’Well，dear，andwhatfrightensyou？’
　　continuedshe。’Areyouafraidofatitle？
　　Whathashedonetoalarmyou？heisneitheroldnorugly。’
　　Iwassilent，thoughImighthavesaid，’Heisneitheryoungnorhandsome。’
　　’MydearFanny，’continuedmymother，’insoberseriousnessyouhavebeenmostfortunateinengagingtheaffectionsofanoblemansuchasLordGlenfallen，youngandwealthy，withfirst-rate——yes，acknowledgedFIRST-RATEabilities，andofafamilywhoseinfluenceisnotexceededbythatofanyinIreland。OfcourseyouseetheofferinthesamelightthatIdo——indeedIthinkyouMUST。’
　　Thiswasutteredinnoverydubioustone。IwassomuchastonishedbythesuddennessofthewholecommunicationthatIliterallydidnotknowwhattosay。
　　’Youarenotinlove？’saidmymother，turningsharply，andfixingherdarkeyesuponmewithseverescrutiny。
　　’No，madam，’saidI，promptly；horrified，aswhatyoungladywouldnothavebeen，atsuchaquery。
　　’I’mgladtohearit，’saidmymother，drily。’Once，nearlytwentyyearsago，afriendofmineconsultedmeastohowheshoulddealwithadaughterwhohadmadewhattheycallalove-match——beggaredherself，anddisgracedherfamily；andIsaid，withouthesitation，takenocareforher，butcastheroff。SuchpunishmentI
　　awardedforanoffencecommittedagainstthereputationofafamilynotmyown；
　　andwhatIadvisedrespectingthechildofanother，withfullassmallcompunctionIwouldDOwithmine。Icannotconceiveanythingmoreunreasonableorintolerablethanthatthefortuneandthecharacterofafamilyshouldbemarredbytheidlecapricesofagirl。’
　　Shespokethiswithgreatseverity，andpausedasifsheexpectedsomeobservationfromme。
　　I，however，saidnothing。
　　’ButIneednotexplaintoyou，mydearFanny，’shecontinued，’myviewsuponthissubject；youhavealwaysknownthemwell，andIhaveneveryethadreasontobelieveyoulikely，voluntarily，tooffendme，ortoabuseorneglectanyofthoseadvantageswhichreasonanddutytellyoushouldbeimproved。Comehither，mydear；kissme，anddonotlooksofrightened。Well，now，aboutthisletter，youneednotanswerityet；
　　ofcourseyoumustbeallowedtimetomakeupyourmind。InthemeantimeI
　　willwritetohislordshiptogivehimmypermissiontovisitusatAshtown。Good-
　　night，mylove。’
　　Andthusendedoneofthemostdisagreeable，nottosayastounding，conversationsIhadeverhad。ItwouldnotbeeasytodescribeexactlywhatweremyfeelingstowardsLordGlenfallen；——
　　whatevermighthavebeenmymother’ssuspicions，myheartwasperfectlydisengaged——andhitherto，althoughIhadnotbeenmadeintheslightestdegreeacquaintedwithhisrealviews，Ihadlikedhimverymuch，asanagreeable，well-
　　informedman，whomIwasalwaysgladtomeetinsociety。Hehadservedinthenavyinearlylife，andthepolishwhichhismannersreceivedinhisafterintercoursewithcourtsandcitieshadnotservedtoobliteratethatfranknessofmannerwhichbelongsproverbiallytothesailor。
　　Whetherthisapparentcandourwentdeeperthantheoutwardbearing，Iwasyettolearn。However，therewasnodoubtthat，asfarasIhadseenofLordGlenfallen，hewas，thoughperhapsnotsoyoungasmighthavebeendesiredinalover，asingularlypleasingman；andwhateverfeelingunfavourabletohimhadfounditswayintomymind，arosealtogetherfromthedread，notanunreasonableone，thatconstraintmightbepractiseduponmyinclinations。Ireflected，however，thatLordGlenfallenwasawealthyman，andonehighlythoughtof；andalthoughI
