t taking
a drive into Wicklow, the most perfect paradise on the surface of the
globe in my opinion," he added. "Carriages shall be in waiting for the
ladies, and I'll take all the trouble off your hands."

So pressing an invitation was not to be refused. The various excursions
Mrs McMahon and her friends made on shore need not be described. They
were delighted with all they saw of the country, if not of Dublin itself
and the Misses Murray at once declared that they should be perfectly
ready to come and live in Ireland, though they had seen no spot which
could equal Bercaldine.

As Captain Murray had to return to Ryde to take on board his younger
children, before returning to Scotland, his stay in Dublin could not be
prolonged. "We can give you a berth, Saint Maur, if you are inclined to
take a trip to sea again, although we will not make you keep watch
unless you specially wish it," he said, scarcely expecting, however,
that the invitation would be accepted.

"I shall be delighted," answered Desmond; "I can spare a couple of
weeks, as McMahon will not immediately require my signature and will do
all that is necessary in the mean time. I feel as fond of the sea as
ever, though I shall certainly not seek for employment, and may possibly
retire and start a yacht next year if I can afford it, although on that
score I am not very sanguine, as the old house, I understand, requires
extensive repairs, and there is much to be done on the estate: decent
cottages, instead of pigsties, to be built; land to be drained and
fences put up--the tenantry must be looked after."

Murray, as the only way of returning the attentions he had received from
Counsellor McMahon, took him, his wife, and daughters, a trip on board
the _Stella_, their cruise being along the Wicklow coast, and highly
delighted the young ladies were, though the counsellor acknowledged that
he was much happier when the _Stella_ brought up in Kingstown Harbour,
and he found himself at the dinner table in the comfortable cabin at
perfect rest.

"It may be very pleasant for you young people to be tumbled and tossed
about while you are gazing at the scenery of our incomparable mountains,
but I confess that I can only enjoy the beauties of nature while I find
my feet securely placed on _terra firma_," he remarked.

The following day, with a spanking breeze from the westward, the
_Stella_ sailed on her return to the Isle of Wight. The fine weather
continued until