bored." If
you knew, dearest Kate, how foreigners school themselves, and strive to
catch up that insouciance, and never succeed--never!'

'My brother's friend certainly is no adept in it.'

'He is insufferable. I don't know that the man ever dined in the company of
ladies before; did you remark that he did not open the door as we left the
dinner-room? and if your brother had not come over, I should have had to
open it for myself. I declare I'm not sure he stood up as we passed.'

'Oh yes; I saw him rise from his chair.'

'I'll tell you what you did not see. You did not see him open his napkin
at dinner. He stole his roll of bread very slyly from the folds, and then
placed the napkin, carefully folded, beside him.'

'You seem to have observed him closely, Nina.'

'I did so, because I saw enough in his manner to excite suspicion of his
class, and I want to know what Dick means by introducing him here.'

'Papa liked him; at least he said that after we left the room a good deal
of his shyness wore off, and that he conversed pleasantly and well. Above
all, he seems to know Ireland perfectly.'

'Indeed!' said she, half disdainfully.

'So much so that I was heartily sorry to leave the room when I heard them
begin the topic; but I saw papa wished to have some talk with him, and I
went.'

'They were gallant enough not to join us afterwards, though I think we
waited tea till ten.'

'Till nigh eleven, Nina; so that I am sure they must have been interested
in their conversation.'

'I hope the explanation excuses them.'

'I don't know that they are aware they needed an apology. Perhaps they were
affecting a little of that British insouciance you spoke of--'

'They had better not. It will sit most awkwardly on their Irish habits.'

'Some day or other I'll give you a formal battle on this score, Nina, and I
warn you you'll not come so well out of it.'

'Whenever you like. I accept the challenge. Make this brilliant companion
of your brother's the type, and it will test your cleverness, I promise
you. Do you even know his name?'

'Mr. Daniel, my brother called him; but I know nothing of his country or of
his belongings.'

'Daniel is a Christian name, not a family name, is it not? We have scores
of people like that--Tommasina, Riccardi, and such like--in Italy, but they
mean nothing.'

'Our friend below-stairs looks as if _that_ was not his failing. I should
say that he means a good deal.'

'Oh, I know you are