Page:Irish assassin, or, The misfortunes of the family of O'Donnel (2).pdf/13

13 situation in the castle, which I trust will be the first step towards that distinction I am convinced your talents and perseverance will acquire."

Had a clap of thunder rolled over the head of Arthur, be could not have been more alarmed than at this communication. "What!" said he to himself, "to leave my Maria, to quit all those innocent pleasures which I have so long enjoyed, and to embark in the troubled scenes of the political world! Oh God! how wretched is my fate!" "Still," continued he, "my father must be obeyed: his ambitious temper will never brook a refusal, and however inconsistent with my own inclinations, his will must be my law."

Having finished his soliloquy, during wluch his amiable mother regarded him with astonishment, he raised his head, and in a hurried tone, expressed his readiness to comply with his father's wishes. He then left the room, and proceded with a quick pace to impart the gloomy news to Maria, whose anguish exceeded all consolation for a considerable time.

To describe the wretchedness of Maria is beyond our power; suffice it to say, her wretchedness went far beyond the bounds of common lamentation, and approached nearer to distraction than the sorrow of sanity.

Arthur at length tore himself from her arms, and returned home to make preparations for his journey, which was to commence the ensuing morning at an early hour.

It would be needless to describe the delight felt by McPherson on receiving instructions to prepare the travelling equipage of Arthur: his hopes were renewed towards Maria, and he trusted by his own wily machinations at length to be able to gain the consummation of his wishes in that quarter.

At the dawn of day, Arthur after taking a most affectionate leave of his mother, set out for the capital; attended by a trusty servant, and in a few days reached his father's house, in Sackville Street, where he met a most welcome reception.