CHAPTER, III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 25, 14 October 1887, Page 25

CHAPTER, 111.

It waa ipeediiy settled between Mary MacQuillau and the widow Devnisb that Ailsie should go to the ball. " I have a fine piece of yel'ow Chancy silk," taid the widow Devnish, " that sailor Jobuny sent me from beyont the says. It would make ber a airirt, ba T rin' it wasn't too long, an' a hem o' somevhin* else lined onbetrnd." An' I've a ducky bit o1o 1 chery tab'Det," i«aid Mary, the mother, " that brother Pat, tbe wearer, cent me from Dublin to make a bonnet o\ It'll cat into a beautiful jockey for her, barr ln' we don't make the sleeves too w ! de." Bo on the eventful night Ailsie was dressed oat in tbe yellow silk skirt and cherry-coloured bodice with a fine pair of stockings of Mary's own knittiDg, with magnificent clocks up the sides. Her little bog-trotting brogues were poMshed till you could see yourself in the toes, and a par of elegant bbck silk mittens covered her bands up to her little brown knuckles, stretching up her wristg to make ameadi for the scantiness of her sleeves. Then, she had a grand pair of clanking earrings as long as your litttle finger, which tbe widow Devnish had worn as a bride ; and two mothers, taking each a side of the victim's head, plaited be tbick black hair into endless numbers of fanciful braids, wbich they rcllad iound the crown of her bead' and into wbicb they planted a tortoißeshell comb, carved like the back of an arm-chair, wbich Jamie's mother had worn at his chiistening, and which towered over Aide's bead like Minerva's helmet put on tbe wrong way. Ned Muck'ehern of the Windy Gap waa to take her to Castle Craigie in his new spring cart ; and two good hoars before dark Ailsie wae standing at the door, looking longingly for a glimpse of Hngnie coming over the bi'l, to see how handsome she looked in her strange finery. But Eughie did not appear, and vowing vengeance on him Cor hi* " solks," Ailsie submitted to be packed mp in the cart. "But its no use takin' tbe rue now," wid she, "I be to go through with it." And with desperate bravery she said " good ninjht ,' to Ned Muck)ehern,who, at her command, set her down a little distance at the entrance gateß,out and in c" which the carnages were rolling at ■uch a rate as made poor Ailsie's heart thump against her side, till it was like to burst through Pat-the- weaver's tabiDet. She crept in through a little side-gate, and up the avenue, keeping as much as possib'e under tbe shelter of the trees ; but it was not quite dark yet, and the coachmen coming and going stared at her, taking her maybe, for some masquerading gipsy or strolling actress, whom Lady Betty had engaged to amuse the company. She arrived at the hall door just in time to see a flock of young ladies in white robes float gracefully over the threshold, and the absurdity of her ova costume came before her in its terrible reality. Covered wtih confusion, she looked about to ccc if she could escape among the trees, and hide there till morning ; but one of the grand servants had espied her, and under bia eyes Ailsie scorned to beat a retreat. " What is your business here, young woman f" asked this awful person, as she stepped into the glare of the hall ligUts. "I am one of Lady Betty's guests," said Ailsie, lifting her head. But a horrible tittering grested this announcement from a crowd of other servants, who were all eyeing her curiously from head to foot. Ailsie was ready to sink into tbe earth with shame and mortification, when, happily, the arrival of a fresh carriageful of guests diverted the general attention from herself, and she heard some one saying, " This way, miss." Glad to eßcape anywhere, she followed a servant whose face she could not see, but whose voict waa wonderfully familiar. Passing through an inner hall, her hand was grasped by this person, and she was swiftly drawn into a pantry and the door •tut. "Ob, Eugbie, Hughie I" cried Ailsie, bursting info teirs, and clinging lo Mb arm. M Then whsre div you dbrop from, any -s^ya ?" •' Whisht, avourneen I', said Hugbie, " we haven't a minute to stay, for yon chaps '11 be runnin' in an' out here a l l night. But do ytu think Hughie could rest aisy at home an' you unprotected in this place? Wano' the fe'lows was kno?ked up with a) 1 tbe mue tha;'s goin, an' they were glad to give me his place, au' his clothes. Ye won't feel so lonesome." „ Ob, Hughie, I wisht I'd stayed at home aa you bid me. An ' your han', Hughie f"

