reely, the gentlemen grew garrulous as
market-women.

Irene was gravely discussing the tariff question with Mr. Herbert Blackwell
(whom Mrs. Harris pronounced the most promising young lawyer of her
acquaintance), and politely listening to his stereotyped reasoning, when a
scrap of conversation at the opposite end of the table, attracted her
attention.

"Huntingdon, my dear fellow, I tell you I never made a mistake in my life,
when reading people's minds; and if Aubrey has not the finest legal
intellect in W----, I will throw up my judgeship. You have seen Campbell, I
suppose? He returned last week, and, by the way, I half-expected to meet
him to-day; well, I was talking to him about Aubrey, and he laughed his
droll, chuckling laugh, snapped his bony fingers in my face; and said--

"'Aye! aye, Harris, let him alone; hands off! and I will wager my new
office against your old one that he steps into your honour's shoes.' Now
you know perfectly well that Campbell has no more enthusiasm than a brick
wall, or a roll of red tape; but he is as proud of the young man as if he
were his son. Do you know that he has taken him into partnership?"

"Pshaw! he will never commit such a _faux pas_."

"But he has; I read the notice in this morning's paper. Pass the Madeira.
The fact is, we must not allow our old prejudices to make us unjust. I know
Aubrey has struggled hard; he had much to contend----"

With head slightly inclined, and eyes fixed on Mr. Blackwell's face, Irene
had heard all that passed, and as the gentleman paused in his harangue to
drain his glass, she rose and led the way to the parlours. The gentlemen
adjourned to the smoking-room, and in a short time Mrs. Harris ordered her
carriage, pleading an engagement with Grace's mantua-maker as an excuse for
leaving so early. With a feeling of infinite relief the hostess accompanied
them to the door, saw the carriage descend the avenue, and, desiring one of
the servants to have Erebus saddled at once, she went to her room and
changed the rich dinner-dress for her riding-habit. As she sprang into the
saddle, and gathered up the reins, her father called from the open window,
whence issued curling wreaths of blue smoke--

"Where now, Irene?"

"I am going to ride; it threatened rain this morning, and I was afraid to
venture."

He said something, but without hearing she rode off, and was soon out of
sight, leaving the town to the left, and taking the rocky road leading up
t