up the stairs, than usual
O'Grady remarked this to me afterwards. At the time, however, I paid
but little attention to it. The fact was, my thoughts were principally
running in another channel Certain innuendoes of Lord Dudley de Vere,
certain broad hints he had ventured upon even before Mrs. Rooney, had
left upon my mind a kind of vague, undecided impression that, somehow or
other, I was regarded as their dupe. Miss Bellow's manner was certainly
more cordial, more kind to me than to any of the others who visited the
house. The Rooneys themselves omitted nothing to humour my caprices, and
indulge my fancies, affording me, at all times, opportunities of
being alone with Louisa, joining in her walks, and accompanying her on
horseback. Could there be anything in all this? Was this the quarter in
which the mine was to explode? This painful doubt hanging upon my mind I
entered the drawing-room.

The drawing-room of 42 Stephen's Green had often afforded me an amusing
study. Its strange confusion of ranks and classes; its _melange_ of
lordly loungers and city beauties; the discordant tone of conversation,
where each person discussed the very thing he knew least of; the
blooming daughters of a lady mayoress talking 'fashion and the musical
glasses'; while the witless scion of a noble house was endeavouring to
pass himself as a sayer of good things. These now, however, afforded me
neither interest nor pleasure; bent solely upon one thought, eager alone
to ascertain how far Louisa Bellow's manner towards me was the fruit of
artifice, or the offspring of an artless and unsuspecting mind, I left
O'Grady to entertain a whole circle of turbaned ladies, while I directed
my course towards the little boudoir where Louisa usually sat.

In a house where laxity of etiquette and a freedom of manner prevailed
to the extent I have mentioned, Miss Bellow's more cautious and reserved
demeanour was anything but popular; and, as there was no lack of beauty,
men found it more suitable to their lounging and indolent habits to
engage those in conversation who were less _exigeante_ in their demands
for amusement, and were equally merry themselves, as mercifully disposed
when the mirth became not only easy but free.

Miss Bellew, therefore, was permitted to indulge many of her tastes
unmolested; and as one of these was to work at embroidery in the small
room in question, few persons intruded themselves upon her--and even
they but for a short time, a