istlessly, as he puffed
his cigar and pointed seaward.

"The Skerries, Mark; see how the waves beat over that crag. They tried
to build a lighthouse there, but the foundations were soon swept away."

"And what is that? It looks like a dismantled house."

"That is the ruined castle of Dunluce. It belonged to the Antrim
family."

"Good heavens! what a dreary region it all is!" cried he, interrupting.
"I declare to you, South Africa is a garden compared to this."

"Oh, Mark, for shame!" said his elder sister. "The kingdom has nothing
grander than this coast-line from Portrush to Fairhead."

"I 'm no judge of its grandeur, but I tell you one thing,--I 'd not live
here,--no, nor would I contract to live six months in a year here,--to
have the whole estate. This is a fine day, I take it."

"It is a glorious day," said Bella.

"Well, it's just as much as we can do to keep our legs here; and
certainly your flattened bonnets and dishevelled hair are no allies to
your good looks."

"Our looks are not in question," said the elder, tartly. "We were
talking of the scenery; and I defy you to tell me where, in all your
travels, you have seen its equal."

"I 'll tell you one thing, Alice, it's deuced dear at the price we are
looking at it; I mean, at the cost of this precious bit of road we stand
on. Where did the governor get his engineer?"

"It was Tony planned this,--every yard of it," said Bella, proudly.

"And who is Tony, pray?" said he, superciliously.

"You met him last night,--young Butler. He dined here, and sat next
Alice."

"You mean that great hulking fellow, with the attempt at a straw-colored
moustache, who directed the fireworks."

"I mean that very good-looking young man who coolly removed the
powder-flask that you had incautiously forgotten next the rocket-train,"
said Mrs. Trafford.

"And that was Tony!" said he, with a faint sneer.

"Yes, Mark, that was Tony; and if you want to disparage him, let it be
to some other than Bella and myself; for he is an old playmate that we
both esteem highly, and wish well to."

"I am not surprised at it," said he, languidly. "I never saw a snob yet
that could n't find a woman to defend him; and this fellow, it would
seem, has got two."

"Tony a snob!"

"Tony Butler a snob! Just the very thing he is not. Poor boy, there
never was one to whom the charge was less applicable."

"Don't be angry, Alice, because I don't admire your rustic friend. In my
ignorance