r,
and after vague threats of future vengeance, relapsed into whining
supplication. Neal spared him, considering that the man had been
well thrashed, and having the dislike, common to all generous-minded
Irishmen, of bringing to justice a delinquent of any kind. But he
disliked and distrusted James Finlay, and he did not understand how
his father and the others came to trust such a man. He wrote the name,
reflecting that Finlay had left the neighbourhood some weeks before in
order to seek employment in Belfast. Shortly afterwards he completed his
task. Maurice St. Clair arrived with Lord Dunseveric's invitation. Neal
locked up his papers, changed his clothes, and went through the rain to
Dunseveric House. He was not comfortable or easy in his mind. Yesterday
it was natural and pleasant to spend the day with Maurice and Una.
To-day he knew things of which he had been entirely ignorant before. He
knew that he himself was committed to a share in a desperate struggle,
in what might well become a civil war, and that he would be fighting
against Lord Dunseveric and against his friend Maurice. It did not
seem to him to be a fair and honourable thing to eat the bread
of unsuspecting enemies. Twice, as he tramped through the rain to
Dunseveric House, he stopped and almost decided to turn back. Twice he
succeeded in silencing his scruples and quieting the complaints of his
conscience. Each time it was the thought of Una which decided him. There
was in him a hunger to see the girl, to be near her, to touch her hand,
to hear her voice. Since his uncle had spoken to him about her on the
evening of his arrival Neal had become acutely and painfully conscious
of his love for her. Long ago he had loved her. Looking back he thought
that he had always loved her. Now he knew that he loved her. That made a
great difference.

He was welcomed when he arrived by Lord Dun-severic with friendly
courtesy--by Una shyly. Her manner was not as it had been the day
before. The frank friendliness was gone. There was something else in
its place, something which thrilled Neal with hope and fear. Perhaps the
girl felt instinctively the change in Neal. Perhaps she was conscious
of her aunt's keen laughing eyes. Who can tell how a girl first becomes
conscious of the fact that a young man loves her? The Comtesse also
welcomed Neal. She set herself to please and flatter him. At dinner
she talked brightly and amusingly. It seemed to Neal that she talked
brill