THE EARL’S PROMISE. A Novel. BY MRS. RIDDELL, AUTHOR OF “GEORGE GEITH,” “TOO MUCH ALONE,” “HOME, SWEET HOME,” ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: TINSLEY BROTHERS, 8, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. 1873. [_All rights of Translation and Reproduction are Reserved._] PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND CO., LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAP. PAGE. I. KINGSLOUGH NÉE BALLYLOUGH 1 II. WHERE CAN SHE BE? 23 III. THE GLENDARES 57 IV. HOW THE NEWS ARRIVED 78 V. MR. RILEY’S PROSPECTS 97 VI. ON THE TERRACE 124 VII. MR. SOMERFORD’S SUGGESTION 144 VIII. INTRODUCES THE NAME OF AMOS SCOTT 180 IX. AT THE CASTLE FARM 225 X. MR. DANIEL BRADY RECEIVES 250 XI. NETTIE AT BAY 281 THE EARL’S PROMISE. CHAPTER I. KINGSLOUGH _née_ BALLYLOUGH. Kingslough at high noon was ordinarily the stupidest, dullest, dirtiest little town that could have been found in the Province of Ulster. On market and fair, and party-procession days, the inhabitants seemed to expend the whole of their strength. An almost unbroken calm ensued after wild excitement, a death-like stillness followed the shouts and cries of faction, the shrieks of drunken merriment, the shrill piping of fifes, the braying of trumpets, and the bang-banging of drums. Excepting on such and such-like festive occasions as those above enumerated, the town, figuratively speaking, looked as though it had gone to bed to sleep off the effects of its last excitement or debauch. In the bright sunlight it appeared like a place deserted by its population—a place rich in every natural beauty, which there was neither man nor woman to admire. So far as position was concerned, Kingslough had nothing left to desire. Situated on an arm of the sea, the town, well sheltered from the wild north winds by hills and far-spreading plantations, nestled its houses snugly along the shore, while the blue waves rippled gently in over the red sandstone beach. Nature had indeed done everything for the little watering-place, and man had, as is usually the case, done his best to spoil Nature’s handiwork.