I mention these particulars to account, in so far as I can, for the singular predicament in which I now find myself placed." "Proceed, my lord," said Mr.Mowbray; "there is no denying the singularity of your story, and I presume you are quite serious in giving me such an extraordinary detail." "Entirely so, upon my honour--and a most serious matter it is, you will presently find.

When my worthy uncle, Mr.S.Mowbray, (for I will not call him Scrogie even in the grave,) paid his debt to nature, every body concluded he would be found to have disinherited his son, the unfilial Scrogie, and so far every body was right--But it was also generally believed that he would settle the estate on my father, Lord Etherington, the son of his sister, and therein every one was wrong.

For my excellent grand-uncle had pondered with himself, that the favoured name of Mowbray would take no advantage, and attain no additional elevation, if his estate of Nettlewood (otherwise called Mowbray-Park) should descend to our family without any condition; and with the assistance of a sharp attorney, he settled it on me, then a schoolboy, _on condition_ that I should, before attaining the age of twenty-five complete, take unto myself in holy wedlock a young lady of good fame, of the name of Mowbray, and, by preference, of the house of St.Ronan's, should a damsel of that house exist .-- Now my riddle is read." "And a very extraordinary one it is," replied Mowbray, thoughtfully.
"Confess the truth," said Lord Etherington, laying his hand on his shoulder; "you think the story will bear a grain of a scruple of doubt, if not a whole scruple itself ?" "At least, my lord," answered Mowbray, "your lordship will allow, that, being Miss Mowbray's only near relation, and sole guardian, I may, without offence, pause upon a suit for her hand, made under such odd circumstances." "If you have the least doubt either respecting my rank or fortune, I can give, of course, the most satisfactory references," said the Earl of Etherington.
"That I can easily believe, my lord," said Mowbray; "nor do I in the least fear deception, where detection would be so easy.

Your lordship's proceedings towards me, too," (with a conscious glance at the bills he still held in his hand,) "have, I admit, been such as to intimate some such deep cause of interest as you have been pleased to state.

But it seems strange that your lordship should have permitted years to glide away, without so much as enquiring after the young lady, who, I believe, is the only person qualified as your grand-uncle's will requires, with whom you can form an alliance.