, whose heart, however, was
bent on accepting the invitation.

"Perhaps she would come over and join us," said Lady Fitzgerald,
feeling, however, that the subject was not without danger. Sending a
carriage for a young girl like Lady Clara did very well, but it might
not answer if she were to offer to send for the Countess of Desmond.

"Oh, mamma never goes out."

"I'm quite sure she'd like you to stay," said Herbert. "After you
were all gone yesterday, she said how delighted she was to have you
go away for a little time. And she did say she thought you could not
go to a better place than Castle Richmond."

"I am sure that was very kind of her," said Lady Fitzgerald.

"Did she?" said Clara, longingly.

And so after a while it was settled that she should send a line to
her mother, saying that she had been persuaded to stay over one other
night, and that she should accompany them to inspect the site of this
embryo mill at Berryhill.

"And I will write a line to the countess," said Lady Fitzgerald,
"telling her how impossible it was for you to hold your own intention
when we were all attacking you on the other side."

And so the matter was settled.

On the following day they were to leave home almost immediately after
breakfast; and on this occasion Miss Letty insisted on going with
them.

"There's a seat on the car, I know, Herbert," she said; "for you mean
to ride; and I'm just as much interested about the mill as any of
you."

"I'm afraid the day would be too long for you, Aunt Letty," said
Mary: "we shall stay there, you know, till after four."

"Not a bit too long. When I'm tired I shall go into Mrs. Townsend's;
the glebe is not ten minutes' drive from Berryhill."

The Rev. Aeneas Townsend was the rector of the parish, and he, as
well as his wife, were fast friends of Aunt Letty. As we get on in
the story we shall, I trust, become acquainted with the Rev. Aeneas
Townsend and his wife. It was ultimately found that there was no
getting rid of Aunt Letty, and so the party was made up.

They were all standing about the hall after breakfast, looking up
their shawls and cloaks and coats, and Herbert was in the act of
taking special and very suspicious care of Lady Clara's throat, when
there came a ring at the door. The visitor, whoever he might be, was
not kept long waiting, for one servant was in the hall, and another
just outside the front door with the car, and a third holding
Herbert's horse.

"I wis