ds
and admirers, that "he considered it highly discreditable, he might
say disgraceful, for any of the more respectable classes to give any
countenance to the illegal meetings, which he was afraid were too
general through the country, and that there was too much reason to
fear that the unfortunate man in prison had been guilty in doing so;
but that there could be no doubt that every one was justified--he
might add, only performed his bounden duty--in protecting the females
of his family from injury or violence."

Now Tony McKeon was a tenant both of Sir Michael and of the
Counsellor; he also held land from other landlords, but he had no
connexion whatever with Mr. Brown: he was not at all the sort of
tenant that Jonas liked; for though he always punctually paid his
rent to the day, he usually chose to have everything his own way, and
would take no land except at a fair rent and on a long lease.

Mr. Webb, however, was his chief friend and principal ally in the
country. Sir Michael was altogether too grand for him, seeing that
Tony had no idea of being a humble dependent; but Mr. Webb would
occasionally come and dine with him--and often asked him in return.
Mrs. Webb too was civil to his wife and the girls--always lent them
the Dublin pattern for their frills, frocks, and other frippery--and
seldom drove into Drumsna without calling. The consequence was, that
the Counsellor was a man after Tony's own heart. Though they were of
different religions, they had, generally speaking, the same political
feelings and opinions--the same philanthropical principles--and the
same popular prejudices; and after a few years intimacy in each
other's neighbourhood, Mr. Webb well knew where to find a powerful
recruit for any service in which he might wish to enlist one.

Tony declared that if any one spoke ill of Feemy's character, he
should make it personal with himself; that he was ready, willing, and
moreover determined to quarrel with any one who dared to apply the
opprobrious name of murderer to Thady; and he had even been heard, on
one or two occasions, to stand up for Larry himself, and to declare
that although he might be a little light-headed or so, he was still
a deal better than those muddy-minded blackguards at Carrick who had
driven him to his present state.

For a long time Feemy had been very ill, but after Christmas she had
apparently got a little stronger; she would sit up in her bed-room
for a few hours in the day; b