ere playing what tricks he
plazes with Miss Feemy, and you not there to purtect her--and there's
all them boys expect you. You won't let Keegan run off with land and
house, and all without a blow sthrick?"

"They'll all be up at Ballycloran to-morrow, and I'll hear what they
have to say then."

"But I tell you, they won't be there at all to-morrow, unless you
come down to them to-night," answered Pat.

"Do they main to say they refuse out and out to pay the rint?"

"Not at all; but they'll be getting stiff if they think you're so
thick with him as is their inimy--and isn't that natural too? It's
only to come down and say a kind word or so to 'em yourself, and
you'll find them all right--and ready to stand by you and yours to
the last, Mr. Thady."

"Well, Pat, I'll be down there. Father John would think it odd if I
weren't there."

By this time they had got round to the back of the house, where the
outhouse stood; and the young man told Brady to go into the kitchen
and get him a coal for his pipe, and to tell the girl to say he
wouldn't be in to dinner.

"And won't you be wanting your dinner, Mr. Thady?"

"No, Pat; I'll jist sit and have a smoke in the stable, till it's
time to go down to you. I couldn't face the owld man and Feemy,
afther what jist happened."

So we will for the present leave him smoking in the stable, and
return to the inmates of the house.

It will be remembered that when Father John left Feemy after his
morning visit, she remained alone till Mr. Keegan came: and that
she was dismissed from the dining-room when they began to talk on
business. She then betook herself to dress for the evening amusement;
that is, to make herself something decent before she met Ussher; to
brush her hair, and to dismiss all the traces of that disenchanting
dishabille which I have attempted to describe. Whilst at her toilet
Feemy turned over in her mind all that her brother and Father John
had said, and firmly resolved not to let the evening pass without
telling her lover the comfort it would be to have some decided steps
taken as to their engagement: and yet she almost shuddered at the
thoughts of doing so; there was a frown which occasionally came over
Ussher's face, which made her dread him; and she couldn't but feel
that if he wished to take any such steps, he would do so without her
asking him; in fact, that it would be much better that he should do
so unasked. And then, if he got angry,--if he should tel