hall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious
ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself,
meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky
thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, _non constat_,
as Finigan would say, time will develop."

"You're not gainin' ground with him at all events," said his mother;
"ever since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards
both of us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and
has something on his mind ever since."

"I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I
said just now, I say time will develop."

He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which
consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as
they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton.

CHAPTER XIII.--Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral.

On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such
cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious
to soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and
Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into
the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood.
Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady,
the Roman Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing,
undertook to direct the religious devotions which are usual on such
occasions. In consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that
then existed in our unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that
persons were, from necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of
religious duties, who were possessed of very little education, if not,
as was too often the case, absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was
not absolutely illiterate, but, in good truth, he was by no means far
removed from that uncomfortable category. Finigan, the schoolmaster,
was also present; and as he claimed acquaintance with the classics,
and could understand and read with something like correctness the Latin
offices, which were frequently repeated on these occasions it would be
utterly impossible to describe the lofty scorn and haughty supercilious
contempt with which he contemplated poor Dennis, who kept muttering away
at the _Confiteor_ and _De Profundis_ with a barbarity of pronunciation
that rendered it impossible for human ears to understand a sing