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ANOTHER SUBJECT.

belief, though I shall be vastly surprised to find that such arguments as we can adduce have no effect on a son of Peter Devigne. Another subject

demands a word.

In your description of the family to which you have been introduced, you allude, in passing, to a Miss Brenton. Without, for one moment, supposing that there is any necessity for remark, on my part, I merely wish to explain the obscurity in my former letter to which you alluded. The fact is as follows: A very intimate friend of mine, of whom you have often heard me speak, Benbow of Calcutta, has written to me, proposing an alliance between you and his daughter, a very handsome and good young lady, by all accounts.

She will be immensely rich. Money is an object in this world: nothing can be done without it, except starving; and an Indian bride is a black swan that's not to be found in every pond. Of course this is but a proposal on both sides, subject to your and the young lady's will and judgment; for neither Benbow nor myself can, for one moment, be supposed capable of using compulsion in the matter. Nor do I intend to bias your choice of a wife,—not the least in the world; but I strongly submit this offer to your consideration, my dear son. Mr. Benbow is a very old friend of the family-your father's own bosom friend-and is enormously rich. These are very grave considerations, and I urge them upon your attention: but, at the same time, do not for one moment suppose that I am anxious

THE LAST DESIRE OF HIS HEART.

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to coerce your judgment. Only, if you think I have any claims on your filial duty and affection, I beg and pray that you will not enter into any promise, bond, or understanding, before you come to England. I have set my heart on this marriage: it is the last desire of my heart: I wish it for very many reasons, too numerous to detail. But if, on seeing the lady, you object to her (which is impossible), or she to you (equally inconceivable), then the matter is ended.

This is fair, I think. I feel certain that you will comply with my request.

Two or three months (for you'll soon leave Rome) will decide the matter. Mr. Benbow and daughter will be here by the next arrival, I hope. I feel sure that you will like the young lady; and you will bless your father should you marry Miss Benbow.*

So be vigilant, my dear son. If you are as yet free, and I firmly believe you are,-unable to admit the supposition that you would take such a step without your kind father's consent,-then, as you are free, since I have not consented, for God's sake! remain so; and confide in the lasting love and esteem of

Your affectionate father,

PETER DEVigne.

* The reader will subsequently discover the probable reason for Mr. Devigne's extreme anxiety lest his son should not marry the rich Miss Benbow.

256 HALF-CONVERTED AND WHOLLY CHARMED.

LEONARD DEVIGNE TO PETER DEVIGNE, Esq.

MY DEAR FAther,

I hasten to reply to your kind letter, which I have just received.

The announcement has surprised me; but it has, at the same time, gratified me not a little; inasmuch as you will, at some period not far distant, find me an easy convert to your new faith: I am indeed half converted, and wholly charmed with the thing: not that I see any paramount necessity for ever changing one's religion, whatever it be, provided we live up to its wholesome dictates; but circumstances (to which all the world require us to conform) may chance to make a change necessary, when, of course, conviction will easily follow-I mean, precede.

Your great kindness in repudiating all compulsion in the matter of the proposed match is very gratifying to me, and is not thrown away, my dear father. I am grateful to you; and have resolved to comply with your request to the very letter; namely, to avoid all promise, bond, or understanding."

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However, it seems to me, if you will allow me an opinion, that love cannot be given, it must be wrenched from the heart: consequently, I cannot promise to love the lady you propose; but I do promise to comply with your preliminary request, leaving the match an open question. It would,

indeed, be an infinite satisfaction to me to gratify you in all things, my dear father.

You will be pleased to hear that I have been presented to His Holiness, who received me most graciously.

All the specimens of Catholics I have met with here have pleased me exceedingly. With Mr. Fraser I am more than delighted: he surpasses even Mr. Bainbridge in conversational power and resources. I see some resemblance in their way of thinking, and that ready apprehension by which they seize at once your meaning, although you only discover its fag-end. What's curious, is, that though a Catholic priest, he has not attempted my "conversion!" It is always I who put questions to him, not he to me; indeed, he seems indifferent to the matter. This surprises me, after all that my aunt used to say indeed, I am candid to avow that she was most severe in her denunciations. They were frightful, too frightful to be true. But then we

must bear in mind that the abduction of her son was ample provocation to a mother's heart: besides, is she not the best of women, when we forget a few of her strong sentiments? The Catholics seduced her son, and she lost him for ever! A mother's affliction at the bereavement must be judged by the dictates of nature, not those of theoretic "charity and forgiveness."

I never knew all the circumstances of the case, for she always alluded to it with excessive impatience. What could have become of him? Does

S

he never think of his mother? If the Catholics inculcate an unnatural forgetfulness of our parents, my aunt's denunciations were most just. But the same fever that carried off his father, doubtless ended the son's days: 't is probable, and, for the sake of your religion, I absolve the Catholics of the imputed wickedness; * they are so benevolent, affable, and disinterested in all their acts of kind

ness.

As the Brentons leave Rome, on their return to England, next week, I shall do the same; and hope to see you well and happy, on my twenty-first birthday, which will be about the time you specify. With heartfelt love and gratitude,

I remain, my dear father,

Your affectionate son,

LEONARD Devigne.

*Mrs. Malcolm's son had become a Jesuit. Had Leonard mentioned the matter to Father Fraser, he might have enlightened him on the subject, if thought expedient by Holy Obedience.