rs. McKeon, to act a
mother's part to a girl like Feemy."

"That's true enough; but then why did she make all the world believe
he was engaged to her, if he wasn't?--And if he wasn't, why did she
let him go on as though he was, being at all hours, I'm told, with
her at Ballycloran?--and if they are not to be married, why does her
brother let him be coming there at all? I know you're fond of them,
Father John, and I'd be sorry to think ill of your friends; but I
must say it begins to look odd."

"You're right any how, in saying I'm very fond of them; indeed I am,
and so is yourself, Mrs. McKeon; and I know, though you speak in that
way to me, you wouldn't say anything that could hurt the poor girl,
any where but just among ourselves. If it wasn't in a kind mother,
with such a heart as your own,--especially in one she'd known so
long,--in whom could a poor motherless, friendless girl, like Feemy,
expect to find a friend?"

"God forbid I should hurt her, Father John! And indeed I'd befriend
her if I knew how; but don't you think, yourself now, she's played a
foolish game with that young man?"

"Why, as I never was a young lady in love, I can't exactly say how
a young lady in love should behave; but, my dear woman, look at it
this way; I suppose there's no harm in Feemy wishing to get herself
married, more than any other young lady?"

"Oh! dear no, Father John; quite right she should."

"And every one seems to think this Captain Ussher would be a proper
match for her."

"Why, barring that he's a Protestant, of course he's a very good
match for her."

"Oh! as to his being a Protestant, we won't mind that now. Well then,
Mrs. McKeon, under these circumstances, what could Feemy do better
than encourage this Captain?"

"I never blamed her for encouraging him; only she should not have
gone the length she has, unless he downright proposed for her."

"But he has downright proposed for her."

"No! Father John," said Louey.

"Has he though, really!" exclaimed Lyddy.

"Then, why, in the name of the blessed Virgin, don't he marry her?"
said the mother.

"That's poor Feemy's difficulty, you see, Mrs. McKeon. Now if any man
you approved of were to make off with Miss Lyddy's heart--and I'm
sure she'll never give it to any one you don't approve of--why of
course he'd naturally come to you or her father, and the matter would
be settled; but Feemy has no mother for him to go to, and her father,
you know, can't mind such