don't care about that, however," he proceeded; "if
he had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five
hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you
my wife."

Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language
of Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was
cool and cuttingly ironical.

"Wouldn't you, indeed?" she replied; "dear me! I have a right to be
proud of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family
blackened by disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James."

"But you have done nothing wrong, Dora," he replied; "'you're free from
any blame of that kind."

"I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?" she returned. "Ay, a thousand
things--for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't I
supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had
been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me
now?"

"Why, that every word you say, and every lively look--ay, or angry if
you like--that you give--makes me love you more and more. An' plase God,
my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife."

"That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it.
Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my
brother."

"'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora."

"Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my
body."

"Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?"

"Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would
pay attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to
send for him face to face, and to say--'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you
or one of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful
act'--and here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and
hereditary pride which are more precious relics in a family than
the costliest jewels that ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her
eyes--'and now, Bryan M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own--I ax no
other evidence but your own--I put it to your conscience--to that honor
that has never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it
to yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you--and answer
me as you are in the presence of God--did you do what they charge you
with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own
conscience?"

The anim