And she--her destiny was fixed already, and forever! And when she saw her sister delighted with the attentions of the youthful nobleman, she smiled to herself, and dreamed a pleasant dream, and gave herself up to the sweet delusion. She had already asked her own heart "does he love me?" and though it fluttered sorely, and hesitated for a while, it did not answer, "No!"
But as the gentlemen rode homeward, St. George turned shortly on his companion, and said, gravely,
"You have changed your mind, Delawarr, and found out that I am right. Nevertheless, beware! do not, for God's sake, fall in love with her, or make her love you!"
The blood flushed fiery-red to the ingenuous brow of George Delawarr, and he was embarrassed for a moment. Then he tried to turn off his confusion with a jest.
"What, jealous, my lord! jealous of a poor cornet, with no other fortune than an honorable name, and a bright sword! I thought you, too, had changed your mind, when I saw you flirting so merrily with that merry brunette."
"You did see me _flirting_, George--nothing more; and I _have_ changed my mind, since the beginning, if not since the end of last evening--for I thought at first that fair Blanche Fitz-Henry would make me a charming wife; and now I am sure that she would _not_--"
"Why so, my lord? For God's sake! why say you so?"
"Because she never would love _me_, George; and _I_ would never marry any woman, unless I were sure that she both could and did. So you see that I am not the least jealous; but still I say, don't fall in love with her--"
"Faith! St. George, but your admonition comes somewhat late--for I believe I am half in love with her already."
"Then stop where you are, and go no deeper--for if I err not, she is more than half in love with you, too."
"A strange reason, St. George, wherefore to bid me stop!"
"A most excellent good one!" replied the other, gravely, and almost sadly, "for mutual love between you two can only lead to mutual misery. Her father never would consent to her marrying you more than he would to her marrying a peasant--the man is perfectly insane on the subject of title-deeds and heraldry, and will accept no one for his son-in-law who cannot show as many quarterings as a Spanish grandee, or a German noble. But, of course, it is of no use talking about it. Love never yet listened to reason; and, moreover, I suppose what is to be is to be--come what may."