e is--he has carpets upon the rooms, ay, an' upon my
sounds, on the very stairs itself! faix it's you that will be in state.
Now, acushla, let us hear your answer."

"It's very short, father; I won't have him."

"Won't have him! and in the name of all that's unbiddable and undutiful,
who will you have, if one may ax that, or do you intend, to have any one
at all, or not?"

"Let me see," she said, putting the side of her forefinger to her lips,
"what day is this? Thursday. Well, then, on this day month, father, I'll
tell my mother who I'll have, or, at any rate, who I'd wish to have;
but, in the mean time, nobody need ask me anything further about it till
then, for I won't give any other information on the subject."

The father looked very seriously into the fire for a considerable time,
and was silent; he then drew his breath lengthily, tapped the table a
little with his fingers, and exclaimed--"A month! well, the time will
pass, and, as we must wait, why we must, that's all."

Matters lay in this state until the third day before the expiration
of the appointed time, when Margaret, having received from Art secret
intelligence of his return, hastened to a spot agreed upon between them,
that they might consult each other upon what ought to be done under
circumstances so critical.

After the usual preface to such tender discussions, Art listened with
a good deal of anxiety, but without the slightest doubt of her firmness
and attachment, to an account of the promise she had given her father.

"Well, but, Margaret darlin'," said he, "what will happen if they
refuse?"

"Surely, you know it is too late for them to refuse now; arn't we as
good as married--didn't we pass the Hand Promise--isn't our troth
plighted?"

"I know that, but suppose they should still refuse, then what's to be
done? what are you and I to do?"

"I must lave that to you, Art," she replied archly.

"And it couldn't be in better hands, Margaret; if they refuse their
consent, there's nothing for it but a regular runaway, and that will
settle it."

"You must think I'm very fond of you," she added playfully, "and I
suppose you do, too."

"Margaret," said Art, and his face became instantly overshadowed with
seriousness and care, "the day may come when I'll feel how necessary you
will be to guide and support me."

She looked quickly into his eyes, and saw that his mind appeared
disturbed and gloomy.

"My dear Art," she asked, "what is the mean