pressed it down with a poker till it was consumed; while Kennyfeck,
too much consternated to utter a word, stood the personification of
terror-struck astonishment.

"You have burnt it, sir!" said he at last, in a whisper.

"Why not, sir?" cried Cashel, rudely. "Should I have made use of it
against the man who wrote it, or against his heirs, if by chance they
should seek one day to dispute my right?"

A deep sigh was all the reply Kennyfeck could make.

"I understand your compassion well," said Cashel, scornfully. "You are
right, sir. It was the buccaneer, not the gentleman, spoke there; but I
'm sick of masquerading, and I long for a little reality."

Without waiting for a reply, Roland left the room, and wandered out into
the park.

CHAPTER IX. THE BURNT LETTER--"GREAT EXPECTATIONS"

"'Like Dido's self,' she said, 'I'm free!
Trojan or Tyrian are alike to me.'"

There was but one species of tyranny Mr. Kennyfeck ever attempted in his
family: this was, to shroud with a solemn mystery every little event in
his professional career which he saw excited any curiosity with his wife
and daughters. It was true that on such occasions he became a mark for
most sneering insinuations and derisive commentaries, but he rose with
the dignity of a martyr above all their taunts, and doubtless felt in
his heart the supporting energy of a high-priest standing watch over the
gate of the Temple.

The few pencilled lines by Cashel, which had summoned him to the meeting
recorded in the last chapter, he threw into the fire as soon as he had
read, and then arising from the breakfast-table, dryly observed,--

"Don't wait breakfast, Mrs. Kennyfeck; I shall not be back for some
time."

"Another secret, Mr. Kennyfeck?" said his wife, scoffingly.

He only smiled in reply.

"It ought to be a duel, at least, pa," said his eldest daughter, "from
the urgent haste of your departure."

"Or a runaway couple, who wish to have the settlements--"

"Is that all you know of the matter, Livy?" said her sister,
laughing heartily; "why, child, your Gretna Green folks never have
settlements--never think of them till six months later, when they are
wanting to separate."

"Is there any occasion for mystery in this case?" rejoined Mrs.
Kennyfeck, haughtily.

"To be sure there may, my dear," broke in Aunt Fanny; "there 's many
a dirty thing the lawyers have to do they 'd be ashamed to own before
their families."

Even this did