e uncommon pleasure in pitting himself
against the cob. I should have given up the contest, I confess, but that
the knave had me in his power. For, when it grew dark, I knew not which
way to head, until, at length, he shouted out--

"'There's the Lodge now, where you see the light.' And after that, what
became of himself I cannot tell you."

"It was Terry, poor Terry," cried Sybella.

"Yes, it must have been Terry," echoed her father. "And is this Terry
retained to play Will-o'-the-Wisp?" asked Fred; "or is it a piece of
amateurship?"

But both Sir Marmaduke and Sybella were too deeply engaged in canvassing
the motive for this strange act, to pay due attention to his question.

As Frederic was but little interested in his guide, nor mindful of what
became of him, they were not able to obtain any clue from him as to what
road he took; nor what chance there was of overtaking him.

"So then this was a piece of 'politesse,' for which I am indebted to
your friend Terry's own devising," said Fred, half angrily. "The fellow
had better keep out of my way in future."

"You will not harm him, Fred, you never could, when I tell you of his
gallant conduct here."

"My sweet sister, I am really wearied of this eternal theme--I have
heard of nothing but heroism since my arrival. Once for all, I concede
the matter, and am willing to believe of the Irish, as of the family of
Bayard, that all the men are brave--and all the women virtuous. And now,
let us to dinner."

"You have told us nothing of your visit to the enchanted castle, Fred,"
said his sister, when the servants had withdrawn, and they were once
more alone; "and I am all impatience to hear of your adventures there."

"I confess, too," said Sir Marmaduke, "I am not devoid of curiosity on
the subject--let us hear it all."

"I have little to recount," said Frederic, with some hesitation in
his manner; "I neither saw the O'Donoghue, as they call him, nor his
brother-in-law--the one was in bed, the other had gone to visit
some sick person on the mountain. But I made acquaintance with your
prieux-chevalier, Sybella: a fine-looking young fellow, even now wasted
with sickness; he was there with an elder brother, an insolent kind of
personage--half peasant, all bully."

"He was not wanting in proper respect to _you_" said Sir Marmaduke. "I
trust, Mark, he was aware of who you were?"

"Faith, sir, I fancy he cared very little on the subject; and had I been
a much more imp