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diff --git a/old/kelly10.txt b/old/kelly10.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1c5e0e2..0000000 --- a/old/kelly10.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,18531 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Kellys and the O'Kellys -by Anthony Trollope -(#31 in our series by Anthony Trollope) - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the -copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing -this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. - -This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project -Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the -header without written permission. - -Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the -eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is -important information about your specific rights and restrictions in -how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a -donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. - - -**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** - -**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** - -*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** - - -Title: The Kellys and the O'Kellys - -Author: Anthony Trollope - -Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4917] -[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] -[This file was first posted on March 27, 2002] -[Most recently updated February 29, 2004] - -Edition: 10 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS *** - - - - -This eBook was produced by Andrew Turek. - - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg is aware that this EBook contains numerous - errors. Most notably, much of Trollope's original punctuation - is missing. We are in the process of correcting and updating - the text. - - - - -THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS - -by - -ANTHONY TROLLOPE - - - - - -I THE TRIAL - - -During the first two months of the year 1844, the greatest possible -excitement existed in Dublin respecting the State Trials, in which Mr -O'Connell, his son, the Editors of three different repeal newspapers, Tom -Steele, the Rev. Mr Tierney a priest who had taken a somewhat prominent -part in the Repeal Movement and Mr Ray, the Secretary to the Repeal -Association, were indicted for conspiracy. Those who only read of the -proceedings in papers, which gave them as a mere portion of the news of the -day, or learned what was going on in Dublin by chance conversation, can -have no idea of the absorbing interest which the whole affair created in -Ireland, but more especially in the metropolis. Every one felt strongly, on -one side or on the other. Every one had brought the matter home to his own -bosom, and looked to the result of the trial with individual interest and -suspense. - -Even at this short interval Irishmen can now see how completely they put -judgment aside, and allowed feeling and passion to predominate in the -matter. Many of the hottest protestants, of the staunchest foes to -O'Connell, now believe that his absolute imprisonment was not to be -desired, and that whether he were acquitted or convicted, the Government -would have sufficiently shown, by instituting his trial, its determination -to put down proceedings of which they did not approve. On the other hand, -that class of men who then styled themselves Repealers are now aware that -the continued imprisonment of their leader the persecution, as they -believed it to be, of "the Liberator" would have been the one thing most -certain to have sustained his influence, and to have given fresh force to -their agitation. Nothing ever so strengthened the love of the Irish for, -and the obedience of the Irish to O'Connell, as his imprisonment; nothing -ever so weakened his power over them as his unexpected enfranchisement. The -country shouted for joy when he was set free, and expended all its -enthusiasm in the effort. - -At the time, however, to which I am now referring, each party felt the most -intense interest in the struggle, and the most eager desire for success. -Every Repealer, and every Anti-Repealer in Dublin felt that it was a -contest, in which he himself was, to a certain extent, individually -engaged. All the tactics of the opposed armies, down to the minutest legal -details, were eagerly and passionately canvassed in every circle. Ladies, -who had before probably never heard of "panels" in forensic phraseology, -now spoke enthusiastically on the subject; and those on one side expressed -themselves indignant at the fraudulent omission of certain names from the -lists of jurors; while those on the other were capable of proving the -legality of choosing the jury from the names which were given, and stated -most positively that the omissions were accidental. - -"The traversers" were in everybody's mouth a term heretofore confined to -law courts, and lawyers' rooms. The Attorney-General, the Commander-in- -Chief of the Government forces, was most virulently assailed; every legal -step which he took was scrutinised and abused; every measure which he used -was base enough of itself to hand down his name to everlasting infamy. Such -were the tenets of the Repealers. And O'Connell and his counsel, their base -artifices, falsehoods, delays, and unprofessional proceedings, were -declared by the Saxon party to be equally abominable. - -The whole Irish bar seemed, for the time, to have laid aside the habitual -sang froid and indifference of lawyers, and to have employed their hearts -as well as their heads on behalf of the different parties by whom they were -engaged. The very jurors themselves for a time became famous or infamous, -according to the opinions of those by whom their position was discussed. -Their names and additions were published and republished; they were -declared to be men who would stand by their country and do their duty -without fear or favour so said the Protestants. By the Roman Catholics, -they were looked on as perjurors determined to stick to the Government with -blind indifference to their oaths. Their names are now, for the most part, -forgotten, though so little time has elapsed since they appeared so -frequently before the public. - -Every day's proceedings gave rise to new hopes and fears. The evidence -rested chiefly on the reports of certain short-hand writers, who had been -employed to attend Repeal meetings, and their examinations and cross- -examinations were read, re-read, and scanned with the minutest care. Then, -the various and long speeches of the different counsel, who, day after day, -continued to address the jury; the heat of one, the weary legal -technicalities of another, the perspicuity of a third, and the splendid -forensic eloquence of a fourth, were criticised, depreciated and admired. -It seemed as though the chief lawyers of the day were standing an -examination, and were candidates for some high honour, which each was -striving to secure. - -The Dublin papers were full of the trial; no other subject, could, at the -time, either interest or amuse. I doubt whether any affair of the kind was -ever, to use the phrase of the trade, so well and perfectly reported. The -speeches appeared word for word the same in the columns of newspapers of -different politics. For four-fifths of the contents of the paper it would -have been the same to you whether you were reading the Evening Mail, or the -Freeman. Every word that was uttered in the Court was of importance to -every one in Dublin; and half-an-hour's delay in ascertaining, to the -minutest shade, what had taken place in Court during any period, was -accounted a sad misfortune. - -The press round the Four Courts, every morning before the doors were open, -was very great: and except by the favoured few who were able to obtain -seats, it was only with extreme difficulty and perseverance, that an -entrance into the body of the Court could be obtained. - -It was on the eleventh morning of the proceedings, on the day on which the -defence of the traversers was to be commenced, that two young men, who had -been standing for a couple of hours in front of the doors of the Court, -were still waiting there, with what patience was left to them, after having -been pressed and jostled for so long a time. Richard Lalor Sheil, however, -was to address the jury on behalf of Mr John O'Connell and every one in -Dublin knew that that was a treat not to be lost. The two young men, too, -were violent Repealers. The elder of them was a three-year-old denizen of -Dublin, who knew the names of the contributors to the "Nation", who had -constantly listened to the indignation and enthusiasm of O'Connell, Smith -O'Brien, and O'Neill Daunt, in their addresses from the rostrum of the -Conciliation Hall; who had drank much porter at Jude's, who had eaten many -oysters at Burton Bindon's, who had seen and contributed to many rows in -the Abbey Street Theatre; who, during his life in Dublin, had done many -things which he ought not to have done, and had probably made as many -omissions of things which it had behoved him to do. He had that knowledge -of the persons of his fellow-citizens, which appears to be so much more -general in Dublin than in any other large town; he could tell you the name -and trade of every one he met in the streets, and was a judge of the -character and talents of all whose employments partook, in any degree, of a -public nature. His name was Kelly; and, as his calling was that of an -attorney's clerk, his knowledge of character would be peculiarly valuable -in the scene at which he and his companion were so anxious to be present. - -The younger of the two brothers, for such they were, was a somewhat -different character. Though perhaps a more enthusiastic Repealer than his -brother, he was not so well versed in the details of Repeal tactics, or in -the strength and weakness of the Repeal ranks. He was a young farmer, of -the better class, from the County Mayo, where he held three or four hundred -wretchedly bad acres under Lord Ballindine, and one or two other small -farms, under different landlords. He was a good-looking young fellow, about -twenty-five years of age, with that mixture of cunning and frankness in his -bright eye, which is so common among those of his class in Ireland, but -more especially so in Connaught. - -The mother of these two young men kept an inn in the small town of Dunmore, -and though from the appearance of the place, one would be led to suppose -that there could not be in Dunmore much of that kind of traffic which -innkeepers love, Mrs Kelly was accounted a warm, comfortable woman. Her -husband had left her for a better world some ten years since, with six -children; and the widow, instead of making continual use, as her chief -support, of that common wail of being a poor, lone woman, had put her -shoulders to the wheel, and had earned comfortably, by sheer industry, that -which so many of her class, when similarly situated, are willing to owe to -compassion. - -She held on the farm, which her husband rented from Lord Ballindine, till -her eldest son was able to take it. He, however, was now a gauger in the -north of Ireland. Her second son was the attorney's clerk; and the farm had -descended to Martin, the younger, whom we have left jostling and jostled at -one of the great doors of the Four Courts, and whom we must still leave -there for a short time, while a few more of the circumstances of his family -are narrated. - -Mrs Kelly had, after her husband's death, added a small grocer's -establishment to her inn. People wondered where she had found the means of -supplying her shop: some said that old Mick Kelly must have had money when -he died, though it was odd how a man who drank so much could ever have kept -a shilling by him. Others remarked how easy it was to get credit in these -days, and expressed a hope that the wholesale dealer in Pill Lane might be -none the worse. However this might be, the widow Kelly kept her station -firmly and constantly behind her counter, wore her weeds and her warm, -black, stuff dress decently and becomingly, and never asked anything of -anybody. - -At the time of which we are writing, her two elder sons had left her, and -gone forth to make their own way, and take the burden of the world on their -own shoulders. Martin still lived with his mother, though his farm lay four -miles distant, on the road to Ballindine, and in another county for Dunmore -is in County Galway, and the lands of Toneroe, as Martin's farm was called, -were in the County Mayo. One of her three daughters had lately been married -to a shop-keeper in Tuam, and rumour said that he had got £500 with her; -and Pat Daly was not the man to have taken a wife for nothing. The other -two girls, Meg and Jane, still remained under their mother's wing, and -though it was to be presumed that they would soon fly abroad, with the same -comfortable plumage which had enabled their sister to find so warm a nest, -they were obliged, while sharing their mother's home, to share also her -labours, and were not allowed to be too proud to cut off pennyworths of -tobacco, and mix dandies of punch for such of their customers as still -preferred the indulgence of their throats to the blessing of Father Mathew. - -Mrs. Kelly kept two ordinary in-door servants to assist in the work of the -house; one, an antiquated female named Sally, who was more devoted to her -tea-pot than ever was any bacchanalian to his glass. Were there four -different teas in the inn in one evening, she would have drained the pot -after each, though she burst in the effort. Sally was, in all, an honest -woman, and certainly a religious one;--she never neglected her devotional -duties, confessed with most scrupulous accuracy the various peccadillos of -which she might consider herself guilty; and it was thought, with reason, -by those who knew her best, that all the extra prayers she said,--and they -were very many,--were in atonement for commissions of continual petty -larceny with regard to sugar. On this subject did her old mistress quarrel -with her, her young mistress ridicule her; of this sin did her -fellow-servant accuse her; and, doubtless, for this sin did her Priest -continually reprove her; but in vain. Though she would not own it, there -was always sugar in her pocket, and though she declared that she usually -drank her tea unsweetened, those who had come upon her unawares had seen -her extracting the pinches of moist brown saccharine from the huge slit in -her petticoat, and could not believe her. - -Kate, the other servant, was a red-legged lass, who washed the potatoes, -fed the pigs, and ate her food nobody knew when or where. Kates, -particularly Irish Kates, are pretty by prescription; but Mrs. Kelly's Kate -had been excepted, and was certainly a most positive exception. Poor Kate -was very ugly. Her hair had that appearance of having been dressed by the -turkey-cock, which is sometimes presented by the heads of young women in -her situation; her mouth extended nearly from ear to ear; her neck and -throat, which were always nearly bare, presented no feminine charms to -view; and her short coarse petticoat showed her red legs nearly to the -knee; for, except on Sundays, she knew not the use of shoes and stockings. -But though Kate was ungainly and ugly, she was useful, and grateful very -fond of the whole family, and particularly attached to the two young -ladies, in whose behalf she doubtless performed many a service, acceptable -enough to them, but of which, had she known of them, the widow would have -been but little likely to approve. - -Such was Mrs. Kelly's household at the time that her son Martin left -Connaught to pay a short visit to the metropolis, during the period of -O'Connell's trial. But, although Martin was a staunch Repealer, and had -gone as far as Galway, and Athlone, to be present at the Monster Repeal -Meetings which had been held there, it was not political anxiety alone -which led him to Dublin. His landlord; the young Lord Ballindine, was -there; and, though Martin could not exactly be said to act as his -lordship's agent for Lord Ballindine had, unfortunately, a legal agent, -with whose services his pecuniary embarrassments did not allow him to -dispense he was a kind of confidential tenant, and his attendance had been -requested. Martin, moreover, had a somewhat important piece of business of -his own in hand, which he expected would tend greatly to his own advantage; -and, although he had fully made up his mind to carry it out if possible, he -wanted, in conducting it, a little of his brother's legal advice, and, -above all, his landlord's sanction. - -This business was nothing less than an intended elopement with an heiress -belonging to a rank somewhat higher than that in which Martin Kelly might -be supposed to look, with propriety, for his bride; but Martin was a -handsome fellow, not much burdened with natural modesty, and he had, as he -supposed, managed to engage the affections of Anastasia Lynch, a lady -resident near Dunmore. - -All particulars respecting Martin's intended the amount of her fortune her -birth and parentage her age and attractions shall, in due time, be made -known; or rather, perhaps, be suffered to make themselves known. In the -mean time we will return to the two brothers, who are still anxiously -waiting to effect an entrance into the august presence of the Law. - -Martin had already told his brother of his matrimonial speculations, and -had received certain hints from that learned youth as to the proper means -of getting correct information as to the amount of the lady's wealth her -power to dispose of it by her own deed and certain other particulars always -interesting to gentlemen who seek money and love at the same time. John did -not quite approve of the plan; there might have been a shade of envy at his -brother's good fortune; there might be some doubt as to his brother's power -of carrying the affair through successfully; but, though he had not -encouraged him, he gave him the information he wanted, and was as willing -to talk over the matter as Martin could desire. - -As they were standing in the crowd, their conversation ran partly on Repeal -and O'Connell, and partly on matrimony and Anty Lynch, as the lady was -usually called by those who knew her best. - -'Tear and 'ouns Misther Lord Chief Justice!' exclaimed Martin, 'and are ye -niver going to opin them big doors?' - -'And what'd be the good of his opening them yet,' answered John, 'when a -bigger man than himself an't there? Dan and the other boys isn't in it yet, -and sure all the twelve judges couldn't get on a peg without them.' - -'Well, Dan, my darling!' said the other, 'you're thought more of here this -day than the lot of 'em, though the place in a manner belongs to them, and -you're only a prisoner.' - -'Faix and that's what he's not, Martin; no more than yourself, nor so -likely, may-be. He's the traverser, as I told you before, and that's not -being a prisoner. If he were a prisoner, how did he manage to tell us all -what he did at the Hall yesterday?' - -'Av' he's not a prisoner, he's the next-door to it; it's not of his own -free will and pleasure he'd come here to listen to all the lies them -thundhering Saxon ruffians choose to say about him.' - -'And why not? Why wouldn't he come here and vindicate himself? When you -hear Sheil by and by, you'll see then whether they think themselves likely -to be prisoners! No no; they never will be, av' there's a ghost of a -conscience left in one of them Protesthant raps, that they've picked so -carefully out of all Dublin to make jurors of. They can't convict 'em! I -heard Ford, the night before last, offer four to one that they didn't find -the lot guilty; and he knows what he's about, and isn't the man to thrust a -Protestant half as far as he'd see him.' - -'Isn't Tom Steele a Protesthant himself, John?' - -'Well, I believe he is. So's Gray, and more of 'em too; but there's a -difference between them and the downright murdhering Tory set. Poor Tom -doesn't throuble the Church much; but you'll be all for Protesthants now, -Martin, when you've your new brother-in-law. Barry used to be one of your -raal out-and-outers!' - -'It's little, I'm thinking, I and Barry'll be having to do together, unless -it be about the brads; and the law about them now, thank God, makes no -differ for Roman and Protesthant. Anty's as good a Catholic as ever -breathed, and so was her mother before her; and when she's Mrs Kelly, as I -mane to make her, Master Barry may shell out the cash and go to heaven his -own way for me.' - -'It ain't the family then, you're fond of, Martin! And I wondher at that, -considering how old Sim loved us all.' - -'Niver mind Sim, John! he's dead and gone; and av' he niver did a good deed -before, he did one when he didn't lave all his cash to that precious son of -his, Barry Lynch.' - -'You're prepared for squalls with Barry, I suppose?' - -'He'll have all the squalling on his own side, I'm thinking, John. I don't -mane to squall, for one. I don't see why I need, with £400 a-year in my -pocket, and a good wife to the fore.' - -'The £400 a-year's good enough, av' you touch it, certainly,' said the man -of law, thinking of his own insufficient guinea a-week, 'and you must look -to have some throuble yet afore you do that. But as to the wife why, the -less said the better eh, Martin? - -'Av' it's not asking too much, might I throuble you, sir, to set anywhere -else but on my shouldher?' This was addressed to a very fat citizen, who -was wheezing behind Martin, and who, to escape suffocation in the crowd, -was endeavouring to raise himself on his neighbour's shoulders. 'And why -the less said the better? I wish yourself may never have a worse.' - -'I wish I mayn't, Martin, as far as the cash goes; and a man like me might -look a long time in Dublin before he got a quarter of the money. But you -must own Anty's no great beauty, and she's not over young, either.' - - -'Av' she's no beauty, she's not downright ugly, like many a girl that gets -a good husband; and av' she's not over young, she's not over old. She's not -so much older than myself, after all. It's only because her own people have -always made nothing of her; that's what has made everybody else do the -same.' - -'Why, Martin, I know she's ten years older than Barry, and Barry's older -than you!' - -'One year; and Anty's not full ten years older than him. Besides, what's -ten years between man and wife?' - -'Not much, when it's on time right side. But it's the wrong side with you, -Martin!' - -'Well, John, now, by virtue of your oath, as you chaps say, wouldn't you -many a woman twice her age, av' she'd half the money? Begad you would, and -leap at it!' - -'Perhaps I would. I'd a deal sooner have a woman eighty than forty. There'd -be some chance then of having the money after the throuble was over! Anty's -neither ould enough nor young enough' - -'She's not forty, any way; and won't be yet for five years and more; and, -as I hope for glory, John though I know you won't believe me I wouldn't -marry her av' she'd all Sim Lynch's ill-gotten property, instead of only -half, av' I wasn't really fond of her, and av' I didn't think I'd make her -a good husband.' - -'You didn't tell mother what you're afther, did you?' - -'Sorrow a word! But she's so 'cute she partly guesses; and I think Meg let -slip something. The girls and Anty are thick as thiefs since old Sim died; -though they couldn't be at the house much since Barry came home, and Anty -daren't for her life come down to the shop.' - -'Did mother say anything about the schame?' - -'Faix, not much; but what she did say, didn't show she'd much mind for it. -Since Sim Lynch tried to get Toneroe from her, when father died, she'd -never a good word for any of them. Not but what she's always a civil look -for Anty, when she sees her.' - -'There's not much fear she'll look black on the wife, when you bring the -money home with her. But where'll you live, Martin? The little shop at -Dunmore'll be no place for Mrs Kelly, when there's a lady of the name with -£400 a-year of her own.' - -''Deed then, John, and that's what I don't know. Maybe I'll build up the -ould house at Toneroe; some of the O'Kellys themselves lived there, years -ago.' - -'I believe they did; but it was years ago, and very many years ago, too, -since they lived there. Why you'd have to pull it all down, before you -began to build it up!' - -'Maybe I'd build a new house, out and out. Av' I got three new lifes in the -laise, I'd do that; and the lord wouldn't be refusing me, av' I asked him.' - -'Bother the lord, Martin; why you'd be asking anything of any lord, and you -with £400 a-year of your own? Give up Toneroe, and go and live at Dunmore -House at once.' - -'What! along with Barry when I and Anty's married? The biggest house in -county Galway wouldn't hould the three of us.' - -'You don't think Barry Lynch'll stay at Dunmore afther you've married his -sisther?' - -'And why not?' - -'Why not! Don't you know Barry thinks himself one of the raal gentry now? -Any ways, he wishes others to think so. Why, he'd even himself to Lord -Ballindine av' he could! Didn't old Sim send him to the same English school -with the lord on purpose? tho' little he got by it, by all accounts! And -d'you think he'll remain in Dunmore, to be brother-in-law to the son of the -woman that keeps the little grocer's shop in the village? Not he! He'll -soon be out of Dunmore when he hears what his sister's afther doing, and -you'll have Dunmore House to yourselves then, av' you like it.' - -'I'd sooner live at Toneroe, and that's the truth; and I'd not give up the -farm av' she'd double the money! But, John, faith, here's the judges at -last. Hark, to the boys screeching!' - -'They'd not screech that way for the judges, my boy. It's the -traversers that's Dan and the rest of 'em. They're coming into court. Thank -God, they'll soon be at work now!' - -'And will they come through this way? Faith, av' they do, they'll have as -hard work to get in, as they'll have to get out by and by.' - -'They'll not come this way there's another way in for them: tho' they are -traversers now, they didn't dare but let them go in at the same door as the -judges themselves.' - -'Hurrah, Dan! More power to you! Three cheers for the traversers, and -Repale for ever! Success to every mother's son of you, my darlings! You'll -be free yet, in spite of John Jason Rigby and the rest of 'em! The prison -isn't yet built that'd hould ye, nor won't be! Long life to you, Sheil sure -you're a Right Honourable Repaler now, in spite of Greenwich Hospital and -the Board of Trade! More power, Gavan Duffy; you're the boy that'll settle -'em at last! Three cheers more for the Lord Mayor, God bless him! Well, yer -reverence, Mr Tierney never mind, they could come to no good when they'd be -parsecuting the likes of you! Bravo, Tom Hurrah for Tom Steele!' - -Such, and such like, were the exclamations which greeted the traversers, -and their cortège, as they drew up to the front or the Four Courts. Dan -O'Connell was in the Lord Mayor's state carriage, accompanied by that high -official; and came up to stand his trial for conspiracy and sedition, in -just such a manner as he might be presumed to proceed to take the chair at -some popular municipal assembly; and this was just the thing qualified to -please those who were on his own side, and mortify the feelings of the -party so bitterly opposed to him. There was a bravado in it, and an -apparent contempt, not of the law so much as of the existing authorities of -the law, which was well qualified to have this double effect. - -And now the outer doors of the Court were opened, and the crowd at least as -many as were able to effect an entrance rushed in. Martin and John Kelly -were among those nearest to the door, and, in reward of their long -patience, got sufficiently into the body of the Court to be in a position -to see, when standing on tiptoe, the noses of three of the four judges, and -the wigs of four of the numerous counsel employed. The Court was so filled -by those who had a place there by right, or influence enough to assume that -they had so, that it was impossible to obtain a more favourable situation. -But this of itself was a great deal quite sufficient to justify Martin in -detailing to his Connaught friends every particular of the whole trial. -They would probably be able to hear everything; they could positively see -three of the judges, and if those two big policemen, with high hats, could -by any possibility be got to remove themselves, it was very probable that -they would be able to see Sheil's back, when he stood up. - -John soon began to show off his forensic knowledge. He gave a near guess at -the names of the four counsel whose heads were visible, merely from the -different shades and shapes of their wigs. Then he particularised the -inferior angels of that busy Elysium. - -'That's Ford that's Gartlan that's Peirce Mahony,' he exclaimed, as the -different attorneys for the traversers, furiously busy with their huge -bags, fidgetted about rapidly, or stood up in their seats, telegraphing -others in different parts of the Court. - -'There's old Kemmis,' as they caught a glimpse of the Crown agent; 'he's -the boy that doctored the jury list. Fancy, a jury chosen out of all -Dublin, and not one Catholic! As if that could be fair!' And then he named -the different judges. 'Look at that big-headed, pig-faced fellow on the -right that's Pennefather! He's the blackest sheep of the lot and the head -of them! He's a thoroughbred Tory, and as fit to be a judge as I am to be a -general. That queer little fellow, with the long chin, he's Burton he's a -hundred if he's a day he was fifty when he was called, seventy when they -benched him, and I'm sure he's a judge thirty years! But he's the sharpest -chap of the whole twelve, and no end of a boy afther the girls. If you only -saw him walking in his robes I'm sure he's not three feet high! That next, -with the skinny neck, he's Crampton he's one of Father Mathews lads, an out -and out teetotaller, and he looks it; he's a desperate cross fellow, -sometimes! The other one, you can't see, he's Perrin. There, he's leaning -over you can just catch the side of his face he's Perrin. It's he'll acquit -the traversers av' anything does he's a fair fellow, is Perrin, and not a -red-hot thorough-going Tory like the rest of 'em.' - -Here John was obliged to give over the instruction of his brother, being -enjoined so to do by one of the heavy-hatted policemen in his front, who -enforced his commands for silence, with a backward shove of his wooden -truncheon, which came with rather unnecessary violence against the pit of -John's stomach. - -The fear of being turned out made him for the nonce refrain from that -vengeance of abuse which his education as a Dublin Jackeen well qualified -him to inflict. But he put down the man's face in his retentive memory, and -made up his mind to pay him of. - -And now the business of the day commenced. After some official delays and -arrangements Sheil arose, and began his speech in defence of John -O'Connell. It would be out of place here to give either his words or his -arguments; besides, they have probably before this been read by all who -would care to read them. When he commenced, his voice appeared, to those -who were not accustomed to hear him, weak, piping, and most unfit for a -popular orator; but this effect was soon lost in the elegance of his -language and the energy of his manner; and, before he had been ten minutes -on his legs, the disagreeable tone was forgotten, though it was sounding in -the eager ears of every one in the Court. - -His speech was certainly brilliant, effective, and eloquent; but it -satisfied none that heard him, though it pleased all. It was neither a -defence of the general conduct and politics of the party, such as O'Connell -himself attempted in his own case, nor did it contain a chain of legal -arguments to prove that John O'Connell, individually, had not been guilty -of conspiracy, such as others of the counsel employed subsequently in -favour of their own clients. - -Sheil's speech was one of those numerous anomalies with which this singular -trial was crowded; and which, together, showed the great difficulty of -coming to a legal decision on a political question, in a criminal court. Of -this, the present day gave two specimens, which will not be forgotten; when -a Privy Councillor, a member of a former government, whilst defending his -client as a barrister, proposed in Court a new form of legislation for -Ireland, equally distant from that adopted by Government, and that sought -to be established by him whom he was defending; and when the traverser on -his trial rejected the defence of his counsel, and declared aloud in Court, -that he would not, by his silence, appear to agree in the suggestions then -made. - -This spirit of turning the Court into a political debating arena extended -to all present. In spite of the vast efforts made by them all, only one of -the barristers employed has added much to his legal reputation by the -occasion. Imputations were made, such as I presume were never before -uttered by one lawyer against another in a court of law. An Attorney- -General sent a challenge from his very seat of office; and though that -challenge was read in Court, it was passed over by four judges with hardly -a reprimand. If any seditious speech was ever made by O'Connell, that which -he made in his defence was especially so, and he was, without check, -allowed to use his position as a traverser at the bar, as a rostrum from -which to fulminate more thoroughly and publicly than ever, those doctrines -for uttering which he was then being tried; and, to crown it all, even the -silent dignity of the bench was forgotten, and the lawyers pleading against -the Crown were unhappily alluded to by the Chief Justice as the 'gentlemen -on the other side.' - -Martin and John patiently and enduringly remained standing the whole day, -till four o'clock; and then the latter had to effect his escape, in order -to keep an appointment which he had made to meet Lord Ballindine. - -As they walked along the quays they both discussed the proceedings of the -day, and both expressed themselves positively certain of the result of the -trial, and of the complete triumph of O'Connell and his party. To these -pleasant certainties Martin added his conviction, that Repeal must soon -follow so decided a victory, and that the hopes of Ireland would be -realised before the close of 1844. John was neither so sanguine nor so -enthusiastic; it was the battle, rather than the thing battled for, that -was dear to him; the strife, rather than the result. He felt that it would -be dull times in Dublin, when they should have no usurping Government to -abuse, no Saxon Parliament to upbraid, no English laws to ridicule, and no -Established Church to curse. - -The only thing which could reconcile him to immediate Repeal, would be the -probability of having then to contend for the election of an Irish -Sovereign, and the possible dear delight which might follow, of Ireland -going to war with England, in a national and becoming manner. - -Discussing these important measures, they reached the Dublin brother's -lodgings, and Martin turned in to wash his face and hands, and put on clean -boots, before he presented himself to his landlord and patron, the young -Lord Ballindine. - - - - -II THE TWO HEIRESSES - - -Francis John Mountmorris O'Kelly, Lord Viscount Ballindine, was twenty-four -years of age when he came into possession of the Ballindine property, and -succeeded to an Irish peerage as the third viscount; and he is now twenty- -six, at this time of O'Connell's trial. The head of the family had for many -years back been styled 'The O'Kelly', and had enjoyed much more local -influence under that denomination than their descendants had possessed, -since they had obtained a more substantial though not a more respected -title. The O'Kellys had possessed large tracts of not very good land, -chiefly in County Roscommon, but partly in Mayo and Galway. Their property -had extended from Dunmore nearly to Roscommon, and again on the other side -to Castlerea and Ballyhaunis. But this had been in their palmy days, long, -long ago. When the government, in consideration of past services, in the -year 1800, converted 'the O'Kelly' into Viscount Ballindine, the family -property consisted of the greater portion of the land lying between the -villages of Dunmore and Ballindine. Their old residence, which the peer -still kept up, was called Kelly's Court, and is situated in that corner of -County Roscommnon which runs up between Mayo and Galway. - -The first lord lived long enough to regret his change of title, and to -lament the increased expenditure with which he had thought it necessary to -accompany his more elevated rank. His son succeeded, and showed in his -character much more of the new-fangled viscount than of the ancient -O'Kelly. His whole long life was passed in hovering about the English -Court. From the time of his father's death, he never once put his foot in -Ireland. He had been appointed, at different times from his youth upwards, -Page, Gentleman in Waiting, Usher of the Black Rod, Deputy Groom of the -Stole, Chief Equerry to the Princess Royal, (which appointment only lasted -till the princess was five years old), Lord Gold Stick, Keeper of the Royal -Robes; till, at last, he had culminated for ten halcyon years in a Lord of -the Bedchamber. In the latter portion of his life he had grown too old for -this, and it was reported at Ballindine, Dunmore, and Kelly's Court with -how much truth I don't know that, since her Majesty's accession, he had -been joined with the spinster sister of a Scotch Marquis, and an antiquated -English Countess, in the custody of the laces belonging to the Queen -Dowager. - -This nobleman, publicly useful as his life had no doubt been, had done -little for his own tenants, or his own property. On his father's death, he -had succeeded to about three thousand a-year, and he left about one; and he -would have spent or mortgaged this, had he not, on his marriage, put it -beyond his own power to do so. It was not only by thriftless extravagance -that he thus destroyed a property which, with care, and without extortion, -would have doubled its value in the thirty-five years during which it was -in his hands; but he had been afraid to come to Ireland, and had been duped -by his agent. When he came to the title, Simeon Lynch had been recommended -to him as a fit person to manage his property, and look after his -interests; and Simeon had managed it well in that manner most conducive to -the prosperity of the person he loved best in the world; and that was -himself. When large tracts of land fell out of lease, Sim had represented -that tenants could not be found that the land was not worth -cultivating that the country was in a state which prevented the possibility -of letting; and, ultimately put himself into possession, with a lease for -ever, at a rent varying from half a crown to five shillings an acre. - -The courtier lord had one son, of whom he made a soldier, but who never -rose to a higher rank than that of Captain. About a dozen years before the -date of my story, the Honourable Captain O'Kelly, after numerous quarrels -with the Right Honourable Lord of the Bedchamber, had, at last, come to -some family settlement with him; and, having obtained the power of managing -the property himself, came over to live at his paternal residence of -Kelly's Court. - -A very sorry kind of Court he found it neglected, dirty, and out of repair. -One of the first retainers whom he met was Jack Kelly, the family fool. -Jack was not such a fool as those who, of yore, were valued appendages to -noble English establishments. He resembled them in nothing but his -occasional wit. He was a dirty, barefooted, unshorn, ragged ruffian, who -ate potatoes in the kitchen of the Court, and had never done a day's work -in his life. Such as he was, however, he was presented to Captain O'Kelly, -as 'his honour the masther's fool.' - -'So, you're my fool, Jack, are ye?' said the Captain. - -'Faix, I war the lord's fool ance; but I'll no be anybody's fool but Sim -Lynch's, now. I and the lord are both Sim's fools now. Not but I'm the -first of the two, for I'd never be fool enough to give away all my land, -av' my father'd been wise enough to lave me any.' - -Captain O'Kelly soon found out the manner in which the agent had managed -his father's affairs. Simeon Lynch was dismissed, and proceedings at common -law were taken against him, to break such of the leases as were thought, by -clever attorneys, to have the ghost of a flaw in them. Money was borrowed -from a Dublin house, for the purpose of carrying on the suit, paying off -debts, and making Kelly's Court habitable; and the estate was put into -their hands. Simeon Lynch built himself a large staring house at Dunmore, -defended his leases, set up for a country gentleman on his own account, and -sent his only son, Barry, to Eton merely because young O'Kelly was also -there, and he was determined to show, that he was as rich and ambitious as -the lord's family, whom he had done so much to ruin. - -Kelly's Court was restored to such respectability as could ever belong to -so ugly a place. It was a large red stone mansion, standing in a demesne of -very poor ground, ungifted by nature with any beauty, and but little -assisted by cultivation or improvement. A belt of bald-looking firs ran -round the demesne inside the dilapidated wall; but this was hardly -sufficient to relieve the barren aspect of the locality. Fine trees there -were none, and the race of O'Kellys had never been great gardeners. - -Captain O'Kelly was a man of more practical sense, or of better education, -than most of his family, and he did do a good deal to humanise the place. -He planted, tilled, manured, and improved; he imported rose-trees and -strawberry-plants, and civilised Kelly's Court a little. But his reign was -not long. He died about five years after he had begun his career as a -country gentleman, leaving a widow and two daughters in Ireland; a son at -school at Eton; and an expensive lawsuit, with numerous ramifications, all -unsettled. - -Francis, the son, went to Eton and Oxford, was presented at Court by his -grandfather, and came hack to Ireland at twenty-two, to idle away his time -till the old lord should die. Till this occurred, he could neither call -himself the master of the place, nor touch the rents. In the meantime, the -lawsuits were dropped, both parties having seriously injured their -resources, without either of them obtaining any benefit. Barry Lynch was -recalled from his English education, where he had not shown off to any -great credit; and both he and his father were obliged to sit down prepared -to make the best show they could on eight hundred pounds a-year, and to -wage an underhand internecine war with the O'Kellys. - -Simeon and his son, however, did not live altogether alone. Anastasia Lynch -was Barry's sister, and older than him by about ten years. Their mother had -been a Roman Catholic, whereas Sim was a Protestant; and, in consequence, -the daughter had been brought up in the mother's, and the son in the -father's religion. When this mother died, Simeon, no doubt out of respect -to the memory of the departed, tried hard to induce his daughter to prove -hem religious zeal, and enter a nunnery; but this, Anty, though in most -things a docile creature, absolutely refused to do. Her father advised, -implored, and threatened; but in vain; and the poor girl became a great -thorn in the side of both father and son. She had neither beauty, talent, -nor attraction, to get her a husband; and her father was determined not to -encumber his already diminished property with such a fortune as would make -her on that ground acceptable to any respectable suitor. - -Poor Anty led a miserable life, associating neither with superiors nor -inferiors, and her own position was not sufficiently declared to enable her -to have any equals. She was slighted by her father and the servants, and -bullied by her brother; and was only just enabled, by humble, unpresuming -disposition, to carry on her tedious life from year to year without -grumbling. - -In the meantime, the ci-devant Black Rod, Gold Stick, Royal Equerry, and -Lord of the Bedchamber, was called away from his robes and his finery, to -give an account of the manner in which he had renounced the pomps and -vanities of this wicked world; and Frank became Lord Ballindine, with, as I -have before said, an honourable mother, two sisters, a large red house, and -a thousand a-year. He was not at all a man after the pattern of his -grandfather, but he appeared as little likely to redeem the old family -acres. He seemed to be a reviving chip of the old block of the O'Kellys. -During the two years he had been living at Kelly's Court as Frank O'Kelly, -he had won the hearts of all the tenants of all those who would have been -tenants if the property had not been sold, and who still looked up to him -as their 'raal young masther' and of the whole country round. The 'thrue -dhrop of the ould blood', was in his veins; and, whatever faults he might -have, he wasn't likely to waste his time and his cash with furs, laces, and -hangings. - -This was a great comfort to the neighbourhood, which had learned heartily -to despise the name of Lord Ballindine; and Frank was encouraged in -shooting, hunting, racing in preparing to be a thorough Irish gentleman, -and in determining to make good the prophecies of his friends, that he -would be, at last, one more 'raal O'Kelly to brighten the country.' - -And if he could have continued to be Frank O'Kelly, or even 'the O'Kelly', -he would probably have done well enough, for he was fond of his mother and -sisters, and he might have continued to hunt, shoot, and farm on his -remaining property without further encroaching on it. But the title was -sure to be his ruin. When he felt himself to be a lord, he could not be -content with the simple life of a country gentleman; or, at any rate, -without taking the lead in the country. So, as soon as the old man was -buried, he bought a pack of harriers, and despatched a couple of race- -horses to the skilful hands of old Jack Igoe, the Curragh trainer. - -Frank was a very handsome fellow, full six feet high, with black hair, and -jet-black silky whiskers, meeting under his chin the men said he dyed them, -and the women declared he did not. I am inclined, myself, to think he must -have done so, they were so very black. He had an eye like a hawk, round, -bright, and bold; a mouth and chin almost too well formed for a man; and -that kind of broad forehead which conveys rather the idea of a generous, -kind, openhearted disposition, than of a deep mind or a commanding -intellect. - -Frank was a very handsome fellow, and he knew it; and when he commenced so -many ill-authorised expenses immediately on his grandfather's death, he -consoled himself with the idea, that with his person and rank, he would -soon be able, by some happy matrimonial speculation, to make up for what he -wanted in wealth. And he had not been long his own master, before he met -with the lady to whom he destined the honour of doing so. - -He had, however, not properly considered his own disposition, when he -determined upon looking out for great wealth; and on disregarding other -qualifications in his bride, so that he obtained that in sufficient -quantity. He absolutely fell in love with Fanny Wyndham, though her twenty -thousand pounds was felt by him to be hardly enough to excuse him in doing -so certainly not enough to make his doing so an accomplishment of his -prudential resolutions. What would twenty thousand pounds do towards -clearing the O'Kelly property, and establishing himself In a manner and -style fitting for a Lord Ballindine! However, he did propose to her, was -accepted, and the match, after many difficulties, was acceded to by the -lady's guardian, the Earl of Cashel. It was stipulated, however, that the -marriage should not take place till the lady was of age; and at the time of -the bargain, she wanted twelve months of that period of universal -discretion. Lord Cashel had added, in his prosy, sensible, aristocratic -lecture on the subject to Lord Ballindine, that he trusted that, during the -interval, considering their united limited income, his lordship would see -the wisdom of giving up his hounds, or at any rate of withdrawing from the -turf. - -Frank pooh-poohed at the hounds, said that horses cost nothing in -Connaught, and dogs less, and that he could not well do there without them; -but promised to turn in his mind what Lord Cashel had said about the turf; -and, at last, went so far as to say that when a good opportunity offered of -backing out, he would part with Finn M'Coul and Granuell as the two nags at -Igoe's were patriotically denominated. - -They continued, however, appearing in the Curragh lists in Lord -Ballindine's name, as a part of Igoe's string; and running for Queen's -whips, Wellingtons and Madrids, sometimes with good and sometimes with -indifferent success. While their noble owner, when staying at Grey Abbey, -Lord Cashel's magnificent seat near Kilcullen, spent too much of his time -(at least so thought the earl and Fanny Wyndham) in seeing them get their -gallops, and in lecturing the grooms, and being lectured by Mr Igoe. -Nothing more, however, could be done; and it was trusted that when the day -of the wedding should come, he would be found minus the animals. What, -however, was Lord Cashel's surprise, when, after an absence of two months -from Grey Abbey, Lord Ballindine declared, in the earl's presence, with an -air of ill-assumed carelessness, that he had been elected one of the -stewards of the Curragh, in the room of Walter Blake, Esq., who had retired -in rotation from that honourable office! The next morning the earl's -chagrin was woefully increased by his hearing that that very valuable and -promising Derby colt, Brien Boru, now two years old, by Sir Hercules out of -Eloisa, had been added to his lordship's lot. - -Lord Cashel felt that he could not interfere, further than by remarking -that it appeared his young friend was determined to leave the turf with -éclat; and Fanny Wyndham could only be silent and reserved for one evening. -This occurred about four months before the commencement of my tale, and -about five before the period fixed for the marriage; but, at the time at -which Lord Ballindine will be introduced in person to the reader, he had -certainly made no improvement in his manner of going on. He had, during -this period, received from Lord Cashel a letter intimating to him that his -lordship thought some further postponement advisable; that it was as well -not to fix any day; and that, though his lordship would always be welcome -at Grey Abbey, when his personal attendance was not required at the -Curragh, it was better that no correspondence by letter should at present -be carried on between him and Miss Wyndham; and that Miss Wyndham herself -perfectly agreed in the propriety of these suggestions. - -Now Grey Abbey was only about eight miles distant from the Curragh, and -Lord Ballindine had at one time been in the habit of staying at his -friend's mansion, during the period of his attendance at the race-course; -but since Lord Cashel had shown an entire absence of interest in the doings -of Finn M'Coul, and Fanny had ceased to ask after Granuell's cough, he had -discontinued doing so, and had spent much of his time at his friend Walter -Blake's residence at the Curragh. Now, Handicap Lodge offered much more -dangerous quarters for him than did Grey Abbey. - -In the meantime, his friends in Connaught were delighted at the prospect of -his bringing home a bride. Fanny's twenty thousand were magnified to fifty, -and the capabilities even of fifty were greatly exaggerated; besides, the -connection was so good a one, so exactly the thing for the O'Kellys! Lord -Cashel was one of the first resident noblemen in Ireland, a representative -peer, a wealthy man, and possessed of great influence; not unlikely to be a -cabinet minister if the Whigs came in, and able to shower down into -Connaught a degree of patronage, such as had never yet warmed that poor -unfriended region. And Fanny Wyndham was not only his lordship's ward, but -his favourite niece also! The match was, in every way, a good one, and -greatly pleasing to all the Kellys, whether with an O or without, for -'shure they were all the one family.' - -Old Simeon Lynch and his son Barry did not participate in the general joy. -They had calculated that their neighbour was on the high road to ruin, and -that he would soon have nothing but his coronet left. They could not, -therefore, bear the idea of his making so eligible a match. They had, -moreover, had domestic dissensions to disturb the peace of Dunmore House. -Simeon had insisted on Barry's taking a farm into his own hands, and -looking after it. Barry had declared his inability to do so, and had nearly -petrified the old man by expressing a wish to go to Paris. Then, Barry's -debts had showered in, and Simeon had pledged himself not to pay them. -Simeon had threatened to disinherit Barry; and Barry had called his father -a d d obstinate old fool. - -These quarrels had got to the ears of the neighbours, and it was being -calculated that, in the end, Barry would get the best of the battle when, -one morning, the war was brought to an end by a fit of apoplexy, and the -old man was found dead in his chair. And then a terrible blow fell upon the -son; for a recent will was found in the old man's desk, dividing his -property equally, and without any other specification between Barry and -Anty. - -This was a dreadful blow to Barry. He consulted with his friend Molloy, the -attorney of Tuam, as to the validity of the document and the power of -breaking it; but in vain. It was properly attested, though drawn up in the -old man's own hand-writing; and his sister, whom he looked upon but as -little better than a head main-servant, had not only an equal right to all -the property, but was equally mistress of the house, the money at the bank, -the wine in the cellar, and the very horses in the stable. - -This was a hard blow; but Barry was obliged to bear it. At first, he showed -his ill-humour plainly, enough in his treatment of his sister; but he soon -saw that this was folly, and that, though her quiet disposition prevented -her from resenting it, such conduct would drive her to marry some needy -man. Then he began, with an ill grace, to try what coaxing would do. He -kept, however, a sharp watch on all her actions; and on once hearing that, -in his absence, the two Kelly girls from the hotel had been seen walking -with her, he gave her a long lecture on what was due to her own dignity, -and the memory of her departed parents. - -He made many overtures to her as to the divisions of the property; but, -easy and humble as Anty was, she was careful enough to put her name to -nothing that could injure her rights. They had divided the money at the -banker's, and she had once rather startled Barry by asking him for his -moiety towards paying the butcher's bill; and his dismay was completed -shortly afterwards by being informed, by a steady old gentleman in Dunmore, -whom he did not like a bit too well, that he had been appointed by Miss -Lynch to manage her business and receive her rents. - -As soon as it could be decently done, after his father's burial, Barry took -himself off to Dublin, to consult his friends there as to what he should -do; but he soon returned, determined to put a bold face on it, and come to -some understanding with his sister. - -He first proposed to her to go and live in Dublin, but she said she -preferred Dunmore. He then talked of selling the house, and to this she -agreed. He next tried to borrow money for the payment of his debts; on -which she referred him to the steady old man. Though apparently docile and -obedient, she would not put herself in his hands, nor would her agent allow -him to take any unfair advantage of her. - -Whilst this was going on, our friend Martin Kelly had set his eye upon the -prize, and, by means of his sister's intimacy with Anty, and his own good -hooks, had succeeded in obtaining from her half a promise to become his -wife. Anty had but little innate respect for gentry; and, though she feared -her brother's displeasure, she felt no degradation at the idea of uniting -herself to a man in Martin Kelly's rank. She could not, however, be brought -to tell her brother openly, and declare her determination; and Martin had, -at length, come to the conclusion that he must carry her off, before delay -and unforeseen changes might either alter her mind, or enable her brother -to entice her out of the country. - -Thus matters stood at Dunmore when Martin Kelly started for Dublin, and at -the time when he was about to wait on his patron at Morrison's hotel. - -Both Martin and Lord Ballindine (and they were related in some distant -degree, at least so always said the Kellys, and I never knew that the -O'Kellys denied it) both the young men were, at the time, anxious to get -married, and both with the same somewhat mercenary views; and I have -fatigued the reader with the long history of past affairs, in order to -imbue him, if possible, with some interest in the ways and means which they -both adopted to accomplish their objects. - - - - -III MORRISON'S HOTEL - - -At about five o'clock on the evening of the day of Sheil's speech, Lord -Ballindine and his friend, Walter Blake, were lounging on different sofas -in a room at Morrison's Hotel, before they went up to dress for dinner. -Walter Blake was an effeminate-looking, slight-made man, about thirty or -thirty-three years of age; good looking, and gentlemanlike, but presenting -quite a contrast in his appearance to his friend Lord Ballindine. He had a -cold quiet grey eye, and a thin lip; and, though he was in reality a much -cleverer, he was a much less engaging man. Yet Blake could be very amusing; -but he rather laughed at people than with them, and when there were more -than two in company, he would usually be found making a butt of one. -Nevertheless, his society was greatly sought after. On matters connected -with racing, his word was infallible. He rode boldly, and always rode good -horses; and, though he was anything but rich, he managed to keep up a -comfortable snuggery at the Curragh, and to drink the very best claret that -Dublin could procure. - -Walter Blake was a finished gambler, and thus it was, that with about six -hundred a year, he managed to live on equal terms with the richest around -him. His father, Laurence Blake of Castleblakeney, in County Galway, was a -very embarrassed man, of good property, strictly entailed, and, when Walter -came of age, he and his father, who could never be happy in the same house, -though possessing in most things similar tastes, had made such a -disposition of the estate, as gave the father a clear though narrowed -income, and enabled the son at once to start into the world, without -waiting for his father's death; though, by so doing, he greatly lessened -the property which he must otherwise have inherited. - -Blake was a thorough gambler, and knew well how to make the most of the -numerous chances which the turf afforded him. He had a large stud of -horses, to the training and working of which he attended almost as closely -as the person whom he paid for doing so. But it was in the betting-ring -that he was most formidable. It was said, in Kildare Street, that no one at -Tattersall's could beat him at a book. He had latterly been trying a wider -field than the Curragh supplied him and had, on one or two occasions, run -a horse in England with such success, as had placed him, at any rate, quite -at the top of the Irish sporting tree. - -He was commonly called 'Dot Blake', in consequence of his having told one -of his friends that the cause of his, the friend's, losing so much money on -the turf, was, that he did not mind 'the dot and carry on' part of the -business; meaning thereby, that he did not attend to the necessary -calculations. For a short time after giving this piece of friendly caution, -he had been nick-named, 'Dot and carry on'; but that was too long to last, -and he had now for some years been known to every sporting man in Ireland -as 'Dot' Blake. - -This man was at present Lord Ballindine's most intimate friend, and he -could hardly have selected a more dangerous one. They were now going down -together to Handicap Lodge, though there was nothing to be done in the way -of racing for months to come. Yet Blake knew his business too well to -suppose that his presence was necessary only when the horses were running; -and he easily persuaded his friend that it was equally important that he -should go and see that it was all right with the Derby colt. - -They were talking almost in the dark, on these all-absorbing topics, when -the waiter knocked at the door and informed them that a young man named -Kelly wished to see Lord Ballindine. - -'Show him up,' said Frank. 'A tenant of mine, Dot; one of the respectable -few of that cattle, indeed, almost the only one that I've got; a sort of -subagent, and a fifteenth cousin, to boot, I believe. I am going to put him -to the best use I know for such respectable fellows, and that is, to get -him to borrow money for me.' - -'And he'll charge you twice as much for it, and make three times as much -bother about it, as the fellows in the next street who have your title- -deeds. When I want lawyer's business done, I go to a lawyer; and when I -want to borrow money, I go to my own man of business; he makes it his -business to find money, and he daren't rob me more than is decent, fitting, -and customary, because he has a character to lose.' - -'Those fellows at Guinness's make such a fuss about everything; and I don't -put my nose into that little back room, but what every word I say, by some -means or other, finds its way down to Grey Abbey.' - -'Well, Frank, you know your own affairs best; but I don't think you'll make -money by being afraid of your agent; or your wife's guardian, if she is to -be your wife.' - -'Afraid, man? I'm as much afraid of Lord Cashel as you are. I don't think -I've shown myself much afraid; but I don't choose to make him my guardian, -just when he 's ceasing to be hers; nor do I wish, just now, to break with -Grey Abbey altogether.' - -'Do you mean to go over there from the Curragh next week?' - -'I don't think I shall. They don't like me a bit too well, when I've the -smell of the stables on me.' - -'There it is, again, Frank! What is it to you what Lord Cashel likes? If -you wish to see Miss Wyndham, and if the heavy-pated old Don doesn't mean -to close his doors against you, what business has he to inquire where you -came from? I suppose he doesn't like me a bit too well; but you're not weak -enough to be afraid to say that you've been at Handicap Lodge?' - -'The truth is, Dot, I don't think I'll go to Grey Abbey at all, till Fanny -'s of age. She only wants a month of it now; and then I can meet Lord -Cashel in a business way, as one man should meet another.' - -'I can't for the life of me,' said Blake, 'make out what it is that has set -that old fellow so strong against horses. He won the Oaks twice himself, -and that not so very long ago; and his own son, Kilcullen, is deeper a good -deal on the turf than I am, and, by a long chalk less likely to pull -through, as I take it. But here's the Connaught man on the stairs I could -swear to Galway by the tread of his foot!' and Martin knocked at the door, -and walked in. - -'Well, Kelly,' said Lord Ballindine, 'how does Dublin agree with you?' And, -'I hope I see your lordship well, my lord?' said Martin. - -'How are they all at Dunmore and Kelly's Court?' - -'Why thin, they're all well, my lord, except Sim Lynch and he 's dead. But -your lordship'll have heard that.' - -'What, old Simeon Lynch dead!' said Blake, 'well then, there 's promotion. -Peter Mahon, that was the agent at Castleblakeney, is now the biggest rogue -alive in Connaught.' - -'Don't swear to that,' said Lord Ballindine. 'There 's some of Sim's breed -still left at Dunmore. It wouldn't be easy to beat Barry, would it, Kelly?' - -'Why then, I don't know; I wouldn't like to be saying against the -gentleman's friend that he spoke of; and doubtless his honour knows him -well, or he wouldn't say so much of him.' - -'Indeed I do,' said Blake. 'I never give a man a good character till I know -he deserves it. Well, Frank, I'll go and dress, and leave you and Mr. Kelly -to your business,' and he left the room. - -'I'm sorry to hear you speak so hard agin Mr. Barry, my lord,' began -Martin. 'May-be he mayn't be so bad. Not but that he 's a cross-grained -piece of timber to dale with.' - -'And why should you be sorry I'd speak against him? There's not more -friendship, I suppose, between you and Barry Lynch now, than there used to -be?' - -'Why, not exactly frindship, my lord; but I've my rasons why I'd wish you -not to belittle the Lynches. Your lordship might forgive them all, now the -old man 's dead.' - -'Forgive them! indeed I can, and easily. I don't know I ever did any of -them an injury, except when I thrashed Barry at Eton, for calling himself -the son of a gentleman. But what makes you stick up for them? You're not -going to marry the daughter, are you?' - -Martin blushed up to his forehead as his landlord thus hit the nail on the -head; but, as it was dark, his blushes couldn't be seen. So, after dangling -his hat about for a minute, and standing first on one foot, and then on the -other, he took courage, and answered. - -'Well, Mr. Frank, that is, your lordship, I mane--I b'lieve I might do -worse.' - -'Body and soul, man!' exclaimed the other, jumping from his recumbent -position on the sofa, 'You don't mean to tell me you're going to marry Anty -Lynch?' - -'In course not,' answered Martin; 'av' your lordship objects.' - -'Object, man! How the devil can I object? Why, she 's six hundred a year, -hasn't she?' - -'About four, my lord, I think 's nearest the mark.' - -'Four hundred a year! And I don't suppose you owe a penny in the world!' - -'Not much unless the last gale to your lordship and we never pay that till -next May.' - -'And so you're going to marry Anty Lynch!' again repeated Frank, as though -he couldn't bring himself to realise the idea; 'and now, Martin, tell me -all about it how the devil you managed it when it's to come off and how you -and Barry mean to hit it off together when you're brothers. I suppose I'll -lose a good tenant any way?' - -'Not av' I'm a good one, you won't, with my consent, my lord.' - -'Ah! but it'll be Anty's consent, now, you know. She mayn't like Toneroe. -But tell me all about it. What put it into your head?' - -'Why, my lord, you run away so fast; one can't tell you anything. I didn't -say I was going to marry her at laist, not for certain I only said I might -do worse.' - -'Well then; are you going to marry her, or rather, is she going to marry -you, or is she not?' - -'Why, I don't know. I'll tell your lordship just how it is. You know when -old Sim died, my lord?' - -'Of course I do. Why, I was at Kelly's Court at the time.' - -'So you were, my lord; I was forgetting. But you went away again -immediately, and didn't hear how Barry tried to come round his sisther, -when he heard how the will went; and how he tried to break the will and to -chouse her out of the money.' - -'Why, this is the very man you wouldn't let me call a rogue, a minute or -two ago!' - -'Ah, my lord! that was just before sthrangers; besides, it 's no use -calling one's own people bad names. Not that he belongs to me yet, and -maybe never will. But, between you and I, he is a rogue, and his father's -son every inch of him.' - -'Well, Martin, I'll remember. I'll not abuse him when he 's your brother- -in-law. But how did you get round the sister? That 's the question.' - -'Well, my lord, I'll tell you. You know there was always a kind of -frindship between Anty and the girls at home, and they set her up to going -to old Moylan he that receives the rents on young Barron's property, away -at Strype. Moylan's uncle to Flaherty, that married mother's sister. Well, -she went to him he 's a kind of office at Dunmore, my lord.' - -'Oh, I know him and his office! He knows the value of a name at the back of -a bit of paper, as well as any one.' - -'Maybe he does, my lord; but he 's an honest old fellow, is Moylan, and -manages a little for mother.' - -'Oh, of course he 's honest, Martin, because he belongs to you. You know -Barry's to be an honest chap, then.' - -'And that's what he niver will be the longest day he lives! But, however, -Moylan got her to sign all the papers; and, when Barry was out, he went and -took an inventhory to the house, and made out everything square and right, -and you may be sure Barry'd have to get up very 'arly before he'd come -round him. Well, after a little, the ould chap came to me one morning, and -asked me all manner of questions whether I knew Anty Lynch? whether we -didn't used to be great friends? and a lot more. I never minded him much; -for though I and Anty used to speak, and she'd dhrank tay on the sly with -us two or three times before her father's death, I'd never thought much -about her.' - -'Nor wouldn't now, Martin, eh? if it wasn't for the old man's will.' - -'In course I wouldn't, my lord. I won't be denying it. But, on the other -hand, I wouldn't marry her now for all her money, av' I didn't mane to -trate her well. Well, my lord, after beating about the bush for a long -time, the ould thief popped it out, and told me that he thought Anty'd be -all the betther for a husband; and that, av' I was wanting a wife, he -b'lieved I might suit myself now. Well, I thought of it a little, and tould -him I'd take the hint. The next day he comes to me again, all the way down -to Toneroe, where I was walking the big grass-field by myself, and began -saying that, as he was Anty's agent, of course he wouldn't see her wronged. -"Quite right, Mr. Moylan," says I; "and, as I maneto be her husband, I -won't see her wronged neither." "Ah! but," says he, "I mane that I must see -her property properly settled." "Why not?" says I, "and isn't the best way -for her to marry? and then, you know, no one can schame her out of it. -There 's lots of them schamers about now," says I. "That 's thrue for you," -says he, "and they're not far to look for," and that was thrue, too, my -lord, for he and I were both schaming about poor Anty's money at that -moment. "Well," says he, afther walking on a little, quite quiet, "av' you -war to marry her."--"Oh, I've made up my mind about that, Mr. Moylan," -says I. "Well, av' it should come to pass that you do marry her--of course -you'd expect to have the money settled on herself?" "In course I would, -when I die," says I. "No, but," says he, "at once: wouldn't it be enough -for you to have a warm roof over your head, and a leg of mutton on the -table every day, and no work to do for it?" and so, my lord, it came out -that the money was to be settled on herself, and that he was to be her -agent.' - -'Well, Martin, after that, I think you needn't go to Sim Lynch, or Barry, -for the biggest rogues in Connaught to be settling the poor girl's money -between you that way!' - -'Well, but listen, my lord. I gave in to the ould man; that is, I made no -objection to his schame. But I was determined, av' I ever did marry Anty -Lynch, that I would be agent and owner too, myself, as long as I lived; -though in course it was but right that they should settle it so that av' I -died first, the poor crature shouldn't be out of her money. But I didn't -let on to him about all that; for, av' he was angered, the ould fool might -perhaps spoil the game; and I knew av' Anty married me at all, it'd be for -liking; and av' iver I got on the soft side of her, I'd soon be able to -manage matthers as I plazed, and ould Moylan'd soon find his best game'd be -to go asy.' - -'Upon my soul, Martin, I think you seem to have been the sharpest rogue of -the two! Is there an honest man in Connaught at all, I wonder?' - -'I can't say rightly, just at present, my lord; but there'll be two, plaze -God, when I and your lordship are there.' - -'Thank ye, Kelly, for the compliment, and especially for the good company. -But let me hear how on earth you ever got face enough to go up and ask Anty -Lynch to marry you.' - -'Oh! a little soft sawther did it! I wasn't long in putting my com'ether on -her when I once began. Well, my lord, from that day out from afther -Moylan's visit, you know I began really to think of it. I'm sure the ould -robber meant to have asked for a wapping sum of money down, for his good -will in the bargain; but when he saw me he got afeard.' - -'He was another honest man, just now!' - -'Only among sthrangers, my lord. I b'lieve he 's a far-off cousin of your -own, and I wouldn't like to spake ill of the blood.' - -'God forbid! But go on, Kelly.' - -'Well, so, from that out, I began to think of it in arnest the Lord forgive -me! but my first thoughts was how I'd like to pull down Barry Lynch; and my -second that I'd not demane myself by marrying the sisther of such an out- -and-out ruffian, and that it wouldn't become me to live on the money that'd -been got by chating your lordship's grandfather.' - -'My lordship's grandfather ought to have looked after that himself. If -those are all your scruples they needn't stick in your throat much.' - -'I said as much as that to myself, too. So I soon went to work. I was -rather shy about it at first; but the girls helped me. They put it into her -head, I think, before I mentioned it at all. However, by degrees, I asked -her plump, whether she'd any mind to be Mrs. Kelly? and, though she didn't -say "yes," she didn't say "no."' - -'But how the devil, man, did you manage to get at her? I'm told Barry -watches her like a dragon, ever since he read his father's will.' - -'He couldn't watch her so close, but what she could make her way down to -mother's shop now and again. Or, for the matter of that, but what I could -make my way up to the house.' - -'That 's true, for what need she mind Barry, now? She may marry whom she -pleases, and needn't tell him, unless she likes, until the priest has his -book ready.' - -'Ah, my lord! but there 's the rub. She is afraid of Barry; and though she -didn't say so, she won't agree to tell him, or to let me tell him, or just -to let the priest walk into the house without telling him. She 's fond of -Barry, though, for the life of me, I can't see what there is in him for -anybody to be fond of. He and his father led her the divil's own life mewed -up there, because she wouldn't be a nun. But still is both fond and afraid -of him; and, though I don't think she'll marry anybody else at laist not -yet awhile, I don't think she'll ever get courage to marry me at any rate, -not in the ordinary way.' - -'Why then, Martin, you must do something extraordinary, I suppose.' - -'That's just it, my lord; and what I wanted was, to ask your lordship's -advice and sanction, like.' - -'Sanction! Why I shouldn't think you'd want anybody's sanction for marrying -a wife with four hundred a-year. But, if that's anything to you, I can -assure you I approve of it.' - -'Thank you, my lord. That's kind.' - -'To tell the truth,' continued Lord Ballindine, 'I've a little of your own -first feeling. I'd be glad of it, if it were only for the rise it would -take out of my schoolfellow, Barry. Not but that I think you're a deal too -good to be his brother-in-law. And you know, Kelly, or ought to know, that -I'd be heartily glad of anything for your own welfare. So, I'd advise you -to hammer away while the iron's hot, as the saying is.' - -'That's just what I'm coming to. What'd your lordship advise me to do?' - -'Advise you? Why, you must know best yourself how the matter stands. Talk -her over, and make her tell Barry.' - -'Divil a tell, my lord, in her. She wouldn't do it in a month of Sundays.' - -'Then do you tell him, at once. I suppose you're not afraid of him?' - -'She'd niver come to the scratch, av' I did. He'd bully the life out of -her, or get her out of the counthry some way.' - -'Then wait till his back's turned for a month or so. When he's out, let the -priest walk in, and do the matter quietly that way.' - -'Well, I thought of that myself, my lord; but he's as wary as a weazel, and -I'm afeard he smells something in the wind. There's that blackguard Moylan, -too, he'd be telling Barry and would, when he came to find things weren't -to be settled as he intended.' - -'Then you must carry her off, and marry her up here, or in Galway or down -in Connemara, or over at Liverpool, or any where you please.' - -'Now you've hit it, my lord. That's just what I'm thinking myself. Unless I -take her off Gretna Green fashion, I'll never get her.' - -'Then why do you want my advice, if you've made up your mind to that? I -think you're quite right; and what's more, I think you ought to lose no -time in doing it. Will she go, do you think?' - -'Why, with a little talking, I think she will.' - -'Then what are you losing your time for, man? Hurry down, and off with her! -I think Dublin 's probably your best ground.' - -'Then you think, my lord, I'd betther do it at once?' - -'Of course, I do! What is there to delay you?' - -'Why, you see, my lord, the poor girl's as good as got no friends, and I -wouldn't like it to be thought in the counthry, I'd taken her at a -disadvantage. It's thrue enough in one way, I'm marrying her for the money; -that is, in course, I wouldn't marry her without it. And I tould her, out -open, before her face, and before the girls, that, av' she'd ten times as -much, I wouldn't marry her unless I was to be masther, as long as I lived, -of everything in my own house, like another man; and I think she liked me -the betther for it. But, for all that, I wouldn't like to catch her up -without having something fair done by the property.' - -'The lawyers, Martin, can manage that, afterwards. When she's once Mrs -Kelly, you can do what you like about the fortune.' - -'That's thrue, my lord. But I wouldn't like the bad name I'd get through -the counthry av' I whisked her off without letting her settle anything. -They'd he saying I robbed her, whether I did or no: and when a thing's once -said, it's difficult to unsay it. The like of me, my lord, can't do things -like you noblemen and gentry. Besides, mother'd never forgive me. They -think, down there, that poor Anty's simple like; tho' she's cute enough, -av' they knew her. I wouldn't, for all the money, wish it should be said -that Martin Kelly ran off with a fool, and robbed her. Barry'd be making -her out a dale more simple than she is; and, altogether, my lord, I -wouldn't like it.' - -'Well, Martin, perhaps you're right. At any rate you're on the right side. -What is it then you think of doing?' - -'Why, I was thinking, my lord, av' I could get some lawyer here to draw up -a deed, just settling all Anty's property on herself when I die, and on her -children, av' she has any so that I couldn't spend it you know; she could -sign it, and so could I, before we started; and then I'd feel she'd been -traited as well as tho' she'd all the friends in Connaught to her back.' - -'And a great deal better, probably. Well, Martin, I'm no lawyer, but I -should think there'd not be much difficulty about that. Any attorney could -do it.' - -'But I'd look so quare, my lord, walking into a sthranger's room and -explaining what I wanted all about the running away and everything. To be -sure there's my brother John's people; they're attorneys; but it's about -robberies, and hanging, and such things they're most engaged; and I was -thinking, av' your lordship wouldn't think it too much throuble to give me -a line to your own people; or, maybe, you'd say a word to them explaining -what I want. It'd be the greatest favour in life.' - -'I'll tell you what I'll do, Kelly. I'll go with you, tomorrow, to Mr -Blake's lawyers that's my friend that was sitting here and I've no doubt -we'll get the matter settled. The Guinnesses, you know, do all my business, -and they're not lawyers.' - -'Long life to your lordship, and that's just like yourself! I knew you'd -stick by me. And shall I call on you tomorrow, my lord? and at what time?' - -'Wait! here's Mr Blake. I'll ask him, and you might as well meet me there. -Grey and Forrest is the name; it's in Clare Street, I think.' Here Mr Blake -again entered the room. - -'What!' said he; 'isn't your business over yet, Ballindine? I suppose I'm -de trop then. Only mind, dinner's ordered for half past six, and it's that -now, and you're not dressed yet!' - -'You're not de trop, and I was just wanting you. We're all friends here, -Kelly, you know; and you needn't mind my telling Mr Blake. Here's this -fellow going to elope with an heiress from Connaught, and he wants a -decently honest lawyer first.' - -'I should have thought,' said Blake, 'that an indecently dishonest -clergyman would have suited him better under those circumstances.' - -'Maybe he'll want that, too, and I've no doubt you can recommend one. But -at present he wants a lawyer; and, as I have none of my own, I think -Forrest would serve his turn.' - -'I've always found Mr Forrest ready to do anything in the way of his -profession for money.' - -'No, but he'd draw up a deed, wouldn't he, Blake? It's a sort of a marriage -settlement.' - -'Oh, he's quite at home at that work! He drew up five, for my five sisters, -and thereby ruined my father's property, and my prospects.' - -'Well, he'd see me tomorrow, wouldn't he?' said Lord Ballindine. - -'Of course he would. But mind, we're to be off early. We ought to be at the -Curragh, by three.' - -'I suppose I could see him at ten?' said his lordship. It was then settled -that Blake should write a line to the lawyer, informing him that Lord -Ballindine wished to see him, at his office, at ten o'clock the next -morning; it was also agreed that Martin should meet him there at that hour; -and Kelly took his leave, much relieved on the subject nearest his heart. - -'Well, Frank,' said Blake, as soon as the door was closed, 'and have you -got the money you wanted?' - -'Indeed I've not, then.' - -'And why not? If your protégé is going to elope with an heiress, he ought -to have money at command.' - -'And so he will, and it'll be a great temptation to me to know where I can -get it so easily. But he was telling me all about this woman before I -thought of my own concerns and I didn't like to be talking to him of what I -wanted myself, when he'd been asking a favour of me. It would be too much -like looking for payment.' - -'There, you're wrong; fair barter is the truest and honestest system, all -the world over. Ca me, ca thee,' as the Scotch call it, is the best system -to go by. I never do, or ask, a favour; that is, for whatever I do, I -expect a return; and for whatever I get, I intend to make one.' - -'I'll get the money from Guinness. After all, that'll be the best, and as -you say, the cheapest.' - -'There you're right. His business is to lend money, and he'll lend it you -as long as you've means to repay it; and I'm sure no Connaught man will do -more that is, if I know them.' - -'I suppose he will, but heaven only knows how long that'll be!' and the -young lord threw himself back on the sofa, as if he thought a little -meditation would do him good. However, very little seemed to do for him, -for he soon roused himself, and said, 'I wonder how the devil, Dot, you do -without borrowing? My income's larger than yours, bad as it is; I've only -three horses in training, and you've, I suppose, above a dozen; and, take -the year through, I don't entertain half the fellows at Kelly's Court that -you do at Handicap Lodge; and yet, I never hear of your borrowing money.' - -'There's many reasons for that. In the first place, I haven't an estate; in -the second, I haven't a mother; in the third, I haven't a pack of hounds; -in the fourth, I haven't a title; and, in the fifth, no one would lend me -money, if I asked it.' - -'As for the estate, it's devilish little I spend on it; as for my mother, -she has her own jointure; as for the hounds, they eat my own potatoes; and -as for the title, I don't support it. But I haven't your luck, Dot. You'd -never want for money, though the mint broke.' - -'Very likely I mayn't when it does; but I'm likely to be poor enough till -that happy accident occurs. But, as far as luck goes, you've had more than -me; you won nearly as much, in stakes, as I did, last autumn, and your -stable expenses weren't much above a quarter what mine were. But, the truth -is, I manage better; I know where my money goes to, and you don't; I work -hard, and you don't; I spend my money on what's necessary to my style of -living, you spend yours on what's not necessary. What the deuce have the -fellows in Mayo and Roscommon done for you, that you should mount two or -three rascals, twice a-week, to show them sport, when you're not there -yourself two months in the season? I suppose you don't keep the horses and -men for nothing, if you do the dogs; and I much doubt whether they're not -the dearest part of the bargain.' - -'Of course they cost something; but it's the only thing I can do for the -country; and there were always hounds at Kelly's Court till my grandfather -got the property, and they looked upon him as no better than an old woman, -because he gave them up. Besides, I suppose I shall be living at Kelly's -Court soon, altogether, and I could never get on then without hounds. It's -bad enough, as it is.' - -'I haven't a doubt in the world it 's bad enough. I know what -Castleblakeney is. But I doubt your living there. I've no doubt you'll try; -that is, if you do marry Miss Wyndham; but she'll be sick of it in three -months, and you in six, and you'll go and live at Paris, Florence, or -Naples, and there'll be another end of the O'Kellys, for thirty or forty -years, as far as Ireland's concerned. You'll never do for a poor country -lord; you're not sufficiently proud, or stingy. You'd do very well as a -country gentleman, and you'd make a decent nobleman with such a fortune as -Lord Cashel's. But your game, if you lived on your own property, would be a -very difficult one, and one for which you've neither tact nor temper.' - -'Well, I hope I'll never live out of Ireland. Though I mayn't have tact to -make one thousand go as far as five, I've sense enough to see that a poor -absentee landlord is a great curse to his country; and that's what I hope I -never shall be.' - -'My dear Lord Ballindine; all poor men are curses, to themselves or some -one else.' - -'A poor absentee's the worst of all. He leaves nothing behind, and can -leave nothing. He wants all he has for himself; and, if he doesn't give his -neighbours the profit which must arise somewhere, from his own consumption, -he can give nothing. A rich man can afford to leave three or four thousand -a year behind him; in the way of wages for labour.' - -'My gracious, Frank! You should put all that in a pamphlet, and not inflict -it on a poor devil waiting for his dinner. At present, give your profit to -Morrison, and come and consume some mock-turtle; and I'll tell you what -Sheil's going to do for us all.' - -Lord Ballindine did as he was bid, and left the room to prepare for dinner. -By the time that he had eaten his soup, and drank a glass of wine, he had -got rid of the fit of blue devils which the thoughts of his poverty had -brought on, and he spent the rest of the evening comfortably enough, -listening to his friend's comical version of Shell's speech; receiving -instruction from that great master of the art as to the manner in which he -should treat his Derby colt, and being flattered into the belief that he -would be a prominent favourite for that great race. - -When they had finished their wine, they sauntered into the Kildare Street -Club. - -Blake was soon busy with his little betting-book, and Lord Ballindine -followed his example. Brien Boru was, before long, in great demand. Blake -took fifty to one, and then talked the horse up till he ended by giving -twenty-five. He was soon ranked the first of the Irish lot; and the success -of the Hibernians had made them very sanguine of late. Lord Ballindine -found himself the centre of a little sporting circle, as being the man with -the crack nag of the day. He was talked of, courted, and appealed to; and, -I regret to say, that before he left the club he was again nearly -forgetting Kelly's Court and Miss Wyndham, had altogether got rid of his -patriotic notions as to the propriety of living on his own estate, had -determined forthwith to send Brien Boru over to Scott's English stables; -and then, went to bed, and dreamed that he was a winner of the Derby, and -was preparing for the glories of Newmarket with five or six thousand pounds -in his pocket. - -Martin Kelly dined with his brother at Jude's, and spent his evening -equally unreasonably; at least, it may be supposed so from the fact that at -one o'clock in the morning he was to be seen standing on one of the tables -at Burton Bindon's oyster-house, with a pewter pot, full of porter, in his -hand, and insisting that every one in the room should drink the health of -Anty Lynch, whom, on that occasion, he swore to be the prettiest and the -youngest girl in Connaught. - -It was lucky he was so intoxicated, that no one could understand him; and -that his hearers were so drunk that they could understand nothing; as, -otherwise, the publicity of his admiration might have had the effect of -preventing the accomplishment of his design. - -He managed, however, to meet his patron the next morning at the lawyer's, -though his eyes were very red, and his cheeks pale; and, after being there -for some half hour, left the office, with the assurance that, whenever he -and the lady might please to call there, they should find a deed prepared -for their signature, which would adjust the property in the manner -required. - -That afternoon Lord Ballindine left Dublin, with his friend, to make -instant arrangements for the exportation of Brien Boru; and, at two o'clock -the next day, Martin left, by the boat, for Ballinaslie, having evinced his -patriotism by paying a year's subscription in advance to the 'Nation' -newspaper, and with his mind fully made up to bring Anty away to Dublin -with as little delay as possible. - - - - -IV THE DUNMORE INN - - -Anty Lynch was not the prettiest, or the youngest girl in Connaught; nor -would Martin have affirmed her to be so, unless he had been very much -inebriated indeed. However young she might have been once, she was never -pretty; but, in all Ireland, there was not a more single-hearted, -simpleminded young woman. I do not use the word simple as foolish; for, -though uneducated, she was not foolish. But she was unaffected, honest, -humble, and true, entertaining a very lowly idea of her own value, and -undated by her newly acquired wealth. - -She had been so little thought of all her life by others, that she had -never learned to think much of herself; she had had but few acquaintances, -and no friends, and had spent her life, hitherto, so quietly and silently, -that her apparent apathy was attributable rather to want of subjects of -excitement, than to any sluggishness of disposition. Her mother had died -early; and, since then, the only case in which Anty had been called on to -exercise her own judgment, was in refusing to comply with her father's wish -that she should become a nun. On this subject, though often pressed, she -had remained positive, always pleading that she felt no call to the sacred -duties which would be required, and innocently assuring her father, that, -if allowed to remain at home, she would cause him no trouble, and but -little expense. - -So she had remained at home, and had inured herself to bear without -grumbling, or thinking that she had cause for grumbling, the petulance of -her father, and the more cruel harshness and ill-humour of her brother. In -all the family schemes of aggrandisement she had been set aside, and Barry -had been intended by the father as the scion on whom all the family honours -were to fall. His education had been expensive, his allowance liberal, and -his whims permitted; while Anty was never better dressed than a decent -English servant, and had been taught nothing save the lessons she had -learnt from her mother, who died when she was but thirteen. - -Mrs Lynch had died before the commencement of Sim's palmy days. They had -seen no company in her time for they were then only rising people; and, -since that, the great friends to whom Sim, in his wealth, had attached -himself, and with whom alone he intended that Barry should associate, were -all of the masculine gender. He gave bachelor dinner-parties to hard- -drinking young men, for whom Anty was well contented to cook; and when -they as they often, from the effect of their potations, were perforce -obliged to do stayed the night at Dunmore House, Anty never showed herself -in the breakfast parlour, but boiled the eggs, made the tea, and took her -own breakfast in the kitchen. - -It was not wonderful, therefore, that no one proposed for Anty; and, though -all who knew the Lynches, knew that Sim had a daughter, it was very -generally given out that she was not so wise as her neighbours; and the -father and brother took no pains to deny the rumour. The inhabitants of the -village knew better; the Lynches were very generally disliked, and the -shameful way 'Miss Anty was trated,' was often discussed in the little -shops; and many of the townspeople were ready to aver that, 'simple or no, -Anty Lynch was the best of the breed, out-and-out.' - -Matters stood thus at Dunmore, when the quarrel before alluded to, -occurred, and when Sim made his will, dividing his property and died before -destroying it, as he doubtless would have done, when his passion was over. - -Great was the surprise of every one concerned, and of many who were not at -all concerned, when it was ascertained that Anty Lynch was an heiress, and -that she was now possessed of four hundred pounds a-year in her own right; -but the passion of her brother, it would be impossible to describe. He -soon, however, found that it was too literally true, and that no direct -means were at hand, by which he could deprive his sister of her patrimony. -The lawyer, when he informed Anty of her fortune and present station, made -her understand that she had an equal right with her brother in everything -in the house; and though, at first, she tacitly acquiesced in his -management, she was not at all simple enough to be ignorant of the rights o -possession, or weak enough to relinquish them. - -Barry soon made up his mind that, as she had and must have the property, -all he could now do was to take care that it should revert to him as her -heir; and the measure of most importance in effecting this, would be to -take care that she did not marry. In his first passion, after his father's -death, he had been rough and cruel to her; but he soon changed his conduct, -and endeavoured to flatter her into docility at one moment, and to frighten -her into obedience in the next. - -He soon received another blow which was also a severe one. Moylan, the old -man who proposed the match to Martin, called on him, and showed him that -Anty had appointed him her agent, and had executed the necessary legal -documents for the purpose. Upon this subject he argued for a long time with -his sister pointing out to her that the old man would surely rob -her offering to act as her agent himself recommending others as more honest -and fitting and, lastly, telling her that she was an obstinate fool, who -would soon be robbed of every penny she had, and that she would die in a -workhouse at last. - -But Anty, though she dreaded her brother, was firm. Wonderful as it may -appear, she even loved him. She begged him not to quarrel with her promised -to do everything to oblige him, and answered his wrath with gentleness; but -it was of no avail. Barry knew that her agent was a plotter that he would -plot against his influence though he little guessed then what would be the -first step Moylan would take, or how likely it would be, if really acted -on, to lead to his sister's comfort and happiness. After this, Barry passed -two months of great misery and vexation. He could not make up his mind what -to do, or what final steps to take, either about the property, his sister, -or himself. At first, he thought of frightening Moylan and his sister, by -pretending that he would prove Anty to be of weak mind, and not fit to -manage her own affairs, and that he would indict the old man for -conspiracy; but he felt that Moylan was not a man to be frightened by such -bugbears. Then, he made up his mind to turn all he had into money, to leave -his sister to the dogs, or any one who might choose to rob her, and go and -live abroad. Then he thought, if his sister should die, what a pity it -would be, he should lose it all, and how he should blame himself, if she -were to die soon after having married some low adventurer; and he -reflected; how probable such a thing would be how likely that such a man -would soon get rid of her; and then his mind began to dwell on her death, -and to wish for it. He found himself constantly thinking of it, and -ruminating on it, and determining that it was the only event which could -set him right. His own debts would swallow up half his present property; -and how could he bring himself to live on the pitiful remainder, when that -stupid idiot, as he called her to himself, had three times more than she -could possibly want? Morning after morning, he walked about the small -grounds round the house, with his hat over his eyes, and his hands tossing -about the money in his pockets, thinking of this cursing his father, and -longing almost praying for his sister's death. Then he would have his -horse, and flog the poor beast along the roads without going anywhere, or -having any object in view, but always turning the same thing over and over -in his mind. And, after dinner, he would sit, by the hour, over the fire, -drinking, longing for his sister's money, and calculating the probabilities -of his ever possessing it. He began to imagine all the circumstances which -might lead to her death; he thought of all the ways in which persons -situated as she was, might, and often did, die. He reflected, without -knowing that he was doing so, on the probability of robbers breaking into -the house, if she were left alone in it, and of their murdering her; he -thought of silly women setting their own clothes on fire of their falling -out of window drowning themselves of their perishing in a hundred possible -but improbable ways. It was after he had been drinking a while, that these -ideas became most vivid before his eyes, and seemed like golden dreams, the -accomplishment of which he could hardly wish for. And, at last, as the, -fumes of the spirit gave him courage, other and more horrible images would -rise to his imagination, and the drops of sweat would stand on his brow as -he would invent schemes by which, were he so inclined, he could accelerate, -without detection, the event for which he so ardently longed. With such -thoughts would he turn into bed; and though in the morning he would try to -dispel the ideas in which he had indulged overnight, they still left their -impression on his mind they added bitterness to his hatred and made him -look on himself as a man injured by his father and sister, and think that -he owed it to himself to redress his injuries by some extraordinary means. - -It was whilst Barry Lynch was giving way to such thoughts as these, and -vainly endeavouring to make up his mind as to what he would do, that Martin -made his offer to Anty. To tell the truth, it was Martin's sister Meg who -had made the first overture; and, as Anty had not rejected it with any -great disdain, but had rather shown a disposition to talk about it as a -thing just possible, Martin had repeated it in person, and had reiterated -it, till Anty had at last taught herself to look upon it as a likely and -desirable circumstance. Martin had behaved openly and honourably with -regard to the money part of the business; telling his contemplated bride -that it was, of course, her fortune which had first induced him to think of -her; but adding, that he would also value her and love her for herself, if -she would allow him. He described to her the sort of settlement he should -propose, and ended by recommending an early day for the wedding. - -Anty had sense enough to be pleased at his straightforward and honest -manner; and, though she did not say much to himself, she said a great deal -in his praise to Meg, which all found its way to Martin's ears. But still, -he could not get over the difficulty which he had described to Lord -Ballindine. Anty wanted to wait till her brother should go out of the -country, and Martin was afraid that he would not go; and things were in -this state when he started for Dublin. - -The village of Dunmore has nothing about it which can especially recommend -it to the reader. It has none of those beauties of nature which have taught -Irishmen to consider their country as the 'first flower of the earth, and -first gem of the sea'. It is a dirty, ragged little town, standing in a -very poor part of the country, with nothing about it to induce the -traveller to go out of his beaten track. It is on no high road, and is -blessed with no adventitious circumstances to add to its prosperity. - -It was once the property of the O'Kellys; but, in those times the landed -proprietors thought but little of the towns; and now it is parcelled out -among different owners, some of whom would think it folly to throw away a -penny on the place, and others of whom have not a penny to throw away. It -consists of a big street, two little streets, and a few very little lanes. -There is a Court-house, where the barrister sits twice a year; a Barrack, -once inhabited by soldiers, but now given up to the police; a large slated -chapel, not quite finished; a few shops for soft goods; half a dozen -shebeen-houses, ruined by Father Mathew; a score of dirty cabins offering -'lodging and enthertainment', as announced on the window-shutters; Mrs. -Kelly's inn and grocery-shop; and, last though not least, Simeon Lynch's -new, staring house, built just at the edge of the town, on the road to -Roscommon, which is dignified with the name of Dunmore House. The people of -most influence in the village were Mrs. Kelly of the inn, and her two sworn -friends, the parish priest and his curate. The former, Father Geoghegan, -lived about three miles out of Dunmore, near Toneroe; and his curate, -Father Pat Connel, inhabited one of the small houses in the place, very -little better in appearance than those which offered accommodation to -travellers and trampers. - -Such was, and is, the town of Dunmore in the county of Galway; and I must -beg the reader to presume himself to be present there with me on the -morning on which the two young Kellys went to hear Sheil's speech. At about -ten o'clock, the widow Kelly and her daughters were busy in the shop, which -occupied the most important part of the ground-floor of the inn. It was a -long, scrambling, ugly-looking house. Next to the shop, and opening out of -it, was a large drinking-room, furnished with narrow benches and rickety -tables; and here the more humble of Mrs. Kelly's guests regaled themselves. -On the other side of this, was the hall, or passage of the house; and, next -to that again, a large, clingy, dark kitchen, over which Sally reigned with -her teapot dynasty, and in which were always congregated a parcel of ragged -old men, boys, and noisy women, pretending to be busy, but usually doing -but little good, and attracted by the warmth of the big fire, and the hopes -of some scraps of food and drink. - -'For the widow Kelly God bless her! was a thrue Christhian, and didn't -begrudge the poor more power to her like some upstarts who might live to be -in want yet, glory be to the Almighty!' - -The difference of the English and Irish character is nowhere more plainly -discerned than in their respective kitchens. With the former, this -apartment is probably the cleanest, and certainly the most orderly, in the -house. It is rarely intruded into by those unconnected, in some way, with -its business. Everything it contains is under the vigilant eye of its chief -occupant, who would imagine it quite impossible to carry on her business, -whether of an humble or important nature, if her apparatus was subjected to -the hands of the unauthorised. An Irish kitchen is devoted to hospitality -in every sense of the word. Its doors are open to almost all loungers and -idlers; and the chances are that Billy Bawn, the cripple, or Judy Molloy, -the deaf old hag, are more likely to know where to find the required -utensil than the cook herself. It is usually a temple dedicated to the -goddess of disorder; and, too often joined with her, is the potent deity of -dirt. It is not that things are out of their place, for they have no place. -It isn't that the floor is not scoured, for you cannot scour dry mud into -anything but wet mud. It isn't that the chairs and tables look filthy, for -there are none. It isn't that the pots, and plates, and pans don't shine, -for you see none to shine. All you see is a grimy, black ceiling, an uneven -clay floor, a small darkened window, one or two unearthly-looking recesses, -a heap of potatoes in the corner, a pile of turf against the wall, two pigs -and a dog under the single dresser, three or four chickens on the window- -sill, an old cock moaning on the top of a rickety press, and a crowd of -ragged garments, squatting, standing, kneeling, and crouching, round the -fire, from which issues a babel of strange tongues, not one word of which -is at first intelligible to ears unaccustomed to such eloquence. - -And yet, out of these unfathomable, unintelligible dens, proceed in due -time dinners, of which the appearance of them gives no promise. Such a -kitchen was Mrs. Kelly's; and yet, it was well known and attested by those -who had often tried tile experiment, that a man need think it no misfortune -to have to get his dinner, his punch, and his bed, at the widow's. - -Above stairs were two sitting-rooms and a colony of bed-rooms, occupied -indiscriminately by the family, or by such customers as might require them. -If you came back to dine at the inn, after a day's shooting on the bogs, -you would probably find Miss Jane's work-box on the table, or Miss Meg's -album on the sofa; and, when a little accustomed to sojourn at such places, -you would feel no surprise at discovering their dresses turned inside out, -and hanging on the pegs in your bed-room; or at seeing their side-combs and -black pins in the drawer of your dressing-table. - -On the morning in question, the widow and her daughters were engaged in -the shop, putting up pen'norths of sugar, cutting bits of tobacco, tying -bundles of dip candles, attending to chance customers, and preparing for -the more busy hours of the day. It was evident that something had occurred -at the inn, which had ruffled the even tenor of its way. The widow was -peculiarly gloomy. Though fond of her children, she was an autocrat in her -house, and accustomed, as autocrats usually are, to scold a good deal; and -now she was using her tongue pretty freely. It wasn't the girls, however, -she was rating, for they could answer for themselves; and did, when they -thought it necessary. But now, they were demure, conscious, and quiet. Mrs. -Kelly was denouncing one of the reputed sins of the province to which she -belonged, and describing the horrors of 'schaming.' - -'Them underhand ways,' she declared, 'niver come to no good. Av' it's thrue -what Father Connel's afther telling me, there'll harum come of it before it -'s done and over. Schaming, schaming, and schaming for iver! The back of my -hand to such doings! I wish the tongue had been out of Moylan's mouth, the -ould rogue, before he put the thing in his head. Av' he wanted the young -woman, and she was willing, why not take her in a dacent way, and have done -with it. I'm sure she's ould enough. But what does he want with a wife like -her? making innimies for himself. I suppose he'll be sitting up for a -gentleman now bad cess to them for gentry; not but that he's as good a -right as some, and a dale more than others, who are ashamed to put their -hand to a turn of work. I hate such huggery muggery work up in a corner. -It's half your own doing; and a nice piece of work it'll be, when he's got -an ould wife and a dozen lawsuits! when he finds his farm gone, and his -pockets empty; for it'll be a dale asier for him to be getting the wife -than the money when he's got every body's abuse, and nothing else, by his -bargain!' - -It was very apparent that Martin's secret had not been well kept, and that -the fact of his intended marriage with Anty Lynch was soon likely to be -known to all Dunmore. The truth was, that Moylan had begun to think himself -overreached in the matter to be afraid that, by the very measure he had -himself proposed, he would lose all share in the great prize he had put in -Martin's way, and that he should himself be the means of excluding his own -finger from the pie. It appeared to him that if he allowed this, his own -folly would only be equalled by the young man's ingratitude; and he -determined therefore, if possible, to prevent the match. Whereupon he told -the matter as a secret, to those who he knew would set it moving. In a very -short space of time it reached the ears of Father Connel; and he lost none -in stepping down to learn the truth of so important a piece of luck to one -of his parishioners, and to congratulate the widow. Here, however, he was -out in his reckoning, for she declared she did not believe it that it -wasn't, and couldn't be true; and it was only after his departure that she -succeeded in extracting the truth from her daughters. - - -The news, however, quickly reached the kitchen and its lazy crowd; and the -inn door and its constant loungers; and was readily and gladly credited in -both places. - -Crone after crone, and cripple after cripple, hurried into the shop, to -congratulate the angry widow on 'masther Martin's luck; and warn't he -worthy of it, the handsome jewel and wouldn't he look the gintleman, every -inch of him?' and Sally expatiated greatly on it in the kitchen, and drank -both their healths in an extra pot of tea, and Kate grinned her delight, -and Jack the ostler, who took care of Martin's horse, boasted loudly of it -in the street, declaring that 'it was a good thing enough for Anty Lynch, -with all her money, to get a husband at all out of the Kellys, for the -divil a know any one knowed in the counthry where the Lynchs come from; but -every one knowed who the Kellys wor and Martin wasn't that far from the -lord himself.' - -There was great commotion, during the whole day, at the inn. Some said -Martin had gone to town to buy furniture; others, that he had done so to -prove the will. One suggested that he'd surely have to fight Barry, and -another prayed that 'if he did, he might kill the blackguard, and have all -the fortin to himself, out and out, God bless him! - - - - -V A LOVING BROTHER - - -The great news was not long before it reached the ears of one not disposed -to receive the information with much satisfaction, and this was Barry -Lynch, the proposed bride's amiable brother. The medium through which he -first heard it was not one likely to add to his good humour. Jacky, the -fool, had for many years been attached to the Kelly's Court family; that is -to say, he had attached himself to it, by getting his food in the kitchen, -and calling himself the lord's fool. But, latterly, he had quarrelled with -Kelly's Court, and had insisted on being Sim Lynch's fool, much to the -chagrin of that old man; and, since his death, he had nearly maddened Barry -by following him through the street, and being continually found at the -house-door when he went out. Jack's attendance was certainly dictated by -affection rather than any mercenary views, for he never got a scrap out of -the Dunmore House kitchen, or a halfpenny from his new patron. But still, -he was Barry's fool; and, like other fools, a desperate annoyance to his -master. - -On the day in question, as young Mr. Lynch was riding out of the gate, -about three in the afternoon, there, as usual, was Jack. - -'Now yer honour, Mr. Barry, darling, shure you won't forget Jacky today. -You'll not forget your own fool, Mr. Barry?' - -Barry did not condescend to answer this customary appeal, but only looked -at the poor ragged fellow as though he'd like to flog the life out of him. - -'Shure your honour, Mr. Barry, isn't this the time then to open yer -honour's hand, when Miss Anty, God bless her, is afther making sich a great -match for the family? Glory be to God!' - -'What d'ye mean, you ruffian?' - -'Isn't the Kellys great people intirely, Mr. Barry? and won't it be a great -thing for Miss Anty, to be sib to a lord? Shure yer honour'd not be -refusing me this blessed day.' - -'What the d are you saying about Miss Lynch?' said Barry, his attention -somewhat arrested by the mention of his sister's name. - -'Isn't she going to be married then, to the dacentest fellow in Dunmore? -Martin Kelly, God bless him! Ah! there'll be fine times at Dunmore, then. -He's not the boy to rattle a poor divil out of the kitchen into the cold -winther night! The Kellys was always the right sort for the poor.' - -Barry was frightened in earnest, now. It struck him at once that Jack -couldn't have made the story out of his own head; and the idea that there -was any truth in it, nearly knocked him off his horse. He rode on, however, -trying to appear to be regardless of what had been said to him; and, as he -trotted off, he heard the fool's parting salutation. - -'And will yer honour be forgething me afther the news I've brought yer? -Well, hard as ye are, Misther Barry, I've hot yer now, any way.' - -And, in truth, Jack had hit him hard. Of all things that could happen to -him, this would be about the worst. He had often thought, with dread, of -his sister's marrying, and of his thus being forced to divide -everything all his spoil, with some confounded stranger. But for her to -marry a shopkeeper's son, in the very village in which he lived, was more -than he could bear. He could never hold up his head in the county again. -And then, he thought of his debts, and tried to calculate whether he might -get over to France without paying them, and be able to carry his share of -the property with him; and so he went on, pursuing his wretched, uneasy, -solitary ride, sometimes sauntering along at a snail's pace, and then again -spurring the poor brute, and endeavouring to bring his mind to some settled -plan. But, whenever he did so, the idea of his sister's death was the only -one which seemed to present either comfort or happiness. - -He made up his mind, at last, to put a bold face on the matter; to find out -from Anty herself whether there was any truth in the story; and, if there -should be for he felt confident she would not be able to deceive him to -frighten her and the whole party of the Kellys out of what he considered a -damnable conspiracy to rob him of his father's property, - -He got off his horse, and stalked into the house. On inquiry, he found that -Anty was in her own room. He was sorry she was not out; for, to tell the -truth, he was rather anxious to put off the meeting, as he did not feel -himself quite up to the mark, and was ashamed of seeming afraid of her. He -went into the stable, and abused the groom; into the kitchen, and swore at -the maid; and then into the garden. It was a nasty, cold, February day, and -he walked up and down the damp muddy walks till he was too tired and cold -to walk longer, and then turned into the parlour, and remained with his -back to the fire, till the man came in to lay the cloth, thinking on the -one subject that occupied all his mind occasionally grinding his teeth, and -heaping curses on his father and sister, who, together, had inflicted such -grievous, such unexpected injuries upon him. - -If, at this moment, there was a soul in all Ireland over whom Satan had -full dominion if there was a breast unoccupied by one good thought if there -was a heart wishing, a brain conceiving, and organs ready to execute all -that was evil, from the worst motives, they were to be found in that -miserable creature, as he stood there urging himself on to hate those whom -he should have loved cursing those who were nearest to him fearing her, -whom he had ill-treated all his life and striving to pluck up courage to -take such measures as might entirely quell her. Money was to him the only -source of gratification. He had looked forward, when a boy, to his manhood, -as a period when he might indulge, unrestrained, in pleasures which money -would buy; and, when a man, to his father's death, as a time when those -means would be at his full command. He had neither ambition, nor affection, -in his nature; his father had taught him nothing but the excellence of -money, and, having fully imbued him with this, had cut him off from the use -of it. - -He was glad when he found that dinner was at hand, and that he could not -now see his sister until after he had fortified himself with drink. Anty -rarely, if ever, dined with him; so he sat down, and swallowed his solitary -meal. He did not eat much, but he gulped down three or four glasses of -wine; and, immediately on having done so, he desired the servant, with a -curse, to bring him hot water and sugar, and not to keep him waiting all -night for a tumbler of punch, as he did usually. Before the man had got -into the kitchen, he rang the bell again; and when the servant returned -breathless, with the steaming jug, he threatened to turn him out of the -house at once, if he was not quicker in obeying the orders given him. He -then made a tumbler of punch, filling the glass half full of spirits, and -drinking it so hot as to scald his throat; and when that was done he again -rang the bell, and desired the servant to tell Miss Anty that he wanted to -speak to her. When the door was shut, he mixed more drink, to support his -courage during the interview, and made up his mind that nothing should -daunt him from preventing the marriage, in one way or another. When Anty -opened the door, he was again standing with his back to the fire, his hands -in his pockets, the flaps of his coat hanging over his arms, his shoulders -against the mantel-piece, and his foot on the chair on which he had been -sitting. His face was red, and his eyes were somewhat blood-shot; he had -always a surly look, though, from his black hair, and large bushy whiskers, -many people would have called him good looking; but now there was a scowl -in his restless eyes, which frightened Anty when she saw it; and the thick -drops of perspiration on his forehead did not add benignity to his face. - -'Were you wanting me, Barry?' said Anty, who was the first to speak. - -'What do you stand there for, with the door open?' replied her brother, -'d' you think I want the servants to hear what I've got to say?' - -''Deed I don't know,' said Anty, shutting the door; 'but they'll hear just -as well now av' they wish, for they'll come to the kay-hole.' - -'Will they, by G !' said Barry, and he rushed to the door, which he banged -open; finding no victim outside on whom to exercise his wrath 'let me catch -'em!' and he returned to his position by the fire. - -Anty had sat down on a sofa that stood by the wall opposite the fireplace, -and Barry remained for a minute, thinking how he'd open the campaign. At -last he began: - -'Anty, look you here, now. What scheme have you got in your head? You'd -better let me know, at once.' - -'What schame, Barry?' - -'Well what schame, if you like that better.' - -'I've no schame in my head, that I know of at laist,' and then Anty -blushed. It would evidently be easy enough to make the poor girl tell her -own secret. - -'Well, go on at laist.' - -'I don't know what you mane, Barry. Av' you're going to be badgering me -again, I'll go away.' - -'It's evident you're going to do something you're ashamed of, when you're -afraid to sit still, and answer a common question. But you must answer me. -I'm your brother, and have a right to know. What's this you're going to -do?' He didn't like to ask her at once whether she was going to get -married. It might not be true, and then he would only be putting the idea -into her head. 'Well why don't you answer me? What is it you're going to -do?' - -'Is it about the property you mane, Barry?' - -'What a d d hypocrite you are! As if you didn't know what I mean! As for -the property, I tell you there'll be little left the way you're going on. -And as to that, I'll tell you what I'm going to do; so, mind, I warn you -beforehand. You're not able that is, you're too foolish and weak-headed to -manage it yourself; and I mean, as your guardian, to put it into the hands -of those that shall manage it for you. I'm not going to see you robbed and -duped, and myself destroyed by such fellows as Moylan, and a crew of -huxtering blackguards down in Dunmore. And now, tell me at once, what 's -this I hear about you and the Kellys?' - -'What Kellys?' said Anty, blushing deeply, and half beside herself with -fear for Barry's face was very red, and full of fierce anger, and his rough -words frightened her. - -'What Kellys! Did you ever hear of Martin Kelly? d d young robber that he -is!' Anty blushed still deeper rose a little way from the sofa, and then -sat down again. 'Look you here, Anty I'll have the truth out of you. I'm -not going to be bamboozled by such an idiot as you. You got an old man, -when he was dying, to make a will that has robbed me of what was my own, -and now you think you'll play your own low game; but you're mistaken! -You've lived long enough without a husband to do without one now; and I can -tell you I'm not going to see my property carried off by such a low, paltry -blackguard as Martin Kelly.' - -'How can he take your property, Barry?' sobbed forth the poor creature, who -was, by this time, far gone in tears. - -'Then the long and the short of it is, he shan't have what you call yours. -Tell me, at once, will you is it true, that you've promised to marry him?' - -Anty replied nothing, but continued sobbing violently. - -'Cease your nonsense, you blubbering fool! A precious creature you are to -take on yourself to marry any man! Are you going to answer me, Anty?' And -he walked away from the fire, and came and stood opposite to her as she sat -upon the sofa. 