learned from the Bible with the
greatest interest, feeling every moment more and more disposed to
accept its teaching, and less and less disposed to blindly submit to
the priest. Annorah stayed till a late hour with her mother, repeating
over and over again the truths so interesting to herself, and
obtaining permission at last to bring the Bible itself on her next
visit. She was strictly cautioned, however, to bring it privately,
lest Father M'Clane should hear of it, and, in Biddy's language, "kick
up a scrimmage."

There were more ideas in the old woman's head than had ever found room
there before, when, after Annorah had gone, she sat down by herself
before the fire. She was both ambitious and imaginative, and long
vistas of future greatness opened before her, all commencing with the
wonderful fact that _her_ child could read and write.

"An' it's not all a queer drame," she said; "I'll hear her for meself
coom next Saturday Och! what a row it will make an' Father M'Clane,
and Teddy Muggins, and Mike Murphy get wind o' a heretic Bible being
brought to the place! But I'll hear and judge for meself, that I will;
an' if the praste be right, small harm is there to be shure; and if he
be wrong, the better for me poor sowl, and a saving o' money."

CHAPTER V.

PHELIM BRINGS BAD TIDINGS TO ANNORAH.

Annorah's troubles were not ended by the unexpected encouragement
received from her mother. Her brothers and sister, and Irish
acquaintance generally, soon heard that she no longer went to mass or
to confession; and great was the uproar among them. The unsparing
rebukes of Father M'Clane, whenever he met with any one supposed to
have any influence over her, soon fanned into life not only a vehement
hatred of the Protestants, but a bitter feeling of enmity toward the
poor girl herself. Those who had been most cordial now either passed
her in sullen silence, or openly taunted her upon her defection; and
the very children in the lane hooted after her, when she made her
usual weekly visit to her mother.

Annorah often found these things very hard to bear. Her quick Irish
blood was up with the first insulting word; but she sought for
strength from above to control it, and no outbreak of passion was
suffered to mar the sweet lesson that her patience and kindness toward
all was insensibly teaching.

She was getting ready for her usual Saturday evening's visit to her
mother's cottage, when her attention was attracted b