eir
supplications, acquired a habit of treating them with constant
derision, which they well understood and appreciated; and the
contempt which he always showed for them was one of the reasons why
he was so particularly hated through the country. Though now a guest
of Brady's, he could not help showing the same feeling. Moreover,
Ussher, who as far as the conduct of man to man is concerned had
nothing of treachery about him, strongly suspected Pat's true
character, and was therefore less likely to treat him with respect.

"Thank you, Brady, I'll do very well; don't you expect Mr. Thady
here?"

"Is it the young masthur, Captain? In course we do. Mary wouldn't be
married av he warn't to the fore."

"Indeed! I didn't know you'd so much respect for Mr. Macdermot as
that."

"Is it for the masthur, Captain?"

"For the matter of that, Brady, you wouldn't much mind how many
masters you had if they all paid you, I'm thinking."

"And that's thrue for you, Captain," said Pat, grinning in his
perplexity, for he didn't know whether to take what Ussher said for a
joke or not.

"Keegan, now, wouldn't be a bad master," said Ussher.

"And what puts him in your head, Captain Ussher?"

"Only they say he pays well to a sharp fellow like you."

"'Deed I don't know who he pays. They do be saying you pay a few of
the boys too an odd time or two yourself."

"Is it I? What should I be paying them for?"

"Jist for a sight of a whiskey still, or a little white smoke in the
mountains on a fine night or so. They say that same would be worth a
brace of guineas to a boy I could name."

"You're very sharp, Mr. Brady; but should I want such assistance, I
don't know any I'd sooner ask than yourself."

"Don't go for to throuble yourself, for I don't want to be holed of
a night yet; and that's what'll happen them that's at that work, I'm
thinking; and that afore long--not that I'm blaming you, for, in
course, every one knows it's only your dooty."

"You're very kind; but when will Mr. Thady be here?"

"'Deed I wonder he a'nt here, Captain; but war you wanting him?"

"Not in particular. Is it true the brothers of those poor fellows I
took up at Loch Sheen are here to-night?"

"They is, both of 'em; there's Joe Reynolds, sitting behind there--in
the corner where I was when you and Miss Feemy come in."

"It's lucky he wasn't with his brother, that's all: and he'd better
look sharp himself, or he'll go next."

"Oh, he's a poor harml