Attempt > Volume 3

62 THE ATTEMPT.
not stop till they reach London; and he endeavours gently and sadly to show her the full
extent of the misfortune. She is overwhelmed by it, and sinks into a sort of stupor,
whilst Bryne racks his brains to determine what course will be best to pursue. At
last he resolves that the only honourable plan is to marry her, and take her with him
to the distant land whither he was going; and, on propounding this plan, Kate, too
utterly exhausted to make objections, agrees, and he leaves her at an hotel, whilst he
goes to acquaint his brother and sister-in-law, who are in London at the time, with
his intended marriage, and to make preparations for his hasty wedding. On his
return to the hotel, however, after a most exciting interview, Kate determines to
take her chance, and return to her home, leaving Mr Bryne to depart alone for
foreign climes, feeling he has tried to act honourably. The poor girl returns to find
her father dying of the shock caused by her supposed elopement, and he just opens
his eyes to look at her, and bless her, before death claims him. His afiairs are found
to be in a desperate state, and his widow and daughter are obliged to leave the farm,
and go to live with some relations.
Before this, however, Koydon Fleming returns, and hears from the foolish
mischief-making clergyman a distoi-ted account of Kate's conduct, and not knowing
what to think, goes to see her and learn the truth, at the same time longing
to hear the effect on her mind of his probable change of fortune. She has nobly
determined to give him up, as she is afraid of bringing disgrace on him through
her involuntary escapade ; so, of course, when she declares her intention of breaking
off the engagement, he imagines it is because she does not choose to run the risk
of poverty, and takes little pains to discover the truth. And this is where we
blame him so severely; when he hears of the changed fortunes of her family, and
that she nobly resolves to become a governess in order not to be a burden, he never makes
the slightest endeavour to see her again, or to ascertain the truth in any way, but
glides into love with his cousin Georgie in the easiest manner possible. She is a fine
true-hearted girl, and does her utmost to bring the quasi lovers to an understanding,
but fails, through the obstinacy or lack of feeling of the man. There is not a single
man in the book that is a comfortable character, or worth the trouble of cultivating,
unless it be the very questionable one, Maurice Bryne, who certainly acts with more
honourable feeling than any of the others; and we are at a loss to see why poor Kate
has Nemesis presented to her in the awful form of the loss of her father, fortune,
lover and good name all at once, because she indulges in a mild flirtation—not being
an engaged girl—and takes an involuntary journey to London, which comes to be
acknowledged as such by everyone.