"Well, thin," added the good man, "let us all go to bed, in the name of
God. Micaul, bring Barny to the barn, and see that he's comfortable."

This was complied with, and the family quietly and timidly retired to
rest, leaving the violent young man storming and digesting his passion,
behind them.

Mass on Christmas morning was then, as now, performed at day-break, and
again the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the parish were up betimes to
attend it. Frank M'Kenna's family were assembled, notwithstanding their
short sleep, at an early breakfast; but their meal, in consequence of
the unpleasant sensation produced by the outrage of their son, was less
cheerful than it would I otherwise have been. Perhaps, too, the gloom
which hung over them, was increased by the snow that had fallen the
night before, and by the wintry character of the day, which was such as
to mar much of their expected enjoyment. There was no allusion made to
their son's violence over-night; neither did he himself appear to be
in any degree affected by it. When breakfast was over, they prepared to
attend mass, and, what was unusual, young Frank was the first to set out
for the chapel.

"Maybe," said the father, after he was gone--"maybe that fool of a boy
is sarry for his behavior. It's many a day since I knew him to go to
mass of his own accord. It's a good sign, any way."

"Musha," inquired his mother, "what could happen atween him an' that
civil boy, Mike Reillaghan?"

"The sorra one o' me knows," replied his father: "an' now that I think
of it, sure enough there was none o' them at the dance last night,
although I sent himself down for them. Micaul," he added, addressing the
other son, "will you put an your big coat, slip down to Reillaghan's,
an' bring me word what came atween them at all; an' tell Owen himself
the thruth that this boy's brakin' our hearts by his coorses."

Micaul, who, although he knew the cause of the enmity between these
rivals, was ignorant of that which occasioned his brother's rash oath,
also felt anxious to ascertain the circumstances of the last quarrel.
For this purpose, as well as in obedience to his father's wishes, he
proceeded to Reillaghan's and arrived just as Darby More and young Mike
had set out for mass.

"What," said the mendicant, "can be bringing Micaul down, I wondher?
somethin' about that slip o' grace, his brother."

"I suppose, so," said Mike; "an' I wish the same slip was as dacent an'
inoffensive a