xiety on her own part; but she was not the
less thankful when she found that no public notice was to be taken of
the matter.

Very shortly after Herbert's return to Castle Richmond, it was
notified to him that he need have no fear as to his inheritance; and
it was so notified with the great additional comfort of an assuring
opinion from Mr. Die. He then openly called himself Sir Herbert, took
upon himself the property which became his by right of the entail,
and issued orders for the preparation of his marriage settlement.
During this period he saw Owen Fitzgerald; but he did so in the
presence of Mr. Somers, and not a word was then said about Lady
Clara Desmond. Both the gentlemen, Herbert and Mr. Somers, cordially
thanked the master of Hap House for the way in which he had behaved
to the Castle Richmond family, and in reference to the Castle
Richmond property during the terrible events of the last two months;
but Owen took their thanks somewhat haughtily. He shook hands warmly
enough with his cousin, wishing him joy on the arrangement of his
affairs, and was at first less distant than usual with Mr. Somers;
but when they alluded to his own conduct, and expressed their
gratitude, he declared that he had done nothing for which thanks were
due, and that he begged it to be understood that he laid claim to no
gratitude. Had he acted otherwise, he said, he would have deserved to
be kicked out of the presence of all honest men; and to be thanked
for the ordinary conduct of a gentleman was almost an insult. This he
said looking chiefly at Mr. Somers, and then turning to his cousin,
he asked him if he intended to remain in the country.

"Oh, certainly," said Herbert.

"I shall not," said Owen; "and if you know any one who will take a
lease of Hap House for ten or twelve years, I shall be glad to find a
tenant."

"And you, where are you going?"

"To Africa in the first instance," said he; "there seems to be some
good hunting there, and I think that I shall try it."

The new tidings were not long in reaching Desmond Court, and the
countess was all alone when she first heard them. With very great
difficulty, taking as it were the bit between her teeth, Clara had
managed to get over to Castle Richmond that she might pay a last
visit to the Fitzgerald girls. At this time Lady Desmond's mind was
in a terribly distracted state. The rumour was rife about the country
that Owen had refused to accept the property; and the countes