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diff --git a/16001-8.txt b/16001-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2cb58b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/16001-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17847 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Willy Reilly, by William Carleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Willy Reilly + The Works of William Carleton, Volume One + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16001] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLY REILLY *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +WILLY REILLY + +by William Carleton + + +Illustrated by M. L. Flanery + + +CONTENTS: + + CHAPTER + I.--An Adventure and an Escape + + II.--The Cooleen Bawn + + III.--Daring Attempt of the Red Rapparee + --Mysterious Disappearance of His + Gang--The Avowal + + IV.--A Sapient Project for our Hero's + Conversion--His Rival makes his + Appearance, and its Consequences + + V.--The Plot and the Victims + + VI.--The Warning--an Escape + + VII.--An Accidental Incident favorable to + Reilly, and a Curious Conversation + + VIII.--A Conflagration--An Escape--And + an Adventure + + IX.--Reilly's Adventure Continued + --A Prospect of By-gone Times--Reilly + gets a Bed in a Curious Establishment + + X.--Scenes that took place in the Mountain + Cave + + XI.--The Squire's Dinner and his Guests + + XII.--Sir Robert Meets a Brother Sportsman + --Draws his Nets, but Catches Nothing + + XIII.--Reilly is Taken, but connived at by + the Sheriff--the Mountain Mass + + XIV.--Reilly takes Service with Squire + Folliard + + XV.--More of Whitecraft's Plots and Pranks + + XVI.--Sir Robert ingeniously extricates + Himself out of a great Difficulty + + XVII.--Awful Conduct of Squire Folliard + --Fergus Keilly begins to Contravene + the Red Rapparee + + XVIII.--Something not very Pleasant for all + Parties + + XIX.--Reilly's Disguise Penetrated + --He Escapes--Fergus Reilly is on the Trail + of the Rapparee--Sir Robert begins + to feel Confident of Success + + XX.--The Rapparee Secured--Reilly and + the Cooleen Bawn Escape, and are Captured + + XXI.--Sir Robert Accepts of an Invitation + + XXII.--The Squire Comforts Whitecraft in + his Affliction + + XXIII.--The Squire becomes Theological and + a Proselytizer, but signally fails + + XXIV.--Preparations--Jury of the Olden Time + --The Scales of Justice + + XXV.--Rumor of Cooleen Bawn's Treachery + --How it appears--Reilly stands his Trial + --Conclusion + + + + +PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. + +I am agreeably called upon by my bookseller to prepare for a Second +Edition of "Willy Reilly." This is at all times a pleasing call upon an +author; and it is so especially to me, inasmuch as the first Edition +was sold at the fashionable, but unreasonable, price of a guinea and a +half--a price which, in this age of cheap literature, is almost fatal to +the sale of any three-volume novel, no matter what may be its merits. +With respect to "Willy Reilly," it may be necessary to say that I never +wrote any work of the same extent in so short a time, or with so much +haste. Its popularity, however, has been equal to that of any other +of my productions; and the reception which it has experienced from the +ablest public and professional critics of the day has far surpassed my +expectations. I accordingly take this opportunity of thanking them most +sincerely for the favorable verdict which they have generously passed +upon it, as I do for their kindness to my humble efforts for the last +twenty-eight years. Nothing, indeed, can be a greater encouragement to +a literary man, to a novel writer, in fact, than the reflection that he +has an honest and generous tribunal to encounter. If he be a quack or an +impostor, they will at once detect him; but if he exhibit human nature +and truthful character in his pages, it matters not whether he goes to +his bookseller's in a coach, or plods there humbly, and on foot; they +will forget everything but the value and merit of what he places before +them. On this account it is that I reverence and respect them; and +indeed I ought to do so, for I owe them the gratitude of a pretty long +literary life. + +Concerning this Edition, I must say something. I have already stated +that it was written rapidly and in a hurry. On reading it over for +correction, I was struck in my cooler moments by many defects in it, +which were, kindly overlooked, or, perhaps, not noticed at all. To +myself, however, who had been brooding over this work for a long time, +they at once became obvious. I have accordingly added an underplot of +affection between Fergus Reilly--mentioned as a distant relative of my +hero--and the _Cooleen Bawn's_ maid, Ellen Connor. In doing so, I have +not disturbed a single incident in the work; and the reader who may have +perused the first Edition, if he should ever--as is not unfrequently the +case--peruse this second one, will certainly wonder how the additions +were made. That, however, is the secret of the author, with which they +have nothing to do but to enjoy the book, if they can enjoy it. + +With respect to the O'Reilly name and family, I have consulted my +distinguished' friend--and I am proud to call him so--John O'Donovan, +Esq., LL.D., M.R.I.A., who, with the greatest kindness, placed the +summary of the history of that celebrated family at my disposal. This +learned gentleman is an authority beyond all question. With respect to +Ireland--her language--her old laws--her history--her antiquities--her +archaeology--her topography, and the genealogy of her families, he is +a perfect miracle, as is his distinguished fellow-laborer in the same +field, Eugene Curry. Two such men--and, including Dr. Petrie, three such +men--Ireland never has produced, and never can again--for this simple +reason, that they will have left nothing after them for their successors +to accomplish. To Eugene Curry I am indebted for the principal fact upon +which my novel of the "Tithe Proctor" was written--the able introduction +to which was printed verbatim from a manuscript with which he kindly +furnished me. The following is Dr. O'Donovan's clear and succinct +history of the O'Reilly family from the year 435 until the present time: + +"The ancestors of the family of O'Reilly had been celebrated in Irish +history long before the establishment of surnames in Ireland. In the +year 435 their ancestor, Duach Galach, King of Connaught, was baptized +by St. Patrick on the banks of Loch Scola, and they had remained +Christians of the old Irish Church, which appears to have been peculiar +in its mode of tonsure, and of keeping Easter (and, since the twelfth +century, firm adherents to the religion of the Pope, till Dowell +O'Reilly, Esq., the father of the present head of the name, quarrelling +with Father Dowling, of Stradbally, turned Protestant, about the year +1800). + +"The ancestor, after whom they took the family name, was Reillagh, who +was chief of his sect, and flourished about the year 981. + +"From this period they are traced in the Irish Annals through a +long line of powerful chieftains of East Breifny (County Cavan), who +succeeded each other, according to the law of Tanistry, till the year +1585, when two rival chieftians of the name, Sir John O'Reilly and +Edmund O'Reilly, appeared in Dublin, at the parliament summoned by +Perrot. Previously to this, John O'Reilly, finding his party weak, had +repaired to England, in 1583, to solicit Queen Elizabeth's interest, +and had been kindly received at Court, and invested with the order of +Knighthood, and promised to be made Earl, whereupon he returned home +with letters from the Queen to the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland, +instructing them to support him in his claims. His uncle, Edmund, of +Kilnacrott, would have succeeded Hugh Connallagh O'Reilly, the father of +Sir John, according to the Irish law of Tanistry, but he was set aside +by Elizabeth's government, and Sir John set up as O'Reilly in his place. +Sir John being settled in the chieftainship of East Breifny, entered +into certain articles of agreement with Sir John Perrot, the Lord +Deputy, and the Council of Ireland, whereby he agreed to surrender the +principality of East Breifny to the Queen, on condition of obtaining it +again from the crown _in capite_ by English tenure, and the same to be +ratified to him and the heirs male of his body. In consequence of this +agreement, and with the intent of abolishing the tanistic succession, +he, on the last day of August, 1590, perfected a deed of feofment, +entailing thereby the seignory of Breifny (O'Reilly) on his eldest son, +Malmore (Myles), surnamed Alainn (the comely), afterwards known as the +Queen's O'Reilly. + +"Notwithstanding these transactions, Sir John O'Reilly soon after joined +in the rebellion of Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, and died on the first of June, +1596. After his death the Earl of Tyrone set up his second brother, +Philip, as the O'Reilly, and the government of Elizabeth supported the +claim of Sir John's son, Malmore, the comely, in opposition to Philip, +and Edmund of Kilnacrott. But Malmore, the Queen's O'Reilly, was slain +by Tyrone in the great battle of the Yellow Ford, near Benburb, on the +14th of August, 1528, and the Irish of Ulster agreed to establish Edmund +of Kilnacrott, as the O'Reilly. + +"The lineal descendants of Sir John passed into the French service, and +are now totally unknown, and probably extinct. The descendants of Edmund +of Kilnacrott have been far more prolific and more fortunate. His senior +representative is my worthy old friend Myles John O'Reilly, Esq., Heath +House, Emo, Queen's Co., and from him are also descended the O'Reillys +of Thomastown Castle, in the County of Louth, the Counts O'Reilly of +Spain, the O'Reillys of Beltrasna, in Westmeath, and the Reillys of +Scarva House, in the County of Down. + +"Edmund of Kilnacrott had a son John who had a son Brian, by Mary, +daughter of the Baron of Dunsany, who had a famous son Malmore, commonly +called Myles the Slasher. This Myles was an able military leader during +the civil wars of 1641, and showed prodigies of valor during the years +1641, 1642, and 1643; but, in 1644, being encamped at Granard, in the +County of Longford, with Lord Castlehaven, who ordered him to proceed +with a chosen detachment of horse to defend the bridge of Finea against +the Scots, then bearing down on the main army with a very superior +force, Myles was slain at the head of his troops, fighting bravely on +the middle of the bridge. Tradition adds, that during this action he +encountered the colonel of the Scots in single combat, who laid open his +cheek with a blow of his sword; but Myles, whose jaws were stronger than +a smith's vice, held fast the Scotchman's sword between his teeth till +he cut him down, but the main body of the Scots pressing upon him, he +was left dead on the bridge. + +"This Myles the Slasher was the father of Colonel John O'Reilly, of +Ballymacadd, in the County Meath, who was elected Knight of the Shire +for the County of Cavan, in the parliament held at Dublin on the 7th of +May, 1689. He raised a regiment of dragoons, at his own expense, for the +service of James II., and assisted at the siege of Londonderry in +1689. He had two engagements with Colonel Wolsley, the commander of +the garrison of Belturbet, whom he signally defeated. He fought at the +battles of the Boyne and Aughrim, and was included in the articles of +capitulation of Limerick, whereby he preserved his property, and was +allowed to carry arms. + +"Of the eldest son of this Colonel John O'Reilly, who left issue, my +friend Myles J. O'Reilly, Esq., is now the senior representative. + +"From Colonel John O'Reilly's youngest son, Thomas O'Reilly, of +Beltrasna, was descended Count Alexander O'Reilly, of Spain, who took +Algiers! immortalized by Byron. This Alexander was born near Oldcastle, +in the County Meath, in the year 1722. He was Generalissimo of his +Catholic Majesty's forces, and Inspector-General of the Infantry, etc., +etc. In the year 1786 he employed the Chevalier Thomas O'Gorman to +compile for him a history of the House of O'Reilly, for which he paid +O'Gorman the sum of £1,137 10.s., the original receipt for which I have +in my possession. + +"Prom this branch of the O'Reilly family was also descended the +illustrious Andrew Count O'Reilly, who died at Vienna in 1832, at the +age of 92. He was General of Cavalry in the Austrian service. This +distinguished man filled in succession all the military grades in the +Austrian service, with the exception of that of Field Marshal, and was +called by Napoleon '_le respectable General O'Reilly_.' + +"The eldest son of Myles J. O'Reilly, Esq., is a young gentleman of +great promise and considerable fortune. His rencontre with Lord Clements +(now Earl of Leitrim) has been not long since prominently before the +public, and in a manner which does justice to our old party quarrels! +Both are, however, worthy of their high descent; and it is to be hoped +that they will soon become good friends, as they are boih young, and +remarkable for benevolence and love of fatherland." + +As this has been considered by some persons as a historical novel, +although I really never intended it as such, it may be necessary to give +the reader a more distinct notion of the period in which the incidents +recorded in it took place. The period then was about that of 1745, when +Lord Chesterfield was Governor-General of Ireland. This nobleman, though +an infidel, was a bigot, and a decided anti-Catholic; nor do I think +that the temporary relaxation of the penal laws against Catholics was +anything else than an apprehension on the part of England that the +claims of the Pretender might be supported by the Irish Catholics, who +then, so depressed and persecuted, must have naturally felt a strong +interest in having a prince who professed their own religion placed upon +the English throne. Strange as it may appear, however, and be the cause +of it what it may, the Catholics of Ireland, as a people and as a body, +took no part whatever in supporting him. Under Lord Chesterfield's +administration, one of the most shocking and unnatural Acts of +Parliament ever conceived passed into a law. This was the making void +and null all intermarriages between Catholic and Protestant that should +take place after the 1st of May, 1746. Such an Act was a renewal of the +Statute of Kilkenny, and it was a fortunate circumstance to Willy Reilly +and his dear Cooleen Bawn that he had the consolation of having been +transported for seven years. Had her father even given his consent at an +earlier period, the laws of the land would have rendered their marriage +impossible. This cruel law, however, was overlooked; for it need hardly +be said that it was met and spurned not only by human reason, but by +human passion. In truth, the strong and influential of both religions +treated it with contempt, and trampled on it without any dread of the +consequences. By the time of his return from transportation, it was +merely a dead letter, disregarded and scorned by both parties, and was +no obstruction to either the marriage or the happiness of himself and +his dear _Cooleen Bawn_. + +I know not that there is any thing else I can add to this preface, +unless the fact that I have heard several other ballads upon the subject +of these celebrated lovers--all of the same tendency, and all in the +highest praise of the beauty and virtues of the fair _Cooleen Bawn_. +Their utter vulgarity, however, precludes them from a place in these +pages. And, by the way, talking of the law which passed under the +administration of Lord Chesterfield against intermarriages, it is not +improbable that the elopement of Reilly and the _Cooleen Bawn_, in +addition to the execution of the man to whom I have given the name of +Sir Robert Whitecraft, may have introduced it in a spirit of reaction, +not only against the consequences of the elopement, but against the +baronet's ignominious death. Thus, in every point from which we can +view it, the fate of this celebrated couple involved not only popular +feeling, but national importance. + +I have not been able to trace with any accuracy or satisfaction that +portion or branch of the O'Reilly family to which my hero belonged. The +dreary lapse of time, and his removal from the country, have been the +means of sweeping into oblivion every thing concerning him, with the +exception of his love for Miss Folliard, and its strange consequences. +Even tradition is silent upon that part of the subject, and I fear that +any attempt to throw light upon it must end only in disappointment. +I have reason to believe that the Counsellor Fox, who acted as his +advocate, was never himself raised to the bench; but that that honor was +reserved for his son, who was an active judge a little before the close +of the last century. + +W. Carleton. + +Dublin, December, 1856. + + + + +CHAPTER I.--An Adventure and an Escape. + + +Spirit of George Prince Regent James, Esq., forgive me this +commencement! * + + * I mean no offence whatsoever to this distinguished and + multitudinous writer; but the commencement of this novel really + resembled that of so many of his that I was anxious to avoid the + charge of imitating him. + +It was one evening at the close of a September month and a September day +that two equestrians might be observed passing along one of those old +and lonely Irish roads that seemed, from the nature of its construction, +to have been paved by a society of antiquarians, if a person could judge +from its obsolete character, and the difficulty, without risk of neck or +limb, of riding a horse or driving a carriage along it. Ireland, as our +English readers ought to know, has always been a country teeming with +abundance--a happy land, in which want, destitution, sickness, and +famine have never been felt or known, except through the mendacious +misrepresentations of her enemies. The road we speak of was a proof +of this; for it was evident to every observer that, in some season of +superabundant food, the people, not knowing exactly how to dispose of +their shilling loaves, took to paving the common roads with them, rather +than they should be utterly useless. These loaves, in the course +of time, underwent the process of petrifaction, but could not, +nevertheless, be looked upon as wholly lost to the country. A great +number of the Irish, within six of the last preceding years--that is, +from '46 to '52--took a peculiar fancy for them as food, which, we +presume, caused their enemies to say that we then had hard times in +Ireland. Be this as it may, it enabled the sagacious epicures who lived +upon them to retire, in due course, to the delightful retreats of Skull +and Skibbereen,* and similar asylums, there to pass the very short +remainder of their lives in health, ease, and luxury. + + * Two poor-houses in the most desolate parts of the County of + Cork, where famine, fever, dysentery, and cholera, rendered more + destructive by the crowded state of the houses and the consequent + want of ventilation, swept away the wretched in-mates to the + amount, if we recollect rightly, of sometimes from fifty to + seventy per diem in the years '45 and '47. + +The evening, as we have said, was about the close of September, when the +two equestrians we speak of were proceeding at a pace necessarily slow. +One of them was a bluff, fresh-complexioned man, of about sixty summers; +but although of a healthy look, and a frame that had evidently once +been vigorous, yet he was a good deal stooped, had about him all the +impotence of plethora, and his hair, which fell down his shoulders, was +white as snow. The other, who rode pretty close to him, was much about +his own age, or perhaps a few years older, if one could judge by a face +that gave more undeniable evidences of those furrows and wrinkles which +Time usually leaves behind him. This person did not ride exactly side by +side with the first-mentioned, but a little aback, though not so far +as to prevent the possibility of conversation. At this time it may be +mentioned here that every man that could afford it wore a wig, with the +exception of some of those eccentric individuals that are to be found +in every state and period of society, and who are remarkable for +that peculiar love of singularity which generally constitutes their +character--a small and harmless ambition, easily gratified, and +involving no injury to their fellow-creatures. The second horseman, +therefore, wore a wig, but the other, although he eschewed that +ornament, if it can be called so, was by no means a man of that mild +and harmless character which we have attributed to the eccentric and +unfashionable class of whom we have just spoken. So far from that, he +was a man of an obstinate and violent temper, of strong and unreflecting +prejudices both for good and evil, hot, persevering, and vindictive, +though personally brave, intrepid, and often generous. Like many of his +class, he never troubled his head about religion as a matter that must, +and ought to have been, personally, of the chiefest interest to himself, +but, at the same time, he was looked upon as one of the best and +staunchest Protestants of the day. His loyalty and devotedness to +the throne of England were not only unquestionable, but proverbial +throughout the country; but, at the same time, he regarded no clergyman, +either of his own or any other creed, as a man whose intimacy was worth +preserving, unless he was able to take off his three or four bottles +of claret after dinner. In fact, not to keep our readers longer in +suspense, the relation which he and his companion bore to each other was +that of master and servant. + +The hour was now a little past twilight, and the western sky presented +an unusual, if not an ominous, appearance. A sharp and melancholy breeze +was abroad, and the sun, which had set among a mass of red clouds, half +placid, and half angry in appearance, had for some brief space gone +down. Over from the north, however, glided by imperceptible degrees a +long black bar, right across the place of his disappearance, and nothing +could be more striking than the wild and unnatural contrast between the +dying crimson of the west and this fearful mass of impenetrable darkness +that came over it. As yet there was no moon, and the portion of light +or rather "darkness visible" that feebly appeared on the sky and +the landscape, was singularly sombre and impressive, if not actually +appalling. The scene about them was wild and desolate in the extreme; +and as the faint outlines of the bleak and barren moors appeared in the +dim and melancholy distance, the feelings they inspired were those of +discomfort and depression. On each side of them were a variety of lonely +lakes, abrupt precipices, and extensive marshes; and as our travellers +went along, the hum of the snipe, the feeble but mournful cry of the +plover, and the wilder and more piercing whistle of the curlew, still +deepened the melancholy dreariness of their situation, and added to +their anxiety to press on towards the place of their destination. + +"This is a very lonely spot, your honor," said his servant, whose name +was Andrew, or, as he was more familiarly called, Andy Cummiskey. + +"Yes, but it's the safer, Andy," replied his master. "There is not a +human habitation within miles of us." + +"It doesn't follow, sir, that this place, above all others in the +neighborhood, is not, especially at this hour, without some persons +about it. You know I'm no coward, sir." + +"What, you scoundrel! and do you mean to hint that I'm one?" + +"Not at all, sir; but you see the truth is, that, this being the very +hour for duck and wild-fowl shootin', it's hard to say where or when a +fellow might start up, and mistake me for a wild duck, and your honor +for a curlew or a bittern." + +He had no sooner spoken than the breeze started, as it were, into more +vigorous life, and ere the space of many minutes a dark impenetrable +mist or fog was borne over from the solitary hills across the dreary +level of country through which they passed, and they felt themselves +suddenly chilled, whilst a darkness, almost palpable, nearly concealed +them from each other. Now the roads which we have described, being +almost without exception in remote and unfrequented parts of the +country, are for the most part covered over with a thick sole of close +grass, unless where a narrow strip in the centre shows that a pathway is +kept worn, and distinctly marked by the tread of foot-passengers. Under +all these circumstances, then, our readers need not feel surprised +that, owing at once to the impenetrable obscurity around them, and the +noiseless nature of the antique and grass-covered pavement over which +they went, scarcely a distance of two hundred yards had been gained when +they found, to their dismay,' that they had lost their path, and were +in one of the wild and heathy stretches of unbounded moor by which they +were surrounded. + +"We have lost our way, Andy," observed his master. "We've got off that +damned old path; what's to be done? where are you?" + +"I'm here, sir," replied his man; "but as for what's to be done, it +would take Mayo Mullen, that sees the fairies and tells fortunes, to +tell us that. For heaven's sake, stay where you are, sir, till I get up +to you, for if we part from one another, we're both lost. Where are you, +sir?" + +"Curse you, sirra," replied his master angrily, "is this either a time +or place to jest in? A man that would make a jest in such a situation as +this would dance on his father's tombstone." + +"By my soul, sir, and I'd give a five-pound note, if I had it, that you +and I were dancing 'Jig Polthogue' on it this minute. But, in the mane +time, the devil a one o' me sees the joke your honor speaks of." + +"Why, then, do you ask me where I am, when you know I'm astray, that +we're both astray, you snivelling old whelp? By the great and good King +William, I'll be lost, Andy!" + +"Well, and even if you are, sir," replied Andy, who, guided by his +voice, had now approached and joined him; "even if you are, sir, I trust +you'll bear it like a Christian and a Trojan." + +"Get out, you old sniveller--what do you mean by a Trojan?" + +"A Trojan, sir, I was tould, is a man that lives by sellin' wild-fowl. +They take an oath, sir, before they begin the trade, never to die until +they can't help it." + +"You mean to say, or to hint at least, that in addition to our other +dangers we run the risk of coming in contact with poachers?" + +"Well, then, sir, if I don't mistake they're out to-night. However, +don't let us alarm one another. God forbid that I'd say a single word to +frighten you; but still, you know yourself that there's many a man not +a hundred miles from us that 'ud be glad to mistake you for a target, a +mallard, or any other wild-fowl or that description." + +"In the meantime we are both well armed," replied his master; "but what +I fear most is the risk we run of falling down precipices, or walking +into lakes or quagmires. What's to be done? This fog is so cursedly cold +that it has chilled my very blood into ice." + +"Our best plan, sir, is to dismount, and keep ourselves warm by taking +a pleasant stroll across the country. The horses will take care of +themselves. In the meantime keep up your spirits--we'll both want +something to console us; but this I can tell you, that devil a bit of +tombstone ever will go over either of us, barrin' the sky in heaven; and +for our coffins, let us pray to the coffin-maker, bekaise, you see, it's +the _maddhu ruah_ * (the foxes), and ravens, and other civilized animals +that will coffin us both by instalments in their hungry guts, until +our bones will be beautiful to look at--afther about six months' +bleaching--and a sharp eye 'twould be that 'ud know the difference +between masther and man then, I think." + +We omitted to say that a piercing and most severe hoar frost had set in +with the fog, and that Cummiskey's master felt the immediate necessity +of dismounting, and walking about, in order to preserve some degree of +animal heat in his body. + +"I cannot bear this, Andy," said he, "and these two gallant animals +will never recover it after the severe day's hunting they've had. Poor +Fiddler and Piper," he exclaimed, "this has proved a melancholy day to +you both. What is to be done, Andy? I am scarcely able to stand, and +feel as if my strength had utterly left me." + +"What, sir," replied his servant, who was certainly deeply attached to +his master, "is it so bad with you as all that comes to? Sure I only +thought to amuse you, sir. Come, take courage; I'll whistle, and maybe +somebody will come to our relief." + +He accordingly put his two fingers into his mouth, and uttered a loud +and piercing whistle, after which both stood still for a time, but no +reply was given. + +"Stop, sir," proceeded Andrew; "I'll give them another touch that'll make +them spake, if there's any one near enough to hear us." + +He once more repeated the whistle, but with two or three peculiar shakes +or variations, when almost instantly one of a similar character was +given in reply. + +"Thank God," he exclaimed, "be they friends or foes, we have human +creatures not far from us. Take courage, sir. How do you feel?" + +"Frozen and chilled almost to death," replied his master; "I'll give +fifty pounds to any man or party of men that will conduct us safely +home." + +"I hope in the Almighty," said Andrew to himself in an anxious and +apprehensive tone of voice, "that it's not Parrah Ruah (Red Patrick), +the red Rapparee, that's in it, and I'm afeered it is, for I think I +know his whistle. There's not a man in the three baronies could give +such a whistle as that, barring himself. If it is, the masther's a gone +man, and I'll not be left behind to tell the story, God protect us! + +"What are you saying, Andy?" asked his master: "What were you muttering +just now?" + +"Nothing, sir, nothing; but there can be no harm, at all events, to look +to our pistols. If there should be danger, let us sell our lives like +men." + +"And so we will, Andy. The country I know is in a disturbed and lawless +state, and ever since that unfortunate affair of the priest, I know I am +not popular with a great many. I hope we won't come across his Rapparee +nephew." + +"Whether we do or not, sir, let us look to our firearms. Show me yours +till I settle the powdher in them. Why, God bless me, how you are +tremblin'." + +"It is not from fear, sir," replied the intrepid old man, "but from +cold. If any thing should happen me, Andy, let my daughter know that my +will is in the oaken cabinet; that is to say, the last I made. She is +my heiress--but that she is by the laws of the land. However, as I had +disposed of some personal property to other persons, which disposition +I have revoked in the will I speak of--my last, as I said--I wish you to +let her know where she may find it. Her mother's jewels are also in +the same place--but they, too, are hers by right of law--her mother +bequeathed them to her." + +"All! sir, you are right to remember and think well of that daughter. +She has been a guardian angel to you these five years. But why, sir, do +you give me this message? Do you think I won't sell my life in defence +of yours? If you do you're mistaken." + +"I believe it, Andrew; I believe it, Andy," said he again, familiarizing +the word; "but if this red Rapparee should murder me, I don't, wish you +to sacrifice your life on my account. Make your escape if he should be +the person who is approaching us, and convey to my daughter the message +I have given you." + +At this moment another whistle proceeded from a quarter of the moor much +nearer them, and Andy, having handed back the pistols to his master, +asked him should he return it. + +"Certainly," replied the other, who during all this time was pacing to +and fro, in order to keep himself from sinking; "certainly, let us see +whether these persons are friends or enemies." + +His servant then replied to the whistle, and in a few minutes it was +answered again, whilst at the same time a strong but bitter wind +arose which cleared away the mist, and showed them with considerable +distinctness the position which they occupied. + +Within about ten yards of them, to the left, the very direction in +which they had been proceeding, was a small deep lake' or tarn, utterly +shoreless, and into which they unquestionably would have walked and +perished, as neither of them knew how to swim. The clearing away of +the mist, and the light of the stars (for the moon had not yet risen), +enabled the parties to see each other, and in a few minutes Andrew and +his master were joined by four men, the principal person among them +being the identical individual whom they both had dreaded--the Red +Rapparee. + +"Master," said Cummiskey, in a whisper, on seeing them approach, "we +must fight for it, I'm afeered, but let us not be rash; there may be a +friend or two among them, and it is better to come off peaceably if we +can." + +"I agree with you," replied his master. "There is no use in shedding +unnecessary blood; but, in any event, let us not permit them to disarm +us, should they insist on doing so. They know I never go three yards +from my hall-door without arms, and it is not improbable they may make +a point of taking them from us. I, however, for one, will not trust to +their promises, for I know their treachery, as I do their cowardice, +when their numbers are but few, and an armed opponent or two before +them, determined to give battle. Stand, therefore, by me, Andy, and, by +King William, should they have re-course to violence, we shall let them +see, and feel too, that we are not unprepared." + +"I have but one life, sir," replied his faithful follower; "it was +spent--at least its best days were--in your service, and sooner than any +danger should come to you, it will be lost in your defence. If it was +only for the sake of her, that is not here, the _Cooleen Bawn_, I would +do it." + +"Who goes there?" asked a deep and powerful voice when the parties had +come within about twenty yards of each other. + +"By the powers!" exclaimed Andrew in a whisper, "it's himself the Red +Rapparee!" + +"We are friends," he replied, "and have lost our way." + +The other party approached, and, on joining our travellers, the Rapparee +started, exclaiming, "What, noble Squire, is it possible that this is +you? Hut! it can't be--let me look at you closer, till I make sure of +you." + +"Keep your distance, sir," replied the old man with courage and dignity; +"keep your distance; you see that I and my servant are both well armed, +and determined to defend ourselves against violence." + +An ominous and ferocious glance passed from the Rapparee to his +comrades, who, however, said nothing, but seemed to be resolved to guide +themselves altogether by his conduct. The Red Rapparee was a huge man +of about forty, and the epithet of "Red" had been given to him in +consequence of the color of his hair. In expression his countenance was +by no means unhandsome, being florid and symmetrical, but hard, and +with scarcely any trace of feeling. His brows were far asunder, arguing +ingenuity and invention, but his eyes, which were small and treacherous, +glared--whenever he became excited--with the ferocity of an enraged +tiger. His shoulders were broad, his chest deep and square, his arms +long and powerful, but his lower limbs were somewhat light in proportion +to the great size of his upper figure. This, however, is generally +the case when a man combines in his own person the united qualities of +activity and strength. Even at the period we are describing, when this +once celebrated character was forty years of age, it was well known that +in fleetness of foot there was no man in the province able to compete +with him. In athletic exercises that required strength and skill he +never had a rival, but one--with whom the reader will soon be made +acquainted. He was wrapped loosely in a gray frieze big-coat, or +_cothamore_, as it is called in Irish--wore a hat of two colors, and so +pliant in texture that he could at any time turn it inside out. His coat +was--as indeed were all his clothes--made upon the time principle, so +that when hard pressed by the authorities he could in a minute or two +transmute himself into the appearance of a nun very different from the +individual described to them. Indeed he was such a perfect Proteus that +no vigilance of the Executive was ever a match for his versatility of +appearance, swiftness of foot, and caution. These frequent defeats of +the authorities of that day made him extremely popular with the people, +who were always ready to afford him shelter and means of concealment, +in return for which he assisted them with food, money, and the spoils +of his predatory life. This, indeed, was the sagacious principle of the +Irish Robbers and Rapparees from the beginning to _rob from the rich and +give to the poor_ being their motto. + +The persons who accompanied him on this occasion were three of his own +gang, who usually constituted his body-guard, and acted as videttes, +either for his protection or for the purpose of bringing him information +of such travellers as from their known wealth or external appearance +might be supposed worth attacking. They were well-made, active, and +athletic men, in whom it would not be easy to recognise any particular +character at variance with that of the peasantry around them. It is +unnecessary to say that they were all armed. Having satisfied himself as +to the identity of master and man, with a glance at his companions, the +Rapparee said, + +"What on earth brought you and Andy Cummiskey here, noble squire? Oh! +you lost your way Andy says. Well now," he proceeded, "you know I have +been many a day and night on the lookout for you; aye, could have +put daylight through you many and many a time; and what do you think +prevented me?" + +"Fear of God, or of the gallows, I hope," replied the intrepid old man. + +"Well," returned the Rapparee, with a smile of scorn, "I'm not a man--as +I suppose you may know--that ever feared either of them much--God +forgive me for the one, I don't ask his forgiveness for the other. No, +Squire Folliard, it was the goodness, the kindness, the generosity, and +the charity of the _Cooleen Bawn_, your lovely daughter, that held my +hand. You persecuted my old uncle, the priest, and you would a' hanged +him too, for merely marryin' a Protestant and a Catholic together. Well, +sir, your fair daughter, and her good mother--that's now in heaven, +I hope--went up to Dublin to the Lord Lieutenant, and before him the +_Cooleen Bawn_, went on her two knees and begged my uncle's life, and +got it; for the Lord Lieutenant said that no one could deny her any +thing. Now, sir, for her sake, go home in peace. Boys, get their +horses." + +Andy Cummiskey would have looked upon all this as manly and generous, +but he could not help observing a particular and rather sinister meaning +in the look which the Rapparee turned on his companions as he spoke. He +had often heard, too, of his treacherous disposition and his unrelenting +cruelty whenever he entertained a feeling of vengeance. In his present +position, however, all he could do was to stand on his guard; and with +this impression strong upon him he resolved to put no confidence in the +words of the Rapparee. In a few minutes the horses were brought up, and +Randy (Randall) Ruah having wiped Mr. Folliard's saddle--for such was +his name--with the skirt of his _cothamore_, and removed the hoar frost +or rime which had gathered on it, he brought the animal over to him, and +said, with a kind of rude courtesy, + +"Come, sir, trust me; I will help you to your saddle." + +"You have not the reputation of being trustworthy," replied Mr. +Folliard; "keep back, sir, at your peril; I will not trust you. My own +servant will assist me." + +This seemed precisely the arrangement which the Rapparee and his men had +contemplated. The squire, in mounting, was obliged, as every man is, to +use both his hands, as was his servant also, while assisting him. +They consequently put up their pistols until they should get into the +saddles, and, almost in an instant, found themselves disarmed, and +prisoners in the hands of these lawless and unscrupulous men. + +"Now, Squire Folliard," exclaimed the Rapparee, "see what it is not to +trust an honest man; had you done so, not a hair of your head would +be injured. As it is, I'll give you five minutes to do three things; +remember my uncle, the priest, that you transported." + +"He acted most illegally, sir," replied the old man indignantly; "and, +in my opinion, I say that, in consequence of his conduct, the country +had a good riddance of him. I only wish I could send you after him; +perhaps I shall do so yet. I believe in Providence, sirra, and that God +can protect me from your violence even here." + +"In the next place," proceeded the Rapparee, "think of your daughter, +that you will never see again, either in this world or the next." + +"I know I am unworthy of having such an angel," replied the old man, +"but unless you were a cruel and a heartless ruffian, you would not +at this moment mention her, or bring the thoughts of her to my +recollection." + +"In the last place," continued the other, "if you have any thing to say +in the shape of a prayer, say it, for in five minutes' time there will +be a bullet through your heart, and in five more you will be snug and +warm at the bottom of the loch there below--that's your doom." + +"O'Donnel," said Andy, "think that there's a God above you. Surely +you wouldn't murdher this ould man and make the sowl within your body +redder--if the thing's possible--than the head that's on the top of +it, though in throth I don't think it's by way of ornament it's there +either. Come, come, Randal, my man, this is all _feastalagh_ (nonsense). +You only want to frighten the gentleman. As for your uncle, man alive, +all I can say is that he was a friend to your family, and to religion +too, that sent him on his travels." + +"Take off your gallowses" (braces)! said the Rapparee; "take them off, +a couple of you--for, by all the powers of darkness, they'll both go to +the bottom of the loch together, back to back. Down you'll go, Andy." + +"By my soul, then," replied the unflinching servant, "if we go down +you'll go up; and we have those belongin' to us that will see you kiss +the hangman yet. Yerra, now, above all words in the alphabet what could +put a gallows into your mouth? Faith, Randal, it's about your neck +it'll go, and you'll put out your tongue at the daicent people that will +attend your own funeral yet--that is, if you don't let us off." + +"Put them both to their knees," said the Rapparee in a voice of thunder, +"to their knees with them. I'll take the masther, and, Kineely, do you +take the man." + +The companions of the Rapparee could not avoid laughing at the comic +courage displayed by Cummiskey, and were about to intercede for him, +when O'Donnel, which was his name, stamped with fury on the ground and +asked them if they dared to disobey him. This sobered them at once, +and in less than a minute Mr. Folliard and Andy were placed upon their +knees, to await the terrific sentence which was about to be executed +on them, in that wild and lonely moor, and under such appalling +circumstances. When placed in the desired posture, to ask that mercy +from God which they were not about to experience at the hands of man, +Squire Folliard spoke: + +"Red Rapparee," said he, "it is not that I am afraid of death as such, +but I feel that I am not prepared to die. Suffer my servant and myself +to go home without harm, and I shall engage not only to get you a pardon +from the Government of the country, but I shall furnish you with money +either to take you to some useful calling, or to emigrate to some +foreign country, where nobody will know of your misdeeds, or the life +you have led here." + +"Randal, my man," added Andy, "listen to what the gentleman says, and +you may escape what you know yet. As for my master, Randal, let him +pass, and take me in his place. I may as well die now, maybe, as another +time. I was an honest, faithful servant, at all times. I have neither +chick nor child to cry for me. No wife, thank God, to break my heart +afther. My conscience is light and airy, like a beggarmans blanket, +as they say; and, barrin' that I once got drunk wid your uncle in Moll +Flanagan's sheebeen house, I don't know that I have much to trouble me. +Spare _him_, then, and take _me_, if it must come to that. He has the +_Cooleen Bawn_ to think for. Do you think of her, too; and remember that +it was she who saved your uncle from the gallows." + +This unlucky allusion only deepened the vengeance of the Red Rapparee, +who looked to the priming of his gun, and was in the act of preparing +to perpetrate this most in-human and awful murder, when all interruption +took place for which neither party was prepared. + +Now, it so happened that within about eight or ten yards of where they +stood there existed the walls and a portion of the arched roof of one +of those old ecclesiastical ruins, which our antiquarians denominate +Cyclopean, like _lucus a non lucendo_, because scarcely a dozen men +could kneel in them. Over this sad ruin was what sportsmen term "a pass" +for duck and widgeon, and, aided by the shelter of the building, any +persons who stationed themselves there could certainly commit great +havoc among the wild-fowl in question. The Red Rapparee then had his gun +in his hand, and was in the very act of adjusting it to his shoulder, +when a powerful young man sprung forward, and dashing it aside, +exclaimed: + +"What is this, Randal? Is it a double murder you are about to execute, +you inhuman ruffian?" + +[Illustration: PAGE 11--Is it a double murder you are about to execute?] + +The Rapparee glared at him, but with a quailing and subdued, yet sullen +and vindictive, expression. + +"Stand up, sir," proceeded this daring and animated young man, +addressing Mr. Folliard; "and you, Cummiskey, get to your legs. +No person shall dare to injure either of you while I am here. +O'Donnel--stain and disgrace to a noble name--begone, you and your +ruffians. I know the cause of your enmity against this gentleman; and I +tell you now, that if you were as ready to sustain your religion as you +are to disgrace it by your conduct, you would not become a curse to it +and the country, nor give promise of feeding a hungry gallows some day, +as you and your accomplices will do." + +Whilst the young stranger addressed these miscreants with such energy +and determination, Mr. Folliard, who, as well as his servant, had now +got to his legs, asked the latter in a whisper who he was. + +"By all that's happy, sir," he replied, "it's himself, the only man +living that the Red Rapparee is afraid of; it's 'Willy Reilly.'" + + + + +CHAPTER II. _The Cooleen Baum_. + +The old man became very little wiser by the information of his servant, +and said in reply, "I hope, Andy, he's not a Papist;" but checking the +unworthy prejudice--and in him such prejudices were singularly strong in +words, although often feeble in fact he added, "it matters not--we owe +our lives to him--the deepest and most important obligation that one +man can owe to another. I am, however, scarcely able to stand; I feel +be-numbed and exhausted, and wish to get home as soon as possible." + +"Mr. Reilly," said Andy, "this gentleman is very weak and ill; and as +you have acted so much like a brave man and a gentleman, maybe you'd +have no objection to see us safe home." + +"It is my intention to do so," replied Reilly. "I could not for a moment +think of leaving either him or you to the mercy of this treacherous +man, who dishonors a noble name. Randal," he proceeded, addressing the +Rapparee, "mark my words!--if but a single hair of this gentleman's +head, or of any one belonging to him, is ever injured by you or your +gang, I swear that you and they will swing, each of you, from as many +gibbets, as soon as the course of the law can reach you. You know me, +sir, and my influence over those who protect you. As for you, Fergus," +he added, addressing one of the Rapparee's followers, "you are, thank +God! the only one of my blood who has ever disgraced it by leading +such a lawless and guilty life. Be advised by me--leave that man of +treachery,rapine, and murder--abandon him and re-form your life--and if +you are disposed to become a good and an industrious member of society, +go to some other country, where the disgrace you have incurred in this +may not follow you. Be advised by me, and you shall not want the means +of emigrating. Now begone; and think, each of you, of what I have said." + +The Rapparee glanced at the noble-looking young fellow with the +vindictive ferocity of an enraged bull, who feels a disposition +to injure you, but is restrained by terror; or, which is quite as +appropriate, a cowardly but vindictive mastiff, who eyes you askance, +growls, shows his teeth, but has not the courage to attack you. + +"Do not look at me so, sir," said Reilly; "you know I fear you not." + +"But the meantime," replied the Rapparee, "what's to prevent me from +putting a bullet into you this moment, if I wish to do it?" + +"There are ten thousand reasons against it," returned Reilly. "If you +did so, in less than twenty-four hours you would find yourself in Sligo +jail--or, to come nearer the truth, in less than five minutes you would +find yourself in hell." + +"Well, now, suppose I should make the trial," said the Rapparee. "You +don't know, Mr. Reilly, how you have crossed me to-night. Suppose now I +should try--and suppose, too, that not one of you three should leave the +spot you stand on only as corpses--wouldn't I have the advantage of you +then?" + +Reilly turned towards the ruined chapel, and simply raising his right +hand, about eight or ten persons made their appearance; but, restrained +by signal from him, they did not advance. + +"That will do," said he. "Now, Randal, I hope you understand your +position. Do not provoke me again; for if you do I will surround you +with toils from which you could as soon change your fierce and brutal +nature as escape. Yes, and I will take you in the midst of your ruffian +guards, and in the deepest of your fastnesses, if ever you provoke me as +you have done on other occasions, or if you ever injure this gentleman +or any individual of his family. Come, sir," he proceeded, addressing +the old man, "you are now mounted--my horse is in this old ruin--and in +a moment I shall be ready to accompany you." + +Reilly and his companions joined our travellers, one of the former +having offered the old squire a large frieze great-coat, which he gladly +accepted, and having thus formed a guard of safety for him and his +faithful attendant, they regained the old road we I have described, and +resumed their journey. + +When they had gone, the Rapparee and his companions looked after them +with blank faces for some minutes. + +"Well," said their leader, "Reilly has knocked up our game for this +night. Only for him I'd have had a full and sweet revenge. However, +never mind: it'll go hard with me, or I'll have it yet. In the mane time +it won't be often that such another opportunity will come in our way." + +"Well, now that it is over, what was your intention, Randal?" asked the +person to whom Reilly had addressed himself. + +"Why," replied the miscreant, "after the deed was done, what was to +prevent us from robbing the house to-night, and taking away his daughter +to the mountains. I have long had my eye on her, I can tell you, and +it'll cost me a fall, or I'll have her yet." + +"You had better," replied Fergus Reilly, for such was his name, "neither +make nor meddle with that family afther this night. If you do, that +terrible relation of mine will hang you like a dog." + +"How will he hang me like a dog?" asked the Rapparee, knitting his +shaggy eyebrows, and turning upon him a fierce and gloomy look. + +"Why, now, Randal, you know as well as I do," replied the other, "that +if he only raised his finger against you in the country, the very people +that harbor both you and us would betray us, aye, seize us, and bind us +hand and foot, like common thieves, and give us over to the authorities. +But as for himself, I believe you have sense enough to let him alone. +When you took away Mary Traynor, and nearly kilt her brother, the young +priest--you know they were Reilly's tenants--I needn't tell you what +happened: in four hours' time he had the country up, followed you +and your party--I wasn't with you then, but you know it's truth I'm +spakin'--and when he had five to one against you, didn't he make them +stand aside until he and you should decide it between you? Aye, and you +know he could a' brought home every man of you tied neck and heels, and +would, too, only that there was a large reward offered for the takin' +of you livin' or dead, and he scorned to have any hand in it on that +account." + +"It was by a chance blow he hit me," said the Rapparee--"by a chance +blow." + +"By a couple dozen chance blows," replied the other; "you know he +knocked you down as fast as ever you got up--I lave it to the boys here +that wor present." + +"There's no use in denyin' it, Randal," they replied; "you hadn't a +chance wid him." + +"Well, at all events," observed the Rapparee, "if he did beat me, he's +the only man in the country able to do it; but it's not over, curse +him--Ill have another trial with him yet." + +"If you take my advice," replied Reilly, "you'll neither make nor meddle +with him. He's the head o' the Catholics in this part of the country, +and you know that; aye, and he's their friend, and uses the friendship +that the Protestants have towards him for their advantage, wherever he +can. The man that would injure Willy Reilly is an enemy to our religion, +as well as to every thing that's good and generous; and mark me, Randal, +if ever you cross him in what he warned you against this very night, +I'll hang you myself, if there wasn't another livin' man to do it, and +to the back o' that again I say you must shed no blood so long as I am +with you." + +"That won't be long, then," replied the Rapparee, pulling out a purse; +"there's twenty guineas for you, and go about your business; but take +care, no treachery." + +"No," replied the other, "I'll have none of your money; there's blood in +it. God forgive me for ever joinin' you. When I want money I can get +it; as for treachery, there's none of it in my veins; good-night, and +remember my words." + +Having thus spoken, he took his way along the same road by which the old +squire and his party went. + +"That fellow will betray us," said the Rapparee. + +"No," replied his companions firmly, "there never was treachery in his +part of the family; he is not come from any of the Queen's O'Reillys.* +We wish you were as sure of every man you have as you may be of him." + + * Catholic families who were faithful and loyal to Queen + Elizabeth during her wars in Ireland were stigmatized by the + nickname of the Queen's friends, to distinguish them from + others of the same name who had opposed her, on behalf of + their religion, in the wars which desolated Ireland during + her reign; a portion of the family of which we write were on + this account designated as the Queen's O'Reillys. + +"Well, now," observed their leader, "a thought strikes me; this ould +squire will be half dead all night. At any rate he'll sleep like a top. +Wouldn't it be a good opportunity to attack the house--aise him of his +money, for he's as rich as a Jew--and take away the _Colleen Bawn_? +We'll call at Shane Bearna's** stables on our way and bring the other +boys along wid us. What do you say?" + + ** Shane Bearna was a celebrated Rapparee, who, among his + other exploits, figured principally as a horse-stealer. He + kept the stolen animals concealed in remote mountain caves, + where he trimmed and dyed them in such a way as made it + impossible to recognize them. These caves are curiosities at + the present day, and are now known as Shane Bearna's + Stables. He was a chief in the formidable gang of the + celebrated Redmond O'Manion. It is said of him that he was + called Bearna because he never had any teeth; but tradition + tells us that he could, notwithstanding, bite a piece out of + a thin plate of iron with as much ease as if it were + gingerbread. + +"Why, that you'll hang yourself, and every man of us." + +"Nonsense, you cowardly dogs," replied their leader indignantly; "can't +we lave the country?" + +"Well, if you're bent on it," replied his followers, "we won't be your +hindrance." + +"We can break up, and be off to America," he added. + +"But what will you do with the _Cooleen Bawn_, if you take her?" they +asked. + +"Why, lave her behind us, afther showin' the party creature the inside +of Shane Bearea's stables. She'll be able to find her way back to her +father's, never fear. Come, boys, now or never. To say the truth, the +sooner we get out of the country, at all events, the better." + +The Rapparee and his men had moved up to the door of the old chapel +already alluded to, whilst this conversation went on; and now that their +dreadful project had been determined on, they took a short cut +across the moors, in order to procure additional assistance for its +accomplishment. + +No sooner had they gone, however, than an individual, who had been +concealed in the darkness within, came stealthily to the door, and +peeping cautiously out, at length advanced a few steps and looked +timidly about him. Perceiving that the coast was clear, he placed +himself under the shadow of the old walls--for there was now sufficient +light to cast a shadow from any prominent object; and from thence having +observed the direction which the Rapparee and his men took, without +any risk of being seen himself, he appeared satisfied. The name of +this individual--who, although shrewd and cunning in many things, +was nevertheless deficient in reason--or rather the name by which he +generally went, was Tom Steeple, a _sobriquet_ given to him on account +of a predominant idea which characterized and influenced his whole +conversation. The great delight of this poor creature was to be +considered the tallest individual in the kingdom, and indeed nothing +could be more amusing than to witness the manner in which he held up his +head while he walked, or sat, or stood. In fact his walk was a complete +strut, to which the pride, arising from the consciousness of, or rather +the belief in, his extraordinary height gave an extremely ludicrous +appearance. Poor Tom was about five feet nine in height, but imagined +himself to be at least a foot higher. His whole family were certainly +tall, and one of the greatest calamities of the poor fellow's life was +a bitter reflection that he himself was by several inches the lowest of +his race. This was the only exception he made with respect to height, +but so deeply did it affect him that he could scarcely ever allude to it +without shedding tears. The life he had was similar in most respects +to that of his unhappy class. He wandered about through the country, +stopping now at one farmer's house, and now at another's, where he +always experienced a kind reception, because he was not only amusing +and inoffensive, but capable of making himself useful as a messenger and +drudge. He was never guilty of a dishonest act, nor ever known to commit +a breach of trust; and as a quick messenger, his extraordinary speed of +foot rendered him unrivalled. His great delight, however, was to attend +sportsmen, to whom he was invaluable as a guide and director. Such +was his wind and speed of foot that, aided by his knowledge of what is +termed the lie of the country, he was able to keep up with any pack of +hounds that ever went out. As a _soho_ man he was unrivalled. The form +of every hare for miles about was known to him, and if a fox or a covey +of partridges were to be found at all, he was your man. In wild-fowl +shooting he was infallible. No pass of duck, widgeon, barnacle, or +curlew, was unknown to him. In fact, his principal delight was to attend +the gentry of the country to the field, either with harrier, foxhound, +or setter. No coursing match went right if Torn were not present; and +as for night shooting, his eye and ear were such as, for accuracy of +observation, few have ever witnessed. It is true he could subsist a +long time without food, but, like the renowned Captain Dalgetty, when an +abundance of it happened to be placed before him, he displayed the most +indefensible ignorance as to all knowledge of the period when he ought +to stop, considering it his bounden duty on all occasions to clear off +whatever was set before him--a feat which he always accomplished with +the most signal success. + +"Aha" exclaimed Tom, "dat Red Rapparee is tall man, but not tall as Tom; +him no steeple like Tom; but him rogue and murderer, an' Tom honest; +him won't carry off _Cooleen Bawn_ dough, nor rob her fader avder. +Come, Tom, Steeple Tom, out with your two legs, one afore toder, and +put Rapparee's nose out o' joint. _Cooleen Bawn_ dats good to everybody, +Catlieks (Catholics) an' all, an' often ordered Tom many a bully dinner. +Hicko! hicko! be de bones of Peter White--off I go!" + +Tom, like many other individuals of his description, was never able +to get over the language of childhood--a characteristic which is often +appended to the want of reason, and from which, we presume, the term +"innocent" has been applied in an especial manner to those who are +remarkable for the same defect. + +Having uttered the words we have just recited, he started off at a gait, +peculiar to fools, which is known by the name of "a sling trot," and +after getting out upon the old road he turned himself in the direction +which Willy Reilly and his party had taken, and there we beg to leave +him for the present. + +The old squire felt his animal heat much revived by the warmth of the +frieze coat, and his spirits, now that the dreadful scene into which he +had been so unexpectedly cast had passed away without danger, began to +rise so exuberantly that his conversation became quite loquacious and +mirthful, if not actually, to a certain extent, incoherent. + +"Sir," said he, "you must come home with me--confound me, but you +must, and you needn't say nay, now, for I shall neither take excuse nor +apology. I am a hospitable man, Mr.--what's this your name is?" + +"My name, sir," replied the other, "is Reilly--William Reilly, or, as +I am more generally called, Willy Reilly. The name, sir, though an +honorable one, is, in this instance, that of an humble man, but one who, +I trust, will never disgrace it." + +"You must come home with me, Mr. Reilly. Not a word now." + +"Such is my intention, sir," replied Reilly. "I shall not leave you +until I see that all risk of danger is past--until I place you safely +under your own roof." + +"Well, now," continued the old squire, "I believe a Papist can be a +gentleman--a brave man--a man of honor, Mr. Reilly." + +"I am not aware that there is any thing in his religion to make him +either dishonorable or cowardly, sir," replied Reilly with a smile. + +"No matter," continued the other, who found a good deal of difficulty +in restraining his prejudices on that point, no matter, sir, no +matter, Mr.--a--a--oh, yes, Reilly, we will have nothing to do with +religion--away with it--confound religion, sir, if it prevents one man +from being thankful, and grateful too, to another, when that other +has saved his life. What's your state and condition in society, Mr.--? +confound the scoundrel! he'd have shot me. We must hang that fellow--the +Red Rapparee they call him--a dreadful scourge to the country; and, +another thing, Mr.--Mr. Mahon--you must come to my daughter's wedding. +Not a word now--by the great Boyne, you must. Have you ever seen my +daughter, sir?" + +"I have never had that pleasure," replied Reilly, "but I have heard +enough of her wonderful goodness and beauty." + +"Well, sir, I tell you to your teeth that I deny your words--you have +stated a falsehood, sir--a lie, sir." + +"What do you mean, sir?" replied Reilly, somewhat indignantly. "I am not +in the habit of stating a falsehood, nor of submitting tamely to such an +imputation." + +"Ha, ha, ha, I say it's a lie still, my friend. What did you say? Why, +that you had heard enough of her goodness and beauty. Now, sir, by the +banks of the Boyne, I say you didn't hear half enough of either one or +other. Sir, you should know her, for although you are a Papist you are +a brave man, and a gentleman. Still, sir, a Papist is not--curse it, +this isn't handsome of me, Willy. I beg your pardon. Confound all +religions if it goes to that. Still at the same time I'm bound to say +as a loyal man that Protestantism is my forte, Mr. Reilly--there's where +I'm strong, a touch of Hercules about me there, Mr. Reilly--Willy, +I mean. Well, you are a thorough good fellow, Papist and all, though +you--ahem!--never mind though, you shall see my daughter, and you shall +hear my daughter; for, by the great Boyne, she must salute the man that +saved her father's life, and prevented her from being an orphan. And yet +see, Willy, I love that girl to such a degree that if heaven was open +for me this moment, and that Saint Peter--hem!--I mean the Apostle +Peter, slid to me, 'Come, Folliard, walk in, sir,' by the great +Deliverer that saved us from Pope and Popery, brass money, and--ahem! I +beg your pardon--well, I say if he was to say so, I wouldn't leave her. +There's affection for you; but she deserves it. No, if ever a girl was +capable of keeping an old father from heaven she is." + +"I understand your meaning, sir," replied Reilly with a smile, "and +I believe she is loved by every one who has the pleasure of knowing +her--by rich and poor." + +"Troth, Mr. Reilly," observed Andy, "it's a sin for any one to let +their affections, even for one of their own childer, go between them and +heaven. As for the masther, he makes a god of her. To be sure if ever +there was an angel in this world she is one." + +"Get out, you old whelp," exclaimed his master; "what do you know about +it?--you who never had wife or child? isn't she my only child?--the +apple of my eye? the love of my heart?" + +"If you loved her so well you wouldn't make her unhappy then." + +"What do you mean, you despicable old Papist?" + +"I mean that you wouldn't marry her to a man she doesn't like, as you're +goin' to do. That's a bad way to make her happy, at any rate." + +"Overlook the word Papist, Mr. Reilly, that I applied to that old +idolater--the fellow worships images; of course you know, as a Papist, +he does--ahem!