nty guineas, saved
up from Heaven knows how long. Con did not know this, of course,
and believed the portrait was a compliment to his granddaughter.
Carringford's ability is well known, and there is no need to say the
picture was admirably painted; but still it wanted character; it had
not the playful ease, the gentle, indulgent pleasantry that marks my old
friend's features; in fact, it was hard and cold,--not warm, generous,
and genial: so I thought, and so Mary thought, and accordingly, scarcely
had the artist taken his leave, when she set to work herself, and made
a portrait, which, if inferior as a work of art, was infinitely superior
as a likeness. It was Con himself; it had the very sparkle of his mild
blue eye, the mingled glance of drollery and softness, the slightly
curled mouth, as though some quaint conceit was lingering on the
lip,--all his own. Mary's picture hung on one side of the chimney, and
Carringford's at the other, and so they stood when the painter came
through from Limerick and passed one night at Tubber-beg, on his way to
Dublin. I breakfasted there that morning, and I remember, on entering
the room, I was surprised to see the frame of Carringford's portrait
empty, and a bank-note, carefully folded, stuck in the corner. 'What
does that mean?' said I to him, for we were alone at the time.

"'It means simply that _my_ picture cannot stand such competitorship as
_that_, said he; _mine_ was a miniature, _that_ is the man himself.'
I will not say one half of the flatteries he uttered, but I have heard
from others since, that he speaks of this picture as a production
of high merit. Dear girl! that meagre sketch may soon have a sadder
interest connected with it; it may be all that I shall possess of her!
Yes, Mr. Cashel, your generosity may stave off the pressure of one
peril, but there is another, from which nothing but flight will rescue
my poor friend."

A sharp knocking at the door here interrupted the doctor's recital, and
soon Hoare's voice was heard without, inquiring if Dr. Tiernay was at
home.

Hoare's easy familiarity, as he entered, seemed to suffer a slight shock
on observing Roland Cashel, who received him with cold politeness.

Tiernay, who saw at once that business alone would relieve the
awkwardness of the scene, briefly informed the other that Mr. Cashel
was there to learn the exact amount and circumstances of Corrigan's
liabilities, with a view to a final settlement of them.

"V