gaze on them at a distance, and
again hear their voices. He was generally too much occupied to go to
the castle to inquire when the Earl was likely to return, because when
not engaged in fishing, he was constantly at the house of Mr Jamieson.
More than once he had ventured to ask him whether he thought the Earl
was likely to come back again, but the minister replied that he was
ignorant of the Earl's movements, and had not heard that any orders had
been received at the castle to make preparations for the reception of
the family. The time was approaching when they had come on the previous
year, and Dermot, though he scarcely acknowledged his feelings to
himself, became more and more anxious for their arrival. After leaving
Mr Jamieson, though the round was a long one, and he had to prepare his
nets for the day's fishing, he could not resist the temptation of going
to the castle before he returned home. From his frequent visits during
the previous summer, he was not a stranger there, and the housekeeper,
pleased with his good looks and his unaffected manner, was not sorry to
see him.

"Wait a bit, boy, wait a bit, and I think I can tell you when the ladies
will come back and make another likeness of you," she said, putting her
hand on his head. "Ah! they will spoil you if we don't take care, but
do not be led away by them, boy. They look upon you, likely enough, as
they do upon a pet dog, or any other animal, and when they are away, it
is little they trouble their heads about you."

These remarks were made in kindness by good Mrs Rafferty. She had
heard all about the boy, and knew very well that if it became the custom
to have him up at the castle, and to make much of him, as she thought
was likely to be the case, he would inevitably be spoiled.

"When you come we will buy your fish, no fear of that, and take my
advice, get a supply of the finest you can by to-morrow or the day
after, and may be when you come there will be mouths enough at the
castle to eat them."

"What! are the family coming so soon then?" exclaimed Dermot, and a
thrill of pleasure ran through his frame; "and the beautiful lady who
draws so well, and all the others! I will go and catch the fish, never
fear, Mrs Rafferty, and it will not be my fault if I don't bring a
basket of as fine as ever were caught up to the castle to-morrow."

"I did not say `to-morrow,' boy; I said the day after, and that will be
time enough."

Mrs Rafferty, to pr