but you must take care of yourself, Feemy; no
more long walks; you should have waited for the car to come home that
day. Mrs. McKeon's not the least angry; if you are more at ease here
than at Drumsna, she's glad for your sake you're here now, and she
bids me tell you how sorry she is she didn't give you the car the day
you asked for it."

"Oh, Father John, Mrs. McKeon's been too kind to me. Indeed I love
her dearly, though I could never tell her so. Give her my kind love.
I never thought she was so kind a woman."

"I will, Feemy; indeed I will. She is a kind woman; and it will
please her to the heart to hear how you speak of her. She sends you
all manner of loves, and Lyddy and Louey too. She is sending up a
few things for you too. Patsey 'll bring them, just till affairs are
settled a little. She wishes me to tell you she 'll be up herself on
Thursday; she wouldn't come before, for she thought you'd be better
pleased to be alone a few days."

"Tell her not to come here. This is no place for her now. They never
open the front door now. This is no place for any one now, but just
father and me. But tell her how I love her. I'll never forget her;
no, not in my grave!"

"But I've another message for you, Feemy."

"Is it from her?"

"No, not from her, well as she loves you; it's from one who loves you
better than she does; it is from one who loves you better than any
ever did, since your poor mother died."

Feemy raised her eyes, and clasped her hands, as she listened to
Father John's words, and marked his solemn tones. No thought of Thady
entered her mind; but some indefinite, half-conceived idea respecting
Ussher--that he had not been killed--that he had come to life
again--that some mysterious miracle, such as she had read of
in novels, had taken place; and that Father John had come with
some blessed news, which might yet restore her to happiness and
tranquillity. The illusion was but for a moment, though during that
moment it completely took possession of her. It was as speedily
dispelled by Father John's concluding words--

"I mean from your brother."

Feemy gave a long, long sigh as she heard the word. She wished for no
message from her brother; he had robbed her of everything; she could
not think of him without horror and shuddering.

"He sends his kindest love to you. I told him you were better, and he
was very glad to hear it. Though he has many heavy cares of his own
to bear, I have never seen him bu