the bustle and roar of hurrying
humanity and traffic, resting amid the soothing green, and breathing the
mild air of the country; the minister ought surely to get well again
soon.

He would not go to bed, but chose to sit in a big chair with a pillow
under his head, looking out of the upstairs window which afforded a view
of the town. The sun came in rather strongly during the afternoon and
the father motioned Lucy to partly draw the blind. She did so, then drew
a stool to his chair and seated herself near him. He placed his hands on
her head, patted it caressingly, smiled at her, but said nothing. It was
still difficult for him to speak.

Presently, there came a light tap at the door. Lucy arose. It was
Chester.

"Excuse me," he said, "but the people below are somewhat confused over
the trunks. I came to inquire."

"Come in," said Lucy. "Let the 'confusion' continue for a little while.
Come in to where there is peace. Father is feeling better, I am sure."

The invalid turned towards the speakers, then with a movement of his
head told them to come near. Lucy took her former position, while
Chester drew up a chair. Yes; he did seem better, there being some color
in his face to add life to his faint smile.

"Chester," he whispered with effort, as he reached out and took the young
man's hand, "Chester--my boy--I--am--so--glad--you--came--with--us."

CHAPTER VIII.

While the father was resting quietly at Kildare Villa, as Uncle
Gilbert's home was called, Chester and Lucy spent a few days in looking
about.

"Are there any sights worth seeing around here?" asked Chester of Lucy.

"Are there?" she replied in surprise. "Did you ever hear of the Blarney
Stone?"

Yes; he had.

"Well, that's not far away; and those were the Shandon bells you heard
last evening,

'The bells of Shandon,
That sound so grand on
The pleasant waters of the river Lee,'"

she quoted.

The fact of the matter was that Chester was quite content to remain
quietly with Lucy and her father and the other good people of the place.
Traveling around the country would, without doubt, separate them, and
that disaster would come soon enough, he thought; but when Lucy
announced that she was ready for a "personally conducted tour to all
points of interest," he readily agreed to be "conducted." She was well
enough to do so, she said; and in fact it did look as if health were
coming to her again.

The morning of the second d