My mother was all eagerness to know how I had progressed. When I told her that I had made two speeches, one of them of an hour’s duration, her delight was boundless. “You were lost, dear child,” she cried. “Your talents are of a high order, and you have at last found a field for them.” Harry Welstone had attended a meeting at Ballynashaughragawn, and had held forth in my behalf, like a regular brick that he was. All my jealousy disappeared upon the mention of Melton, and Harry was again my confidant in everything. “I don’t think she cares much for that fellow, Fred.” “I tell you that they understand each other.” And I writhed in the agony of the thought. “I think her governor is nibbling for Melton as a son-in-law, but there is no ring of the true metal about the girl’s feelings—nothing that _I_ can detect; and I’m not utterly unobservant.” I never felt that the gash in my heart was so deep until Miss Hawthorne referred to their leaving. “Our time is up. We have overstayed our limit.” “Surely you will not desert us until after the election,” said my mother. “You must celebrate his success, if success it is to be.” “Oh! Miss Hawthorne is not interested in my success, mother,” I interposed. She turned her violet eyes full upon me. “Much more so than you give me credit for.” “My non-success, you mean.” “I do _not_ mean it.” “It is quite right that you should,” I said bitterly. “_I_ have no claim upon your interest.” “A very strong one, I assure you.” “Melton’s the man,” assuming a savage gayety. “How jolly he will feel if he wins! how delighted to bear the news to his lady-love!” “Does it not strike you, Mr. Ormonde, that your last observation is upon the borderland of—what shall I call it?” “Truth,” I suggested. She did not deign to reply to me, but, turning to my mother, expressed a fear that she should leave Kilkenley upon the following day. “I will not hear of it,” said my mother stoutly. There was one chance left, and that lay in inducing Mr. Hawthorne to stump the county with me. This scheme I confided to Harry, who highly approved of it. After dinner, when the ladies had returned to the drawing-room, Harry opened fire. “Mr. Hawthorne, the people about here are exceedingly anxious to hear you speak. They have heard a good deal of your eloquence in Parliament, and have read some of your speeches.”