rbert, and at last by
the O'Donoghue himself, for some moments prevented a word of commentary
on this outrageous proceeding, when Sir Marmaduke, rising slowly, said--

"I am a stranger here, very ignorant of the country and its habits; but
I have yet to learn that any man, in the just discharge of his duty,
should be thus treated. I call upon you, sir, to investigate this
affair, and if it be, as we have heard it, to make reparation----"

"Ye hae muckle reason for what ye say, sir," interposed Sir Archy; "but
the freaks and follies o' young men hae a license here, I doubt ye are
na used to."

"I'll lay my life on it, Mark was right," called out the O'Donoghue.
"The boy never makes any mistake in these matters."

"If the fellow were insolent," said Frederic, "your son has served him
properly."

Kate smiled at the speaker a look of gratitude, which amply repaid him
for coming thus promptly to the rescue.

"It may be so," said Sir Marmaduke, happy at such a means of escaping
from a further prosecution of a most unpleasant topic.

"The captain's guessed it well," cried Kerry. "The spalpeen tould
Master Mark that he'd be up here to-morrow wid a notice from the master
himself, and it would go hard but he'd see us out of the place before
Easter."

"Is this possible!" said Sir Marmaduke, blushing deeply. "I beg, my dear
sir, that you will forgive any hasty expression I may have used."

"I can forgive the lad myself," said Sir Archy, proudly.

"Not I, then, uncle," interposed Kate. "Not I. Mark should have
horsewhipped the fellow within an inch of his life."

Sybella Travers started at the energy of voice and manner which
accompanied these words; while the ODonoghue, rising from his chair,
came "slowly across the hearth, and imprinted a kiss upon Kate's
forehead."

"You're one of the raal stock--there's no denying it," muttered Kerry,
as he gazed on her with an expression of almost worship. "'Tis blood
that never gives in--devil a lie in it!"

Herbert, who alone had witnessed the unfriendly meeting between his
brother and young Travers, turned a pleasant smile at the latter, as he
half whispered--

"This was very kind of _you_."

It would have been a difficult--nay, an almost impossible task, to
recall the tone and temper of the party, previous to this unhappy
interruption. All Sir Marmaduke's efforts to resume the conversation had
lost their former ease--the O'Donoghue himself was disconcerted; for he
was no