Gower steadily in the faca

" May we make bold to ask yoar real name 1 as they
say in your country; or is it a family secret 1" she asked
with a malicious smile. She saw that there was some
mystery, and was determined to probe it to its sourca I
glanced helplessly at Uncle Jim. He was still carrying on
the argument with all a sportsman's ardour, and was entirely
lost to any sense of his immediate surroundings. Seeing
him help himself to sugar and cream along with hia
asparagus, I gave up all hopes of succour from that quarter,
and felt that I had better depend on myself afone, and tell
the plain unvarnished truth. It must be known some time,
why not now t I glanced across the table ; Maurice's eyes
were fastened on my face, and Mrs. Gk)wer was leaning
back in her chair, regarding me with an air of spitefiu
amusement.
" Well 9 " she drawled superciliously.
'<Tou wish to know my original name, and you are
quite welcome to hear it. Ton will not be much wiser,
Mrs. Gower. My name is really O'Neill — Nora O'Neill," I
answered, now driven to bay.
" Oh, reaUy ; quite an Irish name. But not nearly as
pretty as Neville, is it^ Captain Beresf ord 1 " turning to her
neighbour.
Thanks be to Captain Beresford, his composure was
marvellous. He gave no outward sign of having made an
important discovery. He did not rise, and rush madly
round the table, and seize me, and say, " At last, my long
lost cousin." No ; he merely gave me a glance of extreme
significance, and calmly went on with his dinner, still
keeping up the ball of conversation with unflagging energy.
