The Real Charlotte. 217 



tall hat, looked so sane and dignified, that, in spite of what 

 Norry had said, she determined to carry out her first 

 intention of speaking to him. She shivered, though the 

 sun blazed hotly down upon her, as she walked towards the 

 chair, not from nervousness, but from the creeping sense of 

 illness, and the ground rose up in front of her as it she were 

 going up-hill. She made a low bow to her landlord, and 

 James Canavan, who knew her by sight, stopped the onward 

 course of the chair. 



" I wish to speak to you on an important matter, Sir 

 Benjamin," began Julia in her best voice ; " I was unable 

 to see your agent, so I determined to come to yourself." 



The gold spectacles were turned upon her fixedly, and 

 the expression of the eyes behind them was more inteUigent 

 than usual. 



*' Begad, that's one of the tenants, James," said Sir 

 Benjamin, looking up at his attendant. 



" Certainly, Sir Benjamin, certainly ; this lady is Miss 

 Duffy, from Gurthnamuckla," replied the courtly James 

 Canavan. " An old tenant, I might almost say an old friend 

 of your honour's." 



" And what the devil brings her here ? " inquired Sir 

 Benjamin, glowering at her under the wide brim of his hat. 



" Sir Benjamin," began Julia again, " I know your 

 memory's failing you, but you might remember that after 

 the death of my father, Hubert Duffy — " Julia felt all the 

 Protestant and aristocratic associations of the name as she 

 said it — "you made a promise to me in your office that I 

 should never be disturbed in my holding of the land." 



" Devil so ugly a man as Hubert Duffy ever I saw," said 

 Sir Benjamin, with a startling flight of memory ; " and you're 

 his daughter, are you? Begad, the dairymaid didn't dis- 

 tinguish herself ! " 



"Yes, I am his daughter. Sir Benjamin," replied Julia, 

 catching at this flattering recognition. " I and my family 

 have always lived on your estate, and my grandfather has 

 often had the honour of entertaining you and the rest of the 

 gentry, when they came fox-hunting through Gurthnamuckla 

 I am certain that it is by no wish of yours, or of your kind 

 and honourable son, Mr. Christopher, that your agent is 

 pairsecuting me to make me leave the farm — " Her voice 



