INTERFERENCE. A Novel. BY B. M. CROKER, AUTHOR OF “PROPER PRIDE,” “PRETTY MISS NEVILLE,” “A BIRD OF PASSAGE,” “DIANA BARRINGTON,” “TWO MASTERS,” &c. _IN THREE VOLUMES._ VOL. II. London: F. V. WHITE & CO., 31, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1891. PRINTED BY KELLY & CO., MIDDLE MILL, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES; AND GATE STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I.--“INTERRUPTED” 1 II.--“FOXY JOE TELLS TALES” 34 III.--MRS. MACCABE HAS IT OUT WITH THE MAJOR 58 IV.--THE MAJOR RECEIVES HIS LAST TELEGRAM 79 V.--THE HOUR AND THE MAN 98 VI.--“THINE ONLY” 119 VII.--BELLE _VERSUS_ BETTY 134 VIII.--“YES, COMING” 162 IX.--FOXY JOE TELLS MORE TALES, AND ONE FALSEHOOD 177 X.--“THE BRIDE-ELECT” 190 XI.--“THE UNEXPECTED” 200 XII.--“‘SHE’ UNDERSTANDS ME” 226 INTERFERENCE. CHAPTER I. “INTERRUPTED.” “It is a familiar beast to man, and signifies love.” --MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Betty had been unremitting in her attention to Miss Dopping all through the winter, and her virtue was not to be her sole reward! The old lady hired a pair of posters, and drove out to Noone in her mother’s green chariot, and had a long private interview with Mrs. Redmond. She was going to the Moores of Roskeen for a week, and they had asked her to bring Betty.--It would be by no means Betty’s first visit to that part of the world. She and Kathleen Moore were bosom friends; indeed she was a great favourite with the whole family. But this visit would be a more solemn occasion; as Miss Dopping represented to Mrs. Redmond, her young friend was now eighteen, it was manifestly high time she came out; she might make her _début_ at Lord Enniscorthy’s ball. She might go with the Moores, and Miss Dopping herself would chaperone her, and provide her dress! Mrs. Redmond hesitated. Ought not Betty to come out under _her_ wing?