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design?'
'Oh, no. But I think there will be one in Dublin, and one in the provincial
towns for original designs based on materials of Irish manufacture, priced
for the less affluent pocket. Certainly they should sell to the tourists.'
'You know, I'm sorry,' said John, after they had walked in silence for some
time, 'that my procrastination prevented you from meeting your father.'
'Don't be,' Noelle said. 'I've learnt a lot about him since I've been here and I
think perhaps it was just as well we didn't meet. He may have been capable
of inspiring affection, but I don't believe he was a very admirable man.
Look, let's go back now, shall we, and I'll show you just what we plan to do.
All those mouldy old hunting trophies are coming down for a start, and
we're beginning to redecorate the ground floor. Thank goodness the
structure's sound, at least.'
if you ever need any financial help, don't hesitate to ask.'
'I won't,' affectionately, 'but I don't think it'll be necessary, and remember, I
don't want Fergus to know about Noelle et Cie, for the present at least.'
'I can't make up my mind,' John mused as they neared the hall, 'whether you
like that young man or not. What is your opinion of him?'
Noelle's smile mocked herself.
'My opinion is that he's got a lorof O'Rourke blood in him.'
John's eyes were too shrewd for her liking.
'You mean he too inspires affection? In you? But--'
'Exactly,' she said, "'but", and that's something else he need not know.'
They found Miss O'Rourke entertaining a visitor.
'My dear, Miss Fahey has ridden over expressly to see Fergus, but he can't
be found.'
He couldn't have known Suzanne was coming over, Noelle brooded darkly,
as she introduced the other girl to John, or surely he would have made
certain of being available.
'I believe he's gone into Galway. He didn't say when he'd be back,' she
added, as Suzanne's lips parted to ask the obvious question.
Suzanne seemed to take a great interest in Noelle and Fergus, in their
relation to the late Lord Lissadell and to each other. She also stared with
frank curiosity at John. Miss O'Rourke seemed only too delighted to answer
the other girl's questions, which to Noelle verged almost on the impertinent.
But even she could not help but be disarmed when, as she rose, reluctantly,
to leave, Suzanne said with one of her engaging smiles,
'You must all think me terribly nosy, but life round here is so quiet and
uneventful. New faces at the Hall are bound to be the object of curiosity. I
do hope you'll all come and visit us, and please be as inquisitive as you like
about us!'
Miss O'Rourke declined the invitation on her own behalf, explaining that
her age and increasing infirmities kept her more and more to the house and
to early bedtimes.
'But I'm sure the young folk would be delighted.' From her exalted eighty
years plus, her glance also embraced John, to her a mere fifty-year-old
youth.
'I know!' Suzanne bubbled over with enthusiasm. 'You must come to the
party for my parents' ruby wedding anniversary.'
'Surely,' said Noelle, 'they'll want that to be family only?'
'What family?' Suzanne laughed. 'There's only the three of us and they
don't even know they're having a party. I've only just thought of it!'General
laughter followed this remark, and Noelle asked, 'So when is it to be?'
'Saturday,' which was in three days' time, 'and you will all come, all three of
you?' Suzanne insisted.
As she accepted for herself and John, Noelle reflected wryly that it was
unlikely she would have to do much pressurising where Fergus was
concerned.
'Yes, I'm sure we'll all be there.'
'A charming girl,' commented John when their visitor had departed.
'Fergus certainly seems to think so,' Noelle returned, and was incensed when
her unwary retort caused Miss O'Rourke and her uncle to exchange amused
glances.
As Noelle had surmised, Fergus was only too willing to attend the social
gathering at the Faheys.
'I suppose a present will be in order?'
Noelle had been thinking along the same lines.
'It's awkward though, not knowing them very well. We don't want to
embarrass them.' She suspected too that Fergus's finances would not run to
anything very expensive, and in view of her own reticence to date, she
couldn't very well offer to bear the cost.
John Madox-Browne resolved the difficulty.
'Suppose you let me take care of it, for all three of us, as my return for
Claddagh's hospitality?'
John's taste was impeccable. On their arrival, he presented Mrs Fahey with a
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