--but to show you that I don't hate the Papist without +exception, I beg to let you know, sir, that I frequently have the Papist +priest of our parish to dine with me; and if that isn't liberality the +devil's in it. Isn't that true, you superstitious old Padareen? No, Mr. +Reilly, Mr. Mahon--Willy, I mean--I'm a liberal man, and I hope we'll +be all saved yet, with the exception of the Pope--ahem! yes, I hope we +shall all be saved." + +"Throth, sir," said Andy, addressing himself to Reilly, "he's a quare +gentleman, this. He's always abusing the Papists, as he calls us, and +yet for every Protestant servant undher his roof he has three Papists, +as he calls us. His bark, sir, is worse than his bite, any day." + +"I believe it," replied Reilly in a low voice, "and it's a pity that +a good and benevolent man should suffer these idle prejudices to sway +him." + +"Divil a bit they sway him, sir," replied Andy; "he'll damn and abuse +them and their religion, and yet he'll go any length to serve one o' +them, if they want a friend, and has a good character. But here, now +we're at the gate of the avenue, and you'll soon see the _Cooleen Bawn_" + +"Hallo!" the squire shouted out, "what the devil! are you dead or asleep +there? Brady, you Papist scoundrel, why not open the gate?" + +The porter's wife came out as he uttered the words, saying, "I beg your +honor's pardon. Ned is up at the Castle;" and whilst speaking she opened +the gate. + +"Ha, Molly!" exclaimed her master in a tone of such bland good nature as +could not for a moment be mistaken; "well, Molly, how is little Mick? Is +he better, poor fellow?" + +"He is, thank God, and your honor." + +"Hallo, Molly," said the squire, laughing, "that's Popery again. You are +thanking God and me as if we were intimate acquaintances. None of that +foolish Popish nonsense. When you thank God, thank him; and when you +thank me, why thank me; but don't unite us, as you do him and your +Popish saints, for I tell you, Molly, I'm no saint; God forbid! Tell the +doctorman to pay him every attention, and to send his bill to me when +the child is properly recovered; mark that--properly recovered." + +A noble avenue, that swept along with two or three magnificent bends, +brought them up to a fine old mansion of the castellated style, where +the squire and his two equestrian attendants dismounted, and were +ushered into the parlor, which they found brilliantly lighted up with +a number of large wax tapers. The furniture of the room was exceedingly +rich, but somewhat curious and old-fashioned. It was such, however, as +to give ample proof of great wealth and comfort, and, by the heat of a +large peat fire which blazed in the capacious hearth, it communicated +that sense of warmth which was in complete accordance with the general +aspect of the apartment. An old gray-haired butler, well-powdered, +together with two or three other servants in rich livery, now entered, +and the squire's first inquiry was after his daughter. + +"John," said he to the butler, "how is your mistress?" but, without +waiting for a reply, he added, "here are twenty pounds, which you will +hand to those fine fellows at the hall-door." + +"Pardon me, sir," replied Reilly, "those men are my tenants, and the +sons of my tenants: they have only performed towards you a duty, which +common humanity would require at their hands towards the humblest person +that lives." + +"They must accept it, Mr. Reilly--they must have it--they are humble +men--and as it is only the reward of a kind office, I think it is justly +due to them. Here, John, give them the money." + +It was in vain that Reilly interposed; the old squire would not listen +to him. John was, accordingly, dispatched to the hall steps, but found +that they had all gone. + +At this moment our friend Toni Steeple met the butler, whom he +approached with a kind of wild and uncouth anxiety. + +"Aha! Mista John," said he, "you tall man too, but not tall as +Tom Steeple--ha, ha--you good man too, Mista John--give Tom bully +dinners--Willy Reilly, Mista John, want to see Willy Reilly." + +"What do you want with him, Tom? he's engaged with the master." + +"Must see him, Mista John; stitch in time saves nine. Hicko! hicko! +God's sake, Mista John: God's sake! Up dere;" and as he spoke he pointed +towards the sky. + +"Well, but what is your business, then? What have you to say to him? +He's engaged, I tell you." + +Tom, apprehensive that he might not get an opportunity of communicating +with Reilly, bolted in, and as the parlor door stood open, he saw him +standing near the large chimney-piece. + +"Willy Reilly!" he exclaimed in a voice that trembled with earnestness, +"Willy Reilly, dere's news for you--for de squire too--bad news--God's +sake come wid Tom--you tall too, Willy Reilly, but not tall as Tom is." + +"What is the matter, Tom?" asked Reilly; "you look alarmed." + +"God's sake, here, Willy Reilly," replied the kind-hearted fool, "come +wid Tom. Bad news." + +"Hallo!" exclaimed the squire, "what is the matter? Is this Tom Steeple? +Go to the kitchen, Tom, and get one of your 'bully dinners'--my poor +fellow--off with you--and a pot of beer, Tom." + +An expression of distress, probably heightened by his vague and +unconscious sense of the squire's kindness, was depicted strongly on his +countenance, and ended in a burst of tears. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Reilly, "poor Tom, sir, was with us to-night on our +duck-shooting excursion, and, now that I remember, remained behind us +in the old ruin--and then he is in tears. What can this mean? I will go +with you, Tom--excuse me, sir, for a few minutes--there can be no harm +in hearing what he has to say." + +He accompanied the fool, with whom he remained for about six or eight +minutes, after which he re-entered the parlor with a face which strove +in vain to maintain its previous expression of ease and serenity. + +"Well, Willy?" said the squire--"you see, by the way, I make an old +acquaintance of you--" + +"You do me honor, sir," replied Reilly. "Well, what was this mighty +matter? Not a fool's message, I hope? eh!" + +"No, sir," said the other, "but a matter of some importance." + +"John," asked his master, as the butler entered, "did you give those +worthy fellows the money?" + +"No, your honor," replied the other, they were gone before I went out." + +"Well, well," replied his master, "it can't be helped. You will excuse +me, Mr.--a--a--yes--Mr. Reilly--Willy--Willy--ay, that's it--you will +excuse me, Willy, for not bringing you to the drawing room. The fact is, +neither of us is in a proper trim to go there--both travel-soiled, as +they say--you with duck-shooting and I with a long ride--besides, I +am quite too much fatigued to change my dress--John, some Madeira. I'm +better than I was--but still dreadfully exhausted and afterwards, John, +tell your mistress that her father wishes to see her here. First, the +Madeira, though, till I recruit myself a little. A glass or two will do +neither of us any harm, Willy, but a great deal of good. God bless me! +what an escape I've had! what a dreadful fate you rescued me from, my +young friend and preserver--for as such I will ever look upon, you." + +"Sir," replied Reilly, "I will not deny that the appearance of myself +and my companions, in all probability, saved your life." + +"There was no probability in it, Willy--none at all; it would have +been a dead certainty in every sense. My God! here, John--put it down +here--fill for that gentleman and me--thank you, John--Willy," he said +as he took the glass in his trembling hand--"Willy--John, withdraw and +send down, my daughter--Willy"--the old man looked at him, but was too +full to utter a word. At this moment his daughter entered the room, +and her father, laying down the glass, opened his arms, and said in a +choking voice, "Helen, my daughter--my child--come to me;" and as she +threw herself into them he embraced her tenderly and wept aloud. + +"Dear papa!" she exclaimed, after the first burst of his grief was over, +"what has affected you so deeply? Why are you so agitated?" + +"Look at that noble young man," he exclaimed, directing her attention to +Reilly, who was still standing. "Look at him, my life, and observe him +well; there he stands who has this night saved your loving father from +the deadly aim of an assassin--from being murdered by O'Donnel, the Red +Rapparee, in the lonely moors." + +Reilly, from the moment the far-famed _Cooleen Dawn_ entered the room, +heard not a syllable the old man had said. He was absorbed, entranced, +struck with a sensation of wonder, surprise, agitation, joy, and +confusion, all nearly at the same moment. Such a blaze of beauty, +such elegance of person, such tenderness and feeling as chastened +the radiance of her countenance into something that might be termed +absolutely divine; such symmetry of form; such harmony of motion; such +a seraphic being in the shape of woman, he had, in fact, never seen or +dreamt of. She seemed as if surrounded by an atmosphere of light, of +dignity, of goodness, of grace; but that which, above all, smote +him, heart on, the moment was the spirit of tenderness and profound +sensibility which seemed to predominate in her whole being. Why did his +manly and intrepid heart palpitate? Why did such a strange confusion +seize upon him? Why did the few words which she uttered in her father's +arms fill his ears with a melody that charmed him out of his strength? +Alas! is it necessary to ask? To those who do not understand this +mystery, no explanation could be of any avail; and to those who do, none +is necessary. + +[Illustration: PAGE 18--Looked with her dark eyes upon Reilly] + +After her father had spoken, she raised herself from his arms, and +assuming her full height--and she was tall--looked for a moment with +her dark, deep, and terrible eyes upon Reilly, who in the meantime felt +rapt, spell-bound, and stood, whilst his looks were riveted upon these +irresistible orbs, as if he had been attracted by the influence of some +delightful but supernatural power, under which he felt himself helpless. + +That mutual gaze and that delightful moment! alas! how many hours of +misery--of sorrow--of suffering--and of madness did they not occasion! + +"Papa has imposed a task upon me, sir," she said, advancing gracefully +towards him, her complexion now pale, and again over-spread with deep +blushes. "What do I say? Alas--a task! to thank the preserver of my +father's life--I know not what I say: help me, sir, to papa--I am +weak--I am--" + +Reilly flew to her, and caught her in his arms just in time to prevent +her from falling. + +"My God!" exclaimed her father, getting to his feet, "what is the +matter? I was wrong to mention the circumstance so abruptly; I ought to +have prepared her for it. You are strong, Reilly, you are strong, and I +am too feeble--carry her to the settee. There, God bless you!--God bless +you!--she will soon recover. Helen! my child! my life! What, Helen! +Come, dearest love, be a woman. I am safe, as you may see, dearest. I +tell you I sustained no injury in life--not a hair of nay head was hurt; +thanks to Mr. Reilly for it thanks to this gentleman. Oh! that's right, +bravo, Helen--bravo, my girl! See that, Reilly, isn't she a glorious +creature? She recovers now, to set her old loving father's heart at +ease." + +The weakness, for it did not amount altogether to insensibility, was +only of brief duration. + +"Dear papa," said she, raising herself, and withdrawing gently and +modestly from Reilly's support, "I was unprepared for the account of +this dreadful affair. Excuse me, sir; surely you will admit that a +murderous attack on dear papa's life could not be listened to by his only +child with indifference. But do let me know how it happened, papa." + +"You are not yet equal to it, darling; you are too much agitated." + +"I am equal to it now, papa! Pray, let me hear it, and how this +gentleman--who will be kind enough to imagine my thanks, for, indeed, +no language could express them--and how this gentleman was the means of +saving you." + +"Perhaps, Miss Folliard," said Reilly, "it would be better to defer the +explanation until you shall have gained more strength." + +"Oh, no, sir," she replied; "my anxiety to hear it will occasion me +greater suffering, I am sure, than the knowledge of it, especially now +that papa is safe." + +Reilly bowed in acquiescence, but not in consequence of her words; a +glance as quick as the lightning, but full of entreaty and gratitude, +and something like joy--for who does not know the many languages which +the single glance of a lovely woman can speak?--such a glance, we say, +accompanied her words, and at once won him to assent. + +"Miss Folliard may be right, sir," he observed, "and as the shock has +passed, perhaps to make her briefly acquainted with the circumstances +will rather relieve her." + +"Right," said her father, "so it will, Willy, so it will, especially, +thank God, as there has been no harm done. Look at this now! Get away, +you saucy baggage! Your poor loving father has only just escaped being +shot, and now he runs the risk of being strangled." + +"Dear, dear papa," she said, "who could have thought of injuring +you--you with your angry tongue, but your generous and charitable and +noble heart?" and again she wound her exquisite and lovely arms about +his neck and kissed him, whilst a fresh gush of tears came to her eyes. + +"Come, Helen--come, love, be quiet now, or I shall not tell you any +thing more about my rescue by that gallant young fellow standing before +you." + +This was followed, on her part, by another glance at Reilly, and +the glance was as speedily followed by a blush, and again a host of +tumultuous emotions crowded around his heart. + +The old man, placing her head upon his bosom, kissed and patted her, +after which he related briefly, and in such a way as not, if possible, +to excite her afresh, the circumstances with which the reader is already +acquainted. At the close, however, when he came to the part which Reilly +had borne in the matter, and dwelt at more length on his intrepidity and +spirit, and the energy of character and courage with which the quelled +the terrible Rapparee, he was obliged to stop for a moment, and say, + +"Why, Helen, what is the matter, my darling? Are you getting ill again? +Your little heart is going at a gallop--bless me, how it pit-a-pats. +There, now, you've heard it all--here I am, safe--and there stands the +gentleman to whom, under God, we are both indebted for it. And now let +us have dinner, darling, for we have not dined?" + +Apologies on the part of Reilly, who really had dined, were flung to the +winds by the old squire. + +"What matter, Willy? what matter, man?--sit at the table, pick +something--curse it, we won't eat you. Your dress? never mind your +dress. I am sure Helen here will not find fault with it. Come, Helen, +use your influence, love. And you, sir, Willy Reilly, give her your +arm." This he added in consequence of dinner having been announced while +he spoke; and so they passed into the dining-room. + + + + +CHAPTER III.--Daring Attempt of the Red Rapparee + +--Mysterious Disappearance of His Gang--The Avowal + + +We must go back a little. When Helen sank under the dreadful +intelligence of the attempt made to assassinate her father, we stated at +the time that she was not absolutely insensible; and this was the fact. +Reilly, already enraptured by such wonderful grace and beauty as the +highest flight of his imagination could never have conceived, when +called upon by her father to carry her to the sofa, could scarcely +credit his senses that such a lovely and precious burden should ever be +entrusted to him, much less borne in his very arms. In order to prevent +her from falling, he was literally obliged to throw them around her, +and, to a certain extent, to press her--for the purpose of supporting +her--against his heart, the pulsations of which were going at a +tremendous speed. There was, in fact, something so soft, so pitiable, +so beautiful, and at the same time so exquisitely pure and fragrant, in +this lovely creature, as her head lay drooping on his shoulder, her pale +cheek literally lying against his, that it is not at all to be wondered +at that the beatings of his heart were accelerated to an unusual degree. +Now she, from her position upon his bosom, necessarily felt this rapid +action of its tenant; when, therefore, her father, after her recovery, +on reciting for her the fearful events of the evening, and dwelling upon +Reilly's determination and courage, expressed alarm at the palpitations +of her heart, a glance passed between them which each, once and forever, +understood. She had felt the agitation of him who had risked his life in +defence of her father, for in this shape the old man had truly put it; +and now she knew from her father's observation, as his arm lay upon her +own, that the interest which his account of Reilly's chivalrous conduct +throughout the whole affair had excited in it were discovered. In this +case heart spoke to heart, and by the time they sat down to dinner, +each felt conscious that their passion, brief as was the period of their +acquaintance, had become, whether for good or evil, the uncontrollable +destiny of their lives. + +William Reilly was the descendant of an old and noble Irish family. His +ancestors had gone through all the vicissitudes and trials, and been +engaged in most of the civil broils and wars, which, in Ireland, had +characterized the reign of Elizabeth. As we are not disposed to enter +into a disquisition upon the history of that stormy period, unless to +say that we believe in our souls both parties were equally savage and +inhuman, and that there was not, literally, a toss up between them, we +have only to add that Reilly's family, at least that branch of it to +which he belonged, had been reduced by the ruin that resulted from the +civil wars, and the confiscations peculiar to the times. His father +had made a good deal of money abroad in business, but feeling that +melancholy longing for his native soil, for the dark mountains and the +green fields of his beloved country, he returned to it, and having taken +a large farm of about a thousand acres, under a peculiar tenure, which +we shall mention ere we close, he devoted himself to pasturage and +agriculture. Old Reilly had been for some years dead, and his eldest +son, William, was now not only the head of his immediate family, but +of that great branch of it to which he belonged, although he neither +claimed nor exercised the honor. In Reilly, many of those irreconcilable +points of character, which scarcely ever meet in the disposition of any +but an Irishman, were united. He was at once mild and impetuous; under +peculiar circumstances, humble and unassuming, but in others, proud +almost to a fault; a bitter foe to oppression in every sense, and to +bigotry in every creed. He was highly educated, and as perfect a master +of French, Spanish, and German, as he was of either English or Irish, +both of which he spoke with equal fluency and purity. To his personal +courage we need not make any further allusion. On many occasions it +had been well tested on the Continent. He was an expert and unrivalled +swordsman, and a first-rate shot, whether with the pistol or +fowling-piece. + +At every athletic exercise he was matchless; and one great cause of his +extraordinary popularity among the peasantry was the pleasure he took in +promoting the exercise of such manly sports among them. In his person +he combined great strength with remarkable grace and ease. The wonderful +symmetry of his form took away apparently from his size; but on looking +at and examining him closely, you felt surprised at the astonishing +fulness of his proportions and the prodigious muscular power which lay +under such deceptive elegance. As for his features, they were replete +with that manly expression which changes with, and becomes a candid +exponent of, every feeling that influences the heart. His mouth was +fine, and his full red lips exquisitely chiselled; his chin was full of +firmness; and his large dark eyes, though soft, mellow, and insinuating, +had yet a sparkle in them that gave evidence of a fiery spirit when +provoked, as well as of a high sense of self-respect and honor. His +complexion was slightly bronzed by residence in continental climates, a +circumstance that gave a warmth and mellowness to his features, which, +when taken into consideration with his black, clustering locks, and the +snowy whiteness of his forehead, placed him in the very highest order of +handsome men. + +Such was our hero, the fame of whose personal beauty, as well as that of +the ever-memorable _Cooleen Bawn_, is yet a tradition in the country. + +On this occasion the dinner-party consisted only of the squire, his +daughter, and Reilly. The old man, on reflecting that he was now +safe, felt his spirits revive apace. His habits of life were jolly and +convivial, but not actually intemperate, although it must be admitted +that on some occasions he got into the debatable ground. To those who +did not know him, and who were acquainted through common report +only with his unmitigated abuse of Popery, he was looked upon as an +oppressive and overbearing tyrant, who would enforce, to the furthest +possible stretch of severity, the penal enactments then in existence +against Roman Catholics. And this, indeed, was true, so far as any one +was concerned from whom he imagined himself to have received an +injury; against such he was a vindictive tyrant, and a most implacable +persecutor. By many, on the other hand, he was considered as an +eccentric man, with a weak head, but a heart that often set all his +anti-Catholic prejudices at complete defiance. + +At dinner the squire had most of the conversation to himself, his +loquacity and good-humor having been very much improved by a few +glasses of his rich old Madeira. His daughter, on the other hand, seemed +frequently in a state of abstraction, and, on more than one occasion, +found herself incapable of answering several questions which he put to +her. Ever and anon the timid, blushing glance was directed at Reilly, +by whom it was returned with a significance that went directly to her +heart. Both, in fact, appeared to be influenced by some secret train +of thought that seemed quite at variance with the old gentleman's +garrulity. + +"Well," said he, "here we are, thank God, all safe; and it is to you, +Willy, we owe it. Come, man, take off your wine. Isn't he a fine young +fellow, Helen?" + +Helen's heart, at the moment, had followed her eyes, and she did not +hear him. + +"Hello! what the deuce! By the banks of the Boyne, I believe the girl +has lost her hearing. I say, Helen, isn't Willy Reilly here, that +prevented you from being an orphan, a fine young fellow?" + +A sudden rosy blush suffused her whole neck and face on hearing this +blunt and inconsiderate question. + +"What, darling, have you not heard me?" + +"If Mr. Reilly were not present, papa, I might give an opinion on that +subject; but I trust you will excuse me now." + +"Well, I suppose so; there's no getting women to speak to the point. +At all events, I would give more than I'll mention that Sir Hobert +Whitecraft was as good-looking a specimen of a man; I'll engage, if he +was, you would have no objection to say yes, my girl." + +"I look to the disposition, papa, to the moral feelings and principles, +more than to the person. + +"Well, Helen, that's right too--all right, darling, and on that account +Sir Robert must and ought to be a favorite. He is not yet forty, and for +this he is himself my authority, and forty is the prime of life; yet, +with an immense fortune and strong temptations, he has never launched +out into a single act of imprudence or folly. No, Helen, he never sowed +a peck of wild oats in his life. He is, on the contrary, sober, grave, +silent--a little too much so, by the way--cautious, prudent, and saving. +No man knows the value of money better, nor can contrive to make it go +further. Then, as for managing a bargain--upon my soul, I don't think he +treated me well, though, in the swop of 'Hop-and-go-constant' against my +precious bit of blood, 'Pat the Spanker.' He made me pay him twenty-five +pounds boot for an old--But you shall see him, Reilly, you shall see +him, Willy, and if ever there was a greater take in--you needn't smile, +He en, nor look at Willy. By the good King William that saved us from +Pope, and--ahem--I beg pardon, Willy, but, upon my soul, he took me +completely in. I say, I shall show you 'Hop-and-go-constant', and when +you see him you'll admit the 'Hop,' but the devil a bit you will find of +the 'Go-constant.'" + +"I suppose the gentleman's personal appearance, sir," observed Reilly, +glancing at Miss Folliard, "is equal to his other qualities." + +"Why--a--ye-s. He's tall and thin and serious, with something about him, +say, of a philosopher. Isn't that true, Helen?" + +"Perfectly, papa," she replied, with a smile of arch humor, which, to +Reilly, placed her character in a new light. + +"Perfectly true, papa, so far as you have gone; but I trust you will +finish the portrait for Mr. Reilly." + +"Well, then, I will. Where was I? Oh, yes--tall, thin, and serious; like +a philosopher. I'll go next to the shoulders, because Helen seems to +like them--they are a little round or so. I, myself, wish to goodness +they were somewhat straighter, but Helen says the curve is delightful, +being what painters and glaziers call the line of beauty." + +A sweet light laugh, that rang with the melody of a musical bell, broke +from Helen at this part of the description, in which, to tell the truth, +she was joined by Reilly. The old man himself, from sheer happiness and +good-humor, joined them both, though utterly ignorant of the cause of +their mirth. + +"Aye, aye," he exclaimed, "you may laugh--by the great Boyne, I knew I +would make you laugh. Well, I'll go on; his complexion is of a--a--no +matter--of a good standing color, at all events; his nose, I grant you, +is as thin, and much of the same color, as pasteboard, but as a set-off +to that it's a thorough Williamite. Isn't that true, Helen?" + +"Yes, papa; but I think King William's nose was the worst feature in his +face, although that certainly cannot be said of Sir Robert." + +"Do you hear that, Reilly? I wish Sir Robert heard it, but I'll tell +him--there's a compliment, Helen--you're a good girl--thank you, Helen." + +Helen's face was now radiant with mirthful enjoyment, whilst at the same +time Reilly could perceive that from time to time a deep unconscious +sigh would escape from her, such a sigh as induced him to infer that +some hidden care was at work with her heart. This he at once imputed to +her father's determination to force her into a marriage with the worthy +baronet, whom in his simplicity he was so ludicrously describing. + +"Proceed, papa, and finish as you have begun it." + +"I will, to oblige and gratify you, Helen. He is a little close about +the knees, Mr. Reilly--a little close about the knees, Willy." + +"And about the heart, papa," added his daughter, who, for the life of +her, could not restrain the observation. + +"It's no fault to know the value of money, my dear child. However, let +me go on--close about the knees, but that's a proof of strength, because +they support one another: every one knows that." + +"But his arms, papa?" + +"You see, Reilly, you see, Willy," said the squire, nodding in the +direction of his daughter, "not a bad sign that, and yet she pretends +not to care about him. She is gratified, evidently. Ah, Helen, Helen! +it's hard to know women." + +"But his arms, papa?" + +"Well, then, I wish to goodness you would allow me to skip that part of +the subject--they are an awful length, Willy, I grant. I allow the fact, +it cannot be denied, they are of an awful length." + +"It will give him the greater advantage in over-reaching, papa." + +"Well, as to his arms, upon my soul Willy, I know no more what to do +with them--" + +"Than he does himself, papa." + +"Just so, Helen; they hang about him like those of a skeleton on wires; +but, on the other hand, he has a neck that always betokens true +blood, long and thin like that of a racer. Altogether he's a devilish +interesting man, steady, prudent, and sober. I never saw him drink a +third glass of--" + +"In the meantime, papa," observed Helen, "in the enthusiasm of your +description you are neglecting Mr. Reilly." + +Ah, love, love! in how many minute points can you make yourself +understood! + +"By the great William, and so I am. Come, Willy, help yourself"--and he +pushed the bottle towards him as he spoke. + +And why, gentle reader, did Reilly fill his glass on that particular +occasion until it became literally a brimmer? We know--but if you are +ignorant of it we simply beg you to remain so; and why, on putting the +glass to his lips, did his large dark eyes rest upon her with that +deep and melting glance? Why, too, was that glance returned with the +quickness of thought before her lids dropped, and the conscious blush +suffused her face? The solution of this we must also leave to your own +ingenuity. + +"Well," proceeded the squire, "steady, prudent, sober--of a fine old +family, and with an estate of twelve thousand a year--what do you think +of that, Willy? Isn't she a fortunate girl?" + +"Taking his virtues and very agreeable person into consideration, sir, +I think so," replied Reilly in a tone of slight sarcasm, which was only +calculated to reach one of his audience. + +"You hear that, Helen--you hear what Mr. Reilly--what Willy-says. The +fact is, I'll call you nothing but Willy in future, Willy--you hear what +he says, darling?" + +"Indeed I do, papa--and understand it perfectly." + +"That's my girl. Twelve thousand a year--and has money lent out at every +rate of interest from six per cent. up." + +"And yet I cannot consider him as interesting on that account, papa." + +"You do, Helen--nonsense, my love--you do, I tell you--it's all +make-believe when you speak to the contrary--don't you call the curve +on his shoulders the line of beauty? Come--come--you know I only want to +make you happy." + +"It is time, papa, that I should withdraw," she replied, rising. + +Reilly rose to open the door. + +"Good-night, papa-dear, dear papa," she added, putting her snowy arms +about his neck and kissing him tenderly. "I know," she added, "that the +great object of your life is to make your _Cooleen Bawn_ happy--and in +doing so, dear papa--there now is another kiss for you--a little bribe, +papa--in doing so, consult her heart as well as your own. Good-night." + +"Good-night, my treasure." + +During this little scene of affectionate tenderness Reilly stood holding +the door open, and as she was going out, as if recollecting herself, she +turned to him and said, "Pardon me, Mr. Reilly, I fear you must think +me ungrateful; I have not yet thanked you for the service--the service +indeed so important that no language could find expression for it--which +you have rendered to dear papa, and to me. But, Mr. Reilly, I pray you +do not think me ungrateful, or insensible, for, indeed, I am neither. +Suffer me to feel what I owe you, and do not blame me if I cannot +express it." + +"If it were not for the value of the life which it is probable I have +saved, and if it were not that your happiness was so deeply involved +in it," replied Reilly, "I would say that you overrate what I have done +this evening. But I confess I am myself now forced to see the value of +my services, and I thank heaven for having made me the humble instrument +of saving your father's life, not only for his own sake, Miss Folliard, +but for yours. I now feel a double debt of gratitude to heaven for it." + +The _Cooleen Bawn_ did not speak, but the tears ran down her cheeks. +"Good-night, sir," she said. "I am utterly incapable of thanking you as +you deserve, and as I ought to thank you. Good-night!" + +She extended her small snowy hand to him as she spoke. Reilly took it +in his, and by some voluntary impulse he could not avoid giving +it a certain degree of pressure. The fact is, it was such a +hand--so white--so small--so soft--so warm--so provocative of a +squeeze--that he felt his own pressing it, he knew not how nor +wherefore, at least he thought so at the time; that is to say, if he +were capable of thinking distinctly of any thing. But heaven and earth! +Was it true! No delusion? No dream? The pressure returned! the +slightest, the most gentle, the most delicate pressure--the barely +perceptible pressure! Yes! it was beyond all doubt; for although the act +itself was light as delicacy and modesty could make it, yet the +spirit--the lightening spirit--which it shot into his bounding and +enraptured heart could not be for a moment mistaken. + +As she was running up the stairs she returned, however, and again +approaching her father, said--whilst Reilly could observe that her cheek +was flushed with a feeling that seemed to resemble ecstasy--"Papa," +said she, "what a stupid girl I am! I scarcely know what I am saying or +doing." + +"By the great Boyne," replied her father, "I'll describe him to you +every night in the week. I knew the curve--the line of beauty--would get +into your head; but what is it, darling?" + +"Will you and Mr. Reilly have tea in the drawing-room, or shall I send +it down to you?" + +"I am too comfortable in my easy chair, dear Helen: no, send it down." + +"After the shock you have received, papa, perhaps you might wish to have +it from the hand of your own Cooleen Bawn?" + +As the old man turned his eyes upon her they literally danced with +delight. "Ah, Willy!" said he, "is it any wonder I should love her?" + +"I have often heard," replied Reilly, "that it is impossible to know +her, and not to love her. I now believe it." + +"Thank you, Reilly; thank you, Willy; shake hands. Come, Helen, shake +hands with him. That's a compliment. Shake hands with him, darling. +There, now, that's all right. Yes, my love, by all means, come down and +give us tea here." + +Innocent old man--the die is now irrevocably cast! That mutual pressure, +and that mutual glance. Alas! alas! how strange and incomprehensible is +human destiny! + +After she had gone upstairs the old man said, "You see, Willy, how my +heart and soul are in that angelic creature. The great object, the great +delight of her life, is to anticipate all my wants, to study whatever +is agreeable to me--in fact, to make me happy. And she succeeds. Every +thing she does pleases me. By the grave of Schomberg, she's beyond all +price. It is true we never had a baronet in the family, and it would +gratify me to hear her called Lady Whitecraft; still, I say, I don't +care for rank or ambition; nor would I sacrifice my child's happiness +to either. And, between you and me, if she declines to have him, she +shan't, thats all that's to be said about it. He's quite round in +the shoulders; and yet so inconsistent are women that she calls a +protuberance that resembles the letter C the line of beauty. Then again +he bit me in 'Hop-and-go-constant;' and you know yourself, Willy, that +no person likes to be bit, especially by the man he intends for his +son-in-law. If he gives me the bite before marriage, what would he not +do after it?" + +"This, sir, is a subject," replied Reilly, "on which I must decline +to give an opinion; but I think that no father should sacrifice the +happiness of his daughter to his own inclinations. However, setting this +matter aside, I have something of deep importance to mention to you." + +"To me! Good heavens! What is it?" + +"The Red Rapparee, sir, has formed a plan to rob, possibly to murder, +you, and what is worse--" + +"Worse! Why, what the deuce--worse! Why, what could be worse?" + +"The dishonor of your daughter. It is his intention to carry her off to +the mountains; but pardon me, I cannot bear to dwell upon the diabolical +project." + +The old man fell back, pale, and almost insensible, in his chair. + +"Do not be alarmed, sir," proceeded Keilly, "he will be disappointed. I +have taken care of that." + +"But, Mr. Reilly, what--how--for heaven's sake tell me what you know +about it. Are you sure of this? How did you come to hear of it? Tell +me--tell me every thing about it! We must prepare to receive the +villains--we must instantly get assistance. My child--my life--my Helen, +to fall into the hands of this monster!" + +"Hear me, sir," said Reilly, "hear me, and you will perceive I have +taken measures to frustrate all his designs, and to have him a prisoner +before to-morrow's sun arises." + +He then related to him the plan laid by the Red Rapparee, as overheard +by Tom Steeple, and as it was communicated to himself by the same +individual subsequently, after which he proceeded: + +"The fact is, sir, I have sent the poor fool, who is both faithful and +trustworthy, to summon here forty or fifty of my laborers and tenants. +They must be placed in the out-houses, and whatever arms and ammunition +you can spare, in addition to the weapons which they shall bring along +with them, must be made available. I sent orders that they should be +here about nine o'clock. I, myself, will remain in this house, and you +may rest assured that your life, your property, and your child shall be +all safe. I know the strength of the ruffian's band; it only consists +of about twelve men, or rather twelve devils, but he and they will find +themselves mistaken." + +Before Miss Folliard came down to make tea, Reilly had summoned the +servants, and given them instructions as to their conduct during the +expected attack. Having arranged this, he went to the yard, and found +a large body of his tenants armed with such rude weapons as they could +procure; for, at this period, it was a felony for a Roman Catholic to +have or carry arms at all. The old squire, however, was well provided in +that respect, and, accordingly, such as could be spared from the house +were distributed among them. Mr. Folliard himself felt his spirit +animated by a sense of the danger, and bustled about with uncommon +energy and activity, considering what he had suffered in the course of +the evening. At all events, they both resolved to conceal the matter +from Helen till the last moment, in order to spare her the terror and +alarm which she must necessarily feel on hearing of the contemplated +violence. At tea, however, she could not avoid observing that something +had disturbed her father, who, from his naturally impetuous character, +ejaculated, from time to time, "The bloodthirsty scoundrel!--murdering +ruffian! We shall hang him, though; we can hang him for the conspiracy. +Would the fool's, Tom Steeples', evidence be taken, do you think?" + +"I fear not, sir," replied Reilly. "In the meantime, don't think of it, +don't further distress yourself about it." + +"To think of attacking my house, though; and if it were only I myself +that--however, we are prepared, that's one comfort; we are prepared, and +let them--hem!--Helen, my darling, now that we've had our tea, will +you retire to your own room. I wish to talk to Mr. Reilly here, on +a particular and important subject, in which you yourself are deeply +concerned. Withdraw, my love, but don't go to bed until I see you +again." + +Helen went upstairs with a light foot and a bounding heart. A certain +hope, like a dream of far-off and unexpected happiness, rushed into +and filled her bosom with a crowd of sensations so delicious that, on +reaching her own room, she felt completely overpowered by them, and was +only relieved by a burst of tears. There was now but one image before +her imagination, but one image impressed upon her pure and fervent +heart; that image was the first that love had ever stamped there, and +the last that suffering, sorrow, madness, and death were ever able to +tear from it. + +When the night had advanced to the usual hour for retiring to rest, +it was deemed necessary to make Helen acquainted with the meditated +outrage, in order to prevent the consequences of a nocturnal alarm for +which she might be altogether unprepared. This was accordingly done, and +her natural terrors were soothed and combated by Reilly and her +father, who succeeded in reviving her courage, and in enabling her to +contemplate what was to happen with tolerable composure. + +Until about the hour of two o'clock every thing regained silent. Nobody +went to bed--the male servants were all prepared--the females, some +in tears, and others sustaining and comforting those who were more +feeble-hearted. Miss Folliard was in her own room, dressed. At about +half past two she heard a stealthy foot, and having extinguished the +light in her apartment, with great presence of mind she rang the bell, +whilst at the same moment her door was broken in, and a man, as she knew +by his step, entered. In the meantime the house was alarmed; the man +having hastily projected his arms about in several directions, as if +searching for her, instantly retreated, a scuffle was heard outside on +the lobby, and when lights and assistance appeared, there were found +eight or ten men variously armed, all of whom proved to be a portion of +the guard selected by Reilly to protect the house and family. These men +maintained that they had seen the Red Rapparee on the roof of the house, +through which he had descended, and that having procured a ladder from +the farmyard, they entered a back window, at a distance of about forty +feet from the ground, in hope of securing his person--that they came in +contact with some powerful man in the dark, who disappeared from among +them--but by what means he had contrived to escape they could not guess. +This was the substance of all they knew or understood upon the subject. + +The whole house was immediately and thoroughly searched, and no trace of +him could be found until they came to the skylight, which was discovered +to be opened--wrenched off the hinges--and lying on the roof at a +distance of two or three yards from its place. + +It soon became evident that the Rapparee and his party had taken the +alarm. In an instant those who were outside awaiting to pounce upon them +in the moment of attack got orders to scour the neighborhood, and if +possible to secure the Rapparee at every risk; and as an inducement the +squire himself offered to pay the sum of five hundred pounds to any +one who should bring him to Corbo Castle, which was the name of his +residence. This was accordingly attempted, the country far and wide was +searched, pursuit given in every direction, but all to no purpose. Not +only was the failure complete, but, what was still more unaccountable +and mysterious, no single mark or trace of them could be found. This +escape, however, did not much surprise the inhabitants of the country +at large, as it was only in keeping with many of a far more difficult +character which the Rapparee had often effected. The only cause to which +it could be ascribed was the supposed fact of his having taken such +admirable precautions against surprise as enabled his gang to disappear +upon a preconcerted plan the moment the friendly guards were discovered, +whilst he himself daringly attempted to secure the squire's cash and his +daughter. + +Whether the supposition was right or wrong will appear subsequently; +but, in the meantime, we may add here, that the event in question, and +the disappearance of the burglars, was fatal to the happiness of our +lovers, for such they were in the tenderest and most devoted sense of +that strange and ungovernable passion. + +Early the next morning the squire was so completely exhausted by the +consequences of watching, anxiety, and want of rest, that he felt +himself overcome by sleep, and was obliged to go to bed. Before he +went, however, he made Reilly promise that he would not go until he had +breakfasted, then shook him cordially by the hand, thanked him again and +again for the deep and important obligations he had imposed upon him +and his child, and concluded by giving him a general invitation to his +house, the doors of which, he said, as well as the heart of its owner, +should be ever ready to receive him. + +"As for Helen, here," said he, "I leave her to thank you herself, +which I am sure she will do in a manner becoming the services you have +rendered her, before you go." + +She then kissed him tenderly and he retired to rest. + +At breakfast, Reilly and Miss Folliard were, of course, alone, if we may +say so. Want of rest and apprehension had given a cast of paleness to +her features that, so far from diminishing, only added a new and tender +character to her beauty. Reilly observed the exquisite loveliness of her +hand as she poured out the tea; and when he remembered the gentle but +significant pressure which it had given to his, more than once or twice, +on the preceding night, he felt as if he experienced a personal interest +in her fate--as if their destinies were to be united--as if his growing +spirit could enfold hers, and mingle with it forever. The love he felt +for her pervaded and softened his whole being with such a feeling of +tenderness, timidity, and ecstasy, that his voice, always manly and +firm, now became tremulous in its tones; such, in truth, as is always +occasioned by a full and overflowing heart when it trembles at the very +opportunity of pouring forth the first avowal of its affection. + +"Miss Folliard," said he, after a pause, and with some confusion, "do +you believe in Fate?" + +The question appeared to take her somewhat by surprise, if one could +judge by the look she bestowed upon him with her dark, flashing eyes. + +"In Fate, Mr. Reilly? that is a subject, I fear, too deep for a girl +like me. I believe in Providence." + +"All this morning I have been thinking of the subject. Should it be Fate +that brought me to the rescue of your father last night, I cannot but +feel glad of it; but though it be a Fate that has preserved him--and I +thank Almighty God for it--yet it is one that I fear has destroyed my +happiness." + +"Destroyed your happiness, Mr. Reilly! why, how could the service you +rendered papa last night have such an effect?" + +"I will be candid, and tell you, Miss Folliard. I know that what I am +about to say will offend you--it was by making me acquainted with his +daughter, and by bringing me under the influence of beauty which has +unmanned--distracted me--beauty which I could not resist--which has +overcome me--subdued me--and which, because it is beyond my reach and my +deserts, will occasion me an unhappy life--how long soever that life my +last." + +"Mr. Reilly," exclaimed the _Cooleen Bawn_, "this--this--is--I am quite +unprepared for--I mean--to hear that such noble and generous conduct to +my father should end in this. But it cannot be. Nay, I will not pretend +to misunderstand you. After the service you have rendered to him and to +myself, it would be uncandid in me and unworthy of you to conceal the +distress which your words have caused me." + +"I am scarcely in a condition to speak reasonably and calmly," replied +Reilly, "but I cannot regret that I have unconsciously sacrificed my +happiness, when that sacrifice has saved you from distress and grief and +sorrow. Now that I know you, I would offer--lay down--my life, if the +sacrifice could save yours from one moment's care. I have often heard of +what love--love in its highest and noblest sense--is able to do and to +suffer for the good and happiness of its object, but now I know it." + +She spoke not, or rather she was unable to speak; but as she pulled +out her snow-white handkerchief, Reilly could observe the extraordinary +tremor of her hands; the face, too, was deadly pale. + +"I am not making love to you, Miss Folliard," he added. "No, my +religion, my position in life, a sense of my own unworthiness, would +prevent that; but I could not rest unless you knew that there is one +heart which, in the midst of unhappiness and despair, can understand, +appreciate, and love you. I urge no claim. I am without hope." + +The fair girl (_Cooleen Bawn_) could not restrain her tears; but +wept--yes, she wept. "I was not prepared for this," she replied. "I did +not think that so short an acquaintance could have--Oh, I know not what +to say--nor how to act. My father's prejudices. You are a Catholic." + +"And will die one, Miss Folliard." + +"But why should you be unhappy? You do not deserve to be so." + +"That is precisely what made me ask you just now if you believed in +fate." + +"Oh, I know not. I cannot answer such a question; but why should you be +unhappy, with your brave, generous, and noble heart? Surely, surely, you +do not deserve it." + +"I said before that I have no hope, Miss Folliard. I shall carry with +me my love of you through life; it is my first, and I feel it will be my +last--it will be the melancholy light that will burn in the sepulchre +of my heart to show your image there. And now, Miss Folliard, I will bid +you farewell. Your father has proffered me hospitality, but I have not +strength nor resolution to accept it. You now know my secret--a hopeless +passion." + +"Reilly," she replied, weeping bitterly, "our acquaintance has been +short--we have not seen much of each other, yet I will not deny that +I believe you to be all that any female heart could--pardon me, I am +without experience--I know not much of the world. You have travelled, +papa told me last night; I do not wish that you should be unhappy, and, +least of all, that I, who owe you so much, should be the occasion of it. +No, you talk of a hopeless passion. I know not what I ought to say--but +to the preserver of my father's life, and, probably my own honor, I +will say, be not--but why should love be separated from truth?" she +said--"No, Reilly, be not hopeless." + +"Oh," replied Reilly, who had gone over near her, "but my soul will not +be satisfied without a stronger affirmation. This moment is the great +crisis of my life and happiness. I love you beyond all the power of +language or expression. You tremble, dear Miss Folliard, and you weep; +let me wipe those precious tears away. Oh, would to God that you loved +me!" + +He caught her hand--it was not withdrawn--he pressed it as he had done +the evening before. The pressure was returned--his voice melted into +tenderness that was contagious and irresistible: "Say, dearest Helen, +star of my life and of my fate, oh, only say that I am not indifferent +to you." + +They were both standing near the chimney-piece as he spoke--"only say," +he repeated, "that I am not indifferent to you." + +"Well, then," she replied, "you are not indifferent to me." + +"One admission more, my dearest life, and I am happy forever. You love +me? say it, dearest, say it--or, stay, whisper it, whisper it--you love +me!" + +"I do," she whispered in a burst of tears. + + + + +CHAPTER IV.--His Rival makes his Appearance, and its Consequences + +--A Sapient Project for our Hero's Conversion + +We will not attempt to describe the tumult of delight which agitated +Reilly's heart on his way home, after this tender interview with the +most celebrated Irish beauty of that period. The term _Cooleen Bawn_, +in native Irish, has two meanings, both of which were justly applied to +her, and met in her person. It signifies _fair locks_, or, as it may be +pronounced _fair girl_; and in either sense is peculiarly applicable to +a blonde beauty, which she was. The name of _Cooleen Bawn_ was applied +to her by the populace, whose talent for finding out and bestowing +epithets indicative either of personal beauty or deformity, or of +the qualities of the mind or character, be they good or evil, is, in +Ireland, singularly felicitous. In the higher ranks, however, she was +known as "The Lily of the Plains of Boyne," and as such she was toasted +by all parties, not only in her own native county, but throughout +Ireland, and at the viceregal entertainments in the Castle of Dublin. At +the time of which we write, the penal laws were in operation against the +Roman Catholic population of the country, and her father, a good-hearted +man by nature, was wordy and violent by prejudice, and yet secretly kind +and friendly to many of that unhappy creed, though by no means to all. +It was well known, however, that in every thing that was generous and +good in his character, or in the discharge of his public duties as a +magistrate, he was chiefly influenced by the benevolent and liberal +principles of his daughter, who was a general advocate for the +oppressed, and to whom, moreover, he could deny nothing. This accounted +for her popularity, as it does for the extraordinary veneration and +affection with which her name and misfortunes are mentioned down to the +present day. The worst point in her father's character was that he never +could be prevailed on to forgive an injury, or, at least, any act that +he conceived to be such, a weakness or a vice which was the means of all +his angelic and lovely daughter's calamities. + +Reilly, though full of fervor and enthusiasm, was yet by no means +deficient in strong sense. On his way home he began to ask himself +in what this overwhelming passion for _Cooleen Bawn_ must end. His +religion, he was well aware, placed an impassable gulf between them. +Was it then generous or honorable in him to abuse the confidence and +hospitality of her father by engaging the affections of a daughter, on +whose welfare his whole happiness was placed, and to whom, moreover, he +could not, without committing an act of apostasy that he abhorred, ever +be united as a husband? Reason and prudence, moreover, suggested to +him the danger of his position, as well as the ungenerous nature of his +conduct to the grateful and trusting father. But, away with reason +and prudence--away with everything but love. The rapture of his heart +triumphed over every argument; and, come weal or woe, he resolved to +win the far-famed "Star of Connaught," another epithet which she derived +from her wonderful and extraordinary beauty. + +On approaching his own house he met a woman named Mary Mahon, whose +character of a fortune-teller was extraordinary in the country, and +whose predictions, come from what source they might, had gained her a +reputation which filled the common mind with awe and fear. + +"Well, Mary," said he, "what news from futurity? And, by the way, where +is futurity? Because if you don't know," he proceeded, laughing, "I +think I could tell you." + +"Well," replied Mary, "let me hear it. Where is it, Mr. Reilly?" + +"Why," he replied, "just at the point of your own nose, Mary, and you +must admit it is not a very long one; pure Milesian, Mary; a good deal +of the saddle in its shape." + +The woman stood and looked at him for a few moments. + +"My nose may be short," she replied, "but shorter will be the course of +your happiness." + +"Well, Mary," he said, "I think as regards my happiness that you know as +little of it as I do myself. If you tell me any thing that has passed, I +may give you some credit for the future, but not otherwise." + +"Do you wish to have your fortune tould, then," she asked, "upon them +terms?" + +"Come, then, I don't care if I do. What has happened me, for instance, +within the last forty-eight hours?" + +"That has happened you within the last forty-eight hours that will make +her you love the pity of the world before her time. I see how it will +happen, for the complaint I speak of is in the family. A living death +she will have, and you yourself during the same time will have little +less." + +"But what has happened me, Mary?" + +"I needn't tell you--you know--it. A proud heart, and a joyful heart, +and a lovin' heart, you carry now, but it will be a broken heart before +long." + +"Why, Mary, this is an evil prophecy; have you nothing good to +foretell?" + +"If it's a satisfaction to you to know, I will tell you: her love +for you is as strong, and stronger, than death itself; and it is the +suffering of what is worse than death, Willy Reilly, that will unite you +both at last." + +Reilly started, and after a pause, in which he took it for granted that +Mary spoke merely from one of those shrewd conjectures which practised +impostors are so frequently in the habit of hazarding, replied, "That +won't do, Mary; you have told me nothing yet that has happened within +the last forty-eight hours. I deny the truth of what you say." + +"It won't be long so, then, Mr. Reilly; you saved the life of the old +half-mad squire of Corbo. Yes, you saved his life, and you have taken +his daughter's! for indeed it would be better for her to die at wanst +than to suffer what will happen to you and her." + +"Why, what is to happen?" + +"You'll know it too soon," she replied, "and there's no use in making +you unhappy. Good-by, Mr. Reilly; if you take a friend's advice you'll +give her up; think no more of her. It may cost you an aching heart to +do so, but by doin' it you may save her from a great deal of sorrow, and +both of you from a long and heavy term of suffering." + +Reilly, though a young man of strong reason in the ordinary affairs of +life, and of a highly cultivated intellect besides, yet felt himself +influenced by the gloomy forebodings of this notorious woman. It is true +he saw, by the force of his own sagacity, that she had uttered nothing +which any person acquainted with the relative position of himself and +_Cooleen Bawn_, and the political circumstances of the country, might +not have inferred as a natural and probable consequence. In fact he had, +on his way home, arrived at nearly the same conclusion. Marriage, as the +laws of the country then stood, was out of the question, and could +not be legitimately effected. What, then, must the consequence of this +irresistible but ill-fated passion be? An elopement to the Continent +would not only be difficult but dangerous, if not altogether impossible. +It was obviously evident that Mary Mahon had drawn her predictions from +the same circumstances which led himself to similar conclusions; +yet, notwithstanding all this, he felt that her words had thrown a +foreshadowing of calamity and sorrow over his spirit, and he passed up +to his own house in deep gloom and heaviness of heart. It is true he +remembered that this same Mary Mahon belonged to a family that had been +inimical to his house. She was a woman who had, in her early life, +been degraded by crime, the remembrance of which had been by no means +forgotten. She was, besides, a paramour to the Red Rapparee, and he +attributed much of her dark and ill-boding prophecy to a hostile and +malignant spirit. + +On the evening of the same day, probably about the same hour, the +old squire having recruited himself by sleep, and felt refreshed and +invigorated, sent for his daughter to sit with him as was her wont; for +indeed, as the reader may now fully understand, his happiness altogether +depended upon her society, and those tender attentions to him which +constituted the chief solace of his life. + +"Well, my girl," said he, when she entered the dining-room, for he +seldom left it unless when they had company, "Well, darling, what do you +think of this Mr. Mahon--pooh!--no--oh, Reilly--he who saved my life, +and, probably, was the means of rescuing you from worse than death? +Isn't he a fine--a noble young fellow?" + +"Indeed, I think so, papa; he appear's to be a perfect gentleman." + +"Hang perfect gentlemen, Helen! they are, some of them, the most +contemptible whelps upon earth. Hang me, but any fellow with a +long-bodied coat, tight-kneed breeches, or stockings and pantaloons, +with a watch in each fob, and a frizzled wig, is considered a perfect +gentleman--a perfect puppy, Helen, an accomplished trifle. Reilly, +however, is none of these, for he is not only a perfect gentleman, but a +brave man, who would not hesitate to risk his life in order to save +that of a fellow-creature, even although he is a Papist, and that +fellow-creature a Protestant." + +"Well, then, papa, I grant you," she replied with a smile, which our +readers will understand, "I grant you that he is a--ahem!--all you +say." + +"What a pity, Helen that he is a Papist." + +"Why so, papa?" + +"Because, if he was a staunch Protestant, by the great Deliverer that +saved us from brass money, wooden shoes, and so forth, I'd marry you and +him together. I'll tell you what, Helen, by the memory of Schomberg, I +have a project, and it is you that must work it out." + +"Well, papa," asked his daughter, putting the question with a smile and +a blush, "pray what is this speculation?" + +"Why, the fact is, I'll put him into your hands to convert him--make him +a staunch Protestant, and take him for your pains. Accomplish this, and +let long-legged, knock-kneed Whitecraft, and his twelve thousand a year, +go and bite some other fool as he bit me in 'Hop-and-go-constant.'" + +"What are twelve thousand a year, papa, when you know that they could +not secure me happiness with such a wretch? Such a union, sir, could +not be--cannot be--must not be, and I will add, whilst I am in the +possession of will and reason, shall not be." + +[Illustration: PAGE 28 (and Frontispiece)--You must endeavor to convert +him from Popery] + +"Well, Helen," said her father, "if you are obstinate, so am I; but I +trust we shall never have to fight for it. We must have Reilly here, and +you must endeavor to convert him from Popery. If you succeed, I'll give +long-shanks his _nunc dimittis_, and send him home on a trot." + +"Papa," she replied, "this will be useless--it will be ruin--I know +Reilly." + +"The devil you do! When, may I ask, did you become acquainted?" + +"I mean," she replied, blushing, "that I have seen enough of him during +his short stay here to feel satisfied that no earthly persuasion, no +argument, could induce him, at this moment especially, to change his +religion. And, sir, I will add myself--yes, I will say for myself, dear +papa, and for Reilly too, that if from any unbecoming motive--if for the +sake of love itself, I felt satisfied that he could give up and abandon +his religion, I would despise him. I should feel at once that his heart +was hollow, and that he was unworthy either of my love or my respect." + +"Well, by the great Boyne, Helen, you have knocked my intellects up. I +hope in God you have no Papist predilections, girl. However, it's only +fair to give Reilly a trial; long-legs is to dine with us the day after +tomorrow--now, I will ask Reilly to meet him here--perhaps, if I get +an opportunity, I will sound him on the point myself--or, perhaps, you +will. Will you promise to make the attempt? I'll take care that you and +he shall have an opportunity." + +"Indeed, papa, I shall certainly mention the subject to him." + +"By the soul of Schomberg, Helen, if you do you'll convert him." + +Helen was about to make some good-natured reply, when the noise of +carriage wheels was heard at the hall-door, and her father, going to +the window, asked, "What noise is that? A carriage!--who can it be? +Whitecraft, by the Boyne! Well, it can't be helped." + +"I will leave you, papa," she said; "I do not wish to see this unfeeling +and repulsive man, unless when it is unavoidable, and in your presence." + +She then withdrew. + +Before we introduce Sir Robert Whitecraft, we must beg our readers to +accompany us to the residence of that worthy gentleman, which was not +more than three miles from that of Reilly. Sir Robert had large estates +and a sumptuous residence in Ireland, as well as in England, and had +made the former principally his place of abode since he became enamored +of the celebrated _Cooleen Bawn_. On the occasion in question he was +walking about through his grounds when a female approached him; whom +we beg the reader to recognize as Mary Mahon. This mischievous woman, +implacable and without principle, had, with the utmost secrecy, served +Sir Robert, and many others, in a capacity discreditable alike to virtue +and her sex, by luring the weak or the innocent within their toils. + +"Well, Mary," said he, "what news in the country? You, who are always on +the move, should know." + +"No very good news for you, Sir Robert," she replied. + +"How is that, Mary?" + +"Why, sir, Willy Reilly--the famous Willy Reilly--has got a footing in +the house of old Squire Folliard." + +"And how can that be bad news to me, Mary?" + +"Well, I don't know," said she, with a cunning leer; "but this I know, +that they had a love scene together this very morning, and that he +kissed her very sweetly near the chimney-piece." + +Sir Robert Whitecraft did not get into a rage; he neither cursed nor +swore, nor even looked angrily, but he gave a peculiar smile, which +should be seen in order to be understood. "Where is your--ahem--your +friend now?" he asked; and as he did so he began to whistle. + +"Have you another job for him?" she inquired, in her turn, with a +peculiar meaning. "Whenever I fail by fair play, he tries it by foul." + +"Well, and have not I often saved his neck, as well by my influence +as by allowing him to take shelter under my roof whenever he was hard +pressed?" + +"I know that, your honor; and hasn't he and I often sarved you, on the +other hand?" + +"I grant it, Molly; but that is a matter known only to ourselves. You +know I have the reputation of being very correct and virtuous." + +"I know you have," said Molly, "with most people, but not with all." + +"Well, Molly, you know, as far as we are concerned, one good turn +deserves another. Where is your friend now, I ask again?" + +"Why, then, to tell you the truth, it's more than I know at the present +speaking." + +"Follow me, then," replied the wily baronet; "I wish you to see him; he +is now concealed in my house; but first, mark me, I don't believe a word +of what you have just repeated." + +"It's as true as Gospel for all that," she replied; "and if you wish to +hear how I found it out I'll tell you." + +"Well," said the baronet calmly, "let us hear it." + +"You must know," she proceeded, "that I have a cousin, one Betty Beatty, +who is a housemaid in the squire's. Now, this same Betty Beatty was in +the front parlor--for the squire always dines in the back--and, from a +kind of natural curiosity she's afflicted with, she puts her ear to the +keyhole, and afterwards her eye. I happened to be at the squire's at +the time, and, as blood is thicker that wather, and as she knew I was +a friend of yourrs, she tould me what she had both heard and seen, what +they said, and how he kissed her." + +Sir Robert seemed very calm, and merely said, "Follow me into the +house," which she accordingly did, and remained in consultation with him +and the Red Rapparee for nearly an hour, after which Sir Robert ordered +his carriage, and went to pay a visit, as we have seen, at Corbo Castle. + +Sir Robert Whitecraft, on entering the parlor, shook hands as a matter +of course with the squire. At this particular crisis the vehement but +whimsical old man, whose mind was now full of another project with +reference to his daughter, experienced no great gratification from this +visit, and, as the baronet shook hands with him, he exclaimed somewhat +testily. + +"Hang it, Sir Robert, why don't you shake hands like a man? You put that +long yellow paw of yours, all skin and bones, into a man's hand, and +there you let it lie. But, no matter, every one to his nature. Be +seated, and tell me what news. Are the Papists quiet?" + +"There is little news stirring, sir; at least if there be, it does not +come my way, with the exception of this report about yourself, which I +hope is not true; that there was an attempt made on your life yesterday +evening?" + +Whilst Sir Robert spoke he approached a looking-glass, before which he +presented himself, and commenced adjusting his dress, especially his +wig, a piece of vanity which nettled the quick and irritable feelings +of the squire exceedingly. The inference he drew was, that this wealthy +suitor of his daughter felt more about his own personal appearance +before her than about the dreadful fate which he himself had so narrowly +escaped. + +"What signifies that, my dear fellow, when your wig is out of balance? +it's a little to the one side, like the ear of an empty jug, as they +say." + +"Why, sir," replied the baronet, "the fact is, that I +felt--hum!--hum--so much--so much--a--anxiety--hum!--to see you +and--a--a--to know all about it--that--a--I didn't take time to--a--look +to my dress. And besides, as I--hum!--expect to have--a--the pleasure +of an interview with Miss Folliard--a--hum!