say most unhandsomely too: he had just given
me his arm, to lead me to a chair, when you said something in a half
whisper--I could not catch it if I would--he dropped my arm, burst out a
laughing, and hurried over to Lord Clonmel--I suppose to repeat it."

"It was not worth relating, then," said Kate, with a toss of her head.
"I merely remarked how odd it was Lady Ridgeway couldn't dance in time,
with such beautiful clocks on her stocking."

"O, Kate dearest!" said Sybella, who, while she could not refrain from a
burst of laughter, became deep scarlet at her friend's hardihood.

"Why Meddlicot told that as his own at supper," said Sir Marmaduke.

"So he did, sir; but I cautioned him that a license for wholesale
does not permit the retail even of jokes. Isn't the worthy sheriff
a druggist? But what have we here--all manner of changes on the
staff--Lord Sellbridge to join his regiment at Hounslow, vice,
Captain------your brother, Sybella--Captain Frederick Travers"--and
she reddened slightly at the words. "I did not know he was appointed
aid-decamp to the Viceroy."

"Nor did I, my dear," said Sir Marmaduke. "I knew, he was most anxious
to make the exchange with Lord Sellbridge; but this is the first I have
heard of the success of his negociation."

"You see, Kate," said Sybella, while a sly glance shot beneath her
long-lashed lids, "that even Fred has become a partizan of Ireland."

"Perhaps the prospect of the revolt he hinted at," replied Kate, with an
air of scornful pride, "has made the Guardsman prefer this country for
the moment."

"I incline to a very different reason," said Sybella, but in a voice so
subdued as to be only audible to Kate herself, who again blushed deeply,
and seemed greatly confused.

"Ha! here it is," said Sir Marmaduke, reading aloud a long paragraph
from a morning paper, which, descanting on the abortiveness of any
effort to destroy the peace of the realm, by enemies without or within
its frontiers, concluded with a glowing panegyric on the blessings of
the British constitution. "'The government, while confiding implicitly
on the loyalty and bravery of his Majesty's people, have yet neglected
no measures of precaution against the insane and rash attempts of our
'natural enemies,' whose temerity is certain of again receiving the
same severe lesson which every attempt upon our shores has taught them.'
Yes--yes--very prompt and active measures, nothing could be better,"
muttered he to h