　　couldneverexpecttolovehimintheromanticsenseoftheterm，yetIhadnodoubtbutthat，allthingsconsidered，I
　　mightbemorehappywithhimthanI
　　couldhopetobeathome。
　　WhennextImethimitwaswithnosmallembarrassment，histactandgoodbreeding，however，soonreassuredme，andeffectuallypreventedmyawkwardnessbeingremarkedupon。AndIhadthesatisfactionofleavingDublinforthecountrywiththefullconvictionthatnobody，noteventhosemostintimatewithme，evensuspectedthefactofLordGlenfallen’shavingmademeaformalproposal。
　　Thiswastomeaveryserioussubjectofself-gratulation，for，besidesmyinstinctivedreadofbecomingthetopicofthespeculationsofgossip，IfeltthatifthesituationwhichIoccupiedinrelationtohimweremadepubliclyknown，Ishouldstandcommittedinamannerwhichwouldscarcelyleavemethepowerofretraction。
　　TheperiodatwhichLordGlenfallenhadarrangedtovisitAshtownHousewasnowfastapproaching，anditbecamemymother’swishtoformmethoroughlytoherwill，andtoobtainmyconsenttotheproposedmarriagebeforehisarrival，sothatallthingsmightproceedsmoothly，withoutapparentoppositionorobjectionuponmypart。Whateverobjections，therefore，Ihadentertainedweretobesubdued；
　　whateverdispositiontoresistanceI
　　hadexhibitedorhadbeensupposedtofeel，weretobecompletelyeradicatedbeforehemadehisappearance；andmymotheraddressedherselftothetaskwithadecisionandenergyagainstwhicheventhebarriers，whichherimaginationhadcreated，couldhardlyhavestood。
　　Ifshehad，however，expectedanydeterminedoppositionfromme，shewasagree-
　　ablydisappointed。Myheartwasperfectlyfree，andallmyfeelingsoflikingandpreferencewereinfavourofLordGlenfallen；andIwellknewthatincaseI
　　refusedtodisposeofmyselfasIwasdesired，mymotherhadalikethepowerandthewilltorendermyexistenceasutterlymiserableaseventhemostill-
　　assortedmarriagecouldpossiblyhavedone。
　　Youwillremember，mygoodfriend，thatIwasveryyoungandverycompletelyunderthecontrolofmyparents，bothofwhom，mymotherparticularly，wereunscrupulouslydeterminedinmattersofthiskind，andwilling，whenvoluntaryobedienceonthepartofthosewithintheirpowerwaswithheld，tocompelaforcedacquiescencebyanunsparinguseofalltheenginesofthemoststernandrigorousdomesticdiscipline。
　　Allthesecombined，notunnaturally，inducedmetoresolveuponyieldingatonce，andwithoutuselessopposition，towhatappearedalmosttobemyfate。
　　Theappointedtimewascome，andmynowacceptedsuitorarrived；hewasinhighspirits，and，ifpossible，moreentertainingthanever。
　　Iwasnot，however，quiteinthemoodtoenjoyhissprightliness；butwhateverIwantedingaietywasamplymadeupinthetriumphantandgraciousgood-humourofmymother，whosesmilesofbenevolenceandexultationwereshoweredaroundasbountifullyasthesummersunshine。
　　Iwillnotwearyyouwithunnecessaryprolixity。Letitsufficetosay，thatIwasmarriedtoLordGlenfallenwithalltheattendantpompandcircumstanceofwealth，rank，andgrandeur。Accordingtotheusageofthetimes，nowhumanelyreformed，theceremonywasmade，untillongpastmidnight，theseasonofwild，uproarious，andpromiscuousfeastingandrevelry。
　　OfallthisIhaveapainfullyvividrecollection，andparticularlyofthelittleannoyancesinflicteduponmebythedullandcoarsejokesofthewitsandwagswhoaboundinallsuchplaces，anduponallsuchoccasions。
