she uttered this fervent but sorrowful benediction, a hand was
placed upon the head of each, after which she stooped and kissed them
both, but without shedding a single tear.

"Now," said she, "comes the mother's wakeness; but my son will help me
by his manliness--so will my daughter. I am very weak. Oh, what heart
can know the sufferin's of this hour, but mine? My son, my son--Connor
O'Donovan, my son!"

At this moment John O'Brien entered the room; but the solemnity and
pathos of her manner and voice hushed him so completely into silent
attention, that it is probable she did not perceive him.

"Let me put my arms about him and kiss his lips once more, an' then I'll
say farewell."

She again approached the boy, who S opened his arms to receive her,
and, after having kissed him and looked into his face, said, "I will now
go--I will' now go;" but instead of withdrawing, as she had intended, it
was observed that she pressed him more closely to her heart than before;
plied her hands about his neck and bosom, as if she were not actually
conscious of what she did; and at length sunk into a forgetfulness of
all her misery upon the aching breast of her unhappy son.

"Now," said Una, rising into a spirit of; unexpected fortitude, "now,
Connor, I will be her daughter, and you must be her son. The moment
she recovers we must separate, and in such a manner as to show that our
affection for each other shall not be injurious to her."

"It is nature only," said her brother; "or, in other words, the love
that is natural to such a mother for such a son, that has overcome her.
Connor, this must be ended."

"I am willing it should," replied the other. "You must assist them
home, and let me see you again tomorrow. I have something of the deepest
importance to say to you."

Una's bottle of smelling salts soon relieved the woe-worn mother; and,
ere the lapse of many minutes, she was able to summon her own natural
firmness of character. The lovers, too, strove to be firm; and,
after one long and last embrace, they separated from Connor with more
composure than, from the preceding scene, might have been expected.

The next day, according to promise, John O'Brien paid him an early
visit, in order to hear what Connor had assured him was of more
importance even than Una's life itself. Their conference was long and
serious, for each felt equally interested in its subject-matter. When it
was concluded, and they had separated, O'Brien's