here time after time to look for
it. He's not one of that sort."

"No, indeed," said Fanny; "and I don't believe anything about your
seeing Sir Thomas."

"Oh, we've seed him hoften enough. There's no mistake about that. But
now--" and then, with a mysterious air and low voice, he explained
to them, that this considerable balance of money still due to
them was to be paid by the cousin, "Mr. Owen of Appy 'ouse." And
to substantiate all his story, he exhibited a letter from Mr.
Prendergast to his father, which some months since had intimated that
a sum of money would be paid on behalf of Sir Thomas Fitzgerald, if
Mr. Mollett would call at Mr. Prendergast's office at a certain hour.
The ultimate effect of all this was, that the car was granted for
the morning, with certain dire threats as to any further breach of
engagement.

Very early on the following morning Aby was astir, hoping that he
might manage to complete his not elaborate toilet without disturbing
his father's slumbers. For, it must be known, he had been very urgent
with the O'Dwyers as to the necessity of keeping this journey of
his a secret from his "governor." But the governor was wide awake,
looking at him out of the corner of his closed eye whenever his back
was turned, and not caring much what he was about to do with himself.
Mollett pere wished to be left alone for that morning, that he also
might play his little game in his own solitary fashion, and was not
at all disposed to question the movements of his son.

At about five Aby started for Hap House. His toilet, I have said, was
not elaborate; but in this I have perhaps wronged him. Up there in
the bed-room he did not waste much time over his soap and water; but
he was aware that first impressions are everything, and that one
young man should appear smart and clever before another if he wished
to carry any effect with him; so he took his brush and comb in his
pocket, and a pot of grease with which he was wont to polish his long
side-locks, and he hurriedly grasped up his pins, and his rings, and
the satin stock which Fanny in her kinder mood had folded for him;
and then, during his long journey to Hap House, he did perform a
toilet which may, perhaps, be fairly called elaborate.

There was a long, tortuous, narrow avenue, going from the Mallow
and Kanturk road down to Hap House, which impressed Aby with the
idea that the man on whom he was now about to call was also a big
gentleman, and made him m