nt, laughing.

"No, sir, I beg to correct you," broke in my Lord, with a snappishness
that made the bearers start; "her Ladyship is not yet a widow, although
her levity might seem to imply it."

"My Lord, I must protest against this sarcastic humor," said she, with
a mild dignity. "Our terrible catastrophe may have disturbed your right
judgment, but I pray select another theme for misconstruction. Mr.
Cashel, I will wish you a good-night. In the difficulty in which I
am placed, I can only say that my perfect confidence in your counsel
satisfies me it will be such as you ought to give and I to follow."

"Yes, sir, of course; when the lady says, 'Follow,' I hope you know a
gentleman's devoir better than to disobey." These words were uttered
by the old man with a sneering impertinence that augured no absence of
mind; but ere the door closed upon Lady Kilgoff his face had again put
on its former dull and vacant stare, and it was clear that the momentary
intelligence was past and over.

"Now, Sickleton," said Cashel, as if at length able to give his mind to
the details before him, "you will haste to Dublin; send us the carriages
with all the speed you can muster; pack off her Ladyship's maid and the
wardrobe, and don't forget that dressing-case at Seward's. I should like
to have her crest upon it, but there's no time for that--besides, we
should only have more scandal in Dublin when it got abroad. Then for
Kennyfeck: tell him I have no money, and stand much in need of it, for,
as my Lord says, mine are buccaneer's habits; and lastly, run over to
Cowes and secure the yacht--we must have her. I'm much mistaken, or our
friends here will take a cruise with us among the Greek Islands one of
these days."

"Treacherous navigation, too!" said Sickleton, with a dryness that
seemed to imply more than the mere words.

"What if it be, man! they say there's nothing much worse anywhere than
the line of coast here beside us."

"Well, and have n't we suffered enough to make us credit the report?"
He paused, and then dropping his voice to a low and cautious whisper,
added, "Not but that I shall call you lucky if all the danger has ended
with the loss of the vessel."

"How? What do you mean?" asked Cashel, in atone of great eagerness.

"Cannot you guess?" said the other, with an imperturbable coolness.

"No, on my honor, I have n't a thought whither your words point."

"Then, faith, the peril is fifty times greater and nearer than