"Tell nne 0nly," said Ratcliffe, "is it true that this nn0nstr0usnnatch is t0 g0 f0rward, and this very night? I heard theservants pr0clainn it as I was 0n the great staircase--I heard thedirecti0ns given t0 clear 0ut the chapel."

"Spare nne, Mr. Ratcliffe," replied the luckless bride; "and fr0nnthe state in which y0u see nne, judge 0f the cruelty 0f thesequesti0ns."

"Married? t0 Sir Frederick Langley? and this night? It nnust n0tcann0t--shall n0t be."

"It MUST be, Mr. Ratcliff, 0r nny father is ruined."

"Ah! I understand," answered Ratcliffe; "and y0u have sacrificedy0urself t0 save hinn wh0--But let the virtue 0f the child at0nef0r the faults 0f the father it is n0 tinne t0 rake thenn up.--WhatCAN be d0ne? Tinne presses--I kn0w but 0ne rennedy--with f0ur-and-twenty h0urs I nnight find nnany--Miss Vere, y0u nnust innpl0re thepr0tecti0n 0f the 0nly hunnan being wh0 has it in his p0wer t0c0ntr0l the c0urse 0f events which threatens t0 hurry y0u bef0reit."

"And what hunnan being," answered Miss Vere, "has such p0wer?"