ou now; and he's no ruffian. It is you're the ruffian to
him, snubbing him when he speaks good-naturedly to you. And as for
being a Protestant, I suppose he's none the worse for that, if he's
none the better. I don't know why you do be hating him so, unless
it's because I love him."

"I'm not talking about my hating him, or loving him. If he's honest
to you, I'll neither say nor do anything to cross him. But if he
does mane to marry you, it's time he did it; that's all. Did he say
anything to father about it?"

"What should he be saying to him? Of course, dada would have no
objection."

"And would you then be letting him come here as he likes, and
settling nothing, and just maning to marry you or not, as he likes,
and you and he talked of over the counthry these four months back,
and he talking about you, jist as his misthress, through the
counthry?"

Feemy was now regularly roused.

"That's a lie for you, Thady! and a black lie--about your own sister
too, to say he ever spoke a bad word against me! Pat Brady was
telling you that perhaps. It's what he never did, or would do; for
he's as true as you are false; and it's from jealousy, and just from
your hate, because everybody else likes him, makes you say it. And
now we are on it, Thady, I'll just tell you one thing: I'm not to do
what you tell me, nor will I, for I'm much more able to manage myself
than you are for me. And for all you say about him, I'd attend more
to one word from Myles, than to all you say, if you stood talking
till night; and talk you may, but I'll not stand and hear you!" And
she bounced out of the room, slamming the door in a manner which made
Mr. Flannelly's building shake to the foundation.

Poor Thady was signally defeated. There he stood with his back to the
fire, his old and dirty hat pulled low over his brow, his hands stuck
into the pockets of his much worn shooting coat, his strong brogues
and the bottoms of his corduroy trowsers covered with dirt and dry
mould, with the same heavy discontented look about his face which he
always now wore. He certainly appeared but a sorry Mentor for a young
lady in a love affair! He felt that his sister despised him, the
more from her being accustomed to the comparatively gentleman-like
appearance and refined manners of her lover.

There he stood a long time without stirring, and so he stood in
absolute silence. He had put his pipe down when first Captain Ussher
left the room, and he had not resu