some certain point, which her
faithful sister was deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by
seriousness, and at other times by mirth. At length she returned with
a countenance combating between seriousness and jest; the seriousness,
however, predominating.

"Kathleen," said she, "you never had a difficulty before you until now.
They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any
wish to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all
a trick of the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now
determined to disappoint them. What will you do?"

"What would you recommend me?" asked Kathleen, looking at her with
something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there
was a slight smile upon her lips.

"Why," said the frank and candid girl, "certainly to run away with Bryan
M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything."

"Would it settle my father's heart," said Kathleen, "and my
mother's?--would it settle my own character?--would it be the step that
all the world would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?--and putting all the
world aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God,
my dear Hanna?"

"Kathleen, forgive me, darlin'," said her sister, throwing her arms
about her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; "I'm a foolish,
flighty creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't
advise you. Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine."

"If your head makes fifty mistakes," said her sister, "your heart's an
excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when
you're in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put
together. Come, now."

They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora
M'Mahon who, as she said, "came down to ask them up a while, as the
house was now so lonesome;" and she added, with artless naivete, "I
don't know how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever
did before. Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you
as a stranger, and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to
you more and more."

Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration
which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding
this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to
say anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw
Bryan at the turn of the road