e
Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted."

Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two
afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put
it into the post-office.

"Now," said she to her father, "the people is scatterin' themselves
homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear--but listen--that letter
is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office here;
Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may be
passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the
post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day,
or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some
scheme afoot."

"Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny."

"Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you."

"Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,--always
does indeed wherever he meets me."

"No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion
of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell
you why I bid you, some day soon."

"Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I
say he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him."

Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man
would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street
in the direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for
groceries.

Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and
the evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the
post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was
a letter for him.

The post-master searched again, and replied, "No; but here's another for
Bryan M'Mahon."

"What!" he exclaimed, "another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive
correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from."

"There's no wonder at all about it," replied the post-master, "it's from
Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and
all."

"Allow me to look," said Hycy, glancing at it. "Yes, you are quite
right, that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever.
I will not fetch him this letter," he proceeded, "because I know not
when I may see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him."

Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the
post-off