sts he found the same reserve and coldness of manner,
so that no sooner had they assembled in the drawing-room, after dinner,
than he left the house and set off to inquire for Mr. Corrigan at the
cottage.

"We had nine vacant places to-day at table," said Lady Janet, as soon as
she had arranged her special table next the fire, with a shade in front
and a screen behind her, and was quite satisfied that, in regard to
cushions and footstools, she had monopolized the most comfortable in the
room.

"I thought--aw--that we--aw--were somewhat slow," said Captain Jennings,
with his habitually tiresome, pompous intonation.

"What's the matter with Upton?" said a junior officer of his regiment,
in a whisper; "he looks so confoundedly put out."

"I'm sure I don't know," yawned out Lord Charles; "he has a very safe
book on the Oaks."

"He's backing Dido at very long odds," interposed Miss Meek, "and she's
weak before, they say."

"Not staked, I hope," said Frobisher, looking maliciously at her.

"I don't care what you say, Charley," rejoined she; "I defy any one to
know whether a horse goes tender, while galloping in deep ground. You
are always unjust." And she moved away in anger.

"She _is_ so careless," said Frobisher, listlessly.

"Tell me about these Kennyfecks. What is it all about?" said Mrs. White,
bustling up, as if she was resolved on a long confidence.

"They hedged against themselves, I hear," said Frobisher.

"Indeed! poor things; and are they much hurt?"

"Not seriously, I fancy," drawled he. "Lady Janet knows it all."

Mrs. White did not neglect the suggestion, but at once repaired to that
part of the room where Lady Janet was sitting, surrounded by a select
circle, eagerly discussing the very question she had asked to be
informed upon.

"I had it from Verthinia," said Mrs. Malone, with her peculiar, thick
enunciation, "Lady Kilgoff's maid. She said that not a day passes
without some such scene between the mother and daughters. Mrs. Kennyfeck
had, it seems, forbithen Cashel to call there in her abthence."

"I must most respectfully interrupt you, madam," said a large old lady,
with blond false hair, and a great deal of rouge, "but the affair was
quite different. Miss Olivia, that is the second girl, was detected by
her aunt, Miss O'Hara, packing up for an elopement."

"Fudge!" said Lady Janet; "she'd have helped her, if that were the case!
I believe the true version of the matter is yet to come out