　　Iwasnotsorrywhen，afterafewdays，LordGlenfallen’scarriageappearedatthedoortoconveyusbothfromAshtown；foranychangewouldhavebeenarelieffromtheirksomenessofceremonialandformalitywhichthevisitsreceivedinhonourofmynewly-acquiredtitleshourlyentaileduponme。
　　ItwasarrangedthatweweretoproceedtoCahergillagh，oneoftheGlenfallenestates，lying，however，inasoutherncounty，sothat，owingtothedifficultyoftheroadsatthetime，atediousjourneyofthreedaysintervened。
　　Isetforthwithmynoblecompanion，followedbytheregretsofsome，andbytheenvyofmany；thoughGodknowsI
　　littledeservedthelatter。Thethreedaysoftravelwerenowalmostspent，when，passingthebrowofawildheathyhill，thedomainofCahergillaghopenedsuddenlyuponourview。
　　Itformedastrikingandabeautifulscene。
　　Alakeofconsiderableextentstretchingawaytowardsthewest，andreflectingfromitsbroad，smoothwaters，therichglowofthesettingsun，wasoverhungbysteephills，coveredbyarichmantleofvelvetsward，brokenhereandtherebythegreyfrontofsomeoldrock，andexhibitingontheirshelvingsides，theirslopesandhollows，everyvarietyoflightandshade；athickwoodofdwarfoak，birch，andhazelskirtedthesehills，andclothedtheshoresofthelake，runningoutinrichluxurianceuponeverypromontory，andspreadingupwardconsiderablyuponthesideofthehills。
　　’Thereliestheenchantedcastle，’saidLordGlenfallen，pointingtowardsaconsiderablelevelspaceinterveningbetweentwoofthepicturesquehills，whichrosedimlyaroundthelake。
　　Thislittleplainwaschieflyoccupiedbythesamelow，wildwoodwhichcoveredtheotherpartsofthedomain；buttowardsthecentreamassoftallerandstatelierforesttreesstooddarklygroupedtogether，andamongthemstoodanancientsquaretower，withmanybuildingsofahumblercharacter，formingtogetherthemanor-
　　house，or，asitwasmoreusuallycalled，theCourtofCahergillagh。
　　Asweapproachedtheleveluponwhichthemansionstood，thewindingroadgaveusmanyglimpsesofthetime-worncastleanditssurroundingbuildings；andseenasitwasthroughthelongvistasofthefineoldtrees，andwiththerichglowofeveninguponit，Ihaveseldombeheldanobjectmorepicturesquelystriking。
　　Iwasgladtoperceive，too，thathereandtherethebluecurlingsmokeascendedfromstacksofchimneysnowhiddenbytherich，darkivywhich，inagreatmeasure，coveredthebuilding。Otherindicationsofcomfortmadethemselvesmanifestasweapproached；andindeed，thoughtheplacewasevidentlyoneofconsiderableantiquity，ithadnothingwhateverofthegloomofdecayaboutit。
　　’Youmustnot，mylove，’saidLordGlenfallen，’imaginethisplaceworsethanitis。Ihavenotasteforantiquity——atleastIshouldnotchooseahousetoresideinbecauseitisold。IndeedIdonotrecollectthatIwasevensoromanticastoovercomemyaversiontoratsandrheumatism，thosefaithfulattendantsuponyournoblerelicsoffeudalism；andImuchpreferasnug，modern，unmysteriousbedroom，withwell-
　　airedsheets，tothewavingtapestry，mildewedcushions，andalltheotherinterestingappliancesofromance。However，thoughI
　　cannotpromiseyouallthediscomfortgenerallybelongingtoanoldcastle，youwillfindlegendsandghostlyloreenoughtoclaimyourrespect；andifoldMarthabestilltothefore，asItrustsheis，youwillsoonhaveasupernaturalandappropriateanecdoteforeveryclosetandcornerofthemansion；buthereweare——so，withoutmoreado，welcometoCahergillagh!’
