brought me next in succession. My grandfather, Lord Privilege, who had
taken no more notice of my father than occasionally sending him a basket
of game, had latterly often invited him to the house, and had even
requested _some day or another_ to see his wife and family. He had also
made a handsome addition to my father's income, which the death of my
two uncles had enabled him to do. Against all this my uncle's wife was
reported to be again in the family way. I cannot say that I was pleased
when my father used to speculate upon these chance so often as he did.
I thought, not only as a man, but more particularly as a clergyman, he
was much to blame; but I did not then know so much of the world. We had
not heard from O'Brien for two months, when a letter arrived, stating
that he had seen his family, and had bought a few acres of land, which
had made them all quite happy, and had quitted with Father McGrath's
double blessing, with unlimited absolution; that he had now been a month
in town trying for employment, but found that he could not obtain it,
although one promise was backed up by another.

A few days after this, my father received a note from Lord Privilege
requesting he would come and spend a few days with him, and bring his
son Peter, who had escaped from the French prison. Of course this was
an invitation not to be neglected, and we accepted it forthwith. I must
say, I felt rather in awe of my grandfather; he had kept the family at
such a distance, that I had always heard his name mentioned more with
reverence than with any feeling of kindred, but I was a little wiser
now. We arrived at Eagle Park, a splendid estate, where he resided, and
were received by a dozen servants in and out of livery, and ushered into
his presence.

He was in his library, a large room, surrounded with handsome bookcases,
sitting on an easy chair. A more venerable, placid old gentleman I
never beheld; his grey hairs hung down on each side of his temples, and
were collected in a small _queue_ behind. He rose and bowed, as we were
announced; to my father he held out _two_ fingers in salutation, to me
only _one_; but there was an elegance in the manner in which it was
done, which was indescribable. He waved his hand to chairs, placed by
the _gentleman_ out of livery, and requested we would be seated. I
could not at the time help thinking of Mr Chucks, the boatswain, and
his remarks upon high breeding, which were so true; and I la