e hot in the mouth," said Edith.

"You may put it in what language you like, but that is about what I
mean. The people who go to the balls cannot in truth afford it."

"That's the officers' look out."

"And they are here on a very sad occasion. Everything is going to
ruin in the country."

"I won't be put down by Pat Carroll," said Edith. "He shall not be
able to boast to himself that he has changed the natural course of my
life."

"He has changed it altogether."

"You know what I mean. I am not going to yield to him or to any of
them. I mean to hold my own against it as far as I can do so. I'll go
to church, and to balls, and I'll visit my friends, and I'll eat my
dinner every day of my life just as though Pat Carroll didn't exist.
He's in prison just at present, and therefore so far we have got the
best of him."

"But we can't sell a head of cattle without sending it up to Dublin.
And we can't find a man to take charge of it on the journey. We can't
get a shilling of rent, and we hardly dare to walk about the place
in the broad light of day lest we should be shot at. While things
are in this condition it is no time for dancing at balls. I am so
broken-hearted at the present moment that but for my father and for
you I would cut the place and go to America."

"Taking Rachel with you?" said Edith.

"Rachel just now is as prosperous as we are the reverse. Rachel would
not go. It is all very well for Rachel, as things are prosperous with
her. But here we have the reverse of prosperity, and according to my
feelings there should be no gaiety. Do you ever realise to yourself
what it is to think that your father is ruined?"

"We ought not to have gone," said Ada.

"Never say die," said Edith, slapping her little hand down on the
gunwale of the boat. "Morony Castle and Ballintubber belong to papa,
and I will never admit that he is ruined because a few dishonest
tenants refuse to pay their rents for a time. A man such as Pat
Carroll can do him an injury, but papa is big enough to rise above
that in the long run. At any rate I will live as becomes papa's
daughter, as long as he approves and I have the power." Discussing
these matters they reached the quay near Morony Castle, and Edith as
she jumped ashore felt something of triumph in her bosom. She had at
any rate succeeded in her object. "I am sure we were right to go,"
she whispered to Ada.

Their father received them with but very few words; nor had Florian
mu