ergus," proceeded Reilly, "I have, as I said, provided for you
both; what that provision is I will not mention now. Mr. Hastings will
inform you. But if you have a wish to leave this unhappy and distracted
country, even without Connor, why, by applying to him, you will be
enabled to do so; or, if you wish to stay at home and take a farm, you
may do so."

"Divil a foot I'll leave the country," replied the other. "Ellen may
stick to the _Cooleen Bawn_, but, be my sowl, I'll stick to Ellen, if I
was to wait these seven years. I'll be as stiff as she is stout; but, at
any rate, she's worth waitin' for."

"You may well say so," replied Reilly, "and I can quarrel neither with
your attachment nor your patience; but you will not forget to let
her know the provision which I have left for her in the hands of Mr.
Hastings, and tell her it is a slight reward for her noble attachment
to my dear _Cooleen Bawn_. Fergus," he proceeded, "have you ever had a
dream in the middle of which you awoke, then fell asleep and dreamt out
the dream?"

"Troth had I, often, sir; and, by the way, talkin' of dreams, I dreamt
last night that I was wantin' Ellen to marry me, and she said, 'not yet,
Fergus, but in due time.'"

"Well, Fergus," proceeded Reilly, "perhaps there is but half my dream
of life gone; who knows when I return--if I ever do--but my dream may
be completed? and happily, too; I know the truth and faith of my dear
_Cooleen Bawn_. And, Fergus, it is not merely my dear _Cooleen Bawn_
that I feel for, but for my unfortunate country. I am not, however,
without hope that the day will come--although it may be a distant
one--when she will enjoy freedom, peace, and prosperity. Now, Fergus,
good-by, and farewell! Come, come, be a man," he added, with a
melancholy smile, whilst a tear stood even in his own eye--"come,
Fergus, I will not have this; I won't say farewell for ever, because I
expect to return and be happy yet--if not in my own country, at least
in some other, where there is more freedom and less persecution for
conscience' sake."

Poor Fergus, however, when the parting moment arrived, was completely
overcome. He caught Reilly in his arms--wept over him bitterly--and,
after a last and sorrowful embrace, was prevailed upon to take his
leave.

The history of the _Cooleen Bawn's_ melancholy fate soon went far and
near, and many an eye that had never rested on her beauty gave its
tribute of tears to her undeserved sorrows. There e