g, artless girl, is a villain, for whom
hanging is too good.'

This concluding sentence was uttered with an animation and excitement,
which the mere announcement of an abstract moral sentiment could hardly
account for.

'You are, then, indifferent, honestly and in sober earnest, indifferent
to the girl?' inquired Dwyer.

'Altogether so,' was the reply.

'Then I have a request to make,' continued Dwyer, 'and I may as well
urge it now as at any other time. I have been for nearly twenty years
the faithful, and by no means useless, servant of your family; you know
that I have rendered your father critical and important services----' he
paused, and added hastily: 'you are not in the mood--I tire you, sir.'

'Nay,' cried O'Mara, 'I listen patiently--proceed.'

'For all these services, and they were not, as I have said, few or
valueless, I have received little more reward than liberal promises;
you have told me often that this should be mended--I'll make it easily
done--I'm not unreasonable--I should be contented to hold Heathcote's
ground, along with this small farm on which we stand, as full quittance
of all obligations and promises between us.'

'But how the devil can I effect that for you; this farm, it is true, I,
or my father, rather, may lease to you, but Heathcote's title we cannot
impugn; and even if we could, you would not expect us to ruin an honest
man, in order to make way for YOU, Ned.'

'What I am,' replied Dwyer, with the calmness of one who is so
accustomed to contemptuous insinuations as to receive them with perfect
indifference, 'is to be attributed to my devotedness to your honourable
family--but that is neither here nor there. I do not ask you to displace
Heathcote, in order to made room for me. I know it is out of your power
to do so. Now hearken to me for a moment; Heathcote's property, that
which he has set out to tenants, is worth, say in rents, at most, one
hundred pounds: half of this yearly amount is assigned to your father,
until payment be made of a bond for a thousand pounds, with interest and
soforth. Hear me patiently for a moment and I have done. Now go you to
Heathcote, and tell him your father will burn the bond, and cancel the
debt, upon one condition--that when I am in possession of this farm,
which you can lease to me on what terms you think suitable, he will
convey over his property to me, reserving what life-interest may appear
fair, I engaging at the same time to marry his dau