Our blue jackets, afloat and ashore : a novel

Front matter

MR. NEWBY’S NEW NOVELS,

In Three Vols. Price 81s. 6d.

By Lord By xx%x%%%My

Chapter I

Towarps the close of the last century, on the shores of Lough Corrib, one of the most romantic and picturesque of Irish lakes, lay spread, in rich luxuriance, the noble estate of the once powerful chieftains, the O’ Mores ; the descendants whom, at the period of our story, were both still wealthy and honoured.

The mansion of Ashgrove was of considerable extent, and of imposing appearance,—standing,

VOL. I. B as it did, in a commanding and exceedingly beautiful position.

Mr. Gorman O’More had just succeeded to the property, by the sudden and unexpected death of his elder brother,—who, although married, left, it was generally supposed, no legitimate heir. The deceased, Roderick O’ More, was a Protestant ; but his brother, Gorman, who succeeded him, followed the religion of his forefathers,—he was a Roman Catholic.

Gorman O’More’s family consisted, at the time he came to reside at Ashgrove, of two sons and one daughter; the eldest son, about twenty, was astudent at Trinity College, Dublin ; the younger, a mere child, just five years old; whilst the daughter, Norah, had passed her fifteenth year.

Although of the prevailing religion of the country, Gorman O’More was exceedingly disliked; whilst his late brother, a Protestant, had been beloved by all classes, and his memory was treasured. Proud, even with his equals, Gorman

O’More was overbearing and tyrannical to his tenantry and inferiors, and at all times oppresgive.

Besides being in possession of the Ashgrove property, he was the next heir to the titles and estates of Courtown, the present proprietor being unmarried, and in his sixtieth year. This nobleman’s lands adjoined those of Mr. O’More, who looked forward confidently to the accession to a title.

Mrs. Gorman O’More in her youth had been considered a beauty ; she was descended from the good old Catholic family of the Hamiltons, with a very moderate fortune.

Though a younger brother, when he married, Mr. O’More possessed a handsome independence.

Mrs. O’More’s brother, George Hamilton, was a gentleman who loved pleasure, and a life of idleness; and Mrs. O’More persuaded her husband that he would be a valuable acquisition to his family circle. It must be supposed that Mr. O’More thought so too, for he not only tolerated

B2 his presence, but administered to his extravaeance.

The sudden and unexpected succession of Mr, Gorman O’More to the estates of Ashgrove was a great event, and happened most opportunely, as his pecuniary affairs had become not a little embarrassed.

On taking possession, Mr. O’More, though far from being a liberal man, permitted his wife, who was most extravagant in her habits and style of living, to completely new furnish the mansion. Even the choice pictures, purchased abroad by the late owner, were removed from the walls. Not an article was left that the deceased had cherished.

Mr. O’More did not succeed to the estates of his brother without strange surmises being whispered respecting that succession.

Roderick O’ More, one of the handsomest men of his time, passed many years of his life abroad ; and when he returned to reside permanently at

Ashgrove, he brought with him, as his bride, a

Spanish lady, of exceeding beauty. Shortly after his return his lady gave birth to a boy, who was christened Roderick Magnus O’More. <A year after this event, Mrs. O’More renounced the Catholic faith, and became a convert to Protestantism; and, to the great surprise of friends and relatives, Mr. O’More had the marriage ceremony again performed in the parish church,—thus, as he said, for certain reasons, uniting himself to his fair lady a second time. Though this created surprise, and surmises as to the legitimacy of the young Magnus, Mr. O’ More gave no explanation, except to Mr. Creagh, the Protestant minister, to whom he solemnly declared that his son was his undoubted heir; but that his foreign marriage was at the time involved in obscurity, and difficult to prove. Highteen months after this, Mrs. O’ More died, in her second accouchement. The child did not survive her. ‘The distraction of the husband, who had idolized his beautiful wife, was deep and sincere; and, for a considerable time, he gave way to despair. Suddenly, on the receipt of letters, he roused from his stupor; and, having engaged the services of a most amiable and talented lady, he left his darling child under her care, and went abroad, remaining absent more than ayear. He returned, however, gloomy and dejected; shunned all society, devoting himself entirely to his son. When Magnus was about seven years old, his father again left Ashgrove, and proceeded to the Continent; this time adding a tutor to his establishment,—accepting the services of Mr. Hamilton, who had passed through Trinity College, Dublin, with some éclat.

