e,--she, Lady Scroope,--answer it to Lady Sophia, if Sophie should go
back to Mellerby from her house, engaged to a younger brother who had
nothing but a commission in the Engineers? Sophie had been sent to
Scroope on purpose to be fallen in love with by the heir; and how
would it be with Lady Scroope if, in lieu of this, she should not only
have been fallen in love with by the heir's younger brother, but have
responded favourably to so base an affection?

That same afternoon Fred told his uncle that he was going back to
Ireland on the day but one following, thus curtailing his promised three
weeks by two days. "I am sorry that you are so much hurried, Fred," said
the old man.

"So am I, my lord,--but Johnstone has to go to London on business, and I
promised when I got leave that I wouldn't throw him over. You see,--when
one has a profession one must attend to it,--more or less."

"But you hardly need the profession."

"Thank you, uncle;--it is very kind of you to say so. And as you wish me
to leave it, I will when the year is over. I have told the fellows that
I shall stay till next October, and I shouldn't like to change now." The
Earl hadn't another word to say.

But on the day before Fred's departure there came a short note from Lady
Mary Quin which made poor Lady Scroope more unhappy than ever. Tidings
had reached her in a mysterious way that the O'Haras were eagerly
expecting the return of Mr. Neville. Lady Mary thought that if Mr.
Neville's quarters could be moved from Ennis, it would be very expedient
for many reasons. She knew that enquiries had been made for him and that
he was engaged to dine on a certain day with Father Marty the priest.
Father Marty would no doubt go any lengths to serve his friends the
O'Haras. Then Lady Mary was very anxious that not a word should be said
to Mr. Neville which might lead him to suppose that reports respecting
him were being sent from Quin Castle to Scroope.

The Countess in her agony thought it best to tell the whole story to the
Earl. "But what can I do?" said the old man. "Young men will form these
acquaintances." His fears were evidently as yet less dark than those of
his wife.

"It would be very bad if we were to hear that he was married to a girl
of whom we only know that she is a Roman Catholic and friendless."

The Earl's brow became very black. "I don't think that he would treat me
in that way."

"Not meaning it, perhaps;--but if he should become entangle