he reached Ballycloran the moon
again rose bright and clear, and as he passed the spot where he more
particularly wished to be shrouded by the darkness, it was so light
that any one passing could not but recognise him.

He pulled his hat far over his forehead, and passed on quickly; but
just as he got to the gateway he met Mary McGovery, who was on the
very point of turning up the avenue to the house. The turn in the
road, exactly at the spot, had prevented him from seeing her before,
and she immediately recognised him.

"Holy Virgin! Mr. Thady," she said; "and is that yerself?"

"Hist, Mary, don't spake so loud--not that I care who spakes now; you
see it's me; and I'm going to the Cottage. Is Father John at home?"

"And what would you do with Father John, now? Don't you know the
police is afther you?"

"What matther? it's not much throuble I'll be giving thim, looking
for me. I'm going to thim myself now."

"An' what for would you do that, Mr. Thady? Don't you know they found
it murdher agin you? We all hoped you were out of the counthry afore
this. What for would you go to the police? Time enough when they
catches you."

This was the first time that Thady had heard that a verdict of murder
had been found against him before the Coroner, and though it was only
what he expected, nevertheless the certainty, now that it reached
him, almost made him change his mind and return to Aughacashel.
The remembrance, however, of that weary day, and the feeling that
even though he were there, he would assuredly be ultimately taken,
strengthened his resolution, and he said,

"No, Mary, I've had enough of running away already. But tell me;
how's Feemy?"

"Why, thin, Mr. Thady, she's nothing much to boast of; since she was
in Carrick, yesterday, she's been very bad intirely."

"What is it ails her? It's--it's that man's death, isn't it, Mary?"

"'Deed, Mr. Thady, I s'pose that war the first on it. Poor young
lady! in course she feels it.--Wouldn't I feel it, av any one was
to knock poor Denis on the head?--not that it's the same thing,
altogether, for the Captain wasn't her lawful wedded husband.--Not
that I'm saying agin you, Mr Thady, for what ye did."

"Never mind about that, Mary; what I've done is my own look out. But
would Feemy see me, do you think?"

"See you, Mr. Thady! How could she see you, an' she in a raging fever
in bed at Mrs. McKeon's? in course she couldn't see you."

"Good God! and is she so bad as th