half
hour," was as gently responded.

Curly carelessly, or, as he would say himself, "promiscuously," wandered
across the ample kitchen, and, stumbling heavily, slipped, as if by the
merest accident, through a door close beside him, and, closing it after
him, found himself alone with Major Hewitt, late of the 2d Brigade of
Republican Artillery.

That gentleman was standing with his back to a good fire, in a small
apartment, lighted by a single candle, which stood on a rude mantelpiece.
He exhibited some slight symptoms of impatience at Curly's entrance, and,
like the desperado-gentlemen of the hut, enquired peevishly what had
delayed him.

"I'm proud to see you, Capting," said Cahill evasively; "the job is near
finished at last, I hope?"

"Yes, to-morrow night, I think. We go off after twelve, provided you don't
fail in having the horses ready."

"Don't fear me in that. Well, 'twill be great sport intirely--the ould
man's tatteration when he finds his colleen gone." And Curly was obliged
to bend himself double with laughter. "You'll find Ned Burke at the gap in
the avenue-wall with two as good coults as there is in the barony. But,
Capting, when it's all right, an' you settled in life, you'll not forget
the friend that stood by you an' helped you to the fortun'?"

"For the sake of his own revenge at being cast in a law-suit about ten
shillings' worth of potato-tithe? Certainly not, most upright Curly."

"An' where'll you take the brideen--Miss Katey--the darlin'?" said Cahill
with a jocose wink.

"Curse you, villain! you'll drive me to give you a token on that head of
yours you'll remember until--you see me again, at all events," cried
Hewitt passionately. "Thank God, I'm 'most done with you. Have you brought
the money?"

"Sorrow a sixpence, jewel. I had the arrears an' costs to pay this
mornin', a'n I'm run dhry teetotally; that's the thruth."

"Then all my plan's gone for nothing!" said Hewitt. "In the fiend's name,
what brought you _here_, then?"

"Jest a thrifle o' business up the road," answered Curly, "an' a great
wish intirely for _you_, Capting."

"And _she_ prepared and all!" continued Hewitt abstractedly. "I thought I
was done with it for ever.... Go back, I implore you, Cahill, and raise me
fifty pounds in any way. I am perfectly penniless."

"I couldn't raise you fifty farthens--I could _not_, 'pon my word and
honour to you, Capting."

"Then I give up the business," replied Hewitt.

"An'