"My old friend would be but too proud of such a visitor," said Tiernay, bowing low to Lady Kilgoff.

"Mr. Cashel has not confessed all our object, Mr. Tiernay," said she, a.s.suming her most gracious manner. "Our visit has in prospect the hope of making Miss Leicester's acquaintance; as I know you are the intimate friend of the family, will you kindly say if this be a suitable hour, or, indeed, if our presence here at all would not be deemed an intrusion?"

The doctor colored deeply, and his eye sparkled with pleasure; for strange enough as it may appear, while sneering at the dissipations of the great house, he felt a degree of indignant anger at the thought of Mary sitting alone and neglected, with gayeties around her on every side.

"It was a most thoughtful kindness of your Ladyship," replied he, "for my friend is too old and too infirm to seek society; and so the poor child has no other companionship than two old men, only fit to weary each other."

"You make me hope that our mission will succeed, sir," said Lady Kilgoff, still employing her most fascinating look and voice; "we may reckon you as an ally, I trust."

"I am your Ladyship's most devoted," said the old man, courteously; "how can I be of service?"

"Our object is to induce Miss Leicester to pa.s.s some days with us,"

said she. "We are plotting various amus.e.m.e.nts that might interest her,--private theatricals among the rest."

"Here she comes, my Lady," said Tiernay, with animation; "I am proud to be the means of introducing her."

Just at this instant Mary Leicester had caught sight of the party, and, uncertain whether to advance or retire, was standing for a moment undecided, when Tiernay called out:

"Stay a minute, Miss Mary; Lady Kilgoff is anxious to make your acquaintance."

"This is a very informal mode of opening an intimacy, Miss Leicester,"

said Lady Kilgoff; "pray let it have the merit of sincerity, for I have long desired to know one of whom I have heard so much."

Mary replied courteously to the speech, and looked pleasedly towards Cashel, to whom she justly attributed the compliment insinuated.

As the two ladies moved on side by side, engaged in conversation, Tiernay slackened his pace slightly, and, in a voice of low but earnest import, said,--

"Will Mr. Cashel consider it an intrusion if I take this opportunity of speaking to him on a matter of business?"

"Not in the least, doctor," said Cashel, gayly; "but it's right I should mention that I am most lamentably ignorant of everything that deserves that name. My agent has always saved me from the confession, but the truth will out at last."

"So much the worse, sir,--for others as well as for yourself," replied Tiernay, bluntly. "The trust a large fortune imposes--But I shall forget myself if I touch on such a theme. My business is this, sir,--and, in mercy to you, I 'll make it very brief. My old friend, Mr. Corrigan, deems it expedient to leave this country, and, in consequence, to dispose of the interest he possesses in these grounds, so long embellished by his taste and culture. He is well aware that much of what he has expended here has not added substantial value to the property; that, purely ornamental, it has, in great part, repaid himself by the many years of enjoyment it has afforded him. Still, he hopes, or, rather, I do for him,--for, to speak candidly, sir, _he_ has neither courage nor hardihood for these kind of transactions,--I hope, sir, that you, desirous of uniting this farm to the large demesne, as I understand to be the case, will not deem this an unfitting occasion to treat liberally with one whose position is no longer what it once was. I must take care, Mr. Cashel, that I say nothing which looks like solicitation here; the confidence my friend has placed in me would be ill requited by such an error."

"Is there no means of securing Mr. Corrigan's residence here?" said Cashel. "Can I not accommodate his wishes in some other way, and which should not deprive me of a neighbor I prize so highly?"

"I fear not. The circ.u.mstances which induce him to go abroad are imperative."

"Would it not be better to reflect on this?" said Cashel. "I do not seek to pry into concerns which are not mine, but I would earnestly ask if some other arrangement be not possible?"

Tiernay shook his head dubiously.

"If this be so, then I can oppose no longer. It only remains for Mr.

Corrigan to put his own value on the property, and I accept it."

"Nay, sir; this generosity will but raise new difficulties. You are about to deal with a man as high-hearted as yourself, and with the punctilious delicacy that a narrow fortune suggests, besides."

