s a comfortable house. The parlor which
we entered was large, and a huge grate filled with blazing coals
diffused a cheerful glow. Magazines and periodicals lay on the table.
Pictures illustrative of classical scenes hung round the walls, done in
the old-fashioned style of line engraving, and representing such
subjects as Mutius Scaevola before Porsenna; Belisarius begging for an
obolus; Aeneas carrying his father from Troy; Leonidas at Thermopylae;
Coriolanus quitting Rome; Hamilcar making the boy Hannibal swear his
oath of hate against Home; and others of a similar character.

O'Halloran made me sit in a "sleepy-hollow" easy-chair by the fire.
Beside me were two huge book-shelves crammed with books. A glance at
them showed me that they were largely of a classical order. Longinus,
Aeschylus, Demosthenes, Dindorf, Plato, Stallbaum--such were the names
that I saw in gilt letters on the backs of the volumes.

About the room there was that air of mingled comfort and refinement
that is always suggestive of the presence of ladies. A work-basket
stood beside the table. And on a little Chinese table in a corner lay
some crochet-work. I took in all these things at a glance and while my
host was talking to me. After a time he excused himself and said that
he would call the "leedies." He retired, leaving me alone, and striving
to picture to myself--

CHAPTER XV.

THE O'HALLORAN LADIES.--THEIR APPEARANCE.--THEIR AGES.--THEIR DRESS.--
THEIR DEMEANOR.--THEIR CULTURE, POLISH, EDUCATION, RANK, STYLE,
ATTAINMENTS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM.

"Leedies," said O'Halloran, "allow me to inthrojuice to ye Captain
Macrorie, an officer on' a gintlemin, an' when I steet that he seeved
me life about a half an hour ago, ye'll see what sintimints of
grateechood are his jew."

With these words O'Halloran entered the room, followed by two ladies
whom he thus introduced, giving my name to them, but in the abstraction
of the moment not mentioning their names to me.

The ladies greeted me with smiles, which at once threw a new charm over
this very comfortable room, and seated themselves opposite on the other
side of the fire, so that I had the best view of them possible.

And now the very first glance that I obtained of these ladies showed me
that I had hit upon a wonderful piece of good luck when I went to that
concert and met my new friend O'Halloran. For in beauty of face, grace
of figure, refinement of manner; in every thing that affect