--now that I'm here--I feel +anxious to appear to the best advantage--a--hum!" + +[Illustration: PAGE 29--Readjustment of his toilet, at the large mirror] + +While speaking he proceeded with the readjustment of his toilet at the +large mirror, an operation which appeared to constitute the great object +on which his mind was engaged, the affair of the squire's life or +death coming in only parenthetically, or as a consideration of minor +importance. + +In height Sir Robert Whitecraft was fully six feet two; but being +extremely thin and lank, and to all appearance utterly devoid of +substance, and of every thing like proportion, he appeared much taller +than even nature had made him. His forehead was low, and his whole +character felonious; his eyes were small, deep set, and cunning; his +nose was hooked, his mouth was wide, but his lips thin to a miracle, +and such as always--are to be found under the nose of a miser; as for a +chin, we could not conscientiously allow him any; his under-lip sloped +off until it met the throat with a curve not larger than that of +an oyster-shell, which when open to the tide, his mouth very much +resembled. As for his neck, it was so long that no portion of dress at +that time discovered was capable of covering more than one third of it; +so that there were always two parts out of three left stark naked, and +helplessly exposed to the elements. Whenever he smiled he looked as +if he was about to weep. As the squire said, he was dreadfully +round-shouldered--had dangling arms, that kept napping about him as +if they were moved by some machinery that had gone out of order--was +close-kneed--had the true telescopic leg--and feet that brought a very +large portion of him into the closest possible contact with the earth. + +"Are you succeeding, Sir Robert?" inquired the old man sarcastically, +"because, if you are, I swear you're achieving wonders, considering the +slight materials you have to work upon." + +"Ah! sir," replied the baronet, "I perceive you are in one of your +biting humors to-day." + +"Biting!" exclaimed the other. "Egad, it's very well for most of your +sporting acquaintances that you're free from hydrophobia; if you were +not, I'd have died pleasantly between two feather beds, leaving my child +an orphan long before this. Egad, you bit me to some purpose." + +"Oh, ay, you allude to the affair of 'Hop-and-go-constant' and 'Pat the +Spanker;' but you know, my dear sir, I gave you heavy boot;" and as he +spoke, he pulled up the lapels of his coat, and glanced complacently at +the profile of his face and person in the glass. + +"Pray, is Miss Folliard at home, sir?" + +"Again I'm forgotten," thought the squire. "Ah, what an affectionate +son-in-law he'd make! What a tender husband for Helen! Why, hang the +fellow, he has a heart for nobody, but himself. She is at home, Sir +Robert, but the truth is, I don't think it would become me, as a father +anxious for the happiness of his child, and that child, an only one, to +sacrifice her happiness--the happiness of her whole life--to wealth or +ambition. You know she herself entertains a strong prejudice--no, that's +not the word--" + +"I beg your pardon, sir; that is the word; her distaste to me is a +prejudice, and nothing else." + +"No, Sir Robert; it is not the word. Antipathy is the word. Now I tell +you, once for all, that I will not force my child." + +"This change, Mr. Folliard," observed the baronet, "is somewhat of the +suddenest. Has any thing occurred on my part to occasion it?" + +"Perhaps I may have other views for her, Sir Robert." + +"That may be; but is such conduct either fair or honorable towards me, +Mr. Folliard? Have I got a rival, and if so, who is he?" + +"Oh, I wouldn't tell you that for the world." + +"And why not, pray?" + +"Because," replied the squire, "if you found out who he was, you'd be +hanged for cannibalism." + +"I really don't understand you, Mr. Folliard. Excuse me, but it would +seem to me that something has put you into no very agreeable humor +to-day." + +"You don't understand me! Why, Sir Robert," replied the other, "I know +you so well that if you heard the name of your rival you would first +kill him, then powder him, and, lastly, eat him. You are such a terrible +fellow that you care about no man's life, not even about mine." + +Now it was to this very point that the calculating baronet wished to +bring him. The old man, he knew, was whimsical, capricious, and in the +habit of taking all his strongest and most enduring resolutions from +sudden contrasts produced by some mistake of his own, or from some +discovery made to him on the part of others. + +"As to your life, Mr. Folliard, let me assure you," replied Sir Robert, +"that there is no man living prizes it, and, let me add, you character +too, more highly than I do; but, my dear sir, your life was never in +danger." + +"Never in danger! what do you mean, Sir Robert? I tell you, sir, that +the murdering miscreant, the Red Rapparee, had a loaded gun levelled at +me last evening, after dark." + +"I know it," replied the other; "I am well aware of it, and you were +rescued just in the nick of time." + +"True enough," said the squire, "just in the nick of time; by that +glorious young fellow--a--a--yes--Reilly--Willy Reilly." + +"This Willy Reilly, sir, is a very accomplished person, I think." + +"A gentleman, Sir Robert, every inch of him, and as handsome and +fine-looking a young fellow as ever I laid my eyes upon." + +"He was educated on the Continent by the Jesuits." + +"No!" replied the squire, dreadfully alarmed at this piece of +information, "he was not; by the great Boyne, he wasn't." + +This mighty asseveration, however, was exceedingly feeble in moral +strength and energy, for, in point of fact, it came out of the squire's +lips more in the shape of a question than an oath. + +"It is unquestionably true, sir," said the baronet; "ask himself, and he +will admit it." + +"Well, and granting that he was," replied the squire, "what else could +he do, when the laws would not permit of his being educated here? I +speak not against the laws, God forbid, but of his individual case." + +"We are travelling from the point, sir," returned the baronet. "I was +observing that Reilly is an accomplished person, as indeed every Jesuit +is. Be that as it may, I again beg to assure you that your life stood in +no risk." + +"I don't understand you, Sir Robert. You're a perfect oracle; by the +great Deliverer from Pope and Popery, wooden shoes, and so forth, only +that Reilly made his appearance at that moment I was a dead man." + +"Not the slightest danger, Mr. Folliard. I am aware of that, and of +the whole Jesuitical plot from the beginning, base, ingenious, but +diabolical as it was." + +The squire rose up and looked at him for a minute, without speaking, +then sat down again, and, a second time, was partially up, but resumed +his seat. + +"A plot!" he exclaimed; "a plot, Sir Robert! What plot?" + +"A plot, Mr. Folliard, for the purpose of creating an opportunity to +make your acquaintance, and of ingratiating himself into the good +graces and affections of your lovely daughter; a plot for the purpose of +marrying her." + +The Squire seemed for a moment thunderstruck, but in a little time he +recovered. "Marrying her!" he exclaimed; "that, you know, could not be +done, unless he turned Protestant." + +It was now time for the baronet to feel thunderstricken. + +"He turn Protestant! I don't understand you, Mr. Folliard. Could any +change on Reilly's part involve such a probability as a marriage between +him and your daughter?" + +"I can't believe it was a plot, Sir Robert," said the squire, shifting +the question, "nor I won't believe it. There was too much truth and +sincerity in his conduct. And, what is more, my house would have been +attacked last night; I myself robbed and murdered, and my daughter-my +child, carried off, only for him. Nay, indeed, it was partially +attacked, but when the villainy found us prepared they decamped; but, as +for marriage, he could not marry my daughter, I say again, so long as he +remains a Papist." + +"Unless he might prevail on her to turn Papist." + +"By the life of my body, Sir Robert, I won't stand this. Did you come +here, sir, to insult me and to drive me into madness? What devil could +have put it into your head that my daughter, sir, or any one with a drop +of my blood in their veins, to the tenth generation, could ever, for a +single moment, think of turning Papist? Sir, I hoped that you would have +respected the name both of my daughter and myself, and have foreborne to +add this double insult both to her and me. The insolence even to dream +of imputing such an act to her I cannot overlook. You yourself, if you +could gain a point or feather your nest by it, are a thousand times much +more likely to turn Papist than either of us. Apologize instantly, sir, +or leave my house." + +"I can certainly apologize, Mr. Folliard," replied the baronet, "and +with a good conscience, inasmuch as I had not the most remote intention +of offending you, much less Miss Folliard--I accordingly do so promptly +and at once; but as for my allegations against Reilly, I am in a +position to establish their truth in the clearest manner, and to prove +to you that there wasn't a. single robber, nor Rapparee either, at or +about your house last night, with the exception of Reilly and his gang. +If there were, why were they neither heard nor seen?" + +"One of them was--the Red Rapparee himself." + +"Do not be deceived, Mr. Folliard; did you yourself, or any of your +family or household, see him?" + +"Why, no, certainly, we did not; I admit that." + +"Yes, and you will admit more soon. I shall prove the whole conspiracy." + +"Well, why don't you then?" + +"Simply because the matter must be brought about with great caution. +You--must allow me a few days, say three or four, and the proofs shall +be given." + +"Very well, Sir Robert, but in the meantime I shall not throw Reilly +overboard." + +"Could I not be permitted to pay my respects to Miss Folliard before I +go, sir?" asked Sir Robert. + +"Don't insist upon it," replied her father; "you know perfectly well +that she--that you are no favorite with her." + +"Nothing on earth, sir, grieves me so much," said the baronet, affecting +a melancholy expression of countenance, which was ludicrous to look at. + +"Well, well," said the old man, "as you can't see her now, come and meet +Reilly here at dinner the day after to-morrow, and you shall have that +pleasure." + +"It will be with pain, sir, that I shall force myself into that person's +society; however, to oblige you, I shall do it." + +"Consider, pray consider, Sir Robert," replied the old squire, all his +pride of family glowing strong within him, "just consider that my table, +sir, and my countenance, sir, and my sense of gratitude, sir, are a +sufficient guarantee to the worth and respectability of any one whom I +may ask to my house. And, Sir Robert, in addition to that, just reflect +that I ask him to meet my daughter, and, if I don't mistake, I think I +love, honor, and respect her nearly as much as I do you. Will you come +then, or will you not?" + +"Unquestionably, sir, I shall do myself the honor." + +"Very well," replied the old squire, clearing up at once--undergoing, in +fact, one of those rapid and unaccountable changes which constituted +so prominent a portion of his character. "Very well, Bobby; good-by, my +boy; I am not angry with you; shake hands, and curse Popery." + +Until the morning of the day on which the two rivals were to meet, Miss +Folliard began to entertain a dreadful apprehension that the fright into +which the Red Rapparee had thrown her father was likely to terminate, +ere long, in insanity. The man at best was eccentric, and full of the +most unaccountable changes of temper and purpose, hot, passionate, +vindictive, generous, implacable, and benevolent. What he had seldom +been accustomed to do, he commenced soliloquizing aloud, and talking to +himself in such broken hints and dark mysterious allusions, drawing from +unknown premises such odd and ludicrous inferences; at one time brushing +himself up in Scripture; at another moment questioning his daughter +about her opinion on Popery--sometimes dealing about political and +religious allusions with great sarcasm, in which he was a master when he +wished, and sometimes with considerable humor of illustration, so far, +at least, as he could be understood. + +"Confound these Jesuits," said he; "I wish they were scourged out of +Europe. Every man of them is sure to put his finger in the pie and then +into his mouth to taste what it's like; not so the parsons--Hallo! where +am I? Take care, old Folliard; take care, you old dog; what have you to +say in favor of these same parsons--lazy, negligent fellows, who snore +and slumber, feed well, clothe well, and think first of number one? +Egad, I'm in a mess between them. One makes a slave of you, and the +other allows you to play the tyrant. A plague, as I heard a fellow say +in a play once, a plague o' both your houses: if you paid more attention +to your duties, and scrambled less for wealth and power, and this +world's honors, you would not turn it upside down as you do. Helen!" + +"Well, papa." + +"I have doubts whether I shall allow you to sound Reilly on. Popery." + +"I would rather decline it, sir." + +"I'll tell you what; I'll see Andy Cummiskey--Andy's opinion is good +on any thing." And accordingly he proceeded to see his confidential +old servant. With this purpose, and in his own original manner, he went +about consulting every servant under his roof upon their respective +notions of Popery, as he called it, and striving to allure them, at one +time by kindness, and at another by threatening them, into an avowal +of its idolatrous tendency. Those to whom he spoke, however, knew very +little about it, and, like those of all creeds in a similar predicament, +he found that, in proportion to their ignorance of its doctrines, arose +the vehemence and sincerity of their defence of it. This, however, is +human nature, and we do not see how the learned can condemn it. Upon the +day appointed for dinner only four sat down to it--that is to say, the +squire, his daughter, Sir Robert Whitecraft, and Reilly. They had met in +the drawing-room some time before its announcement, and as the old man +introduced the two latter, Reilly's bow was courteous and gentlemanly, +whilst that of the baronet, who not only detested Reilly with the hatred +of a demon, but resolved to make him feel the superiority of rank and +wealth, was frigid, supercilious, and offensive. Reilly at once saw +this, and, as he knew not that the baronet was in possession of his +secret, he felt his ill-bred insolence the more deeply. He was too much +of a gentleman, however, and too well acquainted with the principles and +forms of good breeding, to seem to notice it in the slightest degree. +The old squire at this time had not at all given Reilly up, but still +his confidence in him was considerably shaken. He saw, moreover, that, +notwithstanding what had occurred at their last interview, the baronet +had forgotten the respect due both to himself and his daughter; and, as +he had, amidst all his eccentricities, many strong touches of the +old Irish gentleman about him, he resolved to punish him for his +ungentlemanly deportment. Accordingly, when dinner was announced, he +said: + +"Mr. Reilly, you will give Miss Folliard your arm." + +We do not say that the worthy baronet squinted, but there was a bad, +vindictive look in his small, cunning eyes, which, as they turned upon +Reilly, was ten times more repulsive than the worst squint that ever +disfigured a human countenance. To add to his chagrin, too, the squire +came out with a bit of his usual sarcasm. + +"Come, baronet," said he, "here's my arm. I am the old man, and you are +the old lady; and now for dinner." + +In the meantime Reilly and the Cooleen Bawn had gone far enough in +advance to be in a condition to speak without being heard. + +"That," said she, "is the husband my father intends for me, or, rather, +did intend; for, do you know, that you have found such favor in his +sight that--that--" she hesitated, and Reilly, looking into her face, +saw that she blushed deeply, and he felt by her arm that her whole frame +trembled with emotion. + +"Proceed, dearest love," said he; "what is it?" + +"I have not time to tell you now," she replied, "but he mentioned a +project to me which, if it could be accomplished, would seal both your +happiness and mine forever. Your religion is the only obstacle." + +"And that, my love," he replied, "is an insurmountable one." + +"Alas! I feared as much," she replied, sighing bitterly as she spoke. + +The old squire took the head of the table, and requested Sir Robert to +take the foot; his daughter was at his right hand, and Reilly opposite +her, by which means, although denied any confidential use of the tongue, +their eyes enjoyed very gratifying advantages, and there passed between +them occasionally some of those rapid glances which, especially when +lovers are under surveillance, concentrate in their lightning flash more +significance, more hope, more joy, and more love, than ever was +conveyed by the longest and tenderest gaze of affection under other +circumstances. + +"Mr. Reilly," said the squire, "I'm told that you are a very well +educated man; indeed, the thing is evident. What, let me ask, is your +opinion of education in general?" + +"Why, sir," replied Reilly, "I think there can be but one opinion about +it. Without education a people can never be moral, prosperous, or happy. +Without it, how are they to learn the duties of this life, or those +still more important ones that prepare them for a better?" + +"You would entrust the conduct and control of it, I presume, sir, to the +clergy?" asked Sir Robert insidiously. + +"I would give the priest such control in education as becomes his +position, which is not only to educate the youth, but to instruct the +man, in all the duties enjoined by religion." + +The squire now gave a triumphant look at the baronet, and a very kind +and gracious one at Reilly. + +"Pray, sir," continued the baronet, in his cold, supercilious manner, +"from the peculiarity of your views, I feel anxious, if you will pardon +me, to ask where you yourself have received your very accomplished +education." + +"Whether my education, sir, has been an accomplished one or otherwise," +replied Reilly, "is a point, I apprehend, beyond the reach of any +opportunity you ever had to know. I received my education, sir, such as +it is, and if it be not better the fault is my own, in a Jesuit seminary +on the Continent." + +It was now the baronet's time to triumph; and indeed the bitter glancing +look he gave at the squire, although it was intended for Reilly, +resembled that which one of the more cunning and ferocious beasts of +prey makes previous to its death-spring upon its victim. The old man's +countenance instantly fell. He looked with surprise, not unmingled with +sorrow and distrust, at Reilly, a circumstance which did not escape his +daughter, who could not, for the life of her, avoid fixing her eyes, +lovelier even in the disdain they expressed, with an indignant look at +the baronet. + +The latter, however, felt resolved to bring his rival still further +within the toils he was preparing for him, an object which Reilly's +candor very much facilitated. + +"Mr. Reilly," said the squire, "I was not prepared to +hear--a--a--hem--God bless me, it is very odd, very deplorable, very +much to be regretted indeed!" + +"What is, sir?" asked Reilly. + +"Why, that you should be a Jesuit. I must confess I was not--ahem!--God +bless me. I can't doubt your own word, certainly." + +"Not on this subject," observed the baronet coolly. + +"On no subject, sir," replied Reilly, looking him sternly, and with +an indignation that was kept within bounds only by his respect for the +other parties, and the roof that covered him; "On no subject, Sir Robert +Whitecraft, is my word to be doubted." + +"I beg your pardon, sir," replied the other, "I did not say so." + +"I will neither have it said, sir, nor insinuated," rejoined Reilly. "I +received my education on the Continent because the laws of this country +prevented me from receiving it here. I was placed in a Jesuit seminary, +not by my own choice, but by that of my father, to whom I owed +obedience. Your oppressive laws, sir, first keep us ignorant, and then +punish us for the crimes which that ignorance produces." + +"Do you call the laws of the country oppressive?" asked the baronet, +with as much of a sneer as cowardice would permit him to indulge in. + +"I do, sir, and ever will consider them so, at least so long as they +deprive myself and my Catholic fellow-countrymen of their civil and +religious rights." + +"That is strong language, though," observed the other, "at this time of +day." + +"Mr. Reilly," said the squire, "you seem to be very much attached to +your religion." + +"Just as much as I am to my life, sir, and would as soon give up the one +as the other." + +The squire's countenance literally became pale, his last hope was gone, +and so great was his agitation that, in bringing a glass of wine to his +lips, his hand trembled to such a degree that he spilled a part of it. +This, however, was not all. A settled gloom--a morose, dissatisfied +expression--soon overshadowed his features, from which disappeared all +trace of that benignant, open, and friendly hospitality towards Reilly +that had hitherto obtained from them. He and the baronet exchanged +glances of whose import, if Reilly was ignorant, not so his beloved +_Cooleen Bawn_. For the remainder of the evening the squire treated +Reilly with great coolness; always addressing him as Mister, and +evidently contemplating him in a spirit which partook of the feeling +that animated Sir Robert Whitecraft. + +Helen rose to withdraw, and contrived, by a sudden glance at the door, +and another as quick in the direction of the drawing-room, to let her +lover know that she wished him to follow her soon. The hint was not +lost, for in less than half an hour Reilly, who was of very temperate +habits, joined her as she had hinted. + +"Reilly," said she, as she ran to him, "dearest Reilly! there is little +time to be lost. I perceive that a secret understanding respecting +you exists between papa and that detestable baronet. Be on your guard, +especially against the latter, who has evidently, ever since we sat down +to dinner, contrived to bring papa round to his own way of thinking, as +he will ultimately, perhaps, to worse designs and darker purposes. Above +all things, speak nothing that can be construed against the existing +laws. I find that danger, if not positive injury, awaits you. I shall, +at any risk, give you warning." + +"At no risk, beloved!" + +"At every risk--at all risks, dearest Reilly! Nay, more--whatever danger +may encompass you shall be shared by me, even at the risk of my life, or +I shall extricate you out of it. But perhaps you will not be faithful to +me. If so, I shudder to think what might happen." + +"Listen," said Reilly, taking her by the hand, "In the presence of +heaven, I am yours, and yours only, until death!" + +She repeated his words, after which they had scarcely taken their seats +when the squire and Sir Eobert entered the drawing-room. + + + +CHAPTER V.--The Plot and the Victims. + + +Sir Robert, on entering the room along with the squire, found the +_Cooleen Bawn_ at the spinnet. Taking his place at the end of it, so as +that he could, gain a full view of her countenance, he thought he could +observe her complexion considerably heightened in color, and from her +his glance was directed to Reilly. The squire, on the other hand, sat +dull, silent, and unsociable, unless when addressing himself to the +baronet, and immediately his genial manner returned to him. + +With his usual impetuosity, however, when laboring under what he +supposed to be a sense of injury, he soon brought matters to a crisis. + +"Sir Robert," said he, "are the Papists quiet now?" + +"They are quiet, sir," replied the other, "because they dare not be +otherwise." + +"By the great Deliverer, that saved us from Pope and Popery, brass money +and wooden shoes, I think the country will never be quiet till they are +banished out of it." + +"Indeed, Mr. Folliard, I agree with you." + +"And so do I, Sir Robert," said Reilly. "I wish from my soul there was +not a Papist, as you call them, in this unfortunate country! In any +other country beyond the bounds of the British dominions they could +enjoy freedom. But I wish it for another reason, gentlemen; if they were +gone, you would then be taught to your cost the value of your estates +and the source of your incomes. And now, Mr. Folliard, I am not +conscious of having given you any earthly offence, but I cannot +possibly pretend to misunderstand the object of your altered conduct and +language. I am your guest, at your own express invitation. You know I am +a Roman Catholic--Papist, if you will--yet, with the knowledge of this, +you have not only insulted me personally, but also in the creed to which +I belong. As for that gentleman, I can only say that this roof and the +presence of those who are under it constitute his protection. But I envy +not the man who could avail himself of such a position, for the +purpose of insinuating an insult which he dare not offer under other +circumstances. I will not apologize for taking my departure, for I feel +that I have been too long here." + +_Cooleen Bawn_ arose in deep agitation. "Dear papa, what is this?" +she exclaimed. "What can be the cause of it? Why forget the laws of +hospitality? Why, above all things, deliberately insult the man to whom +you and I both owe so much? Oh, I cannot understand it. Some demon, +equally cowardly and malignant, must have poisoned your own naturally +generous mind. Some villain, equally profligate and hypocritical, has, +for some dark purpose, given this unworthy bias to your mind." + +"You know nothing of it, Helen. You're altogether in the dark, girl; but +in a day or two it will all be made clear to you." + +"Do not be discomposed, my dear Miss Folliard," said Sir Robert, +striding over to her. "Allow me to prevail upon you to suspend your +judgment for a little, and to return to the beautiful air you were +enchanting us with." + +As he spoke he attempted to take her hand. Reilly, in the meantime, was +waiting for an opportunity to bid his love goodnight. + +[Illustration: PAGE 35--Touch me not, sir] + +"Touch me not, sir," she replied, her glorious eyes flashing with +indignation. "I charge you as the base cause of drawing down the +disgrace of shame, the sin of ingratitude, on my father's head. But here +that father stands, and there you, sir, stand; and sooner than become +the wife of Sir Robert Whitecraft I would dash myself from the +battlements of this castle. William Reilly, brave and generous young +man, goodnight! It matters not who may forget the debt of gratitude +which this family owe you--I will not. No cowardly slanderer shall +instil his poisonous calumnies against you into my ear. My opinion of +you is unchanged and unchangeable. Farewell! William Relly!" + +We shall not attempt to describe the commotions of love, of happiness, +of rapture, which filled Reilly's bosom as he took his departure. As +for _Cooleen Bawn_, she had now passed the Rubicon, and there remained +nothing for her but constancy to the truth of her affection, be the +result what it might. She had, indeed, much of the vehemence of her +father's character in her; much of his unchangeable purpose, when she +felt or thought she was right; but not one of his unfounded whims or +prejudices; for she was too noble-minded and sensible to be influenced +by unbecoming or inadequate motives. With an indignant but beautiful +scorn, that gave grace to resentment, she bowed to the baronet, then +kissed her father affectionately and retired. + +The old man, after she had gone, sat for a considerable time silent. +In fact, the superior force of his daughter's character had not only +surprised, but overpowered him for the moment. The baronet attempted to +resume the conversation, but he found not his intended father-in-law in +the mood for it. The light of truth, as it flashed from the spirit of +his daughter, seemed to dispel the darkness of his recent suspicions; he +dwelt upon the possibility of ingratitude with a temporary remorse. + +"I cannot speak to you, Sir Robert," he said; "I am confused, disturbed, +distressed. If I have treated that young man ungratefully, God may +forgive me, but I will never forgive myself." + +"Take care, sir," said the baronet, "that you are not under the spell of +the Jesuit and your daughter too. Perhaps you will find, when it is too +late, that she is the more spellbound of the two. If I don't mistake, +the spell begins to work already. In the meantime, as Miss Folliard will +have it, I withdraw all claims upon her hand and affections. Good-night, +sir;" and as he spoke he took his departure. + +For a long time the old man sat looking into the fire, where he began +gradually to picture to himself strange forms and objects in the glowing +embers, one of whom he thought resembled the Red Rapparee about to shoot +him; another, Willy Reilly making love to his daughter; and behind +all, a high gallows, on which he beheld the said Reilly hanging for his +crime. + +In about an hour afterwards Miss Folliard returned to the drawing-room, +where she found her father asleep in his arm-chair. Having awakened him +gently from what appeared a disturbed dream, he looked about him, and, +forgetting for a moment all that had happened, inquired in his usual +eager manner where Reilly and Whitecraft were, and if they had gone. In +a few moments, however, he recollected the circumstances that had +taken place, and after heaving a deep sigh, he opened his arms for his +daughter, and as he embraced her burst into tears. + +"Helen," said he, "I am unhappy; I am distressed; I know not what +to do!--may God forgive me if I have treated this young man with +ingratitude. But, at all events, a few days will clear it all up." + +His daughter was melted by the depth of his sorrow, and the more so as +it was seldom she had seen him shed tears before. + +"I would do every thing--anything to make you happy, my dear treasure," +said he, "if I only knew how." + +"Dear papa," she replied, "of that I am conscious; and as a proof that +the heart of your daughter is incapable of veiling a single thought that +passes in it from a parent who loves her so well, I will place its most +cherished secret in your own keeping. I shall not be outdone even by +you, dear papa, in generosity, in confidence, in affection. Papa," she +added, placing her head upon his bosom, whilst the tears flowed fast +down her cheeks, "papa, I love William Reilly--love him with a pure +and disinterested passion!--with a passion which I feel constitutes my +destiny in this life--either for happiness or misery. That passion is +irrevocable. It is useless to ask me to control or suppress it, for I +feel that the task is beyond my power. My love, however, is not base nor +selfish, papa, but founded on virtue and honor. It may seem strange that +I should make such a confession to you, for I know it is un--usual in +young persons like me to do so; but remember, dear papa, that except +yourself I have no friend. If I had a mother, or a sister, or a cousin +of my own sex, to whom I might confide and unburden my feelings, then +indeed it is not probable I would make to you the confession which I +have made; but we are alone, and you are the only being left me on whom +can rest my sorrow--for indeed my heart is full of sorrow." + +"Well, well, I know not what to say. You are a true girl, Helen, and +the very error, if it be one, is diminished by the magnanimity and truth +which prompted you to disclose it to me. I will go to bed, dearest, and +sleep if I can. I trust in God there is no calamity about to overshadow +our house or destroy our happiness." + +He then sought his own chamber; and _Cooleen Bawn_, after attending him +thither, left him to the care of his attendant and retired herself to +her apartment. + +On reaching home Reilly found Fergus, one of his own relatives, as we +have said, the same who, warned by his remonstrances, had abandoned the +gang of the Red Rapparee, waiting to see him. + +"Well, Fergus," said he, "I am glad that you have followed my advice. +You have left the lawless employment of that blood-stained man?" + +"I have," replied the other, "and I'm here to tell you that you can now +secure him if you like. I don't look upon sayin' this as treachery to +him, nor would I mention it only that Pavideen, the smith, who shoes and +doctors his horses, tould me something that you ought to know." + +"Well, Fergus, what is it?" + +"There's a plot laid, sir, to send you out o' the country, and the Red +Rapparee has a hand in it. He is promised a pardon from government, and +some kind of a place as thief-taker, if he'll engage in it against you. +Now, you know, there's a price upon his head, and, if you like, you can +have it, and get an enemy put out of your way at the same time." + +"No, Fergus," replied Keilly; "in a moment of indignation I threatened +him in order to save the life of a fellow-creature. But let the laws +deal with him. As for me, you know what he deserves at my hands, but +I shall never become the hound of a government which oppresses me +unjustly. No, no, it is precisely because a price is laid upon the +unfortunate miscreant's head that I would not betray him." + +"He will betray you, then." + +"And let him. I have never violated any law, and even though he should +betray me, Fergus, he cannot make me guilty. To the laws, to God, and +his own conscience, I leave him. No, Fergus, all sympathy between me and +the laws that oppress us is gone. Let them vindicate themselves against +thieves and robbers and murderers, with as much vigilance and energy +as they do against the harmless forms of religion and the rights of +conscience, and the country will soon be free from such licentious pests +as the Red Rapparee and his gang." + +"You speak warmly, Mr. Reilly." + +"Yes," replied Keilly, "I am warm, I am indignant at my degradation. +Fergus, Fergus, I never felt that degradation and its consequences so +deeply as I do this unhappy night."' + +"Well, will you listen to me?" + +"I will strive to do so; but you know not the--you know not--alas! I +have no language to express what I feel. Proceed, however," he added, +attempting to calm the tumult that agitated his heart; "what about this +plot or plan for putting me out of the country?" + +"Well, sir, it's determined on to send you, by the means of the same +laws you speak of, out of the country. The red villain is to come in +with a charge against you and surrender himself to government as +a penitent man, and the person who is to protect him is Sir Robert +Whitecraft." + +"It's all time, Fergus," said Reilly; "I see it at a glance, and +understand it a great deal better than you do. They may, however, be +disappointed. Fergus, I have a friend--friend--oh, such a friend! and it +will go hard with that friend, or I shall hear of their proceedings. In +the meantime, what do you intend to do?" + +"I scarcely know," replied the other. "I must lie quiet for a while, at +any rate." + +"Do so," said Reilly; "and listen, Fergus. See Paudeen, the smith, from +time to time, and get whatever he knows out of him. His father was a +tenant of ours, and he ought to remember our kindness to him and his." + +"Ay," said Fergus, "and he does too." + +"Well, it is clear he does. Get from him all the information you can, +and let me hear it. I would give you shelter in my house, but that now +would be dangerous both to you and me. Do you want money to support +you?" + +"Well, indeed, Mr. Reilly, I do and I do not. I can--" + +"That's enough," said Reilly; "you want it. Here, take this. I would +recommend you, as I did before, to leave this unhappy country; but as +circumstances have turned out, you may for some time yet be useful to +me. Good-night, then, Fergus. Serve me in this matter as far as you can, +for I stand in need of it." + +As nothing like an organized police existed in Ireland at the period of +which we speak, an outlaw or Rapparee might have a price laid upon his +head for months--nay, for years--and yet continue his outrages and defy +the executive. Sometimes it happened that the authorities, feeling the +weakness of their resources and the inadequacy of their power, did not +hesitate to propose terms to the leaders of these banditti, and, by +affording them personal protection, succeeded in inducing them to betray +their former associates. Now Reilly was well aware of this, and our +readers need not be surprised that the communication made to him by his +kinsman filled him not only with anxiety but alarm. A very slight charge +indeed brought forward by a man of rank and property--such a charge, for +instance, as the possession of firearms--was quite sufficient to get a +Roman Catholic banished the country. + +On the third evening after this our friend Tom Steeple was met by its +proprietor in the avenue leading to Corbo Castle. + +"Well, Tom," said the squire, "are you for the Big House?" for such is +the general term applied to all the ancestral mansions of the country. + +Tom stopped and looked at him--for we need scarcely observe here that +with poor Tom there was no respect of persons; he then shook his head +and replied, "Me don't know whether you tall or not. Tom tall--will Tom +go to Big House--get bully dinnel--and Tom sleep under the stairs--eh? +Say aye, an' you be tall too." + +"To be sure, Tom; go into the house, and your cousin Larry Lanigan, the +cook, will give you a bully dinner; and sleep where you like." + +The squire walked up and down the avenue in a thoughtful mood for some +moments until another of our characters met him on his way towards the +entrance gate. This person was no other than Molly Mahon. + +"Ha!" said he, "here is another of them--well, poor devils, they must +live. This, though, is the great fortune-teller. I will try her." + +"God save your honor," said Molly, as she approached him and dropped a +courtesy. + +"Ah, Molly," said he, "you can see into the future, they say. Well, +come now, tell me my fortune; but they say one must cross your palm with +silver before you can manage the fates; here's a shilling for you, and +let us hear what you have to say." + +"No, sir," replied Molly, putting back his hand, "imposthors may do +that, because they secure themselves first and tell you nothing worth +knowin' afterwards. I take no money till I first tell the fortune." + +"Well, Molly, that's honest at all events; let me hear what you have to +tell me." + +"Show me your hand, sir," said she, and taking it, she looked into it +with a solemn aspect. "There, sir," she said, "that will do. I am sorry +I met you this evening." + +"Why so, Molly?" + +"Because I read in your hand a great deal of sorrow." + +"Pooh, you foolish woman--nonsense!" + +"There's a misfortune likely to happen to one of your family; but I +think it may be prevented." + +"How will it be prevented?" + +"By a gentleman that has a title and great wealth, and that loves the +member of your family that the misfortune is likely to happen to." + +The squire paused and looked at the woman, who seemed to speak +seriously, and even with pain. + +"I don't believe a word of it, Molly; but granting that it be true, how +do you know it?" + +"That's more than I can tell myself, sir," she replied. "A feelin' comes +over me, and I can't help speakin' the words as they rise to my lips." + +"Well, Molly, here's a shilling for you now; but I want you to see my +daughter's hand till I hear what you have to say for her. Are you a +Papist, Molly?" + +"No, your honor, I was one wanst; but the moment we take to this way of +life we mustn't belong to any religion, otherwise we couldn't tell the +future." + +"Sell yourself to the devil, eh?" + +"Oh, no, sir; but--" + +"But what? Out with it." + +"I can't, sir; if I did, I never could tell a fortune agin." + +"Well--well; come up; I have taken a fancy that you shall tell my +daughter's for all that." + +"Surely there can be nothing but happiness before her, sir; she that is +so good to the poor and distressed; she that has all the world admirin' +her wonderful beauty. Sure, they say, her health was drunk in the Lord +Lieutenant's house in the great Castle of Dublin, as the Lily of the +Plains of Boyle and the Star of Ireland." + +"And so it was, Molly, and so it was; there's another shilling for +you. Come now, come up to the house, and tell her fortune; and mark me, +Molly, no flattery now--nothing but the truth, if you know it." + +"Did I flatter you, sir?" + +"Upon my honor, any thing but that, Molly; and all I ask is that you +won't flatter her. Speak the truth, as I said before, if you know it." + +Miss Folliard, on being called down by her father to have her fortune +told, on seeing Molly, drew back and said, "Do not ask me to come in +direct contact with this woman, papa. How can you, for one moment, +imagine that a person of her life and habits could be gifted with that +which has never yet been communicated to mortal (the holy prophets +excepted)--a knowledge of futurity?" + +"No matter, my darling, no matter; give her your hand; you will oblige +and gratify me." + +"Here, then, dear papa, to please you--certainly." + +Molly took her lovely hand, and having looked into it, said, turning to +the squire, "It's very odd, sir, but here's nearly the same thing that I +tould to you awhile ago." + +"Well, Molly," said he, "let us hear it." + +Miss Folliard stood with her snowy hand in that of the fortune-teller, +perfectly indifferent to her art, but not without strong feelings of +disgust at the ordeal to which she submitted. + +"Now, Molly," said the squire, "what have you to say?" + +"Here's love," she replied, "love in the wrong direction--a false step +is made that will end in misery--and--and--and--" + +"And what, woman?" asked Miss Folliard, with an indignant glance at the +fortune-teller. "What have you to add?" + +"No!" said she, "I needn't speak it, for it won't come to pass. I see a +man of wealth and title who will just come in in time to save you from +shame and destruction, and with him you will be happy." + +"I could prove to you," replied the _Cooleen Dawn_, her face mantling +with blushes of indignation, "that I am a better prophetess than you +are. Ask her, papa, where she last came from." + +"Where did you come from last, Molly?" he asked. + +"Why, then," she replied, "from Jemmy Hamilton's at the foot of +Cullaniore." + +"False prophetess," replied the _Cooleen Bawn_, "you have told an +untruth. I know where you came from last." + +"Then where did I come from, Miss Folliard?" said the woman, with +unexpected effrontery. + +"From Sir Robert Whitecraft," replied Miss Folliard, "and the wages of +your dishonesty and his corruption are the sources of your inspiration. +Take the woman away, papa." + +"That will do, Molly--that will do," exclaimed the squire, "there is +something' additional for you. What you have told us is very odd--very +odd, indeed. Go and get your dinner in the kitchen." + +Miss Folliard then withdrew to her own room. + +Between eleven and twelve o'clock that night a carriage drew up at +the grand entrance of Corbo Castle, out of which stepped Sir Robert +Whitecraft and no less a personage than the Red Rapparee. They +approached the hall door, and after giving a single knock, it was opened +to them by the squire himself, who it would seem had been waiting to +receive them privately. They followed him in silence to his study. + +Mr. Folliard, though a healthy-looking man, was, in point of fact, by +no means so. Of a nervous and plethoric habit, though brave, and even +intrepid, yet he was easily affected by anything or any person that +was disagreeable to him. On seeing the man whose hand had been raised +against his life, and what was still more atrocious, whose criminal +designs upon the honor of his daughter had been proved by his violent +irruption into her chamber, he felt a suffocating sensation of rage and +horror that nearly overcame him. + +"Sir Robert," he said, "excuse me; the sight of this man has sickened +me. I got your note, and in your society and at your request I have +suffered him to come here; under your protection, too. May God forgive +me for it! The room is too close--I feel unwell--pray open the door." + +"Will there be no risk, sir, in leaving the door open?" said the +baronet. + +"None in the world! I have sent the servants all to bed nearly an hour +ago. Indeed, the fact is, they are seldom up so late, unless when I have +company." + +Sir Robert then opened the door--that is to say, he left it a little +more than ajar, and returning again took his seat. + +"Don't let the sight of me frighten you, sir," said the Rapparee. "I +never was your enemy nor intended you harm." + +"Frighten me!" replied the courageous old squire; "no, sir, I am not a +man very easily frightened; but I will confess that the sight of you has +sickened me and filled me with horror." + +"Well, now, Mr. Folliard," said the baronet, "let this matter, this +misunderstanding, this mistake, or rather this deep and diabolical plot +on the part of the Jesuit, Reilly, be at once cleared up. We wish, that +is to say I wish, to prevent your good nature from being played upon by +a designing villain. Now, O'Donnel, relate, or rather disclose, candidly +and truly, all that took place with respect to this damnable plot +between you and Reilly." + +"Why, the thing, sir," said the Rapparee, addressing himself to the +squire, "is very plain and simple; but, Sir Robert, it was not a plot +between me and Reilly--the plot was his own. It appears that he saw your +daughter and fell desperately in love with her, and knowin' your strong +feeling against Catholics, he gave up all hopes of being made acquainted +with Miss Folliard, or of getting into her company. Well, sir, aware +that you were often in the habit of goin' to the town of Boyle, he comes +to me and says in the early part of the day, 'Randal, I will give you +fifty goolden guineas if you help me in a plan I have in my head.' Now, +fifty goolden guineas isn't easily earned; so I, not knowing what the +plan was at the time, tould him I could not say nothing till I heard +it. He then tould me that he was over head and ears in love with your +daughter, and that have her he should if it cost him his life. 'Well,' +says I, 'and how can I help you?' 'Why,' said he, 'I'll show you that: +her ould persecuting scoundrel of a father'--excuse me, sir--I'm givin' +his own words--" + +"I believe it, Mr. Folliard," said the baronet, "for these are +the identical terms in which he told me the story before; proceed, +O'Donnel." + +"'The ould scoundrel of a father,' says he, 'on his return from Boyle, +generally comes by the ould road, because it is the shortest cut. Do you +and your men lie in wait in the ruins of the ould chapel, near Loch na +Garran'--it is called so, sir, because they say there's a wild horse in +it that comes out of moonlight nights to feed on the patches of green +that are here and there among the moors--'near Loch na Gaitan,' says +he; 'and when he gets that far turn out upon him, charge him with +transportin' your uncle, and when you are levellin' your gun at him, I +will come, by the way, and save him. You and I must speak angry to one +another, you know; then, of course, I must see him home, and he can't do +less than ask me to dine with him. At all events, thinkin' that I saved +his life, we will become acquainted.'" + +The squire paused and mused for some time, and then asked, "Was there no +more than this between you and him?" + +"Nothing more, sir." + +"And tell me, did he pay you the money?" + +"Here it is," replied the Rapparee, pulling out a rag in which were the +precise number of guineas mentioned. + +"But," said the squire, "we lost our way in the fog." + +"Yes, sir," said the Rapparee. "Everything turned out in his favor. That +made very little difference. You would have been attacked in or about +that place, whether or not." + +"Yes, but did you not attack my house that night? Did not you yourself +come down by the skylight, and enter, by violence, into my daughter's +apartment?" + +"Well, when I heard of that, sir, I said, 'I give Reilly up for +ingenuity.' No, sir, that was his own trick; but afther all it was a bad +one, and tells aginst itself. Why, sir, neither I nor any of my men have +the power of makin' ourselves invisible. Do you think, sir--I put it to +your own common-sense--that if we had been there no one would have seen +us? Wasn't the whole country for miles round searched and scoured, and I +ask you, sir, was there hilt or hair of me or any one of my men seen +or even heard of? Sir Robert, I must be going now," he added. "I hope +Squire Folliard understands what kind of a man Reilly is. As for myself, +I have nothing more to say." + +"Don't go yet, O'Donnel," said Whitecraft; "let us determine what is to +be done with him. You see clearly it is necessary, Mr. Folliard, that +this deep-designing Jesuit should be sent out of the country." + +"I would give half my estate he was fairly out of it," said the squire. +"He has brought calamity and misery into my family. Created world! how I +and mine have been deceived and imposed upon! Away with him--a thousand +leagues away with him! And that quickly too! Oh, the plausible, +deceitful villain! My child! my child!" and here the old man burst into +tears of the bitterest indignation. "Sir Robert, that cursed villain was +born, I fear, to be the shame and destruction of my house and name." + +"Don't dream of such a thing," said the baronet. "On the day he dined +here--and you cannot forget my strong disinclination to meet him--but +even on that day you will recollect the treasonable language he used +against the laws of the realm. After my return home I took a note of +them, and I trust that you, sir, will corroborate, with respect to this +fact, the testimony which it is my purpose to give against him. I say +this the rather, Mr. Folliard, because it might seriously compromise +your own character with the Government, and as a magistrate, too, to +hear treasonable and seditious language at your own table, from a Papist +Jesuit, and yet decline to report it to the authorities." + +"The laws, the authorities, and you be hanged, sir!" replied the squire; +"my table is, and has been, and ever shall be, the altar of confidence +to my guests; I shall never violate the laws of hospitality. Treat +the man fairly, I say, concoct no plot against him, bribe no false +witnesses, and if he is justly amenable to the law I will spend ten +thousand pounds to have him sent anywhere out of the country." + +"He keeps arms," observed Sir Robert, "contrary to the penal +enactments." + +"I think not," said the squire; "he told me he was on a duck-shooting +expedition that night, and when I asked him where he got his arms, he +said that his neighbor, Bob Gosford, always lent him his gun whenever +he felt disposed to shoot, and, to my own knowledge, so did many other +Protestant magistrates in the neighborhood, for this wily Jesuit is a +favorite with most of them." + +"But I know where he has arms concealed," said the Rapparee, looking +significantly at the baronet, "and I will be able to find them, too, +when the proper time comes." + +"Ha! indeed, O'Donnel," said Sir Robert, with well-feigned surprise; +"then there will be no lack of proof against him, you may rest assured, +Mr. Folliard; I charge myself with the management of the whole affair. +I trust, sir, you will leave it to me, and I have only one favor to ask, +and that is the hand of your fair daughter when he is disposed of." + +"She shall be yours, Sir Robert, the moment that this treacherous +villain can be removed by the fair operation of the laws; but I will +never sanction any dishonorable treatment towards him. By the laws of +the land let him stand or fall." + +At this moment a sneeze of tremendous strength and loudness was heard +immediately outside the door; a sneeze which made the hair of the +baronet almost stand on end. + +"What the devil is that?" asked the squire. "By the great Boyne, I fear +some one has been listening after all." + +The Rapparee, always apprehensive of the "authorities," started behind +a screen, and the baronet, although unconscious of any cause for terror, +stood rather undecided. The sneeze, however, was repeated, and this time +it was a double one. + +"Curse it, Sir Robert," said the squire, "have you not the use of your +legs? Go and see whether there has been an eavesdropper" + +"Yes, Mr. Folliard," replied the doughty baronet, "but your house has +the character of being haunted; and I have a terror of ghosts." + +The squire himself got up, and, seizing a candle, went outside the door, +but nothing in human shape was visible. + +"Come here, Sir Robert," said he, "that sneeze came from no ghost, I'll +swear. Who ever heard of a ghost sneezing? Never mind, though; for the +curiosity of the thing I will examine for myself, and return to you in a +few minutes." + +He accordingly left them, and in a short time came back, assuring them +that every one in the house was in a state of the most profound repose, +and that it was his opinion it must have been a cat. + +"I might think so myself," observed the baronet, "were it not for +the double sneeze. I am afraid, Mr. Folliard, that the report is too +true--and that the house is haunted. O'Donnel, you must come home with +me to-night." + +O'Donnel, who entertained no apprehension of ghosts, finding that the +"authorities" were not in question, agreed to go with him, although he +had a small matter on hand which required his presence in another part +of the country. + +The baronet, however, had gained his point. The heart of the hasty +and unreflecting squire had been poisoned, and not one shadow of doubt +remained on his mind of Reilly's treachery. And that which convinced him +beyond all arguments or assertions was the fact that on the night of the +premeditated attack on his house not one of the Red Rapparee's gang was +seen, or any trace of them discovered. + + + + +CHAPTER VI.--The Warning--an Escape + + +Reilly, in the meantime, was not insensible to his danger. About eleven +o'clock the next day, as he was walking in his garden, Tom Steeple +made his appearance, and approached him with a look of caution and +significance. + +"Well, Tom," said he, "what's the news?" + +Tom made no reply, but catching him gently by the sleeve of his coat, +said, "Come wid Tom; Tom has news for you. Here it is, in de paper;" and +as he spoke, he handed him a letter, the contents of which we give: + +"Dearest Reilly: The dreadful discovery I have made, the danger and +treachery and vengeance by which you are surrounded, but, above all, +my inexpressible love for you, will surely justify me in not losing a +moment to write to you; and I select this poor creature as my messenger +because he is least likely to be suspected. It is through him that the +discovery of the accursed plot against you has been made. It appears +that he slept in the castle last night, as he often does, and having +observed Sir Thomas Whitecraft and that terrible man, the Red Rapparee, +coming into the house, and going along with papa into his study, +evidently upon some private business, he resolved to listen. He did so, +and overheard the Rapparee stating to papa that every thing which took +place on the evening you saved his life and frustrated his other designs +upon the castle, was a plan preconceived by you for the purpose of +making papa's acquaintance and getting introduced to the family in order +to gain my affections. Alas! if you have resorted to such a plan, you +have but too well succeeded. Do not, however, for one moment imagine +that I yield any credit to this atrocious falsehood. It has been +concocted by your base and unmanly rival, Whitecraft, by whom all the +proceedings against you are to be conducted. Some violation of the penal +laws, in connection with carrying or keeping arms, is to be brought +against you, and unless you are on your guard you will be arrested +and thrown into prison, and if not convicted of a capital offence and +executed like a felon, you will at least be sent forever out of the +country. What is to be done? If you have arms in or about your house let +them be forthwith removed to some place of concealment. The Rapparee +is to get a pardon from government, at least he is promised it by +Sir Robert, if he turns against you. In one word, dearest Reilly, you +cannot, with safety to your life, remain in this country. You must fly +from it, and immediately too. I wish to see you. Come this night, at +half-past ten, to the back gate of our garden, which you will find shut, +but unlocked. Something--is it my heart?--tells me that our fates are +henceforth inseparable, whether for joy or sorrow. I ought to tell you +that I confessed my affection for you to papa on the evening you dined +here, and he was not angry; but this morning he insisted that I should +never think of you more, nor mention your name; and he says that if the +laws can do it he will lose ten thousand pounds or he will have you +sent out of the country. Lanigan, our cook, from what motive I know +not, mentioned to me the substance of what I have now written. He is, it +seems, a cousin to the bearer of this, and got the information from him +after having had much difficulty, he says, in putting it together. +I know not how it is, but I can assure you that every servant in the +castle seems to know that I am attached to you. + +"Ever, my dearest Reilly, yours, and yours only, until death, + +"Helen Folliard." + + +We need not attempt to describe the sensations of love and indignation +produced by this letter. But we shall state the facts. + +"Here, Tom," said Reilly, "is the reward for your fidelity," as he +handed him some silver; "and mark me, Tom, don't breathe to a human +being that you have brought me a letter from the _Cooleen Bawn_. Go into +the house and get something to eat; there now--go and get one of your +bully dinners." + +"It is true," said he, "too true I am doomed-devoted. If I remain in +this country I am lost. Yes, my life, my love, my more than life--I feel +as you do, that our fates, whether for good or evil, are inseparable. +Yes, I shall see you this night if I have life." + +He had scarcely concluded this soliloquy when his namesake, Fergus +Reiliy, disguised in such a way as prevented him from being recognized, +approached him, in the lowly garb of a baccah or mendicant. + +"Well, my good fellow," said he, "what do you want? Go up to the house +and you will get food." + +"Keep quiet," replied the other, disclosing himself, "keep quiet; get +all your money into one purse, settle your affairs as quickly as you +can, and fly the country this night, or otherwise sit down and make +your will and your peace with God Almighty, for if you are found here +by to-morrow night you sleep in Sligo jail. Throw me a few halfpence, +making as it were charity. Whitecraft has spies among your own +laborers, and you know the danger I run in comin' to you by daylight. +Indeed, I could not do it without this disguise. To-morrow night you are +to be taken upon a warrant from Sir Robert Whitecraft; but never mind; +as to Whitecraft, leave him to me--I have a crow to pluck with him." + +"How is that, Fergus?" + +"My sister, man; did you not hear of it?" + +"No, Fergus, nor I don't wish to hear of it, for your sake; spare your +feelings, my poor fellow; I know perfectly well what a hypocritical +scoundrel he is." + +"Well," replied Fergus, "it was only yesterday I heard of it myself; and +are we to bear this?--we that have hands and eyes and limbs and hearts +and courage to stand nobly upon the gallows-tree for striking down the +villain who does whatever he likes, and then threatens us with the laws +of the land if we murmur? Do you think this is to be borne?" + +"Take not vengeance into your own hand, Fergus," replied Reilly, "for +that is contrary to the laws of God and man. As for me, I agree with you +that I cannot remain in this country. I know the vast influence which +Whitecraft possesses with the government. Against such a man I have no +chance; this, taken in connection with my education abroad, is quite +sufficient to make me a marked and suspected man. I will therefore leave +the country, and ere to-morrow night, I trust, I shall be beyond his +reach. But, Fergus, listen: leave Whitecraft to God; do not stain your +soul with human blood; keep a pure heart, and whatever may happen be +able to look up to the Almighty with a clear conscience." + +Fergus then left him, but with a resolution, nevertheless, to have +vengeance upon the baronet very unequivocally expressed on his +countenance. + +Having seriously considered his position and all the circumstances' of +danger connected with it, Reilly resolved that his interview that night +with his beloved _Cooleen Bawn_ should be his last. He accordingly +communicated his apprehensions to an aged uncle of his who resided with +him, and entrusted the management of his property to him until some +change for the better might take place. Having heard from Fergus Reilly +that there were spies among his own laborers, he kept moving about and. +making such observations as he could for the remainder of the day. +When the night came he prepared himself for his appointment, and at, or +rather before, the hour of half-past ten, he had reached the back +gate, or rather door of the garden attached to Corbo Castle. Having +ascertained that it was unlocked, he entered with no difficulty, and +traversed the garden without being able to perceive her whose love +was now, it might be said, all that life had left him. After having +satisfied himself that she was not in the garden, he withdrew to an +arbor or summer-house of evergreens, where he resolved to await until +she should come. He did not wait long. The latch of the entrance gate +from the front made a noise; ah, how his heart beat! what a commotion +agitated his whole frame! In a few moments she was with him. + +"Reilly," said _Cooleen Bawn_, "I have dreadful news to communicate." + +"I know all," said he; "I am to be arrested to-morrow night." + +"To-night, dearest Reilly, to-night. Papa told me this evening, in one +of his moods of anger, that before to-morrow morning you would be in +Sligo jail." + +"Well, dearest Helen," he replied, "that is certainly making quick work +of it. But, even so, I am prepared this moment to escape. I have settled +my affairs, left the management of them to my uncle, and this interview +with you, my beloved girl, must be our last." + +As he uttered these melancholy words the tears came to his eyes. + +"The last!" she exclaimed. "Oh, no; it must not be the last. You shall +not go alone, dearest William. My mind is made up. Be it for life or for +death, I shall accompany you." + +"Dearest life," he replied, "think of the consequences." + +"I think of nothing," said Cooleen Bawn, "but my love for you. If you +were not surrounded by danger as you are, if the whoop of vengeance were +not on your trail, if death and a gibbet were not in the background, +I could part with you; but now that danger, vengeance, and death, are +hovering about you, I shall and must partake of them with you. And +listen, Reilly; after all it is the best plan. Papa, if I accompany +you--supposing that we are taken--will relent for my sake. I know his +love for me. His affection for me will overcome all his prejudices +against you. Then let us fly. To-night you will be taken. Your rival +will triumph over both of us; and I--I, oh! I shall not survive it. Save +me, then, Reilly, and let me fly with you." + +"God knows," replied Reilly, with deep emotion, "if I suffered myself to +be guided by the impulse of my heart, I would yield to wishes at once +so noble and disinterested. I cannot, however, suffer my affection, +absorbing and inexpressible as it is, to precipitate your ruin. I speak +not of myself, nor of what I may suffer. When we reflect, however, +my beloved girl, upon the state of the country, and of the law, as it +operates against the liberty and property of Catholics, we must both +admit the present impossibility of an elopement without involving you +in disgrace. You know that until some relaxation of the laws affecting +marriage between Catholics and Protestants takes place, an union between +us is impossible; and this fact it is which would attach disgrace to +you, and a want of honor, principle, and gratitude to me. We should +necessarily lead the lives of the guilty, and seek the wildest +fastnesses of the mountain solitudes and the oozy caverns of the bleak +and solitary hills." + +"But I care not. I am willing to endure it all for your sake." + +"What!--the shame, the misinterpretation, the imputed guilt?" + +"Neither care I for shame or imputed guilt, so long as I am innocent, +and you safe." + +"Concealment, my dearest girl, would be impossible. Such a hue and +cry would be raised after us as would render nothing short of positive +invisibility capable of protecting us from our enemies. Then your +father!