'Are you going to answer me or not?' he continued, stamping -on the floor. - -'I'll not stop here and be trated this way Barry I'm sure I do all I I can -for you and you're always bullying me because father divided the property.' -And Anty continued sobbing more violently than ever. 'I won't stop in the -room any more,' and she got up to go to the door. - -Barry, however, rushed before her, and prevented her. He turned the lock, -and put the key in his pocket; and then he caught her arm, as she attempted -to get to the bell, and dragged her back to the sofa. - -'You're not off so easy as that, I can tell you. Why, d' you think you're -to marry whom you please, without even telling me of it? What d'you think -the world would say of me, if I were to let such an idiot as you be caught -up by the first sharper that tried to rob you of your money? Now, look -here,' and he sat down beside her, and laid his hand violently on her arm, -as he spoke, 'you don't go out of this room, alive, until you've given me -your solemn promise, and sworn on the cross, that you'll never marry -without my consent; and you'll give me that in writing, too.' - -Anty at first turned very pale when she felt his heavy hand on her arm, and -saw his red, glaring eyes so near her own. But when he said she shouldn't -leave the room alive, she jumped from the sofa, and shrieked, at the top of -her shrill voice, 'Oh, Barry! you'll not murdher me! shure you wouldn't -murdher your own sisther!' - -Barry was rather frightened at the noise, and, moreover, the word 'murder' -quelled him. But when he found, after a moment's pause, that the servants -had not heard, or had not heeded his sister, he determined to carry on his -game, now that he tad proceeded so far. He took, however, a long drink out -of his tumbler, to give him fresh courage, and then returned to the charge. - -'Who talked of murdering you? But, if you bellow in that way, I'll gag you. -It's a great deal I'm asking, indeed that, when I'm your only guardian, my -advice should be asked for before you throw away your money on a low -ruffian. You're more fit for a mad-house than to be any man's wife; and, by -Heaven, that's where I'll put you, if you don't give me the promise I ask! -Will you swear you'll marry no one without my leave?' - -Poor Anty shook with fear as she sate, with her eyes fixed on her brother's -face. He was nearly drunk now, and she felt that he was so and he looked so -hot and so fierce so red and cruel, that she was all but paralysed. -Nevertheless, she mustered strength to say, - -'Let me go, now, Barry, and, tomorrow, I'll tell you everything indeed I -will and I'll thry to do all you'd have me; indeed,' and indeed, I will! -Only do let me go now, for you've frighted me.' - -'You're likely to be more frighted yet, as you call it! And be tramping -along the roads, I suppose, with Martin Kelly, before the morning. No! I'll -have an answer from you, any way. I've a right to that!' - -'Oh, Barry! What is it you want? Pray let me go pray, pray, for the love of -the blessed Jesus, let me go.' - -'I'll tell you where you'll go, and that's into Ballinasloe mad-house! Now, -mark me so help me I'll set off with you this night, and have you there in -the morning as an idiot as you are, if you won't make the promise I'm -telling you!' - -By this time Anty's presence of mind had clean left her. Indeed, all the -faculties of her reason had vanished; and, as she saw her brother's -scowling face so near her own, and heard him threatening to drag her to a -mad-house, she put her hands before her eyes, and made one rush to escape -from him to the door to the window anywhere to get out of his reach. - -Barry was quite drunk now. Had he not been so, even he would hardly have -done what he then did. As she endeavoured to rush by him, he raised his -fist, and struck her on the face, with all his force. The blow fell upon -her hands, as they were crossed over her face; but the force of the blow -knocked her down, and she fell upon the floor, senseless, striking the back -of her head against the table. - -'Confound her,' muttered the brute, between his teeth, as she fell, 'for an -obstinate, pig-headed fool! What the d----l shall I do now? Anty, get up! -get up, will you! What ails you?' and then again to himself, 'the d----l -seize her! What am I to do now?' and he succeeded in dragging her on to -the sofa. - -The man-servant and the cook although up to this point, they had considered -it would be ill manners to interrupt the brother and sister in their family -interview, were nevertheless at the door; and though they could see -nothing, and did not succeed in hearing much, were not the less fully aware -that the conversation was of a somewhat stormy nature on the part of the -brother. When they heard the noise which followed the blow, though not -exactly knowing what had happened, they became frightened, and began to -think something terrible was being done. - -'Go in, Terry, avich,' whispered the woman 'Knock, man, and go in shure -he's murdhering her!' - -'What 'ud he do to me thin, av' he'd strick a woman, and she his own flesh -and blood! He'll not murdher her but, faix, he's afther doing something -now! Knock, Biddy, knock, I say, and screech out that you're afther wanting -Miss Anty.' - -The woman had more courage than the man or else more compassion, for, -without further parleying, she rapped her knuckles loudly against the door, -and, as she did so, Terry sneaked away to the kitchen. - -Barry had just succeeded in raising his sister to the sofa as he heard the -knock. - -'Who's that?' he called out loudly; 'what do you want?' - -'Plaze yer honer, Miss Anty's wanting in the kitchen.' - -'She's busy, and can't come at present; she'll be there directly.' - -'Is she ill at all, Mr. Barry? God bless you, spake, Miss Anty; in God's -name, spake thin. Ah! Mr. Barry, thin, shure she'd spake av' she were -able.' - -'Go away, you fool! Your mistress'll be out in a minute.' Then, after a -moment's consideration, he went and unlocked the door, 'or go in, and see -what she wants. She's fainted, I think.' - -Barry Lynch walked out of the room, and into the garden before the house, -to think over what he had done, and what he'd better do for the future, -leaving Anty to the care of the frightened woman. - -She soon came to herself, and, excepting that her head was bruised in the -fall, was not much hurt. The blow, falling on her hands, had neither cut -nor marked her; but she was for a long time so flurried that she did not -know where she was, and, in answer to all Biddy's tender inquiries as to -the cause of her fall, and anathemas as to the master's bad temper, merely -said that 'she'd get to bed, for her head ached so, she didn't know where -she was.' - -To bed accordingly she went; and glad she was to have escaped alive from -that drunken face, which had glared on her for the last half hour. - -After wandering about round the house and through the grounds, for above an -hour, Barry returned, half sobered, to the room; but, in his present state -of mind, he could not go to bed sober. He ordered more hot water, and again -sat down alone to drink, and drown the remorse he was beginning to feel for -what he had done or rather, not remorse, but the feeling of fear that every -one would know how he had treated Anty, and that they would side with her -against him. Whichever way he looked, all was misery and disappointment to -him, and his only hope, for the present, was in drink. There he sat, for a -long time, with his eyes fixed on the turf, till it was all burnt out, -trying to get fresh courage from the spirits he swallowed, and swearing to -himself that he would not be beat by a woman. - -About one o'clock he seized one of the candles, and staggered up to bed. As -he passed his sister's door, he opened it and went in. She was fast asleep; -her shoes were off, and the bed-clothes were thrown over her, but she was -not undressed. He slowly shut the door, and stood, for some moments, -looking at her; then, walking to the bed, he took her shoulder, and shook -it as gently as his drunkenness would let him. This did not wake her, so he -put the candle down on the table, close beside the bed, and, steadying -himself against the bedstead, he shook her again and again. 'Anty', he -whispered, 'Anty'; and, at last, she opened her eyes. Directly she saw his -face, she closed them again, and buried her own in the clothes; however, he -saw that she was awake, and, bending his head, he muttered, loud enough for -her to hear, but in a thick, harsh, hurried, drunken voice, 'Anty d'ye -hear? If you marry that man, I'll have your life!' and then, leaving the -candle behind him, he staggered off into his own room in the dark. - - - - -VI THE ESCAPE - - -In vain, after that, did Anty try to sleep; turn which way she would, she -saw the bloodshot eyes and horrid drunken face of her cruel brother. For a -long time she lay, trembling and anxious; fearing she knew not what, and -trying to compose herself trying to make herself think that she had no -present cause for fear; but in vain. If she heard a noise, she thought it -was her brother's footstep, and when the house was perfectly silent and -still, she feared the very silence itself. At last, she crept out of bed, -and, taking the candle left by her brother, which had now burned down to -the socket, stepped softly down the stairs, to the place where the two -maid-servants slept, and, having awakened them, she made Biddy return with -her and keep her company for the remainder of the night. She did not quite -tell the good-natured girl all that had passed; she did not own that her -brother had threatened to send her to a madhouse, or that he had sworn to -have her life; but she said enough to show that he had shamefully ill- -treated her, and to convince Biddy that wherever her mistress might find a -home, it would be very unadvisable that she and Barry should continue to -live under the same roof. - -Early in the morning, 'Long afore the break o' day,' as the song says, -Biddy got up from her hard bed on the floor of her mistress' room, and, -seeing that Anty was at last asleep, started to carry into immediate -execution the counsels she had given during the night. As she passed the -head of the stairs, she heard the loud snore of Barry, in his drunken -slumber; and, wishing that he might sleep as sound for ever and ever, she -crept down to her own domicile, and awakened her comrade. - -'Whist, Judy whist, darlint! Up wid ye, and let me out.' - -'And what'd you be doing out now?' yawned Judy. - -'An arrand of the misthress shure, he used her disperate. Faix, it's a -wondher he didn't murther her outright!' - -'And where are ye going now?' - -'Jist down to Dunmore to the Kellys then, avich. Asy now; I'll be telling -you all bye and bye. She must be out of this intirely.' - -'Is't Miss Anty? Where'd she be going thin out of this?' - -'Divil a matther where! He'd murther her, the ruffian 'av he cotched her -another night in his dhrunkenness. We must git her out before he sleeps -hisself right. But hurry now, I'll be telling you all when I'm back again.' - -The two crept off to the back door together, and, Judy having opened it, -Biddy sallied out, on her important and good-natured mission. It was still -dark, though the morning was beginning to break, as she stood, panting, at -the front door of the inn. She tried to get in at the back, but the yard -gates were fastened; and Jack, the ostler, did not seem to be about yet. So -she gave a timid, modest knock, with the iron knocker, on the front door. A -pause, and then a second knock, a little louder; another pause, and then a -third; and then, as no one came, she remembered the importance of her -message, and gave such a rap as a man might do, who badly wanted a glass of -hot drink after travelling the whole night. - -The servants had good or hardy consciences, for they slept soundly; but the -widow Kelly, in her little bed-room behind the shop, well knew the sound of -that knocker, and, hurrying on her slippers and her gown, she got to the -door, and asked who was there. - -'Is that Sally, ma'am?' said Biddy, well knowing the widow's voice. - -'No, it's not. What is it you're wanting?' - -'Is it Kate thin, ma'am?' - -'No, it's not Kate. Who are you, I say; and what d'you want?' - -'I'm Biddy, plaze ma'am from Lynch's, and I'm wanting to spake to yerself, -ma'am about Miss Anty. She's very bad intirely, ma'am.' - -'What ails her and why d'you come here? Why don't you go to Doctor -Colligan, av' she's ill; and not come knocking here?' - -'It ain't bad that way, Miss Anty is, ma'am. Av' you'd just be good enough -to open the door, I'd tell you in no time.' - -It would, I am sure, be doing injustice to Mrs Kelly to say that her -curiosity was stronger than her charity; they both, however, no doubt had -their effect, and the door was speedily opened. - -'Oh, ma'am!' commenced Biddy, 'sich terrible doings up at the house! Miss -Anty 's almost kilt!' - -'Come out of the cowld, girl, in to the kitchen fire,' said the widow, who -didn't like the February blast, to which Biddy, in her anxiety, had been -quite indifferent; and the careful widow again bolted the door, and -followed the woman into certainly the warmest place in Dunmore, for the -turf fire in the inn kitchen was burning day and night. 'And now, tell me -what is it ails Miss Anty? She war well enough yesterday, I think, and I -heard more of her then than I wished.' - -Biddy now pulled her cloak from off her head, settled it over her -shoulders, and prepared for telling a good substantial story. - -'Oh, Misthress Kelly, ma'am, there's been disperate doings last night up at -the house. We were all hearing, in the morn yesterday, as how Miss Anty and -Mr Martin, God bless him! were to make a match of it, as why wouldn't they, -ma'am? for wouldn't Mr Martin make her a tidy, dacent, good husband?' - -'Well, well, Biddy don't mind Mr Martin; he'll be betther without a wife -for one while, and he needn't be quarrelling for one when he wants her. -What ails Miss Anty?' - -'Shure I'm telling you, ma'am; howsomever, whether its thrue or no about Mr -Martin, we were all hearing it yestherday; and the masther, he war afther -hearing it too, for he come into his dinner as black as tunder; and Terry -says he dhrunk the whole of a bottle of wine, and then he called for the -sperrits, and swilled away at them till he was nigh dhrunk. Well, wid that, -ma'am, he sent for Miss Anty, and the moment she comes in, he locks to the -door, and pulls her to the sofa, and swears outright that he'll murdher her -av' she don't swear, by the blessed Mary and the cross, that she'll niver -dhrame of marrying no one.' - -'Who tould you all this, Biddy? was it herself?' - -'Why, thin, partly herself it war who tould me, ma'am, and partly you see, -when Mr Barry war in his tantrums and dhrunken like, I didn't like to be -laying Miss Anty alone wid him, and nobody nigh, so I and Terry betook -ourselves nigh the door, and, partly heard what was going on; that's the -thruth on it, Mrs Kelly; and, afther a dale of rampaging and scolding, may -I niver see glory av' he didn't up wid his clenched fist, strik her in the -face, and knock her down all for one as 'av she wor a dhrunken blackguard -at a fair!' - -'You didn't see that, Biddy?' - -'No, ma'am I didn't see it; how could I, through the door? but I heerd it, -plain enough I heerd the poor cratur fall for dead amongst the tables and -chairs I did, Mrs Kelly and I heerd the big blow smash agin her poor head, -and down she wint why wouldn't she? and he, the born ruffian, her own -brother, the big blackguard, stricking at her wid all his force! Well, wid -that ma'am, I rushed into the room at laist, I didn't rush in for how could -I, and the door locked? but I knocked agin and agin, for I war afeard he -would be murthering her out and out. So, I calls out, as loud as I could, -as how Miss Anty war wanting in the kitchen: and wid that he come to the -door, and unlocks it as bould as brass, and rushes out into the garden, -saying as how Miss Anty war afther fainting. Well, in course I goes in to -her, where he had dragged her upon the sofa, and, thrue enough, she war -faint indeed.' - -'And, did she tell you, Biddy, that her own brother had trated her that -way?' - -'Wait, Mrs Kelly, ma'am, till I tell yer how it all happened. When she -corned to herself and she warn't long coming round she didn't say much, nor -did I; for I didn't just like then to be saying much agin the masther, for -who could know where his ears were? perish his sowl, the blackguard!' - -'Don't be cursing, Biddy.' - -'No, ma'am; only he must be cursed, sooner or later. Well, when she corned -to herself, she begged av' me to help her to bed, and she went up to her -room, and laid herself down, and I thought to myself that at any rate it -was all over for that night. When she war gone, the masther he soon come -back into the house, and begun calling for the sperrits again, like mad; -and Terry said that when he tuk the biling wather into the room, Mr Barry -war just like the divil as he's painted, only for his ears. After that -Terry wint to bed; and I and Judy weren't long afther him, for we didn't -care to be sitting up alone wid him, and he mad dhrunk. So we turned in, -and we were in bed maybe two hours or so, and fast enough, when down come -the misthress as pale as a sheet, wid a candle in her hand, and begged me, -for dear life, to come up into her room to her, and so I did, in coorse. -And then she tould me all and, not contint with what he'd done down stairs, -but the dhrunken ruffian must come up into her bed-room and swear the most -dreadfullest things to her you iver heerd, Mrs Kelly. The words he war -afther using, and the things he said, war most horrid; and Miss Anty -wouldn't for her dear life, nor for all the money in Dunmore, stop another -night, nor another day in the house wid him.' - -'But, is she much hurt, Biddy?' - -'Oh! her head;' cut, dreadful, where she fell, ma'am: and he shuck the very -life out of her poor carcase; so he did, Mrs Kelly, the ruffian!' - -'Don't be cursing, I tell you, girl. And what is it your misthress is -wishing to do now? Did she tell you to come to me?' - -'No, ma'am; she didn't exactly tell me only as she war saying that she -wouldn't for anything be staying in the house with Mr Barry; and as she -didn't seem to be knowing where she'd be going, and av' she be raally going -to be married to Mr Martin.' - -'Drat Mr Martin, you fool! Did she tell you she wanted to come here?'. - -'She didn't quite say as much as that. To tell the thruth, thin, it wor I -that said it, and she didn't unsay it; so, wid that, I thought I'd come -down here the first thing, and av' you, Mrs Kelly, wor thinking it right, -we'd get her out of the house before the masther's stirring.' - -The widow was a prudent woman, and she stood, for some time, considering; -for she felt that, if she held out her hand to Anty now, she must stick to -her through and through in the battle which there would be between her and -her brother; and there might be more plague than profit in that. But then, -again, she was not at all so indifferent as she had appeared to be, to her -favourite son's marrying four hundred a-year. She was angry at his thinking -of such a thing without consulting her; she feared the legal difficulties -he must encounter; and she didn't like the thoughts of its being said that -her son had married an old fool, and cozened her out of her money. But -still, four hundred a-year was a great thing; and Anty was a good-tempered -tractable young woman, of the right religion, and would not make a bad -wife; and, on reconsideration, Mrs Kelly thought the thing wasn't to be -sneezed at. Then, again, she hated Barry, and, having a high spirit, felt -indignant that he should think of preventing her son from marrying his -sister, if the two of them chose to do it; and she knew she'd be able, and -willing enough, too, to tell him a bit of her mind, if there should be -occasion. And lastly, and most powerfully of all, the woman's feeling came -in to overcome her prudential scruples, and to open her heart and her house -to a poor, kindly, innocent creature, ill-treated as Anty Lynch had been. -She was making up her mind what to do, and determining to give battle royal -to Barry and all his satellites, on behalf of Anty, when Biddy interrupted -her by saying,-- - -'I hope I warn't wrong, ma'am, in coming down and throubling you so arly? I -thought maybe you'd be glad to befrind Miss Anty seeing she and Miss Meg, -and Miss Jane, is so frindly.' - -'No, Biddy for a wondher, you're right, this morning. Mr Barry won't be -stirring yet?' - -'Divil a stir, ma'am! The dhrunkenness won't be off him yet this long -while. And will I go up, and be bringing Miss Anty down, ma'am?' - -'Wait a while. Sit to the fire there, and warm your shins. You're a good -girl. I'll go and get on my shoes and stockings, and my cloak, and bonnet. -I must go up wid you myself, and ask yer misthress down, as she should be -asked. They'll be telling lies on her 'av she don't lave the house -dacently, as she ought.' - -'More power to you thin, Mrs Kelly, this blessed morning, for a kind good -woman as you are, God bless you!' whimpered forth Biddy, who, now that she -had obtained her request, began to cry, and to stuff the corner of her -petticoat into her eyes. - -'Whist, you fool whist,' said the widow. 'Go and get up Sally you know -where she sleeps-and tell her to put down a fire in the little parlour -upstairs, and to get a cup of tay ready, and to have Miss Meg up. Your -misthress'll be the better of a quiet sleep afther the night she's had, and -it'll be betther for her jist popping into Miss Meg's bed than getting -between a pair of cowld sheets.' - -These preparations met with Biddy's entire approval, for she reiterated her -blessings on the widow, as she went to announce all the news to Sally and -Kate, while Mrs Kelly made such preparations as were fitting for a walk, at -that early hour, up to Dunmore House. - -They were not long before they were under weigh, but they did not reach the -house quite so quickly as Biddy had left it. Mrs Kelly had to pick her way -in the half light, and observed that 'she'd never been up to the house -since old Simeon Lynch built it, and when the stones were laying for it, -she didn't think she ever would; but one never knowed what changes might -happen in this world.' - -They were soon in the house, for Judy was up to let them in; and though she -stared when she saw Mrs Kelly, she merely curtsied, and said nothing. - -The girl went upstairs first, with the candle, and Mrs Kelly followed, very -gently, on tiptoe. She need not have been so careful to avoid waking Barry, -for, had a drove of oxen been driven upstairs, it would not have roused -him. However, up she crept her thick shoes creaking on every stair and -stood outside the door, while Biddy went in to break the news of her -arrival. - -Anty was still asleep, but it did not take much to rouse her; and she -trembled in her bed, when, on her asking what was the matter, Mrs Kelly -popped her bonnet inside the door, and said, - -'It's only me, my dear. Mrs Kelly, you know, from the inn,' and then she -very cautiously insinuated the rest of her body into the room, as though -she thought that Barry was asleep under the bed, and she was afraid of -treading on one of his stray fingers. 'It's only me, my dear. Biddy 's been -down to me, like a good girl; and I tell you what this is no place for you, -just at present, Miss Anty; not till such time as things is settled a -little. So I'm thinking you'd betther be slipping down wid me to the inn -there, before your brother's up. There's nobody in it, not a sowl, only -Meg, and Jane, and me, and we'll make you snug enough between us, never -fear.' - -'Do, Miss Anty, dear do, darling,' added Biddy. 'It'll be a dale betther -for you than waiting here to be batthered and bruised, and, perhaps, -murthered out and out.' - -'Hush, Biddy don't be saying such things,' said the widow, who had a great -idea of carrying on the war on her own premises, but who felt seriously -afraid of Barry now that she was in his house, 'don't be saying such -things, to frighthen her. But you'll be asier there than here,' she -continued, to Anty; 'and there's nothin like having things asy. So, get up -alanna, and we'll have you warm and snug down there in no time.' - -Anty did not want much persuading. She was soon induced to get up and dress -herself, to put on her cloak and bonnet, and hurry off with the widow, -before the people of Dunmore should be up to look at her going through the -town to the inn; while Biddy was left to pack up such things as were -necessary for her mistress' use, and enjoined to hurry down with them to -the inn as quick as she could; for, as the widow said, 'there war no use in -letting every idle bosthoon in the place see her crossing with a lot of -baggage, and set them all asking the where and the why and the wherefore; -though, for the matther of that, they'd all hear it soon enough.' - -To tell the truth, Mrs Kelly's courage waned from the moment of her leaving -her own door, and it did not return till she felt herself within it again. -Indeed, as she was leaving the gate of Dunmore House, with Anty on her arm, -she was already beginning to repent what she was doing; for there were -idlers about, and she felt ashamed of carrying off the young heiress. But -these feelings vanished the moment she had crossed her own sill. When she -had once got Anty home, it was all right. The widow Kelly seldom went out -into the world; she seldom went anywhere except to mass; and, when out, she -was a very modest and retiring old lady; but she could face the devil, if -necessary, across her own counter. - -And so Anty was rescued, for a while, from her brother's persecution. This -happened on the morning on which Martin and Lord Ballindine met together at -the lawyer's, when the deeds were prepared which young Kelly's genuine -honesty made him think necessary before he eloped with old Sim Lynch's -heiress. He would have been rather surprised to hear, at that moment, that -his mother had been before him, and carried off his bride elect to the inn! - -Anty was soon domesticated. The widow, very properly, wouldn't let her -friends, Meg and Jane, ask her any questions at present. Sally had made, on -the occasion, a pot of tea sufficient to supply the morning wants of half a -regiment, and had fully determined that it should not be wasted. The Kelly -girls were both up, and ready to do anything for their friend; so they got -her to take a little of Sally's specific, and put her into a warm bed to -sleep, quiet and secure from any interruption. - -While her guest was sleeping, the widow made up her mind that her best and -safest course, for the present, would be, as she expressed it to her -daughter, Meg, 'to keep her toe in her pump, and say nothing to nobody.' - -'Anty can just stay quiet and asy,' she continued, 'till we see what Master -Barry manes to be afther; he'll find it difficult enough to move her out of -this, I'm thinking, and I doubt his trying. As to money matthers, I'll -neither meddle nor make, nor will you, mind; so listen to that, girls; and -as to Moylan, he's a dacent quiet poor man but it's bad thrusting any one. -Av' he's her agent, however, I s'pose he'll look afther the estate; only, -Barry'll be smashing the things up there at the house yonder in his anger -and dhrunken fits, and it's a pity the poor girl's property should go to -rack. But he's such a born divil, she's lucky to be out of his clutches -alive; though, thank the Almighty, that put a good roof over the lone widow -this day, he can't clutch her here. Wouldn't I like to see him come to the -door and ax for her! And he can't smash the acres, nor the money they say -Mulholland has, at Tuam; and faix, av' he does any harm up there at the -house, shure enough Anty can make him pay for it every pot and pan of -it out of his share, and she'll do it, too av' she's said by me. But mind, -I'll neither meddle nor make; neither do you, and then we're safe, and Anty -too. And Martin'll be here soon I wondher what good Dublin'll do him? They -might have the Repale without him, I suppose? And when he's here, why, av' -he's minded to marry her, and she's plased, why, Father Geoghegan may come -down, and do it before the whole counthry, and who's ashamed? But there'll -be no huggery-muggery, and schaming; that is, av' they're said by me. Faix, -I'd like to know who she's to be afeared of, and she undher this roof! I -s'pose Martin ain't fool enough to care for what such a fellow as Barry -Lynch can do or say and he with all the Kellys to back him; as shure they -would, and why not, from the lord down? Not that I recommend the match; I -think Martin a dale betther off as he is, for he's wanting nothing, and -he's his own industhry and, maybe, a handful of money besides. But, as for -being afeard I niver heard yet that a Kelly need be afeard of a Lynch in -Dunmore.' - -In this manner did Mrs Kelly express the various thoughts that ran through -her head, as she considered Anty's affairs; and if we could analyse the -good lady's mind, we should probably find that the result of her -reflections was a pleasing assurance that she could exercise the Christian -virtues of charity and hospitality towards Anty, and, at the same time, -secure her son's wishes and welfare, without subjecting her own name to any -obloquy, or putting herself to any loss or inconvenience. She determined to -put no questions to Anty, nor even to allude to her brother, unless spoken -to on the subject; but, at the same time, she stoutly resolved to come to -no terms with Barry, and to defy him to the utmost, should he attempt to -invade her in her own territories. After a sound sleep Anty got up, much -strengthened and refreshed, and found the two Kelly girls ready to condole -with, or congratulate her, according to her mood and spirits. In spite of -their mother's caution, they were quite prepared for gossiping, as soon as -Anty showed the slightest inclination that way; and, though she at first -was afraid to talk about her brother, and was even, from kindly feeling, -unwilling to do so, the luxury of such an opportunity of unrestrained -confidence overcame her; and, before the three had been sitting together -for a couple of hours, she had described the whole interview, as well as -the last drunken midnight visit of Barry's to her own bed-room, which, to -her imagination, was the most horrible of all the horrors of the night. - -Poor Anty. She cried vehemently that morning more in sorrow for her -brother, than in remembrance of her own fears, as she told her friends how -he had threatened to shut her up in a mad-house, and then to murder her, -unless she promised him not to marry; and when she described how brutally -he had struck her, and how, afterwards, he had crept to her room, with his -red eyes and swollen face, in the dead of the night, and, placing his hot -mouth close to her ears, had dreadfully sworn that she should die, if she -thought of Martin Kelly as her husband, she trembled as though she was in -an ague fit. - -The girls said all they could to comfort her, and they succeeded in a great -degree; but they could not bring her to talk of Martin. She shuddered -whenever his name was mentioned, and they began to fear that Barry's threat -would have the intended effect, and frighten her from the match. However, -they kindly talked of other things of how impossible it was that she should -go back to Dunmore House, and how comfortable and snug they would make her -at the inn, till she got a home for herself; of what she should do, and of -all their little household plans together; till Anty, when she could forget -her brother's threats for a time, seemed to be more comfortable and happy -than she had been for years. - -In vain did the widow that morning repeatedly invoke Meg and Jane, first -one and then the other, to assist in her commercial labours. In vain were -Sally and Kate commissioned to bring them down. If, on some urgent behest, -one of them darted down to mix a dandy of punch, or weigh a pound of sugar, -when the widow was imperatively employed elsewhere, she was upstairs again, -before her mother could look about her; and, at last, Mrs Kelly was obliged -to content herself with the reflection that girls would be girls, and that -it was 'nathural and right they shouldn't wish to lave Anty alone the first -morning, and she sthrange to the place.' - -At five o'clock, the widow, as was her custom, went up to her dinner; and -Meg was then obliged to come down and mind the shop, till her sister, -having dined, should come down and relieve guard. She had only just -ensconced herself behind the counter, when who should walk into the shop -but Barry Lynch. - -Had Meg seen an ogre, or the enemy of all mankind himself, she could not, -at the moment, have been more frightened; and she stood staring at him, as -if the sudden loss of the power of motion alone prevented her from running -away. - -'I want to see Mrs Kelly,' said Barry; 'd'ye hear? I want to see your -mother; go and tell her.' - -But we must go back, and see how Mr Lynch had managed to get up, and pass -his morning. - - - - -VII MR BARRY LYNCH MAKES A MORNING CALL - - -It was noon before Barry first opened his eyes, and discovered the reality -of the headache which the night's miserable and solitary debauch had -entailed on him. For, in spite of the oft-repeated assurance that there is -not a headache in a hogshead of it, whiskey punch will sicken one, as well -as more expensive and more fashionable potent drinks. Barry was very sick -when he first awoke; and very miserable, too; for vague recollections of -what he had done, and doubtful fears of what he might have done, crowded on -him. A drunken man always feels more anxiety about what he has not done in -his drunkenness, than about what he has; and so it was with Barry. He -remembered having used rough language with his sister, but he could not -remember how far he had gone. He remembered striking her, and he knew that -the servant had come in; but he could not remember how, or with what he had -struck her, or whether he had done so more than once, or whether she had -been much hurt. He could not even think whether he had seen her since or -not; he remembered being in the garden after she had fallen, and drinking -again after that, but nothing further. Surely, he could not have killed -her? he could not even have hurt her very much, or he would have heard of -it before this. If anything serious had happened, the servants would have -taken care that he should have heard enough about it ere now. Then he began -to think what o'clock it could be, and that it must be late, for his watch -was run down; the general fate of drunkards, who are doomed to utter -ignorance of the hour at which they wake to the consciousness of their -miserable disgrace. He feared to ring the bell for the servant; he was -afraid to ask the particulars of last night's work; so he turned on his -pillow, and tried to sleep again. But in vain. If he closed his eyes, Anty -was before them, and he was dreaming, half awake, that he was trying to -stifle her, and that she was escaping, to tell all the world of his -brutality and cruelty. This happened over and over again; for when he dozed -but for a minute, the same thing re-occurred, as vividly as before, and -made even his waking consciousness preferable to the visions of his -disturbed slumbers. So, at last, he roused himself, and endeavoured to -think what he should do. - -Whilst he was sitting up in his bed, and reflecting that he must undress -himself before he could dress himself for he had tumbled into bed with most -of his clothes on Terry's red head appeared at the door, showing an -anxiety, on the part of its owner, to see if 'the masther' was awake, but -to take no step to bring about such a state, if, luckily, he still slept. - -'What's the time, Terry?' said Lynch, frightened, by his own state, into -rather more courtesy than he usually displayed to those dependent on him. - -'Well then, I b'lieve it's past one, yer honer.' - -'The d----l it is! I've such a headache. I was screwed last night; eh, -Terry?' - -'I b'lieve yer war, yer honer.' - -'What o'clock was it when I went to bed?' - -'Well then, I don't rightly know, Mr Barry; it wasn't only about ten when I -tuk in the last hot wather, and I didn't see yer hotier afther that.' - -'Well; tell Miss Anty to make me a cup of tea, and do you bring it up -here.' This was a feeler. If anything was the matter with Anty, Terry would -be sure to tell him now; but he only said, 'Yis, yer honer,' and retreated. - -Barry now comforted himself with the reflection that there was no great -harm done, and that though, certainly, there had been some row between him -and Anty, it would probably blow over; and then, also, he began to reflect -that, perhaps, what he had said and done, would frighten her out of her -match with Kelly. - -In the meantime. Terry went into the kitchen, with the news that 'masther -was awake, and axing for tay.' Biddy had considered herself entitled to -remain all the morning at the inn, having, in a manner, earned a right to -be idle for that day, by her activity during the night; and the other girl -had endeavoured to enjoy the same luxury, for she had been found once or -twice during the morning, ensconced in the kitchen, under Sally's wing; but -Mrs Kelly had hunted her back, to go and wait on her master, giving her to -understand that she would not receive the whole household. - -'And ye're afther telling him where Miss Anty's gone, Terry?' inquired the -injured fair one. - -'Divil a tell for me thin, shure, he may find it out hisself, widout my -telling him.' - -'Faix, it's he'll be mad thin, when lie finds she's taken up with the likes -of the widdy Kelly!' - -'And ain't she betther there, nor being murthered up here? FIe'd be killing -her out and out some night.' - -'Well, but Terry, he's not so bad as all that; there's worse than him, and -ain't it rasonable he shouldn't be quiet and asy, and she taking up with -the likes of Martin Kelly?' - -'May be so; but wouldn't she be a dale happier with Martin thain up here -wid him? Any ways it don't do angering him, so, get him the tay, Judy.' - -It was soon found that this was easier said than done, for Anty, in her -confusion, had taken away the keys in her pocket, and there was no tea to -be had. - -The bell was now rung, and, as Barry had gradually re-assured himself, rung -violently; and Terry, when he arrived distracted at the bed-room door, was -angrily asked by his thirsty master why the tea didn't appear? The truth -was now obliged to come out, or at any rate, part of it: so Terry answered, -that Miss Anty was out, and had the keys with her. - -Miss Anty was so rarely out, that Barry instantly trembled again. Had she -gone to a magistrate, to swear against him? Had she run away from him? Had -she gone off with Martin? - -'Where the d l's she gone, Terry?' said he, in his extremity. - -'Faix, yer honour, thin, I'm not rightly knowing; but I hear tell she's -down at the widow Kelly's.' - -'Who told you, you fool?' - -'Well thin, yer honer, it war Judy.' - -'And where's Judy?' - -And it ended in Judy's being produced, and the two of them, at length, -explained to their master, that the widow had come up early in the morning -and fetched her away; and Judy swore 'that not a know she knowed how it had -come about, or what had induced the widow to come, or Miss Anty to go, or -anything about it; only, for shure, Miss Anty was down there, snug enough, -with Miss Jane and Miss Meg; and the widdy war in her tantrums, and -wouldn't let ony dacent person inside the house-door barring Biddy. And -that wor all she knowed av' she wor on the book.' - -The secret was now out. Anty had left him, and put herself under the -protection of Martin Kelly's mother; had absolutely defied him, after all -his threats of the preceding night. What should he do now! All his hatred -for her returned again, all his anxious wishes that she might be somehow -removed from his path, as an obnoxious stumbling-block. A few minutes ago, -he was afraid he had murdered her, and he now almost wished that lie had -done so. He finished dressing himself, and then sat down in the parlour, -which had been the scene of his last night's brutality, to concoct fresh -schemes for the persecution of his sister. - -In the meantime, Terry rushed down to the inn, demanding the keys, and -giving Mrs Kelly a fearful history of his master's anger. This she very -wisely refrained from retailing, but, having procured the keys, gave them -to the messenger, merely informing him, that 'thanks to God's kind -protection, Miss Anty was tolerably well over the last night's work, and he -might tell his master so.' - -This message Terry thought it wisest to suppress, so he took the breakfast -up in silence, and his master asked no more questions. He was very sick and -pale, and could eat nothing; but he drank a quantity of tea, and a couple -of glasses of brandy-and-water, and then he felt better, and again began to -think what measures he should take, what scheme he could concoct, for -stopping this horrid marriage, and making his sister obedient to his -wishes. 'Confound her,' he said, almost aloud, as he thought, with bitter -vexation of spirit, of her unincumbered moiety of the property, 'confound -them all!' grinding his teeth, and meaning by the 'all' to include with -Anty his father, and every one who might have assisted his father in making -the odious will, as well as his own attorney in Tuam, who wouldn't find out -some legal expedient by which he could set it aside. And then, as he -thought of the shameful persecution of which he was the victim, lie kicked -the fender with impotent violence, and, as the noise of the falling fire -irons added to his passion, he reiterated his kicks till the unoffending -piece of furniture was smashed; and then with manly indignation he turned -away to the window. - -But breaking the furniture, though it was what the widow predicted of him, -wouldn't in any way mend matters, or assist him in getting out of his -difficulties. What was he to do? He couldn't live on £200 a-year; he -couldn't remain in Dunmore, to be known by every one as Martin Kelly's -brother-in-law; he couldn't endure the thoughts of dividing the property -with such 'a low-born huxtering blackguard', as he called him over and over -again. He couldn't stay there, to be beaten by him in the course of legal -proceedings, or to give him up amicable possession of what ought to have -been what should have been his what he looked upon as his own. He came -back, and sat down again over the fire, contemplating the debris of the -fender, and turning all these miserable circumstances over in his mind. -After remaining there till five o'clock, and having fortified himself with -sundry glasses of wine, he formed his resolution. He would make one -struggle more; he would first go down to the widow, and claim his sister, -as a poor simple young woman, inveigled away from her natural guardian; -and, if this were unsuccessful, as he felt pretty sure it would be, he -would take proceedings to prove her a lunatic. If he failed, he might still -delay, and finally put off the marriage; and he was sure he could get some -attorney to put him in the way of doing it, and to undertake the work for -him. His late father's attorney had been a fool, in not breaking the will, -or at any rate trying it, and he would go to Daly. Young Daly, he knew, was -a sharp fellow, and wanted practice, and this would just suit him. And -then, if at last he found that nothing could be done by this means, if his -sister and the property must go from him, he would compromise the matter -with the bridegroom, he would meet him half way, and, raising what money he -could on his share of the estate, give leg bail to his creditors, and go to -some place abroad, where tidings of Dunmore would never reach him. What did -it matter what people said? he should never hear it. He would make over the -whole property to Kelly, on getting a good life income out of it. Martin -was a prudent fellow, and would jump at such a plan. As he thought of this, -he even began to wish that it was done; he pictured to himself the easy -pleasures, the card-tables, the billiard-rooms, and cafés of some Calais or -Boulogne; pleasures which he had never known, but which had been so -glowingly described to him; and he got almost cheerful again as he felt -that, in any way, there might be bright days yet in store for him. - -He would, however, still make the last effort for the whole stake. It would -be time enough to give in, and make the best of a pis aller, when he was -forced to do so. If beaten, he would make use of Martin Kelly; but he would -first try if he couldn't prove him to be a swindling adventurer, and his -sister to be an idiot. - -Much satisfied at having come to this salutary resolution, he took up his -hat, and set out for the widow's, in order to put into operation the first -part of the scheme. He rather wished it over, as he knew that Mrs Kelly was -no coward, and had a strong tongue in her head. However, it must be done, -and the sooner the better. He first of all looked at himself in his glass, -to see that his appearance was sufficiently haughty and indignant, and, as -he flattered himself, like that of a gentleman singularly out of his -element in such a village as Dunmore; and then, having ordered his dinner -to be ready on his return, he proceeded on his voyage for the recovery of -his dear sister. - -Entering the shop, he communicated his wishes to Meg, in the manner before -described; and, while she was gone on her errand, he remained alone there, -lashing his boot, in the most approved, but, still, in a very common-place -manner. - -'Oh, mother!' said Meg, rushing into the room where her mother, and Jane, -and Anty, were at dinner, 'there's Barry Lynch down in the shop, wanting -you.' - -'Oh my!' said Jane. 'Now sit still, Anty dear, and he can't come near you. -Shure, he'll niver be afther coming upstairs, will he, Meg?' - -Anty, who had begun to feel quite happy in her new quarters, and among her -kind friends, turned pale, and dropped her knife and fork. 'What'Il I do, -Mrs Kelly?' she said, as she saw the old lady complacently get up. 'You're -not going to give me up? You'll not go to him?' - -'Faith I will thin, my dear,' replied the widow; 'never fear else I'll go -to him, or any one else that sends to me in a dacent manner. Maybe it's -wanting tay in the shop he is. I'll go to him immediately. But, as for -giving you up, I mane you to stay here, till you've a proper home of your -own; and Barry Lynch has more in him than I think, av' he makes me alter my -mind. Set down quiet, Meg, and get your dinner.' And the widow got up, and -proceeded to the shop. - -The girls were all in commotion. One went to the door at the top of the -stairs, to overhear as much as possible of what was to take place; and the -other clasped Anty's hand, to re-assure her, having first thrown open the -door of one of the bed-rooms, that she might have a place of retreat in the -event of the enemy succeeding in pushing his way upstairs. - -'Your humble sarvant, Mr Lynch,' said the widow, entering the shop and -immediately taking up a position of strength in her accustomed place behind -the counter. 'Were you wanting me, this evening?' and she took up the knife -with which she cut penn'orths of tobacco for her customers, and hitting the -counter with its wooden handle looked as hard as copper, and as bold as -brass. - -'Yes, Mrs Kelly,' said Barry, with as much dignity as he could muster, 'I -do want to speak to you. My sister has foolishly left her home this -morning, and my servants tell me she is under your roof. Is this true?' - -'Is it Anty? Indeed she is thin: ating her dinner, upstairs, this very -moment;' and she rapped the counter again, and looked her foe in the face. - -'Then, with your leave, Mrs Kelly, I'll step up, and speak to her. I -suppose she's alone?' - -'Indeed she ain't thin, for she's the two girls ating wid her, and myself -too, barring that I'm just come down at your bidding. No; we're not so bad -as that, to lave her all alone; and as for your seeing her, Mr Lynch, I -don't think she's exactly wishing it at present; so, av' you've a message, -I'll take it.' - -'You don't mean to say that Miss Lynch my sister is in this inn, and that -you intend to prevent my seeing her? You'd better take care what you're -doing, Mrs Kelly. I don't want to say anything harsh at present, but you'd -better take care what you're about with me and my family, or you'll find -yourself in a scrape that you little bargain for.' - -'I'll take care of myself, Mr Barry; never fear for me, darling; and, -what's more, I'll take care of your sister, too. And, to give you a bit of -my mind she'll want my care, I'm thinking, while you're in the counthry.' - -'I've not come here to listen to impertinence, Mrs Kelly, and I will not do -so. In fact, it is very unwillingly that I came into this house at all.' - -'Oh, pray lave it thin, pray lave it! We can do without you.' - -'Perhaps you will have the civility to listen to me. It is very -unwillingly, I say, that I have come here at all; but my sister, who is, -unfortunately, not able to judge for herself, is here. How she came here I -don't pretend to say ' - -'Oh, she walked,' said the widow, interrupting him; 'she walked, quiet and -asy, out of your door, and into mine. But that's a lie, for it was out of -her own. She didn't come through the kay-hole, nor yet out of the window.' - -'I'm saying nothing about how she came here, but here she is, poor -creature!' - -'Poor crature, indeed! She was like to be a poor crature, av' she stayed up -there much longer.' - -'Here she is, I say, and I consider it my duty to look after her. You -cannot but be aware, Mrs Kelly, that this is not a fit place for Miss -Lynch. You must be aware that a road-side public-house, however decent, or -a village shop, however respectable, is not the proper place for my sister; -and, though I may not yet be legally her guardian, I am her brother, and am -in charge of her property, and I insist on seeing her. It will be at your -peril if you prevent me.' - -'Have you done, now, Misther Barry?' - -'That 's what I've got to say; and I think you've sense enough to see the -folly not to speak of the danger, of preventing me from seeing my sister.' - -'That 's your say, Misther Lynch; and now, listen to mine. Av' Miss Anty -was wishing to see you, you'd be welcome upstairs, for her sake; but she -ain't, so there's an end of that; for not a foot will you put inside this, -unless you're intending to force your way, and I don't think you'll be for -trying that. And as to bearing the danger, why, I'll do my best; and, for -all the harm you're likely to do me that's by fair manes, I don't think -I'll be axing any one to help me out of it. So, good bye t' ye, av' you've -no further commands, for I didn't yet well finish the bit I was ating.' - -'And you mean to say, Mrs Kelly, you'll take upon yourself to prevent my -seeing my sister?' - -'Indeed I do; unless she was wishing it, as well as yourself; and no -mistake.' - -'And you'll do that, knowing, as you do, that the unfortunate young woman -is of weak mind, and unable to judge for herself, and that I'm her brother, -and her only living relative and guardian?' - -'All blathershin, Masther Barry,' said the uncourteous widow, dropping the -knife from her hand, and smacking her fingers: 'as for wake mind, it's -sthrong enough to take good care of herself and her money too, now she's -once out of Dunmore House. There many waker than Anty Lynch, though few -have had worse tratement to make them so. As for guardian, I'm thinking -it's long since she was of age, and, av' her father didn't think she wanted -one, when he made his will, you needn't bother yourself about it, now she's -no one to plaze only herself. And as for brother, Masther Barry, why didn't -you think of that before you struck her, like a brute, as you are before -you got dhrunk, like a baste, and then threatened to murdher her? Why -didn't you think about brother and sisther before you thried to rob the -poor wake crature, as you call her; and when you found she wasn't quite -wake enough, as you call it, swore to have her life, av' she wouldn't act -at your bidding? That's being a brother and a guardian, is it,Masther -Barry? Talk to me of anger, you ruffian,' continued the widow, with her -back now thoroughly up; 'you'd betther look to yourself, or I know who'll -be in most danger. Av' it wasn't the throuble it'd be to Anty and, God -knows, she's had throubles enough, I'd have had her before the magisthrates -before this, to tell of what was done last night up at the house, yonder. -But mind, she can do it yet, and, av' you don't take yourself very asy, she -shall. Danger, indeed! a robber and ruffian like you, to talk of danger to -me and his dear sisther, too, and aftimer trying his best, last night, to -murdher her!' - -These last words, with a long drawl on the word dear, were addressed rather -to the crowd, whom the widow's loud voice had attracted into the open shop, -than to Barry, who stood, during this tirade, half stupefied with rage, and -half frightened, at the open attack made on him with reference to his ill- -treatment of Anty. However, he couldn't pull in his horns now, and he was -obliged, in self-defence, to brazen it out. - -'Very well, Mrs Kelly you shall pay for this impudence, and that dearly. -You've invented these lies, as a pretext for getting my sister and her -property into your hands!' - -'Lies!' screamed the widow; 'av' you say lies to me agin, in this house, -I'll smash the bones of ye myself, with the broom-handle. Lies, indeed! and -from you, Barry Lynch, the biggest liar in all Connaught not to talk of -robber and ruffian! You'd betther take yourself out of that, fair and asy, -while you're let. You'll find you'll have the worst of it, av' you come -rampaging here wid me, my man;' and she turned round to the listening crowd -for sympathy, which those who dared were not slow in giving her. - -'And that's thrue for you, Mrs Kelly, Ma'am,' exclaimed one. - -'It's a shame for him to come storming here, agin a lone widdy, so it is,' -said a virago, who seemed well able, like the widow herself, to take her -own part. - -'Who iver knew any good of a Lynch barring Miss Anty herself?' argued a -third. - -'The Kellys is always too good for the likes of them,' put in a fourth, -presuming that the intended marriage was the subject immediately in -discourse. - -'Faix, Mr Martin's too good for the best of 'em,' declared another. - -'Niver mind Mr Martin, boys,' said the widow, who wasn't well pleased to -have her son's name mentioned in the affair 'it's no business of his, one -way or another; he ain't in Dunmore, nor yet nigh it. Miss Anty Lynch has -come to me for protection; and, by the Blessed Virgin, she shall have it, -as long as my name's Mary Kelly, and I ain't like to change it; so that's -the long and short of it, Barry Lynch. So you may go and get dhrunk agin as -soon as you plaze, and bate and bang Terry Hooney, or Judy Smith; only I -think either on 'em's more than a match for you.' - -'Then I tell you, Mrs Kelly,' replied Barry, who was hardly able to get in -a word, 'that you'll hear more about it. Steps are now being taken to prove -Miss Lynch a lunatic, as every one here knows she unfortunately is; and, as -sure as you stand there, you'll have to answer for detaining her; and -you're much mistaken if you think you'll get hold of her property, even -though she were to marry your son, for, I warn you, she's not her own -mistress, or able to be so.' - -'Drat your impudence, you low-born ruffian,' answered his opponent; 'who -cares for her money? It's not come to that yet, that a Kelly is wanting to -schame money out of a Lynch.' - -'I've nothing more to say, since you insist on keeping possession of my -sister,' and Barry turned to the door. 'But you'll be indicted for -conspiracy, so you'd better be prepared.' - -'Conspiracy, is it?' said one of Mrs Kelly's admirers; 'maybe, Ma'am, he'll -get you put in along with Dan and Father Tierney, God bless them! It's -conspiracy they're afore the judges for.' - -Barry now took himself off, before hearing the last of the widow's final -peal of thunder. - -'Get out wid you! You're no good, and never will be. An' it wasn't for the -young woman upstairs, I'd have the coat off your back, and your face well -mauled, before I let you out of the shop!' And so ended the interview, in -which the anxious brother can hardly he said to have been triumphant, or -successful. - -The widow, on the other hand, seemed to feel that she had acquitted herself -well, and that she had taken the orphan's part, like a woman, a Christian, -and a mother; anti merely saying, with a kind of inward chuckle, 'Come to -me, indeed, with his roguery! he's got the wrong pig by the ear!' she -walked off, to join the more timid trio upstairs, one of whom was speedily -sent down, to see that business did not go astray. - -And then she gave a long account of the interview to Anty and Meg, which -was hardly necessary, as they had heard most of what had passed. The widow -however was not to know that, and she was very voluble in her description -of Barry's insolence, and of time dreadfully abusive things he had said to -her how he had given her the lie, and called her out of her name. She did -not, however, seem to be aware that she had, herself, said a word which was -more than necessarily violent; and assured Anty over and over again, that, -out of respect to her feelings, and because the man was, after all, her -brother, she had refrained from doing and saying what she would have done -and said, had she been treated in such a manner by anybody else. She -seemed, however, in spite of the ill-treatment which she had undergone, to -be in a serene and happy state of mind. She shook Anty's two hands in hers, -and told her to make herself 'snug and asy where she was, like a dear girl, -and to fret for nothing, for no one could hurt or harum her, and she undher -Mary Kelly's roof.' Then she wiped her face in her apron, set to at her -dinner; and even went so far as to drink a glass of porter, a thing she -hadn't done, except on a Sunday, since her eldest daughter's marriage. - -Barry Lynch sneaked up the town, like a beaten dog. He felt that the widow -had had the best of it, and he also felt that every one in Dunmore was -against him. It was however only what he had expected, and calculated upon; -and what should he care for the Dunmore people? They wouldn't rise up and -kill him, nor would they he likely even to injure him. Let, them hate on, -lie would follow his own plan. As he came near the house gate, there was -sitting, as usual, Jacky, the fool. - -'Well, yer honer, Masther Barry,' said Jacky, 'don't forget your poor fool -this blessed morning!' - -'Away with you! If I see you there again, I'll have you in Bridewell, you -blackguard.' - -'Ah, you're joking, Masther Barry. You wouldn't like to be afther doing -that. So yer honer's been down to the widdy's? That's well; it's a fine -timing to see you on good terms, since you're soon like to be so sib. Well, -there an't no betther fellow, from this to Galway, than Martin Kelly, -that's one comfort, Masther Barry.' - -Barry looked round for something wherewith to avenge himself for this, but -Jacky was out of his reach; so he merely muttered some customary but -inaudible curses, and turned into the house. - -He immediately took pen, ink, and paper, and, writing the following note -dispatched it to Tuam, by Terry, mounted for the occasion, and directed on -no account to return, without an answer. If Mr Daly wasn't at home, he was -to wait for his return; that is, if he was expected home that night. - - -Dunmore House, Feb. 1844. - -My dear Sir, - -I wish to consult you on legal business, which will bear no delay. The -subject is of considerable importance, and I am induced to think it will be -more ably handled by you than by Mr Blake, my father's man of business. -There is a bed at your service at Dunmore House, and I shall be glad to see -you to dinner tomorrow. - -I am, dear Sir, Your faithful servant, - -BARRY LYNCH. - -P.S. You had better not mention in Tuam that you are coming to me not that -my business is one that I intend to keep secret. - -J.Daly, Esq., Solicitor, Tuam. - -In about two hours' time, Terry had put the above into the hands of the -person for whom it was intended, and in two more he had brought back an -answer, saying that Mr Daly would be at Dunmore House to dinner on the -following day. And Terry, on his journey there and back, did not forget to -tell everyone he saw, from whom he came, and to whom he was going. - - - - -VIII MR MARTIN KELLY RETURNS TO DUNMORE - - -We will now return to Martin Kelly. I have before said that as soon as he -had completed his legal business, namely, his instructions for the -settlement of Anty Lynch's property, respecting which he and Lord -Ballindine had been together to the lawyer's in Clare Street he started for -home, by the Ballinasloe canal-boat, and reached that famous depot of the -fleecy tribe without adventure. I will not attempt to describe the tedium -of that horrid voyage, for it has been often described before; and to -Martin, who was in no ways fastidious, it was not so unendurable as it must -always be to those who have been accustomed to more rapid movement. Nor yet -will I attempt to put on record the miserable resources of those, who, -doomed to a twenty hours' sojourn in one of these floating prisons, vainly -endeavour to occupy or amuse their minds. But I will advise any, who from -ill-contrived arrangements, or unforeseen misfortune, [FOOTNOTE: Of course -it will be remembered that this was written before railways in Ireland had -been constructed.] may find themselves on board the Ballinasloe canal-boat, -to entertain no such vain dream. The vis inertiae of patient endurance, is -the only weapon of any use in attempting to overcome the lengthened ennui -of this most tedious transit. Reading is out of the question. I have tried -it myself, and seen others try it, but in vain. The sense of the motion, -almost imperceptible, but still perceptible; the noises above you; the -smells around you; the diversified crowd, of which you are a part; at one -moment the heat this crowd creates; at the next, the draught which a window -just opened behind your ears lets in on you; the fumes of punch; the snores -of the man under the table; the noisy anger of his neighbour, who reviles -the attendant sylph; the would-be witticisms of a third, who makes -continual amorous overtures to the same overtasked damsel, notwithstanding -the publicity of his situation; the loud complaints of the old lady near -the door, who cannot obtain the gratuitous kindness of a glass of water; -and the baby-soothing lullabies of the young one, who is suckling her -infant under your elbow. These things alike prevent one from reading, -sleeping, or thinking. All one can do is to wait till the long night -gradually wears itself away, and reflect that, Time and the hour run -through the longest day. - -I hardly know why a journey in one of these boats should be much more -intolerable than travelling either outside or inside a coach; for, either -in or on the coach, one has less room for motion, and less opportunity of -employment. I believe the misery of the canal-boat chiefly consists in a -pre-conceived and erroneous idea of its capabilities. One prepares oneself -for occupation an attempt is made to achieve actual comfort and both end in -disappointment; the limbs become weary with endeavouring to fix themselves -in a position of repose, and the mind is fatigued more by the search after, -than the want of, occupation. - -Martin, however, made no complaints, and felt no misery. He made great play -at the eternal half-boiled leg of mutton, floating in a bloody sea of -grease and gravy, which always comes on the table three hours after the -departure from Porto Bello. He, and others equally gifted with the dura -ilia messorum, swallowed huge collops of the raw animal, and vast heaps of -yellow turnips, till the pity with which a stranger would at first be -inclined to contemplate the consumer of such unsavoury food, is transferred -to the victim who has to provide the meal at two shillings a head. Neither -love nor drink and Martin had, on the previous day, been much troubled with -both had affected his appetite; and he ate out his money with the true -persevering prudence of a Connaught man, who firmly determines not to be -done. - -He was equally diligent at breakfast; and, at last, reached Ballinasloe, at -ten o'clock the morning after he had left Dublin, in a flourishing -condition. From thence he travelled, by Bianconi's car, as far as Tuam, and -when there he went at once to the hotel, to get a hack car to take him home -to Dunmore. - -In the hotel yard he found a car already prepared for a journey; and, on -giving his order for a similar vehicle for his own use, was informed, by -the disinterested ostler, that the horse then being harnessed, was to take -Mr Daly, the attorney, to Tuam, and that probably that gentleman would not -object to join him, Martin, in the conveyance. Martin, thinking it -preferable to pay fourpence rather than sixpence a mile for his jaunt, -acquiesced in this arrangement, and, as he had a sort of speaking -acquaintance with Mr Daly, whom he rightly imagined would not despise the -economy which actuated himself, he had his carpet-bag put into the well of -the car, and, placing himself on it, he proceeded to the attorney's door. - -He soon made the necessary explanation to Mr Daly, who made no objection to -the proposal; and he also throwing a somewhat diminutive carpet-bag into -the same well, placed himself alongside of our friend, and they proceeded -on their journey, with the most amicable feelings towards each other. - -They little guessed, either the one or the other, as they commenced talking -on the now all-absorbing subject of the great trial, that they were going -to Dunmore for the express object though not with the expressed purpose, of -opposing each other that Daly was to be employed to suggest any legal means -for robbing Martin of a wife, and Anty of her property; and that Martin was -going home with the fixed determination of effecting a wedding, to prevent -which his companion was, in consideration of liberal payment, to use all -his ingenuity and energy. - -When they had discussed O'Connel and his companions, and their chances of -liberation for four or five miles, and when Martin had warmly expressed his -assurance that no jury could convict the saviours of their country, and -Daly had given utterance to his legal opinion that saltpetre couldn't save -them from two years in Newgate, Martin asked his companion whether he was -going beyond Dunmore that night? - -'No, indeed, then,' replied Daly; 'I have a client there now a thing I -never had in that part of the country before yesterday.' - -'We'll have you at the inn, then, I suppose, Mr Daly?' - -'Faith, you won't, for I shall dine on velvet. My new client is one of the -right sort, that can feed as well as fee a lawyer. I've got my dinner, and -bed tonight, whatever else I may get.' - -'There's not many of that sort in Dunmore thin; any way, there weren't when -I left it, a week since. Whose house are you going to, Mr Daly, av' it's -not impertinent asking?' - -'Barry Lynch's.' - -'Barry Lynch's!' re-echoed Martin; 'the divil you are! I wonder what's in -the wind with him now. I thought Blake always did his business?' - -'The devil a know I know, so I can't tell you; and if I did, I shouldn't, -you may be sure. But a man that's just come to his property always wants a -lawyer; and many a one, besides Barry Lynch, ain't satisfied without two.' - -'Well, any way, I wish you joy of your new client. I'm not over fond of him -myself, I'll own; but then there were always rasons why he and I shouldn't -pull well together. Barry 's always been a dale too high for me, since he -was at school with the young lord. Well, good evening, Mr Daly. Never mind -time car coming down the street, as you're at your friend's gate,' and -Martin took his bag on his arm, and walked down to the inn. - -Though Martin couldn't guess, as he walked quickly down the street, what -Barry Lynch could want with young Daly, who was beginning to be known as a -clever, though not over-scrupulous practitioner, he felt a presentiment -that it must have some reference to Anty and himself, and this made him -rather uncomfortable. Could Barry have heard of his engagement? Had Anty -repented of her bargain, during his short absence? Had that old reptile -Moylan, played him false, and spoilt his game? 'That must be it,' said -Martin to himself, 'and it's odd but I'll be even with the schamer, yet; -only she's so asy frightened! Av' she'd the laist pluck in life, it's -little I'd care for Moylan or Barry either.' - -This little soliloquy brought him to the inn door. Some of the tribe of -loungers who were always hanging about the door, and whom in her hatred of -idleness the widow would one day rout from the place, and, in her charity, -feed the next, had seen Martin coming down the street, and had given -intelligence in the kitchen. As he walked in, therefore, at the open door, -Meg and Jane were ready to receive him in the passage. Their looks were big -with some important news. Martin soon saw that they had something to tell. - -'Well, girls,' he said, as he chucked his bag and coat to Sally, 'for -heaven's sake get me something to ate, for I'm starved. What's the news at -Dunmore?' - -'It's you should have the news thin,' said one, 'and you just from Dublin.' - -'There's lots of news there, then; I'll tell you when I've got my dinner. -How's the ould lady?' and he stepped on, as if to pass by them, upstairs. - -'Stop a moment, Martin,' said Meg; 'don't be in a hurry; there's some one -there.' - -'Who's there? is it a stranger?' - -'Why, then, it is, and it isn't,' said Jane. - -'But you don't ask afther the young lady!' said her sister. - -'May I be hanged thin, av' I know what the two of ye are afther! Is there -people in both the rooms? Come, girls, av' ye've anything to tell, why -don't you out wid it and have done? I suppose I can go into the bed-room, -at any rate?' - -'Aisy, Martin, and I'll tell you. Anty's in the parlour.' - -'In the parlour upstairs?' said he; 'the deuce she is! And what brought her -here? Did she quarrel with Barry, Meg?' added he, in a whisper. - -'Indeed she did, out and out,' said Meg. - -'Oh, he used her horrible!' said Jane. - -'He'll hear all about that by and by,' said Meg. 'Come up and see her now, -Martin.' - -'But does mother know she's here?' - -'Why, it was she brought her here! She fetched her down from the house, -yesterday, before we was up.' - -Thus assured that Anty had not been smuggled upstairs, her lover, or suitor -as he might perhaps be more confidently called, proceeded to visit her. If -he wished her to believe that his first impulse, on hearing of her being in -the house, had been to throw himself at her feet, it would have been well -that this conversation should have been carried on out of her hearing. But -Anty was not an exigent mistress, and was perfectly contented that as much -of her recent history as possible should be explained before Martin -presented himself. - -Martin went slowly upstairs, and paused a moment at the door, as if he was -a little afraid of commencing the interview; he looked round to his -sisters, and made a sign to them to come in with him, and then, quickly -pushing open the unfastened door, walked briskly up to Anty and shook hands -with her. - -'I hope you're very well, Anty,' said he; 'seeing you here is what I didn't -expect, but I'm very glad you've come down.' - -'Thank ye, Martin,' replied she; 'it was very good of your mother, fetching -me. She's been the best friend I've had many a day.' - -'Begad, it's a fine thing to see you and the ould lady pull so well -together. It was yesterday you came here?' - -'Yesterday morning. I was so glad to come! I don't know what they'd been -saying to Barry; but the night before last he got drinking, and then he was -very bad to me, and tried to frighten me, and so, you see, I come down to -your mother till we could be friends again.' - -Anty's apology for being at the inn, was perhaps unnecessary; but, with the -feeling so natural to a woman, she was half afraid that Martin would fancy -she had run after him, and she therefore thought it as well to tell him -that it was only a temporary measure. Poor Anty! At the moment she said so, -she trembled at the very idea of putting herself again in her brother's -power. - -'Frinds, indeed!' said Meg; 'how can you iver be frinds with the like of -him? What nonsense you talk, Anty! Why, Martin, he was like to murdher -her! he raised his fist to her, and knocked her down and, afther that, -swore to her he'd kill her outright av' she wouldn't sware that she'd -niver ' - - 'Whist, Meg! How can you go on that way?' said Anty, interrupting her, and -blushing. 'I'll not stop in the room; don't you know he was dhrunk when he -done all that?' - -'And won't he be dhrunk again, Anty?' suggested Jane. - -'Shure he will: he'll be dhrunk always, now he's once begun,' replied Meg, -who, of all the family was the most anxious to push her brother's suit; and -who, though really fond of her friend, thought the present opportunity a -great deal too good to be thrown away, and could not bear the idea of -Anty's even thinking of being reconciled to her brother. 'Won't he be -always dhrurik now?' she continued; 'and ain't we all frinds here? and why -shouldn't you let me tell Martin all? Afther all's said and done, isn't he -the best frind you've got?' Here Anty blushed very red, and to tell the -truth, so did Martin too 'well so he is, and unless you tell him what's -happened, how's he to know what to advise; and, to tell the truth, wouldn't -you sooner do what he says than any one else?' - -'I'm sure I'm very much obliged to Mr Martin' it had been plain Martin -before Meg's appeal; 'but your mother knows what's best for me, and I'll do -whatever she says. Av' it hadn't been for her, I don't know where I'd be -now.' - -'But you needn't quarrel with Martin because you're frinds with mother,' -answered Meg. - -'Nonsense, Meg,' said Jane, 'Anty's not going to quarrel with him. You -hurry her too much.' - -Martin looked rather stupid all this time, but he plucked up courage and -said, 'Who's going to quarrel? I'm shure, Anty, you and I won't; but, -whatever it is Barry did to you, I hope you won't go back there again, now -you're once here. But did he railly sthrike you in arnest?' - -'He did, add knocked her down,' said Jane. - -'But won't you get your brother his dinner?' said Anty; 'he must be very -hungry, afther his ride and won't you see your mother afther your journey, -Mr Martin? I'm shure she's expecting you.' - -This, for the present, put an end to the conversation; the girls went to -get something for their brother to eat, and he descended into the lower -regions to pay his filial respects to his mother. - -A considerable time passed before Martin returned to the meal the three -young women had provided for him, during which he was in close consultation -with the widow. In the first place, she began upbraiding him for his folly -in wishing to marry an old maid for her money; she then taxed him with -villany, for trying to cheat Anty out of her property; and when he defended -himself from that charge by telling her what he had done about the -settlement, she asked him how much he had to pay the rogue of a lawyer for -that 'gander's job'. She then proceeded to point out all the difficulties -which lay in the way of a marriage between him, Martin, and her, Anty; and -showed how mad it was for either of them to think about it. From that, she -got into a narrative of Barry's conduct, and Anty's sufferings, neither of -which lost anything in the telling; and having by this time gossiped -herself into a good humour, she proceeded to show how, through her means -and assistance, the marriage might take place if he was still bent upon it. -She eschewed all running away, and would hear of no clandestine -proceedings. They should be married in the face of day, as the Kellys -ought, with all their friends round them. 'They'd have no huggery-muggery -work, up in a corner; not they indeed! why should they? for fear of Barry -Lynch? who cared for a dhrunken blackguard like that? not she indeed! who -ever heard of a Kelly being afraid of a Lynch? They'd ax him to come and -see his sister married, and av' he didn't like it, he might do the other -thing.' - -And so, the widow got quite eloquent on the glories of the wedding, and the -enormities of her son's future brother-in-1aw, who had, she assured Martin, -come down and abused her horribly, in her own shop, before all the town, -because she allowed Anty to stay in the house. She then proceeded to the -consequences of the marriage, and expressed her hope that when Martin got -all that ready money he would 'do something for his poor sisthers for -Heaven knew they war like to be bad enough off, for all she'd be able to do -for them!' From this she got to Martin's own future mode of life, -suggesting a 'small snug cottage on the farm, just big enough for them two, -and, maybe, a slip of a girl servant, and not to be taring and tatthering -away, as av' money had no eend; and, afther all,' she added, 'there war -nothing like industhry; and who know'd whether that born villain, Barry, -mightn't yet get sich a hoult of the money, that there'd be no getting it -out of his fist?' and she then depicted, in most pathetic language, what -would be the misery of herself and all the Kellys if Martin, flushed with -his prosperity, were to give up the farm at Toneroe, and afterwards find -that he had been robbed of his expected property, and that he had no -support for himself and his young bride. - -On this subject Martin considerably comforted her by assuring her that he -had no thoughts of abandoning Toneroe, although he did not go so far as to -acquiesce in the very small cottage; and he moreover expressed his thorough -confidence that he would neither be led himself, nor lead Anty, into the -imprudence of a marriage, until he had well satisfied himself that the -property was safe. - -The widow was well pleased to find, from Martin's prudent resolves, that he -was her own son, and that she needn't blush for him; and then they parted, -she to her shop, and he to his dinner: not however, before he had promised -her to give up all ideas of a clandestine marriage, and to permit himself -to be united to his wife in the face of day, as became a Kelly. - -The evening passed over quietly and snugly at the inn. Martin had not much -difficulty in persuading his three companions to take a glass of punch each -out of his tumbler, and less in getting them to take a second, and, before -they went to bed, he and Anty were again intimate. And, as he was sitting -next her for a couple of hours on the little sofa opposite the fire, it is -more than probable that he got his arm round her waist a comfortable -position, which seemed in no way to shock the decorum of either Meg or -Jane. - - - - -IX MR DALY, THE ATTORNEY - - -We must now see how things went on in the enemy's camp. - -The attorney drove up to the door of Dunmore House on his car, and was -shown into the drawing-room, where he met Barry Lynch. The two young men -were acquainted, though not intimate with each other, and they bowed, and -then shook hands; and Barry told the attorney that he was welcome to -Dunmore House, and the attorney made another bow, rubbed his hands before -the fire and said it was a very cold evening; and Barry said it was 'nation -cold for that time of the year; which, considering that they were now in -the middle of February, showed that Barry was rather abroad, and didn't -exactly know what to say. He remained for about a minute, silent before the -fire, and then asked Daly if he'd like to see his room; and, the attorney -acquiescing, he led him up to it, and left him there. - -The truth was, that, as the time of the man's visit had drawn nearer, Barry -had become more and more embarrassed; and now that the attorney had -absolutely come, his employer felt himself unable to explain the business -before dinner. 'These fellows are so confoundedly sharp I shall never be up -to him till I get a tumbler of punch on board,' said he to himself, -comforting himself with the reflection; 'besides, I'm never well able for -anything till I get a little warmed. We'll get along like a house on fire -when we've got the hot water between us.' - -The true meaning of all which was, that he hadn't the courage to make known -his villanous schemes respecting his sister till he was half drunk; and, in -order the earlier to bring about this necessary and now daily consummation, -he sneaked downstairs and took a solitary glass of brandy to fortify -himself for entertaining the attorney. - -The dinner was dull enough; for, of course, as long as the man was in the -room there was no talking on business, and, in his present frame of mind -Barry was not likely to be an agreeable companion. The attorney ate his -dinner as if it was a part of the fee, received in payment of the work he -was to do, and with a determination to make the most of it. - -At last, the dishes disappeared, and with them Terry Rooney; who, however, -like a faithful servant, felt too strong an interest in his master's -affairs to be very far absent when matters of importance were likely to be -discussed. - -'And now, Mr Daly,' said Lynch, 'we can be snug here, without interruption, -for an hour or two. You'll find that whiskey old and good, I think; but, if -you prefer wine, that port on the table came from Barton's, in Sackville -Street.' - -'Thank ye; if I take anything, it'll be a glass of punch. But as we've -business to talk of, maybe I'd better keep my head clear.' - -'My head's never so clear then, as when I've done my second tumbler. I'm -never so sure of what I'm about as when I'm a little warmed; "but," says -you, "because my head's strong, it's no reason another's shouldn't be -weak:" but do as you like; liberty hall here now, Mr Daly; that is, as far -as I'm concerned. You knew my father, I believe, Mr Daly?' - -'Well then, Mr Lynch, I didn't exactly know him; but living so near him, -and he having so much business in the county, and myself having a little, I -believe I've been in company with him, odd times.' - -'He was a queer man: wasn't he, Mr Daly?' - -'Was he, then? I dare say. I didn't know much about him. I'll take the -sugar from you, Mr Lynch; I believe I might as well mix a drop, as the -night's cold.' - -'That's right. I thought you weren't the fellow to sit with an empty glass -before you. But, as I was saying before, the old boy was a queer hand; that -is, latterly for the last year or so. Of course you know all about his -will?' - -'Faith then, not much. I heard lie left a will, dividing the property -between you and Miss Lynch.' - -'He did! Just at the last moment, when the breath wasn't much more than -left in him, he signed a will, making away half the estate, just as you -say, to my sister. Blake could have broke the will, only he was so d pig- -headed and stupid. It's too late now, I suppose?' - -'Why, I could hardly answer that, you know, as I never heard the -circumstances; but I was given to understand that Blake consulted McMahon; -and that McMahon wouldn't take up the case, as there was nothing he could -put before the Chancellor. Mind I'm only repeating what people said in -Tuam, and about there. Of course, I couldn't think of advising till I knew -the particulars. Was it on this subject, Mr Lynch, you were good enough to -send for me?' - -'Not at all, Mr Daly. I look upon that as done and gone; bad luck to Blake -and McMahon, both. The truth is, between you and me, Daly I don't mind -telling you; as I hope now you will become my man of business, and it's -only fair you should know all about it the truth is, Blake was more -interested on the other side, and he was determined the case shouldn't go -before the Chancellor. But, when my father signed that will, it was just -after one of those fits he had lately; that could be proved, and he didn't -know what he was doing, from Adam! He didn't know what was in the will, -nor, that he was signing a will at all; so help me, he didn't. However, -that's over. It wasn't to talk about that that I sent for you; only, sorrow -seize the rogue that made the old man rob me! It wasn't Anty herself, poor -creature; she knew nothing about it; it was those who meant to get hold of -my money, through her, that did it. Poor Anty! Heaven knows she wasn't up -to such a dodge as that!' - -'Well, Mr Lynch, of course I know nothing of the absolute facts; but from -what I hear, I think it's as well to let the will alone. The Chancellor -won't put a will aside in a hurry; it's always a difficult job would cost -an immense sum of money, which should, any way, come out of the property; -and, after all, the chances are ten to one you'd be beat.' - -'Perhaps you're right, now; though I'm sure, had the matter been properly -taken up at first had you seen the whole case at the first start, the thing -could have been done. I'm sure you would have said so; but that's over now; -it's another business I want you for. But you don't drink your punch! and -it's dry work talking, without wetting one's whistle,' and Barry carried -out his own recommendation. - -'I'm doing very well, thank ye, Mr Lynch. And what is it I can do for you?' - -'That's what I'm coming to. You know that, by the will, my sister Anty gets -from four to five hundred a year?' - -'I didn't know the amount; but I believe she has half whatever there is.' - -'Exactly: half the land, half the cash, half the house, half everything, -except the debts! and those were contracted in my name, and I must pay them -all. Isn't that hard, Mr Daly?' - -'I didn't know your father had debts.' - -'Oh, but he had debts which ought to have been his; though, as I said, they -stand in my name, and I must pay them.' - -'And, I suppose, what you now want is to saddle the debts on the entire -property? If you can really prove that the debts were incurred for your -father's benefit, I should think you might do that. But has your sister -refused to pay the half? They can't be heavy. Won't Miss Lynch agree to pay -the half herself?' - -This last lie of Barry's for, to give the devil his due, old Sim hadn't -owed one penny for the last twenty years was only a bright invention of the -moment, thrown off by our injured hero to aggravate the hardships of his -case; but he was determined to make the most of it. - -'Not heavy? faith, they are heavy, and d d heavy too, Mr Daly! what'll -take two hundred a-year out of my miserable share of the property; divil a -less. Oh! there's never any knowing how a man'll cut up till he's gone.' - -'That's true; but how could your father owe such a sum as that, and no one -know it? Why, that must be four or five thousand pounds?' - -'About five, I believe.' - -'And you've put your name to them, isn't that it?' - -'Something like it. You know, he and Lord Ballindine, years ago, were -fighting about the leases we held under the old Lord; and then, the old man -wanted ready money, and borrowed it in Dublin; and, some years since that -is, about three years ago, sooner than see any of the property sold, I took -up the debt myself. You know, it was all as good as my own then; and now, -confound it! I must pay the whole out of the miserable thing that's left me -under this infernal will. But it wasn't even about that I sent for you; -only, I must explain exactly how matters are, before I come to the real -point.' - -'But your father's name must be joined with yours in the debt; and, if so, -you can come upon the entire property for the payment. There's no -difficulty about that; your sister, of course, must pay the half.' - -'It's not so, my dear fellow. I can't explain the thing exactly, but it's I -that owe the money, and I must pay it. But it's no good talking of that. -Well, you see, Anty that's my sister, has this property all in her own -hands. But you don't drink your punch,' and Barry mixed his third tumbler. - -'Of course she has; and, surely she won't refuse to pay half the claims on -the estate?' - -'Never mind the claims!' answered Barry, who began to fear that he had -pushed his little invention a thought too far. 'I tell you, I must stand to -them; you don't suppose I'd ask her to pay a penny as a favour? No; I'm a -little too proud for that. Besides, it'd be no use, not the least; and -that's what I'm coming to. You see, Anty's got this money, and . You know, -don't you, Mr Daly, poor Anty's not just like other people?' - -'No,' said Mr Daly ' I didn't. I can't say I know much about Miss Lynch. I -never had the pleasure of seeing her.' - -'But did you never hear she wasn't quite right?' - -'Indeed, I never did, then.' - -'Well that's odd; but we never had it much talked about, poor creature. -Indeed, there was no necessity for people to know much about it, for she -never gave any trouble; and, to tell the truth, as long as she was kept -quiet, she never gave us occasion to think much about it. But, confound -them for rogues those who have got. hold of her now, have quite upset her.' - -'But what is it ails your sister, Mr Lynch?' - -'To have it out, at once, then she's not right in her upper story. Mind, I -don't mean she's a downright lunatic; but she's cracked, poor thing, and -quite unable to judge for herself, in money-matters, and such like; and, -though she might have done very well, poor thing, and passed without -notice, if she'd been left quiet, as was always intended, I'm afraid now, -unless she's well managed, she'd end her life in the Ballinasloe Asylum.' - -The attorney made no answer to this, although Barry paused, to allow him to -do so. Daly was too sharp, and knew his employer's character too well to -believe all he said, and he now began to fancy that he saw what the -affectionate brother was after. 'Well, Daly,' continued Barry, after a -minute's pause; 'after the old man died, we went on quiet enough for some -time. I was up in Dublin mostly, about that confounded loan, and poor Anty -was left here by herself; and what should she do, but take up with a low -huxter's family in the town here.' - -'That's bad,' said the attorney. 'Was there an unmarried young man among -them at all?' - -'Faith there was so; as great a blackguard as there is in Connaught.' - -'And Miss Lynch is going to marry him?' - -'That's just it, Daly; that's what we must prevent. You know, for the sake -of the family, I couldn't let it go on. Then, poor creature, she'd be -plundered and ill-treated she'd be a downright idiot in no time; and, you -know, Daly, the property'd go to the devil; and where'd I be then?' - -Daly couldn't help thinking that, in all probability, his kind host would -not be long in following the property; but he did not say so. He merely -asked the name of the 'blackguard' whom Miss Anty meant to marry? - -'Wait till I tell you the whole of it. The first thing I heard was, that -Anty had made a low ruffian, named Moylan, her agent.' - -'I know him; she couldn't have done much worse. Well?' - -'She made him her agent without speaking to me, or telling me a word about -it; and I couldn't make out what had put it into her head, till I heard -that this old rogue was a kind of cousin to some people living here, named -Kelly.' - -'What, the widow, that keeps the inn?' - -'The very same! confound her, for an impertinent scheming old hag, as she -is. Well; that's the house that Anty was always going to; drinking tea with -the daughters, and walking with the son an infernal young farmer, that -lives with them, the worst of the whole set.' - -'What, Martin Kelly ? There's worse fellows than him, Mr Lynch.' - -'I'll be hanged if I know them, then; but if there are, I don't choose my -poor sister only one remove from an idiot, and hardly that to be carried -off from her mother's house, and married to such a fellow as that. Why, -it's all the same infernal plot; it's the same people that got the old man -to sign the will, when he was past his senses!' - -'Begad, they must have been clever to do that! How the deuce could .they -have got the will drawn?' - -'I tell you, they did do it!' answered Barry, whose courage was now -somewhat raised by the whiskey. 'That's neither here nor there, but they -did it; and, when the old fool was dead, they got this Moylan made Anty's -agent: and then, the hag of a mother comes up here, before daylight, and -bribes the servant, and carries her off down to her filthy den, which she -calls an inn; and when I call to see my sister, I get nothing but insolence -and abuse.' - -'And when did this happen? When did Miss Lynch leave the house?' - -'Yesterday morning, about four o'clock.' - -'She went down of her own accord, though?' - -'D l a bit. The old hag came up here, and filched her out of her bed.' - -'But she couldn't have taken your sister away, unless she had wished to -go.' - -'Of course she wished it; but a silly creature like her can't be let to do -all she wishes.. She wishes to get a husband, and doesn't care what sort of -a one she gets; but you don't suppose an old maid forty years old, who has -always been too stupid and foolish ever to be seen or spoken to, should be -allowed to throw away four hundred a-year, on the first robber that tries -to cheat her? You don't mean to say there isn't a law to prevent that?' - -'I don't know how you'll prevent it, Mr Lynch. She's her own mistress.' - -'What the d l! Do you mean to say there's nothing to prevent an idiot like -that from marrying?' - -'If she was an idiot! But I think you'll find your sister has sense enough -to marry whom she pleases.' - -'I tell you she is an idiot; not raving, mind; but everybody knows she was -never fit to manage anything.' - -'Who'd prove it!' - -'Why, I would. Divil a doubt of it! I could prove that she never could, all -her life.' - -'Ah, my dear Sir! you couldn't do it; nor could I advise you to try that -is, unless there were plenty more who could swear positively that she was -out of her mind. Would the servants swear that? Could you yourself, now, -positively swear that she was out of her mind?' - -'Why she never had any mind to be out of.' - -'Unless you are very sure she is, and, for a considerable time back, has -been, a confirmed lunatic, you'd be very wrong very ill-advised, I mean, Mr -Lynch, to try that game at all. Things would come out which you wouldn't -like; and your motives would be would be ' seen through at once, the -attorney was on the point of saying, but he stopped himself, and finished -by the words 'called in question'. - -'And I'm to sit here, then, and see that young blackguard Kelly, run off -with what ought to be my own, and my sister into the bargain? I'm blessed -if I do! If you can't put me in the way of stopping it, I'll find those -that can.' - -'You're getting too much in a hurry, Mr Lynch. Is your sister at the inn -now?' - -'To be sure she is.' - -'And she is engaged to this young man?' - -'She is.' - -'Why, then, she might be married to him tomorrow, for anything you know.' - -'She might, if he was here. But they tell me he's away, in Dublin.' - -'If they told you so today, they told you wrong: he came into Dunmore, from -Tuam, on the same car with myself, this very afternoon.' - -'What, Martin Kelly? Then he'll be off with her this night, while we're -sitting here!' and Barry jumped up, as if to rush out, and prevent the -immediate consummation of his worst fears. - -'Stop a moment, Mr Lynch,' said the more prudent and more sober lawyer. 'If -they were off, you couldn't follow them; and, if you did follow and find -them, you couldn't prevent their being married, if such were their wish, -and they had a priest ready to do it. Take my advice; remain quiet where -you are, and let's talk the matter over. As for taking out a commission "de -lunatico", as we call it, you'll find you couldn't do it. Miss Lynch may be -a little weak or so in the upper story, but she's not a lunatic; and you -couldn't make her so, if you had half Dunmore to back you, because she'd be -brought before the Commissioners herself, and that, you know, would soon -settle the question. But you might still prevent the marriage, for a time, -at any rate at least, I think so; and, after that, you must trust to the -chapter of accidents.' - -'So help me, that's all I want! If I got her once up here again, and was -sure the thing was off, for a month or so, let me alone, then, for bringing -her to reason!' - -As Daly watched his comrade's reddening face, and saw the malicious gleam -of his eyes as he declared how easily he'd manage the affair, if poor Anty -was once more in the house, his heart misgave him, even though he was a -sharp attorney, at the idea of assisting such a cruel brute in his cruelty; -and, for a moment, he had determined to throw up the matter. Barry was so -unprincipled, and so wickedly malicious in his want of principle, that he -disgusted even Daly. But, on second thoughts, the lawyer remembered that if -he didn't do the job, another would; and, quieting his not very violent -qualms of conscience with the idea that, though employed by the brother, he -might also, to a certain extent, protect the sister, he proceeded to give -his advice as to the course which would be most likely to keep the property -out of the hands of the Kellys. - -He explained to Barry that, as Anty had left her own home in company with -Martin's mother, and as she now was a guest at the widow's, it was unlikely -that any immediate clandestine marriage should be resorted to; that their -most likely course would be to brazen the matter out, and have the wedding -solemnised without any secrecy, and without any especial notice to him, -Barry. That, on the next morning, a legal notice should be prepared in -Tuam, and served on the widow, informing her that it was his intention to -indict her for conspiracy, in enticing away from her own home his sister -Anty, for the purpose of obtaining possession of her property, she being of -weak mind, and not able properly to manage her own affairs; that a copy of -this notice should also be sent to Martin, warning him that he would be -included in the indictment if he took any proceedings with regard to Miss -Lynch; and that a further copy should, if possible, be put into the hands -of Miss Lynch herself. - -'You may be sure that'll frighten them,' continued Daly; 'and then, you -know, when we see what sort of fight they make, we'll be able to judge -whether we ought to go on and prosecute or not. I think the widow'll be -very shy of meddling, when she finds you're in earnest. And you see, Mr -Lynch,' he went on, dropping his voice, 'if you do go into court, as I -don't think you will, you'll go with clean hands, as you ought to do. -Nobody can say anything against you for trying to prevent your sister from -marrying a man so much younger than herself, and so much inferior in -station and fortune; you won't seem to gain anything by it, and that's -everything with a jury; and then, you know, if it comes out that Miss -Lynch's mind is rather touched, it's an additional reason why you should -protect her from intriguing and interested schemers. Don't you see?' - -Barry did see, or fancied he saw, that he had now got the Kellys in a dead -fix, and Anty back into his own hands again; and his self-confidence having -been fully roused by his potations, he was tolerably happy, and talked very -loudly of the manner in which he would punish those low-bred huxters, who -had presumed to interfere with him in the management of his family. - -Towards the latter end of the evening, he became even more confidential, -and showed the cloven foot, if possible, more undisguisedly than he had -hitherto done. He spoke of the impossibility of allowing four hundred a -year to be carried off from him, and suggested to Daly that his sister -would soon drop off, that there would then be a nice thing left, and that -he, Daly, should have the agency, and if he pleased, the use of Dunmore -House. As for himself, he had no idea of mewing himself up in such a hole -as that; but, before he went, he'd take care to drive that villain, Moylan, -out of the place. 'The cursed villany of those Kellys, to go and palm such -a robber as that off on his sister, by way of an agent!' - -To all this, Daly paid but little attention, for he saw that his host was -drunk. But when Moylan's name was mentioned, he began to think that it -might be as well either to include him in the threatened indictment, or -else, which would be better still, to buy him over to their side, as they -might probably learn from him what Martin's plans really were. Barry was, -however, too tipsy to pay much attention to this, or to understand any -deep-laid plans. So the two retired to their beds, Barry determined, as he -declared to the attorney in his drunken friendship, to have it out of Anty, -when he caught her; and Daly promising to go to Tuarn early in the morning, -have the notices prepared and served, and come back in the evening to dine -and sleep, and have, if possible, an interview with Mr Moylan. As he -undressed, he reflected that, during his short professional career, he had -been thrown into the society of many unmitigated rogues of every -description; but that his new friend, Barry Lynch, though he might not -equal them in energy of villany and courage to do serious evil, beat them -all hollow in selfishness, and utter brutal want of feeling, conscience, -and principle. - - - - -X DOT BLAKE'S ADVICE - - -In hour or two after Martin Kelly had left Porto Bello in the Ballinasloe -fly-boat, our other hero, Lord Ballindine, and his friend Dot Blake, -started from Morrison's hotel, with post horses, for Handicap Lodge; and, -as they travelled in Blake's very comfortable barouche, they reached their -destination in time for a late dinner, without either adventure or -discomfort. Here they remained for some days, fully occupied with the -education of their horses, the attention necessary to the engagements for -which they were to run, and with their betting-books. - -Lord Ballindine's horse, Brien Boru, was destined to give the Saxons a -dressing at Epsom, and put no one knows how many thousands into his owner's -hands, by winning the Derby; and arrangements had already been made for -sending him over to John Scott, the English trainer, at an expense, which, -if the horse should by chance fail to be successful, would be of very -serious consequence to his lordship. But Lord Ballindine had made up his -mind, or rather, Blake had made it up for him, and the thing was to be -done; the risk was to be run, and the preparations the sweats and the -gallops, the physicking, feeding, and coddling, kept Frank tolerably well -employed; though the whole process would have gone on quite as well, had he -been absent. - -It was not so, however, with Dot Blake. The turf, to him, was not an -expensive pleasure, but a very serious business, and one which, to give him -his due, he well understood. He himself, regulated the work, both of his -horses and his men, and saw that both did what was allotted to them. He -took very good care that he was never charged a guinea, where a guinea was -not necessary; and that he got a guinea's worth for every guinea he laid -out. In fact, he trained his own horses, and was thus able to assure -himself that his interests were never made subservient to those of others -who kept horses in the same stables. Dot was in his glory, and in his -element on the Curragh, and he was never quite happy anywhere else. - -This, however, was not the case with his companion. For a couple of days -the excitement attending Brien Boru was sufficient to fill Lord -Ballindine's mind; but after that, he could not help recurring to other -things. He was much in want of money, and had been civilly told by is -agent's managing clerk, before he left town, that there was some difficulty -in the way of his immediately getting the sum required. This annoyed him, -for he could not carry on the game without money. And then, again, he was -unhappy to be so near Fanny Wyndham, from day to day, without seeing her. -He was truly and earnestly attached to her, and miserable at the threat -which had been all but made by her guardian, that the match should be -broken off. - -It was true that he had made up his mind not to go to Grey Abbey, as long -as he remained at Handicap Lodge, and, having made the resolution, he -thought he was wise in keeping it; but still, he continually felt that she -must be aware that he was in the neighbourhood, and could not but be hurt -at his apparent indifference. And then he knew that her guardian would make -use of his present employment his sojourn at such a den of sporting -characters as his friend Blake's habitation and his continued absence from -Grey Abbey though known to be in its vicinity, as additional arguments for -inducing his ward to declare the engagement at an end. - -These troubles annoyed him, and though he daily stood by and saw Brien Boru -go through his manoeuvres, he was discontented and fidgety. - -He had been at Handicap Lodge about a fortnight, and was beginning to feel -anything but happy. His horse was to go over in another week, money was not -plentiful with him, and tradesmen were becoming obdurate and persevering. -His host, Blake, was not a soothing or a comfortable friend, under these -circumstances: he gave him a good deal of practical advice, but he could -not sympathise with him. Blake was a sharp, hard, sensible man, who reduced -everything to pounds shillings and pence. Lord Ballindine was a man of -feeling, and for the time, at least, a man of pleasure; and, though they -were, or thought themselves friends, they did not pull well together; in -fact, they bored each other terribly. - -One morning, Lord Ballindine was riding out from the training-ground, when -he met, if not an old, at any rate an intimate acquaintance, named Tierney. -Mr or, as he was commonly called, Mat Tierney, was a bachelor, about sixty -years of age, who usually inhabited a lodge near the Curragh; and who kept -a horse or two on the turf, more for the sake of the standing which it gave -him in the society he liked best, than from any intense love of the sport. -He was a fat, jolly fellow, always laughing, and usually in a good humour; -he was very fond of what he considered the world; and the world, at least -that part of it which knew him, returned the compliment. - -'Well, my lord,' said he, after a few minutes of got-up enthusiasm -respecting Brien Boru, 'I congratulate you, sincerely.' - -'What about?' said Lord Ballindine. - -'Why, I find you've got a first-rate horse, and I hear you've got rid of a -first-rate lady. You're very lucky, no doubt, in both; but I think fortune -has stood to you most, in the latter.' - -Lord Ballindine was petrified: he did not know what to reply. He was aware -that his engagement with Miss Wyndham was so public that Tierney could -allude to no other lady; but he could not conceive how any one could have -heard that his intended marriage was broken off at any rate how he could -have heard it spoken of so publicly, as to induce him to mention it in that -sort of way, to himself. His first impulse was to be very indignant; but he -felt that no one would dream of quarrelling with Mat Tierney; so he said, -as soon as he was able to collect his thoughts sufficiently, - -'I was not aware of the second piece of luck, Mr Tierney. Pray who is the -lady?' - -'Why, Miss Wyndham,' said Mat, himself a little astonished at Lord -Ballindine's tone. - -'I'm sure, Mr Tierney,' said Frank, 'you would say nothing, particularly in -connection with a lady's name, which you intended either to be impertinent, -or injurious. Were it not that I am quite certain of this, I must own that -what you have just said would appear to be both.' - -'My dear lord,' said the other, surprised and grieved, 'I beg ten thousand -pardons, if I have unintentionally said anything, which you feel to be -either. But, surely, if I am not wrong in asking, the match between you and -Miss Wyndham is broken off?' - -'May I ask you, Mr Tierney, who told you so?' - -'Certainly Lord Kilcullen; and, as he is Miss Wyndham's cousin, and Lord -Cashel's son, I could not but think the report authentic.' - -This overset Frank still more thoroughly. Lord Kilcullen would never have -spread the report publicly unless he had been authorised to do so by Lord -Cashel. Frank and Lord Kilcullen had never been intimate; and the former -was aware that the other had always been averse to the proposed marriage; -but still, he would never have openly declared that the marriage was broken -off, had he not had some authority for saying so. - -'As you seem somewhat surprised,' continued Mat, seeing that Lord -Ballindine remained silent, and apparently at a loss for what he ought to -say, 'perhaps I ought to tell you, that Lord Kilcullen mentioned it last -night very publicly at a dinner-party, as an absolute fact. Indeed, from -his manner, I thought he wished it to be generally made known. I presumed, -therefore, that it had been mutually agreed between you, that the event was -not to come off that the match was not to be run; and, with my peculiar -views, you know, on the subject of matrimony, I thought it a fair point for -congratulation. If Lord Kilcullen had misled me, I heartily beg to -apologise; and at the same time, by giving you my authority, to show you -that I could not intend anything impertinent. If it suits you, you are -quite at liberty to tell Lord Kilcullen all I have told you; and, if you -wish me to contradict the report, which I must own I have spread, I will do -so.' - -Frank felt that be could not be angry with Mat Tierney; he therefore -thanked him for his open explanation, and, merely muttering something about -private affairs not being worthy of public interest, rode off towards -Handicap Lodge. - -It appeared very plain to him that the Grey Abbey family must have -discarded him that Fanny Wyndham, Lord and Lady Cashel, and the whole set, -must have made up their minds to drop him altogether; otherwise, one of the -family would not have openly declared the match at an end. And yet he was -at a loss to conceive how they could have done so how even Lord Cashel -could have reconciled it to himself to do so, without the common-place -courtesy of writing to him on the subject. And then, when he thought of -her, 'his own Fanny,' as he had so often called her, he was still more -bewildered: she, with whom he had sat for so many sweet hours talking of -the impossibility of their ever forgetting, deserting, or even slighting -each other; she, who had been so entirely devoted to him so much more than -engaged to him could she have lent her name to such a heartless mode of -breaking her faith? - -'If I had merely proposed for her through her guardian,' thought Frank, to -himself 'if I had got Lord Cashel to make the engagement, as many men do, I -should not be surprised; but after all that has passed between us after all -her vows, and all her 'and then Lord Ballindine struck his horse with his -heel, and made a cut at the air with his whip, as he remembered certain -passages more binding even than promises, warmer even than vows, which -seemed to make him as miserable now as they had made him happy at the time -of their occurrence. 'I would not believe it,' he continued, meditating, -'if twenty Kilcullens said it, or if fifty Mat Tierneys swore to it!' and -then he rode on towards the lodge, in a state of mind for which I am quite -unable to account, if his disbelief in Fanny Wyndham's constancy was really -as strong as he had declared it to be. And, as he rode, many unusual -thoughts for, hitherto, Frank had not been a very deep-thinking man crowded -his mind, as to the baseness, falsehood, and iniquity of the human race, -especially of rich cautious old peers who had beautiful wards in their -power. - -By the time he had reached the lodge, he had determined that he must now do -something, and that, as he was quite unable to come to any satisfactory -conclusion on his own unassisted judgment, he must consult Blake, who, by -the bye, was nearly as sick of Fanny Wyndham as he would have been had he -himself been the person engaged to marry her. - -As he rode round to the yard, he saw his friend standing at the door of one -of the stables, with a cigar in his mouth. - -'Well, Frank, how does Brien go today? Not that he'll ever be the thing -till he gets to the other side of the water. They'll never be able to bring -a horse out as he should be, on the Curragh, till they've regular trained -gallops. The slightest frost in spring, or sun in summer, and the ground's -so hard, you might as well gallop your horse down the pavement of Grafton -Street.' 'Confound the horse,' answered Frank; 'come here, Dot, a minute. -I want to speak to you.' - -'What the d l's the matter? he's not lame, is he?' - -'Who? what? Brien Boru? Not that I know of. I wish the brute had never been -foaled.' - -'And why so? What crotchet have you got in your head now? Something wrong -about Fanny, I suppose?' - -'Why, did you hear anything?' - -'Nothing but what you've told me.' - -'I've just seen Mat Tierney, and he told me that Kilcullen had declared, at -a large dinner-party, yesterday, that the match between me and his cousin -was finally broken off.' - -'You wouldn't believe what Mat Tierney would say? Mat was only taking a -rise out of you.' - -'Not at all: he was not only speaking seriously, but he told me what I'm -very sure was the truth, as far as Lord Kilcullen was concerned. I mean, -I'm sure Kilcullen said it, and in the most public manner he could; and -now, the question is, what had I better do?' - -'There's no doubt as to what you'd better do; the question is what you'd -rather do?' - -'But what had I better do? call on Kilcullen for an explanation?' - -'That's the last thing to think of. No; but declare what he reports to be -the truth; return Miss Wyndham the lock of hair you have in your desk, and -next your heart, or wherever you keep it; write her a pretty note, and -conclude by saying that the "Adriatic's free to wed another". That's what I -should do.' - -'It's very odd, Blake, that you won't speak seriously to a man for a -moment. You've as much heart in you as one of your own horses. I wish I'd -never come to this cursed lodge of yours. I'd be all right then.' - -'As for my heart, Frank, if I have as much as my horses, I ought to be -contented for race-horses are usually considered to have a good deal; as -for my cursed lodge, I can assure you I have endeavoured, and, if you will -allow me, I will still endeavour, to make it as agreeable to you as I am -able; and as to my speaking seriously, upon my word, I never spoke more so. -You asked me what I thought you had better do and I began by telling you -there would be a great difference between that and what you'd rather do.' - -'But, in heaven's name, why would you have me break off with Miss Wyndham, -when every one knows I'm engaged to her; and when you know that I wish to -marry her?' - -'Firstly, to prevent her breaking off with you though I fear there's hardly -time for that; and secondly, in consequence as the newspapers say, of -incompatibility of temper.' - -'Why, you don't even know her!' - -'But I know you, and I know what your joint income would be, and I know -that there would be great incompatibility between you, as Lord Ballindine, -with a wife and family and fifteen hundred a year, or so. But mind, I'm -only telling you what I think you'd better do.' - -'Well, I shan't do that. If I was once settled down, I could live as well -on fifteen hundred a year as any country gentleman in Ireland. It's only -the interference of Lord Cashel that makes me determined not to pull in -till I am married. If he had let me have my own way, I shouldn't, by this -time, have had a horse in the world, except one or two hunters or so, down -in the country.' - -'Well, Frank, if you're determined to get yourself married, I'll give you -the best advice in my power as to the means of doing it. Isn't that what -you want?' - -'I want to know what you think I ought to do, just at this minute.' - -'With matrimony as the winning-post?' - -'You know I wish to marry Fanny Wyndham.' - -'And the sooner the better is that it?' 