with all my heart, and that's all
about it; and you might have found that out without sending him back
to Mohill."

"I wish then he'd stay at Mohill, and that I might never see him over
the door at Ballycloran again!"

"That's kind of you, Thady, after what I just told you; but don't
tell him so, that's all."

"But it's just what I mane to tell him, and what I shall go over to
Mohill on purpose to tell him, to-morrow."

"Good gracious, Thady! and for why?"

"For why, Feemy! becase I still want to see my father's daughter an
honest woman, though she may be soon a beggar; becase I don't want
to see my sister crouching under a blackguard's foot; becase I don't
want the worst disgrace that can happen a family to blacken the name
of Macdermot!"

Feemy was now really surprised; fear at her brother's strange words
brought out at once what was ever most present in her mind.

"Oh, heavens, Thady! sure we're to be married."

It must be remembered that this was not an interview between a
fashionable brother and an elegant sister, both highly educated, in
which the former had considered himself called upon to remonstrate
with the latter for having waltzed too often with the same gentleman,
and in which any expression of actual blame would highly offend the
delicacy of the lady. Thady and his sister had not been accustomed to
delicacy; and though she was much shocked at his violence, she hardly
felt the strong imputation against herself, as she had so good an
answer for it. She therefore exclaimed,

"Oh heavens, Thady, sure we're to be married."

"Well, now, Feemy, jist listen to me. If Captain Ussher manes to
marry you, under all circumstances, I don't know you could do better.
I don't like him, as how should I, for isn't he a Protestant, and a
low-born, impudent ruffian? but you do like him, and I suppose, if he
marries you, it's becase he likes you; if not, why should he do it?
And when once married, you'll have to fight your own battles, and no
joke it'll be for either of you. But if, as I'm thinking, he has no
idea on arth of marrying you, no more than he has of Mary Brady, I'll
be d----d if I let him come here fooling you, though you haven't
sperit enough to prevent it yourself. We're low enough already,
Feemy, but for heaven's sake don't be making us lower yet!"

"Well, now, Thady, is that all? and you're wrong then, as you always
are, for Captain Ussher has asked me to have him, just as plain as
I'm telling y