“More speed than we needed,” said she, with a melancholy smile, while she placed some silver in his hand. “What's this here, my Lady? It's like one of the owld tenpenny bits,” said he, turning over and over a coin as he spoke. “It's French money,” said she, “and unfortunately I have got none other left me.” “Sure they'll give you what you want inside,” said he, pointing towards the house. “No, no; take this. It is a crown piece, and they'll surely change it for you in the town.” And so saying, she turned towards the door. When she made one step towards it, however, she stopped. A painful irresolution seemed to possess her; but, recovering it, she turned the handle and entered. “We did not know you were coming; at least, he never told me,” said her stepmother, in a weak, broken voice, as she arose from her seat. “There was no time to apprise you,” said Kate, as she walked towards the fire and leaned her arm on the chimney-piece. “You came away suddenly, then? Had anything unpleasant--was there any reason--” “I had been desirous of leaving for some time back. Lady Dorothea only gave her consent on Tuesday last,--I think it was Tuesday; but my head is not very clear, for I am somewhat tired.” There was an indescribable sadness in the way these simple words were uttered and in the sigh which followed them. “I 'm afraid he 'll not be pleased at it!” said the other, timidly. Another sigh, but still weaker than the former, was Kate's only reply. “And how did you leave Mr. Martin? They tell us here that his case is hopeless,” said Mrs. Henderson. “He is very ill, indeed; the doctors give no hope of saving him. Is Miss Martin fully aware of his state?” “Who can tell? We scarcely ever see her. You know that she never was very partial to your father, and latterly there has been a greater distance than ever between them. They differ about everything; and with that independent way he has--” A wide stare from Kate's full dark eyes, an expression of astonishment, mingled with raillery, in her features, here arrested the speaker, who blushed deeply in her embarrassment. “Go on,” said Kate, gently. “Pray continue, and let me hear what it is that his independence accomplishes.” “Oh, dear!” sighed the other. “I see well you are not changed, Kate. You have come back with your old haughty spirit, and sure you know well, dear, that he 'll not bear it.” “I 'll not impose any burden on his forbearance. A few days' shelter--a week or two at furthest--will not be, perhaps, too much to ask.” “So, then, you have a situation in view, Kate?” asked she, more eagerly. “The world is a tolerably wide one, and I 'm sure there is room for me somewhere, even without displacing another. But let us talk of anything else. How are the Nelligans? and Joe, what is he doing?” “The old people are just as you left them; but Mr. Joseph is a great man now,--dines with the Lord-Lieutenant, and goes into all the grand society of Dublin.”