The Heir of Kilfinnan | Page 3

crossed by a bridge, almost isolated the castle from the mainland,

for the ground on which the old fortress stood was merely joined to it
by a rugged and nearly impassable ledge of rocks. The castle itself was
of considerable size and strongly built, so that it could well withstand
the gales which, from time to time, circled round it. Dermot had but
little natural timidity or shyness; yet he felt somewhat awed when,
having missed the back approach used by the servants of the
establishment, he found himself at the entrance-hall, in which a number
of well-dressed persons were assembled on their way to the
breakfast-room. Some passed him carelessly.
"Oh, here, papa, is a fisher-boy with such fine fish," said a young and
fair girl as she ran up to a tall and dignified man, who at that moment
appeared.
"Why, boy, what brought you here?" asked the gentleman.
"To sell some fish; I caught them myself," was Dermot's answer. "They
are fine and fresh. I will not bargain for the price, as I feel sure you will
give me what they are worth."
The gentleman seemed amused at the boy's composure, and stepping
forward looked into the basket which Dermot opened to exhibit his
fish.
"You are right, boy. Send Anderson here," he said, turning to a footman.
"We will purchase your fish, and you may come whenever you can
bring others as fine."
Several ladies of the party seeing the Earl, for the gentleman who spoke
was the owner of the castle, addressing the boy, came forward, and now,
for the first time, remarked his handsome features and picturesque,
though rough, costume.
The little girl begged that the fish might be taken out of the basket to be
shown to her, and seemed delighted with the brightness of their scales
and their elegant forms.
"Look after the boy, Anderson, and give him some breakfast," said the

Earl, as the head cook appeared, and Dermot, finding himself more
noticed than he was ever before in his life, was conducted down below
to the servants' quarters. Although they were town servants, and would
certainly have disdained to speak to a mere beggar-boy, or to a young
country clown, there was something in Dermot's unaffected manner and
appearance which won their regard, and they treated him with far more
kindness and attention than would otherwise have been the case.
Highly delighted with this his first visit to the castle, Dermot returned
to his mother's hut to give her an account of what had occurred. That
evening she was sufficiently recovered to accompany him on their
usual fishing expedition. Again they were successful, and the next
morning Dermot once more made his appearance at the castle. He was
received much in the same manner as on the previous occasion. His fish
were exhibited before being taken below, and greatly to his
astonishment a lady of the party begged that he would stand where he
was, with his basket in his hand, while she produced her sketch-book
and made a portrait of him. Dermot scarcely understood the process
that was going forward, and was somewhat relieved when the breakfast
bell sounding, the lady was compelled to abandon her undertaking.
"But I must have you notwithstanding, young fisher-boy," said the lady.
"You must come back after breakfast and hold one of those fish in your
hand; I have only made the outline, and the drawing will not be perfect
until it is well coloured."
"He does not understand the honour that has been done him," observed
an elderly dame to the fair artist; "still he looks intelligent, and perhaps
when he sees himself on paper he will be better pleased than he appears
to be at present."
Dermot scarcely understood all that was said, for though he spoke
English very fairly, he could not comprehend the language when
spoken rapidly.
Breakfast being concluded, he was again summoned to the hall, and to
his utter astonishment he was made to stand with the fish in his hand,
while the young lady continued her sketch. As a reward she exhibited it

to him when it was finished. He blushed when he saw himself, for she
was no mean artist, and she had done him ample justice. Indeed he
looked far more like the Earl's son, dressed in a fisher-boy's costume,
than what he really was.
"Could my mother see that picture?" he asked at length, "I am sure she
would like it, she knows more about those things than I do, for I have
never seen anything of that sort before."
"What! Have you never seen a picture before?" exclaimed the young
lady in surprise, "nor a print, nor a painting?"
Dermot shook his head--"No, nothing of the sort. I did not think that
anything so like