stupefied astonishment; 'is THAT what you are thinking of,
ma'am?'

'The yellow damask furniture!' said her niece, smiling. Oh, if that's
all, that shall never offend your eyes again. Aunt, my painted velvet
chairs are finished; and trust the furnishing that room to me. The
legacy lately left me cannot be better applied you shall see how
beautifully it will be furnished.'

'Oh, if I had money, I should like to do it myself; but it would take an
immensity to new furnish Clonbrony Castle properly.'

'The furniture in this house,' said Miss Nugent, looking round.

'Would do a great deal towards it, I declare,' cried Lady Clonbrony;
'that never struck me before, Grace, I protest--and what would not suit
one might sell or exchange here--and it would be a great amusement to
me--and I should like to set the fashion of something better in that
country. And I declare, now, I should like to see those poor people,
and that widow O'Neill. I do assure you, I think I was happier at home;
only, that one gets, I don't know how, a notion, one's nobody out of
Lon'on. But, after all, there's many drawbacks in Lon'on--and many
people are very impertinent, I'll allow--and if there's a woman in the
world I hate, it is Mrs. Dareville--and, if I was leaving Lon'on, I
should not regret Lady Langdale neither--and Lady St. James is as cold
as a stone. Colambre may well say FROZEN CIRCLES--these sort of people
are really very cold, and have, I do believe, no hearts. I don't verily
think there is one of them would regret me more--Hey! let me
see, Dublin--the winter Merrion Square--new furnished--and the
summer--Clonbrony Castle!'

Lord Colambre and Miss Nugent waited in silence till her mind should
have worked itself clear. One great obstacle had been removed; and now
that the yellow damask had been taken out of her imagination, they no
longer despaired. Lord Clonbrony put his head into the room.

'What hopes?--any? if not, let me go.'

He saw the doubting expression of Lady Clonbrony's countenance--hope in
the face of his son and niece.

'My dear, dear Lady Clonbrony, make us all happy by one word,' said he,
kissing her.

'You never kissed me so since we left Ireland before,' said Lady
Clonbrony. 'Well, since it must be so, let us go,' said she.

'Did I ever see such joy!' said Lord Clonbrony, clasping his hands; 'I
never expected such joy in my life!--I must go and tell poor Terry!' and
off he ran.

'And now, since we are to go,' sa