ightn't she make a Catholic of him
too?"

"Oh, Father Cullen has tried that."

"Well, I wouldn't tell him so, but I think your sister would show
more power in converting a young fellow like Ussher than poor Cullen.
And then, as to his riding down the poor; you know every one must do
his duty, and if the boys will be acting against the laws, why, of
course, they must bear the consequences. Not but that I think Captain
Ussher is too hard upon them. But, Thady, are you telling me the
truth in this? Is it not that you fear the young man won't marry
Feemy, rather than that he will?"

"Why, Father John?"

"I'll tell you why, Thady: this Captain Ussher has been the intimate
friend in your house now for more than six months back; he has been
received there willingly by your father, and willingly by yourself,
but still more willingly by Feemy; all the country knows this; of
course they all said Feemy was to be married to him; and who could
say why she shouldn't, if her father and brother agreed? I always
thought it would be a match; and though, as I said before, I would
sooner have married Feemy to a good Catholic, I should have thought
myself much exceeding my duty as her priest, had I said a word to
persuade her against it. Now people begin to say--and you know what
they say in the parish always comes to my ears--that Captain Ussher
thinks too much of himself to take a wife from Ballycloran, and
that he has only been amusing himself with your sister; and I must
tell you, Thady, if you didn't know more of Captain Ussher and
his intentions than you seem to do, it isn't to-day you should be
thinking what you ought to do."

Thady walked on with his head down, and the priest went on.

"I've been meaning to speak to you of this some days back, for
your poor father is hardly capable to manage these things now; and
it's the respect I have for the family, and the love I have for
Feemy,--and, for the matter of that, for you too,--that makes me
be mentioning it. You aint angry with your priest, are you, Thady,
for speaking of the welfare of your sister? If you are, I'll say no
more."

"Oh no! angry, Father John! in course I aint angry. But what can
I do then? Bad luck to the day that Ussher darkened the door of
Ballycloran! By dad, if he plays Feemy foul he'll shortly enter no
door, barring that of hell fire!"

"Whisht, Thady, whisht! it's not cursing 'll do you any good in life,
or Feemy either;"--and then continued the prie