ittle ivory
tablets, and sat back in the carriage conning over the memoranda they
contained, while her companion read and re-read his letters. Then,
shutting them up, she returned the little book to its case and faced
round.

"Well," she said, with a merry look, "have you done breaking your heart,
Dominic?"

"Yes," he said gravely.--"I can't help feeling sorry to come away, and
I'm afraid the boys liked me better than I thought for. It isn't so
nice as I fancied it would be."

"No, I suppose not," said his companion; "nothing ever is so nice as we
thought it would be. Like to go back for a month till the ship sails?"

"What!" cried Nic.

"I'll tell the man to drive back, if you like."

"You're saying that to tease me, Lady O'Hara."

"True, my boy, I was."

"And you know I wouldn't go back. All I want now is to get on board and
start on our long journey."

"Ah, and that's, as I told you, a month hence. There, Dominic, you must
mind I don't spoil you before I get you home. Now talk to me and tell
me about yourself."

CHAPTER FOUR.

PREPARATIONS.

It was like a new beginning of life to Nic Braydon, and he lived for the
next three weeks in a round of excitement. The principal way in which
he spent his time was shopping with Lady O'Hara, who saw that he had a
regular outfit of suitable articles of clothing, all of the most durable
and useful make.

"You're not going to a land of filled shirts and dancing pumps,
Dominic," said the lady; "you're going out to work as your father has
done, and is doing now."

"I shall not mind work," said Nic sturdily.

"I know that, boy. But business. Now I think I've got through all the
clothing--Sir John's, yours, and some that the doctor asked me to order.
Now, what next?" she continued, turning to her tablets. "Oh, I see: a
light gun that will carry shot or ball, a rifle for your father, and
another for my husband. Then there are knives, axes, and fishing
tackle. Really any one would think I was a man to execute such
commissions. But I'm an old traveller, Nic, and have helped my husband
over his wants for many, many years."

So that day was devoted to selecting guns, Lady O'Hara handling and
testing the various pieces in a way that made the gunmaker open his eyes
and Nic stare.

"You have a gallery, I suppose, where I can try any piece I select?"

"Oh! yes, ma'am--I beg pardon--my lady," said the gunmaker.

"Then I'll try those two rifles, and tho