wn,
and quartered--ay, and their heads grinning at us in every town in the
county."

"Well, Fergus, let his name and his crimes perish with him; but, as for
you, what do you intend to do?"

"Troth, sir," replied Fergus, "it's more than I rightly know. I had my
hopes, like others; but, somehow, luck has left all sorts of lovers of
late--from Sir Robert Whitecraft to your humble servant."

"But you may thank God," said Reilly, with a smile, "that you had not
Sir Robert Whitecraft's luck."

"Faith, sir," replied Fergus archly, "there's a pair of us may do so.
You went nearer his luck--such as it was--than I did."

"True enough," replied the other, with a serious air; "I had certainly a
narrow escape; but I wish to know, as I said, what you intend to do? It
is your duty now, Fergus, to settle industriously and honestly."

"Ah, sir, honestly. I didn't expect that from you, Mr. Reilly."

"Excuse me, Fergus," said Reilly, taking him by the hand; "when I said
honestly I did not mean to intimate any thing whatsoever against your
integrity. I know, unfortunately, the harsh circumstances which drove
you to associate with that remorseless villain and his gang; but I wish
you to resume an industrious life, and, if Ellen Connor is disposed to
unite her fate with yours, I have provided the means--ample means for
you both to be comfortable and happy. She who was so faithful to her
mistress will not fail to make you a good wife."

"Ah," replied Fergus, "it's I that knows that well; but, unfortunately,
I have no hope there."

"No hope; how is that? I thought your affection was mutual."

"So it is, sir--or, rather, so it was; but she has affection for nobody
now, barring the _Cooleen Bawn_."

Reilly paused, and appeared deeply moved by this. "What," said he, "will
she not leave her? But I am not surprised at it."

"No, sir, she will not leave her, but has taken an oath to stay by her
night and day, until--better times come."

We may say here that Reillys friends took care that neither jailer
nor turnkey should make him acquainted with the unhappy state of the
_Cooleen Bawn_; he was consequently ignorant of it, and, fortunately,
remained so until after his return home.

"Fergus," said Reilly, "can you tell me how the _Cooleen Bawn_ bears the
sentence which sends me to a far country?"

"How would she bear it, sir? You needn't ask: Connor, at all events,
will not part from her--not, anyway, until you come back."

"Well, F