Cashel always joined the party on horseback, so long as Lady Kilgoff kept the house, which she did for the first week of her stay; but when she announced her intention of driving out, he offered his services to accompany her. By the merest accident it chanced that the very day she fixed on for her first excursion was that on which Cashel had determined to try a new and most splendid equipage which had just arrived; it was a phaeton, built in all the costly splendor of the “Regency of the Duke of Orleans,”--one of those gorgeous toys which even a voluptuous age gazed at with wonder. Two jet-black Arabians, of perfect symmetry, drew it, the whole forming a most beautiful equipage. Exclamations of astonishment and admiration broke from the whole party as the carriage drove up to the door, where all were now standing. “Whose can it be? Where did it come from? What a magnificent phaeton! Mr. Cashel, pray tell us all about it. Do, Mr. Linton, give us its history.” “It has none as yet, my dear Mrs. White; that it may have, one of these days, is quite possible.” Lady Janet heard the speech, and nodded significantly in assent. “Mr. Linton, you are coming with us, a'n't you?” said a lady's voice from a britzska close by. “I really don't know how the arrangement is; Cashel said something about my driving Lady Kilgoff.” Lady Kilgoff pressed her lips close, and gathered her mantle together as if by some sudden impulse of temper, but never spoke a word. At the same instant Cashel made his appearance from the house. “Are you to drive me, Mr. Cashel?” said she, calmly. “If you will honor me so far,” replied he, bowing. “I fancied you said something to me about being her Ladyship's charioteer,” said Linton. “You must have been dreaming, man,” cried Cashel, laughing. “Will you allow my Lady to choose?” rejoined Linton, jokingly, while he stole at her a look of insolent malice. Cashel stood uncertain what to say or do in the emergency, when, with a firm and determined voice, Lady Kilgoff said,-- “I must own I have no confidence in Mr. Linton's guidance.” “There, Tom,” said Cashel, gayly, “I 'm glad your vanity came in for that.” “I have only to hope that you are in safer conduct, my Lady,” said Linton; and he bowed with uncovered head, and then stood gazing after the swift carriage as it hastened down the avenue. “Is it all true about these Kennyfeck girls having so much tin'?” said Captain Jennings, as he stroked down his moustache complacently. “They say five-and-twenty thousand each,” said Linton, “and I rather credit the rumor.” “Eh, aw! one might do worse,” yawned the hussar, languidly; “I wish they hadn't that confounded accent!” And so he moved off to join the party on horseback. “You are coming with me, Jemima,” said Mr. Downie Meek to his daughter. “I want to pay a visit to those works at Killaloe, we have so much committee talk in the House on inland navigation. Oh, dear! it is very tiresome.”