'Of course. She'll be of age now, -in a few days,' replied Lord Ballindine. - -'Then I advise you to order a new blue coat, and to buy a wedding-ring.' - -'Confusion!' cried Frank, stamping his foot; and turning away in a passion; -and then he took up his hat, to rush out of the room, in which the latter -part of the conversation had taken place. - -'Stop a minute, Frank,' said Blake, 'and don't he in a passion. What I said -was only meant to show you how easy I think it is for you to marry Miss -Wyndham if you choose.' - -'Easy! and every soul at Grey Abbey turned against me, in consequence of my -owning that brute of a horse! I'll go over there at once, and I'll show -Lord Cashel that at any rate he shall not treat me like a child. As for -Kilcullen, if he interferes with me or my name in any way, I'll ' - -'You'll what? thrash him?' - -'Indeed, I'd like nothing better!' - -'And then shoot him be tried by your peers and perhaps hung; is that it?' - -'Oh, that's nonsense. I don't wish to fight any one, but I am not going to -be insulted.' - -'I don't think you are: I don't think there's the least chance of Kilcullen -insulting you; he has too much worldly wisdom. But to come back to Miss -Wyndham: if you really mean to marry her, and if, as I believe, she is -really fond of you, Lord Cashel and all the family can't prevent it. She is -probably angry that you have not been over there; he is probably irate at -your staying here, and, not unlikely, has made use of her own anger to make -her think that she has quarrelled with you; and hence Kilcullen's report.' - -'And what shall I do now?' - -'Nothing today, but eat your dinner, and drink your wine. Ride over -tomorrow, see Lord Cashel, and tell him but do it quite coolly, if you -can exactly what you have heard, and how you have heard it, and beg him to -assure Lord Kilcullen that he is mistaken in his notion that the match is -off; and beg also that the report may not be repeated. Do this; and do it -as if you were Lord Cashel's equal, not as if you were his son, or his -servant. If you are co1lected and steady with him for ten minutes, you'll -soon find that he will become bothered and unsteady.' - -'That's very easy to say here, but it's not so easy to do there. You don't -know him as I do: he's so sedate, and so slow, and so dull especially -sitting alone, as he does of a morning, in that large, dingy, -uncomfortable, dusty-looking book-room of his. He measures his words like -senna and salts, and their tone is as disagreeable.' - -'Then do you drop out yours like prussic acid, and you'll beat him at his -own game. Those are all externals, my dear fellow. When a man knows he has -nothing within his head to trust to when he has neither sense nor genius, -he puts on a wig, ties up his neck in a white choker, sits in a big chair, -and frightens the world with his silence. Remember, if you were not a baby, -he would not be a bugbear.' - -'And should I not ask to see Fanny?' - -'By all means. Don't leave Grey Abbey without seeing and making your peace -with Miss Wyndham. That'll be easy with you, because it's your métier. I -own that with myself it would be the most difficult part of the morning's -work. But don't ask to see her as a favour. When you've done with the lord -(and don't let your conference be very long) when you've done with the -lord, tell him you'll say a word to the lady; and, whatever may have been -his pre-determination, you'll find that, if you're cool, he'll be bothered, -and he won't know how to refuse; and if he doesn't prevent you, I'm sure -Miss Wyndham won't.' - -'And if he asks about these wretched horses of mine?' - -'Don't let him talk more about your affairs than you can help; but, if he -presses you and he won't if you play your game well tell him that you're -quite aware your income won't allow you to keep up an establishment at the -Curragh after you're married.' - -'But about Brien Boru, and the Derby?' - -'Brien Boru! You might as well talk to him about your washing-bills! Don't -go into particulars-stick to generals. He'll never ask you those questions -unless he sees you shiver and shake like a half-whipped school-boy.' - -After a great deal of confabulation, in which Dot Blake often repeated his -opinion of Lord Ballindine's folly in not rejoicing at an opportunity of -breaking oft the match, it was determined that Frank should ride over the -next morning, and do exactly what his friend proposed. If, however, one -might judge from his apparent dread of the interview with Lord Cashel, -there was but little chance of his conducting it with the coolness or -assurance insisted on by Dot. The probability was, that when the time did -come, he would, as Blake said, shiver and shake like a half-whipped school- -boy. - -'And what will you do when you're married, Frank?' said Blake; 'for I'm -beginning to think the symptoms are strong, and you'll hardly get out of it -now.' - -'Do! why, I suppose I'll do much the same as others have two children, and -live happy ever afterwards.' - -'I dare say you're right about the two children, only you might say two -dozen; but as to the living happy, that's more problematical. What do you -mean to eat and drink?' - -'Eggs potatoes and bacon buttermilk, and potheen. It's odd if I can't get -plenty of them in Mayo, if I've nothing better.' - -'I suppose you will, Frank; but bacon won't go down well after venison; and -a course of claret is a bad preparative for potheen punch. You're not the -man to live, with a family, on a small income, and what the d----l you'll -do I don't know. You'll fortify Kelly's Court that'll be the first step.' - -'Is it against the Repealers?' - -'Faith, no; you'll join them, of course: but against the sub-sheriff, and -his officers an army much more likely to crown their enterprises with -success.' - -'You seem to forget, Dot, that, after all, I'm marrying a girl with quite -as large a fortune as I had any right to expect.' - -'The limit to your expectations was only in your own modesty; the less you -had a right in the common parlance to expect, the more you wanted, and the -more you ought to have looked for. Say that Miss Wyndham's fortune clears a -thousand a year of your property, you would never be able to get along on -what you'd have. No; I'll tell you what you'll do. You'll shut up Kelly's -Court, raise the rents, take a moderate house in London; and Lord Cashel, -when his party are in, will get you made a court stick of, and you'll lead -just such a life as your grandfather. If it's not very glorious, at any -rate it's a useful kind of life. I hope Miss Wyndham will like it. You'll -have to christen your children Ernest and Albert, and that sort of thing; -that's the worst of it; and you'll never be let to sit down, and that's a -bore. But you've strong legs. It would never do for me. I could never stand -out a long tragedy in Drury Lane, with my neck in a stiff white choker, and -my toes screwed into tight dress boots. I'd sooner be a porter myself, for -he can go to bed when the day's over.' - -'You're very witty, Dot; but you know I'm the last man in Ireland, not -excepting yourself, to put up with that kind of thing. Whatever I may have -to live on, I shall live in my own country, and on my own property.' - -'Very well; if you won't be a gold stick, there's the other alternative: -fortify Kelly's Court, and prepare for the sheriff's officers. Of the two, -there's certainly more fun in it; and you can go out with the harriers on a -Sunday afternoon, and live like a "ra'al O'Kelly of the ould times" only -the punch'll kill you in about ten years.' - -'Go on, Dot, go on. You want to provoke me, but you won't. I wonder whether -you'd bear it as well, if I told you you'd die a broken-down black-leg, -without a friend or a shilling to bless you.' - -'I don't think I should, because I should know that you were threatening me -with a fate which my conduct and line of life would not warrant any one in -expecting.' - -'Upon my word, then, I think there's quite as much chance of that as there -is of my getting shut up by bailiffs in Kelly's Court, and dying drunk. -I'll bet you fifty pounds I've a better account at my bankers than you have -in ten years.' - -'Faith, I'll not take it. It'll be hard work getting fifty pounds out of -you, then! In the meantime, come and play a game of billiards before -dinner.' - -To this Lord Ballindine consented, and they adjourned to the billiard-room; -but, before they commenced playing, Blake declared that if the names of -Lord Cashel or Miss Wyndham were mentioned again that evening, he should -retreat to his own room, and spend the hours by himself; so, for the rest -of that day, Lord Ballindine was again driven back upon Brien Boru and the -Derby for conversation, as Dot was too close about his own stable to talk -much of his own horses and their performances, except when he was doing so -with an eye to business. - - - - -XI THE EARL OF CASHEL - - -About two o'clock on the following morning, Lord Ballindine set off for -Grey Abbey, on horseback, dressed with something more than ordinary care, -and with a considerable palpitation about his heart. He hardly knew, -himself, what or whom he feared, but he knew that he was afraid of -something. He had a cold, sinking sensation within him, and he felt -absolutely certain that he should be signally defeated in his present -mission. He had plenty of what is usually called courage; had his friend -recommended him instantly to call out Lord Kilcullen and shoot him, and -afterwards any number of other young men who might express a thought in -opposition to his claim on Miss Wyndham's hand, he would have set about it -with the greatest readiness and aptitude; but he knew he could not baffle -the appalling solemnity of Lord Cashel, in his own study. Frank was not so -very weak a man as he would appear to be when in the society of Blake. He -unfortunately allowed Blake to think for him in many things, and he found a -convenience in having some one to tell him what to do; but he was, in most -respects, a better, and in some, even a wiser man than his friend. He often -felt that the kind of life he was leading contracting debts which he could -not pay, and spending his time in pursuits which were not really congenial -to him, was unsatisfactory and discreditable: and it was this very feeling, -and the inability to defend that which he knew to be wrong sand foolish, -which made him so certain that he would not be able successfully to persist -in his claim to Miss Wyndham's hand in opposition to the trite and well- -weighed objections, which he knew her guardian would put forward. He -consoled himself, however, with thinking that, at any rate, they could not -prevent his seeing her; and he was quite sanguine as to her forgiveness, if -he but got a fair opportunity of asking it. And when that was obtained, why -should the care for any one? Fanny would be of age, and her own mistress, -in a few days, and all the solemn earls in England, and Ireland too, could -not then prevent her marrying whom and when she liked. - -He thought a great deal on all his friend had said to his future poverty; -but then, his ideas and Blake's were very different about life. Blake's -idea of happiness was, the concentrating of every thing into a focus for -his own enjoyment; whereas he, Frank had only had recourse to dissipation -and extravagance, because he had nothing to make home pleasant to him. If -he once had Fanny Wyndham installed as Lady Ballindine, at Kelly's Court, -he was sure he could do his duty as a country gentleman, and live on his -income, be it what it might, not only without grumbling, but without -wishing for anything more. He was fond of his country, his name, and his -countrymen: he was fully convinced of his folly in buying race-horses, and -in allowing himself to be dragged on the turf: he would sell Brien Boru, -and the other two Irish chieftains, for what they would fetch, and show -Fanny and her guardian that he was in earnest in his intention of -reforming. Blake might laugh at him if he liked; but he would not stay to -be laughed at. He felt that Handicap Lodge was no place for him; and -besides, why should he bear Dot's disagreeable sarcasms? It was not the -part of a real friend to say such cutting things as he continually did. -After all, Lord Cashel would be a safer friend, or, at any rate, adviser; -and, instead of trying to defeat him by coolness or insolence, he would at -once tell him of all his intentions, explain to him exactly how matters -stood, and prove his good resolutions by offering to take whatever steps -the earl might recommend about the horses. This final determination made -him easier in this mind, and, as he entered the gates of Grey Abbey Park, -he was tolerably comfortable, trusting to his own good resolutions, and the -effect which he felt certain the expression of them must have on Lord -Cashel. - -Grey Abbey is one of the largest but by no means one of the most -picturesque demesnes in Ireland. It is situated in the county of Kildare, -about two miles from the little town of Kilcullen, in a flat, -uninteresting, and not very fertile country. The park itself is extensive -and tolerably well wooded, but it wants water and undulation, and is -deficient of any object of attraction, except that of size and not very -magnificent timber. I suppose, years ago, there was an Abbey here, or near -the spot, but there is now no vestige of it remaining. In a corner of the -demesne there are standing the remains of one of those strong, square, ugly -castles, which, two centuries since, were the real habitations of the -landed proprietors of the country, and many of which have been inhabited -even to a much later date. They now afford the strongest record of the -apparently miserable state of life which even the favoured of the land then -endured, and of the numberless domestic comforts which years and skill have -given us, apt as we are to look back with fond regret to the happy, by-gone -days of past periods. - -This old castle, now used as a cow-shed, is the only record of antiquity at -Grey Abbey; and yet the ancient family of the Greys have lived there for -centuries. The first of them who possessed property in Ireland, obtained in -the reign of Henry Il, grants of immense tracts of land, stretching through -Wicklow, Kildare, and the Queen's and King's Counties; and, although his -descendants have been unable to retain, through the various successive -convulsions which have taken place in the interior of Ireland since that -time, anything like an eighth of what the family once pretended to claim, -the Earl of Cashel, their present representative, has enough left to enable -him to consider himself a very great man. The present mansion, built on the -site of that in which the family had lived till about seventy years since, -is, like the grounds, large, commodious, and uninteresting. It is built of -stone, which appears as if it had been plastered over, is three stories -high, and the windows are all of the same size, and at regular intervals. -The body of the house looks like a huge, square, Dutch old lady, and the -two wings might be taken for her two equally fat, square, Dutch daughters. -Inside, the furniture is good, strong, and plain. There are plenty of -drawing-rooms, sitting-rooms, bed-rooms, and offices; a small gallery of -very indifferent paintings, and a kitchen, with an excellent kitchen-range, -and patent boilers of every shape. - -Considering the nature of the attractions, it is somewhat strange that Lord -Cashel should have considered it necessary to make it generally known that -the park might be seen any day between the hours of nine and six, and the -house, on Tuesdays and Fridays between the hours of eleven and four. Yet -such is the case, and the strangeness of this proceeding on his part is a -good deal diminished by the fact that persons, either induced by Lord -Cashel's good nature, or thinking that any big house must be worth seeing, -very frequently pay half-a-crown to the housekeeper for the privilege of -being dragged through every room in the mansion. - -There is a bed there, in which the Regent slept when in Ireland, and a room -which was tenanted by Lord Normanby, when Lord Lieutenant. There is, -moreover, a satin counterpane, which was made by the lord's aunt, and a -snuff-box which was given to the lord's grandfather by Frederick the Great. -These are the lions of the place, and the gratification experienced by -those who see them is, no doubt, great; but I doubt if it equals the -annoyance and misery to which they are subjected in being obliged to pass -one unopened door that of the private room of Lady Selina, the only -daughter of the earl at present unmarried. - -It contains only a bed, and the usual instruments of a lady's toilet; but -Lady Selina does not choose to have it shown, and it has become invested, -in the eyes of the visitors, with no ordinary mystery. Many a petitionary -whisper is addressed to the housekeeper on the subject, but in vain; and, -consequently, the public too often leave Grey Abbey dissatisfied. - -As Lord Ballindine rode through the gates, and up the long approach to the -house, he was so satisfied of the wisdom of his own final resolution, and -of the successful termination of his embassy under such circumstances, that -he felt relieved of the uncomfortable sensation of fear which had oppressed -him; and it was only when the six-foot high, powdered servant told him, -with a very solemn face, that the earl was alone in the book-room the -odious room he hated so much that he began again to feel a little -misgiving. However, there was nothing left for him now, so he gave up his -horse to the groom, and followed the sober-faced servant into the book- -room. - -Lord Cashel was a man about sixty-three, with considerable external dignity -of appearance, though without any personal advantage, either in face, -figure, or manner. He had been an earl, with a large income, for thirty -years; and in that time he had learned to look collected, even when his -ideas were confused; to keep his eye steady, and to make a few words go a -long way. He had never been intemperate, and was, therefore, strong and -hale for his years, he had not done many glaringly foolish things, and, -therefore, had a character for wisdom and judgment. He had run away with no -man's wife, and, since his marriage, had seduced no man's daughter; he was, -therefore, considered a moral man. He was not so deeply in debt as to have -his affairs known to every one; and hence was thought prudent. And, as he -lived in his own house, with his own wife, paid his servants and labourers -their wages regularly, and nodded in church for two hours every Sunday, he -was thought a good man. Such were his virtues; and by these negative -qualities this vis inertiae, he had acquired, and maintained, a -considerable influence in the country. - -When Lord Ballindine's name was announced, he slowly rose, and, just -touching the tip of Frank's fingers, by way of shaking hands with him, -hoped he had the pleasure of seeing him well. - -The viscount hoped the same of the earl and of the ladies. This included -the countess and Lady Selina, as well as Fanny, and was, therefore, not a -particular question; but, having hoped this, and the earl remaining silent, -he got confused, turned red, hummed and hawed a little, sat down, and then, -endeavouring to drown his confusion in volubility, began talking quickly -about his anxiety to make final arrangements concerning matters, which, of -course, he had most deeply at heart; and, at last, ran himself fairly -aground, from not knowing whether, under the present circumstances, he -ought to speak of his affianced to her guardian as 'Fanny', or 'Miss -Wyndham'. - -When he had quite done, and was dead silent, and had paused sufficiently -long to assure the earl that he was going to say nothing further just at -present, the great man commenced his answer. - -'This is a painful subject, my lord most peculiarly painful at the present -time; but, surely, after all that has passed but especially after what has -not passed' Lord Cashel thought this was a dead hit 'you cannot consider -your engagement with Miss Wyndham to be still in force?' - -'Good gracious! and why not, my lord? I am ready to do anything her -friends in fact I came solely, this morning, to consult yourself, about I'm -sure Fanny herself can't conceive the engagement to be broken off. Of -course, if Miss Wyndham wishes it but I can't believe I can't believe if -it's about the horses, Lord Cashel, upon my word, I'm ready to sell them -today.' - -This was not very dignified in poor Frank, and to tell the truth, he was -completely bothered. Lord Cashel looked so more than ordinarily glum; had -he been going to put on a black cap and pass sentence of death, or -disinherit his eldest son, he could not have looked more stern or more -important. Frank's lack of dignity added to his, and made him feel -immeasurably superior to any little difficulty which another person might -have felt in making the communication he was going to make. He was really -quite in a solemn good humour. Lord Ballindine's confusion was so -.flattering. - -'I can assure you, my lord, Miss Wyndham calls for no such sacrifice, nor -do I. There was a time when, as her guardian, I ventured to hint and I own -I was taking a liberty, a fruitless liberty, in doing so that I thought -your remaining on the turf was hardly prudent. But I can assure you, with -all kindly feeling with no approach to animosity that I will not offend in -a similar way again. I hear, by mere rumour, that you have extended your -operations to the other kingdom. I hope I have not been the means of -inducing you to do so; but, advice, if not complied with, often gives a -bias in an opposite direction. With regard to Miss Wyndham, I must -express and I really had thought it was unnecessary to do so, though it was -certainly my intention, as it was Miss Wyndham's wish, that I should have -written to you formally on the subject but your own conduct excuse me, Lord -Ballindine your own evident indifference, and continued, I fear I must call -it, dissipation and your, as I considered, unfortunate selection of -acquaintance, combined with the necessary diminution of that attachment -which I presume Miss Wyndham once felt for you necessary, inasmuch as it -was, as far as I understand, never of a sufficiently ardent nature to -outlive the slights indeed, my lord, I don't wish to offend you, or hurt -your feelings but, I must say, the slights which it encountered.' Here the -earl felt that his sentence was a little confused, but the viscount looked -more so; and, therefore, not at all abashed by the want of a finish to his -original proposition, he continued glibly enough: - -'In short, in considering all the features of the case, I thought the -proposed marriage a most imprudent one; and, on questioning Miss Wyndham as -to her feelings, I was, I must own, gratified to learn that she agreed with -me; indeed, she conceived that your conduct gave ample proof, my lord, of -your readiness to be absolved from your engagement; pardon me a moment, my -lord as I said before, I still deemed it incumbent on me, and on my ward, -that I, as her guardian, should give you an absolute and written -explanation of her feelings that would have been done yesterday, and this -most unpleasant meeting would have been spared to both of us, but for the -unexpected Did you hear of the occurrence which has happened in Miss -Wyndham's family, my lord?' - -'Occurrence? No, Lord Cashel; I did not hear of any especial occurrence.' - -There had been a peculiarly solemn air about Lord Cashel during the whole -of the interview, which deepened into quite funereal gloom as he asked the -last question; but he was so uniformly solemn, that this had not struck -Lord Ballindine. Besides, an appearance of solemnity agreed so well with -Lord Cashel's cast of features and tone of voice, that a visage more -lengthened, and a speech somewhat slower than usual, served only to show -him off as so much the more clearly identified by his own characteristics. -Thus a man who always wears a green coat does not become remarkable by a -new green coat; he is only so much the more than ever, the man in the green -coat. - -Lord Ballindine, therefore, answered the question without the appearance of -that surprise which Lord Cashel expected he would feel, if he had really -not yet heard of the occurrence about to be related to him. The earl, -therefore, made up his mind, as indeed he had nearly done before, that -Frank knew well what was going to be told him, though it suited his purpose -to conceal his knowledge. He could not, however, give his young brother -nobleman the lie; and he was, therefore, constrained to tell his tale, as -if to one to whom it was unknown. He was determined, however, though he -could not speak out plainly, to let Frank see that he was not deceived by -his hypocrisy, and that he, Lord Cashel, was well aware, not only that the -event about to be told had been known at Handicap Lodge, but that the -viscount's present visit to Grey Abbey had arisen out of that knowledge. - -Lord Ballindine, up to this moment, was perfectly ignorant of this event, -and it is only doing justice to him to say that, had he heard of it, it -would at least have induced him to postpone his visit for some time. Lord -Cashel paused for a few moments, looking at Frank in a most diplomatic -manner, and then proceeded to unfold his budget. - -'I am much surprised that you should not have heard of it. The distressing -news reached Grey Abbey yesterday, and must have been well known in -different circles in Dublin yesterday morning. Considering the great -intercourse between Dublin and the Curragh, I wonder you can have been left -so long in ignorance of a circumstance so likely to be widely discussed, -and which at one time might have so strongly affected your own interests.' -Lord Cashel again paused, and looked hard at Frank. He flattered himself -that he was reading his thoughts; but he looked as if he had detected a -spot on the other's collar, and wanted to see whether it was ink or soot. - -Lord Ballindine was, however, confounded. When the earl spoke of 'a -circumstance so likely to be widely discussed', Mat Tierney's conversation -recurred to him, and Lord Kilcullen's public declaration that Fanny -Wyndham's match was off. It was certainly odd for Lord Cashel to call this -an occurrence in Miss Wyndham's family, but then, he had a round-about way -of saying everything. - -'I say,' continued the earl, after a short pause, 'that I cannot but be -surprised that an event of so much importance, of so painful a nature, and, -doubtless, already so publicly known, should not before this have reached -the ears of one to whom, I presume, Miss Wyndham's name was not always -wholly indifferent. But, as you have not heard it, my lord, I will -communicate it to you,' and again he paused, as though expecting another -assurance of Lord Ballindine's ignorance. - -'Why, my lord,' said Frank, 'I did hear a rumour, which surprised me very -much, but I could not suppose it to be true. To tell the truth, it was very -much in consequence of what I heard that I came to Grey Abbey today.' - -It was now Lord Cashel's turn to be confounded. First, to deny that he had -heard anything about it and then immediately to own that he had heard it, -and had been induced to renew his visits to Grey Abbey in consequence! Just -what he, in his wisdom, had suspected was the case. But how could Lord -Ballindine have the face to own it? - -I must, however, tell the reader the event of which Frank was ignorant, and -which, it appears, Lord Cashel is determined not to communicate to him. - -Fanny Wyndham's father had held a governorship, or some golden appointment -in the golden days of India, and consequently had died rich. He left eighty -thousand pounds to his son, who was younger than Fanny, and twenty to his -daughter. His son had lately been put into the Guards, but he was not long -spared to enjoy his sword and his uniform. He died, and his death had put -his sister in possession of his money; and Lord Cashel thought that, though -Frank might slight twenty thousand pounds, he would be too glad to be -allowed to remain the accepted admirer of a hundred thousand. - -'I thought you must have heard it, my lord,' resumed the senior, as soon as -be had collected his shreds of dignity, which Frank's open avowal had -somewhat scattered, 'I felt certain you must have heard it, and you will, I -am sure, perceive that this is no time for you excuse me if I use a word -which may appear harsh it is no time for any one, not intimately connected -with Miss Wyndham by ties of family, to intrude upon her sorrow.' - -Frank was completely bothered. He thought that if she were so sorrowful, if -she grieved so deeply at the match being broken off, that was just the -reason why he should see her. After all, it was rather flattering to -himself to hear of her sorrows; dear Fanny! was she so grieved that she was -forced to part from him? - -'But, Lord Cashel,' he said, 'I am ready to do whatever you please. I'll -take any steps you'll advise. But I really cannot see why I'm to be told -that the engagement between me and Miss Wyndham is off, without hearing any -reason from herself. I'll make any sacrifice you please, or she requires; -I'm sure she was attached to me, and she cannot have overcome that -affection so soon.' - -'I have already said that we require Miss Wyndham requires no sacrifice -from you. The time for sacrifice is past; and I do not think her affection -was of such a nature as will long prey on her spirits.' - -'My affection for her is, I can assure you ' - -'Pray excuse me but I think this is hardly the time either to talk of, or -to show, your affection. Had it been proved to be of a lasting, I fear I -must say, a sincere nature, it would now have been most valued. I will -leave yourself to say whether this was the case.' - -'And so you mean to say, Lord Cashel, that I cannot see Miss Wyndham?' - -'Assuredly, Lord Ballindine. And I must own, that I hardly appreciate your -delicacy in asking to do so at the present moment.' - -There was something very hard in this. The match was to be broken off -without any notice to him; and when he requested, at any rate, to hear this -decision from the mouth of the only person competent to make it, he was -told that it was indelicate for him to wish to do so. This put his back up. - -'Well, my lord,' he said with some spirit, Miss Wyndham is at present your -ward, and in your house, and I am obliged to postpone the exercise of the -right, to which, at least, I am entitled, of hearing her decision from her -own mouth. I cannot think that she expects I should be satisfied with such -an answer as I have now received. I shall write to her this evening, and -shall expect at any rate the courtesy of an answer from herself.' - -'My advice to my ward will be, not to write to you; at any rate for the -present. I presume, my lord, you cannot doubt my word that Miss Wyndham -chooses to be released from an engagement, which I must say your own -conduct renders it highly inexpedient for her to keep.' - -'I don't doubt your word, of course, Lord Cashel; but such being the case, -I think Miss Wyndham might at least tell me so herself.' - -'I should have thought, Lord Ballindine, that you would have felt that the -sudden news of a dearly loved brother's death, was more than sufficient to -excuse Miss Wyndham from undergoing an interview which, even under ordinary -circumstances, would be of very doubtful expediency.' - -'Her brother's death! Good gracious! Is Harry Wyndham dead!' - -Frank was so truly surprised so effectually startled by the news, which he -now for the first time heard, that, had his companion possessed any real -knowledge of human nature, he would at once have seen that his astonishment -was not affected. But he had none, and, therefore, went on blundering in -his own pompous manner. - -'Yes, my lord, he is dead. I understood you to say that you had already -heard it; and, unless my ears deceived me, you explained that his demise -was the immediate cause of your present visit. I cannot, however, go so far -as to say that I think you have exercised a sound discretion in the matter. -In expressing such an opinion, however, I am far from wishing to utter -anything which may be irritating or offensive to your feelings.' - -'Upon my word then, I never heard a word about it till this moment! Poor -Harry! And is Fanny much cut up?' - -'Miss Wyndham is much afflicted.' - -'I wouldn't for worlds annoy her, or press on her at such a moment. Pray -tell her, Lord Cashel, how deeply I feel her sorrows: pray tell her this, -with my kindest best compliments.' This termination was very cold but so -was Lord Cashel's face. His lordship had also risen from his chair; and -Frank saw it was intended that the interview should end. But he would now -have been glad to stay. He wanted to ask a hundred questions how the poor -lad had died? whether he had been long ill? whether it had been expected? -But he saw that he must go; so he rose and putting out his hand which Lord -Cashel just touched, he said, - -'Good bye, my lord. I trust, after a few months are gone by, you may see -reason to alter the opinion you have expressed respecting your ward. Should -I not hear from you before then, I shall again do myself the honour of -calling at Grey Abbey; but will write to Miss Wyndham before I do so.' - -Lord Cashel had the honour of wishing Lord Ballindine a very good morning, -and of bowing him to the door; and so the interview ended. - - - - -XII FANNY WYNDHAM - - -When Lord Cashel had seen Frank over the mat which lay outside his study -door, and that there was a six foot servitor to open any other door through -which he might have to pass, he returned to his seat, and, drawing his -chair close to the fire, began to speculate on Fanny and her discarded -lover. - -He was very well satisfied with himself, and with hi own judgment and -firmness in the late conversation. It was very evident that Frank had heard -of Harry Wyndham's death, and of Fanny's great accession of wealth; that he -had immediately determined that the heiress was no longer to be neglected, -and that he ought to strike while the iron was hot: hence his visit to Grey -Abbey. His pretended ignorance of the young man's death, when he found he -could not see Miss Wyndham, was a ruse; but an old bird like Lord Cashel -was not to be caught with chaff. And then, how indelicate of him to come -and press his suit immediately after news of so distressing a nature had -reached Miss Wyndham! How very impolitic, thought Lord Cashel, to show such -a hurry to take possession of the fortune! How completely he had destroyed -his own game. And then, other thoughts passed through his mind. His ward -had now one hundred thousand pounds clear, which was, certainly, a great -deal of ready money. Lord Cashel had no younger sons; but his heir, Lord -Kilcullen, was an expensive man, and owed, he did not exactly know, and was -always afraid to ask, how much. He must marry soon, or he would be sure to -go to the devil. He had been living with actresses and opera-dancers quite -long enough for his own respectability; and, if he ever intended to be such -a pattern to the country as his father, it was now time for him to settle -down. And Lord Cashel bethought himself that if he could persuade his son -to marry Fanny Wyndham and pay his debts with her fortune (surely he -couldn't owe more than a hundred thousand pounds?) he would be able to give -them a very handsome allowance to live on. - -To do Lord Cashel justice, we must say that he had fully determined that it -was his duty to break off the match between Frank and his ward, before he -heard of the accident which had so enriched her. And Fanny herself, feeling -slighted and neglected knowing how near to her her lover was, and that -nevertheless he never came to see her hearing his name constantly mentioned -in connection merely with horses and jockeys had been induced to express -her acquiescence in her guardian's views, and to throw poor Frank -overboard. In all this the earl had been actuated by no mercenary views, as -far as his own immediate family was concerned. He had truly and justly -thought that Lord Ballindine, with his limited fortune and dissipated -habits, was a bad match for his ward; and he had, consequently, done his -best to break the engagement. There could, therefore, he thought, be -nothing unfair in his taking advantage of the prudence which he had -exercised on her behalf. He did not know, when he was persuading her to -renounce Lord Ballindine, that, at that moment, her young, rich, and only -brother, was lying at the point of death. He had not done it for his own -sake, or Lord Kilcullen's; there could, therefore, be nothing unjust or -ungenerous in their turning to their own account the two losses, that of -her lover and her brother, which had fallen on Miss Wyndham at the same -time. If he, as her guardian, would have been wrong to allow Lord -Ballindine to squander her twenty thousands, he would be so much the more -wrong to let him make ducks and drakes of five times as much. In this -manner he quieted his conscience as to his premeditated absorption of his -ward's fortune. It was true that Lord Kilcullen was a heartless roué, -whereas Lord Ballindine was only a thoughtless rake; but then, Lord -Kilcullen would be an earl, and a peer of parliament, and Lord Ballindine -was only an Irish viscount. It was true that, in spite of her present -anger, Fanny dearly loved Lord Ballindine, and was dearly loved by him; and -that Lord Kilcullen was not a man to love or be loved; but then, the -Kelly's Court rents what were they to the Grey Abbey rents? Not a twentieth -part of them! And, above all, Lord Kilcullen's vices were filtered through -the cleansing medium of his father's partiality, and Lord Ballindine's -faults were magnified by the cautious scruples of Fanny's guardian. - -The old man settled, therefore, in his own mind, that Fanny should be his -dear daughter, and the only difficulty he expected to encounter was with -his hopeful son. It did not occur to him that Fanny might object, or that -she could be other than pleased with the arrangement. He determined, -however, to wait a little before the tidings of her future destiny should -be conveyed to her, although no time was to be lost in talking over the -matter with Lord Kilcullen. In the meantime, it would be necessary for him -to tell Fanny of Lord Ballindine's visit; and the wily peer was glad to -think that she could not but be further disgusted at the hurry which her -former lover had shown to renew his protestations of affection, as soon as -the tidings of her wealth had reached him. However, he would say nothing on -that head: he would merely tell her that Lord Ballindine had called, had -asked to see her, and had been informed of her determination to see him no -more. - -He sat, for a considerable time, musing over the fire, and strengthening -his resolution; and then he stalked and strutted into the drawing-room, -where the ladies were sitting, to make his communication to Miss Wyndham. - -Miss Wyndham, and her cousin, Lady Selina Grey, the only unmarried daughter -left on the earl's hands, were together. Lady Selina was not in her -première jeunesse, and, in manner, face, and disposition, was something -like her father: she was not, therefore, very charming; but his faults were -softened down in her; and what was pretence in him, was, to a certain -degree, real in her. She had a most exaggerated conception of her own -station and dignity, and of what was due to her, and expected from her. -Because her rank enabled her to walk out of a room before other women, she -fancied herself better than them, and entitled to be thought better. She -was plain, red-haired, and in no ways attractive; but she had refused the -offer of a respectable country gentleman, because he was only a country -gentleman, and then flattered herself that she owned the continuance of her -maiden condition to her high station, which made her a fit match only for -the most exalted magnates of the land. But she was true, industrious, and -charitable; she worked hard to bring her acquirements to that pitch which -she considered necessary to render her fit for her position; she truly -loved her family, and tried hard to love her neighbours, in which she might -have succeeded but for the immeasurable height from which she looked down -on them. She listened, complacently, to all those serious cautions against -pride, which her religion taught her, and considered that she was obeying -its warnings, when she spoke condescendingly to those around her. She -thought that condescension was humility, and that her self-exaltation was -not pride, but a proper feeling of her own and her family's dignity. - -Fanny Wyndham was a very different creature. She, too, was proud, but her -pride was of another, if not of a less innocent cast; she was proud of her -own position; but it was as Fanny Wyndham, not as Lord Cashel's niece, or -anybody's daughter. She had been brought out in the fashionable world, and -liked, and was liked by, it; but she felt that she owed the character which -three years had given her, to herself, and not to those around her. She -stood as high as Lady Selina, though on very different grounds. Any undue -familiarity would have been quite as impossible with one as with the other. -Lady Selina chilled intruders to a distance; Fanny Wyndham's light burned -with so warm a flame, that butterflies were afraid to trust their wings -within its reach. She was neither so well read, nor so thoughtful on what -she did read, as her friend; but she could turn what she learned to more -account, for the benefit of others. The one, in fact, could please, and the -other could not. - -Fanny Wyndham was above the usual height; but she did not look tall, for -her figure was well-formed and round, and her bust full. She had dark-brown -hair, which was never curled, but worn in plain braids, fastened at the -back of her head, together with the long rich folds which were collected -there under a simple comb. Her forehead was high, and beautifully formed, -and when she spoke, showed the animation of her character. Her eyes were -full and round, of a hazel colour, bright and soft when she was pleased, -but full of pride and displeasure when her temper was ruffled, or her -dignity offended. Her nose was slightly retroussé, but not so much so as to -give to her that pertness, of which it is usually the index. The line of -her cheeks and chin was very lovely: it was this which encouraged her to -comb back that luxuriant hair, and which gave the greatest charm to her -face. Her mouth was large, too large for a beauty, and therefore she was -not a regular beauty; but, were she talking to you, and willing to please -you, you could hardly wish it to be less. I cannot describe the shade of -her complexion, but it was rich and glowing; and, though she was not a -brunette, I believe that in painting her portrait, an artist would have -mixed more brown than other colours. - -At the time of which I am now speaking, she was sitting, or rather lying, -on a sofa, with her face turned towards her cousin, but her eyes fixed on -vacancy. As might have been expected, she was thinking of her brother, and -his sudden death; but other subjects crowded with that into her mind, and -another figure shared with him her thoughts. She had been induced to give -her guardian an unqualified permission to reject, in her name, any further -intercourse with Frank; and though she had doubtless been induced to do so -by the distressing consciousness that she had been slighted by him, she had -cheated herself into the belief that prudence had induced her to do so. She -felt that she was not fitted to be a poor man's wife, and that Lord -Ballindine was as ill suited for matrimonial poverty. She had, therefore, -induced herself to give him up; maybe she was afraid that if she delayed -doing so, she might herself be given up. Now, however, the case was -altered; though she sincerely grieved for her brother, she could not but -recollect the difference which his death made in her own position; she was -now a great heiress, and, were she to marry Lord Ballindine, if she did not -make him a rich man, she would, at any rate, free him from all -embarrassment. - -Besides, could she give him up now? now that she was rich? He would first -hear of her brother's death and her wealth, and then would immediately be -told that she had resolved to reject him. Could she bear that she should be -subjected to the construction which would fairly be put upon her conduct, -if she acted in this manner? And then, again, she felt that she loved him; -and she did love him, more dearly than she was herself aware. She began to -repent of her easy submission to her guardian's advice, and to think how -she could best unsay what she had already said. She had lost her brother; -could she afford also to lose her lover? She had had none she could really -love but those two. And the tears again came to her eyes, and Lady Selina -saw her, for the twentieth time that morning, turn her face to the back of -the sofa, and heard her sob. - -Lady Selina was sitting at one of the windows, over her carpet-work frame. -She had talked a great deal of sound sense to Fanny that morning, about her -brother, and now prepared to talk some more. Preparatory to this, she threw -back her long red curls from her face, and wiped her red nose, for it was -February. - -'Fanny, you should occupy yourself, indeed you should, my dear. It's no use -your attempting your embroidery, for your mind would still wander to him -that is no more. You should read; indeed you should. Do go on with Gibbon. -I'll fetch it for you, only tell me where you were.' - -'I could not read, Selina; I could not think about what I read, more than -about the work.' - -'But you should try, Fanny the very attempt would be work to your mind: -besides, you would be doing your duty. Could all your tears bring him back -to you? Can all your sorrow again restore him to his friends? No! and you -have great consolation, Fanny, in reflecting that your remembrance of your -brother is mixed with no alloy. He had not lived to be contaminated by the -heartless vices of that portion of the world into which he would probably -have been thrown; he had not become dissipated extravagant and sensual. -This should be a great consolation to you.' It might be thought that Lady -Selina was making sarcastic allusions to her own brother and to Fanny's -lover; but she meant nothing of the kind. Her remarks were intended to be -sensible, true, and consolatory; and they at any rate did no harm, for -Fanny was thinking of something else before she had half finished her -speech. - - -They had both again been silent for a short time, when the door opened, and -in came the earl. His usual pomposity of demeanour was somewhat softened by -a lachrymose air, which, in respect to his ward's grief, he put on as he -turned the handle of the door; and he walked somewhat more gently than -usual into the room. - -'Well, Fanny, how are you now?' he said, as he crept up to her. 'You -shouldn't brood over these sad thoughts. Your poor brother has gone to a -better world; we shall always think of him as one who had felt no sorrow, -and been guilty of but few faults. He died before he had wasted his fortune -and health, as he might have done this will always be a consolation.' - -It was singular how nearly alike were the platitudes of the daughter and -the father. The young man had not injured his name, or character, in the -world, and had left his money behind him: and, therefore, his death was -less grievous! - -Fanny did not answer, but she sat upright on the sofa as he came up to -her and he then sat down beside her. - -'Perhaps I'm wrong, Fanny, to speak to you on other subjects so soon after -the sad event of which we heard last night; but, on the whole, I think it -better to do so. It is good for you to rouse yourself, to exert yourself to -think of other things; besides it will be a comfort to you to know that I -have already done, what I am sure you strongly wished to have executed at -once.' - -It was not necessary for the guardian to say anything further to induce his -ward to listen. She knew that he was going to speak about Lord Ballindine, -and she was all attention. - -'I shall not trouble, you, Fanny, by speaking to you now, I hope?' - -'No;' said Fanny, with her heart palpitating. 'If it's anything I ought to -hear, it will be no trouble to me.' - -'Why, my dear, I do think you ought to know, without loss of time that Lord -Ballindine has been with me this morning.' - -Fanny blushed up to her hair not with shame, but with emotion as to what -was coming next. - -'I have had a long conversation with him,' continued the earl, 'in the -book-room, and I think I have convinced him that it is for your mutual -happiness' he paused, for he couldn't condescend to tell a lie; but in his -glib, speechifying manner, he was nearly falling into one 'mutual -happiness' was such an appropriate prudential phrase that he could not -resist the temptation; but he corrected himself 'at least, I think I have -convinced him that it is impossible that he should any longer look upon -Miss Wyndham as his future wife.' - -Lord Cashel paused for some mark of approbation. Fanny saw that she was -expected to speak, and, therefore, asked whether Lord Ballindine was still -in the house. She listened tremulously for his answer; for she felt that if -her lover were to be rejected, he had a right, after what had passed -between them, to expect that she should, in person, express her resolution -to him. And yet, if she had to see him now, could she reject him? could she -tell him that all the vows that had been made between them were to be as -nothing? No! she could only fall on his shoulder, and weep in his arms. But -Lord Cashel had managed better than that. - -'No, Fanny; neither he nor I, at the present moment, could expect you could -reasonably expect you, to subject yourself to anything so painful as an -interview must now have been. Lord Ballindine has left the house I hope, -for the last time at least, for many months.' - -These words fell cold upon Fanny's ears, 'Did he leave any any message for -me?' - -'Nothing of any moment; nothing which it can avail to communicate to you: -he expressed his grief for your brother's death, and desired I should tell -you how grieved he was that you should be so afflicted.' - -'Poor Harry!' sobbed Fanny, for it was a relief to cry again, though her -tears were more for her lover than her brother. 'Poor Harry! they were very -fond of each other. I'm sure he must have been sorry I'm sure he'd feel -it' and she paused, and sobbed again 'He had heard of Harry's death, then?' - -When she said this, she had in her mind none of the dirty suspicion that -had actuated Lord Cashel; but he guessed at her feelings by his own, and -answered accordingly. - -'At first I understood him to say he had; but then, he seemed to wish to -express that he had not. My impression, I own, is, that he must have heard -of it; the sad news must have reached him.' - -Fanny still did not understand the earl. The idea of her lover coming after -her money immediately on her obtaining possession of it, never entered her -mind; she thought of her wealth as far as it might have affected him, but -did not dream of its altering his conduct towards her. - -'And did he seem unhappy about it?' she continued. 'I am sure it would make -him very unhappy. He could not have loved Harry better if he had been his -brother,' and then she blushed again through her tears, as she remembered -that she had intended that they should be brothers. - -Lord Cashel did not say anything more on this head; he was fully convinced -that Lord Ballindine only looked on the young man's death as a windfall -which he might turn to his own advantage; but he thought it would he a -little too strong to say so outright, just at present. - -'It will be a comfort for you to know that this matter is now settled,' -continued the earl, 'and that no one can attach the slightest blame to you -in the matter. Lord Ballindine has shown himself so very imprudent, so very -unfit, in every way, for the honour you once intended him, that no other -line of conduct was open to you than that which you have wisely pursued.' - -This treading on the fallen was too much for Fanny. 'I have no right either -to speak or to think ill of him,' said she, through her tears; 'and if any -one is ill-treated in the matter it is he. But did be not ask to see me? - -'Surely, Fanny, you would not, at the present moment, have wished to see -him!' - -'Oh, no; it is a great relief, under all the circumstances, not having to -do so. But was he contented?' - -I should be glad that he were satisfied that he shouldn't think I had -treated him harshly, or rudely. Did he appear as if he wished to see me -again?' - -'Why, he certainly did ask for a last interview which, anticipating your -wishes, I have refused.' - -'But was he satisfied? Did he appear to think that he had been badly -treated?' - -'Rejected lovers,' answered the earl with a stately smile, 'seldom express -much satisfaction with the terms of their rejection; but I cannot say that -Lord Ballindine testified any strong emotion.' He rose from the sofa as he -said this, and then, intending to clinch the nail, added as he went to the -door ' to tell the truth, Fanny, I think Lord Ballindine is much more eager -for an alliance with your fair self now, than he was a few days back, when -he could never find a moment's time to leave his horses, and his friend Mr -Blake, either to see his intended wife, or to pay Lady Cashel the usual -courtesy of a morning visit.' He then opened the door, and, again closing -it, added ' I think, however, Fanny, that what has now passed between us -will secure you from any further annoyance from him.' - -Lord Cashel, in this last speech, had greatly overshot his mark; his object -had been to make the separation between his ward and her lover permanent; -and, hitherto, he had successfully appealed to her pride and her judgment. -Fanny had felt Lord Cashel to be right, when he told her that she was -neglected, and that Frank was dissipated, and in debt. She knew she should -be unhappy as the wife of a poor nobleman, and she felt that it would break -her proud heart to be jilted herself. She had, therefore, though -unwillingly, still entirely agreed with her, guardian as to the expediency -of breaking off, the match; and, had Lord Cashel been judicious, he might -have confirmed her in this resolution; but his last thunderbolt, which had -been intended to crush Lord Ballindine, had completely recoiled upon -himself. Fanny now instantly understood the allusion, and, raising her -face, which was again resting on her hands, looked at him with an indignant -glance through her tears. - -Lord Cashel, however, had left the room without observing the indignation -expressed in Fanny's eyes; but she was indignant; she knew Frank well -enough to be sure that he had come to Grey Abbey that morning with no such -base motives as those ascribed to him. He might have heard of Harry's -death, and come there to express his sorrow, and offer that consolation -which she felt she could accept from him sooner than from any living -creature or, he might have been ignorant of it altogether; but that he -should come there to press his suit because her brother was -dead immediately after his death was not only impossible; but the person -who could say it was possible, must be false and untrue to her. Her uncle -could not have believed it himself: he had basely pretended to believe it, -that he might widen the breach which he had made. - -Fanny was alone, in the drawing-room for her cousin had left it as soon as -her father began to talk about Lord Ballindine, and she sat there glowering -through her tears for a long time. Had Lord Ballindine been able to know -all her thoughts at this moment, he would have felt little doubt as to the -ultimate success of his suit. - - - - -XIII FATHER AND SON - - -Lord Cashel firmly believed, when he left the room, that he had shown great -tact in discovering Frank's mercenary schemes, and in laying them open -before Fanny; and that she had firmly and finally made up her mind to have -nothing more to do with him. He had not long been re-seated in his -customary chair in the book-room, before he began to feel a certain degree -of horror at the young lord's baseness, and to think how worthily he had -executed his duty as a guardian, in saving Miss Wyndham from so sordid a -suitor. From thinking of his duties as a guardian, his mind, not -unnaturally, recurred to those which were incumbent on him as a father, and -here nothing disturbed his serenity. It is true that, from an appreciation -of the lustre which would reflect back upon himself from allowing his son -to become a decidedly fashionable young man, he had encouraged him in -extravagance, dissipation, and heartless worldliness; he had brought him up -to be supercilious, expensive, unprincipled, and useless. But then, he was -gentlemanlike, dignified, and sought after; and now, the father reflected, -with satisfaction, that, if he could accomplish his well-conceived scheme, -he would pay his son's debts with his ward's fortune, and, at the same -time, tie him down to some degree of propriety and decorum, by a wife. Lord -Kilcullen, when about to marry, would be obliged to cashier his opera- -dancers and their expensive crews; and, though he might not leave the turf -altogether, when married he would gradually he drawn out of turf society, -and would doubtless become a good steady family nobleman, like his father. -Why, he Lord Cashel himself wise, prudent, and respectable as he -was example as he knew himself to be to all peers, English, Irish, and -Scotch, had had his horses, and his indiscretions, when he was young. And -then he stroked the calves of his legs, and smiled grimly; for the memory -of his juvenile vices was pleasant to him. - -Lord Cashel thought, as he continued to reflect on the matter, that Lord -Ballindine was certainly a sordid schemer; but that his son was a young man -of whom he had just reason to be proud, and who was worthy of a wife in the -shape of a hundred thousand pounds. And then, he congratulated himself on -being the most anxious of guardians and the best of fathers; and, with -these comfortable reflections, the worthy peer strutted off, through his -ample doors, up his lofty stairs, and away through his long corridors, to -dress for dinner. You might have heard his boots creaking till he got -inside his dressing-room, but you must have owned that they did so with a -most dignified cadence. - -It was pleasant enough, certainly, planning all these things; but there -would be some little trouble in executing them. In the first place, Lord -Kilcullen though a very good son, on the whole, as the father frequently -remarked to himself was a little fond of having a will of his own, and -maybe, might object to dispense with his dancing-girls. And though there -was, unfortunately, but little doubt that the money was indispensably -necessary to him, it was just possible that he might insist on having the -cash without his cousin. However, the proposal must be made, and, as the -operations necessary to perfect the marriage would cause some delay, and -the money would certainly be wanted as soon as possible, no time was to be -lost. Lord Kilcullen was, accordingly, summoned to Grey Abbey; and, as he -presumed his attendance was required for the purpose of talking over some -method of raising the wind, he obeyed the summons. I should rather have -said of raising a storm, for no gentle puff would serve to watt him through -his present necessities. - -Down he came, to the great delight of his mother, who thought him by far -the finest young man of the day, though he usually slighted, snubbed, and -ridiculed her and of his sister, who always hailed with dignified joy the -return of the eldest scion of her proud family to the ancestral roof. The -earl was also glad to find that no previous engagement detained him; that -is, that he so far sacrificed his own comfort as to leave Tattersall's and -the Figuranti of the Opera-House, to come all the way to Grey Abbey, in the -county of Kildare. But, though the earl was glad to see his son, he was -still a little consternated: the business interview could not be postponed, -as it was not to be supposed that Lord Kilcullen would stay long at Grey -Abbey during the London season; and the father had yet hardly sufficiently -crammed himself for the occasion. Besides, the pressure from without must -have been very strong to have produced so immediate a compliance with a -behest not uttered in a very peremptory manner, or, generally speaking, to -a very obedient child. - -On the morning after his arrival, the earl was a little uneasy in his chair -during breakfast. It was rather a sombre meal, for Fanny had by no means -recovered her spirits, nor did she appear to be it the way to do so. The -countess tried to chat a little to her son, but he hardly answered her; and -Lady Selina, though she was often profound, was never amusing. Lord Cashel -made sundry attempts at general conversation, but as often failed. It was, -at last, however, over; and the father requested the son to come with him -into the book-room. - -When the fire was poked, and the chairs were drawn together over the rug, -there were no further preliminaries which could be decently introduced and -the earl was therefore forced to commence. - -'Well, Kilcullen, I'm glad you're come to Grey Abbey. I'm afraid, however, -we shan't induce you to stay with us long, so it's as well perhaps to -settle our business at once. You would, however, greatly oblige your -mother, and I'm sure I need not add, myself, if you could make your -arrangements so as to stay with us till after Easter. We could then return -together.' - -'Till after Easter, my lord! I should be in the Hue and Cry before that -time, if I was so long absent from my accustomed haunts. Besides I should -only put out your own arrangements, or rather, those of Lady Cashel. There -would probably be no room for me in the family coach.'. - -'The family coach won't go, Lord Kilcullen. I am sorry to say, that the -state of my affairs at present renders it advisable that the family should -remain at Grey Abbey this season. I shall attend my parliamentary duties -alone.' - -This was intended as a hit the first at the prodigal son, but Kilcullen was -too crafty to allow it to tell. He merely bowed his head, and opened his -eyes, to betoken his surprise at such a decision, and remained quiet. - -'Indeed,' continued Lord Cashel, 'I did not even intend to have gone -myself, but the unexpected death of Harry Wyndham renders it necessary. I -must put Fanny's affairs in a right train. Poor Harry! did you see much of -him during his illness?' - -'Why, no I can't say I did. I'm not a very good hand at doctoring or -nursing. I saw him once since he got his commission, glittering with his -gold lace like a new weather-cock on a Town Hall. He hadn't time to polish -the shine off.' - -'His death will make a great difference, as far as Fanny is concerned eh?' - -'Indeed it will: her fortune now is considerable; a deuced pretty thing, -remembering that it's all ready money, and that she can touch it the moment -she's of age. She's entirely off with Ballindine, isn't she?' - -'Oh, entirely,' said the earl, with considerable self-complacency; 'that -affair is entirely over.' - -'I've stated so everywhere publicly; but I dare say, she'll give him her -money, nevertheless. She's not the girl to give over a man, if she's really -fond of him.' - -'But, my dear Kilcullen, she has authorised me to give him a final answer, -and I have done so. After that, you know, it would be quite impossible for -her to to ' - -'You'll see she'll marry Lord Ballindine. Had Harry lived, it might have -been different; but now she's got all her brother's money, she'll think it -a point of honour to marry her poor lover. Besides, her staying this year -in the country will be in his favour: she'll see no one here and she'll -want something to think of. I understand he has altogether thrown himself -into Blake's hands the keenest fellow in Ireland, with as much mercy as a -foxhound. He's a positive fool, is Ballindine.' - -'I'm afraid he is I'm afraid he is. And you may be sure I'm too fond of -Fanny that is, I have too much regard for the trust reposed in me, to allow -her to throw herself away upon him.' - -'That 's all very well; but what can you do?' - -'Why, not allow him to see her; and I've another plan in my head for her.' - -'Ah! but the thing is to put the plan into her head. I'd be sorry to hear -of a fine girl like Fanny Wyndham breaking her heart in a half-ruined -barrack in Connaught, without money to pay a schoolmaster to teach her -children to spell. But I've too many troubles of my own to think of just at -present, to care much about hers;' and the son and heir got up, and stood -with his back to the fire, and put his arms under his coat-laps. 'Upon my -soul, my lord, I never was so hard up in my life!' - -Lord Cashel now prepared himself for action. The first shot was fired, and -he must go on with the battle. - -'So I hear, Kilcullen; and yet, during the last four years, you've had -nearly double your allowance; and, before that, I paid every farthing you -owed. Within the last five years, you've had nearly forty thousand pounds! -Supposing you'd had younger brothers, Lord Kilcullen supposing that I had -had six or eight sons instead of only one; what would you have done? How -then would you have paid your debts?' - -'Fate having exempted me and your lordship from so severe a curse, I have -never turned my mind to reflect what I might have done under such an -infliction.' - -'Or, supposing I had chosen, myself, to indulge in those expensive habits, -which would have absorbed my income, and left me unable to do more for you, -than many other noblemen in my position do for their sons do you ever -reflect how impossible it would then have been for me to have helped you -out of your difficulties?' - -'I feel as truly grateful for your self-denial in this respect, as I do in -that of my non-begotten brethren.' - -Lord Cashel saw that he was laughed at, and he looked angry; but he did not -want to quarrel with his son, so he continued: - -'Jervis writes me word that it is absolutely necessary that thirty thousand -pounds should be paid for you at once; or, that your remaining in -London or, in fact, in the country at all, is quite out of the question.' - -'Indeed, my lord, I'm afraid Jervis is right.' - -'Thirty thousand pounds! Are you aware what your income is?' - -'Why, hardly. I know Jervis takes care that I never see much of it.' - -'Do you mean that you don't receive it?' - -'Oh, I do not at all doubt its accurate payment. I mean to say, that I -don't often have the satisfaction of seeing much of it at the right side of -my banker's book.' - -'Thirty thousand pounds! And will that sum set you completely free in the -world?' - -'I am sorry to say it will not nor nearly.' - -'Then, Lord Kilcullen,' said the earl, with most severe, but still most -courteous dignity, 'may I trouble you to be good enough to tell me what, at -the present moment, you do owe?' - -'I'm afraid I could not do so with any accuracy; but it is more than double -the sum you have named.' - -'Do you mean, that you have no schedule of your debts? no means of -acquainting me with the amount? How can you expect that I can assist you, -when you think it too much trouble to make yourself thoroughly acquainted -with the state of your own affairs?' - -'A list could certainly be made out, if I had any prospect of being able to -settle the amount. If your lordship can undertake to do so at once, I will -undertake to hand you a correct list of the sums due, before I leave Grey -Abbey. I presume you would not require to know exactly to whom all the -items were owing.' - -This effrontery was too much, and Lord Cashel was very near to losing his -temper. - -'Upon my honour, Kilcullen, you're cool, very cool. You come upon me to -pay, Heaven knows how many thousands more money, I know, than I'm able to -raise; and you condescendingly tell me that you will trouble yourself so -far as to let me know how much money I am to give you but that I am not to -know what is done with it! No; if I am to pay your debts again, I will do -it through Jervis.' - -'Pray remember,' replied Lord Kilcullen, not at all disturbed from his -equanimity, 'that I have not proposed that you should pay my debts without -knowing where the money went; and also that I have not yet asked you to pay -them at all.' - -'Who, then, do you expect will pay them? I can assure you I should be glad -to be relieved from the honour.' - -'I merely said that I had not yet made any proposition respecting them. Of -course, I expect your assistance. Failing you, I have no resource but the -Jews. I should regret to put the property into their hands; especially as, -hitherto, I have not raised money on post obits.' - -'At any rate, I'm glad of that,' said the father, willing to admit any -excuse for returning to his good humour. 'That would be ruin; and I hope -that anything short of that may be may be may be done something with.' - -The expression was not dignified, and it pained the earl to make it; but it -was expressive, and he didn't wish at once to say that he had a proposal -for paying off his son's debts. 'But now, Kilcullen, tell me fairly, in -round figures, what do you think you owe? as near as you can guess, without -going to pen and paper, you know?' - -'Well, my lord, if you will allow me, I will make a proposition to you. If -you will hand over to Mr Jervis fifty thousand pounds, for him to pay such -claims as have already been made upon him as your agent, and such other -debts as I may have sent in to him: and if you will give myself thirty -thousand, to pay such debts as I do not choose to have paid by an agent, I -will undertake to have everything settled.' - -'Eighty thousand pounds in four years! Why, Kilcullen, what have you done -with it? where has it gone? You have five thousand a-year, no house to keep -up, no property to support, no tenants to satisfy, no rates to pay five -thousand a-year for your own personal expenses and, in four years, you have -got eighty thousand in debt! The property never can stand that, you know. -It never can stand at that rate. Why, Kilcullen, what have you done with -it?' - -'Mr Crockford has a portion of it, and John Scott has some of it. A great -deal of it is scattered rather widely so widely that it would be difficult -now to trace it. But, my lord, it has gone. I won't deny that the greater -portion of it has been lost at play, or on the turf. I trust I may, in -future, be more fortunate and more cautious.' - -'I trust so. I trust so, indeed. Eighty thousand pounds! And do you think I -can raise such a sum as that at a week's warning?' - -'Indeed, I have no doubt as to your being able to do so: it may be another -question whether you are willing.' - -'I am not I am not able,' said the libelled father. 'As you know well -enough, the incumbrances on the property take more than a quarter of my -income.' - -'There can, nevertheless, be no doubt of your being able to have the money, -and that at once, if you chose to go into the market for it. I have no -doubt but that Mr Jervis could get it for you at once at five per cent.' - -'Four thousand a-year gone for ever from the property! and what security am -I to have that the same sacrifice will not be again incurred, after another -lapse of four years?' - -'You can have no security, my lord, against my being in debt. You can, -however, have every security that you will not again pay my debts, in your -own resolution. I trust, however, that I have some experience to prevent my -again falling into so disagreeable a predicament. I think I have heard your -Lordship say that you incurred some unnecessary expenses yourself in -London, before your marriage!' - -'I wish, Kilcullen, that you had never exceeded your income more than I did -mine. But it is no use talking any further on this subject. I cannot, and I -will not I cannot in justice either to myself or to you, borrow this money -for you; nor, if I could, should I think it right to do so.' - -'Then what the devil's the use of talking about it so long?' said the -dutiful son, hastily jumping up from the chair in which he had again sat -down. 'Did you bring me down to Grey Abbey merely to tell me that you knew -of my difficulties, and that you could do nothing to assist me?' - -'Now, don't put yourself into a passion pray don't!' said the father, a -little frightened by the sudden ebullition. 'If you'll sit down, and listen -to me, I'll tell you what I propose. I did not send for you here without -intending to point out to you some method of extricating yourself from your -present pecuniary embarrassment; and, if you have any wish to give up your -course, of I must say, reckless profusion, and commence that upright and -distinguished career, which I still hope to see you take, you will, I -think, own that my plan is both a safer and a more expedient one than that -which you have proposed. It is quite time for you now to abandon the -expensive follies of youth; and,' Lord Cashel was getting into a -delightfully dignified tone, and felt himself prepared for a good burst of -common-place eloquence; but his son looked impatient, and as he could not -take such liberty with him as he could with Lord Ballindine, he came to the -point at once, and ended abruptly by saying, 'and get married.' - -'For the purpose of allowing my wife to pay my debts?' - -'Why, not exactly that; but as, of course, you could not marry any woman -but a woman with a large fortune, that would follow as a matter of -consequence.' - -'Your lordship proposes the fortune not as the first object of my -affection, but merely as a corollary. But, perhaps, it will be as well that -you should finish your proposition, before I make any remarks on the -subject.' And Lord Kilcullen, sat down, with a well-feigned look of -listless indifference. - -'Well, Kilcullen, I have latterly been thinking much about you, and so has -your poor mother. She is very uneasy that you should still still be -unmarried; and Jervis has written to me very strongly. You see it is quite -necessary that something should be done or we shall both be ruined. Now, if -I did raise this sum and I really could not do it I don't think I could -manage it, just at present; but, even if I did, it would only be -encouraging you to go on just in the same way again. Now, if you were to -marry, your whole course of life would be altered, and you would become, at -the same time, more respectable and more happy.' - -'That would depend a good deal upon circumstances, I should think.' - -'Oh! I am sure you would. You are just the same sort of fellow I was when -at your age, and I was much happier after I was married, so I know it. Now, -you see, your cousin has a hundred thousand pounds; in fact something more -than that.' - -'What? Fanny! Poor Ballindine! So that's the way with him is it! When I was -contradicting the rumour of his marriage with Fanny, I little thought that -I was to be his rival! At any rate, I shall have to shoot him first.' - -'You might, at any rate, confine yourself to sense, Lord Kilcullen, when I -am taking so much pains to talk sensibly to you, on a subject which, I -presume, cannot but interest you.' - -'Indeed, my lord, I'm all attention; and I do intend to talk sensibly when -I say that I think you are proposing to treat Ballindine very ill. The -world will think well of your turning him adrift on the score of the match -being an imprudent one; but it won't speak so leniently of you if you expel -him, as soon as your ward becomes an heiress, to make way for your own -son.' - -'You know that I'm not thinking of doing so. I've long seen that Lord -Ballindine would not make a fitting husband for Fanny long before Harry -died.' - -'And you think that I shall?' - -'Indeed I do. I think she will be lucky to get you.' - -'I'm flattered into silence: pray go on.' - -'You will be an earl a peer and a man of property. What would she become if -she married Lord Ballindine?' - -'Oh, you are quite right! Go on. I wonder it never occurred to her before -to set her cap at me.' - -'Now do be serious. I wonder how you can joke on such a subject, with all -your debts. I'm sure I feel them heavy enough, if you don't. You see Lord -Ballindine was refused I may say he was refused before we heard about that -poor boy's unfortunate death. It was the very morning we heard of it, three -or four hours before the messenger came, that Fanny had expressed her -resolution to declare it off, and commissioned me to tell him so. And, -therefore, of course, the two things can't have the remotest reference to -each other.' - -'I see. There are, or have been, two Fanny Wyndhams separate persons, -though both wards of your lordship. Lord Ballindine was engaged to the girl -who had a brother; but he can have no possible concern with Fanny Wyndham, -the heiress, who has no brother.' - -'How can you he so unfeeling? but you may pay your debts in your own way. -You won't ever listen to what I have to say! I should have thought that, as -your father, I might have considered myself entitled to more respect from -you.' - -'Indeed, my lord, I'm all respect and attention, and I won't say one more -word till you've finished.' - -'Well you must see, there can be no objection on the score of Lord -Ballindine?' - -'Oh, none at all.' - -'And then, where could Fanny wish for a better match than yourself? it -would be a great thing for her, and the match would be, in all things, -so so respectable, and just what it ought to be; and your mother would be -so delighted, and so should I, and ' - -'Her fortune would so nicely pay all my debts.' - -'Exactly. Of course, I should take care to have your present income five -thousand a year settled on her, in the shape of jointure; and I'm sure that -would he treating her handsomely. The interest of her fortune would not be -more than that.' - -'And what should we live on?' - -'Why, of course, I should continue your present allowance.' - -'And you think that that which I have found so insufficient for myself, -would be enough for both of us?' - -'You must make it enough, Kilcullen in order that there may be something -left to enable you to keep up your title when I am gone.' - -By this time, Lord Kilcullen appeared to be as serious, and nearly as -solemn, as his father, and he sat, for a considerable time, musing, till -his father said, 'Well, Kilcullen, will you take my advice?' - -'It's impracticable, my lord. In the first place, the money must be paid -immediately, and considerable delay must occur before I could even offer to -Miss Wyndham; and, in the next place, were I to do so, I am sure she would -refuse me.' - -'Why; there must be some delay, of course. But I suppose, if I passed my -word, through Jervis, for so much of the debts as are immediate, that a -settlement might be made whereby they might stand over for twelve months, -with interest, of course. As to refusing you, it 's not at all likely: -where would she look for a better offer?' - -'I don't know much of my cousin; but I don't think she's exactly the girl -to take a man because he's a good match for her.' - -'Perhaps not. But then, you know, you understand women so well, and would -have such opportunities; you would be sure to make yourself agreeable to -her, with very little effort on your part.' - -'Yes, poor thing she would be delivered over, ready bound, into the lion's -den.' And then the young man sat silent again, for some time, turning the -matter over in his mind. At last, he said 'Well, my lord; I am a -considerate and a dutiful son, and I will agree to your proposition: but I -must saddle it with conditions. I have no doubt that the sum which I -suggested should be paid through your agent, could be arranged to be paid -in a year, or eighteen months, by your making yourself responsible for it, -and I would undertake to indemnify you. But the thirty thousand pounds I -must have at once. I must return to London, with the power of raising it -there, without delay. This, also, I would repay you out of Fanny's fortune. -I would then undertake to use my best endeavours to effect a union with -your ward. But I most positively will not agree to this nor have any hand -in the matter, unless I am put in immediate possession of the sum I have -named, and unless you will agree to double my income as soon as I am -married.' - -To both these propositions the earl, at first, refused to accede; but his -son was firm. Then, Lord Cashel agreed to put him in immediate possession -of the sum of money he required, but would not hear of increasing his -income. They argued, discussed, and quarrelled over the matter, for a long -time; till, at last, the anxious father, in his passion, told his son that -he might go his own way, and that he would take no further trouble to help -so unconscionable a child. Lord Kilcullen rejoined by threatening -immediately to throw the whole of the property, which was entailed on -himself, into the hands of the Jews. - -Long they argued and bargained, till each was surprised at the obstinacy of -the other. They ended, however, by splitting the difference, and it was -agreed, that Lord Cashel was at once to hand over thirty thousand pounds, -and to take his son's bond for the amount; that the other debts were to -stand over till Fanny's money was forthcoming; and that the income of the -newly married pair was to be seven thousand five hundred a-year. - -'At least,' thought Lord Kilcullen to himself, as he good-humouredly shook -hands with his father at the termination of the interview 'I have not done -so badly, for those infernal dogs will be silenced, and I shall get the -money. I could not have gone back without that. I can go on with the -marriage, or not, as I may choose, hereafter. It won't be a bad -speculation, however.' - -To do Lord Cashel justice, he did not intend cheating his son, not did he -suspect his son of an intention to cheat him. But the generation was -deteriorating. - - - - -XIV THE COUNTESS - - -It was delightful to see on what good terms the earl and his son met that -evening at dinner. The latter even went so far as to be decently civil to -his mother, and was quite attentive to Fanny. She, however, did not seem to -appreciate the compliment. It was now a fortnight since she had heard of -her brother's death, and during the whole of that time she had been silent, -unhappy, and fretful. Not a word more had been said to her about Lord -Ballindine, nor had she, as yet, spoken about him to any one; but she had -been thinking about little else, and had ascertained at least, so she -thought that she could never be happy, unless she were reconciled to him. - -The more she brooded over the subject, the more she felt convinced that -such was the case; she could not think how she had ever been induced to -sanction, by her name, such an unwarrantable proceeding as the -unceremonious dismissal of a man to whom her troth had been plighted, -merely because he had not called to see her. As for his not writing, she -was aware that Lord Cashel had recommended that, till she was of age, they -should not correspond. As she thought the matter over in her own room, long -hour after hour, she became angry with herself for having been talked into -a feeling of anger for him. What right had she to be angry because he kept -horses? She could not expect him to put himself into Lord Cashel's leading- -strings. Indeed, she thought she would have liked him less if he had done -so. And now, to reject him just when circumstances put it in her power to -enable her to free him from his embarrassments, and live a manner becoming -his station! What must Frank think of her? For he could not but suppose -that her rejection had been caused by her unexpected inheritance. - -In the course of the fortnight, she made up her mind that all Lord Cashel -had said to Lord Ballindine should be unsaid but who was to do it? It would -be a most unpleasant task to perform; and one which, she was aware, her -guardian would be most unwilling to undertake. She fully resolved that she -would do it herself, if she could find no fitting ambassador to undertake -the task, though that would be a step to which she would fain not be -driven. At one time, she absolutely thought of asking her cousin, -Kilcullen, about it this was just before his leaving Grey Abbey; he seemed -so much more civil and kind than usual. But then, she knew so little of -him, and so little liked what she did know: that scheme, therefore, was -given up. Lady Selina was so cold, and prudent would talk to her so much -about propriety, self-respect, and self-control, that she could not make a -confidante of her. No one could talk to Selina on any subject more -immediately interesting than a Roman Emperor, or a pattern for worsted- -work. Fanny felt that she would not be equal, herself, to going boldly to -Lord Cashel, and desiring him to inform Lord Ballindine that he had been -mistaken in the view he had taken of his ward's wishes: no that was -impossible; such a proceeding would probably bring on a fit of apoplexy. - -There was no one else to whom she could apply, but her aunt. Lady Cashel -was a very good-natured old woman, who slept the greatest portion of her -time, and knitted through the rest of her existence. She did not take a -prominent part in any of the important doings of Grey Abbey; and, though -Lord Cashel constantly referred to her, for he thought it respectable to do -so, no one regarded her much. Fanny felt, however, that she would neither -scold her, ridicule her, nor refuse to listen: to Lady Cashel, therefore, -at last, she went for assistance. - -Her ladyship always passed the morning after breakfast, in a room adjoining -her own bed-room, in which she daily held deep debate with Griffiths, her -factotum, respecting household affairs, knitting-needles, and her own -little ailments and cossetings. Griffiths, luckily, was a woman of much the -same tastes as her ladyship, only somewhat of a more active temperament; -and they were most stedfast friends. It was such a comfort to Lady Cashel -to have some one to whom she could twaddle! - -The morning after Lord Kilcullen's departure Fanny knocked at her door, and -was asked to come in. The countess, as usual, was in her easy chair, with -the knitting-apparatus in her lap, and Griffiths was seated at the table, -pulling about threads, and keeping her ladyship awake by small talk. - -'I'm afraid I'm disturbing you, aunt,' said Fanny, 'but I wanted to speak -to you for a minute or two. Good morning, Mrs Griffiths.' - -'Oh, no! you won't disturb me, Fanny. I was a little busy this morning, for -I wanted to finish this side of the You see what a deal I've done,' and the -countess lugged up a whole heap of miscellaneous worsted from a basket just -under her arm 'and I must finish it by lady-day, or I shan't get the other -done, I don't know when. But still, I've plenty of time to attend to you.' - -'Then I'll go down, my lady, and see about getting the syrup boiled,' said -Griffiths. 'Good morning, Miss Wyndham.' - -'Do; but mind you come up again immediately I'll ring the bell when Miss -Wyndham is going; and pray don't leave me alone, now.' - -'No, my lady not a moment,' and Griffiths escaped to the syrup. - -Fanny's heart beat quick and hard, as she sat down on the sofa, opposite to -her aunt. It was impossible for any one to be afraid of Lady Cashel, there -was so very little about her that could inspire awe; but then, what she had -to say was so very disagreeable to say! If she had had to tell her tale out -loud, merely to the empty easy chair, it would have been a dreadful -undertaking. - -'Well, Fanny, what can I do for you? I'm sure you look very nice in your -bombazine; and it 's very nicely made up. Who was it made it for you?' - -'I got it down from Dublin, aunt; from Foley's.' - -'Oh, I remember; so you told me. Griffiths has a niece makes those things -up very well; but then she lives at Namptwich, and one couldn't send to -England for it. I had such a quantity of mourning by me, I didn't get any -made up new; else, I think I must have sent for her.' - -'My dear aunt, I am very unhappy about something, and I want you to help -me. I'm afraid, though, it will give you a great deal of trouble.' - -'Good gracious, Fanny! what is it? Is it about poor Harry? I'm sure I -grieved about him more than I can tell.' - -'No, aunt: he's gone now, and time is the only cure for that grief. I know -I must bear that without complaining. But, aunt, I feel I think, that is, -that I've used Lord Ballindine very ill.' - -'Good gracious me, my love! I thought Lord Cashel had managed all that I -thought that was all settled. You know, he would keep those horrid horses, -and all that kind of thing; and what more could you do than just let Lord -Cashel settle it?' - -'Yes, but aunt you see, I had engaged myself to Lord Ballindine, and I -don't think in fact oh, aunt! I did not wish to break my word to Lord -Ballindine, and I am very very sorry for what has been done,' and Fanny was -again in tears. - -'But, my dear Fanny,' said the countess, so far excited as to commence -rising from her seat the attempt, however, was abandoned, when she felt the -ill effects of the labour to which she was exposing herself 'but, my dear -Fanny what would you have? It's done, now, you know; and, really, it's for -the best.' - -'Oh, but, dear aunt, I must get somebody to see him. I've been thinking -about it ever since he was here with. my uncle. I wouldn't let him think -that I broke it all off, merely because because of poor Harry's money,' and -Fanny sobbed away dreadfully. - -'But you don't want to marry him!' said the naïve countess. - -Now, Fanny did want to marry him, though she hardly liked saying so, even -to Lady Cashel. - -'You know, I promised him I would,' said she; 'and what will he think of -me? what must he think of me, to throw him off so cruelly, so harshly, -after all that's past? Oh, aunt! I must see him again.' - -'I know something of human nature,' replied the aunt, 'and if you do, I -tell you, it will end in your being engaged to him again. You know it's off -now. Come, my dear; don't think so much about it: I'm sure Lord Cashel -wouldn't do anything cruel or harsh.' - -'Oh, I must see him again, whatever comes of it;' and then she paused for a -considerable time, during which the bewildered old lady was thinking what -she could do to relieve her sensitive niece. 'Dear, dear aunt, I don't want -to deceive you!' and Fanny, springing up, knelt at her aunt's feet, and -looked up into her face. 'I do love him I always loved him, and I cannot, -cannot quarrel with him.' And then she burst out crying vehemently, hiding -her face in the countess's lap. - -Lady Cashel was quite overwhelmed. Fanny was usually so much more collected -than herself, that her present prostration, both of feeling and body, was -dreadful to see. Suppose she was to go into hysterics there they would be -alone, and Lady Cashel felt that she had not strength to ring the bell. - -'But, my dear Fanny! oh dear, oh dear, this is very dreadful! but, -Fanny he's gone away now. Lift up your face, Fanny, for you frighten me. -Well, I'm sure I'll do anything for you. Perhaps he wouldn't mind coming -back again he always was very good-natured. I'm sure I always liked Lord -Ballindine very much only he would have all those horses. But I'm sure, if -you wish it, I should be very glad to see him marry you; only, you know, -you must wait some time, because of poor Harry; and I'm sure I don't know -how you'll manage with Lord Cashel.' - -'Dear aunt I want you to speak to Lord Cashel. When I was angry because I -thought Frank didn't come here as he might have done, I consented that my -uncle should break off the match: besides, then, you know, we should have -had so little between us. But I didn't know then how well I loved him. -Indeed, indeed, aunt, I cannot bring my heart to quarrel with him; and I am -quite, quite sure he would never wish to quarrel with me. Will you go to my -uncle tell him that I've changed my mind; tell him that I was a foolish -girl, and did not know my mind. But tell him I must be friends with Frank -again.' - -'Well, of course I'll do what you wish me indeed, I would do anything for -you, Fanny, as if you were one of my own; but really, I don't know Good -gracious! What am I to say to him? Wouldn't it be better, Fanny, if you -were to go to him yourself?' - -'Oh, no, aunt; pray do you tell him first. I couldn't go to him; besides, -he would do anything for you, you know. I want you to go to him do, now, -dear aunt and tell him not from me, but from yourself how very, very much -I that is, how very very but you will know what to say; only Frank must, -must come back again.' - -'Well, Fanny, dear, I'll go to Lord Cashel; or, perhaps, he wouldn't mind -coming here. Ring the bell for me, dear. But I'm sure he'll be very angry. -I'd just write a line and ask Lord Ballindine to come and dine here, and -let him settle it all himself, only I don't think Lord Cashel would like -it.' - -Griffiths answered the summons, and was despatched to the book-room to tell -his lordship that her ladyship would be greatly obliged if he would step -upstairs to her for a minute or two; and, as soon as Griffiths was gone on -her errand, Fanny fled to her own apartment, leaving her aunt in a very -bewilder and pitiable state of mind: and there she waited, with palpitating -heart and weeping eyes, the effects of the interview. - -She was dreadfully nervous, for she felt certain that she would be summoned -before her uncle. Hitherto, she alone, in all the house, had held him in no -kind of awe; indeed, her respect for her uncle had not been of the most -exalted kind; but now she felt she was afraid of him. - -She remained in her room much longer than she thought it would have taken -her aunt to explain what she had to say. At last, however, she heard -footsteps in the corridor, and Griffiths knocked at the door. Her aunt -would be obliged by her stepping into her room. She tried not to look -disconcerted, and asked if Lord Cashel were still there. She was told that -he was; and she felt that she had to muster up all her courage to encounter -him. - -When she went into the room, Lady Cashel was still in her easy-chair, but -the chair seemed to lend none of its easiness to its owner. She was sitting -upright, with her hands on her two knees, and she looked perplexed, -distressed, and unhappy. Lord Cashel was standing with his back to the -fire-place, and Fanny had never seen his face look so black. He really -seemed, for the time, to have given over acting, to have thrown aside his -dignity, and to be natural and in earnest. - -Lady Cashel began the conversation. - -'Oh, Fanny,' she said, 'you must really overcome all this sensitiveness; -you really must. I've spoken to your uncle, and it's quite impossible, and -very unwise; and, indeed, it can't be done at all. In fact, Lord Ballindine -isn't, by any means, the sort of person I supposed.' - -Fanny knit her brows a little at this, and felt somewhat less humble than -she did before. She knew she should get indignant if her uncle abused her -lover, and that, if she did, her courage would rise in proportion. Her aunt -continued 'Your uncle's very kind about it, and says he can, of course, -forgive your feeling a little out of sorts just at present; and, I'm sure, -so can I, and I'm sure I'd do anything to make you happy; but as for making -it all up with Lord Ballindine again, indeed it cannot be thought of, -Fanny; and so your uncle will tell you.' - -And then Lord Cashel opened his oracular mouth, for the purpose of doing -so. - -'Really, Fanny, this is the most unaccountable thing I ever heard of. But -you'd better sit down, while I speak to you,' and Fanny sat down on the -sofa. 'I think I understood you rightly, when you desired me, less than a -month ago, to inform Lord Ballindine that circumstances that is, his own -conduct obliged you to decline the honour of his alliance. Did you not do -so spontaneously, and of your own accord?' - -'Certainly, uncle, I agreed to take your advice; though I did so most -unwillingly.' - -'Had I not your authority for desiring him I won't say to discontinue his -visits, for that he had long done but to give up his pretensions to your -hand? Did you not authorise me to do so?' - -'I believe I did. But, uncle ' - -'And I have done as you desired me; and now, Fanny, that I have done so now -that I have fully explained to him what you taught me to believe were your -wishes on the subject, will you tell me for I really think your aunt must -have misunderstood you what it is that you wish me to do?' - -'Why, uncle, you pointed out and it was very true then, that my fortune was -not sufficient to enable Lord Ballindine to keep up his rank. It is -different now, and I am very, very sorry that it is so; but it is different -now, and I feel that I ought not to reject Lord Ballindine, because I am so -much richer than I was when he when he proposed to me.' - -'Then it's merely a matter of feeling with you, and not of affection? If I -understand you, you are afraid that you should be thought to have treated -Lord Ballindine badly?' - -'It 's not only that ' And then she paused for a few moments, and added, 'I -thought I could have parted with him, when you made me believe that I ought -to do so, but I find I cannot.' - -'You mean that you love him?' and the earl looked very black at his niece. -He intended to frighten her out of her resolution, but she quietly -answered, - -'Yes, uncle, I do.' - -'And you want me to tell him so, after having banished him from my house?' - -Fanny's eyes again shot fire at the word 'banished', but she answered, very -quietly, and even with a smile, - -'No, uncle; but I want you to ask him here again. I might tell him the rest -myself.' - -'But, Fanny, dear,' said the countess, 'your uncle couldn't do it: you -know, he told him to go away before. Besides, I really don't think he'd -come; he's so taken up with those horrid horses, and that Mr Blake, who is -worse than any of 'em. Really, Fanny, Kilcullen says that he and Mr Blake -are quite notorious.' - -'I think, aunt, Lord Kilcullen might be satisfied with looking after -himself. If it depended on him, he never had a kind word to say for Lord -Ballindine.' - -'But you know, Fanny,' continued the aunt, 'he knows everybody; and if he -says Lord Ballindine is that sort of person, why, it must be so, though I'm -sure I'm very sorry to hear it.' - -Lord Cashel saw that he could not trust any more to his wife: that last hit -about Kilcullen had been very unfortunate; so he determined to put an end -to all Fanny's yearnings after her lover with a strong hand, and said, - -'If you mean, Fanny, after what has passed, that I should go to Lord -Ballindine, and give him to understand that he is again welcome to Grey -Abbey, I must at once tell you that it is absolutely absolutely impossible. -If I had no personal objection to the young man on any prudential score, -the very fact of my having already, at your request, desired his absence -from my house, would be sufficient to render it impossible. I owe too much -to my own dignity, and am too anxious for your reputation, to think of -doing such a thing. But when I also remember that Lord Ballindine is a -reckless, dissipated gambler I much fear, with no fixed principle, I should -consider any step towards renewing the acquaintance between you a most -wicked and unpardonable proceeding.' - -When Fanny heard her lover designated as a reckless gambler, she lost all -remaining feelings of fear at her uncle's anger, and, standing up, looked -him full in the face through her tears. - -'It's not so, my lord!' she said, when he had finished. 'He is not what you -have said. I know him too well to believe such things of him, and I will -not submit to hear him abused.' - -'Oh, Fanny, my dear!' said the frightened countess; 'don't speak in that -way. Surely, your uncle means to act for your own happiness; and don't you -know Lord Ballindine has those horrid horses?' - -'If I don't mind his horses, aunt, no one else need; but he's no gambler, -and he's not dissipated I'm sure not half so much so as Lord Kilcullen.' - -'In that, Fanny, you're mistaken,' said the earl; 'but I don't wish to -discuss the matter with you. You must, however, fully understand this: Lord -Ballindine cannot be received under this roof. If you regret him, you must -remember that his rejection was your own act. I think you then acted most -prudently, and I trust it will not be long before you are of the same -opinion yourself,' and Lord Cashel moved to the door as though he had -accomplished his part in the interview. - -'Stop one moment, uncle,' said Fanny, striving hard to be calm, and hardly -succeeding. 'I did not ask my aunt to speak to you on this subject, till I -had turned it over and over in my mind, and resolved that I would not make -myself and another miserable for ever, because I had been foolish enough -not to know my mind. You best know whether you can ask Lord Ballindine to -Grey Abbey or not; but I am determined, if I cannot see him here, that I -will see him somewhere else,' and she turned towards the door, and then, -thinking of her aunt, she turned back and kissed her, and immediately left -the room. - -The countess looked up at her husband, quite dumbfounded, and he seemed -rather distressed himself. However, he muttered something about her being a -hot-headed simpleton and soon thinking better about it, and then betook -himself to his private retreat, to hold sweet converse with his own -thoughts having first rung the bell for Griffiths, to pick up the scattered -threads of her mistress's knitting. - -Lord Cashel certainly did not like the look of things. There was a -determination in Fanny's eye, as she made her parting speech, which upset -him rather, and which threw considerable difficulties in the way of Lord -Kilcullen's wooing. To be sure, time would do a great deal: but then, there -wasn't so much time to spare. He had already taken steps to borrow the -thirty thousand pounds, and had, indeed, empowered his son to receive it: -he had also pledged himself for the other fifty; and then, after all, that -perverse fool of a girl would insist on being in love with that scapegrace, -Lord Ballindine! This, however, might wear away, and he would take very -good care that she should hear of his misdoings. It would be very odd if, -after all, his plans were to be destroyed, and his arrangements -disconcerted by his own ward, and niece especially when he designed so -great a match for her! - -He could not, however, make himself quite comfortable, though he had great -confidence in his own diplomatic resources. - - - - -XV HANDICAP LODGE - - -Lord Ballindine left Grey Abbey, and rode homewards, towards Handicap -Lodge, in a melancholy and speculative mood. His first thoughts were all of -Harry Wyndham. Frank, as the accepted suitor of his sister, had known him -well and intimately, and had liked him much; and the poor young fellow had -been much attached to him. He was greatly shocked to hear of his death. It -was not yet a month since he had seen him shining in all the new-blown -splendour of his cavalry regimentals, and Lord Ballindine was unfeignedly -grieved to think how short a time the lad had lived to enjoy them. His -thoughts, then, naturally turned to his own position, and the declaration -which Lord Cashel had made to him respecting himself. Could it be -absolutely true that Fanny had determined to give him up altogether? After -all her willing vows, and assurances of unalterable affection, could she be -so cold as to content herself with sending him a formal message, by her -uncle, that she did not wish to see him again? Frank argued with himself -that it was impossible; he was sure he knew her too well. But still, Lord -Cashel would hardly tell him a downright lie, and he had distinctly stated -that the rejection came from Miss Wyndham herself. - -Then, he began to feel indignant, and spurred his horse, and rode a little -faster, and made a few resolutions as to upholding his own dignity. He -would run after neither Lord Cashel nor his niece; he would not even ask -her to change her mind, since she had been able to bring herself to such a -determination as that expressed to him. But he would insist on seeing her; -she could not refuse that to him, after what had passed between them, and -he would then tell her what he thought of her, and leave her for ever. But -no; he would do nothing to vex her, as long as she was grieving for her -brother. Poor Harry! she loved him so dearly! Perhaps, after all, his -sudden rejection was, in some manner, occasioned by this sad event, and -would be revoked as her sorrow grew less with time. And then, for the first -time, the idea shot across his mind, of the wealth Fanny must inherit by -her brother's death. - -It certainly had a considerable effect on him, for he breathed slow awhile, -and was some little time before he could entirely realise the conception -that Fanny was now the undoubted owner of a large fortune. 'That is it,' -thought he to himself, at last; 'that sordid earl considers that he can now -be sure of a higher match for his niece, and Fanny has allowed herself to -be persuaded out of her engagement: she has allowed herself to. be talked -into the belief that it was her duty to give up a poor man like me.' And -then, he felt very angry again. 'Heavens!' said he to himself 'is it -possible she should be so servile and so mean? Fanny Wyndham, who cared so -little for the prosy admonitions of her uncle, a few months since, can she -have altered her disposition so completely? Can the possession of her -brother's money have made so vile a change in her character? Could she be -the same Fanny who had so entirely belonged to him, who had certainly loved -him truly once? Perish her money I he had sought her from affection alone; -he had truly and fondly loved her; he had determined to cling to her, in -spite of the advice of his friends! And then, he found himself deserted and -betrayed by her, because circumstances had given her the probable power of -making a better match!' - -Such were Lord Ballindine's thoughts; and he flattered himself with the -reflection that he was a most cruelly used, affectionate, and disinterested -lover. He did not, at the moment, remember that it was Fanny's twenty -thousand pounds which had first attracted his notice; and that he had for a -considerable time wavered, before he made up his mind to part with himself -at so low a price. It was not to be expected that he should remember that, -just at present; and he rode on, considerably out of humour with all the -world except himself. - -As he got near to Handicap Lodge, however, the genius of the master-spirit -of that classic spot came upon him, and he began to bethink himself that It -'would be somewhat foolish of him to give up the game just at present. He -reflected that a hundred thousand pounds would work a wondrous change and -improvement at Kelly's Court and that, if he was before prepared to marry -Fanny Wyndham in opposition to the wishes of her guardian, he should now be -doubly determined to do so, even though all Grey Abbey had resolved to the -contrary. The last idea in his mind, as he got off his horse at his -friend's door was, as to what Dot Blake would think, and say, of the -tidings he brought home with him? - -It was dark when he reached Handicap Lodge, and, having first asked whether -Mr Blake was in, and heard that he was dressing for dinner, he went to -perform the same operation himself. When he came down, full of his budget, -and quite ready, as usual, to apply to Dot for advice, he was surprised, -and annoyed, to find two other gentlemen in the room, together with Blake. -What a bore! to have to make one of a dinner-party of four, and the long -protracted rubber of shorts which would follow it, when his mind was so -full of other concerns! However, it was not to be avoided. - -The guests were, the fat, good-humoured, ready-witted Mat Tierney, and a -little Connaught member of Parliament, named Morris, who wore a wig, played -a very good rubber of whist, and knew a good deal about selling hunters. He -was not very bright, but he told one or two good stories of his own -adventures in the world, which he repeated oftener than was approved of by -his intimate friends; and he drank his wine plentifully and discreetly for, -if he didn't get a game of cards after consuming a certain quantum, he -invariably went to sleep. - -There was something in the manner in which the three greeted him, on -entering the room, which showed him that they had been speaking of him and -his affairs. Dot was the first to address him. - -'Well, Frank, I hope I am to wish you joy. I hope you've made a good -morning's work of it?' - -Frank looked rather distressed: before he could answer, however, Mat -Tierney said, - -'Well, Ballindine, upon my soul I congratulate you sincerely, though, of -course, you've seen nothing at Grey Abbey but tears and cambric -handkerchiefs. I'm very glad, now, that what Kilcullen told me wasn't true. -He left Dublin for London yesterday, and I suppose he won't hear of his -cousin's death before he gets there.' - -'Upon my honour, Lord Ballindine,' said the horse-dealing member, 'you are -a lucky fellow. I believe old Wyndham was a regular golden nabob, and I -suppose, now, you'll touch the whole of his gatherings.' - -Dot and his guests had heard of Harry Wyndham's death, and Fanny's -accession of fortune; but they had not heard that she had rejected her -lover, and that he had been all but turned out of her guardian's house. Nor -did he mean to tell them; but he did not find himself pleasantly situated -in having to hear their congratulations and listen to their jokes, while he -himself felt that the rumour which he had so emphatically denied to Mat -Tierney, only two days since, had turned out to be true. - -Not one of the party made the slightest reference to the poor brother from -whom Fanny's new fortune had come, except as the lucky means of conveying -it to her. There was no regret even pretended for his early death, no -sympathy expressed with Fanny's sorrow. And there was, moreover, an evident -conviction in the minds of all the three, that Frank, of course, looked on -the accident as a piece of unalloyed good fortune a splendid windfall in -his way, unattended with any disagreeable concomitants. This grated against -his feelings, and made him conscious that he was not yet heartless enough -to be quite fit for, the society in which he found himself. - -The party soon went into the dining-room; and Frank at first got a little -ease, for Fanny Wyndham seemed to be forgotten in the willing devotion -which was paid to Blake's soup; the interest of the fish, also, seemed to -be absorbing; and though conversation became more general towards the -latter courses, still it was on general subjects, as long as the servants -were in the room. But, much to his annoyance, his mistress again came on -the tapis, together with the claret. - -'You and Kilcullen don't hit it of together eh, Ballindine?' said Mat. - -'We never quarrelled,' answered Frank; 'we never, however, were very -intimate.' - -'I wonder at that, for you're both fond of the turf. There's a large string -of his at Murphy's now, isn't there, Dot?' - -'Too many, I believe,' said Blake. 'If you've a mind to be a purchaser, -you'll find him a very pleasant fellow especially if you don't object to -his own prices.' - -'Faith I'll not trouble him,' said Mat; 'I've two of them already, and a -couple on the turf and a couple for the saddle are quite enough to suit me. -But what the deuce made him say, so publicly, that your match was off, -Ballindine? He couldn't have heard of Wyndham's death at the time, or I -should think he was after the money himself.' - -'I cannot tell; he certainly had not my authority,' said Frank. - -'Nor the lady's either, I hope.' - -'You had better ask herself, Tierney; and, if she rejects me, maybe she'll -take you.' - -'There's a speculation for you,' said Blake; 'you don't think yourself too -old yet, I hope, to make your fortune by marriage? and, if you don't, I'm -sure Miss Wyndham can't.' - -'I tell you what, Dot, I admire Miss Wyndham much, and I admire a hundred -thousand pounds more. I don't know anything I admire more than a hundred -thousand pounds, except two; but, upon my word, I wouldn't take the money -and the lady together.' - -'Well, that's kind of him, isn't it, Frank? So, you've a chance left, yet.' - -'Ah! but you forget Morris,' said Tierney; 'and there's yourself, too. If -Ballindine is not to be the lucky man, I don't see why either of you should -despair.' - -'Oh! as for me, I'm the devil. I've a tail, only I don't wear it, except on -state occasions; and I've horns and hoofs, only people can't see them. But -I don't see why Morris should not succeed: he's the only one of the four -that doesn't own a racehorse, and that's much in his favour. What do you -say, Morris?' - -'I'd have no objection,' said the member; 'except that I wouldn't like to -stand in Lord Ballindine's way.' - -'Oh! he's the soul of good-nature. You wouldn't take it ill of him, would -you, Frank?' - -'Not the least,' said Frank, sulkily; for he didn't like the conversation, -and he didn't know how to put a stop to it. - -'Perhaps you wouldn't mind giving him a line of introduction to Lord -Cashel,' said Mat. - -'But, Morris,' aid Blake, 'I'm afraid your politics would go against you. A -Repealer would never go down at Grey Abbey.' - -'Morris'll never let his politics harm him,' said Tierney. 'Repeal's a very -good thing the other side of the Shannon; or one might, carry it as far as -Conciliation Hall, if one was hard pressed, and near an election. Were you -ever in Conciliation Hall yet, Morris?' - -'No, Mat; but I'm going next Thursday. Will you go with me?' - -'Faith, I will not: but I think you should go; you ought to do something -for your country, for you're a patriot. I never was a public man.' - -'Well, when I can do any good for my country, I'll go there. Talking of -that, I saw O'Connell in town yesterday, and I never saw him looking so -well. The verdict hasn't disturbed him much. I wonder what steps the -Government will take now? They must be fairly bothered. I don't think they -dare imprison him.' - -'Not dare!' said Blake 'and why not? When they had courage to indict him, -you need not fear but what they'll dare to go on with a strong hand, now -they have a verdict.' - -'I'll tell you what, Dot; if they imprison the whole set,' said Mat, 'and -keep them in prison for twelve months, every Catholic in Ireland will be a -Repealer by the end of that time.' - -'And why shouldn't they all be Repealers?' said Morris. 'It seems to me -that it's just as natural for us to be Repealers, as it is for you to be -the contrary.' - -'I won't say they don't dare to put them in prison,' continued Mat; 'but I -will say they'll be great fools to do it. The Government have so good an -excuse for not doing so: they have such an easy path out of the hobble. -There was just enough difference of opinion among the judges just enough -irregularity in the trial, such as the omissions of the names from the long -panel to enable them to pardon the whole set with a good grace.' - -'If they did,' said Blake, 'the whole high Tory party in this country peers -and parsons would be furious. They'd lose one set of supporters, and -wouldn't gain another. My opinion is, they'll lock the whole party up in -the stone jug for some time, at least.' - -'Why,' said Tierney, 'their own party could not quarrel with them for not -taking an advantage of a verdict, as to the legality of which there is so -much difference of opinion even among the judges. I don't know much about -these things, myself; but, as far as I can understand, they would have all -been found guilty of high treason a few years back, and probably have been -hung or beheaded; and if they could do that now, the country would be all -the quieter. But they can't: the people will have their own way; and if -they want the people to go easy, they shouldn't put O'Connell into prison. -Rob them all of the glories of martyrdom, and you'd find you'll cut their -combs and stop their crowing.' - -'It's not so easy to do that now, Mat,' said Morris. 'You'll find that the -country will stick to O'Connell, whether he's in prison or out of it; but -Peel will never dare to put him there. They talk of the Penitentiary; but -I'll tell you what, if they put him there, the people of Dublin won't leave -one stone upon another; they'd have it all down in a night.' - -'You forget, Morris, how near Richmond barracks are to the Penitentiary.' - -'No, I don't. Not that I think there'll be any row of the kind, for I'll -bet a hundred guineas they're never put in prison at all.' - -'Done,' said Dot, and his little book was out 'put that down, Morris, and -I'll initial it: a hundred guineas, even, that O'Connell is not in prison -within twelve months of this time.' - -'Very well: that is, that he's not put there and kept there for six months, -in consequence of the verdict just given at the State trials.' - -'No, my boy; that's not it. I said nothing about being kept there six -months. They're going to try for a writ of error, or what the devil they -call it, before the peers. But I'll bet you a cool hundred he is put in -prison before twelve months are over, in consequence of the verdict. If -he's locked up there for one night, I win. Will you take that?' - -'Well, I will,' said Morris; and they both went to work at their little -books. - -'I was in London,' said Mat, 'during the greater portion of the trial and -it's astonishing what unanimity of opinion there was at the club that the -whole set would be acquitted. I heard Howard make bet, at the Reform Club, -that the only man put in prison would be the Attorney-General.' - -'He ought to have included the Chief Justice,' said Morris. 'By the bye, -Mat, is that Howard the brother of the Honourable and Riverind Augustus?' - -'Upon my soul, I don't know whose brother he is. Who is the Riverind -Augustus?' - -'Morris wants to tell a story, Mat,' said Blake; 'don't spoil him, now.' - -'Indeed I don't,' said the member: 'I never told it to any one till I -mentioned it to you the other day. It only happened the other day, but it -is worth telling.' - -'Out with it, Morris,' said Mat, 'it isn't very long, is it? because, if it -is, we'll get Dot to give us a little whiskey and hot water first. I'm sick -of the claret.' - -'Just as you like, Mat,' and Blake rang the bell, and the hot water was -brought. - -'You know Savarius O'Leary,' said Morris, anxious to tell his story, 'eh, -Tierney?' - -'What, Savy, with the whiskers?' said Tierney, 'to be sure I do. Who -doesn't know Savy?' - -'You know him, don't you, Lord Ballindine?' Morris was determined everybody -should listen to him. - -'Oh yes, I know him; he comes from County Mayo his property's close to -mine; that is, the patch of rocks and cabins which he has managed to -mortgage three times over, and each time for more than its value which he -still calls the O'Leary estate.' - -'Well; some time ago that is, since London began to fill, O'Leary was seen -walking down Regent Street, with a parson. How the deuce he'd ever got hold -of the parson, or the parson of him, was never explained; but Phil Mahon -saw him, and asked him who his friend in the white choker was. "Is it my -friend in black, you mane?" says Savy, "thin, my frind was the Honourable -and the Riverind Augustus Howard, the Dane." "Howard the Dane," said Mahon, -"how the duce did any of the Howards become Danes?" "Ah, bother!" said -Savy, "it's not of thim Danes he is; it's not the Danes of Shwaden I mane, -at all, man; but a rural Dane of the Church of England." - -Mat Tierney laughed heartily at this, and even Frank forgot that his -dignity had been hurt, and that he meant to be sulky; and he laughed also: -the little member was delighted with his success, and felt himself -encouraged to persevere. - -'Ah, Savy's a queer fellow, if you knew him,' he continued, turning to Lord -Ballindine, 'and, upon my soul, lie 's no fool. Oh, if you knew him as -well ' - -'Didn't you hear Ballindine say he was his next, door neighbour in Mayo?' -said Blake, 'or, rather, next barrack neighbour; for they dispense with -doors in Mayo eh, Frank? and their houses are all cabins or barracks.' - -'Why, we certainly don't pretend to all the Apuleian luxuries of Handicap -Lodge; but we are ignorant enough to think ourselves comfortable, and -swinish enough to enjoy our pitiable state.' - -'I beg ten thousand pardons, my dear fellow. I didn't mean to offend your -nationality. Castlebar, we must allow, is a fine provincial city though -Killala's the Mayo city, I believe; and Claremorris, which is your own town -I think, is, as all admit, a gem of Paradise: only it's a pity so many of -the houses have been unroofed lately. It adds perhaps to the picturesque -effect, but it must, I should think, take away from the comfort.' - -'Not a house in Claremorris belongs to me,' said Lord Ballindine, again -rather sulky, 'or ever did to any of my family. I would as soon own -Claremorris, though, as I would Castleblakeney. Your own town is quite as -shattered-looking a place.' - -'That's quite true but I have some hopes that Castleblakeney will be -blotted out of the face of creation before I come into possession.' - -'But I was saying about Savy O'Leary,' again interposed Morris, 'did you -ever hear what he did?' But Blake would not allow his guest the privilege -of another story. 