your ticket now?" Eh, Mat Kearney? It doesn't take
twenty or thirty years quarrelling and disputing to show one that a lottery
with so many blanks is just a swindle.'

A loud bang of the door, as Nina flounced out in indignation, almost shook
the room.

'There's a temper you'll know more of yet, young gentleman; and, take my
word for it, it's only in stage-plays that a shrew is ever tamed.'

'I declare,' cried Dick, losing all patience, 'I think Miss O'Shea is too
unsparing of us all. We have our faults, I'm sure; but public correction
will not make us more comfortable.'

'It wasn't _your_ comfort I was thinking of, young man; and if I thought
of your poor father's, I'd have advised him to put you out an apprentice.
There's many a light business--like stationery, or figs, or children's
toys--and they want just as little capital as capacity.'

'Miss Betty,' said Kearney stiffly, 'this is not the time nor the place for
these discussions. Mr. Walpole was polite enough to present himself here
to-day to have the honour of making your acquaintance, and to announce his
future marriage.'

'A great event for us all--and we're proud of it! It's what the newspapers
will call a great day for the Bog of Allen. Eh, Mat? The princess--God
forgive me, but I'm always calling her Costigan--but the princess will
be set down niece to Lord Kilgobbin; and if you'--and she addressed
Walpole--'haven't a mock-title and a mock-estate, you'll be the only one
without them!'

'I don't think any one will deny us our tempers,' cried Kearney.

'Here's Lockwood,' cried Walpole, delighted to see his friend enter, though
he as quickly endeavoured to retreat.

'Come in, major,' said Kearney. 'We're all friends here. Miss O'Shea, this
is Major Lockwood, of the Carbineers--Miss O'Shea.'

Lockwood bowed stiffly, but did not speak.

'Be attentive to the old woman,' whispered Walpole. 'A word from her will
make your affair all right.'

'I have been very desirous to have had the honour of this introduction,
madam,' said Lockwood, as he seated himself at her side.

'Was not that a clever diversion I accomplished with "the Heavy "?' said
Walpole, as he drew away Kearney and his son into a window.

'I never heard her much worse than to-day,' said Dick.

'I don't know,' hesitated Kilgobbin. 'I suspect she is breaking. There is
none of the sustained virulence I used to remember of old. She lapses into
half-mildness at moments.'

'I own I did not