Muslin

tain Hibbert. The movement of his shoulders, as he reined in his mettlesome bay, was pict

; but their carriage had not turned into the highroad, on its way hom

young ladies like the military. He is so good-looking

e man-indeed, I believe that there

l. Such hair! and her figure so sylph-like! I do not know what th

untily; 'what one man will turn his no

essed she was annoyed that May could not express herself less

e like Olive; and they'd make a handsome couple. What do yo

iful girl, and I suppose Captain Hibbert admires her; but I don't think

a bit gone on her,' said May, with a d

ou never used to; you have picked it up from Mr. Scu

e night we dined a

hey go out training horses together. I don't mind that; but I wish she

leave off abusing Fred. I have repea

s manner, and, throwing her arms on her mother's

ater part of the property. But, be this as it may, in Galway three generations of landlordism are considered sufficient repentance for shopkeeping in Gort, not to speak of Calcutta. Since then the family history had been stainless. Father and son had in turn put their horses out to grass in April, had begun to train them again in August, had boasted at the Dublin horse-show of having b

ter was May's especial delight, and when Mr. Scully was with them, it seemed impossible to induce her to leave it. He frequently rode over to Beechgrove, and towards the end of the afternoon it became easy to persuade him to stay to dinner. And, as the night darkened and the rain began

. After having been in London, where he spent some years in certain vague employments, and having contracted as much debt as his creditors would permit, and more than his father would pay, he had gone through the Bankruptcy Court, and returned home to drag through life wearily, through days and weeks

letters on his face. He carried a Sportsman under his arm, a penny and a half-crown jingled in his pocket; and as h

pleasure to Fred meant horses and women. Of earthly honour the greatest was to be well known in an English hunting country; and he was not averse to speaking of certain ladies of title, wit

undant ease with which he explained his tastes, which, although few, were pronounced, add to these the remnant of fashion that still lingered in his wardrobe-scarfs from the Burlington Arca

is evening manners fascinated her, and, as he leaned back smoking in the dining-room arm-chair, his patent-leather shoes propped up against the mantelpiece, he showed her glimpses of a wider world than she knew of-and the girl's eyes softened as she listened to his acco

tump of a burned-out cigarette between his lips. After breakfast he was seen slouching through the laurels on his way to the stables. From the kitchen and the larder-where the girls were immersed in calculations anent the number of hams, tongues, and sirloins of beef that would be required-he could be seen passing; and as May stood on no ceremony with Alice, whistling to her dogs, and sticking both hand

r, and Alice could see that she lived in awe of her daughter. And May, there was no doubt, was a little lawless whe

etters that had to be written was endless. Sitting at either end of the table in the drawing-room, their pens scratched and their tongue

riting, 'when this affair was first started mamma was afraid to go in f

ld subscribe-a very d

mma; you said there we

ing it would be if ther

ic

tangle a difficult sentence. H

cheering

le vexed at being misunderstood. 'But fifty, surely, is a

ere down your side of the country? Let's count. To begin with, there are the Bre

er skirt so that she could roast her fat thick legs more comfortably before

urself the othe

at I say I stand by, and I merely wondered why girls w

ct was there was

white hair. 'I said the Brennans looked too high, that they wanted gentlemen, eldest sons of county famili

y about it; let the thing pass. You know the

over to see them the other

lbourne Hotel-they take it in turns, a

ch things, May? I w

come back from school; it is you who tell me these

e room, May. I will not suffer it one moment longer. I can't think how it is you dare

exaggerate. I am very sorry. But, there's a dea

tly what will be disagreeable to say, and you say it,' replied Mrs. Gould; an

y whispered to Alice; 'but

pinsters,' said Alice, who could not help feeling a

ends the Duffys? There are five of them. That's a nice little covey of love-birds

fire, 'that wasn't punished for it. Perhaps, my lady, you will find it hard enough to suit you

tion to these maternal f

even daughters; they are all maid

l unmarried?

xclaimed Mrs. Gould; 'h

ant to marry people in

e. There're seven Honou

ey all remained in

red remarks now?' excl

ill take them. If they can't make a good marriage let them make a bad marriage; for, believe me, it is far better to be minding your own chi

of nice young men. It doesn't prove, because a whole lot

hat girls dream of aren't possible nowadays. Nice young men! I dare say; and plenty of them, I know them; young scamps without a shilling, who amuse

ant was heard at the do

ecret irritation; and the three women watched the methodical butler place the urn on the tab

r Sir Richard-I am afraid he is a bad case-and yet he never took to drink until he was five-and-thirty; and as for Sir Charles-of course th

is wrong with him?' A

heard? But I forgot, he isn't your side of the cou

deed,' murmured Mrs. Gould; '

ose curiosity was awakened by the air of my

ied,' replied May, laughing;

it is very wrong of you,

get into a passion; whe

et was talking of it t

n a mile of us, so we n

'

her of all these ch

t fancy marrying a man with a little dirty crowd of

e them,' said Mrs. Gould philosophically; an

migrated them to the moon, I wouldn'

being now tickled by the conversation, she added slyly:

Well, there is Mr. Adair. I am sure no

hlet on the Amalgamation of the Unions, which was then in the hands of the printer; and the other in which he had pulled Mr. Parnell's ears, Ireland under the Land League,

ssure you he passes for being the cleverest man in the county; and it is said that Gladstone is only waiting to give him a chan

. Did you ever hear what he once said to a

heard the story, and t

admitted that he was

fully of whiskey,'

aving a very good time of it when he took you down to dinner at Dungory Castle. I wonder

e. I hear, when Mr. Ryan and Mr. Lynch go to fairs, that they sleep with their herdsman, and in Mayo there is

asked Alice, for she now looked on the gir

g her shins complacently; 'that's what I used to hear of in m

beaux in the county? Doe

boys at school; but they are too young; there is Mr. Reed, the dispensary doctor. Mr. Burke has only two hundred a year; but if his brother wer

Marquis no chil

id Mrs. Gould; 'he's a

nty years between the b

Marquis used to be the

s a girl in Dublin who d

I suppose I daren't ment

May will

a hundred other young men. I know I can't marry him, and I am not in love with him; but I must amuse myself with something. I can't sit here all day listening t

s you don't think of what you are saying now. It was only the other day you were speaking to me of refurnishin

ling twilight. Screens worked in red and green wools stood in the vicinity of the fireplace, the walls were lined with

Just look at these limp curtains! Did you ever see any

e!' she added, glancing at the gilt clock that stood on the high, stucco, white-painted chimne

y and be more industrious. It is too late to do anything furthe