as not there! She almost said the comforting words aloud,
but at the same instant a cry of, "Here he is,--here he comes!" broke
from those beneath, and every head was turned towards the road to the
stables, along which Cashel was seen cantering a snow-white Arab of
great beauty. As he came nearer it could be seen that he was seated on
a side-saddle, while he managed the well-trained creature with the most
graceful address.

"Are you quite certain I may venture, Mr. Cashel?" said Lady Kilgoff, as
he pulled up in front of her; "remember, that I am neither so fearless
nor so skilful as our fair queen beside me, who, I must own, is far more
worthy of 'Hassan Bey' than I am."

"I'll pledge my life on his good conduct," said Roland, springing from
his back; "I've ridden him for an hour, and he is gentleness itself."

"He's over-trained for my fancy," said Miss Meek. "He's like one of
the creatures you see in Franconi's, walking up a ladder to catch a
handkerchief."

Lady Janet whispered something in her ear, at which she started and
smiled, but evidently in ignorance of its meaning.

"What is that very wicked thing that Lady Janet has just told you?" said
Lady Kilgoff, as she advanced to mount her horse.

"It was _a propos_ of the handkerchief. She said 'Probably you were
going to throw yours at Mr. Cashel,'--I'm sure I don't know why."

Fortunately none but Lady Kilgoff and Cashel heard this speech, but both
blushed deeply.

While this was enacting below, Olivia, who marked every gesture and
every look eagerly, could not hear what passed. She could only see the
respectful attention bestowed by Cashel on every wish of his fair guest;
how, having seated her, he draped in graceful folds the long velvet
habit, in which, and with a white hat and drooping feather, she
resembled one of the court of Louis Quinze.

At last she turned her horse's head, and rode him slowly along before
the house, evidently timid and afraid of the high-mettled animal.
Cashel, however, walked at his head, and so they stood, while he
arranged the curb-chain, exactly beneath the window where Olivia was
standing.

She opened the sash noiselessly, and, bending down, listened.

"I assure you," said Lady Kilgoff, "I 'll not continue my ride if you
don't come. I have no confidence in these fine gentlemen cavaliers; and
as for Miss Meek, she 'd risk her life to see me run away with."

"I pledge myself to follow in ten minutes,--nay, in five, if pos