tertained by
the Seigneur Directors of the class above them, was that they differed
from cattle in stipulating for seats. With the exception of that
provision to suit their weakness, the accommodation extended to them
resembled pens, and the seats were emphatically seats of penitence,
intended to grind the sitter for his mean pittance payment and absence
of aspiration to a higher state. Hard angular wood, a low roof, a shabby
square of window aloof, demanding of him to quit the seat he insisted on
having, if he would indulge in views of the passing scenery,--such was
the furniture of dens where a refinement of castigation was practised on
villain poverty by denying leathers to the windows, or else buttons
to the leathers, so that the windows had either to be up or down, but
refused to shelter and freshen simultaneously.

Dacier selected a compartment occupied by two old women, a mother and
babe and little maid, and a labouring man. There he installed her, with
an eager look that she would not notice.

'You will want the window down,' he said.

She applied to her fellow-travellers for the permission; and struggling
to get the window down, he was irritated to animadvert on 'these
carriages' of the benevolent railway Company.

'Do not forget that the wealthy are well treated, or you may be unjust,'
said she, to pacify him.

His mouth sharpened its line while he tried arts and energies on the
refractory window. She told him to leave it. 'You can't breathe this
atmosphere!' he cried, and called to a porter, who did the work,
remarking that it was rather stiff.

The door was banged and fastened. Dacier had to hang on the step to see
her in the farewell. From the platform he saw the top of her bonnet;
and why she should have been guilty of this freak of riding in an
unwholesome carriage, tasked his power of guessing. He was too English
even to have taken the explanation, for he detested the distinguishing
of the races in his country, and could not therefore have comprehended
her peculiar tenacity of the sense of injury as long as enthusiasm did
not arise to obliterate it. He required a course of lessons in Irish.

Sauntering down the lane, he called at Simon Rofe's cottage, and spoke
very kindly to the gamekeeper's wife. That might please Diana. It was
all he could do at present.

CHAPTER XXI. 'THE YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE'

Descriptions in the newspapers of the rural funeral of Lord Dannisburgh
had the effect