progress,' cried Walpole, as they
descended the staircase together.

'I have none to report,' was the gruff reply.

'Why, surely you have not passed the whole day in Kearney's company without
some hint of what you came here for?'

But at the same moment they were in the dining-room.

'We are a man party to-day, I am sorry to say,' cried old Kearney, as
they entered. 'My niece and my daughter are keeping Miss O'Shea company
upstairs. She is not well enough to come down to dinner, and they have
scruples about leaving her in solitude.'

'At least we'll have a cigar after dinner,' was Dick's ungallant reflection
as they moved away.

CHAPTER LXXVII

TWO YOUNG LADIES ON MATRIMONY

'I hope they had a pleasanter dinner downstairs than we have had here,'
said Nina, as, after wishing Miss O'Shea a good-night, the young girls
slowly mounted the stairs.

'Poor old godmother was too sad and too depressed to be cheerful company;
but did she not talk well and sensibly on the condition of the country? was
it not well said, when she showed the danger of all that legislation which,
assuming to establish right, only engenders disunion and class jealousy?'

'I never followed her; I was thinking of something else.'

'She was worth listening to, then. She knows the people well, and she sees
all the mischief of tampering with natures so imbued with distrust. The
Irishman is a gambler, and English law-makers are always exciting him to
play.'

'It seems to me there is very little on the game.'

'There is everything--home, family, subsistence, life itself--all that a
man can care for.'

'Never mind these tiresome themes; come into my room; or I'll go to yours,
for I'm sure you've a better fire; besides, I can walk away if you offend
me: I mean offend beyond endurance, for you are sure to say something
cutting.'

'I hope you wrong me, Nina.'

'Perhaps I do. Indeed, I half suspect I do; but the fact is, it is not your
words that reproach me, it is your whole life of usefulness is my reproach,
and the least syllable you utter comes charged with all the responsibility
of one who has a duty and does it, to a mere good-for-nothing. There, is
not that humility enough?'

'More than enough, for it goes to flattery.'

'I'm not a bit sure all the time that I'm not the more lovable creature of
the two. If you like, I'll put it to the vote at breakfast.'

'Oh, Nina!'

'Very shocking, that's the phrase for it, very shocking!