seated themselves near him, when a word, a single word,
fell upon his ear. He turned round, and saw his cousin Kate sitting
beside Frederick Travers. The start of surprise he could not restrain
attracted her notice. She turned also, and as a deadly pallor came over
her features, she uttered the one word, "Mark." Travers immediately
caught the name, and, leaning forward, the two young men's eyes met, and
for some seconds never wandered from each other.

"I should have gone to see you, cousin Kate," said Mark, after a
momentary struggle to seem calm and collected, "but I feared--that is, I
did not know----"

"But, Mark, dear Mark, why are you here?" said she, in a tone of
heartfelt terror. "Do you know that none save those presented at the
Levees, and known to the Lord Lieutenant, dare to attend these balls?"

"I came with a friend," said Mark, in a voice where anger and
self-reproach were mingled. "If he misled me, he must answer for it."

"It was imprudent, Mr. O'Donoghue, and that's all," said Travers, in a
tone of great gentleness; "and your friend should not have misled you.
I'll take care that nothing unpleasant shall arise in consequence. Just
remain here for a moment."

"Stay, sir," said Mark, as Travers arose from his seat; "I hate
accepting favours, even should they release me from a position as
awkward as this is. Here comes my friend, Talbot, and he'll perhaps
explain what I cannot."

"I have lost my money, Mark," said Talbot, coming forward, and
perceiving with much anxiety that his young friend was engaged in a
conversation. "Let us move about and see the dancers."

"Wait a few seconds first," said Mark, sternly, "and satisfy this
gentleman that I am not in fault in coming here, save so far as being
induced by you to do so."

"May I ask how the gentleman feels called on to require the
explanation?" said Talbot, proudly.

"I wish him to know the circumstances," said Mark.

"And I," said Travers, interrupting, "might claim a right to ask it, as
first aide-de-camp to his Excellency."

"So, then," whispered Talbot, with a smile, "it is the mere impertinence
of office."

Travers' face flushed up, and his his quivered, as in an equally low
tone of voice he said--

"Where and when, sir, will you dare to repeat these words?"

"To-morrow morning, at seven o'clock, on the strand below Clontarf, and
in this gentleman's presence," said Talbot into his ear.

A nod from Travers completed the arrangemen