"I am proud of it, so you have your wish." "Yes, but I should like you to have cause, and also, Daisy, I should like to do something to please you. I wish I could." "And so do I," 1 answered, laughing, "for you would bring him back at once." "Indeed I would: in the first place, because your heart is set upon it; in the second, because I very much wish to know Mr. O'Reilly. I like him for your sake, and all he has done for you; and then, from what you tell me, I am sure he is a thoroughly good man." I could not help laying my hand on the arm of William, and replying earnestly-- "Indeed, William, he is a good man, and when you see and know him, you will find that you were not mistaken, though good is not, I dare say, the word most people would apply to Cornelius O'Reilly." William took this as a compliment to his penetration, and was rather gratified. The sun had set, grey evening was closing in; we rose, and walking together along the silent beach, we talked of Cornelius, and laid down plans of pleasant excursions up the coast, and far down the inland valleys, to be undertaken after his return. But, to our mutual mortification, William's leave of absence expired, nay the Academy opened, and Cornelius came not back to take us and the public by surprise. In her indignation, Miss O'Reilly declared that there could be but one interpretation given to such extraordinary conduct--"Cornelius has got entangled." "How so, Kate?" I asked. "Why, he is either married or going to be married to some Italian lady; that is it." "Do you think so?" I asked quietly. "Bless the child, how coolly she takes it!" exclaimed Kate, half angrily. "I have no right to take it otherwise, Kate; besides, provided Cornelius comes back to us, what matter?" "What matter! suppose he has been married all this time, and has a family about him!" "I don't think Cornelius would marry as if he were ashamed of himself," I replied, rather indignantly; "then how can he have a family in two years? and even if he had--" "Nonsense, child!" interrupted Kate, impatiently, "I don't speak of it as a fact, and there you go, coolly dissecting every hasty word I utter, as if I were giving evidence before judge and jury!" "Well, Kate, all I mean to say is this--if Cornelius has a wife and children, where is the harm, provided he does not settle in Italy?" Miss O'Reilly was of a very different opinion, and, as she seemed inclined to be vexed with me for disagreeing with her, I dropped the subject and proposed a walk. She shortly replied that with an Italian sister-in-law in prospect she did not feel disposed for walking; but that, as the matter did not touch me, I was quite right in not taking it to heart. I did not answer; I did not wish to add to her annoyance by letting her see how bitter was my disappointment at the prolonged absence of Cornelius, and the voluntary obscurity under which he lingered.