, also showed that the carriage which brought him
was a mere ceremonial observance, and, as he would himself say, "the act
of conveyance was a surplusage."

Those who saw him in court pronounced him the most unabashed and cool of
men; but there was certainly a somewhat of haste and impetuosity in his
drawing-room manner that even a weak observer would have ascribed to
awkwardness.

"How do you do, Mrs. Kennyfeck?--how do you do, Miss Kennyfeck?--glad to
see you. Ah! Mr. Softly,--well, I hope? Is he come--has he arrived?"
A shake of the head replied in the negative. "Very strange; I can't
understand it. We have a consultation with the Solicitor-General
to-morrow, and a meeting in chambers at four."

"I should n't wonder if Mr. Cashel detained papa; he is very young, you
know, and London must be so new and strange to him, poor lad!"

"Yes; but your father would scarce permit it," said Mrs. Kennyfeck,
smartly. "I rather think it must have been some accidental circumstance;
coaches are constantly upsetting, and post-horses cannot always be had."

Mr. Knox Softly smiled benignly, as though to say in these suggestions
Mrs. Kennyfeck was displaying a very laudable spirit of uncertainty as
to the course of human events.

"Here 's Olivia," said Mrs. Kennyfeck, as her younger daughter entered.
"Let us hear her impressions,--full of forebodings, I don't doubt."

Miss Olivia Kennyfeck performed her salutations to the guests with the
most faultless grace, throwing into her courtesy to the curate a
certain air of filial reverence very pretty to behold, and only a
little objectionable on the score of the gentleman's youth and personal
attractions; and then, turning to her mother said,--

"You are not uneasy, mamma, I hope? Though, after all, this is about the
period of the equinox."

"Nonsense, child! packets are never lost nowadays in the Irish Channel.
It's merely some sudden freak of gayety,--some London distraction
detains them. Will you touch that bell, Mr. Clare Jones? It is better to
order dinner."

There was something peremptory in the lady's tone and manner that rather
damped the efforts at small-talk,--never very vigorous or well-sustained
at these ante-dinner moments; nor were any of the party very sorry when
the servant announced that the soup was served.

CHAPTER V. HOW ROLAND BECAME ENTITLED TO THE GODFREY BROWNE PROPERTY.

The sherry iced,--the company still colder.

Bell: Images.

Th