ore obstinately bitter than her opposition to such a
match on the part of Felix.

This, however, is human nature. To those who cannot understand such a
character, we offer no apology--to the few who do, none is necessary.

The courtship of Alley Bawn and Felix had arrived, on the fair-day of
Ballaghmore, to a crisis which required decision on the part of the
wooer. They went in, as we have shown the reader, to a public-house.
Their conversation, which was only such as takes place in a thousand
similar instances, we do not mean to detail. It was tender and firm on
the part of Felix, and affectionate between him and her. With that high
pride, which is only another name for humility, she urged him to
forget her, "if it was not plasin' to his frinds. You know, Felix," she
continued, "that I am poor and you are rich, an' I wouldn't wish to be
dragged into a family that couldn't respect me."

"Alley dear," replied Felix, "I know that both Hugh and Maura love me in
their hearts; and although they make a show of anger in the beginnin',
yet they'll soon soften, and will love you as they do me."

"Well, Felix," replied Alley, "my mother and you are present; if my
mother says I ought----"

"I do, darling," said her mother; "that is, I can't feel any particular
objection to it. Yet somehow my mind is troubled. I know that what he
says is what will happen; but, for all that--och, Felix, aroon, there's
something over me about the same match--I don't know--I'm willin' an'
I'm not willin'."

They arose to depart; and as both families lived in the beautiful
village of Ballydhas, which we have already described to the reader, of
course their walk home was such as lovers could wish.

Evening had arrived; the placid summer sun shone down with a mild flood
of light upon Ballaghmore and the surrounding country. There was nothing
in the evening whose external phenomena could depress any human heart.
The ocean lay like a mirror, on which the beams of the sun glistened
in magnificent shafts, in whatsoever position you looked upon it. Not a
wave or a ripple broke the expansive sheet, that stretched away till
it melted into the dipping sky; yet to the ear its mysterious and deep
murmurs were audible, and the lonely eternal sobbing of the awful sea,
struck upon the heart of the superstitious mother with a sense of fear
and calamity. Felix and Alley went before them, and the conversation
which we are about to detail, took place between herse