as
indignant as if he had lived all his life among those who thought and
felt nobly, but, poor fellow, he could not express his indignation as
well.

"My sister, Captain Ussher, has long been left her own misthress to
go in and out as she plazes, without lave from father, mother, or
brother; better perhaps for her that she had not! God knows I have
seldom stopped her wishes, though may be not often able to forward
them. If she likes she may go now to Aughermore, but if a brother's
love is anything to her, she'll stay this day with me."

Feemy looked from one to the other; she knew well by Myles' look,
that he still expected her to go, and strange as it may be, she
hardly dared to disobey him; but then her brother looked determined
and sadly resolute, and it was so unusual in him to speak in that
way.

"Well, Miss Macdermot," said Ussher, seeing he could not prevail
without causing an absolute break with Thady, "your brother wants you
to count the rent for him. I'm glad he has received so much; it must
be that, I presume, for he seldom troubles himself on much else, I
believe."

"I do what I have to do, and must do; God knows its throuble enough.
Do you go and do the same; even that, bad as it is, is better than
amusing my sister by laughing at me."

"Oh, Thady, how can you be saying such things! you see I am staying
for you, and why can't you be quiet?"

Thady made no reply; the Captain twirled his hat, and ceremoniously
bowing to the lady, took his leave.

Thady had screwed his courage to the sticking point while the Captain
was the foe with whom he had to contend, and he had carried on the
battle manfully while he spoke to Feemy in the Captain's presence;
but to tell the truth, when he heard the clatter of his horse's feet
he almost wished him back again, or that Feemy was away with him to
Aughermore. He was puzzled how to begin; he could not think what he
was to say; was he to quarrel with his sister for having a lover
without telling him? was he to put it on the ground that her lover
was a Protestant? That would have been the easiest line, but then
Father John had especially barred that! Was he to scold her because
her lover would not marry her at once? That seemed unreasonable. It
had never occurred to him, in his indignation, to think of these
difficulties, and he now stood with his back to the fire, looking
awfully black, but saying nothing.

"Well, Thady, what is it I'll be doing for you, instead of