fire, one or two old engravings,
and what seemed a plan of the estate. At the one window, small, with a
stone mullion, the summer sun was streaming in. The earl sat in its
flood, and in the heart of it seemed cold and bloodless. He looked
about sixty years of age, and as if he rarely or never smiled. Donal
tried to imagine what a smile would do for his face, but failed. He
was not in the least awed by the presence of the great man. What is
rank to the man who honours everything human, has no desire to look
what he is not, has nothing to conceal and nothing to compass, is
fearful of no to-morrow, and does not respect riches! Toward such ends
of being the tide of Donal's life was at least setting. So he sat
neither fidgeting nor staring, but quietly taking things in.

The earl raised himself, pushed his writing from him, turned towards
him, and said with courtesy,

"Excuse me, Mr. Grant; I wished to talk to you with the ease of duty
done."

More polite his address could not have been, but there was a something
between him and Donal that was not to be passed a--nameless gulf of the
negative.

"My time is at your lordship's service," replied Donal, with the ease
that comes of simplicity.

"You have probably guessed why I sent for you?"

"I have hoped, my lord."

There was something of old-world breeding about the lad that commended
him to the earl. Such breeding is not rare among Celt-born peasants.

"My sons told me that they had met a young man in the grounds--"

"For which I beg your lordship's pardon," said Donal. "I did not know
the place was forbidden."

"I hope you will soon be familiar with it. I am glad of your mistake.
From what they said, I supposed you might be a student in want of a
situation, and I had been looking out for a young man to take charge of
the boy: it seemed possible you might serve my purpose. I do not
question you can show yourself fit for such an office: I presume it
would suit you. Do you believe yourself one to be so trusted?"

Donal had not a glimmer of false modesty; he answered immediately,

"I do, my lord."

"Tell me something of your history: where were you born? what were your
parents?"

Donal told him all he thought it of any consequence he should know.

His lordship did not once interrupt him with question or remark. When
he had ended--

"Well," he said, "I like all you tell me. You have testimonials?"

"I have from the professors, my lord, and one f