a call when in town."

Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of
ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So
high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of
performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair
sex,--all upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two
innocent country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment
for Miss Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the
rich beauty and magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this
contemplation of his lessened by considering that, with all his
gentlemanly manners, and accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she
preferred the clod-hopper, as he called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself.

He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more
especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at
for it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering
conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he
imagined, execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen,
and perhaps, ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed
with Miss Clinton; for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public
instances of contempt with which she had treated him. There was still,
however, another consideration. His father had threatened to bring home
his brother Edward, then destined for the church, and altogether to
change his intentions in that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic
manner of the old man towards him of late, he began to entertain
apprehensions upon the subject. Taking therefore all these circumstances
into consideration, he resolved in any event to temporize a little, and
allow the father to suppose that he might be prevailed upon to marry
Kathleen Cavanagh.

In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he
were together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject
himself.

"I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something
like a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the
accomplished Hycy."

"I did, God forgive me."

"I have been thinking over that subject since."

"Have you, indeed," said his father; "an' am I to make Ned a priest or a
farmer?" he asked, dryly.

"The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination."

"So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my proper