convey to her.

"Oh, but, my dear, you must think better of Thady for wishing to
protect you as well as he can, and you left alone so much yourself
here. So you know,"--and Father John even blushed a little as he said
it,--"it's about this fine lover of yours we are speaking. Now, my
dear, I've nothing whatever to say against Captain Ussher, for you
know he and I are great cronies; indeed, it's only last night he was
taking his punch with your brother and Cullen down at the cottage--"

"You weren't saying anything to Captain Ussher about me, Father
John?"

"You may take your oath of that, my dear. I respect a lady's secret
a great deal too much for that. No; I was only saying that he was
down at the cottage last night, to prove that he and I are friends,
and it's not out of any prejudice I'm speaking--about his being a
Protestant, and all that; not but that I'd sooner be marrying you to
a good Catholic, Feemy--but that's neither here nor there. But you've
known him now a long time; it's now four months since we all heard
for certain it was to be a match; and, to tell you the truth, my
dear, people are saying that Captain Ussher doesn't mean anything
serious."

"I think they'll dhrive me mad with their talk! And what good will it
do for you and Thady to be coming telling me what they say?"

"This good, Feemy; if what they say is false and unfounded, as I am
sure I hope it is,--and if you're so fond of Captain Ussher,--don't
you think it would be as well to put an end to the report by telling
your father and brother of your being engaged, and settling something
about your marriage, and all that?"

"I did tell my brother I was engaged, Father John; what would you
have?"

"I'll tell you what I'd have. I'd have Captain Ussher ask your father
or brother's consent: there's no doubt, we all know, but he'd get it;
but it's customary, and, in my mind, it would only be decent."

"So he will, I dare say; but mayn't there be rasons why he don't wish
to have it talked about yet?"

"Then, Feemy, in your situation, do you think a long clandestine
engagement is quite the thing for you; is quite prudent?"

"And how can it be clandestine, Father John, when you and Thady, and
every one else almost, knows all about it?"

Feemy's sharpness was too much for Father John, so he had to put it
on another tack.

"Well, Feemy, now just look at the matter this way, one moment:
supposing now--only just for supposition--this lover of