ance of deportment which was in striking contrast to the burly figure of the old Squire. His face was of a nut-brown hue; his eyes dark and piercing; his features straight

eat now by her side. She laid her very thin and slender hand on his arm. He did not respond by look or movement to the gesture of affec

face was all smiles; every vestige of that little cloud which had sat between her

sally, to which she responded with all

mother convers

from Uncle George this morning; he wants me

ll you be aw

a couple of m

money will

yday. These things are disgraceful," said the lad, just glancing at the fra

diousness in his dress, and for this trait in h

ve it," she s

" he continued. "Shall I ask

y him, Terry;

her a littl

to sell any more

fty times rather think that you were enjoying yourself with my relations in E

oblest mother in the world,"

er father continued t

ll give me a couple of dozen more of those little brown eggs

at," said the Squire, and

ave you and Terence done colloguing together?

a. "The mare won't stand waiting; she

of fear before the hangers-on, as she called the numerous ragged urchins who appeared from every quarter on each imaginable occasion. Although she was shaking from head to

bright-faced lad, with a wisp of yellow hair falling over his for

to drive?" as

She took the reins in her capable little hands; the Squire sprang up beh

ured these drives almost daily, but had never yet got accustomed to them. Nora, on the contrary, as they spun through the air, felt her spirits risin

that we are going uphill you can give he

long the top of some high cliffs. Below them, at their feet, the wild Atlantic waves curled and burst in innumerable fountains of spray; the roar of the waves came up to their ears, and the breath of the salt breeze,

mmy," said the girl; "and Hannah wil

e last brood," said Mrs. O'Shanaghgan; "but e

ush! he will h

e you, Nora; yo

bles when we are having our ride-eh, Ellen? I want you to come back with

the faintest little flick with the end of her long whip. The cr

e hinge of which was off. The Squire jumped down fr

ike! Why aren't you in your place? Co

The gate was swung open. Nora led the mare skillfully round a somewhat sharp corner, and the next instant they were dashing with headlong spe

cart, and leaped up while the

father!" cal

s. O'Shanaghgan, who still sat s

t period in order to avoid the window-tax. Most of the windows were open, and out of some of them ragged towels were drying in the evening breeze. About half a dozen dogs, most of which were of mongre

, shall I he

first if Mrs. Murphy is i

ure stood trembling from the violence of her exertions, and pouring down moisture at every pore. "She wants to be well rubbed down,"

ry like Nora's own, between his brows. The next moment a small man, with reddish hai

de-won't you? I believe the wife is somewhere round. Neil, my man, go and look for the missus. Tell her that Madam O'Shanaghgan

" asked the girl. "I do wa

's the ba

e me some of the p

by the sea-path, and you'll

ly she stopped and began whistling "The Wearing of the Green," which was responded to in a moment by another voice, sweet as that of a blackbir

climb up?" said the v

her basket on the ground; a very firm, little brown hand was extended; and th

brought you along

d Nora. "Father let me drive Black Bess. I had a jolly

concert all by myself. I can imitate the thrush, the blackbird,

gan imitating the full liquid

s for it," said Nora. "But

trouble yet; the day is long, and my heart is light. I am at peace, and I

said Nora, dropping her voice. "

yesterday; he and father had a long talk. I don't know. I believe th

ther, yo

on me. I am glad you have come.

ther. The fact is this, Bridget, I believe your

e. I mean to explore it with lanterns. You go into the cave, and you can walk in nearly half a mile; and then it takes a sudden turn to the right, and they say there's an entrance i

e?" said Nora. "But you can only

t; the moon is at the full. You will

wish I

Neil and there's Mike; they will get the boat all ready, and we can start off for the cave just when the tide is high; we ca

f all things in the

orrow afternoon, and stay the night h

not much like m

Nora. Then, get away; I don't want to force my company on you. I am as good as any other girl in Ir

re all a little rough, you and I into the bargain. All the same, I'll come to-morrow. I do

eyes. But there, we can smuggle in the back way. I'll go up to my room and put on my bits of finery. Bedad! but I look as hands