hem?"

"There's as bad," said M'Carthy, in a low, cautious whisper--.
"there's traitors, that would rather earn blood money, than live
honestly--there's many a one among them scheming to catch Master Mark
himself, and he is lucky if he escapes at last."

"There's horses now, coming up the road, and fast they're coming too,"
said one of the country people, and the quick clattering of a gallop
could be heard along the plashy road.

Kate's heart beat almost audibly, and she bounded from the spot, and up
the stairs. The noise of the approaching horses came nearer, and at last
stopped before the door.

"It is him--it is Mark," said she to herself, in an ecstasy of delight,
and with trembling fingers withdrew the heavy bolt, and undid the chain,
while, with an effort of strength the emergency alone conferred, she
threw wide the massive door, clasped and framed with iron.

"Oh, how I have watched for you," exclaimed she, as a figure,
dismounting hastily, advanced towards her, and the same instant the
roice revealed Hemsworth, as he said--

"If I could think this greeting were indeed meant for me, Miss
O'Donoghue, I should call this moment the happiest of my life."

"I thought it was my cousin," said Kate, as almost fainting, she fell
back into a seat, "but you may have tidings of him, can you tell if he
is safe?"

"I expected to have heard this intelligence from you," said he, as
recovering from the chagrin of his disappointment, he resumed his
habitual deference of tone; "has he not returned?"

"No, we have not seen him, nor has the messenger yet come back. Herbert
also is away, and we are here alone."

As Hemsworth offered her his arm to return to the drawing-room, he
endeavoured to reassure her on the score of Mark's safety, while he
hinted that the French, who that morning had entered Bantry Bay with
eleven vessels, unprepared for the active reception his measures had
provided, had set sail again, either to await the remainder of the
fleet, or perhaps return to France; "I would not wish to throw blame
on those whose misfortune is already heavy, but I must tell you,
Miss O'Donoghue, that every step of this business has been marked by
duplicity and cowardice. I, of course, need not say, that in either of
these, your friends stand guiltless, but your cousin has been a dupe
throughout; the dupe of every one who thought it worth his while to
trick and deceive him--he believed himself in the confidence of the
leader