ed for her. But she was careful that
neither her mother nor the priest should suspect her progress in
learning, and as she still went regularly to "confession," it was easy
to keep her secret from them. Annie was often not a little puzzled to
know how she managed to elude the vigilance of the priest.

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, when the air was just cool enough
to be refreshing, that, with Mrs. Lee's permission, Annie and her
nurse sought their favourite seat by the mill-stream. Annie had been
thinking more than usual about Annorah's progress in religious
knowledge, and wondering how, with the light and wisdom she had
received, she could still cling to her old superstitions. A great
change had taken place in her temper, which was now usually
controlled; her manners had gradually become more gentle; but the
radical change of heart that Annie so longed to witness, did not yet
show itself.

"Tell me, Annorah," she said, after the usual time had been spent in
reading, "does Father M'Clane know that you can read yet?"

"Not he, indade."

"Does he not question you?"

"Not exactly. He says I spake better English, and that shure it is
because I live where it is well spoken."

"What did you say to that?"

"I said. 'True, your riverence.'"

"I'm afraid that is hardly the truth, Annorah. If anything has
improved your language, it is your reading."

"To be shure. But is it not because I am with those who spake English
well, that I'm learning to read? So it was the truth, after all."

"Not the whole truth, Annorah."

Just then Annorah turned, and saw the shadow of a man on the sloping
rock at the left hand. Her first impulse was to cry out, but the fear
of alarming Annie, and her own natural courage, prevented her; and she
soon thought she could detect in the shadowy outline a resemblance to
Father M'Clane. "Och, then, the murder's out," she thought; "the mane
creature has been listening, and faith now he shall have a pill that
will settle his stomach intirely.--What were you saying, Miss Annie?"
she asked aloud, turning towards Annie's carriage.

"I said that you did not tell him the whole truth."

"Small matter for that. It was all he asked for, and it's better
plazed he is than if it were more. He's a lying ould thing himself,
any way!"

"Why, Annorah?"

"Ye may well open yer eyes. Did he not tell me last Sunday that you,
miss, with your sweet voice and comforting ways, were jist a
temptation placed