'If you encourage Morris,' said he, "we shall never get -our whist,' and with that he rose from the table and walked away into the -next room. They played high. Morris always played high if he could, for he -made money by whist. Tierney was not a gambler by profession; but the men -he lived among all played, and he, therefore, got into the way of it, and -played the game well, for he was obliged to do so in his own defence. Blake -was an adept at every thing of the kind; and though the card-table was not -the place where his light shone brightest, still he was quite at home at -it. - -As might be supposed, Lord Ballindine did not fare well among the three. He -played with each of them, one after the other, and lost with them all. -Blake, to do him justice, did not wish to see his friend's money go into -the little member's pocket, and, once or twice, proposed giving up; but -Frank did not second the proposal, and Morris was inveterate. The -consequence was that, before the table was broken up, Lord Ballindine had -lost a sum of money which he could very ill spare, and went to bed in a -very unenviable state of mind, in spite of the brilliant prospects on which -his friends congratulated him. - - - - -XVI BRIEN BORU - - -The next morning, at breakfast, when Frank was alone with Blake, he -explained to him how matters really stood at Grey Abbey. He told him how -impossible he had found it to insist, on seeing Miss Wyndham so soon after -her brother's death, and how disgustingly disagreeable, stiff and repulsive -the earl had been; and, by degrees, they got to talk of other things, and -among them, Frank's present pecuniary miseries. - -'There can be no doubt, I suppose,' said Dot, when Frank had consoled -himself by anathematising the earl for ten minutes, 'as to the fact of Miss -Wyndham's inheriting her brother's fortune?' - -'Faith, I don't know; I never thought about her fortune if you'll believe -me. I never even remembered that her brother's death would in any way -affect her in the way of money, until after I left Grey Abbey.' - -'Oh, I can believe you capable of anything in the way of imprudence.' - -'Ah, but, Dot, to think of that pompous fool who sits and caws in that -dingy book-room of his, with as much wise self-confidence as an antiquated -raven to think of him insinuating that I had come there looking for Harry -Wyndham's money; when, as you know, I was as ignorant of the poor fellow's -death as Lord Cashel was himself a week ago. Insolent blackguard! I would -never, willingly, speak another word to him, or put my foot inside that -infernal door of his, if it were to get ten times all Harry Wyndham's -fortune.' - -'Then, if I understand you, you now mean to relinquish your claims to Miss -Wyndham's hand.' - -'No; I don't believe she ever sent the message her uncle gave me. I don't -see why I'm to give her up, just because she's got this money.' - -'Nor I, Frank, to tell the truth; especially considering how badly you want -it yourself. But I don't think quarrelling with the uncle is the surest way -to get the niece.' - -'But, man, he quarrelled with me.' - -'It takes two people to quarrel. If he quarrelled with you, do you be the -less willing to come to loggerheads with him.' - -'Wouldn't it be the best plan, Dot, to carry her off?' - -'She wouldn't go, my boy: rope ladders and post-chaises are out of -fashion.' - -'But if she's really fond of me and, upon my honour, I don't believe I'm -flattering myself in thinking that she is why the deuce shouldn't she marry -me, malgré Lord Cashel? She must be her own mistress in a week or two. By -heavens, I cannot stomach that fellow's arrogant assumption of -superiority.' - -'It will be much more convenient for her to marry you bon gré Lord Cashel, -whom you may pitch to the devil, in any way you like best, as soon as you -have Fanny Wyndham at Kelly's Court. But, till that happy time, take my -advice, and submit to the cawing. Rooks and ravens are respectable birds, -just because they do look so wise. It's a great thing to look wise; the -doing so does an acknowledged fool, like Lord Cashel, very great credit.' - -'But what ought I to do? I can't go to the man's house when he told me -expressly not to do so.' - -'Oh, yes, you can: not immediately, but by and by in a month or six weeks. -I'll tell you what I should do, in your place; and remember, Frank, I'm -quite in earnest now, for it's a very different thing playing a game for -twenty thousand pounds, which, to you, joined to a wife, would have been a -positive irreparable loss, and starting for five or six times that sum, -which would give you an income on which you might manage to live.' - -'Well, thou sapient counsellor but, I tell you beforehand, the chances are -ten to one I shan't follow your plan.' - -'Do as you like about that: you shan't, at any rate, have me to blame. I -would in the first place, assure myself that Fanny inherited her brother's -money.' - -'There's no doubt about that. Lord Cashel said as much.' - -'Make sure of it however. A lawyer'll do that for you, with very little -trouble. Then, take your name off the turf at once; it's worth your while -to do it now. You may either do it by a bona fide sale of the horses, or by -running them in some other person's name. Then, watch your opportunity, -call at Grey Abbey, when the earl is not at home, and manage to see some of -the ladies. If you can't do that, if you can't effect an entrée, write to -Miss Wyndham; don't be too lachrymose, or supplicatory, in your style, but -ask her to give you a plain answer personally, or in her own handwriting.' - -'And if she declines the honour?' - -'If, as you say and as I believe, she loves, or has loved you, I don't -think she'll do so. She'll submit to a little parleying, and then she'll -capitulate. But it will be much better that you should see her, if -possible, without writing at all.' - -'I don't like the idea of calling at Grey Abbey. I wonder whether they'll -go to London this season?' - -'If they do, you can go after them. The truth is simply this, Ballindine; -Miss Wyndham will follow her own fancy in the matter, in spite of her -guardian; but, if you make no further advances to her, of course she can -make none to you. But I think the game is in your own hand. You haven't the -head to play it, or I should consider the stakes as good as won.' - -'But then, about these horses, Dot. I wish I could sell them, out and out, -at once.' - -'You'll find it very difficult to get anything like the value for a horse -that's well up for the Derby. You see, a purchaser must make up his mind to -so much outlay: there's the purchase-money, and expense of English -training, with so remote a chance of any speedy return.' - -'But you said you'd advise me to sell them.' - -'That's if you can get a purchaser or else run them in another name. You -may run them in my name, if you like it; but Scott must understand that -I've nothing whatever to do with the expense.' - -'Would you not buy them yourself, Blake?' - -'No. I would not.' - -'Why not?' - -'If I gave you anything like the value for them, the bargain would not suit -me; and if I got them for what they'd be worth to me, you'd think, and -other people would say, that I'd robbed you.' - -Then followed a lengthened and most intricate discourse on the affairs of -the stable. Frank much wanted his friend to take his stud entirely off his -hands, but this Dot resolutely refused to do. In the course of -conversation, Frank owned that the present state of his funds rendered it -almost impracticable for him to incur the expense of sending his favourite, -Brien Boru, to win laurels in England. He had lost nearly three hundred -pounds the previous evening which his account at his banker's did not -enable him to pay; his Dublin agent had declined advancing him more money -at present, and his tradesmen were very importunate. In fact, he was in a -scrape, and Dot must advise him how to extricate himself from it. - -'I'll tell you the truth, Ballindine,' said he; 'as far as I'm concerned -myself, I never will lend money, except where I see, as a matter of -business, that it is a good speculation to do so. I wouldn't do it for my -father.' - -'Who asked you?' said Frank, turning very red, and looking very angry. - -'You did not, certainly; but I thought you might, and you would have been -annoyed when I refused you; now, you have the power of being indignant, -instead. However, having said so much, I'll tell you what I think you -should do, and what I will do to relieve you, as far as the horses are -concerned. Do you go down to Kelly's Court, and remain there quiet for a -time. You'll be able to borrow what money you absolutely want down there, -if the Dublin fellows actually refuse; but do with as little as you can. -The horses shall run in my name for twelve months. If they win, I will -divide with you at the end of the year the amount won, after deducting -their expenses. If they lose, I will charge you with half the amount lost, -including the expenses. Should you not feel inclined, at the end of the -year, to repay me this sum, I will then keep the horses, instead, or sell -them at Dycer's, if you like it better, and hand you the balance if there -be any. What do you say to this? You will be released from all trouble, -annoyance, and expense, and the cattle will, I trust, be in good hands.' - -'That is to say, that, for one year, you are to possess one half of -whatever value the horses may be?' - -'Exactly: we shall be partners for one year.' - -'To make that fair,' said Frank, 'you ought to put into the concern three -horses, as good and as valuable as my three.' - -'Yes; and you ought to bring into the concern half the capital to be -expended in their training; and knowledge, experience, and skill in making -use of them, equal to mine. No, Frank; you're mistaken if you think that I -can afford to give up my time, merely for the purpose of making an -arrangement to save you from trouble.' - -'Upon my word, Dot,' answered the other, 'you're about the coolest hand I -ever met! Did I ask you for your precious time, or anything else? You're -always afraid that you're going to be done. Now, you might make a -distinction between me and some of your other friends, and remember that I -am not in the habit of doing anybody.' - -'Why, I own I don't think it very likely that I, or indeed anyone else, -should suffer much from you in that way, for your sin is not too much -sharpness.' - -'Then why do you talk about what you can afford to do?' - -'Because it's necessary. I made a proposal which you thought an unfair one. -You mayn't believe me, but it is a most positive fact, that my only object -in making that proposal was, to benefit you. You will find it difficult to -get rid of your horses on any terms; and yet, with the very great stake -before you in Miss Wyndham's fortune, it would be foolish in you to think -of keeping them; and, on this account, I thought in what manner. I could -take them from you. If they belong to my stables I shall consider myself -bound to run them to the best advantage, and ' - -'Well, well for heaven's sake don't speechify about it.' - -'Stop a moment, Frank, and listen, for I must make you understand. I must -make you see that I am not taking advantage of your position, and trying to -rob my own friend in my own house. I don't care what most people say of me, -for in my career I must expect people to lie of me. I must, also, take care -of myself. But I do wish you to know, that though I could not disarrange my -schemes for you, I would not take you in.' - -'Why, Dot how can you go on so? I only thought I was taking a leaf out of -your book, by being careful to make the best bargain I could.' - -'Well, as I was saying I would run the horses to the best -advantage especially Brien, for the Derby: by doing so, my whole book would -be upset: I should have to bet all round again and, very likely, not be -able to get the bets I want. I could not do this without a very strong -interest in the horse. Besides, you remember that I should have to go over -with him to England myself, and that I should be obliged to be in England a -great deal at a time when my own business would require me here.' - -'My dear fellow,' said Frank, 'you're going on as though it were necessary -to defend yourself. I never accused you of anything.' - -'Never mind whether you did or no. You understand me now: if it will suit -you, you can take my offer, but I should be glad to know at once.' - -While this conversation was going on, the two young men had left the house, -and sauntered out into Blake's stud-yard. Here were his stables, where he -kept such horses as were not actually in the trainer's hands and a large -assortment of aged hunters, celebrated timber-jumpers, brood mares, -thoroughbred fillies, cock-tailed colts, and promising foals. They were -immediately joined by Blake's stud groom, who came on business intent, to -request a few words with his master; which meant that Lord Ballindine was -to retreat, as it was full time for his friend to proceed to his regular -day's work. Blake's groom was a very different person in appearance, from -the sort of servant in the possession of which the fashionable owner of two -or three horses usually rejoices. He had no diminutive top boots; no loose -brown breeches, buttoned low beneath the knee; no elongated waistcoat with -capacious pockets; no dandy coat with remarkably short tail. He was a very -ugly man of about fifty, named John Bottom, dressed somewhat like a seedy -gentleman; but he understood his business well, and did it; and was -sufficiently wise to know that he served his own pocket best, in the long -run, by being true to his master, and by resisting the numerous tempting -offers which were made to him by denizens of the turf to play foul with his -master's horses. He was, therefore, a treasure to Blake; and he knew it, -and valued himself accordingly. - -'Well, John,' said his master, 'I suppose I must desert Lord Ballindine -again, and obey your summons. Your few words will last nearly till dinner, -I suppose?' - -'Why, there is a few things, to be sure, 'll be the better for being talked -over a bit, as his lordship knows well enough. I wish we'd as crack a nag -in our stables, as his lordship.' - -'Maybe we may, some day; one down and another come on, you know; as the -butcher-boy said.' - -'At any rate, your horses don't want bottom' said Frank. - -He he he! laughed John, or rather tried to do so. He had laughed at that -joke a thousand times; and, in the best of humours, he wasn't a merry man. - -'Well, Frank,' said Blake, 'the cock has crowed; I must away. I suppose -you'll ride down to Igoe's, and see Brien: but think of what I've said, -and,' he added, whispering 'remember that I will do the best I can for the -animals, if you put them into my stables. They shall be made second to -nothing, and shall only and always run to win.' - -So, Blake and John Bottom walked off to the box tables and home paddocks. - -Frank ordered his horse, and complied with his friend's suggestion, by -riding down to Igoe's. He was not in happy spirits as he went; he felt -afraid that his hopes, with regard to Fanny, would be blighted; and that, -if he persevered in his suit, he would only be harassed, annoyed, and -disappointed. He did not see what steps he could take, or how he could -manage to see her. It would be impossible for him to go to Grey Abbey, -after having been, as he felt, turned out by Lord Cashel. Other things -troubled him also. What :should he now do with himself? It was true that he -could go down to his own house; but everyone at Kelly's Court expected him -to bring with him a bride and a fortune; and, instead of that, he would -have to own that he had been jilted, and would be reduced to the -disagreeable necessity of borrowing money from his own tenants. And then, -that awful subject, money took possession of him. What the deuce was he to -do? What a fool he had been, to be seduced on to the turf by such a man as -Blake! And then, he expressed a wish to himself that Blake had been a long -way off before he ever saw him. There he was, steward of the Curragh, the -owner of the best horse in Ireland, and absolutely without money to enable -him to carry on the game till he could properly retreat from it! - -Then he was a little unfair upon his friend: he accused him of knowing his -position, and wishing to take advantage of it; and, by the time he had got -to Igoe's, his mind was certainly not in a very charitable mood towards -poor Dot. He had, nevertheless, determined to accept his offer, and to take -a last look at the three Milesians. - -The people about the stables always made a great fuss with Lord Ballindine, -partly because he was one of the stewards, and partly because he was going -to run a crack horse for the Derby in England; and though, generally -speaking, he did not care much for personal complimentary respect, he -usually got chattered and flattered into good humour at Igoe's. - -'Well, my lord,' said a sort of foreman, or partner, or managing man, who -usually presided over the yard, 'I think we'll be apt to get justice to -Ireland on the downs this year. That is, they'll give us nothing but what -we takes from 'em by hard fighting, or running, as the case may be.' - -'How 's Brien looking this morning, Grady?' - -'As fresh as a primrose, my lord, and as clear as crystal: he's ready, this -moment, to run through any set of three years old as could be put on the -Curragh, anyway.' - -'I'm afraid you're putting him on too forward.' - -'Too forrard, is it, my lord? not a bit. He's a hoss as naturally don't -pick up flesh; though he feeds free, too. He's this moment all wind and -bottom, though, as one may say, he's got no training. He's niver been -sthretched yet. Faith it's thrue I'm telling you, my lord.' - -'I know Scott doesn't like getting horses, early in the season, that are -too fine too much drawn up; he thinks they lose power by it, and so they -do; it's the distance that kills them, at the Derby. It's so hard to get a -young horse to stay the distance.' - -'That's thrue, shure enough, my lord; and there isn't a gentleman this side -the wather, anyway, undherstands thim things betther than your lordship.' - -'Well, Grady, let's have a look at the young chieftain: he's all right -about the lungs, anyway.' - -'And feet too, my lord; niver saw a set of claner feet with plates on: and -legs too! If you were to canter him down the road, I don't think he'd feel -it; not that I'd like to thry, though.' - -'Why, he's not yet had much to try them.' - -'Faix, he has, my lord: didn't he win the Autumn Produce Stakes?' - -'The only thing he ever ran for.' - -'Ah, but I tell you, as your lordship knows very well no one betther that -it's a ticklish thing to bring a two year old to the post, in anything like -condition with any running in him at all, and not hurt his legs.' - -'But I think he's all right eh, Grady?' - -'Right? your lordship knows he's right. I wish he may be made righter at -John Scott's, that's all. But that's unpossible.' - -'Of course, Grady, you think he might be trained here, as well as at the -other side of the water?' - -'No, I don't, my lord: quite different. I've none of thim ideas at all, and -never had, thank God. I knows what we can do, and I knows what they can -do breed a hoss in Ireland, train him in the North of England, and run him -in the South; and he'll do your work for you, and win your money, steady -and shure.' - -'And why not run in the North, too?' - -'They're too 'cute, my lord: they like to pick up the crumbs -themselves small blame to thim in that matther. No; a bright Irish nag, -with lots of heart, like Brien Boru, is the hoss to stand on for the Derby; -where all run fair and fair alike, the best wins; but I won't say but he'll -be the betther for a little polishing at Johnny Scott's.' - -'Besides, Grady, no horse could run immediately after a sea voyage. Do you -remember what a show we made of Peter Simple at Kilrue?' - -'To be shure I does, my lord: besides, they've proper gallops there, which -we haven't and they've betther manes of measuring horses: why, they can -measure a horse to half a pound, and tell his rale pace on a two-mile -course, to a couple of seconds. Take the sheets off, Larry, and let his -lordship run his hand over him. He's as bright as a star, isn't he?' - -'I think you're getting him too fine. I'm sure Scott'll say so.' - -'Don't mind him, my lord. He's not like one of those English cats, with -jist a dash of speed about 'em, and nothing more brutes that they put in -training half a dozen times in as many months. Thim animals pick up a lot -of loose, flabby flesh in no time, and loses it in less; and, in course, -av' they gets a sweat too much, there's nothin left in 'em; not a hapoth. -Brien's a different guess sort of animal from that.' - -'Were you going to have him out, Grady?' - -'Why, we was not that is, only just for walking exercise, with his sheets -on: but a canter down the half mile slope, and up again by the bushes won't -go agin him.' - -'Well, saddle him then, and let Pat get up.' - -'Yes, my lord'; and Brien was saddled by the two men together, with much -care and ceremony; and Pat was put up 'and now, Pat,' continued Grady, -'keep him well in hand down the slope don't let him out at all at all, till -you come to the turn: when you're fairly round the corner, just shake your -reins the laste in life, and when you're halfway up the rise, when the lad -begins to snort a bit, let him just see the end of the switch just raise it -till it catches his eye; and av' he don't show that he's disposed for -running, I'm mistaken. We'll step across to the bushes, my lord, and see -him come round.' - -Lord Ballindine and the managing man walked across to the bushes -accordingly, and Pat did exactly as he was desired. It was a pretty thing -to see the beautiful young animal, with his sleek brown coat shining like a -lady's curls, arching his neck, and throwing down his head, in his -impatience to start. He was the very picture of health and symmetry; when -he flung up his head you'd think the blood was running from his nose, his -nostrils were so ruddy bright. He cantered off in great impatience, and -fretted and fumed because the little fellow on his back would be the -master, and not let him have his play down the slope, and round the corner -by the trees. It was beautiful to watch him, his motions were so easy, so -graceful. At the turn he answered to the boy's encouragement, and mended -his pace, till again he felt the bridle, and then, as the jock barely moved -his right arm, he bounded up the rising ground, past the spot where Lord -Ballindine and the trainer were standing, and shot away till he was beyond -the place where he knew his gallop ordinarily ended. As Grady said, he -hadn't yet been stretched; he had never yet tried his own pace, and he had -that look so beautiful in a horse when running, of working at his ease, and -much within his power. - -'He's a beautiful creature,' said Lord Ballindine, as he mournfully -reflected that he was about to give up to Dot Blake half the possession of -his favourite, and the whole of the nominal title. It was such a pity he -should be so hampered; the mere éclat of possessing such a horse was so -great a pleasure; 'He is a fine creature,' said he, 'and, I am sure, will -do well.' - -'Your lordship may say that: he'll go precious nigh to astonish the Saxons, -I think. I suppose the pick-up at the Derby'll be nigh four thousand this -year.' - -'I suppose it will something like that.' - -'Well; I would like a nag out of our stables to do the trick on the downs, -and av' we does it iver, it'll be now. Mr Igoe's standing a deal of cash on -him. I wonder is Mr Blake standing much on him, my lord?' - -'You'd be precious deep, Grady, if you could find what he's doing in that -way.' - -'That's thrue for you, my lord; but av' he, or your lordship, wants to get -more on, now's the time. I'll lay twenty thousand pounds this moment, that -afther he's been a fortnight at Johnny Scott's the odds agin him won't be -more than ten to one, from that day till the morning he comes out on the -downs.' - -'I dare say not.' - -'I wondher who your lordship'll put up?' - -'That must depend on Scott, and what sort of a string he has running. He's -nothing, as yet, high in the betting, except Hardicanute.' - -'Nothing, my lord; and, take my word for it, that horse is ownly jist run -up for the sake of the betting; that's not his nathural position. Well, -Pat, you may take the saddle off. Will your lordship see the mare out -today?' - -'Not today, Grady. Let's see, what's the day she runs?' - -'The fifteenth of May, my lord. I'm afraid Mr Watts' Patriot'll be too much -for her; that's av' he'll run kind; but he don't do that always. Well, good -morning to your lordship.' - -'Good morning, Grady;' and Frank rode back towards Handicap Lodge. - -He had a great contest with himself on his road home. He had hated the -horses two days since, when he was at Grey Abbey, and had hated himself, -for having become their possessor; and now he couldn't bear the thought of -parting with them. To be steward of the Curragh to own the best horse of -the year and to win the Derby, were very pleasant things in themselves; and -for what was he going to give over all this glory, pleasure and profit, to -another? To please a girl who had rejected him, even jilted him, and to -appease an old earl who had already turned him out of his house! No, he -wouldn't do it. By the time that he was half a mile from Igoe's stables he -had determined that, as the girl was gone it would be a pity to throw the -horses after her; he would finish this year on the turf; and then, if Fanny -Wyndham was still her own mistress after Christmas, he would again ask her -her mind. 'If she's a girl of spirit,' he said to himself 'and nobody knows -better than I do that she is, she won't like me the worse for having shown -that I'm not to be led by the nose by a pompous old fool like Lord Cashel,' -and he rode on, fortifying himself in this resolution, for the second half -mile. 'But what the deuce should he do about money?' There was only one -more half mile before he was again at Handicap Lodge. Guinness's people had -his title-deeds, and he knew he had twelve hundred a year after paying the -interest of the old incumbrances. They hadn't advanced him much since he -came of age; certainly not above five thousand pounds; and it surely was -very hard he could not get five or six hundred pounds when he wanted it so -much; it was very hard that he shouldn't be able to do what he liked with -his own, like the Duke of Newcastle. However, the money must be had: he -must pay Blake and Tierney the balance of what they had won at whist, and -the horse couldn't go over the water till the wind was raised. If he was -driven very hard he might get something from Martin Kelly. These unpleasant -cogitations brought him over the third half mile, and he rode through the -gate of Handicap Lodge in a desperate state of indecision. - -'I'll tell you what I'll do, Dot,' he said, when he met his friend coming -in from his morning's work; 'and I'm deuced sorry to do it, for I shall be -giving you the best horse of his year, and something tells me he'll win the -Derby.' - -'I suppose "something" means old Jack Igoe, or that blackguard Grady,' said -Dot. 'But as to his winning, that's as it may be. You know the chances are -sixteen to one he won't.' - -'Upon my honour I don't think they are.' - -'Will you take twelve to one?' - -'Ah! youk now, Dot, I'm not now wanting to bet on the horse with you. I was -only saying that I've a kind of inward conviction that he will win.' - -'My dear Frank,' said the other, 'if men selling horses could also sell -their inward convictions with them, what a lot of articles of that -description there would be in the market! But what were you going to say -you'd do?' - -'I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll agree to your terms providing you'll pay -half the expenses of the horses since the last race each of them ran. You -must see that would be only fair, supposing the horses belonged to you, -equally with me, ever since that time.' - -'It would be quite fair, no doubt, if I agreed to it: it would be quite -fair also if I agreed to give you five hundred pounds; but I will do -neither one nor the other.' - -'But look here, Dot Brien ran for the Autumn Produce Stakes last October, -and won them: since then he has done nothing to reimburse me for his -expense, nor yet has anything been taken out of him by running. Surely, if -you are to have half the profits, you should at any rate pay half the -expenses?' - -'That's very well put, Frank; and if you and I stood upon equal ground, -with an arbiter between us by whose decision we were bound to abide, and to -whom the settlement of the question was entrusted, your arguments would, no -doubt, be successful, but ' - -'Well that's the fair way of looking at it.' - -'But, as I was going to say, that's not the case. We are neither of us -bound to take any one's decision; and, therefore, any terms which either of -us chooses to accept must be fair. Now I have told you my terms the lowest -price, if you like to call it so at which I will give your horses the -benefit of my experience, and save you from their immediate pecuniary -pressure; and I will neither take any other terms, nor will I press these -on you.' - -'Why, Blake, I'd sooner deal with all the Jews of Israel ' - -'Stop, Frank: one word of abuse, and I'll wash my hands of the matter -altogether.' - -'Wash away then, I'll keep the horses, though I have to sell my hunters and -the plate at Kelly's Court into the bargain.' - -'I was going to add only your energy's far too great to allow of a slow -steady man like me finishing his sentence I was going to say that, if -you're pressed for money as you say, and if it will be any accommodation, I -will let you have two hundred and fifty pounds at five per cent. on the -security of the horses; that is, that you will be charged with that amount, -and the interest, in the final closing of the account at the end of the -year, before the horses are restored to you.' - -Had an uninterested observer been standing by he might have seen with half -an eye that Blake's coolness was put on, and that his indifference to the -bargain was assumed. This offer of the loan was a second bid, when he found -the first was likely to be rejected: it was made, too, at the time that he -was positively declaring that he would make none but the first offer. Poor -Frank! he was utterly unable to cope with his friend at the weapons with -which they were playing, and he was consequently most egregiously -plundered. But it was in an affair of horse-flesh, and the sporting world, -when it learned the terms on which the horses were transferred from Lord -Ballindine's name to that of Mr Blake, had not a word of censure to utter -against the latter. He was pronounced to be very wide awake, and decidedly -at the top of his profession; and Lord Ballindine was spoken of, for a -week, with considerable pity and contempt. - -When Blake mentioned the loan Frank got up, and stood with his back to the -fire; then bit his lips, and walked twice up and down the room, with his -hands in his pockets, and then he paused, looked out of the window, and -attempted to whistle: then he threw himself into an armchair, poked out -both his legs as far as he could, ran his fingers through his hair, and set -to work hard to make up his mind. But it was no good; in about five minutes -he found he could not do it; so he took out his purse, and, extracting -half-a-crown, threw it up to the ceiling, saying, - -'Well, Dot head or harp? If you're right, you have them.' - -'Harp,' cried Dot. - -They both examined the coin. 'They're yours,' said Frank, with much -solemnity; 'and now you've got the best horse yes, I believe the very best -horse alive, for nothing.' - -'Only half of him, Frank.' - -'Well,' said Frank; 'it's done now, I suppose.' - -'Oh, of course it is,' said Dot: 'I'll draw out the agreement, and give you -a cheque for the money to-night.' - -And so he did; and Frank wrote a letter to Igoe, authorizing him to hand -over the horses to Mr Blake's groom, stating that he had sold them for so -ran his agreement with Dot and desiring that his bill for training, &c., -might be forthwith forwarded to Kelly's Court. Poor Frank! he was ashamed -to go to take a last look at his dear favourites, and tell his own trainer -that he had sold his own horses. - -The next morning saw him, with his servant, on the Ballinasloe coach, -travelling towards Kelly's Court; and, also, saw Brien Boru, Granuell, and -Finn M'Goul led across the downs, from Igoe's stables to Handicap Lodge. - -The handsome sheets, hoods, and rollers, in which they had hitherto -appeared, and on which the initial B was alone conspicuous, were carefully -folded up, and they were henceforth seen in plainer, but as serviceable -apparel, labelled W. B. - -'Will you give fourteen to one against Brien Boru?' said Viscount Avoca to -Lord Tathenham Corner, about ten days after this, at Tattersall's. - -'I will,' said Lord Tathenham. - -'In hundreds?' said the sharp Irishman. - -'Very well,' said Lord Tathenham; and the bet was booked. - -'You didn't know, I suppose,' said the successful viscount, 'that Dot Blake -has bought Brien Boru? - -'And who the devil's Dot Blake?' said Lord Tathenham. - -'Oh! you'll know before May's over,' said the viscount. - - - - -XVII MARTIN KELLY'S COURTSHIP - - -It will be remembered that the Tuam attorney, Daly, dined with Barry Lynch, -at Dunmore House, on the same evening that Martin Kelly reached home after -his Dublin excursion; and that, on that occasion, a good deal of -interesting conversation took place after dinner. Barry, however, was -hardly amenable to reason at that social hour, and it was not till the -following morning that he became thoroughly convinced that it would be -perfectly impossible for him to make his sister out a lunatic to the -satisfaction of the Chancellor. - -He then agreed to abandon the idea, and, in lieu of it, to indict, or at -any rate to threaten to indict, the widow Kelly and her son for a -conspiracy, and an attempt to inveigle his sister Anty into a disgraceful -marriage, with the object of swindling her out of her property. - -'I'll see Moylan, Mr Lynch,' said Daly; 'and if I can talk him over, I -think we might succeed in frightening the whole set of them, so far as to -prevent the marriage. Moylan must know that if your sister was to marry -young Kelly, there'd be an end to his agency; but we must promise him -something, Mr Lynch.' - -'Yes; I suppose we must pay him, before we get anything out of him.' - -'No, not before but he must understand that he will get something, if he -makes himself useful. You must let me explain to him that if the marriage -is prevented, you will make no objection to his continuing to act as Miss -Lynch's agent; and I might hint the possibility of his receiving the rents -on the whole property.' - -'Hint what you like, Daly, but don't tie me down to the infernal ruffian. I -suppose we can throw him overboard afterwards, can't we?' - -'Why, not altogether, Mr Lynch. If I make him a definite promise, I shall -expect you to keep to it.' - -'Confound him! but tell me, Daly; what is it he's to do? and what is it -we're to do?' - -'Why, Mr Lynch, it's more than probable, I think, that this plan of Martin -Kelly's marrying your sisther may have been talked over between the ould -woman, Moylan, and the young man; and if so, that's something like a -conspiracy. If I could worm that out of him, I think I'd manage to frighten -them.' - -'And what the deuce had I better do? You see, there was a bit of a row -between us. That is, Anty got frightened when I spoke to her of this -rascal, and then she left the house. Couldn't you make her understand that -she'd be all right if she'd come to the house again?' - -While Barry Lynch had been sleeping off the effects of the punch, Daly had -been inquiring into the circumstances under which Anty had left the house, -and he had pretty nearly learned the truth; he knew, therefore, how much -belief to give to his client's representation. - -'I don't think,' said he, 'that your sister will be likely to come back at -present; she will probably find herself quieter and easier at the inn. You -see, she has been used to a quiet life.' - -'But, if she remains there, she can marry that young ruffian any moment she -takes it into her head to do so. There's always some rogue of a priest -ready to do a job of that sort.' - -'Exactly so, Mr Lynch. Of course your sister can marry whom she pleases, -and when she pleases, and neither you nor any one else can prevent her; but -still ' - -'Then what the devil's the use of my paying you to come here and tell me -that?' - -'That's your affair: I didn't come without being sent for. But I was going -to tell you that, though we can't prevent her from marrying if she pleases, -we may make her afraid to do so. You had better write her a kind, -affectionate note, regretting what has taken place between you, and -promising to give her no molestation of any kind, if she will return to her -own house and keep a copy of this letter. Then I will see Moylan; and, if I -can do anything with him, it will be necessary that you should also see -him. You could come over to Tuam, and meet him in my office; and then I -will try and force an entrance into the widow's castle, and, if possible, -see your sister, and humbug the ould woman into a belief that she has laid -herself open to criminal indictment.. We might even go so far as to have -notices served on them; but, if they snap their fingers at us, we can do -nothing further. My advice in that case would be, that you should make the -best terms in your power with Martin Kelly.' - -'And let the whole thing go! I'd sooner Why, Daly, I believe you're as bad -as Blake! You're afraid of these huxtering thieves!' - -'If you go on in that way, Mr Lynch, you'll get no professional gentleman -to act with you. I give you my best advice; it you don't like it, you -needn't follow it; but you won't get a solicitor in Connaught to do better -for you than what I'm proposing.' - -'Confusion!' muttered Barry, and he struck the hot turf in the grate a -desperate blow with the tongs which he had in his hands, and sent the -sparks and bits of fire flying about the hearth. - -'The truth is, you see, your sister's in her full senses; there's the divil -a doubt of that; the money's her own, and she can marry whom she pleases. -All that we can do is to try and make the Kellys think they have got into a -scrape.' - -'But this letter What on earth am I to say to her?' - -'I'll just put down what I would say, were I you; and if you like you can -copy it.' Daly then wrote the following letter - -'My Dear Anty, - -Before taking other steps, which could not fail of being very disagreeable -to you and to others, I wish to point out to you how injudiciously you are -acting in leaving your own house; and to try to induce you to do that which -will be most beneficial to yourself, and most conducive to your happiness -and respectability. If you will return to Dunmore House, I most solemnly -promise to leave you unmolested. I much regret that my violence on Thursday -should have annoyed you, but I can assure you it was attributable merely to -my anxiety on your account. Nothing, however, shall induce me to repeat it. -But you must be aware that a little inn is not a fit place for you to be -stopping at; and I am obliged to tell you that I have conclusive evidence -of a conspiracy having been formed, by the family with whom you are -staying, to get possession of your money; and that this conspiracy was -entered into very shortly after the contents of my father's will had been -made public. I must have this fact proved at the Assizes, and the -disreputable parties to it punished, unless you will consent, at any rate -for a time, to put yourself under the protection of your brother. - -'In the meantime pray believe me, dear Anty, in spite of appearances, - -'Your affectionate brother, - -'BARRY LYNCH.' - -It was then agreed that this letter should be copied and signed by Barry, -and delivered by Terry on the following morning, which was Sunday. Daly -then returned to Tuam, with no warm admiration for his client. - -In the meantime the excitement at the inn, arising from Anty's arrival and -Martin's return, was gradually subsiding. These two important events, both -happening on the same day, sadly upset the domestic economy of Mrs Kelly's -establishment. Sally had indulged in tea almost to stupefaction, and -Kattie's elfin locks became more than ordinarily disordered. On the -following morning, however, things seemed to fall, a little more into their -places: the widow was, as usual, behind her counter; and if her girls did -not give her as much assistance as she desired of them, and as much as was -usual with them, they were perhaps excusable, for they could not well leave -their new guest alone on the day after her coming to them. - -Martin went out early to Toneroe; doubtless the necessary labours of the -incipient spring required him at the farm but I believe that if his motives -were analysed, he hardly felt himself up to a tête-à-tête with his -mistress, before he had enjoyed a cool day's consideration of the -extraordinary circumstances which had brought her into the inn as his -mother's guest. He, moreover, wished to have a little undisturbed -conversation with Meg, and to learn from her how Anty might be inclined -towards him just at present. So Martin spent his morning among his lambs -and his ploughs; and was walking home, towards dusk, tired enough, when he -met Barry Lynch, on horseback, that hero having come out, as usual, for his -solitary ride, to indulge in useless dreams of the happy times he w0uld -have, were his sister only removed from her tribulations in this world. -Though Martin had never been on friendly terms with his more ambitious -neighbour, there had never, up to this time, been any quarrel between them, -and he therefore just muttered 'Good morning, Mr Lynch,' as he passed him -on the road. - -Barry said nothing, and did not appear to see him as he passed; but. some -idea struck him as soon as he had passed, and he pulled in his horse and -hallooed out 'Kelly!' and, as Martin stopped, he added, 'Come here a -moment I want to speak to you.' - -'Well, Mr Barry, what is it?' said the other, returning. Lynch paused, and -evidently did not know whether to speak or let it alone. At last he said, -'Never mind I'll get somebody else to say what I was going to say. But -you'd better look sharp what you're about, my lad, or you'll find yourself -in a scrape that you don't dream of.' - -'And is that all you called me back for?' said Martin. - -'That's all I mean to say to you at present.' - -'Well then, Mr Lynch, I must say you're very good, and I'm shure I will -look sharp enough. But, to my thinking, d'you know, you want looking afther -yourself a precious dale more than I do,' and then he turned to proceed -homewards, but said, as he was going 'Have you any message for your -sisther, Mr Lynch?' - -'By ! my young man, I'll make you pay for what you're doing,' answered -Barry. - -'I know you'll be glad to hear she's pretty well: she's coming round from -the thratement she got the other night; though, by all accounts, it's a -wondher she's alive this moment to tell of it.' - -Barry did not attempt any further reply, but rode on, sorry enough that he -had commenced the conversation. Martin got home in time for a snug tea with -Anty and his sisters, and succeeded in prevailing on the three to take -each. a glass of punch; and, before Anty went to bed he began to find -himself more at his ease with her, and able to call her by her Christian -name without any disagreeable emotion. He certainly had a most able -coadjutor in Meg. She made room on the sofa for him between herself and his -mistress, and then contrived that the room should be barely sufficient, so -that Anty was rather closely hemmed up in one corner: moreover, she made -Anty give her opinion as to Martin's looks after his metropolitan -excursion, and tried hard to make Martin pay some compliments to Anty's -appearance. But in this she failed, although she gave him numerous -opportunities. - -However, they passed. the evening very comfortably quite sufficiently so to -make Anty feel that the kindly, humble friendship of the inn was infinitely -preferable to the. miserable grandeur of Dunmore House; and it is probable -that all the lovemaking in the world would not have operated so strongly in -Martin's favour as this feeling. Meg, however, was not satisfied, for as -soon as she had seen Jane and Anty into the bedroom she returned to her -brother, and lectured him as to his lukewarm manifestations of affection. - -'Martin,' said she, returning into the little sitting-room, and carefully -shutting the door after her, 'you're the biggest bosthoon of a gandher I -ever see, to be losing your opportunities with Anty this way! I b'lieve -it's waiting you are for herself to come forward to you. Do you think a -young woman don't expect something more from a lover than jist for you to -sit by her, and go on all as one as though she was one of your own -sisthers? Av' once she gets out of this before the priest has made one of -the two of you, mind, I tell you, it'll be all up with you. I wondher, -Martin, you haven't got more pluck in you!' - -'Oh! bother, Meg. You're thinking of nothing but kissing and -slobbhering. Anty's not the same as you and Jane, and doesn't be all agog -for such nonsense!' - -'I tell you, Martin, Anty's a woman; and, take my word for it, what another -girl likes won't come amiss to her. Besides, why don't you spake to her?' - -'Spake? why, what would you have me spake?' - -'Well, Martin, you're a fool. Have you, or have you not, made up your mind -to marry Anty?' - -'To be shure I will, av' she'll have me.' - -'And do you expect her to have you without asking?' - -'Shure, you know, didn't I ask her often enough?' - -'Ah, but you must do more than jist ask her that way. She'll never make up -her mind to go before the priest, unless you say something sthronger to -her. Jist tell her, plump out, you're ready and willing, and get the thing -done before Lent. What's to hindher you? shure, you know,' she added, in a -whisper, 'you'll not get sich a fortune as Anty's in your way every day. -Spake out, man, and don't be afraid of her: take my word she won't like you -a bit the worse for a few kisses.' - -Martin promised to comply with his sister's advice, and to sound Anty -touching their marriage on the following morning after mass. - -On the Sunday morning, at breakfast, the widow proposed to Anty that she -should go to mass with herself and her daughters; but Anty trembled so -violently at the idea of showing herself in public, after her escape from -Dunmore House, that the widow did not press her to do so, although -afterwards she expressed her disapprobation of Anty's conduct to her own -girls. - -'I don't see what she has to be afeard of,' said she, 'in going to get mass -from her own clergyman in her own chapel. She don't think, I suppose, that -Barry Lynch'd dare come in there to pull her out; before the blessed altar, -glory be to God.' - -'Ah but, mother, you know, she has been so frighted.' - -'Frighted, indeed! She'll get over these tantrums, I hope, before Sunday -next, or I know where I'll wish her again.' - -So Anty was left at home, and the rest of the family went to mass. When the -women returned, Meg manoeuvred greatly, and, in fine, successfully, that no -one should enter the little parlour to interrupt the wooing she intended -should take place there. She had no difficulty with Jane, for she told her -what her plans were; and though her less energetic sister did not quite -agree in the wisdom of her designs, and pronounced an opinion that it would -be 'better to let things settle down a bit,' still she did not presume to -run counter to Meg's views; but Meg had some work to dispose of her mother. -It would not have answered at all, as Meg had very well learned herself, to -caution her mother not to interrupt Martin in his love-making, for the -widow had no charity for such follies. She certainly expected her daughters -to get married, and wished them to be well and speedily settled; but she -watched anything like a flirtation on their part as closely as a cat does a -mouse. If any young man ere in the house, she'd listen to the fall of his -footsteps with the utmost care; and when she had reason to fear that there -was anything like a lengthened tête-à-tête upstairs, she would steal on the -pair, if possible, unawares, and interrupt, without the least reserve, any -billing and cooing which might be going on, sending the delinquent daughter -to her work, and giving a glower at the swain, which she expected might be -sufficient to deter him from similar offences for some little time. - -The girls, consequently, were taught to be on the alert to steal about on -tiptoe, to elude their mother's watchful ear, to have recourse to a -thousand little methods of deceiving her, and to baffle her with her own -weapons. The mother, if she suspected that any prohibited frolic was likely -to be carried on, at a late hour, would tell her daughters that she was -going to bed, and would shut herself up for a couple of hours in her -bedroom, and then steal out eavesdropping, peeping through key-holes and -listening at door-handles; and the daughters, knowing their mother's -practice, would not come forth till the listening and peeping had been -completed, and till they had ascertained, by some infallible means, that -the old woman was between the sheets. - -Each party knew the tricks of the other; and yet, taking it all in all, the -widow got on very well with her children, and everybody said what a good -mother she had been: she was accustomed to use deceit, and was therefore -not disgusted by it in others. Whether the system of domestic manners which -I have described is one likely to induce to sound restraint and good morals -is a question which I will leave to be discussed by writers on educational -points. - -However Meg managed it, she did contrive that her mother should not go near -the little parlour this Sunday morning, and Anty was left alone, to receive -her. lover's visit. I regret to say that he was long in paying it. He -loitered about the chapel gates before he came home; and seemed more than -usually willing to talk to anyone about anything. At last, however, just as -Meg was getting furious, he entered the inn. - -'Why, Martin, you born ideot av' she ain't waiting for you this hour and -more!' - -'Thim that's long waited for is always welcome when they do come,' replied -Martin. - -'Well afther all I've done for you! Are you going in now? cause, av' you -don't, I'll go and tell her not to be tasing herself about you. I'll -neither be art or part in any such schaming.' - -'Schaming, is it, Meg? Faith, it'd be a clever fellow'd beat you at that,' -and, without waiting for his sister's sharp reply, he walked into the -little room where Anty was sitting. - -'So, Anty, you wouldn't come to mass?' he began. - -'Maybe I'll go next Sunday,' said she. - -'It's a long time since you missed mass before, I'm thinking.' - -'Not since the Sunday afther father's death.' - -'It's little you were thinking then how soon you'd be stopping down here -with us at the inn.' - -'That's thrue for you, Martin, God knows.' At this point of the -conversation Martin stuck fast: he did not know Rosalind's recipe for the -difficulty a man feels, when lie finds himself gravelled for conversation -with his mistress; so he merely scratched his head, and thought hard to -find what he'd say next. I doubt whether the conviction, which was then -strong on his mind, that Meg was listening at the keyhole to every word -that passed, at all assisted him in the operation. At last, some Muse came -to his aid, and he made out another sentence. - -'It was very odd my finding you down here, all ready before me, wasn't it?' - -' 'Deed it was: your mother was a very good woman to me that morning, -anyhow.' - -'And tell me now, Anty, do you like the inn?' - -' 'Deed I do but it's quare, like.' - -'How quare?' - -'Why, having Meg and Jane here: I wasn't ever used to anyone to talk to, -only just the servants.' - -'You'll have plenty always to talk to now eh, Anty?' and Martin tried a -sweet look at his lady love. - -'I'm shure I don't know. Av' I'm only left quiet, that's what I most care -about.' - -'But, Anty, tell me you don't want always to be what you call quiet?' - -'Oh! but I do why not?' - -'But you don't mane, Anty, that you wouldn't like to have some kind of work -to do some occupation, like?' - -'Why, I wouldn't like to be idle; but a person needn't be idle because -they're quiet.' - -'And that's thrue, Anty.' And Martin broke down again. - -'There'd be a great crowd in chapel, I suppose?' said Anty. - -'There was a great crowd.' - -'And what was father Geoghegan preaching about?' - -'Well, then, I didn't mind. To tell the truth, Anty, I came out most as -soon as the preaching began; only I know he told the boys to pray that the -liberathor might be got out of his throubles; and so they should not that -there's much to throuble him, as far as the verdict's concerned.' - -'Isn't there then? I thought they made him out guilty?' - -'So they did, the false ruffians: but what harum'll that do? they daren't -touch a hair of his head!' - -Politics, however, are riot a favourable introduction to love-making: so -Martin felt, and again gave up the subject, in the hopes that he might find -something better. 'What a fool the man is!' thought Meg to herself, at the -door 'if I had a lover went on like that, wouldn't I pull his ears!' - -Martin got up walked across the room looked out of the little window felt -very much ashamed of himself, and, returning, sat himself down on the sofa. - -'Anty,' he said, at last, blushing nearly brown as he spoke; 'Were you -thinking of what I was spaking to you about before I went to Dublin?' - -Anty blushed also, now. 'About what?' she said. - -'Why, just about you and me making a match of it. Come, Anty, dear, what's -the good of losing time? I've been thinking of little else; and, after -what's been between us, you must have thought the matther over too, though -you do let on to be so innocent. Come, Anty, now that you and mother's so -thick, there can be nothing against it.' - -'But indeed there is, Martin, a great dale against it though I'm sure it's -good of you to be thinking of me. There's so much against it, I think we -had betther be of one mind, and give it over at once.' - -'And what's to hinder us marrying, Anty, av' yourself is plazed? Av' you -and I, and mother are plazed, sorrow a one that I know of has a word to say -in the matther.' - -'But Barry don't like it!' - -'And, afther all, are you going to wait for what Barry likes? You didn't -wait for what was plazing to Barry Lynch when you came down here; nor I yet -did mother when she went up and fetched you down at five in the morning, -dreading he'd murdher you outright. And it was thrue for her, for he would, -av' he was let, the brute. And are you going to wait for what he likes?' - -'Whatever he's done, he's my brother; and there's only the two of us.' - -'But it's not that, Anty don't you know it's not that? Isn't it because -you're afraid of him? because he threatened and frightened you? And what on -'arth could he do to harum you av' you was the wife of of a man who'd, -anyway, not let Barry Lynch, or anyone else, come between you and your -comfort and aise?' - -'But you don't know how wretched I've been since he spoke to me about about -getting myself married: you don't know what I've suffered; and I've a -feeling that good would never come of it.' - -'And, afther all, are you going to tell me now, that I may jist go my own -way? Is that to be your answer, and all I'm to get from you?' - -'Don't be angry with me, Martin. I'm maning to do everything for the best.' - -'Maning? what's the good of maning? Anyways, Anty, let me have an answer, -for I'll not be making a fool of myself any longer. Somehow, all the boys -here, every sowl in Dunmore, has it that you and I is to be married and -now, afther promising me as you did ' - -'Oh, I never promised, Martin.' - -'It was all one as a promise and now I'm to be thrown overboard. And -why? because Barry Lynch got dhrunk, and frightened you. Av' I'd seen the -ruffian striking you, I think I'd 've been near putting it beyond him to -strike another woman iver again.' - -'Glory be to God that you wasn't near him that night,' said Anty, crossing -herself. 'It was bad enough, but av' the two of you should ever be set -fighting along of me, it would kill me outright.' - -'But who's talking of fighting, Anty, dear?' and Martin drew a little -nearer to her ' who's talking of fighting? I never wish to spake another -word to Barry the longest day that ever comes. Av' he'll get out of my way, -I'll go bail he'll not find me in his.' - -'But he wouldn't get out of your way, nor get out of mine, av' you and I -got married: he'd be in our way, and we'd be in his, and nothing could iver -come of it but sorrow and misery, and maybe bloodshed.' - -'Them's all a woman's fears. Av' you an I were once spliced by the priest, -God bless him, Barry wouldn't trouble Dunmore long afther.' - -'That's another rason, too. Why should I be dhriving him out of his own -house? you know he's a right to the house, as well as I.' - -'Who's talking of dhriving him out? Faith, he'd be welcome to stay there -long enough for me! He'd go, fast enough, without dhriving, though; you -can't say the counthry wouldn't have a good riddhance of him. But never -mind that, Anty: it wasn't about Barry, one way or the other, I was -thinking, when I first asked you to have me; nor it wasn't about myself -altogether, as I could let you know; though, in course, I'm not saying but -that myself's as dear to myself as another, an' why not? But to tell the -blessed truth, I was thinking av' you too; and that you'd be happier and -asier, let alone betther an' more respecthable, as an honest man's wife, as -I'd make you, than being mewed up there in dread of your life, never daring -to open your mouth to a Christian, for fear of your own brother, who niver -did, nor niver will lift a hand to sarve you, though he wasn't backward to -lift it to sthrike you, woman and sisther though you were. Come, Anty, -darlin,' he added, after a pause, during which he managed to get his arm -behind her back, though he couldn't be said to have it fairly round her -waist 'Get quit of all these quandaries, and say at once, like an honest -girl, you'll do what I'm asking and what no living man can hindher you from -or say against it. Or else jist fairly say you won't, and I'll have done -with it.' - -Anty sat silent, for she didn't like to say she wouldn't; and she thought -of her brother's threats, and was afraid to say she would. Martin advanced -a little in his proceedings, however, and now succeeded in getting his arm -round her waist and, having done so, he wasn't slow in letting her feel its -pressure. She made an attempt, with her hand, to disengage -herself certainly not a successful, and, probably, not a very energetic -attempt, when the widow's step was heard on the stairs. Martin retreated -from his position on the sofa, and Meg from hers outside the door, and Mrs -Kelly entered the room, with Barry's letter in her hand, Meg following, to -ascertain the cause of the unfortunate interruption. - - - - -XVIII AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN CONNAUGHT - - -'Anty, here's a letter for ye,' began the widow. 'Terry's brought it down -from the house, and says it's from Misther Barry. I b'lieve he was in the -right not to bring it hisself.' - -'A letther for me, Mrs Kelly? what can he be writing about? I don't just -know whether I ought to open it or no;' and Anty trembled, as she turned -the epistle over and over again in her hands. - -'What for would you not open it? The letther can't hurt you, girl, whatever -the writher might do.' - -Thus encouraged, Anty broke the seal, and made herself acquainted with the -contents of the letter which Daly had dictated; but she then found, that -her difficulties had only just commenced. Was she to send an answer, and if -so, what answer? And if she sent none, what notice ought she to take of it? -The matter was one evidently too weighty to be settled by her own judgment, -so she handed the letter to be read, first by the widow, and then by -Martin, and lastly by the two girls, who, by this time, were both in the -room. - -'Well, the dethermined impudence of that blackguard!' exclaimed Mrs Kelly. -'Conspiracy! av' that don't bang Banagher! What does the man mean by -"conspiracy," eh, Martin?' - -'Faith, you must ask himself that, mother; and then it's ten to one he -can't tell you.' - -'I suppose,' said Meg, 'he wants to say that we're all schaming to rob Anty -of her money only he daren't, for the life of him, spake it out straight -forrard.' - -'Or, maybe,' suggested Jane, 'he wants to bring something agen us like this -affair of O'Connell's only he'll find, down here, that he an't got Dublin -soft goods to deal wid.' - -Then followed a consultation, as to the proper steps to be taken in the -matter. - -The widow advised that father Geoghegan should be sent for to indite such a -reply as a Christian ill-used woman should send to so base a letter. Meg, -who was very hot on the subject, and who had read-of some such proceeding -in a novel, was for putting up in a blank envelope the letter itself, and -returning it to Barry by the hands of Jack, the ostler; at the same time, -she declared that 'No surrender' should be her motto. Jane was of opinion -that 'Miss Anastasia Lynch's compliments to Mr Barry Lynch, and she didn't -find herself strong enough to move to Dunmore House at present,' would -answer all purposes, and be, on the whole, the safest course. While Martin -pronounced that 'if Anty would be led by him, she'd just pitch the letter -behind the fire an' take no notice of it, good, bad, or indifferent.' - -None of these plans pleased Anty, for, as she remarked, 'After all, Barry -was her brother, and blood was thickher than wather.' So, after much -consultation, pen, ink, and paper were procured, and the following letter -was concocted between them, all the soft bits having been great stumbling- -blocks, in which, however, Anty's quiet perseverance carried the point, in -opposition to the wishes of all the Kellys. The words put in brackets were -those peculiarly objected to. - -Dunmore Inn. February, l844. - -DEAR BARRY, - -I (am very sorry I) can't come back to the house, at any rate just at -present. I am not very sthrong in health, and there are kind female friends -about me here, which you know there couldn't be up at the house.' Anty -herself, in the original draft inserted 'ladies,' but the widow's good -sense repudiated the term, and insisted on the word 'females': Jane -suggested that 'females' did not sound quite respectful. alone, and Martin -thought that Anty might call them 'female friends,' which was consequently -done. 'Besides, there are reasons why I'm quieter here, till things are a -little more settled. I will forgive (and forget) all that happened up at -the house between us' 'Why, you can't forget it,' said Meg. 'Oh, I could, -av' he was kind to me. I'd forget it all in a week av' he was kind to me,' -answered Anty '(and I will do nothing particular without first letting you -know).' They were all loud against this paragraph, but they could not carry -their point. 'I must tell you, dear Barry, that you are very much mistaken -about the people of this house: they are dear, kind friends to me, and, -wherever I am, I must love them to the last day of my life but indeed I am, -and hope you believe so, - -Your affectionate sister, - -ANASTASIA LYNCH. - - -When the last paragraph was read over Anty's shoulder, Meg declared she was -a dear, dear creature: Jane gave her a big kiss, and began crying; even the -widow put the corner of her apron to her eye, and Martin, trying to look -manly and unconcerned, declared that he was 'quite shure they all loved -her, and they'd be brutes and bastes av' they didn't!' - -The letter, as given above, was finally decided on; written, sealed, and -despatched by Jack, who was desired to be very particular to deliver it at -the front door, with Miss Lynch's love, which was accordingly done. All the -care, however, which had been bestowed on it did not make it palatable to -Barry, who was alone when he received it, and merely muttered, as he read -it, 'Confound her, low-minded slut! friends, indeed! what business has she -with friends, except such as I please? if I'd the choosing of her friends, -they'd be a strait waistcoat, and the madhouse doctor. Good Heaven! that -half my property no, but two-thirds of it should belong to her I the -stupid, stiff-necked robber!' - -These last pleasant epithets had reference to his respected progenitor. - -On the same evening, after tea, Martin endeavoured to make a little further -advance with Anty, for he felt that he had been interrupted just as she was -coming round; but her nerves were again disordered, and he soon found that -if he pressed her now, he should only get a decided negative, which he -might find it very difficult to induce her to revoke. - -Anty's letter was sent off early on the Monday morning at least, as early -as Barry now ever managed to do anything to the attorney at Tuam, with -strong injunctions that no time was to be lost in taking further steps, and -with a request that Daly would again come out to Dunmore. This, however, he -did not at present think it expedient to do. So he wrote to Barry, begging -him to come into Tuam on the Wednesday, to meet Moylan, whom he, Daly, -would, if possible, contrive to see on the intervening day. - -'Obstinate puppy!' said Barry to himself 'if he'd had the least pluck in -life he'd have broken the will, or at least made the girl out a lunatic. -But a Connaught lawyer hasn't half the wit or courage now that he used to -have.' However, he wrote a note to Daly, agreeing to his proposal, and -promising to be in Tuam at two o'clock on the Wednesday. - -On the following day Daly saw Moylan, and had a long conversation with him. -The old man held out for a long time, expressing much indignation at being -supposed capable of joining in any underhand agreement for transferring -Miss Lynch's property to his relatives the Kellys, and declaring that he -would make public to every one in Dunmore and Tuam the base manner in which -Barry Lynch was treating his sister. Indeed, Moylan kept to his story so -long and so firmly that the young attorney was nearly giving him up; but at -last he found his weak side. - -'Well, Mr Moylan,' he said, 'then I can only say your own conduct is very -disinterested and I might even go so far as to say that you appear to me -foolishly indifferent to your own concerns. Here's the agency of the whole -property going a-begging: the rents, I believe, are about a thousand a- -year: you might be recaving them all by jist a word of your mouth, and that -only telling the blessed truth; and here, you're going to put the whole -thing into the hands of young Kelly; throwing up even the half of the -business you have got!' - -'Who says I'm afther doing any sich thing, Mr Daly?' - -'Why, Martin Kelly says so. Didn't as many as four or five persons hear him -say, down at Dunmore, that divil a one of the tenants'd iver pay a haporth -of the November rents to anyone only jist to himself? There was father -Geoghegan heard him, an Doctor Ned Blake.' - -'Maybe he'll find his mistake, Mr Daly.' - -'Maybe he will, Mr Moylan. Maybe we'll put the whole affair into the -courts, and have a regular recaver over the property, under the Chancellor. -People, though they're ever so respectable in their way and I don't mane to -say a word against the Kellys, Mr Moylan, for they were always friends of -mine but people can't be allowed to make a dead set at a property like -this, and have it all their own way, like the bull in the china-shop. I -know there has been an agreement made, and that, in the eye of the law, is -a conspiracy. I positively know that an agreement has been made to induce -Miss Lynch to become Martin Kelly's wife; and I know the parties to it, -too; and I also know that an active young fellow like him wouldn't be -paying an agent to get in his rents; and I thought, if Mr Lynch was willing -to appoint you his agent, as well as his sister's, it might be worth your -while to lend us a hand to settle this affair, without forcing us to stick -people into a witness-box whom neither I nor Mr Lynch ' - -'But what the devil can I ' - -'Jist hear me out, Mr Moylan; you see, if they once knew the Kellys I -mane that you wouldn't lend a hand to this piece of iniquity ' - -'Which piece of iniquity, Mr Daly? for I'm entirely bothered.' - -'Ah, now, Mr Moylan, none of your fun: this piece of iniquity of theirs, I -say; for I can call it no less. If they once knew that you wouldn't help -'em, they'd be obliged to drop it all; the matter'd never have to go into -court at all, and you'd jist step into the agency fair and aisy; and, into -the bargain, you'd do nothing but an honest man's work.' - -The old man broke down, and consented to 'go agin the Kellys,' as he -somewhat ambiguously styled his apostasy, provided the agency was -absolutely promised to him; and he went away with the understanding that he -was to come on the following day and meet Mr Lynch. - -At two o'clock, punctual to the time of his appointment, Moylan was there, -and was kept waiting an hour in Daly's little parlour. At the end of this -time Barry came in, having invigorated his courage and spirits with a -couple of glasses of brandy. Daly had been for some time on the look-out -for him, for he wished to say a few words to him in private, and give him -his cue before lie took him into the room where Moylan was sitting. This -could not well be done in the office, for it was crowded. It would, I -think, astonish a London attorney in respectable practice, to see the -manner in which his brethren towards the west of Ireland get through their -work. Daly's office was open to all the world; the front door of the house, -of which he rented the ground floor, was never closed, except at night; nor -was the door of the office, which opened immediately into the hail. - -During the hour that Moylan was waiting in the parlour, Daly was sitting, -with his hat on, upon a high stool, with his feet resting on a small -counter which ran across the room, smoking a pipe: a boy, about seventeen -years of age, Daly's clerk, was filling up numbers of those abominable -formulas of legal persecution in which attorneys deal, and was plying his -trade as steadily as though no February blasts were blowing in on him -through the open door, no sounds of loud and boisterous conversation were -rattling in his ears. The dashing manager of one of the branch banks in the -town was sitting close to the little stove, and raking out the turf ashes -with the office rule, while describing a drinking-bout that had taken place -on the previous Sunday at Blake's of Blakemount; he had a cigar in his -mouth, and was searching for a piece of well-kindled turf, wherewith to -light it. A little fat oily shopkeeper in the town, who called himself a -woollen merchant, was standing with the raised leaf of the counter in his -hand, roaring with laughter at the manager's story. Two frieze coated -farmers, outside the counter, were stretching across it, and whispering -very audibly to Daly some details of litigation which did not appear very -much to interest him; and a couple of idle blackguards were leaning against -the wall, ready to obey any behest of the attorney's which might enable -them to earn a sixpence without labour, and listening with all their, ears -to the different interesting topics of conversation which might be broached -in the inner office. - -'Here's the very man I'm waiting for, at last,' said Daly, when, from his -position on the stool, he saw, through the two open doors, the bloated red -face of Barry Lynch approaching; and, giving an impulse to his body by a -shove against the wall behind him, he raised himself on to the counter, -and, assisting himself by a pull at the collar of the frieze coat of the -farmer who was in the middle of his story, jumped to the ground, and met -his client at the front door. - -'I beg your pardon, Mr Lynch,' said he as soon as he had shaken hands with -him, 'but will you just step up to my room a minute, for I want to spake to -you;' and he took him up into his bed-room, for he hadn't a second sitting- -room. 'You'll excuse my bringing you up here, for the office was full, you -see, and Moylan's in the parlour.' - -'The d----l he is! He came round then, did he, eh, Daly?' - -'Oh, I've had a terrible hard game to play with him. I'd no idea he'd be so -tough a customer, or make such a good fight; but I think I've managed him.' - -'There was a regular plan then, eh, Daly? Just as I said. It was a regular -planned scheme among them?' - -'Wait a moment, and you'll know all about it, at least as much as I know -myself; and, to tell the truth, that's devilish little. But, if we manage -to break off the match, and get your sister clane out of the inn there, you -must give Moylan your agency, at any rate for two or three years.' - -'You haven't promised that?' - -'But I have, though. We can do nothing without it: it was only when I -hinted that, that the old sinner came round.' - -'But what the deuce is it he's to do for us, after all?' - -'He's to allow us to put him forward as a bugbear, to frighten the Kellys -with: that's all, and, if we can manage that, that's enough. But come down -now. I only wanted to warn you that, if you think the agency is too high a -price to pay for the man's services, whatever they may be, you must make up -your mind to dispense with them.' - -'Well,' answered Barry, as he followed the attorney downstairs, 'I can't -understand what you're about; but I suppose you must be right;' and they -went into the little parlour where Moylan was sitting. - -Moylan and Barry Lynch had only met once, since the former had been -entrusted to receive Anty's rents, on which occasion Moylan had been -grossly insulted by her brother. Barry, remembering the meeting, felt very -awkward at the idea of entering into amicable conversation with him, and -crept in at the door like a whipped dog. Moylan was too old to feel any -such compunctions, and consequently made what he intended to be taken as a -very complaisant bow to his future patron. He was an ill-made, ugly, stumpy -man, about fifty; with a blotched face, straggling sandy hair, and grey -shaggy whiskers. He wore a long brown great coat, buttoned up to his chin, -and this was the only article of wearing apparel visible upon him: in his -hands he twirled a shining new four-and-fourpenny hat. - -As soon as their mutual salutations were over, Daly commenced his business. - -'There is no doubt in the world, Mr Lynch,' said he, addressing Barry, -'that a most unfair attempt has been made by this family to get possession -of your sister's property a most shameful attempt, which the law will no -doubt recognise as a misdemeanour. But I think we shall be able to stop -their game without any law at all, which will save us the annoyance of -putting Mr Moylan here, and other respectable witnesses, on the table. Mr -Moylan says that very soon afther your father's will was made known ' - -'Now, Mr Daly shure I niver said a word in life at all about the will,' -said Moylan, interrupting him. - -'No, you did not: I mane, very soon afther you got the agency ' - -'Divil a word I said about the agency, either.' - -'Well, well; some time ago he says that, some time ago, he and Martin Kelly -were talking over your sister's affairs; I believe the widow was there, -too.' - -'Ah, now, Mr Daly why'd you be putting them words into my mouth? sorrow a -word of the kind I iver utthered at all.' - -'What the deuce was it you did say, then?' - -'Faix, I don't know that I said much, at all.' - -'Didn't you say, Mr Moylan, that Martin Kelly was talking to you about -marrying Anty, some six weeks ago?' - -'Maybe I did; he was spaking about it.' - -'And, if you were in the chair now, before a jury, wouldn't you swear that -there was a schame among them to get Anty Lynch married to Martin Kelly? -Come, Mr Moylan, that's all we want to know: if you can't say as much as -that for us now, just that we may let the Kellys know what sort of evidence -we could bring against them, if they push us, we must only have you and -others summoned, and see what you'll have to say then.' - -'Oh, I'd say the truth, Mr Daly divil a less and I'd do as much as that -now; but I thought Mr Lynch was wanting to say something about the -property?' - -'Not a word then I've to say about it,' said Barry, 'except that I won't -let that robber, young Kelly, walk off with it, as long as there's law in -the land.' - -'Mr Moylan probably meant about the agency,' observed Daly. - -Barry looked considerably puzzled, and turned to the attorney for -assistance. 'He manes,' continued Daly, 'that he and the Kellys are good -friends, and it wouldn't be any convenience to him just to say anything -that wouldn't be pleasing to them, unless we could make him independent of -them: isn't that about the long and the short of it, Mr Moylan?' - -'Indepindent of the Kellys, is it, Mr Daly? Faix, thin, I'm teetotally -indepindent of them this minute, and mane to continue so, glory be to God. -Oh, I'm not afeard to tell the thruth agin ere a Kelly in Galway or -Roscommon and, av' that was all, I don't see why I need have come here this -day. When I'm called upon in the rigular way, and has a rigular question -put me before the Jury, either at Sessions or 'Sizes, you'll find I'll not -be bothered for an answer, and, av' that's all, I b'lieve I may be -going,' and he made a movement towards the door. - -'Just as you please, Mr Moylan,' said Daly; 'and you may be sure that -you'll not be long without an opportunity of showing how free you are with -your answers. But, as a friend, I tell you you'll be wrong to lave this -room till you've had a little more talk with Mr Lynch and myself. I believe -I mentioned to you Mr Lynch was looking out for someone to act as agent -over his portion of the Dunmore property?' - -Barry looked as black as thunder, but he said nothing. - -'You war, Mr Daly. Av' I could accommodate Mr Lynch, I'm shure I'd be happy -to undhertake the business.' - -'I believe, Mr Lynch,' said Daly, turning to the other, 'I may go so far as -to promise Mr Moylan the agency of the whole property, provided Miss Lynch -is induced to quit the house of the Kellys? Of course, Mr Moylan, you can -see that as long as Miss Lynch is in a position of unfortunate hostility to -her brother, the same agent could not act for both; but I think my client -is inclined to put his property under your management, providing his sister -returns to her own home. I believe I'm stating your wishes, Mr Lynch.' - -'Manage it your own way,' said Barry, 'for I don't see what you're doing. -If this man can do anything for me, why, I suppose I must pay him for it; -and if so, your plan's as good a way of paying him as another.' - -The attorney raised his hat with his hand, and scratched his head: he was -afraid that Moylan would have again gone off in a pet at Lynch's brutality, -but the old man sat quite quiet. He wouldn't have much minded what was said -to him, as long as he secured the agency. - -'You see, Mr Moylan,' continued Daly, 'you can have the agency. Five per -cent. upon the rents is what my client ' - -'No, Daly Five per cent! I'm shot if I do!' exclaimed Barry. - -'I'm gething twenty-five pounds per annum from Miss Anty, for her half, and -I wouldn't think of collecting the other for less,' declared Moylan. - -And then a long battle followed on this point, which it required all Daly's -tact and perseverance to adjust. The old man was pertinacious, and many -whispers had to be made into Barry's ear before the matter could be -settled. It was, however, at last agreed that notice was to be served on -the Kellys, of Barry Lynch's determination to indict them for a conspiracy; -that Daly was to see the widow, Martin, and, if possible, Anty, and tell -them all that Moylan was prepared to prove that such a conspiracy had been -formed care was also to be taken that copies of the notices so served -should be placed in Anty's hands. Moylan, in the meantime, agreed to keep -out of the way, and undertook, should he be unfortunate enough to encounter -any of the family of the Kellys, to brave the matter out by declaring that -'av' he war brought before the Judge and Jury he couldn't do more than tell -the blessed thruth, and why not?' In reward for this, he was to be -appointed agent over the entire property the moment that Miss Lynch left -the inn, at which time he was to receive a document, signed by Barry, -undertaking to retain him in the agency for four years certain, or else to -pay him a hundred pounds when it was taken from him. - -These terms having been mutually agreed to, and Barry having, with many -oaths, declared that he was a most shamefully ill-used man, the three -separated. Moylan skulked off to one of his haunts in the town; Barry went -to the bank, to endeavour to get a bill discounted; and Daly returned to -his office, to prepare the notices for the unfortunate widow and her son. - - - - -XIX MR DALY VISITS THE DUNMORE INN - - -Daly let no grass grow under his feet, for early on the following morning -he hired a car, and proceeded to Dunmore, with the notices in his pocket. -His feelings were not very comfortable on his journey, for he knew that he -was going on a bad errand, and he was not naturally either a heartless or -an unscrupulous man, considering that he was a provincial attorney; but he -was young in business, and poor, and he could not afford to give up a -client. He endeavoured to persuade himself that it certainly was a wrong -thing for Martin Kelly to marry such a woman as Anty Lynch, and that Barry -had some show of justice on his side; but he could not succeed. He knew -that Martin was a frank, honourable fellow, and that a marriage with him -would be the very thing most likely to make Anty happy; and he was certain, -moreover, that, however anxious Martin might naturally be to secure the -fortune, he would take no illegal or even unfair steps to do so. He felt -that his client was a ruffian of the deepest die: that his sole object was -to rob his sister, and that he had no case which it would be possible even -to bring before a jury. His intention now was, merely to work upon the -timidity and ignorance of Anty and the other females, and to frighten them -with a bugbear in the shape of a criminal indictment; and Daly felt that -the work he was about was very, very dirty work. Two or three times on the -road, he had all but made up his mind to tear the letters he had in his -pocket, and to drive at once to Dunmore House, and tell Barry Lynch that he -would do nothing further in the case. And he would have done so, had he not -reflected that he had gone so far with Moylan, that he could not recede, -without leaving it in the old rogue's power to make the whole matter -public. - -As he drove down the street of Dunmore, he endeavoured to quiet his -conscience, by reflecting that he might still do much to guard Anty from -the ill effects of her brother's rapacity; and that at any rate he would -not see her property taken from her, though she might he frightened out of -he matrimonial speculation. - -He wanted to see the widow, Martin, and Anty, and if possible to see them, -at first, separately; and fortune so far favoured him that, as he got off -the car, he saw our hero standing at the inn door. - -'Ah! Mr Daly,' said he, coming up to the car and shaking hands with the -attorney, for Daly put out his hand to him 'how are you again? I suppose -you're going up to the house? They say you're Barry's right hand man now. -Were you coming into the inn?' - -'Why, I will step in just this minute; but I've a word I want to spake to -you first.' - -'To me!' said Martin. - -'Yes, to you, Martin Kelly: isn't that quare?' and then he gave directions -to the driver to put up the horse, and bring the car round again in an -hour's time. 'D' you remember my telling you, the day we came into Dunmore -on the car together, that I was going up to the house?' - -'Faith I do, well; it's not so long since.' - -'And do you mind my telling you, I didn't know from Adam what it was for, -that Barry Lynch was sending for me?' - -'And I remember that, too.' - -'And that I tould you, that when I did know I shouldn't tell you?' - -'Begad you did, Mr Daly; thim very words.' - -'Why then, Martin, I tould you what wasn't thrue, for I'm come all the way -from Tuam, this minute, to tell you all about it.' - -Martin turned very red, for he rightly conceived that when an attorney came -all the way from Tuam to talk to him, the tidings were not likely to be -agreeable. - -'And is it about Barry Lynch's business?' - -'It is.' - -'Then it's schames there's divil a doubt of that.' - -'It is schames, as you say, Martin,' said Daly, slapping him on the -shoulder 'fine schames no less than a wife with four hundred a-year! -Wouldn't that be a fine schame?' - -' 'Deed it would, Mr Daly, av' the wife and the fortune were honestly come -by.' - -'And isn't it a hundred pities that I must come and upset such a pretty -schame as that? But, for all that, it's thrue. I'm sorry for you, Martin, -but you must give up Anty Lynch.' - -'Give her up, is it? Faith I haven't got her to give up, worse luck.' - -'Nor never will, Martin; and that 's worse luck again.' - -'Well, Mr Daly, av' that's all you've come to say, you might have saved -yourself car-hire. Miss Lynch is nothing to me, mind; how should she be? -But av' she war, neither Barry Lynch who's as big a rogue as there is from -this to hisself and back again nor you, who, I take it, ain't rogue enough -to do Barry's work, wouldn't put me off it.' - -'Well, Martin; thank 'ee for the compliment. But now, you know what I've -come about, and there's no joke in it. Of course I don't want you to tell -me anything of your plans; but, as Mr Lynch's lawyer, I must tell you so -much as this of his: that, if his sister doesn't lave the inn, and honestly -assure him that she'll give up her intention of marrying you, he's -determined to take proceedings.' He then fumbled in his pocket, and, -bringing out the two notices, handed to Martin the one addressed to him. -'Read that, and it'll give you an idea what we're afther. And when I tell -you that Moylan owns, and will swear to it too, that he was present when -all the plans were made, you'll see that we're not going to sea without -wind in our sails.' - -'Well I'm shot av' I know the laist in the world what all this is about!' -said Martin, as he stood in the street, reading over the legally-worded -letter '"conspiracy!" well that'll do, Mr Daly; go on "enticing away from -her home! " that's good, when the blackguard nearly knocked the life out of -her, and mother brought her down here, from downright charity, and to -prevent murdher "wake intellects!" well, Mr Daly, I didn't expect this kind -of thing from you: begorra, I thought you were above this! wake intellects! -faith, they're a dale too sthrong, and too good and too wide awake too, for -Barry to get the betther of her that way. Not that I'm in the laist in life -surprised at anything he'd do; but I thought that you, Mr Daly, wouldn't -put your hands to such work as that.' - -Daly felt the rebuke, and felt it strongly, too; but now that he was -embarked in the business, he must put the best face he could upon it. Still -it was a moment or two before he could answer the young farmer. - -'Why,' he said 'why did you put your hands to such a dirty job as this, -Martin? you were doing well, and not in want and how could you let anyone -persuade you to go and sell yourself to, an ugly ould maid, for a few -hundred pounds? Don't you know, that if you were married to her this -minute, you'd have a lawsuit that'd go near to ruin you before you could -get possession of the property?' - -'Av' I'm in want of legal advice, Mr Daly, which thank God, I'm not, nor -likely to be but av' I war, it's not from Barry Lynch's attorney I'd be -looking for it.' - -'I'd be sorry to see you in want of it, Martin; but if you mane to keep, -out of the worst kind of law, you'd better have done with Anty Lynch. I'd a -dale sooner be drawing up a marriage settlement between you and some pretty -girl with five or six hundred pound fortune, than I'd be exposing to the -counthry such a mane trick as this you're now afther, of seducing a poor -half-witted ould maid, like Anty Lynch, into a disgraceful marriage.' - -'Look here, Mr Daly,' said the other; 'you've hired yourself out to Barry -Lynch,, and you must do his work, I suppose, whether it's dirthy or clane; -and you know yourself, as well as I can tell you, which it's likely to be ' - -'That's my concern; lave that to me; you've quite enough to do to mind -yourself.' - -'But av' he's nothing betther for you to do, than to send you here bally- -ragging and calling folks out of their name, he must have a sight more -money to spare than I give him credit for; and you must be a dale worse off -than your neighbours thought you, to do it for him.' - -'That'll do,' said Mr Daly, knocking at the door of the inn; 'only, -remember, Mr Kelly, you've now received notice of the steps which my client -feels himself called upon to take.' - -Martin turned to go away, but then, reflecting that it would be as well not -to leave the women by themselves in the power of the enemy, he also waited -at the door till it was opened by Katty. - -'Is Miss Lynch within?' asked Daly. - -'Go round to the shop, Katty,' said Martin, 'and tell mother to come to the -door. There's a gentleman wanting her.' - -'It was Miss Lynch I asked for,' said Daly, still looking to the girl for -an answer. - -'Do as I bid you, you born idiot, and don't stand gaping there,' shouted -Martin to the girl, who immediately ran off towards the shop. - -'I might as well warn you, Mr Kelly, that, if Miss Lynch is denied to me, -the fact of her being so denied will be a very sthrong proof against you -and your family. In fact, it amounts to an illegal detention of her person, -in the eye of the law.' Daly said this in a very low voice, almost a -whisper. - -'Faith, the law must have quare eyes, av' it makes anything wrong with a -young lady being asked the question whether or no she wishes to see an -attorney, at eleven in the morning.' - -'An attorney!' whispered Meg to Jane and Anty at the top of the stairs. - -'Heaven and 'arth,' said poor Anty, shaking and shivering 'what's going to -be the matter now?' - -'It's young Daly,' said Jane, stretching forward and peeping clown the -stairs: 'I can see the curl of his whiskers.' - -By this time the news had reached Mrs Kelly, in the shop, 'that a sthrange -gentleman war axing for Miss Anty, but that she warn't to be shown to him -on no account;' so the widow dropped her tobacco knife, flung off her dirty -apron, and, having summoned Jane and Meg to attend to the mercantile -affairs of the establishment turned into the inn, and met Mr Daly and her -son still standing at the bottom of the stairs - -The widow curtsied ceremoniously, and wished Mr. Daly good morning, and he -was equally civil in his salutation. - -'Mr Daly's going to have us all before the assizes, mother. We'll never get -off without the treadmill, any way: it's well av' the whole kit of us don't -have to go over the wather at the queen's expense.' - -'The Lord be good to us;' said the widow, crossing herself. What's the -matter, Mr Daly?' - -'Your son's joking, ma'am. I was only asking to see Miss Lynch, on -business.' - -'Step upstairs, mother, into the big parlour, and don't let's be standing -talking here where all the world can hear us.' - -'And wilcome, for me, I'm shure' said the widow, stroking down the front of -her dress with the palms of her hands, as she walked upstairs 'and wilcome -too for me I'm very shure. I've said or done nothing as I wish to consail, -Mr Daly. Will you be plazed to take a chair?' and the widow sat down -herself on a chair in the middle of the room, with her hands folded over -each other in her lap, as if she was preparing to answer questions from -that time to a very late hour in the evening. - -'And now, Mr Daly av' you've anything to say to a poor widdy like me, I'm -ready.' - -'My chief object in calling, Mrs Kelly, was to see Miss Lynch. Would you -oblige me by letting Miss Lynch know that I'm waiting to see her on -business.' - -'Maybe it's a message from her brother, Mr Daly?' said Mrs Kelly. - -'You had better go in to Miss Lynch, mother,' said Martin, 'and ask her av' -it's pleasing to her to see Mr Daly. She can see him, in course, av' she -likes.' - -'I don't see what good'll come of her seeing him,' rejoined the widow. -'With great respect to you, Mr Daly, and not maning to say a word agin you, -I don't see how Anty Lynch'll be the betther for seeing ere an attorney in -the counthry.' - -'I don't want to frighten you, ma'am,' said Daly; 'but I can assure you, -you will put yourself in a very awkward position if you refuse to allow me -to see Miss Lynch.' - -'Ah, mother!' said Martin, 'don't have a word to say in the matther at all, -one way or the other. Just tell Anty Mr Daly wishes to see her let her come -or not, just as she chooses. What's she afeard of, that she shouldn't hear -what anyone has to say to her?' - -The widow seemed to be in great doubt and perplexity, and continued -whispering with Martin for some time, during which Daly remained standing -with his back to the fire. At length Martin said, 'Av' you've got another -of them notices to give my mother, Mr Daly, why don't you do it?' - -'Why, to tell you the thruth,' answered the attorney, 'I don't want to -throuble your mother unless it's absolutely necessary; and although I have -the notice ready in my pocket, if I could see Miss Lynch, I might be spared -the disagreeable job of serving it on her.' - -'The Holy Virgin save us!' said the widow; 'an' what notice is it at all; -you're going to serve on a poor lone woman like me?' - -'Be said by me, mother, and fetch Anty in here. Mr Daly won't expect, I -suppose, but what you, should stay and hear what it is he has to say?' - -'Both you and your mother are welcome to hear all that I have to say to the -lady,' said Daly; for he felt that it would be impossible for him to see -Anty alone. - -The widow unwillingly got up to fetch her guest. When she got to the door, -she turned round, and said, 'And is there a notice, as you calls it, to be -sarved on Miss Lynch?' - -'Not a line, Mrs Kelly; not a line, on my honour. I only want her to hear a -few words that I'm commissioned by her brother to say to her.' - -'And you're not going to give her any paper nor nothing of that sort at -all?' - -'Not a word, Mrs Kelly.' - -'Ah, mother,' said Martin, 'Mr Daly couldn't hurt her, av' he war wishing, -and he's not. Go and bring her in.' - -The widow went out, and in a few minutes returned, bringing Anty with her, -trembling from head to foot. The poor young woman had not exactly heard -what had passed between the attorney and the mother and her son, but she -knew very well that his visit had reference to her, and that it was in some -way connected with her brother. She had, therefore, been in a great state -of alarm since Meg and Jane had left her alone. When Mrs Kelly came into -the little room where she was sitting, and told her that Mr Daly had come -to Dunmore on purpose to see her, her first impulse was to declare that she -wouldn't go to him; and had she done so, the widow would not have pressed -her. But she hesitated, for she didn't like to refuse to do anything which -her friend asked her; and when Mrs Kelly said, 'Martin says as how the man -can't hurt you, Anty, so you'd betther jist hear what it is he has to say,' -she felt that she had no loophole of escape, and got up to comply. - -'But mind, Anty,' whispered the cautious widow, as her hand was on the -parlour door, 'becase this Daly is wanting to speak to you, that's no rason -you should be wanting to spake to him; so, if you'll be said by me, you'll -jist hould your tongue, and let him say on.' - -Fully determined to comply with this prudent advice, Anty followed the old -woman, and, curtseying at Daly without looking at him, sat herself down in -the middle of the old sofa, with her hands crossed before her. - -'Anty,' said Martin, making great haste to speak, before Daly could -commence, and then checking himself as he remembered that he shouldn't have -ventured on the familiarity of calling her by her Christian name in Daly's -presence 'Miss Lynch, I mane as Mr Daly here has come all the way from Tuam -on purpose to spake to you, it wouldn't perhaps be manners in you to let -him go back without hearing him. But remember, whatever your brother says, -or whatever Mr Daly says for him and it's all one you're still your own -mistress, free to act and to spake, to come and to go; and that neither the -one nor the other can hurt you, or mother, or me, nor anybody belonging to -us.' - -'God knows,' said Daly, 'I want to have no hand in hurting any of you; but, -to tell the truth, Martin, it would be well for Miss Lynch to have a better -adviser than you or she may get herself, and, what she'll think more of, -she'll get her friends maning you, Mrs Kelly, and your family into a heap -of throubles.' - -'Oh, God forbid, thin!' exclaimed Anty. - -'Niver mind us, Mr Daly,' said the widow. 'The Kellys was always able to -hould their own; thanks be to glory.' - -'Well, I've said my say, Mr Daly,' said Martin, 'and now do you say your'n: -as for throubles, we've all enough of thim; but your own must have been -bad, when you undhertook this sort of job for Barry Lynch.' - -'Mind yourself, Martin, as I told you before, and you'll about have enough -to do. Miss Lynch, I've been instructed by your brother to draw up an -indictment against Mrs Kelly and Mr Kelly, charging them with conspiracy to -get possession of your fortune.' - -'A what!' shouted the widow, jumping up from her chair 'to rob Anty Lynch -of her fortune! I'd have you to know, Mr Daly, I wouldn't demane myself to -rob the best gentleman in Connaught, let alone a poor unprotected young -woman, whom I've ' - -'Whist, mother go asy,' said Martin. 'I tould you that that was what war in -the paper he gave me; he'll give you another, telling you all about it just -this minute.' - -'Well, the born ruffian! Does he dare to accuse me of wishing to rob his -sister! Now, Mr Daly, av' the blessed thruth is in you this minute, don't -your own heart know who it is, is most likely to rob Anty Lynch? Isn't it -Barry Lynch himself is thrying to rob his own sisther this minute? ay, and -he'd murdher her too, only the heart within him isn't sthrong enough.' - -'Ah, mother! don't be saying such things,' said Martin; 'what business is -that of our'n? Let Barry send what messages he plazes; I tell you it's all -moonshine; he can't hurt the hair of your head, nor Anty's neither. Go asy, -and let Mr Daly say what he has to say, and have done with it.' - -'It's asy to say "go asy" but who's to sit still and be tould sich things -as that? Rob Anty Lynch indeed!' - -'If you'll let me finish what I have to say, Mrs Kelly, I think you'll find -it betther for the whole of us,' said Daly. - -'Go on thin, and be quick with it; but don't talk to dacent people about -robbers any more. Robbers indeed! they're not far to fitch; and black -robbers too, glory be to God.' - -'Your brother, Miss Lynch, is determined to bring this matter before a jury -at the assizes, for the sake of protecting you and your property.' - -'Protecthing Anty Lynch! is it Barry? The Holy Virgin defind her from sich -prothection! a broken head the first moment the dhrink makes his heart -sthrong enough to sthrike her!' - -'Ah, mother! you're a fool,' exclaimed Martin: 'why can't you let the man -go on? ain't he paid for saying it? Well, Mr Daly, begorra I pity you, to -have such things on your tongue; but go on, go on, and finish it.' - -'Your brother conceives this to be his duty,' continued Daly, rather -bothered by the manner in which he had to make his communication, 'and it -is a duty which he is determined to go through with.' - -'Duty!' said the widow, with a twist of her nose, and giving almost a -whistle through her lips, in a manner which very plainly declared the -contempt she felt for Barry's ideas of duty. - -'With this object,' continued Daly, 'I have already handed to Martin Kelly -a notice of what your brother means to do; and I have another notice -prepared in my pocket for his mother. The next step will be to swear the -informations before a magistrate, and get the committals made out; Mrs -Kelly and her son will then have to give bail for their appearance at the -assizes.' - -'And so we can,' said the widow; 'betther bail than e'er a Lynch or -Daly not but what the Dalys is respictable betther bail, any way, than e'er -a Lynch in Galway could show, either for sessions or 'sizes, by night or by -day, winter or summer.' - -'Ah, mother! you don't understhand: he's maning that we're to be tried in -the dock, for staling Anty's money.' - -'Faix, but that'd be a good joke! Isn't Anty to the fore herself to say -who's robbed her? Take an ould woman's advice, Mr Daly, and go back to -Tuam: it ain't so asy to put salt on the tail of a Dunmore bird.' - -'And so I will, Mrs Kelly,' said Daly; 'but you must let me finish what I -have to tell Miss Lynch. This will be a proceeding most disagreeable to -your brother's feelings.' - -'Failings, indeed!' muttered the widow; 'faix, I b'lieve his chief failing -at present's for sthrong dhrink!' - -' But he must go on with it, unless you at once lave the inn, return to -your own home, and give him pour promise that you will never marry Martin -Kelly.' - -Anty blushed deep crimson over her whole face at the mention of her -contemplated marriage; and, to tell the truth, so did Martin. - -'Here is the notice,' said Daly, taking the paper out of his pocket; 'and -the matter now rests with yourself. If you'll only tell me that you'll be -guided by your brother on this subject, I'll burn the notice at once; and -I'll undertake to say that, as far as your property is concerned, your -brother will not in the least interfere with you in the management of it.' - -'And good rason why, Mr Daly,' said the widow 'jist becase he can't.' - -'Well, Miss Lynch, am I to tell your brother that you are willing to oblige -him in this matter?' - -Whatever effect Daly's threats may have had on the widow and her son, they -told strongly upon Anty; for she sat now the picture of misery and -indecision. At last she said: 'Oh, Lord defend me! what am I to do, Mrs -Kelly?' - -'Do?' said Martin; 'why, what should you do but just wish Mr Daly good -morning, and stay where you are, snug and comfortable?' - -'Av' you war to lave this, Anty, and go up to Dunmore House afther all -that's been said and done, I'd say Barry was right, and that Ballinasloe -Asylum was the fitting place for you,' said the widow. - -'The blessed virgin guide and prothect me,' said Anty, 'for I want her -guidance this minute. Oh, that the walls of a convent was round me this -minute I wouldn't know what throuble was!' - -'And you needn't know anything about throuble,' said Martin, who didn't -quite like his mistress's allusion to a convent. 'You don't suppose there's -a word of thruth in all this long story of Mr Daly's? He knows and I'll say -it out to his face he knows Barry don't dare carry on with sich a schame. -He knows he's only come here to frighten, you out of this, that Barry may -have his will on you again.' - -'And God forgive him his errand here this day,' said the widow, 'for it was -a very bad one.' - -'If you will allow me to offer you my advice, Miss Lynch,' said Daly, 'you -will put yourself, at any rate for a time; under your brother's -protection.' - -'She won't do no sich thing,' said the widow. 'What! to be locked into the -parlour agin and be nigh murdhered? holy father!' - -'Oh, no,' said Anty, at last, shuddering in horror at the remembrance of -the last night she passed in Dunmore House, 'I cannot go back to live with -him, but I'll do anything else, av' he'll only lave me, and my kind, kind -friends, in pace and quiet.' - -'Indeed, and you won't, Anty,' said the widow; 'you'll do nothing for him. -Your frinds that's av' you mane the Kellys is very able to take care of -themselves.' - -'If your brother, Miss Lynch, will lave Dunmore House altogether, and let -you have it to yourself, will you go and live there, and give him the -promise not to marry Martin Kelly?' - -'Indeed an' she won't,' said the widow. 'She'll give no promise of the -kind. Promise, indeed! what for should she promise Barry Lynch whom she -will marry, or whom she won't?' - -'Raily, Mrs Kelly, I think you might let Miss Lynch answer for herself.' - -'I wouldn't, for all the world thin, go to live at Dunmore House,' said -Anty. - -'And you are determined to stay in this inn here?' - -'In course she is that's till she's a snug house of her own,' said the -widow. - -'Ah, mother!' said Martin, 'what for will you be talking?' - -'And you're determined,' repeated Daly, 'to stay here?' - -'I am,' faltered Anty. - -'Then I have nothing further to do than to hand you this, Mrs Kelly' and he -offered the notice to the widow, but she refused to touch it, and he -consequently put it down on the table. 'But it is my duty to tell you, Miss -Lynch, that the gentry of this counthry, before whom you will have to -appear, will express very great indignation at your conduct in persevering -in placing poor people like the Kellys in so dreadful a predicament, by -your wilful and disgraceful obstinacy.' - -Poor Anty burst into tears. She had been for some time past trying to -restrain herself, but Daly's last speech, and the horrible idea of the -gentry of the country browbeating and frowning at her, completely upset -her, and she hid her face on the arm of the sofa, and sobbed aloud. - -'Poor people like the Kellys!' shouted the widow, now for the first time -really angry with Daly 'not so poor, Mr Daly, as to do dirthy work for -anyone. I wish I could say as much this day for your mother's son! Poor -people, indeed! I suppose, now, you wouldn't call Barry Lynch one of your -poor people; but in my mind he's the poorest crature living this day in -county Galway. Av' you've done now, Mr Daly, you've my lave to be walking; -and the less you let the poor Kellys see of you, from this time out, the -betther.' - -When Anty's sobs commenced, Martin had gone over to her to comfort her, -'Ah, Anty, dear,' he whispered to her, 'shure you'd not be minding what -such a fellow as he'd be saying to you? shure he's jist paid for all -this he's only sent here by Barry to thry and frighten you,' but it was of -no avail: Daly had succeeded at any rate in making her miserable, and it -was past the power of Martin's eloquence to undo what the attorney had -done. - -'Well, Mr Daly,' he said, turning round sharply, 'I suppose you have done -here now, and the sooner you turn your back on this place the betther An' -you may take this along with you. Av' you think you've frightened my mother -or me, you're very much mistaken.' - -'Yes,' said Daly, 'I have done now, and I am sorry my business has been so -unpleasant. Your mother, Martin, had betther not disregard that notice. -Good morning, Miss Lynch: good morning, Mrs Kelly; good morning, Martin;' -and Daly took up his hat, and left the room. - -'Good morning to you, Mr Daly,' said Martin: 'as I've said before, I'm -sorry to see you've taken to this line of business.' - -As soon as the attorney was gone, both Martin and his mother attempted to -console and re-assure poor Anty, but they did not find the task an easy -one. 'Oh, Mrs Kelly,' she said, as soon as she was able to say anything, -'I'm sorry I iver come here, I am: I'm sorry I iver set my foot in the -house!' - -'Don't say so, Anty, dear,' said the widow. 'What'd you be sorry for an't -it the best place for you?' - -'Oh! but to think that I'd bring all these throubles on you! Betther be up -there, and bear it all, than bring you and yours into law, and sorrow, and -expense. Only I couldn't find the words in my throat to say it, I'd 've -tould the man that I'd 've gone back at once. I wish I had indeed, Mrs -Kelly, I wish I had.' - -'Why, Anty,' said Martin, 'you an't fool enough to believe what Daly's been -saying? Shure all he's afther is to frighthen you, out of this. Never fear: -Barry can't hurt us a halfporth, though no doubt he's willing enough, av' -he had the way.' - -'I wish I was in a convent, this moment,' said Anty. 'Oh! I wish I'd done -as father asked me long since. Av' the walls of a convent was around me, -I'd niver know what throubles was.' - -'No more you shan't now,' said Martin: 'Who's to hurt you? Come, Anty, look -up; there's nothing in all this to vex you.' - -But neither son nor mother were able to soothe the poor young woman. The -very presence of an attorney was awful to her; and all the jargon which -Daly had used, of juries, judges, trials, and notices, had sounded terribly -in her ears. The very names of such things were to her terrible realities, -and she couldn't bring herself to believe that her brother would threaten -to make use of such horrible engines of persecution, without having the -power to bring them into action. Then, visions of the lunatic asylum, into -which he had declared that he would throw her, flitted across her, and made -her whole body shiver and shake; and again she remembered the horrid glare -of his eye, the hot breath, and the frightful form of his visage, on the -night when he almost told her that he would murder her. - -Poor Anty had at no time high or enduring spirits, but such as she had were -now completely quelled. A dreadful feeling of coming evil a foreboding of -misery, such as will sometimes overwhelm stronger minds than Anty's, seemed -to stifle her; and she continued sobbing till she fell into hysterics, when -Meg and Jane were summoned to her assistance. They sat with her for above -an hour, doing all that kindness and affection could suggest; but after a -time Anty told them that she had a cold, sick feeling within herself, that -she felt weak and ill, and that she'd sooner go to bed. To bed they -accordingly took her; and Sally brought her tea, and Katty lighted a fire -in her room, and Jane read to her an edifying article from the lives of the -Saints, and Meg argued with her as to the folly of being frightened. But it -was all of no avail; before night, Anty was really ill. - -The next morning, the widow was obliged to own to herself that such was the -case. In the afternoon, Doctor Colligan was called in; and it was many, -many weeks before Anty recovered from the effects of the attorney's visit. - - - - -XX VERY LIBERAL - - -When the widow left the parlour, after having placed her guest in the -charge of her daughters, she summoned her son to follow her down stairs, -and was very careful not to 1eave behind her the notice which Daly had -placed on the table. As soon as she found herself behind the shutter of her -little desk, which stood in the shop-window, she commenced very eagerly -spelling it over. The purport of the notice was, to inform her that Barry -Lynch intended immediately to apply to the magistrates to commit her and -her son, for conspiring together to inveigle Anty into a marriage; and that -the fact of their having done so would be proved by Mr Moylan, who was -prepared to swear that he had been present when the plan had been arranged -between them. The reader is aware that whatever show of truth there might -be for this accusation, as far as Martin and Moylan himself were concerned, -the widow at any rate was innocent; and he can conceive the good lady's -indignation at the idea of her own connection, Moylan, having been seduced -over to the enemy. Though she had put on a bold front against Daly, and -though she did not quite believe that Barry was in earnest in taking -proceedings against her, still her heart failed her as she read the legal -technicalities of the papers she held in her hand, and turned to her son -for counsel in considerable tribulation. - -'But there must be something in it, I tell you,' said she. 'Though Barry -Lynch, and that limb o' the divil, young Daly, 'd stick at nothin in the -way of lies and desait, they'd niver go to say all this about Moylan, -unless he'd agree to do their bidding.' - -'That's like enough, mother: I dare say Moylan has been talked over bought -over rather; for he's not one of them as'd do mischief for nothin.' - -'And does the ould robber mane to say that I . As I live, I niver as much -as mentioned Anty's name to Moylan, except jist about the agency!' - -'I'm shure you didn't, mother.' - -'And what is it then he has to say agin us?' - -'Jist lies; that's av' he were called on to say anything; but he niver will -be. This is all one of Barry's schames to frighten you, and get Anty turned -out of the inn.' - -'Thin Master Barry doesn't know the widdy Kelly, I can tell him that; for -when I puts my hand to a thing, I mane to pull through wid it. But tell -me all this'll be costing money, won't, it? Attorneys don't bring thim sort -of things about for nothing,' and she gave a most contemptuous twist to the -notice. - -'Oh, Barry must pay for that.' - -'I doubt that, Martin: he's not fond of paying, the mane, dirthy -blackguard. I tell you what, you shouldn't iver have let Daly inside the -house: he'll make us pay for the writing o' thim as shure as my name's Mary -Kelly: av' he hadn't got into the house, he couldn't've done a halfporth.' - -'I tell you, mother, it wouldn't have done not to let him see Anty. They'd -have said we'd got her shut up here, and wouldn't let any one come nigh -her.' - -'Well, Martin, you'll see we'll have to pay for it. This comes of meddling -with other folks! I wonder how I was iver fool enough to have fitched her -down here! Good couldn't come of daling with such people as Barry Lynch.' - -'But you wouldn't have left her up there to be murdhered?' - -'She's nothin' to me, and I don't know as she's iver like to be.' - -'Maybe not.' - -'But, tell me, Martin was there anything said between you and Moylan about -Anty before she come down here?'' - -'How, anything said, mother?' - -'Why, was there any schaming betwixt you?' - -'Schaming? when I want to schame, I'll not go shares with sich a fellow as -Moylan.' - -'Ah, but was there anything passed about Anty and you getting married? -Come- now, Martin; I'm in all this throuble along of you, and you shouldn't -lave me in the dark. Was you talking to Moylan about Anty and her fortune?' - -'Why, thin', I'll jist tell you the whole thruth, as I tould it all before -to Mister Frank that is, Lord Ballindine, up in Dublin; and as I wouldn't -mind telling it this minute to Barry, or Daly, or any one else in the three -counties. When Moylan got the agency, he come out to me at Toneroe; and -afther talking a bit about Anty and her fortune, he let on bow it would be -a bright spec for me to marry her, and I won't deny that it was he as first -put it into my head. Well, thin, he had schames of his own about keeping -the agency, and getting a nice thing out of the property himself, for -putting Anty in my way; but I tould him downright I didn't know anything -about that; and that 'av iver I did anything in the matter it would be all -fair and above board; and that was all the conspiracy I and Moylan had.' - -'And enough too, Martin,' said the widow. 'You'll find it's quite enough to -get us into throuble. And why wouldn't you tell me what was going on -between you?' - -'There was nothing going on between us.' - -'I say there was; and to go and invaigle me into your schames without -knowing a word about it! It was a murdhering shame of you and av' I do have -to pay for it, I'll never forgive you.' - -'That's right, mother; quarrel with me about it, do. It was I made you -bring Anty down here, wasn't it? when I was up in Dublin all the time.' - -'But to go and put yourself in the power of sich a fellow as Moylan! I -didn't think you were so soft.' - -'Ah, bother, mother! Who's put themselves in the power of Moylan?' - -'I'll moyle him, and spoil him too, the false blackguard, to turn agin the -family them as has made him! I wondher what he's to get for swearing agin -us?' And then, after a pause, she added in a most pathetic voice 'oh, -Martin, to think of being dragged away to Galway, before the whole -counthry, to be made a conspirather of! I, that always paid my way, before -and behind, though only a poor widdy! Who's to mind the shop, I -wondher? I'm shure Meg's not able; and there'll be Mary'll be jist nigh her -time, and won't be able to come! Martin, you've been and ruined me with -your plots and your marriages! What did you want with a wife, I wondher, -and you so well off! and Mrs Kelly began wiping her eyes, for she was -affected to tears at. the prospect of her coming misery. - -'Av' you take it so to heart, mother, you'd betther give Anty a hint to be -out of this. You heard Daly tell her, that was all Barry wanted.' - -Martin knew his mother tolerably well, or he would not have made this -proposition. He understood what the real extent of her sorrow was, and how -much of her lamentation he was to attribute to her laudable wish to appear -a martyr to the wishes and pleasures of her children. - -'Turn her out!' replied she, 'no, niver; and I didn't think I'd 've heard -you asking me to.' - -'I didn't ask you, mother, only anything'd be betther than downright ruin.' - -'I wouldn't demane myself to Barry so much as to wish her out of this now -she's here. But it was along of you she came here, and av' I've to pay for -all this lawyer work, you oughtn't to see me at a loss. I'm shure I don't -know where your sisthers is to look for a pound or two when I'm gone, av' -things goes on this way,' and again the widow whimpered. - -'Don't let that throuble you, mother: av' there's anything to pay, I won't -let it come upon you, any way. But I tell you there'll be nothing more -about it.' - -Mrs Kelly was somewhat quieted by her son's guarantee, and, muttering that -she couldn't afford to be wasting her mornings in that way, diligently -commenced weighing out innumerable three-halfporths of brown sugar, and -Martin went about his own business. - -Daly left the inn, after his interview with Anty and the Kellys, in -anything but a pleasant frame of mind. In the first place, he knew that he -had been signally unsuccessful, and that his want of success had been -mainly attributable to his having failed to see Anty alone; and, in the -next place, he felt more than ever disgusted with his client. He began to -reflect, for the first time, that he might, and probably would, -irretrievably injure his character by undertaking, as Martin truly called -it, such a very low line of business: that, if the matter were persevered -in, every one in Connaught would be sure to hear of Anty's persecution; and -that his own name would be so mixed up with Lynch's in the transaction as -to leave him no means of escaping the ignominy which was so justly due to -his employer. Beyond these selfish motives of wishing to withdraw from the -business, he really pitied Anty, and felt a great repugnance at being the -means of adding to her troubles; and he was aware of the scandalous shame -of subjecting her again to the ill-treatment of such a wretch as her -brother, by threatening proceedings which he knew could never be taken. - -As he got on the car to return to Tuam, he determined that whatever plan he -might settle on adopting, 'he would have nothing further to do with -prosecuting or persecuting either Anty or the Kellys. 'I'll give him the -best advice I can about it,' said Daly to himself; 'and if he don't like it -he may do the other thing. I wouldn't carry on with this game for all he's -worth, and that I believe is not much.' He had intended to go direct to -Dunmore House from the Kellys, and to have seen Barry, but he would have -had to stop for dinner if he had done so; and though, generally speaking, -not very squeamish in his society, he did not wish to enjoy another after- -dinner tête-à-tête with him 'It's better to get him over to Tuam,' thought -he, 'and try and make him see rason when he's sober: nothing's too hot or -too bad for him, when he's mad dhrunk afther dinner.' - -Accordingly, Lynch was again summoned to Tuam, and held a second council in -the attorney's little parlour. Daly commenced by telling him that his -sister had seen him, and had positively refused to leave the inn, and that -the widow and her son had both listened to the threats of a prosecution -unmoved and undismayed. Barry indulged in his usual volubility of -expletives; expressed his fixed intention of exterminating the Kellys; -declared, with many asseverations, his conviction that his sister was a -lunatic; swore, by everything under, in, and above the earth, that he would -have her shut up in the Lunatic Asylum in Ballinasloe, in the teeth of the -Lord Chancellor and all the other lawyers in Ireland; cursed the shades of -his father, deeply and copiously; assured Daly that he was only prevented -from recovering his own property by the weakness and ignorance of his legal -advisers, and ended by asking the attorney's advice as to his future -conduct. - -'What the d l, then, am I to do with the confounded ideot?' said he. - -'If you'll take my advice, you'll do nothing.' - -'What, and let her marry and have that young blackguard brought up to -Dunmore under my very nose?' - -'I'm very much afraid, Mr Lynch, if you wish to be quit of Martin Kelly, it -is you must lave Dunmore. You may be shure he won't.' - -'Oh, as for that, I've nothing to tie me to Dunmore. I hate the place; I -never meant to live there. If I only saw my sister properly taken care of, -and that it was put out of her power to throw herself away, I should leave -it at once.' - -'Between you and me, Mr Lynch, she will be taken care of; and as for -throwing herself away, she must judge of that herself. Take my word for it, -the best thing for you to do is to come to terms with Martin Kelly, and to -sell out your property in Dun-more. You'll make much better terms before -marriage than you would afther, it stands to rason.' - -Barry was half standing, and half sitting on the small parlour table, and -there he remained for a few minutes, meditating on Daly's most unpleasant -proposal. It was a hard pill for him to swallow, and he couldn't get it -down without some convulsive grimaces. He bit his under lip, till the blood -came through it, and at last said, - -'Why, you've taken this thing up, Daly, as if you were to be paid by the -Kellys instead of by me! I can't understand it, confound me if I can!' - -Daly turned very red at the insinuation. He was within an ace of seizing -Lynch by. the collar, and expelling him in a summary way from his premises, -a feat which he was able to perform; and willing also, for he was sick of -his client; but he thought of it a second time, and restrained himself. - -'Mr Lynch,' he said, after a moment or two, 'that's the second time you've -made an observation of that kind to me; and I'll tell you what; if your -business was the best in the county, instead of being as bad a case as was -ever put into a lawyer's hands, I wouldn't stand it from you. If you think -you can let out your passion against me, as you do against your own people, -you'll find your mistake out very soon; so you'd betther mind what you're -saying.' - -'Why, what the devil did I say?' said Lynch, half abashed. - -'I'll not repeat it and you hadn't betther, either. And now, do you choose -to hear my professional advice, and behave to me as you ought and shall do? -or will you go out of this and look out for another attorney? To tell you -the truth, I'd jist as lieve you'd take your business to some one else.' - -Barry's brow grew very black, and he looked at Daly as though he would much -like to insult him again if he dared. But he did not dare. He had no one -else to look to for advice or support; he had utterly estranged from him -his father's lawyer; and though he suspected that Daly was not true to him, -he felt that he could not break with him. He was obliged, therefore, to -swallow his wrath, though it choked him, and to mutter something in the -shape of an apology. - -It was a mutter: Daly heard something about its being only a joke, and not -expecting to be taken up so d sharp; and, accepting these sounds as an -amende honorable, again renewed his functions as attorney. - -'Will you authorise me to see Martin Kelly, and to treat with him? You'll -find it the cheapest thing you can do; and, more than that, it'll be what -nobody can blame you for.' - -'How treat with him? I owe him nothing I don't see what I've got to treat -with him about. Am I to offer him half the property on condition he'll -consent to marry my sister? Is that what you mean?' - -'No: that's not what I mean; but it'll come to much the same thing in the -end. In the first place, you must withdraw all opposition to Miss Lynch's -marriage; indeed, you must give it your direct sanction; and, in the next -place, you must make an amicable arrangement with Martin about the division -of the property.' - -'What coolly give him all he has the impudence to ask? throw up the game -altogether, and pitch the whole stakes into his lap? Why, Daly, you ' - -'Well, Mr Lynch, finish your speech,' said Daly, looking him full in the -face. - -Barry had been on the point of again accusing the attorney of playing false -to him, but he paused in time; he caught Daly's eye, and did not dare to -finish the sentence which he had begun. - -'I can't understand you, I mean,' said he; 'I can't understand what you're -after: but go on; maybe you're right, but I can't see, for the life of me. -What am I to get by such a plan as that?' - -Barry was now cowed and frightened; he had no dram-bottle by him to -reassure him, and he became, comparatively speaking, calm and subdued. -Indeed, before the interview was over he fell into a pitiably lachrymose -tone, and claimed sympathy for the many hardships he had to undergo through -the ill-treatment of his family. - -'I'll try and explain to you, Mr Lynch, what you'll get by it. As far as I -can understand, your father left about eight hundred a-year between the -two that's you and your sisther; and then there's the house and furniture. -Nothing on earth can keep her out of her property, or prevent her from -marrying whom she plases. Martin Kelly, who is an honest fellow, though -sharp enough, has set his eye on her, and before many weeks you'll find -he'll make her his wife. Undher these circumstances, wouldn't he be the -best tenant you could find for Dunmore? You're not fond of the place, and -will be still less so when he's your brother-in-law. Lave it altogether, Mr -Lynch; give him a laise of the whole concern, and if you'll do that now at -once, take my word for it you'll get more out of Dunmore than iver you will -by staying here, and fighting the matther out.' - -'But about the debts, Daly?' - -'Why, I suppose the fact is, the debts are all your own, eh?' - -'Well suppose they are?' - -'Exactly so: personal debts of your own. Why, when you've made some final -arrangement about the property, you must make some other arrangement with -your creditors. But that's quite a separate affair; you don't expect Martin -Kelly to pay your debts, I suppose?' - -'But I might get a sum of money for the good-will, mightn't 1?' - -'I don't think Martin's able to put a large sum down. I'll tell you what I -think you might ask; and what I think he would give, to get your good-will -and consent to the match, and to prevent any further difficulty. I think -he'd become your tenant, for the whole of your share, at a rent of five- -hundred a year; and maybe he'd give you three hundred pounds for the -furniture and stock, and things about the place. If so, you should give him -a laise of three lives.' - -There was a good deal in this proposition that was pleasing to Barry's -mind: five hundred a-year without any trouble in collecting it; the power -of living abroad in the unrestrained indulgence of hotels and billiard -rooms; the probable chance of being able to retain his income and bilk his -creditors; the prospect of shaking off from himself the consequences of a -connection with the Kellys, and being for ever rid of Dunmore encumbrances. -These things all opened before his eyes a vista of future, idle, -uncontrolled enjoyment, just suited to his taste, and strongly tempted him -at once to close with Daly's offer. But still, he could hardly bring -himself to consent to be vanquished by his own sister; it was wormwood to -him to think that after all she should be left to. the undisturbed -enjoyment of her father's legacy. He had been brow-beaten by the widow, -insulted by young Kelly, cowed and silenced by the attorney whom he had -intended to patronise and convert into a creature of his own: he could -however have borne and put up with all this, if he could only have got his -will of his sister; but to give up to her, who had been his slave all his -life to own, at last, that he had no power over her, whom he had always -looked upon as so abject, so mean a thing; to give in, of his own accord, -to the robbery which had been committed on him by his own father; and to do -this, while he felt convinced as he still did, that a sufficiently -unscrupulous attorney could save him from such cruel disgrace and loss, was -a trial to which he could hardly bring himself to submit, crushed and tamed -as he was. - -He still sat on the edge of the parlour table, and there he remained mute, -balancing the pros and cons of Daly's plan. Daly waited a minute or two for -his answer, and, finding that he said nothing, left him alone for a time, -to make up his mind, telling him that he would return in about a quarter of -an hour. Barry never moved from his position; it was an important question -he had to settle, and so he felt it, for he gave up to the subject his -undivided attention. Since his boyhood he had looked forward to a life of -ease, pleasure, and licence, and had longed for his father's death that he -might enjoy it. It seemed now within his reach; for his means, though -reduced, would still be sufficient for sensual gratification. But, idle, -unprincipled, brutal, castaway wretch as Barry was, he still felt the -degradation of inaction, when he had such stimulating motives to energy as -unsatisfied rapacity and hatred for his sister: ignorant as he was of the -meaning of the word right, he tried to persuade himself that it would be -wrong in him to yield. - -Could he only pluck up sufficient courage to speak his mind to Daly, and -frighten him into compliance with. his wishes, he still felt that he might -be successful that he might, by some legal tactics, at any rate obtain for -himself the management of his sister's property. But this he could not do: -he felt that Daly was his master; and though he still thought that he might -have triumphed had he come sufficiently prepared, that is, with a -considerable quantum of spirits inside him, he knew himself well enough to -be aware that he could do nothing without this assistance; and, alas, he -could not obtain it there. He had great reliance in the efficacy of -whiskey; he would trust much to a large dose of port wine; but with brandy -he considered himself invincible. - -He sat biting his lip, trying to think, trying to make up his mind, trying -to gain sufficient self-composure to finish his interview with Daly with -some appearance of resolution and self-confidence, but it was in vain; when -the attorney returned, his face still plainly showed that he was utterly -unresolved, utterly unable to resolve on anything. - -'Well, Mr Lynch,' said Daly, 'will you let me spake to Kelly about this, or -would you rather sleep on the matther?' - -Barry gave a long sigh 'Wouldn't he give six hundred, Daly? he'd still have -two hundred clear, and think what that'd be for a fellow like him!' - -'You must ask him for it yourself then; I'll not propose to him any such -thing. Upon my soul, he'll be a great fool to give the five hundred, -because he's no occasion to meddle with you in the matther at all, at all. -But still I think he may give it; but as for asking for more at any rate I -won't do it; you can do what you like, yourself.' - -'And am I to sell the furniture, and everything horses, cattle, and -everything about the place for three hundred pounds?' - -'Not unless you like it, you ain't, Mr Lynch; but I'll tell you this if you -can do so, and do do so, it'll be the best bargain you ever made mind, one- -half of it all belongs to your sisther.' - -Barry muttered an oath through his ground teeth; he would have liked to -scratch the ashes of his father from their resting-place, and wreak his -vengeance on them, whenever this degrading fact was named to him. - -'But I want the money, Daly,' said he: 'I couldn't get afloat unless I had -more than that: I couldn't pay your bill, you know, unless I got a higher -figure down than that. Come, Daly, you must do something for me; you must -do something, you know, to earn the fees,' and he tried to look facetious, -by giving a wretched ghastly grin. - -'My bill won't be a long one, Mr Lynch, and you may be shure I'm trying to -make it as short as I can. And as for earning it, whatever you may think, I -can assure you I shall never have got money harder. I've now given you my -best advice; if your mind's not yet made up, perhaps you'll have the -goodness to let me hear from you when it is?' and Daly walked from the fire -towards the door, and placed his hand upon the handle of it. - -This was a hint which Barry couldn't misunderstand. 