“Oh, indeed, I remember it well enough! And you were the dummy! Patsie had drink taken, and I got a queer fright, I declare, when the two were in handy grips.” “What were you doing there, that day?” “I went up just to fetch back the cat, and to say good-bye to the old place. ’Twas there I was reared.” “Were you? Well, I must say you do it credit. So that was your home, until old Usher ferreted you out?” She nodded. “And how do you like your new quarters?” “Well enough so far, thank you.” “By Jove!”--looking her over--“she is a cool card--might have been here for years”; and he took in the well-cut gown, the dainty little shoe, the turquoise necklace, which so well became her dazzling white throat. Yes, the girl had evidently begun well, and made what is known on the turf, as a “flying start.” It was a singular circumstance that whereas her tone and speech were distinctly common, she had nevertheless an indescribable air of good breeding--the strange, inimitable stamp of social superiority that cannot be acquired by any known process of education. “And what became of the uproarious young man?” he inquired. “Oh, he’s all right, for all I know,” she answered, with supreme indifference. “Or care,” drawled Captain Deverell. “Yes,” she answered coldly, “or care.” “There’s a pretty confession.” “Sure! the likes of him was nothing whatever to me,” she announced, with an air of serene repudiation. “No, but you seemed to be a good deal whatever, to him.” “How could I help that? Aren’t they all the same?” “Oh, are they? Does your father know of this Pat, or Mike?” “No; why should he be bothered with the likes of such nonsense?” “Nonsense! Well, you are amazing. The man was madly in love with you, and you call it ‘nonsense’!” “People in love are mostly foolish.” “How do you know?” “Why, from seeing plenty of them,” was the unabashed reply. “In your own case?” “Yes, they tormented the life out of me, and I was tired of insulting them. But I’ll tell you one thing--Patsie only fancied he liked me; it was just because I was going off, and his contrariness. If I’d been stopping on, I don’t believe he’d have bothered me, for he is looking for a fortune.” “Yes”--drawing his chair a little closer. “This is most interesting. Please go on.” But Joseline was gazing at the door, which opened cautiously, and admitted Lady Mulgrave in an evening toilette of sea green and diamonds. She rustled forward with empressement. “There now, and I’ll tell ye the rest when we are by ourselves.” Her ladyship distinctly overheard this promise. What a bold creature!--a girl who had met Dudley for the first time. So this was her simple, innocent little Irish peasant! Already spreading her nets for her father’s heir. How truly abominable! “My dear boy, I’d no idea you had arrived,” she said, coming over with extended hands. “I see that I needn’t introduce you to Joseline”--and she looked contemptuously amused. “Have you been here long?”