rd's politics to
another subject.

"Is it right, do you think, that this young man should be so intimate
with Una? She is a very attractive girl, and at a very dangerous age."

"Oh, they've played together since they were children. Young Ward is a
nice boy and a good sportsman."

"Still, he would not be suitable. Am I right?"

"If you mean that he wouldn't do as a husband for Una, you are right,
but I don't think for a moment that any such nonsensical idea ever
crossed their minds. I like Neal. He's a fine, straightforward boy, and
a good sportsman."

"I should like to see this model young man. Perhaps you English--pardon
me, my dear brother, you Irish--are differently made; but with us the
nicer a young man is the more dangerous we reckon him."

"There's no difficulty about your meeting him. I'll ask him to dinner
to-day if you like. I'm sure Maurice will be pleased to ride over with
the invitation."

"Charming," said the Comtesse. "Then I shall judge for myself."

Neal Ward accepted the invitation when he received it. Perhaps he would
not have been able to do so had he been obliged to submit it to his
father and his uncle; but they had gone out together early in the day.
Neal understood that his uncle was to be introduced to several people
of importance, members of his father's congregation, men who were deeply
involved in the plans of the United Irishmen. He was left alone with a
task to perform. He was not now transcribing passages from Josephus.
His uncle had decided that he was to be trusted, and, as a proof of
confidence, he was set to compile from various papers a list of those in
the neighbourhood who could be relied on to take up arms when the day of
the contemplated outbreak arrived. The work interested Neal greatly.
He knew most of the men whose names he copied. Some of them he knew
intimately. Now and then he was surprised to find that some well-to-do
and apparently well contented farmer was a member of the society. Once
he paused and hesitated about going on with his work. He came to a
statement of the fact that one, James Finlay, had been enrolled as a
United Irishman and admitted to the councils of the local committee.
Neal knew James Finlay, and disliked him. Once he had caught him at
night in the act of netting salmon in the river. Neal had threatened to
hand him over to Lord Dunseveric. The poacher blustered, threatened, and
even attempted an attack upon Neal. He got the worst of the encounte