Castle Richmond, he threw off all restraint, and endeavoured to
enjoy himself in his own way. So the orgies became fast and furious;
all which of course reached the ears of poor Clara Desmond.

During the summer holidays, Lord Desmond was not at home, but Owen
Fitzgerald was also away. He had gone abroad, perhaps with the
conviction that it would be well that he and the Desmonds should not
meet; and he remained abroad till the hunting season again
commenced. Then the winter came again, and he and Lord Desmond used
to meet in the field. There they would exchange courtesies, and, to
a certain degree, show that they were intimate. But all the world
knew that the old friendship was over. And, indeed, all the
world--all the county Cork world--soon knew the reason. And so we
are brought down to the period at which our story was to begin.

We have hitherto said little or nothing of Castle Richmond and its
inhabitants; but it is now time that we should do so, and we will
begin with the heir of the family. At the period of which we are
speaking, Herbert Fitzgerald had just returned from Oxford, having
completed his affairs there in a manner very much to the
satisfaction of his father, mother, and sisters; and to the
unqualified admiration of his aunt, Miss Letty. I am not aware that
the heads of colleges and supreme synod of Dons had signified by any
general expression of sentiment, that Herbert Fitzgerald had so
conducted himself as to be a standing honour and perpetual glory to
the University; but at Castle Richmond it was all the same as though
they had done so. There are some kindly-hearted, soft-minded
parents, in whose estimation not to have fallen into disgrace shows
the highest merit on the part of their children. Herbert had not
been rusticated; had not got into debt, at least not to an extent