himself to some ham, "I hope, James, that whatever our environments, we
still understand the traditions of hospitality. If you don't feel on
for it, there's no hunting for me to-day."

After this there was another unpleasant pause. Asshlin attempted to
hide his chagrin, but his face was unmistakably dark with
disappointment.

For a space Milbanke toyed with his breakfast, then he spoke again.

"But, my dear Denis, if you will only allow me----" he ventured.

But before Asshlin could reply, Clodagh's voice broke in.

"Oh! you needn't bother so much, father," she said easily. "You go to
the meet, and I'll take Mr. Milbanke to Carrigmore. I'll drive him over
in the pony-trap, or we'll walk--whichever he likes best."

She spoke fluently and gaily, and it was difficult for Milbanke to
reconcile the high, buoyant tones of her voice with the serious note
struck by her the night before. Filled with relief, however, at her
timely interruption, he was satisfied to let the discrepancy go
unregarded.

"Excellent!" he cried--"an excellent idea, Miss Clodagh! Here's your
difficulty solved, Denis. Your Irish sense of chivalry won't allow you
to deprive me of so charming a guide."

Clodagh laughed frankly at the stilted compliment, and Asshlin's face
brightened perceptibly.

"Oh, well, as you're so amiable," he said magnanimously. "I don't mind
admitting that 'twould have been a bit of a sacrifice to give up the
hunt. Though if I hadn't been overruled by the majority, I'd have
swallowed the ruins without a grimace."

He laughed with restored good-humour, and turned to his daughters.

"When you've done breakfast, Clo," he said, "run round to the stables
and tell Burke he need only saddle the bay."

With the decision that he was, after all, to enjoy his day's sport, his
spirits had risen; and despite the fact that the daylight revealed many
evidences of last night's dissipation that would have been invisible
thirty years ago, Milbanke was pleased and reassured by his appearance.
His movements were energetic, his expression alert. He suggested one
who is interested and attracted by life; and the elder man was too
unimaginative--too single of purpose in his own concerns--to suspect
that the energy, the suggestion of anticipation were due to his own
presence in the house, to the promise of excitement and diversion that
that presence offered.

With the definite arrangement of the day's plans, a fresh energy had
descended on