im as she usually
did, and to a certain extent she succeeded. Father John was himself
usually cheerful, and he spoke to her good humouredly, and she made
an effort to answer him in the same strain; this deceived the priest,
and when Mrs. McKeon spoke to him about Feemy's deep melancholy, and
suggested the propriety of speaking to her on the subject which they
supposed was nearest her heart, he said,

"Better let her alone, Mrs. McKeon; I think you'd better let her
alone, and time will cure her. You see Feemy is proud, and perhaps a
little too headstrong, and I don't think she'd bear just as quietly
as she ought, any one speaking to her about the man now. It isn't
only the losing him that vexes her; it isn't only that she has been
deceived: but that everyone knows that she has lost him, and has been
deceived. It's this that hurts her pride, and talking to her about
it will only make her more fretful. If you'll take my advice, you'll
just leave her to herself, take no especial notice of her, and let
her go to this ball; and when she sees the man paying attention to
others,--dancing and philandering with them, and neglecting her--her
pride will make her feel that she must at any rate appear to be
indifferent; and when she has once enabled herself to appear so, she
will soon become really so. Just let her go to the races, and the
ball; and your kindness and the girls' society will soon bring her
round."

All Monday Feemy spent in bed, but Mrs. McKeon and her girls took
no notice of it, except carefully tending her--offering to read to
her, and bring her what she wanted. They soon, however, found that
she preferred being left alone; and they consequently allowed her to
think over her own gloomy prospects in solitude and silence.

Feemy had, however, declared her intention of going both to the races
and to the ball. Ussher had desired her to do so, and she feared to
disobey him; besides, at one of these places he had to give her final
instructions as to their departure. She was, therefore, dressed for
starting on the Tuesday morning, when the other girls were ready; and
though her eyes and nose were somewhat red, and her cheeks somewhat
pale, and though she did not now deserve the compliment that Fred
Brown had paid her, when he told Ussher that he was going to carry
off the prettiest girl in County Leitrim, still she did not look
unwell, and Mrs. McKeon kindly comforted herself by the reflection,
that as she was both abl