it, child," replied the mother, desiring me to creep into
her daughter's bed, and cover myself up on the side next the wall.

"Let me put on more clothes, mother."

"No, no, if you do, they will suspect, and will not hesitate to search.
Your mother bids you."

The poor girl was burning with shame and confusion.

"Nay," replied I, "if Kathleen does not wish it, I will not buy my safety
at the expense of her feelings."

"Yes, yes," replied Kathleen, "I don't mind now; those words of yours
are sufficient. Come in, quick."

Chapter XLV

Petticoat interest prevails, and I escape; but I put my head into
the lion's den.

There was no time for apology, and stepping over Kathleen, I buried
myself under the clothes by her side. The mother then hastened
downstairs, and arrived at the door just as they had succeeded in forcing
it open, when in pounced a dozen men armed, with their faces blackened.
"Holy Jesus! what is it that you want?" screamed the landlady.

"The blood of the tithe proctor, and that's what we'll have," replied
the O'Tooles.

"Not in my house--not in my house!" cried she. "Take him away, at all
events; promise me to take him away."

"So we will, honey darlint; we'll take him out of your sight, and out
of your hearing too, only show us where he may be."

"He's sleeping," replied the mother, pointing to the door of the bedroom,
where I had been lying down.

The party took the light from her hand, and went into the room, where
they perceived the bed empty and the window open. "Devil a bit of a
proctor here, anyhow," cried one of them, "and the window open. He's
off--hurrah! my lads, he can't be far."

"By the powers! it's just my opinion, Mrs M'Shane," replied the elder
O'Toole, "that he's not quite so far off; so with your lave, or by your
lave, or without your lave, we'll just have a look over the premises."

"O! and welcome, Mister Jerry O'Toole; if you think I'm the woman to hide
a proctor, look everywhere just as you please."

The party, headed by Jerry O'Toole, who had taken the light out of Mrs
M'Shane's hand, now ascended the ladder to the upper storey, and as I
lay by Kathleen, I felt that she trembled with fear. After examining
every nook and cranny they could think of, they came to Mrs M'Shane's
room, "O! go in--go in and look, Mr O'Toole; it's a very likely thing
to insinuate that I should have a tithe proctor in my bed. Search, pray,"
and Mrs M'Shane led the way into