--such a step might possibly break his heart; a calamity which +would fill your mind with remorse to the last day of your life!" + +She burst again into tears, and replied, "But as for you, what can +be done to save you from the toils of your unscrupulous and powerful +enemies?" + +"To that, my beloved Helen, I must forthwith look. In the meantime, let +me gather patience and await some more favorable relaxation in the penal +code. At present, the step you propose would be utter destruction to us +both, and an irretrievable stain upon our reputation. You will return to +your father's house, and I shall seek some secure place of concealment +until I can safely reach the continent, from whence I shall contrive to +let you hear from me, and in due time may possibly be able to propose +some mode of meeting in a country where the oppressive laws that +separate us here shall not stand in the way of our happiness. In the +meanwhile let our hearts be guided by hope and constancy." After a +mournful and tender embrace they separated. + +It would be impossible to describe the agony of the lovers after a +separation which might probably be their last. Our readers, however, may +very well conceive it, and it is not our intention to describe it +here. At this stage of our story, Reilly, who was, as we have said, +in consequence of his gentlemanly manners and liberal principles, +a favorite with all classes and all parties, and entertained no +apprehensions from the dominant party, took his way homewards deeply +impressed with the generous affections which his _Cooleen Bawn_ had +expressed for him. He consequently looked upon himself as perfectly safe +in his own house. The state of society in Ireland, however, was at that +melancholy period so uncertain that no Roman Catholic, however popular, +or however innocent, could for one week calculate upon safety either to +his property or person, if he happened to have an enemy who possessed +any influence in the opposing Church. Religion thus was made the +stalking-horse, not only of power, but of persecution, rapacity, and +selfishness, and the unfortunate Roman Catholic who considered himself +safe to-day might find himself ruined tomorrow, owing to the cupidity +of some man who turned a lustful eye upon his property, or who may have +entertained a feeling of personal ill-will against him. Be this as it +may, Reilly wended his melancholy way homewards, and had got within less +than a quarter of a mile of his own house when he was met by Fergus in +his mendicant habit, who startled him by the information he disclosed. + +"Where are you bound for, Mr. Reilly?" said the latter. + +"For home," replied Reilly, "in order to secure my money and the papers +connected with the family property." + +"Well, then," said the other, "if you go home now you are a lost man." + +"How is that?" asked Reilly. + +"Your house at this moment is filled with sogers, and surrounded by them +too. You know that no human being could make me out in this disguise; +I had heard that they were on their way to your place, and afeered that +they might catch you at home, I was goin' to let you know, in ordher +that you might escape them, but I was too late; the villains were there +before me. I took heart o' grace, however, and went up to beg a little +charity for the love and honor of God. Seem' the kind of creature I was, +they took no notice of me; for to tell you the truth, they were too much +bent on searchin' for, and findin' you. God protect us from such men, +Mr. Reilly," and the name he uttered in alow and cautious voice; "but +at all events this is no country for you to live in now. But who do you +think was the busiest and the bittherest man among them?" + +"Why Whitecraft, I suppose." + +"No; he wasn't there himself--no; but that double distilled traitor and +villain, the Red Rapparee, and bad luck to him. You see, then, that if +you attempt to go near your own house you're a lost man, as I said." + +"I feel the truth of what you say," replied Reilly, "but are you aware +that they committed any acts of violence? Are you aware that they +disturbed my property or ransacked my house?" + +"Well, that's more than I can say," replied Fergus, "for to tell you the +truth, I was afraid to trust myself inside, in regard of that scoundrel +the Rapparee, who, bein' himself accustomed to all sorts of disguises, I +dreaded might find me out." + +"Well, at all events," said Reilly, "with respect to that I disregard +them. The family papers and other available property are too well +secreted for them to secure them. On discovering Whitecraft's jealousy, +and knowing, as I did before, his vindictive spirit and power in the +country, I lost no time in putting them in a safe place. Unless they +burn the house they could never come at them. But as this fact is not +at all an improbable one--so long as Whitecraft is my unscrupulous and +relentless enemy--I shall seize upon the first opportunity of placing +them elsewhere." + +"You ought to do so," said Fergus, "for it is not merely Whitecraft you +have to deal wid, but ould Folliard himself, who now swears that if he +should lose half his fortune he will either hang or transport you." + +"Ah! Fergus," replied the other, "there is an essential difference +between the characters of these two men. The father of _Cooleen Bawn_ +is, when he thinks himself injured, impetuous and unsparing in his +resentment; but then he is an open foe, and the man whom he looks upon +as his enemy always knows what he has to expect from him. Not so +the other; he is secret, cautious, cowardly, and consequently doubly +vindictive. He is a combination of the fox and the tiger, with all the +treacherous cunning of the one, and the indomitable ferocity of the +other, when he finds that he can make his spring with safety." + +This conversation took place as Reilly and his companion bent their +steps towards one of those antiquated and obsolete roads which we have +described in the opening portion of this narrative. + +"But now," asked Fergus, "where do you intend to go, or what do you +intend to do with yourself?" + +"I scarcely know," replied Reilly, "but on one thing my mind is +determined--that I will not leave this country until I know the ultimate +fate of the _Cooleen Bawn_. Rather than see her become the wife of that +diabolical scoundrel, whom she detests as she does hell, I would lose +my life. Let the consequences then be what they may, I will not for the +present leave Ireland. This resolution I have come to since I saw her +to-night. I am her only friend, and, so help me God, I shall not suffer +her to be sacrificed--murdered. In the course of the night we shall +return to my house and look about us. If the coast be clear I will +secure my cash and papers as I said. It is possible that a few +stragglers may lurk behind, under the expectation of securing me while +making a stolen visit. However, we shall try. We are under the scourge +of irresponsible power, Fergus; and if Whitecraft should burn my house +to-night or to-morrow, who is to bring him to an account for it? or if +they should, who is to convict him?" + +The night had now become very dark, but they knew the country well, and +soon found themselves upon the old road they were seeking. + +"I will go up," said Reilly, "to the cabin of poor widow Buckley, where +we will stop until we think those blood-hounds have gone home. She has +a free cottage and garden from me, and has besides been a pensioner of +mine for some time back, and I know I can depend upon her discretion +and fidelity. Her little place is remote and solitary, and not more than +three quarters of a mile from us." + +They accordingly kept the old road for some time, until they reached a +point of it where there was an abrupt angle, when, to their utter alarm +and consternation, they found themselves within about twenty or thirty +yards of a military party. + +"Fly," whispered Fergus, "and leave me to deal with them--if you don't +it's all up with you. They won't know me from Adam, but they'll know you +at a glance." + +"I cannot leave you in danger," said Reilly. + +"You're mad," replied the other. "Is it an ould beggar man they'd +meddle with? Off with you, unless you wish to sleep in Sligo jail before +mornin." + +Reilly, who felt too deeply the truth of what he said, bounded across +the bank which enclosed the road on the right-hand side, and which, by +the way, was a tolerably high one, but fortunately without bushes. In +the meantime a voice cried out, "Who goes there? Stand at your peril, or +you will have a dozen bullets in your carcass." + +Fergus advanced towards them, whilst they themselves approached him at a +rapid pace, until they met. In a moment they were all about him. + +"Come, my customer," said their leader, "who and what are you? +Quick--give an account of yourself." + +"A poor creature that's lookin' for my bit, sir, God help me." + +"What's your name?" + +"One Paddy Brennan, sir, please your honor." + +"Ay--one Paddy Brennan (hiccough), and--and--one Paddy Brennan, where do +you go of a Sunday?" + +"I don't go out at all, sir, of a Sunda'; whenever I stop of a Saturday +night I always stop until Monday mornin'." + +"I mean, are you a Papish?" + +"Troth, I oughtn't to say I am, your honor--or at least a very bad one." + +"But you are, a Papish." + +"A kind of one, sir." + +"Curse me, the fellow's humbug-gin' you, sergeant," said one of the men; +"to be sure he's a Papish." + +"To be sure," replied several of the others--"doesn't he admit he's a +Papish?" + +"Blow me, if--if--I'll bear this," replied the sergeant. "I'm a +senior off--off--officer conductin' the examination, and I'll suffer +no--no--man to intherfare. I must have subor--or--ordination, or I'll +know what for. Leave him to me, then, and I'll work him up, never fear. +George Johnston isn't the blessed babe to be imposed upon--that's what I +say. Come, my good fellow, mark--mark me now. If you let but a quarter +of--of--an inch of a lie out of your lips, I you're a dead man. Are you +all charged, gentlemen?" + +"All charged, sergeant, with loyalty and poteen at any rate; hang the +Pope." + +"Shoulder arms--well done. Present arms. Where is--is--this rascal? Oh, +yes, here he is. Well, you are there--are you?" + +"I'm here, captain." + +"Well blow me, that's not--not--bad, my good fellow; if I'm not a +captain, worse men have been so (hiccough); that's what I say." + +"Hadn't we better make a prisoner of him at once, and bring him to Sir +Robert's?" observed another. + +"Simpson, hold--old--your tongue, I say. Curse me if I'll suffer any man +to in--intherfere with me in the discharge of my duty." + +"How do we know," said another, "but I he's a Rapparee in disguise?--for +that matter, he may be Reilly himself." + +"Captain and gentlemen," said Fergus, "if you have any suspicion of me, +I'm willin' to go anywhere you like; and, above all things, I'd like to +go to Sir Robert's, bekaise they know me there--many a good bit and sup +I got in his kitchen." + +"Ho, ho!" exclaimed the sergeant; "now I have you--now I know whether +you can tell truth or not. Answer me this. Did ever Sir Robert himself +give you charity? Come, now." + +Fergus perceived the drift of the question at once. The penurious +character of the baronet was so well known throughout the whole barony +that if he had replied in the affirmative every man of them would have +felt that the assertion was a lie, and he would consequently have been +detected. He was prepared, however. + +"Throth then, gintlemen," he replied, "since you must have the truth, +and although maybe what I'm goin' to say won't be plaisin' to you, as +Sir Robert's friends, I must come out wid it; devil resave the color +of his money ever I seen yet, and it isn't but I often axed him for it. +No--but the sarvints often sind me up a bit from the kitchen below." + +"Well, come," said the sergeant, "if you have been lyin' all your life, +you've spoke the truth now. I think we may let him go." + +"I don't think we ought," said one of them, named Steen, a man of about +fifty years of age, and of Dutch descent; "as Bamet said, 'we don't know +what he is,' and I agree with him. He may be a Rapparee in disguise, or, +what is worse, Reilly himself." + +"What Reilly do yez mane, gintlemen, wid submission?" asked Fergus. + +"Why, Willy Reilly, the famous Papish," replied the sergeant. (We don't +wish to fatigue the reader with his drunken stutterings.) "It has been +sworn that he's training the Papishes every night to prepare them for +rebellion, and there's a warrant out for his apprehension. Do you know +him?" + +"Throth I do, well; and to tell yez the truth, he doesn't stand very +high wid his own sort." + +"Why so, my good fellow?" + +"Bekaise they think that he keeps too much company wid Prodestans, an' +that he's half a Prodestan himself, and that it's only the shame that +prevents him from goin' over to them altogether. Indeed, it's the +general opinion among the Catholics--" + +"Papishes! you old dog." + +"Well, then, Papishes--that he will--an' throth, I don't think the +Papishes would put much trust in the same man." + +"Where are you bound for now? and what brings you out at an illegal hour +on this lonely road?" asked Steen. + +"Troth, then, I'm on my way to Mr. Graham's above; for sure, whenever +I'm near him, poor Paddy Brennan never wants for the good bit and sup, +and the comfortable straw bed in the barn. May God reward him and his +for it!" + +Now, the truth was, that Graham, a wealthy and respectable Protestant +farmer, was uncle to the sergeant; a fact which Fergus well knew, in +consequence of having been a house servant with him for two or three +years. + +"Sergeant," said the Williamite settler, "I think this matter may be +easily settled. Let two of the men go back to your uncle's with him, and +see whether they know him there or not." + +"Very well," replied the sergeant, "let you and Simpson go back with +him--I have no objection. If my uncle's people don't know him, why then +bring him down to Sir Roberts'." + +"It's not fair to put such a task upon a man of my age," replied Steen, +"when you know that you have younger men here." + +"It was you proposed it, then," said the sergeant, "and I say, Steen, if +you be a true man you have a right to go, and no right at all to shirk +your duty. But stop--I'll settle it in a word's speaking: here you--you +old Papish, where are you?--oh, I see--you're there, are you? Come now, +gentlemen, shoulder arms--all right--present anns. Now, you confounded +Papish, you say that you have often slept in my uncle's barn?" + +"Is Mr. Graham your uncle, sir?--bekaise, if he is, I know that I'm in +the hands of a respectable man." + +"Come now--was there anything particular in the inside of that +barn?--Gentlemen, are you ready to slap into him if we find him to be an +imposther?" + +"All ready, sergeant." + +"Come now, you blasted Papish, answer me--" + +"Troth, and I can do that, sargin'. You say Mr. Graham's your uncle, +an' of coorse you have often been in that barn yourself. Very well, sir, +don't you know that there's a prop on one side to keep up one of the +cupples that gave way one stormy night, and there's a round hole in the +lower part of the door to let the cats in to settle accounts wid the +mice and rats." + +"Come, come, boys, it's all right. He has described the barn to a hair. +That will do, my Papish old cock. Come, I say, as every man must have +a religion, and since the Papishes won't have ours, why the devil +shouldn't they have one of their own?" + +"That's dangerous talk," said Steen, "to proceed from your lips, +sergeant. It smells of treason, I tell you; and if you had spoken these +words in the days of the great and good King William, you might have +felt the consequences." + +"Treason and King William be hanged!" replied the sergeant, who was +naturally a good-natured, but out-spoken fellow--"sooner than I'd take +up a poor devil of a beggar that has enough to do to make out his bit +and sup. Go on about your business, poor devil; you shan't be molested. +Go to my uncle's, where you'll get a bellyfull, and a comfortable bed +of straw, and a winnow-cloth in the barn. Zounds!--it would be a nice +night's work to go out for Willy Reilly and to bring home a beggar man +in his place." + +This was a narrow escape upon the part of Fergus, who knew that if +they had made' a prisoner of him, and produced him before Sir Robert +Whitecraft, who was a notorious persecutor, and with whom the Red +Rapparee was now located, he would unquestionably have been hanged +like a dog. The officer of the party, however--to wit, the worthy +sergeant--was one of those men who love a drop of the native, and +whose heart besides it expands into a sort of surly kindness that has +something comical and not disagreeable in it. In addition to this, he +never felt a confidence in his own authority with half the swagger which +he did when three quarters gone. Steen and he were never friends, nor +indeed was Steen ever a popular man among his acquaintances. In matters +of trade and business he was notoriously dishonest, and in the moral +and social relations of life, selfish, uncandid, and treacherous. +The sergeant, on the other hand, though an out-spoken and flaming +anti-Papist in theory, was, in point of fact, a good friend to his Roman +Catholic neighbors, who used to say of him that his bark was worse than +his bite. + +When his party had passed on, Fergus stood for a moment uncertain as +to where he should direct his steps. He had not long to wait, however. +Reilly, who had no thoughts of abandoning him to the mercy of the +military, without at least knowing his fate, nor, we may add, without +a firm determination to raising his tenantry, and rescuing the generous +fellow at every risk, immediately sprung across the ditch and joined +him. + +"Well, Fergus," said he, clasping his hand, "I heard everything, and I +can tell you that every nerve in my body trembled whilst you were among +them." + +"Why," said Fergus, "I knew them at once by their voices, and only that +I changed my own as I did I won't say but they'd have nabbed me." + +"The test of the barn was frightful; I thought you were gone; but you +must explain that." + +"Ay, but before I do," replied Fergus, "where are we to go? Do you still +stand for widow Buckley's?" + +"Certainly, that woman may be useful to me." + +"Well, then, we may as well jog on in that direction, and as we go I +will tell you." + +"How then did you come to describe the barn--or rather, was your +description correct?" + +"Ay, as Gospel. You don't know that by the best of luck and providence +of God, I was two years and a half an inside laborer with Mr. Graham. As +is usual, all the inside men-servants slept, wintrier and summer, in the +barn; and that accounts for our good fortune this night. Only for that +scoundrel, Steen, however, the whole thing would not have signified +much; but he's a black and deep villain that. Nobody likes him but his +brother scoundrel, Whitecraft, and he's a favorite with him, bekaise +he's an active and unscrupulous tool in his hands. Many a time, when +these men--military-militia-yeomen, or whatever they call them, are sent +out by this same Sir Robert, the poor fellows don't wish to catch what +they call the unfortunate Papish-es, and before they come to the house +they'll fire off their guns, pretinding to be in a big passion, but only +to give their poor neighbors notice to escape as soon as they can." + +In a short time they reached widow Buckley's cabin, who, on +understanding that it was Reilly who sought admittance, lost not a +moment in opening the door and letting them in. There was no candle lit +when they entered, but there was a bright turf fire "blinkin' bonnilie" +in the fireplace, from which a mellow light emanated that danced upon +the few plain plates that were neatly ranged upon her humble dresser, +but which fell still more strongly upon a clean and well-swept hearth, +on one side of which was an humble armchair of straw, and on the other a +grave, but placid-looking cat, purring, with half-closed eyes, her usual +song for the evening. + +"Lord bless us! Mr. Reilly, is this you? Sure it's little I expected +you, any way; but come when you will, you're welcome. And who ought to +be welcome to the poor ould widow if you wouldn't?" + +"Take a stool and sit down, honest man," she said, addressing Fergus; +"and you, Mr. Reilly, take my chair; it's the one you sent me yourself, +and if anybody is entitled to a sate in it, surely you are. I must light +a rush." + +"No, Molly," replied Reilly, "I would be too heavy for your frail chair. +I will take one of those stout stools, which will answer me better." + +She then lit a rush-light, which she pressed against a small cleft of +iron that was driven into a wooden shaft, about three feet long, which +stood upon a bottom that resembled the head of a churn-staff. Such +are the lights, and such the candlesticks, that are to be found in the +cabins and cottages of Ireland. "I suppose, Molly," said Reilly, "you +are surprised at a visit from me just now?" + +"You know, Mr. Reilly," she replied, "that if you came in the deadest +hours of the night you'd be welcome, as I said--and this poor man is +welcome too--sit over to the fire, poor man, and warm yourself. Maybe +you're hungry; if you are I'll get you something to eat." + +"Many thanks to you, ma'am," replied Fergus, "I'm not a taste hungry, +and could ait nothing now; I'm much obliged to you at the same time." + +"Mr. Reilly, maybe you'd like to ait a bit. I can give you a farrel of +bread, and a sup o' nice goat's milk. God preserve him from evil that +gave me the same goats, and that's your four quarthers, Mr. Reilly. But +sure every thing I have either came or comes from your hand; and if I +can't thank you, God will do it for me, and that's betther still." + +"No more about that, Molly--not a word more. Your long residence with my +poor mother, and your affection for her in all her trials and troubles, +entitle you to more than that at the hands of her son." + +"Mrs. Buckley," observed Fergus, "this is a quiet-looking little place +you have here." + +"And it is for that I like it," she replied. "I have pace here, and the +noise of the wicked world seldom reaches me in it. My only friend and +companion here is the Almighty--praise and glory be to his name!"--and +here she devoutly crossed herself--"bar-rin', indeed, when the +light-hearted _girshas_ (young girls) comes _a kailyee_* wid their +wheels, to keep the poor ould woman company, and rise her ould heart by +their light and merry songs, the cratures." + + *This means to spend a portion of the day, or a few hours of + the night, in a neighbor's house, in agreeable and amusing + conversation. + +"That must be a relief to you, Molly," observed Reilly, who, however, +could with difficulty take any part in this little dialogue. + +"And so indeed it is," she replied; "and, poor things, sure if their +sweethearts do come at the dusk to help them to carry home their +spinning-wheels, who can be angry with them? It's the way of life, sure, +and of the world." + +She then went into another little room--for the cabin was divided into +two--in order to find a ball of woollen thread, her principal occupation +being the knitting of mittens and stockings, and while bustling about +Fergus observed with a smile, + +"Poor Molly! little she thinks that it's the bachelors, rather than any +particular love for her company, that brings the thieves here." + +"Yes, but," said Reilly, "you know it's the custom of the country." + +"Mrs. Buckley," asked Fergus, "did the sogers ever pay you a visit?" + +"They did once," she replied, "about six months ago or more." + +"What in the name of wondher," he repeated, "could bring them to you?" + +"They were out huntin' a priest," she replied, "that had done something +contrary to the law." + +"What did they say, Mrs. Buckley, and how did they behave themselves?" + +"Why," she answered, "they axed me if I had seen about the country a +tight-looking fat little man, wid black twinklin' eyes and a rosy face, +wid a pair o' priest's boots upon him, greased wid hog's lard? I said +no, but to the revarse. They then searched the cabin, tossed the two +beds about--poor Jemmy's--God rest my boy's sowl!--an'--afterwards my +own. There was one that seemed to hould authority over the rest, and he +axed who was my landlord? I said I had no landlord. They then said +that surely I must pay rent to some one, but I said that I paid rent +to nobody; that Mr. Reilly here, God bless him, gave me this house and +garden free." + +"And what did they say when you named Mr. Reilly?" + +"Why, they said he was a dacent Papish, I think they called it; and that +there wasn't sich another among them. They then lighted their pipes, had +a smoke, went about their business, and I saw no more of them from that +day to this." + +Reilly felt that this conversation was significant, and that the widow's +cabin was any thing but a safe place of refuge, even for a few hours. We +have already said that he had been popular with all parties, which was +the fact, until his acquaintance with the old squire and his lovely +daughter. In the meantime the loves of Willy Reilly and the far-famed +_Cooleen Bawn_ had gone abroad over the whole country; and the natural +result was that a large majority among those who were anxious to +exterminate the Catholic Church by the rigor of bigoted and inhuman +laws, looked upon the fact of a tolerated Papist daring to love a +Protestant heiress, and the daughter of a man who was considered such a +stout prop of the Establishment, as an act that deserved death itself. +Reilly's affection for the _Cooleen Bawn_ was considered, therefore, +not only daring but treasonable. Those men, then, he reflected, who had +called upon her while in pursuit of the unfortunate priest, had become +acquainted with the fact of her dependence upon his bounty; and he took +it for granted, very naturally and very properly, as the event +will show, that now, while "on his keeping," it would not be at all +extraordinary if they occasionally searched her remote and solitary +cabin, as a place where he might be likely to conceal himself. For this +night, however, he experienced no apprehension of a visit from them, but +with what correctness of calculation we shall soon see. + +"Molly," said he, this poor man and I must sit with you for a couple of +hours, after which we will leave you to your rest." + +"Indeed, Mr. Reilly," she replied, "from what I heard this day I can +make a party good guess at the raison why you are here now, instead +of bein' in your own comfortable house. You have bitther enemies; but +God--blessed be his name--is stronger than any of them. However, I wish +you'd let me get you and that poor man something to eat." + +This kind offer they declined, and as the short rush-light was nearly +burned out, and as she had not another ready, she got what is called a +_cam_ or grisset, put it on the hearth-stone, with a portion of hog's +lard in it; she then placed the lower end of the tongs in the fire, +until the broad portion of them, with which the turf is gripped, became +red hot; she then placed the lard in the grisset between them, and +squeezed it until nothing remained but pure oil; through this she slowly +drew the peeled rushes, which were instantly saturated with the grease, +after which she left them on a little table to cool. Among the poorer +classes--small farmers and others--this process is performed every +evening a little before dusk. Having thus supplied them with these +lights, the pious widow left them to their own conversation and retired +to the little room in order to repeat her rosary. We also will leave +them to entertain themselves as best they can, and request our readers +to follow us to a different scene. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.--An Accidental Incident favorable to Reilly + +--And a Curious Conversation + + +We return to the party from whom Fergus Reilly had so narrow an escape. +As our readers may expect, they bent their steps to the magnificent +residence of Sir Robert Whitecraft. That gentleman was alone in his +library, surrounded by an immense collection of books which he never +read. He had also a fine collection of paintings, of which he knew no +more than his butler, nor perhaps so much. At once sensual, penurious, +and bigoted, he spent his whole time in private profligacy--for he was +a hypocrite, too--in racking his tenantry, and exhibiting himself as +a champion for Protestant principles. Whenever an unfortunate Roman +Catholic, whether priest or layman, happened to infringe a harsh +and cruel law of which probably he had never heard, who so active in +collecting his myrmidons, in order to uncover, hunt, and run down his +luckless victim? And yet he was not popular. No one, whether of his own +class or any other, liked a bone in his skin. Nothing could infect him +with the genial and hospitable spirit of the country, whilst at the +same time no man living was so anxious to partake of the hospitality +of others, merely because it saved him a meal. All that sustained his +character at the melancholy period of which we write was what people +called the uncompromising energy of his principles as a sound and +vigorous Protestant. + +"Sink them all together," he exclaimed upon this occasion, in a kind of +soliloquy--"Church and bishop and parson, what are they worth unless to +make the best use we can of them? Here I am prevented from going to that +girl to-night--and that barbarous old blockhead of a squire, who was so +near throwing me off for a beggarly Papist rebel: and doubly, trebly, +quadruply cursed be that same rebel for crossing my path as he has +done. The cursed light-headed jade loves him too--there's no doubt of +that--but wait until I get him in my clutches, as I certainly shall, +and, by ---, his rebel carcass shall feed the crows. But what noise is +that? They have returned; I must go down and learn their success." + +He was right. Our friend the tipsy sergeant and his party were at the +hall-door, which was opened as he went down, and he ordered lights into +the back parlor. In a few minutes they were ushered in, where they found +him seated as magisterially as possible in a large arm-chair. + +"Well, Johnston," said he, assuming as much dignity as he could, "what +has been your success?" + +"A bad evening's sport, sir; we bagged nothing--didn't see a feather." + +"Talk sense, Johnston," said he sternly, "and none of this cant. Did you +see or hear any thing of the rebel?" + +"Why, sir, we did; it would be a devilish nice business if a party +led and commanded by George Johnston should go out without hearin' and +seein' something." + +"Well, but what did you see and hear, sir?" + +"Why, we saw Reilly's house, and a very comfortable one it is; and we +heard from the servants that he wasn't at home." + +"You're drunk, Johnston." + +"No, sir, begging your pardon, I'm only hearty; besides, I never +discharge my duty half so well as when I'm drunk; If feel no colors +then." + +"Johnston, if I ever know you to get drunk on duty again I shall have +you reduced." + +"Reduced!" replied Johnston, "curse the fig I care whether you do or +not; I'm actin' as a volunteer, and I'll resign." + +"Come, sir," replied Sir Robert, "be quiet; I will overlook this, for +you are a very good man if you could keep yourself sober." + +"I told you before, Sir Robert, that I'm a better man when I'm drunk." + +"Silence, sir, or I shall order you out of the room." + +"Please your honor," observed Steen, "I have a charge to make against +George Johnston." + +"A charge, Steen--what is it? You are a staunch, steady fellow, I know; +what is this charge?" + +"Why, sir, we met a suspicious character on the old bridle road beyond +Reilly's, and he refused to take him prisoner." + +"A poor half-Papist beggarman, sir," replied Johnston, "who was on his +way to my uncle's to stop there for the night. Divil a scarecrow in +Europe would exchange clothes with him without boot." + +Steen then related the circumstances with which our readers are +acquainted, adding that he suggested to Johnston the necessity of +sending a couple of men up with him to ascertain whether what, he said +was true or not; but that he flatly refused to do so--and after some +nonsense about a barn he let him off. + +"I'll tell you what, sir," said Johnston, "I'll hunt a priest or a +Papish that breaks the law with any man livin', but hang me if ever I'll +hunt a harmless beggarman lookin' for his bit." + +At this period of the conversation the Red Rapparee, now in military +uniform, entered the parlor, accompanied by some others of those violent +men. + +"Steen," said the baronet, "what or who do you suppose this ragged +ruffian was?" + +"Either a Rapparee, sir, or Reilly himself." + +"O'Donnel," said he, addressing the Red Robber, "what description of +disguises do these villains usually assume? Do they often go about as +beggarmen?" + +"They may have changed their hand, sir, since I became a legal subject, +but, before that, three-fourths of us--of them--the villains, I +mane--went about in the shape of beggars." + +"That's important," exclaimed the baronet. "Steen, take half a dozen +mounted men--a cavalry party have arrived here a little while ago, and +are waiting further orders--I thought if Reilly had been secured it +might have been necessary for them to escort him to Sligo. Well, take +half a dozen mounted I men, and, as you very properly suggested, proceed +with all haste to farmer Graham's, and see whether this mendicant is +there or not; if he is there, take him into custody at all events, and +if he is not, then it is clear he is a man for whom we ought to be on +the lookout." + +"I should like to go with them, your honor," said the Red Rapparee. + +"O'Donnel," said Sir Robert, "I have other business for you to-night." + +"Well, plaise your honor," said O'Donnel, "as they're goin' in that +direction, let them turn to the left after passin' the little stranie +that crosses the road, I mane on their way home; if they look sharp +they'll find a little _boreen_ that--but indeed they'll scarcely make +it out in the dark, for it's a good way back in the fields--I mane the +cabin of widow Buckley. If there's one house more than another in the +whole countryside where! Reilly is likely to take shelter in, that's it. +He gave her that cabin and a large garden free, and besides allows her +a small yearly pension. But remember, you can't bring your horses +wid you--you must lave some of the men to take charge of them in the +_boreen_ till you come back. I wish you'd let me go with them, sir." + +"I cannot, O'Donnel; I have other occupation for you to-night." + +Three or four of them declared that they knew the cottage right well, +and could find it out without much difficulty. "They had been there," +they said, "some six or eight months before upon a priest chase." The +matter was so arranged, and the party set out upon their expedition. + +It is unnecessary to say that these men had their journey for nothing; +but at the same time one fact resulted from it, which I was, that the +ragged mendicant they had met must have been some one well worth looking +after. The deuce of it was, however, that, owing to the darkness of the +night, there was not one among them who could have known Fergus the +next day if they had met him. They knew, however, that O'Donnel, the +Rapparee, was a good authority on the subject, and the discovery of the +pretended mendicant's imposture was a proof of it. On this account, when +they had reached the _boreen_ alluded to, on their return from Graham's, +they came to the resolution of leaving their horses in charge, as had +been suggested to them, and in silence, and with stealthy steps, pounce +at once into the widow's cabin. Before they arrived there, however, we +shall take the liberty of preceding them for a few minutes, and once +more transport our readers to its bright but humble hearth. + +About three hours or better had elapsed, and our two friends were still +seated, maintaining the usual chat with Mrs. Buckley, who had finished +her prayers and once, more rejoined them. + +"Fergus, like a good fellow," whispered Reilly, "slip out for a minute +or two; there's--a circumstance I wish to mention to Molly--I assure you +it's of a very private and particular nature and only for her own ear." + +"To be sure," replied Fergus; "I want, at all events, to stretch my +legs, and to see what the night's about." + +He accordingly left the cabin. + +"Mrs. Buckley," said Reilly, "it was not for nothing I came here +to-night. I have a favor to ask of you." + +"Your favor's granted, sir," she replied--"granted, Mr. Reilly, even +before I hear it--that is, supposin' always that it's in my power--to do +it for you." + +"It is simply to carry a letter--and be certain that it shall be +delivered to the proper person." + +"Well," she replied, "sure that's aisily done. And where am I to deliver +it?" she asked. + +"That I shall let you know on some future occasion--perhaps within the +course of a week or so." + +"Well, sir," she replied, "I'd go twenty miles to deliver it--and will +do so wid a heart and a half." + +"Well, Molly, I can tell you your journey won't be so far; but there +is one thing you are to observe--you must never breathe it to a human +creature." + +"I thought you knew me better, Mr. Reilly." + +"It would be impossible, however, to be too strict here, because you +don't know how much depends upon it." + +At this moment Fergus put in his head, and said, "For Christ's sake, +snuff out the candle, and Reilly--fly!--There are people in the next +field!--quick!--quick!" + +Reilly snatched up his hat, and whispered to the widow, "Deny that you +saw me, or that there was any one here!--Put out the candle!--they might +see our figures darkening the light as we go out!" + +Fergus and Reilly immediately planted themselves behind a whitethorn +hedge, in a field adjoining the cabin, in order to reconnoitre the +party, whoever they might be, which they could do in safety. This act of +reconnoitering, however, was performed by the ear, and not at all by the +eye; the darkness of the night rendered that impossible. Of course the +search in the widow's cabin was equally fruitless. + +"Now," whispered Reilly, "we'll go in a line parallel with the road, +but at a safe distance from them, until they reach the cross-roads. If +they turn towards my house, we are forewarned, but if they turn towards +Sir Robert's, it is likely that I may have an opportunity of securing +my cash and papers." On reaching the cross-roads alluded to, the party, +much to the satisfaction of Reilly and his companion, did turn towards +the residence of Sir Robert Whitecraft, thus giving the fugitives full +assurance that nothing further was to be apprehended from them that +night. The men in fact felt fatigued and were anxious to get to bed. + +After approaching Reilly's house very cautiously, and with much +circumspection--not an outhouse, or other place of concealment, having +been left unexamined--they were about to enter, when Reilly, thinking +that no precaution on such an occasion ought to be neglected, said: + +"Fergus, we are so far safe; but, under all circumstances, I think it +right and prudent that you should keep watch outside. Mark me, I will +place Tom Corrigan--you know him--at this window, and if you happen to +see anything in the shape of a human being, or to hear, for instance, +any noise, give the slightest possible tap upon the glass, and that will +be sufficient." + +It was so arranged, and Reilly entered the house; but, as it happened, +Fergus's office proved a sinecure; although, indeed, when we consider +his care and anxiety, we can scarcely say so. At all events, Reilly +returned in about half an hour, bearing under his arm a large dark +portfolio, which, by the way, was securely locked. + +"Is all right?" asked Fergus. + +"All is right," replied the other. "The servants have entered into an +arrangement to sit up, two in turn each night, so as to be ready to give +me instant admittance whenever I may chance to come." + +"But now where are you to place these papers?" asked his companion. +"That's a difficulty." + +"It is, I grant," replied Reilly, "but after what has happened, I think +widow Buckley's cabin the safest place for a day or two. Only that the +hour is so unseasonable, I could feel little difficulty in finding a +proper place of security for them, but as it is, we must only deposit +them for the present with the widow." + +The roads of Ireland at this period--if roads they could be called--were +not only in a most shameful, but dangerous, state. In summer they were +a foot deep with dust, and in winter at least eighteen inches with mud. +This, however, was by no means the worst of it. They were studded, at +due intervals, with ruts so deep that if a horse! happened to get into +one of them he went down to the saddle-skirts. They were treacherous, +too, and such as no caution could guard against; because, where the +whole surface of the road was one mass of mud, it was impossible to +distinguish these horse-traps at all. Then, in addition to these, were +deep gullies across the roads, worn away by small rills, proceeding from +rivulets in the adjoining uplands, which were; principally dry, or at +least mere threads of | water in summer, but in winter became pigmy +torrents that tore up the roads across which they passed, leaving them +in the dangerous state we have described. + +As Reilly and his companion had got out upon the road, they were a good +deal surprised, and not a little alarmed, to see a horse, without +a rider, struggling to extricate himself out of one of the ruts in +question. "What is this?" said Fergus. "Be on your guard." + +"The horse," observed Reilly, "is without! a rider; see what it means." + +Fergus approached with all due caution, and on examining the place +discovered a man lying apparently in a state of insensibility. + +"I fear," said he, on returning to Reilly, "that his rider has been +hurt; he is lying senseless about two or three yards before the horse." + +"My God!" exclaimed the other, "perhaps he has been killed; let us +instantly assist him. Hold this portfolio whilst I render him whatever +assistance I can." + +As he spoke they heard a heavy groan, and on approaching found the man +sitting; but still unable to rise. + +"You have unfortunately been thrown, sir," said Reilly; "I trust in God +you are not seriously hurt." + +"I hope not, sir," replied the man, "but I was stunned, and have been +insensible for some time; how long I cannot say." + +"Good gracious, sir!" exclaimed Reilly, "is this Mr. Brown?" + +"It is, Mr. Reilly; for heaven's sake aid me to my limbs--that is, if +I shall be able to stand upon them." Reilly did so, but found that he +could not stand or walk without' assistance. The horse, in the meantime, +had extricated himself. + +"Come, Mr. Brown," said Reilly, "you! must, allow me to assist you home. +It is very fortunate that you have not many perches to go. This poor man +will lead your horse up to the stable." + +"Thank you, Mr. Reilly," replied the gentleman, "and in requital for +your kindness you must take a bed at my house tonight. I am aware of +your position," he added in a confidential voice, "and that you cannot +safely sleep in your own; with me you will be secure." + +Reilly thanked him, and said that this kind offer was most welcome and +acceptable, as, in point of fact, he scarcely knew that night where to +seek rest with safety. They accordingly proceeded to the parsonage--for +Mr. Brown was no other than the Protestant rector of the parish, a man +with whom Reilly was on the most friendly and intimate terms, and a man, +we may add, who omitted no opportunity of extending shelter, protection, +and countenance to such Roman Catholics as fell under the suspicion or +operation of the law. On this occasion he had been called very suddenly +to the deathbed of a parishioner, and was then on his return home, after +having administered to the dying man the last consolations of religion. + +On reaching the parsonage, Fergus handed the portfolio to its owner, and +withdrew to seek shelter in some of his usual haunts for the night; but +Mr. Brown, aided by his wife, who sat up for him, contrived that Reilly +should be conducted to a private room, without the knowledge of the +servants, who were sent as soon as possible to bed. Before Reilly +withdrew, however, that night, he requested Mr. Brown to take charge of +his money and family papers, which the latter did, assuring him that +they should be forthcoming whenever he thought proper to call for them. +Mr. Brown had, not been seriously hurt, and was able in a day or two to +pay the usual attention to the discharge of his duties. + +Reilly, having been told where to find his bedroom, retired with +confidence to rest. Yet we can scarcely term it rest, after considering +the tumultuous and disagreeable events of the evening. He began +to ponder upon the life of persecution to which Miss Folliard must +necessarily be exposed, in consequence of her father's impetuous and +fiery temper; and, indeed, the fact was, that he felt this reflection +infinitely more bitter than any that touched himself. In these +affectionate calculations of her domestic persecution he was a good +deal mistaken, however, Sir Robert Whitecraft had now gained a complete +ascendancy over the disposition and passions of her father. The latter, +like many another country squire--especially of that day--when his word +and will were law to his tenants and dependants, was a very great man +indeed, when dealing with them. He could bluster and threaten, and even +carry his threats into execution with a confident swagger that had more +of magisterial pride and the pomp of property in it, than a sense of +either light or justice. But, on the other hand, let him meet a man of +his own rank, who cared nothing about his authority as a magistrate, or +his assumption as a man of large landed property, and he was nothing but +a poor weak-minded tool in his hands. So far our description is correct; +but when such a knave as Sir Robert Whitecraft came in his way--a knave +at once calculating, deceitful, plausible, and cunning--why, our worthy +old squire, who thought himself a second Solomon, might be taken by the +nose and led round the whole barony. + +There is no doubt that he had sapiently laid down his plans--to harass +and persecute his daughter into a marriage with Sir Robert, and would +have probably driven her from under his roof, had he not received the +programme of his conduct from Whitecraft. That cowardly caitiff had a +double motive in this. He found that if her father should "pepper +her with persecution," as the old fellow said, before marriage, its +consequences might fall upon his own unlucky head afterwards--in other +words, that Helen would most assuredly make him then suffer, to some +purpose, for all that his pretensions to her hand had occasioned her +to undergo previous to their union; for, in truth, if there was one +doctrine which Whitecraft detested more than another--and with good +reason too--it was that of Retribution. + +"Mr. Folliard," said Whitecraft in the very last conversation they had +on this subject, "you must not persecute your daughter on my account." + +"Mustn't I? Why hang it, Sir Robert, isn't persecution the order of the +day? If she doesn't marry you quietly and willingly, we'll turn her out, +and hunt her like a priest." + +"No, Mr. Folliard, violence will never do. On the contrary, you must +change your hand, and try an opposite course. If you wish to rivet her +affections upon that Jesuitical traitor still more strongly, persecute +her; for there is nothing in this life that strengthens love so much as +opposition and violence. The fair ones begin to look upon themselves +as martyrs, and in proportion as you are severe and inexorable, so in +proportion are they resolved to win the crown that is before them. I +would not press your daughter but that I believe love to be a thing +that exists before marriage--never after. There's the honeymoon, for +instance. Did ever mortal man or mortal woman hear or dream of a second +honeymoon? No, sir, for Cupid, like a large blue-bottle, falls into, and +is drowned, in the honey-pot." + +"Confound me," replied the squire, "if I understand a word you say. +However, I dare say it may be very good sense for all that, for you +always had a long noddle. Go on." + +"My advice to you then, sir, is this-make as few allusions to her +marriage with me as possible; but, in the meantime, you may praise me +a little, if you wish; but, above all things, don't run down Reilly +immediately after paying either my mind or person any compliment. Allow +the young lady to remain quiet for a time. Treat her with your usual +kindness and affection; for it is possible, after all, that she may do +more from her tenderness and affection for you than we could expect from +any other motive; at all events, until we shall succeed in hanging or +transporting this rebellious scoundrel." + +"Very good--so he is. Good William! what a son-in-law I should have! I +who transported one priest already!" + +"Well, sir, as I was saying, until we shall have succeeded in hanging or +transporting him. The first would be the safest, no doubt: but until we +shall be able to accomplish either one or the other, we have not much to +expect in the shape of compliance from your daughter. When the villain +is removed, however, hope, on her part, will soon die out--love will +lose its _pabulum_." + +"Its what?" asked the squire, staring at him with a pair of round eyes +that were full of perplexity and wonder. + +"Why, it means food, or rather fodder." + +"Curse you, sir," replied the squire indignantly; "do you want to make a +beast of my daughter?" + +"But it's a word, sir, applied by the poets, as the food of Cupid." + +"Cupid! I thought he was drowned in the honey-pot, yet he's up again, +and as brisk as ever, it appears. However, go on--let us understand +fairly what you're at. I think I see a glimpse of it; and knowing your +character upon the subject of persecution as I do, it's more, I must +say, than I expected from you. Go on--I bid you." + +"I say, then, sir, that if Reilly were either hanged or out of the +country, the consciousness of this would soon alter matters with Miss +Folliard. If you, then, sir, will enter into an agreement with me, I +shall undertake so to make the laws bear upon Reilly as to rid either +the world or the country of him; and you shall promise not to press upon +your daughter the subject of her marriage with me until then. Still, +there is one thing you must do; and that is, to keep her under the +strictest surveillance." + +"What the devil's that?" said the squire. + +"It means," returned his expected son-in-law, "that she must be well +watched, but without feeling that she is so." + +"Would it not be better to lock her up at once?" said her father. "That +would be making the matter sure." + +"Not at all," replied Whitecraft. "So sure as you lock her up, so sure +she will break prison." + +"Well, upon my soul," replied her father. "I can't see that. A strong +lock and key are certainly the best surety for the due appearance of any +young woman disposed to run away. I think the best way would be to make +her feel at once that her father is a magistrate, and commit her to her +own room until called upon to appear." + +Whitecraft, whose object was occasionally to puzzle his friend, gave a +cold grin, and added: + +"I suppose your next step would be to make her put in security. No--no, +Mr. Folliard; if you will be advised by me, try the soothing system; +antiphlogistic remedies are always the best in a case like hers." + +"Anti--what? Curse me, if I can understand every tenth word you say. +However, I give you credit, Whitecraft; for upon my soul I didn't think +you knew half so much as you do. That last, however, is a tickler--a nut +that I can't crack. I wish I could only get my tongue about it, till I +send it among the Grand Jury, and maybe there wouldn't be wigs on the +green in making it out." + +"Yes, I fancy it would teach them a little supererogation." + +"A little what? Is it love that has made you so learned, Whitecraft, +or so unintelligible, which? Why, man, if your passion increases, in +another week there won't be three men out of Trinity College able to +understand you. You will become a perfect oracle. But, in the meantime, +let us see how the arrangement stands. _Imprimus_, you are to hang or +transport Keilly; and, until then, I am not to annoy my daughter with +any allusions to this marriage: but, above all things, not to compare +you and Reilly with one another in her presence, lest it might +strengthen her prejudices against you." + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Folliard. I did not say so; I fear no comparison +with the fellow." + +"No matter, Sir Robert, if you did not knock it down you staggered it. +Omitting the comparison, however, I suppose that so far I am right." + +"I think so, sir," replied the other, conscious, "after all, that he had +got a touch of 'Roland for his Oliver'." + +Then he proceeded: "I'm to watch her closely, only she's not to know +it. Now, I'll tell you what, Sir Robert, I know you carry a long noddle, +with more hard words in it than I ever gave you credit for--but with +regard to what you expect from me now--" + +"I don't mean that you should watch her personally yourself, Mr. +Folliard." + +"I suppose you don't; I didn't think you did; but I'll tell you +what--place the twelve labors of Hercules before me, and I'll undertake +to perform them, if you wish, but to watch a woman, Sir Robert--and +that woman keen and sharp upon the cause of such vigilance--without her +knowing it in one half hour's time--that is a task that never was, can, +or will be accomplished. In the meantime, we must only come as near its +accomplishment as we can." + +"Just so, sir; we can do no more. Remember, then, that you perform your +part of this arrangement, and, with the blessing of God, I shall leave +nothing undone to perform mine." + +Thus closed this rather extraordinary conversation, after which Sir +Robert betook himself home, to reflect upon the best means of performing +his part of it, with what quickness and dispatch, and with what success, +our readers already know. + +The old squire was one of those characters who never are so easily +persuaded as when they do not fully comprehend the argument used to +convince them. Whenever the squire found himself a little at fault, or +confounded by either a difficult word or a hard sentence, he always took +it for granted that there was something unusually profound and clever +in the matter laid before him. Sir Robert knew this, and on that account +played him off to a certain extent. He was too cunning, however, to +darken any part of the main argument so far as to prevent its drift from +being fully understood, and thereby defeating his own purpose. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII.--A Conflagration--An Escape--And an Adventure + + +We have said that Sir Robert Whitecraft was anything but a popular +man--and we might have added that, unless among his own clique of +bigots and persecutors, he was decidedly unpopular among Protestants in +general. In a few days after the events of the night we have described, +Reilly, by the advice of Mr. Brown's brother, an able and distinguished +lawyer, gave up the possession of his immense farm, dwelling-house, and +offices to the landlord. In point of fact, this man had taken the farm +for Reilly's father, in his own name, a step which many of the liberal +and generous Protestants of that period were in the habit of taking, +to protect the property for the Roman Catholics, from such rapacious +scoundrels as Whitecraft, and others like him, who had accumulated the +greater portion of their wealth and estates by the blackest and most +iniquitous political profligacy and oppression. For about a month after +the first night of the unsuccessful pursuit after Reilly, the +whole country was overrun with military parties, and such miserable +inefficient police as then existed. In the meantime, Reilly escaped +every toil and snare that had been laid for him. Sir Robert Whitecraft, +seeing that hitherto he had set them at defiance, resolved to glut +his vengeance on his property, since he could not arrest himself. A +description of his person had been, almost from the commencement of the +proceedings, published in the Hue-and-Cry, and he had been now outlawed. +As even this failed, Sir Robert, as we said, came with a numerous party +of his myrmidons, bringing along with them a large number of horses, +carts, and cars. The house at this time was in the possession only of a +keeper, a poor, feeble man, with a wife and a numerous family of small +children, the other servants having fled from the danger in which +their connection with Reilly involved them. Sir Robert, however, very +deliberately brought up his cars and other vehicles, and having dragged +out all the most valuable part of the furniture, piled it up, and had it +conveyed to his own outhouses, where it was carefully-stowed. This act, +however, excited comparatively little attention, for such outrages were +not unfrequently committed by those who had, or at least who thought +they had; the law in their own hands. It was now dusk, and the house +had been gutted of all that had been most valuable in it--but the +most brilliant part of the performance was yet to come. We mean no +contemptible pun. The young man's dwelling-house, and office-houses +were ignited at this moment by this man's military and other official +minions, and in about twenty minutes they were all wrapped in one red, +merciless mass of flame. The country people, on observing this fearful +conflagration, flocked from all quarters; but a cordon of outposts was +stationed at some distance around the premises, to prevent the peasantry +from marking the chief actors in this nefarious outrage. Two gentlemen, +however, approached, who, having given their names, were at once +admitted to the burning premises. These were Mr. Brown, the clergyman, +and Mr. Hastings, the actual and legal proprietor of all that had been +considered Reilly's property. Both of them observed that Sir Robert was +the busiest man among them, and upon making inquiries from the party, +they were informed that they acted by his orders, and that, moreover, he +was himself the very first individual who had set fire to the +premises. The clergyman made his way to Sir Robert, on whose villainous +countenance he could read a dark and diabolical triumph. + +"Sir Robert Whitecraft," said Mr. Brown, "how conies such a wanton and +unnecessary waste of property?" + +"Because, sir," replied that gentleman, "it is the property of a popish +rebel and outlaw, and is confiscated to the State." + +"But do you possess authority for this conduct?--Are you the State?" + +"In the spirit of our Protestant Constitution, certainly. I am a +loyal Protestant magistrate, and a man of rank, and will hold myself +accountable for what I do and have done. Come you, there," he added, +"who have knocked down the pump, take some straw, light it up, and put +it with pitchforks upon the lower end of the stable; it has not yet +caught the flames." + +This order was accordingly complied with, and in a few minutes the +scene, if one could dissociate the mind from the hellish spirit which +created it, had something terribly sublime in it. + +Mr. Hastings, the gentleman who accompanied the clergyman, the real +owner of the property, looked on with apparent indifference, but uttered +not a word. Indeed, he seemed rather to enjoy the novelty of the thing +than otherwise, and passed with Mr. Brown from place to place, as if to +obtain the best points for viewing the fire. + +Reilly's residence was a long, large, two-story house, deeply thatched; +the kitchen, containing pantry, laundry, scullery, and all the usual +appurtenances connected with it, was a continuation of the larger house, +but it was a story lower, and also deeply thatched. The out-offices ran +in a long line behind the dwelling house, so that both ran parallel with +each other, and stood pretty close besides, for the yard was a narrow +one. In the meantime, the night, though dry, was dark and stormy. The +wind howled through the adjoining trees like thunder, roared along the +neighboring hills, and swept down in savage whirlwinds to the bottom of +the lowest valleys. The greater portion of the crowd who were standing +outside the cordon we have spoken of fled home, as the awful gusts grew +stronger and stronger, in order to prevent their own houses from being +stripped or unroofed, so that very few remained to witness the rage of +the conflagration at its full height. The Irish peasantry entertain a +superstition that whenever a strong storm of wind, without rain, arises, +it has been occasioned by the necromantic spell of some guilty sorcerer, +who, first having sold himself to the devil, afterwards raises him for +some wicked purpose; and nothing but the sacrifice of a black dog or a +black cock--the one without a white hair, and the other without a +white feather--can prevent him from carrying away, body and soul, the +individual who called him up, accompanied by such terrors. In fact +the night, independently of the terrible accessory of the fire, was +indescribably awful. Thatch portions of the ribs and roofs of houses +were whirled along through the air; and the sweeping blast, in addition +to its own howlings, was burdened with the loud screamings of women and +children, and the stronger shoutings of men, as they attempted to make +each other audible, amidst the roaring of the tempest. + +This was terrible indeed; but on such a night, what must not the +conflagration have been, fed by such pabulum--as Sir Robert himself +would have said--as that on which it glutted its fiery and consuming +appetite. We have said that the offices and dwelling-house ran parallel +with each other, and such was the fact. What appeared singular, and not +without the possibility of some dark supernatural causes, according +to the impressions of the people, was, that the wind, on the night in +question, started, as it were, along with the fire; but the truth is, +it had been gamboling in its gigantic play before the fire commenced at +all. In the meantime, as we said, the whole premises presented one fiery +mass of red and waving flames, that shot and drifted up, from time to +time, towards the sky, with the rapidity, and more than the terror, +of the aurora borealis. As the conflagration proceeded, the high flames +that arose from the mansion, and those that leaped up from the offices, +several times met across the yard, and mingled, as if to exult in their +fearful task of destruction, forming a long and distinct arch of flame, +so exact and regular, that it seemed to proceed from the skill and +effort of some powerful demon, who had made it, as it were, a fiery +arbor for his kind. The whole country was visible to an astonishing +distance, and overhead, the evening sky, into which the up-rushing +pyramids seemed to pass, looked as if it had caught the conflagration, +and was one red mass of glowing and burning copper. Around the house and +premises the eye could distinguish a pin; but the strong light was so +fearfully red that the deep tinge it communicated to the earth seemed +like blood, and made it appear as if it had been sprinkled with it. + +It is impossible to look upon a large and extensive conflagration +without feeling the mind filled with imagery and comparisons, drawn +from moral and actual life. Here, for instance, is a tyrant, in the +unrestrained exercise of his power--he now has his enemy in his grip, +and hear how he exults; listen to the mirthful and crackling laughter +with which the fiendish despot rejoices, as he gains the victory; mark +the diabolical gambols with which he sports, and the demon glee with +which he performs his capricious but frightful exultations. But the +tyrant, after all, will become exhausted--his strength and power will +fail him; he will destroy his own subjects; he will become feeble, and +when he has nothing further on which to exercise his power, he will, +like many another tyrant before him, sink, and be lost in the ruin he +has made. + +Again: Would you behold Industry? Here have its terrible spirits been +appointed their tasks. Observe the energy, the activity, the persevering +fury with which they discharge their separate duties. See how that +eldest son of Apollyon, with the appetite of hell, licks into his +burning maw every thing that comes in contact with his tongue of fire. +What quickness of execution, and how rapidly they pass from place to +place! how they run about in quest of employment! how diligently and +effectually they search every nook and corner, lest anything might +escape them! Mark the activity with which that strong fellow leaps +across, from beam to beam, seizing upon each as he goes. A different +task has been assigned to another: he attacks the rafters of the +roof--he fails at first, but, like the constrictor, he first licks over +his victim before he destroys it--bravo!--he is at it again--it gives +way--he is upon it, and about it; and now his difficulties are over--the +red wood glows, splits and crackles, and flies off in angry flakes, +in order to become a minister to its active and devouring master. See! +observe! What business--what a coil and turmoil of industry! Every +flame at work--no idle hand here--no lazy lounger reposing. No, no--the +industry of a hive of bees is nothing to this. Running up--running +down--running in all directions: now they unite together to accomplish +some general task, and again disperse themselves to perform their +individual appointments. + +But hark! what comes here? Room for another element. 'Tis the windstorm, +that comes to partake in the triumph of the victory which his ministers +have assisted to gain. But lo! here he comes in person; and now they +unite--or how?