'Well, I'll write to -you,' he said, and passed through the door. He felt, however, that it was -useless to attempt to trust himself to his own judgment, and he turned -back, as Daly passed into his office 'Daly,' he said, 'step out one -minute: I won't keep you a second.' The attorney unwillingly lifted up the -counter, and came out to him. 'Manage it your own way,' said he; 'do -whatever you think best; but you must see that I've been badly -used infernally cruelly treated, and you ought to do the best you can for -me. Here am I, giving away, as I may say, my own property to a young -shopkeeper, and upon my soul you ought to make him pay something for it; -upon my soul you ought, for it's only fair!' - -'I've tould you, Mr Lynch, what I'll propose to Martin Kelly; if you don't -think the terms fair, you can propose any others yourself; or you're at -liberty to employ any other agent you please.' - -Barry sighed again, but he yielded. He felt broken-hearted, and unhappy, -and he longed to quit a country so distasteful to him, and relatives and -neighbours so ungrateful; he longed in his heart for the sweet, easy haunts -of Boulogne, which he had never known, but of which he had heard many a -glowing description from congenial spirits whom he knew. He had heard -enough of the ways and means of many a leading star in that Elysium, to be -aware that, with five hundred a-year, unembarrassed and punctually paid, he -might shine as a prince indeed. He would go at once to that happy foreign -shore, where the memory of no father would follow him, where the presence -of no sister would degrade and irritate him, where billiard-tables were -rife, and brandy cheap; where virtue was easy, and restraint unnecessary; -where no duties would harass him, no tenants upbraid him, no duns persecute -him. There, carefully guarding himself against the schemes of those less -fortunate followers of pleasure among whom he would be thrown in his social -hours, he would convert every shilling of his income to some purpose of -self-enjoyment, and live a life of luxurious abandonment. And he need not -be altogether idle, he reflected within himself afterwards, as he was -riding home: he felt that he was possessed of sufficient energy and talent -to make himself perfectly master of a pack of cards, to be a proficient -over a billiard-table, and even to get the upper hand of a box of dice. -With such. pursuits left to him, he might yet live to be talked of, feared, -and wealthy; and Barry's utmost ambition would have carried him no further. - -As I said before, he yielded to the attorney, and commissioned him fully to -treat with Martin Kelly in the manner proposed by himself. Martin was to -give him five hundred a-year for his share of the property, and three -hundred pounds for the furniture, &c.; and Barry was to give his sister his -written and unconditional assent to her marriage; was to sign any document -which might be necessary as to her settlement, and was then to leave -Dunmore for ever. Daly made him write an authority for making such a -proposal, by which he bound himself to the terms, should they be acceded to -by the other party. - -'But you must bear in mind,' added Daly, as his client for the second time -turned from the door, 'that I don't guarantee that Martin Kelly will accept -these terms: it's very likely he may be sharp enough to know that he can -manage as well without you as he can with you. You'll remember that, Mr -Lynch.' - -'I will I will, Daly; but look here if he bites freely and I think he will, -and if you find you could get as much as a thousand out of him, or even -eight hundred, you shall have one hundred clear for yourself.' - -This was Barry's last piece of diplomacy for that day. Daly vouchsafed him -no answer, but returned into his office, and Barry mounted his horse, and -returned home not altogether ill-pleased with his prospects, but still -regretting that he should have gone about so serious a piece of business, -so utterly unprepared. - -These regrets rose stronger, when his after-dinner courage returned to him -as he sate solitary over his fire. 'I should have had him here,' said he to -himself, 'and not gone to that confounded cold hole of his. After all, -there's no place for a cock to fight on like his own dunghill; and there's -nothing able to carry a fellow well through a tough bit of jobation with a -lawyer like a stiff tumbler of brandy punch. It'd have been worth a couple -of hundred to me, to have had him out here impertinent puppy! Well, devil a -halfpenny I'll pay him!' This thought was consolatory, and he began again -to think of Boulogne. - - - - -XXI LORD BALLINDINE AT HOME - - -Two days after the last recorded interview between Lord Ballindine and his -friend, Dot Blake, the former found himself once more sitting down to -dinner with his mother and sisters, the Honourable Mrs O'Kelly and the -Honourable Misses O'Kelly; at least such were the titular dignities -conferred on them in County Mayo, though I believe, strictly speaking, the -young ladies had no claim to the appellation. - -Mrs O'Kelly was a very small woman, with no particularly developed -character, and perhaps of no very general utility. She was fond of her -daughters, and more than fond of her son, partly because he was so tall and -so handsome, and partly because he was the lord, the head of the family, -and the owner of the house. She was, on the whole, a good-natured person, -though perhaps her temper was a little soured by her husband having, very -unfairly, died before he had given her a right to call herself Lady -Ballindine. She was naturally shy and reserved, and the seclusion of -O'Kelly's Court did not tend to make her less so; but she felt that the -position and rank of her son required her to be dignified; and -consequently, when in society, she somewhat ridiculously aggravated her -natural timidity with an assumed rigidity of demeanour. She was, however, a -good woman, striving, with small means, to do the best for her family; -prudent and self-denying, and very diligent in looking after the house -servants. - -Her two daughters had been, at the instance of their grandfather, the -courtier, christened Augusta and Sophia, after the two Princesses of that -name, and were now called Guss and Sophy: they were both pretty, good- -natured girls one with dark brown and the other light brown hair: they both -played the harp badly, sung tolerably, danced well, and were very fond of -nice young men. They both thought Kelly's Court rather dull; but then they -had known nothing better since they had grown up, and there were some -tolerably nice people not very far off, whom they occasionally saw: there -were the Dillons, of Ballyhaunis, who had three thousand a-year, and spent -six; they were really a delightful family three daughters and four sons, -all unmarried, and up to anything: the sons all hunted, shot, danced, and -did everything that they ought to do at least in the eyes of young ladies; -though some of their more coldly prudent acquaintances expressed an opinion -that it would be as well if the three younger would think of doing -something for themselves; but they looked so manly and handsome when they -breakfasted at Kelly's Court on a hunt morning, with their bright tops, red -coats, and hunting-caps, that Guss and Sophy, and a great many others, -thought it would be a shame to interrupt them in their career. And then, -Ballyhaunis was only eight miles from Kelly's Court; though they were Irish -miles, it is true, and the road was not patronised by the Grand Jury; but -the distance was only eight miles, and there were always beds for them when -they went to dinner at Peter Dillon's. Then there were the Blakes of -Castletown. To be sure they could give no parties, for they were both -unmarried; but they were none the worse for that, and they had plenty of -horses, and went out everywhere. And the Blakes of Morristown; they also -were very nice people; only unfortunately, old Blake was always on his -keeping, and couldn't show himself out of doors except on Sundays, for fear -of the bailiffs. And the Browns of Mount Dillon, and the Browns of Castle -Brown; and General Bourke of Creamstown. All these families lived within -fifteen or sixteen miles of Kelly's Court, and prevented the O'Kellys from -feeling themselves quite isolated from the social world. Their nearest -neighbours, however, were the Armstrongs, and of them they saw a great -deal. - -The Reverend Joseph Armstrong was rector of Ballindine, and Mrs O'Kelly was -his parishioner, and the only Protestant one he had; and, as Mr Armstrong -did not like to see his church quite deserted, and as Mrs O'Kelly was, as -she flattered herself, a very fervent Protestant, they were all in all to -each other. - -Ballindine was not a good living, and Mr Armstrong had a very large family; -he was, therefore, a poor man. His children were helpless, uneducated, and -improvident; his wife was nearly worn out with the labours of bringing them -forth and afterwards catering for them and a great portion of his own life -was taken up in a hard battle with tradesmen and tithe-payers, creditors, -and debtors. Yet, in spite of the insufficiency of his two hundred a-year -to meet all or half his wants, Mr Armstrong was not an unhappy man. At any -moment of social enjoyment he forgot all his cares and poverty, and was -always the first to laugh, and the last to cease to do so. He never refused -an invitation to dinner, and if he did not entertain many in his own house, -it was his fortune, and not his heart, that prevented him from doing so. He -could hardly be called a good clergyman, and yet his remissness was not so -much his own fault as that of circumstances. How could a Protestant rector -be a good parish clergyman, with but one old lady and her daughters, for -the exercise of his clerical energies and talents? He constantly lauded the -zeal of St. Paul for proselytism; but, as he himself once observed, even -St. Paul had never had to deal with the obstinacy of an Irish Roman -Catholic. He often regretted the want of work, and grieved that his -profession, as far as he saw and had been instructed, required nothing of -him but a short service on every Sunday morning, and the celebration of the -Eucharist four times a-year; but such were the facts; and the idleness -which this want of work engendered, and the habits which his poverty -induced, had given him a character as a clergyman, very different from that -which the high feelings and strict principles which animated him at his -ordination would have seemed to ensure. He was, in fact, a loose, slovenly -man, somewhat too fond of his tumbler of punch; a little lax, perhaps, as -to clerical discipline, but very staunch as to doctrine. He possessed no -industry or energy of any kind; but he was good-natured and charitable, -lived on friendly terms with all his neighbours, and was intimate with -every one that dwelt within ten miles of him, priest and parson, lord and -commoner. - -Such was the neighbourhood of Kelly's Court, and among such Lord Ballindine -had now made up his mind to remain a while, till circumstances should -decide what further steps he should take with regard to Fanny Wyndham. -There were a few hunting days left in the season, which he intended to -enjoy; and then he must manage to make shift to lull the time with -shooting, fishing, farming, and nursing his horses and dogs. - -His mother and sisters had heard nothing of the rumour of the quarrel -between Frank and Fanny, which Mat Tierney had so openly alluded to at -Handicap Lodge; and he was rather put out by their eager questions on the -subject. Nothing was said about it till the servant withdrew, after dinner, -but the three ladies were too anxious for information to delay their -curiosity any longer. - -'Well, Frank,' said the elder sister, who was sitting over the fire, close -to his left elbow (he had a bottle of claret at his right) 'well, Frank, do -tell us something about Fanny Wyndham; we are so longing to hear; and you -never will write, you know.' - -'Everybody says it's a brilliant match,' said the mother. 'They say here -she's forty thousand pounds: I'm sure I hope she has, Frank.' - -'But when is it to be?' said Sophy. 'She's of age now, isn't she? and I -thought you were only waiting for that. I'm sure we shall like her; come, -Frank, do tell us when are we to see Lady Ballindine?' - -Frank looked rather serious and embarrassed, but did not immediately make -any reply. - -'You haven't quarrelled, have you, Frank?' said the mother. - -'The match isn't off is it?' said Guss. - -'Miss Wyndham has just lost her only brother,' said he; 'he died quite -suddenly in London about ten days since; she was very much attached to -him.' - -'Good gracious, how shocking!' said Sophy. - -'I'm sorry,' said Guss. - -'Why, Frank,' said their mother, now excited into absolute animation; 'his -fortune was more than double hers, wasn't it? who'll have it now?' - -'It was, mother; five times as much as hers, I believe.' - -'Gracious powers! and who has it now? Why don't you tell me, Frank?' - -'His sister Fanny.' - -'Heavens and earth I hope you're not going to let her quarrel with you, are -you? Has there been anything between you? Have there been any words between -you and Lord Cashel? Why don't you tell me, Frank, when you know how -anxious I am?' - -'If you must know all about it, I have not had any words, as you call them, -with Fanny Wyndham; but I have with her guardian. He thinks a hundred and -twenty thousand pounds much too great a fortune for a Connaught viscount. -However, I don't think so. It will be for time to show what Fanny thinks. -Meanwhile, the less said about it the better; remember that, girls, will -you?' - -'Oh, we will we won't say a word about it; but she'll never change her mind -because of her money, will she?' - -'That's what would make me love a man twice the more,' said Guss; 'or at -any rate show it twice the stronger.' - -'Frank,' said the anxious mother, 'for heaven's sake don't let anything -stand between you and Lord Cashel; think what a thing it is you'd lose! -Why; it'd pay all the debts, and leave the property worth twice what it -ever was before. If Lord Cashel thinks you ought to give up the hounds, do -it at once, Frank; anything rather than quarrel with him. You could get -them again, you know, when all's settled.' - -'I've given up quite as much as I intend for Lord Cashel.' - -'Now, Frank, don't be a fool, or you'll repent it all your life: what does -it signify how much you give up to such a man as Lord Cashel? You don't -think, do you, that he objects to our being at Kelly's Court? Because I'm -sure we wouldn't stay a moment if we thought that.' - -'Mother, I wouldn't part with a cur dog out of the place to please Lord -Cashel. But if I were to do everything on earth at his beck and will, it -would make no difference: he will never let me marry Fanny Wyndham if he -can help it; but, thank God, I don't believe he can.' - -'I hope not I hope not. You'll never see half such a fortune again.' - -'Well, mother, say nothing about it one way or the other, to anybody. And -as you now know how the matter stands, it's no good any of us talking more -about it till I've settled what I mean to do myself.' - -'I shall hate her,' said Sophy, 'if her getting all her brother's money -changes her; but I'm sure it won't.' And so the conversation ended. - -Lord Ballindine had not rested in his paternal halls the second night, -before he had commenced making arrangements for a hunt breakfast, by way of -letting all his friends know that he was again among them. And so missives, -in Guss and Sophy's handwriting, were sent round by a bare-legged little -boy, to all the Mounts, Towns, and Castles, belonging to the Dillons, -Blakes, Bourkes, and Browns of the neighbourhood, to tell them that the -dogs would draw the Kelly's Court covers at eleven o'clock on the following -Tuesday morning, and that the preparatory breakfast would be on the table -at ten. This was welcome news to the whole neighbourhood. It was only on -the Sunday evening that the sportsmen got the intimation, and very busy -most of them were on the following Monday to see that their nags and -breeches were all right fit to work and fit to be seen. The four Dillons, -of Ballyhaunis, gave out to their grooms a large assortment of pipe-clay -and putty-powder. Bingham Blake, of Castletown, ordered a new set of girths -to his hunting saddle; and his brother Jerry, who was in no slight degree -proud of his legs, but whose nether trappings were rather the worse from -the constant work of a heavy season, went so far as to go forth very early -on the Monday morning to excite the Ballinrobe tailor to undertake the -almost impossible task of completing him a pair of doeskin by the Tuesday -morning. The work was done, and the breeches home at Castletown by -eight though the doeskin had to be purchased in Tuam, and an assistant -artist taken away from his mother's wake, to sit up all night over the -seams. But then the tailor owed a small trifle of arrear of rent for his -potato-garden, and his landlord was Jerry Blake's cousin german. There's -nothing carries one further than a good connexion, thought both Jerry and -the tailor when the job was finished. - -Among the other invitations sent was one to Martin Kelly not exactly worded -like the others, for though Lord Ballindine was perhaps more anxious to see -him than anyone else, Martin had not yet got quite so high in the ladder of -life as to be asked to breakfast at Kelly's Court. But the fact that Frank -for a moment thought of asking him showed that he was looking upwards in -the world's estimation. Frank wrote him a note himself, saying that the -hounds would throw off at Kelly's Court, at eleven; that, if he would ride -over, he would be sure to see a good hunt, and that he, Lord Ballindine, -had a few words to say to him on business, just while the dogs were being -put into the cover. Martin, as usual, had a good horse which he was -disposed to sell, if, as he said, he got its value; and wrote to say he -would wait on Lord Ballindine at eleven. The truth was, Frank wanted to -borrow money from him. - -Another note was sent to the Glebe, requesting the Rector to come to -breakfast and to look at the hounds being thrown off. The modest style of -the invitation was considered as due to Mr Armstrong's clerical position, -but was hardly rendered necessary by his habits; for though the parson -attended such meetings in an old suit of rusty black, and rode an equally -rusty-looking pony, he was always to be seen, at the end of the day, among -those who were left around the dogs. - -On the Tuesday morning there was a good deal of bustle at Kelly's Court. -All the boys about the place were collected in front of the house, to walk -the gentlemen's horses about while the riders were at breakfast, and earn a -sixpence or a fourpenny bit; and among them, sitting idly on the big -steppingstone placed near the door, was Jack the fool, who, for the day, -seemed to have deserted the service of Barry Lynch. - -And now the red-coats flocked up to the door, and it was laughable to see -the knowledge of character displayed by the gossoons in the selection of -their customers. One or two, who were known to be 'bad pays,' were allowed -to dismount without molestation of any kind, and could not even part with -their steeds till they had come to an absolute bargain as to the amount of -gratuity to be given. Lambert Brown was one of these unfortunate -characters a younger brother who had a little, and but a very little money, -and who was determined to keep that. He was a miserable hanger-on at his -brother's house, without profession or prospects; greedy, stingy, and -disagreeable; endowed with a squint, and long lank light-coloured hair: he -was a bad horseman, always craning and shirking in the field, boasting and -lying after dinner; nevertheless, he was invited and endured because he was -one of the Browns of Mount Dillon, cousin to the Browns of Castle Brown, -nephew to Mrs Dillon the member's wife, and third cousin of Lord -Ballaghaderrin. - -He dismounted in the gravel circle before the door, and looked round for -someone to take his horse; but none of the urchins would come to him. At -last he caught hold of a little ragged boy whom he knew, from his own side -of the country, and who had come all the way there, eight long Irish miles, -on the chance of earning sixpence and seeing a hunt. - -'Here, Patsy, come here, you born little divil,' and he laid hold of the -arm of the brat, who was trying to escape from him come and hold my horse -for me and I'll not forget you.' - -'Shure, yer honer, Mr Lambert, I can't thin, for I'm afther engaging myself -this blessed minute to Mr Larry Dillon, only he's jist trotted round to the -stables to spake a word to Mick Keogh.' - -'Don't be lying, you little blackguard; hould the horse, and don't stir out -of that.' - -'Shure how can I, Mr Lambert, when I've been and guy my word to Mr Larry?' -and the little fellow put his hands behind him, that he might not be forced -to take hold of the reins. - -'Don't talk to me, you young imp, but take the horse. I'll not forget you -when I come out. What's the matter with you, you fool; d'ye think I'd tell -you a lie about it?' - -Patsy evidently thought he would; for though he took the horse almost upon -compulsion, he whimpered as he did so, and said: - -'Shure, Mr Lambert, would you go and rob a poor boy of his chances? I -come'd all the way from Ballyglass this blessed morning to 'arn a tizzy, -and av' I doesn't get it from you this turn, I'll ' But Lambert Brown had -gone into the house, and on his return after breakfast he fully justified -the lad's suspicion, for he again promised him that he wouldn't forget him, -and that he'd see him some day at Mr Dillon's. - -'Well, Lambert Brown,' said the boy, as that worthy gentleman rode off, -'it's you're the raal blackguard and it's well all the counthry knows you: -sorrow be your bed this night; it's little the poor'll grieve for you, when -you're stretched, or the rich either, for the matther of that.' - -Very different was the reception Bingham Blake got, as he drove up with his -tandem and tax-cart: half-a-dozen had kept themselves idle, each in the -hope of being the lucky individual to come in for Bingham's shilling. - -'Och, Mr Bingham, shure I'm first,' roared one fellow. - -But the first, as he styled himself, was soon knocked down under the wheels -of the cart by the others. - -'Mr Blake, thin Mr Blake, darlint doesn't ye remimber the promise you guy -me?' - -'Mr Jerry, Mr Jerry, avick,' this was addressed to the brother 'spake a -word for me; do, yer honour; shure it was I come all the way from Teddy -Mahony's with the breeches this morning, God bless 'em, and the fine legs -as is in 'em.' - -But they were all balked, for Blake had his servant there. - -'Get out, you blackguards!' said he, raising his tandem whip, as if to -strike them. 'Get out, you robbers! Are you going to take the cart and -horses clean away from me? That mare'll settle some of ye, if you make so -free with her! she's not a bit too chary of her hind feet. Get out of that, -I tell you;' and he lightly struck with the point of his whip the boy who -had Lambert Brown's horse. - -'Ah, Mr Bingham,' said, the boy, pretending to rub the part very hard, 'you -owe me one for that, anyhow, and it's you are the good mark for it, God -bless you.' - -'Faix,' said another, 'one blow from your honour is worth two promises from -Lambert Brown, any way.' - -There was a great laugh at this among the ragged crew, for Lambert Brown -was still standing on the doorsteps: when he heard this sally, however, he -walked in, and the different red-coats and top-boots were not long in -crowding after him. - -Lord Ballindine received them in the same costume, and very glad they all -seemed to see him again. When an Irish gentleman is popular in his -neighbourhood, nothing can exceed the real devotion paid to him; and when -that gentleman is a master of hounds, and does not require a subscription, -he is more than ever so. - -'Welcome back, Ballindine better late than never; but why did you stay away -so long?' said General Bourke, an old gentleman with long, thin, flowing -grey hairs, waving beneath his broad-brimmed felt hunting-hat. 'You're not -getting so fond of the turf, I hope, as to be giving up the field for it? -Give me the sport where I can ride my own horse myself; not where I must -pay a young rascal for doing it for me, and robbing me into the bargain, -most likely.' - -'Quite right, General,' said Frank; 'so you see I've given up the Curragh, -and come down to the dogs again.' - -'Yes, but you've waited too long, man; the dogs have nearly done their work -for this year. I'm sorry for it; the last day of the season is the worst -day in the year to me. I'm ill for a week after it.' - -'Well, General, please the pigs, we'll be in great tune next October. I've -as fine a set of puppies to enter as there is in Ireland, let alone -Connaught. You must come down, and tell me what you think of them.' - -'Next October's all very well for you young fellows, but I'm seventy-eight. -I always make up my mind that I'll never turn out another season, and it'll -be true for me this year. I'm hunting over sixty years, Ballindine, in -these three counties. I ought to have had enough of it by this time, you'll -say.' - -'I'll bet you ten pounds,' said Bingham Blake, 'that you hunt after -eighty.' - -'Done with you Bingham,' said the General, and the bet was booked. - -General Bourke was an old soldier, who told the truth in saying that he had -hunted over the same ground sixty years ago. But he had not been at it ever -since, for he had in the meantime seen a great deal of hard active service, -and obtained high military reputation. But he had again taken kindly to the -national sport of his country, on returning to his own estate at the close -of the Peninsular War; and had ever since attended the meets twice a week -through every winter, with fewer exceptions than any other member of the -hunt. He always wore top-boots of the ancient cut, with deep painted tops -and square toes, drawn tight up over the calf of his leg; a pair of most -capacious dark-coloured leather breeches, the origin of which was unknown -to any other present member of the hunt, and a red frock coat, very much -soiled by weather, water, and wear. The General was a rich man, and -therefore always had a horse to suit him. On the present occasion, he was -riding a strong brown beast, called Parsimony, that would climb over -anything, and creep down the gable end of a house if he were required to do -so. He was got by Economy; those who know county Mayo know the breed well. - -They were now all crowded into the large dining-room at Kelly's Court; -about five-and-twenty redcoats, and Mr Armstrong's rusty black. In spite of -his shabby appearance, however, and the fact that the greater number of -those around him were Roman Catholics, he seemed to be very popular with -the lot; and his opinion on the important subject of its being a scenting -morning was asked with as much confidence in his judgment, as though the -foxes of the country were peculiarly subject to episcopalian jurisdiction. - -'Well, then, Peter,' said he, 'the wind's in the right quarter. Mick says -there's a strong dog-fox in the long bit of gorse behind the firs; if he -breaks from that he must run towards Ballintubber, and when you're once -over the meering into Roscommon, there's not an acre of tilled land, unless -a herd's garden, between that and the deuce knows where all further than -most of you'll like to ride, I take it.' - -'How far'll you go yourself, Armstrong? Faith, I believe it's few of the -crack nags'll beat the old black pony at a long day.' - -'Is it I?' said the Parson, innocently. 'As soon as I've heard the dogs -give tongue, and seen them well on their game, I'll go home. I've land -ploughing, and I must look after that. But, as I was saying, if the fox -breaks well away from the gorse, you'll have the best run you've seen this -season; but if he dodges back into the plantation, you'll have enough to do -to make him break at all; and when he does, he'll go away towards -Ballyhaunis, through as cross a country as ever a horse put a shoe into.' - -And having uttered this scientific prediction, which was listened to with -the greatest deference by Peter Dillon, the Rev. Joseph Armstrong turned -his attention to the ham and tea. - -The three ladies were all smiles to meet their guests; Mrs O'Kelly, dressed -in a piece of satin turk, came forward to shake hands with the General, but -Sophy and Guss kept their positions, beneath the coffee-pot and tea-urn, at -each end of the long table, being very properly of opinion that it was the -duty of the younger part of the community to come forward, and make their -overtures to them. Bingham Blake, the cynosure on whom the eyes of the -beauty of county Mayo were most generally placed, soon found his seat -beside Guss, rather to Sophy's mortification; but Sophy was good-natured, -and when Peter Dillon placed himself at her right hand, she was quite -happy, though Peter's father was still alive, and Bingham's had been dead -this many a year and Castletown much in want of a mistress. - -'Now, Miss O'Kelly,' said Bingham, 'do let me manage the coffee-pot; the -cream-jug and sugar-tongs will be quite enough for your energies.' - -'Indeed and I won't, Mr Blake; you're a great deal too awkward, and a great -deal too hungry. The last hunt-morning you breakfasted here you threw the -coffee-grouts into the sugar-basin, when I let you help me.' - -'To think of your remembering that! but I'm improved since then. I've been -taking lessons with my old aunt at Castlebar.' - -'You don't mean you've really been staying with Lady Sarah?' - -'Oh, but I have, though. I was there three days; made tea every night; -washed the poodle every morning, and clear-starched her Sunday pelerine, -with my own hands on Saturday evening.' - -'Oh, what a useful animal! What a husband you'll make, when you're a little -more improved!' - -'Shan't I? As you're so fond of accomplishments, perhaps you'll take me -yourself by-and-by?' - -'Why, as you're so useful, maybe I may.' - -'Well, Lambert,' said Lord Ballindine, across the table, to the stingy -gentleman with the squint, 'are you going to ride hard today?' - -'I'll go bail I'm not much behind, my lord,' said Lambert; 'if the dogs go, -I'll follow.' - -'I'll bet you a crown, Lambert,' said his cousin, young Brown of Mount -Brown, 'the dogs kill, and you don't see them do it.' - -'Oh, that may be, and yet I mayn't be much behind.' - -'I'll bet you're not in the next field to them.' - -'Maybe you'll not be within ten fields yourself.' - -'Come, Lambert, I'll tell you what we'll ride together, and I'll bet you a -crown I pound you before you're over three leaps.' - -'Ah, now, take it easy with yourself,' said Lambert; 'there are others ride -better than you.' - -'But no one better than yourself; is that it, eh?' - -'Well, Jerry, how do the new articles fit?' said Nicholas Dillon. - -'Pretty well, thank you: they'd be a deal more comfortable though, if you'd -pay for them.' - -'Did you hear, Miss O'Kelly, what Jerry Blake did yesterday?' said Nicholas -Dillon aloud, across the table. - -'Indeed, I did not,' said Guss 'but I hope, for the sake of the Blakes in -general, he didn't do anything much amiss?' - -'I'll tell you then,' continued Nicholas. 'A portion of his ould hunting- -dress I'll not specify what, you know but a portion, which he'd been -wearing since the last election, were too shabby to show: well, he couldn't -catch a hedge tailor far or near, only poor lame Andy Oulahan, who was -burying his wife, rest her sowl, the very moment Jerry got a howld of him. -Well, Jerry was wild that the tailors were so scarce, so he laid his hands -on Andy, dragged him away from the corpse and all the illigant -enthertainment of the funeral, and never let him out of sight till he'd put -on the last button.' - -'Oh, Mr Blake!' said Guss, 'you did not take the man away from his dead -wife?' - -'Indeed I did not, Miss O'Kelly: Andy'd no such good chance; his wife's to -the fore this day, worse luck for him. It was only his mother he was -burying.' - -'But you didn't take him away from his mother's funeral?' - -'Oh, I did it according to law, you know. I got Bingham to give me a -warrant first, before I let the policeman lay a hand on him.' - -'Now, General, you've really made no breakfast at all,' said the hospitable -hostess: 'do let Guss give you a hot cup of coffee.' - -'Not a drop more, Mrs O'Kelly. I've done more than well; but, if you'll -allow me, I'll just take a crust of bread in my pocket.' - -'And what would you do that for? you'll be coming back to lunch, you know.' - -'Is it lunch, Mrs O'Kelly, pray don't think of troubling yourself to have -lunch on the table. Maybe we'll be a deal nearer Creamstown than Kelly's -Court at lunch time. But it's quite time we were off. As for Bingham Blake, -from the look of him, he's going to stay here with your daughter Augusta -all the morning.' - -'I believe then he'd much sooner be with the dogs, General, than losing his -time with her.' - -'Are you going to move at all, Ballindine,' said the impatient old -sportsman. 'Do you know what time it is? it'll be twelve o'clock before you -have the dogs in the cover.' - -'Very good time, too, General: men must eat, you know, and the fox won't -stir till we move him. But come, gentlemen, you seem to be dropping your -knives and forks. Suppose we get into our saddles?' - -And again the red-coats sallied out. Bingham gave Guss a tender squeeze, -which she all but returned, as she bade him take care and not go and kill -himself. Peter Dillon stayed to have a few last words with Sophy, and to -impress upon her his sister Nora's message, that she and her sister were to -be sure to come over on Friday to Ballyhaunis, and spend the night there. - -'We will, if we're let, tell Nora,' said Sophy; 'but now Frank's at home, -we must mind him, you know. - -'Make him bring you over: there'll be a bed for him; the old house is big -enough, heaven knows.' - -'Indeed it is. Well, I'll do my best; but tell Nora to be sure and get the -fiddler from Hollymount. It's so stupid for her to be sitting there at the -piano while we're dancing.' - -'I'll manage that; only do you bring Frank to dance with her,' and another -tender squeeze was given and Peter hurried out to the horses. - -And now they were all gone but the Parson. 'Mrs O'Kelly,' said he, 'Mrs -Armstrong wants a favour from you. Poor Minny's very bad with her throat; -she didn't get a wink of sleep last night.' - -'Dear me poor thing; Can I send her anything?' - -'If you could let them have a little black currant jelly, Mrs Armstrong -would be so thankful. She has so much to think of, and is so weak herself, -poor thing, she hasn't time to make those things.' - -'Indeed I will, Mr Armstrong. I'll send it down this morning; and a little -calf's foot jelly won't hurt her. It is in the house, and Mrs Armstrong -mightn't be able to get the feet, you know. Give them my love, and if I can -get out at all tomorrow, I'll go and see them.' - -And so the Parson, having completed his domestic embassy for the benefit of -his sick little girl, followed the others, keen for the hunt; and the three -ladies were left alone, to see the plate and china put away. - - - - -XXII THE HUNT - - -Though the majority of those who were in the habit of hunting with the -Kelly's Court hounds had been at the breakfast, here were still a -considerable number of horsemen waiting on the lawn in front of the house, -when Frank and his friends sallied forth. The dogs were collected round the -huntsman, behaving themselves, for the most part, with admirable propriety; -an occasional yelp from a young hound would now and then prove that the -whipper had his eye on them, and would not allow rambling; but the old dogs -sat demurely on their haunches, waiting the well-known signal for action. -There they sat, as grave as so many senators, with their large heads -raised, their heavy lips hanging from each side of their jaws, and their -deep, strong chests expanded so as to show fully their bone, muscle, and -breeding. - -Among the men who had arrived on the lawn during, breakfast were two who -certainly had not come together, and who had not spoken since they had been -there. They were Martin Kelly and Barry Lynch. Martin was dressed just as -usual, except that he had on a pair of spurs, but Barry was armed cap-a- -pie. Some time before his father's death he had supplied himself with all -the fashionable requisites for the field not because he was fond of -hunting, for he was not but in order to prove himself as much a gentleman -as other people. He had been out twice this year, but had felt very -miserable, for no one spoke to him, and he had gone home, on both -occasions, early in the day; but he had now made up his mind that he would -show himself to his old schoolfellow in his new character as an independent -country gentleman; and what was more, he was determined that Lord -Ballindine should not cut him. - -He very soon had an opportunity for effecting his purpose, for the moment -that Frank got on his horse, he unintentionally rode close up to him. - -'How d'ye do, my lord? I hope I see your lordship well?' said Barry, with a -clumsy attempt at ease and familiarity. 'I'm glad to find your lordship in -the field before the season's over.' - - -'Good morning, Mr Lynch,' said Frank, and was turning away from him, when, -remembering that he must have come from Dunmore, he asked, 'did you see -Martin Kelly anywhere?' - -'Can't say I did, my lord,' said Barry, and he turned away completely -silenced, and out of countenance. - -Martin had been talking to the huntsman, and criticizing the hounds. He -knew every dog's name, character, and capabilities, and also every horse in -Lord Ballindine's stable, and was consequently held in great respect by -Mick Keogh and his crew. - -And now the business began. 'Mick,' said the lord, 'we'll take them down to -the young plantation, and bring them back through the firs and so into the -gorse. If the lad's lying there, we must hit him that way.' - -'That's thrue for yer honer, my lord;' and he started off with his obedient -family. - -'You're wrong, Ballindine,' said the Parson; 'for you'll drive him up into -the big plantation, and you'll be all day before you make him break; and -ten to one they'll chop him in the cover.' - -'Would you put them into the gorse at once then?' - -'Take 'em gently through the firs; maybe he's lying out and down into the -gorse, and then, if he's there, he must go away, and into a tip-top country -too miles upon miles of pasture right away to Ballintubber,' - -'That's thrue, too, my lord: let his Rivirence alone for understandhing a -fox,' said Mick, with a wink. - -The Parson's behests were obeyed. The hounds followed Mick into the -plantation, and were followed by two or three of the more eager of the -party, who did not object to receiving wet boughs in their laces, or who -delighted in riding for half an hour with their heads bowed close down over -their saddle-bows. The rest remained with the whipper, outside. - -'Stay a moment here, Martin,' said Lord Ballindine. They can't get away -without our seeing them, and I want to speak a few words to you.' - -'And I want particularly to spake to your lordship,' said Martin; 'and -there's no fear of the fox! I never knew a fox lie in those firs yet.' - -'Nor I either, but you see the Parson would have his way. I suppose, if the -priest were out, and he told you to run the dogs through the gooseberry- -bushes, you'd do it?' - -'I'm blessed if I would, my lord! Every man to his trade. Not but what Mr -Armstrong knows pretty well what he's about.' - -'Well but, Martin, I'll tell you what I want of you. I want a little money, -without bothering those fellows up in Dublin; and I believe you could let -me have it; at any rate, you and your mother together. Those fellows at -Guinness's are stiff about it, and I want three hundred pounds, without -absolutely telling them that they must give it me I'd give you my bill for -the amount at twelve months, and, allow you six per cent.; but then I want -it immediately. Can you let me have it?' - -'Why, my lord,' said Martin, after pausing awhile and looking very -contemplative during the time, 'I certainly have the money; that is, I and -mother together; but ' - -'Oh, if you've any doubt about it or if it puts you out, don't do it.' - -'Divil a doubt on 'arth, my lord; but I'll tell you I was just going to ask -your lordship's advice about laying out the same sum in another way, and I -don't think I could raise twice that much.' - -'Very well, Martin; if you've anything better to do with your money, I'm -sure I'd be sorry to take it from you.' - -'That's jist it, my lord. I don't think I can do betther but I want your -advice about it.' - -'My advice whether you ought to lend me three hundred pounds or not! Why, -Martin, you're a fool. I wouldn't ask you to lend it me, if I thought you -oughtn't to lend it.' - -'Oh I'm certain sure of that, my lord; but there's an offer made me, that -I'd like to have your lordship's mind about. It's not much to my liking, -though; and I think it'll be betther for me to be giving you the money,' -and then Martin told his landlord the offer which had been made to him by -Daly, on the part of Barry Lynch. 'You see, my lord,' he concluded by -saying, 'it'd be a great thing to be shut of Barry entirely out of the -counthry, and to have poor Anty's mind at ase about it, should she iver -live to get betther; but thin, I don't like to have dailings with the -divil, or any one so much of his colour as Barry Lynch.' - -'This is a very grave matter, Martin, and takes some little time to think -about. To tell the truth, I forgot your matrimonial speculation when I -asked for the money. Though I want the cash, I think you should keep it in -your power to close with Barry: no, you'd better keep the money by you.' - -'After all, the ould woman could let me have it on the security of the -house, you know, av' I did take up with the offer. So, any way, your -lordship needn't be balked about the cash.' - -'But is Miss Lynch so very ill, Martin?' - -''Deed, and she is, Mr Frank; very bad intirely. Doctor Colligan was with -her three times yestherday.' - -'And does Barry take any notice of her now she's ill?' - -'Why, not yet he didn't; but then, we kept it from him as much as we could, -till it got dangerous like. Mother manes to send Colligan to him today, av' -he thinks she's not betther.' - -'If she were to die, Martin, there'd be an end of it all, wouldn't there?' - -'Oh, in course there would, my lord' and then he added, with a sigh, 'I'd -be sorry she'd die, for, somehow, I'm very fond of her, quare as it'll seem -to you. I'd be very sorry she should die.' - -'Of course you would, Martin; and it doesn't seem queer at all.' - -'Oh, I wasn't thinking about the money, then, my lord; I was only thinking -of Anty herself: you don't know what a good young woman she is it's -anything but herself she's thinking of always.' - -'Did she make any will?' - -"Deed she didn't, my lord: nor won't, it's my mind.' - -'Ah! but she should, after all that you and your mother've gone through. -It'd be a thousand pities that wretch Barry got all the property again.' - -'He's wilcome to it for the Kellys, av' Anty dies. But av' she lives he -shall niver rob a penny from her. Oh, my lord! we wouldn't put sich a thing -as a will into her head, and she so bad, for all the money the ould man -their father iver had. But, hark! my lord that's Gaylass, I know the note -well, and she's as true as gould: there's the fox there, just inside the -gorse, as the Parson said' and away they both trotted, to the bottom of the -plantation, from whence the cheering sound of the dog's voices came, sharp, -sweet, and mellow. - -Yes; the Parson was as right as if he had been let into the fox's -confidence overnight, and had betrayed it in the morning. Gaylass was -hardly in the gorse before she discovered the doomed brute's vicinity, and -told of it to the whole canine confraternity. Away from his hiding-place he -went, towards the open country, but immediately returned into the covert, -for he saw a lot of boys before him, who had assembled with the object of -looking at the hunt, but with the very probable effect of spoiling it; for, -as much as a fox hates a dog, he fears the human race more, and will run -from an urchin with a stick into the jaws of his much more fatal enemy. - -'As long as them blackguards is there, a hollowing, and a screeching, divil -a fox in all Ireland'd go out of this,' said Mick to his master. - -'Ah, boys,' said Frank, riding up, 'if you want to see a hunt, will you -keep back!' - -'Begorra we will, yer honer,' said one. - -'Faix we wouldn't be afther spiling your honer's divarsion, my lord, on no -account,' said another. - -'We'll be out o' this althogether, now this blessed minute,' said a third, -but still there they remained, each loudly endeavouring to banish the -others. - -At last, however, the fox saw a fair course before him, and away he went; -and with very little start, for the dogs followed him out of the covert -almost with a view. - -And now the men settled themselves to the work, and began to strive for the -pride of place, at least the younger portion of them: for in every field -there are two classes of men. Those, who go out to get the greatest -possible quantity of riding, and those whose object is to get the least. -Those who go to work their nags, and those who go to spare them. The former -think that the excellence of the hunt depends on the horses; the latter, on -the dogs. The former go to act, and the latter to see. And it is very -generally the case that the least active part of the community know the -most about the sport. - -They, the less active part above alluded to, know every high-road and bye- -road; they consult the wind, and calculate that a fox won't run with his -nose against it; they remember this stream and this bog, and avoid them; -they are often at the top of eminences, and only descend when they see -which way the dogs are going; they take short cuts, and lay themselves out -for narrow lanes; they dislike galloping, and eschew leaping; and yet, when -a hard-riding man is bringing up his two hundred guinea hunter, a minute or -two late for the finish, covered with foam, trembling with his exertion, -not a breath left in him he'll probably find one of these steady fellows -there before him, mounted on a broken-down screw, but as cool and as fresh -as when he was brought out of the stable; and what is, perhaps, still more -amazing, at the end of the day, when the hunt is canvassed after dinner, -our dashing friend, who is in great doubt whether his thoroughbred -steeplechaser will ever recover his day's work, and who has been personally -administering warm mashes and bandages before he would venture to take his -own boots off, finds he does not know half as much about the hunt, or can -tell half as correctly where the game went, as our, quiet-going friend, -whose hack will probably go out on the following morning under the car, -with the mistress and children. Such a one was Parson Armstrong; and when -Lord Ballindine and most of the others went away after the hounds, he -coolly turned round in a different direction, crept through a broken wall -into a peasant's garden, and over a dunghill, by the cabin door into a -road, and then trotted along as demurely and leisurely as though he were -going to bury an old woman in the next parish. - -Frank was, generally speaking, as good-natured a man as is often met, but -even he got excited and irritable when hunting his own pack. All masters of -hounds do. Some one was always too forward, another too near the dogs, a -third interfering with the servants, and a fourth making too much noise. - -'Confound it, Peter,' he said, when they had gone over a field or two, and -the dogs missed the scent for a moment, 'I thought at any rate you knew -better than to cross the dogs that way.' - -'Who crossed the dogs?' said the other 'what nonsense you're talking: why I -wasn't out of the potato-field till they were nearly all at the next wall.' - -'Well, it may be nonsense,' continued Frank; 'but when I see a man riding -right through the hounds, and they hunting, I call that crossing them.' - -'Hoicks! Tally' hollowed some one 'there's Graceful has it again well done, -Granger! Faith, Frank, that's a good dog! if he's not first, he's always -second.' - -'Now, gentlemen, steady, for heaven's sake. Do let the dogs settle to their -work before you're a-top of them. Upon my soul, Nicholas Brown, it's -ridiculous to see you!' - -'It'd be a good thing if he were half as much in a hurry to get to heaven,' -said Bingham Blake. - -'Thank'ee,' said Nicholas; 'go to heaven yourself. I'm well enough where I -am.' - -And now they were off again. In the next field the whole pack caught a view -of the fox just as he was stealing out; and after him they went, with their -noses well above the ground, their voices loud and clear, and in one bevy. - -Away they went: the game was strong; the scent was good; the ground was -soft, but not too soft; and a magnificent hunt they had; but there were -some misfortunes shortly after getting away. Barry Lynch, wishing, in his -ignorance, to lead and show himself off, and not knowing how scurrying -along among the dogs, and bothered at every leap, had given great offence -to Lord Ballindine. But, not wishing to speak severely to a man whom he -would not under any circumstances address in a friendly way, he talked at -him, and endeavoured to bring him to order by blowing up others in his -hearing. But this was thrown away on Barry, and he continued his career in -a most disgusting manner; scrambling through gaps together with the dogs, -crossing other men without the slightest reserve, annoying every one, and -evidently pluming himself on his performance. Frank's brow was getting -blacker and blacker. Jerry Blake and young Brown were greatly amusing -themselves at the exhibition, and every now and then gave him a word or two -of encouragement, praising his mare, telling how well he got over that last -fence, and bidding him mind and keep well forward. This was all new to -Barry, and he really began to feel himself in his element if it hadn't been -for those abominable walls, he would have enjoyed himself. But this was too -good to last, and before very long he made a faux pas, which brought down -on him in a torrent the bottled-up wrath of the viscount. - -They had been galloping across a large, unbroken sheep-walk, which exactly -suited Barry's taste, and he had got well forward towards the hounds. Frank -was behind, expostulating with Jerry Blake and the others for encouraging -him, when the dogs came to a small stone wall about two feet and a half -high. In this there was a broken gap, through which many of them crept. -Barry also saw this happy escape from the grand difficulty of jumping, and, -ignorant that if he rode the gap at all, he should let the hounds go first, -made for it right among them, in spite of Frank's voice, now raised loudly -to caution him. The horse the man rode knew his business better than -himself, and tried to spare the dogs which were under his feet; but, in -getting out, he made a slight spring, and came down on the haunches of a -favourite young hound called 'Goneaway'; he broke the leg close to the -socket, and the poor beast most loudly told his complaint. - -This was too much to be borne, and Frank rode up red with passion; and a -lot of others, including the whipper, soon followed. - -'He has killed the dog!' said he. 'Did you ever see such a clumsy, ignorant -fool? Mr Lynch, if you'd do me the honour to stay away another day, and -amuse yourself in any other way, I should be much obliged.' - -much obliged.' ' - -'It wasn't my fault then,' said Barry. - -'Do you mean to give me the lie, sir?' replied Frank. - -'The dog got under the horse's feet. How was I to help it?' - -There was a universal titter at this, which made Barry wish himself at home -again, with his brandy-bottle. - -'Ah! sir,' said Frank; 'you're as fit to ride a hunt as you are to do -anything else which gentlemen usually do. May I trouble you to make -yourself scarce? Your horse, I see, can't carry you much farther, and if -you'll take my advice, you'll go home, before you're ridden over yourself. -Well, Martin, is the bone broken?' - -Martin had got off his horse, and was kneeling down beside the poor hurt -brute. 'Indeed it is, my lord, in two places. You'd better let Tony kill -him; he has an awful sprain in the back, as well; he'll niver put a foot to -the ground again.' - -'By heavens, that's too bad! isn't it Bingham? He was, out and out, the -finest puppy we entered last year.' - -'What can you expect,' said Bingham, 'when such fellows as that come into a -field? He's as much business here as a cow in a drawing-room.' - -'But what can we do? one can't turn him off the land; if he chooses to -come, he must.' - -'Why, yes,' said Bingham, 'if he will come he must. But then, if he insists -on doing so, he may be horsewhipped; he may be ridden over; he may be -kicked; and he may be told that he's a low, vulgar, paltry scoundrel; and, -if he repeats his visits, that's the treatment he'll probably receive.' - -Barry was close to both the speakers, and of course heard, and was intended -to hear, every word that was said. He contented himself, however, with -muttering certain inaudible defiances, and was seen and heard of no more -that day. - -The hunt was continued, and the fox was killed; but Frank and those with -him saw but little more of it. However, as soon as directions were given -for the death of poor Goneaway, they went on, and received a very -satisfactory account of the proceedings from those who had seen the finish. -As usual, the Parson was among the number, and he gave them a most detailed -history, not only of the fox's proceedings during the day, but also of all -the reasons which actuated the animal, in every different turn he took. - -'I declare, Armstrong,' said Peter Dillon, 'I think you were a fox -yourself, once! Do you remember anything about it?' - -'What a run he would give!' said Jerry; 'the best pack that was ever -kennelled wouldn't have a chance with him.' - -'Who was that old chap,' said Nicholas Dillon, showing off his classical -learning, 'who said that dead animals always became something else? maybe -it's only in the course of nature for a dead fox to become a live parson.' - -'Exactly: you've hit it,' said Armstrong; 'and, in the same way, the moment -the breath is out of a goose it becomes an idle squireen, and, generally -speaking, a younger brother.' - -'Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Nick,' said Jerry; 'and take care how -you meddle with the Church again.' - -'Who saw anything of Lambert Brown?' said another; 'I left him bogged below -there at Gurtnascreenagh, and all he could do, the old grey horse wouldn't -move a leg to get out for him.' - -'Oh, he's there still,' said Nicholas. 'He was trying to follow me, and I -took him there on purpose. It's not deep, and he'll do no hurt: he'll keep -as well there, as anywhere else.' - -'Nonsense, Dillon!' said the General 'you'll make his brother really angry, -if you go on that way. If the man's a fool, leave him in his folly, but -don't be playing tricks on him. You'll only get yourself into a quarrel -with the family.' - -'And how shall we manage about the money, my lord?' said Martin, as he drew -near the point at which he would separate from the rest, to ride towards -Dunmore. 'I've been thinking about it, and there's no doubt about having it -for you on Friday, av that'll suit.' - -'That brother-in-law of yours is a most unmitigated blackguard, isn't he, -Martin?' said Frank, who was thinking more about poor Goneaway than the -money. - -'He isn't no brother-in-law of mine yet, and probably niver will be, for -I'm afeard poor Anty'll go. But av he iver is, he'll soon take himself out -of the counthry, and be no more throuble to your lordship or any of us.' - -'But to think of his riding right a-top of the poor brute, and then saying -that the dog got under his horse's feet! Why, he's a fool as well as a -knave. Was he ever out before?' - -'Well, then, I believe he was, twice this year; though I didn't see him -myself.' - -'Then I hope this'll be the last time: three times is quite enough for such -a fellow as that.' - -'I don't think he'll be apt to show again afther what you and Mr Bingham -said to him. Well, shure, Mr Bingham was very hard on him!' - -'Serve him right; nothing's too bad for him.' - -'Oh, that's thrue for you, my lord: I don't pity him one bit. But about the -money, and this job of my own. Av it wasn't asking too much, it'd be a -great thing av your lordship'd see Daly.' - -It was then settled that Lord Ballindine should ride over to Dunmore on the -following Friday, and if circumstances seemed to render it advisable, that -he and Martin should go on together to the attorney at Tuam. - - - - -XXIII DOCTOR COLLIGAN - - -Doctor Colligan, the Galen of Dunmore, though a practitioner of most -unprepossessing appearance and demeanour, was neither ignorant nor -careless. Though for many years he had courted the public in vain, his -neighbours had at last learned to know and appreciate him; and, at the time -of Anty's illness, the inhabitants of three parishes trusted their -corporeal ailments to his care, with comfort to themselves and profit to -him. Nevertheless, there were many things about Doctor Colligan not -calculated to inspire either respect or confidence. He always seemed a -little afraid of his patient, and very much afraid of his patient's -friends: he was always dreading the appearance at Dunmore of one of those -young rivals, who had lately established themselves at Tuam on one side, -and Hollymount on the other; and, to prevent so fatal a circumstance, was -continually trying to be civil and obliging to his customers. He would not -put on a blister, or order a black dose, without consulting with the lady -of the house, and asking permission of the patient, and consequently had -always an air of doubt and indecision. Then, he was excessively dirty in -his person and practice: he carried a considerable territory beneath his -nails; smelt equally strongly of the laboratory and the stable; would wipe -his hands on the patient's sheets, and wherever he went left horrid marks -of his whereabouts: he was very fond of good eating and much drinking, and -would neglect the best customer that ever was sick, when tempted by the -fascination of a game of loo. He was certainly a bad family-man; for though -he worked hard for the support of his wife and children, he was little -among them, paid them no attention, and felt no scruple in assuring Mrs C. -that he had been obliged to remain up all night with that dreadful Mrs -Jones, whose children were always so tedious; or that Mr Blake was so bad -after his accident that he could not leave him for a moment; when, to tell -the truth, the Doctor had passed the night with the cards in his hands, and -a tumbler of punch beside him. - -He was a tall, thick-set, heavy man, with short black curly hair; was a -little bald at the top of his head; and looked always as though he had -shaved himself the day before yesterday, and had not washed since. His face -was good-natured, but heavy and unintellectual. He was ignorant of -everything but his profession, and the odds on the card-table or the race- -course. But to give him his due, on these subjects he was not ignorant; and -this was now so generally known that, in dangerous cases, Doctor Colligan -had been sent for, many, many miles. - -This was the man who attended poor Anty in her illness, and he did as much -for her as could be done; but it was a bad case, and Doctor Colligan -thought it would be fatal. She had intermittent fever, and was occasionally -delirious; but it was her great debility between the attacks which he -considered so dangerous. - -On the morning after the hunt, he told Martin that he greatly feared she -would go off, from exhaustion, in a few days, and that it would be wise to -let Barry know the state in which his sister was. There was a consultation -on the subject between the two and Martin's mother, in which it was agreed -that the Doctor should go up to Dunmore House, and tell Barry exactly the -state of affairs. - -'And good news it'll be for him,' said Mrs Kelly; 'the best he heard since -the ould man died. Av he had his will of her, she'd niver rise from the bed -where she's stretched. But, glory be to God, there's a providence over all, -and maybe she'll live yet to give him the go-by.' - -'How you talk, mother,' said Martin; 'and what's the use? Whatever he -wishes won't harum her; and maybe, now she's dying, his heart'll be -softened to her. Any way, don't let him have to say she died here, without -his hearing a word how bad she was.' - -'Maybe he'd be afther saying we murdhered her for her money,' said the -widow, with a shudder. - -'He can hardly complain of that, when he'll be getting all the money -himself. But, however, it's much betther, all ways, that Doctor Colligan -should see him.' - -'You know, Mrs Kelly,' said the Doctor, 'as a matter of course he'll be -asking to see his sister.' - -'You wouldn't have him come in here to her, would you? Faix, Doctor -Colligan, it'll be her death out right at once av he does.' - -'It'd not be nathural, to refuse to let him see her,' said the Doctor; 'and -I don't think it would do any harm: but I'll be guided by you, Mrs Kelly, -in what I say to him.' - -'Besides,' said Martin, 'I know Anty would wish to see him: he is her -brother; and there's only the two of 'em.' - -'Between you be it,' said the widow; 'I tell you I don't like it. You -neither of you know Barry Lynch, as well as I do; he'd smother her av it -come into his head.' - -'Ah, mother, nonsense now; hould your tongue; you don't know what you're -saying.' - -'Well; didn't he try to do as bad before?' - -'It wouldn't do, I tell you,' continued Martin, 'not to let him see her; -that is, av Anty wishes it.' - -It ended in the widow being sent into Anty's room, to ask her whether she -had any message to send to her brother. The poor girl knew how ill she was, -and expected her death; and when the widow told her that Doctor Colligan -was going to call on her brother, she said that she hoped she should see -Barry once more before all was over. - -'Mother,' said Martin, as soon as the Doctor's back was turned, 'you'll get -yourself in a scrape av you go on saying such things as that about folk -before strangers.' - - 'Is it about Barry?' - -'Yes; about Barry. How do you know Colligan won't be repating all them -things to him?' - -'Let him, and wilcome. Shure wouldn't I say as much to Barry Lynch himself? -What do I care for the blagguard? only this, I wish I'd niver heard his -name, or seen his foot over the sill of the door. I'm sorry I iver heard -the name of the Lynches in Dunmore.' - -'You're not regretting the throuble Anty is to you, mother?' - -'Regretting? I don't know what you mane by regretting. I don't know is it -regretting to be slaving as much and more for her than I would for my own, -and no chance of getting as much as thanks for it.' - -'You'll be rewarded hereafther, mother; shure won't it all go for charity?' - -'I'm not so shure of that,' said the widow. 'It was your schaming to get -her money brought her here, and, like a poor wake woman, as I was, I fell -into it; and now we've all the throuble and the expinse, and the time lost, -and afther all, Barry'll be getting everything when she's gone. You'll see, -Martin; we'll have the wake, and the funeral, and the docthor and all, on -us mind my words else. Och musha, musha! what'll I do at all? Faix, forty -pounds won't clear what this turn is like to come to; an' all from your -dirthy undherhand schaming ways.' - -In truth, the widow was perplexed in her inmost soul about Anty; torn and -tortured by doubts and anxieties. Her real love of Anty and true charity -was in state of battle with her parsimony; and then, avarice was strong -within her; and utter, uncontrolled hatred of Barry still stronger. But, -opposed to these was dread of some unforeseen evil some tremendous law -proceedings: she had a half-formed idea that she was doing what she had no -right to do, and that she might some day be walked off to Galway assizes. -Then again, she had an absurd pride about it, which often made her declare -that she'd never be beat by such a 'scum of the 'arth' as Barry Lynch, and -that she'd fight it out with him if it cost her a hundred pounds; though no -one understood what the battle was which she was to fight. - -Just before Anty's illness had become so serious, Daly called, and had -succeeded in reconciling both Martin and the widow to himself; but he had -not quite made them agree to his proposal. The widow, indeed, was much -averse to it. She wouldn't deal with such a Greek as Barry, even in the -acceptance of a boon. When she found him willing to compromise, she became -more than ever averse to any friendly terms; but now the whole ground was -slipping from under her feet. Anty was dying: she would have had her -trouble for nothing; and that hated Barry would gain his point, and the -whole of his sister's property, in triumph. - -Twenty times the idea of a will had come into her mind, and how comfortable -it would be if Anty would leave her property, or at any rate a portion of -it, to Martin. But though the thoughts of such a delightful arrangement -kept her in a continual whirlwind of anxiety, she never hinted at the -subject to Anty. As she said to herself, 'a Kelly wouldn't demane herself -to ask a brass penny from a Lynch.' She didn't even speak to her daughters -about it, though the continual twitter she was in made them aware that -there was some unusual burthen on her mind. - -It was not only to the Kellys that the idea occurred that Anty in her -illness might make a will. The thoughts of such a catastrophe had robbed -Barry of half the pleasure which the rumours of his sister's dangerous -position had given him. He had not received any direct intimation of Anty's -state, but had heard through the servants that she was ill very -ill dangerously 'not expected,' as the country people call it; and each -fresh rumour gave him new hopes, and new life. He now spurned all idea of -connexion with Martin; he would trample on the Kellys for thinking of such -a thing: he would show Daly, when in the plenitude of his wealth and power, -how he despised the lukewarmness and timidity of his councils. These and -other delightful visions were floating through his imagination; when, all -of a sudden, like a blow, like a thunderbolt, the idea of a will fell as it -were upon him with a ton weight. His heart sunk low within him; he became -white, and his jaw dropped. After all, there were victory and triumph, -plunder and wealth, his wealth, in the very hands of his enemies! Of course -the Kellys would force her to make a will, if she didn't do it of her own -accord; if not, they'd forge one. There was some comfort in that thought: -he could at any rate contest the will, and swear that it was a forgery. - -He swallowed a dram, and went off, almost weeping to Daly. - -'Oh, Mr Daly, poor Anty's dying: did you hear, Mr Daly she's all but gone?' -Yes; Daly had been sorry to hear that Miss Lynch was very ill. 'What shall -I do,' continued Barry, 'if they say that she's left a will?' - -'Go and hear it read. Or, if you don't like to do that yourself, stay away, -and let me hear it.' - -'But they'll forge one! They'll make out what they please, and when she's -dying, they'll make her put her name to it; or they'll only just put the -pen in her hand, when she's not knowing what she's doing. They'd do -anything now, Daly, to get the money they've been fighting for so hard.' - -'It's my belief,' answered the attorney, 'that the Kellys not only won't do -anything dishonest, but that they won't even take any unfair advantage of -you. But at any rate you can do nothing. You must wait patiently; you, at -any rate, can take no steps till she's dead.' - -'But couldn't she make a will in my favour? I know she'd do it if I asked -her if I asked her now now she's going off, you know. I'm sure she'd do it. -Don't you think she would?' - - 'You're safer, I think, to let it alone,' said Daly, who could hardly -control the ineffable disgust he felt. - -'I don't know that,' continued Barry. 'She's weak, and'll do what she's -asked: besides, they'll make her do it. Fancy if, when she's gone, I find I -have to share everything with those people!' And he struck his forehead and -pushed the hair off his perspiring face, as he literally shook with -despair. 'I must see her, Daly. I'm quite sure she'll make a will if I beg -her; they can't hinder me seeing my own, only, dying sister; can they, -Daly? And when I'm once there, I'll sit with her, and watch till it's all -over. I'm sure, now she's ill, I'd do anything for her.' - -Daly said nothing, though Barry paused for him to reply. 'Only about the -form,' continued he, 'I wouldn't know what to put. By heavens, Daly! you -must come with me. You can be up at the house, and I can have you down at a -minute's warning.' Daly utterly declined, but Barry continued to press him. -'But you must, Daly; I tell you I know I'm right. I know her so well she'll -do it at once for the sake for the sake of You know she is my own sister, -and all that and she thinks so much of that kind of thing. I'll tell you -what, Daly; upon my honour and soul,' and he repeated the words in a most -solemn tone, 'if you'll draw the will, and she signs it, so that I come in -for the whole thing and I know she will I'll make over fifty ay, seventy -pounds a year for you for ever and ever. I will, as I live.' - -The interview ended by the attorney turning Barry Lynch into the street, -and assuring him that if he ever came into his office again, on any -business whatsoever, he would unscrupulously kick him out. So ended, also, -the connexion between the two; for Daly never got a farthing for his -labour. Indeed, after all that had taken place, he thought it as well not -to trouble his çi-devant client with a bill. Barry went home, and of course -got drunk. - -When Doctor Colligan called on Lynch, he found that he was not at home. He -was at that very moment at Tuam, with the attorney. The doctor repeated his -visit later in the afternoon, but Barry had still not returned, and he -therefore left word that he would call early after breakfast the following -morning. He did so; and, after waiting half an hour in the dining-room, -Barry, only half awake and half dressed, and still half drunk, came down to -him. - -The doctor, with a long face, delivered his message, and explained to him -the state in which his sister was lying; assured him that everything in the -power of medicine had been and should be done; that, nevertheless, he -feared the chance of recovery was remote; and ended by informing him that -Miss Lynch was aware of her danger, and had expressed a wish to see him -before it might be too late. Could he make it convenient to come over just -now in half an hour or say an hour? said the doctor, looking at the red -face and unfinished toilet of the distressed brother. - -Barry at first scarcely knew what reply to give. On his return from Tuam, -he had determined that he would at any rate make his way into his sister's -room, and, as he thought to himself, see what would come of it. In his -after-dinner courage he had further determined, that he would treat the -widow and her family with a very high hand, if they dared to make objection -to his seeing his sister; but now, when the friendly overture came from -Anty herself, and was brought by one of the Kelly faction, he felt himself -a little confounded, as though he rather dreaded the interview, and would -wish to put it off for a day or two. - -'Oh, yes certainly, Doctor Colligan; to be sure that is tell me, doctor, -is she really so bad?' - -'Indeed, Mr Lynch, she is very weak.' - -'But, doctor, you don't think there is any chance I mean, there isn't any -danger, is there, that she'd go off at once?' - -'Why, no, I don't think there is; indeed, I have no doubt she will hold out -a fortnight yet.' - -'Then, perhaps, doctor, I'd better put it off till tomorrow; I'll tell you -why: there's a person I wish ' - -'Why, Mr Lynch, today would be better. The fever's periodical, you see, and -will be on her again tomorrow ' - -'I beg your pardon, Doctor Colligan,' said Barry, of a sudden remembering -to be civil, 'but you'll take a glass of wine?' - -'Not a drop, thank ye, of anything.' - -'Oh, but you will;' and Barry rang the bell and had the wine brought. 'And -you expect she'll have another attack tomorrow?' - -'That's a matter of course, Mr Lynch; the fever'll come on her again -tomorrow. Every attack leaves her weaker and weaker, and we fear she'll go -off, before it leaves her altogether.' - -'Poor thing!' said Barry, contemplatively. - -'We had her head shaved,' said the doctor. - -'Did you, indeed!' answered Barry. 'She was my favourite sister, Doctor -Colligan that is, I had no other.' - -'I believe not,' said Doctor Colligan, looking sympathetic. - -'Take another glass of wine, doctor? now do,' and he poured out another -bumper. - -'Thank'ee, Mr Lynch, thank'ee; not a drop more. And you'll be over in an -hour then? I'd better go and tell her, that she may be prepared, you know,' -and the doctor returned to the sick room of his patient. - -Barry remained standing in the parlour, looking at the glasses and the -decanter, as though he were speculating on the manner in which they had -been fabricated. 'She may recover, after all,' thought he to himself. -'She's as strong as a horse I know her better than they do. I know she'll -recover, and then what shall I do? Stand to the offer Daly made to Kelly, I -suppose!' And then he sat down close to the table, with his elbow on it, -and his chin resting on his hand; and there he remained, full of thought. -To tell the truth, Barry Lynch had never thought more intensely than he did -during those ten minutes. At last he jumped up suddenly, as though -surprised at what had been passing within himself; he looked hastily at the -door and at the window, as though to see that he had not been watched, and -then went upstairs to dress himself, preparatory to his visit to the inn. - - - - -XXIV ANTY LYNCH'S BED-SIDE SCENE THE FIRST - - -Anty had borne her illness with that patience and endurance which were so -particularly inherent in her nature. She had never complained; and had -received the untiring attentions and care of her two young friends, with a -warmth of affection and gratitude which astonished them, accustomed as they -had been in every little illness to give and receive that tender care with -which sickness is treated in affectionate families. When ill, they felt -they had a right to be petulant, and to complain; to exact, and to he -attended to: they had been used to it from each other, and thought it an -incidental part of the business. But Anty had hitherto had no one to nurse -her, and she looked on Meg and Jane as kind ministering angels, emulous as -they were to relieve her wants and ease her sufferings. - -Her thin face had become thinner, and was very pale; her head had been -shaved close, and there was nothing between the broad white border of her -nightcap and her clammy brow and wan cheek. But illness was more becoming -to Anty than health; it gave her a melancholy and beautiful expression of -resignation, which, under ordinary circumstances, was wanting to her -features, though not to her character. Her eyes were brighter than they -usually were, and her complexion was clear, colourless, and transparent. I -do not mean to say that Anty in her illness was beautiful, but she was no -longer plain; and even to the young Kellys, whose feelings and sympathies -cannot be supposed to have been of the highest order, she became an object -of the most intense interest, and the warmest affection. - -'Well, doctor,' she said, as Doctor Colligan crept into her room, after the -termination of his embassy to Barry; 'will he come?' - -'Oh, of course he will; why wouldn't he, and you wishing it? He'll be here -in an hour, Miss Lynch. He wasn't just ready to come over with me.' - -'I'm glad of that,' said Anty, who felt that she had to collect her -thoughts before she saw him; and then, after a moment, she added, 'Can't I -take my medicine now, doctor?' - -'Just before he comes you'd better have it, I think. One of the girls will -step up and give it you when he's below. He'll want to speak a word or so -to Mrs Kelly before he comes up.' - -'Spake to me, docthor!' said the widow, alarmed. 'What'll he be spaking to -me about? Faix, I had spaking enough with him last time he was here.' - -'You'd better just see him, Mrs Kelly,' whispered the, doctor. 'You'll find -him quiet enough, now; just take him fair and asy; keep him downstairs a -moment, while Jane gives her the medicine. She'd better take it just before -he goes to her, and don't let him stay long, whatever you do. I'll be back -before the evening's over; not that I think that she'll want me to see her, -but I'll just drop in.' - -'Are you going, doctor?' said Anty, as he stepped up to the bed. He told -her he was. 'You've told Mrs Kelly, haven't you, that I'm to see Barry -alone?' - -'Why, I didn't say so,' said the doctor, looking at the widow; 'but I -suppose there'll be no harm eh, Mrs Kelly?' - -'You must let me see him alone, dear Mrs Kelly!' - -'If Doctor Colligan thinks you ought, Anty dear, I wouldn't stay in the -room myself for worlds.' - -'But you won't keep him here long, Miss Lynch eh? And you won't excite -yourself? indeed, you mustn't. You'll allow them fifteen minutes, Mrs -Kelly, not more, and then you'll come up;' and with these cautions, the -doctor withdrew. - -'I wish he was come and gone,' said the widow to her elder daughter. 'Well; -av I'd known all what was to follow, I'd niver have got out of my warm bed -to go and fetch Anty Lynch down here that cowld morning! Well, I'll be wise -another time. Live and lam, they say, and it's thrue, too.' - -'But, mother, you ain't wishing poor Anty wasn't here?' - -'Indeed, but I do; everything to give and nothin to get that's not the way -I have managed to live. But it's not that altogether, neither. I'm not -begrudging Anty anything for herself; but that I'd be dhriven to let that -blagguard of a brother of hers into the house, and that as a frind like, is -what I didn't think I'd ever have put upon me!' - -Barry made his appearance about an hour after the time at which they had -begun to expect him; and as soon as Meg saw him, one of them flew upstairs, -to tell Anty and give her her tonic. Barry had made himself quite a dandy -to do honour to the occasion of paying probably a parting visit to his -sister, whom he had driven out of her own house to die at the inn. He had -on his new blue frock-coat, and a buff waistcoat with gilt buttons, over -which his watch-chain was gracefully arranged. His pantaloons were strapped -clown very tightly over his polished boots; a shining new silk hat was on -one side of his head; and in his hand he was dangling an ebony cane. In -spite, however, of all these gaudy trappings, he could not muster up an -easy air; and, as he knocked, he had that look proverbially attributed to -dogs who are going to be hung. - -Sally opened the door for him, and the widow, who had come out from the -shop, made him a low courtesy in the passage. - -'Oh ah yes Mrs Kelly, I believe?' said Barry. - -'Yes, Mr Lynch, that's my name; glory be to God!' - -'My sister, Miss Lynch, is still staying here, I believe?' - -'Why, drat it, man; wasn't Dr Colligan with you less than an hour ago, -telling you you must come here, av you wanted to see her?' - -'You'll oblige me by sending up the servant to tell Miss Lynch I'm here.' - -'Walk up here a minute, and I'll do that errand for you myself. Well,' -continued she, muttering to herself 'for him to ax av she war staying here, -as though he didn't know it! There niver was his ditto for desait, maneness -and divilry!' - -A minute or two alter the widow had left him, Barry found himself by his -sister's bed-side, but never had he found himself in a position for which -he was less fitted, or which was less easy to him. He assumed, however, a -long and solemn face, and crawling up to the bed-side, told his sister, in -a whining voice, that he was very glad to see her. - -'Sit down, Barry, sit down,' said Anty, stretching out her thin pale hand, -and taking hold of her brother's. - -Barry did as he was told, and sat down. 'I'm so glad to see you, Barry,' -said she: 'I'm so very glad to see you once more ' and then after a pause, -'and it'll be the last time, Barry, for I'm dying.' - -Barry told her he didn't think she was, for he didn't know when he'd seen -her looking better. - -'Yes, I am, Barry: Doctor Colligan has said as much; and I should know it -well enough myself, even if he'd never said a word. We're friends now, are -we not? Everything's forgiven and forgotten, isn't it, Barry?' - -Anty had still hold of her brother's hand, and seemed desirous to keep it. -He sat on the edge of his chair, with his knees tucked in against the bed, -the very picture of discomfort, both of body and mind. - -'Oh, of course it is, Anty,' said he; 'forgive and forget; that was always -my motto. I'm sure I never bore any malice indeed I never was so sorry as -when you went away, and ' - -'Ah, Barry,' said Anty; 'it was better I went then; maybe it's all better -as it is. When the priest has been with me and given me comfort, I won't -fear to die. But there are other things, Barry, I want to spake to you -about.' - -'If there's anything I can do, I'm sure I'd do it: if there's anything at -all you wish done. Would you like to come up to the house again?' - -'Oh no, Barry, not for worlds.' - -'Why, perhaps, just at present, you are too weak to move; only wouldn't it -be more comfortable for you to be in your own house? These people here are -all very well, I dare say, but they must be a great bother to you, eh? so -interested, you know, in everything they do.' - -'Ah! Barry, you don't know them.' - -Barry remembered that he would be on the wrong tack to abuse the Kellys. -'I'm sure they're very nice people,' said he; 'indeed I always thought so, -and said so but they're not like your own flesh and blood, are they, -Anty? and why shouldn't you come up and be ' - -'No, Barry,' said she; 'I'll not do that; as they're so very, very kind as -to let me stay here, I'll remain till till God takes me to himself. But -they're not my flesh and blood' and she turned round and looked -affectionately in the face of her brother 'there are only the two of us -left now; and soon, very soon you'll be all alone.' Barry felt very -uncomfortable, and wished the interview was over: he tried to say -something, but failed, and Anty went on 'when that time comes, will you -remember what I say to you now? When you're all alone, Barry; when there's -nothing left to trouble you or put you out will you think then of the last -time you ever saw your sister, and ' - -'Oh, Anty, sure I'll be seeing you again!' - -'No, Barry, never again. This is the last time we shall ever meet, and -think how much we ought to be to each other! We've neither of us father or -mother, husband or wife. When I'm gone you'll be alone: will you think of -me then and will you remember, remember every day what I say to you now?' - -'Indeed I will, Anty. I'll do anything, everything you'd have me. Is there -anything you'd wish me to give to any person?' - -'Barry,' she continued, 'no good ever came of my father's will.' Barry -almost jumped off his chair as he heard his sister's words, so much did -they startle him; but he said nothing. 'The money has done me no good, but -the loss of it has blackened your heart, and turned your blood to gall -against me. Yes, Barry yes don't speak now, let me go on; the old man -brought you up to look for it, and, alas, he taught you to look for nothing -else; it has not been your fault, and I'm not blaming you I'm not maning to -blame you, my own brother, for you are my own' and she turned round in the -bed and shed tears upon his hand, and kissed it. 'But gold, and land, will -never make you happy, no, not all the gold of England, nor all the land the -old kings ever had could make you happy, av the heart was bad within you. -You'll have it all now, Barry, or mostly all. You'll have what you think -the old man wronged you of; you'll have it with no one to provide for but -yourself, with no one to trouble you, no one to thwart you. But oh, Barry, -av it's in your heart that that can make you happy there's nothing before -you but misery and death and hell.' Barry shook like a child in the -clutches of its master 'Yes, Barry; misery and death, and all the tortures -of the damned. It's to save you from this, my own brother, to try and turn -your heart from that foul love of money, that your sister is now speaking -to you from her grave. Oh, Barry! try and cure it. Learn to give to others, -and you'll enjoy what you have yourself. Learn to love others, and then -you'll know what it is to be loved yourself. Try, try to soften that hard -heart. Marry at once, Barry, at once, before you're older and worse to -cure; and you'll have children, and love them; and when you feel, as feel -you must, that the money is clinging round your soul, fling it from you, -and think of the last words your sister said to you.' - -The sweat was now running down the cheeks of the wretched man, for the -mixed rebuke and prayer of his sister had come home to him, and touched -him; but it was neither with pity, with remorse, nor penitence. No; in that -foul heart there was no room, even for remorse; but he trembled with fear -as he listened to her words, and, falling on his knees, swore to her that -he would do just as she would have him. - -'If I could but think,' continued she, 'that you would remember what I am -saying ' - -'Oh, I will, Anty: I will indeed, indeed, I will!' - -'If I could believe so, Barry I'd die happy and in comfort, for I love you -better than anything on earth;' and again she pressed his hot red hand 'but -oh, brother! I feel for you: you never kneel before the altar of God you've -no priest to move the weight of sin from your soul and how heavy that must -be! Do you remember, Barry; it's but a week or two ago and you threatened -to kill me for the sake of our father's money? you wanted to put me in a -mad-house; you tried to make me mad with fear and cruelty; me, your sister; -and I never harmed or crossed you. God is now doing what you threatened; a -kind, good God is now taking me to himself, and you will get what you so -longed for without more sin on your conscience; but it'll never bless you, -av you've still the same wishes in your heart, the same love of gold the -same hatred of a fellow-creature.' - -'Oh, Anty!' sobbed out Barry, who was now absolutely in tears, 'I was drunk -that night; I was indeed, or I'd never have said or done what I did.' - -'And how often are you so, Barry? isn't it so with you every night? That's -another thing; for my sake, for your own sake for God's sake, give up the -dhrink. It's killing you from day to day, and hour to hour. I see it in -your eyes, and smell it in your breath, and hear it in your voice; it's -that that makes your heart so black it's that that gives you over, body and -soul, to the devil. I would not have said a word about that night to hurt -you now; and, dear Barry, I wouldn't have said such words as these to you -at all, but that I shall never speak to you again. And oh! I pray that -you'll remember them. You're idle now, always don't continue so; earn your -money, and it will be a blessing to you and to others. But in idleness, and -drunkenness, and wickedness, it will only lead you quicker to the devil.' - -Barry reiterated his promises; he would take the pledge; he would work at -the farm; he would marry and have a family; he would not care the least for -money; he would pay his debts; he would go to church, or chapel, if Anty -liked it better; at any rate, he'd say his prayers; he would remember every -word she had said to the last day of his life; he promised everything or -anything, as though his future existence depended on his appeasing his -dying sister. But during the whole time, his chief wish, his longing -desire, was to finish the interview, and get out of that horrid room. He -felt that he was mastered and cowed by the creature whom he had so -despised, and he could not account for the feeling. Why did he not dare to -answer her? She had told him he would have her money: she had said it would -come to him as a matter of course; and it was not the dread of losing that -which prevented his saying a word in his own defence. No; she had really -frightened him: she had made him really feel that he was a low, wretched, -wicked creature, and he longed to escape from her, that he might recover -his composure. - -'I have but little more to say to you, Barry,' she continued, 'and that -little is about the property. You will have it all, but a small sum of -money ' - -Here Anty was interrupted by a knock at the door, and the entrance of the -widow. She came to say that the quarter of an hour allowed by the doctor -had been long exceeded, and that really Mr Barry ought to take his leave, -as so much talking would be bad for Anty. - -This was quite a god-send for Barry, who was only anxious to be off; but -Anty begged for a respite. - -'One five minutes longer, dear Mrs Kelly,' said she, 'and I shall have -done; only five minutes I'm much stronger now, and really it won't hurt -me.' - -'Well, then mind, only five minutes,' said the widow, and again left them -alone. - -'You don't know, Barry you can never know how good that woman has been to -me; indeed all of them and all for nothing. They've asked nothing of me, -and now that they know I'm dying, I'm sure they expect nothing from me. She -has enough; but I wish to leave something to Martin, and the girls;' and a -slight pale blush covered her wan cheeks and forehead as she mentioned -Martin's name. 'I will leave him five hundred pounds, and them the same -between them. It will be nothing to you, Barry, out of the whole; but see -and pay it at once, will you?' and she looked kindly into his face. - -He promised vehemently that he would, and told her not to bother herself -about a will: they should have the money as certainly as if twenty wills -were made. To give Barry his due, at that moment, he meant to be as good as -his word. Anty, however, told him that she would make a will; that she -would send for a lawyer, and have the matter properly settled. - -'And now,' she said, 'dear Barry, may God Almighty bless you may He guide -you and preserve you; and may He, above all, take from you that horrid love -of the world's gold and wealth. Good bye,' and she raised herself up in her -bed good bye, for the last time, my own dear brother; and try to remember -what I've said to you this day. Kiss me before you go, Barry.' - -Barry leaned over the bed, and kissed her, and then crept out of the room, -and down the stairs, with the tears streaming down his red cheeks; and -skulked across the street to his own house, with his hat slouched over his -face, and his handkerchief held across his mouth. - - - - -XXV ANTY LYNCH'S BED-SIDE SCENE THE SECOND - - -Anty was a good deal exhausted by her interview with her brother, but -towards evening she rallied a little, and told Jane, who was sitting with -her, that she wanted to say one word in private, to Martin. - -Jane was rather surprised, for though Martin was in the habit of going into -the room every morning to see the invalid, Anty had never before asked for -him. However, she went for Martin, and found him. - -'Martin,' said she; 'Anty wants to see you alone, in private.' - -'Me?' said Martin, turning a little red. 'Do you know what it's about?' - -'She didn't say a word, only she wanted to see you alone; but I'm thinking -it's something about her brother; he was with her a long long time this -morning, and went away more like a dead man than a live one. But come, -don't keep her waiting; and, whatever you do, don't stay long; every word -she spakes is killing her.' - -Martin followed his sister into the sick-room, and, gently taking Anty's -offered hand, asked her in a whisper, what he could do for her. Jane went -out; and, to do her justice sat herself down at a distance from the door, -though she was in a painful state of curiosity as to what was being said -within. - -'You're all too good to me, Martin,' said Anty; 'you'll spoil me, between -you, minding every word I say so quick.' - -Martin assured her again, in a whisper, that anything and everything they -could do for her was only a pleasure. - -'Don't mind whispering,' said Anty; 'spake out; your voice won't hurt me. I -love to hear your voices, they're all so kind and good. But Martin, I've -business you must do for me, and that at once, for I feel within me that -I'll soon he gone from this.' - -'We hope not, Anty; but it's all with God now isn't it? No one knows that -betther than yourself.' - -'Oh yes, I do know that; and I feel it is His pleasure that it should be -so, and I don't fear to die. A few weeks back the thoughts of death, when -they came upon me, nearly killed me; but that feeling's all gone now.' - -Martin did not know what answer to make; he again told her he hoped she -would soon get better. It is a difficult task to talk properly to a dying -person about death, and Martin felt that he was quite incompetent to do so. - -'But,' she continued, after a little, 'there 's still much that I want to -do that I ought to do. In the first place, I must make my will.' - -Martin was again puzzled. This was another subject on which he felt himself -equally unwilling to speak; he could not advise her not to make one; and he -certainly would not advise her to do so. - -'Your will, Anty? there's time enough for that; you'll be sthronger you -know, in a day or two. Doctor Colligan says so and then we'll talk about -it.' - -'I hope there is time enough, Martin; but there isn't more than enough; -it's not much that I'll have to say ' - -'Were you spaking to Barry about it this morning?' - -'Oh, I was. I told him what I'd do: he'll have the property now, mostly all -as one as av the ould man had left it to him. It would have been betther -so, eh Martin?' Anty never doubted her lover's disinterestedness; at this -moment she suspected him of no dirty longing alter her money, and she did -him only justice. When he came into her room he had no thoughts of -inheriting anything from her. Had he been sure that by asking he could have -induced her to make a will in his favour, he would not have done so. But -still his heart sunk a little within him when he heard her declare that she -was going to leave everything back to her brother. It was, however, only -for a moment; he remembered his honest determination firmly and resolutely -to protect their joint property against any of her brother's attempts, -should he ever marry her; but in no degree to strive or even hanker after -it, unless it became his own in a fair, straightforward manner. - -'Well, Anty; I think you're right,' said he. 'But wouldn't it all go to -Barry, nathurally, without your bothering yourself about a will, and you so -wake.' - -'In course it would, at laist I suppose so; but Martin,' and she smiled -faintly as she looked up into his face, 'I want the two dear, dear girls, -and I want yourself to have some little thing to remember me by; and your -dear kind mother she doesn't want money, but if I ask her to take a few of -the silver things in the house, I'm sure she'll keep them for my sake. Oh, -Martin! I do love you all so very so very much!' and the warm tears -streamed down her cheeks. - -Martin's eyes were affected, too: he made a desperate struggle to repress -the weakness, but he could not succeed, and was obliged to own it by -rubbing his eyes with the sleeve of his coat. 'And I'm shure, Anty,' said -he, 'we all love you; any one must love you who knew you.' And then he -paused: he was trying to say something of his own true personal regard for -her, but he hardly knew how to express it. 'We all love you as though you -were one of ourselves and so you are it's all the same at any rate it is to -me.' - -'And I would have been one of you, had I lived. I can talk to you more -about it now, Martin, than I ever could before, because I know I feel I am -dying.' - -'But you mustn't talk, Anty; it wakens you, and you've had too much talking -already this day.' - -'It does me good, Martin, and I must say what I have to say to you. I -mayn't be able again. Had it plazed God I should have lived, I would have -prayed for nothing higher or betther than to be one of such a family as -yourselves. Had I been had I been' and now Anty blushed again, and she also -found a difficulty in expressing herself; but she soon got over it, and -continued, 'had I been permitted to marry you, Martin, I think I would have -been a good wife to you. I am very, very sure I would have been an -affectionate one.' - -'I'm shure you would I'm shure you would, Anty. God send you may still: av -you war only once well again there's nothing now to hindher us.' - -'You forget Barry,' Anty said, with a shudder. 'But it doesn't matther -talking of that now' Martin was on the point of telling her that Barry had -agreed, under certain conditions, to their marriage: but, on second -thoughts, he felt it would be useless to do so; and Anty continued, - -'I would have done all I could, Martin. I would have loved you fondly and -truly. I would have liked what you liked, and, av I could, I would've made -your home quiet and happy. Your mother should have been my mother, and your -sisthers my sisthers.' - -'So they are now, Anty so they are now, my own, own Anty they love you as -much as though they were.' - -'God Almighty bless them for their goodness, and you too, Martin. I cannot -tell you, I niver could tell you, how I've valued your honest thrue love, -for I know you have loved me honestly and thruly; but I've always been -afraid to spake to you. I've sometimes thought you must despise me, I've -been so wake and cowardly.' - -'Despise you, Anty? how could I despise you, when I've always loved you?' - -'But now, Martin, about poor Barry for he is poor. I've sometimes thought, -as I've been lying here the long long hours awake, that, feeling to you as -I do, l ought to be laving you what the ould man left to me.' - -'I'd be sorry you did, Anty. I'll not be saying but what I thought of that -when I first looked for you, but it was never to take it from you, but to -share it with you, and make you happy with it.' - -'I know it, Martin: I always knew it and felt it.' - -'And now, av it's God's will that you should go from us, I'd rather Barry -had the money than us. We've enough, the Lord be praised; and I wouldn't -for worlds it should be said that it war for that we brought you among us; -nor for all County Galway would I lave it to Barry to say, that when you -were here, sick, and wake, and dying, we put a pen into your hand to make -you sign a will to rob him of what should by rights be his.' - -'That's it, dear Martin; it wouldn't bless you if you had it; it can bless -no one who looks to it alone for a blessing. It wouldn't make you happy it -would make you miserable, av people said you had that which you ought not -to have. Besides, I love my poor brother; he is my brother, my only real -relation; we've lived all our lives together; and though he isn't what he -should be, the fault is not all his own, I should not sleep in my grave, av -I died with his curse upon me; as I should, av he found, when I am gone, -that I'd willed the property all away. I've told him he'd have it -all nearly all; and I've begged him, prayed to him, from. my dying bed, to -mend his ways; to try and be something betther in the world than what I -fear he 's like to be. I think he minded what I said when he was here, for -death-bed words have a solemn sound to the most worldly; but when I'm gone -he'll be all alone, there'll be no one to look afther him. Nobody loves -him no one even likes him; no one will live with him but those who mane to -rob him; and he will be robbed, and plundered, and desaved, when he thinks -he's robbing and desaving others.' Anty paused, more for breath than for a -reply, but Martin felt that he must say something. - -'Indeed, Anty, I fear he'll hardly come to good. He dhrinks too much, by -all accounts; besides, he's idle, and the honest feeling isn't in him.' - -'It's thrue, dear Martin; it's too thrue. Will you do me a great great -favour, Martin' and she rose up a little and turned her moist clear eye -full upon him 'will you show your thrue love to your poor Anty, by a rale -lasting kindness, but one that'll be giving you much much throuble and -pain? Afther I'm dead and gone long long after I'm in my cold grave, will -you do that for me, Martin?'. - -'Indeed I will, Anty,' said Martin, rather astonished, but with a look of -solemn assurance; 'anything that I can do, I will: you needn't dread my not -remembering, but I fear it isn't much that I can do for you.' - -'Will you always think and spake of Barry will you always act to him and by -him, and for him, not as a man whom you know and dislike, but as my -brother your own Anty's only brother? Whatever he does, will you thry to -make him do betther? Whatever troubles he's in, will you lend him your -hand? Come what come may to him, will you be his frind? He has no frind -now. When I'm gone, will you be a frind to him?' - -Martin was much confounded. 'He won't let me be his frind,' he said; 'he -looks down on us and despises us; he thinks himself too high to be -befrinded by us. Besides, of all Dunmore he hates us most.' - -'He won't when he finds you haven't got the property from him: but -frindship doesn't depend on letting rale frindship doesn't. I don't want -you to be dhrinking, and ating, and going about with him. God -forbid! you're too good for that. But when you find he wants a frind, come -forward, and thry and make him do something for himself. You can't but come -together; you'll be the executhor in the will; won't you, Martin? and then -he'll meet you about the property; he can't help it, and you must meet then -as frinds. And keep that up. If he insults you, forgive it or my sake; if -he's fractious and annoying, put up with it for my sake; for my sake thry -to make him like you, and thry to make others like him.' Martin felt that -this would be impossible, but he didn't say so 'No one respects him now, -but all respect you. I see it in people's eyes and manners, without hearing -what they say. Av you spake well of him at any rate kindly of him, people -won't turn themselves so against him. Will you do all this, for my sake?' - -Martin solemnly promised that, as far as he could, he would do so; that, at -any rate as far as himself was concerned, he would never quarrel with him. - -'You'll have very, very much to forgive,' continued Anty; 'but then it's so -sweet to forgive; and he's had no fond mother like you; he has not been -taught any duties, any virtues, as you have. He has only been taught that -money is the thing to love, and that he should worship nothing but that. -Martin, for my sake, will you look on him as a brother? a wicked, bad, -castaway brother; but still as a brother, to be forgiven, and, if possible, -redeemed?' - -'As I hope for glory in Heaven, I will,' said Martin; 'but I think he'll go -far from this; I think he'll quit Dunmore.' - -'Maybe he will; perhaps it's betther he should; but he'll lave his name -behind him. Don't be too hard on that, and don't let others; and even av he -does go, it'll not be long before he'll want a frind, and I don't know -anywhere he can go that he's likely to find one. Wherever he may go, or -whatever he may do, you won't forget he was my brother; will you, Martin? -You won't forget he was your own Anty's only brother.' - -Martin again gave her his solemn word that he would, to the best of his -ability, act as a friend and brother to Barry. - -'And now about the will.' Martin again endeavoured to dissuade her from -thinking about a will just at present. - -'Ah! but my heart's set upon it,' she said; ' I shouldn't be happy unless I -did it, and I'm sure you don't want to make me unhappy, now. You must get -me some lawyer here, Martin; I'm afraid you're not lawyer enough for that -yourself.' - -'Indeed I'm not, Anty; it's a trade I know little about.' - -'Well; you must get me a lawyer; not tomorrow, for I know I shan't be well -enough; but I hope I shall next day, and you may tell him just what to put -in it. I've no secrets from you.' And she told him exactly what she had -before told her brother. 'That'll not hurt him,' she continued; 'and I'd -like to think you and the dear girls should accept something from me.' - -Martin then agreed to go to Daly. He was on good terms with them all now, -since making the last offer to them respecting the property; besides, as -Martin said, 'he knew no other lawyer, and, as the will was so decidedly in -Barry's favour, who was so proper to make it as Barry's own lawyer?' - -'Good-bye now, Martin,' said Anty; 'we shall be desperately scolded for -talking so long; but it was on my mind to say it all, and I'm betther now -it's all over.' - -'Good night, dear Anty,' said Martin, 'I'll be seeing you tomorrow.' - -'Every day, I hope, Martin, till it's all over. God bless you, God bless -you all and you above all. You don't know, Martin at laist you didn't know -all along, how well, how thruly I've loved you. Good night,' and Martin -left the room, as Barry had done, in tears. But he had no feeling within -him of which he had cause to be ashamed. He was ashamed, and tried to hide -his face, for he was not accustomed to be seen with the tears running down -his cheeks; but still he had within him a strong sensation of gratified -pride, as he reflected that he was the object of the warmest affection to -so sweet a creature as Anty Lynch. - -'Well, Martin what was it she wanted?' said his mother, as she met him at -the bottom of the stairs. - -'I couldn't tell you now, mother,' said he; 'but av there was iver an angel -on 'arth, it's Anty Lynch.' And saying so, he pushed open the door and -escaped into the street. - -'I wondher what she's been about now?' said the widow, speculating to -herself ' well, av she does lave it away from Barry, who can say but what -she has a right to do as she likes with her own? and who's done the most -for her, I'd like to know?' and pleasant prospects of her son's enjoying an -independence flitted before her mind's eye. 'But thin,' she continued, -talking to herself, 'I wouldn't have it said in Dunmore that a Kelly -demaned hisself to rob a Lynch, not for twice all Sim Lynch ever had. -Well we'll see; but no good'll ever come of meddling with them people. -Jane, Jane,' she called out, at the top of her voice, 'are you niver coming -down, and letting me out of this? bad manners to you.' - -Jane answered, in the same voice, from the parlour upstairs, 'Shure, -mother, ain't I getting Anty her tay? - -'Drat Anty and her tay! Well, shure, I'm railly bothered now wid them -Lynches! Well, glory be to God, there's an end to everything not that I'm -wishing her anywhere but where she is; she's welcome, for Mary Kelly.' - - - - -XXVI LOVE'S AMBASSADOR - - -Two days after the hunt in which poor Goneaway was killed by Barry's horse, -Ballindine received the following letter from his friend Dot Blake. - -Limmer's Hotel, 27th March, 1844. - -Dear Frank, - -I and Brien, and Bottom, crossed over last Friday night, and, thanks to the -God of storms, were allowed to get quietly through it. The young chieftain -didn't like being boxed on the quay a bit too well; the rattling of the -chains upset him, and the fellows there are so infernally noisy and -awkward, that I wonder he was ever got on board. It's difficult to make an -Irishman handy, but it 's the very devil to make him quiet. There were four -at his head, and three at his tail, two at the wheel, turning, and one up -aloft, hallooing like a demon in the air; and when Master Brien showed a -little aversion to this comic performance, they were going to drag him into -the box bon gré, mal gré, till Bottom interposed and saved the men and the -horse from destroying each other. - -We got safe to Middleham on Saturday night, the greatest part of the way by -rail. Scott has a splendid string of horses. These English fellows do their -work in tiptop style, only they think more of spending money than they do -of making it. I waited to see him out on Monday, when he'd got a trot, and -he was as bright as though he'd never left the Curragh. Scott says he's a -little too fine; but you know of course he must find some fault. To give -Igoe his due, he could not be in better condition, and Scott was obliged to -own that, considering where he came from, he was very well. I came on here -on Tuesday, and have taken thirteen wherever I could get it, and thought -the money safe. I have got a good deal on, and won't budge till I do it at -six to one; and I'm sure I'll bring him to that. I think he'll rise -quickly, as he wants so little training, and as his qualities must be at -once known now he's in Scott's stables; so if you mean to put any more on -you had better do it at once. - -So much for the stables. I left the other two at home, but have one of my -own string here, as maybe I'll pick up a match: and now I wish to let you -know a report that I heard this morning at least a secret, which bids fair -to become a report. It is said that Kilcullen is to marry F W , and that -he has already paid Heaven only knows how many thousand pounds of debt with -her money; that the old earl has arranged it all, and that the beautiful -heiress has reluctantly agreed to be made a viscountess. I'm very far from -saying that I believe this; but it may suit you to know that I heard the -arrangement mentioned before two other persons, one of whom was -Morris strange enough this, as he was one of the set at Handicap Lodge when -you told them that the match with yourself was still on. I have no doubt -the plan would suit father and son; you best know how far the lady may have -been likely to accede. At any rate, my dear Frank, if you'll take my -advice, you'll not sit quiet till she does marry some one. You can't expect -she'll wear the willow for you very long, if you do nothing yourself. Write -to her by post, and write to the earl by the same post, saying you have -done so. Tell her in the sweetest way you can, that you cannot live without -seeing her, and getting your congé, if congé it is to be, from her own dear -lips; and tell him, in as few words, as you please, that you mean to do -yourself the honour of knocking at his door on such and such a day and do -it. - -By the bye, Kilcullen certainly returns to Ireland immediately. There's -been the devil's own smash among him and the Jews. He has certainly been -dividing money among them; but not near enough, by all accounts, to satisfy -the half of them. For the sake of your reputation, if not of your pocket, -don't let him walk off with the hundred and thirty thousand pounds. They -say it's not a penny less. - -Very faithfully yours, - -W. BLAKE. - -Shall I do anything for you here about Brien? I think I might still get you -eleven to one, but let me hear at once. - - -As Frank read the first portion of this epistle, his affection for his poor -dear favourite nag returned in full force, and he felt all the pangs of -remorse for having parted with him; but when he came to the latter part, to -Lord Kilcullen's name, and the initials by which his own Fanny was -designated, he forgot all about horse and owner; became totally regardless -of thirteen, eleven, and six to one, and read on hastily to the end; read -it all again then closed the letter, and put it in his pocket, and remained -for a considerable time in silent contemplation, trying to make up his mind -what he would do. - -Nobody was with him as he opened his post-bag, which he took from the -messenger as the boy was coming up to the house; he therefore read his -letter alone, on the lawn, and he continued pacing up and down before the -house with a most perturbed air, for half an hour. - -Kilcullen going to marry Fanny Wyndham! So, that was the cause of Lord -Cashel's singular behaviour his incivility, and refusal to allow Frank to -see his ward. 'What! to have arranged it all in twenty-four hours,' thought -Frank to himself; 'to have made over his ward's money to his son, before -her brother, from whom she inherited it, was in his grave: to determine at -once to reject an accepted suitor for the sake of closing on the poor -girl's money and without the slightest regard for her happiness, without a -thought for her welfare! And then, such lies,' said the viscount, aloud, -striking his heel into the grass in his angry impetuosity; 'such base, -cruel lies! to say that she had authorised him, when he couldn't have dared -to make such a proposal to her, and her brother but two days dead. Well; I -took him for a stiff-necked pompous fool, but I never thought him such an -avaricious knave.' And Fanny, too could Fanny have agreed, so soon, to give -her hand to another? She could not have transferred her heart. His own -dear, fond Fanny! A short time ago they had been all in all to each other; -and now so completely estranged as they were! However, Dot was right; up to -this time Fanny might be quite true to him; indeed, there was not ground -even for doubting her, for it was evident that no reliance was to be placed -in Lord Cashel's asseverations. But still he could not expect that she -should continue to consider herself engaged, if she remained totally -neglected by her lover. He must do something, and that at once; but there -was very great difficulty in deciding what that something was to be. It was -easy enough for Dot to say, first write, and then go. If he were to write, -what security was there that his letter would be allowed to reach Fanny? -and, if he went, how much less chance was there that he would be allowed to -see her. And then, again to be turned out of the house! again informed, by -that pompous scheming earl, that his visits there were not desired. Or, -worse still, not to be admitted; to be driven from the door by a footman -who would well know for what he came! No; come what come might, he would -never again go to Grey Abbey; at least not unless he was specially and -courteously invited thither by the owner; and then it should only be to -marry his ward, and take her from the odious place, never to return again. - -'The impudent impostor!' continued Frank to himself; 'to pretend to suspect -me, when he was himself hatching his dirty, mercenary, heartless schemes!' - -But still the same question recurred what was to be done? Venting his wrath -on Lord Cashel would not get him out of the difficulty: going was out of -the question; writing was of little use. Could he not send somebody else? -Some one who could not be refused admittance to Fanny, and who might at any -rate learn what her wishes and feelings were? He did not like making love -by deputy; but still, in his present dilemma, he could think of nothing -better. But whom was he to send? Bingham Blake was a man of character, and -would not make a fool of himself; but he was too young; he would not be -able to make his way to Fanny. No a young unmarried man would not do. Mat -Tierney? he was afraid of no one, and always cool and collected; but then, -Mat was in London; besides, he was a sort of friend of Kilcullen's. General -Bourke? No one could refuse an entrée to his venerable grey hairs, and -polished manner; besides, his standing in the world was so good, so -unexceptionable; but then the chances were he would not go on such an -errand; he was too old to be asked to take such a troublesome service; and -besides, if asked, it was very probable he would say that he considered -Lord Cashel entitled to his ward's obedience. The rector the Rev. Joseph -Armstrong? He must be the man: there was, at any rate, respectability in -his profession; and he had sufficient worldly tact not easily to be thrust -aside from his object: the difficulty would be, whether he had a coat -sufficiently decent to appear in at Grey Abbey. - -After mature consideration he made up his mind that the parson should be -his ambassador. He would sooner have confided in Bingham Blake, but an -unmarried man would not do. No; the parson must be the man. Frank was, -unfortunately, but little disposed to act in any case without advice, and -in his anxiety to consult some one as to consulting the parson, returned -into the house, to make a clear breast of it to his mother. He found her in -the breakfast-room with the two girls, and the three were holding council -deep. - -'Oh, here's Frank,' said Sophy; 'we'd better tell him all about it at -once and he'll tell us which she'd like best.' - -'We didn't mean to tell you,' said Guss; 'but I and Sophy are going to work -two sofas for the drawing-room in Berlin wool, you know: they'll be very -handsome everybody has them now, you know; they have a splendid pair at -Ballyhaunis which Nora and her cousin worked.' - -'But we want to know what pattern would suit Fanny's taste,' said Sophy. - -'Well; you can't know that,' said Frank rather pettishly, 'so you'd better -please yourselves.' - -'Oh, but you must know what she likes,' continued Guss; 'I'm for this,' and -she, displayed a pattern showing forth two gorgeous macaws each with -plumage of the brightest colours. 