as turned and changed and altered. Owen of Hap
House was once more Owen of Hap House only, but still in her eyes
heroic, as it behoved a man to be. He would not creep about the
country with moaning voice and melancholy eyes, with draggled dress
and outward signs of wretchedness. He might be wretched, but he would
still be manly. Could it be possible that to her should yet be given
the privilege of soothing that noble, unbending wretchedness? By no
means possible, poor, heart-laden countess; thy years are all against
thee. Girls whose mouths will water unduly for the flesh-pots of
Egypt must in after life undergo such penalties as these. Art thou
not a countess?

But not so did she answer herself. Might it not be possible? Ah,
might it not be possible? And as the question was even then being
asked, perhaps for the ten thousandth time, Owen Fitzgerald stood
before her. She had not yet seen him since the new news had gone
abroad, and had hardly yet conceived how it might be possible that
she should do so. But now as she thought of him there he was. They
two were together,--alone together; and the door by which he had
entered had closed upon him before she was aware of his presence.

"Owen Fitzgerald!" she said, starting up and giving him both her
hands. This she did, not of judgment, nor yet from passion, but of
impulse. She had been thinking of him with such kindly thoughts,
and now he was there it became natural that her greeting should be
kindly. It was more so than it had ever been to any but her son since
the wrinkled, gloating earl had come and fetched her.

"Yes, Owen Fitzgerald," said he, taking the two hands that were
offered to him, and holding them awhile; not pressing them as a man
who loved her, who could have loved her, would have done. "After all
that has gone and passed between us, Lady Desmond, I cannot leave the
country without saying one word of farewell to you."

"Leave the country!" she exclaimed. "And where are you going?"

As she looked into his face with her hands still in his,--for she did
not on the moment withdraw them, she felt that he had never before
looked so noble, so handsome, so grand. Leave the country! ah, yes;
and why should not she leave it also? What was there to bind her to
those odious walls in which she had been immolated during the best
half of her life?

"Where are you going?" she asked, looking almost wildly up at him.

"Somewhere very far a-field, Lady Desmond," he said