On Roderick O’More’s return to Ashgrove, the troubled state of Ireland took him to Dublin, at the request of the then Lord Lieutenant, and there, from a fall from his horse, he perished, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, his death, a misfortune for all around him, universally lamented.

No proof whatever could be brought forward to substantiate the claims of young Magnus to the property of his father, though Lord Courtown, a strange and eccentric nobleman, related to the O’Mores, made many enquiries; and Gorman O’More succeeded to the Ashgrove estates, declaring he was quite willing to surrender everything if proof could be brought forward of his nephew’s being born in lawful wedlock.

The complete ignorance, as regarded the late Mrs. O’ More, prevented any profitable enquiries, Gorman asserted she was a foreign adventuress, who, to induce his brother to marry her, turned Protestant ; which marriage, as was well known, took place more than twelve months after the pirth of the son. Lord Courtown could not expect his kinsman to surrender his right to an illegitimate child. Therefore, strange as the whole affair was, and wrapped in mystery, no further efforts were made to oppose Mr. O’ More’s succession, who said he had amply provided for the child and would take care of him, but that he certainly should not allow him to continue to bear the name of Q’More.

Nevertheless, Roderick O’More, his lovely, kind-hearted wife, and their beautiful boy, were not forgotten by the tenantry on the estate; but time rolled on, and though their memory lived in the hearts of many, yet O’ More held the estates, and bis lady kept open house, giving. splendid entertainments, and in a short time all the fcrmer visitants again frequented Ashgrove.

At college young Gorman O’More led a wild, rollicking life. Dublin, at this period, was full of young men, panting for what they imagined to be liberty and freedom of the Green Isle from the yoke of the Sassenach ; and with these wild spirits young O’More mingled freely.

We have now to speak of the only daughter of Gorman O’ More, with whom we have principally to do in this our partly true story. Norah, the gay, the spirited, the beautiful, and the tenderhearted, was the idol of the tenants and peasantry on the Ashgrove and Courtown estates. She was Lord Courtown’s god-daughter, and he loved her as if she were his ownchild. But for her, the tenantry of Ashgrove would have been in open rebellion against her father. Norah was ever gay. Those who witnessed her high spirits imagined the girl never gave amoment to thought— they supposed that her life was only a pleasant dream. But they were mistaken ; though at fifteen Norah was full of life and spirit, many things at times made her think, and think seriously, too. Many also wondered how it was that she appeared to have such a decided will of her own, for no one seemed to check her, though she had a most unamiable governess—a mere toady to Mrs. O’More. The secret was, Norah was Lord Courtown’s favourite, and the distributor of his lordship’s bounty. He had made her a present of a beautiful Spanish jennet, which she had taught to love and follow her lke a spaniel. When her mother scolded her, or her father chided her for visiting the cottages of the poor and spending her money amongst them, Norah would shove back the rich clustering locks of her dark hair, and with sparkling eyes, dazzling in their

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10 j OUR BLUE JACKETS, brilliancy, with one of her irresistible laughs, would silence her censors; and, starting off, have her jennet saddled, and in an hour was at Courtown Castle, delighting its gouty lord with her light heart and cheerful conversation.

As te the old women and maidens on the two estates, they adored Norah; the maidens never wanted a gay ribbon or shawl, nor the old women flannels and tea in the cold winter’s nights. Norah had a kind word for all. A kind word or a smile, as thanks to the young men who rushed to throw open the gates, to let her and her pony pass, was more prized than a guinea to spend at the next fair. Such was Norah, at the age of fifteen. Her person or features we will not describe; we havesaid she was lovely, and that is sufficient—we will let our readers imagine in What that loveliness consisted.

