s uncle had offered some explanation as to the
cause of his appearance uninvited.

"Desmond, you have grown such a strapping fellow that I didn't recognise
you," said Murray, putting out his hand. "You are welcome to
Bercaldine, and we can easily stow you away in some odd corner or other,
notwithstanding your inches. Will you come up to the house with us, or
will you wait for Archie?"

"I will wait for Archie, sir, thank you," answered Gerald; and Murray
and Adair walked on.

"We have had sad times at Ballymacree," said the latter, speaking in a
much graver tone than usual for him. "Gerald only arrived a couple of
weeks ago. Although he has grown so much, the climate of the China seas
has played havoc with his constitution, and I didn't like to leave him
in a house of mourning. His mother died while he was away, and my poor
sister Kathleen caught cold, and went off in a rapid consumption a few
days after he arrived."

"Your sister Kathleen! to whom Rogers was engaged!" exclaimed Murray; "I
am truly sorry to hear it. What a blow for him, too, poor fellow! You
said nothing about this in your letter, though I saw that you were in
mourning."

"Faith, I hadn't the heart to do so," answered Terence. "I knew that
I'd have to tell you all about it, and so I thought it better just to
ask the question whether I might come and see you, without saying more,
knowing very surely what your answer would be, if I didn't get it--which
I didn't, seeing I left home before it arrived; but I suppose it's all
right, as Archie said that you were expecting me?"

"Of course, my dear fellow," said Murray. "Poor Jack! Have you written
to him?"

"No, but Kathleen did, while she had strength to hold a pen; and her
mother put in a few words to tell him that all was over. On my life, I
couldn't have done it. Things have gone badly, too, at Ballymacree in
other respects. The old place must go, after all; and it will break my
father's heart, I am very certain. If we had had a good rattling war,
and I had picked up lots of prize-money, I might have saved it. But
that is not to be thought of. And then, my dear Murray, a little
private affair of my own, which has put me out sadly. I wrote, when I
first came home, to Lady Rogers, asking leave to pay a visit at
Halliburton Hall. I got an answer from Sir John, very kind and very
polite. At the same time, he gave me to understand that he considered
it better I should not make my app