ow can I help it? It's very
natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl."

"But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others
before now--I needn't name them--widout name, or fame, or hope, or
happiness in this world."

"I won't be in until late, Nanny," he replied, coolly. "Sit up for me.
You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;" and, having
nodded to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out.

"Ay," said she, after he had gone; "little you know, you hardened and
heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know
that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now
gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that
can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know
besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't."

CHAPTEE XI.--Death of a Virtuous Mother.

It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from
Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had,
in his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's
illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions
that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found
that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account.
Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed
jest. After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed--"What is the
matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow."

Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears--"We
are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that
we all love--as every one did that knew her."

"Hanna, darling," said Kathleen, "this won't do. Poor girl! you are
likely to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real
danger. Your mother, Bryan," she proceeded, "is much worse than she has
been. The priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't
follow that there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless."

"Oh, my God!" exclaimed Bryan, "is it so? My mother--and such a mother!
Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must leave
you--I must go."

"We will go up with you," said Kathleen. "Hanna, we will go up; for,
if she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman
before she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and t