'The colours are so bright, and the -feathers will work in so well.' - -'I don't like anything in worsted-work but flowers,' said Sophy; 'Nora -Dillon says she saw two most beautiful wreaths at that shop in Grafton -Street, both hanging from bars, you know; and that would be so much -prettier. I'm sure Fanny would like flowers best; wouldn't she now, -Frank? Mamma thinks the common cross-bar patterns are nicer for furniture.' - -'Indeed I do, my dear,' said Mrs O'Kelly; 'and you see them much more -common now in well-furnished drawing-rooms. But still I'd much sooner have -them just what Fanny would like best. Surely, Frank, you must have heard -her speak about worsted-work?' - -All this completely disconcerted Frank, and made him very much out of love -with his own plan of consulting his mother. He gave the trio some not very -encouraging answer as to their good-natured intentions towards his drawing- -room, and again left them alone. 'Well; there's nothing for it but to send -the parson; I don't think he'll make a fool of himself, but then I know -he'll look so shabby. However, here goes,' and he mounted his nag, and rode -off to Ballindine glebe. - -The glebe-house was about a couple of miles from Kelly's Court, and it was -about half-past four when Lord Ballindine got there. He knocked at the -door, which was wide open, though it was yet only the last day of March, -and was told by a remarkably slatternly maid-servant, that her master was -'jist afther dinner; that he was stepped out,' but was about the place, and -could be 'fetched in at oncet'; and would his honour walk in? And so Lord -Ballindine was shown into the rectory drawing-room on one side of the -passage (alias hall), while the attendant of all work went to announce his -arrival in the rectory dining-room on the other side. Here Mrs Armstrong -was sitting among her numerous progeny, securing the débris of the dinner -from their rapacious paws, and endeavouring to make two very unruly boys -consume the portions of fat which had been supplied to them with, as they -loudly declared, an unfairly insufficient quantum of lean. As the girl was -good-natured enough to leave both doors wide open, Frank had the full -advantage of the conversation. - -'Now, Greg,' said the mother, 'if you leave your meat that way I'll have it -put by for you, and you shall have nothing but potatoes till it's ate.' - -'Why, mother, it's nothing but tallow; look here; you gave me all the -outside part.' - -'I'll tell your dada, and see what he'll say, if you call the meat tallow; -and you're just as bad, Joe; worse if anything gracious me, here's waste! -well, I'll lock it up for you, and you shall both of you eat it to-morrow, -before you have a bit of anything else.' - -Then followed a desperate fit of coughing. - -'My poor Minny!' said the mother, 'you're just as bad as ever. Why would -you go out on the wet grass? Is there none of the black currant jam left?' - -'No, mother,' coughed Minny, 'not a bit.' - -'Greg ate it all,' peached Sarah, an elder sister; 'I told him not, but he -would.' - -'Greg, I'll have you flogged, and you never shall come from school again. -What's that you're saying, Mary?' - -'There's a jintleman in the drawing-room as is axing afther masther.' - -'Gentleman what gentleman?' asked the lady. - -'Sorrow a know I know, ma'am!' said Mary, who was a new importation 'only, -he's a dark, sightly jintleman, as come on a horse.' - -'And did you send for the master?' - -'I did, ma'am; I was out in the yard, and bad Patsy go look for him.' - -'It's Nicholas Dillon, I'll bet twopence,' said Greg, jumping up to rush -into the other room: 'he's come about the black colt, I know.' - -'Stay where you are, Greg; and don't go in there with your dirty face and -fingers; and, after speculating a little longer, the lady went into the -drawing-room herself; though, to tell the truth, her own face and fingers -were hardly in a state suitable for receiving company. -Mrs Armstrong marched into the drawing-room with something of a stately -air, to meet the strange gentleman, and there she found her old friend Lord -Ballindine. Whoever called at the rectory, and at whatever hour the visit -might be made, poor Mrs Armstrong was sure to apologise for the confusion -in which she was found. She had always just got rid of a servant, and could -not get another that suited her; or there was some other commonplace reason -for her being discovered en déshabille. However, she managed to talk to -Frank for a minute or two with tolerable volubility, till her eyes -happening to dwell on her own hands, which were certainly not as white as a -lady's should be, she became a little uncomfortable and embarrassed tried -to hide them in her drapery then remembered that she had on her morning -slippers, which were rather the worse for wear; and, feeling too much -ashamed of her tout ensemble to remain, hurried out of the room, saying -that she would go and see where Armstrong could possibly have got himself -to. She did not appear again to Lord Ballindine. - -Poor Mrs Armstrong! though she looked so little like one, she had been -brought up as a lady, carefully and delicately; and her lot was the more -miserable, for she knew how lamentable were her present deficiencies. When -she married a poor curate, having, herself, only a few hundred pounds' -fortune, she had made up her mind to a life of comparative poverty; but she -had meant even in her poverty to be decent, respectable, and lady-like. -Weak health, nine children, an improvident husband, and an income so -lamentably ill-suited to her wants, had however been too much for her, and -she had degenerated into a slatternly, idle scold. - -In a short time the parson came in from his farm, rusty and muddy rusty, -from his clerical dress; muddy from his farming occupations; and Lord -Ballindine went into the business of his embassy. He remembered, however, -how plainly he had heard the threats about the uneaten fat, and not wishing -the household to hear all he had to say respecting Fanny Wyndham, he took -the parson out into the road before the house, and, walking up and down, -unfolded his proposal. - -Mr Armstrong expressed extreme surprise at the nature of the mission on -which he was to be sent; secondly at the necessity of such a mission at -all; and thirdly, lastly, and chiefly, at the enormous amount of the -heiress's fortune, to lose which he declared would be an unpardonable sin -on Lord Ballindine's part. He seemed to be not at all surprised that Lord -Cashel should wish to secure so much money in his own family; nor did he at -all participate in the unmeasured reprobation with which Frank loaded the -worthy earl's name. One hundred and thirty thousand pounds would justify -anything, and he thought of his nine poor children, his poor wife, his poor -home, his poor two hundred a-year, and his poor self. He calculated that so -very rich a lady would most probably have some interest in the Church, -which she could not but exercise in his favour, if he were instrumental in -getting her married; and he determined to go. Then the, difficult question -as to the wardrobe occurred to him. Besides, he had no money for the road. -Those, however, were minor evils to be got over, and he expressed himself -willing to undertake the embassy. - -'But, my dear Ballindine; what is it I'm to do?' said he. 'Of course you -know, I'd do anything for you, as of course I ought anything that ought to -be done; but what is it exactly you wish me to say?' - -'You see, Armstrong, that pettifogging schemer told me he didn't wish me to -come to his house again, and I wouldn't, even for Fanny Wyndham, force -myself into any man's house. He would not let me see her when I was there, -and I could not press it, because her brother was only just dead; so I'm -obliged to take her refusal second hand. Now I don't believe she ever sent -the message he gave me. I think he has made her believe that I'm deserting -and ill-treating her; and in this way she may be piqued and tormented into -marrying Kilcullen.' - -'I see it now: upon my word then Lord Cashel knows how to play his cards! -But if I go to Grey Abbey I can't see her without seeing him.' - -'Of course not but I'm coming to that. You see, I have no reason to doubt -Fanny's love; she has assured me of it a thousand times. I wouldn't say so -to you even, as it looks like boasting, only it's so necessary you should -know how the land lies; besides, everybody knew it; all the world knew we -were engaged.' - -'Oh, boasting it's no boasting at all: it would be very little good my -going to Grey Abbey, if she had not told you so.' - -'Well, I think that if you were to see Lord Cashel and tell him, in your -own quiet way, who you are; that you are rector of Ballindine, and my -especial friend; and that you had come all the way from County Mayo -especially to see Miss Wyndham, that you might hear from herself whatever -message she had to send to me if you were to do this, I don't think he -would dare to prevent you from seeing her.' - -'If he did, of course I would put it to him that you, who were so long -received as Miss Wyndham's accepted swain, were at least entitled to so -much consideration at her hands; and that I must demand so much on your -behalf, wouldn't that be it, eh?' - -'Exactly. I see you understand it, as if you'd been at it all your life; -only don't call me her swain.' - -'Well, I'll think of another word her beau.' - -'For Heaven's sake, no! that's ten times worse.' - -'Well, her lover?' - -'That's at any rate English: but say, her accepted husband that'll be true -and plain: if you do that I think you will manage to see her, and then ' - -'Well, then for that'll be the difficult part.' - -'Oh, when you see her, one simple word will do: Fanny Wyndham loves plain -dealing. Merely tell her that Lord Ballindine has not changed his mind; and -that he wishes to know from herself, by the mouth of a friend whom he can -trust, whether she has changed hers. If she tells you that she has, I would -not follow her farther though she were twice as rich as Croesus. I'm not -hunting her for her money; but I am determined that Lord Cashel shall not -make us both miserable by forcing her into a marriage with his roué of a -son.' - -'Well, Ballindine, I'll go; but mind, you must not blame me if I fail. I'll -do the best I can for you.' - -'Of course I won't. When will you be able to start?' - -'Why, I suppose there's no immediate hurry? said the parson, remembering -that the new suit of clothes must be procured. - -'Oh, but there is. Kilcullen will be there at once; and considering how -long it is since I saw Fanny three months, I believe no time should be -lost.' - -'How long is her brother dead?' - -'Oh, a month or very near it.' - -'Well, I'll go Monday fortnight; that'll do, won't it?' - -It was at last agreed that the parson was to start for Grey Abbey on the -Monday week following; that he was to mention to no one where he was going; -that he was to tell his wife that he was going on business he was not -allowed to talk about she would be a very meek woman if she rested -satisfied with that! and that he was to present himself at Grey Abbey on -the following Wednesday. - -'And now,' said the parson, with some little hesitation, 'my difficulty -commences. We country rectors are never rich; but when we've nine children, -Ballindine, it's rare to find us with money in our pockets. You must -advance me a little cash for the emergencies of the road.' - -'My dear fellow! Of course the expense must be my own. I'll send you down a -note between this and then; I haven't enough about me now. Or, stay I'll -give you a cheque,' and he turned into the house, and wrote him a cheque -for twenty pounds. - -That'll get the coat into the bargain, thought the rector, as he rather -uncomfortably shuffled the bit of paper into his pocket. He had still a -gentleman's dislike to be paid for his services. But then, Necessity how -stern she is! He literally could not have gone without it. - - - - -XXVII MR LYNCH'S LAST RESOURCE - - -On the following morning Lord Ballindine as he had appointed to do, drove -over to Dunmore, to settle with Martin about the money, and, if necessary, -to go with him to the attorney's office in Tuam. Martin had as yet given -Daly no answer respecting Barry Lynch's last proposal; and though poor -Anty's health made it hardly necessary that any answer should be given, -still Lord Ballindine had promised to see the attorney, if Martin thought -it necessary. The family were all in great confusion that morning, for Anty -was very bad worse than she had ever been. She was in a paroxysm of fever, -was raving in delirium, and in such a state that Martin and his sister were -occasionally obliged to hold her in bed. - -Sally, the old servant, had been in the room for a considerable time during -the morning, standing at the foot of the bed with a big tea-pot in her -hand, and begging in a whining voice, from time to time, that 'Miss Anty, -God bless her, might get a dhrink of tay!' But, as she had been of no other -service, and as the widow thought it as well that she should not, hear what -Anty said in her raving, she had been desired to go down-stairs, and was -sitting over the fire. She had fixed the big tea-pot among the embers, and -held a slop-bowl of tea in her lap, discoursing to Nelly, who with her hair -somewhat more than ordinarily dishevelled, in token of grief for Anty's -illness, was seated on a low stool, nursing a candle-stick. - -'Well, Nelly,' said the prophetic Sally, boding evil in her anger for, -considering how long she had been in the family, she had thought herself -entitled to hear Anty's ravings; 'mind, I tell you, good won't come of -this. The Virgin prothect us from all harum! it niver war lucky to have -sthrangers dying in the house.' - -'But shure Miss Anty 's no stranger.' - -'Faix thin, her words must be sthrange enough when the likes o' me wouldn't -be let hear 'em. Not but what I did hear, as how could I help it? There'll -be no good come of it. Who's to be axed to the wake, I'd like to know.' - -'Axed to the wake, is it? Why, shure, won't there be rashions of ating and -lashings of dhrinking? The misthress isn't the woman to spare, and sich a -frind as Miss Anty dead in the house. Let 'em ax whom they like.' - -'You're a fool, Nelly Ax whom they like! that's asy said. Is they to ax -Barry Lynch, or is they to let it alone, and put the sisther into the sod -without a word said to him about it? God be betwixt us and all evil' and -she took a long pull at the slop-bowl; and, as the liquid flowed down her -throat, she gradually threw back her head till the top of her mop cap was -flattened against the side of the wide fire-place, and the bowl was turned -bottom upwards, so that the half-melted brown sugar might trickle into her -mouth. She then gave a long sigh, and repeated that difficult question 'Who -is they to ax to the wake?' - -It was too much for Nelly to answer: she reechoed the sigh, and more -closely embraced the candlestick. - -'Besides, Nelly, who'll have the money when she's gone? and she's nigh that -already, the Blessed Virgin guide and prothect her. Who'll get all her -money? - -'Why; won't Mr Martin? Sure, an't they as good as man and wife all as one?' - -'That 's it; they'll be fighting and tearing, and tatthering about that -money, the two young men will, you'll see. There'll be lawyering, an' -magisthrate's work an' factions an' fighthins at fairs; an' thin, as in -course the Lynches can't hould their own agin the Kellys, there'll be -undherhand blows, an' blood, an' murdher! you'll see else.' - -'Glory be to God,' involuntarily prayed Nelly, at the thoughts suggested by -Sally's powerful eloquence. - -'There will, I tell ye,' continued Sally, again draining the tea-pot into -the bowl. 'Sorrow a lie I'm telling you;' and then, in a low whisper across -the fire, 'didn't I see jist now Miss Anty ketch a hould of Misther Martin, -as though she'd niver let him go agin, and bid him for dear mercy's sake -have a care of Barry Lynch? Shure I knowed what that meant. And thin, -didn't he thry and do for herself with his own hands? Didn't Biddy say -she'd swear she heard him say he'd do it? and av he wouldn't boggle about -his own sisther, it's little he'd mind what he'd do to an out an out inemy -like Misther Martin.' - -'Warn't that a knock at the hall-door, Sally?' - -'Run and see, girl; maybe it's the docthor back again; only mostly he don't -mind knocking much.' - -Nelly went to the door, and opened it to Lord Ballindine, who had left his -gig in charge of his servant. He asked for Martin, who in a short time, -joined him in the parlour. - -'This is a dangerous place for your lordship, now,' said he: 'the fever is -so bad in the house. Thank God, nobody seems to have taken it yet, but -there's no knowing.' - -'Is she still so bad, Martin?' - -'Worse than iver, a dale worse; I don't think It'll last long, now: another -bout such as this last'll about finish it. But I won't keep your lordship. -I've managed about the money;' and the necessary writing was gone through, -and the cash was handed to Lord Ballindine. - -'You've given over all thoughts then, about Lynch's offer eh, Martin? I -suppose you've done with all that, now?' - -'Quite done with it, my lord; and done with fortune-hunting too. I've seen -enough this last time back to cure me altogether at laist, I hope so.' - -'She doesn't mean to make any will, then?' - -'Why, she wishes to make one, but I doubt whether she'll ever be able;' and -then Martin gave his landlord an account of all that Anty had said about -her will, her wishes as to the property, her desire to leave something to -him (Martin) and his sisters: and last he repeated the strong injunctions -which Anty had given him respecting her poor brother, and her assurance, so -full of affection, that had she lived she would have done her best to make -him happy as her husband. - -Lord Ballindine was greatly affected; he warmly shook hands with Martin, -told him how highly he thought of his conduct, and begged him to take care -that Anty had the gratification of making her will as she had desired to -do. 'The fact,' Lord Ballindine said, 'of your being named in the will as -her executor will give you more. control over Barry than anything else -could do.' He then proposed at once to go, himself, to Tuam, and explain to -Daly what it was Miss Lynch wished him to do. This Lord Ballindine did, and -the next day the will was completed. - -For a week or ten days Anty remained in much the same condition. After each -attack of fever it was expected that she would perish from weakness and -exhaustion; but she still held on, and then the fever abated, and Doctor -Colligan thought that it was possible she might recover: she was, however, -so dreadfully emaciated and worn out, there was so little vitality left in -her, that he would not encourage more than the faintest hope. Anty herself -was too weak either to hope or fear and the women of the family, who from -continual attendance knew how very near to death she was, would hardly -allow themselves to think that she could recover. - -There were two persons, however, who from the moment of her amendment felt -an inward sure conviction of her convalescence. They were Martin and Barry. -To the former this feeling was o course one of unalloyed delight. He went -over to Kelly's Court, and spoke there of his betrothed as though she were -already sitting up and eating mutton chops; was congratulated by the young -ladies on his approaching nuptials, and sauntered round the Kelly's Court -shrubberies with Frank, talking over his future prospects; asking advice -about this and that, and propounding the pros and cons on that difficult -question, whether he would live at Dunmore, or build a house at Toneroe for -himself and Anty. With Barry, however, the feeling was very different: he -was again going to have his property wrenched from him; he was again to -suffer the pangs he had endured, when first he learned the purport of his -father's will; after clutching the fruit for which he had striven, as even -he himself felt, so basely, it was again to be torn from him so cruelly. - -He had been horribly anxious for a termination to Anty's sufferings; -horribly impatient to feel himself possessor of the whole. From day to day, -and sometimes two or three times a day, he had seen Dr Colligan, and -inquired how things were going on: he had especially enjoined that worthy -man to come up after his morning call at the inn, and get a glass of sherry -at Dunmore House; and the doctor had very generally done so. For some time -Barry endeavoured to throw the veil of brotherly regard over the true -source of his anxiety; but the veil was much too thin to hide what it -hardly covered, and Barry, as he got intimate with the doctor, all but -withdrew it altogether. When Barry would say, 'Well, doctor, how is she to- -day?' and then remark, in answer to the doctor's statement that she was -very bad 'Well, I suppose it can't last much longer; but it's very tedious, -isn't it, poor thing?' it was plain enough that the brother was not longing -for the sister's recovery. And then he would go a little further, and -remark that 'if the poor thing was to go, it would be better for all she -went at once,' and expressed an opinion that he was rather ill-treated by -being kept so very long in suspense. - -Doctor Colligan ought to have been shocked at this; and so he was,, at -first, to a certain extent, but he was not a man of a very high tone of -feeling. He had so often heard of heirs to estates longing for the death of -the proprietors of them; he had so often seen relatives callous and -indifferent at the loss of those who ought to have been dear to them; it -seemed so natural to him that Barry should want the estate, that he -gradually got accustomed to his impatient inquiries, and listened to, and -answered them, without disgust. He fell too into a kind of intimacy with -Barry; he liked his daily glass, or three or four glasses, of sherry; and -besides, it was a good thing for him to stand well in a professional point -of view with a man who had the best house in the village, and who would -soon have eight hundred a-year. - -If Barry showed his impatience and discontent as long as the daily -bulletins told him that Anty was still alive, though dying, it may easily -be imagined that he did not hide his displeasure when he first heard that -she was alive and better. His brow grew very black, his cheeks flushed, the -drops of sweat stood on his forehead, and he said, speaking through his -closed teeth, 'D it, doctor, you don't mean to tell me she's recovering -now?' - -'I don't say, Mr Lynch, whether she is or no; but it's certain the fever -has left her. She's very weak, very weak indeed; I never knew a person to -be alive and have less life in 'em; but the fever has left her and there -certainly is hope.' - -'Hope!' said Barry 'why, you told me she couldn't live!' - -'I don't say she will, Mr Lynch, but I say she may. Of course we must do -what we can for her,' and the doctor took his sherry and went his way. - -How horrible then was the state of Barry's mind! For a time he was -absolutely stupified with despair; he stood fixed on the spot where the -doctor had left him, realising, bringing home to himself, the tidings which -he had heard. His sister to rise again, as though it were from the dead, to -push him off his stool! Was he to fall again into that horrid low abyss in -which even the Tuam attorney had scorned him; in which he had even invited -that odious huxter's son to marry his sister and live in his house? What! -was he again to be reduced to poverty, to want, to despair, by her whom he -so hated? Could nothing be done? Something must be done she should not be, -could not be allowed to leave that bed of sickness alive. 'There must be an -end of her,' he muttered through his teeth, 'or she'll drive me mad!' And -then he thought how easily he might have smothered her, as she lay there -clasping his hand, with no one but themselves in the room; and as the -thought crossed his brain his eyes nearly started from his head, the sweat -ran down his face, he clutched the money in his trousers' pocket till the -coin left an impression on his flesh, and he gnashed his teeth till his -jaws ached with his own violence. But then, in that sick-room, he had been -afraid of her; he could not have touched her then for the wealth of the -Bank of England! but now! - -The devil sat within him, and revelled with full dominion over his soul: -there was then no feeling left akin to humanity to give him one chance of -escape; there was no glimmer of pity, no shadow of remorse, no sparkle of -love, even though of a degraded kind; no hesitation in the will for crime, -which might yet, by God's grace, lead to its eschewal: all there was black, -foul, and deadly, ready for the devil's deadliest work. Murder crouched -there, ready to spring, yet afraid cowardly, but too thirsty alter blood to -heed its own fears. Theft low, pilfering, pettifogging, theft; avarice, -lust, and impotent, scalding hatred. Controlled by these the black blood -rushed quick to and from his heart, filling him with sensual desires below -the passions of a brute, but denying him one feeling or one appetite for -aught that was good or even human. - -Again the next morning the doctor was questioned with intense anxiety; 'Was -she going? was she drooping? had yesterday's horrid doubts raised only a -false alarm?' It was utterly beyond Barry's power to make any attempt at -concealment, even of the most shallow kind. 'Well, doctor, is she dying -yet?' was the brutal question he put. - -'She is, if anything, rather stronger;' answered the doctor, shuddering -involuntarily at the open expression of Barry's atrocious wish, and yet -taking his glass of wine. - -'The devil she is!' muttered Barry, throwing himself into an arm-chair. He -sat there some little time, and the doctor also sat down, said nothing, but -continued sipping his wine. - -'In the name of mercy, what must I do?' said Barry, speaking more to -himself than to the other. - -'Why, you've enough, Mr Lynch, without hers; you can do well enough without -it.' - -'Enough! Would you think you had enough if you were robbed of more than -half of all you have. Half, indeed,' he shouted 'I may say all, at once. I -don't believe there's a man in Ireland would bear it. Nor will I.' - -Again there was a silence; but still, somehow, Colligan seemed to stay -longer than usual. Every now and then Barry would for a moment look full in -his face, and almost instantly drop his eyes again. He was trying to mature -future plans; bringing into shape thoughts which had occurred to him, in a -wild way at different times; proposing to himself schemes, with which his -brain had been long loaded, but which he had never resolved on which he had -never made palpable and definite. One thing he found sure and certain; on -one point he was able to become determined: he could not do it alone; he -must have an assistant; he must buy some one's aid; and again he looked at -Colligan, and again his eyes fell. There was no encouragement there, but -there was no discouragement. Why did he stay there so long? Why did he so -slowly sip that third glass of wine? Was he waiting to be asked? was he -ready, willing, to be bought? There must be something in his thoughts he -must have some reason for sitting there so long, and so silent, without -speaking a word, or taking his eyes off the fire. - -Barry had all but made up his mind to ask the aid he wanted; but he felt -that he was not prepared to do so that he should soon quiver and shake, -that he could not then carry it through. He felt that he wanted spirit to -undertake his own part in the business, much less to inspire another with -the will to assist him in it. At last he rose abruptly from his chair, and -said, - -'Will you dine with me to-day, Colligan? I'm so down in the mouth, so -deucedly hipped, it will be a charity.' - -'Well,' said Colligan, 'I don't care if I do. I must go down to your sister -in the evening, and I shall be near her here.' - -'Yes, of course; you'll be near her here, as you say: come at six, then. By -the bye, couldn't you go to Anty first, so that we won't be disturbed over -our punch?' - -'I must see her the last thing, about nine, but I can look up again -afterwards, for a minute or so. I don't stay long with her now: it's better -not.' - -'Well, then, you'll be here at six?' - -'Yes, six sharp;' and at last the doctor got up and went away. - -It was odd that Doctor Colligan should have sat thus long; it showed a -great want of character and of good feeling in him. He should never have -become intimate, or even have put up with a man expressing such wishes as -those which so often fell from Barry's lips. But he was entirely innocent -of the thoughts which Barry attributed to him. It had never even occurred -to him that Barry, bad as he was, would wish to murder his sister. No; bad, -heedless, sensual as Doctor Colligan might be, Barry was a thousand fathoms -deeper in iniquity than he. - -As soon as he had left the room the other uttered a long, deep sigh. It was -a great relief to him to be alone: he could now collect his thoughts, -mature his plans, and finally determine. He took his usual remedy in his -difficulties, a glass of brandy; and, going out into the garden, walked up -and down the gravel walk almost unconsciously, for above an hour. - -Yes: he would do it. He would not be a coward. The thing had been clone a -thousand times before. Hadn't he heard of it over and over again? Besides, -Colligan's manner was an assurance to him that he would not boggle at such -a job. But then, of course, he must be paid and Barry began to calculate -how much he must offer for the service; and, when the service should be -performed, how he might avoid the fulfilment of his portion of the bargain. - -He went in and ordered the dinner; filled the spirit decanters, opened a -couple of bottles of wine, and then walked out again. In giving his orders, -and doing the various little things with which he had to keep himself -employed, everybody, and everything seemed strange to him. He hardly knew -what he was about, and felt almost as though he were in a dream. He had -quite made up his mind as to what he would do; his resolution was fixed to -carry it through but: still there was the but, how was he to open it to -Doctor Colligan? He walked up and down the gravel path for a long time, -thinking of this; or rather trying to think of it, for his thoughts would -fly away to all manner of other subjects, and he continually found himself -harping upon some trifle, connected with Anty, but wholly irrespective of -her death; some little thing that she had done for him, or ought to have -done; something she had said a long time ago, and which he had never -thought of till now; something she had worn, and which at the time he did -not even know that he had observed; and as often as he found his mind thus -wandering, he would start off at a quicker pace, and again endeavour to lay -out a line of conduct for the evening. - -At last, however, he came to the conclusion that it would he better to -trust to the chapter of chances: there was one thing, or rather two things, -he could certainly do: he could make the doctor half drunk before he opened -on the subject, and he would take care to be in the same state himself. So -he walked in and sat still before the fire, for the two long remaining -hours, which intervened before the clock struck six. - -It was about noon when the doctor left him, and during those six long -solitary hours no one feeling of remorse had entered his breast. He had -often doubted, hesitated as to the practicability of his present plan, but -not once had he made the faintest effort to overcome the wish to have the -deed done. There was not one moment in which lie would not most willingly -have had his sister's blood upon his hands, upon his brain, upon his soul; -could he have willed and accomplished her death, without making himself -liable to the penalties of the law. - -At length Doctor Colligan came, and Barry made a great effort to appear -unconcerned and in good humour. - -'And how is she now, doctor?' he said, as they sat down to table. - -'Is it Anty? why, you know I didn't mean to see her since I was here this -morning, till nine o'clock.' - -'Oh, true; so you were saying. I forgot. Well, will you take a glass of -wine?' and Barry filled his own glass quite full. - -He drank his wine at dinner like a glutton, who had only a short time -allowed him, and wished during that time to swallow as much as possible; -and he tried to hurry his companion in the same manner. But the doctor -didn't choose to have wine forced down his throat; he wished to enjoy -himself, and remonstrated against Barry's violent hospitality. - -At last, dinner was over; the things were taken away, they both drew their -chairs over the fire, and began the business of the evening the making and -consumption of punch. Barry had determined to begin upon the subject which -lay so near his heart, at eight o'clock. He had thought it better to fix an -exact hour, and had calculated that the whole matter might be completed -before Colligan went over to the inn. He kept continually looking at his -watch, and gulping down his drink, and thinking over and over again how he -would begin the conversation. - -'You're very comfortable here, Lynch,' said the doctor, stretching his long -legs before the fire, and putting his dirty boots upon the fender. - -'Yes, indeed,' said Barry, not knowing what the other was saying. - -'All you want's a wife, and you'd have as warm a house as there is in -Galway. You'll be marrying soon, I suppose?' - -'Well, I wouldn't wonder if I did. You don't take your punch; there's -brandy there, if you like it better than whiskey.' - -'This is very good, thank you couldn't be better. You haven't much land in -your own hands, have you?' - -'Why, no I don't think I have. What's that you're saying? land? No, not -much: if there's a thing I hate, it's farming.' - -'Well, upon my word you're wrong. I don't see what else a gentleman has to -do in the country. I wish to goodness I could give up the gallipots and -farm a few acres of my own land. There's nothing I wish so much as to get a -bit of land: indeed, I've been looking out for it, but it's so difficult to -get.' - -Up to this, Barry had hardly listened to what the doctor had been saying; -but now he was all attention. 'So that is to be his price,' thought he to -himself, 'he'll cost me dear, but I suppose he must have it.' - -Barry looked at his watch: it was near eight o'clock, but he seemed to feel -that all he had drank had had no effect on him: it had not given him the -usual pluck; it had not given him the feeling of reckless assurance, which -he mistook for courage and capacity. - -'If you've a mind to be a tenant of mine, Colligan, I'll keep a look out -for you. The land's crowded now, but there's a lot of them cottier devils I -mean to send to the right about. They do the estate no good, and I hate the -sight of them. But you know how the property's placed, and while Anty's in -this wretched state, of course I can do nothing.' - -'Will you bear it in mind though, Lynch? When a bit of land does fall into -your hands, I should be glad to be your tenant. I'm quite in earnest, and -should take it as a great favour.' - -'I'll not forget it;' and then he remained silent for a minute. What an -opportunity this was for him to lose! Colligan so evidently wished to be -bribed so clearly showed what the price was which was to purchase him. But -still he could not ask the fatal question. - -Again he sat silent for a while, till he looked at his watch, and found it -was a quarter past eight. - -'Never fear,' he said, referring to the farm; 'you shall have it, and it -shall not be the worst land on the estate that I'll give you, you may be -sure; for, upon my soul, I have a great regard for you; I have indeed.' - -The doctor thanked him for his good opinion. - -'Oh! I'm not blarneying you; upon my soul I'm not; that 's not the way with -me at all; and when you know me better you'll say so and you may be sure -you shall have the farm by Michaelmas.' And then, in a voice which he tried -to make as unconcerned as possible, he continued: 'By the bye, Colligan, -when do you think this affair of Anty's will be over? It's the devil and -all for a man not to know when he'll be his own master.' - -'Oh, you mustn't calculate on your sister's property at all now,' said the -other, in an altered voice. 'I tell you it's very probable she may -recover.' - -This again silenced Barry, and he let the time go by, till the doctor took -up his hat, to go down to his patient. - -'You'll not be long, I suppose?' said Barry. - -'Well, it's getting late,' said Colligan, 'and I don't think I'll be coming -back to-night.' - -'Oh, but you will; indeed, you must. You promised you would, you know, and -I want to hear how she goes on.' - -'Well, I'll just come up, but I won't stay, for I promised Mrs Colligan to -be home early.' This was always the doctor's excuse when he wished to get -away. He never allowed his domestic promises to draw him home when there -was anything to induce him to stay abroad; but, to tell the truth, he was -getting rather sick of his companion. The doctor took his hat, and went to -his patient. - -'He'll not be above ten minutes or at any rate a quarter of an hour,' -thought Barry, 'and then I must do it. How he sucked it all in about the -farm! that's the trap, certainly.' And he stood leaning with his back -against the mantel-piece, and his coat-laps hanging over his arm, waiting -for and yet. fearing, the moment of the doctor's return. It seemed an age -since he went. Barry looked at his, watch almost every minute; it was -twenty minutes past nine, five-and-twenty thirty forty three quarters of -an hour 'By Heaven!' said he, 'the man is not coming! he is going to desert -me and I shall be ruined! Why the deuce didn't I speak out when the man was -here!' - -At last his ear caught the sound of the doctor's heavy foot on the gravel -outside the door, and immediately afterwards the door bell was rung. Barry -hastily poured out a glass of raw spirits and swallowed it; he then threw -himself into his chair, and Doctor Colligan again entered the room. - -'What a time you've been, Colligan! Why I thought you weren't coming all -night. Now, Terry, some hot water, and mind you look sharp about it. Well, -how's Anty to-night?' - -'Weak, very weak; but mending, I think. The disease won't kill her now; the -only thing is whether the cure will.' - -'Well, doctor, you can't expect me to be very anxious about it: -unfortunately, we had never any reason to be proud of Anty, and it would be -humbug in me to pretend that I wish she should recover, to rob me of what -you know I've every right to consider my own.' Terry brought the hot water -in, and left the room. - -'Well, I can't say you do appear very anxious about it. I'll just swallow -one dandy of punch, and then I'll get home. I'm later now than I meant to -be.' - -'Nonsense, man. The idea of your being in a hurry, when everybody knows -that a doctor can never tell how long he may be kept in a sick-room! But -come now, tell the truth; put yourself in my condition, and do you mean to -say you'd be very anxious that Anty should recover? Would you like your own -sister to rise from her death-bed to rob you of everything you have? For, -by Heaven! it is robbery nothing less. She's so stiff-necked, that there's -no making any arrangement with her. I've tried everything, fair means and -foul, and nothing'll do but she must go and marry that low young Kelly so -immeasurably beneath her, you know, and of course only scheming for her -money. Put yourself in my place, I say; and tell me fairly what your own -wishes would be?' - -'I was always fond of my brothers and sisters,' answered the doctor; 'and -we couldn't well rob each other, for none of us had a penny to lose.' - -'That's a different thing, but just supposing you were exactly in my shoes -at this moment, do you mean to tell me that you'd be glad she should get -well? that you'd be glad she should be able to deprive you of your -property, disgrace your family, drive you from your own home, and make your -life miserable for ever after?' - -'Upon my soul I can't say; but good night now, you're getting excited, and -I've finished my drop of punch.' - -'Ah! nonsense, man, sit down. I've something in earnest I want to say to -you,' and Barry got up and prevented the doctor from leaving the room. -Colligan had gone so far as to put on his hat and great coat, and now sat -down again without taking them off. - -'You and I, Colligan, are men of the world, and too wide awake for all the -old woman's nonsense people talk. What can I, or what could you in my -place, care for a half-cracked old maid like Anty, who's better dead than -alive, for her own sake and everybody's else; unless it is some scheming -ruffian like young Kelly there, who wants to make money by her?' - -'I'm not asking you to care for her; only, if those are your ideas, it's as -well not to talk about them for appearance sake.' - -'Appearance sake! There's nothing makes me so sick, as for two men like you -and me, who know, what's what, to be talking about appearance sake, like -two confounded parsons, whose business it is to humbug everybody, and -themselves into the bargain. I'll tell you what: had my father bad luck to -him for an old rogue not made such a will as he did, I'd've treated Anty as -well as any parson of 'em all would treat an old maid of a sister; but I'm -not going to have her put over my head this way. Come, doctor, confound all -humbug. I say it openly to you to please me, Anty must never come out of -that bed alive.' - -'As if your wishes could make any difference. If it is to be so, she'll -die, poor creature, without your saying so much about it; but maybe, and -it' very likely too, she'll be alive and strong, after the two of us are -under the sod.' - -'Well; if it must be so, it must; but what I wanted to say to you is this: -while you were away, I was thinking about what you said of the farm of -being a tenant of mine, you know.' - -'We can talk about that another time,' said the doctor, who began to feel -an excessive wish to be out of the house. - -'There's no time like the present, when I've got it in my mind; and, if -you'll wait, I can settle it all for you to-night. I was telling you that I -hate farming, and so I do. There are thirty or five-and-thirty acres of -land about the house, and lying round to the back of the town; you shall -take them off my hands, and welcome.' - -This was too good an offer to be resisted, and Colligan said he would take -the land, with many thanks, if the rent any way suited him. - -'We'll not quarrel about that, you may be sure, Colligan,' continued Barry; -'and as I said fifty acres at first it was fifty acres I think you were -saying you wished for I'll not baulk you, and go back from my own word.' - -'What you have yourself, round the house, 'll be enough; only I'm thinking -the rent'll be too high.' - -'It shall not; it shall be low enough; and, as I was saying, you shall have -the remainder, at the same price, immediately after Michaelmas, as soon as -ever those devils are ejected.' - -'Well;' said Colligan, who was now really interested, 'what's the figure?' - -Barry had been looking steadfastly at the fire during the whole -conversation, up to this: playing with the poker, and knocking the coals -about. He was longing to look into the other's face, but he did not dare. -Now, however, was his time; it was now or never: he took one furtive glance -at the doctor, and saw that he was really anxious on the subject that his -attention was fixed. - -'The figure,' said he; 'the figure should not trouble you if you had no one -but me to deal, with. But there'll be Anty, confound her, putting her fist -into this and every other plan of mine!' - -'I'd better deal with the agent, I'm thinking,' said Colligan; 'so, good -night.' - -'You'll find you'd a deal better be dealing with me: you'll never find an -easier fellow to deal with, or one who'll put a better thing in your way.' - -Colligan again sat down. He couldn't quite make Barry out: he suspected he -was planning some iniquity, but he couldn't, tell what; and he remained -silent, looking full into the other's face till he should go on. Barry -winced under the look, and hesitated; but at last he screwed himself up to -the point, and said, - -'One word, between two friends, is as good as a thousand. If Anty dies of -this bout, you shall have the fifty acres, with a lease for perpetuity, at -sixpence an acre. Come, that's not a high figure, I think.' - -'What?' said Colligan, apparently not understanding him, 'a lease for -perpetuity at how much an acre?' - -'Sixpence a penny a pepper-corn just anything you please. But it's all on -Anty's dying. While she's alive I can do nothing for the best friend I -have.' - -'By the Almighty above us,' said the doctor, almost in a whisper, 'I -believe the wretched man means me to murder her his own sister!' - -'Murder? Who talked or said a word of murder?' said Barry, with a hoarse -and croaking voice 'isn't she dying as she is? and isn't she better dead -than alive? It's only just not taking so much trouble to keep the life in -her; you're so exceeding clever you know!' and he made a ghastly attempt at -smiling. 'With any other doctor she'd have been dead long since: leave her -to herself a little, and the farm's your own; and I'm sure there'll 've -been nothing at all like murder between us.' - -'By Heavens, he does!' and Colligan rose quickly from his seat 'he means to -have her murdered, and thinks to make me do the deed! Why, you vile, -thieving, murdering reptile!' and as he spoke the doctor seized him by the -throat, and shook him violently in his strong grasp 'who told you I was a -fit person for such a plan? who told you to come to me for such a deed? who -told you I would sell my soul for your paltry land?' and he continued -grasping Barry's throat till he was black in the face, and nearly choked. -'Merciful Heaven! that I should have sat here, and listened to such a -scheme! Take care of yourself,' said he; and he threw him violently -backwards over the chairs 'if you're to be found in Connaught to-morrow, or -in Ireland the next day, I'll hang you!' and so saying, he hurried out of -the room, and went home. - -'Well,' thought he, on his road: 'I have heard of such men as that before, -and I believe that when I was young I read of such: but I never expected to -meet so black a villain! What had I better do? If I go and swear an -information before a magistrate there'll be nothing but my word and his. -Besides, he said nothing that the law could take hold of. And yet I -oughtn't to let it pass: at any rate I'll sleep on it.' And so he did; but -it was not for a 1ong time, for the recollection of Barry's hideous -proposal kept him awake. - -Barry lay sprawling among the chairs till the sound of the hall door -closing told him that his guest had gone, when he slowly picked himself up, -and sat down upon the sofa. Colligan's last words were ringing in his -ear 'If you're found in Ireland the next day, I'll hang you.' Hang him! and -had he really given any one the power to speak to him in such language as -that? After all, what had he said? He had not even whispered a word of -murder; he had only made an offer of what he would do if Anty should die: -besides, no one but themselves had heard even that; and then his thoughts -went off to another train. 'Who'd have thoughts' he said to himself 'the -man was such a fool! He meant it, at first, as well as I did myself. I'm -sure he did. He'd never have caught as he did about the farm else, only he -got afraid -the confounded fool! As for hanging, I'll let him know; it's -just as easy for me to tell a story, I suppose, as it is for him.' And then -Barry, too, dragged himself up to bed, and cursed himself to sleep. His -waking thoughts, however, were miserable enough. - - - - -XXVIII FANNY WYNDHAM REBELS - - -We will now return to Grey Abbey, Lord Cashel, and that unhappy love-sick -heiress, his ward, Fanny Wyndham. Affairs there had taken no turn to give -increased comfort either to the earl or to his niece, during the month -which succeeded the news of young Harry Wyndham's death. - -The former still adhered, with fixed pertinacity of purpose, to the -matrimonial arrangement which he had made with his son. Circumstances, -indeed, rendered it even much more necessary in the earl's eyes than it had -appeared to be when he first contemplated this scheme for releasing himself -from his son's pecuniary difficulties. He had, as the reader will remember, -advanced a very large sum of money to Lord Kilcullen, to be repaid out of -Fanny Wyndham's fortune, This money Lord Kilcullen had certainly -appropriated in the manner intended by his father, but it had anything but -the effect of quieting the creditors. The payments were sufficiently large -to make the whole hungry crew hear that his lordship was paying his debts, -but not at all sufficient to satisfy their craving. Indeed, nearly the -whole went in liquidation of turf engagements, and gambling debts. The -Jews, money-lenders, and tradesmen merely heard that money was going from -Lord Kilcullen's pocket; but with all their exertions they got very little -of it themselves. - -Consequently, claims of all kinds bills, duns, remonstrances and threats, -poured in not only upon the son but also upon the father. The latter, it is -true, was not in his own person liable, for one penny of them, nor could he -well, on his own score, be said to be an embarrassed man; but he was not -the less uneasy. He had determined if possible to extricate his son once -more, and as a preliminary step had himself already raised a large sum of -money which it would much trouble him to pay; and he moreover, as he -frequently said to Lord Kilcullen, would not and could not pay another -penny for the same purpose, until he saw a tolerably sure prospect of being -repaid out of his ward's fortune. - -He was therefore painfully anxious on the subject; anxious not only that -the matter should be arranged, but that it should be done at once. It was -plain that Lord Kilcullen could not remain in London, for he would be -arrested; the same thing would happen at Grey Abbey, if, he were to remain -there long without settling his affairs; and if he were once to escape his -creditors by going abroad, there would be no such thing as getting him back -again. Lord Cashel saw no good reason why there should, be any delay; Harry -Wyndham was dead above a month, and Fanny was evidently grieving more for -the loss of her lover than that of her brother; she naturally felt alone in -the world and, as Lord Cashel thought, one young viscount would be just as -good as another. The advantages, too, were much in favour of his son; he -would one day be an earl, and possess Grey Abbey. So great an accession of -grandeur, dignity, and rank could not but be, as the earl considered, very -delightful to a sensible girl like his ward. The marriage, of course, -needn't be much hurried; four or five months' time would do for that; he -was only anxious that they should be engaged that Lord Kilcullen should be -absolutely accepted Lord Ballindine finally rejected. - -The earl certainly felt some scruples of conscience at the sacrifice he was -making of his ward, and stronger still respecting his ward's fortune; but -he appeased them with the reflection that if his son were a gambler, a -roué, and a scamp, Lord Ballindine was probably just as bad; and that if -the latter were to spend all Fanny's money there would be no chance of -redemption; whereas he could at any rate settle on his wife a jointure, -which would be a full compensation for the loss of her fortune, should she -outlive her husband and father-in-law. Besides, he looked on Lord -Kilcullen's faults as a father is generally inclined to look on those of a -son, whom he had not entirely given up whom he is still striving to redeem. -He called his iniquitous vices, follies his licentiousness, love of -pleasure his unprincipled expenditure and extravagance, a want of the -knowledge of what money was: and his worst sin of all, because the one -least likely to be abandoned, his positive, unyielding damning selfishness, -he called 'fashion' the fashion of the young men of the day. - -Poor Lord Cashel! he wished to be honest to his ward; and yet to save his -son, and his own pocket at the same time, at her expense: he wished to be, -in his own estimation, high-minded, honourable, and disinterested, and yet -he could not resist the temptation to be generous to his own flesh and -blood at the expense of another. The contest within him made him miserable; -but the devil and mammon were too strong for him, particularly coming as -they did, half hidden beneath the gloss of parental affection. There was -little of the Roman about the earl, and he could not condemn his own son; -so he fumed and fretted, and twisted himself about in the easy chair in his -dingy book-room, and passed long hours in trying to persuade himself that -it was for Fanny's advantage that he was going to make her Lady Kilcullen. - -He might have saved himself all his anxiety. Fanny Wyndham had much too -strong a mind much too marked a character of her own, to be made Lady -Anything by Lord Anybody. Lord Cashel might possibly prevent her from -marrying Frank, especially as she had been weak enough, through ill-founded -pique and anger, to lend him her name for dismissing him; but neither he -nor anyone else could make her accept one man, while she loved another, and -while that other was unmarried. - -Since the interview between Fanny and her uncle and aunt, which has been -recorded, she had been nearly as uncomfortable as Lord Cashel, and she had, -to a certain extent, made the whole household as much so as herself. Not -that there was anything of the kill-joy character in Fanny's composition; -but that the natural disposition of Grey Abbey and all belonging to it was -to be dull, solemn, slow, and respectable. Fanny alone had ever given any -life to the place, or made the house tolerable; and her secession to the -ranks of the sombre crew was therefore the more remarked. If Fanny moped, -all Grey Abbey might figuratively be said to hang down its head. Lady -Cashel was, in every sense of the words, continually wrapped up in wools -and worsteds. The earl was always equally ponderous, and the specific -gravity of Lady Selina could not be calculated. It was beyond the power of -figures, even in algebraic denominations, to describe her moral weight. - -And now Fanny did mope, and Grey Abbey was triste indeed. Griffiths in my -lady's boudoir rolled and unrolled those huge white bundles of mysterious -fleecy hosiery with more than usually slow and unbroken perseverance. My -lady herself bewailed the fermentation among the jam-pots with a voice that -did more than whine, it was almost funereal. As my lord went from -breakfast-room to book-room, from book-room to dressing-room, and from -dressing-room to dining-room, his footsteps creaked with a sound more -deadly than that of a death-watch. The book-room itself had caught a darker -gloom; the backs of the books seemed to have lost their gilding, and the -mahogany furniture its French polish. There, like a god, Lord Cashel sate -alone, throned amid clouds of awful dulness, ruling the world of -nothingness around by the silent solemnity of his inertia. - -Lady Selina was always useful, but with a solid, slow activity, a dignified -intensity of heavy perseverance, which made her perhaps more intolerable -than her father. She was like some old coaches which we remember very sure, -very respectable; but so tedious, so monotonous, so heavy in their motion, -that a man with a spark of mercury in his composition would prefer any -danger from a faster vehicle to their horrid, weary, murderous, slow -security. Lady Selina from day to day performed her duties in a most -uncompromising manner; she knew what was due to her position, and from it, -and exacted and performed accordingly with a stiff, steady propriety which -made her an awful if not a hateful creature. One of her daily duties, and -one for the performance of which she had unfortunately ample opportunity, -was the consolation of Fanny under her troubles. Poor Fanny! how great an -aggravation was this to her other miseries! For a considerable time Lady -Selma had known nothing of the true cause of Fanny's gloom; for though the -two cousins were good friends, as far as Lady Selina was capable of -admitting so human a frailty as friendship, still Fanny could not bring -herself to make a confidante of her. Her kind, stupid, unpretending old -aunt was a much better person to talk to, even though she did arch her -eyebrows, and shake her head when Lord Ballindine's name was mentioned, and -assure her niece that though she had always liked him herself, he could not -be good for much, because Lord Kilcullen had said so. But Fanny could not -well dissemble; she was tormented by Lady Selina's condolements, and -recommendations of Gibbon, her encomiums on industry, and anathemas against -idleness; she was so often reminded that weeping would not bring back her -brother, nor inactive reflection make his fate less certain, that at last -she made her monitor understand that it was about Lord Ballindine's fate -that she was anxious, and that it was his coming back which might be -effected by weeping or other measures. - -Lady Selina was shocked by such feminine, girlish weakness, such want of -dignity and character, such forgetfulness, as she said to Fanny, of what -was due to her own position. Lady Selina was herself unmarried, and not -likely to marry; and why had she maintained her virgin state, and foregone -the blessings of love and matrimony? Because, as she often said to herself, -and occasionally said to Fanny, she would not step down from the lofty -pedestal on which it had pleased fortune and birth to place her. - -She learned, however, by degrees, to forgive, though she couldn't approve, -Fanny's weakness; she remembered that it was a very different thing to be -an earl's niece and an earl's daughter, and that the same conduct could not -be expected from Fanny Wyndham and Lady Selina Grey. - -The two were sitting together, in one of the Grey Abbey drawing-rooms, -about the middle of April. Fanny had that morning again been talking to her -guardian on the subject nearest to her heart, and had nearly distracted him -by begging him to take steps to make Frank understand that a renewal of his -visits at Grey Abbey would not be ill received. Lord Cashel at first tried -to frighten her out of her project by silence, frowns, and looks: but not -finding himself successful, he commenced a long oration, in which he broke -down, or rather, which he had to cut up into sundry short speeches; in -which he endeavoured to make it appear that Lord Ballindine's expulsion had -originated with Fanny herself, and that, banished or not banished, the -less. Fanny had to do with him the better. His ward, however, declared, in -rather a tempestuous manner, that if she could not see him at Grey Abbey -she would see him elsewhere; and his lordship was obliged to capitulate by -promising that if Frank were unmarried in twelve months' time, and Fanny -should then still be of the same mind, he would consent to the match and -use his influence to bring it about. This by no means satisfied Fanny, but -it was all that the earl would say, and she had now to consider whether she -would accept those terms or act for herself. Had she had any idea what -steps she could with propriety take in opposition to the earl, she would -have withdrawn herself and her fortune from his house and hands, without -any scruples of conscience. But what was she to do? She couldn't write to -her lover and ask him to come back to her! Whither could she go? She -couldn't well set up house for herself. - -Lady Selina was bending over her writing-desk, and penning most decorous -notes, with a precision of calligraphy which it was painful to witness. She -was writing orders to Dublin tradesmen, and each order might have been -printed in the Complete Letter-Writer, as a specimen of the manner in which -young ladies should address such correspondents. Fanny had a volume of -French poetry in her hand, but had it been Greek prose it would have given -her equal occupation and amusement. It had been in her hands half-an-hour, -and she had not read a line. - -'Fanny,' said Lady Selina, raising up her thin red spiral tresses from her -desk, and speaking in a firm, decided tone, as if well assured of the -importance of the question she was going to put; 'don't you want some -things from Ellis's?' - -'From where, Selina?' said Fanny, slightly starting. - -'From Ellis's,' repeated Lady Selina. - -'Oh, the man in Grafton Street. No, thank you.' And Fanny returned to her -thoughts. - -'Surely you do, Fanny,' said her ladyship. 'I'm sure you want black crape; -you were saying so on Friday last.' - -'Was I? Yes; I think I do. It'll do another time, Selina; never mind now.' - -'You had better have it in the parcel he will send to-morrow; if you'll -give me the pattern and tell me how much you want, I'll write for it.' - -'Thank you, Selina. You're very kind, but I won't mind it to-day.' - -'How very foolish of you, Fanny; you know you want it, and then you'll be -annoyed about it. You'd better let me order it with the other things.' - -'Very well, dear: order it then for me.' - -'How much will you want? you must send the pattern too, you know.' - -'Indeed, Selina, I don't care about having it at all; I can do very well -without it, so don't mind troubling yourself.' - -'How very ridiculous, Fanny! You know you want black crape and you must get -it from Ellis's.' Lady Selina paused for a reply, and then added, in a -voice of sorrowful rebuke, 'It's to save yourself the trouble of sending -Jane for the pattern.' - -'Well, Selina, perhaps it is. Don't bother me about it now, there's a dear. -I'll be more myself by-and-by; but indeed, indeed, I'm neither well nor -happy now.' - -'Not well, Fanny! What ails you?' - -'Oh, nothing ails me; that is, nothing in the doctor's way. I didn't mean I -was ill.' - -'You said you weren't well; and people usually mean by that, that they are -ill.' - -'But I didn't mean it,' said Fanny, becoming almost irritated, 'I only -meant ' and she paused and did not finish her sentence. -Lady Selina wiped her pen, in her scarlet embroidered pen-wiper, closed the -lid of her patent inkstand, folded a piece of blotting-paper over the note -she was writing, pushed back the ruddy ringlets from her contemplative -forehead, gave a slight sigh, and turned herself towards her cousin, with -the purpose of commencing a vigorous lecture and cross-examination, by -which she hoped to exorcise the spirit of lamentation from Fanny's breast, -and restore her to a healthful activity in the performance of this world's -duties. Fanny felt what was coming; she could not fly; so she closed her -book and her eyes, and prepared herself for endurance. - -'Fanny,' said Lady Selina, in a voice which was intended to be both severe -and sorrowful, 'you are giving way to very foolish feelings in a very -foolish way; you are preparing great unhappiness for yourself, and allowing -your mind to waste itself in uncontrolled sorrow in a manner in a manner -which cannot but be ruinously injurious. My dear Fanny, why don't you do -something? why don't you occupy yourself? You've given up your work; you've -given up your music; you've given up everything in the shape of reading; -how long, Fanny, will you go on in this sad manner?' Lady Selina paused, -but, as Fanny did not immediately reply, she continued her speech 'I've -begged you to go on with your reading, because nothing but mental -employment will restore your mind to its proper tone. I'm sure I've brought -you the second volume of Gibbon twenty times, but I don't believe you've -read a chapter this month back. How long will you allow yourself to go on -in this sad manner?' - -'Not long, Selina. As you say, I'm sad enough.' - -'But is it becoming in you, Fanny, to grieve in this way for a man whom you -yourself rejected because he was unworthy of you?' - -'Selina, I've told you before that such was not the case. I believe him to -be perfectly worthy of me, and of any one much my superior too.' - -'But you did reject him, Fanny: you bade papa tell him to discontinue his -visits didn't you?' - -Fanny felt that her cousin was taking an unfair advantage in throwing thus -in her teeth her own momentary folly in having been partly persuaded, -partly piqued, into quarrelling with her lover; and she resented it as -such. 'If I did,' she said, somewhat angrily, 'it does not make my grief -any lighter, to know that I brought it on myself.' - -'No, Fanny; but it should show you that the loss for which you grieve is -past recovery. Sorrow, for which there is no cure, should cease to be -grieved for, at any rate openly. If Lord Ballindine were to die you would -not allow his death to doom you to perpetual sighs, and perpetual -inactivity. No; you'd then know that grief was hopeless, and you'd -recover.' - -'But Lord Ballindine is not dead,' said Fanny. - -'Ah! that's just the point,' continued her ladyship; 'he should be dead to -you; to you he should now be just the same as though he were in his grave. -You loved him some time since, and accepted him; but you found your love -misplaced, unreturned, or at any rate coldly returned. Though you loved -him, you passed a deliberate judgment on him, and wisely rejected him. -Having done so, his name should not be on your lips; his form and figure -should be forgotten. No thoughts of him should sully your mind, no love for -him should be permitted to rest in your heart; it should be rooted out, -whatever the exertion may cost you.' - -'Selina, I believe you have no heart yourself.' - -'Perhaps as much as yourself, Fanny. I've heard of some people who were -said to be all heart; I flatter myself I am not one of them. I trust I have -some mind, to regulate my heart; and some conscience, to prevent my -sacrificing my duties for the sake of my heart.' - -'If you knew,' said Fanny, 'the meaning of what love was, you'd know that -it cannot be given up in a moment, as you suppose; rooted out, as you -choose to call it. But, to tell you the truth, Selina, I don't choose to -root it out. I gave my word to Frank not twelve months since, and that with -the consent of every one belonging to me. I owned that I loved him, and -solemnly assured him I would always do so. I cannot, and I ought not, and I -will not break my word. You would think of nothing but what you call your -own dignity; I will not give up my own happiness, and, I firmly believe -his, too, for anything so empty.' - -'Don't be angry with me, Fanny,' said Lady Selina; 'my regard for your -dignity arises only from my affection for you. I should be sorry to see you -lessen yourself in the eyes of those around you. You must remember that you -cannot act as another girl might, whose position was less exalted. Miss -O'Joscelyn might cry for her lost lover till she got him back again, or got -another; and no one would be the wiser, and she would not be the worse; but -you cannot do that. Rank and station are in themselves benefits; but they -require more rigid conduct, much more control over the feelings than is -necessary in a humbler position. You should always remember, Fanny, that -much is expected from those to whom much is given.' - -'And I'm to be miserable all my life because I'm not a parson's daughter, -like Miss O'Joscelyn!' - -'God forbid, Fanny! If you'd employ your time, engage your mind, and cease -to think of Lord Ballindine, you'd soon cease to be miserable. Yes; though -you might never again feel the happiness of loving, you might still be far -from miserable.' - -'But I can't cease to think of him, Selina ; I won't even try.' - -'Then, Fanny, I truly pity you.' - -'No, Selina; it's I that pity you,' said Fanny, roused to energy as -different thoughts crowded to her mind. 'You, who think more of your -position as an earl's daughter an aristocrat, than of your nature as a -woman! Thank Heaven, I'm not a queen, to be driven to have other feelings -than those of my sex. I do love Lord Ballindine, and if I had the power to -cease to do so this moment, I'd sooner drown myself than exercise it.' - -'Then why were you weak enough to reject him?' - -'Because I was a weak, wretched, foolish girl. I said it in a moment of -passion, and my uncle acted on it at once, without giving me one minute for -reflection without allowing me one short hour to look into my own heart, -and find how I was deceiving myself in thinking that I ought to part from -him. I told Lord Cashel in the morning that I would give him up; and before -I had time to think of what I had said, he had been here, and had been -turned out of the house. Oh, Selina! it was very, very cruel in your father -to take me at my word so shortly!' And Fanny hid her face in her -handkerchief, and burst into tears. - -'That's unfair, Fanny; it couldn't be cruel in him to do for you that which -he would have done for his own daughter. He thought, and thinks, that Lord -Ballindine would not make you happy.' - -'Why should he think so? he'd no business to think so,' sobbed Fanny -through her tears. - -'Who could have a business to think for you, if not your guardian?' - -'Why didn't he think so then, before he encouraged me to receive him? It -was because Frank wouldn't do just what he was bid; it was because he -wouldn't become stiff, and solemn, and grave like like ' Fanny was going to -make a comparison that would not have been flattering either to Lady Selina -or to her father, but she did not quite forget herself, and stopped short -without expressing the likeness. 'Had he spoken against him at first, I -would have obeyed; but I will not destroy myself now for his prejudices.' -And Fanny buried her face among the pillows of the sofa, and sobbed aloud. - -Lady Selina walked over to the sofa, and stood at the head of it bending -over her cousin. She wished to say something to soothe and comfort her, but -did not know how; there was nothing soothing or comforting in her nature, -nothing soft in her voice; her manner was repulsive, and almost unfeeling; -and yet she was not unfeeling. She loved Fanny as warmly as she was capable -of loving; she would have made almost any personal sacrifice to save her -cousin from grief; she would, were it possible, have borne her sorrows -herself; but she could not unbend; she could not sit down by Fanny's side, -and, taking her hand, say soft and soothing things; she could not make her -grief easier by expressing hope for the future or consolation for the past. -She would have felt that she was compromising truth by giving hope, and -dignity by uttering consolation for the loss of that which she considered -better lost than retained. Lady Selina's only recipe was endurance and -occupation. And at any rate, she practised what she preached; she was never -idle, and she never complained. - -As she saw Fanny's grief, and heard her sobs, she at first thought that in -mercy she should now give up the subject of the conversation; but then she -reflected that such mercy might be the greatest cruelty, and that the -truest kindness would be to prove to Fanny the hopelessness of her passion. - -'But, Fanny,' she said, when the other's tears were a little subsided, -'it's no use either saying or thinking impossibilities. What are you to do? -You surely will not willingly continue to indulge a hopeless passion?' - -'Selina, you'll drive me mad; if you go on! Let me have my own way.' - -'But, Fanny, if your own way's a bad way? Surely you won't refuse to listen -to reason? You must know that what I say is only from my affection. I want -you to look before you; I want you to summon courage to look forward; and -then I'm sure your common sense will tell you that Lord Ballindine can -never be anything to you.' - -'Look here, Selina,' and Fanny rose, and wiped her eyes, and somewhat -composed her ruffled hair, which she shook back from her face and forehead, -as she endeavoured to repress the palpitation which had followed her tears; -'I have looked forward, and I have determined what I mean to do. It was -your father who brought me to this, by forcing me into a childish quarrel -with the man I love. I have implored him, almost on my knees, to invite -Lord Ballindine again to Grey Abbey: he has refused to do so, at any rate -for twelve months ' - -'And has he consented to ask him at the end of twelve months?' asked -Selina, much astonished, and, to tell the truth, considerably shocked at -this instance of what she considered her father's weakness. - -'He might as well have said twelve years,' replied Fanny. 'How can I, how -can any one, suppose that he should remain single for my sake for twelve -months, after being repelled without a cause, or without a word of -explanation; without even seeing me turned out of the house, and insulted -in every way? No; whatever he might do, I will not wait twelve months. I'll -ask Lord Cashel once again, and then ' Fanny paused for a moment, to -consider in what words she would finish her declaration. - -'Well, Fanny,' said Selina, waiting with eager expectation for Fanny's -final declaration; for she expected to hear her say that she would drown -herself, or lock herself up for ever, or do something equally absurd. - -'Then,' continued Fanny and a deep blush covered her face as she spoke, 'I -will write to Lord Ballindine, and tell him that I am still his own if he -chooses to take me.' - -'Oh, Fanny! do not say such a horrid thing. Write to a man, and beg him to -accept you? No, Fanny; I know you too well, at any rate, to believe that -you'll do that.' - -'Indeed, indeed, I will.' - -'Then you'll disgrace yourself for ever. Oh, Fanny! though my heart were -breaking, though I knew I were dying for very love, I'd sooner have it -break, I'd sooner die at once, than disgrace my sex by becoming a suppliant -to a man.' - -'Disgrace, Selina! and am I not now disgraced? Have I not given him my -solemn word? Have I not pledged myself to him as his wife? Have I not sworn -to him a hundred times that my heart was all his own? Have I not suffered -those caresses which would have been disgraceful had I not looked on myself -as almost already his bride? And is it no disgrace, after that, to break my -word? to throw him aside like a glove that wouldn't fit? to treat him as a -servant that wouldn't suit me? to send him a contemptuous message to be -gone? and so, to forget him, that I might lay myself out for the addresses -and admiration of another? Could any conduct be worse than that? any -disgrace deeper? Oh, Selina! I shudder as I think of it. Could I ever bring -my lips to own affection for another, without being overwhelmed with shame -and disgrace? And then, that the world should say that I had accepted, and -rejoiced in his love when I was poor, and rejected it with scorn when I was -rich! No; I would sooner .-ten thousand times sooner my uncle should do it -for me! but if he will not write to Frank, I will. And though my hand will -shake, and my face will be flushed as I do so, I shall never think that I -have disgraced myself.' - -'And if, Fanny if, after that he refuses you?' - -Fanny was still standing, and she remained so for a moment or two, -meditating her reply, and then she answered 'Should he do so, then I have -the alternative which you say you would prefer; then I will endeavour to -look forward to a broken heart, and death, without a complaint and without -tears. Then, Selina,' and she tried to smile through the tears which were -again running down her cheeks, 'I'll come to you, and endeavour to borrow -your stoic endurance, and patient industry;' and, as she said so, she -walked to the door and escaped, before Lady Selina had time to reply. - - - - -XXIX THE COUNTESS OF CASHEL IN TROUBLE - - -After considerable negotiation between the father and the son, the time was -fixed for Lord Kilcullen's arrival at Grey Abbey. The earl tried much to -accelerate it, and the viscount was equally anxious to stave off the evil -day; but at last it was arranged that, on the 3rd of April, he was to make -his appearance, and that he should commence his wooing as soon as possible -after that day. - -When this was absolutely fixed, Lord Cashel paid a visit to his countess, -in her boudoir, to inform her of the circumstance, and prepare her for the -expected guest. He did not, however, say a word of the purport of his son's -visit. He had, at one time, thought of telling the old lady all about it, -and bespeaking her influence with Fanny for the furtherance of his plan; -but, on reconsideration, he reflected that his wife was not the person to -he trusted with any intrigue. So he merely told her that Lord Kilcullen -would be at Grey Abbey in five days; that he would probably remain at home -a long time; that, as he was giving up his London vices and extravagances, -and going to reside at Grey Abbey, he wished that the house should be made -as pleasant for him as possible; that a set of friends, relatives, and -acquaintances should be asked to come and stay there; and, in short, that -Lord Kilcullen, having been a truly prodigal son, should have a fatted calf -prepared for his arrival. - -All this flurried and rejoiced, terrified and excited my lady exceedingly. -In the first place it was so truly delightful that her son should turn good -and proper, and careful and decorous, just at the right time of life; so -exactly the thing that ought to happen. Of course young noblemen were -extravagant, and wicked, and lascivious, habitual breakers of the -commandments, and self-idolators; it was their nature. In Lady Cashel's -thoughts on the education of young men, these evils were ranked with the -measles and hooping cough; it was well that they should be gone through and -be done with early in life. She had a kind of hazy idea that an opera- -dancer and a gambling club were indispensable in fitting a young aristocrat -for his future career; and I doubt whether she would not have agreed to the -expediency of inoculating a son of hers with these ailments in a mild, -degree vaccinating him as it were with dissipation, in order that he might -not catch the disease late in life in a violent and fatal form. She had not -therefore made herself unhappy about her son for a few years after his -first entrance on a life in London, but latterly she had begun to be a -little uneasy. Tidings of the great amount of his debts reached even her -ears; and, moreover, it was nearly time that he should reform and settle -down. During the last twelve months she had remarked fully twelve times, to -Griffiths, that she wondered when Kilcullen would marry? and she had even -twice asked her husband, whether he didn't think that such a circumstance -would be advantageous. She was therefore much rejoiced to hear that her son -was coming to live at home. But then, why was it so sudden? It was quite -proper that the house should be made a little gay for his reception; that -he shouldn't be expected to spend his evenings with no other society than -that of his father and mother, his sister and his cousin; but how was she -to get the house ready for the people, and the people ready for the house, -at so very short a notice? What trouble, also, it would be to her! Neither -she nor Griffiths would know another moment's rest; besides and the thought -nearly drove her into hysterics where was she to get a new cook? - -However, she promised her husband to do her best. She received from him a -list of people to be invited, and, merely stipulating that she shouldn't be -required to ask any one except the parson of the parish under a week, -undertook to make the place as bearable as possible to so fastidious and -distinguished a person as her own son. - -Her first confidante was, of course, Griffiths; and, with her assistance, -the wool and the worsted, and the knitting-needles, the unfinished -vallances and interminable yards of fringe, were put up and rolled out of -the way; and it was then agreed that a council should be held, to which her -ladyship proposed to invite Lady Selina and Fanny. Griffiths, however, -advanced an opinion that the latter was at present too lack-a-daisical to -be of any use in such a matter, -and strengthened her argument by asserting that Miss Wyndham had of late -been quite mumchance. - -Lady Cashel was at first rather inclined to insist on her niece being -called to the council, but Griffiths's - -eloquence was too strong, and her judgment too undoubted; so Fanny was left -undisturbed, and Lady Selina alone summoned to join the aged female -senators of Grey Abbey. - -'Selina,' said her ladyship, as soon as her daughter was seated on the sofa -opposite to her mother's easy chair, while Griffiths, having shut the door, -had, according to custom, sat herself down on her own soft-bottomed chair, -on the further side of the little table that always stood at the countess's -right hand. 'Selina, what do you think your father tells me?' - -Lady Selina couldn't think, and declined guessing; for, as she remarked, -guessing was a loss of time, and she never guessed right. - -'Adolphus is coming home on Tuesday.' - -'Adolphus! why it's not a month since he was here.' - -'And he's not coming only for a visit; he's coming to stay here; from what -your father says, I suppose he'll stay here the greater part of the -summer.' - -'What, stay at Grey Abbey all May and June?' said Lady Selina, evidently -discrediting so unlikely a story, and thinking it all but impossible that -her brother should immure himself at Grey Abbey during the London season. - - 'It's true, my lady,' said Griffiths, oracularly; as if her word were -necessary to place the countess's statement beyond doubt. - -'Yes,' continued Lady Cashel; 'and he has given up all his establishment in -London his horses, and clubs, and the opera, and all that. He'll go into -Parliament, I dare say, now, for the county; at any rate he's coming to -live at home here for the summer.' - -'And has he sold all his horses?' asked Lady Selina. 'If he's not done it, -he's doing it,' said the countess. 'I declare I'm delighted with him; it -shows such proper feeling. I always knew he would; I was sure that when the -time came for doing it, Adolphus would not forget what was due to himself -and to his family.' - -'If what you say is true, mamma, he's going to be married.' - -'That's just what I was thinking, my lady,' said Griffiths. 'When her -ladyship first told me all about it how his lordship was coming down to -live regular and decorous among his own people, and that he was turning his -back upon his pleasures and iniquities, thinks I to myself there'll be -wedding favours coming soon to Grey Abbey.' - -'If it is so, Selina, your father didn't say anything to me about it,' said -the countess, somewhat additionally flustered by the importance of the last -suggestion; 'and if he'd even guessed such a thing, I'm sure he'd have -mentioned it.' - -'It mightn't be quite fixed, you know, mamma: but if Adolphus is doing as -you say, you may be sure he's either engaged, or thinking of becoming so.' - -'Well, my dear, I'm sure I wish it may be so; only I own I'd like to know, -because it makes a difference, as to the people he'd like to meet, you -know. I'm sure nothing would delight me so much as to receive Adolphus's -wife. Of course she'd always be welcome to lie in here indeed it'd be the -fittest place. But we should be dreadfully put about, eh, Griffiths?' - - 'Why, we should, my lady; but, to my mind, this would be the only most -proper place for my lord's heir to be born in. If the mother and child -couldn't have the best of minding here, where could they?' - -'Of course, Griffiths; and we wouldn't mind the trouble, on such an -occasion. I think the south room would be the best, because of the -dressing-room being such a good size, and neither of the fireplaces -smoking, you know.' - -'Well, I don't doubt but it would, my lady; only the blue room is nearer to -your ladyship here, and in course your ladyship would choose to be in and -out.' - -And visions of caudle cups, cradles, and monthly nurses, floated over Lady -Cashel's brain, and gave her a kind of dreamy feel that the world was going -to begin again with her. - -'But, mamma, is Adolphus really to be here on Tuesday?' said Lady Selina, -recalling the two old women from their attendance on the unborn, to the -necessities of the present generation. - -'Indeed he is, my dear, and that's what I sent for you for. Your papa -wishes to have a good deal of company here to meet your brother; and indeed -it's only reasonable, for of course this place would be very dull for him, -if there was nobody here but ourselves and he's always used to see so many -people; but the worst is, it's all to be done at once, and you know -there'll be so much to be got through before we'll be ready for a house -full of company things to be got from Dublin, and the people to be asked. -And then, Selina,' and her ladyship almost wept as the latter came to her -great final difficulty 'What are we to do about a cook? Richards'll never -do; Griffiths says she won't even do for ourselves, as it is.' - -'Indeed she won't, my lady; it was only impudence in her coming to such a -place at all. She'd never be able to send a dinner up for eighteen or -twenty.' - -'What are we to do, Griffiths? What can have become of all the cooks? I'm -sure there used to be cooks enough when I was first married.' -'Well, my lady, I think they must be all gone to England, those that are -any good; but I don't know what's come to the servants altogether; as your -ladyship says, they're quite altered for the worse since we were young.' - -'But, mamma,' said Lady Selina, 'you're not going to ask people here just -immediately, are you?' - -'Directly, my dear; your papa wishes it done at once. We're to have a -dinner-party this day week that'll be Thursday; and we'll get as many of -the people as we can to stay afterwards; and we'll get the O'Joscelyns to -come on Wednesday, just to make the table look not quite so bare, and I -want you to write the notes at once. There'll be a great many things to be -got from Dublin too.' - -'It's very soon after poor Harry Wyndham's death, to be receiving company,' -said Lady Selina, solemnly. 'Really, mamma, I don't think it will be -treating Fanny well to be asking all these people so soon. The O'Joscelyns, -or the Fitzgeralds, are all very well just our own near neighbours; but -don't you think, mamma, it's rather too soon to be asking a house-full of -strange people?' - -'Well, my love, I was thinking so, and I mentioned it to your father; but -he said that poor Harry had been dead a month now and that's true, you -know and that people don't think so much now about those kind of things as -they used to; and that's true too, I believe.' - -'Indeed you may say that, my lady,' interposed Griffiths. 'I remember when -bombazines used to be worn three full months for an uncle or cousin, and -now they're hardly ever worn at all for the like, except in cases where the -brother or sister of him or her as is dead may be stopping in the house, -and then only for a month: and they were always worn the full six months -for a brother or sister, and sometimes the twelve months round. Your aunt, -Lady Charlotte, my lady, wore hers the full twelve months, when your uncle, -Lord Frederick, was shot by Sir Patrick O'Donnel; and now they very seldom, -never, I may say, wear them the six months I Indeed, I think mourning is -going out altogether; and I'm very sorry for it, for it's a very decent, -proper sort of thing; at least, such was always my humble opinion, my -lady.' - -'Well; but what I was saying is,' continued the countess, 'that what would -be thought strange a few years ago, isn't thought at all so now; and though -I'm sure, Selina, I wouldn't like to do anything that looked unkind to -Fanny, I really don't see how we can help it, as your father makes such a -point of it.' - -'I can't say I think it's right, mamma, for I don't. But if you and papa -do, of course I've nothing further to my.' - -'Well, my love, I don't know that I do exactly think it's right; and I'm -sure it's not my wish to be having people especially when I don't know -where on earth to turn for a cook. But what can we do, my dear? Adolphus -wouldn't stay the third night here, I'm sure, if there was nobody to amuse -him; and you wouldn't have him turned out of the house, would you?' - -'I have him turned out, mamma? God forbid! I'd sooner he should be here -than anywhere, for here he must be out of harm's way; but still I think -that if he comes to a house of mourning, he might, for a short time, submit -to put up with its decent tranquillity.' -'Selina,' said the mother, pettishly, 'I really thought you'd help me when -I've so much to trouble and vex me and not make any fresh difficulties. How -can I help it? If your father says the people are to come, I can't say I -won't let them in. I hope you won't make Fanny think I'm doing it from -disrespect to her. I'm sure I wouldn't have a soul here for a twelvemonth, -on my own account.' - -'I'm sure Miss Wyndham won't think any such thing, my lady,' said -Griffiths; 'will she, Lady Selina? Indeed, I don't think she'll matter it -one pin.' - -'Indeed, Selina, I don't think she will,' said the countess; and then she -half whispered to her daughter. 'Poor Fanny! it's not about her brother -she's grieving; it's that horrid man, Ballindine. She sent him away, and -now she wants to have him back. I really think a little company will be the -best thing to bring her to herself again.' There was a little degree of -humbug in this whisper, for her ladyship meant her daughter to understand -that she wouldn't speak aloud about Fanny's love-affair before Griffiths; -and yet she had spent many a half hour talking to her factotum on that very -subject. Indeed, what subject was there of any interest to Lady Cashel on -which she did not talk to Griffiths! - -'Well, mamma,' said Lady Selina, dutifully, 'I'll not say another word -about it; only let me know what you want me to do, and I'll do it. Who is -it you mean to ask?' - -'Why, first of all, there's the Fitzgeralds: your father thinks that Lord -and Lady George would come for a week or so, and you know the girls have -been long talking of coming to Grey Abbey these two years I believe, and -more.' - -'The girls will come, I dare say, mamma; though I don't exactly think -they're the sort of people who will amuse Adolphus; but I don't think Lord -George or Lady George will sleep away from home. We can ask them, however; -Mountains is only five miles from here, and I'm sure they'll go back after -dinner.' - -'Well, my dear, if they will, they must, and I can't help it; only I must -say it'll be very ill-natured of them. I'm sure it's a long time since they -were asked to stay here.' - -'As you say, mamma, at any rate we can ask them. And who comes next?' - -'Why your father has put down the Swinburn people next; though I'm sure I -don't know how they are to come so far.' - -'Why, mamma, the colonel is a martyr to the gout!' - -'Yes, my lady,' said Griffiths, 'and Mrs. Ellison is worse again, with -rheumatics. There would be nothing to do, the whole time, but nurse the two -of them.' - -'Never mind, Griffiths; you'll not have to nurse them, so you needn't be so -ill-natured.' - -'Me, ill-natured, my lady? I'm sure I begs pardon, but I didn't mean -nothing ill-natured; besides, Mrs. Ellison was always a very nice lady to -me, and I'm sure I'd be happy to nurse her, if she wanted it; only that, as -in duty bound, I've your ladyship to look to first, and so couldn't spare -time very well for nursing any one.' -'Of course you couldn't, Griffiths; but, Selina, at any rate you must ask -the Ellisons: your papa thinks a great deal about the colonel he has so -much influence in the county, and Adolphus will very likely stand, now. -Your papa and the colonel were members together for the county more than -forty years since.' - -'Well, mamma, I'll write Mrs. Ellison. Shall I say for a week or ten days?' - -'Say for ten days or a fortnight, and then perhaps they'll stay a week. -Then there's the Bishop of Maryborough, and Mrs. Moore. I'm sure Adolphus -will be glad to meet the bishop, for it was he that christened him.' - -'Very well, mamma, I'll write to Mrs. Moore. I suppose the bishop is in -Dublin at present?' - -'Yes, my dear, I believe so. There can't be anything to prevent their -coming.' - -'Only that he's the managing man on the Education Board, and he's giving up -his time very much to that at present. I dare say he'll come, but he won't -stay long.' - -'Well, Selina, if he won't, I can't help it; and I'm sure, now I think -about the cook, I don't see how we're to expect anybody to stay. What am I -to do, Griffiths, about that horrid woman?' - -'I'll tell you what I was thinking, my lady; only I don't know whether your -ladyship would like it, either, and if you didn't you could easily get rid -of him when all these people are gone.' - -'Get rid of who?' - -'I was going to say, my lady if your ladyship would consent to have a man -cook for a time, just to try.' - -'Then I never will, Griffiths: there'd be no peace in the house with him!' - -'Well, your ladyship knows best, in course; only if you thought well of -trying it, of course you needn't keep the man; and I know there's Murray in -Dublin, that was cook so many years to old Lord Galway. I know he's to be -heard of at the hotel in Grafton Street.' - -'I can't bear the thoughts of a man cook, Griffiths: - -'I'd sooner have three women cooks, and I'm sure one's enough to plague -anybody.' - -'But none's worse, my lady,' said Griffiths. - -'You needn't tell me that. I wonder, Selina, if I were to write to my -sister, whether she could send me over anything that would answer?' - -'What, from London, my lady?' answered Griffiths 'You'd find a London woman -cook sent over in that way twice worse than any man: she'd be all airs and -graces. If your ladyship thought well of thinking about Murray, Richards -would do very well under him: she's a decent poor creature, poor woman only -she certainly is not a cook that'd suit for such a house as this; and it -was only impudence her thinking to attempt it.' -'But, mamma,' said Lady Selina, 'do let me know to whom I am to write, and -then you and Griffiths can settle about the cook afterwards; the time is so -very short that I ought not to lose a post.' - -The poor countess threw herself back in her easy chair, the picture of -despair. Oh, how much preferable were rolls of worsted and yards of -netting, to the toils and turmoil of preparing for, and entertaining -company! She was already nearly overcome by the former: she didn't dare to -look forward to the miseries of the latter. She already began to feel the -ill effects of her son's reformation, and to wish that it had been -postponed just for a month or two, till she was a little more settled. - -'Well, mamma,' said Lady Selina, as undisturbed and calm as ever, and as -resolved to do her duty without flinching, 'shall we go on?' - -The countess groaned and sighed 'There's the list there, Selina, which your -father put down in pencil. You know the people as well as I do: just ask -them all ' - -'But, mamma, I'm not to ask them all to stay here I suppose some are only -to come to dinner? the O'Joscelyns, and the Parchments?' - -'Ask the O'Joscelyns for Wednesday and Thursday: the girls might as well -stay and sleep here. But what's the good of writing to them? can't you -drive over to the Parsonage and settle it all there? you do nothing but -make difficulties, Selina, and my head's racking.' - -Lady Selina sate silent for a short time, conning the list, and -endeavouring to see her way through the labyrinth of difficulties which was -before her, without further trouble to her mother; while the countess -leaned back, with her eyes closed, and her hands placed on the arms of her -chair, as though she were endeavouring to get some repose, after the labour -she had gone through. Her daughter, however, again disturbed her. - -'Mamma,' she said, trying by the solemnity of her tone to impress her -mother with the absolute necessity she was under of again appealing to her -upon the subject, 'what are we to do about young men?' - -'About young men, my dear?' -'Yes, mamma: there'll be a house-full of young ladies there's the -Fitzgeralds and Lady Louisa Pratt and Miss Ellison and the three -O'Joscelyns and not a single young man, except Mr O'Joscelyn's curate!' - -'Well, my dear, I'm sure Mr. Hill's a very nice young man'. - -"So he is, mamma; a very good young man; but he won't do to amuse such a -quantity of girls. If there were only one or two he'd do very well; -besides, I'm sure Adolphus won't like it.' - -'Why; won't he talk to the young ladies? I'm sure he was always fond of -ladies' society.' - -'I tell you, mamma, it won't do. There'll be the bishop and two other -clergymen, and old Colonel Ellison, who has always got the gout, and Lord -George, if he comes and I'm sure he won't. If you want to make a pleasant -party for Adolphus, you must get some young men; besides, you can't ask all -those girls, and have nobody to dance with them or talk to them.' -'I'm sure, my dear, I don't know what you're to do. I don't know any young -men except Mr. Hill; and there's that young Mr. Grundy, who lives in -Dublin. I promised his aunt to be civil to him: can't you ask him down?' - -'He was here before, mamma, and I don't think he liked it. I'm sure we -didn't. He didn't speak a word the whole day he was here. He's not at all -the person to suit Adolphus.' - -'Then, my dear, you must go to your papa, and ask bin: it's quite clear I -can't make young men. I remember, years ago, there always used to be too -many of them, and I don't know where they're all gone to. At any rate, when -they do come, there'll be nothing for them to eat,' and Lady Cashel again -fell back upon her deficiencies in the kitchen establishment. - -Lady Selina saw that nothing more could be obtained from her mother, no -further intelligence as regarded the embryo party. The whole burden was to -lie on her shoulders, and very heavy she felt it. As far as concerned -herself, she had no particular wish for one kind of guest more than -another: it was not for herself that she wanted young men; she knew that at -any rate there were none within reach whom she could condescend to notice -save as her father's guests; there could be no one there whose presence -could be to her of any interest: the gouty colonel, and the worthy bishop, -would be as agreeable to her as any other men that would now be likely to -visit Grey Abbey. But Lady Selina felt a real desire that others in the -house might be happy while there. She was no flirt herself, nor had she -ever been; it was not in her nature to be so. But though she herself might -be contented to twaddle with old men, she knew that other girls would not. -Yet it was not that she herself had no inward wish for that admiration -which is desired by nearly every woman, or that she thought a married state -was an unenviable one. No; she could have loved and loved truly, and could -have devoted herself most scrupulously to the duties of a wife; but she had -vainly and foolishly built up for herself a pedestal, and there she had -placed herself; nor would she come down to stand on common earth, though -Apollo had enticed her, unless he came with the coronet of a peer upon his -brow. - -She left her mother's boudoir, went down into the drawing-room, and there -she wrote her notes of invitation, and her orders to the tradesmen; and -then she went to her father, and consulted him on the difficult subject of -young men. She suggested the Newbridge Barracks, where the dragoons were; -and the Curragh, where perhaps some stray denizen of pleasure might be -found, neither too bad for Grey Abbey, nor too good to be acceptable to -Lord Kilcullen; and at last it was decided that a certain Captain Cokely, -and Mat Tierney, should be asked. They were both acquaintances of Adolphus; -and though Mat was not a young man, he was not very old, and was usually -very gay. - -So that matter was settled, and the invitations were sent off. The countess -overcame her difficulty by consenting that Murray the man cook should be -hired for a given time, with the distinct understanding that he was to take -himself off with the rest of the guests, and so great was her ladyship's -sense of the importance of the negotiation, that she absolutely despatched -Griffiths to Dublin to arrange it, though thereby she was left two whole -days in solitary misery at Grey Abbey; and had to go to bed, and get up, -she really hardly knew how, with such assistance as Lady Selina's maid -could give her. - -When these things were all arranged, Selina told her cousin that Adolphus -was coming home, and that a house full of company had been asked to meet -him. She was afraid that Fanny would be annoyed and offended at being -forced to go into company so soon after her brother's death, but such was -not the case. She felt, herself, that her poor brother was not the cause of -the grief that was near her heart; and she would not pretend what she -didn't really feel. - -'You were quite right, Selina,' she said, smiling, 'about the things you -said yesterday I should want from Dublin: now, I shall want them; and, as I -wouldn't accept of your good-natured offer, I must take the trouble of -writing myself.' - -'If you like it, Fanny, I'll write for you,' said Selina. - -'Oh no, I'm not quite so idle as that' and she also began her preparations -for the expected festivities. Little did either of them think that she, -Fanny Wyndham, was the sole cause of all the trouble which the household -and neighbourhood were to undergo the fatigue of the countess; Griffiths's -journey; the arrival of the dread man cook; Richards's indignation at being -made subordinate to such authority; the bishop's desertion of the Education -Board; the colonel's dangerous and precipitate consumption of colchicum; -the quarrel between Lord and Lady George as to staying or not staying; the -new dresses of the Miss O'Joscelyns, which their worthy father could so ill -afford; and, above all, the confusion, misery, rage, and astonishment which -attended Lord Kilcullen's unexpected retreat from London, in the middle of -the summer. And all in vain! - -How proud and satisfied Lord Ballindine might have been, had he been able -to see all this, and could he have known how futile was every effort Lord -Cashel could make to drive from Fanny Wyndham's heart the love she felt for -him. - -The invitations, however, were, generally speaking, accepted. The bishop -and his wife would be most happy; the colonel would come if the gout would -possibly allow; Lady George wrote a note to say they would be very happy to -stay a few days, and Lord George wrote another soon after to say he was -sorry, but that they must return the same evening. The O'Joscelyns would be -delighted; Mat Tierney would be very proud; Captain Cokely would do himself -the honour; and, last but not least, Mr. Murray would preside below -stairs for a serious consideration. - -What a pity so much trouble should have been taken! They might all have -stayed at home; for Fanny Wyndham will never become Lady Kilcullen. - - - - -XXX LORD KILCULLEN OBEYS HIS FATHER - - -On the appointed day, or rather on the night of the appointed day, Lord -Kilcullen reached Grey Abbey; for it was about eleven o'clock when his -travelling-phaëton rattled up to the door. He had been expected to dinner -at seven, and the first attempts of Murray in the kitchens of Grey Abbey -had been kept waiting for him till half-past eight; but in vain. At that -hour the earl, black with ill-humour, ordered dinner; and remarked that he -considered it criminal in any man to make an appointment, who was not -sufficiently attached to veracity to keep - -The evening was passed in moody silence. The countess was disappointed, for -she always contrived to persuade herself that she was very anxious to see -her son. Lady Selina was really vexed, and began to have her doubts as to -her brother's coming at all: what was to be done, if it turned out that all -the company had been invited for nothing? As to Fanny, though very -indifferent to the subject of her cousin's coming, she was not at all in a -state of mind to dissipate the sullenness which prevailed. The ladies went -to bed early, the countess grumbling at her lot, in not being allowed to -see her son, and her daughter and niece marching off with their respective -candlesticks in solemn silence. The earl retired to his book-room soon -afterwards; but he had not yet sat down, when the quick rattle of the -wheels was heard upon the gravel before the house. - -Lord Cashel walked out into the hall, prepared to meet his son in a -befitting manner; that is, with a dignified austerity that could not fail -to convey a rebuke even to his hardened heart. But he was balked in his -purpose, for he found that Lord Kilcullen was not alone; Mat Tierney had -come down with him. Kilcullen had met his friend in Dublin, and on learning -that he also was bound for Grey Abbey on the day but one following, had -persuaded him to accelerate his visit, had waited for him, and brought him -down in his own carriage. The truth was, that Lord Kilcullen had thought -that the shades of Grey Abbey would be too much for him, without some -genial spirit to enlighten them: he was delighted to find that Mat Tierney -was to be there, and was rejoiced to be able to convey him with him, as a -sort of protection from his father's eloquence for the first two days of -the visit. - -'Lord Kilcullen, your mother and I ' began the father, intent on at once -commenting on the iniquity of the late arrival; when he saw the figure of a -very stout gentleman, amply wrapped up in travelling habiliments, follow -his son into the inner hall. - -'Tierney, my lord,' said the son, 'was good enough to come down with me. I -found that he intended to be here to-morrow, and I told him you and my -mother would be delighted to see him to-day instead.' - -The earl shook Mr. Tierney's hand, and told him how very welcome he was at -all times, and especially at present unexpected pleasures were always the -most agreeable; and then the earl bustled about, and ordered supper and -wine, and fussed about the bedrooms, and performed the necessary rites of -hospitality, and then went to bed, without having made one solemn speech to -his son. So far, Lord Kilcullen had been successful in his manoeuvre; and -he trusted that by making judicious use of Mat Tierney, he might be able to -stave off the evil hour for at any rate a couple of days. - -But he was mistaken. Lord Cashel was now too much in earnest to be put off -his purpose; he had been made too painfully aware that his son's position -was desperate, and that lie must at once be saved by a desperate effort, or -given over to utter ruin. And, to tell the truth, so heavy were the new -debts of which he heard from day to day, so insurmountable seemed the -difficulties, that he all but repented that he had not left him to his -fate. The attempt, however, must again be made; he was there, in the house, -and could not be turned out; but Lord Cashel determined that at any rate no -time should be lost. - -The two new arrivals made their appearance the next morning, greatly to -Lady Cashel's delight; she was perfectly satisfied with her son's apology, -and delighted to find that at any rate one of her expected guests would not -fail her in her need. The breakfast went over pleasantly enough, and -Kilcullen was asking Mat to accompany him into the stables, to see what -novelties they should find there, when Lord Cashel spoiled the arrangement -by saying, - -'Could you spare me half-an-hour in tile bookroom first, Kilcullen?' - -This request, of course, could not be refused; and the father and son -walked off, leaving Mat Tierney to the charity of the ladies. - -There was much less of flippant overbearing impudence now, about Lord -Kilcullen, much less of arrogance and insult from the son towards the -father, than there had been in the previous interview which has been -recorded. He seemed to be somewhat in dread, to be cowed, and ill at ease; -he tried, however, to assume his usual manner, and followed his father into -the book-room with an affected air of indifference, which very ill -concealed his real feelings. - -'Kilcullen,' began the earl, 'I was very sorry to see Tierney with you last -night. It would have been much better that we should have been alone -together, at any rate for one morning. I suppose you are aware that there -is a great deal to be talked over between us?' - -'I suppose there is,' said the son; 'but I couldn't well help bringing the -man, when he told me he was coming here.' - -'He didn't ask you to bring him, I suppose? but we will not talk about -that. Will you do me the favour to inform me what your present plans are?' - -'My present plans, my lord? Indeed, I've no plans! It's a long time since I -had a plan of my own. I am, however, prepared to acquiesce entirely in any -which you may propose. I have come quite prepared to throw at Miss -Wyndham's feet myself and my fortune.' - -'And do you expect her to accept you?' - -'You said she would, my lord: so I have taken that for granted. I, at any -rate, will ask her; if she refuses me, your lordship will perhaps be able -to persuade her to a measure so evidently beneficial to all parties.' - -'The persuading must be with yourself; but if you suppose you can carry her -with a high hand, without giving yourself the trouble to try to please her, -you are very much mistaken. If you think she'll accept you merely because -you ask her, you might save yourself the trouble, and as well return to -London at once.' - -'Just as you please, my lord; but I thought I came in obedience to your -express wishes.' - - 'So you did; but, to tell you the truth your manner in coming is very -different from what I would wish it to be. Your ' - -'Did you want me to crawl here on my hands and knees?' - -'I wanted you to come, Kilcullen, with some sense of what you owe to those -who are endeavouring to rescue you from ruin: with some feeling of, at any -rate, sorrow for the mad extravagance of your past career. Instead of that, -you come gay, reckless, and unconcerned as ever; you pick up the first -jovial companion you meet, and with him disturb the house at a most -unseasonable hour. You are totally regardless of the appointments you make; -and plainly show, that as you come here solely for your own pleasure, you -consider it needless to consult my wishes or my comfort .Are you aware that -you kept your mother and myself two hours waiting for dinner yesterday?' - -The pathos with which Lord Cashel terminated his speech and it was one the -thrilling effect of which he intended to be overwhelming almost restored -Lord Kilcullen to his accustomed effrontery. - -'My lord,' he said, 'I did not consider myself of sufficient importance to -have delayed your dinner ten minutes.' - -'I have always endeavoured, Kilcullen, to show the same respect to you in -my house, which my father showed to me in his; but you do not allow me the -opportunity. But let that pass; we have more important things to speak of. -When last we were here together why did you not tell me the whole truth?' - -'What truth, my lord?' - -'About your debts, Kilcullen: why did you conceal from me their full -amount? Why, at any rate, did you take pains to make me think them so much -less than they really are?' - -'Conceal, my lord? that is hardly fair, considering that 1 told you -expressly I could not give you any idea what was the amount I owed. I -concealed nothing; if you deceived yourself, the fault was not mine.' - -'You could not but have known that the claims against you were much larger -than I supposed them to be double, I suppose. Good heaven! why in ten years -more, at this rate, you would more than consume the lee simple of the whole -property! What can I say to you, Kilcullen, to make you look on your own -conduct in the proper light?' - -'I think you have said enough for the purpose; you have told me to marry, -and I have consented to do so.' - -'Do you think, Kilcullen, you have spent the last eight years in a way -which it can please a father to contemplate? Do you think I can look back -on your conduct with satisfaction or content? And yet you have no regret to -express for the past no promises to make for the future. I fear it is all -in vain. I fear that what I am doing what I am striving to do, is now all -in vain. I fear it is hopeless to attempt to recall you from the horrid, -reckless, wicked mode of life you have adopted.' The sombre mantle of -expostulatory eloquence had now descended on the earl, and he continued, -turning full upon his victim, and raising and lowering his voice with -monotonous propriety. 