nd sixpence. But
they had an uncommon take of fish yesterday at Skibbereen, and--"

"One and sixpence!" said Mr. Carter, now slightly relaxing his brow
for the first time.

"I'd have got it for one and three," said Mr. Townsend, upon whose
mind an inkling of the truth was beginning to dawn.

"Indeed and you wouldn't, Aeneas; and Jerry was forced to promise the
man a glass of whisky the first time he comes this road, which he
does sometimes. That fish weighed over nine pounds, every ounce of
it."

"Nine fiddlesticks," said Mr. Townsend.

"I weighed it myself, Aeneas, with my own hands, and it was nine
pounds four ounces before we were obliged to cut it, and as firm as a
rock the flesh was."

"For one and sixpence!" said Mr. Carter, relaxing still a little
further, and condescending to look his hostess in the face.

"Yes, for one and six; and now--"

"I'm sure I'd have bought it for one and four, fins and all," said
the parson, determined to interrupt his wife in her pathos.

"I'm sure you would not then," said his wife, taking his assertion in
earnest. "You could never market against Jerry in your life; I will
say that for him."

"If you'll allow me to change my mind, I think I will have a little
bit of it," said Mr. Carter, almost humbly.

"By all means," said Mr. Townsend. "Biddy, bring that fish back. Now
I think of it, I have not half dined myself yet."

And then they all three forgot their ill humours, and enjoyed their
dinner thoroughly,--in spite of the acknowledged fault as touching
the lost fins of the animal.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CONDEMNED.

I have said that Lord Desmond rode home from Hap House that day in a
quieter mood and at a slower pace than that which had brought him
thither; and in truth it was so. He had things to think of now much
more serious than any that had filled his mind as he had cantered
along, joyously hoping that after all he might have for his brother
the man that he loved, and the owner of Castle Richmond also. This
was now impossible; but he felt that he loved Owen better than ever
he had done, and he was pledged to fight Owen's battle, let Owen be
ever so poor.

"And what does it signify after all?" he said to himself, as he rode
along. "We shall all be poor together, and then we sha'n't mind it so
much; and if I don't marry, Hap House itself will be something to add
to the property;" and then he made up his mind that he could be happy
enough, living at Desmo