his manner.  At last, she began to think that, in the midst of so much business of importance, by which he seemed harassed, she should do wrong to torment him, by speaking of any small disquietude that concerned only herself.  She determined to suppress her doubts, to keep her feelings to herself, and to endeavour, by constant kindness, to regain that place in his affections which she imagined that she had lost.  ’Everything will go right again,’ thought she, ’and we shall all be happy, when he returns with us to Ireland—­to that dear home which he loves as well as I do!’

The day Lord Colambre was of age, the first thing he did was to sign a bond for five thousand pounds, Miss Nugent’s fortune, which had been lent to his father, who was her guardian.

‘This, sir, I believe,’ said he, giving it to his father as soon as signed—­’this, I believe, is the first debt you would wish to have secured.’

’Well thought of, my dear boy I—­God bless you!—­that has weighed more upon my conscience and heart than all the rest, though I never said anything about it.  I used, whenever I met Mr. Salisbury, to wish myself fairly down at the centre of the earth; not that he ever thought of fortune, I’m sure; for he often told me, and I believed him, he would rather have Miss Nugent without a penny, if he could get her, than the first fortune in the empire.  But I’m glad she will not go to him penniless, for all that; and by my fault, especially.  There, there’s my name to it—­do witness it, Terry.  But, Colambre, you must give it to her—­you must take it to Grace.’

’Excuse me, sir; it is no gift of mine—­it is a debt of yours.  I beg you will take the bond to her yourself, my dear father.’

’My dear son, you must not always have your own way, and hide everything good you do, or give me the honour of it I won’t be the jay in borrowed feathers.  I have borrowed enough in my life, and I’ve done with borrowing now, thanks to you, Colambre—­so come along with me; for I’ll be hanged if ever I give this joint bond to Miss Nugent, without you along with me.  Leave Lady Clonbrony here to sign these papers.  Terry will witness them properly, and you come along with me.’

‘And pray, my lord,’ said her ladyship, ’order the carriage to the door; for, as soon as you have my signature, I hope you’ll let me off to Buxton.’

‘Oh, certainly—­the carriage is ordered—­everything ready, my dear.’

‘And pray tell Grace to be ready,’ added Lady Clonbrony.

‘That’s not necessary; for she is always ready,’ said Lord Clonbrony.  ‘Come, Colambre,’ added he, taking his son under the arm, and carrying him up to Miss Nugent’s dressing-room.

They knocked, and were admitted.