"' Och, never mind it, astbtne. I'jl only carry email thrays, and the wan hand '11 do beautiful. Come now, arooi." b_>, resuming bis character of servant, Hc^h'e squired bis trembling lady love up Lady Betty's g«>ded sta ! cease. The ball was held in an old-fashioned ba',l wbosa roof was crossed with dark raflers, fiom wbich gloomy old bajners were swinging. The door was partly open, aad Ailsie peeped in. "Ob, Hugbie, Hughie 1" she wispered, " take me back to the panthry I I'll lie close in a cupboard, an' never stir a stir till morning." "It couldn't be done, darling," wispered Hughie. "Te must pur a bold face on it, an' take your cbance. He opened the door wide, and Ailsie felt herself swallowed up in a bl«e of light and colour, with a hum in her ears as of a thousand bees all buzzing round ber head at once. When she recovered from her first stunned sensation, and regained consciousness of ber own identity, she found berae'f seated side by side with the five Miss MacQuillana from Bally Scuttng, all dressed in their grass-coloured fatin, all with their noses redder than ever, all eying her askance from her comb to her brogues, and tittering just Bathe servants bad done in the ball. A band was playing, aod a crowd of people were dancing, but it seemed to Ai'sie, whenever she looked up, that nobody had got anything to do but to stare at her, When she saw the elegant slippeii of tbe dancets she waa a f raid to stir lest tbe " hammerin' " o! her feet should be heard all over the room ; and when MacQiillanof tbe Beck came up to her, and, making a low bow, begged the honour of danciog with her, Ailsie's ears began to sting with confusion and ber teeth to chatter with fright. Bnt aa she did not know how to refuse, she got up and accompanied him to where there, was an empty space on tbe floor. The band was playing a lively tune as a quadrille, and Ailsie, thinking anything better than standing still, fell to dancing her familial jig with eneigy. She had once slapped this gentleman's face for bis impertinence, and ahe believed that he had now led her out to avenge himself by her confusion. So Ailsie danced her jig, and finding that the clatter of ber brogues waa drowned by the music, she gained courage, and danced it with spirit round and round ber astonished partner, till the lookers-on cried " Brava I" and the laugh was turned against MacQuiPan of the Beck, who was, after all, very glad when she made him her curtsey, and allowed him to take her back again to the Bal'y (Scuffling maidens, who had notbsen dancing at all, and who held up their five fans before their five faces in disgust at Ailsie's performance. A. magic worJ, supper, acted like a cbarm on all there. The crowd thinned and disappeared, and nobody Doticed Ailsie. Ever/ gentleman had his own partner to attend to, and no one came near the little peasant girl. Ailsie was very gJad, for she would rather endure hunger than be laughed at. and she was j jst beginning to nod asleep in her seat, when in came Huguie. " I'm goio 1 to fetch you eDmetb'n' to ate darlin'," he said, and huriied away again. And Ailsie was just beginning to nod asleep once more, when in came MacQuillan of the Beck, saying that Lady Bttty had sent him to conduct her (Ailsie) lo the supper-room. Lady Betty waa sitting at the head of the most distant table, with a knife in her hand, and a huge cake before her. The more substantial eatables seemed to have been already discussed, for every guest had a slice of tbia cake before him or her. They were nibbling it, and mincing it up with knives. AH were silent, and all looked anxious and dissatisfied. Ailsie thought the silence and dissatisfaction were all on account of her audacious entrance. •' This way 1 " said Lady Betty MacQuillan, in a voice that made Ailsie start, and the august hostess cleared a place at her side for our blushing heroine. The wax lights blazed on Lady Betty's golden turban, and Ai'sie did not dare to look at ber face. She sat down, and Lady Betty with ber own hand helped her to a small cut ot the wonderful cake. Ailsie was very hungry, and the cake was very good. She devoured a few morsels eagerly ; then she ceased ealing. " Why don't you eat child T " said Lady Betty, in a voice that again made Ailsie start ; and this time she ventured to look up. She looked up, and stared as if the clouds had opened above ber head. There was a little withered yellow face, with twinkling black eyes, looking down on her— a face that she had seen befoie. It was Penny Mac Cambridge, from Lough Neagh side, who was to hare been her godmother only for the unfortunate pain in her heel, who was sitting there, dressed up in purple velvet and a cloth-of-gold turban. Oh, murtherl What would be the end of this f Penny MacCambAdge befooling all the gentry folks ot the country round, pretending to be tbe lady of Castle Cragie ? Or, stay ! Whether was Penny Mac Cambridge acting Lady Betty MacQaillan. or bad Lady Betty MacQuillan been acting Penny Mac Cambridge T " Why don't you eat, child t " iepeated Lady Betty, as Ailsie sat turning her piece of cake about on her plate. " I'm hungry enough," said Ailsie, " but I cannot ate this, my lady, barrin' you want me to choke mysel' I " And Ailsie held up her bit of cake, in which waa wedged the ring that declared her the heiress of Castle Craigie. Well, I need not tell how, after supper, Borne of the guests who were spiteful ordered their carriages and whirled away in disgust ; how others, who were not spiteful, stayed and danced the morning in ; how some, who were good natured, congratulated Ailsie on her good luck ; how others, who were quite the reverse, yet fawned on the bewildered heroine of the evening. How Ailsie Mas kept close by the wonderful Lauy Betty all the rest of the time ; how she watched iv vain for another glimpse of Hughie ; how, in the end, she was conducted to a splendid bedchamber, where she waa frightened out of her senses at the grandeur of the furniture, and cculd not get a wuik. of sleep for the softness of the stately hen. The news was not long in travellii « uv, r the country, and nex:, day, when a carriage dKshed up to the fu >i vi tue louan, Jamie and bis wife thought they were prepared to receive their fortunate daughter wtth dignity. But when Ailsie walked in to them in a white pelisse and sandalled slippers, her bonnie dark eyes looking out at them from

