UPON the receipt of Lord Cleveland's letter, Lord Clanellan, who had returned from Castle Mowbray, gave him the choice of the next six hours for the interview he had solicited. They met, and the first subject discussed ended in all the satisfaction to the earl which he could have hoped for as he had not felt obliged to state to the

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marquis the different hopes and wishes he had entertained in meeting Silverlock, or the exact views for himself which had afterward prompted the purchase of the deed, Lord Clanellan, in the most unqualified manner acquitted him of having tampered with a robber.

"Whether you were right," said he, “in meeting this villain without greater precaution may be a question of prudence, but not of morality; and, having met him, I know not that you could have done otherwise. But your offer to restore the document to its true owner stamps the whole transaction with honour."

Lord Cleveland bowed, and waited with some interest for the marquis to proceed.

"As to the consequences of this important discovery, as your lordship calls it, of a document which we must be permitted to assert no one ever attempted to conceal, there can be but one feeling," said Lord Clanellan, on the part of Lady Constance-namely, that justice should be done, and the law take its course.'

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"Spoken like yourself," replied Lord Cleveland; "yet the stake is immense. Full ten thousand a year, and possibly the arrears !"

"Were it a hundred instead of ten," returned Lord Clanellan, "I should give the same answer.

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"And would you do nothing, recommend nothing, catch at nothing," said Lord Cleveland," for your ward to avoid so immense a loss?"

"To catch at any thing," returned the marquis, “implies something at least not becoming, and therefore not worthy your admirable kinswoman. But I would do every thing, and recommend every thing, not dishonourable, to preserve her from misfortune."

Lord Cleveland's cheek experienced a slight tinge at these words. He felt rebuked, and rebuke was not agreeable to him.

"I should have hoped," said he proudly, "that I had credit enough with Lord Clanellan for these words to have been spared."

The marquis assured him he meant not the least allusion, except to his own feelings; and Lord Cleveland proceeded.

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May I hope, then, that any thing I may have to propose to avoid so great a blow to the interests of Lady Constance, as well as an éclat which I know must be un

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