to be the good obedient girl that I hope you are, you'll
put him out of your head, and then you can give back to one another
whatever promises you made."

This was succeeded by a silence of more than a minute. Una at length
arose, and, with a composed energy of manner, that was evident by her
sparkling eye and bloodless cheek, she approached her father, and calmly
kneeling down, said slowly but firmly:

"Father, if nothing else can satisfy you, I will give back my promise;
but then, father, it will break my heart, for I know--I feel--how I love
him, and how I am loved by him."

"I'll get you a better husband," replied her father--"far more wealthy
and more respectable than he is."

"I'll give back the promise," said she; "but the man is not living,
except Connor O'Donovan, that will ever call me wife. More wealthy! more
respectable!--Oh, it was only himself I loved. Father, I'm on my knees
before you, and before my mother. I have only one request to make--Oh,
don't break your daughter's heart!"

"God direct us," exclaimed her mother; "it's hard to know how to act. If
it would go so hard upon her, sure--"

"Amen," said her husband; "may God direct us to the best! I'm sure God
knows," he continued, now much affected, "that I would rather break
my own heart than yours, Una. Get up, dear--rise. John, how would you
advise us?"

"I don't see any serious objection, after all," replied the son, "either
you or my mother can have to Connor O'Donovan. He is every way worthy
of her, if he is equal to his character; and as for wealth, I have often
heard it said that his father was a richer man than yourself."

"Afther all," said the mother, "she might be very well wid him."

"I'll tell you what I'll do, then," said the Bodagh--"let us see the
ould man himself, and if he settles his son dacently in life, as he
can do if he wishes, why, I won't see the poor, foolish, innocent girl
breaking her heart."

Una, who had sat with her face still averted, now ran to her father,
and, throwing her arms about his neck, wept aloud, but said nothing.

"Ay, ay," said the latter, "it's very fine now that you have everything
your own way, you girsha; but, sure, you're all the daughter we have,
achora, and it would be too bad not to let you have a little of your
own opinion in the choice of a husband. Now go up stairs, or where you
please, till we see what can be done with Fardorougha himself."

With smiling face and glistening eyes Una