,-»nder a shade of a pink satin hat and f ca f hers, this delusion of theirs was / dispelled. Mary's exultation knew no bounds, and Jamie paid, •' Can I this fine l»dy be my daughter ? " nervously, and with tears in his eyes. And Ailsie sat on a, chair in the middle of the floor she bad swept co often, and cried, and pulled off her fine hat, and threw it to the furthest corner of the kitchen, vowing she would never leave her father and mother to go and live with Lady Betty. And Lady Betty, who was present, was not a bit angry, although the beautiful hat was spoiled ; but began telling how she would educate Ailsie, and take her to see the distant world, and how she would dress her like a princess and marry her to some grand gentleman, who should either bear the name of MacQuillan, or adopt it. But Ailsie, only crying worse at this than before, she threw a purse of gold iDto Mary's lap, and began describing all the good things she would do for Jamie and his wife if Ailsie would only come with her ; how she would build them a pretty house ; how they should have 6ervants to attend them, and horses and cows, and money at command. And Ailsie, listening to this, cried more violently than ever, with her swollen eyes staring through the door, out to the hill that led across to Hughie's. Then, wb«n Lady Betty had done, Mary the mother began.

Ailsie took her eyes from the open door, and looked at her father. But Jamie, afraid to mar his child's brilliant prospects, only hung his head, and said never a word at all.

Then Ailsie's heart seemed to break with one loud sob. " I'll go feth !" cried she, " an' may God forgive ye all ! " and rushed out of the cottage and down the lonan, bareheaded and weeping. Midway Bbc stopped on the road, and, pulling off one of her pretty shoes, she flung it from her with all her might till it struck the trunk of a fir tree growing on the hill that led to Hughie's. " That's the slipper to you, for good luck, Hughie Devnißh 1" she said ; "an' if ever I forget you to marry a fine gentleman, may the Lord turn my gran' gowns into rags again, an' the bit that I ate into Band in my mouth 1"

So Ailsie said good-bye to home. The next day Lady Betty and Miss MacQuillan departed from Castle Oraigie for the Continent.