suit each other, and that you are not as
wide apart in character as in country?'

'I'll answer for that. She's always good-tempered, cheerful, and
light-hearted. She's always nicely dressed and polite to every one. She
manages this old house, and these stupid bog-trotters, till one fancies it
a fine establishment and a first-rate household. She rides like a lion, and
I'd rather hear her laugh than I'd listen to Patti.'

'I'll call all that mighty like being in love.'

'Do if you like--but answer me my question.'

'That is more than I'm able; but I'll consult my daughter. I'll tell her
pretty much in your own words all you have said to me, and she shall
herself give the answer.'

'All right, and how soon?'

'Well, in the course of the day. Should she say that she does not
understand being wooed in this manner, that she would like more time to
learn something more about yourself, that, in fact, there is something too
peremptory in this mode of proceeding, I would not say she was wrong.'

'But if she says Yes frankly, you'll let me know at once.'

'I will--on the spot.'

CHAPTER LXXIX

PLEASANT CONGRATULATIONS

The news of Nina's engagement to Walpole soon spread through the castle at
Kilgobbin, and gave great satisfaction; even the humbler members of the
household were delighted to think there would be a wedding and all its
appropriate festivity.

When the tidings at length arrived at Miss O'Shea's room, so reviving were
the effects upon her spirits, that the old lady insisted she should be
dressed and carried down to the drawing-room that the bridegroom might be
presented to her in all form.

Though Nina herself chafed at such a proceeding, and called it a most
'insufferable pretension,' she was perhaps not sorry secretly at the
opportunity afforded herself to let the tiresome old woman guess how she
regarded her, and what might be their future relations towards each other.
'Not indeed,' added she, 'that we are likely ever to meet again, or that I
should recognise her beyond a bow if we should.'

As for Kearney, the announcement that Miss Betty was about to appear in
public filled him with unmixed terror, and he muttered drearily as he went,
'There'll be wigs on the green for this.' Nor was Walpole himself pleased
at the arrangement. Like most men in his position, he could not be brought
to see the delicacy or the propriety of being paraded as an object of
public inspection, nor did he perceive t