tever her honour's ladyship liked' had followed
every sentence as she read the document aloud to him; and the only real
puzzle she had was to explain to the poor man's simple comprehension that
she was not making a hard bargain with him, but treating him handsomely and
in all confidence.

Shrewd and sharp as the old lady was, versed in the habits of the people,
and long trained to suspect a certain air of dulness, by which, when asking
the explanation of a point, they watch, with a native casuistry, to see
what flaw or chink may open an equivocal meaning or intention, she was
thoroughly convinced by the simple and unreasoning concurrence this humble
man gave to every proviso, and the hearty assurance he always gave 'that
her honour knew what was best. God reward and keep her long in the way to
do it!'--with all this, Miss O'Shea had not accomplished the first stage
of her journey to Dublin, when Peter Gill was seated in the office of Pat
McEvoy, the attorney at Moate--smart practitioner, who had done more to
foster litigation between tenant and landlord than all the 'grievances'
that ever were placarded by the press.

'When did you get this, Peter?' said the attorney, as he looked about,
unable to find a date.

'This morning, sir, just before she started.'

'You'll have to come before the magistrate and make an oath of the date,
and, by my conscience, it's worth the trouble.'

'Why, sir, what's in it?' cried Peter eagerly.

'I'm no lawyer if she hasn't given you a clear possession of the place,
subject to certain trusts, and even for the non-performance of these there
is no penalty attached. When Councillor Holmes comes down at the assizes,
I'll lay a case before him, and I'll wager a trifle, Peter, you will turn
out to be an estated gentleman.'

'Blood alive!' was all Peter could utter.

Though the conversation that ensued occupied more than an hour, it is not
necessary that we should repeat what occurred, nor state more than the fact
that Peter went home fully assured that if O'Shea's Barn was not his own
indisputably, it would be very hard to dispossess him, and that, at all
events, the occupation was secure to him for the present. The importance
that the law always attaches to possession Mr. McEvoy took care to impress
on Gill's mind, and he fully convinced him that a forcible seizure of the
premises was far more to be apprehended than the slower process of a suit
and a verdict.

It was about the third wee