About this period an ‘event occurred which, triflmg as it appeared, led to most unexpected results, Several small and insignificant disputes had arisen between Mr. O’More’s attorney and

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Lord Courtown’s bailiff respecting boundaries, Mr. O’More being tenacious to a degree. One morning Mr. McGrab, the Ashtown attorney, a mean, grasping, sordid individual, but a great favourite with his patron, who had a house built for his residence in the village, called Mr. O’More’s attention to the fact of Lord Courtown’s enclosing thirteen acres of boggy, marshy land, which, he declared, undoubtedly belonged to the Ashgrove estate, for on an old map, and in a recent survey of the estate, Mr. McGrab pointed out to Mr. O’More that the thirteen acres of bog land were within his boundary; and the attorney also shewed him, if such and such an event were to take place, how very valuable these thirteen acres of good-for- nothing land would become. Mr. O’More eagerly adopted his attorney’s view, and immediately wrote to Lord Courtown, for, latterly, Norah was the only one of the family tolerated at Courtown Castle. His lordship replied courteously that the land he had enclosed belonged to the Courtown property, and that the worthy attorney was mistaken. One letter followed another, till the matter came into the hands of the big-wigs ; and finally, after long litigation and expenses, and when the lawyers became satisfied with the picking, the thirteen acres of bog were adjudged to be the property of Mr. O’More, who, with all his family, excepting Norah, enjoyed a great triumph; Mrs. O’More giving a grand dinner party on the occasion of her husband’s having thirteen acres of swamp added to his domain. This event completely severed the intimacy, little as it had been, between Lord Courtown and the O’ Mores.

Amongst the visitors at Ashgrove Mansion was a Galway lady—a Miss Blake. She had reached the reasonable age of thirty-two, and was still a spinster, though possessing an independent income of four hundred a-year, left her by an aunt, to whom she had devoted her youthful days. Miss Blake was handsome, agreeable, remarkably cheerful, and kind hearted; she had many admirers ; amongst them Mr. Hamilton, whom Mrs,

O’More reckoned had the best chance of success, but this self-sufficient gentleman was mistaken. )

Miss Blake was exceedingly fond of Norah, who often spent days with her at her handsome residence in Galway.

About three months after the termination of the bog law-suit, one rather stormy day, a gentleman, named Lynch, came uninvited to join the family party of the O’Mores, assembled in the drawing-room.

“Well, Mr. Lynch,” said Mrs. O’More, “ we must be very grateful to you for this visit, seeing you have had such stormy weather, to come and cheer our loneliness.”

‘“T have such a strange piece of news to tell,” said Mr. Lynch, ‘that I never heeded the weather ;’”? and he looked at Mr. Hamilton with a meaning expression—for be it known these two gentlemen were rivals for the hand of Miss Euphemia Blake.

** Do let us hear it, Mr. Lynch,” said Mrs.

O’More, languidly, ‘for we have been very dull the last few days; the weather has been dreadful.”

‘¢ Well, then, ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr. Lynch, rubbing the palms of his hands, as if the intelligence he had to impart gave him pleasure, ‘“‘ Miss Euphemia Blake was married this morning at the Roman Catholic Chapel of ——.”

‘¢ Married !’’ exclaimed almost every one present, with a tone of surprise, whilst Mr. Hamilton, colouring to the temples, muttered, ‘ married! the devil!”

“Not exactly,” returned Mr. Lynch, with a laugh, as he perceived that his rival was bitterly annoyed; for only a fortnight before he had boasted before Mr. Lynch, at a club-room in Galway, that his success was certain in a certain quarter.

‘* And pray who has the young lady married ?” said Mr. O’More, with a sneer and a marked emphasis on the word young; whilst Norah, amazed but silent, kept her speaking eyes fixed on Mr. Lynch.

‘“¢ Ah, there’s the rub,” said Mr. Lynch. ‘‘ Can no one make a guess ?”

«“ Some scheming adventurer, no doubt,” said Mr. O’More, who disliked Miss Blake exceedingly.

“Why not exactly,” returned Mr. Lynch, ‘seeing that she is now mistress of Courtown, his lordship having gallantly led her to the altar this morning.”

Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, it would scarcely have produced a greater effect.

Mrs. O’More sank back in her chair, with a strange exclamation. Mr. O’More uttered a curse, and looked pale with passion. Norah, her face flushed with excitement, started to her feet, her little hands clasped, and her eyes sparkling with delight.

‘Dear Euphemia, Lady Courtown! oh, how glad Iam! She will be sure to make his lordship happy,’ and heedless of the looks of rage her uncle and father cast upon her, she hurried out of the room.

Mr. O’More, when convinced of the fact, became overpowered with rage, vexation, and fear, for shotild a male heir be born adieu to the title and estates of Courtown. Mr. Hamilton was savage, he swore that his lordship was amadman, and Miss Blake no better than she should be. Mrs. O’More trembled as the vision of Lady Courtown rose before her, nursing a fine boy, the future heir.

