you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die."

"Hanna," said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on
that distressing subject; "on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan
to clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that
you'll do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing
me about Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him
your husband yet, and I think he's worthy of you--that's saying a great
deal, I know. You love him, Hanna--I know it, and he loves you, Hanna,
for he told me so the last day but one he was here;--you remember they
all went out, and left us together, and then he told me all."

Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when
a rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this
dialogue took place in the parlor--exclaiming, "God save all here! How
do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?"

"Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl
that's a little low spirited for some time past."

"Ay, ay, I know the cause of that--it's no secret--where is she now? If
she's in the house let me see her."

The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features,
immediately made their appearance.

"God be good to us!" he exclaimed, "here's a change! Why, may I never
sin, if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard
us! look at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?"

"Nothing on airth," she replied; "her complaint's upon the spirits, an'
we didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her."

"Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your
sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he
ever was--an honest an' upright young man."

Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without
seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and
was about to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with
alarm--"Kathleen, what ails you, dear? Where are you going?"

"Going," she replied; "I was going to--where?--why?--what--what has
happened?"

"The news came upon her too much by surprise," said Hanna, looking
towards the priest.

"Kathleen, darlin'," exclaimed her mother, "try and compose yourself.
Lord guard us, what can ail her?"

"Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father
Magowan stay