ed, which she esteemed at higher price than the real gifts of
health, wealth, and beauty, so bounteously bestowed upon her by
Providence.

She had come then to that difficult point in her mind as to what was
to be done with Paul; what peculiar course of training could he be
submitted to, to make him more presentable in the world; how were
they to break him off whisky-and-water and small jokes? Ah,' she was
thinking, 'it's very hard to make a real gentleman out of such materials
as grog and drab gaiters,' when suddenly O'Grady, wiping his forehead
with his handkerchief, and then flourishing it theatrically in the air,
exclaimed--

'Yes, Mrs. Rooney, everything depends on you. His grace's visit--I have
just been with him talking the whole thing over--must be kept a profound
secret. If it ever reach the ears of the duchess we are ruined and
undone.'

Here was a total overthrow to all Mrs. Paul's speculations; here was a
beautiful castle uprooted from its very foundation. All her triumph, all
her vaunted superiority over her city acquaintances was vanishing like
a mirage before her! What was the use of his coming after all? What
was the good of it, if not to be spoken of, if not talked over at tea,
written of in notes, discussed at dinner, and displayed in the morning
papers? Already was her brow contracted, and a slight flush of her cheek
showed the wily captain that resistance was in preparation.

'I know, my dear Mrs. Paul, how gratifying it would be for even the
highest of the land to speak of his grace's condescension in such
terms as you might speak; but then, after all, how very fleeting such
a triumph! Many would shrug their shoulders, and not believe the story.
Some of those who believed would endeavour to account for it as a joke:
one of those odd wild fancies the duke is ever so fond of'--here she
reddened deeply. 'In fact, the malevolence and the envy of the world
will give a thousand turns to the circumstance. Besides that, after all,
they would seem to have some reason on their side; for the publicity of
the affair must for ever prevent a repetition of the visit; whereas,
on the other side, by a little discretion, by guarding our own
secret'--here Phil looked knowingly in her eyes, as though to say they
had one--'not only will the duke be delighted to continue his intimacy,
but from the absence of all mention of the matter, all display on the
subject, the world will be ten times more disposed to give crede