Twelve months passed over, and an heir was born to the Courtown estates. The exasperation of Mr. O’More and his family, excepting Norah, became painful to witness.

To be out of the way for a time, Mr. O’More and family set out to spend the springin Dublin, leaving only Norah, her little brother, and her governess, and two or three servants at Ashgrove. Many would suppose that Norah would have felt vexed at not being of the party to Dublin, to enjoy the gaieties of the capital; on the contrary she rejoiced at not being obliged to leave her home. Irom her bed-room window she loved, at early morn, to look out over the glorious sparkling waters of Lough Corrib, glittering in the morning sun. She was a devoted lover of the country, and admired nature as it was, all smiling, verdant, and beautiful around her.

One lovely May morning she rose very early, and attired herself in her riding habit, with her Spanish hat and feathers. Galway has always retained in its aspect and manners a remnant of its Spanish founders. Norah had ordered her jennet, and an old staid groom to attend upon her the night before, having determined to spend the day with Lady Courtown, and enjoy a long nursing of the baby.

To her surprise she encountered her governess coming out of her room.

‘Pray, Miss Norah, where can you be going so early in the morning ?”’ asked Mrs. Marsham,

‘© To Courtown Castle, Mrs. Marsham,” replied Norah, ‘‘ to see the dear baby.”

“You might have requested my permission,” returned the governess; ‘‘ besides, after Miss

Norah broke out into a merry laugh.

‘Shameful and indecent, to marry a good kind hearted nobleman, with twenty-five thousand a year, and to make him as happy as the day is long,” she cried; ‘“‘really, my dear Mrs. Marsham, you do not do justice to my kind friend. I wish you could see what a happy household her ladyship has created, and how young his lordship has apparently grown; if it were not for an attack of gout now and then, he would be positively juvenile,” and so saying Norah sprang lightly downstairs, mounted her pony, and was off down the lane in a canter.

“Well,” exclaimed Mrs. Marsham, bitterly, ‘this is the consequence of allowing this saucy, independent girl to have her own way. I cannot understand it; she goes like a wild Indian galloping across the country, takes a hedge, a ditch, or indeed a gate, as if there was no such obstacle before her. Well, we shall see, some of these days, the upshot of it.”

Chapter II

Wuuitst Norah is cantering along the shore of Lough Corrib, on her way to Courtown Castle, we will briefly explain how Miss Blake became Lady Courtown.

Though exceedingly eccentric in his habits and ideas Lord Courtown was far from being either a disagreeable or unpleasant companion. He was as open-hearted and kind as a nobleman in his position could possibly be, and all his tenants and dependants were quite happy and contented under his rule.

His lordship never hiked Mr. Gorman O’More or his lady, whilst Mr. Hamilton was his aversion ;

though differing in religion and opinions with the late Roderick O’More, he had admired and esteemed his honourable character and spirit, and was contented that either Roderick O’More or his son should succeed to the titles and estates of Courtown. But he was disgusted that his ancient title should descend to such a man as Gorman O’More, or to such a scapegrace as his son, of whose pranks in college he frequently heard.

Lord Courtown was exceedingly quick in his decisions; and very shortly after the affair of the thirteen acres he came to the resolution, though in his sixty-first year, of taking a wife; and, if Providence spared him, it was quite possible he might have an heir direct, to inherit his titles and fortune.

“ But where shall I get a wife?’ was the question his lordship asked himself. Courtship was out of the question. Not that Lord Courtown was at all an infirm or inactive individual; on the contrary, he was a fine, stately-looking gentleman, and, except when laid up by an attack of

AFLOAT AND ASHORE. on gout, enjoyed the sports of the field with considerable spirit. In his early youth he had travelled much over the Continent of Hurope, and purchased, in foreign lands many valuable pictures, statues, and other articles of vertu. On his return to Ireland he commenced making additional rooms to his already magnificent mansion, but never finished them; and many of the treasures of art, purchased at a vast outlay, actually lay in the storerooms of the castle unpacked.

Having resolved to take a wife, his lordship sat, one morning after breakfast, revolving over in his mind all the beauties he had known during the last twenty years. ‘Ah!’ muttered his lordship, ‘* they won’t do;—Stay, I have her,” and he sprang from his chair, rang for his valet, and ordered his chariot to be ready in an ~ hour.

