ed the fishwife. "The bribe you offer is
great. As for me, it matters little what you make of me. You are
likely to give me qualities I do not possess."

Although she used appropriate terms, she spoke the English with some
difficulty. It was unusual for any of the peasantry of that part of the
coast in those days to speak English, and how she had acquired a
knowledge of the language, and had been able to impart it to her son, it
was difficult to say. Perhaps her husband might have spoken it, or her
younger days might have been passed in some distant part of the country,
and yet she had the characteristic features of the people in the
south-west of Ireland, many of whom are descended from Spanish settlers,
who had crossed over in ancient days from the coast of Spain.

Dermot stood by Lady Nora's side, watching with looks of astonishment
the progress made by Lady Sophy's pencil. He hastened to bring her a
cup of water that she asked for, to moisten her colours; still greater
was his surprise when he saw the tints thrown in and gradually a very
perfect portrait produced of his mother.

He clapped his hands with delight. "It's her, it's her," he exclaimed;
"I wish that thus she could always be. Oh, lady, if you give my mother
a likeness of me, I must ask you to give me a copy of that portrait.
It's beautiful; it's like her in every respect. If I were away from
her, I should think it could speak to me."

"Away from her," said the woman, looking up and speaking to herself.
"Oh, that so dark a day should ever arrive, and yet am I to keep him
always by me, perhaps to share the fate of his father."

The words scarcely reached the ears of those in the hut.

At length Dermot obtained a promise from Lady Sophy that she would give
him a copy of the portrait she had just taken. He now accompanied her
and her young companion to the spot where they had left the horses.

"You must promise to come to-morrow, Dermot," said the Lady Sophy; "we
wish to push you on with your lessons, for we shall not be here much
longer, and we probably shall not return until next year."

CHAPTER TWO.

Dermot promised Lady Sophy to read all the books she had given him.
When they left his mother's hut he begged leave to accompany her and
Lady Nora, in order that he might see them across the downs. He had
discovered during his visits to the castle that the young Lady Nora was
the Earl of Kilfinnan's only daughter. He had a son also; a