e for you."

"Certainly not, sir, if we seize the opportunity to show him some
attentions. He is a most high-bred gentleman, and from his abilities,
his rank, and his connections, sure to be at the head of the line; and
I confess I 'd be very much ashamed if he were to hear, as he is sure to
hear, that I was in his vicinity without my ever having gone to wait on
him."

"Go by all means, then. Wait upon him at once, Temple; but I tell you
frankly, I don't fancy presenting such a man to your sisters."

"Why, sir, there is not a more unobjectionable man in all England; his
manners are the very type of respectful deference towards ladies. He
belongs to that old school which professes to be shocked with modern
levity, while his whole conversation is a sort of quiet homage."

"Well, well; how long would he stay,--a week?"

"A couple of days, perhaps, if he came at all. Indeed, I greatly doubt
that he would come. They say he is here about some coal-mine they have
discovered on his property."

"What! has he found coal?" cried the old man, eagerly.

"So it is said, sir; or, at least, he hopes so."

"It's only lignite. I 'm certain it's only lignite. I have been
deceived myself twice or thrice, and I don't believe coal--real
coal--exists in this part of Ireland."

"Of that I can tell you nothing; he, however, will only be too glad to
talk the matter over with you."

"Yes; it is an interesting topic,--very interesting. Snell says that
the great carboniferous strata are all in Ireland, but that they
lie deep, and demand vast capital to work them. He predicts a great
manufacturing prosperity to the country when Manchester and Birmingham
will have sunk into ruins. He opines that this lignite is a mere
indication of the immense vein of true carbon beneath. But what should
this old debauchee know of a great industrial theme! His whole anxiety
will be to turn it to some immediate profit. He 'll be looking for a
loan, you 'll see. Mark my words, Temple, he 'll want an advance on his
colliery." And he gave one of those rich chuckling laughs which are
as peculiar to the moneyed classes as ever a simpering smile was to
enamelled beauty.

"I don't say," added he, after a moment, "that the scheme may not be a
good one,--an excellent one. Sampson says that all manufactures will be
transferred to Ireland yet,--that this will be in some future time the
great seat of national industry and national wealth. Let your grand
friend come