's wound. She
was as tolerant as she was tender, and she had been fond of Terence
Comerford in the old days. No fear that she would be shocked at the
story, as some women--cloistered or otherwise--might have been!
Benedicta was perfect, Mary O'Gara said to herself and heaved a sigh of
relief because there was Benedicta to turn to.

She felt tired out with her emotions, almost too tired to think.
Suddenly she had a happy inspiration. She and Stella should eat
together. The girl looked worn out. If she left her she was tolerably
sure Stella would not think of food.

"No one will be alarmed if I do not come back for lunch," she said. "I
often do not trouble about lunch when I am alone. They will expect me
in for tea. Sir Shawn will not be home till late. Do you think you
could give me some food, Stella?"

"Oh, yes, it will be a pleasure," Stella said, getting up with an air
of anxious politeness. "I am sure there are eggs. You will not mind
eggs for lunch, with tea and bread and butter. I am afraid the kitchen
fire may be out--but the turf keeps a spark so long. It is alight when
you think it is out."

She took the poker and stirred the grey fire to a blaze, then put on
turf, building it as she had seen others do in the narrow grate.

"There are hearths in Connaught on which the fire has not gone out for
fifty years," said Lady O'Gara, watching the shower of sparks that rose
and fell as Stella struck the black sods with the poker.

Neither of them ate very much when the meal was prepared, though Stella
drank the tea almost greedily. She had begun to look a little
furtively at Lady O'Gara before the meal was finished as though she
wished her to be gone. It hurt Mary O'Gara's kind heart; though she
understood that the girl was aching for solitude. But how was she
going to leave her in this haunted place alone--a child like her--in
such terrible trouble?

Suddenly she found a solution of her difficulties. It would serve for
the moment, if Stella would but consent.

"Would you have Mrs. Horridge to stay with you?" she asked. "You know
you cannot stay here quite alone. She is a gentle creature, and very
unobtrusive. I shall feel happy about you if she is here."

To her immense relief Stella consented readily.

"She has been very good to my mother," she said; "and they are both
victims of men's cruelty."

Lady O'Gara, who was looking at Stella at the moment, noticed that her
eyes fell on somethi