between her and the door, 'let
me beg that you will consider yourself as at home in this house, whilst
any circumstances make it desirable to you. The hospitality you showed
me you cannot think that I now forget.'

'Oh, my lord, you're too good--how few--too kind--kinder than my own,'
and bursting into tears, she escaped out of the room.

Lord Colambre returned to the party round the table, who were in various
attitudes of astonishment, and with faces of fear, horror, hope, joy,
doubt.

'Distress,' continued his lordship, 'however incurred, if not by vice,
will always find a refuge in this house. I speak in my father's name,
for I know I speak his sentiments. But never more shall vice,' said
he, darting such a look at the brother agents as they felt to the
backbone--'never more shall vice, shall fraud enter here.'

He paused, and there was a momentary silence.

'There spoke the true thing! and the RAEL gentleman; my own heart's
satisfied,' said Brian, folding his arms, and standing erect.

'Then so is mine,' said Grace, taking breath, with a deep sigh.

The widow advancing, put on her spectacles, and, looking up close at
Lord Colambre's face--'Then it's a wonder I didn't know the family
likeness.'

Lord Colambre now recollecting that he still wore the old greatcoat,
threw it off.

'Oh, bless him! Then now I'd know him anywhere. I'm willing to die now,
for we'll all be happy.'

'My lord, since it is so--my lord, may I ask you,' said Mr. Garraghty,
now sufficiently recovered to be able to articulate, but scarcely to
express his ideas; 'if what your lordship hinted just now--'

'I hinted nothing, sir; I spoke plainly.'

'I beg pardon, my lord,' said old Nick;--'respecting vice, was levelled
at me; because, if it was, my lord,' trying to stand erect; 'let me tell
your lordship, if I could think it was--'

'If it did not hit you, sir, no matter at whom it was levelled.'

'And let me ask, my lord, if I may presume, whether, in what you
suggested by the word fraud, your lordship had any particular meaning?'
said St. Dennis.

'A very particular meaning, sir,--feel in your pocket for the key of
this widow's house, and deliver it to her.'

'Oh, if that's all the meaning, with all the pleasure in life. I never
meant to detain it longer than till the leases were signed,' said St.
Dennis.

'And I'm ready to sign the leases this minute,' said the brother.

'Do it, sir, this minute; I have read them; I will be a