asy, solitary ride, sometimes sauntering along at a
snail's pace, and then again spurring the poor brute, and endeavouring
to bring his mind to some settled plan. But, whenever he did so, the
idea of his sister's death was the only one which seemed to present
either comfort or happiness.

He made up his mind, at last, to put a bold face on the matter; to find
out from Anty herself whether there was any truth in the story; and,
if there should be,--for he felt confident she would not be able to
deceive him,--to frighten her and the whole party of the Kellys out of
what he considered a damnable conspiracy to rob him of his father's
property,

He got off his horse, and stalked into the house. On inquiry, he found
that Anty was in her own room. He was sorry she was not out; for, to
tell the truth, he was rather anxious to put off the meeting, as he
did not feel himself quite up to the mark, and was ashamed of seeming
afraid of her. He went into the stable, and abused the groom; into the
kitchen, and swore at the maid; and then into the garden. It was a
nasty, cold, February day, and he walked up and down the damp muddy
walks till he was too tired and cold to walk longer, and then turned
into the parlour, and remained with his back to the fire, till the man
came in to lay the cloth, thinking on the one subject that occupied all
his mind--occasionally grinding his teeth, and heaping curses on his
father and sister, who, together, had inflicted such grievous, such
unexpected injuries upon him.

If, at this moment, there was a soul in all Ireland over whom Satan had
full dominion--if there was a breast unoccupied by one good thought--if
there was a heart wishing, a brain conceiving, and organs ready to
execute all that was evil, from the worst motives, they were to be
found in that miserable creature, as he stood there urging himself on
to hate those whom he should have loved--cursing those who were nearest
to him--fearing her, whom he had ill-treated all his life--and striving
to pluck up courage to take such measures as might entirely quell
her. Money was to him the only source of gratification. He had looked
forward, when a boy, to his manhood, as a period when he might indulge,
unrestrained, in pleasures which money would buy; and, when a man, to
his father's death, as a time when those means would be at his full
command. He had neither ambition, nor affection, in his nature; his
father had taught him nothing but the exc