undeniable
proofs of the sincerity with which she participated in Honor's
bereavement. As for Flanagan, a deadly weight of odium, such as is
peculiar to the Informer in Ireland, fell upon both him and his. Nor was
this all. Aided by that sagacity which is so conspicuous in Irishmen,
when a vindictive or hostile feeling is excited among them, they
depicted Flanagan's character with an accuracy and truth astonishingly
correct and intuitive. Numerous were the instances of cowardice,
treachery, and revenge remembered against him, by those who had been his
close and early companions, not one of which would have ever occurred
to them, were it not that their minds had been thrown back upon the
scrutiny by the melancholy fate in which he had involved the unhappy
Connor O'Donovan. Had he been a mere ordinary witness in the matter,
he would have experienced little of this boiling indignation at their
hands; but first to participate in the guilt, and afterwards, for the
sake of the reward, or from a worse and more flagitious motive, to turn
upon him, and become his accuser, even to the taking away of the young
man's life--to stag against his companion and accomplice--this was
looked upon as a crime ten thousand times more black and damnable than
that for which the unhappy culprit had been consigned to so shameful a
death.

But, alas, of what avail was all this sympathy and indignation to the
unfortunate youth himself or to those most deeply interested in his
fate? Would not the very love and sorrow felt towards her son fall upon
his mother's heart with a heavier weight of bitterness and agony? Would
not his Una's soul be wounded on that account with a sharper and more
deadly pang of despair and misery? It would, indeed, be difficult to say
whether the house of Bodagh Buie or that of Fardorougha was then in the
deeper sorrow. On the morning of Connor's trial, Una arose at an earlier
hour than usual, and it was observed when she sat at breakfeast,
that her cheek was at one moment pale as death, and again flushed
and feverish. These symptoms were first perceived by her affectionate
brother, who, on witnessing the mistakes she made in pouring out the
tea, exchanged a glance with his parents, and afterwards asked her to
allow him to take her place. She laid down the tea-pot, and, looking him
mournfully in the face, attempted to smile at a request so unusual.

"Una, dear," said he, "you must allow me. There is no necessity for
attemp