her who could only bring disgrace on them? No,
sir; I am not going to stand in their light and spoil their lives for
them. I have given them up to Olive, and she seems to have done her best
for them. Let the youngster have his sweetheart, and I will just bide
here quietly with Tom; or, if you think that Brail is too near, I will
put the seas between us again; and you can tell Olive so, if you like.'

'I shall tell her nothing of the kind, O'Brien,' returned Michael, much
touched at this generosity on the part of the poor prodigal. 'I will not
deny that this is the very thing she suggested; she even begged me to
propose this to you, but I refused. Do you suppose that either I or my
cousin, Dr. Ross, would connive at such deceit and falsehood? It is
quite true that Mrs. Blake and her children may refuse to have anything
to do with you, but that is solely their affair. In a few hours, Mr.
O'Brien, your eldest son will be made aware of his father's existence.'

'I am sorry to hear it, sir,' returned Mat, in a weak, hopeless voice.
'You will make a great mistake, and nothing good will come of it. She
will teach the youngsters to loathe my very name, and as for the
lad'--here he spoke with strong emotion--'he will be ready to curse me
for spoiling his life. No, no, sir; let sleeping dogs lie. Better let me
keep dark, and bring trouble to no one.'

But Michael shook his head. Such double-dealing and deceit could only
deepen the mischief.

'Dr. Ross will never give his sanction to his daughter's marriage; he
has assured me so most solemnly. Whatever trouble comes will be of your
wife's causing.'

But Mat would not agree to this.

'She meant no harm, sir. Olive always had curious ideas of right and
wrong, and she did her best for the youngsters. According to your
account, she has brought them up well, and sent the lad to Oxford. Fancy
a son of mine being such a swell, and engaged to that young lady, too!
Lord! when I think of it, I am ready to wish I had never left the bush.'

'It is no use wishing that now, Mr. O'Brien.'

'No, sir; and it is no use talking over what can't be mended. If you
have made up your mind to tell the lad, it is pretty plain that I can't
hinder you; but I will not lift a finger to help you. I will just stop
where I am.'

'I think perhaps that will be best under the circumstances.'

'But, all the same, it makes me uncommon restless to feel that Olive and
the youngsters are only three miles off,