Courcy Castle Courcy Castle was very full.

In the first place, there was a great gathering there of all the Courcy family.

The earl was there,--and the countess, of course.

At this period of the year Lady de Courcy was always at home; but the presence of the earl himself had heretofore been by no means so certain.

He was a man who had been much given to royal visitings and attendances, to parties in the Highlands, to,--no doubt necessary,--prolongations of the London season, to sojournings at certain German watering-places, convenient, probably, in order that he might study the ways and ceremonies of German Courts,--and to various other absences from home, occasioned by a close pursuit of his own special aims in life; for the Earl de Courcy had been a great courtier.