“If any body knew,” said Lady Clonbrony, “if any body could conceive, how I detest the sight, the thoughts of that old yellow damask furniture, in the drawing-room at Clonbrony Castle--” “Good Heavens!” cried Lord Colambre, starting up, and looking at his mother in stupified astonishment; “is _that_ what you are thinking of, ma’am?” “The yellow damask furniture!” said her niece, smiling. “Oh, if that’s all, that shall never offend your eyes again. Aunt, my painted velvet chairs are finished; and trust the furnishing that room to me. The legacy lately left me cannot be better applied--you shall see how beautifully it will be furnished.” “Oh, if I had money, I should like to do it myself; but it would take an immensity to new furnish Clonbrony Castle properly.” “The furniture in this house,” said Miss Nugent, looking round-- “Would do a great deal towards it, I declare,” cried Lady Clonbrony; “that never struck me before, Grace, I protest--and what would not suit one might sell or exchange here--and it would be a great amusement to me--and I should like to set the fashion of something better in that country. And I declare now, I should like to see those poor people, and that widow O’Neil. I do assure you, I think I was happier at home; only that one gets, I don’t know how, a notion, one’s nobody out of Lon’on. But, after all, there’s many drawbacks in Lon’on--and many people are very impertinent, I’ll allow--and if there’s a woman in the world I hate, it is Mrs. Dareville--and, if I was leaving Lon’on, I should not regret Lady Langdale neither--and Lady St. James is as cold as a stone. Colambre may well say _frozen circles_--these sort of people are really very cold, and have, I do believe, no hearts. I don’t verily think there is one of them would regret me more--Hey! let me see, Dublin--the winter--Merrion-square--new furnished--and the summer--Clonbrony Castle!” Lord Colambre and Miss Nugent waited in silence till her mind should have worked itself clear. One great obstacle had been removed; and now that the yellow damask had been taken out of her imagination, they no longer despaired. Lord Clonbrony put his head into the room. “What hopes?--any? if not, let me go.” He saw the doubting expression of Lady Clonbrony’s countenance--hope in the face of his son and niece. “My dear, dear Lady Clonbrony, make us all happy by one word,” said he, kissing her. “You never kissed me so since we left Ireland before,” said Lady Clonbrony. “Well, since it must be so, let us go,” said she. “Did I ever see such joy!” said Lord Clonbrony, clasping his hands: “I never expected such joy in my life!--I must go and tell poor Terry!” and off he ran.