The Saint Paul globe., 1900-11-19
CHAPTER VI.
LEE At THE CASTLE

tate is subjected.
CHAPTER VI.
LIFE AT THE CASTLE.
Molly soon became used to her new
surroundings, the quiet regular life. the
routine Of daily duties, the primitiN e
customs so carefully kept up, being full
Of charm to her, though to many another
girl of her age they would have proved
tedious and distasteful Two or three
times week the big, old-fasbioned
carriage, drawn by two bay horses, and
driven by a fat, imposing-looking coach
man, took them to one of the neighbor-
ing country houses where Miss O'Neil
was on visiting terms; an Outridcr in
variably preceded the eqpipagc, and Il
brace of fOOtmen clinging to the rear
in gorgeous livery, but without powder,
this being disdained by tleir mistress
IS too modern an institution to be wor h
adopting. These expeditions made a
break in the monotony Of their life, and
conduced not a little to MolIy's enjoy
ment She speedily made friends with
The younger section of the community,
was initiated into the mysteries of lawn
tennis and Badming ton, and was uni
versally voted an acquisition.
With her humble neighb0urs she was
also soon at home her bright face and
simple, straightforward ways endearing
her 10 the village folk, whose devotion
TO their liege lady was intermiXed with
a considerable amount of awe With
lowered voices ard many cautious
glances round. as though to make sure
the latter was cut of sight and hearing
they sometimes Confided difficulties and
confessed Pecc2dillOes 10 Molly that they
would have feared TO bring directly ur-
der the notice Of the lady-God biess
her" Not infreQuently. however, Molly
was requested to do so for them, her
tact and discretion ] eing as much val
ued as her intercession was relied on
I'll leave it to you, INSISTS yourself
thatll manage it for me-" being re-
peated with a confidence which the girl
sometimes found embarrassing, though
it is but due 10 her to own that har
clients seldom had cause to repent OF
having placed their trust in her.
It was with the lady herself that,
as Molly was not slow in finding out, she
made least way. Though treated with
invariable kindness and courtesy, she
was conscious Of a secret, unaccountaMe
conviction that she had not made much
progress in the affections of her pat
rOness. Miss O'Ne;I was glad to have
this young, bright personality constantly
beside her, acknowledging the kinship
between them just in so much as it gave
ence, was proud of her beauty, and
amused at her wit and cleVerness; bat
there it ended. To Molly it was a keen
disappO On first arriving at Cas-
lie ONeill she had entertained certain
vague dreams of endearing herself so
muck to her dainty, whimsical, fascinat-
ing NnsWOman. that the latter should
look upon her as a daughter, and lean
upon her according to the universal
custom of old people in such circum-
stances, as the prop Of her declining
years In very short time. however
she discOYered that the admiring, al
NEST Worshipping affection which she
lavished on her hostess was in no way
counterbalanCed by the friendly liking
she received in return, that "the lady
was not disposed TO lean upon anybody.
and would, in all probability. have been
indignant had Molly volunteered her
services as a prop" Miss O'NeiIl had
too high q notion of duty, and led too
4 life to be termed egotiS-
tical, but like most one idea-ed people,
was so much absorbed in what appeared
to her to be right, SO constantly striving
after \ particular end, as to trouble her
self little about all persons and things
not directly concerned with it. Molly
sometimes doubted if she was capa6se
OF strong affection and womanly tender
ness; she certainly never gave proof of
any such thing, yet was Withal so bright
so clever, so courteous, so Charming
as Mr. Burke had truthfulIy said, that
during her seven odd decades of life she
had been universally admired and be-
loved.
Molly's reverent affection received oc-
casionally, it is true, q severe check, and
she was forced to own that some of the
old lady's actions were not altogether ad-
mirable. When the new footman, for in
stance, procured by Mr.. Burke at con-
siderable trouble and expense from Dub
lin, was sent flying back again within
an hour, because he happened to have
red hair, Molly was inclined to think the
hereditary dislike TO that color which
Miss O'Neil put forward in explanation
an insufficient excuse for her almost
childish caprice. But a more serious diff
ference Of opinion between them took
place on the occasion that Miss O'Neiu
asserted that Irishmen of all denomina-
tons were bound to show greater rever-
ence to St Columbkill than to any other
saint, including st. Patrick, the former
being of Celtic birth, and, moreover, Of
the royal Hy Nal or O'Neill race Then
Molly was not only indignant, but scan
dalized, and Ventured to assert in un-
equivocal terms that she held such a
proposition to be unorthodOX-a boldness
which her hostess condemned as a fur
lher proof OF the radical tendency of the
day.
The country people as a rule were less
disturbed by these manifestations than
might have been supposed and were less
afraid Of their mistress in her flightv
than IN her business like moods. indeed
1t was evident that in the former case
they understood how to manage them.
a little judicious temporising, a crafty
evasion OF the subject under dispute the
surrepttious accomplishment of their own
designs Gas in the case of Keogh). follow
ed by confession, professions of repent
ance, and appeals for mercy, having gen
orally the effect of getting round her.
Ihey were one and all on the most excel
lent terms with their mistress, in whom
they had unbounded confidence. and
whom they regarded in spite of her little
fallings, as prodigy of wisdom and
power. The working of her theories GER
tainly left nothing to be desired in so
far as she was concerned, though whether
anyone else would have carried them out
with the like success was a question not
readily answered.
This doubt appeared occasionally to
cross her own mind, fond as she was of
citing her example as an encouragement
to others.
No other woman could do what I am
doing. she said once with a reeretful
sigh; then, turning to Molly, why are
you not boy. child? You would have
been apretty fellow"
she parted the curling dark hair on one
side surveying the girl a moment. and
then pushing her away a little impatient-
~ There, go along-yOu are good for
nothing now but to look att
This was the solitary allusion which
she made to Mollys possible future: in