--Do they oppose each other? Here does the windstorm drive +back the god of fire from his victim; again the fiery god attempts to +reach it; and again he feels that he has met more than his match. Once, +twice, thrice he has failed in getting at it. But is this conflict +real--this fierce battle between the elements? Alas, no; they are both +tyrants, and what is to be expected? + +The wind god, always unsteady, wheels round, comes to the assistance of +his opponent, and gives him new courage, new vigor, and new strength. +But his inferior ministers must have a share of this dreadful repast. +Off go a thousand masses of burning material, whirling along. Off go +the; glowing timbers and rafters, on the wind, by which they are borne +in thousands of red meteors across the sky. But hark, again! Room for +the whirlwind! Here it comes, and addresses itself to yon tall and +waving pyramid; they embrace; the pyramid is twisted into the figure of +a gigantic corkscrew--round they go, rapid as thought; the thunder of +the wind supplies them with the appropriate music, and continues until; +this terrible and gigantic waltz of the elements is concluded. But now +these fearful ravagers are satisfied, because they have nothing more on +which they can glut themselves. They appear, however, to be seated. The +wind has become low, and is only able to work up a feeble effort at its +former strength. The flames, too, are subsiding--their power is gone; +occasional jets of fire I come forth, but they instantly disappear. By +degrees, and one after another, they vanish. Nothing now is visible +but smoke, and every thing is considered as over--when lo! like a great +general, who has achieved a triumphant victory, it is deemed right to; +take a last look at the position of the enemy. Up, therefore, starts +an unexpected burst of flame--blazes for a while; looks about it, as +it were; sees that the victory is complete, and drops down into the +darkness from which it came. The conflagration is over; the wind-storm +is also appeased. Small hollow gusts, amongst the trees and elsewhere, +are now all that are heard. By degrees, even these cease; and the wind +is now such as it was in the course of the evening, when the elements +were comparatively quiet and still. + +Mr. Brown and his friend, Mr. Hastings, having waited until they saw the +last rafter of unfortunate Reilly's house and premises sink into a black +mass of smoking ruins, turned their steps to the parsonage, which they +had no sooner entered than they went immediately to Reilly's room, who +was still there under concealment. Mr. Brown, however, went out again +and returned with some wine, which he placed upon the table. + +"Gentlemen," said Reilly, "this has become an awful night; the wind has +been tremendous, and has done a good deal of damage, I fear, to your +house and premises, Mr. Brown. I heard the slates falling about in great +numbers; and the inmates of the house were, as far as I could judge, +exceedingly alarmed." + +"It was a dreadful night in more senses than one," replied Mr. Brown. + +"By the by," said Reilly, "was there not a fire somewhere in the +neighborhood, I observed through the windows a strong light flickering +and vibrating, as it were, over the whole country. What must it have +been?" + +"My dear Reilly," replied Mr. Brown, "be calm; your house and premises +are, at this moment, one dark heap of smouldering ruins." + +"Oh, yes--I understand," replied Reilly--"Sir Robert Whitecraft." + +"Sir Robert Whitecraft," replied Mr. Brown; "it is too true, Reilly--you +are now houseless and homeless; and may God forgive him!" + +Reilly got up and paced the room several times, then sat down, and +filling himself a glass of wine, drank it off; then looking at each of +them, said, in a voice rendered hoarse by the indignation and resentment +which he felt himself compelled, out of respect for his kind friends, to +restrain, "Gentlemen," he repeated, "what do _you_ call this" + +"Malice--persecution--vengeance," replied Mr. Brown, whose resentment +was scarcely less than that of Reilly himself. "In the presence of +God, and before all the world. I would pronounce it one of the most +diabolical acts ever committed in the history of civil society. But you +have one consolation, Reilly; your money and papers are safe." + +"It is not that," replied Reilly; "I think not of them. It is the +vindictive and persecuting spirit of that man--that monster--and the +personal motives from which he acts, that torture me, and that plant in +my heart a principle of vengeance more fearful than his. But you do not +understand me, gentlemen; I could smile at all he has done to myself +yet. It is of the serpent-tooth which will destroy the peace of others, +that I think. All these motives being considered, what do you think that +man deserves at my hand?" + +"My dear Reilly," said the clergyman, "recollect that there is a +Providence; and that we cannot assume to ourselves the disposition +of His judgments, or the knowledge of His wisdom. Have patience. Your +situation is one of great distress and almost unexampled difficulty. At +all events, you are, for the present, safe under this roof; and although +I grant you have much to suffer, still you have a free conscience, +and, I dare say, would not exchange your position for that of your +persecutor." + +"No," said Reilly; "most assuredly not--most assuredly not; no, not for +worlds. Yet is it not strange, gentlemen, that that man will sleep sound +and happily to-night, whilst I will lie upon a bed of thorns?" + +At this moment Mrs. Brown tapped gently at the door, which was +cautiously opened by her husband. + +"John," said she, "here is a note which I was desired to give to you +without a moment's delay." + +"Thank you, my love; I will read it instantly.". + +He then bolted the door, and coming to the table took up one of the +candles and read the letter, which he handed to Mr. Hastings. Now +we have already stated that this gentleman, whilst looking on at the +destruction of Reilly's property, never once opened his lips. Neither +did he, from the moment they entered Reilly's room. He sat like a dumb +man, occasionally helping himself to a glass of wine. After having +perused the note he merely nodded, but said not a word; he seemed to +have lost the faculty of speech. At length Mr. Brown spoke: + +"This is really too bad, my dear Reilly; here is a note signed H.F., +which informs me that your residence, concealment, or whatever it is, +has been discovered by Sir Robert Whitecraft, and that the military are +on their way here to arrest you; you must instantly fly." + +Hastings then got up, and taking Reilly's hand, said: + +"Yes, Reilly, you must escape--disguise yourself--take all shapes--since +you will not leave the country; but there is one fact I wish to impress +upon you: meddle not with--injure not--Sir Robert Whitecraft. Leave him +to me." + +"Go out by the back way," said Mr. Brown, "and fly into the fields, lest +they should surround the house and render escape impossible. God bless +you and preserve you from the violence of your enemies!" + +It is unnecessary to relate what subsequently occurred. Mr. Brown's +premises, as he had anticipated, were completely surrounded ere the +party in search of Reilly had demanded admittance. The whole house was +searched from top to bottom, but, as usual, without success. Sir +Robert Whitecraft himself was not with them, but the party were all but +intoxicated, and, were it not for the calm and unshrinking firmness +of Mr. Brown, would have been guilty of a very offensive degree of +insolence. + +Reilly, in the meantime, did not pass far from the house. On the +contrary, he resolved to watch from a safe place the motions of those +who were in pursuit of him. In order to do this more securely, he +mounted into the branches of a magnificent oak tree that stood in the +centre of a field adjoining a kind of back lawn that stretched from the +walled garden of the parsonage. The fact is, that the clergyman's house +had two hall-doors--one in front, and the other in the rear--and as the +rooms commanded a view of the scenery behind the house, which was +much finer than that in front, on this account the back hall-door was +necessary, as it gave them a free and easy egress to the lawn we have +mentioned, from which a magnificent prospect was visible. + +It was obvious that the party, though unsuccessful, had been very +accurately informed. Finding, however, that the bird had flown, several +of them galloped across the lawn--it was a cavalry party, having been +sent out for speed and passed into the field where the tree grew in +which Reilly was concealed. After a useless search, however, they +returned, and pulled up their horses under the oak. + +"Well," said one of them, "it's a dear case that the scoundrel can make +himself invisible. We have orders from Sir Eobert to shoot him, and to +put the matter upon the principle of resistance against the law, on +his side. Sir Robert has been most credibly informed that that disloyal +parson has concealed him in his house for nearly the last month. Now +who could ever think of looking for a Popish rebel in the house of a +Protestant parson? What the deuce is keeping those fellows? I hope they +won't go too far into the country." + +"Any man that says Mr. Brown is a disloyal parson is a liar," said one +of them in a stem voice. + +"And I say," said another, with a hiccough, "that, hang me, but I think +this same Reilly is as loyal a man as e'er a one amongst us. My name is +George Johnston, and I'm not ashamed of it; and the truth is, that only +Miss Folliard fell in love with Reilly, and refused to marry Sir Robert, +Reilly would have been a loyal man still, and no ill-will against him. +But, by --- it was too bad to burn his house and place--and see +whether Sir Robert will come off the better of it. I myself am a good +Protestant--show me the man that will deny that, and I'll become his +schoolmaster only for five minutes. I do say, and I'll tell it to Sir +Robert's face, that there's something wrong somewhere. Give me a Papish +that breaks the law, let him be priest or layman, and I'm the boy that +will take a grip of him if I can get him. But, confound me, if I like to +be sent out to hunt innocent, inoffensive Papishes, who commit no crime +except that of having property that chaps like Sir Robert have their eye +on. Now suppose the Papishes had the upper hand, and that they treated +us so, what would you say?" + +"All I can say is," replied another of them, "that I'd wish to get the +reward." + +"Curse the reward," said Johnston, "I like fair play." + +"But how did Sir Robert come to know?" asked another, "that Reilly was +with the parson'?" + +"Who the deuce here can tell that?" replied several. + +"The thing was a hoax," said Johnston, "and a cursed uncomfortable one +for us. But here comes these fellows, just as they went, it seems. Well, +boys, no trail of this cunning fox?" + +"Trail!" exclaimed the others. "Gad, you might as well hunt for your +grandmother's needle in a bottle of straw. The truth is, the man's +not in the country, and whoever gave the information as to the parson +keeping him was some enemy of the parson's more than of Reilly's, I'll +go bail. Come, now, let us go back, and give an account of our luck, and +then to our barracks." + +Now at this period it was usual for men who were prominent for rank and +loyalty, and whose attachment to the Constitution and Government was +indicated by such acts and principles as those which we have hitherto +read in the life of Sir Robert. Whitecraft--we say, it was usual for +such as him to be allowed a small detachment of military, whose numbers +were mostly rated, according to the services he required of them, by the +zeal and activity of their employer, as well as for his protection; +and, in order to their accommodation, some uninhabited house in the +neighborhood was converted into a barrack for the purpose. Such was the +case in the instance of Sir Robert Whitecraft, who, independently of +his zeal for the public good, was supposed to have an eye in this +disposition of things, to his own personal Safety. He consequently, had +his little barrack so closely adjoining his house that a notice of five +minutes could at any time have its inmates at his premises, or in his +presence. + +After these men went away, Reilly, having waited a few minutes, until he +was satisfied that they had actually, one and all of them, disappeared, +came down from the tree, and once more betook himself to the road. +Whither to go he knew not. In consequence of having received his +education abroad, his personal knowledge of the inhabitants belonging +to the neighborhood was very limited. Go somewhere, however, he must. +Accordingly, he resolved to advance, at all events, as far as he might +be able to travel before bed-time, and then resign himself to chance +for a night's shelter. One might imagine, indeed, that his position as +a wealthy Roman Catholic gentleman, suffering persecution from the tool +and scourge of a hostile government, might have calculated upon shelter +and secrecy from those belonging to his own creed. And so, indeed, in +nineteen cases out of twenty he might; but in what predicament should +he find himself if the twentieth proved treacherous? And against this he +had no guarantee. That age was peculiarly marked by the foulest personal +perfidy, precipitated into action by rapacity, ingratitude, and the +blackest ambition. The son of a Roman Catholic gentleman, for instance, +had nothing more to do than change his creed, attach himself to the +government, become a spy and informer on his family, and he ousted his +own father at once out of his hereditary property--an ungrateful and +heinous proceeding, that was too common in the time of which we write. +Then, as to the people themselves, they were, in general, steeped in +poverty and ignorance, and this is certainly not surprising when +we consider that no man durst educate them. The government rewards, +therefore, assailed them with a double temptation. In the first, the +amount of it--taking their poverty into consideration--was calculated +to grapple with and overcome their scruples; and in the next, they were +certain by their treachery to secure the protection of government for +themselves. + +Such, exactly, was the state of the country on the night when Reilly +found himself a solitary traveller on the road, ignorant of his destiny, +and uncertain where or in what quarter he might seek shelter until +morning. + +He had not gone far when he overtook another traveller, with whom he +entered into conversation. + +"God save you, my friend." + +"God save you kindly, sir," replied the other; "was not this an awful +night?" + +"If you may say so," returned Reilly unconsciously, and for the moment +forgetting himself, "well may I, my friend." + +Indeed it is probable that Reilly was thrown somewhat off his guard by +the accent of his companion, from which he at once inferred that he was +a Catholic. + +"Why, sir," replied the man, "how could it be more awful to you than to +any other man?" + +"Suppose my house was blown down," said Reilly, "and that yours was not, +would not that be cause sufficient?" + +"_My_ house!" exclaimed the man with a deep sigh; "but sure you ought to +know, sir, that it's not every _man_ has a house." + +"And perhaps I do know it." + +"Wasn't that a terrible act, sir--the burning of Mr. Reilly's house and +place?" + +"Who is Mr. Reilly?" asked the other. + +"A Catholic gintleman, sir, that the soldiers are afther," replied the +man. + +"And perhaps it is right that they should be after him. What did he do? +The Catholics are too much in the habit of violating the law, especially +their priests, who persist in marrying Protestants and Papists together, +although they know it is a hanging matter. If they deliberately put +their necks into the noose, who can pity them?" + +"It seems they do, then," replied the man in a subdued voice; "and what +is still more strange, it very often happens that persons of their own +creed are somewhat too ready to come down wid a harsh word upon 'em." + +"Well, my friend," responded Reilly, "let them not deserve it; let them +obey the law." + +"And are _you_, of opinion, sir," asked the man with a significant +emphasis upon the personal pronoun which we have put in italics; "are +_you_ of opinion, sir, that obedience to the law is _always_ a security +to either _person or property?_" + +The direct force of the question could not be easily parried, at least +by Reilly, to whose circumstances it applied so powerfully, and he +consequently paused for a little to shape his thoughts into the language +he wished to adopt; the man, however, proceeded: + +"I wonder what Mr. Reilly would say if such a question was put to him?" + +"I suppose," replied Reilly, "he would say much as I say--that neither +innocence nor obedience is always a security under any law or any +constitution either." + +His companion made no reply, and they walked on for some time in +silence. Such indeed was the precarious state of the country then that, +although the stranger, from the opening words of their conversation, +suspected his companion to be no other than Willy Reilly himself, yet +he hesitated to avow the suspicions he entertained of his identity, +although he felt anxious to repose the fullest confidence in him; and +Reilly, on the other hand, though perfectly aware of the true character +of his companion, was influenced in their conversation by a similar +feeling. Distrust it could not be termed on either side, but simply the +operation of that general caution which was generated by the state of +the times, when it was extremely difficult to know the individual on +whom you could place dependence. Reilly's generous nature, however, +could bear this miserable manoeuvring no longer. + +"Come, my friend," said he, "we have been beating about the bush with +each other to no purpose; although I know not your name, yet I think I +do your profession." + +"And I would hold a wager," replied other, "that Mr. Reilly, whose house +was burned down by a villain this night, is not a thousand miles from +me." + +"And suppose you are right?" + +"Then, upon my veracity, you're safe, if I am. It would ill become my +cloth and character to act dishonorably or contrary to the spirit of my +religion. + + '_Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco_.' + +You see, Mr. Reilly, I couldn't make use of any other gender but the +feminine without violating prosody; for although I'm not so sharp at +my Latin as I was, still I couldn't use _ignarus_, as you see, without +fairly committing myself as a scholar; and indeed, if I went to that, it +would surely be the first time I have been mistaken for a dunce." + +The honest priest, now that the ice was broken, and conscious that he +was in safe hands, fell at once into his easy and natural manner, and +rattled away very much to the amusement of his companion. "Ah!" he +proceeded, "many a character I have been forced to assume." + +"How is that?" inquired Reilly. "How did it happen that you were forced +into such a variety of characters?" + +"Why, you see, Mr. Reilly--troth and maybe I had better not be naming +you aloud; walls have ears, and so may hedges. How, you ask? Why, +you see, I'm not registered, and consequently have no permission from +government to exercise my functions." + +"Why," said Reilly, "you labor under a mistake, my friend; the bill for +registering Catholic priests did not pass; it was lost by a majority of +two. So far make your mind easy. The consequence is, that if you labor +under no ecclesiastical censure you may exercise all the functions of +your office--that is, as well as you can, and as far as you dare." + +"Well, that same's a comfort," said the priest; "but the report was, +and is, that we are to be registered. However, be that as it may, I have +been a perfect Proteus. The metamorphoses of Ovid were nothing to mine. +I have represented every character in society at large; to-day I've been +a farmer, and to-morrow a poor man (a mendicant), sometimes a fool--a +rare character, you know, in this world--and sometimes a tiddler, for I +play a little." + +"And which character did you prefer among them all?" asked Reilly, with +a smile which he could not repress. + +"Oh, in troth, you needn't ask that, Mr. R.--hem--you needn't ask that. +The first morning I took to the fiddle I was about to give myself up to +government at once. As for my part, I'd be ashamed to tell you how sent +those that were unlucky enough to ear my music scampering across the +country." + +"And, pray, how long is that since?" + +"Why, something better than three weeks, the Lord pity me!" + +"And what description of dress did you wear on that occasion?" asked +Reilly. + +"Dress-why, then, an old yellow caubeen, a blue frieze coat, +and--movrone, oh! a striped breeches. And the worst of it was, that big +Paddy Mullin, from Mullaghmore, having met me in old Darby Doyle's, poor +man, where I went to take a little refreshment, ordered in something to +eat, and began to make me play for him. There was a Protestant in the +house, too, so that I couldn't tell him who I was, and I accordingly +began, and soon cleared the house of them. God bless you, sir, you could +little dream of all I went through. I was one day set in the house I was +concealed in, in the town of Ballyrogan, and only for the town fool, Art +M'Kenna, I suppose I'd have swung before this." + +"How was that?" asked Reilly. + +"Why, sir, one day I got the hard word that they would be into the house +where I was in a few minutes. To escape them in my own dress I knew was +impossible; and what was to be done? The poor fool, who was as true as +steel, came to my relief. 'Here,' said he, 'exchange wid me. I'll put on +your black clothes, and you'll put on my red ones'--he was dressed like +an old soldier--'then I'll take to my scrapers, an' while they are in +pursuit of me you can escape to some friend's house, where you may get +another dress. 'God knows,' said he, with a grin on him I didn't like, +'it's a poor exchange on my part. You can play the fool, and cock your +cap, without any one to ask you for authority,' says he, 'and if I only +marry a wrong couple I may be hanged. Go off now.' Well, sir, out I +walked, dressed in a red coat, military hat, white knee-breeches, and +black leggings. As I was going out I met the soldiers. 'Is the priest +inside, Art?' they asked. I pointed in a wrong direction. 'Up by +Kilclay?' I nodded. They first searched the house, however, but found +neither priest nor fool; only one of them, something sharper than the +rest, went out of the back door, and saw unfortunate Art, dressed in +black, running for the bare life. Of course they thought it was me they +had. Off they started; and a tolerable chase Art put them to. At last +he was caught, after a run across the country of about four miles; +but ne'er a word came out of his lips, till a keen fellow, on looking +closely at him, discovered the mistake. Some of them were then going to +kill the poor fool, but others interfered, and wouldn't allow him to be +touched; and many of them laughed heartily when they saw Art turned into +a clergyman, as they said. Art, however, was no coward, and threatened +to read every man of them out from the altar. 'I'll exkimnicate every +mother's son of you,' said he. 'I'm a reverend clargy; and, by the +contents of my soger's cap, I'll close the mouths on your faces, so that +a blessed pratie or a boult of fat bacon will never go down one of +your villainous throats again; and then,' he added, 'I'll sell you for +scarecrows to the Pope o' Room, who wants a dozen or two of you to sweep +out his palace.' It was then, sir, that, while I was getting out of my +red clothes, I was transformed again; but, indeed, the most of us are so +now, God help us!" + +They had now arrived at a narrow part of the road, when the priest +stood. + +"Mr. Reilly," said he, "I am very tired; but, as it is, we must go on +a couple of miles further, until we reach Glen Dhu, where I think I can +promise you a night's lodging, such as it will be." + +"I am easily satisfied," replied his companion; "it would be a soft bed +that would win me to repose on this night, at least." + +"It will certainly be a rude and a rough one," said the priest, "and +there will be few hearts there free from care, no more than yours, +Mr. Reilly. Alas! that I should be obliged to say so in a Christian +country." + +"You say you are fatigued," said Reilly. "Take my arm; I am strong +enough to yield you some support." + +The priest did so, and they proceeded at a slower pace, until they got +over the next two miles, when the priest stopped again. + +"I must rest a little," said he, "although we are now within a hundred +yards of our berth for the night. Do you know where you are?" + +"Perfectly," replied Reilly; "but, good mercy! sure there is neither +house nor home within two miles of us. We are in the moors, at the very +mouth of Glen Dhu.' + +"Yes," replied his companion, "and I am glad we are here." + +The poor hunted priest felt himself, indeed, very much exhausted, so +much so that, if the termination of his journey had been at a much +longer distance from thence, he would scarcely have been able to reach +it. + +"God help our unhappy Church," said he, "for she is suffering much; but +still she is suffering nobly, and with such Christian fortitude as will +make her days of trial and endurance the brightest in her annals. All +that power and persecution can direct against us is put in force a +thousand ways; but we act under the consciousness that we have God and +truth on our side, and this gives us strength and courage to suffer. +And if we fly, Mr. Reilly, and hide ourselves, it is not from any moral +cowardice we do so. It certainly is not true courage to expose our lives +wantonly and unnecessarily to the vengeance of our enemies. Read the +Old Testament and history, and you will find how many good and pious +men have sought shelter in wildernesses and caves, as we have done. The +truth is, we feel ourselves called upon, for the sake of our suffering +and neglected flocks, to remain in the country, and to afford them all +the consolation and religious support in our power, God help them." + +"I admire the justice of your sentiments," replied Reilly, "and the +spirit in which they are--expressed. Indeed I am of opinion that if +those who foster and stimulate this detestable spirit of persecution +against you only knew how certainly and surely it defeats their purpose, +by cementing your hearts and the hearts of your flocks together, they +would not, from principles even of worldly policy, persist in it. The +man who attempted to break down the arch by heaping additional weight +upon it ultimately found that the greater the weight the stronger the +arch, and so I trust it will be with us." + +"It would seem," said the priest, "to be an attempt to exterminate +the religion of the people by depriving them of their pastors, and +consequently of their Church, in order to bring them to the impression +that, upon the principle of any Church being better than no Church, they +may gradually be absorbed into Protestantism. This seems to be their +policy; but how can any policy, based upon such persecution, and so +grossly at variance with human liberty, ever succeed? As it is, we go +out in the dead hours of the night, when even persecution is asleep, and +administer the consolations of religion to the sick, the dying, and +the destitute. Now these stolen visits are sweeter, perhaps, and more +efficacious, than if they took place in freedom and the open day. Again, +we educate their children in the principles of their creed, during the +same lonely hours, in waste houses, where we are obliged to keep the +windows stuffed with straw, or covered with blinds of some sort, lest +a chance of discovery might ensue. Such is the life we lead--a life of +want and misery and suffering, but we complain not; on the contrary, we +submit ourselves to the will of God, and receive this severe visitation +as a chastisement intended for our good." + +The necessities of our narrative, however, compel us to leave them here +for the present; but not without a hope that they found shelter for the +night, as we trust we shall be able to show. + + + + +CHAPTER IX.--A Prospect of Bygone Times + +--Reilly's Adventure Continued--Reilly Gets a Bed in a Curious +Establishment. + + +We now beg our readers to accompany us to the library of Sir Robert +Whitecraft, where that worthy gentleman sits, with a bottle of +Madeira before him; for Sir Robert, in addition to his many other good +qualities, possessed that of being a private drinker. The bottle, we +say, was before him, and with a smile of triumph and satisfaction on his +face, he arose and rang the bell. In a few minutes a liveried servant +attended it. + +"Carson, send O'Donnel here." + +Carson bowed and retired, and in a few minutes the Red Rapparee entered. + +"How is this, O'Donnel? Have you thrown aside your uniform?" + +"I didn't think I'd be called out on duty again to-night, sir." + +"It doesn't matter, O'Donnel--it doesn't matter. What do you think of +the bonfire?" + +"Begad, it was a beauty, sir, and well managed." + +"Ay, but I am afraid, O'Donnel, I went a little too far--that I +stretched my authority somewhat." + +"But isn't he a rebel and an outlaw, Sir Robert? and in that case--" + +"Yes, O'Donnel; and a rebel and an outlaw of my own making, which is the +best of it. The fellow might have lain there, concocting his treason, +long enough, only for my vigilance. However, it's all right. The +government, to which I have rendered such important services, will stand +by me, and fetch me out of the burning--that is, if there has been any +transgression of the law in it. The Papists are privately recruiting for +the French service, and that is felony; Reilly also was recruiting for +the French service--was he not?" + +"He offered me a commission, sir." + +"Very good; that's all right, but can you prove that?" + +"Why, I can swear it, Sir Robert." + +"Better still. But do you think he is in the country, O'Donnel?" + +"I would rather swear he is, sir, than that he is not. He won't lave her +aisily." + +"Who do you mean by her, sir?" + +"I would rather not name her, your honor, in connection with the +vagabond." + +"That's delicate of you, O'Donnel; I highly approve of your sentiment. +Here, have a glass of wine." + +"Thank you, Sir Robert; but have you any brandy, sir? My tongue is as +dry as a stick, wid that glorious bonfire we had; but, besides, sir, I +wish to drink success to you in all your undertakings. A happy marriage, +sir!" and he accompanied the words with a ferocious grin. + +"You shall have one glass of brandy, O'Donnel, but no more. I wish you +to deliver a letter for me to-night. It is to the sheriff, who dines +with Lord ------, a friend of mine; and I wish you to deliver it at his +lordship's house, where you will be sure to find him. The letter is of +the greatest importance, and you will take care to deliver it safely. No +answer by you is required. He was out to-day, levying fines from Popish +priests, and a heavy one from the Popish bishop, and I do not think, +with a large sum of money about him, that he will go home to-night. +Here is the letter. I expect he will call on me in the morning, to +breakfast--at least I have asked him, for we have very serious business +to discuss." + +The Rapparee took the letter, finished his glass of brandy, and +disappeared to fulfil his commission. + +Now it so happened that on that very evening, before the premises had +been set on fire, Mary Mahon, by O'Donnel's order, had entered the +house, and under, as it were, the protection of the military, gathered +up as much of Reilly's clothes and linen as she could conveniently carry +to her cottage, which was in the immediate vicinity of Whitecraft's +residence--it being the interest of this hypocritical voluptuary to have +the corrupt wretch near him. The Rapparee, having left Whitecraft to his +reflections, immediately directed his steps to her house, and, with her +connivance, changed the dress he had on for one which she had taken from +Reilly's wardrobe. He then went to the house of the nobleman where the +sheriff was dining, but arrived only in time to hear that he was about +to take horse on his return home. On seeing him preparing to mount, +bearing a lantern in his hand, as the night was dark and the roads +bad, he instantly changed his purpose as to the letter, and came to the +resolution of not delivering it at all. + +"I can easily say," thought he, "that the sheriff had gone home before +I came, and that will be a very sufficient excuse. In the meantime," he +added, "I will cross the country and be out on the road before him." + +The sheriff was not unarmed, however, and felt himself tolerably well +prepared for any attack that might be made on him; and, besides, he was +no coward. After a ride of about two miles he found himself stopped, and +almost at the same instant the lantern that he carried was knocked out +of his hand and extinguished, but not until he caught a faint glimpse +of the robber's person, who, from his dress, appeared to be a man much +above the common class. Quick as lightning he pulled out one of his +pistols, and, cocking it, held himself in readiness. The night was dark, +and this preparation for self-defence was unknown to his assailant. On +feeling the reins of his horse's bridle in the hands of the robber, he +snapped the pistol at his head, but alas! it only flashed in the pan. +The robber, on the other hand, did not seem anxious to take his life, +for it was a principle among the Rapparees to shed, while exercising +their rapacious functions, as little blood as possible. They have +frequently taken life from a feeling of private vengeance, but not often +while robbing on the king's highway. The sheriff, now finding that one +pistol had missed, was about to draw out the second, when he was knocked +insensible off his horse, and on recovering found himself minus the +fines which he had that day levied--all the private cash about him--and +his case of pistols. This indeed was a bitter incident to him; because, +in addition to the loss of his private purse and firearms--which he +valued as nothing--he knew that he was responsible to government for the +amount of the fines. + +With considerable difficulty he was able to remount his horse, and with +a sense of stupor, which was very painful, he recommenced his journey +home. After a ride of about two miles he met three horsemen, who +immediately challenged him and demanded his name and residence. + +"I am the sheriff of the county," he replied, "and have been robbed of +a large sum of money and my pistols; and now," he added, "may I beg +to know who you are, and by what authority you demand my name and +residence?" + +"Excuse us, Mr. Sheriff," they replied; "we belong to the military +detachment which government has placed under the control of Sir Robert +Whitecraft." + +"Oh, indeed," exclaimed the sheriff; "I wish to heaven you had been a +little more advanced on your journey; you might have saved me from being +plundered, as I have been, and probably secured the robber." + +"Could you observe, sir, what was the villain's appearance?" + +"I had a small lantern," replied the functionary, "by which I caught a +brief but uncertain glance of him. I am not quite certain that I could +recognize his features, though, if I saw him again--but--perhaps I +might, certainly I could his dress." + +"How was he dressed, sir?" they inquired. + +"Quite beyond the common," said the sheriff; "I think he had on a brown +coat, of superior cloth and make, and I think, too, the buckles of his +slices were silver." + +"And his features, Mr. Sheriff?" + +"I cannot exactly say," he returned; "I was too much agitated to be able +to recollect them; but indeed the dim glimpse I got was too brief +to afford me an opportunity of seeing them with any thing like +distinctness." + +"From the description you have given, sir," said one of them, "the man +who robbed you must have been Reilly the Outlaw. That is the very dress +he has been in the habit of wearing. Was he tall, sir, and stout in +person?" + +"He was a very large man, certainly," replied the sheriff; "and I regret +I did not see his face more distinctly." + +"It can be no other, Mr. Sheriff," observed the man; "the fellow has no +means of living now, unless by levying contributions on the road. For my +part, I think the scoundrel can make himself invisible; but it must go +hard with us or we will secure him yet. Would you wish an escort home, +Mr. Sheriff? because, if you do, we shall accompany you." + +"No," replied the other, "I thank you. I would not have ventured home +unattended if the Red Rapparee had still been at his vocation, and his +gang undispersed; but as he is now on the safe side, I apprehend no +danger." + +"It's not at all impossible but Reilly may step into his shoes," said +the cavalryman. + +"I have now neither money nor arms," continued the sheriff; "nothing the +villain robbers could covet, and what, then, have I to fear?" + +"You have a life, sir," observed the man respectfully, "and if you'll +allow me to say it--the life of a man who is not very well liked in the +country, in consequence of certain duties you are obliged to perform. +Come, then, sir, we shall see you home." + +It was so arranged, and the sheriff reached his own residence, under +their escort, with perfect safety. + +This indeed was a night of adventure to Reilly--hunted, as he was, like +a beast of prey. After what had taken place already in the early portion +of it, he apprehended no further pursuit, and in this respect he felt +his mind comparatively at ease--for, in addition to any other conviction +of his safety, he knew that the night was far advanced, and as the +country was unsettled, he was not ignorant that the small military +parties that were in the habit of scouring the country generally--unless +when in the execution of some express duty--retired to their quarters +at an early hour, in order to avoid the severe retaliations which were +frequently made upon them by the infuriated peasantry whom they--or +rather the government which employed them--had almost driven to madness, +and--would have driven to insurrection had the people possessed the +means of rising. As it was, however, he dreaded no further pursuit this +night, for the reasons which we have stated. + +In the meantime the sheriff, feeling obliged by the civility of the +three dragoons, gave them refreshments on a very liberal scale, of +which--rather exhausted as they were--they made a very liberal use. +Feeling themselves now considerably stimulated by liquor, they mounted +their horses and proceeded towards their barracks--at a quick pace. In +consequence of the locality in which the sheriff lived, it was necessary +that they should travel in a direction opposite to that by which Reilly +and the priest were going. At all events, after riding a couple of +miles, they overtook three infantry soldiers who were also on their way +to quarters. The blood, however, of the troopers was up--thanks to the +sheriff; they mentioned the robbery, and requested the three infantry to +precede them as an advanced guard, as quietly as possible, stating +that there might still be a chance of coming across the villain who had +plundered the sheriff, intimating their impression, at the same time, +that Reilly was the man, and adding that if they could secure him their +fortune was made. As has always been usual in executing cases, of the +law attended with peculiar difficulty, these men--the infantry--like +our present detectives, had gone out that night in colored clothes. On +perceiving two individuals approaching them in the dim distance, they +immediately threw their guns into the ditch, lest they should put our +friends upon their guard and cause them to escape if they could. Reilly +could have readily done so; but having, only a few minutes before heard +from the poor old priest that he had, for some months past, been branded +and pursued us a felon, he could not think of abandoning him now that +he was feeble and jaded with fatigue as well as with age. Now it so +happened that one of these fellows had been a Roman Catholic, and having +committed some breach of the law, found it as safe as it was convenient +to change his creed, and as he spoke the Irish language fluently--indeed +there were scarcely any other then spoken by the peasantry--he commenced +clipping his hands on seeing the two men, and expressing the deepest +sorrow for the loss of his wife, from whose funeral, it appeared from +his lamentations, he was then returning. + +"We have nothing to apprehend, here," said Reilly; "this poor fellow is +in sorrow, it seems--God help him! Let us proceed." + +"Oh!" exclaimed the treacherous villain, clapping his hands--[we +translate his words]--"Oh, Yeeah. Yeeah! (God, God!) what a bitther loss +you'll be, my darlin' Madge, to me and your orphan childher, now and for +evermore! Oh, where was there sich a wife, neighbors? who ever heard +her harsh word, or her loud voice? And from mornin' till night ever, ever +busy in keepin' every thing tight and clane and regular! Let me alone, +will yez? I'll go back and sleep upon her grave this night--so I +will; and if all the blasted sogers in Ireland--may sweet bad luck +to them!--were to come to prevent me, I'd not allow them. Oh, Madge, +darlin', but I'm the lonely and heartbroken man widout you this night!" + +"Come, come," said the priest, "have firmness, poor man; other people +have these calamities to bear as well as yourself. Be a man." + +"Oh, are you a priest, sir? bekase if you are I want consolation if ever +a sorrowful man did." + +"I am a priest," replied the unsuspecting I man, "and any thing I can do +to calm your mind, I'll do it." + +He had scarcely uttered these words when! Reilly felt his two arms +strongly pinioned, and as the men who had seized him were | powerful, +the struggle between him and them was dreadful. The poor priest at the +same moment found himself also a prisoner in the hands of the bereaved +widower, to whom he proved an easy victim, as he was incapable of making +resistance, which, indeed, he declined to attempt. If he did not possess +bodily strength, however, he was not without presence of mind. For +whilst Reilly and his captors were engaged in a fierce and powerful +conflict, he placed his fore-finger and thumb in his mouth, from which +proceeded a whistle so piercingly loud and shrill that it awoke the +midnight echoes around them. + +[Illustration: PAGE 65--Dashed up to the scene of struggle] + +This was considered by the dragoons as a signal from their friends in +advance, and, without the loss of a moment, they set spurs to their +horses, and dashed up to the scene of struggle, just as Reilly had got +his right arm extricated, and knocked one of his captors down. In an +instant, however, the three dragoons, aided by the other men, were upon +him, and not less than three cavalry pistols were levelled at his head. +Unfortunately, at this moment the moon began to rise, and the dragoons, +on looking at him more closely, observed that he was dressed precisely +as the sheriff had described the person who robbed him--the brown coat, +light-colored breeches, and silver buckles--for indeed this was his +usual dress. + +"You are Willy Reilly," said the man who had been spokesman in their +interview with the sheriff: "you needn't deny it, sir--I know you!" + +"If you know me, then," replied Reilly, "where is the necessity for +asking my name?" + +"I ask again, sir, what is your name? If you be the man I suspect you to +be, you will deny it." + +"My name," replied the other, "is William Reilly, and as I am conscious +of no crime against society--of no offence against the State--I shall +not deny it." + +"I knew I was right," said the dragoon. "Mr. Reilly, you are our +prisoner on many charges, not the least of which is your robbery of the +sheriff this night. You must come with us to Sir Robert Whitecraft; so +must this other person who seems your companion." + +"Not a foot I'll go to Sir Eobert Whitecraft's to-night," replied the +priest. "I have made my mind up against such a stretch at such an hour +as this; and, with the help of God, I'll stick to my resolution." + +"Why do you refuse to go?" asked the man, a good deal surprised at such +language. + +"Just for a reason I have: as for that fellow being Willy Reilly, he's +no more Willy Reilly than I am; whatever he is, however, he's a good man +and true, but must be guided by wiser heads than his own; and I now +tell him--ay, and you too--that he won't see Sir Robert Whitecraft's +treacherous face to-night, no more than myself." + +"Come," said one of them, "drag the idolatrous old rebel along. Come, my +old couple-beggar, there's a noose before you." + +He had scarcely uttered the words when twenty men, armed with strong +pikes, jumped out on the road before them, and about the same number, +with similar weapons, behind them. In fact, they were completely hemmed +in; and, as the road was narrow and the ditches high, they were not at +all in a capacity to make resistance. + +"Surrender your prisoners," said a huge man in a voice of +thunder--"surrender your prisoners--here are we ten to one against you; +or if you don't, I swear there won't be a living man amongst you in two +minutes' time. Mark us well--we are every man of us armed--and I will +not ask you a second time." + +As to numbers and weapons the man spoke truth, and the military party +saw at once that their prisoners must be given up. + +"Let us have full revenge on them now, boys," exclaimed several voices; +"down with the tyrannical villains that are parse-cuting and murdherin' +the country out of a face. This night closes their black work;" and +as the words were uttered, the military felt themselves environed and +pressed in upon by upwards of five-and-twenty sharp and bristling pikes. + +"It is true, you may murder us," replied the dragoon; "but we are +soldiers, and to die is a soldier's duty. Stand back," said he, "for, by +all that's sacred, if you approach another step, William Reilly and that +rebel priest will fall dead at your feet. We may die then; but we will +sell our lives dearly. Cover the priest, Robinson." + +[Illustration: PAGE 65a--I entreat you, to show these men mercy now] + +"Boys," said the priest, addressing the insurgent party, "hold back, for +God's sake, and for mine. Remember that these men are only doing their +duty, and that whoever is to be blamed, it is not they--no, but the +wicked men and cruel laws that set them upon us. Why, now, if these; +men, out of compassion and a feeling of kindness to poor persecuted +creatures, as we are, took it into their heads or their hearts to let +that man and me off, they would have been, probably, treated like dogs +for neglecting their duty. I am, as you know, a minister of God, and a +man of peace, whose duty it is to prevent bloodshed whenever I can, +and save human life, whether it is that of a Catholic or a Protestant. +Recollect, my friends, that you will, every one of you, have to stand +before the judgment throne of God to seek for mercy and salvation. As +you hope for that mercy, then, at the moment of your utmost need, I +implore, I entreat you, to show these men mercy now, and allow them to +go their way in safety." + +"I agree with every word the priest has said," added Reilly; "not from +any apprehension of the threat held out against myself, but from, I +trust, a higher principle. Here are only six men, who, as his Reverence +justly said, are, after all, only in the discharge of their public duty. +On the other hand, there are at least forty or fifty of you against +them. Now I appeal to yourselves, whether it would be a manly, or +generous, or Christian act, to slaughter so poor a handful of men by the +force of numbers. No: there would be neither credit nor honor in such an +act. I assure you, my friends, it would disgrace your common name, +your common credit, and your common country. Nay, it would seem like +cowardice, and only give a handle to your enemies to tax you with it. +But I know you are not cowards, but brave and generous men, whose hearts +and spirits are above a mean action. If you were cowardly butchers, I +know we might speak to you in vain; but we know you are incapable +of imbruing your hands, and steeping your souls, in the guilt of +unresisting blood--for so I may term it--where there are so few against +so many. My friends, go home, then, in the name of God, and, as this +reverend gentleman said, allow these men to pass their way 'without +injury.'" + +"But who are you?" said their huge leader, in his terrible voice, "who +presumes to lecture us?" + +"I am one," replied Reilly, "who has suffered more deeply, probably, +than any man here. I am without house or home, proscribed by the +vengeance of a villain--a villain who has left me without a shelter +for my head--who, this night, has reduced my habitation, and all that +appertained to it, to a heap of ashes--who is on my trail, night and +day, and who will be on my trail, in order to glut his vengeance with my +blood. Now, my friends, listen--I take God to witness, that if that +man were here at this moment, I would plead for his life with as much +earnestness as I do for those of the men who are here at your mercy. +I feel that it would be cowardly and inhuman to take it under such +circumstances; yes, and unworthy of the name of William Reilly. Now," he +added, "these men will pass safely to their quarters." + +As they were about to resume their journey, the person who seemed to +have the command of the military said: + +"Mr. Reilly, one word with you: I feel that you have saved our lives; +I may requite you for that, generous act yet;" and he pressed his hand +warmly as he spoke, after which they proceeded on their way. + +That the person of Reilly was not recognized by any of these men is +accounted for by a well-known custom, peculiar to such meetings, both +then and now. The individuals before and around him were all strangers, +from distant parts of the country; for whenever an outrage is to be +committed, or a nocturnal drilling to take place, the peasantry start +across the country, in twos and threes, until they quietly reach some +lonely and remote spot, where their persons are not known. + +No sooner had he mentioned his name, however, than there arose a +peculiar murmur among the insurgents--such a murmur indeed as it was +difficult to understand; there was also a rapid consultation in Irish, +which was closed by a general determination to restrain their vengeance +for that night, at least, and for the sake of the celebrated young +martyr--for as such they looked upon him--to allow the military to pass +on without injury. Reilly then addressed them in Irish, and thanked +them, both in his own name and that of the priest, for the respect +evinced by, their observation of the advice they had given them. The +priest also addressed them in Irish, aware, as he was, that one sentence +in that language, especially from a person in a superior rank of +life, carries more weight than a whole oration in the language of the +Sassenagh. The poor old man's mind was once more at ease, and after +these rough, but not intractable, men had given three cheers for "bould +Willy Reilly," three more for the _Cooleen Bawn_, not forgetting the +priest, the latter, while returning thanks, had them in convulsions of +laughter. "May I never do harm," proceeded his reverence humorously, +"but the first Christian duty that every true Catholic ought to learn is +to whistle on his fingers. The moment ever your children, boys, are able +to give a squall, clap their forefinger and thumb in their mouth, and +leave the rest to nature. Let them talk of their spinnet and sinnet, +their fiddle and their diddle, their dancing and their prancing, but +there is no genteel accomplishment able to be compared to a rousing +whistle on the fingers. See what it did for us to-night. My soul to +glory, but only for it, Mr. Reilly and I would have soon taken a journey +with our heels foremost; and, what is worse, the villains would have +forced us to take a bird's-eye view of our own funeral from the three +sticks, meaning the two that stand up, and the third that goes across +them (The gallows). However, God's good, and, after all, boys, you see +there is nothing like an accomplished education. As to the soldiers, I +don't think myself that they'll recover the bit of fright they got until +the new potatoes come in. Troth, while you were gathering in about them, +I felt that the unfortunate vagabonds were to be pitied; but, Lord help +us, when men are in trouble--especially in fear of their lives--and +with twelve inches of sharp iron near their breasts, it's wonderful what +effect fear will have on them. Troth, I wasn't far from feeling the same +thing myself, only I knew there was relief at hand; at all events, it's +well you kept your hands off them, for now, thank goodness, you can step +home without the guilt of murder on your souls." + +Father Maguire, for such was his name, possessed the art of adapting his +language and dialect to those whom he addressed, it mattered not whether +they were South, West, or North; he was, in fact, a priest who had +never been in any college, but received ordination in consequence of +the severity of the laws, whose operation, by banishing so many of that +class from the country, rendered the services of such men indispensable +to the spiritual wants of the people. Father Maguire, previous to +his receiving holy orders, had been a schoolmaster, and exercised +his functions on that capacity in holes and corners; sometimes on the +sheltery or sunny side of a hedge, as the case might be, and on other +occasions when and where he could. In his magisterial capacity, "the +accomplishment" of whistling was absolutely necessary to him, because it +often happened that in stealing in the morning from his retreat during +the preceding night, he knew no more where to meet his little flock of +scholars than they did where to meet him, the truth being that he seldom +found it safe to teach two days successively in the same place. Having +selected the locality for instruction during the day, he put his +forefinger and thumb into his mouth, and emitted a whistle that went +over half the country. Having thus given the signal three times, his +scholars began gradually and cautiously to make their appearance, +radiating towards him from all-directions, reminding one of a hen in +a farm-yard, who, having fallen upon some wholesome crumbs, she utters +that peculiar sound which immediately collects her eager little flock +about her, in order to dispense among them the good things she has to +give. Poor Father Maguire was simplicity itself, for, although cheerful, +and a good deal of a humorist, yet he was pious, inoffensive, and +charitable. True, it is not to be imagined that he could avoid bearing a +very strong feeling of enmity against the Establishment, as, indeed, +we do not see, so long as human nature is what it is, how he could have +done otherwise; he hated it, however, in the aggregate, not in detail, +for the truth is, that he received shelter and protection nearly as +often from the Protestants themselves, both lay and clerical, as he +did from those of his own creed. The poor man's crime against the +State proceeded naturally from the simplicity of his character and the +goodness of his heart. A Protestant peasant had seduced a Catholic young +woman of considerable attractions, and was prevailed upon to marry her, +in order to legitimize the infant which she was about to bear. Our poor +priest, anxious to do as much good, and to prevent as much evil as he +could, was prevailed upon to perform the ceremony, contrary to the law +in that case made and provided. Ever since that, the poor man had been +upon his keeping like a felon, as the law had made him; but so well +known were his harmless life, his goodness of heart, and his general +benevolence of disposition--for, alas! he was incapable of being +benevolent in any practical sense--that, unless among the bigoted +officials of the day, there existed no very strong disposition to hand +him over to the clutches of the terrible statute which he had, good easy +man, been prevailed on to violate. + +In the meantime, the formidable body who had saved Reilly's life and his +own dispersed, or disappeared at least; but not until they had +shaken hands most cordially with Reilly and the priest, who now found +themselves much in the same position in which they stood previous to +their surprise and arrest. + +"Now," said Reilly, "the question is, what are we to do? where are we to +go? and next, how did you come to know of the existence in this precise +locality of such a body of men?" + +"Because I have set my face against such meetings," replied the priest. +"One of those who was engaged to be present happened to mention the fact +to me as a clergyman, but you know that, as a clergyman, I can proceed +no further." + +"I understand," said Reilly, "I perfectly understand you. It is not +necessary. And now let me say--" + +"Always trust in God, my friend," replied the priest, in an accent quite +different from that which he had used to the peasantry. "I told you, +not long ago, that you would have, a bed to-night: follow me, and I +will lead you to a crypt of nature's own making, which, was not known to +mortal man three months ago, and which is now known only to those whose +interest it is to keep the knowledge of it silent as the grave." + +They then proceeded, and soon came to a gap or opening on the left-hand +side of the road through which they passed, the priest leading. Next +they found themselves in a wild gully or ravine that was both deep and +narrow. This they crossed, and arrived at a ledge of precipitous rocks, +most of which were overhung to the very ground with long luxuriant +heather. The priest went along this until he came to one particular +spot, when he stooped, and observed a particular round stone bedded +naturally in the earth. + +"God-blessed be his name--has made nothing in vain," he whispered; "I +must go foremost, but do as I do." He then raised up the long heath, +and entered a low, narrow fissure in the rocks, Reilly following him +closely. The entrance was indeed so narrow that it was capable of +admitting but one man at a time, and even that by his working himself +in upon his knees and elbows. In this manner they advanced in utter +darkness for about thirty yards, when they reached a second opening, +about three feet high, which bore some resemblance to a Gothic arch. +This also it was necessary to enter consecutively. Having passed this +they were able to proceed upon their legs, still stooping, however, +until, as they got onwards, they found themselves able to walk erect. +A third and larger opening, however, was still before them, over which +hung a large thick winnow-cloth. + +"Now," said the priest, "leave every thing to me. If we were to put our +heads in rashly here we might get a pair of bullets through them that +would have as little mercy on us as those of the troopers, had we got +them. No clergyman here, or anywhere else, ever carries firearms, but +there are laymen inside who are not bound by our regulations. The only +arms we are allowed to carry are the truths of our religion and the +integrity of our lives." + +He then advanced a step or two, and shook the winnow-cloth three times, +when a deep voice from behind it asked, "_Quis venit?_" + +"_Introibo ad altare Dei,_" replied the priest, who had no sooner +uttered the words than the cloth was partially removed, and a voice +exclaimed, "_Benedicite, dilecte frater; beatus qui venit in nomine +Domini el sacrosanctae Ecclesiae_." + +Reilly and his companion then entered the cave, which they had no sooner +done than the former was seized with a degree of wonder, astonishment, +and awe, such as he had never experienced in his life before. The whole +cavern was one flashing scene of light and beauty, and reminded him of +the gorgeous descriptions that were to be found in Arabian literature, +or the brilliancy of the fairy palaces as he had heard of them in the +mellow legends of his own country. From the roof depended gorgeous and +immense stalactites, some of them reaching half way to the earth, and +others of them resting upon the earth itself. Several torches, composed +of dried bog fir, threw their strong light among them with such effect +that the eye became not only dazzled but fatigued and overcome by the +radiance of a scene so unusual. In fact, the whole scene appeared to be +out of, or beyond, nature. There were about fifteen individuals present, +most of them in odd and peculiar disguises, which gave them a grotesque +and supernatural appearance, as they passed about with their strong +torches--some bright and some flashing red; and as the light of either +one or other fell upon the stalactites, giving them a hue of singular +brilliancy or deep purple, Reilly could not utter a word. The costumes +of the individuals about him were so strange and varied that he knew not +what to think. Some were in the dress of clergymen, others in that +of ill-clad peasants, and nearly one-third-of them in the garb of +mendicants, who, from their careworn faces, appeared to have suffered +severely from the persecution of the times. In a few minutes, however, +about half a dozen diminutive beings made their appearance, busied, as +far as he could guess, in employments, which his amazement at the +whole spectacle, unprepared as he was for it, prevented him from +understanding. If he had been a man of weak or superstitious mind, +unacquainted with life and the world, it is impossible to say what he +might have imagined. Independently of this--strong-minded as he was--the +impression made upon him by the elf-like sprites that ran about so +busily, almost induced him, for a few moments, to surrender to the +illusion that he stood among individuals who had little or no +natural connection with man or the external world which he inhabited. +Reflection, however, and the state of the country, came to his aid, and +he reasonably inferred that the cavern in which he stood was a place of +concealment for those unfortunate individuals who, like himself, felt it +necessary to evade the vengeance of the laws. + +Whilst Reilly was absorbed in the novelty and excitement of this +strange and all but supernatural spectacle, the priest held a short +conversation, at some distance from him, with the strange figures which +had surprised him so much. Whenever he felt himself enabled to take his +eyes from the splendor and magnificence of all he saw around him, +to follow the motions of Father Maguire, he could observe that that +gentleman, from the peculiar vehemence of his attitudes and the evident +rapidity of his language, had made either himself or his presence there +the topic of very earnest discussion. In fact it appeared to him that +the priest, from whatever cause, appeared to be rather hard set to +defend him and to justify his presence among them. A tall, stern-looking +man, with a lofty forehead and pale ascetic features--from which all the +genial impulses of humanity, that had once characterized them, +seemed almost to have been banished by the spirit of relentless +persecution--appeared to bear hard upon him, whatever the charge might +be, and by the severity of his manner and the solemn but unyielding +emphasis of his attitudes, he seemed to have wrought himself into a +state of deep indignation. But as it is better that our readers should +be made acquainted with the topic of their discussion, rather than their +attitudes, we think it necessary to commence it in a new chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER X.--Scenes that took place in the Mountain Cave + +"I will not hear your apology, brother," said the tall man with the +stern voice; "your conduct, knowing our position, and the state of this +unhappy and persecuted country, is not only indiscreet, but foolish, +indefensible, mad. Here is a young man attached--may God pardon him--to +the daughter of one of the most persecuting heretics in the kingdom. +She is beautiful, by every report that we have heard of her, even as an +angel; but reflect that she is an heiress--the inheritress of immense +property--and that, as a matter of course, the temptations are a +thousand to one against him. He will yield, I tell you, to the heretic +syren; and as a passport to her father's favor and her affection, he +will, like too many of his class, abandon the faith of his ancestors, +and become an apostate, for the sake of wealth and sensual affection." + +"I question, my lord," replied the priest, "whether it is consistent +with Christian charity to impute motives of such heinous guilt, when we +are not in a condition to bear out our suspicions. The character of this +young gentleman as a Catholic is firm and faithful, and I will stake my +life upon his truth and attachment to our Church." + +"You know him not, father," replied the bishop, for such he was; "I tell +you, and I speak from better information than you possess, that he is +already suspected. What has been his conduct? He has associated himself +more with Protestants than with those of his own Church; he has dined +with them, partaken of their hospitality, joined in there amusements, +slept in their houses, and been with them as a familiar friend and boon +companion. I see, father, what the result will necessarily be; first, an +apostate--next, an informer--and, lastly, a persecutor; and all for the +sake of wealth and the seductive charms of a rich heiress. I say, then, +that deep in this cold cavern shall be his grave, rather than have an +opportunity of betraying the shepherds of Christ's persecuted flock, and +of hunting them into the caverns of the earth like beasts of prey. Our +retreat here is known only to those who, for the sake of truth and their +own lives, will never disclose the knowledge of it, bound as they +are, in addition to this, by an oath of the deepest and most dreadful +solemnity--an oath the violation of which would constitute a fearful +sacrilege in the eye of God. As for these orphans, whose parents were +victims to the cruel laws that are grinding us, I have so trained and +indoctrinated them into a knowledge of their creed, and a sense of +their duty, that they are thoroughly trustworthy. On this very day I +administered to them the sacrament of confirmation. No, brother, we +cannot sacrifice the interests and welfare of our holy Church to the +safety of a single life--to the safety of a person who I foresee will be +certain to betray us." + +"My lord," replied the priest, "I humbly admit your authority and +superior sanctity, for in what does your precious life fall short of +martyrdom but by one step to the elevation which leads to glory? I mean +the surrendering of that life for the true faith. I feel, my lord, that +in your presence I am nothing; still, in our holy Church there is the +humble as well as the exalted, and your lordship will admit that the +gradations of piety, and the dispensations of the higher and the lower +gifts, proceed not only from the wisdom of God but from the necessities +of man." + +"I do not properly understand you, father," said the bishop in a voice +whose stern tones were mingled with something like contempt. + +"I beg your lordship to hear me," proceeded Father Maguire. "You say +that Reilly has associated more frequently with Protestants than he has +with persons of our own religion. That may be true, and I grant that it +is so; but, my lord, are you aware that he has exercised the influence +which he has possessed over them for the protection and advantage and +safety of his Catholic friends and neighbors, to the very utmost of his +ability, and frequently with success?" + +"Yes; they obliged him because they calculated upon his accession to +their creed and principles." + +"My lord," replied the priest with firmness, "I am an humble but +independent man; if humanity and generosity, exercised as I have seen +them this night, guided and directed by the spirit of peace, and of the +word of God itself, can afford your lordship a guarantee of the high and +Christian principles by which this young man's heart is actuated, then I +may with confidence recommend him to your clemency." + +"What would you say?" asked the bishop. + +"My lord, he was the principal means of saving the lives of six +Protestants-heretics, I mean--from being cut off in their iniquities and +sins this night." + +"How do you mean?" replied the stern bishop; "explain yourself!" + +The good priest then gave a succinct account of the circumstances with +which the reader is already acquainted; and, after having finished his +brief narrative, the unfortunate man perceived that, instead of having +rendered Reilly a service, he had strengthened the suspicions of the +prelate against him. + +"So!" said the bishop, "you advance the history of this dastardly +conduct as an argument in his favor!" + +As he uttered these words, his eyes, which had actually become +bloodshot, blazed again; his breath went and came strongly, and he +ground his teeth with rage. + +Father Maguire, and those who were present, looked at each other with +eyes in which might be read an expression of deep sorrow and compassion. +At length a mild-looking, pale-faced man, with a clear, benignant eye, +approached him, and laying his hand in a gentle manner upon his arm, +said, "Pray, my dear lord, let me entreat your lordship to remember the +precepts of our great Master: 'Love your enemies; bless them that curse +you; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully +use you, and persecute you.' And surely, my lord, no one knows better +than you do that this is the spirit of our religion, and that whenever +it is violated the fault is not that of the creed, but the man." + +"Under any circumstances," said the bishop, declining to reply to this, +and placing his open hand across his forehead, as if he felt confusion +or pain--"under any circumstances, this person must take the oath of +secrecy with respect to the existence of this cave. Call him up." + +Reilly, as we have said, saw at once that an angry discussion had taken +place, and felt all but certain that he was himself involved in it. The +priest, in obedience to the wish expressed by the bishop, went down to +where he stood, and whispering to him, said: + +"Salvation to me, but I had a hard battle for you. I fought, however, +like a trump. The strange, and--ahem--kind of man you are called upon to +meet now is one of our bishops--but don't you pretend to know that--he +has heard of your love for the _Cooleen Bawn_, and of her love for +you--be easy now--not a thing it will be but the meeting of two +thunderbolts between you--and he's afraid you'll be deluded by her +charms--turn apostate on our hands--and that the first thing you're +likely to do, when you get out of this subterranean palace of ours, will +be to betray its existence to the heretics. I have now put you on your +guard, so keep a sharp lookout; be mild as mother's milk. But if you 'my +lord' him, I'm dished as a traitor beyond redemption." + +Now, if the simple-hearted priest had been tempted by the enemy himself +to place these two men in a position where a battle-royal between them +was most likely to ensue, he could not have taken a more successful +course for that object. Reilly, the firm, the high-minded, the +honorable, and, though last not least, the most indignant at any +imputation against his integrity, now accompanied the priest in a state +of indignation that was nearly a match for that of the bishop. + +"This is Mr. Reilly, gentlemen; a firm and an honest Catholic, who, like +ourselves, is suffering for his religion." + +"Mr. Reilly," said the bishop, "it is good to suffer for our religion." + +"It is our duty," replied Reilly, "when we are called upon to do so; but +for my part, I must confess, I have no relish whatsoever for the honors +of martyrdom. I would rather aid it and assist it than suffer for it." + +The bishop gave a stem look at his friends, as much as to say: "You +hear! incipient heresy and treachery at the first step." + +"He's more mad than the bishop," thought Father Maguire; "in God's name +what will come next, I wonder? Reilly's blood, somehow, is up; and there +they are looking at each other, like a pair o' game cocks, with their +necks stretched out in a cockpit--when I was a boy I used to go to see +them--ready to dash upon one another." + +"Are you not now suffering for your religion?" asked the prelate. + +"No," replied Reilly, "it is not for the sake of my religion that I have +suffered any thing. Religion is made only a pretext for it; but it is +not, in truth, on that account that I have been persecuted." + +"Pray, then, sir, may I inquire the cause of your persecution?" + +"You may," replied Reilly, "but I shall decline to answer you. It comes +not within your jurisdiction, but is a matter altogether personal to +myself, and with which you can have no concern." + +Here a groan from the priest, which he could not suppress, was shivered +off, by a tremendous effort, into a series of broken coughs, got up +in order to conceal his alarm at the fatal progress which Reilly, he +thought, was unconsciously making to his own ruin. + +"Troth," thought he, "the soldiers were nothing at all to what this will +be. There his friends would have found the body and given him a decent +burial; but here neither friend nor fellow will know where to look for +him. I was almost the first man that took the oath to keep the existence +of this place secret from all unless those that were suffering for their +religion; and now, by denying that, he has me in the trap along with +himself." + +A second groan, shaken out of its continuity into another comical shower +of fragmental coughs, closed this dreary but silent soliloquy. + +The bishop proceeded: "You have been inveigled, young man, by the charms +of a deceitful and heretical syren, for the purpose of alienating you +from the creed of your forefathers." + +"It is false," replied Reilly; "false, if it proceeded from the lips of +the Pope himself; and if his lips uttered to me what you now have done, +I would fling the falsehood in his teeth, as I do now in yours--yes, +if my life should pay the forfeit of it. What have you to do with my +private concerns?" + +Reilly's indignant and impetuous reply to the prelate struck all +who heard it with dismay, and also with horror, when they bethought +themselves of the consequences. + +"You are a heretic at heart," said the other, knitting his brows; "from +your own language you stand confessed--a heretic." + +"I know not," replied Reilly, "by what right or authority you adopt +this ungentlemanly and illiberal conduct towards me; but so long as your +language applies only to myself and my religion, I shall answer you in a +different spirit. In the first place, then, you are grievously mistaken +in supposing me to be a heretic. I am true and faithful to nay creed, +and will live and die in it." + +Father Maguire felt relieved, and breathed more freely; a groan was +coming, but it ended in a "hem." + +"Before we proceed any farther, sir," said this strange man, "you must +take an oath." + +"For what purpose, sir?" inquired Reilly. + +"An oath of secrecy as to the existence of this place of our retreat. +There are at present here some of the--" he checked himself, as if +afraid to proceed farther. "In fact, every man who is admitted amongst +us must take the oath." + +Reilly looked at him with indignation. "Surely," thought he to himself, +"this man must be mad; his looks are wild, and the fire of insanity +is in his eyes; if not, he is nothing less than an incarnation of +ecclesiastical bigotry and folly. The man must be mad, or worse." At +length he addressed him. + +"You doubt my integrity and my honor, then," he replied haughtily. + +"We doubt every man until he is bound by his oath." + +"You must continue to doubt me, then," replied Reilly; "for, most +assuredly, I will not take it." + +"You must take it, sir," said the other, "or you never leave the cavern +which covers you," and his eyes once more blazed as he uttered the +words. + +"Gentlemen," said Reiliy, "there appear to be fifteen or sixteen of you +present: may I be permitted to ask why you suffer this unhappy man to be +at large?" + +"Will you take the oath, sir?" persisted the insane bishop in a voice of +thunder--"heretic and devil, will you take the oath?" + +"Unquestionably not. I will never take any oath that would imply want +of honor in myself. Cease, then, to trouble me with it. I shall not take +it." + +This last reply affected the bishop's reason so deeply that he looked +about him strangely, and exclaimed, "We are lost and betrayed. But here +are angels--I see them, and will join in their blessed society," and as +he spoke, he rushed towards the stalactites in a manner somewhat wild +and violent, so much so, indeed, that from an apprehension of his +receiving injury in some of the dark interstices among them, they found +it necessary, for his sake, to grapple with him for a few moments. + +But, alas! they had very little indeed to grapple with. The man was but +a shadow, and they found him in their hands as feeble as a child. He +made no resistance, but suffered himself to be managed precisely as they +wished. Two of the persons present took charge of him, one sitting on +each side of him. Reilly, who looked on with amazement, now strongly +blended with pity--for the malady of the unhappy ecclesiastic could +no longer be mistaken--Reilly, we say, was addressed by an +intelligent-looking individual, with some portion of the clerical +costume about him. + +"Alas! sir," said he, "it was not too much learning, but too much +persecution, that has made him mad. That and the ascetic habits of his +life have clouded or destroyed a great intellect and a good heart. He +has eaten only one sparing meal a day during the last month; and though +severe and self-denying to himself, he was, until the last week or so, +like a father, and an indulgent one, to us all." + +At this moment the pale, mild-looking clergyman, to whom we have +alluded, went over to where the bishop sat, and throwing himself upon +his bosom, burst into tears. The sorrow indeed became infectious, and in +a few minutes there were not many dry eyes around him. Father Maguire, +who was ignorant of the progressive change that had taken place in him +since his last visit to the cave, now wept like a child, and Reilly +himself experienced something that amounted to remorse, when he +reflected on the irreverent tone of voice in which he had replied to +him. + +The paroxysm, however, appeared to have passed away; he was quite +feeble, but not properly collected, though calm and quiet. After a +little time he requested to be put to bed. And this leads us to the +description of another portion of the cave to which we have not yet +referred. At the upper end of the stalactite apartment, which we have +already described, there was a large projection of rock, which nearly +divided it from the other, and which discharged the office of a wall, or +partition, between the two apartments. Here there was a good fire kept, +but only during the hours of night, inasmuch as the smoke which issued +from a rent or cleft in the top of this apartment would have discovered +them by day. Through this slight chasm, which was strictly concealed, +they received provisions, water, and fuel. In fact, it would seem as if +the whole cave had been expressly designed for the purpose to which it +was then applied, or, at least for some one of a similar nature. + +On entering this, Reilly found a good fire, on which was placed a large +pot with a mess in it, which emitted a very savory odor. Around +the sides, or walls of this rock, were at least a score of heather +shake-down beds, the fragrance of which was delicious. Pots, pans, and +other simple culinary articles were there, with a tolerable stock of +provisions, not omitting a good-sized keg of mountain dew, which their +secluded position, the dampness of the place, and their absence from +free air, rendered very necessary and gratifying. + +"Here!" exclaimed Father Maguire, after the feeble prelate had been +assisted to this recess, "here, now, put his lordship to bed; I have +tossed it up for him in great style! I assure you, my dear friends, +it's a shakedown fit for a prince!