“Yes,” soliloquized his lordship, “‘she will suit me every way. She is young enough, and not so young as to be ridiculous. She is good humoured, agreeable, and of good family ; besides, a2 OUR BLUE JACKETS, that puppy, Hamilton, thinks he is secure of her fortune, for that’s all he cares for. Better to marry an old lord, with twenty-five thousand ayear rent-roll, than a young puppy. Young— no! he’s not young, either,—thirty-eight or forty, every year of it.”

That same day, about three o’clock, Miss Blake was surprised to see Lord Courtown’s chariot stop at her door.

Miss Blake had met his lordship several times at Ashgrove; but they were not on visiting terms, for his lordship received no ladies at Courtown Castle. Miss Blake was very self-possessed; so, when his lordship was ushered into the drawing-room, she received him most courteously.

‘You are surprised, no doubt,” said Lord Courtown, taking a chair, and seating himself quite close to the lady of the house, “at this, to you, unexpected visit ?”

Euphemia felt her heart flutter; for, in fact,

Miss Blake had a spice of ambition in her nature.

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“T was thinking,” continued his lordship, “that when I explain the object of my visit you will consider me, not an eccentric man, for you know that already, but, perhaps, take me for a lunatic.”’

“Indeed, my lord,” said Miss Blake, ‘I should be exceedingly sorry to entertain any such idea.”

“Well, then;’? again resumed his lordship, ‘“‘ the fact is, I wish to get married!”

Miss Blake had no fan with which to screen her cheeks, which became crimsoned; but she stammered out,—

‘¢Oh, my lord! had you not better consult—”

“No,” interrupted his lordship, with a smile, and really beginning to think Euphemia uncom~ monly handsome. “I shall only consult you ; and as I am always brief and decided in my resolutions, if you are willing to accept the hand of aman old enough to be your father, but who possesses a rent-roll of twenty-five thousand a-year, and who can grace your fair brow with a coronet, there’s my hand,” and his lordship held out his very white, aristocratic fingers, but little the worse for the wear and tear of sixty odd years.

Miss Blake was at first confounded; but, being a sensible woman, she made up her mind at once, and, though her voice faltered a little, and the roses on her cheek became yet more full-blown, she placed a very fair, plump hand in his lordship’s, saying,—‘ Yours is a frank, generous offer, my lord, and I accept it as frankly, trusting that our mutual happiness may be secured thereby. Though, in truth,” she added, with a smile, and a most engaging expression of countenance, ‘‘ the wooing is over short.”

‘You are a woman of sense,” said his lordship, very gallantly kissing the hand he held, ‘‘and you shall be Lady Courtown before forty-eight hours are over, God willing; and if Providence grants us an heir (Miss Blake here required the fan in earnest), Mr. O’More will have little cause to congratulate himself on the acquisition

- of thirteen acres of bog.” And thus Miss Euphemia Blake became Countess of Courtown.

Lord Courtown had every reason to congratulate himself on his choice; instead of being put out of his eccentric habits and ways, Lady Courtown set herself to work, diligently, to make him happy. She felt happy herself; and all under her rule felt the presence of a kind mistress conducive to their domestic comforts. When the heir of Courtown was born, an event which rendered his lordship almost insane with joy, no effort on his part was spared to show his love and esteem for her who rendered his before solitary life one of utility and happiness.

On the morning on which Norah left Ashgrove, Lord Courtown and his lady were breakfasting in the blue drawing-room. His lordship was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout; it was slight, however, and no way ruffled his temper.

The blue drawing-room was a favourite resort. It overlooked two branches of the lake, with its

VOL. I, Cc numerous little, but beautiful islets. It was then early May; but the season was very favourable and advanced,—the fields looked green and bright under a sparkling sun; even Benlevy was without the shadow of a cloud.

“What has become of. Norah?’ observed Lord Courtown, helping himself to some fine Lough Corrib trout; ‘ perhaps the O’Mores are come back ?”

“No,” said her ladyship; “I heard this morning that they were still in Dublin. Young Gorman has got them into some trouble, my correspondent says,—parading the streets, with other wild youths, in the National guard uniform.”

‘* He’s a fool or a madman,” returned Lord Courtown, ‘‘and will bring himself and father into trouble with the government. Two years ago O’More urged me to let myself be appointed one of the delegates; but I was not so easily led to make a fool of myself. Afterwards they were named the Popish Congress; and as they always met in a place called Taylor’s Hall, in Back

Lane, they got the nick-name of the Back Lane Parliament.”

