y, as usual, full of himself, and consequently in high
spirits,--happy in the present, and confident for the future. Tony,
indeed, was delighted with his companion, and thoroughly enjoyed the
volatile gayety of one who seemed to derive pleasure from everything.
With all a school-boy's zest for a holiday, Skeffy would be forever
at something. Now he would take the driver's seat on the car and play
coachman till, with one wheel in the ditch and the conveyance nearly
over, he was summarily deposed by Tony, and stoutly rated for his
awkwardness.

Then it was his pleasure to "chaff" the people on the road,--a
population the least susceptible of drollery in all Europe!--a grave,
saturnine race, who, but for Tony's intervention, would have more than
once resented such liberties very practically. As they saw the smoke
from the chimney of a little cottage under the hill, and heard it was
there Dolly Stewart lived, it was all Tony could do to prevent Skeffy
running down to "have a look at her," just as it required actual force
to keep him from jumping off as they passed a village school, where
Skeffy wanted to examine a class in the Catechism. Then he would eat and
drink everywhere, and, with a mock desire for information, ask the name
of every place they passed, and as invariably miscall them, to the
no small amusement of the carman, this being about the limit of his
appreciation of fun.

"What a fidgety beggar you are!" said Tony, half angry and half laughing
at the incessant caprices of his vivacious companion. "Do you know it's
now going on to eleven o'clock, and we have fourteen miles yet before
us?"

"One must eat occasionally, my dear friend. Even in the 'Arabian Nights'
the heroine takes a slight refection of dates now and then."

"But this is our third 'slight refection' this morning, and we shall
probably arrive at Tilney for luncheon."

"_You_ can bear long fasts, I know. I have often heard of the 'starving
Irish;' but the Anglo-Saxon stomach requires a 'retainer,' to remind it
of the great cause to be tried at dinner-time. A mere bite of bread and
cheese, and I'm with you."

At last the deep woods of Tilney came in sight; and evidence of a
well-cared-for estate--trim cottages on the roadside, and tasteful
little gardens--showed that they were approaching the residence of one
who was proud of her tenantry.

"What's the matter with you?" asked Tony, struck by a momentary silence
on his companion's part.

"I w