you."

"Well, Nora, you cannot understand; and yet if you could it would be a
relief to unburden my mind. But you know nothing about mortgages--do
you, little woman?"

"More than you think," said Nora. "I am not a child--I am nearly
seventeen; and I have not lived at O'Shanaghgan all my life for
nothing. Of course we are poor! I don't know that I want to be
rich."

"I'll tell you what I want," said the Squire; "I want to forget that
there is such a thing as money. If it were not for money I would say
to myself, 'There's not a better lot than mine.' What air we have
here!" He opened his mouth and took in a great breath of the pure
Atlantic breezes. "What a place it is! Look at the beauty of it!
Look round, Norrie, and see for yourself; the mountains over there;
and the water rolling up almost to our doors; and the grand roar of
the waves in our ears; and those trees yonder; and this field with
the sun on it; and the house, though it is a bit of a barrack, yet
it is where my forebears were born. Oh, it's the best place on
earth; it's O'Shanaghgan, and it's mine! There, Nora, there; I can't
stand it!"

The Squire dashed his hand to his brow. Nora looked up at him; she
was feeling the exposure and excitement of last night. Her pallor
suddenly attracted his attention.

"Why, what's the matter with you, colleen?" he said. "Are you well--are
you sure you're well?"