to tell the world
how it has been humbugged!' And thus musing, he jogged on the weary road,
nor raised his head till the heavy clash of an iron gate aroused him, and
he saw that they were driving along an approach, with some clumps of pretty
but young timber on either side.

'Here we are, your honour, safe and sound,' cried the driver, as proudly
as if he had not been five hours over what should have been done in one
and a half. 'This is Kilgobbin. All the ould trees was cut down by Oliver
Cromwell, they say, but there will be a fine wood here yet. That's the
castle you see yonder, over them trees; but there's no flag flying. The
lord's away. I suppose I'll have to wait for your honour? You'll be coming
back with me?'

'Yes, you'll have to wait.' And Walpole looked at his watch, and saw it was
already past five o'clock.

CHAPTER X

THE SEARCH FOR ARMS

When the hour of luncheon came, and no guests made their appearance, the
young girls at the castle began to discuss what they should best do. 'I
know nothing of fine people and their ways,' said Kate--'you must take the
whole direction here, Nina.'

'It is only a question of time, and a cold luncheon can wait without
difficulty.'

And so they waited till three, then till four, and now it was five o'clock;
when Kate, who had been over the kitchen-garden, and the calves' paddock,
and inspecting a small tract laid out for a nursery, came back to the house
very tired, and, as she said, also very hungry. 'You know, Nina,' said she,
entering the room, 'I ordered no dinner to-day. I speculated on our making
our dinner when your friends lunched; and as they have not lunched, we
have not dined; and I vote we sit down now. I'm afraid I shall not be as
pleasant company as that Mr.--do tell me his name--Walpole--but I pledge
myself to have as good a appetite.'

Nina made no answer. She stood at the open window; her gaze steadily bent
on the strip of narrow road that traversed the wide moor before her.

'Ain't you hungry? I mean, ain't you famished, child?' asked Kate.

'No, I don't think so. I could eat, but I believe I could go without eating
just as well.'

'Well, I must dine; and if you were not looking so nice and fresh, with a
rose-bud in your hair and your white dress so daintily looped up, I'd ask
leave not to dress.'

'If you were to smooth your hair, and, perhaps, change your boots--'

'Oh I know, and become in every respect a little civilised. My poo