ybella, not lifting her eyes from her
work as she spoke.

"I should say pretty," replied he, with hesitation, as if qualifying his
praise by a word which did not imply too much. "I prefer a quieter
style of beauty, for my own part; less dazzle, less sparkling effect;
something to see every day, and to like the better the more one sees
it"--and he placed his arm around his sister's waist, and gazed at her
as if to give the interpretation to his speech.

"You have made me quite curious to see her, Fred," said Sybella. "The
very fact of finding one like her in such a place has its interest."

"What if you were to visit her, my dear?" said Sir Marmaduke; "the
attention would only be a proper one; you have books and music, here,
besides, which she might be glad to have in a region so remote as this."

Frederic never spoke a word, but anxiously awaited his sister's answer.

"I should like it greatly; what says Fred to the notion?"

"I see nothing against it," replied he, with a well-affected
indifference. "She is a most lady-like person; and, if it be your
intention to pass a few weeks longer in this solitude, would be of
infinite value for companionship."

"A few weeks longer!--I shall remain till Christmas, boy," said his
father, with determination. "I have taken a fancy to Ireland; and my
intention is to go up to Dublin for a few months in winter, and return
here in the spring."

This was at once approaching the very subject which Frederic had
journeyed to determine; but, whether it was that the time seemed
unfavourable, or that his own ideas in the matter had undergone some
modification since his arrival, he contented himself with simply a
doubtful shake of the head, as if distrusting Sir Marmaduke's firmness,
and did not endeavour to oppose his determination by a single argument
of any kind. On the contrary, he listened with patience, and even
seeming interest to his father's detailed account of his project--how
he had already given orders to secure a house in Stephen's-green for the
winter, intending to make acquaintances with the gentry of the capital,
and present himself and his daughter at the viceregal court.

"Sybella may as well make her debut in society here as in London," said
Sir Marmaduke. "Indeed I am not sure but the provincial boards are the
best for a first appearance. In any case, such is the line I have laid
down for myself; and if it only secured me against a sea voyage to
England in such a se