Whereupon, Mr. de Burgh, who took this remark--probably as it was intended to be--as a reflection upon his own backwardness in forwarding that arrangement, began an assurance, in way of defence, of Doctor somebody's preference of his native country's air to that of the seaside; adding, that it would do the boy much more good to have that long hair cut off which was exhausting all his strength. Mrs. de Burgh declared that he was welcome to have it cut off, for what she cared, for he knew she never interfered in any of his whims, however absurd they might be. And so it went on for a short time, till Mary began to wonder if every repast was to be seasoned by such agreeable accompaniments, as the bickerings of this and the preceding conversations. But Eugene Trevor, who seemed to be accustomed to this sort of thing, managed, laughingly, to divert the conversation from this exciting topic, and peace was accordingly restored during the remainder of the meal. But how wonderful it was to Mary, that those two beings, whom nature, as well as fortune, seemed to have crowned with every blessing their bounty can bestow to make this world a paradise--health, beauty, talents, on the one hand; wealth, station, princely possessions on the other--should awaken in her mind feelings of pain and compassion, rather than envy or admiration--as apparently lacking in so lamentable a degree, that first great ingredient in the cup of life--_love_. How had this come to pass--how had the precious drop been banished from the draught they were about so joyously to quaff, and which seemed to sparkle with such glittering lustre when she had seen them last? Yet the same changeless heaven was above their heads--and earth should have been to them a still more thornless paradise. Alas! Mary had not learnt to see by sad experience, how often this is the case with hearts that have once loved with--it might have seemed undying fervour; affection frittered irreclaimably away in the caprice and wantonness of unbroken prosperity, "Hearts that the world in vain had tried, And sorrow but more closely tied. Who stood the storms when waves were rough, Yet in a sunny hour fall off, Like ships which have gone down at sea, When heaven was all serenity." * * * * * Soon after breakfast Mary went up stairs to write to her aunt and uncle, then returned and sat with Mrs. de Burgh till luncheon time, when the gentlemen rejoined them, and after that they all went out together--that is to say Mr. Trevor and the two ladies, for Mr. de Burgh soon left the party, to follow his own business and pursuits.