ds his dark brows were bent, and his eyes
flashed with a gleam of that ungovernable passion for which he was
so remarkable. Felix, at all times peaceable, and always willing to
acknowledge his elder brother's natural right to exercise a due degree
of authority over him, felt that this was stretching it too far. Still
he made no reply, nor indeed did Hugh allow him time to retort, had he
been so disposed. They separated without more words, each resolved to
accomplish his avowed purpose.

The opposition of Hugh and Maura to his marriage, only strengthened
Felix's resolution to make his beloved and misrepresented Alley
Bawn, the rightful mistress of his hearth, as she already was of his
affections. Nay, his love burned for her with a purer and tenderer
flame, when he looked upon the artless girl, and thought of the cruel
hearts that would make her a martyr to a spirit so worldly-minded and
selfish. Their deep-rooted prejudice against her poverty, he delicately
concealed from her, together with the length to which their opposition
had gone. As for himself, he acted precisely as if the approaching
marriage had their full sanction; he saw Alley every day, became still
more deeply enamored, and heard his sister's indignant remonstrances
without uttering a single syllable in reply.

At length the happy Sunday morning arrived, and never did a more
glorious sun light up the beautiful valley of Ballydhas than that which
shed down its smiling radiance from heaven upon their union. Felix's
heart was full of that eager and trembling delight, which, where there
is pure and disinterested love, always marks our emotions upon that
blessed epoch in human life. Maura, contrary to her wont, was unusually
silent during the whole morning; but Felix could perceive that she
watched all his emotions with the eye of a lynx. When the hour of going
to chapel approached, he deemed it time to dress, and, for that purpose,
went to a large oaken tallboy that stood in the kitchen, in order to
get out his clothes. It was locked, however, and his sister told him at
once, that the key, which was in her possession, should not pass into
his hands that day. "No," she continued, "nor sorra the ring you'll put
on the same girl with my consent. Aren't you a purty young omadhaun,
you spiritless creature, to go to marry sich a _niddy-nauddhy_, when you
know that the best fortunes in the glen would jump at you! Yes, faiks!
to bring home that mane, useless creature