a breast capable of the
emotion, and you want to see the experiment tried in its least favourable
conditions--on a cold, soulless, selfish fellow of my own order; but, take
my word for it, Kate, it would prove a sheer loss of time to us both.
Whatever she might make of me, it would not be a _hero_; and whatever I
should strive for, it would not be her _love_.'

'I don't think I'd say that if I were a man.'

He made no answer to these words, but arose and walked the room with hasty
steps. 'It was not about these things I came here to talk to you, Kitty,'
said he earnestly. 'I had my head full of other things, and now I cannot
remember them. Only one occurs to me. Have you got any money? I mean a mere
trifle--enough to pay my fare to town?'

'To be sure I have that much, Dick; but you are surely not going to leave
us?'

'Yes. I suddenly remembered I must be up for the last day of term in
Trinity. Knocking about here--I'll scarcely say amusing myself--I had
forgotten all about it. Atlee used to jog my memory on these things when he
was near me, and now, being away, I have contrived to let the whole escape
me. You can help me, however, with a few pounds?'

'I have got five of my own, Dick; but if you want more--'

'No, no; I'll borrow the five of your own, and don't blend it with more, or
I may cease to regard it as a debt of honour.'

'And if you should, my poor dear Dick--'

'I'd be only pretty much what I have ever been, but scarcely wish to be any
longer,' and he added the last words in a whisper. 'It's only to be a brief
absence, Kitty,' said he, kissing her; 'so say good-bye for me to the
others, and that I shall be soon back again.'

'Shall I kiss Nina for you, Dick?'

'Do; and tell her that I gave you the same commission for Miss O'Shea, and
was grieved that both should have been done by deputy!'

And with this he hurried away.

CHAPTER XXIII

A HAPHAZARD VICEROY

When the Government came into office, they were sorely puzzled where to
find a Lord-Lieutenant for Ireland. It is, unhappily, a post that the men
most fitted for generally refuse, while the Cabinet is besieged by a class
of applicants whose highest qualification is a taste for mock-royalty
combined with an encumbered estate.

Another great requisite, beside fortune and a certain amount of ability,
was at this time looked for. The Premier was about, as newspapers call it,
'to inaugurate a new policy,' and he wanted a man who knew n