ing somewhat annoyed at the
young lady's conduct, who, instead of evincing the slightest sympathy
for her mother, held her head down, and seemed to shake with laughter.
By this time, however, the postilions were again under way, and, after
ten minutes' sharp trotting, we entered the grand stand, with whips
cracking, ribbons fluttering, and I myself caracoling beside the
carriage with an air of triumphant success.

A large dusky travelling carriage had meanwhile occupied the place the
Duchess designed for her friend. The only thing to do, therefore, was,
to place them as conveniently as I could, and hasten back to inform her
Grace of the success of my mission. As I approached her carriage I was
saluted by a burst of laughter from the staff, in which the Duke himself
joined most extravagantly; while O'Grady, with his hands on his sides,
threatened to fall from the saddle.

"What the deuce is the matter?" thought I; "I didn't bungle it?"

"Tell her Grace," said the Duke, with his hand upon his mouth, unable to
finish the sentence with laughter.

I saw something was wrong, and that I was in some infernal scrape,
still, resolved to go through with it, I drew near, and said,

"I am happy to inform your Grace that Lady Kil----"

"Is here," said the Duchess, bowing haughtily, as she turned towards a
spiteful-looking dowager beside her.

Here was a mess! So, bowing and backing, I dropped through the crowd to
where my companions still stood convulsed with merriment.

"What, in the devil's name, is it?" said I to O'Grady "Whom have I been
escorting this half-hour?"

"You've immortalised yourself," said O'Grady, with a roar of laughter.
"Your bill at twelve months for five hundred pounds is as good this
moment as bank paper."

"What is it?" said I, losing all patience. "Who is she?"

"Mrs. Paul Rooney, my boy, the gem of attorneys' wives, the glory of
Stephen's-green, with a villa at Bray, a box at the theatre, champagne
suppers every night in the week, dinners promiscuously, and lunch _a
discretion_: there's glory for you. You may laugh at a latitat, sneer at
the King's Bench, and snap your fingers at any process-server from here
to Kilmainham!"

"May the devil fly away with her!" said I, wiping my forehead with
passion and excitement.

"The Heavens forbid!" said O'Grady, piously. "Our exchequer may be
guilty of many an extravagance, but it could not permit such a flight as
that. It is evident, Hinton, that you did