e young princess your first cousin, and the devil knows what
of your fine brother, I believe the sooner we part good friends the better.
Not but if you like my plan for you, I'll be just as ready as ever to aid
you.'

'I have not heard the plan yet,' said Kate faintly.

'Just a nunnery, then--no more nor less than that. The "Sacred Heart" at
Namur, or the Sisters of Mercy here at home in Bagot Street, I believe, if
you like better--eh?'

'It is soon to be able to make up one's mind on such a point. I want a
little time for this, godmother.'

'You would not want time if your heart were in a holy work, Kate Kearney.
It's little time you'd be asking if I said, will you have Gorman O'Shea for
a husband?'

'There is such a thing as insult, Miss O'Shea, and no amount of long
intimacy can license that.'

'I ask your pardon, godchild. I wish you could know how sorry I feel.'

'Say no more, godmother, say no more, I beseech you,' cried Kate, and her
tears now gushed forth, and relieved her almost bursting heart. 'I'll take
this short path through the shrubbery, and be at the door before you,'
cried she, rushing away; while Miss Betty, with a sharp touch of the spur,
provoked such a plunge as effectually awoke Paddy, and apprised him that
his duties as groom were soon to be in request.

While earnestly assuring him that some changes in his diet should be
speedily adopted against somnolency, Miss Betty rode briskly on, and
reached the hall door.

'I told you I should be first, godmother,' said the girl; and the pleasant
ring of her voice showed she had regained her spirits, or at least such
self-control as enabled her to suppress her sorrow.

CHAPTER XX

A DOMESTIC DISCUSSION

It is a not infrequent distress in small households, especially when some
miles from a market-town, to make adequate preparation for an unexpected
guest at dinner; but even this is a very inferior difficulty to that
experienced by those who have to order the repast in conformity with
certain rigid notions of a guest who will criticise the smallest deviation
from the most humble standard, and actually rebuke the slightest pretension
to delicacy of food or elegance of table-equipage.

No sooner, then, had Kate learned that Miss O'Shea was to remain for
dinner, than she immediately set herself to think over all the possible
reductions that might be made in the fare, and all the plainness and
simplicity that could be imparted to the servi