It was plain and bare, but, compared to Biddy Murphy's chamber, it was a room of comfort and even luxury. A neat carpet covered the floor, there were white dimity curtains to the

ries of life. She had a neat hanging-press for her dresses, and a pretty chest

r neck and shoulders. Suddenly, as she bent out of the window, the faint, very faint perfume of a cigar came up

t you,

to bed?" was the somew

. May I come dow

N

come up an

's hesitation, then Nora's voice said pleadingly, "

anybod

and mother's room is at t

; you'll wake people with that

a knock at Nora's door. She fle

you want?

t something to say. Come o

ce ob

d Nora. She ran to the dressing table, and before her

ld lady moon to look down upon

h would say that you are losing your

out me mattered ju

what

Terry; you must

g? I am sure I

ought. Father is in a peck o

ene beyond anything, fidgeted restlessly. He leaned out of

son and the heir to

k of ruins," said

her's son. How dare you speak like

ng into heroics I think I'll be o

listen. I have got someth

ther moment. I know you, Nora; you always exaggera

I glory i

it. Don't you want to have anything

glad I don't take after her,

ooked up at her brother; he put on a supercilious

hat. I am glad I am Irish through and through and through. Would I giv

ignorant thing you are! Do you sup

one I won't talk of; it puts me into such

at all for a moment;

ave got to tell me? The five m

heart is scalded with unshed tears, how can I measure time by minutes? It

s hand for a moment on her arm; the gentleness of the tone, the unexpected swee

"and I could love you-I could love you like anything. Can't

elf from Nora's entwining arms; "I am not made like you, y

try and

e can talk, and we can act and do good deeds, without giving our

in upon herself. "I can't imagine how you are father's son," she began. But then she stopped, wai

it seems to be the fashion at O'Shanaghgan to mortgage to any extent. T

nd do you th

n't say; not mu

n-that there is nothing left to meet this big thing but the-the-the lan

odramatic. I don't know how y

. Mother is v

er? I

her is in worse trouble than he has been yet;

looks m

r," said Nora. "We were coming hom

interrupted Terence. "I wonder my father ri

ng was one of the few things she was proud of. "Well, I turned round, and I saw father's face, and, oh! it was just as if

. "You really did make me feel uncomfortable, you have such a queer way; but if it is

't think he has given him time. There is something wrong, anyhow-I don't kno

pulled along ever since you and I were born. Most Irish gentlemen are poor in these days. How can they help it? The whole country is goi

or dears, with their tiny cots and their hard, hard times. I

an end," said the brother in a discontented tone. "But there, I say once more that you have exaggerated in this matter; there is nothing

to England-

George Hartrick has asked me t

o? You can lea

be fewer mouths to feed. I

George is a

of t

place, and has heaps and h

h the b

shabby. What are you g

will man

indow-ledge and stood facing her br

ra, you are getting to be quit

ated Nora, "and she has promised

moved re

nows herself how

ou know she has nothing but her little trinkets, and you allow her to sell those to give

lder, and you are bound, at any rate, to show me decent outward res

she clasped her hands high above her head, and sat for a moment looking out into the night. Her face was qui

ted, it shall be. I don't mind leaving the place; I don't mind starving. I don't mind anything but that lo