THE EDITORS STORY. 153 



greatest satisfaction with my management of 

 her ' Eagle ' ; and, in truth, that bird was soar- 

 ing high in the estimation of the subscribers, 

 who had begun to increase in numbers. I had 

 gone into whatever society there was in the 

 place, but had dropped it on the shortest trial. 

 I still kept Mr. O'Brien with me. I did so, 

 because, as I did not seriously contemplate 

 living for any length of time in Castletown, 

 it would be as well that Mr. O'Brien should be 

 prepared to take up the running, as, as far as 

 I could see, time had removed the objec- 

 tion which Mrs. Brady had to him. I was 

 heartily fond of snipe-shooting, and, with 

 O'Brien's aid and companionship, I managed 

 to pass 



There is no use in beating about the bush in 

 this manner : I fell ignominiously over head 

 and ears in love with Margaret Brady. I have 

 a suspicion that O'Brien knew my secret, and 

 felt a grim satisfaction at my sufferings. I 

 think he was waiting with a prophetic grin for 

 the time when I should also break out in the 

 ' Poet's Corner ' of the ' Eagle.' But I re- 

 membered my resolution and pledge, and the 



