The Blue Lagoon: A Romance

h his window open, could see the park with the rooks wheeling and cawing over the trees, whil

ate and character. Nothing is truly logical in Ireland, not even winter. That

wo to go over accounts and explain t

the latter came down, an

essey to old Byrne, as they took t

' fox thraps in the woods, then she had a bite of bread and butter and a cup of tea Norah made for her, an

Hennessey to Pinckney. "Up at four in the morning a

same, it's not a particularly safe proceeding and I suppose a mother or father would have jawed her-I couldn't. I suppose I showed by my manner that I didn't approve of her being out so late, for she seemed in a huff as she went

unexpressed, for at the moment

have forgotten the business of the night before as she gre

en complaining that you were wandering about all night in the wo

g herself to bacon,

said her eyes.

wn, I would have called up Byrne o

ld have slai

I wasn't complaining. I onl

ll two," said Phyl, with an

ny such thing.

t of temper?" put in Hennessey. "Mr. Pinckney wasn't meaning anything, but

!" cried

y of the other. Then finding himself again and the saving

r sneeze without a written permit-Oh, Phyl, don't be thinking nonsense of that sort. I am your guar

ardian," put in He

aback and I thought-as a matter of fact, I thought it might be dangerous being out alone in this wild part of the country so late at night, but I did no

had risen from the tabl

erican who had suddenly appeared to claim her

The word guardian carried such a force and weight and was so filled with fantastic p

h fancies. It was an inheritance from her father, and she stood by the window now unable to speak

up. He was the fir

l right when you know each other better. Come out, the two of you, and we'll go round the groun

ell Phyl something-I'm going to call you

can call me anything

, I want to tell you what we have to do. It's not my wishes I ha

Kilgo

look after it till you are of age. I think he was right. You see, you could

wrack and ruin,"

ervants?"

"the new tenant might take them on; if not

ith dry lips, "so has Mrs. Driscoll. They are part of t

em. If the new tenant didn't take them, you might pension them. I want you to be perfectly happy in your mind

feelings and propitiate her, but that he was very much in earnest in this busine

to wrath and easily moved to bitter resentment, one touch

ad the power to wound her far more

reproach, she stood for a moment unable to s

do what is for the best

t will make you happy-that's all. I'm a business man and I know the v

y, who had taken his seat again and

of a fishing rod out of him. When I think of all the fun I might have bought with a few dollars, it makes me wild. You can't

rk, then as though she had found some in

live here instead of letting the place? I can live here by mys

"there's your father'

wouldn't mind," said Phyl mournfully

r age. Phyl, it wouldn't ever do; it's not I tha

recognised that a Power had her in hand, recognised in the light-going and f

come to friendly terms with him. Then this feeling faded a bit. The very young are very weak in th

on, "there's the question of your coming

hyl. "Do you mean I a

It's not a bad place to live

ar as the moon and far less familiar. If Pinckney had declared that it was necessary for her to die, she would have b

or reading minds, and it seemed to him he could read Phyl's as easily as though the out

see it, you can come back to Ireland. I daresay we can arr

I to go?"

Hennessey. "The doors of 10, Merrion Square, are always open to

lear the breakfast things, Hennessey led the w