　　Wenowenteredthehallofthecastle，andwhilethedomesticswereemployedinconveyingourtrunksandotherluggagewhichwehadbroughtwithusforimmediateusetotheapartmentswhichLordGlenfallenhadselectedforhimselfandme，Iwentwithhimintoaspacioussitting-room，wainscotedwithfinelypolishedblackoak，andhungroundwiththeportraitsofvariousworthiesoftheGlenfallenfamily。
　　Thisroomlookedoutuponanextensivelevelcoveredwiththesoftestgreensward，andirregularlyboundedbythewildwoodI
　　havebeforementioned，throughtheleafyarcadeformedbywhoseboughsandtrunksthelevelbeamsofthesettingsunwerepouring。Inthedistanceagroupofdairy-
　　maidswereplyingtheirtask，whichtheyaccompaniedthroughoutwithsnatchesofIrishsongswhich，mellowedbythedistance，floatednotunpleasinglytotheear；andbesidethemsatorlay，withallthegraveimportanceofconsciousprotection，sixorsevenlargedogsofvariouskinds。Fartherinthedistance，andthroughthecloistersofthearchingwood，twoorthreeraggedurchinswereemployedindrivingsuchstraykineashadwanderedfartherthantheresttojointheirfellows。
　　AsIlookeduponthisscenewhichIhavedescribed，afeelingoftranquillityandhappinesscameuponme，whichIhaveneverexperiencedinsostrongadegree；andsostrangetomewasthesensationthatmyeyesfilledwithtears。
　　LordGlenfallenmistookthecauseofmyemotion，andtakingmekindlyandtenderlybythehand，hesaid：
　　’Donotsuppose，mylove，thatitismyintentiontoSETTLEhere。Wheneveryoudesiretoleavethis，youhaveonlytoletmeknowyourwish，anditshallbecompliedwith；soImustentreatofyounottosufferanycircumstanceswhichIcancontroltogiveyouonemoment’suneasiness。ButhereisoldMartha；youmustbeintroducedtoher，oneoftheheirloomsofourfamily。’
　　Ahale，good-humoured，erectoldwomanwasMartha，andanagreeablecontrasttothegrim，decrepidhagwhichmyfancyhadconjuredup，asthedepositoryofallthehorribletalesinwhichIdoubtednotthisoldplacewasmostfruitful。
　　Shewelcomedmeandhermasterwithaprofusionofgratulations，alternatelykissingourhandsandapologisingfortheliberty，untilatlengthLordGlenfallenputanendtothissomewhatfatiguingceremonialbyrequestinghertoconductmetomychamberifitwerepreparedformyreception。
　　IfollowedMarthaupanold-fashionedoakstaircaseintoalong，dimpassage，attheendofwhichlaythedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththeapartmentswhichhadbeenselectedforouruse；heretheoldwomanstopped，andrespectfullyrequestedmetoproceed。
　　Iaccordinglyopenedthedoor，andwasabouttoenter，whensomethinglikeamassofblacktapestry，asitappeared，disturbedbymysuddenapproach，fellfromabovethedoor，soascompletelytoscreentheaperture；thestartlingunexpectednessoftheoccurrence，andtherustlingnoisewhichthedraperymadeinitsdescent，causedmeinvoluntarilytosteptwoorthreepacesbackwards。Iturned，smilingandhalf-
　　ashamed，totheoldservant，andsaid：
　　’YouseewhatacowardIam。’
　　Thewomanlookedpuzzled，and，withoutsayinganymore，Iwasabouttodrawasidethecurtainandentertheroom，when，uponturningtodoso，Iwassurprisedtofindthatnothingwhateverinterposedtoobstructthepassage。
　　Iwentintotheroom，followedbytheservant-woman，andwasamazedtofindthatit，liketheonebelow，waswainscoted，andthatnothinglikedraperywastobefoundnearthedoor。
　　’Whereisit？’saidI；’whathasbecomeofit？’
　　’Whatdoesyourladyshipwishtoknow？’
　　saidtheoldwoman。
　　’Whereistheblackcurtainthatfellacrossthedoor，whenIattemptedfirsttocometomychamber？’answeredI。
　　’ThecrossofChristaboutus!’saidtheoldwoman，turningsuddenlypale。
　　’Whatisthematter，mygoodfriend？’
　　saidI；’youseemfrightened。’
　　’Ohno，no，yourladyship，’saidtheoldwoman，endeavouringtoconcealheragitation；