d happened during the last few days passed through her mind, and
added to her torment. How indignant had she been when her brother had
hinted to her that Ussher did not intend honestly by her; into what
a passion had she flown with Father John, when he had cautioned her
that she should be circumspect in her conduct with her lover; what
an insult she had felt it when Mary Brady alluded to the chance of
Ussher's deserting her! And now so soon after all this--but a few
hours after this strong feeling--after the indignation she had then
shown, she had herself submitted to worse than they had even dared to
suspect; she had herself agreed to leave her father's house as the
mistress of the man, of whom she had then confidently boasted as
her future husband! And it was not only for her own degradation,
dreadful as that was, that she grieved, but Ussher himself--he of
whom she had felt so fond--whom she had so loved--was this his
truth, his love?--was this the protection he had sworn to give her
against her father's folly, and her brother's violence?--and, as
he had basely added, against Father John's bigotry? Was this the
protection--roughly to swear he'd leave her, desert her for ever,
unless she agreed to give up her family, her home, her principles,
and follow him, a base low creature, without a name? And was it
likely that after she had agreed to this--after she had so debased
herself, that he who had already deceived her so grossly would at
last keep his word by marrying her?

She was lying down with her face buried in her hands, tormenting
herself with such thoughts, when Biddy came to tell her that dinner
was on the table. Feemy did not dare to refuse to go in lest
something should be suspected; so she rubbed her red eyes till they
were still redder, and went into the parlour, where she alleged that
she had a racking headache, which would give her no peace; and having
sat there for a miserable half hour till her father and Thady had
finished their dinner, she went up stairs to her bed-room, and after
laying awake half the night, at last succeeded in crying herself to
sleep.

When Thady came from the kitchen, on being told that Father John
was waiting for him at the hall-door, he left his pipe behind him,
swallowed a draught of water to take off the smell of the spirits,
and prepared to listen to the priest's lecture, as he expected, with
sullenness and patience; but he was surprised out of his determined
demeanour by