say you, Mr. Moreville and Mr. O'Caro lan"-there was a time when Mr. Penden nis would have also been consulted-" shall we go visit that Danish fort Mr. Gore was talking about yesterday, or the more picturesquely - interesting Ruins of Kilmallock?" "Oh, the Ruins of Kilmallock, by all means!" exclaimed Moreville, not waiting for the antiquary's slow reply. " You know it is called the Palmyra or Balbec of Ireland." Geraldine smiled, on recollecting a communication made by Miss Southwell and Miss O'Reilly, by which a ludicrous association was united in her mind with the name of the Ruins of Palmyra: at the same time she sighed to think how much it is in the power of such ill-timed associations to repress the indulgence of the most elevating and sublime emotions. "Why that smile, and why that sigh?" demanded Moreville, with a voice of inter est. L 4 " Now Now promise me, Geraldine," interrupted Mrs. Gore, laying a great emphasis "on the word " turn in v "" promise," " that you will mind what I said to you about the river god Clitumnus.") Jag 66 Oh, never heed the little god Columbus now!" exclaimed their good-humoured host. "If you mean to march to-day, good folks, it is time you should put yourselves into motion." Heigho!" !" said Mrs. Gore, "what a companion I have! This is the way, Mr. Moreville, that Mr. Gore always treats my classical allusions!" "It is so difficult, in such company," replied the poet, bowing to Mrs. Gore, but looking at Geraldine, "to think of any fabled deity but one!" Meanwhile Pendennis had been trying to gain from Mr. O'Carolan some further intelligence respecting Cobham; but all he could learn from the antiquary was, that he had seen him in a pedestrian costume, the day before, a few miles from Limerick. TAKO He He therefore rose with the rest, preparing to forget, as well as he could, in the promised pleasures of the morning, the defection of his graceless nephew, but could not forbear triumphantly humming, as he passed by O'Carolan "St. Patrick of Ireland, he was Saint George's boy." The horses and carriages were soon brought round, the parties were arranged, and the joyous group in motion for the time-hallowed Ruins of Kilmallock. 1.J... CHAPTER XI. 'Al, luckless babe! born under cruel star, SPENSER. DURING the course of their short journey, Geraldine was shocked to observe the appearance of want and wretchedness in the very neighbourhood of Mr. Gore's handsome residence, where every thing bespoke luxury and enjoyment. Half-starved peasants, and children scarcely clad, ran out from their smoky and mud-built hovels, to stare at the sumptuous equipage, as it rolled along, or rather, more probably, to catch at the passing boon of charity, which rarely was denied. Such contrasted scenes of of splendour and misery, it had never been her chance to witness within the circle of the judicious and benevolent influence of lady Louisa Southwell; they struck her, therefore, the more forcibly. Want of work was the almost-constant complaint of these poor people, and formed the substance of many a melancholy tale of sufferings and privations, which ended in the determination of leaving their inhospitable home, in order to toil harder, with scanty pay, in the neighbouring kingdom. Little as Geraldine had yet seen of the country or its inhabitants, still there was one family whose appearance interested hér more than the rest, and in whose favour a plan suggested itself to her mind, by which she might render them permanent assistance, without interfering with, or offending Mrs. Stratford Gore. She was still thinking of this benevolent project, when the party, on horseback and in the carriage, approached Kilmallock. L 6 The |