jewil!" Is it not all written in the records of
pleasant imprudence? It was a treat to dine
with Mahon. You felt that every morsel you
swallowed invigorated your host. Alas! that
the unalloyed gold of such a nature is so unfit
for general circulation, that the sandstone which
can be so readily and gracefully moulded, will
not stand the wear and tear like the granite!

Tulloch was loud and emphatic in his praises of
Kate's prudence. His deep-set dark eyes dwelt
upon her with such undisguised admiration that
she coloured, and evidently strove to avoid them.

After the cloth was removed, a jug of deliciously
iced cold whisky-punch was produced:
— the manufacture of Ellie, who declared the
weather too warm and spring-like to permit hot
water and the inevitable fumes.

It was a pleasant dinner; even I, though
generally his Mentor, and always warning my
facile cousin against unnecessary expense, was
carried away by the fun, the irresistible enjoyment
of Mahon, in the exercise of unwonted
hospitality, the genial glow which seemed to
pervade all things. And Kate looked divinely
handsome in a white muslin and blue ribbons,
while her sisterly confidence in me was charming,
though I confess Tulloch's admiration filled
me with a vague dread.

The young ladies retired to some invisible
withdrawing-room, and then we talked business
and politics, and then Mahon confided to us his
plan for taking possession of Timbs's business,
and creating out of it a great Irish corresponding
and agency office, with an appointment of
parliamentary solicitor for the kingdom of Ireland,
and even condescending to do English
bills as well.

Tulloch listened with a slight contraction of
the eyes, and then he confided in turn how he
intended to buy a house and furnish it, and that
he thought he might spend two thousand pounds
a year, and that, if Mr. Mahon thought he saw
his way clearly to making a good thing of the
business of which he spoke, he (Tulloch) would
not mind investing a couple of thousands to
forward the scheme, provided there was no
risk.

"Risk! my dear fellow," cried Mahon, his
eyes sparkling; "it's as certain as you are
lifting that glass of punch to your head. Such
an opening! Old Timbs is a clever fellow, but
no enterprise, sir. He feels it. It was only
the day before yesterday he said to me, ' Mahon,'
says he, 'you're a clever fellow. How is it
you've come down in the world?' 'Faith I
never could tell,' says I. 'Luck was against
me somehow, though I was an enterprising
fellow.' ' Ah!' says he; 'enterprising! Just
so. I never was enterprising. Now, I suppose
if I took you as a partner you would make
my business spin prettily?' So you see the old
chap has some thoughts of it. I am not given
to fancy things, you know, but it looks like it;
and if our friend Tulloch here was inclined to
advance the capital—"

"Shall we call the girls back?" said I, hastily
interrupting the conversation at this dangerous
point.

Then the multifarious bottles and glasses, &c.
&c., were cleared away, and Kate quietly put all
things in order, and placed a basket of flowers
once more in the centre of the table, and then
the cottage piano was opened, and the girls sang
simple old duets and sweet ballads, until Tulloch
was in raptures, while I played a hit at backgammon
with Mahon, and so the hour for parting
came too soon.

"I am quite vexed I have to go to this big
dinner on Saturday," said Tulloch. " I should
like to go to the Crystal Palace with you. Why
will you not come on Monday?"

"Oh, it is too crowded and too disagreeable,"
said Ellie. " Saturday is the day."

"I shall see you before," returned Tulloch,
"and settle where we shall meet. I suppose
Victoria station will be the best for us all?"

"No, no! "We will not go down by train,"
said Kate. "It is such a business getting
away. The last time we went, Uncle Harry
treated us to an open carriage, and the drive
was delightful."

"Oh," returned Tulloch, with a slight change
of countenance, " very well."

Our adieux over, we strolled along, cigar in
mouth.

"I fancy you live rather fast, Longmore,"
said Tulloch, gloomily.

"I? Far from it. I am as careful a fellow as
ever lived. Why, Kate Mahon calls me a screw,
and I am always preaching prudence to her
father."

"Well, he seems prudent enough— at least his
daughter is. What a wife that girl would make!
I'll get her to choose some of my furniture."

The next time I saw Tulloch he was in a
thoughtful mood.

"We had a great spread at the Mortimers'.
Such a lot of dishes and wines! Why, a dinner
like that must cost a fortune."

"Yes; I dare say it does. Yet I'll wager a
round sum you enjoyed our little scramble at
the Mahons' much better."

"I believe you!" said Tulloch, emphatically.
"Why, I eat twice as much there; but— I met
Miss Goldfrap. Indeed, I took her down to
dinner. She is a fine girl—a tall fair easy-looking
creature: and, Longmore, she has
thirty thousand! There is a catch!"

"Why don't you go in and win thirty thousand?"
I returned, carelessly.

"Well, I dare say I could, if I liked; but,
somehow, I cannot help fancying Kate Mahon.
I was always a fool about a pretty face. Come
now, you are in all the secrets. What tin will
the old fellow leave her?"

"An old coffee-pot probably, not a jot more."

"What, do you mean to say those girls are
unprovided for?"

"Yes; utterly."

"What an infernal shame!" was the energetic
reply. " What a reckless old scamp that Mahon
must be," he continued, with some heat, as
though personally injured. " I declare I would
not have accepted his invitation to dinner if I
had known all this!"