hed, but dared not utter what
she wished; Mary, however took an opportunity, when Mrs Austin had
quitted the room, to tell Mr Austin, who was in such a feeble state
that he could hardly speak, that the time would soon come when he would
be summoned before a higher tribunal, and conjured him, by the hopes he
had of forgiveness, now that the world was fading away before his eyes,
to put away all pride, and to do that justice to his son which our
hero's noble conduct towards him demanded--to make a confession, either
in writing or in presence of witnesses, before he died--which would
prove the innocence of his only child, the heir to the property and the
name.

There was a straggle, and a long one, in the proud heart of Mr Austin
before he could consent to this act of justice. Mary had pointed out
the propriety of it early in the morning, and it was not until late in
the evening, after having remained in silence and with his eyes closed
for the whole day, that Austin made a sign to his wife to bend down to
him, and desired her in a half-whisper to send for a magistrate. His
request was immediately attended to; and in an hour the summons was
answered by one with whom Austin had been on good terms. Austin made
his deposition in few words, and was supported by Mary while he signed
the paper. It was done; and when she would have removed the pen from
his fingers, she found that it was still held fast, and that his head
had fallen back; the conflict between his pride and this act of duty had
been too overpowering for him in his weak condition, and Mr Austin was
dead before the ink of his signature had time to dry.

The gentleman who had been summoned in his capacity of magistrate,
thought it advisable to remove from the scene of distress without
attempting to communicate with Mrs Austin in her present sorrow. He
had been in conversation with O'Donahue and McShane at the time that he
was summoned, and Mr Austin's illness and the various reports abroad
had been there canvassed. O'Donahue and McShane had reserved the
secret; but when their friend was sent for, anticipating some such
result would take place, they requested him to return to them from the
Hall: he did so, and acquainted them with what had passed.

"There's no time to lose, then," said McShane; "I will, if you please,
take a copy of this deposition."

O'Donahue entered into a brief narrative of the circumstances and the
behaviour of our hero; and, as soon as