them. She welcomed Norah with an
affectionate embrace, putting back her hair to kiss her fair brow.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Ferris," she said, "for neglecting you; but you
will excuse me--it is so long since I have seen this dear girl, and I so
rejoice to have her back in safety. My son Owen, the doctor says, owes
his life to the careful way she dressed his wounds." She continued,
after her guests were seated, "He will be wishing to come down and see
you, Norah, and I cannot forbid him, though he is not fit to present
himself before Miss Ferris."

"Do not let me prevent Mr Massey from coming down," said Ellen, rising,
and giving a smile to Norah; "I will go out and take a look at your
pretty garden, Mrs Massey, and you shall show me the flowers."

Norah felt grateful for the tact of her friend, and the widow having
gone upstairs to tell Owen that he need not fear the meeting with a
stranger, she returned and took Ellen into her garden, which contained a
shrubbery, a lawn and flower-beds, and an arbour with a view of the
river and shipping in the distance, and invited them to sit down.

"This is a very pretty spot, Mrs Massey," said Ellen. "Now you have
got your son back, you must be perfectly happy."

"I ought to be so, my dear young lady, and am indeed thankful to have
him with me," answered the widow; "but recollections of the past will
intrude. I cannot help thinking how different would have been his lot
had he not been unjustly deprived of his inheritance; and little good
has it done those who got it. Wealth gained by fraud or violence never
benefits the possessors."

The widow, who spent much of her time in solitude, was inclined to talk
when she found a willing listener. Ellen's looks betokened sympathy,
for she was aware of the wrongs the Massey family had endured.

"The O'Harralls were ever a lawless race," continued Mrs Massey; "they
were leaders among the Rapparees in Cromwell's and James's times, and
lived by robbing their countrymen and neighbours, till William of Orange
established a firm government. They then exercised their cunning by
means of the law, and, supported by the Evil One, their frauds were
successful. Scarcely, however, had they gained possession of Tramore
Castle and its broad lands than they took to their wicked courses.
Denis O'Harrall set all the laws of God and man at defiance; yet, as he
kept open house and entertained guests of high and low degree, he was
universally p