l you sisther, or shall you iver call me brother; so
now choose betwixt us."

Feemy dropped her hand from Ussher's arm, but turning to the priest,
she said, "For heaven's sake take him away, Father John, he's drunk!"

"Drunk or sober, you may choose now; it's either me or him; but if
you disgrace yourself, you shall not disgrace me!"

Father John took Feemy's arm on his, and telling the people to go
back to their dancing, laid his hand on Thady's shoulder, and said,

"At any rate, Thady, come a little out of this; if you must speak to
your sister in that way, you don't wish all the parish to hear what
you're saying."

"What matthers, Father John; what matthers? Shure they've all
heard too much already;--don't they all say she's the blackguard's
misthress?"

"Oh, Thady, how can you repeat that word of me?" sobbed the poor
girl.

"Why did you let them say it? Why don't you tell the man that's
blackening your name while he's desaving you, to be laving you now,
and not following you through the country like a curse?"

By this time the whole party, consisting of Father John, the two
young men, and Feemy, were walking on rapidly towards Ballycloran.
Feemy was crying, but saying nothing. Ussher was silent, although
Thady was heaping on him every term of abuse he could think of;--and
Father John was in vain attempting to moderate his wrath. Thus they
continued until they came to the avenue leading up to the house, and
on Ussher's proceeding with them through the gate, Thady put himself
in the way, stopping him.

"You'll not come a step in here, Captain, if I know it; you might
follow us along the road, for I couldn't help it,--but, by G----d,
you don't come in here!"

"Nonsense, man; do you think I'll stop out for a drunken man's riot?
let me pass."

"Set a foot in here, you blackguard, and I'll stretch you!"

Thady had an alpine in his hand, and was preparing to strike a blow
at the Captain, exactly on the spot where Keegan had struck him,
when the priest pushed his burly body in between them. "I'll have
no blows, boys, at any rate while I'm with you; put your stick down,
Thady," and he forced the young man's stick down; "run up to the
house, Feemy, and get to bed; I'll see you in the morning." Feemy,
however, did not move. "Now, Captain Ussher, I am not saying a word
on the matter, one way or other, for I don't well know how the
quarrel began,--but do you think it's well to be forcing your way in
here, when t