use.

She had endured many griefs, and many mortifications, from her
reputation as a witch, but met every thing in that way with patience,
as the dream of her soul was revenge, and that dream by such means alone
could be realized. However, when on the very point of its completion,
one of those sudden and mysterious changes which often takes place
in the human mind made her waver in her purpose; and the child of her
intended victim having behaved so tenderly and so kindly when all the
rest hooted at and tormented her, made her fervently wish that she could
turn the fierce men around her from that fell purpose which she
herself had nourished till it grew into a fixed, and, she dreaded, an
unalterable determination.

"Hadn't yez betther wait," she tremblingly began, scarcely knowing what
she was about to propose--"another night 'ill do as well for Whelan."

"How's this," interrupted one of them, "Nanny, you growing
lukewarm!--you proposin' another night--are you beginnin' to be afeard
we'll be hindhered from payin' him off, or are you repentin' yer former
anxious desire?"

"No--no!" hastily answered she, dreading lest they should discover her
feelings, as she well knew that many amongst them had revenge to
be gratified as well as herself; "I don't repine as regards him,
bud--bud--his daughter--poor little Manny--the purty goolden-haired
child!--I wouldn't like any thing 'ud harm her, an' I'm afeard ov her
bein' hurted--that's all."

"He did not feel so six years ago," said a deep voice at her elbow,
"whin yer only son was sint off from home an' counthry through his
manes!"

Nanny started, she knew not why, at the tones of the speaker, and turned
round to look closer at him; but his back was towards her, and a large
loose coat prevented all recognition of his person; besides, bringing an
occasional newly enrolled stranger there, was a common circumstance, so
she soon forgot the momentary surprise she had met in her anxiety about
their intention.

"He is a brute--his heart is harder nor steel, an' he must be punished,"
said another, whose bent brow and flashing black eye spoke of malignity
and crime.

"But his child--his poor little Minny!" exclaimed Nanny, "sure you
wouldn't injure her--she hasn't deserved id at yer hands--she has done
nothin', but is a sweet an' kind-hearted crathur. Oh! iv you had seen
her whin I was in the village, an' the boys were hootin' an' peltin' me,
an' no one interfered to protect the