ound in twenty-four hours. There could be nothing surprising in it;"
and as he cogitated the demon entered his soul. He sat down and pressed
his hands to his burning temples, as he rested his elbows on the table
many minutes, perplexed in a chaotic labyrinth of evil thoughts, till
the fiend pointed out the path which must be pursued.

He summoned the old nurse. Those who have lived in, or are acquainted
with the peculiarities and customs of the sister kingdom, must know that
the attachment of the lower Irish to their masters amounts to almost
self-devotion. Norah had nursed Rainscourt at her breast, and,
remaining in the family, had presided over the cradle of Emily--adhering
to Rainscourt in his poverty, and, now, in the winter of her days
basking in the sun of his prosperity.

"The blessings of the day upon the master," said the old woman as she
entered.

Rainscourt locked the door. "Norah," said he, "I have bad news to tell
you. Are you aware that the castle is no longer mine?"

"The castle no longer yours! Och hone," replied the old woman, opening
her eyes wide with astonishment.

"That I am a beggar, and shall be sent to prison?"

"The master to prison--Och hone!"

"That my daughter is no longer an heiress, but without a shilling?"

"The beautiful child without a shilling--Och hone!"

"That you will have to leave--be turned out of the castle!"

"Me turned out of the castle--Och hone!"

"Yes, Norah, all this will take place in a few days."

"And who will do it?"

"Why, the young man upstairs, whose life we are saving. So much for
gratitude."

"Gratitude! Och hone--and so young--and so beautiful, too, as he is."

"But he may die, Norah."

"Sure enough he may die," replied the old woman, brightening up at the
idea. "It's a bad fever that's on him."

"And he may recover, Norah."

"Sure enough he may recover," replied she, mournfully; "he's but young
blood."

"Now, Norah, do you love your master--do you love your young mistress?"

"Do I love the master and the mistress?" replied the old woman
indignantly; "and it's you that's after asking me such a question!"

"Can you bear to see us turned out of house and home--to be cast on the
wide world with poverty and rags? Will you permit it, when, by
assisting me, you can prevent it?"

"Can I bear it? Will I assist?--tell me the thing that you'd have me
do, that's all."

"I said that the wounded person might die.--Norah, he _must_ die."