She spoke in hurried nervous accents, dreading to hear what was coming, yet conscious she had never felt so happy in her life.
Formerly she considered Daisy the lightest-hearted of men. Hitherto she scarcely remembered to have seen a cloud on his face. She liked it none the worse for its gravity now.
"I've been very unlucky, Norah," said he, holding her hand, and looking thoughtfully on the river as it flowed by. "Perhaps it's my own fault. I shall never visit at Cormacs'-town, nor go into any society where I've a chance of meeting you again. And yet I've done nothing wrong nor disgraceful as yet."
"I knew it!" she exclaimed; "I'd have sworn it on the Book! I told mamma so. He's a gentleman, I said, and that's enough for me!"
"Thank you, dear," answered Daisy, in a failing voice. "I'm glad you didn't turn against me. It's bad enough without that."
"But what has happened," she asked, drawing closer to his side. "Couldn't any of us help you? Couldn't papa advise you what to do?"
"This has happened, Norah," he answered gravely; "I am completely ruined. I have got nothing left in the world. Worse still, I am afraid I can scarce pay up all I've lost."
The spirit of her ancestors came into her eyes and bearing. Ruin to these, like personal danger, had never seemed a matter of great moment, so long as, at any sacrifice, honour might be preserved. She raised her head proudly, and looked straight in his face.
"The last must be done," said she. "Must be done, I'm telling you, Daisy, and shall be, if we sell the boots, you and me, off our very feet! How near can you get to what you owe for wages and things? Of course they'll have to be paid the first."