This rude speech was called up by a smothering effort to conceal emotion, which would not be repressed, but burst forth in a violent fit of sobbing.

"I know you didn't mean it. I know you were not thinking--"

"If ye canna keep your ain counsel, ye must just pay the cost o' it,"

said he, savagely. "Finish the letter there, and let me send it to the post. I wanted ye to say a' about the Nelligans comin' up to visit Miss Mary, and she goin' ower the grounds wi' them, and sendin' them pineapples and grapes, and how that the doctor's girls are a'ways wi'

her, and that she takes old Catty out to drive along wi' herself in the pony phaeton, which is condescendin' in a way her Leddyship will no approve o'. There was mony a thing beside I had in my head, but ye hae driven them a' clean awa' wi' your feelin's!" And he gave the last word with an almost savage severity.

"Bide a wee!" cried he, as she was folding up the letter. "Ye may add that Mister Scanlan has taken to shootin' over the preserves we were keepin' for the Captain, and if her Leddyship does not wish to banish the woodc.o.c.ks a'the-gither, she 'd better gie an order to stop him.

Young Nelli-gan had a special permission from Miss Mary hersel' and if it was na that he canna hit a haystack at twenty yards, there 'd no be a c.o.c.k pheasant in the demesne! I think I 'm looking at her as she reads this," said he, with a malicious grin. "Ech, sirs, won't her great black eyebrows meet on her forehead, and her mouth be drawn in till never a bit of a red lip be seen! Is na that a chaise I see comin' up the road?"

cried he, suddenly. "Look yonder!"

"I thought I saw something pa.s.s," said she, trying to strain her eyes through the tears that now rose to them.

"It's a post-chaise wi' twa trunks on the top. I wonder who's comin' in it?" said Henderson, as he opened the sash-door, and stood awaiting the arrival. The chaise swept rapidly round the beech copse, and drew up before the door; the postilion, dismounting, lowered the steps, and a.s.sisted a lady to alight. She threw back her veil as she stood on the ground, and Kate Henderson, somewhat jaded-looking and pale from her journey, was before her father. A slight flush--very slight--rose to his face as he beheld her, and without uttering a word he turned and re-entered the house.

"Ye are aboot to see a visitor, ma'am," said he to his wife; and, taking his hat, pa.s.sed out of the room. Meanwhile Kate watched the postboy as he untied the luggage and deposited it at her side.

"Did n't I rowl you along well, my Lady?--ten miles in little more than an hour," said he, pointing to his smoking cattle.

"More speed than we needed," said she, with a melancholy smile, while she placed some silver in his hand.

"What's this here, my Lady? It's like one of the owld tenpenny bits,"

said he, turning over and over a coin as he spoke.

"It's French money," said she, "and unfortunately I have got none other left me."

"Sure they'll give you what you want inside," said he, pointing towards the house.

"No, no; take this. It is a crown piece, and they'll surely change it for you in the town." And so saying, she turned towards the door.

When she made one step towards it, however, she stopped. A painful irresolution seemed to possess her; but, recovering it, she turned the handle and entered.

"We did not know you were coming; at least, he never told me," said her stepmother, in a weak, broken voice, as she arose from her seat.

"There was no time to apprise you," said Kate, as she walked towards the fire and leaned her arm on the chimney-piece.

"You came away suddenly, then? Had anything unpleasant--was there any reason--"

"I had been desirous of leaving for some time back. Lady Dorothea only gave her consent on Tuesday last,--I think it was Tuesday; but my head is not very clear, for I am somewhat tired." There was an indescribable sadness in the way these simple words were uttered and in the sigh which followed them.

"I 'm afraid he 'll not be pleased at it!" said the other, timidly.

Another sigh, but still weaker than the former, was Kate's only reply.

"And how did you leave Mr. Martin? They tell us here that his case is hopeless," said Mrs. Henderson.

"He is very ill, indeed; the doctors give no hope of saving him. Is Miss Martin fully aware of his state?"

"Who can tell? We scarcely ever see her. You know that she never was very partial to your father, and latterly there has been a greater distance than ever between them. They differ about everything; and with that independent way he has--"

A wide stare from Kate's full dark eyes, an expression of astonishment, mingled with raillery, in her features, here arrested the speaker, who blushed deeply in her embarra.s.sment.

"Go on," said Kate, gently. "Pray continue, and let me hear what it is that his independence accomplishes."

"Oh, dear!" sighed the other. "I see well you are not changed, Kate.

You have come back with your old haughty spirit, and sure you know well, dear, that he 'll not bear it."

"I 'll not impose any burden on his forbearance. A few days' shelter--a week or two at furthest--will not be, perhaps, too much to ask."

"So, then, you have a situation in view, Kate?" asked she, more eagerly.

"The world is a tolerably wide one, and I 'm sure there is room for me somewhere, even without displacing another. But let us talk of anything else. How are the Nelligans? and Joe, what is he doing?"

"The old people are just as you left them; but Mr. Joseph is a great man now,--dines with the Lord-Lieutenant, and goes into all the grand society of Dublin."

"Is he spoiled by his elevation?"

"Your father thinks him haughtier than he used to be; but many say that he is exactly what he always was. Mrs. Nelligan comes up frequently to the cottage now, and dines with Miss Martin. I 'm sure I don't know how my Lady would like to see her there."

"She is not very likely," said Kate, dryly.

"Why not?"

"I mean, that nothing is less probable than Lady Dorothea's return here."

"I suppose not!" half sighed Mrs. Henderson, for hers was one of those sorrowful temperaments that extract only the bitter from the cup of life. In reality, she had little reason to wish for Lady Dorothea's presence, but still she could make a "very good grievance" out of her absence, and find it a fitting theme for regret. "What reason do you mean to give for your coming home, Kate, if he should ask you?" inquired she, after a pause.

"That I felt dissatisfied with my place," replied Kate, coldly.

"And we were always saying what a piece of good luck it was for you to be there! Miss Mary told Mrs. Nelligan--it was only the other day--that her uncle could n't live without you,--that you nursed him, and read to him, and what not; and as to her Ladyship, that she never took a drive in the carriage, or answered a note, without asking your advice first."

"What a profound impression Miss Martin must have received of my talents for intrigue!" said Kate, sneeringly.

"I believe not. I think she said something very kind and good-natured, just as if it was only people who had really very great gifts that could condescend to make themselves subservient without humiliation. I know she said 'without humiliation,' because your father laughed when he heard of it, and remarked, 'If it's Kate's humility they like, they are a.s.suredly thankful for small mercies!"

"I should like to go over and see Miss Martin. What distance is it from this to the cottage?"

"It's full three miles; but it's all through the demesne."

"I'm a good walker, and I'll go," said she, rising. "But first, might I ask for a little refreshment,--a cup of tea? Oh, I forgot," added she, smiling, "tea is one of the forbidden luxuries here."

"No; but your father doesn't like to see it in the daytime. If you'd take it in your own room--"

"Of course, and be most thankful. Am I to have the little room with the green paper, where I used to be, long ago?"

"Well, indeed, I can scarcely tell. The bed was taken down last autumn; and as we never thought of your coming home--"

"Home!" sighed Kate, involuntarily.

"But come into my room, and I 'll fetch you a cup of tea directly."