it a fair question," replied Hanlon, whose character she had
altogether misunderstood, having, in point of fact, never had an
opportunity of viewing it in it's natural light; "is it a fair question
to ask you who is it that you're in love wid?"

"It's not a fair question," she replied; "I know he loves another, an'
for that raison I'll never breathe it to a mortal."

"Bekaise," he added, "if I knew, maybe I might be able to put in a good
word for you, now and then, accordin' as I got an opportunity."

"For me!" she replied indignantly; "what! to beg him get fond o' me! Oh,
its wondherful the maneness that's in a'most every one you meet. No,"
she proceeded, vehemently; "if he was a king on his throne, sooner than
stoop to that, or if he didn't, or couldn't love me on my own account,
I'd let the last drop o' my heart's blood out first. Oh, no!--no, no,
no--ha! He loves another," she added, hastily; "he loves another!"

"An' do you know her?" asked Hanlon.

"Do I know her!" she replied; "do I know her! it's I that do; ay, an'
I have her in my power, too; an' if I set about it, can prevent a ring
from ever goin' on them. Ha! ha! Oh, ay; that divil, Sarah M'Gowan, what
a fine character I have got! Well, well, good night, Charley! Maybe it's
a folly to have the bad name for nothin'; at laist they say so. Ha! ha!
Good-night; I'll go home. Oh, I had like to forgot; Red Body tould me
he was spakin' to you about something that he says you can't but
understhand yourself; and he desired me to get you, if I could, to join
him in it. I said I would, if it was right an' honest; for I have great
doubts of it bein' either the one or the other, if it comes from him.
He said that it was both; but that it 'ud be a great piece of roguery to
have it undone. Now, if it is what he says it is, help him in it, if you
can; but if it isn't, have no hand in it. That's all I tould him I would
say, an' that's all I do say. Keep out of his saicrets I advise you;
an', above all things, avoid everything mane an' dishonest; for,
Charley, I have a kind o' likin' for you that I can't explain, although
I don't love you as a sweetheart. Good-night again!"

She left him abruptly, and at a rapid pace proceeded back to the Grey
Stone, around which she walked, with a view of examining whether or not
there might be any cause visible, earthly or otherwise, for the groans
which they had heard; but notwithstanding a close and diligent search,
she could neither