round wid you? and
why not? for it's you was always the kind misthress to me. But
what'll I be doing to help you?"

And then Feemy explained to her her plans, and began to pack up the
few treasures she could take with her, in a box small enough for
Biddy to carry; and the two kneeled down together to the work.

Feemy's tears dropped quickly on the little things she was packing,
and the poor girl soon followed the example her mistress gave her.

"Ochone! ochone! Miss Feemy, alanna, what'll we be doing widout you?"
and she came round and began kissing her mistress's dress, and hands,
and face, "What shall we do widout you at all then? what will the
ould man be doing, when you're not to the fore to mix his punch?"

"Don't talk that way," said Feemy. "Shure, won't I be coming back to
see him when I'm married?"

"In course you will; but it'll be a great miss, when he and Mr. Thady
finds you're gone. What'll I say at all, when I come back from seeing
you off--and they finds that you are gone?"

"But you mustn't stay to see me off at all. When you've put the box
in the gig you must go on to Mrs. Mehan's, and when you come back you
can say you'd been down to look for something that was left the day
of Mary's wedding; but mind, Biddy, don't say a word about it at Mrs.
Mehan's, and above all, don't mention it to Katty."

"Not a word, Miss; niver fear: but what'll I be doing when you're
gone? But I suppose it's all for the best; may sorrow seize him thin
av he don't make you the good husband."

It was then settled that Feemy's bonnet and shawl were to be brought
down into the sitting-room opposite the dining-room--that dinner was
to be put off as late as possible--that when Larry and Thady were at
their punch, Feemy was to escape unobserved. Biddy was enjoined, when
she slipped out with the box, to leave the front door ajar, so that
her mistress could follow her without making any noise. The girl was
also to carry down her mistress' cloak--so that she might the easier
run down the avenue.

When these things were all settled, Biddy returned to the kitchen,
big with the secret; but she was too prudent to say or hint anything
which could create a suspicion in her colleague's breast.

Thady came in about the usual dinner-hour, and Feemy spoke
good-humouredly to her brother--more so than she had done since the
day he had desired her not to walk with Captain Ussher. Thady himself
was less gloomy than usual, for he had been