--and better than most of the thieves +deserve. What bed of down ever had the sweet fragrance this flowery +heather sends forth? Here, my lord--easy, now--lay him down gently, just +as a mother would her sleeping child--for, indeed, he is a child," he +whispered, "and as weak as a child; but a sound sleep will do him good, +and he'll be a new man in the morning, please God." + +Upon this rough, but wholesome and aromatic couch, the exhausted prelate +was placed, where he had not been many minutes until he fell into a +profound sleep, a fact which gratified them very much, for they assured +Reilly and the priest that he had slept but a few hours each night +during the last week, and that such slumber as he did get was feverish +and unquiet. + +Our good-humored friend, however, was now cordially welcomed by these +unfortunate ecclesiastics, for such, in fact, the majority of them were. +His presence seemed to them like a ray of light from the sun. His good +humor, his excellent spirits, which nothing could repress, and his +drollery kept them alive, and nothing was so much regretted by them as +his temporary absences from time to time; for, in truth, he was their +messenger, their steward, and their newsman--in fact, the only link that +connected them with external life, and the ongoings of the world abroad. +The bed in which the bishop now slept was in a distant corner of this +inner apartment, or dormitory, as it might be termed, because the +situation was higher and drier, and consequently more healthy, as a +sleeping-place, than any other which the rude apartment afforded. +The fire on which the large pot simmered was at least a distance +of twenty-five yards from his bed, so that they could indulge in +conversation without much risk of disturbing him. + +It is unnecessary to say that Reilly and his friend Father Maguire felt, +by this time, a tolerably strong relish for something in the shape of +sustenance--a relish which was exceedingly sharpened by the savory smell +sent forth throughout the apartment by the contents of whatsoever was +contained in the immense pot. + +"My dear brethren," said the priest, "let us consider this cavern as a +rich monastery; such, alas! as existed in the good days of old, when +the larder and refectory were a credit to religion and a relief to the +destitute, but which, alas!--and alas! again--we can only think of as +a--in the meantime, I can stand this no longer. If I possess judgment or +penetration in _re culinaria_, I am of opinion," he added (stirring up +the contents of it), "that it is fit to be operated on; so, in God's +name, let us have at it." + +In a few minutes two or three immense pewter dishes were heaped with a +stew made up of mutton, bacon, hung beef, onions, and potatoes, forming +indeed a most delicious mess for any man, much less the miserable men +who were making it disappear so rapidly. + +Reilly, the very picture of health, after maintaining a pace inferior +to that of none, although there were decidedly some handy workmen there, +now was forced to pull up and halt. In the meantime some slow but steady +operations went on with a perseverance that was highly creditable; and +it was now that, having a little agreeable leisure to observe and +look about him, he began to examine the extraordinary costumes of the +incongruous society in which, to his astonishment, he found himself a +party. We must, however, first account for the oddness and incongruity +of the apparent characters which they were forced to assume. + +At this period the Catholics of Ireland were indeed frightfully +oppressed. A proclamation had recently been issued by the Government, +who dreaded, or pretended to dread, an insurrection--by which document +convents and monasteries were suppressed--rewards offered for the +detection and apprehension of ecclesiastics, and for the punishment of +such humane magistrates as were reluctant to enforce laws so unsparing +and oppressive. Increased rewards were also offered to spies and +informers, with whom the country unfortunately abounded. A general +disarming of all Catholics took place; domiciliary visits were made +in quest of bishops, priests, and friars, and all the chapels in the +country were shut up. Many of the clergy flew to the metropolis, where +they imagined they might be more safe, and a vast number to caverns and +mountains, in order to avoid the common danger, and especially from +a wholesome, terror of that class of men called priest-hunters. +The Catholic peasantry having discovered their clergy in these wild +retreats, flocked to them on Sundays and festivals, in order to join in +private--not public-worship, and to partake of the rites and sacraments +of their Church. + +Such was the state of the country at the period when the unfortunate +men whom we are about to describe were pent up in this newly discovered +cavern. + +Now, Reilly himself was perfectly acquainted with all this, and knew +very well that these unhappy men, having been frequently compelled to +put on the first disguise that came to hand, had not means, nor indeed +disposition, to change these disguises, unless at the risk of being +recognized, taken into custody, and surrendered to the mercy of the law. + +When their savory meal was concluded, Father Maguire, who never forgot +any duty connected with his position--be that where it might--now went +over to the large pot, exclaiming: + +"It would be too bad, my friends, to forget the creatures here that have +been so faithful and so steady to us. Poor things, I could see, by +the way they fixed their longing eyes upon us while we were doing the +handy-work at the stew, that if the matter had been left to themselves, +not a spoonful ever went into our mouths but they'd have practised the +doctrine of tithe upon. Come, darlings--here, now, is a little race +for you--every one of you seize a spoon, keep a hospitable mouth and +a supple wrist. These creatures, Mr. Reilly, are so many little brands +plucked out of the burning. They are the children of parents who +suffered for their faith, and were brought here to avoid being put into +these new traps for young Catholics, called Charter Schools, into which +the Government wishes to hook in our rising generation, under pretence +of supporting and educating them; but, in point of fact, to alienate +them from the affection of their parents and relations, and to train +them up in the State religion, poor things. At all events, they are very +handy to us here, for they slip out by turns and bring us almost every +thing we want--and not one of them ever opened his lips as to the +existence of this _spelunca_." + +The meal of the poor things was abundant, but they soon gave over, and +in a few minutes they tumbled themselves into their heather beds, and +were soon sunk in their innocent slumbers. + +"Now, gentlemen, that we have eaten a better meal than we could expect +in this miserable place, thanks to the kindness of our faithful flocks, +what do you think of a sup of what's in the keg? Good eating deserves +a drop of mixture after it, to aid in carrying on the process of +digestion! Father Hennessy, what are you at?" he exclaimed, addressing +an exceedingly ill-looking man, with heavy brows and a sinister aspect. +"You forget, sir, that the management of the keg is my duty, whenever +I am here. You are the only person here who violates our regulations in +that respect. Walk back and wait till you are helped like another. Do +you call that being spiritually inclined? If so, there is not a doubt of +it but you ought to be a bishop; and if you come to that, I'll stake my +credit on it that you'll never let much wind into your stomach so long +as you can get plenty of the solids and fluids to keep it out." + +"I'm weak in the stomach," replied Hennessy, with a sensual grin, "and +require it." + +"But I say," replied Father Maguire, "that it would require stronger +proof than any your outward man presents to confirm the truth of that. +As for bearing a load either of the liquids or solids aforesaid, I'll +back your bit of abdomen there against those of any three of us." + +Cups and noggins, and an indescribable variety of small vessels that +were never designed for drinking, were now called into requisition, and +a moderate portion of the keg was distributed among them. Reilly, while +enjoying his cup, which as well as the others he did with a good deal of +satisfaction, could not help being amused by the comical peculiarity of +their disguises. + +The sinister-looking clergyman, whom we have named Hennessy, +subsequently became a spy and informer, and, we may add, an enemy +equally formidable and treacherous to the Catholics of the time, in +consequence of having been deprived of his clerical functions by his +bishop, who could not overlook his immoral and irregular conduct. He is +mentioned by Matthew O'Connor, in his "History of the Irish Catholics," +and consigned to infamy as one of the greatest scourges, against both +the priesthood and the people, that ever disgraced the country. But it +must be admitted that he stands out in dark relief against the great +body of the Catholic priests at that period, whose firmness, patience, +and fidelity to their trust, places them above all praise and all +suspicion. It is, however, very reasonable, that men so hunted and +persecuted should be forced, not only in defence of their own lives +and liberties, but also for the sake of their flocks, to assume such +costumes as might most effectually disguise them, so that they would be +able still, even in secret and by stealth, to administer the rites of +their religion to the poor and neglected of their own creed. Some were +dressed in common frieze, some in servants' cast-off liveries--however +they came by them--and not a few in military uniform, that served, as +it were, to mark them staunch supporters of the very Government that +persecuted them. A reverend archdeacon, somewhat comely and corpulent, +had, by some means or other, procured the garb of a recruiting sergeant, +which fitted him so admirably that the illusion was complete; and, what +bore it out still more forcibly, was the presence of a smart-looking +little friar, who kept the sergeant in countenance in the uniform of +a drummer. Mass was celebrated every day, hymns were sung, and prayers +offered up to the Almighty, that it might please him to check the flood +of persecution which had overwhelmed or scattered them. Still, in the +intervals of devotion, they indulged in that reasonable cheerfulness and +harmless mirth which were necessary to support their spirits, depressed +as they must have been by this dreadful and melancholy confinement--a +confinement where neither the light of the blessed sun, nor the fresh +breezes of heaven, nor the air we breathe, in its usual purity, could +reach them. Sir Thomas More and Sir Walter Raleigh, however, were +cheerful on the scaffold; and even here, as we have already said, many a +rustic tale and legend, peculiar to those times, went pleasantly around; +many a theological debate took place, and many a thesis was discussed, +in order to enable the unhappy men to pass away the tedious monotony of +their imprisonment in this strange lurking-place. The only man who kept +aloof and took no part in these amusing recreations was Hennessy, who +seemed moody and sullen, but who, nevertheless, was frequently detected +in making stolen visits to the barrel. + +Notwithstanding all this, however, the sight was a melancholy one; and +whatever disposition Reilly felt to smile at what he saw and heard +was instantly changed on perceiving their unaffected piety, which was +evident by their manner, and a rude altar in a remote end of the cave, +which was laid out night and day for the purpose of celebrating the +ceremonies and mysteries of their Church. Before he went to his couch +of heather, however, he called Father Maguire aside, and thus addressed +him: + +"I have been a good deal struck to-night, my friend, by all that I +have witnessed in this singular retreat. The poor prelate I pity; and I +regret I did not understand him sooner. His mind, I fear, is gone." + +"Why, I didn't understand him myself," replied the priest; "because this +was the first symptom he has shown of any derangement in his intellect, +otherwise I would no more have contradicted him than I would have cut my +left hand off." + +"There is, however, a man--a clergyman here, called Hennessy; who is he, +and what has been his life?" + +"Why," replied the other, "I have heard nothing to his disadvantage. He +is a quiet, and, it is said, a pious man--and I think he is too. He +is naturally silent, and seldom takes any part in our conversation. He +says, however, that his concealment here bears hard upon him, and is +depressing his spirits every day more and more. The only thing I ever +could observe in him is what you saw yourself to-night-a slight relish +for an acquaintance with the barrel. He sometimes drains a drop--indeed, +sometimes too much--out of it, when he gets our backs turned; but then +he pleads low spirits three or four times a day--indeed, so often that, +upon my word, he'll soon have the barrel pleading the same complaint." + +"Well," replied Reilly, after listening attentively to him, "I desire +you and your friends to watch that man closely. I know something about +him; and I tell you that if ever the laws become more lenient, the +moment this man makes his appearance his bishop will deprive him of +all spiritual jurisdiction for life. Mark me now, Father Maguire; if +he pleads any necessity for leaving this retreat and going abroad again +into the world, don't let a single individual of you remain, here one +hour after him. Provide for your safety and your shelter elsewhere as +well as you can; if not, the worst consequences may--nay, will follow." + +The priest promised to communicate this intelligence to his companions, +one by one, after which, both he and Reilly, feeling fatigued and +exhausted by what they had undergone in the course of the night, threw +themselves each upon his couch of heather, and in a few minutes not only +they, but all their companions, were sunk in deep sleep. + + + + +CHAPTEE XI.--The Squire's Dinner and his Guests. + + +We now return to _Cooleen Bawn_, who, after her separation from Reilly, +retired to her own room, where she indulged in a paroxysm of deep grief, +in consequence of her apprehension that she might never see him again. +She also calculated upon the certainty of being obliged to sustain a +domestic warfare with her father, as the result of having made him the +confidant of her love. In this, however, she was agreeably disappointed; +for, on meeting him the next morning, at breakfast, she was a good +deal surprised to observe that he made no allusion whatsoever to the +circumstance--if, indeed, an occasional muttering of some unintelligible +words, _sotto voce_, might not be supposed to allude to it. The truth +was, the old man found the promise he had made to Sir Robert one of such +difficulty to his testy and violent disposition, that his language, and +the restraint which he felt himself under the necessity of putting on +it, rendered his conversation rather ludicrous. + +"Well, Helen," he said, on entering the breakfast-parlor, "how did you +rest last night, my love? Rested sound--eh? But you look rather pale, +darling. (Hang the rascal!)" + +"I cannot say that I slept as well as usual, sir. I felt headache." + +"Ay, headache--was it? (heartache, rather. The villain.) Well come, let +me have a cup of tea and a mouthful of that toast." + +"Will you not have some chicken, sir?" + +"No, my dear--no; just what I said--a mouthful of toast, and a cup of +tea, with plenty of cream in it. Thank you, love. (A good swing for him +will be delightful. I'll go to see it.) Helen, my dear, I'm going to +give a dinner-party next week. Of course we'll have your future--hem--I +mean we'll have Sir Robert, and--let me see--who else? Why, Oxley, the +sheriff", Mr. Brown, the parson--I wish he didn't lean so much to the +cursed Papists, though--Mr. Hastings, who is tarred with the same +stick, it is whispered. Well, who next? Lord Deilmacare, a good-natured +jackass--a fellow who would eat a jacketful of carrion, if placed before +him, with as much _gout_ as if it were venison. He went home one night, +out of this, with the parson's outside coat and shovel hat upon him, and +did not return them for two days." + +"Does this habit proceed from stupidity, papa?" + +"Not at all; but from mere carelessness. The next two days he was out +with his laborers, and if a cow or pig chanced--(the villain! we'll hang +him to a certainty)--chanced, I say, to stray into the field, he would +shy the shovel hat at them, without remorse. Oh! we must have him, by +all means. But who next? Sir Jenkins Joram. Give him plenty to drink, +and he is satisfied." + +"But what are his political principles, papa?" + +"They are to be found in the bottle, Helen, which is the only creed, +political or religious, to which I ever knew him to be attached; and +I tell you, girl, that if every Protestant in Ireland were as deeply +devoted to his Church as he is to the bottle, we would soon be a happy +people, uncorrupted by treacherous scoundrels, who privately harbor +Papists and foster Popery itself. (The infernal scoundrel.)" + +"But, papa," replied his daughter, with a melancholy smile, "I think I +know some persons, who, although very loud and vehement in their outcry +against Popery, have, nevertheless, on more than one or two occasions, +harbored Papists in their house, and concealed even priests, when the +minions of the law were in search of them." + +"Yes, and it is of this cursed crew of hollow Protestants that I now +speak--ahem--ay--ha--well, what the devil--hem. To be sure I--I--I--but +it doesn't signify; we can't be wise at all times. But after all, Helen +(she has me there), after all, I say, there are some good Papists, and +some good--ahem--priests, too. There now, I've got it out. However, +Helen, those foolish days are gone, and we have nothing for it now but +to hunt Popery out of the country. But to proceed as to the dinner." + +"I think Popery is suffering enough, sir, and more than enough." + +"Ho, ho," he exclaimed with triumph, "here comes the next on my list--a +fine fellow, who will touch it up still more vigorously--I mean Captain +Smellpriest." + +"I have heard of that inhuman man," replied Helen; "I wish you would +not ask him, papa. I am told he equals Sir Robert Whitecraft in both +cowardice and cruelty. Is not that a nickname he has got in consequence +of his activity in pursuit of the unfortunate priests?" + +"It's a nickname he has given himself," replied her father; "and he +has become so proud of it that he will allow himself to be called by no +other. He swears that if a priest gets on the windy side of him, he will +scent him as a hound would a fox. Oh! by my honor, Smellpriest must be +here. The scoundrel like Whitecraft!--eh-what am I saying? Smellpriest, +I say, first began his career as a friend to the Papists; he took large +tracts of land in their name, and even purchased a couple of estates +with their money; and in due time, according as the tide continued +to get strong against them, he thought the best plan to cover his +villany--ahem--his policy, I mean--was to come out as a fierce loyalist; +and as a mark of his repentance, he claimed the property, as the real +purchaser, and arrested those who were fools enough to trust him." + +"I think I know another gentleman of my acquaintance who holds property +in some similar trust for Papists," observed Helen, "but who certainly +is incapable of imitating the villany of that most unprincipled man." + +"Come, come, Helen; come, my girl; tut--ahem; come, you are getting +into politics now, and that will never do. A girl like you ought to have +nothing to do with politics or religion." + +"Religion! papa." + +"Oh--hem-I don't mean exactly that. Oh, no; I except religion; a girl +may be as religious as she pleases, only she must say as little upon the +subject as possible. Come, another cup of tea, with a little more +sugar, for, I give you my honor, you did not make the last one of the +sweetest;" and so saying, he put over his cup with a grimace, which +resembled that of a man detected in a bad action, instead of a good one. + +At this moment John, the butler, came in with a plate of hot toast; and, +as he was a privileged old man, he addressed his master without much +hesitation. + +"That was a quare business," he observed, using the word quare as an +equivocal one, until he should see what views of the circumstance his +master might take; "a quare business, sir, that happened to Mr. Reilly." + +"What business do you allude to, you old sinner?" + +"The burning of his house and place, sir. All he has, or had, is in a +heap of ashes." + +Helen felt not for the burning, but her eyes were fixed upon the +features of the old man, as if the doom of her life depended on his +words; whilst the paper on which ee write is not whiter than were her +cheeks. + +"What--what--how was it?" asked his master; "who did it?--and by whose +authority was it done?" + +"Sir Robert Whitecraft and his men did it, sir." + +"Ay, but I can't conceive he had any authority for such an act." + +"Wasn't Mr. Reilly an outlaw, sir? Didn't the Red Rapparee, who is now a +good Protestant, swear insurrection against him?" + +"The red devil, sirra," replied the old squire, forgetting his animosity +to Reilly in the atrocity and oppression of the deed--"the red +devil, sirra! would that justify such a cowardly scoundrel as Sir +Robert--ugh--ugh--ugh--that went against my breath, Helen. Well, come +here, I say, you old sinner; they burned the place, you say?" + +"Sir Robert and his men did, sir." + +"I'm not doubting that, you old house-leek. I know Sir Robert too +well--I know the infernal--ahem; a most excellent loyal gentleman, with +two or three fine estates, both here and in England; but he prefers +living here, for reasons best known to himself and me, and--and to +somebody else. Well, they burned Reilly out--but tell me this; did they +catch the rascal himself? eh? here's five pounds for you, if you can say +they have him safe." + +"That's rather a loose bargain, your honor," replied the man with a +smile; "for saying it?--why, what's to prevent me from saying it, if I +wished?" + +"None of your mumping, you old snapdragon; but tell me the truth, have +they secured him hard and fast?" + +"No, sir, he escaped them, and as report goes they know nothing about +him, except that they haven't got him." + +Deep and speechless was the agony in which Helen sat during this short +dialogue, her eyes having never once been withdrawn from the butler's +countenance; but now that she had heard of her lover's personal safety, +a thick, smothered sob, which, if it were to kill her, she could not +repress, burst from her bosom. Unwilling that either her father or the +servant should witness the ecstasy which she could not conceal, and +feeling that another minute would disclose the delight which convulsed +her heart and frame, she arose, and, with as much composure as she could +assume, went slowly out of the room. On entering her apartment, she +signed to her maid to withdraw, after which she closed and bolted the +door, and wept bitterly. The poor girl's emotion, in fact, was of a +twofold character; she wept with joy at Reilly's escape from the +hands of his cruel and relentless enemy, and with bitter grief at the +impossibility which she thought there existed that he should ultimately +be able to keep out of the meshes which she knew Whitecraft would spread +for him. The tears, however, which she shed abundantly, in due time +relieved her, and in the course of an hour or two she was able to appear +as usual in the family. + +The reader may perceive that her father, though of an abrupt and cynical +temper, was not a man naturally of a bad or unfeeling heart. Whatever +mood of temper chanced to be uppermost influenced him for the time; and +indeed it might be said that one half of his feelings were usually in a +state of conflict with the other. In matters of business he was the very +soul of integrity and honor, but in his views of public affairs he +was uncertain and inconsistent; and of course his whole life, as a +magistrate and public man, was a perpetual series of contradictions. The +consequence of all this was, that he possessed but small influence, +as arising from his personal character; but not so from his immense +property, as well as from the fact that he was father to the wealthiest +and most beautiful heiress in the province, or perhaps, so far as beauty +was concerned, in the kingdom itself. + +At length the day mentioned for the dinner arrived, and, at the +appointed hour, so also did the guests. There were some ladies asked to +keep Helen in countenance, but we need scarcely say, that as the list of +them was made out by her thoughtless father, he paid, in the selection +of some of them, very little attention to her feelings. There was the +sheriff, Mr. Oxley, and his lady--the latter a compound in whom it was +difficult to determine whether pride, vulgarity, or obesity prevailed. +Where the sheriff had made his capture of her was never properly known, +as neither of them belonged originally to that neighborhood in which he +had, several years ago, purchased large property. It was said he had got +her in London; and nothing was more certain than that she issued forth +the English language clothed in an inveterate cockney accent. She was a +high moralist, and a merciless castigator of all females who manifested, +or who were supposed to manifest, even a tendency to walk out of the +line of her own peculiar theory on female conduct. Her weight might be +about eighteen stone, exclusive of an additional stone of gold chains +and bracelets, in which she moved like a walking gibbet, only with the +felon in it; and to crown all, she wore on her mountainous bosom a cameo +nearly the size of a frying-pan. Sir Jenkins Joram, who took her down to +dinner, declared, on feeling the size of the bracelets which encircled +her wrists, that he labored for a short time under the impression that +he and she were literally handcuffed together; an impression, he added, +from which he was soon relieved by the consoling reflection that it was +the sheriff himself whom the clergyman had sentenced to stand in that +pleasant predicament. Of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hastings we have only to +say that they were modest, sensible, unassuming women, without either +parade or pretence, such, in fact, as you will generally meet among +our well-bred and educated countrywomen. Lord Deilmacare was a widower, +without family, and not a marrying man. Indeed, when pressed upon this +subject, he was never known to deviate from the one reply. + +"Why don't you marry again, my lord?--will you ever marry?" + +"No, madam, I got enough of it," a reply which, somehow, generally +checked any further inquiry on the subject. Between Lady Joram and Mrs. +Smellpriest there subsisted a singular analogy with respect to their +conjugal attachments. It was hinted that her ladyship, in those +secret but delicious moments of matrimonial felicity which make up the +sugar-candy morsels of domestic life, used to sit with Sir Jenkins for +the purpose, by judicious exercise, of easing, by convivial exercise, a +rheumatic affection which she complained of in her right arm. There is +nothing, however, so delightful as a general and loving sympathy between +husband and wife; and here it was said to exist in perfection. Mrs. +Smellpriest, on the other hand, was said to have been equally attached +to the political principles of the noble captain, and to wonder why any +clergyman should be suffered to live in the country but those of her +own Church; such delightful men, for instance, as their curate, the Rev. +Samson Strong, who was nothing more nor less than a divine bonfire in +the eyes of the Christian! world. Such was his zeal against Papists, she +said, as well as against Popery at large, that she never looked on him +without thinking that there was a priest to be burned. Indeed Captain +Smellpriest, she added, was under great obligations to him, for +no sooner had his reverence heard of a priest taking earth in the +neighborhood, than he lost no time in communicating the fact to her +husband; after which he would kindly sit with and comfort her whilst +fretting lest any mischief might befall her dear captain. + +The dinner passed as all dinners usually do. They hobnobbed, of course, +and indulged in that kind of promiscuous conversation which cannot well +be reported. From a feeling of respect to Helen, no allusion was made +either to the burning of Reilly's property or to Reilly personally. The +only person who had any difficulty in avoiding the subject was the old +squire himself, who more than once found the topic upon his lips, but +with a kind of short cough he gulped it down, and got rid of it for the +time. In what manner he might treat the act itself was a matter which +excited a good deal of speculation in the minds of those who were +present. He was known to be a man who, if the whim seized him to look +upon it as a cowardly and vindictive proceeding, would by no means +scruple to express his opinions strongly against it; whilst, on +the other hand, if he measured it in connection with his daughter's +forbidden attachment to Reilly, he would, of course, as vehemently +express his approbation of the outrage. Indeed, they were induced to +conclude that this latter view of it was that which he was most likely +to take, in consequence of the following proposal, which, from any other +man, would have been an extraordinary one: + +"Come, ladies, before you leave us we must have one toast; and I shall +give it in order to ascertain whether we have any fair traitresses among +us, or any who are secretly attached to Popery or Papists." + +The proposal was a cruel one, but the squire was so utterly destitute of +consideration or delicacy of feeling that we do not think he ever once +reflected upon the painful position in which it placed his daughter. + +"Come," he proceeded, "here is prosperity to Captain Smellpriest and +priest-hunting!"* + + * We have been charged by an able and accomplished writer + with an incapacity of describing, with truth, any state of + Irish society above that of our peasantry; and the toast + proposed by the eccentric old squire is, we presume, the + chief ground upon which this charge is rested. We are, + however, just as well aware as our critic, that to propose + toasts before the female portion of the company leave the + dinner-table, is altogether at variance with the usages of + polite society. But we really thought we had guarded our + readers against any such, inference of our own ignorance by + the character which we had drawn of the squire, as well as + by the words with which the toast is introduced--where we + said, "from any other man would have been an extraordinary + one." I may also refer to Mrs. Brown's reply. + +"As a Christian minister," replied Mr. Brown, "and an enemy to +persecution in every sense, but especially to that which would punish +any man for the great principle which we ourselves claim--the rights of +conscience--I decline to drink the toast;" and he turned down his glass. + +"And I," said Mr. Hastings, "as a Protestant and a Christian, refuse it +on the same principles;" and he also turned down his glass. + +"But you forget, gentlemen," proceeded the squire, "that I addressed +myself principally to the ladies." + +"But you know, sir," replied Mrs. Brown, with a smile, "that it is +quite unusual and out of character for ladies to drink toasts at all, +especially those which involve religious or political opinions. These, I +am sure, you know too well, Mr. Folliard, are matters with which ladies +have, and ought to have, nothing to do. I also, therefore, on behalf +of our sex, decline to drink the toast; and I trust that every lady who +respects herself will turn down her glass as I do." + +Mrs. Hastings and Helen immediately followed her example, whilst at the +same time poor Helen's cheeks and neck were scarlet. + +"You see, sir," said Mr. Brown, good-humoredly, "that the sex--at least +one-half of them--are against you." + +"That's because they're Papists at heart," replied the squire, laughing. + +Helen felt eased at seeing her father's good humor, for she now knew +that the proposal of the toast was but a jest, and did not aim at any +thing calculated to distress her feelings. + +"But, in the meantime," proceeded the squire, "I am not without support. +Here is Lady Joram and Mrs. Smellpriest and Mrs. Oxley--and they are a +host in themselves--each of them willing and ready to support me." + +"I don't see," said Lady Joram, "why a lady, any more than a gentleman, +should refuse to drink a proper toast as this is; Sir Jenkins has not +turned down his glass, and neither shall I. Come, then, Mr. Folliard, +please to fill mine; I shall drink it in a bumper." + +"And I," said Mrs. Oxley, "always drinks my 'usband's principles. In +Lunnon, where true 'igh life is, ladies don't refuse to drink toasts. I +know that feyther, both before and after his removal to Lunnon, used +to make us all drink the ''Ard ware of Old Hingland'--by witch," +she proceeded, correcting herself by a reproving glance from the +sheriff--"by witch he meant what he called the glorious sinews of the +country at large, lestwise in the manufacturing districts. But upon a +subject like this"--and she looked with something like disdain at those +who had turned down their glasses--"every lady as is a lady ought to +'ave no objection to hexplain her principles by drinking the toast; but +p'raps it ain't fair to press it upon some of 'em." + +"Well, then," proceeded the squire, with a laugh that seemed to have +more than mirth in it, "are all the loyal subjects of the crown ready? +Lord Deilmacare, your glass is not filled; won't you drink it?" + +"To be sure," replied his lordship; "I have no hatred against Papists; +I get my rent by their labor; but I never wish to spoil sport--get +along--I'll do anything." + +With the exceptions already mentioned, the toast was drank immediately, +after which the ladies retired to the drawing-room. + +"Now, gentlemen," said the squire, "fill your glasses, and let us enjoy +ourselves. You have a right to be proud of your wife, Mr. Sheriff, and +you too, Sir Jenkins--for,--upon my soul, if it had been his Majesty's +health, her ladyship couldn't have honored it with a fuller bumper. And, +Smellpriest, your wife did the thing handsomely as well as the rest. +Upon my soul, you ought to be happy men, with three women so deeply +imbued with the true spirit of our glorious Constitution." + +"Ah, Mr. Folliard," said Smellpriest, "you don't know the value of that +woman. When I return, for instance, after a hunt, the first question she +puts to me is--Well, my love, how many priests did you catch to-day? And +out comes Mr. Strong with the same question. Strong, however, between +ourselves, is a goose; he will believe any thing, and often sends me +upon a cold trail. Now, I pledge you my honor, gentlemen, that this man, +who is all zeal, has sent me out dozens of times, with the strictest +instructions as to where I'd catch my priest; but, hang me, if ever +I caught a single priest upon his instructions yet! still, although +unfortunate in this kind of sport, his heart is in the right place. +Whitecraft, my worthy brother sportsman, how does it happen that Reilly +continues to escape you?" + +"Why does he continue to escape yourself, captain?" replied the baronet. + +"Why," said the other, "because I am more in the ecclesiastical line, +and, besides, he is considered to be, in an especial manner, your game." + +"I will have him yet, though," said Whitecraft, "if he should assume as +many shapes as Proteus." + +"By the way, Whitecraft," observed Folliard, "they tell me you burned +the unfor--you burned the scoundrel's house and offices." + +"I wish you had been present at the bonfire, sir," replied his intended +son-in-law; "it would have done your heart good." + +"I daresay," said the squire; "but still, what harm did his house and +place do you? I know the fellow is a Jesuit, a rebel, and an outlaw--at +least you tell me so; and you must know. But upon what authority did you +burn the rascal out?" + +"As to that," returned the baronet, "the present laws against Popery and +the general condition of the times are a sufficient justification; and +I do not think that I am likely to be brought over the coals for it; on +the contrary, I look upon myself as a man who, in burning the villain +out, have rendered a very important service to Government." + +"I regret, Sir Robert," observed Mr. Brown, "that you should have +disgraced yourself by such an oppressive act. I know that throughout the +country your conduct to this young man is attributed to personal malice +rather than to loyalty." + +"The country may put what construction on my conduct it pleases," he +replied, "but I know I shall never cease till I hang him." + +Mr. Hastings was a man of very few words; but he had an eye the +expression of which could not be mistaken--keen, manly, and firm. He sat +sipping his wine in silence, but turned from time to time a glance upon +the baronet, which was not only a searching one, but seemed to have +something of triumph in it. + +"What do you say, Hastings?" asked Whitecraft; "can you not praise a +loyal subject, man?" + +"I say nothing, Sir Robert," he replied; "but I think occasionally." + +"Well, and what do you think occasionally?" + +"Why, that the times may change." + +"Whitecraft," said Smellpriest, "I work upon higher principles than they +say you do. I hunt priests, no doubt of it; but then I have no personal +malice against them; I proceed upon the broad and general principle of +hatred to Popery: but, at the same time, observe it is not the man but +the priest I pursue." + +"And when you hang or transport the priest, what becomes of the man?" +asked the baronet, with a diabolical sneer. "As for me, Smellpriest, I +make no such distinctions; they are unworthy of you, and I'm sorry to +hear you express them. I say, the man." + +"And I say, the priest," replied the other. + +"What do you say, my lord?" asked Mr. Folliard of the peer. + +"I don't much care which," replied his lordship; "man or priest, be it +as you can determine; only I say that when you hang the priest, I agree +with Whitecraft there, that it is all up with the man, and when you +hang the man, it is all up with the priest. By the way, Whitecraft," he +proceeded, "how would you like to swing yourself?" + +"I am sure, my lord," replied the baronet, "you wouldn't wish to see me +hanged." + +"Well, I don't know--perhaps I might, and perhaps I might not; but +I know you would make a long corpse, and I think you would dangle +handsomely enough; you have long limbs, a long body, and half a mile of +neck; upon my soul, one would think you were made for it. Yes, I dare +say I should like to see you hanged--I am rather inclined to think I +would--it's a subject, however, on which I am perfectly indifferent; but +if ever you should be hanged, Sir Robert, I shall certainly make it a +point to see you thrown off if it were only as a mark of respect for +your humane and excellent character." + +"He would be a severe loss to the country," observed Sir Jenkins; +"the want of his hospitality would be deeply felt by the gentry of the +neighborhood; for which reason," he observed sarcastically, "I hope he +will be spared to us as long as his hospitality lasts." + +"In the meantime, gentlemen," observed the sheriff, "I wish that, with +such keen noses for priests and rebels and criminals, you could come +upon the trail of the scoundrel who robbed me of three hundred and fifty +pounds." + +"Would you know him again, Mr. Sheriff?" asked Sir Robert, "and could +you describe his appearance?" + +"I have been turning the matter over," replied the sheriff, "and I +feel satisfied that I would know him if I saw him. He was dressed in a +broadcloth brown coat, light-colored breeches, and had silver buckles +in his shoes. The fellow was no common robber. Stuart--one of +your dragoons, Sir Robert, who came to my relief when it was too +late--insists, from my description of the dress, that it was Reilly." + +"Are you sure he was not dressed in black?" asked Smellpriest. "Did you +observe a beads or crucifix about him?" + +"I have described the dress accurately," replied the sheriff; "but I +am certain that it was not Reilly. On bringing the matter to my +recollection, after I had got rid of the pain and agitation, I was able +to remember that the ruffian had a coarse face and red whiskers. Now +Reilly's hair and whiskers are black." + +"It was a reverend Papist," said Smellpriest; "one of those from +whom you had levied the fines that day, and who thought it no harm to +transfer them back again to holy Church. You know not how those rascals +can disguise themselves." + +"And you blame them, Smellpriest," said the squire, "for disguising +themselves? Now, suppose the tables were turned upon us, that Popery got +the ascendant, and that Papists started upon the same principles against +us that we put in practice against them; suppose that Popish soldiers +were halloed on against our parsons, and all other Protestants +conspicuous for an attachment to their religion, and anxious to put down +the persecution under which we suffered; why, hang it, could you blame +the parsons, when hunted to the death, for disguising themselves? And +if you could not, how can you blame the priests? Would you have the poor +devils walk into your hands and say, 'Come, gentlemen, be good enough +to hang or transport us?' I am anxious, to secure Reilly, and either to +hang or transport him. I would say the latter, though." + +"And I the former," observed Sir Robert. + +"Well, Bob, that is as may happen; but in the meantime, I say he never +robbed the sheriff here; and if he were going to the gallows to-morrow, +I would maintain it." + +Neither the clergyman nor Mr. Hastings took much part in the +conversation; but the eye of the latter was, during the greater portion +of the evening, fixed upon the baronet, like that of a basilisk, +accompanied by a hidden meaning, which it was impossible to penetrate, +but which, nevertheless, had such an effect upon Whitecraft that he +could not help observing it. + +"It would seem, Mr. Hastings," said he, "as if you had never seen me +before. Your eye has scarcely been off me during the whole evening. It +is not pleasant, sir, nor scarcely gentlemanly." + +"You should feel proud of it, Sir Robert," replied Hastings; "I only +admire you." + +"Well, then, I wish you would express your admiration in some other +manner than by staring at me." + +"Gadzooks, Sir Robert," said the squire, "don't you know that a cat may +look at a king? Hastings must be a man of devilish good taste, Bob, and +you ought to thank him." + +Mr. Brown and Mr. Hastings soon afterwards went upstairs, and left the +other gentlemen to their liquor, which they now began to enjoy with +a more convivial spirit. The old squire's loyalty rose to a very high +pitch, as indeed did that of his companions, all of whom entertained the +same principles, with the exception of Lord Deilmacare, whose opinions +never could be got at, for thee very sufficient reason that he did not +know them himself. + +"Come, Whitecraft," said the squire, "help yourself, and push the +bottle; now that those two half-Papists are gone, we can breathe and +speak a little more freely. Here's our glorious Constitution, in Church +and State, and curse all priests and Papists--barring a few, that I know +to be honest." + +"I drink it, but I omit the exception," said Sir Robert, "and I wonder, +sir, you would make any exception to such a toast." + +"I drink it," said Smellpriest, "including the rascal priest." + +"And I drink it," said the sheriff, "as it has been proposed." + +"What was it?" said Lord Deilmacare; "come, I drink it--it doesn't +matter. I suppose, coming from our excellent host, it must be right and +proper." + +They caroused deeply, and in proportion as the liquor affected their +brains, so did their determination to rid the squire of the rebel Reilly +form itself into an express resolution to that effect. + +"Hang Reilly--hang the villain--the gallows for him--hurra!" and in this +charitable sentiment their voices all joined in a fierce and drunken +exclamation, uttered with their hands all clasped in each other with a +strong and firm grip. From one mouth alone, however, proceeded, amidst +a succession of hiccups, the word "transportation," which, when Lord +Deilmacare heard, he changed his principle, and joined the old squire in +the same mitigation of feeling. + +"I say, Deilmacare," shouted Sir Robert, "we must hang him high and +dry." + +"Very well," replied his lordship, "with all my heart, Sir Robert; we +must hang you high and dry." + +"But, Deilmacare," said the squire, "we should only transport him." + +"Very good," exclaimed his lordship, emptying a bumper; "we shall only +transport you, Sir Robert." + +"Hang him, Deilmacare!" + +"Very well, hang him!" + +"Transport him, I say, Deilmacare," from the squire. + +"Good again," said his lordship; "transport him, say I." + +And on went the drunken revel, until they scarcely knew what they said. + +The clergyman and Mr. Hastings, on reaching the drawing-room, found +Helen in a state of inexpressible distress. A dispute upon the +prevailing morals of all modern young Lidies had been got up by Lady +Joram and Mrs. Oxley, for the express purpose of venting their petty +malice against the girl, because they had taken it into their heads that +she paid more attention to Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hastings than she did to +them. This dispute was tantamount to what, in the prize ring, is called +_cross_, when the fight is only a mock one, and terminates by the +voluntary defeat of one of the parties, upon a preconcerted arrangement. + +"I don't agree with you, my lady; nor can I think that the morals of +young ladies in 'igh life, by witch I mean the daughters and heiresses of +wealthy squires--" + +"But, my dear Mrs. Oxley," said her ladyship, interrupting her, and +placing her hand gently upon her arm, as if to solicit her consent to +the observation she was about to make, "you know, my dear Mrs. Oxley, +that the daughter of a mere country squire can have no pretensions to +come under the definition of high life." + +"Wy not?" replied Mrs. Oxley; "the squires are often wealthier than the +haris-tocracy; and I don't at all see," she added, "wy the daughter of +such a man should not be considered as moving in 'igh life--always, of +course, provided that she forms no disgraceful attachments to Papists +and rebels and low persons of that 'ere class. No, my lady, I don't at +all agree with you in your view of 'igh life." + +"You don't appear, madam, to entertain a sufficiently accurate estimate +of high life. + +"I beg pardon, ma'am, but I think I can understand 'igh life as well as +those that don't know it better nor myself. I've seen a great deal of +'igh life. Feyther 'ad a willar at I'gate, and I'gate is known to be +the 'igh-est place about the metropolis of Lunnon--it and St. Paul's are +upon a bevel." + +"Level, perhaps, you mean, ma'am?" + +"Level or bevel,'it doesn't much diversify--but I prefer the bevel to +the level on all occasions. All I knows is," she proceeded, "that it is +a shame for any young lady, as is a young lady, to take a liking to a +Papist, because we know the Papists are all rebel; and would cut our +throats, only for the protection of our generous and merciful laws." + +"I don't know what you mean by merciful laws," observed Mrs. Brown. +"They surely cannot be such laws as oppress and persecute a portion +of the people, and give an unjust license to one class to persecute +another, and to prevent them from exercising the duties which their +religion imposes upon them." + +"Well," said Lady Joram, "all I wish is, that the Papists were +exterminated; we should then have no apprehensions that our daughters +would disgrace themselves, by falling in love with them." + +This conversation was absolutely cruel, and the amiable Mrs. Brown, from +compassion to Helen, withdrew her into a corner of the room, and +entered into conversation with her upon a different topic, assuring her +previously that she would detail their offensive and ungenerous remarks +to her father, who, she trusted, would never see them under his roof +again, nor give them an opportunity of indulging in their vulgar +malignity a second time. Helen thanked her, and said their hints and +observations, though rude and ungenerous, gave her but little pain. +The form of language in which they were expressed, she added, and the +indefensible violation of all the laws of hospitality, blunted the +severity of what they said. + +"I am not ashamed," she said, "of my attachment to the brave and +generous young man who saved my father's life. He is of no vulgar birth, +but a highly educated and a highly accomplished gentleman--a man, in +fact, my dear Mrs. Brown, whom no woman, be her rank in life ever so +high or exalted, might blush to love. I do not blush to make the avowal +that I love him; but, unfortunately, in consequence of the existing laws +of the country, my love for him, which I will never conceal, must be a +hopeless one." + +"I regret the state of those laws, my dear Miss Folliard, as much as you +do; but still their existence puts a breach between you and Reilly, and +under those circumstances my advice to you is to overcome your affection +for him if you can. Marriage is out of the question." + +"It is not marriage I think of--for that is out of the question--but +Reilly's life and safety. If he were safe, I should feel comparatively +happy; happiness, in its full extent, I never can hope to enjoy; but +if he were only safe--if he were only safe, my dear Mrs. Brown! I know +that he is hunted like a beast of prey, and under such circumstances as +disturb and distract the country, how can he escape?" + +The kind-hearted lady consoled her as well as she could; but, in fact, +her grounds for consolation were so slender that her arguments only +amounted to those general observations which, commonplace as they +are, we are in the habit of hearing from day to day. Helen was too +high-minded to shed tears, but Mrs. Brown could plainly perceive the +depth of her emotion, and feel the extent of wrhat she suffered. + +We shall not detail at further length the conversation of the other +ladies--if ladies they can be called; nor that of the gentlemen, after +they entered the drawing-room. Sir Robert Whitecraft attempted to enter +into conversation with Helen, but found himself firmly and decidedly +repulsed. In point of fact, some of the gentlemen were not in a state +to grace a drawing-room, and in a short time they took their leave and +retired. + + + + +CHAPTEE XII.--Sir Robert Meets a Brother Sportsman + +--Draws his Nets, but Catches Nothing. + + +"'Tis conscience that makes cowards of us all," said Shakespeare, with +that wonderful wisdom which enlightens his glorious pages; and, in fact, +Sir Robert Whitecraft, in his own person, fully corroborated the truth +of the poet's apophthegm. The man, besides, was naturally a coward; and +when to this we add the consciousness of his persecutions and cruelties, +and his apprehensions from the revenge of Reilly--the destruction of +whose property, without any authority from Government for the act, he +felt himself guilty of--the reader may understand the nature and extent +of his terrors on his way home. The distance between his own house and +that of his intended father-in-law was about three miles, and there lay +a long space of level road, hedged in, as was then the custom, on both +sides, from behind which hedges an excellent aim could be taken. As Sir +Robert proceeded along this lonely path, his horse stumbled against some +stones that were in his way, or perhaps that had been purposely placed +there. Be that as it may, the baronet fell, and a small man, of compact +size and vigorous frame, was found aiding him to rise. Having helped +him into the saddle, the baronet asked him, with an infirm and alarmed +voice, who he was. + +"Why, Sir Robert," he replied, "you must know I am not a Papist, or I +wouldn't be apt to render you any assistance; I am somewhat of your own +kidney--a bit of a priest-hunter, on a small scale. I used to get them +for Captain Smellpriest, but he paid me badly, and as there was great +risk among the bloody Papists, I made up my mind to withdraw out of his +service; but you are a gentleman, Sir Robert, what Captain Smellpriest +is not, and if you want an active and useful enemy to Popery, I am your +man." + +"I want such a person, certainly," replied the baronet, who, in +consequence of the badness of the road and the darkness of the night, +was obliged to walk his horse with caution. "By the way," said he, "did +you not hear a noise behind the hedge?" + +"I did," replied the other, "but it was the noise of cattle." + +"I am not aware," replied Sir Robert, "what the devil cattle can have to +do immediately behind the hedge. I rather think they are some of our own +species;" and as he ceased speaking the tremendous braying of a jackass +came upon their ears. + +"You were right, Sir Robert," replied his companion; "I beg pardon, I +mean that was right; you know now it was cattle." + +"What is your name?" asked Sir Robert. + +"Rowland Drum, Sir Robert; and, if you will permit me, I should like to +see you safe home. I need not say that you are hated by the Papists; and +as the road is lonesome and dangerous, as a priest-hunter myself I think +it an act of duty not to leave you." + +"Thank you," said Sir Robert, "you are a civil person, and I will accept +your escort." + +"Whatever danger you may run, Sir Robert, I will stand by your side and +partake of it." + +"Thank you, friend," replied Sir Robert; "there is a lonely place before +us, where a ghost is said to be seen--the ghost of a priest whom I +hunted for a long time; Smellpriest, it is said, shot him at the place +I allude to. He was disguised as a drummer, and is said to haunt the +locality where he was shot." + +"Well, I shall see you safe over the place, Sir Robert, and go home +with you afterwards, provided you will promise to give me a bed and my +supper; to-morrow we can talk on matters of business." + +"I shall certainly do so," replied Sir Robert, "not only in consequence +of your attention to me, but of our common purpose." + +They then proceeded onwards--passed the haunted spot--without either +hearing or seeing the spectral drummer. On arriving at home, Sir Robert, +who drank privately, ordered wine for himself, and sent Rowland Drum +to the kitchen, where he was rather meagerly entertained, and was +afterwards lodged for the night in the garret. + +The next morning, after breakfast, Sir Robert sent for Mr. Drum, who, on +entering the breakfast parlor, was thus addressed by his new patron: + +"What's this you say your name is?" + +"Rowland Drum, sir." + +"Rowland Drum! Well, now, Rowland Drum, are you well acquainted with the +priests of this diocese?" + +"No man better," replied the redoubtable Rowland. "I know most of them +by person, and have got private descriptions of them all from Captain +Smellpriest, which will be invaluable to you, Sir Robert. The fact +is--and this I mention in the strictest confidence--that Smellpriest is +suspicious of your attachment to our glorious Constitution." + +"The confounded rascal," replied the baronet. "Did he ever burn as many +Popish houses as I have done? He has no appetite for any thing but +the pursuit and capture of priests; but I have a far more general and +unsparing practice, for I not only capture the priests, where I can, but +every lay Papist that we suspect in the country. Here, for instance. Do +you see those papers? They are blank warrants for the apprehension of +the guilty and suspected, and also protections, transmitted to me from +the Secretary of State, that I may be enabled, by his authority, to +protect such Papists as will give useful information to the Government. +Here they are, signed by the Secretary, but the blanks are left for +myself to fill up." + +"I wish we could get Reilly to come over," said Mr. Drum. + +"Oh! the infernal villain," said the baronet, "all the protections that +ever were or could be issued from the Secretary's office would not nor +could not save him. Old Folliard and I will hang him, if there was not +another man to be hanged in the three kingdoms." + +At this moment a servant came in and said, "Sir Robert, there is a woman +her who wishes to have some private conversation with you." + +"What kind of a woman is she?" asked the baronet. + +"Faith, your honor, a sturdy and strapping wench, somewhat rough, in the +face, but of great proportions." + +Now it so happened that Mr. Drum had been sitting at the window during +this brief conversation, and at once recognized, under the disguise of +a woman, the celebrated informer, the Rev. Mr. Hennessy, a wretch whose +criminal course of life, as we said before, was so gross and reprobate +that his pious bishop deemed it his duty to suspend him from all +clerical functions. + +"Sir Robert," said Drum, "I must go up to my room and shave. My +presence, I apprehend, won't be necessary where there is a lady in +question." + +"Very well," replied the baronet; "I know not what her business may be; +but I shall be glad to speak with you after she shall have gone." + +It was very well that Hennessy did not see Drum, whom he would at once +have recognized; but, at all events, the interview between the reprobate +priest and the baronet lasted for at least an hour. + +After the Rev. Miss Hennessy had taken her departure, Mr. Drum was sent +for by the baronet, whom he still found in the breakfast parlor. + +"Drum," said he, "you have now an opportunity of essentially serving not +only me, but the Government of the country. This lady turns out to be a +Popish priest in disguise, and I have taken him into my confidence as +a guide and auxiliary. Now you have given me proofs of personal +attachment, which is certainly more than he has done as yet. I have +heard of his character as an immoral priest; and the man who could be +false to his own creed is not a man to be relied upon. He has described +to me the position of a cavern, in which are now hiding a set of +proscribed priests; but I cannot have confidence in his information, and +I wish you to go to the ravine or cavern, or whatever the devil it is, +and return to me with correct intelligence. It may be a lure to draw +me into danger, or perhaps to deprive me of my life; but, on second +thought, I think I shall get a military force, and go myself." + +"And perhaps never return, unless with your heels foremost, Sir Robert. +I tell you that this Hennessy is the most treacherous scoundrel on the +face of the earth. You do not know what he's at, but I will tell +you, for I have it from his own cousin. His object is to have you +assassinated, in order to restore himself to the good graces of the +bishop and the Catholic party, who, I must say, however, would not +countenance such a murderous act; still, Sir Robert, if you were taken +off, the man who took you off would have his name honored and exalted +throughout the country." + +"Yes, I believe you are right, Drum; they are thirsting for my blood, +but not more than I am thirsting for theirs." + +"Well, then," said Drum, "don't trust yourself to the counsels of this +Hennessy, who, in my opinion, only wants to make a scapegoat of you. +Allow me to go to the place he mentions, for I know the ravine well, but +I never knew nor do I believe that there is a cavern at all in it, +and that is what makes me suspect the scoundrel's motives. He can have +hundreds of outlaws secretly armed, who would never suffer you to escape +with your life. The thing is an ambuscade; take my word for it, it is +nothing less. Of course you can go, yourself and your party, if you +wish. You will prevent me from running a great risk; but I am only +anxious for your safety." + +"Well, then," said Sir Robert, "you shall go upon this mission. It may +not be safe for me to do so. Try if you can make out this cavern, if +there be a cavern." + +"I will try, Sir Robert; and I will venture to say, that if it can be +made out, I will make 't out." Rowland Drum accordingly set out upon +his mission, and having arrived at the cavern, with which he was so well +acquainted, he entered it with the usual risk. His voice, however, was +recognized, and he got instant admittance. + +"My dear friends," said he, after he had entered the inner part of it, +"you must disperse immediately. Hennessy has betrayed you, and if you +remain here twenty-four hours longer, Sir Kobert Whitecraft and a party +of military, guided, probably, by the treacherous scoundrel himself, +will be upon you. The villain had a long interview with him, and gave a +full detail of the cavern and its inmates." + +"But how did you become acquainted with Sir Kobert Whitecraft?" asked +the bishop. + +"In order, my lord, to ascertain his intentions and future proceedings," +replied Mr. Drum, "that we might guard against his treachery and +persecution. On his way home from a dinner at Squire Folliard's I met +him in a lonely part of the road, where he was thrown from his horse; I +helped him into his saddle, told him I was myself a priest-hunter, +and thus got into his confidence so far as to be able to frustrate +Hennessy's treachery, and to counteract his own designs." + +"Sir," said the bishop sternly, "you have acted a part unworthy of a +Christian clergyman. We should not do evil that good may follow; and +you have done evil in associating yourself, in any sense and for any +purpose, with this bloodthirsty tiger and persecutor of the faithful." + +"My lord," replied the priest, "this is not a time to enter into a +discussion on such a subject. Hennessy has betrayed us; and if you do +not disperse to other places of safety, he will himself, as I said, lead +Sir Robert Whitecraft and a military party to this very cavern, and then +may God have mercy on you all." + +"Brethren," said the bishop, "this is, after all, possible that our +brother has, by the mercy and providence of God, through his casual +meeting with this remorseless man, been made the instrument of our +safety. As for myself, I am willing to embrace the crown of martyrdom, +and to lay down my life, if necessary, for the faith that is in me. You +all know what I have already suffered, and you know that persecution +drives a wise man mad. My children," he added, "it is possible, and I +fear too probable, that some of us may never see each other in this life +again; but at the same time, let it be our hope and consolation that +we shall meet in a better. And for this purpose, and in order to secure +futurity of happiness, let us lead spotless and irreproachable lives, +such as will enable ur to meet the hour of death, whether it comes by +the hand of God or the persecution of man. Be faithful to the principles +of our holy religion--be faithful to truth--to moral virtue--be faithful +to God, before whose awful tribunal we must all appear, and render an +account of our lives. It would be mere wantonness to throw yourselves +into the hands of our persecutors. Reserve yourselves; for the +continuance and the sustainment of our blessed religion; but if you +should happen to fall, by the snares and devices of the enemy, into the +power of those who are striving to work our extermination, and if +they should press you to renounce your faith, upon the alternative of +banishment or death, then, I say, banishment, or death itself, sooner +than become apostates to your religion. I shall retire to a neighborhood +only a few miles distant from this, where the poor Catholic population +are without spiritual aid or consolation. I have been there before, and +I know their wants, and were it not that I was hunted and pursued with +a view to my death--to my murder, I should rather say--I would have +remained with them still. But that I considered it a duty to that +portion of the Church over which God called upon me to preside and +watch, I would not have avoided those inhuman traffickers in the blood +of God's people. Yet I am bound to say that, from the clergymen of +the Established Church, and from many Protestant magistrates, we have +received kindness, sympathy, and shelter. Their doors, their hearths, +and their hearts have been open to us, and that, too, in a truly +Christian spirit. Let us, then, render them good for good; let us pray +for their conversion, and that they may return to the right path." + +"They have acted generously and nobly," added Reilly, "and in a truly +Christian spirit. Were it not for the shelter and protection which I +myself received from one of them, my mangled body would probably be +huddled down into some obscure grave, as a felon, and my property--which +is mine only by a necessary fiction and evasion of the law--have passed +into the hands of Sir Robert Whitecraft. I am wrong, however, in saying +that it could. Mr. Hastings, a generous and liberal Protestant, took it +in his own name for my father, but gave me a deed of assignment, placing +it as securely in my hands, and in my power, as if I were Sir Robert +Whitecraft himself; and I must add--which I do with pleasure--that the +deed in question is now in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Brown, the +amiable rector of the parish." + +"But he is a heretic," said a red-faced little man, dressed in leather +breeches, top boots, and a huntsman's cap; _vade retro sathanas_, It is +a damnable crime to have any intercourse with them, or to receive any +protection from them: _vade retro, sathanas_." + +"If I don't mistake," said the cook--an archdeacon, by the way--"you +yourself received protection from them, and were glad to receive it." + +"If I did receive protection from one of their heretic parsons, it was +for Christian purposes. My object was not so much to seek protection +from him as to work out his salvation by withdrawing him from his +heresy. But then the fellow was as obstinate as _sathanas_ himself, +and had Greek and Hebrew at his fingers' ends. I made several passes at +him--tried Irish, and told him it was Italian. 