"Do you, then, doctor, who know both of us, be arbitrator. Let it not be a thing for parchments and lawyers' clerks; let it be an honorable understanding between two gentlemen, and so, no more of it."

"If the world were made up of men like yourself and my old friend, this would be, doubtless, the readiest and the best solution of the difficulty," said Tiernay; "but what would be said if we consented to such an arrangement? What would not be said? Ay, faith, there's not a scandalous rumor that malice could forge would not be rife upon us."

"And do you think such calumnies have any terror for _me?_" cried Cashel.

"When you've lived to _my_ age, sir, you'll reason differently."

"It shall be all as you wish, then," said Cashel. "But stay!" cried he, after a moment's thought; "there is a difficulty I had almost forgotten.

I must look that it may not interfere with our plans. When can I see you again? Would it suit you to come and breakfast with me tomorrow? I 'll have my man of business, and we 'll arrange everything."

"Agreed, sir; I'll not fail. I like your prompt.i.tude. A favor is a double benefit when speedily granted."

"Now I shall ask one from you, doctor. If I can persuade my kind friends here to visit us, will you too be of the party sometimes?"

"Not a bit of it. Why should I, sir, expose you to the insolent criticism my unpolished manners and rude address would bring upon you--or myself to the disdain that fashionable folk would show me? I am proud--too proud, perhaps--at the confidence you would repose in my honor; I don't wish to blush for my breeding by way of recompense.

There, sir,--there is one yonder in every way worthy all the distinction rank and wealth can give her. I feel happy to think that she is to move amongst those who, if they cannot prize her worth, will at least appreciate her fascinations."

"Will Mr. Corrigan consent?"

"He must,--he shall," broke in Tiernay; "I'll insist upon it But come along with me into the cottage, while the ladies are cementing their acquaintance; we'll see him, and talk him over."

So saying, he led Cashel into the little library, where, deep sunk in his thoughts, the old man was seated, with an open book before him, but of which he had not read a line.

"Con!" cried Tiernay, "Mr. Cashel has come to bring you and Miss Mary up to the Hall to dinner. There, sir, look at the face he puts on,--an excuse in every wrinkle of it!"

"But, my dear friend--my worthy doctor--you know perfectly---"

"I 'll know perfectly that you must go,--no help for it I have told Mr.

Cashel that you 'd make fifty apologies--pretend age--Ill-health--want of habit, and so on; the valid reason being that you think his company a set of raffs, and--"

"Oh, Tiernay, I beg you 'll not ascribe such sentiments to _me_."

"Well, I thought so myself, t' other day,--ay, half-an-hour ago; but there is a lady yonder, walking up and down the gra.s.s-plot, has made me change my mind. Come out and see her, man, and then say as many 'No's'

as you please." And, half-dragging, half-leading the old man out, Tiernay went on:--

"You 'll see, Mr. Cashel, how polite he 'll grow when he sees the bright eyes and the fair cheek. You 'll not hear of any more refusals then, I promise you."

Meanwhile, so far had Lady Kilgoff advanced in the favorable opinion of Miss Leicester that the young girl was already eager to accept the proffered invitation. Old Mr. Corrigan, however, could not be induced to leave his home, and so it was arranged that Lady Kilgoff should drive over on the following day to fetch her; with which understanding they parted, each looking forward with pleasure to their next meeting.

CHAPTER V. LINTON'S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

"Gone! and in secret, too!"

Amid all the plans for pleasure which engaged the attention of the great house, two subjects now divided the interest between them. One was the expected arrival of the beautiful Miss Leicester,--"Mr. Cashel's babe in the wood," as-Lady Janet called her,--the other, the reading of a little one-act piece which Mr. Linton had written for the company. Although both were, in their several ways, "events," the degree of interest they excited was very disproportioned to their intrinsic consequence, and can only be explained by dwelling on the various intrigues and schemes by which that little world was agitated.

Lady Janet, whose natural spitefulness was a most catholic feeling, began to fear that Lady Kilgoff had acquired such an influence over Cashel that she could mould him to any course she pleased,--even a marriage. She suspected, therefore, that this rustic beauty had been selected by her Ladyship as one very unlikely to compete with herself in Roland's regard, and that she was thus securing a lasting ascendancy over him.