d, it was a subject I intended to speak to you
about. I have a little theory thereanent myself."

"Have you, indeed?" said Meek, looking up with animation.

"Yes, but it needs your counsel--perhaps something more, I should
say--but another time--good-bye, goodbye." And without waiting to say
or hear more, Linton lounged out of the room, leaving the secretary,
thoughtful and serious, behind him.

CHAPTER XVIII. UNDER THE GREEN-WOOD TREE.

Nor lives the heart so cold and dark
But in its depths some lingering spark
Of love is cherished there!

The Outlaw.

When Tom Linton parted with Mr. Meek he repaired to the club in Kildare
Street to listen to the gossip on the rumored dissolution of Parliament,
and pick up what he could of the prevailing tone among the country
gentry.

His appearance was eagerly hailed by many, who regarded him as generally
well informed on all the changes and turns of party warfare; but, as
he professed the most complete ignorance of everything, and seemed to
devour with greedy curiosity the most commonplace announcements, he was
speedily deserted and suffered to pursue his work of inquiry perfectly
unmolested. Not that indeed there was much to learn; the tone of banter
and raillery with which, from want of all real political influence, men
in Ireland accustom themselves to discuss grave questions, concealing
their real sentiments, or investing them with a ludicrous exaggeration,
oftentimes foiled even the shrewd perception of Tom Linton.

He did, however, learn so much as showed him, that all the ordinary
landmarks of party being lost, men were beginning to find themselves at
liberty to adopt any leadership which pleased them, without suffering
the stain of desertion. They thought themselves betrayed by each of the
great political chiefs in turn, and began to fancy that the best course
for them in future would be to make specific terms for any support they
should accord. Suggestions to this end thrown out in all the bantering
gayety of Irish manner might mean anything, or nothing, and so Linton
well knew, as he listened to them.

He had taken his place at a whist-table, that he might, while seemingly
preoccupied, hear what was said around him, and although no error of
play, nor a single mistake in the game, marked the different direction
of his attention, he contrived to learn much of the opinion prevalent in
certain circles.

"That is the luckiest fellow in Eur