'Well,' said he, smiling, +'I understand Italian too;' and to my astonishment he addressed me in +the best Irish I ever heard spoken. 'Now,' said he, still smiling, 'you +perceive that I understand Italian nearly--I will not say so well--as +you do.' Now, as I am a sinner, that, I say, was ungenerous treatment. +He was perfectly irreclaimable." + +This man was, like Mr. Maguire, what has been termed a hedge-priest--a +character which, as we have already said, the poverty of the Catholic +people, during the existence of the penal laws, and the consequent want +of spiritual instruction, rendered necessary. There were no Catholic +colleges in the country, and the result was that the number of foreign +priests--by which I mean Irish priests educated in foreign colleges--was +utterly inadequate to meet the spiritual necessities of the Irish +population. Under those circumstances, men of good and virtuous +character, who understood something of the Latin tongue, were ordained +by their respective bishops, for the purpose which we have already +mentioned. But what a difference was there between those half-educated +men and the class of educated clergymen who now adorn, not only their +Church, but the literature of the country! + +"Well, my dear friend," said the bishop, "let us be thankful for the +protection which, we have received at the hands of the Protestant clergy +and of many of the Protestant laity also. We now separate, and I for one +am sensible how much this cruel persecution has strengthened the bonds +of Christian love among us, and excited our sympathy for our poor +persecuted flocks, so many of whom are now without a shepherd. I leave +you with tears--but they are tears of affection, and not of despair. I +shall endeavor to be useful wherever I may abide. Let each of you do all +the spiritual good you can--all the earthly good--all good in its most +enlarged and purest sense. But we must separate--probably, some of us, +forever; and now may the blessing of the Almighty God--of the Father, +Son, and Holy Ghost, rest upon you all, and be with you and abide in +your hearts, now and forever! Amen!" + +Having pronounced these words, he covered his face with his two hands +and wept bitterly. There were indeed few dry eyes around him; they knelt +before him, kissed his ring, and prepared to take their departure out of +the cavern. + +"My lord," said Reilly, who still entertained apprehensions of the +return of his malady, "if you will permit me I shall share your fate, +whatever it may be. The poor people you allude to are not in a condition +to attend to your wants. Allow me, then, to attend and accompany you in +your retreat." + +"My dear friend," said the bishop, clasping his hand, "you are heaping +coals of fire upon my head. I trust you will forgive me, for I knew not +what I did. I shall be glad of your companionship. I fear I still stand +in need of such a friend. Be it so, then," he proceeded--"be it so, +my dear friend; only that I should not wish you to involve yourself in +unnecessary danger on my account." + +"Danger, my lord!" replied Reilly; "there is not an individual here +against whom personal malignity has directed the vengeance of the law +with such a bloodthirsty and vindictive spirit as against myself. Why +else am I here? No, I will accompany your lordship, and share your +fate." + +It was so determined, and they left the cavern, each to procure some +place of safety for himself. + +In the meantime, Sir Robert Whitecraft, having had another interview +with Hennessy, was prevailed upon to get a military party together, and +the cunning reprobate, in order to excite the baronet's vengeance to +a still higher pitch, mentioned a circumstance which he had before +forgotten, to wit, that Reilly, his arch-enemy, was also in the cave. + +"But," said Sir Robert, who, as we have already said, was a poltroon and +a coward, "what guarantee can you give me that you are not leading me +into an ambuscade? You know that I am unpopular, and the Papists would +be delighted to have my blood; what guarantee, then, can you give me +that you, are acting by me in good faith?" + +"The guarantee of my own life," replied the other. "Let me be placed +between two of your men, and if you see any thing like an ambuscade, let +them shoot me dead on the spot." + +"Why," replied the baronet, "that is fair; but the truth is, I have been +put on my guard against you by a person who escorted me home last night. +He rendered me some assistance when I fell from my horse, and he slept +here." + +"What is his name?" asked Hennessy. + +"He told me," replied the baronet, "that his name was Drum." + +"Could you give me a description, Sir Robert, of his person?" + +Sir Robert did so. + +"I declare to God, Sir Robert, you have had a narrow escape from that +man. He is one of the most bigoted priests in the kingdom. He used to +disguise himself as a drummer--for his father was in the army, and he +himself was a drummer in his boyhood; and his object in preventing you +from bringing a military party to the cavern was merely that he might +have an opportunity of giving them notice of your intentions. I now say +that if you lose an hour's time they will be gone." + +Sir Robert did not lose an hour's time. The local barracks were within +a few hundred yards of his house. A party of military were immediately +called out, and in a short time they arrived, under the guidance of +Hennessy, to the very mouth of the cavern, which he disclosed to them. +It is unnecessary to detail the particulars of the search. The soldiers +entered it one by one, but found that the birds had flown. The very +fires were burning, but not a living soul in the cave; it was completely +deserted, and nothing remained but some miserable relics of cold +provisions, with which, by the aid of fir splices, that served as +torches, they regaled themselves as far as they went. + +Sir Robert Whitecraft now felt full confidence in Hennessy; but would +have given a trifle to renew his acquaintance with Mr. Rowland Drum, by +whose ingenuity he was so completely outwitted. As it was, they scoured +the country in search of the inmates of the cave, but above all things +in search of Reilly, for whose capture Whitecraft would have forgiven +every man in the cavern. The search, however, was unsuccessful; not +a man of them was caught that day, and gallant Sir Robert and his +myrmidons were obliged to return wearied and disappointed men. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII.--Reilly is Taken, but Connived at by the Sheriff + +--The Mountain Mass + + +Reilly and the bishop traversed a wild and remote part of the country, +in which there was nothing to be seen but long barren wastes, over which +were studded, here and there, a few solitary huts; upon its extremity, +however, there were some houses of a more comfortable description, the +habitations of middling farmers, who possessed small farms at a +moderate rent. As they went along, the prelate addressed Reilly in the +following-terms: + +"Mr. Reilly," said he, "I would advise you to get out of this unhappy +country as soon as you can." + +"My lord," replied Reilly, who was all candor and truth, and never could +conceal his sentiments, at whatever risk, "I cannot think of leaving the +country, let the consequences be what they may. I will not trouble +your lordship with my motives, because they are at variance with your +character and religious feelings; but they are not at variance with +religion or morality. It is enough to say that I wish to prevent a +beautiful and innocent girl from being sacrificed. My lord, you know too +well that persecution is abroad; and when I tell you that, through the +influence which this admirable creature has over her father--who, by the +way, has himself the character of a persecutor--many Catholics have been +protected by him, I am sure you will not blame me for the interest +which I feel in her fate. In addition to this, my lord, she has been a +ministering angel to the Catholic poor in general, and has contributed +vast sums, privately, to the relief of such of our priesthood as have +been brought to distress by the persecution of the times. Nay, she has +so far influenced her father that proscribed priests have found refuge +and protection in his house." + +The bishop, on hearing this, stood, and taking off his hat, raised his +right hand, and said: "May the blessing of the Almighty God rest upon +her, and guard her from the snares of those who would make her unhappy! +But, Reilly, as you say you are determined, if possible, to rescue her +from ruin, you know that if you go at large in your usual dress you will +unquestionably be taken. I advise you, then, to disguise yourself in +such a way as that you will not, if possible, be known." + +"Such, my lord, is my intention--but who is this? what--eh--yes, 'tis +Fergus O'Reilly, a distant and humble relation of mine who is also in +disguise. Well, Fergus, where have you been for some time past?" + +"It would be difficult to tell that, God knows; I have been +everywhere--but," he added in a whisper, "may I speak freely?" + +"As free as the wind that blows, Fergus." + +"Well, then, I tell you that Sir Robert Whitecraft has engaged me to be +on the lookout for you, and said that I would be handsomely rewarded if +I could succeed in enabling the scoundrel to apprehend you." + +"But how did that come about, Fergus?" + +"Faith, he met me one day--you see I have got a bag at my back--and +taking me for a beggarman, stopped me on the road. 'I say, you, poor +man,'says he, 'what's your name?' 'Paddy M'Fud,' says I--'I belong to +the M'Fuds of Ballymackknockem.' 'You're a beggar,' says he, 'and travel +from place to place about the country.' 'It's true enough, your honor,' +I replied, 'I travel about a good deal, of coorse, and it's only that +way that I get my bit and sup.' 'Do you know the notorious villain +called Willy Reilly'?' 'Not by sight, your honor, but I have often heard +of him. Wasn't he in love with the beautiful _Cooleen Bawn_, Squire +Folliard's daughter?' 'That's not the question between us,' he said, +'but if you enable me to catch Reilly, I will give you twenty pounds.' +'Well, your honor,' says I, 'lave the thing to myself; if he is to be +had it'll go hard but I'll find him.' 'Well, then,' says he, 'if you can +tell me where he is I will give you twenty pounds, as I said.' 'Well, +sir,' says I, 'I expect to hear from you; I am not sure he's in the +country--indeed they say he is not--but if he is, I think I'll find him +for you;' and so we parted." + +"Fergus," said Reilly, "I feel that a disguise is necessary. Here is +money to enable you to purchase one. I do not know where you may be able +to find me; but go and buy me a suit of frieze, rather worn, a dingy +caubeen hat, coarse Connemara stockings, and a pair of clouted brogues; +some course linen, too; because the fineness of my shirts, should +I happen to be apprehended, might betray me. Leave them with widow +Buckley, and I can find them there." + +It was so arranged. Fergus went on his way, as did Reilly and the +bishop. The latter conducted him to the house of a middling farmer, +whose son the bishop had sent, at his own expense, to a continental +college. They were both received with the warmest affection, and, so +far as the bishop was concerned, with every expression of the deepest +gratitude. The situation was remote, and the tumult of pursuit did not, +reach them. Reilly privately forced upon the farmer compensation for +their support, under a solemn injunction that he should not communicate +that circumstance to the bishop, and neither did he. They were here, +then, comparatively safe, but still Reilly dreaded the active vigilance +of his deadly enemy, Sir Robert Whitecraft. He felt that a disguise was +absolutely necessary, and that, without it, he might fall a sacrifice to +the diabolical vengeance of his powerful enemy. In the course of about +ten days after he had commissioned Fergus to procure him the disguise, +he resolved to visit widow Buckley, in order to make the necessary +exchange in his apparel. He accordingly set out--very foolishly we must +admit--in open day, to go to the widow's house. The distance was some +miles. No appearance of danger, or pursuit, was evident, until he +came to the sharp angle of the road, where he was met by four powerful +constables, who, on looking at him, immediately surrounded him and made +him prisoner. Resistance was impossible; they were well armed, and he +was without any weapon with which he could defend himself. + +"We have a warrant for your apprehension, sir," said one of them. + +"Upon what grounds?" replied Reilly. "I am conscious of no offence +against the laws of the land. Do you know who I am? and is my name in +your warrant?" + +"No, but your appearance answers completely to the description given in +the _Hue and Cry_. Your dress is the same as that of the robber, and you +must come with us to the sheriff whom you have robbed. His house is only +a quarter of a mile from this." + +They accordingly proceeded to the sheriff's house, whom they found at +home. On being informed that they had captured the man "who had robbed +him, he came downstairs with great alacrity, and in a spirit replete +with vengeance against the robber. The sheriff, however, was really +a good-natured and conscientious man, and would not lend himself to a +dishonorable act, nor had he ever been known to do so. When he appeared, +Reilly addressed him: + +"I am here, sir," said he, "under a charge of having robbed you. The +charge against me is ridiculous. I am a gentleman, and never was under +the necessity of having recourse to such unlawful means of raising +money." + +"Well," replied the sheriff, "your dress is precisely the same as the +fellow wore when he robbed me. But I feel confident that you are not the +man. Your hair is black, his was red, and he had large red whiskers. +In the excitement and agitation of the moment I forgot to mark the +villain's features distinctly; but I have since thought over the matter, +and I say that I would now know him if I saw him again. This, however," +he added, turning--to the constables, "is not the person who robbed +and beat me down from my horse." + +"But he may be Willy Reilly, sir, for all that; and you know the reward +that is offered for his apprehension." + +"I know Willy Reilly," replied the sheriff, "and I can assure you that +this gentleman is not Willy Reilly. Go, now, continue your pursuit. The +robber lurks somewhere in the neighborhood. You know the reward; catch +him, and you shall have it." The constables departed; and after they had +gone the sheriff said, "Mr. Reilly, I know you well; but I would scorn +to avail myself of the circumstance which has thus occurred. I am aware +of the motive which urges Sir Robert Whitecraft against you--so is the +whole country. That penurious and unprincipled villain is thirsting for +your blood. Mr. Hastings, however, has a rod in pickle for him, and +he will be made to feel it in the course of time. The present +administration is certainly an anti-Catholic one; but I understand it is +tottering, and that a more liberal one will come in. This Whitecraft +has succeeded in getting some young profligate Catholics to become +Protestants, who have, consequently, ousted their fathers out of their +estates and property; younger sons, who, by this act of treachery, will +get the estates into their own possession. The thing is monstrous +and unnatural. But let that pass; Whitecraft is on our trail in all +directions; beware of him, I say; and I think, with great respect to +you, Mr. Reilly, it is extremely foolish to go abroad in your usual +apparel, and without disguise." + +"Sir," replied Reilly, "I cannot express, as I would wish, my deep +gratitude to you for your kindness and forbearance. That Sir Robert +Whitecraft is thirsting for my blood I know. The cause of that vengeance +is now notorious." + +"You know Mr. Hastings, Mr. Reilly?" + +"Intimately, sir." + +"He took your property in his own name?" + +"He did, sir; he purchased it in his own name. The property was +hereditary property, and when my title to it, in point of law, as a +Catholic, was questioned, and when one of my family, as a Protestant, +put in his claim for it, Mr. Hastings came in as the purchaser, and +ousted him. The money was supplied by me. The moment, however, that I +found Whitecraft was after me, I immediately surrendered the whole of +it back to him; so that Sir Robert, in burning what he considered my +property, in fact burned Mr. Hastings." + +"And I have reason to know, Mr. Reilly, that it will be the blackest +act of his guilty life. This, however, I mention to you in the strictest +confidence. Keep the secret, for if it transpired the scoundrel might +escape from the consequences of his own cruelty and oppression. In the +meantime, do you take care of yourself--keep out of his way, and, as I +said, above all things, procure a disguise. Let the consequences be what +they may, I don't think the beautiful _Cooleen Baum_ will ever marry +him." + +"But," replied Reilly, "is there no risk of compulsion by her father?" + +"Why, I must confess there is," replied the sheriff; "he is obstinate +and headstrong, especially if opposed, and she will find it necessary +to oppose him--and she will oppose him. I myself have had a conversation +with her on the subject, and she is firm as fate against such a union; +and I will tell you more, Reilly--it was she who principally engaged me +to protect you as far as I could, and so I shall, you may rest assured +of it. I had only to name you a few minutes ago, and your fate was +sealed. But, even if she had never spoken to me on the subject, I +could not fend myself to the cruel plots of that villain. God knows, in +consequence of my official situation, I am put upon tasks that are very +painful to me; levying fines from men who are harmless and inoffensive, +who are peaceable members of society, who teach the people to be moral, +well-conducted, and obedient to the laws, and who do not themselves +violate them. Now," he added, "be advised by me, and disguise yourself." + +"Sir," said Reilly, "your sentiments do you honor; I am this moment on +my way to put on a disguise, which has been procured for me. I agree +with you and other friends that it would be impossible for me to remain +in the country in my own natural aspect and dress. Allow me, before I +go, to express my sense of your kindness, and believe me I shall never +forget it." + +"The disguise, above all things," said the sheriff, smiling and holding +out his hand. Reilly seized it with a warm pressure; they bid each other +farewell, and so they parted. + +Reilly then wound his way to the cottage of Mrs. Buckle, but not by +the public road. He took across the fields, and, in due time, reached +her humble habitation. Here he found the disguise, which his friend +Fergus had provided-a half-worn frieze coat, a half-worn caubeen, and +a half-worn pair of corduroy breeches, clouted brogues, and Connemara +stockings, also the worse for the wear, with two or three coarse shirts, +in perfect keeping with, the other portion of the disguise. + +"Well, Mrs. Buckley," said he, "how have you been since I saw you last?" + +"Oh, then, Mr. Reilly," said she, "it's a miracle from God that you did +not think of stopping here! I had several visits from the sogers who +came out to look for you." + +"Well, I suppose so, Mrs. Buckley; but it was one comfort that they did +not find me." + +"God be praised for that!" replied the poor woman, with tears in her +eyes; "it would a' broken my heart if you had been catched in my little +place." + +"But, Mrs. Buckley," said Reilly, "were there any plain clothes left for +me here?" + +"Oh, indeed there was, sir," she replied, "and I have them safe for +you; but, in the meantime, I'll go outside, and have an eye about the +country, for somehow they have taken it into their heads that this would +be a very likely place to find you." + +While she was out, Reilly changed his dress, and in a few minutes +underwent such a metamorphosis that poor Mrs. Buckley, on reentering the +house, felt quite alarmed. + +"Heavenly Father! my good man, where did you come from? I thought I left +Mr. --" here she stopped, afraid to mention Reilly's name. + +"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Buckley," said Reilly; "I am only changed in +outward appearance; I am your true friend still; and now accept this for +your kindness," placing money in her hand. + +"I can't, Mr. Reilly; you are under the persecutions, and will want all +the money you have to support yourself. Didn't the thieves of the devil +burn you out and rob you, and how can you get through this wicked world +without money--keep it yourself, for I don't want it." + +"Come, come, Mrs. Buckley, I have money enough; you must take this; +I only ask you to conceal these clothes in some place where the +hell-hounds of the law can't find them. And now, good-by, Mrs. Buckley; +I shall take care that, whatever may happen me, you shall not be +disturbed out of your little cabin and your garden." + +The tears ran down the poor old woman's cheeks, and Reilly left her +sobbing and crying behind him. This indeed was an eventful day to him, +Strong in the confidence of his disguise, he took the public road, and +had not gone far when he met a party of Sir Robert Whitecraft's. To fly +would have been instant ruin; he accordingly commenced an old Irish song +at the very top of his lungs. Sir Robert Whitecraft was not himself of +the party, but scarcely any individual was met by them whom they did not +cross-examine. + +"Hallo, my good fellow," said the leader of the party, "what is that +you're singin'?" + +Reilly stared at him like a man who was sorely puzzled; "_Ha neil bearla +agum;_" that is, "I have no English." + +"Here, Connor, you can speak Irish; sift this able-bodied tyke." + +A conversation in that language then took place between them which +reflected everlasting honor upon Connor, who, by the way, was one of +Reilly's tenants, but himself and his progenitors were Protestants for +three generations. He was a sharp, keen man, but generous and honorable, +and after two or three glances at our hero, at once recognized him. +This he could only intimate by a wink, for he knew that there were other +persons there who spoke Irish as well as either of them. The dialogue, +however, was not long, neither was it kind-hearted Connor's wish that +it should be so. He was asked, however, if he knew any thing about Willy +Reilly, to which he replied that he did not, only by all accounts he had +left the country. This, indeed, was the general opinion. + +"This blockhead," said Connor, "knows nothing about him, only what +he has heard; he's a pig dealer, and is now on his way to the fair of +Sligo; come on." + +They passed onwards, and Reilly resumed his journey and his song. + +On reaching the farmer's house where he and the bishop lodged, the +unhappy prelate felt rather annoyed, at the appearance of a stranger, +and was about to reprove their host for his carelessness in admitting +such persons. + +"What do you want here, my good man?" inquired the farmer. + +"Do you wish to say anything to me?" asked the bishop. + +"A few words," replied Reilly; but, on consideration, he changed his +purpose of playing off a good-humored joke on his lordship and the +farmer. For the melancholy prelate he felt the deepest compassion and +respect, and apprehended that any tampering with his feelings might be +attended with dangerous consequences to his intellect. He consequently +changed his purpose, and added, "My lord, don't you know me?" + +The bishop looked at him, and it was not without considerable scrutiny +that he recognized him. + +In the meantime the farmer, who had left the room previous to this +explanation, and who looked upon Reilly as an impostor or a spy, +returned with a stout oaken cudgel, exclaiming, "Now, you damned +desaver, I will give you a jacketful of sore bones for comin' to pry +about here. This gintleman is a doctor; three of my family are lying ill +of faver, and that you may catch it I pray gorra this day! but if you +won't catch that, you'll catch this," and he whirled the cudgel about +his head, and most unquestionably it would have descended on Reilly s +cranium were it not for the bishop, who interposed and prevented the +meditated violence. + +"Be quiet, Kelly," said he, "be quiet, sir; this is Mr. Reilly +disguised." + +"Troth, I must look closely at him first," replied Kelly; "who knows but +he's imposin' upon you, Dr. Wilson?" + +Kelly then looked closely into his face, still holding a firm grip of +the cudgel. + +"Why, Kelly," said Reilly, "what the deuce are you at? Don't you know my +voice at least?" + +"Well," replied Kelly, "bad luck to the like o' that ever I see. Holy +Moses, Mr. Reilly, but you had a narrow escape, Devil a man in the +barony can handle a cudgel as I can, and it was a miracle, and you +may thank his lordship here for it that you hadn't a shirtful of sore +bones." + +"Well, my dear friend," said Reilly, "put up your cudgel; I really don't +covet a shirtful of sore bones; but, after all, perhaps you would have +found my fist a match for your cudgel." + +"Nonsense!" replied Kelly; "but God be praised that you escaped the +welting anyhow; I would never forgive myself, and you the friend of his +lordship." + +He then left the room, his terrific cudgel under his arm, and Reilly, +after his absence, related to the bishop the events of the day, +involving, as they did, the two narrow escapes which he had had. The +bishop thanked God, and told Reilly to be of good courage, for that he +thought the hand of Providence was protecting him. + +The life they led here was, at all events, quiet and peaceable. The +bishop was a man of singular, indeed of apostolic, piety. He spent most +of the day in meditation and prayer; fasting beyond the powers of his +enfeebled constitution: and indeed it was fortunate that Reilly had +accompanied him, for so ascetic were his habits that were it not for his +entreaties, and the influence which he had gained over him, it is not +at all unlikely that his unfortunate malady might have returned. The +neighborhood in which they resided was, as wo have said, remote, and +exclusively Catholic; and upon Sundays the bishop celebrated mass upon +a little grassy platform--or rather in a little cave, into which it +led. This cave was small, barely large enough to contain a table, which +served as a temporary altar, the poor shivering congregation kneeling +on the platform outside. At this period of our story all the Catholic +chapels and places of worship were, as we have said, closed by +proclamation, and the poor people were deprived of the means of meeting +to worship God. It had soon, however, become known to them that an +opportunity of public worship was to be had every Sunday, at the place +we have described. + +Messengers had been sent among them with information to that effect; and +the consequence was that they not only kept the secret, but flocked +in considerable numbers to attend mass. On the Sunday following the +adoption of Reilly's disguise, the bishop and he proceeded to the little +cave, or rather cleft, where a table had been placed, together with +the vestments necessary for the ceremony. They found about two or three +hundred persons assembled--most of them of the humblest class. The day +was stormy in the extreme. It was a hard frost, and the snow, besides, +falling heavily, the wind strong, and raging in hollow gusts about the +place. The position of the table-altar, however, saved the bishop and +the chalice, and the other matters necessary for the performance of +worship, from the direct fury of the blast, but not altogether; for +occasionally a whirlwind would come up, and toss over the leaves of the +missal in such a way, and with such violence, that the bishop, who was +now trembling from the cold, was obliged to lose some time in finding +out the proper passages. It was a solemn sight to see two or three +hundred persons kneeling, and bent in prostrate and heartfelt adoration, +in the pious worship of that God who sends and withholds the storm; +bareheaded, too, under the piercing drift of the thick-falling granular +snow, and thinking of nothing but their own sins, and that gladsome +opportunity of approaching the forbidden altar of God, now doubly dear +to them that it ivas forbidden. As the ceremony was proceeding the +bishop was getting on to that portion of the sacred rites where the +consecration and elevation of the Host are necessary, and it was +observed by all that an extraordinary and sudden lull took place, and +that the rage of the storm had altogether ceased. He proceeded, and had +consecrated the Host--hoc est corpus meum--when cry of terror arose from +the affrighted congregation. + +"Mylord, fly, and save yourself! Captain Smellpriest and his gang are +upon us." + +The bishop never once turned round, nor seemed to hear them; but Reilly +did, and saw that the whole congregation had fled, and that there only +remained the bishop and himself. + +"Our day of doom," said he to himself, "is come. Nothing now can save +us." + +Still the bishop proceeded undisturbed in the worship of the Almighty; +when, lo! the military party, headed and led on by the notorious Captain +Smellpriest, came thundering up, the captain exclaiming: + +"You idolatrous Papist, stop that mummery--or you shall have twelve +bullets in your heart before half a minute's time." + +The bishop had consecrated the Host, as we have said, but had not yet +had time to receive it. + +"Men," said Smellpriest, "you are all primed and loaded. Present." + +They accordingly did so; every musket was levelled at him. The bishop +now turned round, and, with the calmness of a martyr--a calmness and +conduct that were sublime--he said: + +"Sir, I am engaged in the worship of the Eternal God, and if you wish +to shed my blood I should rather it were here and now than in any other +place. Give me but a few minutes--I do not ask more." + +"Oh," said Smellpriest, "we will give you ten, if you wish it, and the +more so because we are sure of you." + +When the bishop turned round again, after having received the Host, +his pale face had altogether changed its complexion--it burned with +an expression which it is difficult to describe. A lofty sense of +the sacrifice he was about to make was visible in his kindling and +enthusiastic eye; his feeble frame, that had been, dining the ceremony +of mass, shivering under the effects of the terrible storm that howled +around them, now became firm, and not the slightest mark of fear or +terror was visible in his bearing; calmly and undauntedly he turned +round, and with a voice full and steady he said: + +"I am willing to die for my religion, but I say to you that the +slaughter of an inoffensive man at the foot of God's altar will not +smooth the pillow of your deathbed, nor of those who shoot down +a minister of God while in the act of worshipping his Creator, My +congregation, poor timid creatures, have fled, but as for me, I will +not! I dare not! Here, now, I spread out my arms--fire!" + +[Illustration: PAGE 91--Here, now, I spread out my arms--fire!] + +"I also," said Reilly, "will partake of whatever fate may befall the +venerable clergyman who is before you," and he stood up side by side +with the bishop. + +The guns were still levelled, the fingers of the men on the triggers, +when Smellpriest shouted out, "Ground arms! By ---," says he, "here is +a new case; this fellow has spunk and courage, and curse me, although I +give the priests a chase wherever I can, still I am a soldier, and a man +of courage, and to shoot down a priest in the worship of God would be +cowardly. No, I can't do it--nor I won't; I like pluck, and this priest +has shown it. Had he taken to his heels, by ---, he would have had half +a dozen bullets in his rear; but, as I said, I like pluck, and on that +account we shall pass him by this time. To the right about. As to the +clerk, by ---, he has shown pluck too, but be hanged to him, what do we +care about him?" + +We must say a word or two here about Smellpriest. He was, in the true +sense of the word, a priest-hunter; but yet, with all his bigotry, he +was a brave man, and could appreciate courage wherever he found it. +The reader already knows that his range of persecution was by no means +either so wide or so comprehensive as that of the coward Whitecraft. +He was a dashing, outspoken fellow, with an equal portion of boisterous +folly and mischief; whereas Whitecraft was a perfect snake--treacherous, +cruel, persevering in his enmity, and unrelenting in his vengeance. Such +was the difference in the character of these two worthies. + +After Smellpriest had drawn off his men, the bishop concluded the +ceremony of the mass; but when he turned round to announce its +conclusion in the words, _ite, missa est_, there was not a soul before +him, the terrified congregation, as we have said, having all betaken +themselves to flight. Reilly then assisted him to unrobe, and placed +the vestments, the chalice, pix, and every thing connected with the +ceremony, in a pair of saddle-bags, which belonged to the parish priest, +whose altar was then closed, as we said, by proclamation. + +Reilly and the bishop then proceeded to the farmer's house, Reilly +carrying the saddlebags, and as they went along the following +conversation took place between them: + +"My lord," said his companion, "if I might presume to advise you, I +think it would be more prudent for you to retire to the Continent for a +time. This ferocious captain, who, subdued by the sublime tenor of +your conduct, spared you on this occasion, may not under other and less +impressive circumstances, exercise a similar forbearance." + +"But, my dear Reilly," replied the bishop, in a tone of deep melancholy, +"I am not in circumstances to go to the Continent; I am poor; most of my +available money I have distributed among the unhappy people, until I am +now nearly as poor as themselves; but, independently of that, I do not +think it would be right to abandon the charge which God has entrusted to +my keeping. The shepherd should not desert his flock, especially in the +moment of danger, when the wolves ire abroad." + +"But, my lord," replied Reilly, "under the present circumstances of the +country your residence here can be of no service to them. The chapels +are all closed, and public worship forbidden by law. This cannot, and, I +hope, will not, last long; but in the meantime, think if it be not wiser +in you to go for a time into what I may call a voluntary exile, than be +forced into banishment by a cruel edict of the law, as you will be if +you should be discovered." + +"There is great truth in what you say, my dear Reilly, and on thinking +over the circumstances of the country, I am indeed of opinion that your +advice is good; but, unfortunately, my present poverty prevents me from +acting on it." + +"But that shall not be, my lord; I have the means--amply, too--of +enabling your lordship to withdraw to the Continent, where you can +remain quite safe until better times return, as I hope in God they will +soon." + +"And yourself, Reilly? why not accompany me? You, it is said, are +outlawed; why then remain in a country where your danger is still +greater than mine?" + +"My lord," replied Reilly, "do not press me on that subject." + +"I do not wish to do so, Reilly; but here are the circumstances: you and +the beautiful daughter of that old squire are attached--in other words, +you love each other passionately. Now, you know, marriage is impossible, +unless you should abandon the creed of your fathers." + +"I think, my lord," replied Reilly, in a very serious and somewhat +offended tone, "that my conduct this day, and within the last half hour, +was not that of a man likely to abandon the creed of his fathers." + +"Certainly not--most certainly not," replied the bishop. "I would have +died this day for my religion, and so would you." + +"And so would I certainly, my lord, any day, sooner than renounce it for +the love of woman. So far let your lordship's mind be at rest. But in +the meantime, let me impress upon your lordship's consideration the +absolute necessity of retiring to the Continent for a time. Your +lordship's charity has made you poor; but, thank God, I am not poor--but +in a position to place £200 in your hands to enable you to bear the +expenses of your voyage, and to maintain your ecclesiastical rank and +position for a time, when you get there." + +"Oh," replied the bishop, "if I were once there, very little money +would be necessary; I could almost immediately get a professorship +of divinity, especially in the College of Louvain, where I held a +professorship for several years." + +It was arranged that the bishop should go, at least until the times +should change, and in the course of a week, Reilly having furnished +him with the necessary funds, he departed and reached the Continent in +safety. + +Their separation was extremely affecting. The bishop wept bitterly, not +only in consequence of his parting with Reilly, but still more because +he was forced to separate himself from his flock. Reilly was deeply +affected, nor could he restrain his tears. The bishop put his hand on +his head and blessed him. "I feel," said he, "as if it were a prophetic +impulse, that God will bring you out of the tribulations that encompass +you. Forget not his word nor his law; love and adhere to your religion; +be guided by its precepts, let them sink deeply into your heart. Take +care, also, that the love of woman shall not seduce you from your +allegiance to our Church. And now, may the Almighty God bless and +protect you, and rescue you from the hands and the snares of your +enemies!" And so they parted. + +No stronger proof could exist, so far as the _Cooleen Bawn_ was +concerned, than her extraordinary power of conciliating love and +attachment from all who approached her, or were engaged in attending +upon her person. The singular softness of her sweet and mellow voice +was in itself an exponent of the remarkable suavity and benignity of her +disposition. In fact, she carried a charm about her--an atmosphere +of kindness and benevolence that no human being who came within its +influence could resist. Her smile was a perfect fascination, which, in +addition to her elegance of form--her grace and harmony of motion--her +extensive charity--her noble liberality of sentiment--and, above all, +her dazzling beauty, constituted a character which encircled her with +admiration and something almost bordering on worship. + +At this time a scheme came into the fertile brain of Whitecraft, worthy +of being concocted only in the infernal pit itself. This was to prevail +on the squire to remove her faithful, attached, and confidential +maid, Ellen Connor, from about her person, under the plea that as, +unfortunately, Miss Folliard had been seduced into an affection for +Reilly, it was not only probable that her attendant had originated and +encouraged her passion, but that it was also likely that, as Reilly was +a Catholic, Connor, the confidant, being herself of that persuasion, +might so work upon the feelings and principles of his daughter as +to induce her, for the sake of the more easily bringing about their +marriage, to abandon her own religion, and embrace that of her lover. +The old man became instantly alarmed, and, with his usual fiery +impetuosity, lost not a moment in dismissing her altogether from his +family. + +When this faithful girl found that she was about to be separated from +her fair and affectionate young mistress, no language could depict +the violence of her grief, nor could that mistress herself refuse the +tribute of her tears to her sense of the loss which she knew she must +sustain by her absence at a crisis when she stood so much in need of her +friendship and attachment. + +"Oh! it is not for myself, my dear mistress, that I feel this grief," +exclaimed Connor, weeping bitterly as she spoke, "but for you. Here +you will be alone," she proceeded, "without one being on whom you can +depend, or to whom you can open your heart--for many a time you eased +that poor heart by telling me of your love for him, and by dwellin' upon +his accomplishments and beauty--and, indeed, it's no wonder you should, +for where, oh! where is his aiquil to be found? Like yourself, every +one that comes near him must love him; and, like you, again, isn't he +charity itself to the poor, no matter what their creed may be--oh, no! +it's he that is neither the bigot nor the oppressor, although God +he knows what he himself is sufferin' from both. God's curse on that +blasted Sir Robert Whitecraft! I declare to mercy, I think, if I was a +man, that I'd shoot him, like a mad dog, and free the country of him at +wanst." + +The Cooleen was herself in tears, occasioned by such a glowing picture +of her lover, as well as by the loss of this faithful and devoted girl. +Yet she could not repress a smile at the indignation expressed by +Ellen against the man whom she looked upon with such detestation and +abhorrence, + +"My dear Ellen," said she, drying her tears, "we must only have +patience. Every thing is in the hands of God, and in him let us trust. +Do not weep so. It is true that, without your society, I shall feel +as if I were in a desert, or rather, I should say, in a dungeon; for, +indeed, I fear that I am about to become a prisoner in my father's +house, and entangled more and more every day in the meshes of that +detestable villain. In the meantime, we must, as I said, have courage +and patience, and trust to a change of circumstances for better times." + +"May the Lord in heaven grant them soon and sudden, for both your +sakes," ejaculated Ellen. "I pray the Saviour that he may!" + +"But, Ellen," said the Cooleen, "didn't you hint to me, once or twice, +that you yourself have, or had, a lover named Reilly!" + +"I did," she replied, "not that I have, but that I had--and, what is +more, an humble and distant relation of him." + +"You say you had. What do you mean by that, Ellen? Have you, too, +experienced your crosses and calamities?" + +"Indeed, ma'am, I have had my share; and I know too well what it is to +have the heart within as full of sorrow, and all but broken." + +"Why, my poor girl, and have you too experienced disappointment and +affliction?" + +"God, ma'am, has given me my share; but, in my case, the affliction was +greater than the disappointment, although that too came soon enough upon +me." + +"Why, did not the affliction, in your case, proceed from the +disappointment?" + +"Not exactly, miss, but indeed partly it did. It's but a short story, +my dear mistress, and I'll tell it to you. Fergus is his name--Fergus +O'Reilly. His father, for doin' something or other contrary to the +laws--harborin' some outlaw, I believe, that was a relation of his own, +and who was found by the army in his house--well, his father, a very +ould man, was taken prisoner, and put into jail, where he died before +they could try him; and well it was he did so, for, by all accounts, +they'd have transported or hanged the poor ould man, who was then past +seventy. Now, over and above that, they'd have done the same thing with +his son Fergus, but that he disappeared and but few knows what became of +him." + +"Why, did he go without having had an interview with you?" asked the +Cooleen. + +"Indeed he did, miss, and small blame to him; for the truth is, he had +little time for leave-takin'--it was as much as he could do to make his +escape, which, thank God, he did. But, indeed, I oughtn't to thank God +for it, I doubt, because it would have been better, and ten times +more creditable to himself, if he had been transported, or hanged +himself--for that, ma'am, is many a good man's case, as every one +knows." + +"I agree with you, Ellen. There is, indeed, a most essential difference +between flagitious crimes, such as theft, robbery, murder, and other +dreadful outrages of that character, and those which may be termed +offences arising from political opinions, which are often honestly +entertained by individuals who, in all the relations of life, +are sometimes the most exemplary members of society. But proceed, +Ellen--what was the result?" + +Poor Ellen's eyes filled with tears, and she could scarcely summon +composure enough to reply: + +"Worse than transportation or even death, my dear mistress; oh! far +worse--guilt and crime. Yes: he that had gained my affections, and gave +me his, joined the Red Rapparee and his gang, and became--a robber. +I was goin' to say an outlaw, but he was that before he joined them, +because he wouldn't submit to the laws--that is, wouldn't submit to be +transported, or maybe hanged--or you know, ma'am, how little a thing it +is that will either hang or transport any one of our unfortunate creed +now." + +"Alas! my dear Ellen, you forget that I am a living witness of it, and +an afflicted one; but proceed. Have you ever seen your lover since?" + +"I did, ma'am, but at that time he mentioned nothing about his havin' +joined the Rapparees. He came, he said, to bid me farewell, and to tell +me that he wasn't worthy of me. 'The stain that's upon me,' said he, +'draws a gulf between you and me that neither of us can ever pass.' +He could scarcely speak, but he dashed away the tears that came to his +eyes--and--and--so he took his departure. Now, my dear young mistress, +you see how well I can understand your case, and the good reason I have +to feel for you, as I do, and ever will, until God in his mercy may set +you both free from what you're sufferin'." + +"But, are you certain, Ellen, that he actually has joined the +Rapparees?" + +"Too sure, ma'am--too sure; my father had it in private from his own +lips, for, as the poor boy said, he hadn't the courage himsell to tell +me." + +"But, Ellen," asked Miss Folliard, "where had you an opportunity of +seeing and becoming acquainted with this young man? You surely could +not have known him, or conceived an attachment for him, previous to your +coming to reside with us?" + +"Oh, no, ma'am," replied Ellen; "it was at my father's I became +acquainted with him, principally whenever I got lave to spend a Sunday +at home. And now, my dear mistress," she proceeded, sobbing, "I must +go--your poor, faithful Ellen will never let you, nor the thought of +your sorrows, out of her heart. All she can do now is to give you her +prayers and her tears. Farewell! my darlin' mistress--may the blessing +of God guard and prosper you both, and bring you to the happiness you +deserve." She wept bitterly as she concluded. + +"Ellen," replied her mistress, and she paused--"Ellen," said she +again--she would, indeed, have spoken, but, after a silent struggle, she +covered her eyes with her handkerchief, and was fairly carried away +by her emotions--"Ellen," said she, taking her hand, and recovering +herself, "be of courage; let neither of us despair--a brighter light +may shine on our path yet. Perhaps I may have it in my power to befriend +you, hereafter. Farewell, Ellen; and if I can prevail on my father to +bring you back, I will." And so they parted. + +Connor's father was a tenant of the squire's, and held rather a +comfortable farm of about eighteen or twenty acres. Ellen herself had, +when very young, been, by some accident or other, brought within the +notice of Mrs. Folliard, who, having been struck by her vivacity, +neatness of figure, and good looks, begged permission from her parents +to take the little girl under her care, and train her up to wait upon +her daughter. She had now been eight years in the squire's family--that +is, since her fourteenth--and was only two years older than the _Cooleen +Baum_, who was now, and had been for the last three years, her only +mistress. She had consequently grown, is it were, into all her habits, +and we may justly say that there was not an individual in existence who +had a better opportunity of knowing and appreciating her good qualities +and virtues; and, what was much to her honor, she never for a moment +obtruded her own private sorrows upon the ear or heart of her mistress, +who, she saw, had a sufficient number of her own to bear. + +It was late in the evening when she took farewell of her mistress, and +twilight had come on ere she had got within half mile of her father's +house. On crossing a stile which led, by a pathway, to the little +hamlet in which her father lived, she was both surprised and startled by +perceiving Fergus Reilly approach her. He was then out of his disguise, +and dressed in his own clothes, for he could not prevail upon himself to +approach her father's house, or appear before any of the family, in the +tattered garb of a mendicant. On this occasion he came to tell them +that he had abandoned the gang of the Red Rapparee, and come to the +resolution of seeking his pardon from the Government, having been +informed that it offered protection to all who would come in and submit +to the laws, provided they had not been guilty of shedding human blood. +This intelligence, however, was communicated to the family, as a means +of preparing them for still more important information upon the subject +of his own liberty--a matter with which the reader will soon become +acquainted, as he will with the fact of his having left off his disguise +only for a brief period. In the meantime, he felt perfectly conscious of +the risk he ran of a failure in the accomplishment of his own project, +by throwing off his disguise, and was then hastening on his way to the +cottage of widow Buckley, where he had left his mendicant apparel for +the time being. + +When Ellen saw him she felt a tumult in her bosom which almost overcame +her. Her heart palpitated almost audibly, and her knees became feeble +under her. There was something so terrible associated with the idea of a +Rapparee that she took it for granted that some frightful transformation +of person and character must have taken place in him, and that she would +now meet a man thoroughly imbued with all the frightful and savage vices +which were so frequently, and too often so generally, attributed to that +fierce and formidable class. Still, the recollection of their former +affection, and her knowledge of the oppression which had come upon +himself and his family, induced her to hope that the principles of +humanity could not have been altogether effaced from his heart. Full of +doubt and anxiety, therefore, she paused at the stile, against which she +felt it necessary to lean for support, not without a touch of interest +and somewhat of curiosity, to control the vague apprehensions which +she could not help feeling. We need scarcely inform the reader that the +meeting on both sides was accidental and unexpected. + +"Heavenly Father!" exclaimed Ellen, in a voice trembling with agitation, +"is this Fergus O'Reilly that I see before me? Fergus, ruined and +undone!" She then looked cautiously about her, and added, "Fergus, the +Rapparee!" + +"God bless me!" he exclaimed in return, "and may I ask, is this Ellen +Connor on my path?" + +"Well, I think I may say so, in one sense. Sure enough, I am Ellen +Connor; but, unfortunately, not the Ellen Connor that you wanst knew; +neither, unfortunately again, are you the Fergus O'Reilly that I wanst +knew. We are both changed, Fergus--I into sorrow, and you into crime." + +"Ellen," said he, nearly as much agitated as herself, "I stand before +you simply as Fergus O'Seilly, but not Fergus the Rapparee." + +"You will not deny your own words to my father," she replied. + +"No, Ellen, I will not--they were true then, but, thank God, they are +not true now." + +"How is that, Fergus?" + +"Simply because I was a Rapparee when I spoke to your father; but I have +left them, once and for ever." + +"How long have you left them?" + +"Ever since that night. If it were not for Reilly and those that were +out with him duck-shooting, the red villain would have murdered the +squire and Andy Cummiskey, as sure as there is life in my body. After +all, it is owin' to Mr. Reilly that I left him and his cursed crew. And +now, Ellen, that I have met you, let me spake to you about ould times. +In the first place, I am heart sorry for the step I took; but you know +it was oppression and persecution that drove me to it." + +"Fergus," she replied, "that's no excuse. Persecution may come upon us, +but that's no reason why we should allow it to drive us into evil +and crime. Don't you know that it's such conduct that justifies the +persecutors in their own eyes and in the eyes of the world. What will +become of you now? If you're caught, you must die a shameful death." + +"Devil a fear of it, my darlin' Ellen. I could tell you something, if +I thought myself at liberty to do so--something _mavourneen_, that 'ud +give you a light heart." + +"Indeed, Fergus, I don't wish to hear any of your secrets. It's my +opinion they would not be fit for me to hear. But in the mane time," she +added--prompted by the undying principle of female curiosity, and, let +us add, a better and more generous feeling--"in the mane time, Fergus, +if it's any thing about yourself, and that it would give me a light +heart, as you say it would, and that there is nothing wrong and +dishonorable in it, I would, for your sake, be glad to hear it." + +"Well then, Ellen, I will tell it; but it must, for reasons that there's +no use in mentionin' to you, be a secret between us, for some time--not +a long time, I hope. I am, thank God, free as the air of heaven, and +may walk abroad, openly, in the face of day, if I like, without any one +darin' to ask me a question." + +"But, Fergus," said Ellen, "I don't undherstand this. You were a +robber--a Rapparee--and now you are a free man. But what did you do to +deserve this at the hands of the Government?" + +"Don't be alarmed, my darlin' Ellen--nothing imbecomin' an honest man." + +"I hope," she proceeded--her cheeks mantling with indignation and +scorn--"I hope, Fergus, you wouldn't think of stoopin' to treachery +against the unfortunate, ay, or even against the guilty. I hope you +wouldn't sell yourself to the Government, and got your liberty, affcher +all, only as a bribe for villany, instead of a free gift." + +"See, now," he returned, "what I have brought on myself by tellin' you +any thing at all about it--a regular ould house on my shouldhers. No, +darlin'," he proceeded, "you ought to know me better." + +"Oh, Fergus," she replied quickly, "I thought I knew you wanst." + +"Is that generous, Ellen?" he said, in a tone of deep and melancholy +feeling, "afther statin' my sorrow for that step?" + +"Well," she replied, moved by what she saw he suffered in consequence of +her words, "if I have given you pain, Fergus, forgive me--you know it's +not in my nature to give pain to any one, but, above all persons in the +world, to you." + +"Well, darlin'," said he, "you will know all in time; but there is a +good deal to be done yet. All I can say, and all I will say, is, that +if God spares me life, I will take away one of the blackest enemies that +Willy Reilly and the _Cooleen Bawn_ has in existence. He would do any +thing that the villain of perdition he's a slave to would bid him. +Now, I'll say no more; and I'm sure, as the friend of your beautiful +mistress, the fair _Cooleen Bawn_, you'll thank me for what I have +promised to do against the Red Bapparee." + +"I will pry no further into your affairs or intentions, Fergus; but, if +you can take danger out of the way of the _Cooleen Bawn_ or Reilly, I +will forgive you a great deal--every thing, indeed, but treachery or +dishonor. But, Fergus, I have something to mention, that will take a, +start out of you. I have been discharged by the squire from his family, +and--_mavrone_, oh!--I can now be of no service to the _Cooleen Bawn_." + +"Discharged!" replied Fergus with astonishment; "why, how did that come? +But I suppose I needn't ask--some of the mad old Squire's tantrums, I +suppose? And what did the _Cooleen Bawn_ herself say?" + +"Why, she cried bitterly when I was lavin' her; indeed if I had been her +sister she couldn't feel more; and, as might be expected from her, she +promised to befriend me as long as she had it in her power; but, poor +thing, if matters go against her, as I'm afeared they will--if she's +forced to marry that villain, it is little for any thing that's either +good or generous ever she'll have in her power; but marry him she never +will I heard her say more than wanst that she'd take her own life first; +and indeed I'm sartain she will, too, if she is forced to it. Either +that, or she'll lose her senses; for, indeed, Fergus, the darlin' girl +was near losin' them wanst or twist as it is--may God pity and relieve +her." + +"Amen," replied Fergus. "And you're now on your way home, I suppose?" + +"I am," said Ellen, "and every thing belongin' to me is to be sent to my +father's; but indeed, Fergus, I don't much care now what becomes of me. +My happiness in this world is bound up in hers; and if she's to be sunk +in grief and sorrow, I can never be otherwise--we'll have the one +fate, Fergus, and God grant it may be a happy one, although I see no +likelihood of it." + +"Come, come, Ellen," replied Fergus, "you think too much of it. The +one fate!--No, you won't, unless it is a happy one. I am now free, as I +said; and at present I see nothing to stand between your happiness and +mine. We loved one another every bit as well as Reilly and she does--ay, +and do still, I hope; and, if they can't be happy, that's no raison why +you and I shouldn't. Happy! There's nothing to prevent us from bein' so. +I am free, as I said; and all we have to do is to lave this unfortunate +country and go to some other, where there's neither oppression nor +persecution. If you consent to this, Ellen, I can get the means of +bringing us away, and of settlin' comfortably in America." + +"And I to leave the _Cooleen Bawn_ in the uncertain state she's in? No, +never, Fergus--never." + +"Why? of what use can you be to her now, and you separated from her--ay, +and without the power of doin' any thing to sarve her?" + +"Fergus," said she, resolutely, "it's useless at the present time to +speak to me on this subject. I'm glad you've got yourself from among +these cruel and unconscionable Rapparees--I'm glad you're free; but +I tell you that if you had the wealth of Squire Folliard--ay, or of +Whitecraft himself, which they say is still greater, I wouldn't become +your wife so long as she's in the state she's in." + +"That's strong language, Ellen, and I am sorry to hear it from you. My +God! can you think of nobody's happiness but the _Cooleen Bawn_'s? As +for me, it's my opinion I like Reilly as well every bit as you do her; +but, for all that, not even the state he's in, nor the danger that +surrounds him, would prevent me from marryin' a wife--from bindin' your +heart and mine together for life, my darlin' Ellen." + +"Ah! Fergus, you're a man--not a woman--and can't undherstand what true +attachment is. You men never can. You're a selfish set--at least the +most of you are--with some exceptions, I grant." + +"And, upon my soul, Ellen," replied Fergus, with a good-humored +smile, "I'm one of the choicest and natest of the exceptions. I prefer +everybody's happiness to my own--poor Sir Robert Whitecraft's, for +instance. Now, don't you call that generosity?" + +She gave a mournful smile, and replied, "Fergus, I can't join in your +mirth now as I used to do. Many a pleasant conversation we've had; but +then our hearts were light, and free from care. No, Fergus, you must +lave all thoughts of me aside, for I will have nothing of either love or +courtship till I know her fate. Who can say but I may be brought back? +She said she'd try what she could do with her father to effect it. You +know how whimsical the old Squire is; and who knows whether she may not +stand in need of me again? But, Fergus, there's one thing strikes me +as odd, and, indeed, that doesn't rise you much in my good opinion. But +first, let me ask you, what friend it is who'd give you the means of +going to another country?" + +"Why, who else but Reilly?" he replied. + +"And could you," she returned, with something like contempt stamped upon +her pretty features--"could you be mane and ungrateful enough to leave +him now in the trouble and sorrow that he's in, and think only of +yourself?" + +"No, indeed, my dear Ellen; but I was only layin' the plan whenever +we might be able to put it in practice. I'm not exactly a boy of that +kidney--to desart my friend in the day of his trouble--devil a bit of +it, my darlin'." + +"Well, I am glad to hear you speak as you do," she said, with a smile; +"and now, to reward your constancy to him, I tell you that whenever +they're settled, or, at all events, out of their troubles, if you think +me worth your while, I won't have any objection to become your wife; +and--there--what are you about, Fergus? See this, now--you've almost +broken the tortoise-shell crooked-comb that she made me a present of." + +"Why, blood alive, Ellen, sure it was only sealin' the bargain I was." + +"But remember it is a bargain, and one I'll stick to. Now leave me; it's +gettin' quite dark; or, if you like, you may see me across the fields." + +Such, in fact, was the indomitable attachment of this faithful girl +to her lovely and affectionate mistress that, with a generosity as +unselfish as it was rare, and almost heroic, she never for a moment +thought of putting her own happiness or prospects in life in competition +with those of the _Cooleen Bawn_. The latter, it is true, was conscious +of this unparalleled attachment, and appreciated it at its true value. +How nobly this admirable girl fulfilled her generous purpose of abiding +by the fate and fortunes of her unhappy mistress will be seen as the +narrative goes along. + +Ellen's appearance in her father's house surprised the family not +a little. The expression of sorrow which shaded her very handsome +features, and a paleness which was unusual to her, alarmed them +considerably--not so much from any feeling connected with herself, as +from an apprehension that some new-distress or calamity had befallen the +_Cooleen Bawn_, to whom they all felt almost as deeply attached as she +did herself. After the first affectionate salutations were over, she +said, with a languid smile: + +"I suppose you all wonder to see me here at this hour; or, indeed, to +see me here at all." + +"I hope, Ellen," said-her father, "that nothing unpleasant has happened +to her." + +"May the Lord forbid," said her mother, "and may the Lord take the +darlin' creature out of all her troubles. But has there, Ellen--has +anything happened to her?" + +"Nothing more than usual," replied their daughter, "barring that I have +been sent away from her--I am no longer her own maid now." + +"_Chierna_!" exclaimed her mother; "and what is that for, _alanna_?" + +"Well, indeed, mother, I can't exactly say," replied Ellen, "but I +suppose it is because they knew I loved her too much to be a spy upon +her. I have raison, however, to suspect that the villain is at the +bottom of it, and that the girl who came in my place will act more like +a jailer than a maid to her. Of course they're all afraid that she'll +run away with Reilly." + +"And do you think she will, Ellen?" asked her father. + +"Don't ask me any such questions," she replied. "It's no matter what I +think--and, besides, it's not my business to mention my thoughts to any +one--but one thing I know, it'll go hard if she ever leaves her father, +who, I really think, would break his heart if she did." + +"Oh!" observed the father, with a smile, "divil a one o' you girls, +Ellen, ever thinks much of father or mother when you have made up your +minds to run away wid your _buchaleens_--sorra a taste." + +"_Arra_, Brian, will you have sinse," said his wife; "why wouldn't they +think o' them?" + +"Did you do it?" he asked, winking at the rest, "when you took a brave +start wid myself across Crockaniska, one summer Sunday night, long ago. +Be me sowl, you proved youself as supple as a two-year-old--cleared, +drain and ditch like a bird--and had me, when we reached my uncle's, +that the ayes wor startin' out o' my head." + +"Bad scran to him, the ould slingpoker! Do you hear him," she exclaimed, +laughing--"never mind him, children!