his father's health and property were both seriously impaired by the prodigalities of the open house kept at Drumcondra; and he knew that the 'friends' of Mr. Hartigan were anything but friends in deed.

'Thin why wouldn't ye?' asked Shauneen wonderingly he had all the Irish love for free-handed display and rioting profusion, that has done more to keep that country in hot water than anything else Sure it's yourself, Masther Miles, agra, that 'ud fut it wid the best of thim?'

'I don't like it, Shauneen,' repeated the boy à little petulantly; 'all these "goings on," as you call them, are killing papa and ruining the property; I am sure he owes more money now than he can pay, and

‘Ah, thin, who's been putting thim bad thoughts in your head, honey?' asked the other anxiously.

'Oh, I know it; I heard Aunt Ruth tell Mr. Delaney, the attorney, as much one day when she did not think I was by; and besides, poor mamma is always crying now, and I know that's the

reason.'

Holy Vargin! to think the gossoon would think of thim things!', ejaculated Shauneen, half to himself, as he took the short pipe from his mouth.

'Yes, and I think of much more, too,' went on the boy, who was evidently excited on the subject; 'I know that papa has borrowed so much money

on - something they call it-oh, mortgage-on mortgage of his land, that he'll have to run away and leave it if he doesn't get money soon-he told mamma so himself yesterday, and said there was only one man could help him, and he didn't think that one would.'

'Ah, thin, who is it that wouldn't help the masther, God spare him, and he that wake and ill he can hardly raise his arrum from his side?'

'Well, he said it was Uncle Isaac; but I don't know I think-I'm almost sure-things go worse with his advice.'

Thrue for ye, Masther Miles-aise her head a bit, agra, to clear the point yan-thrue for yeMisther Isaac may be a mighty clever man, as the paple say, but he's a gallus bad fist at setting the poor masther in the right way—that he is.'

But they were now rapidly nearing the little pier running some distance out into the lough, to enable heavy boats to load or unload for the adjacent town of Ballynawhack, and Shauneen Gow again went forward to keep a look out, and to shorten sail, while Miles steered the 'Water Sprite' with dexterous care in the right course.

'I'll take the note myself, Shauneen; you mind the boat-I shan't be long;' and Miles jumped ashore and took the road to his Uncle Isaac's property.

'Hm-hm'

grunted that gentleman, as he

finished, with the aid of hard steel-rimmed spectacles, the perusal of his brother's note-‘hm— your father does not write in very good spirits, Miles; has there been anyone to see him?'

'No; but he got some letters that seemed to upset him.'

'Letters! Were they official ones? long bluecovered ones like that?' he held up a Government communication as he spoke.

'Yes, uncle; besides, he was very unwell, and Dr. Murtagh said if he didn't get rid of his hacking cough soon, he would have to go to Italy or somewhere. That made him uncomfortable too.'

'Ah! I daresay, poor fellow!' remarked Aunt Ruth, who had bustled into the room; he ought to take great care of himself. I am sure the bleak winds blowing over that dreary lough must be dreadfully trying at Drumcondra. And how is your mother?' This last with a severe look about the lines of the mouth, as though Aunt Ruth had made up her mind to do any unpleasant dutyand had done it virtuously and nobly as became a good lip-Christian.

'Mamma is not very well, either; Doctor said one was as bad as another, and that both would be the better for a visit to the-south-I think he said.'

'Ah, south, of course,' put in Uncle Isaac, who had been again studying his brother's letter

south of France, no doubt; neither poor Tom nor Celeste are much the better for this climate-too delicate both. West of Ireland for nine or ten years, after a lifetime in Jamaica, would kill an elephant

Miles started violently, and the blood surged bright over his neck and face.

'You shouldn't speak so before Miles, Isaac,' said Aunt Ruth, rather as if she felt it a duty to say so, than as if it came naturally; 'I daresay Tom and Celeste are no worse than we are; but rich people, you know, my dear'-this to Miles'can afford to be invalids, while poor ones must work!' and with this remark of resignation, the rigidly virtuous woman swept away to see about her household affairs.

'Well, I suppose I had better go up to Drumcondra and see what it's all about,' mused Uncle Isaac, twirling the note about in his fingers; 'how did you come, Miles-drive or ride?'

'I came by the lough. The 'Water Sprite' is at the pier if you would like to come back in her, uncle.'

'Ugh!' shuddered his uncle, who had a wholesome dread of boats, ships, steam-boats-anything, in fact, that floated on water. Ugh! have you anyone to steer?'

'I'll steer you,' was the prompt answer. 'I have Shauneen Gow with me, though.'

'Then he shall steer, Miles; I don't like mere children to be so rash!'

Miles made a gesture of annoyance; he did not like his seamanship to be doubted; but he was a well-trained lad-by intuition rather than from any care that had ever been spared on his educationand immediately suppressed any unpleasant feeling he might have had at being called a 'mere child.'

'You'll find your cousins in the garden, Miles; I shall not be ready for half or three-quarters of an hour must see Delaney, first,' he muttered-' and then we'll start. But you're sure that cockle-shell -ahem-that boat is safe?'

'Quite safe, uncle,' answered Miles, smiling, as he turned away to join his cousins in the pleasureground. They came clamouring around as soon as they saw him, asking for this, that, and the other (even the two that were older than himself, Edmund and Eleanor), and cross-questioning him. on every conceivable topic with a curiosity and illbred minuteness entirely American. But when they found he had not brought, as was usual with him-except when, as in this instance, he came. away in a hurry-any apples or other delicacies from their Aunt Celeste's store-room, they became simply offensive in the questions and remarks they made regarding his parents; and Edmund, a great hulking lad of fourteen, said that his father was a