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ELSIE'S LOVER.
29

Horace that we are to have a picnic from Tunimba to the Baròlin Waterfall."

"Elsie is determined to find Moonlight's lair," said Lord Horace. "Well, I'm on for any fun of that sort. Talking of Baròlin, do you know the people there, Trant and Co.?"

"Blake and Trant," said Hallett. "It's Blake who is the boss, they say. But how anyone who wasn't quite a fool could have bought Baròlin Gorge!"

"They say Trant is doing a good thing with his horses, though," said Lord Horace. "Do you know the chap? He was at the Bean-tree to-day. I didn't fancy him. Looked to me like one of those low-bred half-Fenian fellows. I saw 'em when I went salmon fishin' with Waveryng to Ireland. I was wondering whether Blake could be one of the Blakes of Coola."

"Coola!" repeated Hallett.

"Blake of Coola is about as old a name as there is in Ireland. Castle Coola was close by our river. Lord Coola was a friend of Waveryng's. I never met him. The Castle was shut up the only time I went over. It is a common enough name though."

"I believe my sister-in-law has asked Mr. Trant over to Tunimba," said Hallett.

The bell rang for dressing. Lord Horace took his guest over to what was by courtesy called the Bachelor's Quarters. There was only one spare room in the Humpey, and that was occupied by Elsie Valliant.


CHAPTER IV.

ELSIE'S LOVER.

They were sitting down to dinner when the barking of the dogs announced an arrival. Presently the woman in the kitchen came in with a slip of paper, on which was written, "Dominic Trant, of Baròlin."