family?"

"For several weeks they have had no one to come. Sir Archy and the
younger brother are both from home."

"Where, then, is Sir Archy?" said Hemsworth, anxiously.

"That would seem a secret to every one. He left this one morning at a
moment's notice, taking the chaise that brought the doctor here. The
post-boy pretended he was discharged; but I say that the excuse was made
up, and that the fellow was bribed. On reaching Macroom, the old man got
fresh horses, and started for Cork."

"And what's the report in the country, Wylie?"

"There are two stories. One, that he heard some rumours of an accusation
against himself, for intriguing with the United people, and thought best
to get over to Scotland for a while."

"That's folly; what is the other rumour?"

"A more likely one," said Wylie, as he threw a shrewd glance beneath his
half-closed eye-lids. "They say that he determined to go up to Dublin,
and see the Lord Lieutenant, and ask him for a free pardon for Mark."

Hemsworth sprung up in the bed at these words, as if he had been stung.

"And who says this, Wylie?"

"I believe I was the first that said so myself," said Wylie, affecting
modesty; "when Kerry told me, that the old man packed up a court dress
and a sword."

"You're right, Sam; there's not a doubt of it. How long is this ago?"

"Five weeks on Tuesday last."

"Five weeks!--five weeks lost already! And have you heard what has been
done by him?--what success he's met with?"

"No, sir; but you can soon know something about it yourself."

"How do you mean?--I don't understand you."

"These are the only two letters he has written as yet. This, one came on
Saturday. I always went down in the mornings to Mary M'Kelly's, before
the bag came in, and as she could not read over well, I sorted the
letters for her myself, and slipped in these among your own."

Hemsworth and his companion exchanged looks. Probably never did glances
more rapidly reveal the sentiments of two hearts. Each, well knew the
villainy of the ether; but Hemsworth for the first time saw himself in
another's power, and hesitated how far the advantage of the discovery
was worth the heavy price he should pay for it; besides that the habits
of his life made him regard the breach of confidence, incurred in
reading another man's letter, in a very different light from his
underbred associate, and he made no gesture to take them from his hand.

"This has an English post-mark," said