Attempt > Volume 1 and Select writings

THE ATTEMPT
119
ment for the sweet girl whose happiness is so entirely trusted to my keeping. I have
my fears that my absence from confession must have excited Father Clement’s
suspicions; but it matters not—I only hoped to keep my own counsel for a few months
longer, when I could leave my father’s house independent alike of his anger and his
bounty.”
As he finished speaking, he threw his head proudly back, whilst the flash of his
dark eyes warned Kate that she might pour out all her anger and hatred on his head,
but to say aught against his chosen bride would be the sure way to lose his love for
ever. As Catherine rose, the proud quivering of her lips betrayed the anger which she
strove to hide ; hut she spoke calmly and in a low distinct voice, as she said, “ Charles,
I will not upbraid you, as your own conscience must ere long do that, but know that
in future there is a wide gulph between us; as to the cause of it I shall say nothing,
save that her own beauty and your untarnished descent might have covered the blot
of her lowly birth, but, a heretic ! 0 ! Charles, her very loveliness has lost its charm;
I name her not again, and your secret is safe with me, on condition that you never
attempt to lead me into controversy on our different faiths. To say that I do not
grieve at this estrangement, would be false (and her voice trembled as she proceeded),
for not till now did I know how much I loved you, and my heart feels ready to burst
at the thought of my father’s anger, and the storm which is now impending, not to be
warded off.” Tears now choked her utterance, and throwing herself into her brother’s
arms, she sobbed convulsively. Charles had expected an outburst of grief, but not
such as this, and for a time its violence unmanned him.
Catherine was the first to recover, but afraid of trusting herself to speak, she
imprinted an impassioned kiss upon his forehead, murmuring, “ May the Virgin and
all the saints protect thee, my poor brother! ” and hastened from the room, not daring
to tell her brother that she recognised the likeness, lest more controversy, from which
she shrunk, should ensue. Charles soon followed, hut not to rest. Towards morning
he fell into a troubled sleep, from which he awoke feverish and unrefreshed. The first
glance at Kate’s pale face told him that her sleep had been as unrefreshing as his own.
True to her promise, however, she was before the priest and her father the same loving
affectionate sister as before, although Charles could see that her pride rose against the
deception which she was obliged to practise, and he sorrowed to think it was for him.
When breakfast was finished, Mr Campbell demanded to see him in the library, where
he followed his father, expecting to he consulted on some ordinary business. He did
not notice the deep malicious glance of Father Clement’s dark eyes, as they rested on
him for a moment before he left the room. Ladybird.