“You make me hope that our mission will succeed, sir,” said Lady Kilgoff, still employing her most fascinating look and voice; “we may reckon you as an ally, I trust.”
“I am your Ladyship's most devoted,” said the old man, courteously; “how can I be of service?”
“Our object is to induce Miss Leicester to pass some days with us,” said she. “We are plotting various amusements that might interest her,—private theatricals among the rest.”
“Here she comes, my Lady,” said Tiernay, with animation; “I am proud to be the means of introducing her.”
Just at this instant Mary Leicester had caught sight of the party, and, uncertain whether to advance or retire, was standing for a moment undecided, when Tiernay called out:
“Stay a minute, Miss Mary; Lady Kilgoff is anxious to make your acquaintance.”
“This is a very informal mode of opening an intimacy, Miss Leicester,” said Lady Kilgoff; “pray let it have the merit of sincerity, for I have long desired to know one of whom I have heard so much.”
Mary replied courteously to the speech, and looked pleasedly towards Cashel, to whom she justly attributed the compliment insinuated.
As the two ladies moved on side by side, engaged in conversation, Tiernay slackened his pace slightly, and, in a voice of low but earnest import, said,—
“Will Mr. Cashel consider it an intrusion if I take this opportunity of speaking to him on a matter of business?”