age on that island,--a real Swiss cottage,
with its carved galleries and deep-eaved roof. Who owns these delicious
islands?"

"Mr. Cashel, my dear," said papa, still bent on examining the map.

"Do I, indeed!" cried Roland, in an ecstasy. "Then you shall have your
wish, Miss Kenny feck. I promise you the prettiest Swiss cottage that
your own taste can devise."

"Oh, dear, oh, pray forgive me!"

"Oh, Mr. Roland Cashel, don't think of such a thing! Olivia was merely
speaking at random. How silly, child, you are to talk that way!"

"Really, mamma, I had not the slightest suspicion--I would n't for the
world have said anything if I thought--"

"Of course not, dear; but pray be guarded. Indeed, I own I never did
hear you make a lapse of the kind before. But you see, Mr. Cashel, you
have really made us forget that we were strangers but yesterday, and you
are paying the penalty of your own exceeding kindness. Forget, then, I
beseech you, this first transgression."

"I shall assuredly keep my promise, madam," said Cashel, proudly; "and I
have only to hope Miss Kennyfeck will not offend me by declining so very
humble a present. Now, sir, for our worthy friend Mr. Corrigan."

"Too fast, a great deal to fast, love," whispered the elder sister in
the ear of the younger, and who, to the credit of her tact and ingenuity
be it spoken, only gave the most heavenly smile in reply.

"I really am puzzled, sir, what advice to give," said the attorney,
musing.

"I have no difficulties of this sentimental kind," said Mrs. Kennyfeck,
with a glance of profound depreciation towards her husband; "and I beg
Mr. Cashel to remember that the opportunity now offered will possibly
never occur again. If the old man is to retain his farm, of course
Mr. Cashel would not think of building a new mansion, which must be
ill-circumstanced; from what I can hear of the present house, it is
equally certain that he would not reside in that."

"Is it so very bad?" asked Cashel, smiling.

"It was ill-planned originally, added to in, if possible, worse taste,
and then suffered to fall into ruin. It is now something more than
eighty years since it saw any other inhabitant than a caretaker."

"Well, the picture is certainly not seductive. I rather opine that the
best thing we can do is to throw this old rumbling concern down, at all
events; and now once more,--what shall we do with Mr. Corrigan?"

"I should advise you not giving any reply before you vis