must have met few
comforts in that miserable fishing-hut."

"How picturesque it must have been," interposed Mrs. White; "and what a
pity you had no means of having a drawing made of it. The scene at the
moment of the yacht striking; the despair-struck seamen--"

"Pardon me, madam, for destroying even a particle of so ingenious a
fancy; but the men evinced nothing of the kind,--they behaved well, and
with the calmest steadiness."

"It is scarcely too late yet," resumed the lady, unabashed; "if you
would just describe it all carefully to Mr. Howie, he could made a
sketch in oils one would swear was taken on the spot."

"Quite impossible,--out of the question," said Howie, who was always
ashamed at the absurdities which compromised himself, although keenly
alive to those which involved his neighbors.

"We have heard much of Lady Kilgoff's courage and presence of mind,"
said Mrs. Kennyfeck, returning to a theme by which she calculated on
exploring into Cashel's sentiments towards that lady. "Were they indeed
so conspicuous?"

"Can you doubt it, madam?" said Lady Janet, tartly; "she gave the most
unequivocal proof of both,--she remembered her husband!"

The tartness of this impertinent speech was infinitely increased by
the voice and manner of the speaker, and a half-suppressed titter ran
through the room, Cashel alone, of all, feeling annoyed and angry. Aunt
Fanny, always less occupied with herself than her neighbors, quickly saw
his irritation, and resolved to change a topic which more than once had
verged on danger.

"And now, Mr. Cashel," said she, "let us not forget the pledge on which
we admitted you."

"Quite right," exclaimed Roland; "I promised a suggestion: here it is--"

"Pardon me for interrupting," said Miss Kennyfeck; "but in what capacity
do you make this suggestion? Are you still king, or have you abdicated?"

"Abdicated in all form," replied Roland, bowing with well-assumed
humility; "as simple citizen, I propose that we elect a 'Queen,' to rule
despotically in all things,--uncontrolled and irresponsible."

"Oh, delightful! admirable!" exclaimed a number of voices, among which
all the men and the younger ladies might be heard; Lady Janet and Mrs.
Kennyfeck, and a few others "of the senior service," as Mr. Linton
would have called them, seeming to canvass the motion with more cautious
reserve.

"As it is to be an elective monarchy, sir," said Lady Janet, with a
shrewd glance over all the possi