munication, but at the same time
begged him not to disquiet himself--told him that there was no danger
in life; and declared that he felt so confident of the good feeling
of the men through the country towards him, particularly those at
Drumleesh and Mohill, that he should always feel perfectly safe
in their company--in fact, that he looked on their presence as a
protection. Poor Denis stared hard at him; but as he soon perceived
that the Captain was laughing at him for his solicitude, he retreated
with a grin on his face, remarking that he had meant all for the
best.

Though Captain Ussher affected to set no value on McGovery's tale,
he nevertheless thought that there might be something in it. He
determined, however, not to be deterred from going to the wedding.
Though in many respects a bad man, Ussher was very vigilant in the
performance of his official duties, and, as has been before said,
was possessed of sufficient courage. It had been part of McGovery's
disclosure that Thady Macdermot was to be at the wedding, and it
occurred to Ussher, that at any rate no personal violence would
be offered as long as young Macdermot was with him; he therefore
determined to see him first, and tell him what he had heard. It is
true he had no great love for the poor fellow; still he would have
been sorry to see him, from any cause of uneasiness or distress,
throw himself into the hands of men who might probably induce him to
join in acts which would render him subject to the severest penalties
of the law. Ussher understood Thady's character tolerably well; and
though he had no real sympathy for his sufferings, still he had manly
feeling enough to wish to save him, as Feemy's brother, from the
danger into which he believed him so likely to fall.

It was for the purpose of talking on this subject that he asked for
Thady; but when he found he was not in the house, nor expected home
to dinner, he was obliged to postpone what he had to say till he met
him at Mary Brady's wedding.

About seven o'clock, Feemy and her lover arrived at Mrs. Mehan's
little whiskey shop, where the marriage was to take place. The whole
party were already there: Father John was standing with his back to
a huge turf fire, in the outer room--the usual drinking room of the
establishment--amusing the bystanders with jokes, apparently at the
expense of the bridegroom. Mary Brady was dressed in a white muslin
gown, which, though it was quite clean, seemed to have