de yourself, to think of such a story. I've warned her
against him, and so did we all; an' I'm sartin' this minute, that
she'd not go a single foot to change words with him, unknownst to her
friends."

The old woman's face changed from the expression of anxiety and
importance that it bore, to one of coarse glee, under which, to those
who had penetration sufficient to detect it, lurked a spirit of hardened
and reckless ferocity.

"Well, well," she replied, "sure I'm proud to hear what you tell me.
How is poor Nanse M'Collum doin' wid yez? for I hadn't time to see her
a while agone. I hope she'll never be ashamed or afraid of her aunt,
any how. I may say, I'm all that's left to the good of her name, poor
girshah."

"What 'ud ail her?" replied Meehaul; "as long a' she's honest an'
behaves herself, there's no fear of her. Had you nothing elsa to say to
me, Nell?"

The same tumultuous expression of glee and malignity again lit up the
features of the old woman, as she looked at him, and replied, with
something like contemptuous hesitation, "Why, I don't know that. If
you had more sharpness or sinse I might say--Meehaul Neil," she added,
elevating her voice, "what do you think I could say, this sacred moment!
Your sister! Why she's a good girl!--true enough that: but how long she
may be so's another affair. Afeard! Be the ground we stand on, man dear,
if you an' all belongin' to you, had eyes in your heads for every day in
the year, you couldn't keep her from young Lamh Laudher. Did you hear
anything?"

"I'd not believe a word of it," said Meehaul calmly, and he turned to
depart.

"I tell you it's as true as the sun to the dial," replied Nell; "and I
tell you more, he's wid her this minnit behind your father's orchard!
Ay! an' if you wish you may see them together wid your own eyes, an'
sure if you don't b'lieve me, you'll b'lieve them. But, Meehaul,
take care of him; for he has his fire-arms; if you meet him don't go
empty-handed, and I'd advise you to have the first shot."

"Behind the orchard," said Meehaul, astonished; "where there?"

"Ay, behind the orchard, where they often war afore. Where there? Why,
if you want to know that, sittin' on one of the ledges in the Grassy
Quarry. That's their sate whenever they meet; an' a snug one it is for
them that don't like their neighbors' eyes to be upon them. Go now an'
satisfy yourself, but watch them at a distance, an', as you expect to
save your sister, don't breathe