," I replied with indignation. "In Ireland, when a friend
does a friend's part, he doesn't expect to be paid for it."

"But don't you expect a reward for returning them?"

"Lady Mary," said I, "do you mean to be after insulting me? These
papers are not mine, but the Earl of Westport's, and he can have them
without saying as much as 'Thank you kindly' for them."

Lady Mary leaned back in her chair and looked at me with half-closed
eyes, then she stretched forth her hand and said:

"Give me the papers."

"But it's only a minute since," I cried, perplexed, "that you held
them to be the key of the situation, and said if I didn't keep them I
would never get you."

"Did I say that?" asked Lady Mary with the innocence of a
three-year-old child. "I had no idea we had come to such a conclusion.
Now do you want a little advice about those same papers?"

"As long as the advice comes from you, Mary darling, I want it on any
subject."

"You have come into England brawling, sword-playing, cudgel-flinging,
and never till this moment have you given a thought to what the papers
are for. These papers represent the law."

"Bad cess to it," said I. "My father used to say, have as little to do
with the law as possible, for what's the use of bringing your man into
the courts when a good shillelah is speedier and more satisfactory to
all concerned."

"That may be true in Ireland, but it is not true in England. Now, here
is my advice. You know my father and mother, and if you'll just quit
staring your eyes out at me, and think for a minute, you may be able
to tell when you will get their consent to pay your addresses to me
without interruption." Here she blushed and looked down.

"Indeed," said I, "I don't need to take my eyes from you to answer
_that_ question. It'll be the afternoon following the Day of
Judgment."

"Very well. You must then stand on your rights. I will give you a
letter to a man in the Temple, learned in the law. He was legal
adviser to my aunt, who left me all her property, and she told me that
if I ever was in trouble I was to go to him; but instead of that I'll
send my trouble to him with a letter of introduction. I advise you to
take possession of the estate at Brede, and think no more of giving up
the papers to my father until he is willing to give you something in
return. You may then ask what you like of him; money, goods, or a
farm,"--and again a bright red colour flooded her cheeks. With that
she dre