nd untended. I struck a light and put it in the window.

"Is that Barry?" said she faintly.

"Ay, mother, it's Barry," said I, going to the bed and bending over her.

"Bring the light, and let me look at you," she said.

I obeyed. She scrutinised my face eagerly, and then turned her head
wearily on the pillow.

"Barry," said she presently.

"Well?" said I, as I took the hot worn hand in mine.

She lay silent a long while, so that I thought she had fallen asleep,
then she said,--

"Where is father?"

"Away with the boats."

"And Tim?"

"I can't say. Tim and I fought the day, and--"

"Fought? Ay, there'll be fighting enough before wrong's made right,
Barry. Listen! I'm dying, son, but I must see him before I go."

"Is it Tim?" said I.

"No." Then she lifted herself in her bed, and her face was wild and
excited as she clutched my hand. "Barry, it's Gorman I must see--
Maurice Gorman. Fetch him to me. Make him come. Tell him I'm a dying
woman, and must speak before I go. There's time yet--go, Barry!"

"Mr Gorman!" exclaimed I. What could my mother want with his honour
down at Knockowen?

"Ay, and quickly--or it will be too late."

Knockowen was across the lough, five miles up above Dunree. It would be
hours on a night like this before he could be here. But my mother
continued to moan, "Go, Barry--make haste." So, much against my will, I
put on my cap and prepared to leave her alone. At the door she called
me back.

"Kiss me, Barry," said she. Then before I could obey her she fell to
raving.

"Give me back the lassie," she cried, "dead or alive. She's more to me
than all Kilgorman! Trust me, Mr Maurice--I'll breathe never a word if
you'll but save Mike. It's false--he never had a hand in it! Some day
truth will out--if the lad's mine no harm shall come to him. I'll use
him against you, Mr Maurice. The truth's buried, but it's safe.
There's more than earth under a hearthstone." And she laughed in a
terrible way.

After a minute she opened her eyes again and saw me.

"Not gone, Barry? For pity's sake, fetch him, or I must go myself."
And she even tried to get up from her bed.

This settled it, and I rushed from the house, whimpering with misery and
terror.

What was it all about? Why did she send me away thus on a fool's
errand? For Mr Gorman was not likely to come out on a night like this
at the bidding of Mike Gallagher's English wife.

If there had only been some