-fitting boot which ornamented his
leg. "They'll not be over-ceremonious, I hope, about according me an
audience."

"Not in the forenoon, I believe," said Sir Marmaduke drily; for he was
recalling the description old Roach had given him of his own reception
by Kerry O'Leary, and which circumstance, by-the-by, figured somewhat
ostentatiously in his charge to the old baronet.

"Oh, then, they receive early," resumed Fred; "the old French style--the
'petit levee du roi'--before ten o'clock. Another cup of tea, Sybella,
and then I must look after a horse.

"I have given orders already on that score. I flatter myself you'll
rather approve of my stud; for, amongst the incongruities of Ireland, I
have fallen upon an honest horse-dealer."

"Indeed!" said the young man, with more interest than he had yet shown
in the conversation; "I must cultivate that fellow, one might exhibit
him with great success in London."

"Unquestionably, Fred, he is a curiosity; for while he is a perfect
simpleton about the value of an animal; an easy-tempered, good-natured,
soft fellow--with respect to knowledge of a horse, his points, his
performance, and his soundness, I never saw his equal."

"I'll give him a commission to get me two chargers," said Fred,
delighted at the prospect of deriving so much benefit from his Irish
journey. "What makes you look so serious, Sybella?"

"Was I so, Fred? I scarcely know--perhaps I was regretting," added she
archly, "that there were no ladies at Carrig-na-curra to admire so very
smart a cavalier."

Frederick coloured slightly and endeavoured to laugh, but the
consciousness that his "bravery" of costume was somewhat out of place,
worried him and he made no reply.

"You'll not be long, Fred," said his father, "I shall want you to take a
walk with me to the lake."

"No, Fred--don't stay long away; it is not above two miles from tills at
farthest."

"Had I not better send a guide with you?"

"No, no; if the place be larger than a mud hovel, I cannot mistake it.
So here comes our steed. Well, I own, he is the best thing I've yet seen
in these parts;" and the youth opened the window, and stepped out to
approach the animal. He was, indeed, a very creditable specimen
of Lanty's taste in horse-flesh--the model of a compact and
powerfully-built cob horse.

"A hundred guineas, eh?" said Fred, in a tone of question.

"Sixty--not a pound more," said the old man in conscious pride. "The
fellow said but fift