t may easily be," replied the other; "and it has struck me two or
three times that I have seen your face before, but I can't tell where."

"Very likely," replied Norton; "but 111 tell you what, we must get
better acquainted. Are you in any employment at present?"

"I'm doing nothing," said the other; "and the few pounds I had are
now gone to a few shillings; so that by to-morrow or next day, I'll be
forced to give my teeth a holiday."

"Poor fellow," replied Norton, "that's too bad. Here's a pound note for
you, at all events. Not a word now; if we can understand each other
you sha'n't want; and I'll tell you what you'll do. After leaving his
lordship you must come to my room, where you can have punch to the eyes,
and there will be no interruption to our chat. You can then tell me
anything you like; but it must come willingly, for I'd scorn to force a
secret from any man--that is, if it is a secret. Do you agree to this?"

"I agree to it, and many thanks, worthy sir," replied M'Bride, putting
the pound note in his pocket; after which they chatted upon indifferent
matters until the period for his interview with Lord Cullamore had
arrived.

Ginty, who had not lost a syllable of this dialogue, to whom, as the
reader perhaps may suspect, it was no novelty, followed them at a safe
distance, until she saw them enter the house. The interest, however,
which she felt in M'Bride's movements, prevented her from going home, or
allowing him to slip through her finger without accomplishing a project
that she had for some time before meditated, but had hitherto found no
opportunity to execute.

Lord Cullamore, on M'Bride's entrance, was in much the same state which
we have already described, except that in bodily appearance he was
somewhat more emaciated and feeble. There was, however, visible in his
features a tone of solemn feeling, elevated but sorrowful, that seemed
to bespeak a heart at once resigned and suffering, and disposed to
receive the dispensations of life as a man would whose philosophy was
softened by a Christian spirit. In the general plan of life he clearly
recognized the wisdom which, for the example and the benefit of all,
runs with singular beauty through the infinite combinations of human
action, verifying the very theory which the baronet saw dimly, but
doubted; we mean that harmonious adaptation of moral justice to those
actions by which the original principles that diffuse happiness
through social life are