'I fear it is to no good purpose that I am subjecting -your mother and myself to privation, restraint, and inconvenience; that I -am straining every nerve to place you again in a position of -respectability, a position suitable to my fortune and your own rank. I am -endeavouring to retrieve the desperate extravagance the I must say though I -do not wish to hurt your feelings, yet I must say, disgraceful ruin of your -past career. And how do you help me? what regret do you show? what promises -of amendment do you afford? You drive up to my hall-door at midnight with -your boon companion; you disturb the whole household at most unseasonable -hours, and subject my family to the same disreputable irregularity in which -you have yourself so long indulged. Can such doings, Kilcullen, give me any -hopes for the future? Can ' - -'My lord I am extremely sorry for the dinner: what can I say more? And as -for Mat Tierney, he is your own guest or her ladyship's not mine. It is my -misfortune to have come in the same carriage with him, but that is the -extent of my offence.' - -'Well, Kilcullen; if you think your conduct has always been such as it -ought to be, it is of little use for me to bring up arguments to the -contrary.' - -'I don't think so, my lord. What can I say more? I have done those things -which I ought not to have done. Were I to confess my transgressions for the -hour together, I could not say more; except that I have left undone the -things which I ought to have done. Or, do you want me to beat my breast and -tear my hair?' - -'I want you, Lord Kilcullen, to show some sense of decency some filial -respect.' - -'Well, my lord, here I am, prepared to marry a wife of your own choosing, -and to set about the business this morning, if you please. I thought you -would have called that decent, filial, and respectable.' - -The earl could hardly gainsay this; but still he could not bring himself to -give over so soon the unusual pleasure of blowing up his only son. It was -so long since Lord Kilcullen had been regularly in his power, and it might -never occur again. So he returned from consideration of the future to a -further retrospect on the past. - -'You certainly have played your cards most foolishly; you have thrown away -your money rather, I should say, my money, in a manner which nothing can -excuse or palliate. You might have made the turf a source of gratifying -amusement; your income was amply sufficient to enable you to do so; but you -have possessed so little self-control, so little judgment, so little -discrimination, that you have allowed yourself to be plundered by every -blackleg, and robbed by every everybody in short, who chose to rob you. The -same thing has been the case in all your other amusements and pursuits ' - -'Well, my lord, I confess it all; isn't that enough?' - -'Enough, Kilcullen!' said the earl, in a voice of horrified astonishment, -'how enough? how can anything be enough after such a course so wild, so -mad, so ruinous!' - -'For Heaven's sake, my lord, finish the list of my iniquities, or you'll -make me feel that I am utterly unfit to become my cousin's husband.' - -'I fear you are indeed I fear you are. Are the horses disposed of yet, -Kilcullen?' - -'Indeed they are not, my lord; nor can I dispose of them. There is more -owing for them than they are worth; you may say they belong to the trainer -now.' - -'Is the establishment in Curzon Street broken up?' - -'To tell the truth, not exactly; but I've no thoughts of returning there. -I'm still under rent for the house.' - -The cross-examination was continued for a considerable time till the earl -had literally nothing more to say, and Lord Kilcullen was so irritated that -he told his father he would not stand it any longer. Then they went into -money affairs, and the earl spoke despondingly about ten thousands and -twenty thousands, and the viscount somewhat flippantly of fifty thousands -and sixty thousands; and this was continued till the earl felt that his son -was too deep in the mire to be pulled out, and the son thought that, deep -as he was there, it would be better to remain and wallow in it than undergo -so disagreeable a process as that to which his father subjected him in -extricating him from it. It was settled, however, that Mr. Jervis, Lord -Cashel's agent, should receive full authority to deal summarily in all -matters respecting the horses and their trainers, the house in Curzon -Street, and its inhabitants, and all other appendages and sources of -expense which Lord Kilcullen had left behind him; and that he, Kilcullen, -should at once commence his siege upon his cousin's fortune. And on this -point the son bargained that, as it would be essentially necessary that his -spirits should be light and easy, he was not, during the operation, to be -subjected to any of his father's book-room conversations: for this he -stipulated as an absolute sine qua non in the negotiation, and the clause -was at last agreed to, though not without much difficulty. - -Both father and son seemed to think that the offer should be made at once. -Lord Cashel really feared that his son would be arrested at Grey Abbey, and -he was determined to pay nothing further for him, unless he felt secure of -Fanny's fortune; and whatever were Lord Kilcullen's hopes and fears as to -his future lot, he was determined not to remain long in suspense, as far as -his projected marriage was concerned. He was determined to do his best to -accomplish it, for he would have done anything to get the command of ready -money; if he was not successful, at any rate he need not remain in the -purgatory of Grey Abbey. The Queen's Bench would be preferable to that. He -was not, however, very doubtful; he felt but little confidence in the -constancy of any woman's affection, and a great deal in his own powers of -fascination: he had always been successful in his appeals to ladies' -hearts, and did not doubt of being so now, when the object of his adoration -must, as he thought, be so dreadfully in want of some excitement, something -to interest her. Any fool might have her now, thought he, and she can't -have any violent objection to being Lady Kilcullen for the present, and -Lady Cashel in due time. He felt, however, something like remorse at the -arrangement to which he was a party; it was not that he was about to make a -beautiful creature, his own cousin, miserable for life, by uniting her to a -spendthrift, a roué, and a gambler such was the natural lot of women in the -higher ranks of life but he felt that he was robbing her of her money. He -would have thought it to be no disgrace to carry her off had another person -been her guardian. She would then have had fair play, and it would be the -guardian's fault if her fortune were not secure. But she had no friend now -to protect her: it was her guardian himself who was betraying her to ruin. - -However, the money must he had, and Lord Kilcullen was not long in quieting -his conscience. - -'Tierney,' said Kilcullen, meeting his friend after his escape from the -book-room; 'you are not troubled with a father now, I believe do you -recollect whether you ever had one?' - -'Well, I can't say I remember just at present,' said Mat; 'but I believe I -had a sort of one, once.' - -'I'm a more dutiful son than you,' said the other; 'I never can forget -mine. I have no doubt an alligator on the banks of the Nile is a fearful -creature a shark when one's bathing, or a jungle tiger when one's out -shooting, ought, I'm sure, to be avoided; but no creature yet created, -however hungry, or however savage, can equal in ferocity a governor who has -to shell out his cash! I've no wish for a tête-à-tête with any bloody- -minded monster; but I'd sooner meet a starved hyena, single-handed in the -desert, than be shut up for another hour with my Lord Cashel in that room -of his on the right-band side of the hall. If you hear of my having beat a -retreat from Grey Abbey, without giving you or any one else warning of my -intention, you will know that I have lacked courage to comply with a second -summons to those gloomy realms. If I receive another invite such as that I -got this morning, I am off.' - -Lady Cashel's guests came on the day appointed; the carriages were driven -up, one after another, in quick succession, about an hour before dinner- -time; and, as her ladyship's mind became easy on the score of -disappointments, it was somewhat troubled as to the multitude of people to -be fed and entertained. Murray had not yet forgiven the injury inflicted on -him when the family dinner was kept waiting for Lord Kilcullen, and -Richards was still pouting at her own degraded position. The countess had -spent the morning pretending to make arrangements, which were in fact all -settled by Griffiths; and when she commenced the operation of dressing -herself, she declared she was so utterly exhausted by what she had gone -through during the last week, as to be entirely unfit to entertain her -company. Poor dear Lady Cashel! Was she so ignorant of her own nature as to -suppose it possible that she should ever entertain anybody? - -However, a glass of wine, and some mysterious drops, and a little paint; a -good deal of coaxing, the sight of her diamonds, and of a large puce- -coloured turban, somewhat revivified her; and she was in her drawing-room -in due time, supported by Lady Selina and Fanny, ready to receive her -visitors as soon as they should descend from their respective rooms. - -Lady Cashel had already welcomed Lord George, and shaken hands with the -bishop: and was now deep in turnips and ten-pound freeholders with the -gouty colonel, who had hobbled into the room on a pair of crutches, and was -accommodated with two easy chairs in a corner one for himself, and the -other for his feet. - -'Now, my dear Lady George,' said the countess, 'you must not think of -returning to Mountains tonight: indeed, we made sure of you and Lord George -for a week.' - -'My dear Lady Cashel, it's impossible; indeed, we wished it of all things, -and tried it every way: but we couldn't manage it; Lord George has so much -to do: there's the Sessions to-morrow at Dunlavin, and he has promised to -meet Sir Glenmalure Aubrey, about a road, or a river, or a bridge I forget -which it is; and they must attend to those things, you know, or the tenants -couldn't get their corn to market. But you don't know how sorry we are, and -such a charming set you have got here!' - -'Well, I know it's no use pressing you; but I can't tell you how vexed I -am, for I counted on you, above all, and Adolphus will be so sorry. You -know Lord Kilcullen's come home, Lady George?' - -'Yes; I was very glad to hear we were to meet him.' - -'Oh, yes! He's come to stay here some time, I believe; he's got quite fond -of Grey Abbey lately. - -He and his father get on so well together, it's quite a delight to me.' - -'Oh, it must be, I'm sure,' said Lady George; and the countess sidled off -to the bishop's fat wife. - -'Well, this is very kind of you and the bishop, to come at so short a -notice: indeed I hardly dared expect it. I know he has so much to do in -Dublin with those horrid boards and things.' - -'He is busy there, to be sure, Lady Cashel; but he couldn't deny himself -the pleasure of coming to Grey Abbey; he thinks so very much of the earl. -Indeed, he'd contrive to be able to come here, when he couldn't think of -going anywhere else.' - -'I'm sure Lord Cashel feels how kind he is; and so do I, and so does -Adolphus. Lord Kilcullen will be delighted to meet you and the bishop.' - -The bishop's wife assured the countess that nothing on earth, at the -present moment, would give the bishop so much pleasure as meeting Lord -Kilcullen. - -'You know the bishop christened him, don't you?' said Lady Cashel. - -'No! did he though?' said the bishop's wife; 'how very interesting!' - -'Isn't it? And Adolphus longs to meet him. He's so fond of everything -that's high-minded and talented, Adolphus is: a little sarcastic perhaps I -don't mind saying so to you; but that's only to inferior sort of people not -talented, you know: some people are stupid, and Adolphus can't bear that.' - - 'Indeed they are, my lady. I was dining last week at Mrs. Prijean's, in -Merrion Square; you know Mrs. Prijean?' - -'I think I met her at Carton, four years ago.' - -'Well, she is very heavy: what do you think, Lady Cashel, she ' -'Adolphus can't bear people of that sort, but he'll be delighted with the -bishop: it's so delightful, his having christened him. Adolphus means to -live a good deal here now. Indeed, he and his father have so much in common -that they can't get on very well apart, and I really hope he and the -bishop'll see a good deal of each other;' and the countess left the -bishop's wife and sat herself down by old Mrs. Ellison. - -'My dear Mrs. Ellison, I am so delighted to see you once again at Grey -Abbey; it's such ages since you were here!' - -'Indeed it is, Lady Cashel, a very long time; but the poor colonel suffers -so much, it's rarely he's fit to be moved; and, indeed, I'm not much better -myself. I was not able to move my left shoulder from a week before -Christmas-day till a few days since!' - -'You don't say so! Rheumatism, I suppose?' - -'Oh, yes all rheumatism: no one knows what I suffer.' - -'And what do you use for it?' - -'Oh, there's nothing any use. I know the very nature of rheumatism now, -I've had it so long and it minds nothing at all: there's no preventing it, -and no curing it. It's like a bad husband, Lady Cashel; the best way is to -put up with it.' - -'And how is the dear colonel, Mrs. Ellison?' - -'Why, he was just able to come here, and that was all; but he was dying to -see Lord Cashel. He thinks the ministers'll be shaken about this business -of O'Connell's; and if so, that there'll be a general election, and then -what'll they do about the county?' - -'I'm sure Lord Cashel wanted to see the colonel on that very subject; so -does Adolphus Lord Kilcullen, you know. I never meddle with those things; -but I really think Adolphus is thinking of going into Parliament. You know -he's living here at present: his father's views and his own are so exactly -the same on all those sort of things, that it's quite delightful. He's -taking a deal of interest about the county lately, is Adolphus, and about -Grey Abbey too: he's just the same his father used to be, and that kind of -thing is so pleasant, isn't it, Mrs Ellison?' - -Mrs Ellison said it was, and at the same moment groaned, for her shoulder -gave her a twinge. - -The subject of these eulogiums, in the meantime, did not make his -appearance till immediately before dinner was announced, and certainly did -not evince very strongly the delight which his mother had assured her -friends he would feel at meeting them, for he paid but very little -attention to any one but Mat Tierney and his cousin Fanny; he shook hands -with all the old gentlemen, bowed to all the old ladies, and nodded at the -young ones. But if he really felt that strong desire, which his mother had -imputed to him, of opening his heart to the bishop and the colonel -respecting things temporal and spiritual, he certainly very successfully -suppressed his anxiety. - -He had, during the last two or three days, applied himself to the task of -ingratiating himself with Fanny. He well knew how to suit himself to -different characters, and to make himself agreeable when he pleased; and -Fanny, though she had never much admired her dissipated cousin, certainly -found his conversation a relief after the usual oppressive tedium of Grey -Abbey society. - -He had not begun by making love to her, or expressing admiration, or by -doing or saying anything which could at all lead her to suspect his -purpose, or put her on her guard. He had certainly been much more attentive -to her, much more intimate with her, than he usually had been in his flying -visits to Grey Abbey; but then he was now making his first appearance as a -reformed rake; and besides, he was her first cousin, and she therefore felt -no inclination to repel his advances. - -He was obliged, in performance of a domestic duty, to walk out to dinner -with one of Lady George's daughters, but he contrived to sit next to -Fanny and, much to his father's satisfaction, talked to her during the -whole ceremony. - -'And where have you hidden yourself all the morning, Fanny,' said he, 'that -nobody has seen anything of you since breakfast?' - -'Whither have you taken yourself all the day, rather, that you had not a -moment to come and look after us? The Miss O'Joscelyns have been expecting -you to ride with them, walk with them, talk with them, and play la grace -with them. They didn't give up the sticks till it was quite dark, in the -hope of you and Mr Tierney making your appearance.' - -'Well, Fanny, don't tell my mother, and I'll tell you the truth: promise -now.' - -'Oh, I'm no tell-tale.' - -'Well then,' and he whispered into her ear 'I was running away from the -Miss O'Joscelyns.' -'But that won't do at all; don't you know they were asked here for your -especial edification and amusement?' - -'Oh, I know they were. So were the bishop, and the colonel, and Lord -George, and their respective wives, and Mr Hill. My dear mamma asked them -all here for my amusement; but, you know, one man may lead a horse to -water a hundred can't make him drink. I cannot, cannot drink of the Miss -O'Joscelyns, and the Bishop of Maryborough.' - -'For shame, Adolphus! you ought at any rate to do something to amuse them.' - -'Amuse them! My dear Fanny, who ever heard of amusing a bishop? But it's -very easy to find fault; what have you done, yourself, for their -amusement?' - -'I didn't run away from them; though, had I done so, there would have been -more excuse for me than for you.' - -'So there would, Fanny,' said Kilcullen, feeling that she had alluded to -her brother's death; 'and I'm very, very sorry all these people are here to -bore you at such a time, and doubly sorry that they should have been asked -on my account. They mistake me greatly, here. They know that I've thought -Grey Abbey dull, and have avoided it; and now that I've determined to get -over the feeling, because I think it right to do so, they make it ten times -more unbearable than ever, for my gratification! It's like giving a child -physic mixed in sugar; the sugar's sure to be the nastiest part of the -dose. Indeed I have no dislike to Grey Abbey at present; though I own I -have no taste for the sugar in which my kind mother has tried to conceal -its proper flavour.' - -'Well, make the best of it; they'll all be gone in ten days.' - -'Ten days! Are they to stay ten days? Will you tell me, Fanny, what was the -object in asking Mat Tierney to meet such a party?' - -'To help you to amuse the young ladies.' - -'Gracious heavens! Does Lady Cashel really expect Mat Tierney to play la -grace with the Miss O'Joscelyns? Well, the time will come to an end, I -suppose. But in truth I'm more sorry for you than for any one. It was very -ill-judged, their getting such a crowd to bore you at such a time,' and -Lord Kilcullen contrived to give his voice a tone of tender solicitude. - -'Kilcullen,' said the earl, across the table, 'you don't hear the bishop. -His lordship is asking you to drink wine with him.' - -'I shall be most proud of the honour,' said the son, and bobbed his head at -the bishop across the table. - -Fanny was on the point of saying something respecting her brother to Lord -Kilcullen, which would have created a kind of confidence between them, but -the bishop's glass of wine broke it off, and from that time Lord Kilcullen -was forced by his father into a general conversation with his guests. - -In the evening there was music and singing. The Miss O'Joscelyns, and Miss -Fitzgeralds, and Mr Hill, performed: even Mat Tierney condescended to amuse -the company by singing the 'Coronation', first begging the bishop to excuse -the peculiar allusions to the 'clargy', contained in one of the verses; and -then Fanny was asked to sing. She had again become silent, dull, and -unhappy, was brooding over her miseries and disappointments, and she -declined. Lord Kilcullen was behind her chair, and when they pressed her, -he whispered to her, 'Don't sing for them, Fanny; it's a shame that they -should tease you at such a time; I wonder how my mother can have been so -thoughtless.' - -Fanny persisted in declining to sing and Lord Kilcullen again sat down -beside her. 'Don't trouble yourself about them, Fanny,' said he, 'they're -just fit to sing to each other; it's very good work for them.' - -'I should think it very good work, as you call it, for myself, too, another -time; only I'm hardly in singing humour at present, and, therefore, obliged -to you for your assistance and protection.' - -'Your most devoted knight as long as this fearful invasion lasts! your -Amadis de Gaul your Bertrand du Guesclin! And no paladin of old ever -attempted to defend a damsel from more formidable foes.' - -'Indeed, Adolphus, I don't think them so formidable. Many of them are my -own friends.' - -'Is Mrs Ellison your own friend? or Mrs Moore?' - -'Not exactly those two, in particular.' - -'Who then? Is it Miss Judith O'Joscelyn? or is the Reverend Mr Hill one of -those to whom you give that sweetest of all names?' - -'Yes; to both of them. It was only this morning I had a long tête-à-tête - -'What, with Mr Hill?' - -'No, not with Mr Hill though it wouldn't be the first even with him, but -with Judith O'Joscelyn. I lent her a pattern for worsted work.' - -'And does that make her your friend? Do you give your friendship so -easily?' - -'You forget that I've known her for years.' - -'Well, now, I've not. I've seen her about three times in my life, and -spoken two words to her perhaps twice; and yet I'll describe her character -to you; and if you can say that the description is incorrect, I will permit -you to call her your friend.' - -'Well, let's hear the character.' - -'It wouldn't be kind in me, though, to laugh at your friend.' - -'Oh, she's not so especially and particularly my friend that you need mind -that.' -'Then you'll promise not to be angry?' - -'Oh no, I won't be angry.' - -'Well, then; she has two passions: they are for worsted and hymn-books. She -has a moral objection to waltzing. Theoretically she disapproves of -flirtations: she encourages correspondence between young ladies; always -crosses her letters, and never finished one for the last ten years without -expressing entire resignation to the will of God as if she couldn't be -resigned without so often saying so. She speaks to her confidential friends -of young men as a very worthless, insignificant race of beings; she is, -however, prepared to take the very first that may be unfortunate enough to -come in her way; she has no ideas of her own, but is quick enough at -borrowing those of other people; she considers herself a profound -theologian; dotes on a converted papist, and looks on a Puseyite as -something one shade blacker than the devil. Now isn't that sufficiently -like for a portrait?' - -'It's the portrait of a set, I fear, rather than an individual. I don't -know that it's particularly like Miss O'Joscelyn, except as to the worsted -and hymn-books.' - -'What, not as to the waltzing, resignation, and worthless young men? Come, -are they not exactly her traits? Does she waltz?' - -'No, she does not.' - -'And haven't you heard her express a moral objection to it?' - -'Well, I believe I have.' - -'Did you ever get a letter from her, or see a letter of hers?' - -'I don't remember; yes, I did once, a long time ago.' - -'And wasn't she very resigned in it?' - -'Well, I declare I believe she was; and it's very proper too; people ought -to be resigned.' - -'Oh, of course. And now doesn't she love a convert and hate a Puseyite?' - -'All Irish clergyman's daughters do that.' - -'Well, Fanny, you can't say but that it was a good portrait; and after -that, will you pretend to say you call Miss O'Joscelyn your friend?' - -'Not my very friend of friends; but, as friends go, she's as good as most -others.' - -'And who is the friend of friends, Fanny?' - -'Come, you're not my father confessor. I'm not to tell you all. If I told -you that, you'd make another portrait.' - -'I'm sure I couldn't draw a disparaging picture of anybody you would really -call your friend. But indeed I pity you, living among so many such people. -There can be nobody here who understands you.' - -'Oh, I'm not very unintelligible.' - -'Much more so than Miss O'Joscelyn. I shouldn't wish to have to draw your -portrait.' - -'Pray don't; if it were frightful I should think you uncivil; and if you -made it handsome, I should know you were flattering. Besides, you don't -know enough of me to tell me my character.' - -'I think I do; but I'll study it a little more before I put it on the -canvass. Some likenesses are very hard to catch.' - -Fanny felt, when she went to bed, that she had spent a pleasanter evening -than she usually did, and that it was a much less nuisance to talk to her -cousin Adolphus than to either his father, mother, or sister; and as she -sat before her fire, while her maid was brushing her hair, she began to -think that she had mistaken his character, and that he couldn't be the -hard, sensual, selfish man for which she had taken him. Her ideas naturally -fell back to Frank and her hove, her difficulties and sorrows; and, before -she went to sleep, she had almost taught herself to think that she might -make Lord Kilcullen the means of bringing Lord Ballindine back to Grey -Abbey. - -She had, to be sure, been told that her cousin had spoken ill of Frank; -that it was he who had been foremost in decrying Lord Ballindine's folly -and extravagance; but she had never heard him do so; she had only heard of -it through Lord Cashel; and she quite ceased to believe anything her -guardian might say respecting her discarded lover. At any rate she would -try. Some step she was determined to take about Lord Ballindine; and, if -her cousin refused to act like a cousin and a friend, she would only be -exactly where she was before. - - - - -XXXI THE TWO FRIENDS - - -The next three days passed slowly and tediously for most of the guests -assembled at Grey Abbey. - -Captain Cokely, and a Mr Battersby, came over from Newbridge barracks, but -they did not add much to the general enjoyment of the party, though their -arrival was hailed with delight by some of the young ladies. At any rate -they made the rooms look less forlorn in the evenings, and made it worth -the girls' while to put on their best bibs and tuckers. - -'But what's the use of it at all?' said Matilda Fitzgerald to little Letty -O'Joscelyn, when she had spent three-quarters of an hour in adjusting her -curls, and setting her flounces properly, on the evening before the arrival -of the two cavalry officers; 'not a soul to look at us but a crusty old -colonel, a musty old bishop, and a fusty old beau!' - -'Who's the old beau?' said Letty. - -'Why, that Mr Tierney. I can't conceive how Lady Cashel can have asked us -to meet such a set,' and Matilda descended, pouting, and out of humour. - -But on the next day she went through her work much more willingly, if not -more carefully. - -'That Captain Cokely's a very nice fellow,' said Matilda; 'the best of that -Newbridge set, out and out.' - -'Well now, I really think he's not so nice as Mr Battersby,' said Letty. -'I'm sure he's not so good-looking.' - -'Oh, Battersby's only a boy. After all, Letty, I don't know whether I like -officers so much better than other men,' and she twisted her neck round to -get a look at her back in the pier-glass, and gave her dress a little pull -just above her bustle. - -'I'm sure I do,' said Letty; 'they've so much more to say for themselves, -and they're so much smarter.' - -'Why, yes, they are smarter,' said Matilda; 'and there's nothing on earth -so dowdy as an old black coat, But, then, officers are always going away: -you no sooner get to know one or two of a set, and to feel that one of them -is really a darling fellow, but there, they are off to Jamaica, China, -Hounslow barracks, or somewhere; and then it's all to do over again.' - -'Well, I do wish they wouldn't move them about quite so much.' - -'But let's go down. I think I'll do now, won't I?' and they descended, to -begin the evening campaign. - -'Wasn't Miss Wyndham engaged to some one?' said old Mrs Ellison to Mrs -Moore. 'I'm sure some one told me so.' - -'Oh, yes, she was,' said Mrs Moore; 'the affair was settled, and everything -arranged; but the man was very poor, and a gambler Lord Ballindine: he has -the name of a property down in Mayo somewhere; but when she got all her -brother's money, Lord Cashel thought it a pity to sacrifice it so he got -her out of the scrape. A very good thing for the poor girl, for they say -he's a desperate scamp.' - -'Well, I declare I think,' said Mrs Ellison, 'she'll not have far to look -for another.' - -'What, you think there's something between her and Lord Kilcullen?' said -Mrs Moore. - -'It looks like it, at any rate, don't it?' said Mrs Ellison. - -'Well, I really think it does,' said Mrs Moore; 'I'm sure I'd be very glad -of it. I know he wants money desperately, and it would be such a capital -thing for the earl.' - -'At any rate, the lady does not look a bit unwilling,' said Mrs Ellison. 'I -suppose she's fond of rakish young men. You say Lord Ballindine was of that -set; and I'm sure Lord Kilcullen's the same he has the reputation, at any -rate. They say he and his father never speak, except just in public, to -avoid the show of the thing.' - -And the two old ladies set to work to a good dish of scandal. - -'Miss Wyndham's an exceedingly fine girl,' said Captain Cokely to Mat -Tierney, as they were playing a game of piquet in the little drawing-room. - -'Yes,' said Mat; 'and she's a hundred thousand exceedingly fine charms too, -independently of her fine face.' - -'So I hear,' said Cokely; 'but I only believe half of what I hear about -those things.' - -'She has more than that; I know it.' - -'Has she though? Faith, do you know I think Kilcullen has a mind to keep it -in the family. H's very soft on her, and she's just as sweet to him. I -shouldn't be surprised if he were to marry now, and turn steady.' - -'Not at all; there are two reasons against it. In the first place, he's too -much clipped for even Fanny's fortune to be any good to him; and secondly, -she's engaged.' - -'What, to Ballindine?' said Cokely. - -'Exactly so,' said Mat. -'Ah, my dear fellow, that's all off long since. I heard Kilcullen say so -myself. I'll back Kilcullen to marry her against Ballindine for a hundred -pounds.' - -'Done,' said Mat; and the bet was booked. - -The same evening, Tierney wrote to Dot Blake, and said in a postscript, 'I -know you care for Ballindine; so do I, but I don't write to him. If he -really wants to secure his turtle-dove, he should see that she doesn't get -bagged in his absence. Kilcullen is here, and I tell you he's a keen -sportsman. They say it's quite up with him in London, and I should be sorry -she were sacrificed: she seems a nice girl.' - -Lord Kilcullen had ample opportunities of forwarding his intimacy with -Fanny, and he did not neglect them. To give him his due, he played his -cards as well as his father could wish him. He first of all overcame the -dislike with which she was prepared to regard him; he then interested her -about himself; and, before he had been a week at Grey Abbey, she felt that -she had a sort of cousinly affection for him. He got her to talk with a -degree of interest about himself; and when he could do that, there was no -wonder that Tierney should have fears for his friend's interests. Not that -there was any real occasion for them. Fanny Wyndham was not the girl to be -talked out of, or into, a real passion, by anyone. - -'Now, tell me the truth, Fanny,' said Kilcullen, as they were sitting over -the fire together in the library, one dark afternoon, before they went to -dress for dinner; 'hadn't you been taught to look on me as a kind of ogre a -monster of iniquity, who spoke nothing but oaths, and did nothing but sin?' - -'Not exactly that: but I won't say I thought you were exactly just what you -ought to be.' - -'But didn't you think I was exactly what I ought not to have been? Didn't -you imagine, now, that I habitually sat up all night, gambling, and -drinking buckets of champagne and brandy-and-water? And that I lay in bed -all day, devising iniquity in my dreams? Come now, tell the truth, and -shame the devil; if I am the devil, I know people have made me out to be.' - -'Why, really, Adolphus, I never calculated how your days and nights were -spent. But if I am to tell the truth, I fear some of them might have been -passed to better advantage.' - -'Which of us, Fanny, mightn't, with truth, say the same of ourselves?' - -'Of course, none of us,' said Fanny; 'don't think I'm judging you; you -asked me the question and I suppose you wanted an answer.' - -'I did; I wanted a true one for though you may never have given yourself -much trouble to form an opinion about me, I am anxious that you should do -so now. I don't want to trouble you with what is done and past; I don't -want to make it appear that I have not been thoughtless and -imprudent wicked and iniquitous, if you are fond of strong terms; neither -do I want to trouble you with confessing all my improprieties, that I may -regularly receive absolution. But I do wish you to believe that I have done -nothing which should exclude me from your future good opinion; from your -friendship and esteem.' - -'I am not of an unforgiving temperament, even had you done anything for me -to forgive: but I am not aware that you have.' - -'No; nothing for you to forgive, in the light of an offence to yourself; -but much, perhaps, to prevent your being willing to regard me as a personal -friend, We're not only first cousins, Fanny, but are placed more closely -together than cousins usually are. You have neither father nor mother; now, -also, you have no brother,' and he took her hands in his own as he said so. -'Who should be a brother to you, if I am not? who, at any rate, should you -look on as a friend, if not on me? Nobody could be better, I believe, than -Selina; but she is stiff, and cold unlike you in everything. I should be so -happy if I could be the friend the friend of friends you spoke of the other -evening; if I could fill the place which must be empty near your heart. I -can never be this to you, if you believe that anything in my past life has -been really disgraceful. It is for this reason that I want to know what you -truly think of me. I won't deny that I am anxious you should think well of -me: well, at any rate for the present, and the future, and charitably as -regards the past.' - -Fanny had been taken much by surprise by the turn her cousin had given to -the conversation; and was so much affected, that, before he had finished, -she was in tears. She had taken her hand out of his, to put her -handkerchief to her eyes, and as she did not immediately answer, he -continued: - -'I shall probably be much here for some time to come such, at least, are my -present plans; and I hope that while I am, we shall become friends: not -such friends, Fanny, as you and Judith O'Joscelyn friends only of -circumstance, who have neither tastes, habits, or feelings in -common friends whose friendship consists in living in the same parish, and -meeting each other once or twice a week; but friends in reality friends in -confidence friends in mutual dependence friends in love friends, dear -Fanny, as cousins situated as we are should be to each other.' - -Fanny's heart was very full, for she felt how much, how desperately, she -wanted such a friend as Kilcullen described. How delightful it would be to -have such a friend, and to find him in her own cousin! The whole family, -hitherto, were so cold to her so uncongenial. The earl she absolutely -disliked; she loved her aunt, but it was only because she was her aunt she -couldn't like her; and though she loved Lady Selina, and, to a degree, -admired her, it was like loving a marble figure. There was more true -feeling in what Kilcullen had now said to her, than in. all that had fallen -from the whole family, for the four years she had lived at Grey Abbey, and -she could not therefore but close on the offer of his affection. - -'Shall we be such friends, then?' said he; 'or, after all, am I too bad? -Have I too much of the taint of the wicked world to be the friend of so -pure a creature as you?' - -'Oh no, Adolphus; I'm sure I never thought so,' said she. 'I never judged -you, and indeed I am not disposed to do so now. I'm too much in want of -kindness to reject yours even were I disposed to do so, which I am not.' - -'Then, Fanny, we are to be friends true, loving, trusting friends?' - -'Oh, yes!' said Fanny. 'I am really, truly grateful for your affection and -kindness. I know how precious they are, and I will value them accordingly.' - -Again Lord Kilcullen took her hand, and pressed it in his; and then he -kissed it, and told her she was his own dear cousin Fanny; and then -recommended her to go and dress, which she did. He sat himself down for a -quarter of an hour, ruminating, and then also went off to dress; but, -during that quarter of an hour, very different ideas passed through his -mind, than such as those who knew him best would have given him credit for. - -In the first place, he thought that he really began to feel an affection -for his cousin Fanny, and to speculate whether it were absolutely within -the verge of possibility that he should marry her retrieve his -circumstances treat her well, and live happily for the rest of his life as -a respectable nobleman. - -For two or three minutes the illusion remained, till it was banished by -retrospection. It was certainly possible that he should marry her: it was -his full intention to do so: but as to retrieving his circumstances and -treating her well! the first was absolutely impossible the other nearly so; -and as to his living happily at Grey Abbey as a family man, he yawned as he -felt how impossible it would be that he should spend a month in such a way, -let alone a life. But then Fanny Wyndham was so beautiful, so lively, so -affectionate, so exactly what a cousin and a wife ought to be: he could not -bear to think that all his protestations of friendship and love had been -hypocritical; that he could only look upon her as a gudgeon, and himself as -a bigger fish, determined to swallow her! Yet such must be his views -regarding her. He departed to dress, absolutely troubled in his conscience. - -And what were Fanny's thoughts about her cousin? She was much surprised and -gratified, but at the same time somewhat flustered and overwhelmed, by the -warmth and novelty of his affection. However, she never for a moment -doubted his truth towards her, or had the slightest suspicion of his real -object. - -Her chief thought was whether she could induce him to be a mediator for -her, between Lord Cashel and Lord Ballindine. - -During the next two days he spoke to her a good deal about her brother of -whom, by-the-bye, he had really known nothing. He contrived, however, to -praise him as a young man of much spirit and great promise; then he spoke -of her own large fortune, asked her what her wishes were about its -investment, and told her how happy he would be to express those wishes at -once to Lord Cashel, and to see that they were carried out. Once or twice -she had gradually attempted to lead the conversation to Lord Ballindine, -but Kilcullen was too crafty, and had prevented her; and she had not yet -sufficient courage to tell him at once what was so near her heart. - -'Fanny,' said Lady Selina, one morning, about a week after the general -arrival of the company at Grey Abbey, and when some of them had taken their -departure, 'I am very glad to see you have recovered your spirits: I know -you have made a great effort, and I appreciate and admire it.' - -'Indeed, Selina, I fear you are admiring me too soon. I own I have been -amused this week past, and, to a certain degree, pleased; but I fear you'll -find I shall relapse. There's been no radical reform; my thoughts are all -in the same direction as they were.' - -'But the great trial in this world is to behave well and becomingly in -spite of oppressive thoughts: and it always takes a struggle to do that, -and that struggle you've made. I hope it may lead you to feel that you may -be contented and in comfort without having everything which you think -necessary to your happiness. I'm sure I looked forward to this week as one -of unmixed trouble and torment; but I was very wrong to do so. It has given -me a great deal of unmixed satisfaction.' - -'I'm very glad of that, Selina, but what was it? I'm sure it could not have -come from poor Mrs Ellison, or the bishop's wife; and you seemed to me to -spend all your time in talking to them. Virtue, they say, is its own -reward: I don't know what other satisfaction you can have had from them.' - -'In the first place, it has given me great pleasure to see that you were -able to exert yourself in company, and that the crowd of people did not -annoy you: but I have chiefly been delighted by seeing that you and -Adolphus are such good friends. You must think, Fanny, that I am anxious -about an only brother especially when we have all had so much cause to be -anxious about him; and don't you think it must be a delight to me to find -that he is able to take pleasure in your society? I should be doubly -pleased, doubly delighted, if I could please him myself. But I have not the -vivacity to amuse him.' - -'What nonsense, Selina! Don't say that.' - -'But it's true, Fanny; I have not; and Grey Abbey has become distasteful to -him because we are all sedate, steady people. Perhaps some would call us -dull, and heavy; and I have grieved that it should be so, though I cannot -alter my nature; but you are so much the contrary there is so much in your -character like his own, before he became fond of the world, that I feel he -can become attached to and fond of you; and I am delighted to see that he -thinks so himself. What do you think of him, now that you have seen more of -him than you ever did before?' - -'Indeed,' said Fanny, 'I like him very much.' - -'He is very clever, isn't he? He might have been anything if he had given -himself fair play. He seems to have taken greatly to you.' - -'Oh yes; we are great friends:' and then Fanny paused ' so great friends,' -she continued, looking somewhat gravely in Lady Selina's face, 'that I mean -to ask the greatest favour of him that I could ask of anyone: one I am sure -I little dreamed I should ever ask of him.' - -'What is it, Fanny? Is it a secret?' - -'Indeed it is, Selina; but it's a secret I will tell you. I mean to tell -him all I feel about Lord Ballindine, and I mean to ask him to see him for -me. Adolphus has offered to be a brother to me, and I mean to take him at -his word.' - -Lady Selina turned very pale, and looked very grave as she replied, - -'That is not giving him a brother's work, Fanny. A brother should protect -you from importunity and insult, from injury and wrong; and that, I am -sure, Adolphus would do: but no brother would consent to offer your hand to -a man who had neglected you and been refused, and who, in all probability, -would now reject you with scorn if he has the opportunity or if not that, -will take you for your money's sake. That, Fanny, is not a brother's work; -and it is an embassy which I am sure Adolphus will not undertake. If you -take my advice you will not ask him.' - -As Lady Selina finished speaking she walked to the door, as if determined -to hear no reply from her cousin; but, as she was leaving the room, she -fancied that she heard her sobbing, and her heart softened, and she again -turned towards her and said, 'God knows, Fanny, I do not wish to be severe -or ill-natured to you; I would do anything for your comfort and happiness, -but I cannot bear to think that you should' Lady Selina was puzzled for a -word to express her meaning 'that you should forget yourself,' and she -attempted to put her arm round Fanny's waist. - -But she was mistaken; Fanny was not sobbing, but was angry; and what Selina -now said about her forgetting herself, did not make her less so. - -'No,' she said, withdrawing herself from her cousin's embrace and standing -erect, while her bosom was swelling with indignation: 'I want no affection -from you, Selina, that is accompanied by so much disapprobation. You don't -wish to be severe, only you say that I am likely to forget myself. Forget -myself!' and Fanny threw back her beautiful head, and clenched her little -fists by her side: 'The other day you said "disgrace myself ", and I bore -it calmly then; but I will not any longer bear such imputations. I tell you -plainly, Selina, I will not forget myself, nor will I be forgotten. Nor -will I submit to whatever fate cold, unfeeling people may doom me, merely -because I am a woman and alone. I will not give up Lord Ballindine, if I -have to walk to his door and tell him so. And were I to do so, I should -never think that I had forgotten myself.' - -'Listen to me, Fanny,' said Selina. - -'Wait a moment,' continued Fanny, 'I have listened enough: it is my turn to -speak now. For one thing I have to thank you: you have dispelled the idea -that I could look for help to anyone in this family. I will not ask your -brother to do anything for me which you think so disgraceful. I will not -subject him to the scorn with which you choose to think my love will be -treated by him who loved me so well. That you should dare to tell me that -he who did so much for my love should now scorn it! Oh, Selina, that I may -live to forget that you said those words!' and Fanny, for a moment, put her -handkerchief to her eyes but it was but for a moment. - -'However,' she continued, 'I will now act for myself. As you think I might -forget myself, I tell you I will do it in no clandestine way. I will write -to Lord Ballindine, and I will show my letter to my uncle. The whole house -shall read it if they please. I will tell Lord Ballindine all the truth and -if Lord Cashel turns me from his house, I shall probably find some friend -to receive me, who may still believe that I have not forgotten myself.' And -Fanny Wyndham sailed out of the room. - -Lady Selina, when she saw that she was gone, sat down on the sofa and took -her book. She tried to make herself believe that she was going to read; but -it was no use: the tears dimmed her eyes, and she put the book down. - -The same evening the countess sent for Selina into her boudoir, and, with a -fidgety mixture of delight and surprise, told her that she had a wonderful -piece of good news to communicate to her. - -'I declare, my dear,' she said, 'it's the most delightful thing I've heard -for years and years; and it's just exactly what I had planned myself, only -I never told anybody. Dear me; it makes me so happy!' - -'What is it, mamma? - -'Your papa has been talking to me since dinner, my love, and he tells me -Adolphus is going to marry Fanny Wyndham.' - -'Going to marry whom?' said Lady Selina, almost with a shout. - -'Fanny, I say: it's the most delightful match in the world: it's just what -ought to be done. I suppose they won't have the wedding before summer; -though May is a very nice month. Let me see; it only wants three weeks to -May.' - -'Mamma, what are you talking about? you're dreaming.' - -'Dreaming, my dear? I'm not dreaming at all: it's a fact. Who'd 've thought -of all this happening so soon, out of this party, which gave us so much -trouble! However, I knew your father was right. I said all along that he -was in the right to ask the, people.' - -'Mamma,' said Lady Selina, gravely, 'listen to me: calmly now, and -attentively. I don't know what papa has told you; but I tell you Fanny does -not dream of marrying Adolphus. He has never asked her, and if he did she -would never accept him. Fanny is more than ever in love with Lord -Ballindine.' - -The countess opened her eyes wide, and looked up into her daughter's face, -but said nothing. - -'Tell me, mamma, as nearly as you can recollect, what it is papa has said -to you, that, if possible, we may prevent mischief and misery. Papa -couldn't have said that Fanny had accepted Adolphus?' - -'He didn't say exactly that, my dear; but he said that it was his wish they -should be married; that Adolphus was very eager for it, and that Fanny had -received his attentions and admiration with evident pleasure and -satisfaction. And so she has, my dear; you couldn't but have seen that -yourself.' - -'Well, mamma, what else did papa say?' - -'Why, he said just what I'm telling you: that I wasn't to be surprised if -we were called on to be ready for the wedding at a short notice; or at any -rate to be ready to congratulate Fanny. He certainly didn't say she had -accepted him. But he said he had no doubt about it; and I'm sure, from what -was going on last week, I couldn't have any doubt either. But he told me -not to speak to anyone about it yet; particularly not to Fanny; only, my -dear, I couldn't help, you know, talking it over with you;' and the -countess leaned back in her chair, very much exhausted with the history she -had narrated. - -'Now, mamma, listen to me. It is not many hours since Fanny told me she was -unalterably determined to throw herself at Lord Ballindine's feet.' - -'Goodness gracious me, how shocking!' said the countess. - -'She even said that she would ask Adolphus to be the means of bringing Lord -Ballindine back to Grey Abbey.' - -'Lord have mercy!' said the countess. - -'I only tell you this, mamma, to show you how impossible it is that papa -should be right.' - -'What are we to do, my dear? Oh, dear, there'll be such a piece of work! -What a nasty thing Fanny is. I'm sure she's been making love to Adolphus -all the week!' - -'No, mamma, she has not. Don't be unfair to Fanny. If there is anyone in -fault it is Adolphus; but, as you say, what shall we do to prevent further -misunderstanding? I think I had better tell papa the whole.' - -And so she did, on the following morning. But she was too late; she did not -do it till after Lord Kilcullen had offered and had been refused. - - -XXXII HOW LORD KILCULLEN FARES IN HIS WOOING - - -About twelve o'clock the same night, Lord Kilcullen and Mat Tierney were -playing billiards, and were just finishing their last game: the bed-candles -were lighted ready for them, and Tierney was on the point of making the -final hazard. - -'So you're determined to go to-morrow, Mat?' said Kilcullen. - -'Oh, yes, I'll go to-morrow: your mother'll take me for a second Paddy Rea, -else,' said Mat. - -'Who the deuce was Paddy Rea?' - -'Didn't you ever hear of Paddy Rea? Michael French of Glare Abbey he's dead -now, but he was alive enough at the time I'm telling you of, and kept the -best house in county Clare well, he was coming down on the Limerick coach, -and met a deuced pleasant, good-looking, talkative sort of a fellow a-top -of it. They dined and got a tumbler of punch together at Roscrea; and when -French got down at Bird Hill, he told his acquaintance that if he ever -found himself anywhere near Ennis, he'd be glad to see him at Glare Abbey. -He was a hospitable sort of a fellow, and had got into a kind of way of -saying the same thing to everybody, without meaning anything except to be -civil just as I'd wish a man good morning. Well, French thought no more -about the man, whose name he didn't even know; but about a fortnight -afterwards, a hack car from Ennis made its appearance at Glare Abbey, and -the talkative traveller, and a small portmanteau, had soon found their way -into the hail. French was a good deal annoyed, for he had some fashionables -in the house, but he couldn't turn the man out; so he asked his name, and -introduced Paddy Rea to the company. How long do you think he stayed at -Glare Abbey?' - -'Heaven only knows! Three months.' - -'Seventeen years!' said Mat. 'They did everything to turn him out, and -couldn't do it. It killed old French; and at last his son pulled the house -down, and Paddy Rea went then, because there wasn't a roof to cover him. -Now I don't want to drive your father to pull down this house, so I'll go -tomorrow.' - -'The place is so ugly, that if you could make him do so, it would be an -advantage; but I'm afraid the plan wouldn't succeed, so I won't press you. -But if you go, I shan't remain long. If it was to save my life and theirs, -I can't get up small talk for the rector and his curate.' - -'Well, good night,' said Mat; and the two turned off towards their bed- -rooms. - -As they passed from the billiard-room through the hall, Lord Cashel -shuffled out of his room, in his slippers and dressing-gown. - -'Kilcullen,' said he, with a great deal of unconcerned good humour affected -in his tone, 'just give me one moment I've a word to say to you. Goodnight, -Mr Tierney, goodnight; I'm sorry to hear we're to lose you to-morrow.' - -Lord Kilcullen shrugged his shoulders, winked at his friend and then turned -round and followed his father. - -'It's only one word, Kilcullen,' said the father, who was afraid of -angering or irritating his son, now that he thought he was in so fair a way -to obtain the heiress and her fortune. 'I'll not detain you half a minute;' -and then he said in a whisper, 'take my advice, Kilcullen, and strike when -the iron's hot.' - -'I don't quite understand you, my lord,' said his son, affecting ignorance -of his father's meaning. - -'I mean, you can't stand better than you do with Fanny: you've -certainly played your cards admirably, and she's a charming girl, a very -charming girl, and I long to know that she's your own. Take my advice and -ask her at once.' - -'My lord,' said the dutiful son, 'if I'm to carry on this affair, I must he -allowed to do it in my own way. You, I dare say, have more experience than -I can boast, and if you choose to make the proposal yourself to Miss -Wyndham on my behalf, I shall be delighted to leave the matter in your -hands; but in that case, I shall choose to be absent from Grey Abbey. If -you wish me to do it, you must let me do it when I please and how I -please.' - -'Oh, certainly, certainly, Kilcullen,' said the earl; 'I only want to point -out that I think you'll gain nothing by delay.' - -'Very well, my lord. Good night.' And Lord Kilcullen went to bed, and the -father shuffled back to his study. He had had three different letters that -day from Lord Kilcullen's creditors, all threatening immediate arrest -unless he would make himself responsible for his son's debts. No wonder -that he was in a hurry, poor man! - -And Lord Kilcullen, though he had spoken so coolly on the subject, and had -snubbed his father, was equally in a hurry. He also received letters, and -threats, and warnings, and understood, even better than his father did, the -perils which awaited him. He knew that he couldn't remain at Grey Abbey -another week; that in a day or two it wouldn't be safe for him to leave the -house; and that his only chance was at once to obtain the promise of his -cousin's hand, and then betake himself to some place of security, till he -could make her fortune available. - -When Fanny came into the breakfast-room next morning, he asked her to walk -with him in the demesne after breakfast. During the whole of the previous -evening she had sat silent and alone, pretending to read, although he had -made two or three efforts to engage her in conversation. She could not, -however, refuse to walk with him, nor could she quite forgive herself for -wishing to do so. She felt that her sudden attachment for him was damped by -what had passed between her and Lady Selina; but she knew, at the same -time, that she was very unreasonable for quarrelling with one cousin for -what another had said. She accepted his invitation, and shortly after -breakfast went upstairs to get ready. It was a fine, bright, April morning, -though the air was cold, and the ground somewhat damp; so she put on her -boa and strong boots, and sallied forth with Lord Kilcullen; not exactly in -a good humour, but still feeling that she could not justly be out of humour -with him. At the same moment, Lady Selina knocked at her father's door, -with the intention of explaining to him how impossible it was that Fanny -should be persuaded to marry her brother. Poor Lord Cashel his life, at -that time, was certainly not a happy one. - -The two cousins walked some way, nearly in silence. Fanny felt very little -inclined to talk, and even Kilcullen, with all his knowledge of -womankind with all his assurance, had some difficulty in commencing what he -had to get said and done that morning. - -'So Grey Abbey will once more sink into its accustomed dullness,' said he. -'Cokely went, yesterday, and Tierney and the Ellisons go today. Don't you -dread it, Fanny?' - -'Oh, I'm used to it: besides, I'm one of the component elements of the -dullness, you know. I'm a portion of the thing itself: it's you that must -feel it.' - -'I feel it? I suppose I shall. But, as I told you before, the physic to me -was not nearly so nauseous as the sugar. I'm at any rate glad to get rid of -such sweetmeats as the bishop and Mrs Ellison;' and they were both silent -again for a while. - -'But you're not a portion of the heaviness of Grey Abbey, Fanny,' said he, -referring to what she had said. 'You're not an element of its dullness. I -don't say this in flattery I trust nothing so vile as flattery will ever -take place between us; but you know yourself that. your nature is intended -for other things; that you were not born to pass your life in such a house -as this, without society, without excitement, without something to fill -your mind. Fanny, you can't be happy here, at Grey Abbey.' - -Happy! thought Fanny to herself. No, indeed, I'm not happy! She didn't say -so, however; and Kilcullen, after a little while, went on speaking. - -'I'm sure you can't be comfortable here. You don't feel it, I dare say, so -intolerable as I do; but still you have been out enough, enough in the -world, to feel strongly the everlasting do-nothingness of this horrid -place. I wonder what possesses my father, that he does not go to London for -your sake if for no one else's. It's not just of him to coop you up here.' - -'Indeed it is, Adolphus,' said she. 'You mistake my character. I'm not at -all anxious for London parties and gaiety. Stupid as you may think me, I'm -quite as well contented to stay here as I should be to go to London.' - -'Do you mean me to believe,' said Kilcullen, with a gentle laugh, 'that you -are contented to live and die in single blessedness at Grey Abbey ?that -your ambition does not soar higher than the interchange of worsted-work -patterns with Miss O'Joscelyn?' - -'I did not say so, Adolphus.' - -'What is your ambition then? what kind and style of life would you choose -to live? Come, Fanny, I wish I could get you to talk with me about -yourself. I wish I could teach you to believe how anxious I am that your -future life should be happy and contented, and at the same time splendid -and noble, as it should be. I'm sure you must have ambition. I have studied -Lavater well enough to know that such a head and face as yours never -belonged to a mind that could satisfy itself with worsted-work.' - -'You are very severe on the poor worsted-work.' - -'But am I not in the right?' - -'Decidedly not. Lavater, and my head and face, have misled you.' - -'Nonsense, Fanny. Do you mean to tell me that you have no aspiration for a -kind of life different from this you are leading? If so, I am much -disappointed in you; much, very much astray in my judgment of your -character.' Then he walked on a few yards, looking on the ground, and said, -'Come, Fanny, I am talking very earnestly to you, and you answer me only in -joke. You don't think me impertinent, do you, to talk about yourself?' - -'Impertinent, Adolphus of course I don't.' - -'Why won't you talk to me then, in the spirit in which I am talking to you? -If you knew, Fanny, how interested I am about you, how anxious that you -should be happy, how confidently I look forward to the distinguished -position I expect you to fill if you could guess how proud I mean to be of -you, when you are the cynosure of all eyes the admired of all -admirers admired not more for your beauty than your talent if I could make -you believe, Fanny, how much I expect from you, and how fully I trust that, -my expectations will be realised, you would not, at any rate, answer me -lightly.' - -'Adolphus,' said Fanny, 'I thought there was to be no flattering between -us?' - -'And do you think I would flatter you? Do you think I would stoop to -flatter you? Oh! Fanny, you don't understand me yet; you don't at all -understand, how thoroughly from the heart I'm speaking how much in earnest -I am; and, so far from flattering you, I am quite as anxious to find fault -with you as I am to praise you, could I feel that I had liberty to do so.' - -'Pray do,' said Fanny: 'anything but flattery; for a friend never -flatters.' - -But Kilcullen had intended to flatter his fair cousin, and he had been -successful. She was gratified and pleased by his warmth of affection. 'Pray -do,' repeated Fanny; 'I have more faults than virtues to be told of, and so -I'm afraid you'll find out, when you know me better.' - -'To begin, then,' said Kilcullen, 'are you not wrong but no, Fanny, I will -not torment you now with a catalogue of faults. I did not ask you to come -out with me for that object. You are now in grief for the death of poor -Harry' Fanny blushed as she reflected how much more poignant a sorrow -weighed upon her heart 'and are therefore unable to exert yourself; but, as -soon as you are able when you have recovered from this severe blow, I trust -you will not be content to loiter and dawdle away your existence at Grey -Abbey.' - -'Not the whole of it,' said Fanny. - -'None of it,' replied her cousin. 'Every month, every day, should have its -purpose. My father has got into a dull, heartless, apathetic mode of life, -which suits my mother and Selina, but which will never suit you. Grey Abbey -is like the Dead Sea, of which the waters are always bitter as well as -stagnant. It makes me miserable, dearest Fanny, to see you stifled in such -a pool. Your beauty, talents, and energies your disposition to enjoy life, -and power of making it enjoyable for others, are all thrown away. Oh, -Fanny, if I could rescue you from this!' - -'You are inventing imaginary evils,' said she; 'at any rate they are not -palpable to my eyes.' - -'That's it; that's just what I fear,' said the other, 'that time, habit, -and endurance may teach you to think that nothing further is to be looked -for in this world than vegetation at Grey Abbey, or some other place of the -kind, to which you may be transplanted. I want to wake you from such a -torpor; to save you from such ignominy. I wish to restore you to the -world.' - -'There's time enough, Adolphus; you'll see me yet the gayest of the gay at -Almack's.' - -'Ah! but to please me, Fanny, it must be as one of the leaders, not one of -the led.' - -'Oh, that'll be in years to come: in twenty years' time; when I come forth -glorious in a jewelled turban, and yards upon yards of yellow satin fat, -fair, and forty. I've certainly no ambition to be one of the leaders yet.' - -Lord Kilcullen walked on silent for a considerable time, during which Fanny -went on talking about London, Almack's, and the miserable life of lady -patronesses, till at last she also became silent, and began thinking of -Lord Ballindine. She had, some little time since, fully made up her mind to -open her heart to Lord Kilcullen about him, and she had as fully determined -not to do so after what Selina had said upon the subject; but now she again -wavered. His manner was so kind and affectionate, his interest in her -future happiness appeared to be so true and unaffected: at any rate he -would not speak harshly or cruelly to her, if she convinced him how -completely her happiness depended on her being reconciled to Lord -Ballindine. She had all but brought herself to the point; she had almost -determined to tell him everything, when he stopped rather abruptly, and -said, - -'I also am leaving Grey Abbey again, Fanny.' - -'Leaving Grey Abbey?' said Fanny. 'You told me the other day you were going -to live here,' - -'So I intended; so I do intend; but still I must leave it for a while. I'm -going about business, and I don't know how long I may he away. I go on -Saturday.' - -'I hope, Adolphus, you haven't quarrelled with your father,' said she. - -'Oh, no,' said he: 'it is on his advice that I am going. I believe there is -no fear of our quarrelling now. I should rather say I trust there is none. -He not. only approves of my going, but approves of what I am about to do -before I go.' - -'And what is that?' - -'I had not intended, Fanny, to say what I have to say to you for some time, -for I feel that different circumstances make it premature. But I cannot -bring myself to leave you without doing so;' and again he paused and walked -on a little way in silence 'and yet,' he continued, 'I hardly know how to -utter what I wish to say; or rather what I would wish to have said, were it -not that I dread so much the answer you may make me. Stop, Fanny, stop a -moment; the seat is quite dry; sit down one moment.' - -Fanny sat down in a little alcove which. they had reached, considerably -embarrassed and surprised. She had not, however, the most remote idea of -what he was about to say to her. Had any other man in the world, almost, -spoken to her in the same language, she would have expected an offer; but -from the way in which she had always regarded her cousin, both heretofore, -when she hardly knew him, and now, when she was on such affectionate terms -with him, she would as soon have thought of receiving an offer from Lord -Cashel as from his son. - -'Fanny,' he said,' I told you before that I have my father's warmest and -most entire approval for what I am now going to do. Should I be successful -in what I ask, he will be delighted; but I have no words to tell you what -my own feelings will be. Fanny, dearest Fanny,' and he sat down close -beside her 'I love you better and how much better, than all the world holds -beside. Dearest, dearest Fanny, will you, can you, return my love?' - -'Adolphus,' said Fanny, rising suddenly from her seat, more for the sake of -turning round so as to look at him, than with the object of getting from -him, Adolphus, you are joking with me.' - -'No, by heavens then,' said he, following her, and catching her hand; 'no -man in Ireland is this moment more in earnest: no man more anxiously, -painfully in earnest. Oh, Fanny! why should you suppose that I am not so? -How can you think I would joke on such a subject? No: hear me,' he said, -interrupting her, as she prepared to answer him, 'hear me out, and then you -will know how truly I am in earnest.' - -'No, not a word further!' almost shrieked Fanny ' Not a word more, -Adolphus not a syllable; at any rate till you have heard me. Oh, you have -made me so miserable!' and Fanny burst into tears. - -'I have spoken too suddenly to you, Fanny; I should have given you more -time I should have waited till ' - -'No, no, no,' said Fanny, 'it is not that but yes; what you say is true: -had you waited but one hour but ten minutes I should have told you that -which would for ever have prevented all this. I should have told you, -Adolphus, how dearly, how unutterably I love another.' And Fanny again sat -down, hid her face in her handkerchief against the corner of the summer- -house, and sobbed and cried as though she were broken-hearted: during which -time Kilcullen stood by, rather perplexed as to what he was to say next, -and beginning to be very doubtful as to his ultimate success. - -'Dear Fanny!' he said, 'for both our sakes, pray try to be collected: all -my future happiness is at this moment at stake. I did not bring you here to -listen to what I have told you, without having become too painfully sure -that your hand, your heart, your love, are necessary to my happiness. All -my hopes are now at stake; but I would not, if I could, secure my own -happiness at the expense of yours. Pray believe me, Fanny, when I say that -I love you completely, unalterably, devotedly: it is necessary now for my -own sake that I should say as much as that. Having told you so much of my -own heart, let me hear what you wish to tell me of yours. Oh, that I might -have the most distant gleam of hope, that it would ever return the love -which fills my own!' - -'It cannot, Adolphus it never can,' said she, still trying to hide her -tears. 'Oh, why should this bitter misery have been added!' She then rose -quickly from her seat, wiped her eyes, and, pushing back her hair, -continued, 'I will no longer continue to live such a life as I have -done miserable to myself, and the cause of misery to others. Adolphus I -love Lord Ballindine. I love him with, I believe, as true and devoted a -love as woman ever felt for a man. I valued, appreciated, gloried in your -friendship; but I can never return your, love. My heart is wholly, utterly, -given away; and I would not for worlds receive it back, till I learn from -his own mouth that he has ceased to love me.' - -'Oh, Fanny! my poor Fanny!' said Kilcullen; 'if such is the case, you are -really to be pitied. If this be true, your condition is nearly as unhappy -as my own., - -'I am unhappy, very unhappy in your love,' said Fanny, drawing herself up -proudly; 'but not unhappy in my own. My misery is that I should be the -cause of trouble and unhappiness to others. I have nothing to regret in my -own choice.' - -'You are harsh, Fanny. It may be well that you should be decided, but it -cannot become you also to be unfeeling. I have offered to you all that a -man can offer; my name, my fortune, my life, my heart; though you may -refuse me, you have no right to be offended with me.' - -'Oh, Adolphus!' said she, now in her turn offering him her hand: 'pray -forgive me: pray do not be angry. Heaven knows I feel no offence: and how -strongly, how sincerely, I feel the compliment you have offered me. But I -want you to see how vain it would be in me to leave you leave you in any -doubt. I only spoke as I did to show you I could not think twice, when my -heart was given to one whom I so entirely love, respect and approve.' Lord -Kilcullen's face became thoughtful, and his brow grew black: he stood for -some time irresolute what to say or do. - -'Let us walk on, Fanny, for this is cold and damp,' he said, at last. - -'Let us go back to the house, then.' - -'As you like, Fanny. Oh, how painful all this is! how doubly painful to -know that ray own love is hopeless, and that yours is no less so. Did you -not refuse Lord Ballindine?' - -'If I did, is it not sufficient that I tell you I love him? If he were gone -past all redemption, you would not have me encourage you while I love -another?' - -'I never dreamed of this! What, Fanny, what are your hopes? what is it you -wish or intend? Supposing me, as I wish I were, fathoms deep below the -earth, what would you do? You cannot marry Lord Ballindine.' - -'Then I will marry no one,' said Fanny, striving hard to suppress her -tears, and barely succeeding. - -'Good heavens!' exclaimed Kilcullen; 'what an infatuation is this!' and -then again he walked on silent a little way. 'Have you told any one of -this, Fanny? do they know of it at Grey Abbey? Come, Fanny, speak to me: -forget, if you will, that I would be your lover: remember me only as your -cousin and your friend, and speak to me openly. Do they know that you have -repented of the refusal you gave Lord Ballindine?' - -'They all know that I love him: your father, your mother, and Selina.' - -'You don't say my father?' - -'Yes,' said Fanny, stopping on the path, and speaking with energy, as she -confronted her cousin. 'Yes, Lord Cashel. He, above all others, knows it. I -have told him so almost on my knees. I have implored him, as a child may -implore her father, to bring back to me the only man I ever loved. I have -besought him not to sacrifice me. Oh! how I have implored him to spare me -the dreadful punishment of my own folly wretchedness rather in rejecting -the man I loved. But he has not listened to me; he will never listen to me, -and I will never ask again. He shall find that I am not a tree or a stone, -to be planted or placed as he chooses. I will not again be subjected to -what I have to-day suffered, I will not I will not ' But Fanny was out of -breath; and could not complete the catalogue of what she would not do. - -'And did you intend to tell me all this, had I not spoken to you as I have -done?' said Kilcullen. - -'I did,' said she. 'I was on the point of telling you everything: twice I -had intended to do so. I intended to implore you, as you loved me as your -cousin, to use your exertions to reconcile my uncle and Lord Ballindine and -now instead of that ' - -'You find I love you too well myself?' - -'Oh, forget, Adolphus, forget that the words ever passed your lips. You -have not loved me long, and therefore will not continue to love me, when -you know I never can be yours: forget your short-lived love; won't you, -Adolphus?' and she put her clasped hands upon his breast 'forget, let us -both forget that the words were ever spoken. Be still my cousin, my friend, -my brother; and we shall still both be happy.' - -Different feelings were disturbing Lord Kilcullen's breast different from -each other, and some of them very different from those which usually found -a place there. He had sought Fanny's hand not only with most sordid, but -also with most dishonest views: he not only intended to marry her for her -fortune, but also to rob her of her money; to defraud her, that he might -enable himself once more to enter the world of pleasure, with the slight -encumbrance of a wretched wife. But, in carrying out his plan, he had -disturbed it by his own weakness: he had absolutely allowed himself to fall -in love with his cousin; and when, as he had just done, he offered her his -hand, he was quite as anxious that she should accept him for her own sake -as for that of her money. He had taught himself to believe that she would -accept him, and many misgivings had haunted him as to the ruined state to -which he should bring her as his wife. But these feelings, though strong -enough to disturb him, were not strong enough to make him pause: he tried -to persuade himself that he could yet make her happy, and hurried on to the -consummation of his hopes. He now felt strongly tempted to act a generous -part; to give her up, and to bring Lord Ballindine back to her feet; to -deserve at any rate well of her, and leave all other things to chance. But -Lord Kilcullen was not accustomed to make such sacrifices: he had never -learned to disregard himself; and again and again he turned it over in his -mind 'how could he get her fortune? was there any way left in which he -might be successful?' - -'This is child's play, Fanny,' he said. 'You may reject me: to that I have -nothing further to say, for I am but an indifferent wooer; but you can -never marry Lord Ballindine.' - -'Oh, Adolphus, for mercy's sake don't say so!' - -'But I do say so, Fanny. God knows, not to wound you, or for any unworthy -purpose, but because it is so. He was your lover, and you sent him away; -you cannot whistle him back as you would a dog.' - -Fanny made no answer to this, but walked on towards the house, anxious to -find herself alone in her own room, that she might compose her mind and -think over all that she had heard and said; nor did Lord Kilcullen renew -the conversation till he got to the house. He could not determine what to -do. Under other circumstances it might, he felt, have been wise for him to -wait till time had weakened Fanny's regret for her lost lover; but in his -case this was impracticable; if he waited anywhere it would be in the -Queen's Bench. And yet, he could not but feel that, at present, it was -hopeless for him to push his suit. - -They reached the steps together, and as he opened the front door, Fanny -turned round to wish him good morning, as she was hurrying in; but he -stopped her, and said, - -'One word more, Fanny, before we part. You must not refuse me; nor must we -part in this way. Step in here; I will not keep you a minute;' and he took -her into a room off the hall 'do not let us be children; Fanny; do not let -us deceive each other, or ourselves: do not let us persist in being -irrational if we ourselves see that we are so;' and he paused for a reply. - -'Well, Adolphus?' was all she said. - -'If I could avoid it,' continued he, 'I would not hurt your feelings; but -you must see, you must know, that you cannot marry Lord Ballindine.' Fanny, -who was now sitting, bit her lips and clenched her hands, but she said -nothing; 'If this is so if you feel that so far your fate is fixed, are you -mad enough to give yourself up to a vain and wicked passion for wicked it -will be? Will you not rather strive to forget him who has forgotten you?' - -'That is not true,' interposed Fanny. - -'His conduct, unfortunately, proves that it is too true,' continued -Kilcullen. 'He has forgotten you, and you cannot blame him that he should -do so, now that you have rejected him; but he neglected you even before you -did so. Is it wise, is it decorous, is it maidenly in you, to indulge any -longer in so vain a passion? Think of this, Fanny. As to myself, Heaven -knows with what perfect truth, with what true love, I offered you, this -morning, all that a man can offer: how ardently I hoped for an answer -different from that you have now given me. You cannot give me your heart -now; love cannot, at a moment, be transferred. But think, Fanny, think -whether it is not better for you to accept an offer which your friends will -all approve, and which I trust will never make you unhappy, than to give -yourself up to a lasting regret, to tears, misery, and grief.' - -'And would you take my hand without my heart?' said she. - -'Not for worlds,' replied the other, 'were I not certain that your heart -would follow your hand. Whoever may be your husband, you will love him. But -ask my mother, talk to her, ask her advice; she at any rate will only tell -you that which must be best for your own happiness. Go to her, Fanny; if -her advice be different from mine, I will not say a word farther to urge my -suit.' - -'I will go to no one,' said Fanny, rising. 'I have gone to too many with a -piteous story on my lips. I have no friend, now, in this house. I had still -hoped to find one in you, but that hope is over. I am, of course, proud of -the honour your declaration has conveyed; but I should be wicked indeed if -I did not make you perfectly understand that it is one which I cannot -accept. Whatever may be your views, your ideas, I will never marry unless I -thoroughly love, and feel that I am thoroughly loved by my future husband. -Had you not made this ill-timed declaration had you not even persisted in -repeating it after I had opened my whole heart to you, I could have loved -and cherished you as a brother; under no circumstances could I ever have -accepted you as a husband. Good morning.' And she left him alone, feeling -that he could have but little chance of success, should he again renew the -attempt. - -He did not see her again till dinner-time, when she appeared silent and -reserved, but still collected and at her ease; nor did he speak to her at -dinner or during the evening, till the moment the ladies were retiring for -the night. He then came up to her as she was standing alone turning over -some things on a side-table, and said, 'Fanny, I probably leave Grey Abbey -to-morrow. I will say good bye to you tonight.' - -'Good bye, Adolphus; may we both be happier when next we meet,' said she. - -'My happiness, I fear, is doubtful: but I will not speak of that now. If I -can do anything for yours before I go, I will. Fanny, I will ask my father -to invite Lord Ballindine here. He has been anxious that we should be -married: when I tell him that that is impossible, he may perhaps be induced -to do so.' - -'Do that,' said Fanny, 'and you will be a friend to me. Do that, and you -will be more than a brother to me.' - -'I will; and in doing so I shall crush every hope that I have had left in -me.' - -'Do not say so, Adolphus: do not ' - -'You'll understand what I mean in a short time. I cannot explain everything -to you now. But this will I do; I will make Lord Cashel understand that we -never can be more to each other than we are now, and I will advise him to -seek a reconciliation with Lord Ballindine. And now, good bye,' and he held -out his hand. - -'But I shall see you to-morrow.' - -'Probably not; and if you do, it will be but for a moment, when I shall -have other adieux to make.' - -'Good bye, then, Adolphus; and may God bless you; and may we yet live to -have many happy days together,' and she shook hands with him, and went to -her room. - - - - -XXXIII LORD KILCULLEN MAKES ANOTHER VISIT TO THE BOOK-ROOM - - -Lord Cashel's plans were certainly not lucky. It was not that sufficient -care was not used in laying them, nor sufficient caution displayed in -maturing them. He passed his time in care and caution; he spared no pains -in seeing that the whole machinery was right; he was indefatigable in -deliberation, diligent in manoeuvring, constant in attention. But, somehow, -he was unlucky; his schemes were never successful. In the present instance -he was peculiarly unfortunate, for everything went wrong with him. He had -got rid of an obnoxious lover, he had coaxed over his son, he had spent an -immensity of money, he had undergone worlds of trouble and self- -restraint; and then, when he really began to think that his ward's fortune -would compensate him for this, his own family came to him, one after -another, to assure him that he was completely mistaken that it was utterly -impossible that such a thing as a family marriage between the two cousins -could never take place, and indeed, ought not to be thought of. - -Lady Selina gave him the first check. On the morning on which Lord -Kilcullen made his offer, she paid her father a solemn visit in his book- -room, and told him exactly what she had before told her mother; assured him -that Fanny could not be induced, at any rate at present, to receive her -cousin as her lover; whispered to him, with unfeigned sorrow and shame, -that Fanny was still madly in love with Lord Ballindine; and begged him to -induce her brother to postpone his offer, at any rate for some months. - -'I hate Lord Ballindine's very name,' said the earl, petulant with -irritation. - -'We none of us approve of him, papa: we don't think of supposing that he -could now be a fitting husband for Fanny, or that they could possibly ever -be married. Of course it's not to bethought of. But if you would advise -Adolphus not to be premature, he might, in the end, be more successful.' - -'Kilcullen has made his own bed and he must lie in it; I won't interfere -between them,' said the angry father. - -'But if you were, only to recommend delay,' suggested the daughter; 'a few -months' delay; think how short a time Harry Wyndham has been dead!' - -Lord Cashel knew that delay was death in this case, so he pished, and -hummed, and hawed; quite lost the dignity on which he piqued himself, and -ended by declaring that he would not interfere; that they might do as they -liked; that young people would not be guided, and that he would not make -himself unhappy about them. And so, Lady Selina, crestfallen and -disappointed, went away. - -Then, Lady Cashel, reflecting on what her daughter had told her, and yet -anxious that the marriage should, if possible, take place at some time or -other, sent Griffiths down to her lord, with a message 'Would his lordship -be kind enough to step up-stairs to her ladyship?' Lord Cashel went up, and -again had all the difficulties of the case opened out before him. - -'But you see,' said her ladyship, 'poor Fanny she's become so -unreasonable I don't know what's come to her I'm sure I do everything I can -to make her happy: but I suppose if she don't like to marry, nobody can -make her.' - -'Make her? who's talking of making her?' said the earl. - -'No, of course not,' continued the countess; 'that's just what Selina says; -no one can make her do anything, she's got so obstinate, of late: but it's -all that horrid Lord Ballindine, and those odious horses. I'm sure I don't -know what business gentlemen have to have horses at all; there's never any -good comes of it. There's Adolphus he's had the good sense to get rid of -his, and yet Fanny's so foolish, she'd sooner have that other horrid -man and I'm sure he's not half so good-looking, nor a quarter so agreeable -as Adolphus.' - -All these encomiums on his son, and animadversions on Lord Ballindine, were -not calculated to put the earl into a good humour; he was heartily sick of -the subject; thoroughly repented that he had not allowed his son to ruin -himself in his own way; detested the very name of Lord Ballindine, and felt -no very strong affection for his poor innocent ward. He accordingly made -his wife nearly the same answer he had made his daughter, and left her -anything but comforted by the visit. - -It was about eleven o'clock on the same evening, that Lord Kilcullen, after -parting with Fanny, opened the book-room door. He had been quite sincere in -what he had told her. He had made up his mind entirely to give over all -hopes of marrying her himself, and to tell his father that the field was -again open for Lord Ballindine, as far as he was concerned. - -There is no doubt that he would not have been noble enough to do this, had -he thought he had himself any chance of being successful; but still there -was something chivalrous in his resolve, something magnanimous in his -determination to do all he could for the happiness of her he really loved, -when everything in his own prospects was gloomy, dark, and desperate. As he -entered his father's room, feeling that it would probably be very long -before he should be closeted with him again, he determined that he would -not quietly bear reproaches, and even felt a source of satisfaction in the -prospect of telling his father that their joint plans were overturned their -schemes completely at an end. - -'I'm disturbing you, my lord, I'm afraid,' said the son, walking into the -room, not at all with the manner of one who had any hesitation at causing -the disturbance. - -'Who's that?' said the earl 'Adolphus? no yes. That is, I'm just going to -bed; what is it you want?' The earl had been dozing after all the vexations -of the day. - -'To tell the truth, my lord, I've a good deal that I wish to say: will it -trouble you to listen to me?' - -'Won't to-morrow morning do?' - -'I shall leave Grey Abbey early to-morrow, my lord; immediately after -breakfast.' - -'Good heavens, Kilcullen! what do you mean? You're not going to run off to -London again?' - -'A little farther than that, I'm afraid, will be necessary,' said the son. -'I have offered to Miss Wyndham have been refused and, having finished my -business at Grey Abbey, your lordship will probably think that in leaving -it I shall be acting with discretion.' - -'You have offered to Fanny and been refused!' - -'Indeed I have; finally and peremptorily refused. Not only that: I have -pledged my word to my cousin that I will never renew my suit.' - -The earl sat speechless in his chair so much worse was this catastrophe -even than his expectations. Lord Kilcullen continued. - -'I hope, at any rate, you are satisfied with me. I have not only implicitly -obeyed your directions, but I have done everything in my power to -accomplish what you wished. Had my marriage with my cousin been a project -of my own, I could not have done more for its accomplishment. Miss -Wyndham's affections are engaged; and she will never, I am sure, marry one -man while she loves another.' - -'Loves another psha!' roared the earl. 'Is this to be the end of it all? -After your promises to me after your engagement! After such an engagement, -sir, you come to me and talk about a girl loving another? Loving another! -Will her loving another pay your debts?' - -'Exactly the reverse, my lord,' said the son. 'I fear it will materially -postpone their payment.' - -'Well, sir,' said the earl. He did not exactly know how to commence the -thunder of indignation with which he intended to annihilate his son, for -certainly Kilcullen had done the best in his power to complete the bargain. -But still the storm could not be stayed, unreasonable as it might be for -the earl to be tempestuous on the occasion. 'Well, sir,' and he stood up -from his chair, to face his victim, who was still standing and, thrusting -his hands into his trowsers' pockets, frowned awfully 'Well, sir; am I to -be any further favoured with your plans?' - -'I have none, my lord,' said Kilcullen; 'I am again ready to listen to -yours.' - -'My plans? I have no further plans to offer for you. You are ruined, -utterly ruined: you have done your best to ruin me and your mother; I have -pointed out to you, I arranged for you, the only way in which your affairs -could be redeemed; I made every thing easy for you.' - -'No, my lord: you could not make it easy for me to get my cousin's love.' - -'Don't contradict me, sir. I say I did. I made every thing straight and -easy for you: and now you come to me with a whining story about a girl's -love! What's her love to me, sir? Where am I to get my thirty thousand -pounds, sir? and my note of hand is passed for as much more, at this time -twelve-month! Where am I to raise that, sir? Do you remember that you have -engaged to repay me these sums? do you remember that, or have such trifles -escaped your recollection?' - -'I remember perfectly well, my lord, that if I married my cousin, you were -to repay yourself those sums out of her fortune. But I also remember, and -so must you, that I beforehand warned you that I thought she would refuse -me.' - -'Refuse you,' said the earl, with a contortion of his nose and lips -intended to convey unutterable scorn; 'of course she refused you, when you -asked her as a child would ask for an apple, or a cake! What else could you -expect?' - -'I hardly think your lordship knows ' - -'Don't you hardly think? then I do know; and know well too. I know you have -deceived me, grossly deceived me induced me to give you money to incur -debts, with which I never would have burdened myself had I not believed you -were sincere in your promise. But you have deceived me, sir taken me in; -for by heaven it's no better! it's no better than downright swindling and -that from a son to his father! But it's for the last time; not a penny more -do you get from me: you can ruin the property; indeed, I believe you have; -but, for your mother's and sister's sake, I'll keep till I die what little -you have left me.' - -Lord Cashel had worked himself up into a perfect frenzy, and was stamping -about the room as he uttered this speech; but, as he came to the end of it, -he threw himself into his chair again, and buried his face in his hands. - -Lord Kilcullen was standing with his back resting against the mantel-piece, -with a look of feigned indifference on his face, which he tried hard to -maintain. But his brow became clouded, and he bit his lips when his father -accused him of swindling; and he was just about to break forth into a -torrent of recrimination, when Lord Cashel turned off into a pathetic -strain, and Kilcullen thought it better to leave him there. - -'What I'm to do, I don't know; what I am to do, I do not know!' said the -earl, beating the table with one hand, and hiding his face with the other. -'Sixty thousand pounds in one year; and that after so many drains! And -there's only my own life there's only my own life!' and then there was a -pause for four or five minutes, during which Lord Kilcullen took snuff, -poked the fire, and then picked up a newspaper, as though he were going to -read it. This last was too much for the father, and he again roared out, -'Well, sir, what are you standing there for? If you've nothing else to say; -why don't you go? I've done with you you can not get more out of me, I -promise you!' - -'I've a good deal to say before I go, my lord,' said Kilcullen. 'I was -waiting till you were disposed to listen to me. I've a good deal to say, -indeed, which you must hear; and I trust, therefore, you will endeavour to -be cool, whatever your opinions may be about my conduct.' - -'Cool? no, sir, I will not be cool. You're too cool yourself!' - -'Cool enough for both, you think, my lord.' - -'Kilcullen,' said the earl, 'you've neither heart nor principle: you have -done your worst to ruin me, and now you come to insult me in my own room. -Say what you want to say, and then leave me.' - -'As to insulting language, my lord, I think you need not complain, when you -remember that you have just called me a swindler, because I have been -unable to accomplish your wish and my own, by marrying my cousin. However, -I will let that pass. I have done the best I could to gain that object. I -did more than either of us thought it possible that I should do, when I -consented to attempt it. I offered her my hand, and assured her of my -affection, without falsehood or hypocrisy. My bargain was that I should -offer to her. I have done more than that, for I have loved her. I have, -however, been refused, and in such a manner as to convince me that it would -be useless for me to renew my suit. If your lordship will allow me to -advise you on such a subject, I would suggest that you make no further -objection to Fanny's union with Lord Ballindine. For marry him she -certainly will.' - -'What, sir?' again shouted Lord Cashel. - -'I trust Fanny will receive no further annoyance on the subject. She has -convinced me that her own mind is thoroughly made up; and she is not the -person to change her mind on such a subject.' - -'And haven't you enough on hand in your own troubles, but what you must -lecture me about my ward? Is it for that you have come to torment me at -this hour? Had not you better at once become her guardian yourself, sir, -and manage the matter in your own way?' - -'I promised Fanny I would say as much to you. I will not again mention her -name unless you press me to do so.' - -'That's very kind,' said the earl. - -'And now, about myself. I think your lordship will agree with me that it is -better that I should at once leave Grey Abbey, when I tell you that, if I -remain here, I shall certainly be arrested before the week is over, if I am -found outside the house. I do not wish to have bailiffs knocking at your -lordship's door, and your servants instructed to deny me.' - -'Upon my soul, you are too good.' - -'At any rate,' said Kilcullen, 'you'll agree with me that this is no place -for me to remain in.' - -'You're quite at liberty to go,' said the earl. 'You were never very -ceremonious with regard to me; pray don't begin to be so now. Pray -go tonight if you like. Your mother's heart will be broken, that's all.' -'I trust my mother will be able to copy your lordship's indifference.' - -'Indifference! Is sixty thousand pounds in one year, and more than double -within three or four, indifference? I have paid too much to be indifferent. -But it is hopeless to pay more. I have no hope for you; you are ruined, and -I couldn't redeem you even if I would. I could not set you free and tell -you to begin again, even were it wise to do so; and therefore I tell you to -go. And now, good night; I have not another word to say to you,' and the -earl got up as if to leave the room. - -'Stop, my lord, you must listen to me,' said Kilcullen. - -'Not a word further. I have heard enough;' and he put out the candles on -the book-room table, having lighted a bed candle which he held in his hand. - -'Pardon me, my lord,' continued the son, standing just before his father, -so as to prevent his leaving the room; 'pardon me, but you must listen to -what I have to say.' - -'Not another word not another word. Leave the door, sir, or I will ring for -the servants to open it.' - -'Do so,' said Kilcullen, 'and they also shall hear what I have to say. I am -going to leave you tomorrow, perhaps for ever; and you will not listen to -the last word I wish to speak to you?' - -'I'll stay five minutes,' said the earl, taking out his watch, 'and then -I'll go; and if you attempt again to stop me, I'll ring the bell for the -servants.' - -'Thank you, my lord, for the five minutes it will be time enough. I purpose -leaving Grey Abbey tomorrow, and I shall probably be in France in three -days' time. When there, I trust I shall cease to trouble you; but I cannot, -indeed I will not go, without funds to last me till I can make some -arrangement. Your lordship must give me five hundred pounds. I have not the -means even of carrying myself from hence to Calais.' - -'Not one penny. Not one penny if it were to save you from the gaol to- -morrow! This is too bad!' and the earl again walked to the door, against -which Lord Kilcullen leaned his back. - -'By Heaven, sir, I'll raise the house if you think to frighten me by -violence!' - -'I'll use no violence, but you must hear the alternative: if you please it, -the whole house shall hear it too. If you persist in refusing the small sum -I now ask ' - -'I will not give you one penny to save you from gaol. Is that plain?' - -'Perfectly plain, and very easy to believe. But you will give more than a -penny; you would even give more than I ask, to save yourself from the -annoyance you will have to undergo.' - -'Not on any account will I give you one single farthing.' - -'Very well. Then I have only to tell you what I must do. Of course, I shall -remain here. You cannot turn me out of your house, or refuse me a seat at -your table.' - -'By Heavens, though, I both can and will!' - -'You cannot, my lord. if you think of it, you'll find you cannot, without -much disagreeable trouble. An eldest son would be a very difficult tenant -to eject summarily: and of my own accord I will not go without the money I -ask.' - -'By heavens, this exceeds all I ever heard. Would you rob your own father?' - -'I will not rob him, but I'll remain in his house. The sheriff's officers, -doubtless, will hang about the doors, and be rather troublesome before the -windows; but I shall not be the first Irish gentleman that has remained at -home upon his keeping. And, like other Irish gentlemen, 1 will do so rather -than fall into the hands of these myrmidons. I have no wish to annoy you; I -shall be most sorry to do so; most sorry to subject my mother to the misery -which must attend the continual attempts which will be made to arrest me; -but I will not put my head into the lion's jaw.' - -'This is the return for what I have done for him!' ejaculated the earl, in -his misery. - -'Unfortunate reprobate! unfortunate reprobate! that I should be driven to -wish that he was in gaol!' - -'Your wishing so won't put me there, my lord. If it would I should not be -weak enough to ask you for this money. Do you mean to comply with my -request?' - -'I do not, sir: not a penny shall you have not one farthing more shall you -get from me.' - -'Then good night, my lord. I grieve that I should have to undergo a siege -in your lordship's house, more especially as it is likely to be a long one. -In a week's time there will be a 'ne exeat' issued against me, and then it -will be too late for me to think of France.' And so saying, the son retired -to his own room, and left the father to consider what he had better do in -his distress. - -Lord Cashel was dreadfully embarrassed. What Lord Kilcullen said was -perfectly true; an eldest son was a most difficult tenant to eject; and -then, the ignominy of having his heir arrested in his own house, or -detained there by bailiffs lurking round the premises! He could not -determine whether it would be more painful to keep his son, or to give him -up. If he did the latter, he would be driven to effect it by a most -disagreeable process. He would have to assist the officers of the law in -their duty, and to authorise them to force the doors locked by his son. The -prospect, either way, was horrid. He would willingly give the five hundred -pounds to be rid of his heir, were it not for his word's sake, or rather -his pride's sake. He had said he would not, and, as he walked up and down -the room he buttoned up his breeches pocket, and tried to resolve that, -come what come might, he would not expedite his son's departure by the -outlay of one shilling. - -The candles had been put out, and the gloom of the room was only lightened -by a single bed-room taper, which, as it stood near the door, only served -to render palpable the darkness of the further end of the chamber. For half -an hour Lord Cashel walked to and fro, anxious, wretched, and in doubt, -instead of going to his room. How he wished that Lord Ballindine had -married his ward, and taken her off six months since! all this trouble -would not then have come upon him. And as he thought of the thirty thousand -pounds that he had spent, and the thirty thousand more that he must spend, -he hurried on with such rapidity that in the darkness he struck his shin -violently against some heavy piece of furniture, and, limping back. to the -candlestick, swore through his teeth 'No, not a penny, were it to save him -from perdition! I'll see the sheriff's officer. I'll see the sheriff -himself, and tell him that every door in the house every closet every -cellar, shall be open to him. My house shall enable no one to defy the -law.' And, with this noble resolve, to which, by the bye, the blow on his -shin greatly contributed, Lord Cashel went to bed, and the house was at -rest. - -About nine o'clock on the following morning Lord Kilcullen was still in -bed, but awake. His servant had been ordered to bring him hot water, and he -was seriously thinking of getting up, and facing the troubles of the day, -when a very timid knock at the door announced to him that some stranger was -approaching. He adjusted his nightcap, brought the bed-clothes up close to -his neck, and on giving the usual answer to a knock at the door, saw a -large cap introduce itself, the head belonging to which seemed afraid to -follow. - -'Who's that?' he called out. - -'It's me, my lord,' said the head, gradually following the cap. 'Griffiths, -my lord.' - -'Well?' - -'Lady Selina, my lord; her ladyship bids me give your lordship her love, -and would you see her ladyship for five minutes before you get up?' - -Lord Kilcullen having assented to this proposal, the cap and head retired. -A second knock at the door was soon given, and Lady Selina entered the -room, with a little bit of paper in her hand. - -'Good morning, Adolphus,' said the sister. - -'Good morning, Selina,' said the brother. 'It must be something very -particular, which brings you here at this hour.' - -'It is indeed, something very particular. I have been with papa this -morning, Adolphus: he has told me of the interview between you last night.' - -'Well.' - -'Oh, Adolphus! he is very angry he's ' - -'So am I, Selina. I am very angry, too so we're quits. We laid a plan -together, and we both failed, and each blames the other; so you need not -tell me anything further about his anger. Did he send any message to me?' - -'He did. He told me I might give you this, if I would undertake that you -left Grey Abbey to-day:' and Lady Selina held up, hut did not give him, the -bit of paper. - -'What a dolt he is.' - -'Oh, Adolphus!' said Selina, 'don't speak so of your father.' -'So he is: how on earth can you undertake that I shall leave the house?' - -'I can ask you to give inc your word that you will do so; and I can take -back the check if you refuse,' said Lady Selina, conceiving it. utterly -impossible that one of her own family could break his word. - -'Well, Selina, I'll answer you fairly. If that bit of paper is a cheque for -five hundred pounds, I will leave this place in two hours. If it is not ' - -'It is,' said Selina. 'It is a cheque for five hundred pounds, and I may -then give it to you?' - -'I thought as much,' said Lord Kilcullen; 'I thought he'd alter his mind. -Yes, you may give it me, and tell my father I'll dine in London to-morrow -evening.' - -'He says, Adolphus, he'll not see you before you go.' - -'Well, there's comfort in that, anyhow.' - -'Oh, Adolphus! how can you speak in that manner now? how can you speak in -that wicked, thoughtless, reckless manner?' said his sister. - -'Because I'm a wicked, thoughtless, reckless man, I suppose. I didn't mean -to vex you, Selina; but my father is so pompous, so absurd, and so tedious. -In the whole of this affair I have endeavoured to do exactly as he would -have me; and he is more angry with me now, because his plan has failed, -than he ever was before, for any of my past misdoings. But let me get up -now, there's a good girl; for I've no time to lose.' - -'Will you see your mother before you go, Adolphus?' - -'Why, no; it'll be no use only tormenting her. Tell her something, you -know; anything that won't vex her.' - -'But I cannot tell her anything about you that will not vex her.' - -'Well, then, say what will vex her least. Tell her tell her. Oh, you know -what to tell her, and I'm sure I don't.' - -'And Fanny: will you see her again?' - -'No,' said Kilcullen. 'I have bid her good bye. But give her my kindest -love, and tell her that I did what I told her I would do.' - -'She told me what took place between you yesterday.' - -'Why, Selina, everybody tells you everything! And now, I'll tell you -something. If you care for your cousin's happiness, do not attempt to raise -difficulties between her and Lord Ballindine. And now, I must say good bye -to you. I'll have my breakfast up here, and go directly down to the yard. -Good bye, Selina; when I'm settled I'll write to you, and tell you where I -am.' - -'Good bye, Adolphus; God bless you, and enable you yet to retrieve your -course. I'm afraid it is a bad one;' and she stooped down and kissed her -brother. - -He was as good as his word. In two hours' time he had left Grey Abbey. He -dined that day in Dublin, the next in London, and the third in Boulogne; -and the sub-sheriff of County Kildare in vain issued half-a-dozen writs for -his capture. - - - - -XXXIV THE DOCTOR MAKES A CLEAN BREAST OF IT - - -We will now return for a while to Dunmore, and settle the affairs of the -Kellys and Lynches, which we left in rather a precarious state. - -Barry's attempt on Doctor Colligan's virtue was very unsuccessful, for Anty -continued to mend under the treatment of that uncouth but safe son of -Galen. As Colligan told her brother, the fever had left her, though for -some time it was doubtful whether she had strength to recover from its -effects. This, however, she did gradually; and, about a fortnight after the -dinner at Dunmore House, the doctor told Mrs Kelly and Martin that his -patient was out of danger. - -Martin had for some time made up his mind that Anty was to live for many -years in the character of Mrs Martin, and could not therefore be said to be -much affected by the communication. But if he was not, his mother was. She -had made up her mind that Anty was to die; that she was to pay for the -doctor the wake, and the funeral, and that she would have a hardship and -grievance to boast of, and a subject of self-commendation to enlarge on, -which would have lasted her till her death; and she consequently felt -something like disappointment at being ordered to administer to Anty a -mutton chop and a glass of sherry every day at one o'clock. Not that the -widow was less assiduous, or less attentive to Anty's wants now that she -was convalescent; but she certainly had not so much personal satisfaction, -as when she was able to speak despondingly of her patient to all her -gossips. - -'Poor cratur!' she used to say 'it's all up with her now; the Lord be -praised for all his mercies. She's all as one as gone, glory be to God and -the Blessed Virgin. Shure no good ever come of ill-got money not that she -was iver to blame. Thank the Lord, av' I have a penny saved at all, it was -honestly come by; not that I shall have when this is done and paid for, not -a stifle; (stiver Mrs Kelly probably meant) but what's that!' and she -snapped her fingers to show that the world's gear was all dross in her -estimation. 'She shall be dacently sthretched, though she is a Lynch, and a -Kelly has to pay for it. Whisper, neighbour; in two years' time there'll -not be one penny left on another of all the dirty money Sim Lynch scraped -together out of the gutthers.' - -There was a degree of triumph in these lamentations, a tone of self- -satisfied assurance in the truth of her melancholy predictions, which -showed that the widow was not ill at ease with herself. When Anty was -declared out of danger, her joy was expressed with much more moderation. - -'Yes, thin,' she said to Father Pat Geoghegan, 'poor thing, she's rallying -a bit. The docthor says maybe she'll not go this time; but he's much in -dread of a re-claps ' - -'Relapse, Mrs Kelly, I suppose?' - -'Well, relapse, av' you will, Father Pat relapse or reclaps, it's pretty -much the same I'm thinking; for she'd niver get through another bout. God -send we may be well out of the hobble this day twelvemonth. Martin's my own -son, and ain't above industhrying, as his father and mother did afore him, -and I won't say a word agin him; but he's brought more throuble on me with -them Lynches than iver I knew before. What has a lone woman like me, Father -Pat, to do wid sthrangers like them? jist to turn their backs on me when I -ain't no furder use, and to be gitting the hights of insolence and abuse, -as I did from that blagguard Barry. He'd betther keep his toe in his pump -and go asy, or he'll wake to a sore morning yet, some day.' - -Doctor Colligan, also, was in trouble from his connection with the Lynches: -not that he had any dissatisfaction at the recovery of his patient, for he -rejoiced at it, both on her account and his own. He had strongly that -feeling of self-applause, which must always be enjoyed by a doctor who -brings a patient safely through a dangerous illness. But Barry's iniquitous -proposal to him weighed heavy on his conscience. It was now a week since it -had been made, and he had spoken of it to no one. He had thought much and -frequently of what he ought to do; whether he should publicly charge Lynch -with the fact; whether he should tell it confidentially to some friend whom -he could trust; or whether by far the easiest alternative, he should keep -it in his own bosom, and avoid the man in future as he would an incarnation -of the devil. It preyed much upon his spirits, for lie lived in fear of -Barry Lynch in fear lest he should determine to have the first word, and, -in his own defence, accuse him (Colligan) of the very iniquity which he had -himself committed. Nothing, the doctor felt, would be too bad or too false -for Barry Lynch; nothing could be more damnable than the proposal he had -made; and yet it would be impossible to convict him, impossible to punish -him. He would, of course, deny the truth of the accusation, and probably -return the charge on his accuser. And yet Colligan felt that he would be -compromising the matter, if he did not mention it to some one; and that he -would outrage his own feelings if he did not express his horror at the -murder which he had been asked to commit. - -For one week these feelings quite destroyed poor Colligan's peace of mind; -during the second, he determined to make a clean breast of it; and, on the -first day of the third week, after turning in his mind twenty different -people Martin Kelly young Daly the widow the parish priest the parish -parson the nearest stipendiary magistrate and a brother doctor in Tuam, he -at last determined on going to Lord Ballindine, as being both a magistrate -and a friend of the Kellys. Doctor Colligan himself was not at all -acquainted with Lord Ballindine: he attended none of the family, who -extensively patronised his rival, and he had never been inside Kelly's -Court house. He felt, therefore, considerable embarrassment at his mission; -but he made up his mind to go, and, manfully setting himself in his antique -rickety gig, started early enough, to catch Lord Ballindine, as he thought, -before he left the house after breakfast. - -Lord Ballindine had spent the last week or ten days restlessly enough. -Armstrong, his clerical ambassador, had not yet started on his mission to -Grey Abbey, and innumerable difficulties seemed to arise to prevent his -doing so. First of all, the black cloth was to be purchased, and a tailor, -sufficiently adept for making up the new suit, was to be caught. This was a -work of some time; for though there is in the West of Ireland a very -general complaint of the stagnation of trade, trade itself is never so -stagnant as are the tradesmen, when work, is to be done; and it is useless -for a poor wight to think of getting his coat or his boots, till such time -as absolute want shall have driven the artisan to look for the price of his -job unless some private and underhand influence be used, as was done in the -case of Jerry Blake's new leather breeches. - -This cause of delay was, however, not mentioned to Lord Ballindine; but -when it was well got over, and a neighbouring parson procured to preach on -the next Sunday to Mrs O'Kelly and the three policemen who attended -Ballindine Church, Mrs Armstrong broke her thumb with the rolling-pin while -making a beef pudding for the family dinner, and her husband's departure -was again retarded. And then, on the next Sunday, the neighbouring parson -could not leave his own policemen, and the two spinsters, who usually -formed his audience. - -All this tormented Lord Ballindine. and he was really thinking of giving up -the idea of sending Mr Armstrong altogether, when he received the following -letter from his friend Dot Blake. - -Limmer's Hotel. April, 1847. - -Dear Frank, - -One cries out, 'what are you at?' the other, 'what are you after?' Every -one is saying what a fool you are! Kilcullen is at Grey Abbey, with the -evident intention of superseding you in possession of Miss W , and, what is -much more to his taste, as it would be to mine, of her fortune. Mr T. has -written to me from Grey Abbey, where he has been staying: he is a good- -hearted fellow, and remembers how warmly you contradicted the report that -your match was broken off. For heaven's sake, follow up your warmth of -denial with some show of positive action, a little less cool than your -present quiescence, or you cannot expect that any amount of love should be -strong enough to prevent your affianced from resenting your conduct. I am -doubly anxious; quite as anxious that Kilcullen, whom I detest, should not -get young Wyndham's money, as I am that you should. He is utterly, utterly -smashed. If he got double the amount of Fanny Wyndham's cash, it could not -keep him above water for more than a year or so; and then she must go down -with him. I am sure the old fool, his father, does not half know the amount -of his son's liabilities, or he could not be heartless enough to consent to -sacrifice the poor girl as she will be sacrificed, if Kilcullen gets her. I -am not usually very anxious about other people's concerns; but I do feel -anxious about this matter. I want to have a respectable house in the -country, in which I can show my face when I grow a little older, and be -allowed to sip my glass of claret, and talk about my horses, in spite of my -iniquitous propensities and I expect to be allowed to do so at Kelly's -Court. But, if you let Miss Wyndham slip through your fingers, you won't -have a house over your head in a few years' time, much less a shelter to -offer a friend. For God's sake, start for Grey Abbey at once. Why, man -alive, the ogre can't eat you! - -The whole town is in the devil of a ferment about Brien. Of course you -heard the rumour, last week, of his heels being cracked? Some of the -knowing boys want to get out of the trap they are in; and, despairing of -bringing the horse down in the betting by fair means, got a boy out of -Scott's stables to swear to the fact. I went down at once to Yorkshire, and -published a letter in Bell's Life last Saturday, stating that he is all -right. This you have probably seen. You will be astonished to hear it, but -I believe Lord Tattenham Corner got the report spread. For heaven's sake -don't mention this, particularly not as coining from me. They say that if -Brien does the trick, he will lose more than he has made these three years, -and I believe he will, lie is nominally at 4 to 1; but you can't get 4 to -anything like a figure from a safe party. -For heaven's sake go to Grey Abbey, and at once. - -Always faithfully, -W. BLAKE. - -This letter naturally increased Lord Ballindine's uneasiness, and he wrote -a note to Mr Armstrong, informing him that he would not trouble him to go -at all, unless he could start the next day. Indeed, that he should then go -himself, if Mr Armstrong did not do so. - -This did not suit Mr Armstrong. He had made up his mind to go; he could not -well return the twenty pounds he had received, nor did he wish to forego -the advantage which might arise from the trip. So he told his wife to be -very careful about her thumb, made up his mind to leave the three policemen -for once without spiritual food, and wrote to Lord Ballindine to say that -he would be with him the next morning, immediately after breakfast, on his -road to catch the mail-coach at Ballyglass. - -He was as good as his word, or rather better; for he breakfasted at Kelly's -Court, and induced Lord Ballindine to get into his own gig, and drive him -as far as the mail-coach road. - -'But you'll be four or five hours too soon,' said Frank; 'the coach doesn't -pass Ballyglass till three.' - -'I want to see those cattle of Rutledge's. I'll stay there, and maybe get a -bit of luncheon; it's not a bad thing to be provided for the road.' - -'I'll tell you what, though,' said Frank. 'I want to go to Tuam, so you -might as well get the coach there; and if there's time to spare, you can -pay your respects to the bishop.' - -It was all the same to Mr Armstrong, and the two therefore started for Tuam -together. They had not, however, got above half way down the avenue, when -they saw another gig coming towards them; and, after sundry speculations as -to whom it might contain, Mr Armstrong pronounced the driver to be 'that -dirty gallipot, Colligan.' - -It was Colligan; and, as the two gigs met in the narrow road, the dirty -gallipot took off his hat, and was very sorry to trouble Lord Ballindine, -but had a few words to say to him on very important and pressing business. - -Lord Ballindine touched his hat, and intimated that he was ready to listen, -but gave no signs of getting out of his gig. - -'My lord,' said Colligan, 'it's particularly important, and if you could, -as a magistrate, spare me five minutes.' - -'Oh, certainly, Mr Colligan,' said Frank; 'that is, I'm rather hurried I -may say very much hurried just at present. But still I suppose there's no -objection to Mr Armstrong hearing what you have to say?' - -'Why, my lord,' said Colligan, 'I don't know. Your lordship can judge -yourself afterwards; but I'd rather ' - -'Oh, I'll get down,' said the parson. 'I'll just take a walk among the -trees: I suppose the doctor won't be long?' - -'If you wouldn't mind getting into my buggy, and letting me into his -lordship's gig, you could be following us on, Mr Armstrong,' suggested -Colligan. - -This suggestion was complied with. The parson and the doctor changed -places; and the latter, awkwardly enough, but with perfect truth, whispered -his tale into Lord Ballindine's ear. - -At first, Frank had been annoyed at the interruption; but, as he learned -the cause of it, he gave his full attention to the matter, and only -interrupted the narrator by exclamations of horror and disgust. - -When Doctor Colligan had finished, Lord Ballindine insisted on repeating -the whole affair to Mr Armstrong. 'I could not take upon myself,' said he, -'to advise you what to do; much less to tell you what you should do. There -is only one thing clear; you cannot let things rest as they are. Armstrong -is a man of the world, and will know what to do; you cannot object to -talking the matter over with him.' - -Colligan consented: and Armstrong, having been summoned, drove the doctor's -buggy up alongside of Lord Ballindine's gig. - -'Armstrong,' said Frank, 'I have just heard the most horrid story that ever -came to my ears. That wretch, Barry Lynch, has tried to induce Doctor -Colligan to poison his sister!' - -'What!' shouted Armstrong; 'to poison his sister?' - -'Gently, Mr Armstrong; pray don't speak so loud, or it'll be all through -the country in no time.' - -'Poison his sister!' repeated Armstrong. 'Oh, it'll hang him! There's no -doubt it'll hang him! Of course you'll take the doctor's information?' - -'But the doctor hasn't tendered me any information,' said Frank, stopping -his horse, so that Armstrong was able to get close up to his elbow. - -'But I presume it is his intention to do so?' said the parson. - -'I should choose to have another magistrate present then,' said Frank. -'Really, Doctor Colligan, I think the best thing you can do is to come -before myself and the stipendiary magistrate at Tuam. We shall be sure to -find Brew at home to-day.' - -'But, my lord,' said Colligan, 'I really had no intention of doing that. I -have no witnesses. I can prove nothing. Indeed, I can't say he ever asked -me to do the deed: he didn't say anything I could charge him with as a -crime: he only offered me the farm if his sister should die. But I knew -what he meant; there was no mistaking it: I saw it in his eye.' - -'And what did you do, Doctor Colligan, at the time?' said the parson. - -'I hardly remember,' said the doctor; 'I was so flurried. But I know I -knocked him down, and then I rushed out of the room. I believe I threatened -I'd have him hung.' - -'But you did knock him down?' - -'Oh, I did. He was sprawling on the ground when I left him.' - -'You're quite sure you knocked him down?' repeated the parson. - -'The divil a doubt on earth about that!' replied Colligan. 'I tell you, -when I left the room he was on his back among the chairs.' - -'And you did not hear a word from him since?' - -'Not a word.' - -'Then there can't be any mistake about it, my lord,' said Armstrong. 'If he -did not feel that his life was in the doctor's hands, he would not put up -with being knocked down. And I'll tell you what's more if you tax him with -the murder, he'll deny it and defy you; but tax him with having been -knocked down, and he'll swear his foot slipped, or that he'd have done as -much for the doctor if he hadn't run away. And then ask him why the doctor -knocked him down? you'll have him on the hip so.' - -'There's something in that,' said Frank; 'but the question is, what is -Doctor Colligan to do? He says he can't swear any information on which a -magistrate could commit him.' - - -'Unless he does, my lord,' said Armstrong, 'I don't think you should listen -to him at. all; at least, not as a magistrate.' - -'Well, Doctor Colligan, what do you say?' - -'I don't know what to say, my lord. I came to your lordship for advice, -both as a magistrate and as a friend of the young man who is to marry -Lynch's sister. Of course, if you cannot advise me, I will go away again.' - -'You won't come before me and Mr Brew, then?' - -'I don't say I won't,' said Colligan; 'but I don't see the use. I'm not -able to prove anything.' -'I'll tell you what, Ballindine,' said the parson; 'only I don't know -whether it mayn't he tampering with justice suppose we were to go to this -hell-hound, you and I together, and, telling him what we know, give him his -option to stand his trial or quit the country? Take my word for it, he'd -go; and that would be the best way to be rid of him. He'd leave his sister -in peace and quiet then, to enjoy her fortune.' - -'That's true,' said Frank; 'and it would be a great thing to rid the -country of him. Do you remember the way he rode a-top of that poor bitch of -mine the other day Goneaway, you know; the best bitch in the pack?' - -'Indeed I do,' said the parson; 'but for all that, she wasn't the best -bitch in the pack: she hadn't half the nose of Gaylass.' - -'But, as I was saying, Armstrong, it would be a great thing to rid the -country of Barry Lynch.' - -'Indeed it would.' - -'And there'd be nothing then to prevent young Kelly marrying Anty at once.' - -'Make him give his consent in writing before you let him go,' said -Armstrong. - -'I'll tell you what, Doctor Colligan,' said Frank; 'do you get into your -own gig, and follow us on, and I'll talk the matter over with Mr -Armstrong.' - -The doctor again returned to his buggy, and the parson to his own seat, and -Lord Ballindine drove off at a pace which made it difficult enough for -Doctor Colligan to keep him in sight. - -'I don't know how far we can trust that apothecary,' said Frank to his -friend. - -'He's an honest man, I believe,' said Armstrong, 'though he's a dirty, -drunken blackguard.' - -'Maybe he was drunk this evening, at Lynch's?' - -'I was wrong to call him a drunkard. I believe he doesn't get drunk, though -he's always drinking. But you may take my word for it, what he's telling -you now is as true as gospel. If he was telling a lie from malice, he'd be -louder, and more urgent about it: you see he's half afraid to speak, as it -is. He would not have come near you at all, only his conscience makes him -afraid to keep the matter to himself. You may take my word for it, -Ballindine, Barry Lynch did propose to him to murder his sister. Indeed, it -doesn't surprise me. He is so utterly worthless.' - -'But murder, Armstrong! downright murder; of the worst kind; -studied premeditated. He must have been thinking of it, and planning it, -for days. A man may be worthless, and yet not such a wretch as that would -make him. Can you really think he meant Colligan to murder his sister?' - -'I can, and do think so,' said the parson. 'The temptation was great: he -had been waiting for his sister's death; and he could not bring himself to -bear disappointment. I do not think he could do it with his own hand, for -he is a coward; but I can quite believe that he could instigate another -person to do it.' - -'Then I'd hang him. I wouldn't raise my hand to save him from the rope!' - -'Nor would I: but we can't hang him. We can do nothing to him, if he defies -us; but, if he's well handled, we can drive him from the country.' - -The lord and the parson talked the matter over till they reached Dunmore, -and agreed that they would go, with Colligan, to Barry Lynch; tell him of -the charge which was brought against him, and give him his option of -standing his trial, or of leaving the country, under a written promise that -he would never return to it. In this case, he was also to write a note to -Anty, signifying his consent that she should marry Martin Kelly, and also -execute some deed by which all control over the property should be taken -out of his own hands; and that he should agree to receive his income, -whatever it might be, through the hands of an agent. - -There were sundry matters connected with the subject, which were rather -difficult of arrangement. In the, first place, Frank was obliged, very -unwillingly, to consent that Mr Armstrong should remain, at any rate one -day longer, in the country. It was, however, at last settled that he should -return that night and sleep at Kelly's Court. Then Lord Ballindine insisted -that they should tell young Kelly what they were about, before they went to -Barry's house, as it would be necessary to consult him as to the -disposition he would wish to have made of the property. Armstrong was -strongly against this measure but it was, at last, decided on; and then -they had to induce Colligan to go with them. He much wished them to manage -the business without him. He had had quite enough of Dunmore House; and, in -spite of the valiant manner in which he had knocked its owner down the last -time he was there, seemed now quite afraid to face him. But Mr Armstrong -informed him that he must go on now, as he had said so much, and at last -frightened him into an unwilling compliance. - -The three of them went up into the little parlour of the inn, and summoned -Martin to the conference, and various were the conjectures made by the -family as to the nature of the business which brought three such persons to -the inn together. But the widow settled them all by asserting that 'a Kelly -needn't be afeared, thank God, to see his own landlord in his own house, -nor though he brought an attorney wid him as well as a parson and a -docther.' And so, Martin was sent for, and soon heard the horrid story. Not -long after he had joined them, the four sallied out together, and Meg -remarked that something very bad was going to happen, for the lord never -passed her before without a kind word or a nod; and now he took no more -notice of her than if it had been only Sally herself that met him on the -stairs. - - - - -XXXV MR LYNCH BIDS FAREWELL TO DUNMORE - - -Poor Martin was dreadfully shocked; and not only shocked, but grieved and -astonished. He had never thought well of his intended brother-in-law, but -he had not judged him so severely as Mr Armstrong had done. He listened to -all Lord Ballindine said to him, and agreed as to the propriety of the -measures he proposed. But there was nothing of elation about him at the -downfall of the man whom he could not but look on as his enemy: indeed, he -was not only subdued and modest in his demeanour, but he appeared so -reserved that he could hardly be got to express any interest in the steps -which were to be taken respecting the property. It was only when Lord -Ballindine pointed out to him that it was his duty to guard Anty's -interests, that he would consent to go to Dunmore House with them, and to -state, when called upon to do so, what measures he would wish to have -adopted with regard to the property. - -'Suppose he denies himself to us?' said Frank, as the four walked across -the street together, to the great astonishment of the whole population. - -'If he's in the house, I'll go bail we won't go away without seeing him,' -said the parson. 