‘‘ You were quite right in having nothing to do with such unlawful meetings,” observed Lady Courtown,

‘* By-the-bye, Euphemia,” said his lordship, ‘¢T had a curious dream last night.”

‘You appeared disturbed in your sleep,” remarked Lady Courtown. ‘I thought you were suffering from night-mare, and awoke yon.”

“ Faith! I was very much obliged to you, my dear; for though I place not the slightest faith in dreams, yet I was, in my sleep, much disturbed.”

‘‘ But what was the dream?’ enquired her ladyship, with some little show of curiosity.

«You shall hear, my dear. I thought I had come out from Trinity College, and got entangled in an immense and furious crowd, armed with pikes, and waving green standards, and shouting, ‘ Down with King William.’ I was carried on by the living mass into College Green,

C2 and forced up to where the statue of King William stands. I raised my eyes, and instead of King William, my gaze rested upon the well-remembered and noble features of Roderick O’More. He was waving a huge Orange standard, and the armed crowd yelled, ‘Tear him down!— Pull him off!’ —

‘“¢ Roderick O’More looked down, and his eyes met mine, ‘Ha, my Lord Courtown,’ he exclaimed ;—positively, Huphemia, I saw -all this as vividly as I see you, and heard the words distinctly. ‘ Ha, my Lord Courtown, you here? Remember, the time is coming, when this flag will triumph over the green, and when it comes, a Roderick O’More will own the broad lands of his fathers.’

‘‘T heard no more, for yells, screams, and peals of musketry rang through the air; I was thrown down, had a pike within an inch of my throat, when I seized the villain, and was struggling for life, when youawokeme. Now, was not that a strange dream, Kuphemia ?”’

‘You must have hada very severe fit of indigestion,” replied her ladyship, rather seriously ; ““but it is wonderful how our uncontrolled thoughts ramble, and picture subjects and scenes foreign to our waking thoughts.”

‘Well, so they do, Euphemia; but nevertheless, all day yesterday I was thinking a good deal about my old friend Roderick, and his poor boy. Do you know I am not half satisfied with myself.”

“There was something sad and mysterious in Roderick’s fate,” said Lady Courtown, “ the loss of his lovely wife, for his wife she was, though the law says rather late for the fortunes of her first-born. I often thought, when I first saw her—I was very young then—I could almost have worshipped such an angelic countenance.”

“ By Jove!” interrupted his lordship, ‘I will never believe that she was ever anything else but his wife, from the very beginning. It’s not likely aman of so noble a nature, and so true-hearted as Roderick O’More, could mar his child’s prospects for life by a tardy marriage. No, thereis a profound mystery attached to the story of his early career. Where I blame myself is, in my supineness in not taking charge of the poor child.”

“Why, the O’Mores took the child away immediately,” said Lady Courtown.

“Mr. Creagh knows more than anyone else on the subject, and I have often heard him say that his firm belief was that Roderick O’More was married abroad, and being baffled in getting proofs of his marriage, he married a_ second time, to secure the rights of any future progeny : that he felt sure of recovering the proofs required to legitimize his first-born; that his will was made immediately after his child was born, and that a full history of his life was written out. Now, neither will nor record was found by Mr. Gorman O’More amongst the papers and deeds, carefully locked up in chests, and sealed with Roderick O’More’s seal.

“ Tt's all very strange,” continued his lordship, thoughtfully, “situated as I now am with the

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O’More family, I have no right to interfere, I remember to have heard that Roderick O’More met with some strange adventures in Spain; and, I believed, saved the life of one of the members of the reigning family, and was presented with some high honorary order.”

*“T protest,” said Lady Courtown, who just then gazed out of the window, “ there is Norah coming up the avenue from the lake; she must have left Ashgrove before breakfast.”

Jo}

“Well, I am rejoiced,” said Lord Courtown, putting away his plate, “‘that the dear girl is just in time tojoinus. Ring the bell, Euphemia, pray excuse my unfortunate foot, and let another dish of trout, of which she is very fond, be brought up.

In a few minutes the door was thrown open, and Norah entered with a quick, light step; her beautiful, interesting, though still child-like features, flushed with health and the exercise she had just taken. Her dark eyes were sparkling with animation, and after fondly kissing Lady