r was shut, "where were you all this time, since Sunday?" and she
stood on tiptoe to give him the kiss which she rather offered than
he asked. "Who have you got in Mohill then that keeps you away from
Feemy? It's Mary Cassidy now; what business had you shopping with
Mary Cassidy?"

"And was I shopping with Mary Cassidy, Feemy? 'deed then I forget it.
Oh yes, it was fair-day yesterday, and I saw them all in at
Brennan's."

"And what did you want at Brennan's, Myles?" said she, playfully
shaking his shoulder with her hand; "it's talking to that pretty girl
in the shop you're after."

"Oh, of course, Feemy; I was making love to the three Miss Cassidys,
and Jane Thompson, and old widow Brennan at once. But why was I
there, you say? why then, I was just buying this for Mary Cassidy,
and I wanted your opinion, my pet;" and he took from his pocket some
article of finery he had bought for his mistress.

"Oh, Myles, how good of you! but why do you be squandering your
money; but it is very pretty," and Feemy put the collar over her
shoulders.

"Don't toss it now, or Mary Cassidy won't take it from me, and then
it would be left on my hands, for Mrs. Brennan wouldn't take it back
anyhow," and he put out his hand for the article.

"No fear, Myles; no fear," said the laughing girl, running round the
table. "It won't be left on your hands; I'll wear it to-morrow at
Mary Brady's wedding."

"But you won't keep it from me without paying me, Feemy?"

"Oh, paying you, Captain Ussher; oh, I'll pay you, bring in your
bill;"--and she came round to him, and he took her in his arms and
kissed her. Then at least he seemed fondly attached to her.

Her lover was evidently in one of his best humours, and Feemy was
quite happy. I won't further violate their conversation, as it is
not essential to the tale, and was much such as those conversations
usually are.

Feemy told her lover of the wedding, and he told her that he had
already been invited, and had promised to go; and then she was more
happy, for Feemy dearly loved a dance, though it was only a jig at a
country wedding; but a dance with her lover would be delightful; she
had only danced with him twice. On the first of these occasions she
had met him at a grand gala party, at Mrs. Cassidy's, the wife of
Lord Birmingham's agent in Mohill, where first Captain Ussher had
made up his mind that Feemy Macdermot was a finer girl than pretty
little Mary Cassidy, though perhaps not so well