o them just yet; but they may offer grave
obstacles to what you propose. I will, therefore, beg of you not to
press me for my answer. I see this delay is displeasing--"

"Nay, sir, I am ready to yield to anything you suggest; but is it not
possible that my assistance and advice might be of service in these
difficulties you speak of?"

"There is another point, Mr. Linton,--and I know you will think better
of me for all my frankness. Are your friends--your family I mean--aware
of this step of yours? are you certain of their concurrence in it?"

"I have few relatives living, sir," said Linton, reddening; "but I
can answer for their participation in all that so nearly concerns my
happiness."

"This evening, then; come to me this evening, then," said Mr. Corrigan,
"and you shall hear my sentiments."

"This is most kind; I can ask for nothing more," said Linton; and, with
a most affectionate pressure of the old man's hand, departed.

CHAPTER XV. POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS

Be grateful too! you ask, "for what?"
Simply, for that you never got;
And you 'll get something yet.

Machiavelli Travestied.

Mr. Linton, like a large majority of the cunning people in this
world, made the mistake of supposing that every one had an
"after-thought,"--some secret mental reservation in all he said; that,
in fact, no one told "the whole truth" on any subject. Now, judging Mr.
Corrigan by this rule, he came to the conclusion that the old gentleman
had not received his addresses with all the warmth that might be
expected;--possibly, in the hope of a more advantageous offer; possibly,
because, in his old Irish pride of family, he had got to learn who this
Mr. Linton was, what his connections, and what position they held in the
society of their own country.

In this way did Linton read the old man's inquiry as to the "concurrence
of his relatives." It was, to his thinking, a mere subtle attempt to
ascertain who and what these same relatives were. "A clever stroke in
its way," thought Tom; "but I am not to be drawn out of my intrenchment
so easily. Still, the theme will linger in his mind, and must be got rid
of."

Linton knew well how the influence of rank and title can smooth down
difficulties of this kind, and ran over in his mind the names of at
least a dozen peers, any one of whom, in such an emergency, would have
owned him for a half-brother, or a cousin, at least.

It was provoking to think how many the