affected her, for she forgot the diffidence that had marked her at the
dinner of the preceding evening, and talked brightly and with interest
on a variety of subjects. Finally, as she handed Milbanke his second
cup of tea, she touched upon the object of his visit.

"'Twas to see the ruins at Carrigmore, not us, that you came, wasn't
it?" she said with a shade of humour.

He returned her glance seriously.

"Oh no," he said. "At least----"

"Ah, now you've let it out!" she cried, with a laugh. "I knew it. I
said so. Didn't I, Nance? I knew no one would come here just to see
us."

Asshlin laughed.

"'Pon my soul!" he cried, "you haven't learned your market value yet,
Clo! If I were a girl, I'm hanged if I'd rate myself lower than a
fourth-century ruin."

He laughed afresh.

But Clodagh displayed no embarrassment. She was too unversed in the
ways of coquetry to see or resent the point of the remark.

"I?" she said naively. "What have I to do with it?"

After this there was a trifling silence, at the end of which, Asshlin
looked quickly at his guest.

"By the way, James," he exclaimed, "we were too well amused last night
to look ahead. I never thought of asking you about to-day. Have you any
pet plans or schemes? Is it to be a pilgrimage to St. Galen? Or what do
you say to a day in the saddle? There's a meet not five miles away; and
if a good gallop pleases you, I have as neat a little horse for you as
ever carried a saddle. What do you say? Of course if you think the
Round Tower is likely to collapse or be demolished by a tidal wave, I
won't raise a finger; but----"

Milbanke laughed.

"My dear Denis," he said quickly, "don't you trouble on my account." He
glanced deprecatingly over Asshlin's sporting attire. "Don't you
trouble about me. I never was a sportsman, as you know. I'll go to my
own hunting, and you go to yours. Don't let me interfere with any plans
you may have formed. I enjoy a solitary excursion."

But Asshlin's face darkened.

"Oh no," he objected after a short pause--"oh no. If you're not game
for it, then the meet is off so far as I'm concerned. I can't have you
roaming about the country by yourself. Oh no; I hope I remember my
obligations."

Milbanke looked distressed. With a genuine feeling of embarrassment he
turned from one face to the other.

"My dear Denis," he objected feebly, "I must really beg of you----"

"Not another word!--not another word!" Asshlin ostentatiously helped