fe than that which he
enjoyed in his early days, would very likely cast off all thoughts of
his poor mother, and would have no wish to return to her humble
cottage."

"Oh, no, no," said Lady Nora, "I could not think that of him; of course
I do not recollect him clearly, except from the sketch you made of him,
but yet I am sure from the expression of his countenance that he must
have been as true and honest as he was handsome. No, I would rather
suppose that he has long since been killed. Just consider how many
thousands of seamen have lost their lives within the last few years in
the numberless battles in which our country has been engaged, and how
likely it is that he was among them, and that is why no one has received
any tidings of him."

Such was the conversation which took place as they climbed up the hill
to return to their horses. They had promised Widow O'Neil to visit her
again in a day or two. She had undertaken to supply them with shells
which her brother Shane had collected, and which they wished to send to
a friend at a distance. When, however, the day arrived on which they
were to pay their visit, the morning broke with a storm of rain and
wind. The dark clouds chased each other over the sky, and the wind
whistled round the towers of the castle.

"It will be impossible for us to ride to Widow O'Neil's to-day,"
observed Sophy when they met at breakfast. "I do not think Mr
Finlayson will promise to accompany us; he would not like to face the
bad weather."

"Perhaps the rain will clear off, and then he will not mind the wind any
more than we shall," observed Sophy.

Mr Finlayson, who then entered the room, declared that should the
weather clear, he was ready to mount the little cob which had been
appropriated for his use, which was so steady, that occasionally the
Earl had gone out shooting on its back, and so sure-footed, it had never
been known to stumble.

"But, my dear Lady Nora, you must be more careful than you were once on
a time, on a skittish young horse which nearly proved your death,"
observed the old lawyer. "A day like this tries an animal; and unless
your steed is as steady as a rock I cannot sanction your going out."

"Oh, I will take care to ride one of the best behaved of our stud,"
answered Nora, "and Sophy shall have the next, as she is somewhat the
better horsewoman. I am anxious to send off those beautiful shells to
Miss Fitz-Patrick, as she particularly begged to have t