a species of quiet caution in their manner, as if they were learning, but had not yet completed, a European education as to habits and customs, and were studiously careful not to commit any solecisms which might betray their country. As dinner proceeded, the sporting characters carried the day. The _ouverture de la chasse_, which was to take place the following morning, was an all-engrossing topic, and I found myself established as judge on a hundred points of English jockey etiquette, of which as my ignorance was complete I suffered grievously in the estimation of the company, and, when referred to, could neither apportion the weight to age, nor even tell the number of yards in a ‘distance.’ It was, however, decreed that I should ride the next day--the host had the ‘very horse to suit me’; and, as the abbé whispered me to consent, I acceded at once to the arrangement. When we adjourned to the drawing-room, Colonel Muddleton came towards me with an easy smile and an outstretched snuff-box, both in such perfect keeping: the action was a finished thing. ‘Any relation, may I ask, of a very old friend and brother officer of mine, General Mark O’Leary, who was killed in Canada?’ said he. ‘A very distant one only,’ replied I. ‘A capital fellow, brave as a lion, and pleasant. By Jove, I never met the like of him! What became of his Irish property?--he was never married, I think?’ ‘No, he died a bachelor, and left his estates to my uncle; they had met once by accident, and took a liking to each other.’ ‘And so your uncle has them now?’ ‘No; my uncle died since. They came into my possession some two or three years ago.’ ‘Eh--ah--upon my life!’ said he, with something of surprise in his manner; and then, as if ashamed of his exclamation, and with a much more cordial vein than at first, he resumed: ‘What a piece of unlooked-for good fortune to be sure! Only think of my finding my old friend Mark’s nephew!’ ‘Not his nephew. I was only----’ ‘Never mind, never mind; he was kind of an uncle, you know--any man might be proud of him. What a glorious fellow!--full of fun, full of spirit and animation. Ah, just like all your countrymen! I’ve a little Irish blood in my veins myself; my mother was an O’Flaherty or an O’Neil, or something of that sort; and there’s Laura--you don’t know my daughter?’ ‘I have not the honour.’ ‘Come along, and I’ll introduce you to her; a little reserved or so,’ said he, in a whisper, as if to give me the _carte du pays_--’ rather cold, you know, to strangers; but when she hears you are the nephew of my old friend Mark--Mark and I were like brothers.--Laura, my love,’ said he, tapping the young lady on her white shoulder as she stood with her back towards us; ‘Laura, dear---the son of my oldest friend in the world, General O’Leary.’