to say about Dublin, and talked much of his old friends during the evening that followed. Nora, however, try as she would, could never meet his e

e fellows more taken aback. 'Is it you to lose your property,

and will they h

ara; and as to John Fitzgerald, I believe he would take us all into his barrack of a house; but they can't help with mon

is to be do

nd in. We'll manage by hook or by crook. Don't you fret your pretty little head. I wouldn't have a frown

," answered Nora

ire. "Faith! I thought I could never get back fast enough, I see

taken place. The Squire laughed at Mrs. O'Shanaghgan'

hions about women," he said; "an

ious to improve myself. I may be good enough for you, dear father, for you love me

a sort of a craze now amongst women, the desire to beat us men on our own ground; it's

I wouldn't fret you for all

o it strikes me we are both pretty equal in our sentiments." He patted her cheek,

knew from past experience that now there was no hope at all of saving the old acres and the old house unless something very unexpected turned up. She understood her father's character too well; he would be happy and contented until a week be

ing must happen to pr

Her uncle, George Hartrick, was, according to her mother, a wealthy man. Her mother had often described him. She had said that he had been very angry with her for marrying the Squire, but

tle such as English people live in, with suites of magnificent rooms, and crowds and crowds of respectably dressed servants, a

tleman of old descent, kept visiting Nora again and again. If she could only see him! If she could only beg of him to lend her father a little money just to avert the crowning

because he does not know how. He will just drift on until a week of the fatal day, and then he will ha

otted its pages, and the paper on which it was written was of the poorest, but it was done at last. She put a stamp on it and ran downstairs. She went to Hannah's cabin. Standing in front of the cabin was her small admirer Mike. He was standing on

ave a violent tug to one of his front locks by way of salutati

you to go a me

, miss," an

yourself into the little slit in the wall. I

s," answe

t into your pocket. Don't let

be sure, miss,"

up to the Castle tonight. Now good-by; ru

Nora, rolled his tongue in his cheek, and d

was visiting one house after another. Some of the houses were neat and well-to-do, but most of them sadly required funds to put them in order. At every house Squire O'Shanaghgan received a hearty welcome, an invitation to dinn

elp us all! But if you are turned out, what an awful thing it will be! And your family the oldest in the place. You're welcome, every one of you, to come here. As long as I have a bite and sup, you and yours shall share it with me." A

now had a secret of her own, and a hope which she would scar

she had set her daughter in her laments over her absent son, over the tattered and disg

would reach Mr. Hartrick in his luxurious home. She thought she would give him, perhaps, twelve hours, perhaps twenty-four, before he replied. She knew, then, how long the answe

rs. O'Shanaghgan took her place languidly at the head of the board. Sh

g at the Squire. "Can you let me have a pound after breakfast

-luster eyes. Where had he got one

the postman in general for the O'Shanaghgan household for the large sum of twopence a week. He went daily

ters!" s

surveyed her dau

at is the matter with you? You know I

post, mammy,"

ill be patient, Margaret

gan gave her a cold stare, and helped herself

a change. I have heard of an excellent cook just about to leave some people of the name of W

did thrust in her head, holding the

she said; "maybe you'll fetc

the local paper for the Squire, which was always put up with the letters, a circular or two, and, at long intervals, a letter for Mrs. O'Shanaghgan, and perhaps one from an absent friend for the Squire. No one was excited

ot to worry himself writing too often. Stamps cost money, and the boy

tter to his own sister," said the Squire. "So here goes; we'll look

table. They were very meager contents; nothing but the newsp

e said; "it is f

aghgan, holding out her ha

dy, as it happens. It is for

ould scarcely hold it. It was addressed to her, beyond

ad any letter to speak of from Terry myself. If you read it

think it-it is from T

nse, m

id the Squire. "It will be refresh

a very thick sheet of paper out. The

brother is here. Ask your mother to spare you. You can return with Terence whenever you are tired of us and our ways. I have business at Holyhead next Tuesday, and could meet you there, if you could make it convenient to cross that day. I inclose a paper with

e Hart

shed she let the sheet of paper flutter to the floor, and l

I must go

id Mrs. O'Shanaghg

sappoint me," cried the girl. "

r uncle, after long years, has condescended to send you an invitation, and you speak in this impulsive, unrestrained

ase let me go, daddy-oh, daddy!" She rushed up to her fat

able in cold displeasure. "Give m

lace in which she was born, the land she loved, the father she adored-all, all their future hung upon Nora's accepting the invitation which she had asked her uncle to giv

id the Squire. "There is something behind all this. I never s

ed Nora, her head buried

said the Squire. He lavished fond epithets upon the girl, and fi

speechless indignation for a moment, left the r

said. "This is a disgraceful scene.

th her, however, and retired into the dr

e roguish, dark-blue eyes of hers, with that bewitching smile which showed a gleam of the whitest and most pearly teeth in the world, with the light, lissome figure, and the blue-black hair-what could not

aghgan sat

d calling her ridiculous names, with no meaning in them, and folding her in his arms as if she were a baby, and all for pure, downright selfishness, is enough to make any sensible person sick. Nora, too, who has always been spoken of as the unselfish member of the family, who would not spend a penny to save her life if she thought the Squire was going to suffer. Now she wants him to put hi