nse thought
she had sunk to rest. He closed the book noiselessly, as he looked at her,
replaced the various objects on the table, and rose to steal quietly away.

The accidental movement of a chair, however, startled her; she turned, and
leaning on her elbow, she saw him as he tried to move away. 'Don't go,
Dick, don't go. I'm awake, and quite fresh again. Is it late?'

'It's not far from one o'clock,' said he, half-roughly, to hide his
emotion; for her worn and wearied features struck him now more forcibly
than when she slept.

'And are you only returned now? How hungry you must be. Poor fellow--have
you dined to-day?'

'Yes; I got to Owen Molloy's as they were straining the potatoes, and sat
down with them, and ate very heartily too.'

'Weren't they proud of it? Won't they tell how the young lord shared their
meal with them?'

'I don't think they are as cordial as they used to be, Kate; they did not
talk so openly, nor seem at their ease, as I once knew them. And they did
one thing, significant enough in its way, that I did not like. They quoted
the county newspaper twice or thrice when we talked of the land.'

'I am aware of that, Dick; they have got other counsellors than their
landlords now,' said she mournfully, 'and it is our own fault if they
have.'

'What, are you turning Nationalist, Kitty?' said he, laughing.

'I was always a Nationalist in one sense,' said she, 'and mean to continue
so; but let us not get upon this theme. Do you know that Peter Gill has
left us?'

'What, for America?'

'No; for "O'Shea's Barn." Miss Betty has taken him. She came here to-day to
"have it out" with papa, as she said; and she has kept her word. Indeed,
not alone with him, but with all of us--even Nina did not escape.'

'Insufferable old woman. What did she dare to say to Nina?'

'She got off the cheapest of us all, Dick,' said she, laughing. 'It was
only some stupid remark she made her about looking like a boy, or being
dressed like a rope-dancer. A small civility of this sort was her share of
the general attention.'

'And how did Nina take the insolence?'

'With great good-temper, or good-breeding. I don't know exactly which
covered the indifference she displayed, till Miss Betty, when taking her
leave, renewed the impertinence in the hall, by saying something about the
triumphant success such a costume would achieve in the circus, when Nina
curtsied, and said: "I am charmed to hear you say so, madam, and shal