It manifested
very plainly what a miserable thing, how weak and weakening, is the
pride of this world. One who could be so cast down, was hardly one,
alas, of whom to expect any greatness of action! He was not likely
to have honesty or courage enough to decline a succession that was
not his--even though it would leave his way clear to marry Eppy.
Whether any of Forgue's misery arose from the fact that Donal had
been present at the exposure of his position, Donal could not tell;
but he could hardly fail to regard him as a dangerous holder of his
secret--one who would be more than ready to take hostile action in
the matter! At the same time, such had seemed the paralysing
influence of the shock upon him, that Donal doubted if he had been,
at any time during the interview, so much aware of his presence as
not to have forgotten it entirely before he came to himself. Had he
remembered the fact, would he not have come to him to attempt
securing his complicity? If he meant to do right, why did he
hesitate?--there was but one way, and that plain before him!
But presently Donal began to see many things an equivocating demon
might urge: the claims of his mother; the fact that there was no
near heir--he did not even know who would come in his place; that he
would do as well with the property as another; that he had been
already grievously wronged; that his mother's memory would be yet
more grievously wronged; that the marriage had been a marriage in
the sight of God, and as such he surely of all men was in heaven's
right to regard it! and his mother had been the truest of wives to
his father! These things and more Donal saw he might plead with
himself; and if he was the man he had given him no small ground to
think, he would in all probability listen to them.
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