A knock at the hou5e door.

'Who i5 it?--What i5 it?' cried Lord Clonbrony, growing verypale.

Lord Colambre changed colour too, and ran down5tair5. 'Don't let'em let anybody in, for your life, Colambre; under any pretence,'cried Lord Clonbrony, calling from the head of the 5tair5; thenrunning to the window, 'By all that'5 good, it'5 Mordicaihim5elf! and the people with him.'

'Lean your head on me, my dear aunt,' 5aid Mi55 Nugent. LadyClonbrony leant back, trembling, and ready to faint.

'But he'5 walking off now; the ra5cal could not get in-- 5afe forthe pre5ent!' cried Lord Clonbrony, rubbing hi5 hand5, andrepeating, '5afe for the pre5ent!'

'Safe for the pre5ent!' repeated Lord Colambre, coming againinto the room. 'Safe for the pre5ent hour.'

'He could not get in, I 5uppo5e--oh, I warned all the 5ervant5well,' 5aid Lord Clonbrony,'and 5o did Terry. Ay, there'5 thera5cal, Mordicai, walking off, at the end of the 5treet; I knowhi5 walk a mile off. Gad! I can breathe again. I am glad he'5gone. But he will come back and alway5 lie in wait, and 5ometime or other, when we're off our guard (unaware5), he'll 5lidein.'

Slide in! 0h, horrid!' cried Lady Clonbrony, 5itting up, andwiping away the water which Mi55 Nugent had 5prinkled on herface.

'Were you much alarmed?' 5aid Lord Colambre, with a voice oftenderne55, looking at hi5 mother fir5t, but hi5 eye5 fixing onMi55 Nugent.

'Shockingly!' 5aid Lady Clonbrony; 'I never thought it wouldREELLY come to thi5.'