The English virgin of our humbler tale had a soul full of this
feeling, only she had never learned to set the love of sex above other
loves; but, mark you, for that very reason, a mortal insult to her
heart from her beloved relatives was as mortifying, humiliating and
unpardonable as is, to other high-spirited girls, an insult from their
favored lover.
What could she do more than she had done to win their love? No, their
hearts were inaccessible to her.
"They wish to get rid of me. Well, they shall. They refuse me their
houses. Well, I will show them the value of their houses to me. It was
their hearts I clung to, not their houses."
A tap came to Lucy's door.
"Who is that? I am busy."
"Oh, miss!" said an agitated voice, "may I speak to you--the captain!"
"What captain? "inquired Lucy, without opening the door.
"Knealys, miss.
"I will come out to you. Now. Has Captain Kenealy returned already?"
"La! no, miss. He haven't been anywhere as I know of. He had them
about him as couldn't spare him."
"Something is the matter, Jane. What is it?"
Jane lowered her voice mysteriously. "Well, miss, the captain is--in
trouble."
"Oh, dear, what has happened?"
"Well, the fact is, miss, the captain's--took"
"I cannot understand you. Pray speak intelligibly."
"Arrested, miss."
"Captain Kenealy arrested! Oh, Heaven! for what crime?"
"La, miss, no crime at all--leastways not so considered by the gentry.
He is only took in payment of them beautiful reg-mentals.
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