th a
thick veil over her face, which, however well it hid her countenance,
by no means rendered her sobs inaudible. Two chairs were placed for
them by the table, and when they were both seated the book was handed
to Feemy; then she had to take her glove from her right hand, and
this was so wetted with her tears, and she herself was so weak, that
it was long before she could get it off; and when she had taken the
oath,--when she had sworn to tell not only the truth, but the whole
truth,--she found it impossible to speak a word, and the Coroner was
obliged to ask her questions, to which Mrs. McKeon was allowed to get
the answers, spoken below her breath, and in whispers.

"Did she know Captain Ussher was dead?"

"She did."

"Did she know that it was her brother who had killed him? Was it her
brother Thady?"

"Yes, it was."

"How did she know it was he who had done it? Did she see him do it?"

"No, she didn't see him."

"How then did she know it?"

"He had told her so afterwards."

"Could she say how he killed him?"

"No, she could not."

"Or why?"

To this question even Mrs. McKeon could get no answer.

"Where was she when Captain Ussher was killed?"

No answer.

"Was she with Captain Ussher?"

"She believed she was."

"Why, or for what purpose, was she with him?"

To this question, although pressed for some time, she would not
answer; and Mrs. McKeon, who was up to this time totally ignorant of
the locality in which Ussher had been killed, and was really unaware
how it had come to pass that Feemy was present at the time, was quite
unable to suggest to her what answer she ought to make; and finding
that it was with difficulty she could keep Feemy from falling from
her chair, she told the Coroner she was really afraid Miss Macdermot
was so ill, that she would be quite incapable of answering any more
questions; and she added, that considering all the circumstances of
the case,--that the young lady had been engaged to the unfortunate
man who was dead, and was the sister of the man who had killed him,
it was not to be wondered at, if she found her dreadful position too
much for her.

The Coroner answered that he was quite prepared to give Miss
Macdermot every indulgence in his power, as he felt as strongly as
any one could do the distressing situation in which the young lady
was placed, but that it was absolutely imperative that the last
question he had asked should be answered. And that he was sur