eager in seeking
her assistance. Lady Fitzgerald of course could not be seen, and
there was no one else at Castle Richmond who could be supposed to
have any weight with Herbert. And therefore Lady Desmond was very
eloquent with Aunt Letty, talking much of the future miseries of the
two young people, till the old lady had promised to use her best
efforts in enlisting Lady Fitzgerald on the same side. "You cannot
wonder, Miss Fitzgerald, that I should wish to put an end to the
cruel position in which my poor girl is placed. You know how much a
girl suffers from that kind of thing."

Aunt Letty did dislike Lady Desmond very much; but, nevertheless, she
could not deny the truth of all this; and therefore it may be said
that the visits of the countess to Castle Richmond were on the whole
successful.

And the month wore itself away also in that sad household, and the
Fitzgeralds were gradually becoming used to their position. Family
discussions were held among them as to what they should do, and where
they should live in future. Mr. Prendergast had written, seeing
that Owen had persisted in refusing to make the offer personally
himself--saying that there was no hurry for any removal. "Sir Owen,"
he said,--having considered deeply whether or no he would call him
by the title or no, and having resolved that it would be best to do
so at once--"Sir Owen was inclined to behave very generously. Lady
Fitzgerald could have the house and demesne at any rate for twelve
months, and by that time the personal property left by Sir Thomas
would be realized, and there would be enough," Mr. Prendergast
said, "for the three ladies to live 'in decent quiet comfort.'" Mr.
Prendergast had taken care before he left Castle Richmond that a will
should be made and duly executed by Sir Thomas, leaving what money
he had to his three children by name,--in trust for their mother's
use. Till the girls should be of age that trust would be vested in
Herbert.

"Decent quiet comfort!" said Mary to her brother and sister as they
conned the letter over; "how comfortless it sounds!"

And so the first month after the death of Sir Thomas passed by,
and the misfortunes of the Fitzgerald family ceased to be the only
subject spoken of by the inhabitants of county Cork.

CHAPTER XXXII.

PREPARATIONS FOR GOING.

At the end of the month, Herbert began to prepare himself for facing
the world. The first question to be answered was that one which is
so f