that's plain enough. I couldn't say more, could I?"

"No, father dear," answered Nora a little sadly.

"And tell me what you were doing while I was away," said the Squire.
"Faith! I thought I could never get back fast enough, I seemed to
pine so for you, colleen; you fit me down to the ground."

Nora began to relate the small occurrences which had taken place.
The Squire laughed at Mrs. O'Shanaghgan's sudden desire that Nora
should be an educated lady.

"I don't hold with these new fashions about women," he said; "and
you are educated enough for me."

"But, father, I like to read, I like to learn," said the girl. "I am
very, very anxious to improve myself. I may be good enough for you,
dear father, for you love me with all my faults; but some day I may
pine for the knowledge which I have not got."

"Eh! is it that way with you?" said the Squire, looking at her
anxiously. "They say it's a sort of a craze now amongst women, the
desire to beat us men on our own ground; it's very queer, and I
don't understand it, and I am sorry if the craze has seized my
girleen."

"Oh! never mind, father dear; I wouldn't fret you for all the
learning in Christendom."

"And I wouldn't fret you for fifty estates like O'Shanaghgan," said