o complete was
his abstraction, and so exhausted his faculties, that it was not without
John's assistance he could reach the gate which lay before his eyes.
He first turned out of the walk to the right, then crossed over to the
left, and felt surprised that a wall opposed him in each direction.

"You are too much disturbed," said John, "to perceive the way, but I
will show you."

"I suppose I thought it was at home I was," he replied, "bekase at my
own house one must turn aither to the right or to the left, as, indeed,
I'm in the custom of doin'."

Whilst Fardorougha was engaged upon his ill-managed mission, his wife,
who felt that all human efforts at turning the heart of her husband from
his wealth must fail, resolved to have recourse to a higher power. With
this purpose in view, she put on her Sunday dress, and informed Connor
that she was about to go for a short time from home.

"I'll be back if I can," she added, "before your father; and, indeed,
it's as good not to let him know anything about it."

"About what, mother? for I know as little about it as he does."

"Why, my dear boy, I'm goin' to get a couple o' masses sed, for God
to turn his heart from that cursed _airaghid_ it's fixed upon. Sure it
houlds sich a hard grip of his poor sowl, that it'll be the destruction
of him here an' hereafther. It'll kill him afore his time, an' then I
thrimble to think of his chance above."

"The object is a good one, sure enough, an' it bein' for a spiritual
purpose the priest won't object to it."

"Why would he, dear, an' it for the good of his sowl? Sure, when Pat
Lanigan was jealous, his wife got three masses sed for him; and, wid the
help o' God, he was cured sound and clane."

Connor could not help smiling at this extraordinary cure for jealousy,
nor at the simple piety of a heart, the strength of whose affection he
knew so well. After her return she informed the son, that, in addition
to the masses to be said against his father's avarice, she had some
notion of getting another said towards his marriage with Una.

"God help you, mother," said Connor, laughing; "for I think you're one
of the innocentest women that ever lived; but whisht!" he added, "here's
my father--God grant that he may bring good news!"

When Fardorougha entered he was paler or rather sallower than usual;
and, on his thin, puckered face, the lines that marked it were exhibited
with a distinctness greater than ordinary. His eyes appeared to h