ers-on at the game of life--to cope with one
like him, and see what he purposes to himself by this alliance! As
for his affection, as for his power to feel her worth, to estimate the
gentle virtues of her spotless nature, I cannot, I will not believe it."

"And for that very reason are you unfit to judge him. Your prejudices,
ever against him, are rendered stronger because you cannot divine
motives black enough to suit your theory; you give the benefit of all
your doubts against himself."

"I know him to be a gambler in its worse sense. Not one who plays even
for the gratification of those alternating vacillations of hope and fear
which jaded, worn-out natures resort to as the recompense for blunted
emotions and blasted ambitions, but a gambler for gain!--that foul
amalgam of the miser and the knave. I 've seen him play the sycophant,
too, like one who studied long his part, and knew it thoroughly. No, no,
Con, it is not one like this must be husband of Mary!"

"I tell you again, Tiernay, you suffer your prejudices to outrun all
your prudence. The very fact that he asks in marriage a portionless
girl, without influence from family, and without the advantage of
station, should outweigh all your doubts twice told."

"This does but puzzle me,--nothing more," said Tiernay, doggedly. "Were
it Cashel, that high-hearted, generous youth, who made this offer--"

"I must stop you, Tiernay; you are as much at fault in your
over-estimate of _one_ as in your disparagement of the _other_. Cashel
is not what you deem him. Ask me not how I know it. I cannot, I dare not
tell you; it is enough that I do know it, and know it by the evidence of
my own eyes."

"Then they have deceived you, that's all," said Tiernay, roughly; "for I
tell you, and I speak now of what my own knowledge can sustain, that
he is the very soul of generosity,--a generosity that would imply
recklessness, if not guided by the shrinking delicacy of an almost
girlish spirit."

"Tiernay, Tiernay, you are wrong, I say," cried Corrigan, passionately.

"And _I_ say it is _you_ who are in error," said Tiernay. "It was but
this morning I held in my hands--" He stopped, stammered, and was silent.

"Well," cried Corrigan, "go on,--not that, indeed, you could convince
me against what my eyes have assured; for here, upon this table, I
beheld--"

"Out with it, man! Tell what jugglery has been practised on you, for I
see you have been duped."

"Hush! here 's Mary!" cri