ntelpiece,
where the bundle of notes still protruded from under the clock.

What if Larry had quailed before the thought of confessing his losses
to the querulous mother, who could so ill spare the money he had
squandered? What if Larry had not fought the storm last night as it
might have been fought? She suddenly contemplated last night's play
from Larry's point of view--contemplated Larry's losses by light of the
hard monetary straits that Ireland breeds.

Her blood seemed to turn to water; she felt like one beyond the pale of
human emotion or superhuman help.

"Leave me to myself, Hannah!" she said faintly. "I want to be alone."

"Lave you? But, my darlin'----"

"I must be alone."

Hannah looked at her in agonised concern.

"Miss Clodagh----" she began. But something in Clodagh's stony quiet
daunted her. She gave a muffled sob, and moved slowly across the room.

Clodagh was conscious of the wailing sounds of grief for several
minutes after she had disappeared; then gradually they faded, as she
descended into the lower regions, to share the appalling and yet grimly
fascinating news with Burke and the farm-labourers; and silence reigned
in the lonely room.

When full consciousness that she was alone came to Clodagh, she let her
hands drop from the back of the chair; and, moving stiffly, crossed the
room to the fireplace.

She made no attempt to touch the notes that lay as Asshlin had placed
them; but she looked at them for long with a species of horror. And at
last, as though the thought of them had begotten other thoughts, she
raised her eyes to the picture hanging above them--the picture of
Anthony Asshlin in his lace ruffles and black satin coat, with his
powdered hair, his gallant bearing, and dark eager face.

The eyes of the picture seemed to look into hers with an almost human
smile of satire. Time had passed since that gay, reckless presence had
filled the old room; dice and duelling were gone out of fashion; but
human nature was unchanged--there were still Asshlins of Orristown!

"O God----" she said aloud; then she stopped. "There is no God!" she
added wildly--"there is no God!"

At the sudden sound of her voice, Mick rose from the corner where he
had been crouching. The sight of him calmed her; she passed her hand
once or twice across her eyes, then walked quite steadily across the
room.

The dog followed her closely; but at the door she stopped and looked at
him.

"No, Mick! You cannot c