"I feel completely exhausted by the heat," said Lord Effingham, sinking back in his chair, "the heat and the cold of England are equally unendurable. We have enjoyed a thunder-storm in the Appenines, Lady Desmond; and you did not start then, as you did just now, when I entered; it is this heavy atmosphere." "Yes; yet the storm you mention was awfully grand--and at night, too." "'Oh, night, And storm and darkness, ye are wondrous strong, Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light Of a dark eye, in woman!'" said Lord Effingham, as if to himself; but, with a glance at Lady Desmond, while Colonel Dashwood was playing with Kate's pen-wiper, and talking of the band of the --th. Lady Desmond sighed, and looked away towards Kate, Lord Effingham following the direction of her eyes with his, smiled. "Miss Kate, agrah," said Mrs. O'Toole's voice, from the verandah, at that moment, "don't be sitting wid the winda wide open, an' the lightnin' strikin' right an' lift--sure it'll be powerin' cats and dogs in a minit;" and nurse's good-humoured face, though not quite so bright as in former days, beamed in on them. "The Lord save us! I beg yer pardon, me lady; sure I thought Miss Kate was all alone be herself, an' I niver thought to find--" "No apology, nurse," said Lady Desmond, good-humouredly. "Mrs. O'Toole," cried Colonel Dashwood, "I hope I am not quite forgotten;" and he stepped forward to greet her. "Faith, ye'r not, sir; sure, a dog that I remimbered at Dungar, would be light to me eyes, let alone a grand lookin' gintleman like yer honor!" "It is raining heavily already, nurse," said Lady Desmond, with whom Mrs. O'Toole was a great favourite; "come in, at once, and you can speak to Colonel Dashwood." "Och, Kurnel, what's the Captin doin'? an' where is he?" "Which Captain?" he returned; "I know so many." "Och, mee own Captin--him that I nursed through the faver!" "Oh, Captain Egerton; he is in India, and is a Colonel now; he has been doing wonders. I will tell him you were asking for him; he will be delighted." "Me blessin' on him, wherever he goes. Och, it's a weary sore world;" and she glanced at Kate, and wiped a tear from her eyes with the corner of her apron; then curtseying profoundly, retired, saying--"I'll niver forget the Captin, an' him that's gone. How happy they wer togather!" "Pray," said Lord Effingham, as she passed, "is your memory always equally good for every one and everything?" "I always had a wondherful memory, mee lord," said Mrs. O'Toole, with another low curtsey; "for it can remimber an' disremimber, mee lord! just what's convanient betimes!" "Very convenient," replied his lordship, with a laugh; "good morning."