eaven he had already laid up sufficient for the wants of a
reasonable man; that he understood farming and the management of sheep
particularly well: that it was his intention to remove to a different
part of the kingdom, and take a farm; and that nothing prevented him
from having done this before, but the want of a helpmate to take care of
his establishment: he added, that his present wife was of an intolerable
temper, and a greater villain by fifty degrees than himself. He
concluded by saying, that his conscience twitched him night and day for
living with her, and that by abandoning her immediately, becoming truly
religious, and taking Anne in her place, he hoped, he said, to atone in
some measure for his former errors.

Anthony, however, having noticed the earnestness which marked the
Pedlar's manner, suspected him of attempting to corrupt the principles
of his daughter, having forgotten the influence which his own opinions
were calculated to produce upon her heart.

"Martin," said he, "'twould be as well you ped attention to what we're
sayin' in regard o' the thrial to-morrow, as to be palaverin' talk into
the girl's ear that can't be good comin' from _your_ lips. Quit it, I
say, quit it! _Corp an duoiwol_ (* My body to Satan)!--I won't allow
such proceedins!"

"Swear till you blister your lips, Anthony," replied Martin: "as for
me, bein' no residenthur, I'm not bound to it; an' what's more, I'm not
suspected. 'Tis settin' some other bit o' work for yez I'll be, while
you're all clearin' yourselves from stealin' honest Cassidy's horse. I
wish we had him safely disposed of in the mane time, an' the money for
him an' the other beasts in our pockets."

Much more conversation of a similar kind passed between them upon
various topics connected with their profligacy and crimes. At length
they separated for the night, after having concerted their plan of
action for the ensuing scrutiny.

The next morning, before the hour appointed arrived, the parish,
particularly the neighborhood of Carnmore, was struck with deep
consternation. Labor became suspended, mirth disappeared, and every face
was marked with paleness, anxiety, and apprehension. If two men met, one
shook his head mysteriously, and inquired from the other, "Did you hear
the news?"

"Ay! ay! the Lord be about us all, I did! an' I pray God that it may
lave the counthry as it came to it!"

"Oh, an' that it may, I humbly make supplication this day!"

If two wo