t is, and will be till two o'clock, when they'll be
calling out for luncheon,' said Corny, turning up the whites of his
eyes, as though the profligate waste of the house was a sin he wished to
wash his hands of. 'That wasn't the way at his honour the Jidge's; he'd
never taste a bit from morning till night; and many a man he 'd send to
his long account in the meantime. Ugh! I wish I was back there.'

'I have spent many happy days in Ireland, too,' said I, scarce following
him in more than the general meaning of his speech.

A fit of coughing from Corny interrupted his reply, but as he left the
room I could hear his muttered meditations, something in this strain:
'Happy days, indeed! A dacent life you led! tramping about the country
with a fool, horse-riding and fighting! Ugh!'

I found my cousin in the breakfast-room alone; my father had already
gone out; and as Lady Charlotte never left her room before three or
four o'clock, I willingly took the opportunity of our _tete-a-tete_ to
inquire into the cause of the singular reception I had met with, and to
seek an explanation, if so might be, of the viceroy's change towards me
since his visit to England.

Julia entered frankly and freely into the whole matter, with the details
of which, though evidently not trusting me to the full, she was somehow
perfectly conversant.

'My dear John,' said she, 'your whole conduct in Ireland has been much
mistaken----'

'Calumniated, apparently, were the better word, Julia,' said I hastily.

'Nay, hear me out. It is so easy, when people have no peculiar reasons
to vindicate another, to misconstrue, perhaps condemn. It is so much the
way of the world to look at things in their worst light, that I am sure
you will see no particular ingenuity was required to make your career
in Dublin appear a wild one, and your life in the country still more so.
Now you are growing impatient; you are getting angry; so I shall stop.'

'No, no, Julia; a thousand pardons if a passing shade of indignation did
show itself in my face. Pray go on.'

'Well then, when a young gentleman, whose exclusive leanings were even a
little quizzed here--there, no impatience!--condescends at one spring
to frequent third-rate people's houses; falls in love with a niece, or
daughter, or a something there; plays high among riotous associates;
makes rash wagers; and fights with his friends, who endeavour to rescue
him----'

'Thank you, Julia--a thousand thanks, sweet cous