assist her
in the struggle within herself, she might still have prevented much
of the misery which her folly was fated to produce.

When Mrs. McKeon and her daughters came for her about one o'clock on
Monday, the small exertion necessary for putting up her clothes, had
made her somewhat better--something more able to talk than she had
been before, and they did not then observe anything particular about
her; but she had been but a very short time at Drumsna, before it
was evident to Mrs. McKeon, that something was the matter with her.
When she questioned her, Feemy gave the same answer--that she had a
racking headache; and though this did very well for a time, before
the evening was over, the good lady was certain that something more
than a headache afflicted her guest.

The next day, according to his promise, Ussher called, but of course
at Mrs. McKeon's house he could not see her alone; that lady and her
daughters were present all the time. When he came in, Ussher shook
hands with Feemy as he would with anybody else, and began talking
gaily to the two other girls. He had regained his presence of mind
completely, and however deficient Feemy might be in that respect, he
now proved himself a perfect master of hypocrisy. He did not stay
long, and as he got up to go away, he merely remarked that he hoped
he should meet the ladies that day week on the race-course, and at
the ball; and the only thing he said especially to Feemy was, that he
should call at Ballycloran on his way to the races, and that when he
saw her on the course, he would tell her how her father and brother
were; and he remarked that he should not go home that night, as he
had been asked to dine and sleep at Brown Hall.

The week passed on, and Feemy remained in the same melancholy
desponding way; saying nothing to Mrs. McKeon, and little to the two
girls, who, in spite of Feemy's sin in having a lover, did everything
in their power to cheer and enliven her.

Father John usually dined at Mrs. McKeon's on Sunday, and she came
to the determination of having another talk with him about Feemy. So
before dinner on that day, she opened her mind to him, telling him
the state in which Feemy had been the whole of the week, and that she
thought the sooner she could be made to understand that she must give
up all thoughts of Ussher, the better.

Feemy had been at mass with the family, and when she met Father John
afterwards, she exerted herself to appear before h