gay colors, which, in fact, was what had so
delighted Rose.

They came up, and Mrs. Gaunt seemed a changed woman. She looked young
and beautiful, and bent a look of angelic affection on her daughter; and
said to Griffith, "Is she not grown? Is she not lovely? Sure you will
never desert her again."

"'T was not her I deserted, but her mother; and she had played me false
with her d----d priest," was Griffith's reply.

Mrs. Gaunt drew back with horror. "This, before my girl?" she cried.
"GRIFFITH GAUNT, YOU LIE!"

And this time it was the woman who menaced the man. She rose to six
feet high, and advanced on him with her great gray eyes flashing flames
at him. "O that I were a man!" she cried: "this insult should be the
last. I'd lay you dead at her feet and mine."

Griffith actually drew back a step; for the wrath of such a woman was
terrible,--more terrible perhaps to a brave man than to a coward.

Then he put his hands in his pockets with a dogged air, and said,
grinding his teeth, "But--as you are not a man, and I'm not a woman, we
can't settle it that way. So I give you the last word, and good day. I'm
sore in want of money; but I find I can't pay the price it is like to
cost me. Farewell."

"Begone!" said Mrs. Gaunt: "and, this time, forever. Ruffian, and fool,
I loathe the sight of you."

Rose ran weeping to her. "O mamma, don't quarrel with papa": then back
to Griffith, "O papa, don't quarrel with mamma,--for my sake."

Griffith hung his head, and said, in a broken voice: "No, my lamb, we
twain must not quarrel before thee. We will part in silence, as becomes
those that once were dear, and have thee to show for 't. Madam, I wish
you all health and happiness. Adieu."

He turned on his heel; and Mrs. Gaunt took Rose to her knees, and bent
and wept over her. Niobe over her last was not more graceful, nor more
sad.

As for Ryder, she stole quietly after her retiring master. She found him
peering about, and asked him demurely what he was looking for.

"My good black horse, girl, to take me from this cursed place. Did I not
tie him to yon gate?"

"The black horse? Why I sent him for Father Francis. Nay, listen to me,
master; you know I was always your friend, and hard upon _her_. Well,
since you went, things have come to pass that make me doubt. I do begin
to fear you were too hasty."

"Do you tell me this now, woman?" cried Griffith, furiously.

"How could I tell you before? Why did you break your try