where each man can follow out his own path in
thought and only let his neighbour have a peep here and there into his
dreamings, when some vista opens, or some bold prospect stretches away.
Next to the blazing fire of a winter's hearth, this is the pleasantest
thing I know of. Thus was it, when the door opened, and a dusky outline
of a figure appeared at the entrance.

'Is Master Phil here?' said a cranky voice there was no mistaking as Mr.
Delany's.

'Yes, Corny. What's wrong? Anything new?'

'Where's the Captain?' said he in the same tone.

'I 'm here, Corny,' said L

'Well, there's them looking for you without,' said he, 'that'll maybe
surprise you, pleasant as ye are now.'

A detestable effort at a laugh here brought on a fit of coughing that
lasted a couple of minutes.

'Who is it?' said I. 'Where are they?'

A significant gesture with his thumb over his shoulder was the only
reply to my question, while he barked out, 'Don't you see me coughing
the inside out o' me?'

I started up, and without attending to Paul's suggestion to bring my
friends in, or to O'Grady's advice to be cautious if it were Burke,
hurried outside, where a servant of the house was in waiting to conduct
me.

'Two gentlemen in the drawing-room, sir,' said he, as he preceded me
down the corridor.

The next instant the door opened, and I saw my father, accompanied by
another person, who being wrapped up in travelling equipment, I could
not recognise.

'My dear father I' said I, rushing towards him, when suddenly I stopped
short, as I perceived that instead of the affectionate welcome I looked
for he had crossed his hands behind his back, and fixed on me a look of
stern displeasure.

'What does this mean?' said I, in amazement; 'it was not thus I
expected----'

'It was not thus I hoped to have received my son,' said he resolutely,
'after a long and eventful separation. But this is too painful to
endure longer. Answer me, and with the same truth I have always found in
you--is there a young lady in this house called Miss Bellew?'

'Yes, sir,' said I, and a cold perspiration broke over me, and I could
scarcely support myself.

'Did you make her acquaintance in Ireland?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Did you at that time use every effort to win her affections, and give
her to understand that she had yours?'

'Yes, sir,' said I more faintly than before, for already some horrible
doubt was creeping on my mind.

'And have you now, sir,' conti