lose the
grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and
Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection,
would have been an act of great presumption on his part.

"Good-bye, Hycy," said he; "I have tould you my mind, and now I've done
with it."

"With all my heart!" said the other--"that's a matter of taste on your
part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in
your pocket. It's all right, I suppose--but you know best. Good-bye
to you, at all events," he added; "be a good boy and take care of
yourself."

M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not.

"By all that deserves an oath," exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after
him, "if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you
your insulting conduct this day--and that I'll soon make you feel to
your cost!"

This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much
mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through
the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could
judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked
with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their
loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other
parts of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At
length he seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say
which, and stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes
quite unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success
with which he did it--when, on looking down the street, he observed a
little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with
freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the
saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately
between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In
addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow
legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with
his whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was
nevertheless indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore
neither stockings nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong
clouted brogues upon his feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs
and a breast that were covered over with a fell of red close hair that
might have been long and strong enough for a