st, seeing that poor
Macdermot still appeared miserably doubtful what to say or do, "come
in here awhile," they had just got to the gate of Father John's
Gothic cottage, "just come in here awhile, and we'll talk over what
will be best to do."

They entered the little parlour in which McGovery had shortly before
been discussing his matrimonial engagements, and having closed the
door, and, this time, taking care that Judy McCan was not just on the
other side of it, and making Macdermot sit down opposite to him, the
priest began, in the least disagreeable manner he could, to advise
him on the very delicate subject in question.

"You see, Thady, there's not the least doubt in life poor Feemy's
very fond of him; and how could she not be, poor thing, and she
seeing no one else, and mewed up there all day with your father?--no
blame to her--and in course she thinks he means all right; only she
doesn't like to be asking him to be naming the day, or talking to you
or Larry, or the like, and that's natural too; but what I fear is,
that he's taking advantage of her ignorance and quietness, you see;
and, though I don't think she would do anything really wrong, nor
would he lead her astray altogether--"

"And av he did, Father John, I'd knock the brains out of the
scoundrel, though they hung me in Carrick Gaol for it; I would, by
G----!"

"Whisht, now, Thady; I don't mean that at all--but you get so
hot--but what I really mean is this; though no actual harm might come
of it, it doesn't give a girl a good name through the country, for
her to be carrying on with a young man too long, and that all for
nothing; and Feemy's too pretty and too good, to have a bad word
about her. And so, to make a long story short, I think you'd better
just speak to her, and tell her, if you like, what I say; and then,
you know, if you find things not just as they should be, ask her not
to be seeing the Captain any more, except just as she can't help; and
do you tell him that he's not so welcome at Ballycloran as he was,
or ask him at once what he means about your sister. It's making too
little of any girl to be asking a man to marry her, but better that
than let her break her heart, and get ill spoken of through the
country too."

"I don't think they dare do that yet, poor as the Macdermots now are,
or, by heaven--"

"There's your pride,--bad pride, again, Thady. Poor or rich, high or
low, don't let your sister leave it to any one to speak bad of