; it was a
beautiful mild moonlight night in October, and as the girl had said,
they had come out to cool themselves after the heat and noise and
dirt of the room in which they had been dancing. Myles was in one of
his best humours; he had persuaded himself that he had no real danger
to fear from the men who, as he was told, were so hostile to him.
Feemy, too, had looked very pretty and nice, and had not contradicted
him; and whereas what Thady had drunk had made him cross, Ussher had
only just had enough to make him good-humoured. Feemy too was very
happy; she had contrived to forget her brother's croaking and Father
John's warning, or at least the misery which they had occasioned
her, and was very happy in Ussher's good-humour. It were bootless to
repeat their conversation, or to tell how often it was interrupted by
some unchided caress on the part of Ussher. Feemy, however, had not
forgotten her resolution, and was bringing up all her courage to make
some gentle hint to Myles on the subject on which she had promised
Father John to speak to him, when her heart sunk within her, on
hearing her brother's voice calling to her from behind.

"Good heaven, Myles, there's Thady! what can he be wanting here?"

Ussher's arm fell from the fair girl's waist as he answered, "Never
fear, dear, don't you speak to him; leave him to me." By this time,
Thady had nearly joined them.

"Is that you, Feemy, here at this hour? What the d---- are you doing
there, this time of night? Here, take my arm, and come home; it's
time you had some one to mind you, I'm thinking."

Feemy saw that her brother was intoxicated, and was frightened; she
turned, though she did not take his arm, and Ussher turned too.

"Your sister's not alone, Macdermot; as I'm with her, I don't think
you have much cause to fear, because she is about a mile from
Ballycloran."

"May be, Captain Ussher, you're being with her mayn't make her much
safer; at any rate you'll let me manage my own affairs. I suppose I
can take my sisther to her own home without your interference," and
he took hold of his sister's arm, as if to drag it within his own.

"Good heavens, Thady, what are you afther? shure an't I walking with
you; don't be dragging me!"

"It appears to me, Macdermot," said Ussher, "that though your sister
was in want of no protector before you came, she is in great want of
one now."

"She wanted it thin, and she wants it now, and will do as long as
she's fool e