INGATH'S VOOER. 359 



" Do you really love me ? " she asked "with a certain 

 amount of surprise. Love was altogether associated 

 in her mind with youth. It was linked to the memory 

 of her hot-blooded boy-lover, and she could not believe 

 that a man with grey hair and practical appreciation 

 of a good dinner could be a victim to the tender 

 passion. 



" I have loved only one woman in my whole life," 

 said Mr. Nemo, " and that woman I now ask to be my 

 wife." 



Pardon Ingath, young people, I beseech you, be- 

 cause at that moment she thought as much of being 

 lady of Orgert as of being Mr. Nemo's wife. 



You see she had long since given up thinking of 

 suitors, and was taken by surprise. But the future 

 which his ojBfer opened before her was so much more 

 bright than the one she so lately supposed was her 

 fate, that she was very much inclined to fall in love 

 with him in return. Indeed, there seemed to be only 

 one reason why she should hesitate at all, and that 

 reason she still felt to be a great one. She could not 

 in a moment forget her ancient name and all the 

 associations connected with it. It was true that 

 the men of her family had frequently been selfish 

 in their loves, and had broken the hearts of humble 

 women; but no Halcro had ever contracted a low 

 marriage ! 



Many a lady of her name had withered into spinster- 

 hood and died in lonely old age, but ne'er a one had 

 been known to set her affections upon a man of low 



