“Now, it would seem customary for the guests to adopt here certain hours in common,--breakfasting, dining together, and associating like the members of one family.” Paul nodded an assent, and she resumed. “I need scarcely observe to _you_, Mr. Dempsey, how very unsuited either myself or Miss Darcy would be to such an assembly, if even present circumstances did not more than ever enjoin a life of strict retirement.” “Dear me!” exclaimed Paul in a tone of deprecation, “there never was anything more select than this. Mother Fum never admits without a reference; I can show you the advertisement in the Derry papers. We kept the Collector out for two months, till he brought us a regular bill of health, as a body might say.” “Could you persuade them to let us remain in 'Quarantine,' then, for a few days?” said Helen, smiling. “Oh, no! Helen, nothing of the kind; Mr. Dempsey must not be put to any troublesome negotiations, on our account. There surely must be an hotel of some sort in the town.” “This is a nice mess!” muttered Paul, who began to anticipate some of the miseries his good nature might cost him. “A few days, a week at furthest, I hope, will enable us to communicate with our law adviser, and decide upon some more suitable abode. Could you, then, for the meanwhile, suggest a comfortable inn, or if not, a lodging in the town?” Paul wrung his hands in dismay, but uttered not a syllable. “To be candid, Mr. Dempsey,” said Helen, “my father has a horror of these kind of places, and you could recommend us no country inn, however humble, where he would not be better pleased to hear of our taking refuge.” “But, Fumbally's! the best-known boarding-house in the North.” “I should be sincerely grieved, to be understood as uttering one syllable in its disparagement,” rejoined Lady Eleanor; “I could not ask for a more satisfactory voucher of its respectability; but ours are peculiar circumstances.” “Only a pound a week,” struck in Paul, “with extras.” “Nothing could be more reasonable; but pray understand me, I speak of course in great ignorance, but it would appear to me that persons living together in this fashion have a kind of right to know something of those who present themselves for the first time amongst them. Now, there are many reasons why neither my daughter nor myself would like to submit to this species of inquiry.” “I 'll settle all that,” broke in Paul; “leave that to me, and you 'll have no further trouble about it.” “You must excuse my reliance even on such discretion,” said Lady Eleanor, with more hauteur than before. “Are we to understand that there is neither inn nor lodging-house to be found?” said Helen. “Plenty of both, but full of bagmen,” ejaculated Paul, whose contrivances were all breaking down beneath him. “What is to be done?” exclaimed Lady Eleanor to her daughter.