noble
little boy he had heard. He was away at school in England; his father
being fully conscious that an Irish castle in those days was not a place
favourable to education. The Earl had a great affection for his boy,
the heir to his title and estates. The former, indeed, should the young
Lord Fitz Barry die without male descendants, would pass away, though
the Lady Nora would inherit the chief part of his estate.

Lady Sophy was a relation of his late wife's, for he was a widower, and
she remained with him as a companion to his young daughter, though
considerably older than she was. The rest of the persons seen at the
castle were guests, with the exception of a lady of middle age, a Mrs
Rollings, who acted as governess and chaperone to the young ladies.

Dermot continued his visits to the castle. Sometimes the Earl saw him,
and seemed amused at the interest taken in him by his young niece and
daughter. He observed also, that the boy was somewhat out of the common
way, and he suggested that after they had left the west of Ireland, he
should be sent to obtain instruction from a neighbouring clergyman, a
friend of his, and the only person capable of imparting it.

At that time schools and missions were not known in the west of Ireland.
The priests, almost as ignorant as their flocks, had unbounded sway
among the population. Often the Protestant clergyman was the only
person for miles round who possessed any education whatever. The
peasantry were consequently ignorant and superstitious, and easily
imposed upon by any one who chose to go among them with that object.

Lady Sophy was delighted with the suggestion made by the Earl, and
insisted on at once carrying out the arrangement.

"Yes, indeed it is a pity that so intelligent a boy should be left in
ignorance," remarked the Earl. "Here is a five-pound note; do you take
it from me to Mr Jamieson, and beg that he will do his best to instil
some knowledge into the mind of the fisher-boy."

There was a dash of romance, it must be owned, in the Earl's
composition, and he was besides a kind-hearted and liberal man. Dermot
O'Neil might well have considered himself fortunate in having fallen
among such friends.

Lady Sophy and Lady Nora instantly set off to call upon Mr Jamieson,
whose vicarage was about three miles distant from the castle, though
somewhat nearer to Dermot's abode. The clergyman was rather amused at
first with the account given him by the young