s of the expedition--they actually never heard of his name.
He thought himself in a position of trust and influence--he is not
recognized by any--unnoticed by his own party, and unacknowledged by the
French, his only notoriety will be the equivocal one of martyrdom."

Every word of this speech, uttered in a voice of sad, regretful meaning,
as though the speaker were sorrowing over the mistaken opinions of a
dear friend, cut deeply into Kate's heart--she knew not well at the
instant, whether she should not better have faced actual danger for her
cousin, than have seen him thus deceived and played upon. Hemsworth saw
the effect his words created, and went on--

"Would that the danger rested here, and that the fate of one rash, but
high-spirited boy, was all that hung on the crisis"--as he spoke he
threw a cautious look around the roomy apartment to see that they were,
indeed, alone.

"Great Heaven! there is not surely worse than this in store for us,"
cried Kate, in a voice of heartrending affliction.

"There is far worse, Miss O'Donoghue; the ruin that threatens is that
of a whole house--a noble and honoured name--your uncle is unhappily no
stranger to these mischievous intentions--I was slow to put faith in the
assertion."

"It is false--I know it is false," said Kate, passionately--"My poor
dear uncle, overwhelmed with many calamities, has borne up patiently and
nobly, but of any participation in schemes of danger or enterprize he is
incapable--think of his age--his infirmity."

"I am aware of both, young lady, but I am also aware that for years
past, his pecuniary difficulties have been such that he would hesitate
at nothing which should promise the chance of extrication. Many have
imagined like him, that even a temporary triumph over England would lead
to some new settlement between the two countries, concessions of one
kind or other, laws revoked and repealed, and confiscations withdrawn;
nor were the expectations, perhaps, altogether unfounded. Little has
ever been accorded to Ireland as a grace--much has been obtained by her
by menace."

"He never calculated on such an issue to the struggle, sir; depend upon
it, no unworthy prospect of personal gain ever induced an O'Donoghue
to adopt a cause like this. You have convinced me, now, that he is
unconnected with this plot."

"I sincerely wish my own convictions could follow yours, madam, but it
is an ungrateful office I have undertaken. Would to heaven I knew