sey.

"Yes," said Phyl. Then, after a moment's pause, "D'you know I've often
thought of all those people over there and wondered what they were like
and how they lived--my mother's people. Father used to talk of them
sometimes. He said they kept slaves."

"That was in the old days," said Hennessey. "The slaves are all gone long
ago. They used to have sugar plantations and suchlike, but the war stopped
all that."

"It's funny," said Phyl, "to think that my people kept slaves--my mother's
people--Oh, if one could only see back, see all the people that have gone
before one so long ago-- Don't you ever feel like that?"

Mr. Hennessey never had; his forebears had been liquor dealers in Athlone
and he was content to let them lie without a too close inquisition into
the romances of their lives.

"Mr. Hennessey," said Phyl, after a moment's silence, "suppose Father has
left Mr. Pinckney all his money--what will become of me?"

"The Lord only knows," said Hennessey; "but what's been putting such
fancies in your head?"

"I don't know," replied the girl. "I was just thinking. Of course he
wouldn't do such a thing--It's your talking of the will the last time you
were here set me on, I suppose, but I dreamed last night Mr. Pinckney came
and he was an American with a beard like Uncle Sam in _Punch_ last week,
and he said Father had made a will and left him everything--he'd left him
me as well as everything else, and the dogs and all the servants and
Kilgobbin--then I woke up."

"Well, you were dreaming nonsense," said the practical Hennessey. "A man
can't leave his daughter away from him, though I'm half thinking there's
many a man would be willing enough if he could."

Phyl raised her head. Her quick ear had caught a sound from the avenue.
Then the crash of wheels on gravel came from outside and her companion,
rising hurriedly from his chair, went to the window.

"That's him," said the easy-speaking Hennessey.

CHAPTER II

He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand
on the mantelpiece listening.

Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from
the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants
and a murmur of voices.

Then a voice that made her start.

"Thanks, I can carry it myself."

It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by
Hennessey. It was a cheerful, youthful voice, not in the least suggestive
of U