uld have an opportunity of getting out of
this dull place for a few hours. It was so good of you to think of
her."

Miss Fitzgerald made some civil answer, and away they all went.
Herbert was on horseback, and remained some minutes after them to
discuss her own difficulties with the countess, and to say a few
words about that Clady boiler that would not boil. Clara on this
subject had opened her heart to him, and he had resolved that the
boiler should be made to boil. So he said that he would go over and
look at it, resolving also to send that which would be much more
efficacious than himself, namely, the necessary means and workmen
for bringing about so desirable a result. And then he rode after the
girls, and caught the car just as it reached Gortnaclough.

How they all spent their day at the soup kitchen, which however,
though so called, partook quite as much of the character of a
bake-house; how they studied the art of making yellow Indian meal
into puddings; how the girls wanted to add milk and sugar, not
understanding at first the deep principles of political economy,
which soon taught them not to waste on the comforts of a few that
which was so necessary for the life of many; how the poor women
brought in their sick ailing children, accepting the proffered food,
but bitterly complaining of it as they took it,--complaining of it
because they wanted money, with which they still thought that they
could buy potatoes--all this need not here or now be described. Our
present business is to get them all back to Castle Richmond.

There had been some talk of their dining at Gortnaclough, because it
was known that the ladies at Desmond Court dined early; but now that
Clara was to return to Castle Richmond, that idea was given up, and
they all got back to the house in time for the family dinner.

"Mamma," said Emmeline, walking first into the drawing-room, "Lady
Clara has come back with us after all, and is going to stay here
to-night; we are so glad."

Lady Fitzgerald got up from her sofa, and welcomed her young guest
with a kiss.

"It is very good of you to come," she said; "very good indeed. You
won't find it dull, I hope, because I know you are thinking about the
same thing as these children."

Lady Clara muttered some sort of indistinct little protest as to the
impossibility of being dull with her present friends.

"Oh, she's as full of corn meal and pints of soup as any one," said
Emmeline; "and knows exactl