'Will he be at home, Kelly, do you think?' - -'Indeed he will, Mr Armstrong,' said Martin; 'he'll be in bed and asleep. -He's never out of bed, I believe, much before one or two in the day. It's a -bad life he's leading since the ould man died.' - -'You may say that,' said the doctor 'cursing and drinking; drinking and -cursing; nothing else. You'll find him curse at you dreadful, Mr Armstrong, -I'm afraid.' - -'I can bear that, doctor; it's part of my own trade, you know; but I think -we'll find him quiet enough. I think you'll find the difficulty is to make -him speak at all. You'd better be spokesman, my lord, as you're a -magistrate.' - -'No, Armstrong, I will not. You're much more able, and more fitting: if -it's necessary for me to act as a magistrate, I'll do so but at first we'll -leave him to you.' - -'Very well,' said the parson; 'and I'll do my best. But I'll tell you what -I am afraid of: if we find him in bed we must wait for him, and when the -servant tells him who we are, and mentions the doctor's name along with -yours, my lord, he'll guess what we're come about, and he'll be out of the -window, or into the cellar, and then there'd be no catching him without the -police. We must make our way up into his bed-room.' - -'I don't think we could well do that,' said the doctor. - -'No, Armstrong,' said Lord Ballindine. 'I don't think we ought to force -ourselves upstairs: we might as well tell all the servants what we'd come -about.' - -'And so we must,' said Armstrong, 'if it's necessary. The more determined -we are in fact, the rougher we are with him, the more likely we are to -bring him on his knees. I tell you, you must have no scruples in dealing -with such a fellow; but leave him to me;' and so saying, the parson gave a -thundering rap at the hail door, and in about one minute repeated it, which -brought Biddy running to the door without shoes or stockings, with her hair -streaming behind her head, and, in her hand, the comb with which she had -been disentangling it. - -'Is your master at home?' said Armstrong. - -'Begorra, he is,' said the girl out of breath. 'That is, he's not up yet, -nor awake, yer honer,' and she held the door in her hand, as though this -answer was final. - -'But I want to see him on especial and immediate business,' said the -parson, pushing back the door and the girl together, and walking into the -hall. 'I must see him at once. Mr Lynch will excuse me: we've known each -other a long time.' - -'Begorra, I don't know,' said the girl, 'only he's in bed and fast. -Couldn't yer honer call agin about four or five o'clock? That's the time -the masther's most fittest to be talking to the likes of yer honer.' - -'These gentlemen could not wait,' said the parson. - -'Shure the docther there, and Mr Martin, knows well enough I'm not telling -you a bit of a lie, Misther Armstrong,' said the girl. - -'I know you're not, my good girl; I know you're not telling a lie but, -nevertheless, I must see Mr Lynch. Just step up and wake him, and tell him -I'm waiting to say two words to him.' - -'Faix, yer honer, he's very bitther intirely, when he's waked this early. -But in course I'll be led by yer honers. I'll say then, that the lord, and -Parson Armstrong, and the docther, and Mr Martin, is waiting to spake two -words to him. Is that it?' - -'That'll do as well as anything,' said Armstrong; and then, when the girl -went upstairs, he continued, 'You see she knew us all, and of course will -tell him who we are; but I'll not let him escape, for I'll go up with her,' -and, as the girl slowly opened her master's bedroom door, Mr Armstrong -stood close outside it in the passage. - -After considerable efforts, Biddy succeeded in awaking her master -sufficiently to make him understand that Lord Ballindine, and Doctor -Colligan were downstairs, and that Parson Armstrong was just outside the -bedroom door. The poor girl tried hard to communicate her tidings in such a -whisper as would be inaudible to the parson; but this was impossible, for -Barry only swore at her, and asked her 'what the d she meant by jabbering -there in that manner?' When, however, he did comprehend who his visitors -were, and where they were, he gnashed his teeth and clenched his fist at -the poor girl, in sign of his anger against her for having admitted so -unwelcome a party; but he was too frightened to speak. - -Mr Armstrong soon put an end to this dumb show, by walking into the -bedroom, when the girl escaped, and he shut the door. Barry sat up in his -bed, rubbed his eyes, and stared at him, but he said nothing. - -'Mr Lynch,' said the parson, 'I had better at once explain the -circumstances which have induced me to make so very strange a visit.' - -'Confounded strange, I must say! to come up to a man's room in this way, -and him in bed!' -'Doctor Colligan is downstairs ' - -'D Doctor Colligan! He's at his lies again, I suppose? Much I care for -Doctor Colligan.' - -'Doctor Colligan is downstairs,' continued Mr Armstrong, 'and Lord -Ballindine, who, you are aware, is a magistrate. They wish to speak to you, -Mr Lynch, and that at once.' - -'I suppose they can wait till a man's dressed?' - -'That depends on how long you're dressing, Mr Lynch.' - -'Upon my word, this is cool enough, in a man's own house!' said Barry. -'Well, you don't expect me to get up while you're there, I suppose?' - -'Indeed I do, Mr Lynch: never mind me; just wash and dress yourself as -though I wasn't here. I'll wait here till we go down together.' - -'I'm d d if I do,' said Barry. 'I'll not stir while you remain there!' and -he threw himself back in the bed, and wrapped the bedclothes round him. - -'Very well,' said Mr Armstrong; and then going out on to the landing-place, -called out over the banisters 'Doctor Doctor Colligan! tell his lordship Mr -Lynch objects to a private interview: he had better just step down to the -Court-house, and issue his warrant. You might as well tell Constable -Nelligan to be in the way.' - -'D n!' exclaimed Barry, sitting bolt upright in his bed. 'Who says I object -to see anybody? Mr Armstrong, what do you go and say that for?' Mr -Armstrong returned into the room. 'It's not true. I only want to have my -bedroom to myself, while I get up.' - -'For once in the way, Mr Lynch, you must manage to get up although your -privacy be intruded on. To tell you the plain truth, I will not leave you -till you come downstairs with me, unless it be in the custody of a -policeman. If you will quietly dress and come downstairs with me, I trust -we may be saved the necessity of troubling the police at all.' -Barry, at last, gave way, and, gradually extricating himself from the -bedclothes, put his feet down on the floor, and remained sitting on the -side of his bed. He leaned his head down on his hands, and groaned -inwardly; for he was very sick, and the fumes of last night's punch still -disturbed his brain. His stockings and drawers were on; for Terry, when he -put him to bed, considered it only waste of time to pull them off, for -'shure wouldn't they have jist to go on agin the next morning?' - -'Don't be particular, Mr Lynch: never mind washing or shaving till we're -gone. We won't keep you long, I hope.' - -'You're very kind, I must say,' said Barry. 'I suppose you won't object to -my having a bottle of soda water?' and he gave a terrible tug at the bell. - -'Not at all nor a glass of brandy in it, if you like it. Indeed, Mr -Lynch, I think that, just at present, it will be the better thing for you.' - -Barry got his bottle of soda water, and swallowed about two glasses of -whiskey in it, for brandy was beginning to be scarce with him; and then -commenced his toilet. He took Parson Armstrong's hint, and wasn't very -particular about it. He huddled on his clothes, smoothed his hair with his -brush, and muttering something about it's being their own fault, descended -into the parlour, followed by Mr Armstrong. He made a kind of bow to Lord -Ballindine; took no notice of Martin, but, turning round sharp on the -doctor, said: - -'Of all the false ruffians, I ever met, Colligan by heavens, you're the -worst! There's one comfort, no man in Dunmore will believe a word you say.' -He then threw himself back into the easy chair, and said, 'Well, -gentlemen well, my lord here I am. You can't say I'm ashamed to show my -face, though I must say your visit is not made in the genteelest manner.' - -'Mr Lynch,' said the parson, 'do you remember the night Doctor Colligan -knocked, you down in this room? In this room, wasn't it, doctor?' - -'Yes; in this room,' said the doctor, rather sotto voce. - -'Do you remember the circumstance, Mr Lynch?' 'It's a lie!' said Barry. - -'No it's not,' said the parson. 'If you forget it, I can call in the -servant to remember so much as that for me; but you'll find it better, Mr -Lynch, to let us finish this business among ourselves. Come, think about -it. I'm sure you remember being knocked down by the doctor.' - -'I remember a scrimmage there was between us. I don't care what the girl -says, she didn't see it. Colligan, I suppose, has given her half-a-crown, -and she'd swear anything for that.' - -'Well, you remember the night of the scrimmage?' - -'I do: Colligan got drunk here one night. He wanted me to give him a farm, -and said cursed queer things about my sister. I hardly know what he said; -but I know I had to turn him out of the house, and there was a scrimmage -between us.' - -'I see you're so far prepared, Mr Lynch: now, I'll tell you my version of -the story. Martin Kelly, just see that the door is shut. You endeavoured to -bribe Doctor Colligan to murder your own sister.' - -'It's a most infernal lie!' said Barry. 'Where's your evidence? where's -your evidence? What's the good of your all coming here with such a story as -that? Where's your evidence?' - -'You'd better be quiet, Mr Lynch, or we'll adjourn at once from here to the -open Court-house.' - -'Adjourn when you like; it's all one to me. Who'll believe such a drunken -ruffian as that Colligan, I'd like to know? Such a story as that!' - -'My lord,' said Armstrong, 'I'm afraid we must go on with this business at -the Court-house. Martin, I believe I must trouble you to go down to the -police barrack.' And the whole party, except Barry, rose from their seats. - -'What the devil are you going to drag me down to the Court-house for, -gentlemen?' said he. 'I'll give you any satisfaction, but you can't expect -I'll own to such a lie as this about my sister. I suppose my word's as good -as Colligan's, gentlemen? I suppose my character as a Protestant gentleman -stands higher than his a dirty Papist apothecary. He tells one story; I -tell another; only he's got the first word of me, that's all. I suppose, -gentlemen, I'm not to be condemned on the word of such a man as that?' - -'I think, Mr Lynch,' said Armstrong, 'if you'll listen to me, you'll save -yourself and us a great deal of trouble. You asked me who my witness was: -my witness is in this house. I would not charge you with so horrid, so -damnable a crime, had I not thoroughly convinced myself you were -guilty now, do hold your tongue, Mr Lynch, or I will have you down to the -Court-house. We all know you are guilty, you know it yourself ' - -'I'm ' began Barry. - -'Stop, Mr Lynch; not one word till I've done; or what I have to say, shall -be said in public. We all know you are guilty, but we probably mayn't be -able to prove it ' - -'No, I should think not!' shouted Barry. - -'We mayn't be able to prove it in such a way as to enable a jury to hang -you, or, upon my word, I wouldn't interfere to prevent it: the law should -have its course. I'd hang you with as little respite as I would a dog.' - -Barry grinned horribly at this suggestion, but said nothing, and the parson -continued: - -'It is not the want of evidence that stands in the way of so desirable a -proceeding, but that Doctor Colligan, thoroughly disgusted and shocked at -the iniquity of your proposal ' - -'Oh, go on, Mr Armstrong! go on; I see you are determined to have it all -your own way, but my turn'll come soon.' - -'I say that Doctor Colligan interrupted you before you fully committed -yourself.' - -'Fully committed myself, indeed! Why, Colligan knows well enough, that when -he got up in such a fluster, there'd not been a word at all said about -Anty.' - -'Hadn't there, Mr Lynch? just now you said you turned the doctor out of -your house for speaking about your sister. You're only committing yourself. -I say, therefore, the evidence, though quite strong enough to put you into -the dock as a murderer in intention, might not be sufficient to induce a -jury to find you guilty. But guilty you would be esteemed in. the mind of -every man, woman, and child in this county: guilty of the wilful, -deliberate murder of your own sister.' - -'By heavens I'll not stand this!' exclaimed Barry. 'I'll not stand this! I -didn't do it, Mr Armstrong. I didn't do it. He's a liar, Lord Ballindine: -upon my sacred word and honour as a gentleman, he's a liar. Why do you -believe him, when you won't believe me? Ain't I a Protestant, Mr Armstrong, -and ain't you a Protestant clergyman? Don't you know that such men as he -will tell any lie; will do any dirty job? On my sacred word of honour as a -gentleman, Lord Ballindine, he offered to poison Anty, on condition he got -the farm round the house for nothing! He knows it's true, and why should -you believe him sooner than me, Mr Armstrong?' - -Barry had got up from his seat, and was walking up and down the room, now -standing opposite Lord Ballindine, and appealing to him, and then doing the -same thing to Mr Armstrong. He was a horrid figure: he had no collar round -his neck, and his handkerchief was put on in such a way as to look like a -hangman's knot: his face was blotched, and red, and greasy, for he had -neither shaved nor washed himself since his last night's debauch; he had -neither waistcoat nor braces on, and his trousers fell on his hips; his -long hair hung over his eyes, which were bleared and bloodshot; he was -suffering dreadfully from terror, and an intense anxiety to shift the guilt -from himself to Doctor Colligan. He was a most pitiable object so wretched, -so unmanned, so low in the scale of creation. Lord Ballindine did pity his -misery, and suggested to Mr Armstrong whether by any possibility there -could be any mistake in the matter whether it was possible Doctor Colligan -could have mistaken Lynch's object? The poor wretch jumped at this loop- -hole, and doubly condemned himself by doing so. - -'He did, then,' said Barry; 'he must have done so. As I hope for heaven, -Lord Ballindine, I never had the idea of getting him to to do anything to -Anty. I wouldn't have done it for worlds indeed I wouldn't. There must be -some mistake, indeed there must. He'd been drinking, Mr Armstrong drinking -a good deal that night isn't that true, Doctor Colligan? Come, man, speak -the truth don't go and try and hang a fellow out of mistake! His lordship -sees it's all a mistake, and of course he's the best able to judge of the -lot here; a magistrate, and a nobleman and all. I know you won't see me -wronged, Lord Ballindine, I know you won't. I give you my sacred word of -honour as a gentleman, it all came from mistake when we were both drunk, or -nearly drunk. Come, Doctor Colligan, speak man isn't that the truth? I tell -you, Mr Armstrong, Lord Ballindine's in the right of it. There is some -mistake in all this.' - -'As sure as the Lord's in heaven,' said the doctor, now becoming a little -uneasy at the idea that Lord Ballindine should think he had told so strange -a story without proper foundation 'as sure as the Lord's in heaven, he -offered me the farm for a reward, should I manage to prevent his sister's -recovery.' - -'What do you think, Mr Armstrong?' said Lord Ballindine. - -'Think!' said the parson 'There's no possibility of thinking at all. The -truth becomes clearer every moment. Why, you wretched creature, it's not -ten minutes since you yourself accused Doctor Colligan of offering to -murder your sister! According to your own showing, therefore, there was a -deliberate conversation between you; and your own evasion now would prove -which of you were the murderer, were any additional proof wanted. But it is -not. Barry Lynch, as sure as you now stand in the presence of your Creator, -whose name you so constantly blaspheme, you endeavoured to instigate that -man to murder your own sister.' - -'Oh, Lord Ballindine! oh, Lord Ballindine!' shrieked Barry, in his agony, -'don't desert me! pray, pray don't desert me! I didn't do it I never -thought of doing it. We were at school together, weren't we? And you won't -see me put upon this way. You mayn't think much of me in other things, but -you won't believe that a school-fellow of your own ever ever ever ' Barry -couldn't bring himself to use the words with which his sentence should be -finished, and so he flung himself back into his armchair and burst into -tears. - -'You appeal to me, Mr Lynch,' said Lord Ballindine, 'and I must say I most -firmly believe you to be guilty. My only doubt is whether you should not at -once be committed for trial at the next assizes.' - -'Oh, my G ! ' exclaimed Barry, and for some time he continued blaspheming -most horribly swearing that there was a conspiracy against him accusing Mr -Armstrong, in the most bitter terms, of joining with Doctor Colligan and -Martin Kelly to rob and murder him. - -'Now, Mr Lynch,' continued the parson, as soon as the unfortunate man would -listen to him, 'as I before told you, I am in doubt we are all in -doubt whether or not a jury would hang you; and we think that we shall do -more good to the community by getting you out of the way, than by letting -you loose again after a trial which will only serve to let everyone know -how great a wretch there is in the county. We will, therefore, give you -your option either to stand your trial, or to leave the country at once and -for ever.' - -'And my property? what's to become of my property'?' said Barry. - -'Your property's safe, Mr Lynch; we can't touch that. We're not prescribing -any punishment to you. We fear, indeed we know, you're beyond the reach of -the law, or we shouldn't make the proposal.' Barry breathed freely again as -he heard this avowal. 'But you're not beyond the reach of public opinion of -public execration of general hatred, and of a general curse. For your -sister's sake for the sake of Martin Kelly, who is going to marry the -sister whom you wished to murder, and not for your own sake, you shall be -allowed to leave the country without this public brand being put upon your -name. If you remain, no one shall speak to you but as to a man who would -have murdered his sister: murder shall be everlastingly muttered in your -ears; nor will your going then avail you, for your character shall go with -you, and the very blackguards with whom you delight to assort, shall avoid -you as being too bad even for their society. Go now, Mr Lynch go at -once; leave your sister to happiness which you cannot prevent; and she at -least shall know nothing of your iniquity, and you shall enjoy the proceeds -of your property anywhere you will anywhere, that is, but in Ireland. Do -you agree to this?' - -'I'm an innocent man, Mr Armstrong. I am indeed.' - -'Very well,' said the parson, 'then we may as well go away, and leave you -to your fate. Come, Lord Ballindine, we can have nothing further to say,' -and they again all rose from their seats. - -'Stop, Mr Armstrong; stop,' said Barry. - -'Well,' said the parson; for Barry repressed the words which were in his -mouth, when he found that his visitors did stop as he desired them. - -'Well, Mr Lynch, what have you further to say.' - -'Indeed I am not guilty.' Mr Armstrong put on his hat and rushed to the -door 'but ' continued Barry. - -'I will have no "buts," Mr Lynch; will you at once and unconditionally -agree to the terms I have proposed?' - -'I don't want to live in the country,' said Barry; 'the country's nothing -to me.' - -'You will go then, immediately?' said the parson. 'As soon as I have -arranged about the property, I will,' said Barry. - -'That won't do,' said the parson. 'You must go at once, and leave your -property to the care of others. You must leave Dunmore today, for ever.' - -'To-day!' shouted Barry. - -'Yes, to-day. You can easily get as far as Roscommon. You have your own -horse and car. And, what is more, before you go, you must write to your -sister, telling her that you have made up your mind to leave the country, -and expressing your consent to her marrying whom she pleases.' - -'I can't go to-day,' said Barry, sulkily. 'Who's to receive my rents? -who'll send me my money? besides besides. Oh, come that's nonsense. I ain't -going to be turned out in that style.' - -'You ain't in earnest, are you, about his going today?' whispered Frank to -the parson. - -'I am, and you'll find he'll go, too,' said Armstrong. 'It must be to- -day this very day, Mr Lynch. Martin Kelly will manage for you about the -property.' - -'Or you can send for Mr Daly, to meet you at Roscommon,' suggested Martin. - -'Thank you for nothing,' said Barry; 'you'd better wait till you're spoken -to. I don't know what business you have here at all.' - -'The business that all honest men have to look after all rogues,' said Mr -Armstrong. 'Come, Mr Lynch, you'd better make up your mind to prepare for -your journey.' - -'Well, I won't and there's an end of it,' said Barry. 'It's all nonsense. -You can't do anything to me: you said so yourself. I'm not going to be made -a fool of that way I'm not going to give up my property and everything.' - -'Don't you know, Mr Lynch,' said the parson, 'that if you are kept in jail -till April next, as will be your fate if you persist. in staying at Dunmore -tonight, your creditors will do much more damage to your property, than -your own immediate absence will do? If Mr Daly is your lawyer, send for -him, as Martin Kelly suggests. I'm not afraid that he will recommend you. -to remain in the country, even should you dare to tell him of the horrid -accusation which is brought against you. But at any rate make up your mind, -for if you do stay in Dunmore tonight it shall be in the Bridewell, and -your next move shall be to Galway.' - -Barry sat silent for a while, trying to think. The parson was like an -incubus upon him, which he was totally unable to shake off. He knew neither -how to resist nor how to give way. Misty ideas got into his head of -escaping to his bed-room and blowing his own brains out. Different schemes -of retaliation and revenge flitted before him, but he could decide on -nothing. There he sat, silent, stupidly gazing at nothing, while Lord -Ballindine and Mr Armstrong stood whispering over the fire. - -'I'm afraid we're in the wrong: I really think we are,' said Frank. - -'We must go through with it now, any way,' said the parson. 'Come, Mr -Lynch, I will give you five minutes more, and then I go;' and he pulled out -his watch, and stood with his back to the fire, looking at it. Lord -Ballindine walked to the window, and Martin Kelly and Doctor Colligan sat -in distant parts of the room, with long faces, silent and solemn, breathing -heavily. How long those five minutes appeared to them, and how short to -Barry! The time was not long enough to enable him to come to any decision: -at the end of the five minutes he was still gazing vacantly before him: he -was still turning over in his brain, one after another, the same crowd of -undigested schemes. - -'The time is out, Mr Lynch: will you go?' said the parson. - -'I've no money,' hoarsely croaked Barry. - -'If that's the only difficulty, we'll raise money for him,' said Frank. - -'I'll advance him money,' said Martin. - -'Do you mean you've no money at all?' said the parson. - -'Don't you hear me say so?' said Barry. - -'And you'll go if you get money say ten pounds?' said the parson. - -'Ten pounds! I can go nowhere with ten pounds. You know that well enough.' - -'I'll give him twenty-five,' said Martin. 'I'm sure his sister'll do that -for him.' -'Say fifty,' said Barry, 'and I'm off at once.' -'I haven't got it,' said Martin. -'No,' said the parson; 'I'll not see you bribed to go: take the twenty- -five that will last you till you make arrangements about your property. We -are not going to pay you for going, Mr Lynch.' - -'You seem very anxious about it, any way.' - -'I am anxious about it,' rejoined the parson. 'I am anxious to save your -sister from knowing what it was that her brother wished to accomplish.' - -Barry scowled at him as though he would like, if possible, to try his hand -at murdering him; but he did not answer him again. Arrangements were at -last made for Barry's departure, and off he went, that very day not to -Roscommon, but to Tuam; and there, at the instigation of Martin, Daly the -attorney took upon himself the division and temporary management of the -property. From thence, with Martin's, or rather with his sister's twenty- -five pounds in his pocket, he started to that Elysium for which he had for -some time so ardently longed, and soon landed at Boulogne, regardless alike -of his sister, his future brother, Lord Ballindine, or Mr Armstrong. The -parson had found it quite impossible to carry out one point on which he had -insisted. He could not induce Barry Lynch to write to his sister: no, not a -line; not a word. Had it been to save him from hanging he could hardly have -induced himself to write those common words, 'dear sister'. - -'Oh! you can tell her what you like,' said he. 'It's you're making me go -away at once in this manner. Tell her whatever confounded lies you like; -tell her I'm gone because I didn't choose to stay and see her make a fool -of herself and that's the truth, too. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't move -a step for any of you.' - -He went, however, as I have before said, and troubled the people of Dunmore -no longer, nor shall he again trouble us. - - -'Oh! but Martin, what nonsense!' said the widow, coaxingly to her son, that -night before she went to bed. 'The lord wouldn't be going up there just to -wish him good bye and Parson Armstrong too. What the dickens could they he -at there so long? Come, Martin you're safe with me, you know; tell us -something about it now.' - -'Nonsense, mother; I've nothing to tell: Barry Lynch has left the place for -good and all, that's all about it.' - -'God bless the back of him, thin; he'd my lave for going long since. But -you might be telling us what made him be starting this way all of a heap.' - -'Don't you know, mother, he was head and ears in debt?' - -'Don't tell me,' said the widow. 'Parson Armstrong's not a sheriff's -officer, that he should be looking after folks in debt.' - -'No, mother, he's not, that I know of; but he don't like, for all that, to -see his tithes walking out of the country.' - -'Don't be coming over me that way, Martin. Barry Lynch, nor his father -before him, never held any land in Ballindine parish.' - -'Didn't they well thin, you know more than I, mother, so it's no use my -telling you,' and Martin walked of! to bed. - -'I'll even you, yet, my lad,' said she, 'close as you are; you see else. -Wait awhile, till the money's wanting, and then let's see who'll know all -about it!' And the widow slapped herself powerfully on that part where her -pocket depended, in sign of the great confidence she had in the strength of -her purse. - -'Did I manage that well?' said the parson, as Lord Ballindine drove him -home to Kelly's Court, as soon as the long interview was over. 'If I can do -as well at Grey Abbey, you'll employ me again, I think!' - -'Upon my word, then, Armstrong,' said Frank, 'I never was in such hot water -as I have been all this day: and, now it's over, to tell you the truth, I'm -sorry we interfered. We did what we had no possible right to do.' - -'Nonsense, man. You don't suppose I'd have dreamed of letting him off, if -the law could have touched him? But it couldn't. No magistrates in the -county could have committed him; for he had done, and, as far as I can -judge, had said, literally nothing. It's true we know what he intended; but -a score of magistrates could have done nothing with him: as it is, we've -got him out of the country: he'll never come back again.' - -'What I mean is, we had no business to drive him out of the country with -threats.' - -'Oh, Ballindine, that's nonsense. One can keep no common terms with such a -blackguard as that. However, it's done now; and I must say I think it was -well done.' - -'There's no doubt of your talent in the matter, Armstrong: upon my soul I -never saw anything so cool. What a wretch what an absolute fiend the fellow -is!' - -'Bad enough,' said the parson. 'I've seen bad men before, but I think he's -the worst I ever saw. What'll Mrs O'Kelly say of my coming in this way, -without notice?' - -The parson enjoyed his claret at Kelly's Court that evening, after his hard -day's work, and the next morning he started for Grey Abbey. - - - - -XXXVI MR ARMSTRONG VISITS GREY ABBEY ON A DELICATE MISSION - - -Lord Cashel certainly felt a considerable degree of relief when his -daughter told him that Lord Kilcullen had left the house, and was on his -way to Dublin, though he had been forced to pay so dearly for the -satisfaction, had had to falsify his solemn assurance that he would not -give his son another penny, and to break through his resolution of acting -the Roman father. He consoled himself with the idea that he had been -actuated by affection for his profligate son; but such had not been the -case. Could he have handed him over to the sheriff's officer silently and -secretly, he would have done so; but his pride could not endure the -reflection that all the world should know that bailiffs had forced an entry -into Grey Abbey. - -He closely questioned Lady Selina, with regard to all that had passed -between her and her brother. - -'Did he say anything?' at last he said 'did he say anything about about -Fanny?' -'Not much, papa; but what he did say, he said with kindness and affection,' -replied her ladyship, glad to repeat anything in favour of her brother. - -'Affection pooh!' said the earl. 'He has no affection; no affection for any -one; he has no affection even for me. What did he say about her, Selina?' - -'He seemed to wish she should marry Lord Ballindine.' - -'She may marry whom she pleases, now,' said the earl. 'I wash my hands of -her. I have done my best to prevent what I thought a disgraceful match for -her ' - -'It would not have been disgraceful, papa, had she married him six months -ago.' - -'A gambler and a roué!' said the earl, forgetting, it is to be supposed, -for the moment, his own son's character. 'She'll marry him now, I suppose, -and repent at her leisure. I'll give myself no further trouble about it.' - -The earl thought upon the subject, however, a good deal; and before Mr -Armstrong's arrival he had all but made up his mind that he must again -swallow his word, and ask his ward's lover back to his house. He had at any -rate become assured that if he did not do so, some one else would do it for -him. - -Mr Armstrong was, happily, possessed of a considerable stock of self- -confidence, and during his first day's journey, felt no want of it with -regard to the delicate mission with which he was entrusted. But when he had -deposited his carpet-bag at the little hotel at Kilcullen bridge, and found -himself seated on a hack car, and proceeding to Grey Abbey, he began to -feel that he had rather a difficult part to play; and by the time that the -house was in sight, he felt himself completely puzzled as to the manner in -which he should open his negotiation. - -He had, however, desired the man to drive to the house, and he could not -well stop the car in the middle of the demesne, to mature his plans; and -when he was at the door he could not stay there without applying for -admission. So he got his card-case in his hand, and rang the bell. After a -due interval, which to the parson did not seem a bit too long, the heavy- -looking, powdered footman appeared, and announced that Lord Cashel was at -home; and, in another minute Mr Armstrong found himself in the book-room. - -It was the morning after Lord Kilcullen's departure, and Lord Cashel was -still anything but comfortable. Her ladyship had been bothering him about -the poor boy, as she called her son, now that she learned he was in -distress; and had been beseeching him to increase his allowance. The earl -had not told his wife the extent of their son's pecuniary delinquencies, -and consequently she was greatly dismayed when her husband very solemnly -said, - -'My lady, Lord Kilcullen has no longer any allowance from me.' - -'Good gracious!' screamed her ladyship; 'no allowance? how is the poor boy -to live?' - -'That I really cannot tell. I cannot even guess; but, let him live how he -may, I will not absolutely ruin myself for his sake.' - -The interview was not a comfortable one, either to the father or mother. -Lady Cashel cried a great deal, and was very strongly of opinion that her -son would die of cold and starvation: 'How could he get shelter or food, -any more than a common person, if he had no allowance? Mightn't he, at any -rate, come back, and live at Grey Abbey? That wouldn't cost his father -anything.' And then the countess remembered how she had praised her son to -Mrs Ellison, and the bishop's wife; and she cried worse than ever, and was -obliged to be left to Griffiths and her drops. - -This happened on the evening of Lord Kilcullen's departure, and on the next -morning her ladyship did not appear at breakfast. She was weak and nervous, -and had her tea in her own sitting-room. There was no one sitting at -breakfast but the earl, Fanny, and Lady Selina, and they were all alike, -stiff, cold, and silent. The earl felt as if he were not at home even in -his own breakfast-parlour; he felt afraid of his ward, as though he were -conscious that she knew how he had intended to injure her: and, as soon as -he had swallowed his eggs, he muttered something which was inaudible to -both the girls, and retreated to his private den. - -He had not been there long before the servant brought in our friend's name. -'The Rev. George Armstrong', written on a plain card. The parson had not -put the name of his parish, fearing that the earl, knowing from whence he -came, might guess his business, and decline seeing him. As it was, no -difficulty was made, and the parson soon found himself tête-à-tête with the -earl. - -'I have taken the liberty of calling on you, Lord Cashel,' said Mr -Armstrong, having accepted the offer of a chair, 'on a rather delicate -mission.' - -The earl bowed, and rubbed his hands, and felt more comfortable than he had -done for the last week. He liked delicate missions coming to him, for he -flattered himself that he knew how to receive them in a delicate manner; he -liked, also, displaying his dignity to strangers, for he felt that -strangers stood rather in awe of him: he also felt, though he did not own -it to himself, that his manner was not so effective with people who had -known him some time. - -'I may say, a very delicate mission,' said the parson; 'and one I would not -have undertaken had I not known your lordship's character for candour and -honesty.' - -Lord Cashel again bowed and rubbed his hands. - -'I am, my lord, a friend of Lord Ballindine; and as such I have taken the -liberty of calling on your lordship.' - -'A friend of Lord Ballindine?' said the earl, arching his eyebrows, and -assuming a look of great surprise. - -'A very old friend, my lord; the clergyman of his parish, and for many -years an intimate friend of his father. I have known Lord Ballindine since -he was a child.' - -'Lord Ballindine is lucky in having such a friend: few young men now, I am -sorry to say, care much for their father's friends. Is there anything, Mr -Armstrong, in which I can assist either you or his lordship?' - -'My lord,' said the parson, 'I need not tell you that before I took the -perhaps unwarrantable liberty of troubling you, I was made acquainted with -Lord Ballindine's engagement with your ward, and with the manner in which -that engagement was broken off.' - -'And your object is, Mr Armstrong ?' - -'My object is to remove, if possible, the unfortunate misunderstanding -between your lordship and my friend.'. - -'Misunderstanding, Mr Armstrong? There was no misunderstanding between us. -I really think we perfectly understood each other. Lord Ballindine was -engaged to my ward; his engagement, however, being contingent on his -adoption of a certain line of conduct. This line of conduct his lordship -did not adopt; perhaps, he used a wise discretion; however, I thought not. -I thought the mode of life which he pursued ' - -'But ' - -'Pardon me a moment, Mr Armstrong, and I shall have said all which appears -to me to be necessary on the occasion; perhaps more than is necessary; more -probably than I should have allowed myself to say, had not Lord Ballindine -sent as his ambassador the clergyman of his parish and the friend of his -father,' and Lord Cashel again bowed and rubbed his hands. 'I thought, Mr -Armstrong, that your young friend appeared wedded to a style of life quite -incompatible with his income with his own income as a single man, and the -income which he would have possessed had he married my ward. I thought that -their marriage would only lead to poverty and distress, and I felt that I -was only doing my duty to my ward in expressing this opinion to her. I -found that she was herself of the same opinion; that she feared a union -with Lord Ballindine would not ensure happiness either to him or to -herself. His habits were too evidently those of extravagance, and hers had -not been such as to render a life of privation anything but a life of -misery.' - -'I had thought ' - -'One moment more, Mr Armstrong, and I shall have done. After mature -consideration, Miss Wyndham commissioned me to express her sentiments and I -must say they fully coincided with my own to Lord Ballindine, and to -explain to him, that she found herself obliged to to to retrace the steps -which she had taken in the matter. I did this in a manner as little painful -to Lord Ballindine as I was able. It is difficult, Mr Armstrong, to make a -disagreeable communication palatable; it is very difficult to persuade a -young man who is in love, to give up the object of his idolatry; but I -trust Lord Ballindine will do me the justice to own that, on the occasion -alluded to, I said nothing unnecessarily harsh nothing calculated to harass -his feelings. I appreciate and esteem Lord Ballindine's good qualities, and -I much regretted that prudence forbad me to sanction the near alliance he -was anxious to do me the honour of making with me.' -Lord Cashel finished his harangue, and felt once more on good terms with -himself. He by no means intended offering any further vehement resistance -to his ward's marriage. He was, indeed, rejoiced to have an opportunity of -giving way decently. But he could not resist the temptation of explaining -his conduct, and making a speech. - -'My lord,' said the parson, 'what you tell me is only a repetition of what -I heard from my young friend.' - -'I am glad to hear it. I trust, then, I may have the pleasure of feeling -that Lord Ballindine attributes to me no personal unkindness?' - -'Not in the least, Lord Cashel; very far from it. Though Lord Ballindine -may not be may not hitherto have been, free from the follies of his age, he -has had quite sense enough to appreciate your lordship's conduct.' - -'I endeavoured, at any rate, that it should be such as to render me liable -to no just imputation of fickleness or cruelty.' - -'No one would for a moment accuse your lordship of either. It is my -knowledge of your lordship's character in this particular which has induced -me to undertake the task of begging you to reconsider the subject. Lord -Ballindine has, you are aware, sold his race-horses.' - -'I had heard so, Mr Armstrong; though, perhaps, not on good authority.' - -'He has; and is now living among his own tenantry and friends at Kelly's -Court. He is passionately, devotedly attached to your ward, Lord Cashel; -and with a young man's vanity he still thinks that she may not be quite -indifferent to him.' - -'It was at her own instance, Mr Armstrong, that his suit was rejected.' - -'I am well aware of that, my lord. But ladies, you know, do sometimes -mistake their own feelings. Miss Wyndham must have been attached to my -friend, or she would not have received him as her lover. Will you, my lord, -allow me to see Miss Wyndham? If she still expresses indifference to Lord -Ballindine, I will assure her that she shall be no further persecuted by -his suit. If such be not the case, surely prudence need not further -interfere to prevent a marriage desired by both the persons most concerned. -Lord Ballindine is not now a spendthrift, whatever he may formerly have -been; and Miss Wyndham's princely fortune, though it alone would never have -induced my friend to seek her hand, will make the match all that it should -be. You will not object, my lord, to my seeing Miss Wyndham?' - -'Mr Armstrong really you must be aware such a request is rather unusual.' - -'So are the circumstances,' replied the parson. 'They also are unusual. I -do not doubt Miss Wyndham's wisdom in rejecting Lord Ballindine, when, as -you say, he appeared to be wedded to a life of extravagance. I have no -doubt she put a violent restraint on her own feelings; exercised, in fact, -a self-denial which shows a very high tone of character, and should elicit -nothing but admiration; but circumstances are much altered.' - -Lord Cashel continued to raise objections to the parson's request, though -it was, throughout the interview, his intention to accede to it. At last, -he gave up the point, with much grace, and in such a manner as he thought -should entitle him to the eternal gratitude of his ward, Lord Ballindine, -and the parson. He consequently rang the bell, and desired the servant to -give his compliments to Miss Wyndham and tell her that the Rev. Mr -Armstrong wished to see her, alone, upon business of importance. - -Mr Armstrong felt that his success was much greater than he had had any -reason to expect, from Lord Ballindine's description of his last visit at -Grey Abbey. He had, in fact, overcome the only difficulty. If Miss Wyndham -really disliked his friend, and objected to the marriage, Mr Armstrong was -well aware that he had only to return, and tell his friend so in the best -way he could. If, however, she still had a true regard for him, if she were -the Fanny Wyndham Ballindine had described her to be, if she had ever -really been devoted to him, if she had at all a wish in her heart to see -him again at her feet, the parson felt that he would have good news to send -back to Kelly's Court; and that he would have done the lovers a service -which they never could forget. - -'At any rate, Mr Armstrong,' said Lord Cashel, as the parson was bowing -himself backwards out of the room, 'you will join our family circle while -you are in the neighbourhood. Whatever may be the success of your -mission and I assure you I hope it may be such as will be gratifying to -you, I am happy to make the acquaintance of any friend of Lord -Ballindine's, when Lord Ballindine chooses his friends so well.' (This was -meant as a slap at Dot Blake.) 'You will give me leave to send down to the -town for your luggage.' Mr Armstrong made no objection to this proposal, -and the luggage was sent for. - -The powder-haired servant again took him in tow, and ushered him out of the -book-room, across the hall through the billiard-room, and into the library; -gave him a chair, and then brought him a newspaper, giving him to -understand that Miss Wyndham would soon be with him. - -The parson took the paper in his hands, but he did not trouble himself much -with the contents of it. What was he to say to Miss Wyndham? how was he to -commence? He had never gone love-making for another in his life; and now, -at his advanced age, it really did come rather strange to him. And then he -began to think whether she were short or tall, dark or fair, stout or -slender. It certainly was very odd, but, in all their conversations on the -subject, Lord Ballindine had never given him any description of his -inamorata. Mr Armstrong, however, had not much time to make up his mind on -any of these points, for the door opened, and Miss Wyndham entered. - -She was dressed in black, for she was, of course, still in mourning for her -brother; but, in spite of her sable habiliments, she startled the parson by -the brilliance of her beauty. There was a quiet dignity of demeanour -natural to Fanny Wyndham; a well-balanced pose, and a grace of motion, -which saved her from ever looking awkward or confused. She never appeared -to lose her self-possession. Though never arrogant, she seemed always to -know what was due to herself. No insignificant puppy could ever have -attempted to flirt with her. -When summoned by the servant to meet a strange clergyman alone in the -library, at the request of Lord Cashel, she felt that his visit must have -some reference to her lover; indeed, her thoughts for the last few days had -run on little else. She had made up her mind to talk to her cousin about -him; then, her cousin had matured that determination by making love to her -himself: then, she had talked to him of Lord Ballindine, and he had -promised to talk to his father on the same subject; and she had since been -endeavouring to bring herself to make one other last appeal to her uncle's -feelings. Her mind was therefore, full of Lord Ballindine, when she walked -into the library. But her face was no tell-tale; her gait and demeanour -were as dignified as though she had no anxious love within her heart no one -grand desire, to disturb the even current of her blood. She bowed her -beautiful head to Mr Armstrong as she walked into the room, and, sitting -down herself, begged him to take a chair. - -The parson had by no means made up his mind as to what he was to say to the -young lady, so he shut his eyes, and rushed at once into the middle of his -subject. 'Miss Wyndham,' he said, 'I have come a long way to call on you, -at the request of a friend of yours a very dear and old friend of mine at -the request of Lord Ballindine.' - -Fanny's countenance became deeply suffused at her lover's name, but the -parson did not observe it; indeed he hardly ventured to look in her face. -She merely said, in a voice which seemed to him to be anything but -promising, 'Well, sir?' The truth was, she did not know what to say. Had -she dared, she would have fallen on her knees before her lover's friend, -and sworn to him how well she loved him. - -'When Lord Ballindine was last at Grey Abbey, Miss Wyndham, he had not the -honour of an interview with you.' - -'No, sir,' said Fanny. Her voice, look, and manner were still sedate and -courtly; her heart, however, was beating so violently that she hardly knew -what she said. - -'Circumstances, I believe, prevented it,' said the parson. 'My friend, -however, received, through Lord Cashel, a message from you, -which which which has been very fatal to his happiness.' - -Fanny tried to say something, but she was not able. - -'The very decided tone in which your uncle then spoke to him, has made Lord -Ballindine feel that any further visit to Grey Abbey on his own part would -be an intrusion.' - -'I never ' said Fanny, 'I never ' - -'You never authorised so harsh a message, you would say. It is not the -harshness of the language, but the certainty of the fact, that has -destroyed my friend's happiness. If such were to be the case if it were -absolutely necessary that the engagement between you and Lord Ballindine -should be broken off, the more decided the manner in which it were done, -the better. Lord Ballindine now wishes I am a bad messenger in such a case -as this, Miss Wyndham: it is, perhaps, better to tell you at once a plain -tale. Frank has desired me to tell you that he loves you well and truly; -that he cannot believe you are indifferent to him; that your vows, to him -so precious, are still ringing in his ears; that he is, as far as his heart -is concerned, unchanged; and he has commissioned me to ascertain from -yourself, whether you have really changed your mind since he last had the -pleasure of seeing you.' The parson waited a moment for an answer, and then -added, 'Lord Ballindine by no means wishes to persecute you on the subject; -nor would I do so, if he did wish it. You have only to tell me that you do -not intend to renew your acquaintance with Lord Ballindine, and I will -leave Grey Abbey.' Fanny still remained silent. 'Say the one word "go", -Miss Wyndham, and you need not pain yourself by any further speech. I will -at once be gone.' - -Fanny strove hard to keep her composure, and to make some fitting reply to -Mr Armstrong, but she was unable. Her heart was too full; she was too -happy. She had, openly, and in spite of rebuke, avowed her love to her -uncle, her aunt, to Lady Selina, and her cousin. But she could not bring -herself to confess it to Mr Armstrong. At last she said: - -'I am much obliged to you for your kindness, Mr Armstrong. Perhaps I owe it -to Lord Ballindine to to . . . I will ask my uncle, sir, to write to him.' - -'I shall write to Lord Ballindine this evening, Miss Wyndham; will you -intrust me with no message? I came from him, to see you, with no other -purpose. I must give him some news: I must tell him I have seen you. May I -tell him not to despair?' - -'Tell him tell him ' said Fanny, and she paused to make up her mind as to -the words of her message, 'tell him to come himself.' And, hurrying from -the room, she left the parson alone, to meditate on the singular success of -his mission. He stood for about half an hour, thinking over what had -occurred, and rejoicing greatly in his mind that he had undertaken the -business. 'What fools men are about women!' he said at last, to himself. -'They know their nature so well when they are thinking and speaking of them -with reference to others; but as soon as a man is in love with one himself, -he is cowed! He thinks the nature of one woman is different from that of -all others, and he is afraid to act on his general knowledge. Well; I might -as well write to him! for, thank God, I can send him good news ' and he -rang the bell, and asked if his bag had come. It had, and was in his bed- -room. 'Could the servant get him pen, ink, and paper?' The servant did so; -and, within two hours of his entering the doors of Grey Abbey, he was -informing his friend of the success of his mission. - - - - -XXXVII VENI; VIDI; VICI - - -The two following letters for Lord Ballindine were sent off, in the Grey -Abbey post-bag, on the evening of the day on which Mr Armstrong had arrived -there. They were from Mr Armstrong and Lord Cashel. That from the former -was first opened. - - -Grey Abbey, April, 1844 - -Dear Frank, - -You will own I have not lost much time. I left Kelly's Court the day before -yesterday and I am already able to send you good news. I have seen Lord -Cashel, and have found him anything but uncourteous. I have also seen Miss -Wyndham and though she said but little to that little was just what you -would have wished her to say. She bade me tell you to come yourself. In -obedience to her commands, I do hereby require you to pack yourself up, and -proceed forthwith to Grey Abbey. His lordship has signified to me that it -is his intention, in his own and Lady Cashel's name, to request the renewed -pleasure of an immediate, and, he hopes, a prolonged visit from your -lordship. You will not, my dear Frank, I am sure, be such a fool as to -allow your dislike to such an empty butter-firkin as this earl, to stand in -the way of your love or your fortune. You can't expect Miss Wyndham to go -to you, so pocket your resentment like a sensible fellow, and accept Lord -Cashel's invitation as though there had been no difference between you. - -I have also received an invite, and intend staying here a day or two. I -can't say that, judging from the master of the house, I think that a -prolonged sojourn would be very agreeable. I have, as yet, seen none of the -ladies, except my embryo Lady Ballindine. - -I think I have done my business a little in the veni vidi vici style. What -has effected the change in Lord Cashel's views, I need not trouble myself -to guess. You will soon learn all about it from Miss Wyndham. - -I will not, in a letter, express my admiration, &c., &c., &c. But I will -proclaim in Connaught, on my return, that so worthy a bride was never yet -brought down to the far west. Lord Cashel will, of course, have some pet -bishop or dean to marry you; but, after what has passed, I shall certainly -demand the privilege of christening the heir. - -Believe me, dear Frank, - -Your affectionate friend, - -GEORGE ARMSTRONG. - - -Lord Cashel's letter was as follows. It cost his lordship three hours to -compose, and was twice copied. I trust, therefore, it is a fair specimen of -what a nobleman ought to write on such an occasion. - - -Grey Abbey, April, 1844. - -My dear lord, - -Circumstances, to which I rejoice that I need not now more particularly -allude, made your last visit at my house a disagreeable one to both of us. -The necessity under which I then laboured, of communicating to your -lordship a decision which was likely to be inimical to your happiness, but -to form which my duty imperatively directed me, was a source of most -serious inquietude to my mind. I now rejoice that that decision was so -painful to you has been so lastingly painful; as I trust I may measure your -gratification at a renewal of your connection with my family, by the -acuteness of the sufferings which an interruption of that connexion has -occasioned you. - -I have, I can assure you, my lord, received much pleasure from the visit of -your very estimable friend, the Reverend Mr Armstrong; and it is no slight -addition to my gratification on this occasion, to find your most intimate -friendship so well bestowed. I have had much unreserved conversation to-day -with Mr Armstrong, and I am led by him to believe that I may be able to -induce you to give Lady Cashel and myself the pleasure of your company at -Grey Abbey. We shall be truly delighted to see your lordship, and we -sincerely hope that the attractions of Grey Abbey may be such as to induce -you to prolong your visit for some time. - -Perhaps it might be unnecessary for me now more explicitly to allude to my -ward; but still, I cannot but think that a short but candid explanation of -the line of conduct I have thought it my duty to adopt, may prevent any -disagreeable feeling between us, should you, as I sincerely trust you will, -do us the pleasure of joining our family circle. I must own, my dear lord, -that, a few months since, I feared you were wedded to the expensive -pleasures of the turf. Your acceptance of the office of Steward at the -Curragh meetings confirmed the reports which reached me from various -quarters. My ward's fortune was then not very considerable; and, actuated -by an uncle's affection for his niece as well as a guardian's caution for -his ward, I conceived it my duty to ascertain whether a withdrawal from the -engagement in contemplation between Miss Wyndham and yourself would be -detrimental to her happiness. I found that my ward's views agreed with my -own. She thought her own fortune insufficient, seeing that your habits were -then expensive: and, perhaps, not truly knowing the intensity of her own -affection, she coincided in my views. You are acquainted with the result. -These causes have operated in inducing me to hope that I may still welcome -you by the hand as my dear niece's husband. Her fortune is very greatly -increased; your character is--I will not say altered is now fixed and -established. And, lastly and chiefly, I find I blush, my lord, to tell a -lady's secret that my ward's happiness still depends on you. - -I am sure, my dear lord, I need not say more. We shall be delighted to see -you at your earliest convenience. We wish that you could have come to us -before your friend left, but I regret to learn from him that his parochial -duties preclude the possibility of his staying with us beyond Thursday. - -I shall anxiously wait for your reply. In the meantime I beg to assure you, -with the joint kind remembrances of all our party, that I am, - -Most faithfully yours, - -CASHEL. - - -Mr Armstrong descended to the drawing-room, before dinner, looking most -respectable, with a stiff white tie and the new suit expressly prepared for -the occasion. He was introduced to Lady Cashel and Lady Selina as a valued -friend of Lord Ballindine, and was received, by the former at least, in a -most flattering manner. Lady Selina had hardly reconciled herself to the -return of Lord Ballindine. It was from no envy at her cousin's happiness; -she was really too high-minded, and too falsely proud, also, to envy -anyone. But it was the harsh conviction of her mind, that no duties should -be disregarded, and that all duties were disagreeable: she was always -opposed to the doing of anything which appeared to be the especial wish of -the person consulting her; because it would be agreeable, she judged that -it would be wrong. She was most sincerely anxious for her poor dependents, -but she tormented them most cruelly. When Biddy Finn wished to marry, Lady -Selina told her it was her duty to put a restraint on her inclinations; and -ultimately prevented her, though there was no objection on earth to Tony -Mara; and when the widow Cullen wanted to open a little shop for soap and -candles, having eight pounds ten shillings left to stock it, after the wake -and funeral were over, Lady Selina told the widow it was her duty to -restrain her inclination, and she did so; and the eight pounds ten -shillings drifted away in quarters of tea, and most probably, half noggins -of whiskey. - -In the same way, she could not bring herself to think that Fanny was doing -right, in following the bent of her dearest wishes-in marrying this man she -loved so truly. She was weak; she was giving way to temptation; she was -going back from her word; she was, she said, giving up her claim to that -high standard of feminine character, which it should be the proudest boast -of a woman to maintain. - -It was in vain that her mother argued the point with her in her own way. -'But why shouldn't she marry him, my dear,' said the countess, 'when they -love each other and now there's plenty of money and all that; and your papa -thinks it's all right? I declare I can't see the harm of it.' - -'I don't say there's harm, mother,' said Lady Selina; 'not absolute harm; -but there's weakness. She had ceased to esteem Lord Ballindine.' - -'Ah, but, my dear, she very soon began to esteem him again. Poor dear! she -didn't know how well she loved him.' - -'She ought to have known, mamma to have known well, before she rejected -him; but, having rejected him, no power on earth should have induced her to -name him, or even to think of him again. She should have been dead to him; -and he should have been the same as dead to her.' - -'Well, I don't know,' said the countess; 'but I'm sure I shall be delighted -to see anybody happy in the house again, and I always liked Lord Ballindine -myself. There was never any trouble about his dinners or anything.' - -And Lady Cashel was delighted. The grief she had felt at the abrupt -termination of all her hopes with regard to her son had been too much for -her; she had been unable even to mind her worsted-work, and Griffiths had -failed to comfort her; but from the moment that her husband had told her, -with many hems and haws, that Mr Armstrong had arrived to repeat Lord -Ballindine's proposal, and that he had come to consult her about again -asking his lordship to Grey Abbey, she became happy and light-hearted; and, -before Griffiths had left her for the night, she had commenced her -consultations as to the preparations for the wedding. - - - - -XXXVIII WAIT TILL I TELL YOU - - -There was no one at dinner that first evening, but Mr Armstrong, and the -family circle; and the parson certainly felt it dull enough. Fanny, -naturally, was rather silent; Lady Selina did not talk a great deal; the -countess reiterated, twenty times, the pleasure she had in seeing him at -Grey Abbey, and asked one or two questions as to the quantity of flannel it -took to make petticoats for the old women in his parish; but, to make up -the rest, Lord Cashel talked incessantly. He wished to show every attention -to his guest, and he crammed him with ecclesiastical conversation, till Mr -Armstrong felt that, poor as he was, and much as his family wanted the sun -of lordly favour, he would not give up his little living down in Connaught, -where, at any rate, he could do as he pleased, to be domestic chaplain to -Lord Cashel, with a salary of a thousand a-year. - -The next morning was worse, and the whole of the long day was insufferable, -lie endeavoured to escape from his noble friend into the demesne, where he -might have explored the fox coverts, and ascertained something of the -sporting capabilities of the country; but Lord Cashel would not leave him -alone for an instant; and he had not only to endure the earl's tediousness, -but also had to assume a demeanour which was not at all congenial to his -feelings. Lord Cashel would talk Church and ultra-Protestantism to him, and -descanted on the abominations of the National system, and the glories of -Sunday-schools. Now, Mr Armstrong had no leaning to popery, and had nothing -to say against Sunday schools; but he had not one in his own parish, in -which, by the bye, he was the father of all the Protestant children to be -found there without the slightest slur upon his reputation be it said. Lord -Cashel totally mistook his character, and Mr Armstrong did not know how to -set him right; and at five o'clock he went to dress, more tired than he -ever had been after hunting all day, and then riding home twelve miles on a -wet, dark night, with a lame horse. - -To do honour to her guest Lady Cashel asked Mr O'Joscelyn, the rector, -together with his wife and daughters, to dine there on the second day; and -Mr Armstrong, though somewhat afraid of brother clergymen, was delighted to -hear that they were coming. Anything was better than another tête-à-tête -with the ponderous earl. There were no other neighbours near enough to Grey -Abbey to be asked on so short a notice; but the rector, his wife, and their -daughters, entered the dining-room punctually at half-past six. - -The character and feelings of Mr O'Joscelyn were exactly those which the -earl had attributed to Mr Armstrong. He had been an Orangeman, and was a -most ultra and even furious Protestant. He was, by principle, a charitable -man to his neighbours; but he hated popery, and he carried the feeling to -such a length, that he almost hated Papists. He had not, generally -speaking, a bad opinion of human nature; but he would not have considered -his life or property safe in the hands of any Roman Catholic. He pitied the -ignorance of the heathen, the credulity of the Mahommedan, the desolateness -of the Jew, even the infidelity of the atheist; but he execrated, abhorred, -and abominated the Church of Rome. 'Anathema Maranatha; get thee from me, -thou child of Satan go out into utter darkness, thou worker of -iniquity into everlasting lakes of fiery brimstone, thou doer of the -devil's work thou false prophet thou ravenous wolf!' Such was the language -of his soul, at the sight of a priest; such would have been the language of -his tongue, had not, as he thought, evil legislators given a licence to -falsehood in his unhappy country, and rendered it impossible for a true -Churchman openly to declare the whole truth. - -But though Mr O'Joscelyn did not absolutely give utterance to such -imprecations as these against the wolves who, as he thought, destroyed the -lambs of his flock or rather, turned his sheep into foxes yet he by no -means concealed his opinion, or hid his light under a bushel. He spent his -life an eager, anxious, hard-working life, in denouncing the scarlet woman -of Babylon and all her abominations; and he did so in season and out of -season: in town and in country; in public and in private; from his own -pulpit, and at other people's tables; in highways and byways; both to -friends who only partly agreed with him, and to strangers, who did not -agree with him at all. He totally disregarded the feelings of his auditors; -he would make use of the same language to persons who might in all -probability be Romanists, as he did to those whom he knew to be -Protestants. He was a most zealous and conscientious, but a most indiscreet -servant of his Master, he made many enemies, but few converts. He rarely -convinced his opponents, but often disgusted his own party. He had been a -constant speaker at public meetings; an orator at the Rotunda, and, on one -occasion, at Exeter Hall. But even his own friends, the ultra Protestants, -found that he did the cause more harm than good, and his public exhibitions -had been as much as possible discouraged. Apart from his fanatical -enthusiasm, he was a good man, of pure life, and simple habits; and -rejoiced exceedingly, that, in the midst of the laxity in religious -opinions which so generally disfigured the age, his wife and his children -were equally eager and equally zealous with himself in the service of their -Great Master. - -A beneficed clergyman from the most benighted, that is, most Papistical -portion of Connaught, would be sure, thought Mr O'Joscelyn, to have a -fellow-feeling with him; to sympathise with his wailings, and to have -similar woes to communicate. - -'How many Protestants have you?' said he to Mr Armstrong, in the drawing- -room, a few minutes after they had been introduced to each other. 'I had -two hundred and seventy in the parish on New Year's day; and since that -we've had two births, and a very proper Church of England police-serjeant -has been sent here, in place of a horrid Papist. We've a great gain in -Serjeant Woody, my lord.' - -'In one way we certainly have, Mr O'Joscelyn,' said the earl. ' I wish all -the police force were Protestants; I think they would be much more -effective. But Serjeant Carroll was a very good man; you know he was -removed from hence on his promotion.' - -'I know he was, my lord just to please the priests just because he was a -Papist. Do you think there was a single thing done, or a word said at Petty -Sessions, but what Father Flannery knew all about it? Yes, every word. When -did the police ever take any of Father Flannery's own people?' - -'Didn't Serjeant Carroll take that horrible man Leary, that robbed the old -widow that lived under the bridge?' said the countess. - -'True, my lady, he did,' said Mr O'Joscelyn; 'but you'll find, if you -inquire, that Leary hadn't paid the priest his dues, nor yet his brother. -How a Protestant government can reconcile it to their conscience how they -can sleep at night, after pandering to the priests as they daily do, I -cannot conceive. How many Protestants did you say you have, Mr Armstrong?' - -'We're not very strong down in the West, Mr O'Joscelyn,' said the other -parson. 'There are usually two or three in the Kelly's Court pew. The -vicarage pew musters pretty well, for Mrs Armstrong and five of the -children are always there. Then there are usually two policemen, and the -clerk; though, by the bye, he doesn't belong to the parish. I borrowed him -from Claremorris.' - -Mr O'Joscelyn gave a look of horror and astonishment. - -'I can, however, make a boast, which perhaps you cannot, Mr Joscelyn: all -my parishioners are usually to be seen in church, and if one is absent I'm -able to miss him.' - -'It must paralyse your efforts, preaching to such a congregation,' said the -other. -'Do not disparage my congregation,' said Mr Armstrong, laughing; 'they are -friendly and neighbourly, if not important in point of numbers; and, if I -wanted to fill my church, the Roman Catholics think so well of me, that -they'd flock in crowds there if I asked them; and the priest would show -them the way for any special occasion, I mean; if the bishop came to see -me, or anything of that kind.' - -Mr O'Joscelyn was struck dumb; and, indeed, he would have had no time to -answer if the power of speech had been left to him, for the servant -announced dinner. - -The conversation was a little more general during dinner-time, but after -dinner the parish clergyman returned to another branch of his favourite -subject. Perhaps, he thought that Mr Armstrong was himself not very -orthodox; or, perhaps, that it was useless to enlarge on the abominations -of Babylon to a Protestant peer and a Protestant parson; but, on this -occasion, he occupied himself with the temporal iniquities of the Roman -Catholics. The trial of O'Connell and his fellow-prisoners had come to an -end, and he and they, with one exception, had just. commenced their period -of imprisonment. The one exception was a clergyman, who had been acquitted. -He had in some way been connected with Mr O'Joscelyn's parish; and, as tile -parish priest and most of his flock were hot Repealers, there was a good -deal of excitement on tile occasion,- rejoicings at the priest's acquittal, -and howlings, yellings, and murmurings at the condemnation of the others. - -'We've fallen on frightful days, Mr Armstrong,' said Mr O'Joscelyn: -'frightful, lawless, dangerous days.' - -'We must take them as we find them, Mr O'Joscelyn.' - -'Doubtless, Mr Armstrong, doubtless; and I acknowledge His infinite wisdom, -who, for His own purposes, now allows sedition to rear her head unchecked, -and falsehood to sit in the high places. They are indeed dangerous days, -when the sympathy of government is always with the evil doers, and the -religion of the state is deserted by the crown.' - -'Why, God bless me! Mr O'Joscelyn! the queen hasn't turned Papist, and the -Repealers are all in prison, or soon will he there.' - -'I don't mean the queen. I believe she is very good. I believe she is a -sincere Protestant, God bless her;' and Mr O'Joscelyn, in his loyalty, -drank a glass of port wine; 'but I mean her advisers. They do not dare -protect the Protestant faith: they do not dare secure the tranquillity of -the country.' - -'Are not O'Connell and the whole set under conviction at this moment? I'm -no politician myself, but the only question seems to be, whether they -haven't gone a step too far?' - -'Why did they let that priest escape them?' said Mr O'Joscelyn. - -'I suppose he was not guilty;' said Mr Armstrong; 'at any rate, you had a -staunch Protestant jury.' - -'I tell you the priests are at the head of it all. O'Connell would be -nothing without them; he is only their creature. The truth is, the -government did not dare to frame an indictment that would really lead to -the punishment of a priest. The government is truckling to the false -hierarchy of Rome. Look at Oxford a Jesuitical seminary, devoted to the -secret propagation of Romish falsehood. Go into the churches of England, -and watch their bowings, their genuflexions, their crosses and their -candles; see the demeanour of their apostate clergy; look into their -private oratories; see their red-lettered prayer-books, their crucifixes, -and images; and then, can you doubt that the most dreadful of all -prophecies is about to be accomplished?' - -'But I have not been into their closets, Mr O'Joscelyn, nor yet into their -churches lately, and therefore I have riot seen these things; nor have I -seen anybody who has. Have you seen crucifixes in the rooms of Church of -England clergymen? or candles on the altar-steps of English churches?' - -'God forbid that I should willingly go where such things are to be seen; -but of the fearful fact there is, unfortunately, no doubt. And then, as to -the state of the country, we have nothing round us but anarchy and misrule: -my life, Mr Armstrong, has not been safe any day this week past.' - -'Good Heaven, Mr O'Joscelyn your life not safe! I thought you were as quiet -here, in Kildare, as we are in Mayo.' - -'Wait till I tell you, Mr Armstrong: you know this priest, whom they have -let loose to utter more sedition? He was coadjutor to the priest in this -parish.' - -'Was he? The people are not attacking you, I suppose, because he's let -loose?' - -'Wait till I tell you. No; the people are mad because O'Connell and his -myrmidons are to be locked up; and, mingled with their fury on this head -are their insane rejoicings at the escape of this priest. They are, -therefore or were, till Saturday last, howling for joy and for grief at the -same time. Oh! such horrid howls, Mr Armstrong. I declare, Mr Armstrong, I -have trembled for my children this week past.' - -The earl, who well knew Mr O'Joscelyn, and the nature of his grievances, -had heard all these atrocities before; and, not being very excited by their -interest, had continued sipping his claret in silence till he began to -doze; and, by the time the worthy parson had got to the climax of his -misery, the nobleman was fast asleep. - -'You don't mean that the people made any attack on the parsonage?' said Mr -Armstrong. - -'Wait till I tell you, Mr Armstrong,' replied the other. 'On Thursday -morning last they all heard that O'Connell was a convicted felon.' - -'Conspirator, I believe? Mr O'Joscelyn.' - -'Conspiracy is felony, Mr Armstrong and that their priest had been let -loose. It was soon evident that no work was to be done that day. They -assembled about the roads in groups; at the chapel-door; at Priest -Flannery's house; at the teetotal reading-room as they call it, where the -people drink cordial made of whiskey, and disturb the neighbourhood with -cracked horns; and we heard that a public demonstration was to be made.' - -'Was it a demonstration of joy or of grief?' - -'Both, Mr Armstrong! it was mixed. They were to shout and dance for joy -about Father Tyrrel; and howl and curse for grief about O'Connell; and they -did shout and howl with a vengeance. All Thursday, you would have thought -that a legion of devils had been let loose into Kilcullen.' - -'But did they commit any personal outrages, Mr O'Joscelyn?' - -'Wait till I tell you. I soon saw how the case was going to be, and I -determined to be prepared. I armed myself, Mr Armstrong; and so did Mrs -O'Joscelyn. Mrs O'Joscelyn is a most determined woman a woman of great -spirit; we were resolved to protect our daughters and our infants from ill- -usage, as long as God should leave us the power to do so. We both armed -ourselves with pistols, and I can assure you that, as far as ammunition -goes, we were prepared to give them a hot reception.' - -'Dear me! This must have been very unpleasant to Mrs O'Joscelyn.' - -'Oh, she's a woman of great nerve, Mr Armstrong. Mary is a woman of very -great nerve. I can assure you we shall never forget that Thursday night. -About seven in the evening it got darkish, but the horrid yells of the wild -creatures had never ceased for one half-hour; and, a little after seven, -twenty different bonfires illuminated the parish. There were bonfires on -every side of us: huge masses of blazing turf were to be seen scattered -through the whole country.' - -'Did they burn any thing except the turf, Mr O'Joscelyn?' - -'Wait till I tell you, Mr Armstrong. I shall never forget that night; we -neither of us once lay down; no, not for a moment. About eight, the -children were put to bed; but with their clothes and shoes on, for there -was no knowing at what moment and in how sudden a way the poor innocents -might be called up. My daughters behaved admirably; they remained quite -quiet in the drawing-room till about eleven, when we had evening worship, -and then they retired to rest. Their mother, however, insisted that they -should not take off their petticoats or stockings. At about one, we went to -the hall-door: it was then bright moonlight but the flames of the -surrounding turf overpowered the moon. The whole horizon was one glare of -light.' - -'But were not the police about, Mr O'Joscelyn?' - -'Oh, they were about, to be sure, poor men; but what could they do? The -government now licenses every outrage.' - -'But what did the people do? said Mr Armstrong. - -'Wait till I tell you. They remained up all night; and so did we, you may -be sure. Mary did not rise from her chair once that night without a pistol -in her hand. We heard the sounds of their voices continually, close to the -parsonage gate; we could see them in the road, from the windows crowds of -them men, women and children; and still they continued shouting. The next -morning they were a little more quiet, but still the parish was disturbed: -nobody was at work, and men and women stood collected together in the -roads. But as soon as it was dusk, the shoutings and the bonfires began -again; and again did I and Mrs O'Joscelyn prepare for a night of anxious -watching. We sat up all Friday night, Mr Armstrong.' - -'With the pistols again?' - -'Indeed we did; and lucky for us that we did so. Had they not known that we -were prepared, I am convinced the house would have been attacked. Our -daughters sat with us this night, and we were so far used to the state of -disturbance, that we were able to have a little supper.' - -'You must have wanted that, I think.' - -'Indeed we did. About four in the morning, I dropped asleep on the sofa; -but Mary never closed her eyes.' - -'Did they come into the garden at all, or near the house?' - -'No, they did not. And I am very thankful they refrained from doing so, for -I determined to act promptly, Mr Armstrong, and so was Mary that is, Mrs -O'Joscelyn. We were both determined to fire, if we found our premises -invaded. Thank God the miscreants did not come within the gate.' - -'You did not suffer much, then, except the anxiety, Mr O'Joscelyn?' - -'God was very merciful, and protected us; but who can feel safe, living in -such times, and among such a people? And it all springs from Rome; the -scarlet woman is now in her full power, and in her full deformity. She was -smitten down for a while, but has now risen again. For a while the right -foot of truth was on her neck; for a while she lay prostrated before the -strength of those, who by God's grace, had prevailed against her. But the -latter prophecies which had been revealed to us, are now about to be -accomplished. It is well for those who comprehend the signs of the coming -time.' - -'Suppose we join the ladies,' said the earl, awakened by the sudden lull in -Mr O'Joscelyn's voice. 'But won't you take a glass of Madeira first, Mr -Armstrong?' - -Mr Armstrong took his glass of Madeira, and then went to the ladies; and -the next morning, left Grey Abbey, for his own parish. Well; thought he to -himself, as he was driven through the park, in the earl's gig, I'm very -glad I came here, for Frank's sake. I've smoothed his way to matrimony and -a fortune. But I don't know anything which would induce me to stay a week -at Grey Abbey. The earl is bad nearly unbearable; but the parson! I'd -sooner by half be a Roman myself, than think so badly of my neighbours as -he does. Many a time since has he told in Connaught, how Mr O'Joscelyn. and -Mary, his wife, sat up two nights running, armed to the teeth, to protect -themselves from the noisy Repealers of Kilcullen. - -Mr Armstrong arrived safely at his parsonage, and the next morning he rode -over to Kelly's Court. But Lord Ballindine was not there. He had started -for Grey Abbey almost immediately on receiving the two letters which we -have given, and he and his friend had passed each other on the road. - - - - -XXXIX IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS - - -When Frank had read his two letters from Grey Abbey, he was in such a state -of excitement as to be unable properly to decide what he would immediately -do. His first idea was to gallop to Tuam, as fast as his best horse would -carry him; to take four horses there, and not to stop one moment till he -found himself at Grey Abbey: but a little consideration showed him that -this would not do. He would not find horses ready for him on the road; he -must take some clothes with him; and it would be only becoming in him to -give the earl some notice oh his approach. So he at last made up his mind -to postpone his departure for a few hours. - -He was, however, too much overcome with joy to be able to do anything -rationally. His anger against the earl totally evaporated; indeed, he only -thought of him now as a man who had a house in which he could meet his -love. He rushed into the drawing-room, where his mother and sisters were -sitting, and, with the two letters open in his hand, proclaimed his -intention of leaving home that day. - -'Goodness gracious, Frank! and where are you going?' said Mrs O'Kelly. - -'To Grey Abbey.' - -'No!' said Augusta, jumping up from her chair. - -'I am so glad!' shouted Sophy, throwing down her portion of the worsted- -work sofa. - -'You have made up your difference, then, with Miss Wyndham?' said the -anxious mother. 'I am so glad! My own dear, good, sensible Frank!' - -'I never had any difference with Fanny,' said he. 'I was not able to -explain all about it, nor can I now: it was a crotchet of the earl's only -some nonsense; however, I'm off now I can't wait a day, for I mean to write -to say I shall be at Grey Abbey the day after to-morrow, and I must go by -Dublin. I shall be off in a couple of hours; so, for Heaven's sake, Sophy, -look sharp and put up my things.' - -The girls both bustled out of the room, and Frank was following them, but -his mother called him back. 'When is it to be, Frank? Come tell me -something about it. I never asked any questions when I thought the subject -was a painful one.' - -'God bless you, mother, you never did. But I can tell you nothing only the -stupid old earl has begged me to go there at once. Fanny must settle the -time herself: there'll be settlements, and lawyer's work.' - -'That's true, my love. A hundred thousand pounds in ready cash does want -looking after. But look here, my dear; Fanny is of age, isn't she?' - -'She is, mother.' - -'Well now, Frank, take my advice; they'll want to tie up her money in all -manner of ways, so as to make it of the least possible use to you, or to -her either. They always do; they're never contented unless they lock up a -girl's money, so that neither she nor her husband can spend the principal -or the interest. Don't let them do it, Frank. Of course she will be led by -you, let them settle whatever is fair on her; but don't let them bother the -money so that you can't pay off the debts. It'll be a grand thing, Frank, -to redeem the property.' - -Frank hemmed and hawed, and said he'd consult his lawyer in Dublin before -the settlements were signed; but declared that he was not going to marry -Fanny Wyndham for her money. - -'That's all very well, Frank,' said the mother; 'but you know you could not -marry her without the money, and mind, it's now or never. Think what a -thing it would be to have the property unencumbered!' - -The son hurried away to throw himself at the feet of his mistress, and the -mother remained in her drawing-room, thinking with delight on the renovated -grandeur of the family, and of the decided lead which the O'Kellys would -again be able to take in Connaught. - -Fanny's joy was quite equal to that of her lover, but it was not shown -quite so openly. Her aunt congratulated her most warmly; kissed her twenty -times; called her her own dear, darling niece, and promised her to love her -husband, and to make him a purse if she could get Griffiths to teach her -that new stitch; it looked so easy she was sure she could learn it, and it -wouldn't tease her eyes. Lady Selina also wished her joy; but she did it -very coldly, though very sensibly. - -'Believe me, my dear Fanny, I am glad you should have the wish of your -heart. There were obstacles to your union with Lord Ballindine, which -appeared to be insurmountable, and I therefore attempted to wean you from -your love. I hope he will prove worthy of that love, and that you may never -have cause to repent of your devotion to him. You are going greatly to -increase your cares and troubles; may God give you strength to bear them, -and wisdom to turn them to advantage!' - -The earl made a very long speech to her, in which there were but few -pauses, and not one full stop. Fanny was not now inclined to quarrel with -him; and he quite satisfied himself that his conduct, throughout, towards -his ward, had been dignified, prudent, consistent, and disinterested. - -These speeches and congratulations all occurred during the period of Mr -Armstrong's visit, and Fanny heard nothing more about her lover, till the -third morning after that gentleman's departure; the earl announced then, on -entering the breakfast-room, that he had that morning received a -communication from Lord Ballindine, and that his lordship intended reaching -Grey Abbey that day in time for dinner. - -Fanny felt herself blush, but she said nothing; Lady Selina regretted that -he had had a very wet day yesterday, and hoped he would have a fine day to- -day; and Lady Cashel was overcome at the reflection that she had no one to -meet him at dinner, and that she had not yet suited herself with a cook. - -'Dear me,' exclaimed her ladyship; 'I wish we'd got this letter yesterday; -no one knows now, beforehand, when people are coming. I'm sure it usen't to -be so. I shall be so glad to see Lord Ballindine; you know, Fanny, he was -always a great favourite of mine. Do you think, Selina, the O'Joscelyns -would mind coming again without any notice? I'm sure I don't know I would -not for the world treat Lord Ballindine shabbily; but what can I do, my -dear?' - -'I think, my lady, we may dispense with any ceremony now, with Lord -Ballindine,' said the earl. 'He will, I am sure, be delighted to be -received merely as one of the family. You need not mind asking the -O'Joscelyns to-day.' - -'Do you think not? Well, that's a great comfort: besides, Lord Ballindine -never was particular. But still, Fanny, had I known he was coming so soon, -I would have had Murray down from Dublin again at once, for Mrs Richards is -not a good cook.' - -During the remainder of the morning, Fanny was certainly very happy; but -she was very uneasy. She hardly knew how to meet Lord Ballindine. She felt -that she had treated him badly, though she had never ceased to love him -dearly; and she also thought she owed him much for his constancy. It was so -good of him to send his friend to her and one to whom her uncle could not -refuse admission; and then she thought she had treated Mr Armstrong -haughtily and unkindly. She had never thanked him for all the trouble he -had taken; she had never told him how very happy he had made her; but she -would do so at some future time, when he should be an honoured and a valued -guest in her own and her husband's house. - -But how should she receive her lover? Would they allow her to be alone with -him, if only for a moment, at their first meeting? Oh! How she longed for a -confidante! but she could not make a confidante of her cousin. Twice she -went down to the drawing-room, with the intention of talking of her love; -but Lady Selina looked so rigid, and spoke so rigidly, that she could not -do it. She said such common-place things, and spoke of Lord Ballindine -exactly as she would of any other visitor who might have been coming to the -house. She did not confine herself to his eating and drinking, as her -mother did; but she said, he'd find the house very dull, she was -afraid especially as the shooting was all over, and the hunting very nearly -so; that he would, however, probably he a good deal at the Curragh races. - -Fanny knew that her cousin did not mean to be unkind; but there was no -sympathy in her: she could not talk to her of the only subject which -occupied her thoughts; so she retreated to her own room, and endeavoured to -compose herself. As the afternoon drew on, she began to wish that he was -not coming till to-morrow. She became very anxious; she must see him, -somewhere, before she dressed for dinner; and she would not, could not, -bring herself to go down into the drawing-room, and shake hands with him, -when he came, before her uncle, her aunt, and her cousin. - -She was still pondering on the subject, when, about four o'clock in the -afternoon, she got a message from her aunt, desiring her to go to her in -her boudoir. - -'That'll do, Griffiths,' said the countess, as Fanny entered her room; 'you -can come up when I ring. Sit down, Fanny; sit down, my dear. I was thinking -Lord Ballindine will soon be here.' - -'I suppose he will, aunt. In his letter to Lord Cashel, he said he'd be -here before dinner.' -'I'm sure he'll be here soon. Dear me; I'm so glad it's all made up between -you. I'm sure, Fanny, I hope, and think, and believe, you'll be very, very -happy.' - -'Dear aunt' and Fanny kissed Lady Cashel. A word of kindness to her then -seemed invaluable. - -'It was so very proper in Lord Ballindine to give up his horses, and all -that sort of thing,' said the countess; 'I'm sure I always said he'd turn -out just what he should be; and he is so good-tempered. I suppose, dear, -you'll go abroad the first thing?' - -'I haven't thought of that yet, aunt,' said Fanny, trying to smile. - -'Oh, of course you will; you'll go to the Rhine, and Switzerland, and Como, -and Rome, and those sort of places. It'll be very nice: we went there your -uncle and I and it was delightful; only I used to be very tired. It wasn't -then we went to Rome though. I remember now it was after Adolphus was born. -Poor Adolphus!' and her ladyship sighed, as her thoughts went back to the -miseries of her eldest born. 'But I'll tell you why I sent for you, my -dear: you know, I must go downstairs to receive Lord Ballindine, and tell -him how glad I am that he's come back; and I'm sure I am very glad that -he's coming; and your uncle will be there. But I was thinking you'd perhaps -sooner see him first alone. You'll be a little flurried, my dear that's -natural; so, if you like, you can remain up here, my dear, in my room, -quiet and comfortable, by yourself; and Griffiths shall show Lord -Ballindine upstairs, as soon as he leaves the drawing-room.' - -'How very, very kind of you, dear aunt!' said Fanny, relieved from her most -dreadful difficulty. And so it was arranged. Lady Cashel went down into the -drawing-room to await her guest, and Fanny brought her book into her aunt's -boudoir, and pretended she would read till Lord Ballindine disturbed her. - -I need hardly say that she did not read much. She sat there over her aunt's -fire, waiting to catch the sound of the wheels on the gravel at the front -door. At one moment she would think that he was never coming the time -appeared to be so long; and then again, when she heard any sound which -might be that of his approach, she would again wish to have a few minutes -more to herself. - -At length, however, she certainly did hear him. There was the quick rattle -of the chaise over the gravel, becoming quicker and quicker, till the -vehicle stopped with that kind of plunge which is made by no other animal -than a post-horse, and by him only at his arrival at the end of a stage. -Then the steps were let down with a crash she would not go to the window, -or she might have seen him; she longed to do so, but it appeared so -undignified. She sat quite still in her chair; but she heard his quick step -at the hail door; she was sure she could have sworn to his step and then -she heard the untying of cords, and pulling down of luggage. - -Lord Ballindine was again in the house, and the dearest wish of her heart -was accomplished. She felt that she was trembling. She had not yet made up -her mind how she would receive him what she would first say to him and -certainly she had no time to do so now. She got up, and looked in her -aunt's pier-glass. It was more a movement of instinct than one of -premeditation; but she thought she had never seen herself look so -wretchedly. She had, however, but little time, either for regret or -improvement on that score, for there were footsteps in the corridor. He -couldn't have stayed a moment to speak to anyone downstairs however, there -he certainly was; she heard Griffiths' voice in the passage, 'This way, my -lord in my lady's boudoir;' and then the door opened, and in a moment she -was in her lover's arms. - -'My own Fanny! once more my own!' - -'Oh, Frank! dear Frank!' - -Lord Ballindine was only ten minutes late in coming down to dinner, and -Miss Wyndham not about half an hour, which should be considered as showing -great moderation on her part. For, of course, Frank kept her talking a -great deal longer than he should have done; and then she not only had to -dress, but to go through many processes with her eyes, to obliterate the -trace of tears. She was, however, successful, for she looked very beautiful -when she came down, and so dignified, so composed, so quiet in her -happiness, and yet so very happy in her quietness. Fanny was anything but a -hypocrite; she had hardly a taint of hypocrisy in her composition, but her -looks seldom betrayed her feelings. There was a majesty of beauty about -her, a look of serenity in her demeanour, which in public made her appear -superior to all emotion. - -Frank seemed to be much less at his ease. He attempted to chat easily with -the countess, and to listen pleasantly to the would-be witticisms of the -earl; but he was not comfortable, he did not amalgamate well with the -family; had there been a larger party, he could have talked all dinner-time -to his love; but, as it was, he hardly spoke a word to her during the -ceremony, and indeed, but few during the evening. He did sit next to her on -the sofa, to be sure, and watched the lace she was working; but he could -not talk unreservedly to her, when old Lady Cashel was sitting close to him -on the other side, and Lady Selina on a chair immediately opposite. And -then, it is impossible to talk to one's mistress, in an ordinary voice, on -ordinary subjects, when one has not seen her for some months. A lover is -never so badly off as in a family party: a tête-à-tête, or a large -assembly, are what suit him best: he is equally at his ease in either; but -he is completely out of his element in a family party. After all, Lady -Cashel was right; it would have been much better to have asked the -O'Joscelyns. - -The next morning, Frank underwent a desperate interview in the book-room. -His head was dizzy before Lord Cashel had finished half of what he had to -say. He commenced by pointing out with what perfect uprightness and wisdom -he had himself acted with regard to his ward; and Lord Ballindine did not -care to be at the trouble of contradicting him. He then went to the subject -of settlements, and money matters: professed that he had most unbounded -confidence in his young friend's liberality, integrity, and good feeling; -that he would be glad to listen, and, he had no doubt, to accede to any -proposals made by him: that he was quite sure Lord Ballindine would make no -proposal which was not liberal, fair, and most proper; and he said a great -deal more of the kind, and then himself proposed to arrange his ward's -fortune in such a way as to put it quite beyond her future husband's -control. On this subject, however, Frank rather nonplussed the earl by -proposing nothing, and agreeing to nothing; but simply saying that he would -leave the whole matter in the hands of the lawyers. - -'Quite right, my lord, quite right,' said Lord Cashel, 'my men of business, -Green and Grogram, will manage all that. They know all about Fanny's -property; they can draw out the settlements, and Grogram can bring them -here, and we can execute them: that'll be the simplest way.' - -'I'll write to Mr Cummings, then, and tell him to wait on Messrs. Green and -Grogram. Cummings is a very proper man: he was recommended to me by -Guinness.' - -'Oh, ah yes; your attorney, you mean?' said the earl. 'Why, yes, that will -be quite proper, too. Of course Mr Cummings will see the necessity of -absolutely securing Miss Wyndham's fortune.' - -Nothing further, however, was said between them on the subject; and the -settlements, whatever was their purport, were drawn out without any visible -interference on the part of Lord Ballindine. But Mr Grogram, the attorney, -on his first visit to Grey Abbey on the subject. had no difficulty in -learning that Miss Wyndham was determined to have a will of her own in the -disposition of her own money. - -Fanny told her lover the whole episode of Lord Kilcullen's offer to her; -but she told it in such a way as to redound rather to her cousin's credit -than otherwise. She had learned to love him as a cousin amid a friend, and -his ill-timed proposal to her had not destroyed the feeling. A woman can -rarely be really offended at the expression of love, unless it be from some -one unfitted to match with her, either in rank or age. Besides, Fanny -thought that Lord Kilcullen had behaved generously to her when she so -violently repudiated his love: she believed that it had been sincere; she -had not even to herself accused him of meanness or treachery; and she spoke -of him as one to be pitied, liked, and regarded; not as one to be execrated -and avoided. -And then she confessed to Frank all her fears respecting himself; how her -heart would have broken, had he taken her own rash word as final, and so -deserted her. She told him that she had never ceased to love him, for a -day; not even on that day when, in her foolish spleen, she had told her -uncle she was willing to break off the match; she owned to him all her -troubles, all her doubts; how she had made up her mind to write to him, but -had not dared to do so, lest his answer should be such as would kill her at -once. And then she prayed to be forgiven for her falseness; for having -consented, even for a moment, to forget the solemn vows she had so often -repeated to him. - -Frank stopped her again and again in her sweet confessions, and swore the -blame was only his. He anathematised himself, his horses, and his friends, -for having caused a moment's uneasiness to her; but she insisted on -receiving his forgiveness, and he was obliged to say that he forgave her. -With all his follies, and all his weakness, Lord Ballindine was not of an -unforgiving temperament: he was too happy to be angry with any one, now. He -forgave even Lord Cashel; and, had he seen Lord Kilcullen, he would have -been willing to give him his hand as to a brother. - -Frank spent two or three delightful weeks, basking in the sunshine of -Fanny's love, and Lord Cashel's favour. Nothing could be more obsequiously -civil than the earl's demeanour, now that the matter was decided. Every -thing was to be done just as Lord Ballindine liked; his taste was to be -consulted in every thing; the earl even proposed different, visits to the -Curragh; asked after the whereabouts of Fin M'Coul and Brien Boru; and -condescended pleasantly to inquire whether Dot Blake was prospering as -usual with his favourite amusement. - -At length, the day was fixed for the marriage. It was to be in the -pleasant, sweet-smelling, grateful month of May the end of May; and Lord -and Lady Ballindine were then to start for a summer tour, as the countess -had proposed, to see the Rhine, and Switzerland, and Rome, and those sort -of places. And now, invitations were sent, far and wide, to relatives and -friends. Lord Cashel had determined that the wedding should be a great -concern. The ruin of his son was to be forgotten in the marriage of his -niece. The bishop of Maryborough was to come and marry them; the Ellisons -were to come again, and the Fitzgeralds: a Duchess was secured, though -duchesses are scarce in Ireland; and great exertions were made to get at a -royal Prince, who was commanding the forces in the west. But the royal -Prince did not see why he should put himself to so much trouble, and he -therefore sent to say that he was very sorry, but the peculiar features of -the time made it quite impossible for him to leave his command, even on so -great a temptation; and a paragraph consequently found its way into the -papers, very laudatory of his Royal Highness's military energy and -attention. Mrs O'Kelly and her daughters received a very warm invitation, -which they were delighted to accept. Sophy and Augusta were in the seventh -heaven of happiness, for they were to form a portion of the fair bevy of -bridesmaids appointed to attend Fanny Wyndham to the altar. Frank rather -pished and poohed at all these preparations of grandeur; he felt that when -the ceremony took place he would look like the ornamental calf in the -middle of it; but, on the whole, he bore his martyrdom patiently. Four -spanking bays, and a new chariot ordered from Hutton's, on the occasion, -would soon carry him away from the worst part of it. - -Lord Cashel was in the midst of his glory: he had got an occupation and he -delighted in it. Lady Selina performed her portion of the work with -exemplary patience and attention. She wrote all the orders to the -tradesmen, and all the invitations; she even condescended to give advice to -Fanny about her dress; and to Griffiths, about the arrangement of the rooms -and tables. But poor Lady Cashel worked the hardest of all her troubles had -no end. Had she known what she was about to encounter, when she undertook -the task of superintending the arrangements for her niece's wedding, she -would never have attempted it: she would never have entered into -negotiations with that treacherous Murray that man cook in Dublin but have -allowed Mrs Richards to have done her best or her worst in her own simple -way, in spite of the Duchess and the Bishop, and the hopes of a royal -Prince indulged in by Lord Cashel. She did not dare to say as much to her -husband, but she confessed to Griffiths that she was delighted when she -heard His Royal Highness would not come. She was sure his coming would not -make dear Fanny a bit happier, and she really would not have known what to -do with him after the married people were gone. - -Frank received two letters from Dot Blake during his stay at Grey Abbey. In -the former he warmly congratulated him on his approaching nuptials, and -strongly commended him on his success in having arranged matters. 'You -never could have forgiven yourself,' he said, 'had you allowed Miss -Wyndham's splendid fortune to slip through your hands. I knew you were not -the man to make a vain boast of a girl's love, and I was therefore sure -that you might rely on her affection. I only feared you might let the -matter go too far. You know I strongly advised you not to marry twenty -thousand pounds. I am as strongly of opinion that you would be a fool to -neglect to marry six times as much. You see I still confine myself to the -money part of the business, as though the lady herself were of no value. I -don't think so, however; only I know you never would have lived happily -without an easy fortune.' And then he spoke of Brien Boru, and informed -Lord Ballindine that that now celebrated nag was at the head of the list of -the Derby horses; that it was all but impossible to get any odds against -him at all that the whole betting world were talking of nothing else; that -three conspiracies had been detected, the object of which was to make him -safe that is, to make him very unsafe to his friends; that Scott's foreman -had been offered two thousand to dose him; and that Scott himself slept in -the stable with him every night, to prevent anything like false play. - -The second letter was written by Dot, at Epsom, on the 4th of May, thirty -minutes after the great race had been run. It was very short; and shall -therefore be given entire. - - -Epsom, Derby Day, - -Race just over. - -God bless you, my dear boy Brien has done the trick, and done it well! -Butler rode him beautifully, but he did not want any riding; he's the -kindest beast ever had a saddle on. The stakes are close on four thousand -pounds: your share will do well to pay the posters, &c., for yourself and -my lady, on your wedding trip. I win well very well; but I doubt the -settling. We shall have awful faces at the corner next week. You'll -probably have heard all about it by express before you get this. - -In greatest haste, yours, - -W. BLAKE. - - -The next week, the following paragraph appeared in 'Bell's Life in London.' - - -'It never rains but it pours. It appears pretty certain, now, that Brien -Boru is not the property of the gentleman in whose name he has run; but -that he is owned by a certain noble lord, well known on the Irish turf, who -has lately, however, been devoting his time to pursuits more pleasant and -more profitable than the cares of the stable pleasant and profitable as it -doubtless must be to win the best race of the year. The pick-up on the -Derby is about four thousand pounds, and Brien Boru is certainly the best -horse of his year. But Lord Ballindine's matrimonial pick-up is, we are -told, a clear quarter of a million; and those who are good judges declare -that no more beautiful woman than the future Lady Ballindine will have -graced the English Court for many a long year. His lordship, on the whole, -is not doing badly.' - -Lord Cashel, also, congratulated Frank on his success on the turf, in spite -of the very decided opinion he had expressed on the subject, when he was -endeavouring to throw him on one side. - -'My dear Ballindine,' he said, 'I wish you joy with all my heart: a most -magnificent animal, I'm told, is Brien, and still partly your own property, -you say. Well; it's a great triumph to beat those English lads on their own -ground, isn't it? And thorough Irish blood, too! thorough Irish blood! He -has the "Paddy Whack" strain in him, through the dam the very best blood in -Ireland. You know, my mare "Dignity", that won the Oaks in '29, was by -"Chanticleer", out of "Floribel", by "Paddy Whack." You say you mean to -give up the turf, and you know I've done so, too. But, if you ever do -change your mind-should you ever run horses again take my advice, and stick -to the "Paddy Whack" strain. There's no beating the real "Paddy Whack" -blood.' - -On the 21st of May, 1844, Lord Ballindine and Fanny Wyndham were married. -The bishop 'turned 'em off iligant,' as a wag said in the servants' hall. -There was a long account of the affair in the 'Morning Post' of the day; -there were eight bridesmaids, all of whom, it was afterwards remarked, were -themselves married within two years of the time; an omen which was presumed -to promise much continued happiness to Lord and Lady Ballindine, and all -belonging to them. - -Murray, the man cook, did come down from Dublin, just in time; but he -behaved very badly. He got quite drunk on the morning of the wedding. He, -however, gave Richards an opportunity of immortalising herself. She -behaved, on the trying occasion, so well, that she is now confirmed in her -situation; and Lady Cashel has solemnly declared that she will never again, -on any account, be persuaded to allow a man cook to enter the house. - -Lady Selina she would not officiate as one of the bridesmaids is still -unmarried; but her temper is not thereby soured, nor her life embittered. -She is active, energetic, and good as ever: and, as ever, cold, hard, -harsh, and dignified. Lord Kilcullen has hardly been heard of since his -departure from Grey Abbey. It is known that he is living at Baden, but no -one knows on what. His father never mentions his name; his mother sometimes -talks of 'poor Adolphus;' but if he were dead and buried he could not give -less trouble to the people of Grey Abbey. - -No change has occurred, or is likely to take place, in the earl himself nor -is any desirable. How could he change for the better? How could he bear his -honours with more dignity, or grace his high position with more decorum? -Every year since the marriage of his niece, he has sent Lord and Lady -Ballindine an invitation to Grey Abbey; but there has always been some -insuperable impediment to the visit. A child had just been born, or was -just going to be born; or Mrs O'Kelly was ill; or one of the Miss O'Kellys -was going to be married. It was very unfortunate, but Lord and Lady -Ballindine were never able to get as far as Grey Abbey. - -Great improvements have been effected at Kelly's Court. Old buildings have -been pulled down, and additions built up; a great many thousand young trees -have been planted, and some miles of new roads and walks constructed. The -place has quite an altered appearance; and, though Connaught is still -Connaught, and County Mayo is the poorest part of it, Lady Ballindine does -not find Kelly's Court unbearable. She has three children already, and -doubtless will have many more. Her nursery, therefore, prevents her from -being tormented by the weariness of the far west. - -Lord Ballindine himself is very happy. He still has the hounds, and -maintains, in the three counties round him, the sporting pre-eminence, -which has for so many years belonged to his family. But he has no race- -horses. His friend, Dot, purchased the lot of them out and out, soon after -the famous Derby; and a very good bargain, for himself, he is said to have -made. He is still intimate with Lord Ballindine, and always spends a -fortnight with him at Kelly's Court during the hunting-season. - -Sophy O'Kelly married a Blake, and Augusta married a Dillon ; and, as they -both live within ten miles of Kelly's Court. and their husbands are related -to all the Blakes and all the Dillons; and as Ballindine himself is the -head of all the Kellys, there is a rather strong clan of them. About five- -and-twenty cousins muster together in red coats and top-boots, every -Tuesday and Friday during the hunting-season. It would hardly be wise, in -that country, to quarrel with a Kelly, a Dillon, or a Blake. - - - - -XL CONCLUSION - - -We must now return to Dunmore, and say a few parting words of the Kellys -and Anty Lynch; and then our task will be finished. - -It will be remembered that that demon of Dunmore, Barry Lynch, has been -made to vanish: like Lord Kilcullen, he has gone abroad ; he has settled -himself at an hotel at Boulogne, and is determined to enjoy himself. -Arrangements have been made about the property, certainly not very -satisfactory to Barry, because they are such as make it necessary for him -to pay his own debts; but they still leave him sufficient to allow of his -indulging in every vice congenial to his taste; and, if he doesn't get -fleeced by cleverer rogues than himself which, however, will probably be -the case he will have quite enough to last him till lie has drunk himself -to death. - -After his departure, there was nothing to delay Anty's marriage, but tier -own rather slow recovery. She has no other relatives to ask, no other -friends to consult. Now that Barry was gone she was entirely her own -mistress, and was quite willing to give up her dominion over herself to -Martin Kelly. She had, however, been greatly shaken; not, by illness only, -but by fear also her fears of Barry and for Barry. She still dreamed while -asleep, and thought while awake, of that horrid night when lie crept up to -her room and swore that he would murder her. This, and what she had -suffered since, had greatly weakened her, and it was some time before -Doctor Colligan would pronounce her convalescent. At last, however, the -difficulties were overcome; all arrangements were completed. Anty was well; -the property was settled; Martin was impatient; and the day was fixed. - -There was no bishop, no duchess, no man-cook, at the wedding-party given on -the occasion by Mrs Kelly; nevertheless, it was, in its way, quite as grand -an affair as that given by the countess. The widow opened her heart, and -opened her house. Her great enemy, Barry Lynch, was gone clean beaten out -of the field thoroughly vanquished; as far as Ireland was concerned, -annihilated; and therefore, any one else in the three counties was welcome -to share her hospitality. Oh, the excess of delight the widow experienced -in speaking of Barry to one of her gossips, as the 'poor misfortunate -crature!' Daly, the attorney, was especially invited, and he came. Moylan -also was asked, but he stayed away. Doctor Colligan was there, in great -feather; had it not been for him, there would probably have been no wedding -at all. It would have been a great thing if Lord Ballindine could have been -got to grace the party, though only for ten minutes; but he was at that -time in Switzerland with his own bride, so he could not possibly do so. - -'Well, ma'am,' said Mrs Costelloe, the grocer's wife, from Tuam, an old -friend of the widow, who had got into a corner with her to have a little -chat, and drink half-a-pint of porter before the ceremony 'and I'm shure I -wish you joy of the marriage. Faux, I'm tould it's nigh to five hundred a- -year, Miss Anty has, may God bless and incrase it! Well, Martin has his own -luck; but he desarves it, he desarves it.' - -'I don't know so much about luck thin, Mrs Costelloe,' said the widow, who -still professed to think that her son gave quite as much as he got, in -marrying Amity Lynch; 'I don't know so much about luck: Martin was very -well as he was; his poor father didn't have him that way that he need be -looking to a wife for mains, the Lord be praised.' - -'And that's thrue, too, Mrs Kelly,' said the other; 'but Miss Anty's -fortune ain't a bad step to a young man, neither. Why, there won't be a -young gintleman within tin no, not within forty miles, more respectable -than Martin Kelly; that is, regarding mains.' - -'And you needn't stop there, Ma'am, neither; you may say the very same -regarding characther, too and family, too, glory be to the Virgin. I'd -like to know where some of their ancesthers wor, when the Kellys of ould -wor ruling the whole counthry?' - -'Thrue for you, my dear; I'd like to know, indeed: there's nothing, afther -all, like blood, and a good characther. But is it thrue, Mrs Kelly, that -Martin will live up in the big house yonder?' - -'Where should a man live thin, Mrs Costelloe, when he gets married, but -jist in his own house? Why for should he not live there?' - -'That's thrue agin, to be shure: but yet, only to think Martin living in -ould Sim Lynch's big house! I wondther what ould Sim would say, hisself, av -he could only come back and see it!' - -'I'll tell you what he'd say thin, av he tould the thruth; he'd say there -was an honest man living there, which wor niver the case as long as any of -his own breed was in it barring Anty, I main; she's honest and thrue, the -Lord be good to her, the poor thing. But the porter's not to your liking, -Mrs Costelloe you're not tasting it at all this morning.' - -No one could have been more humble and meek than was Anty herself, in the -midst of her happiness. She had no idea of taking on herself the airs of a -fine lady, or the importance of an heiress; she had no wish to be thought a -lady; she had no wish for other friends than those of her husband, and his -family. She had never heard of her brother's last horrible proposal to -Doctor Colligan, and of the manner in which his consent to her marriage had -been obtained; nor did Martin intend that she should hear it. She had -merely been told that her brother had found that it was for his advantage -to leave the neighbourhood altogether; that he had given up all claim to -the house; and that his income was to be sent to him by a person appointed -in the neighbourhood to receive it. Anty, however, before signing her own -settlement, was particularly careful that nothing should be done, injurious -to her brother's interest, and that no unfair advantage should be taken of -his absence. - -Martin, too, was quiet enough on the occasion. It was arranged that he and -his wife, and at any rate one of his sisters, should live at Dunmore House; -and that he should keep in his own hands the farm near Dunmore, which old -Sim had held, as well as his own farm at Toneroe. But, to tell the truth, -Martin felt rather ashamed of his grandeur. He would much have preferred -building a nice snug little house of his own, on the land he held under -Lord Ballindine; but he was told that he would be a fool to build a house -on another man's ground, when he had a very good one ready built on his -own. He gave way to such good advice, but he did not feel at all happy at -the idea; and, when going up to the house, always felt an inclination to -shirk in at the back-way. - -But, though neither the widow nor Martin triumphed aloud at their worldly -prosperity, the two girls made up for their quiescence. They were full of -nothing else; their brother's fine house Anty's great fortune; their -wealth, prosperity, and future station and happiness, gave them subjects of -delightful conversation among their friends. Meg. moreover, boasted that it -was all her own doing; that it was she who had made up the match; that Mart -in would never have thought of it but for her nor Anty either, for the -matter of that. - -'And will your mother be staying down at the shop always, the same as -iver?' said Matilda Nolan, the daughter of the innkeeper at Tuam. - -''Deed she says so, then,' said Jane, in a tone of disappointment.; for her -mother's pertinacity in adhering to the counter was, at present, the one -misery of her life. - -'And which of you will be staying here along with her, dears?' said -Matilda. 'She'll be wanting one of you to be with her, any ways.' - -'Oh, turn about, I suppose,' said Jane. - -'She'll not. get much of my company, any way,' said Meg. 'I've had enough -of the nasty place, and now Martin has a dacent house to put over our -heads, and mainly through my mains I may say, I don't see why I'm to be -mewing myself up in such a hole as this. There's room for her up in Dunmore -House, and wilcome, too; let her come up there. Av she mains to demain -herself by sticking down here, she may stay by herself for me.' - -'But you'll take your turn, Meg?' said Jane. - -'It'll he a very little turn, then,' said Meg; 'I'm sick of the nasty ould -place; fancy coming down here, Matilda, to the tobacco and sugar, after -living up there a month or so, with everything nice and comfortable! And -it's only mother's whims, for she don't want the shop. Anty begged and -prayed of her for to come and live at Dunmore House for good and all; but -no; she says she'll never live in any one's house that isn't her own.' - -'I'm not so, any way,' said Jane; 'I'd be glad enough to live in another -person's house av I liked it.' -'I'll go bail you would, my dear,' said Matilda; 'willing enough especially -John Dolan's.' - -'Oh! av I iver live in that it'll be partly my own, you know; and may-be a -girl might do worse.' - -'That's thrue, dear,' said Matilda; 'but John Dolan's not so soft as to -take any girl just as she stands. What does your mother say about the money -part of the business? - -And so the two friends put their heads together, to arrange another -wedding, if possible. - -Martin and Anty did not go to visit Switzerland, or Rome, as soon as they -were married; but they took a bathing-lodge at Renvill, near Galway, and -with much difficulty, persuaded Mrs Kelly to allow both her daughters to -accompany them. And very merry they all were. Anty soon became a different -creature from what she ever had been: she learned to be happy and gay; to -laugh and enjoy the sunshine of the world. She had always been kind to -others, and now she had round her those who were kind amid affectionate to -tier. Her manner of life was completely changed: indeed, life itself was an -altered thing to her. It was so new to her to have friends; to he loved; to -be one of a family who regarded amid looked up to her. She hardly knew -herself in her new happiness. - -They returned to Dunmore in the early autumn, and took up their residence -at Sim Lynch's big house, as had been arranged. Martin was very shy about -it: it was long before he talked about it as his house, or his ground, or -his farm; and it was long before he could find himself quite at home in his -own parlour. - -Many attempts were made to induce the widow to give up the inn, and shift -her quarters to the big house, but in vain. She declared that, ould as she -was, she wouldn't think of making herself throublesome to young folks; who, -maybe, afther a bit, would a dail sooner have her room than her company: -that she had always been misthress, and mostly masther too, in her own -house, glory be to God; and that she meant to be so still; and that, poor -as the place was, she meant to call it her own. She didn't think herself at -all fit company for people who lived in grand houses, and had their own -demesnes, and gardens, and the rest of it; she had always lived where money -was to be made, and she didn't see the sense of going, in her old age, to a -place where the only work would be how to spend it. Some folks would find -it was a dail asier to scatther it than it wor to put it together. All this -she said and a great deal more, which had her character not been known, -would have led people to believe that her son was a spendthrift, and that -he and Anty were commencing life in an expensive way, and without means. -But then, the widow Kelly was known, and her speeches were only taken at -their value. - -She so far relaxed, however, that she spent every Sunday at the house; on -which occasions she invariably dressed herself with all the grandeur she -was able to display, and passed the whole afternoon sitting on a sofa, with -her hands before her, trying to look as became a lady enjoying herself in a -fine drawing-room. Her Sundays were certainly not the comfort to her, which -they had been when spent at the inn; but they made her enjoy, with a keener -relish, the feeling of perfect sovereignty when she returned to her own -domains. - -I have nothing further to tell of Mr and Mrs Kelly. I believe Doctor -Colligan has been once called in on an interesting occasion, if not twice; -so it is likely that Dunmore House will not be left without an heir. - -I have also learned, on inquiry, that Margaret and Jane Kelly have both -arranged their own affairs to their own satisfaction. - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS *** - -This file should be named kelly10.txt or kelly10.zip -Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, kelly11.txt -VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, kelly10a.txt - -Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US -unless a copyright notice is included. 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