saying "Mr. Moore" as if she were acting hypocritically. It did not occur to her as a possible solution that the young man refrained from saying her name before others through a consciousness that is not unusual even in a nature not overwrought by sentimental emotion. Some feel a hesitation in pronouncing the beloved name in ordinary conversation; it has become sacred; and even the name of one we loved, and yet have long ceased to love, falls on the ear with a curious distinctness, though it has no longer power to awaken thought. Lovers often attract each other's attention and keep up a very satisfactory intercourse without having recourse to the useful law of nomenclature; and sometimes husbands— husbands oftener than wives-contrive, by some adroit method of intonation, I suppose, to avoid the christian name of their wives. "Well, have you got anything to say?" asked Philip as they "Are you going to sit like a stick as you did at the drove on. Lodge ?" "I suppose I can sit as I choose," replied Ethna, annoyed to find that he, too, thought she did not look to advantage there. "Certainly, my dear girl. I do not want to interfere with any posture you think fit to assume; but it is hardly necessary in a drawingroom to look as if one were repelling assailants." "I am very sorry I went there at all," said Ethna. "It was not the slightest advantage to either of us." "Advantage!" repeated Philip, mockingly. So you can't do such a simple thing as pay a visit without speculating as to the advantage to be got out of it. Bravo, rural prudence." "If I had been prudent," said Ethna, passionately, "I should have very little to say to you." 66 'Oh, it is not too late. You can mend your hand," answered Philip, giving the ponies a lash that made Nora scream with mingled joy and fear. "Thank God, it is not," said Ethna. 66 "How fortunate for us to have come to such a good understanding," he replied. Now, Nora, we will turn up here and go home at a rattling pace by this road.” He continued to talk to the child during the remainder of the drive, and, when he handed them out again at their own door, he merely said to Ethna: "I hope you will be in better temper to-morrow," and drove away. Nora ran into the kitchen at full speed to unbosom herself to her grandmother, and goaded that good lady into saying which pony she liked best; and would she give her a pony when she would be big, with ever so many bells? Dinner was served, and the Madam entered. "You look tired, my dear," she said to Ethna, who leant back wearily in the armchair. "So I am," replied the girl, "dead tired; it was a horribly disagreeable day." "Well, it passed over better than I expected," said the Madam. "What a fine man Harry Moore is; he has a more cheerful manner than Philip. His wife may be very agreeable, too, if one knew her well." "I would not like her at all," answered Ethna. "Those calm, critical eyes of hers would make me feel hot all over. I am sure there was not a spot on my dress but she noticed." "I'll engage she doesn't spot herself," said the Madam. "How beautifully dressed she was, and the material did not look very expensive." "How on earth could she spot herself?" replied Ethna, defending herself from the maternal insinuation. "I suppose she never puts her hand to anything." "But she did not let the sherry drop on her dress, as you did, my dear," said the Madam. "My silk is not worth minding now, mother." 66 Well, dear, I wanted you to see about getting a new one the last day you were in town; Mrs. Layton told me she saw an excellent one at Culligan's for six shillings a yard, just as good as her own that she gave seven and sixpence for." "Ah, what does it matter?" said Ethna, helping herself to vegetables. "Mother, I'm sorry you asked the Moores here at all. They will only laugh at us." 66 Why, you wished me to ask them," answered the Madam, surprised; "and why should they laugh at us? Of course, they cannot expect style; but we can give them a good luncheon and a hearty welcome-what more do they want?" 66 Oh, they won't expect much from us," said the girl, bitterly. "Miss Butler was overwhelmed with surprise because we had our half-dozen flower-beds in order; I'll take a little more gravy, her." "And me, too," echoed Nora, putting in her plate. "Nora, darling, I'll be vexed if you don't eat your meat," said the Madam; "be strong for another drive on the ponies." "It never does people any good to know those above them," continued Ethna. "Nor any harm, my dear, except people be put beyond themselves, which sometimes occurs to silly persons. We can entertain them very nicely. Fortunately, I had a turkey killed for some days. Kitty has it ready to roast now, and I have an excellent tongue; there is some cold beef, too; so if they can't eat their luncheon off them I can't help them; and you can show off our old china. They will be surprised to see such a service on the mountain." "I suppose they wouldn't think it worth a second look, mother; they who are accustomed to Sevres and Dresden china." "Well, if they everlook it, I won't be offended," said the Madam. "I won't insist on people's admiring what I admire myself. I wonder is Mrs. Moore well educated; she made a blunder to-day that surprised me. Talking of Ireland, I said my great grandfather fought in the Irish Brigade, and she asked was that one of Cromwell's regiments. Wasn't that a great ignorance of history?" Ethna laughed. "Poor mother, your great boast was thrown away; why did you not mention the Wild Geese, and likely she would tell you she never eat one, Better for us if your grandfather had been a cotton spinner like hers than a Wild Goose." "I think we have no reason to complain, my dear; we are very comfortable as it is; but he lost a great deal of property certainly-Blane, Dromineer and Rathcullen-places that are bringing in thousands a-year, as their owners know." "I wonder used he often think of the wife and child he left, where the Shannon, and Barrow, and Blackwater flow?'" said Ethna. "Yes, he was going to send for them, 'twas said; but he was shot at Fontenoy. How Vincent Talbot liked to hear me talking of those old stories!" "You would have been richer than the Moores, mother, if you had your right." "Far richer," answered the Madam, "as I happen to be the sole descendant of my patriotic forefather; but 'tis unlikely I would be a bit happier; everything is better as it is." "Well, perhaps I'd come to the same conclusion when I am as old as you, mother; but at present I'd like a universal change," and the girl sighed impatiently. "I hate to think of to-morrow, and that girl praising everything, as if she were surprised we had anything; but we must only make the best of it." When dinner was an accomplished and very sustaining fact, Ethna's spirits improved. She thought more dispassionately over the day, and veered round to the conclusion that it was her own jaundiced eyes made it seem so unlovely. She had been illtempered and jealous, that was the truth of it, and it was no wonder Philip was vexed with her. "Come, Nora," she cried at length, "we will put a shine on everything-china, and glass, and silver. We'll polish up our sword. They might ask us whose it was, and won't I be proud to say it was my great grandfather's. I wonder can Mrs. Moore boast of hers ?" Nora's spirits rose at the idea of a bustle, and Ethna worked off her irritation and depression in wholesome physical action. (To be continued). OUR LADY OF LOVE. "Her have I loved and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take her for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty."-Wisdom, viii., 2 HROUH all the storms thy name the throstle trilled THROU From topmost finial of the budding larch, While breath of opening violets faintly filled Of thee the ousel's Easter carol rang Within the milk-white pear and cherry bloom, From out the April gloom. But May, with full-voiced chorus of all birds The blossom falls, a shower of perfumed snow, For since, dear Lady, thou hast won my love In which thou hast no part. DAVID BEARNE, S.J |