s, when going uphill, are shaken into a heap
at the door, which is represented by a ragged leather flap. I have often
seen it strew the hard highroad with passengers, as it jolts up the
steep incline that leads to Ardnagreena, and the 'fares' who succeed in
staying in always sit in one another's laps a good part of the way--a
method pleasing only to relatives or intimate friends. Francesca and I
agreed to tell the real reason of Salemina's absence. "It is Ireland's
fault, and I will not have America blamed for it," she insisted; "but
it is so embarrassing to be going to the dinner ourselves, and
leaving behind the most important personage. Think of Dr. La Touche's
disappointment, think of Salemina's; and they'll never understand why
she couldn't have come in a dressing jacket. I shall advise her to
discharge Benella after this episode, for no one can tell the effect it
may have upon all our future lives, even those of the doctor's two poor
motherless children."

It is a four-mile drive to Balkilly Castle, and when we arrived there
we were so shaken that we had to retire to a dressing-room for repairs.
Then came the dreaded moment when we entered the great hall and advanced
to meet Lady Killbally, who looked over our heads to greet the missing
Salemina. Francesca's beauty, my supposed genius, both fell flat; it
was Salemina whose presence was especially desired. The company was
assembled, save for one guest still more tardy than ourselves, and we
had a moment or two to tell our story as sympathetically as possible. It
had an uncommonly good reception, and, coupled with the Irish letter I
read at dessert, carried the dinner along on a basis of such laughter
and good-fellowship that finally there was no place for regret save in
the hearts of those who knew and loved Salemina--poor Salemina,
spending her dull, lonely evening in our rooms, and later on in her own
uneventful bed, if indeed she had been lucky enough to gain access to
that bed. I had hoped Lady Killbally would put one of us beside Dr.
La Touche, so that we might at least keep Salemina's memory green by
tactful conversation; but it was too large a company to rearrange, and
he had to sit by an empty chair, which perhaps was just as salutary,
after all. The dinner was very smart, and the company interesting and
clever, but my thoughts were elsewhere. As there were fewer squires than
dames at the feast, Lady Killbally kindly took me on her left, with
a view to bett