me see--ay, the
masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us."

"And who's the indifferent, Nanny?"

"Wait," she replied; "yes--no doubt of it--if not worse--why the
mistress must come in for that, I think."

"And now for the bad, Nanny?"

She shook her head before she spoke. "Ah," she proceeded, "there would
be more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his
way."

"If who had his way?"

"Masther Hycy."

"Why is he the bad among you?"

"Thank God I know him now," she replied, "an' he knows I do; but he
doesn't know how well I know him."

"Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?" asked Bryan, a good deal surprised,
and not a little interested at what he heard, "surely I thought Mr. Hycy
a good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all
events?"

"Ah, it's little you know him," she replied; "and I could"--she looked
at him and paused.

"You could what?" he asked.

"I could tell you something, but I daren't."

"Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?"

"It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an'
Kathleen Cavanagh goin' to be married?"

"We will be married, I hope."

"Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother
doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between
the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if
you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be."

"An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?"

"He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of
him, so far from that, I could soon--but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an'
as I said, keep a sharp lookout;" and having uttered these words, she
tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had
said.

CHAPTER X.--More of the Hycy Correspondence

A Family Debate--Honest Speculations.

Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down
upon her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of
whom looked upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object
exceedingly desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on
themselves. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of
the strictest integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with
hospitality, and remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections
in an extraordinary degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely
weak-minded, and