--troth, he went at sich a snail's +pace that one 'ud think it was to confession he was goin', and that he +did nothing but think of his sins as he went along." + +"That was bekaise I knew that I had the penance before me," he replied, +laughing also. + +"Any how," replied his wife, "our case was not like their's. We were +both Catholics, and knew that we'd have the consent of our friends, +besides; we only made a runaway because it was the custom of the +counthry, glory be to God!" + +"Ay, ay," rejoined her husband; "but, faith, it was you that proved +yourself the active girl that night, at any rate. However, I hope the +Lord will grant her grace to go, wid him, at all events, for, upon my +sowl, it would be a great boast for the Catholics--bekaise we know there +is one thing sure, and that is, that the divil a long she'd be wid +him till he'd have left her fit to face Europe as a Christian and a +Catholic, bekaise every wife ought to go wid her husband, barrin' he's a +Prodestant." + +Poor Ellen paid little attention to this conversation. She felt deeply +depressed, and, after many severe struggles to restrain herself, at last +burst into tears. + +"Come, darlin'," said her father, "don't let this affair cast you +down so much; all will yet turn out for the betther, I hope. Cheer up, +_avillish_; maybe that, down-hearted as you are, I have good news for +you. Your ould sweetheart was here this evenin', and hopes soon to have +his pardon--he's a dacent boy, and has good blood in his veins; and as +for his joinin' O'Donnel, it wasn't a a bad heart set him to do it, but +the oppression that druv him, as it did many others, to take the steps +he took--oppression on the one side, and bitterness of heart on the +other." + +"I saw him awhile ago," she replied, "and he tould me a good deal about +himself. But, indeed, father, it's not of him I'm thinkin', but on the +darlin' girl that's on the brink of destruction, and what I know she's +sufferin'." + +"I wondher where Reilly is," said her mother. "My goodness! sure he +ought to make a push, and take her off at wanst. I dunna is he in the +country at all? What do you think, Ellen?" + +"Indeed, mother," she replied, "very few, I believe, knows any thing +about him. All I'm afraid of is, that, wherever he may be, he'll hardly +escape discovery." + +"Well," said her father, "I'll tell you what we'll do. Let us kneel +down and offer up ten pathers, ten aves, and a creed, that the Lord may +protect them both from their enemies, and grant them a happy marriage, +in spite of laws, parliaments, magistrates, spies, persecutors and +priest-hunters, and, as our hands are in, let us offer up a few that +God may confound that villain, Whitecraft, and bring him snugly to the +gallows." + +This was immediately complied with, in a spirit of earnestness +surpassing probably what they might have felt had they been praying +for their own salvation. The prayers having been concluded, and supper +prepared, in due time the family retired to rest for the night. + +When Fergus Reilly took his leave of Ellen, he directed his steps to the +cottage of Mrs. Buckley, where, for certain purpose connected with his +designs on the Red Rapparee, he had been in the habit of meeting: the +sagacious fool, Tom Steeple. It was there, besides, that he had left his +disguise, which the unaccomplished progress of his projects rendered it +necessary that he should once more resume. This, in fact, was the place +of their rendezvous, where they generally met at night. These meetings, +however, were not always very regular; for poor Tom, notwithstanding his +singular and anomalous: cunning, was sometimes led away by his gastric +appetite to hunt for a bully dinner, or a bully supper, or a mug of +strong beer, as the case might be, and after a gorge he was frequently +so completely overtaken by laziness and a consequent tendency to sleep, +that he retired to the barn, or some other outhouse, where he stretched +his limbs on a shake-down of hay or straw, and lapped himself into a +state of luxury which many an epicure of rank and wealth might envy. + +On reaching the widow's cottage, Fergus felt somewhat disappointed that +Tom was not there, nor had he been seen that day in any part of the +neighborhood. Fergus, however, whilst the widow was keeping watch +outside, contrived to get on his old disguise once more, after which +he proceeded in the direction of his place of refuge for the night. On +crossing the fields, however, towards the wild and lonely road, which +was at no great distance from the cottage, he met Tom approaching it, at +his usual sling-trot pace. + +"Is that Tom?" said he--"tall Tom?" + +"Hicco, hicco!" replied Tom, quite gratified with the compliment. "You +be tall, too--not as tall as Tom dough. Tom got bully dinner to-day, and +bully sleep in de barn, and bully supper, but wasn't sleepy den--hicco, +hicco." + +"Well, Tom, what news about what you know?" + +"In toder house," replied Tom; "him sleeps in Peg Finigan's sometimes, +and sometimes in toder again--dat is, Mary Mahon's. Him's afeared o' +something--hard him say so, sure, to ould Peg." + +"Well, Tom, if you will keep your eye on him, so as that you can let us +know where to find him, we engage to give you a bully dinner every day, +and, a bully supper every night of your life, and a swig of stout ale to +wash it down, with plenty of straw to sleep on, and a winnow-cloth and +lots of sacks to keep you as warm and cosey as a winter hob. You know +where to find me every evenin' after dusk, Tom, and when you come with +good news, you'll be a made man; and, listen, Tom, it'll make you a foot +taller, and who knows, man alive, but we may show you for a giant, now." + +"Hicco, hicco!" said Tom; "dat great--never mind; me catch him for you. +A giant!--oh, gorramarcy!--a giant!--hicco!--gorramarcy!" and with these +words he darted off in some different direction, whilst Fergus went to +his usual place of rest for the night. + +It would seem by the Red Rapparee s movements at this time as if he +entertained some vague suspicions of awakened justice, notwithstanding +the assurances of safety previously communicated to him by Sir Robert +Whitecraft. Indeed, it is not impossible that even the other individuals +who had distinguished themselves under that zealous baronet might, in +their conversations with each other, have enabled the Rapparee to get +occasional glimpses of the new state of things which had just taken +place, and that, in consequence, he shifted about a good deal, taking +care never to sleep two nights in succession under the same roof. Be +this as it may, the eye of Tom Steeple was on him, without the least +possible suspicion on his part that he was under his surveillance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV.--Reilly takes Service with Squire Folliard. + + +Reilly led a melancholy life after the departure of the pious bishop. A +week, however, had elapsed, and he felt as if it had been half a year. +His anxiety, however, either to see or hear from his _Cooleen Bawn_ +completely overcame him, and he resolved, at all events, to write to +her; in the meantime, how was he to do this? There was no letter-paper +in the farmer's house, nor any to be procured within miles, and, under +these circumstances, he resolved to pay a visit to Mr. Brown. After some +trouble he was admitted to the presence of that gentleman, who could +scarcely satisfy himself of his identity; but, at length, he felt +assured, and asked him into the study. + +"My dear Reilly," said he, "I think you are infatuated. I thought you +had been out of the country long before this. Why, in heaven's name, do +you remain in Ireland, when you know the difficulty of escape? I +have had, since I saw you last, two or three domiciliary visits from +Whitecraft and his men, who searched my whole house and premises in a +spirit of insolence that was, most indelicate and offensive. Hastings +and I have sent a memorial to the Lord Lieutenant, signed by some of the +most respectable Protestant gentry in the, country, in which we +stated his wanton tyranny as well as his oppression of his Majesty's +subjects--harmless and loyal men, and whom he pursues with unsatiable +vengeance, merely because they are Roman Catholics. I certainly do not +expect that our memorial will be attended to by this Administration. +There is a report, however, that the present Ministry will soon go out, +and be succeeded by one more liberal." + +"Well," replied Reilly, "since I saw you last I have had some narrow +escapes; but I think it would be difficult to know me in my present +disguise." + +"I grant that," said Mr. Brown, "but then is there nothing to be +apprehended from treachery?" + +"I think not," replied the other. "There is only the farmer and his +family, with whom the bishop and I harbored, who are aware of my +disguise, and to that number I must now add yourself." + +"Well," replied Mr. Brown, smiling, "I do not think you have much to +apprehend from me." + +"No," said Reilly, "you have given me too many substantial proofs of +your confidence for that. But I wish to write a letter; and I have +neither pen, ink, nor paper; will you be good enough to lend me the use +of your study for a few minutes, and your writing materials?" + +The excellent clergyman immediately conducted him to the study, and +placed the materials before him with his own hands, after which he left +the room. Reilly then sat down, and penned the following letter to his +dear _Cooleen Bawn_: + +"I am now thoroughly disguised, indeed so effectually that my nearest +and dearest friends could not know me; nay, I question whether even you +yourself would, except by the keen intuition of affection, which is said +to penetrate all disguises, unless those of falsehood and hypocrisy. +These, however, are disguises I have never worn, nor ever shall +wear--either to you or any human being. I had intended to go to the +Continent until this storm of persecution might blow over; but on +reflection I changed my purpose, for I could not leave you to run the +risk of being ensnared in the subtle and treacherous policy of that +villain. It is my intention to visit your father's house and to see +you if I can. You need not, for the sake of my safety, object to this, +because no one can know me. The description of my dress, though somewhat +undignified, I must give you. In the first place, then, I am, to all +outward appearance, as rude-looking a country lout as ever you looked +upon. My disguise consists, first, of a pair of brogues embroidered with +clouts, or what is vulgarly denominated patches, out of the point of one +of which--that of the right foot--nearly half my toe visibly projects. +The stockings are coarse Connemaras, with sufficient air-holes, both in +feet and legs, to admit the pure atmosphere, and strengthen the muscular +system. My small-clothes are corduroys, bought from a hard-working +laborer, with a large patch upon each knee. A tailor, however, has +promised to get some buttons for them and sew them on. The waistcoat is +altogether indescribable; because, as its materials seem to have been +rescued, that is, stolen, from all the scarecrows in the country, I am' +unable to come at the first fabric. The coat itself is also beautifully +variegated, its patches consisting of all the colors of the rainbow, +with two or three dozen that never appeared in that beautiful +phenomenon. But what shall I say of the pendiment, or caubeen, which is +a perfect gem of its kind? The villain who wore it, I have been told by +the person who acted as factor for me in its purchase, was one of the +most quarrelsome rascals in Ireland, and seldom went without a black eye +or a broken pate. This, I suppose, accounts for the droop in the leaf, +which covers the left eye so completely, as well as for the ventilator, +which so admirably refreshes the head, and allows the rain to come in so +abundantly to cool it. I cannot help reflecting, however, on the fate of +those who have nothing better to wear, and of the hard condition which +dooms them to it. And now, my beloved _Cooleen Bawn_, whilst I have +thus endeavored to make you smile, I assure you I have exaggerated +very little. This dress, you know, is precisely that of a wretched +Connaught-man looking for employment. The woman, who will, through our +confidant, Lanigan, deliver this to you, is a poor faithful creature, +a pensioner of mine, who may be trusted. Appoint through her a day and +hour when, as a man seeking for labor, I will stand at the hall-door. I +am quite satisfied that neither your father, nor the villain, will know +me from Adam. The woman who is to bring this will call on the second day +after its delivery, and I shall be guided by whatever message you may +send me. On one thing, however, I am determined, which is that if it +should cost me my life, I will prevent the meditated marriage between +you and him. Sooner than such an event should take place, I would put +a pistol to his head and blow his guilty soul into that perdition which +awaits it. Don't write; let your message be verbal, and destroy this." + +On going to widow Buckley's, he learned--after some trouble in +identifying himself--that she had several visits from Sir Robert and his +men, at all hours, both by night and day. He therefore hastily gave her +the necessary instructions how to act, and, above all things, to ask to +see Lanigan, and, if possible, to bring some eggs or chickens for sale, +which fact, he said, would give a color to her appearance there, and +prevent the possibility of any suspicion. Having placed the letter in +her keeping, together with some silver to enable her to purchase either +the eggs or the chickens, in case she had them not herself, he then +returned to the farmer's, where he remained quietly and without +disturbance of any kind until the third day, when widow Buckley made +her appearance. He brought her out to the garden, because in discussing +matters connected with his _Cooleen Bawn_ he did not wish that even the +farmer's family should be auditors--although we may say here that not +only were the loves of Willy Reilly and _Cooleen Bawn_ known to the +farmer and his family, but also to the whole country, and, indeed, +through the medium of ballads, to the greater portion of the kingdom. + +"Well, Mrs. Buckley," said he, "did you see her?" + +"Oh, bad scran to you, Mr. Reilly! you're the very sarra among the +girls when you could persuade that lovely creature to fall in love with +you--and you a Catholic, an' her a Protestant! May I never, if I think +there's her angil out o' heaven! Devil an angel I think in it could +hould a candle to her for beauty and figure. She only wants the wings, +sir--for they say that all the angels have wings; and upon my conscience +if she had them I know the man she'd fly to." + +"But what happened, Mrs. Buckley?" + +"Why, I sould some chickens and eggs to the cook, who at wanst knew me, +because I had often sould him chickens and eggs before. He came up to +the hall-door, and--'Well, Mrs. Buckley,' says he, 'what's the news?' +'_Be dhe husth_,' says I, 'before I sell you the chickens, let me ax +is the _Cooleen Bawn_ at home?' 'She is,' says he, lookin' me sharp and +straight in the face; 'do you want her?' 'I would like to see her,' says +I, 'for a minute or two.' 'Ay,' says he, back agin to me, 'you have a +message--and you know besides that she never buys chickens; that's my +business.' 'But,' says I, back agin, 'I was tould by him that you were +faithful, and could be depinded on.' 'Ay,' says he; 'but I thought he +had left the counthry.' 'Troth, then,' says I, 'he's to the fore still, +and won't lave the counthry till he sees her wanst more, at all events.' +'Have you a letther?' 'Betherahin,' says I, 'could you let me see her; +for he tould me to say to her that she is not, to indite letthers to +him, for fraid of discovery.' 'Well,' says he, 'as the master's at home, +I'll have some difficulty in spakin' to her. Devil a move she gives but +he watches; and we got a new servant the other day, and devil a thing +she is but a spy from Sir Robert Whitecraft, and some people say that +her master and she forgot the Gospel between them. Indeed I believe +that's pretty well known; and isn't he a horrid villain to send such a +vagabone to attend and be about the very woman that he expects to be his +own wife?'" + +"Don't be so particular in your descriptions, Mrs. Buckley," said +Reilly. "Did you see the _Cooleen Bawn_?" + +"Look at that," she replied, opening her hand, and showing him a golden +guinea--"don't you know by that that I seen her? but you must let me go +on my own way. 'Well,' says Lanigan, the cook, 'I must go and see what +I can do.' He then went upstairs, and contrived to give her a hint, and +that was enough. 'The Lord bless us, Mr. Reilly, what won't love do? +This girl--as Lanigan tould me--that the villain Whitecraft had sent as +a spy upon her actions, was desired to go to her wardrobe, to pick out +from among her beautiful dresses one that she had promised her as a +present some days before. The cook had this from the girl herself, who +was the sarra for dress; but, anyhow, while the the spy was tumbling +about _Cooleen Bawn_'s dresses, the darlin' herself whipped downstairs, +and coming to me says, 'The cook tells me you have a message for +me.' Jist at this moment, and after she had slipped the letter into +her bosom, her father turns a corner round the garden, and seeing his +daughter, which was a very unusual thing, in conversation with a person +like myself, he took the alarm at once. 'How, Helen? who is this you +are speaking to'? No go-between, I hope? Who are you, you blasted old +she-whelp?' 'I am no more a she-whelp than you are.' 'Then maybe you are +a he one in disguise. What brought you here?' 'Here! I came to sell +my eggs and my chickens, as I done for years.' 'Your eggs and your +chickens! curse you, you old Jezebel, did you ever lay the eggs or hatch +the chickens? And if you did, why not produce the old cock himself, in +proof of the truth of what you say? I'll have you searched, though, in +spite of your eggs and chickens. Here,' he said to one of the footmen, +who was passing through the hall--'here, Jones, send up Lanigan, till we +see whether he knows this old faggot, who has the assurance to tell me +that she lays eggs and hatches chickens.' When Lanigan came up again, +he looked at me as at an old acquaintance, which, in point of fact, we +were. 'Why, your honor,' said he, 'this is a poor, honest creature that +has been selling us eggs and chickens for many years.' 'She wouldn't be +a go-between, Lanigan--eh? What's your name, you old faggot--eh?' +'My name | is Scrahag, your honor,' says I, 'one of the Scrahags of +Ballycumpiatee--an honest and dacint family, sir; but if your honor +would buy the eggs, at any rate, and hatch them yourself,' says I to him +(for she had a large stock of Irish humor), 'you know, sir, you could +have the chickens at first cost.' 'Ha, ha, ha,' and the squire laughed +till he nearly split his sides; 'by --- I'm hit'--God pardon me for +repeatin' his oaths. 'Here, Lanigan, bring her down to the kitchen, and +give her a fog meal.' 'I understand you, sir,' said Lanigan, smiling at +him. 'Yes, Lanigan, give her a cargo of the best in the pantry. She's +a shrewd and comical old blade,' said he; 'give her a kegful of beef +or mutton, or both, and a good swill of ale or porter, or whatever she +prefers. Curse me, but I give the old whelp credit for the hit she gave +me. Pay her, besides, whatever she asks for her eggs and chickens. Here, +you bitter old randle-tree, there are three thirteens for you; and +if you will go down to the kitchen with the cook, he will give you a +regular skinful.' The cook, knowing that the _Cooleen Bawn_ wished to +send some message back to you, sir, brought me down, and gave me not +only plenty to ait and drink, but stuffed the praskeen that I had +carried the eggs and chickens in with as much cold meat and bread as it +could contain." + +"Well, but did you not see her afterwards? and did she send no message?" + +"Only two or three words; the day afther to-morrow, at two o'clock, come +to look for labor, and she will contrive to see you." + +This was enough, and Reilly did not allow his ambassadress to leave him +without substantial marks of his bounty also. + +When the old squire went to his study, he desired the gardener to be +sent for, and when that individual entered, he found his master in a +towering passion. + +"What is the reason, Malcomson," said he, "that the garden is in such a +shameful state? I declare to God it is scandalous." + +"Ou, your honor," replied Malcomson, who was a Scotchman, "e'en because +you will not allow me an under gerdener. No one man could manage +your gerden, and it canna be managed without some clever chiel, what +understands the sceence." + +"The what?" + +"The sceence, your honor." + +"Why, confound you, sir, what science is necessary in gardening?" + +"I tell your honor that the management of a gerden requires baith skeel +and knowledge, and feelosophy." + +"Why, confound you, sir, again, what kind of doctrine is this?" + +"It's vera true doctrine, sir. You have large and spacious green-hooses, +and I wad want some one to assist me wha understands buttany." + +"Buttony--Buttony--why, confound you, sirra, send for a tailor, then, +for he understands buttony." + +"I see your honor is detarmined to indulge in a jocular spirit the day. +The truth is, your honor, I hae no men to assist me but common laborers, +who are athegether ignorant of gerdening; now, if I had a man who could +direct the operations--" + +"Operations! curse your Scotch impudence, do you think yourself a +general?" + +"Na, na, sir; but a better man; and I tell ye that I winna remain in +your service unless I get an assistant; and I say that, if it +were-na for the aid of Miss Folliard, I wouldna been able to keep the +green-hoose e'en in its present state. She has trailed the passionflower +wi' her ain hands until it is nourishing. Then she has a beautiful +little plot of forget-me-nots; but, above a', it wad do your honor's +heart gude to see the beautiful bed she has of sweet-william and +love-lies-bleeding." + +"Ay, ay! love-lies-bleeding; no doubt but she'll take care of that. +Well, go and get an under-gardener wherever you can, and let my garden +be, at all events, such as a stranger can walk through, and such as +becomes my name and property. Engage such a person, give him whatever +you consider fair wages, and the house-steward will pay him weekly. +These are matters I can't trouble myself with now-I have other things to +think of." + +On the day mentioned in _Cooleen Bawn's_ message, Reilly hazarded a +visit to the squire's house, and after giving a single knock, begged to +see the cook. The porter having looked at him with the usual contempt +which menials of his class bestow upon poor persons, went down to the +kitchen with a good deal of reluctance, and told the cook, with a grin, +that one of his relations wanted to see him. + +"Well," replied Lanigan, who had been made aware of the intended visit, +"it's wonderful, in these hard times, the number of respectable but +reduced families that's goin' about. What kind of a gentleman is he, +John? because I am very busy now. To be sure there is a great deal of +cold vittles left, that would be lost and destroyed if we didn't give +them to the poor; and you know the masther, who is a charitable man, +desired us to do so. I'll go up and see what the poor devil wants." + +He accordingly went up to the hall-door, and found Reilly there. It was +to no purpose that he had been already apprised of his disguise--it was +so complete that he did not know him--his beard was half an inch long; +and, besides, Reilly, knowing the risk he ran in this daring adventure, +had discolored his complexion with some wash that gave it the tinge of a +mulatto. The cook was thunderstruck. + +"Well, my good fellow," said he, not in the slightest degree recognizing +him, "what do you want with me?" + +"Lanigan," replied Reilly, "don't you know me?" + +"Know you! how the devil should I know you?--I never saw you before. +What do you want with me?" + +"Lanigan," whispered the other, "did you never hear of Willy Reilly?" + +"Yes, I did; have you any message from him?" + +"I am the man myself," said Reilly, "but you don't know me, I am so +completely disguised. Don't you know my voice?" + +"Merciful Father!" said the cook, "I'm in a doldrum; can I be sure that +you don't come from Sir Robert Whitecraft, the notorious blackguard?" + +"Lanigan, I am Willy Reilly: my voice ought to tell you so; but I wish +to see and speak with my dear _Cooleen Bawn_." + +"Oh, my God, sir!" replied Lanigan, "but this love makes strange +transmigrations. She won't know you, sir." + +"Make your mind easy on that point," replied Reilly; "only let her know +that I am here." + +"Come down to the kitchen then, sir, and I shall put you into the +servants' hall, which branches off it. It is entered, besides, by a +different door from that of the kitchen, and while you stay there--and +you can pass into it without going through the kitchen--I will try to +let her know where you are. She has at present a maid who was sent by +Sir Robert Whitecraft, and she is nothing else than a spy; but it'll go +hard, or I'll baffle her." + +He accordingly placed Reilly in the servants' hall, and on his way to +the drawing-room met Miss Folliard going to her own apartment, which +commanded a view of the front of the house. He instantly communicated +to her the fact of Reilly's presence in the servants' hall; "but," +added Lanigan, "you won't know him--his own mother, if she was livin', +wouldn't know a bone in his body." + +"Oh!" she replied, whilst her eyes flashed fearfully, in fact, in a +manner that startled the cook--"oh! if he is there I shall soon know +him. He has a voice, I think--he has a voice! Has he not, Lanigan?" + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Lanigan, "he has a voice, and a heart too." + +"Oh! yes, yes," she said, "I must go to him; they want to marry me to +that monster--to that bigot and persecutor, on this very day month; but, +Lanigan, it shall never be--death a thousand times sooner than such +a union. If they attempt to bind us, death shall cut the link +asunder--that I promise you, Lanigan. But I must go to him--I must go to +him." + +She ran down the stairs as she spoke, and Lanigan, having looked after +her, seemed deeply concerned. + +"My God!" he exclaimed, "what will become of that sweet girl if she is +forced to marry that wealthy scoundrel? I declare to my God I hardly +think she is this moment in her proper senses. There's a fire in her +eyes; and something in her manner, that I never observed before. At +all events, I have locked the door that opens from the kitchen into the +servants' hall, so that they cannot be interrupted from that quarter." + +When the _Cooleen Bawn_ entered, she shrank back instinctively. +The disguise was so complete that she could not impose even on her +imagination or her senses. The complexion was different, in fact, quite +sallow; the beard long, and the costume such as we have described it. +There was, in fact, something extremely ludicrous in the meeting. Here +was an elegant and beautiful young woman of fashion, almost ready, as it +were, to throw herself in the arms of a common pauper, with a beard upon +him better than half an inch long. As it was, she stopped suddenly and +retreated a step or two, saying, as she did so: + +"This must be some mistake. Who are you?" + +"Helen!" + +"Reilly! oh, that voice has set all right. But, my God, who could know +you--in this disguise?" + +They approached, and Reilly, seizing her hand, said, "I will shake hands +with you; but until this disguise is off I would consider it sacrilege +to approach nearer to your person." + +"No disguise can ever shut you out from my heart, dear Reilly; but what +is to be done? I have discovered, by one of my maids, who overheard +my father say, in a short soliloquy--'Well, thank God, she'll be Sir +Robert's wife within a month, and then my mind will be easy at last.' +Oh! I'm glad you did not leave this country. But, as I said, what is to +be done? What will become of us?" + +"Under our peculiar circumstances," replied Reilly, "the question +cannot, for the present at least, be answered. As for leaving the +country, I might easily have done it, but I could not think of leaving +you to the snares and windings of that villain. I declare solemnly, I +would rather die than witness a union between you and him." + +"But what, think you, should I feel? You would be only a spectator of +the sacrifice, whereas I should be the victim." + +"Do not be cast down, my love; whilst I have life, and a strong arm, it +snail never be. Before I go I shall make arrangements with Lanigan when +and where to see you again." + +"It will be a matter of some difficulty," she replied, "for I am +now under the strictest surveillance. I am told, and I feel it, that +Whitecraft has placed a spy upon all my motions." + +"How is that?" inquired Reilly. "Are you not under the protection +of your father, who, when occasion is necessary, has both pride and +spirit?" + +"But my poor credulous father is, notwithstanding, easily imposed on. I +know not exactly the particulars," replied the lovely girl, "but I can +easily suspect them. My father it was, certainly, who discharged my last +maid, Ellen Connor, because, he said, he did not like her, and because, +he added, he would put a better and a more trustworthy one in her place. +I cannot move that she is not either with me or after me; nay, I cannot +write a note that she does not immediately acquaint papa, who is certain +to stroll into my apartment and ask to see the contents of it, adding, +'Helen, when a young lady of rank and property forms a clandestine +and disgraceful attachment it is time that her father should be on the +lookout; so I will just take the liberty of throwing my eye over this +little billet-doux.' I told him often that he was at liberty to inspect +every line I should write, but that I thought that very few parents +would express such want of confidence in their daughters, if, like me, +the latter had deserved such confidence at their hands as I did at his." + +"What is the name of your present maid?" asked Reilly, musing. + +"Oh," replied Miss Folliard, "I have three maids altogether, but she has +been installed as own maid. Her name is Eliza Herbert." + +"A native of England, is she not? Eliza Herbert!" he exclaimed; "in the +lowermost depths of perdition there is not such a villain. This Eliza +Herbert is neither more nor less than one of his--but I will not pain +your pure and delicate mind by mentioning at further length what she is +and was to him. The clergyman of the parish, Mr. Brown, knows the whole +circumstances. See him at church, and get him to communicate them to +your father. The fact is, this villain, who is at once cunning and +parsimonious, had a double motive, each equally base and diabolical, in +sending her here. In the first place, he wished, by getting her a +good place, to make your father the unconscious means of rewarding her +profligacy; and in the second of keeping her as a spy upon you." + +A blush, resulting from her natural sense of delicacy, as well as from +the deepest indignation at a man who did not scruple to place the woman +whom he looked upon as almost immediately to become his wife, in the +society of such a wretch--such a blush, we say, overspread her whole +neck and face, and for about two minutes she shed bitter tears. But she +felt the necessity of terminating their interview, from an apprehension +that Miss Herbert, as she was called, on not finding her in the room, +might institute a search, and in this she was not mistaken. + +She had scarcely concluded when the shrill voice of Miss Herbert was +heard, as she rushed rapidly down the stairs, screaming, "Oh, la! oh, +dear me! oh, my goodness! Where, where--oh, bless me, did any one see +Miss Folliard?" + +Lanigan, however, had prepared for any thing like a surprise. He planted +himself, as a sentinel, at the foot of the stairs, and the moment he +heard the alarm of Miss Herbert on her way down, he met her half way up, +after having given a loud significant cough. + +"Oh, cook, have you seen Miss Folliard? I can't find her in the house!" + +"Is her father in his study, Miss Herbert? because I want to see him; +I'm afeared there's a screw loose. I did see Miss Folliard; she went out +a few minutes ago--indeed she rather stole out towards the garden, and, +I tell you the truth, she had a--condemned look of her own. Try the +garden, and if you don't find her there, go to the back gate, which +you'll be apt to find open." + +"Oh, I will, I will; thank you, cook. I'm certain it's an elopement." + +"Indeed, I wouldn't be surprised to find," replied Lanigan, "that she is +with Reilly this moment; any way you haven't a minute to lose." + +She started towards the garden, which she ran over and over; and there +we shall leave her, executing the fool's errand upon which Lanigan had +sent her. "Now," said he, going in, "the coast's clear; I have sent that +impertinent jade out to the garden, and as the back gate is open--the +gardener's men are wheeling out the rubbish--and they are now at +dinner--I say, as the back gate is open, it's ten to one but she'll +scour the country. Now, Miss Folliard, go immediately to your room; as +for this poor man, I will take care of him." + +"Most sincerely do I thank you, Lanigan; he will arrange with you when +and where to see me again. Farewell, Reilly--farewell; rely upon my +constancy;" and so they parted, Reilly to the kitchen, and the _Cooleen +Bawn_ to her own room. + +"Come into the pantry, poor man," said good-natured Lanigan, addressing +our hero, "till I give you' something to eat and drink." + +"Many thanks to you, sir," replied he; "troth and whaix, I didn't taste +a morshel for the last fwhour--hugh--hugh-and twenty hours; and sure, +sir, it's this cough that's killin' me by inches." + +A thought struck Lanigan, who had been also spoken to by the gardener, +about half an hour before, to know if he could tell him where he might +have any chance of finding an assistant. At all events they went into +the pantry, when Lanigan, after having pulled to the door, to prevent +their conversation from being overheard, disclosed a project, which had +just entered his head, of procuring Reilly employment in the garden. +Here it was arranged between them that the latter, who was both a +good botanist and florist, should be recommended to the gardener as +an assistant. To be sure, his dress and appearance were both decidedly +against him; but still they relied upon the knowledge which Reilly +confidently assured the cook that he possessed. After leaving the pantry +with Lanigan, whom our hero thanked in a thorough brogue, the former +called after him, as he was going away: + +"Come here again, my good man." + +"What is it, shir? may God bless you anyhow, for your charity to +the--hugh--hugh--hugh--to the poor man. Oh, then, but it's no wondher +for you all to be fat and rosy upon sich beautiful vittles as you gave +to me, shir. What is it, achora? and may the Lord mark you with grace!" + +"Would you take employment from the master, his honor Mr. Folliard, if +you got it?" + +"Arrah now, shir, you gave me my skinful of what was gud; but don't be +luakin' fwhun o' me after. Would I take employment, achora?--ay, but +where would I get it?" + +"Could you work in a garden? Do you know any thing about plants or +flowers?" + +"Oh thin, that I may never sup sarra (sorrow), but that's just what I'm +fwhit fwhor." + +"I'm afeared this scoundrel is but an imposthor afther all," whispered +Lanigan to the other servants; "but in ordher to make sure, we'll try +him. I say--what's this your name is?" + +"Solvesther M'Bethershin, shir." + +"Well, now, would you have any objection to come with me to the garden +and see I the gardener? But hould, here he is. Mr. Malcomson," continued +Lanigan, "here is a poor man, who says he understands plants and +flowers, and weeds of that kind." + +"Speak wi' reverence, Mr. Lanigan, o' the art o' gerdening. Dinna ye ken +that the founder o' the hail human race was a gerdener?-Hout awa, moil; +speak o' it wi' speck." + +"Upon my conscience," replied Lanigan, "whether he was a good gardener +or not is more than I know; but one thing I do know, that he didn't +hould his situation long, and mismanaged his orchard disgracefully; and, +indeed, like many more of his tribe, he got his walkin' papers in double +quick--was dismissed without a characther--ay, and his wife, like many +another gardener's wife, got a habit of stalin' the apples. However, I +wish Mr. Malcomson, that you, who do undherstand gardenin', would thry +this fellow, because I want to know whether he's an imposthor or not." + +"Weel," replied Malcomson, "I dinna care if I do. We'll soon find that +out. Come wi' me and Maisther Lanigan here, and we'll see what you ken +about the sceentific profession." + +They accordingly went to the garden, and it is unnecessary to say that +Reilly not only bore the examination well, but proved himself by far the +better botanist of the two. He tempered his answers, however, in such a +way as not to allow the gardener's vanity to be hurt, in which case he +feared that he might have little chance of being engaged. + + + + +CHAPTER XV.--More of Whitecraft's Plots and Pranks + + +On the Sunday following, Miss Folliard, as was her usual custom, +attended divine service at her parish church, accompanied by the +virtuous Miss Herbert, who scarcely ever let her for a moment out of her +sight, and, in fact, added grievously to the misery of her life. After +service had been concluded, she waited until Mr. Brown had descended +from the pulpit, when she accosted him, and expressed a wish to have +some private conversation with him in the vestry-room. To this room +they were about to proceed, when Miss Herbert advanced with an evident +intention of accompanying them. + +"Mr. Brown," said the _Cooleen Bawn_, looking at him significantly, "I +wish that our interview should be private." + +"Certainly, my dear Miss Folliard, and so it shall be. Pray, who is this +lady?" + +"I am forced, sir, to call her my maid." + +Mr. Brown was startled a good deal, not only at the words, but the tone +in which they were uttered. + +"Madam," said he, "you will please to remain here until your mistress +shall return to you, or, if you wish, you can amuse yourself by reading +the inscriptions on the tombstones." + +"Oh, but I have been ordered," replied Miss Herbert, "by her father and +another gentleman, not to let her out of my sight." + +Mr. Brown, understanding that something was wrong, now looked at her +more closely, after which, with a withering frown, he said, + +"I think I know you, madam, and I am very sorry to hear that you are +an attendant upon this amiable lady. Remain where you are, and don't +attempt to intrude yourself as an ear-witness to any communication Miss +Folliard may have to make to me." + +The profligate creature and unprincipled spy bridled, looked disdain and +bitterness at the amiable clergyman, who, accompanied by our heroine, +retired to the vestry. It is unnecessary to detail their conversation, +which was sustained by the _Cooleen Bawn_ with bitter tears. It is +enough to say that the good and pious minister, though not aware until +then that Miss Herbert had, by the scoundrel baronet, been intruded into +Squire Folliard's family, was yet acquainted, from peculiar sources, +with the nature of the immoral relation in which she stood to that +hypocrite. He felt shocked beyond belief, and assured the weeping girl +that he would call the next day and disclose the treacherous design +to her father, who, he said, could not possibly have been aware of +the wretch's character when he admitted her into his family. They then +parted, and our heroine was obliged to take this vile creature into the +carriage with her home. On their return, Miss Herbert began to display +at once the malignity of her disposition, and the volubility of her +tongue, in a fierce attack upon, what she termed, the ungentlemanly +conduct of Mr. Brown. To all she said, however, Helen uttered not one +syllable of reply. She neither looked at her nor noticed her, but sat in +profound silence, not, however, without a distracted mind and breaking +heart. + +On the next day the squire took a fancy to look at the state of his +garden, and, having got his hat and cane, he sallied out to observe +how matters were going on, now that Mr. Malcomson had got an assistant, +whom, by the way, he had not yet seen. + +"Now, Malcomson," said he, "as you have found an assistant, I hope you +will soon bring my garden into decent trim. What kind of a chap is he, +and how did you come by him?" + +"Saul, your honor," replied Malcomson, "he's a divilish clever chiel, +and vara weel acquent wi' our noble profession." + +"Confound yourself and your noble profession! I think every Scotch +gardener of you believes himself a gentleman, simply because he can nail +a few stripes of old blanket against a wall. How did you come by this +fellow, I say?" + +"Ou, just through Lanigan, the cook, your honor." + +"Did Lanigan know him?" + +"Hout, no, your honor--it was an act o' charity like." + +"Ay, ay, Lanigan's a kind-hearted old fool, and that's just like him; +but, in the meantime, let me see this chap." + +"There he is, your honor, trimming, and taking care of that bed of +'love-lies-bleeding.'" + +"Ay, ay; I dare say my daughter set him to that task." + +"Na, na, sir. The young leddy hasna seen him yet, nor hasna been in the +gerden for the last week." + +"Why, confound it, Malcomson, that fellow's more like a beggarman than a +gardener." + +"Saul, but he's a capital hand for a' that. Your honor's no' to tak the +beuk by the cover. To be sure he's awfully vulgar, but, ma faith, he +has a richt gude knowledgeable apprehension o' buttany and gerdening in +generhal." + +The squire then approached our under-gardener, and accosted him, + +"Well, my good fellow, so you understand gardening?" + +"A little, your haner," replied the other, respectfully touching his +hat, or caubeen rather. + +"Are you a native of this neighborhood?" + +"No, your haner. I'm fwaither up--from Westport, your haner." + +"Who were you engaged with last?" + +"I wasn't engaged, shir--it was only job-work I was able to do--the +health wasn't gud wid me." + +"Have you no better clothes than these?" + +"You see all that I have on me, shir." + +"Well, come, I'll give you the price of a suit rather than see such a +scarecrow in my garden." + +"I couldn't take it, shir." + +"The devil you couldn't! Why not, man?" + +"Bekaise, shir, I'm under pinance." + +"Well, why don't you shave?" + +"I can't, shir, for de same raison." + +"Pooh, pooh! what the devil did you do that they put such a penance on +you." + +"Why, I runned away wit' a young woman, shir." + +"Upon my soul you're a devilish likely fellow to run away with a young +woman, and a capital taste she must have had to go with you; but perhaps +you took her away by violence, eh?" + +"No, slur; she was willin' enough to come; but her fadher wouldn't +consint, and so we made off wit' ourselves." + +This was a topic on which the squire, for obvious reasons, did not +like to press him. It was in fact a sore subject, and, accordingly, he +changed it. + +"I suppose you have been about the country a good deal?" + +"I have, indeed, your haner." + +"Did you ever happen to hear of, or to meet with, a person called +Reilly?" + +"Often, shir; met many o' dem." + +"Oh, but I mean the scoundrel called Willy Reilly." + +"Is dat him dat left the country, shir?" + +"Why, how do you know that he has left the country?" + +"I don't know myself, shir; but dat de people does be sayhi' it. Dey say +dat himself and wan of our bishops went to France togither" + +The squire seemed to breathe more freely as he said, in a low soliloquy, +"I'm devilish glad of it; for, after all, it would go against my heart +to hang the fellow." + +"Well," he said aloud, "so he's gone to France?" + +"So de people does be sayin, shir." + +"Well, tell me--do you know a gentleman called Sir Robert Whitecraft?" + +"Is dat him, shir, dat keeps de misses privately?" + +"How do you know that he keeps misses privately?" + +"Fwhy, shir, dey say his last one was a Miss Herbert, and dat she had +a young one by him, and dat she was an Englishwoman. It isn't ginerally +known, I believe, shir, but dey do be sayin' dat she was brought to +bed in de cottage of some bad woman named Mary Mahon, dat does be on de +lookout to get sweethearts for him." + +"There's five thirteens for you, and I wish to God, my good fellow, that +you would allow yourself to be put in better feathers." + +"Oh, I expect my pinance will be out before a mont', shir; but, until +den, I couldn't take any money." + +"Malcomson," said he to the gardener, "I think that fellow's a half +fool. I offered him a crown, and also said. I would get him a suit +of clothes, and he would not take either; but talked about some silly +penance he was undergoing." + +"Saul, then, your honor, he may be a fule in ither things, but de'il a +ane of him's a fule in the sceence o' buttany. As to that penance, it's +just some Papistrical nonsense, he has gotten into his head--de'il hae't +mair: but sure they're a' full o't--a' o' the same graft, an' a bad one +I fear it is." + +"Well, I believe so, Malcomson, I believe so. However, if the +unfortunate fool is clever, give him good wages." + +"Saul, your honor, I'll do him justice; only I think that, anent that +penance he speaks o', the hail Papish population, bad as we think them, +are suffering penance eneuch, one way or tither. It disna' beseem a +Protestant--that is, a prelatic Government--to persecute ony portion o' +Christian people on, account o' their religion. We have felt and kenned +that in Scotland, sairly. I'm no freend to persecution, in ony shape. +But, as to this chiel, I ken naething aboot him, but that he is a gude +buttanist. Hout, your honor, to be sure I'll gi'e him a fair wage for +his skeel and labor." + +Malcomson, who was what we have often met, a pedant gardener, saw, +however, that the squire's mind was disturbed. In the short conversation +which they had, he spoke abruptly, and with a flushed countenance; but +he was too shrewd to ask him why he seemed so. It was not, he knew, his +business to do so; and as the squire left the garden, to pass into +the house, he looked after him, and exclaimed to himself, "my certie, +there's a bee in that man's bonnet." + +On going to the drawing-room, the squire found Mr. Brown there, and +Helen in tears. + +"How!" he exclaimed, "what is this? Helen crying! Why, what's the +matter, my child? Brown, have you been scolding her, or reading her a +homily to teach her repentance. Confound me, but I know it would teach +her patience, at all events. What is the matter?" + +"My dear Miss Folliard," said the clergyman, "if you will have the +goodness to withdraw, I will explain this shocking business to your +father." + +"Shocking business! Why, in God's name, Brown, what has happened? And +why is my daughter in tears, I ask again?" + +Helen now left the drawing-rooom, and Mr. Brown replied: + +"Sir, a circumstance which, for baseness and diabolical iniquity, is +unparalleled in civilized society. I could not pollute your daughter's +ears by reciting it in her presence, and besides she is already aware of +it." + +"Ay, but what is it? Confound you, don't keep me on tenter hooks." + +"I shall not do so long, my dear friend. Who do you imagine your +daughter's maid--I mean that female attendant upon your pure-minded and +virtuous child--is?" + +"Faith, go ask Sir Robert Whitecraft. It was he who recommended her; +for, on hearing that the maid she had, Ellen Connor, was a Papist, +he said he felt uneasy lest she might prevail on my daughter to turn +Catholic, and marry Reilly." + +"But do you not know who the young woman that is about your daughter's +person is? You are, however, a father who loves your child, and I need +not ask such a question. Then, sir, I will tell you who she is. Sir, +she is one of Sir Robert Whitecraft's cast-off mistresses--a profligate +wanton, who has had a child by him." + +The fiery old squire had been walking to and fro the room, in a state +of considerable agitation before--his mind already charged with the +same intelligence, as he had heard it from the gardener (Reilly). He +now threw himself into a chair, and' putting his hands before his face, +muttered out between his fingers--"D--n seize the villain! It is true, +then. Well, never mind, I'll demand satisfaction for this insult; I +am not too old to pull a trigger, or give a thrust yet; but then the +cowardly hypocrite won't fight. When he has a set of military at his +back, and a parcel of unarmed peasants before him, or an unfortunate +priest or two, why, he's a dare devil--Hector was nothing to him; no, +confound me, nor mad Tom Simpson, that wears a sword on each side, and +a double case of pistols, to frighten the bailiffs. The scuundrel of +hell!--to impose on me, and insult my child!" + +"Mr. Folliard," observed the clergyman calmly, "I can indeed scarcely +blame your indignation; it is natural; but, at the same time, it is +useless and unavailable. Be cool, and restrain your temper. Of course, +you could not think of bestowing your daughter, in marriage, upon this +man." + +"I tell you what, Brown--I tell you what, my dear friend---let the +devil, Satan, Beelzebub, or whatever you call him from the pulpit--I +say, let him come here any time he pleases, in his holiday hoofs and +horns, tail and all, and he shall have her sooner than Whitecraft." + +Mr. Brown could not help smiling, whilst he said: + +"Of course, you will instantly dismiss this abandoned creature." + +He started up and exclaimed, "Cog's 'ounds, what am I about?" He +instantly rang the bell, and a footman attended. "John, desire that +wench Herbert to come here." + +"Do you mean Miss Herbert, sir?" + +"I do--_Miss_ Herbert--egad, you've hit it; be quick, sirra." + +John bowed and withdrew, and in a few minutes Miss Herbert entered. + +"Miss Herbert," said the squire, "leave this house as fast as the devil +can drive you; and he has driven you to some purpose before now; ay, +and, I dare say, will again. I say, then, as fast as he can drive you, +pack up your luggage, and begone about your business. Ill just give you +ten minutes to disappear." + +"What's all this about, master?" + +"Master!--why, curse your brazen impudence, how dare you call me master? +Begone, you jade of perdition." + +"No more a jade of perdition, sir, than you are; nor I shan't begone +till I gets a quarter's wages--I tell you that." + +"You shall get whatever's coming to you; not another penny. The +house-steward will pay you--begone, I say!" + +"No, sir, I shan't begone till I gets a, quarter's salary in full. You +broke your agreement with me, wich is wat no man as is a gentleman would +do; and you are puttin' me away, too, without no cause." + +"Cause, you vagabond! you'll find the cause squalling, I suppose, in +Mary Mahon's cottage, somewhere near Sir Robert Whitecraft's; and when +you see him, tell him I have a crow to pluck with him. Off, I say." + +"Oh, I suppose you mean the love-child I had by him--ha, ha! is that +all? But I never had a hankerin' after a rebel and a Papist, which is +far worser; and I now tell you you're no gentleman, you nasty old Hirish +squire. You brought me here, and Sir Robert sent me here, to watch +your daughter. Now, what kind of a young lady must she be as requires +watching? I was never watched; because as how I was well conducted, and +nothing could ever be laid to my charge but a love-child." + +"By the great Boyne," he exclaimed, running to the window and throwing +up the sash--"yes, by the great Boyne, there is Tom Steeple, and if he +doesn't bring you and the pump acquainted, I'm rather mistaken. Here, +Tom, I have a job for you. Do you wish to earn a bully dinner, my boy?" + +Miss Herbert, on hearing Tom's name mentioned, disappeared like +lightning, and set about packing her things immediately. The steward, +by his master's desire, paid her exactly what was due to her, which she +received without making a single observation. In truth, she entertained +such a terror of Tom Steeple, who had been pointed out to her as a wild +Irishman, not long caught in the mountains, that she stole out by the +back way, and came, by making a circuit, out upon the road that led to +Sir Robert Whitecraft's house, which she passed without entering, +but went directly to Mary Malion's, who had provided a nurse for her +illegitimate child in the neighborhood. She had not been there long when +she sent her trusty friend, Mary, to acquaint Sir Robert with what had +happened. He was from home, engaged in an expedition of which we feel +called upon to give some account to the reader. + +At this period, when the persecution ran high against the Catholics, but +with peculiar bitterness against their priesthood, it is but justice to +a great number of the Protestant magistracy and gentry--nay, and many of +the nobility besides--to state that their conduct was both liberal and +generous to the unfortunate victims of those cruel laws. It is a well +known fact that many Protestant justices of the peace were imprisoned +for refusing to execute such oppressive edicts as had gone abroad +through the country. Many of them resigned their commissions, and many +more were deprived of them. Amongst the latter were several liberal +noblemen--Protestants--who had sufficient courage to denounce the spirit +in which the country was governed and depopulated at the same time. One +of the latter--a nobleman of the highest rank and acquirements, and of +the most amiable disposition, a warm friend to civil freedom, and a firm +antagonist to persecution and oppression of every hue--this nobleman, we +say, married a French lady of rank and fortune, who was a Catholic, +and with whom he lived in the tenderest love, and the utmost domestic +felicity. The lady being a Catholic, as we said, brought over with +her, from France, a learned, pious, and venerable ecclesiastic, as her +domestic chaplain and confessor. This man had been professor of divinity +for several years in the college of Louvain; but having lost his health, +he accepted a small living near the chateau of ----, the residence +of Marquis De------, in whose establishment he was domesticated as +chaplain. In short, he accompanied Lord ------ and his lady to Ireland, +where he acted in the same capacity, but so far only as the lady was +concerned; for, as we have already said, her husband, though a liberal +man, was a firm but not a bigoted Protestant. This harmless old man, as +was very natural, kept up a correspondence with several Irish and French +clergymen, his friends, who, as he had done, held professorships in +the same college. Many of the Irish clergymen, knowing the dearth of +religious instruction which, in consequence of the severe state of +the laws, then existed in Ireland, were naturally anxious to know the +condition of the country, and whether or not any relaxation in their +severity had taken place, with a hope that they might be able with +safety to return to the mission here, and bestow spiritual aid and +consolation to the suffering and necessarily neglected folds of their +own persuasion. On this harmless and pious old man the eye of Hennessy +rested. In point of fact he set him for Sir Robert Whitecraft, to whom +he represented him as a spy from France, and an active agent of the +Catholic priesthood, both here and on the Continent; in fact, an +incendiary, who, feeling himself sheltered by the protection of the +nobleman in question and his countess, was looked upon as a safe man +with whom to hold correspondence. The Abbe, as they termed him, was in +the! habit, by his lordship's desire, and that of his lady, of attending +the Catholic sick of his large estates, administering to them religious +instruction, and the ordinance of their Church, at a time when they +could obtain them from no other source. He also acted as their almoner, +and distributed relief to the sick, the poor, and the distressed, and +thus passed his pious, harmless, and inoffensive, but useful life. Now +all these circumstances were noted by Hennessy, who had been on the +lookout, to make a present of this good old man to his new patron, Sir +Robert. At length having discovered--by; what means it is impossible to +conjecture--that the Abbe was to go on the day in question to relieve +a poor sick family, at about a distance of two miles from Castle +------, the intelligence was communicated by Hennessy to Sir Robert, who +immediately set out for the place, attended by a party of his myrmidons, +conducted to it by the Red Rapparee, who, as we have said, was now one +of Whitecraft's band. There is often a stupid infatuation in villany +which amounts to what they call in Scotland fey--that is, when a man +goes on doggedly to commit some act of wickedness, or rush upon some +impracticable enterprise, the danger and folly of which must be evident +to every person but himself, and that it will end in the loss of his +life. Sir Robert, however, had run a long and prosperous career of +persecution--a career by which he enriched himself by the spoils he had +torn, and the property he had wrested from his victims, generally under +the sanction of Government, but very frequently under no other sanction +than his own. At all events the party, consisting of about thirty +men, remained in a deep and narrow lane, surrounded by high whitethorn +hedges, which prevented the horsemen--for they were all dragoons--from +being noticed by the country people. Alas, for the poor Abbe! they had +not remained there more than twenty minutes when he was seen approaching +them, reading his breviary as he came along. They did not move, however, +nor seem to notice him, until he had got into the midst of them, +when they formed a circle round him, and the loud voice of Whitecraft +commanded him to stand. The poor old priest closed his breviary, and +looked around him; but he felt no alarm, because he was conscious of +no offence, and imagined himself safe under the protection of a +distinguished Protestant nobleman. + +"Gentlemen," said he, calmly and meekly, but without fear, "what is the +cause of this conduct towards an inoffensive old man? It is true I am a +Catholic priest, but I am under the protection of the Marquis of------. +He is a Protestant nobleman, and I am sure the very mention of his name +will satisfy you, that I cannot be the object either of your suspicion +or your enmity." + +"But, my dear sir," replied Sir Robert, "the nobleman you mention is +a suspected man himself, and I have reported him as such to the +Government. He is married to a Popish wife, and you are a seminary +priest and harbored by her and her husband." + +"But what is your object in stopping and surrounding me," asked the +priest, "as if I were some public delinquent who had violated the laws? +Allow me, sir, to pass, and prevent me at your peril; and permit me, +before I proceed, to ask your name?" and the old man's eyes flashed with +an indignant sense of the treatment he was receiving. + +"Did you ever hear of Sir Robert Whitecraft?" + +"The priest-hunter, the persecutor, the robber, the murderer? I did, +with disgust, with horror, with execration. If you are he, I say to you +that I am, as you see, an old man, and a priest, and have but one life; +take it, you will anticipate my death only by a short period; but I look +by the light of an innocent conscience into the future, and I now tell +you that a woful and a terrible retribution is hanging over your head." + +"In the meantime," said Sir Robert, very calmly, as he dismounted from +his horse, which he desired one of the men to hold. "I have a warrant +from Government to arrest you, and send you back again to your own +country without delay. You are here as a spy, an incendiary, and must +go on your travels forthwith. In this, I am acting as your friend and +protector, and so is Government, who do not wish to be severe upon you, +as you are not a natural subject. See sir, here is another warrant +for your arrest and imprisonment. The fact is, it was left to my own +discretion, either to imprison you, or send you out of the country. Now, +sir, from a principle of lenity, I am determined on the latter course." + +"But," replied the priest, after casting his eye over both documents, +"as I am conscious of no offence, either against your laws or your +Government, I decline to fly like a criminal, and I will not; put me in +prison, if you wish, but I certainly shall not criminate myself, knowing +as I do that I am innocent. In the meantime, I request that you will +accompany me to the castle of my patron, that I may acquaint him with +the charges against me, and the cause of my being forced to leave his +family for a time." + +"No, sir," replied Whitecraft, "I cannot do so, unless I betray the +trust which Government reposes in me. I cannot permit you to hold any +intercourse whatever with your patron, as you call him, who is justly +suspected of being a Papist at heart. Sir, you have been going abroad +through the country, under pretence of administering consolation to the +sick, and bestowing alms upon the poor; but the fact is, you have +been stirring them up to sedition, if not to open rebellion. You must, +therefore, come along with us, this instant. You proceed with us to +Sligo, from whence we shall ship you off in a vessel bound for France, +which vessel is commanded by a friend of mine, who will treat you +kindly, for my sake. What shall we do for a horse for him?" he asked, +looking at his men for information on that point. + +"That, your honor,we'll provide in a crack," replied the Red Rapparee, +looking up the road; "here comes Sterling, the gauger, very well +mounted, and, by all the stills he ever seized, he must walk home +upon shank's mare, if it was only to give him exercise and improve his +appetite." + +We need not detail this open robbery on the king's officer, and on the +king's highway besides. It is enough to say that the Rapparee, confident +of protection and impunity, with the connivance, although not by the +express orders of the baronet, deprived the man of his horse, and, in +a few minutes, the poor old priest was placed upon the saddle, and +the whole cavalcade proceeded on their way to Sligo, the priest in the +centre of them. Fortunately for Sir Robert's project, they reached the +quay just as the vessel alluded to was about to sail; and as there +was, at that period, no novelty in seeing a priest shipped out of the +country, the loungers about the place, whatever they might have thought +in their hearts, seemed to take no particular notice of the transaction. + +"Your honor," said the Red Rapparee, approaching and giving a military +salute to his patron, "will you allow me to remain in town for an hour +or two? I have a scheme in my head that may come to something. I will +tell your honor what it is when I get home." + +"Very well, O'Donnel," replied Sir Robert; "but I'd advise you not to +ride late, if you can avoid it. You know that every man in your uniform +is a mark for the vindictive resentment of these Popish rebels." + +"Ah! maybe I don't know that, your honor; but you may take my word for +it that I will lose little time." + +He then rode down a by-street, very coolly, taking the gauger's horse +along with him. The reader may remember the fable of the cat that had +been transformed into a lady, and the unfortunate mouse. The Rapparee, +whose original propensities were strong as ever, could not, for the soul +of him, resist the temptation of selling the horse and pocketing the +amount. He did so, and very deliberately proceeded home to his barracks, +but took care to avoid any private communication with his patron for +some days, lest he might question him as to what he had done with the +animal. + +In the meantime, this monstrous outrage upon an unoffending priest, who +was a natural subject of France, perpetrated, as it was, in the open +face of day, and witnessed by so many, could not, as the reader may +expect, be long concealed. It soon reached the ears of the Marquis of +------and his lady, who were deeply distressed at the disappearance of +their aged and revered friend. The Marquis, on satisfying himself of the +truth of the report, did not, as might have been expected, wait upon Sir +Robert Whitecraft; but without loss of time set sail for London, to wait +upon the French Ambassador, to whom he detailed the whole circumstances +of the outrage. And here we shall not further proceed with an account +of those circumstances, as they will necessarily intermingle with that +portion of the narrative which is to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI.--Sir Robert ingeniously extricates Himself out of a great +Difficulty. + + +On the day after the outrage we have described, the indignant old +squire's carriage stopped at the hall-door of Sir Robert Whitecraft, +whom he found at home. As yet, the latter gentleman had heard nothing of +the contumelious dismissal of Miss Herbert; but the old squire was not +ignorant of the felonious abduction of the priest. At any other time, +that is to say, in some of his peculiar stretches of loyalty, the act +might, have been a feather in the cap of the loyal baronet; but, at +present, he looked both at him and his exploits through the medium of +the insult he had offered to his daughter. Accordingly, when he entered +the baronet's library, where he found him literally sunk in papers, +anonymous letters, warrants, reports to Government, and a vast variety +of other documents, the worthy Sir Robert rose, and in the most cordial +manner, and with the most extraordinary suavity of aspect, held out his +hand, saying: + +"How much obliged am I, Mr. Folliard, at the kindness of this visit, +especially from one who keeps at home so much as you do." + +The squire instantly repulsed him, and replied: + +"No, sir; I am an honest, and, I trust, and honorable man. My hand, +therefore, shall never touch that of a villain." + +"A villain!--why, Mr. Folliard, these are hard and harsh words, and they +surprise me, indeed, as proceeding from your lips. May I beg, my friend, +that you will explain yourself?" + +"I will, sir. How durst you take the liberty of sending one of your +cast-off strumpets to attend personally upon my pure and virtuous +daughter? For that insult I come this day to demand that satisfaction +which is due to the outraged feelings of my daughter--to my own also, +as her father and natural protector, and also as an Irish gentleman, who +will brook no insult either to his family or himself. I say, then, name +your time and place, and your weapon--sword or pistol, I don't care +which, I am ready." + +"But, my good sir, there is some mystery here; I certainly engaged a +female of that name to attend on Miss Folliard, but most assuredly she +was a well-conducted person." + +"What! Madam Herbert well conducted! Do you imagine, sir, that I am a +fool? Did she not admit that you debauched her?" + +"It could not be, Mr. Folliard; I know nothing whatsoever about her, +except that she was daughter to one of my tenants, who is besides a +sergeant of dragoons." + +"Ay, yes, sir," replied the squire sarcastically; "and I tell you it +was not for killing and eating the enemy that he was promoted to his +seirgeantship. But I see your manoeuvre, Sir Robert; you wish to shift +the conversation, and sleep in a whole skin. I say now, I have provided +myself with a friend, and I ask, will you fight?" + +"And why not have sent your friend, Mr. Folliard, as is usual upon such +occasions?" + +"Because he is knocked up, after a fit of drink, and I cannot be just so +cool, under such an insult, as to command patience to wait. My friend, +however, will attend us on the ground; but, I ask again, will you +fight?" + +"Most assuredly not, sir; I am an enemy to duelling on principle; but +in your case I could not think of it, even if I were not. What! raise my +hand against the life of Helen's father!--no, sir, I'd sooner die than +do so. Besides, Mr. Folliard, I am, so to speak, not my own property, +but that of my King, my Government, and my country; and under these +circumstances not at liberty to dispose of my life, unless in their +quarrel." + +"I see," replied the squire bitterly; "it is certainly an admirable +description of loyalty that enables a man, who is base enough to insult +the very woman who was about to become his wife, and to involve her own +father in the insult, to ensconce himself, like a coward, behind his +loyalty, and refuse to give the satisfaction of a man, or a gentleman." + +"But, Mr. Folliard, will you hear me? there must, as I said, be some +mystery here; I certainly did recommend a young female named Herbert to +you, but I was utterly ignorant of what you mention." + +Here the footman entered, and whispered something to Sir Robert, who +apologized to the squire for leaving him two or three minutes. "Here is +the last paper," said he, "and I trust that before you go I will be able +to remove clearly and fully the prejudices which you entertain against +me, and which originate, so far as I am concerned, in a mystery which I +am unable to penetrate." + +He then followed the servant, who conducted him to Hennessy, whom he +found in the back parlor. + +"Well, Mr. Hennessy," said he, impatiently, "what is the matter now?" + +"Why," replied the other, "I have one as good as bagged, Sir Robert." + +"One what?" + +"Why, a priest, sir." + +"Well, Mr. Hennessy, I am particularly engaged now; but as to Reilly, +can you not come upon his trail? I would rather have him than a dozen +priests; however, remain here for about twenty minutes, or say half an +hour, and I will talk with you at more length. For the present I am most +particularly engaged." + +"Very well, Sir Robert, I shall await your leisure; but, as to Reilly, I +have every reason to think that he has left the country." + +Sir Robert, on going into the hall, saw the porter open the door, and +Miss Herbert presented herself. + +"Oh," said he, "is this you? I am glad you came; follow me into the +front parlor." + +She accordingly did so; and after he had shut the door he addressed her +as follows: + +"Now, tell me how the devil you were discovered; or were you accessory +yourself to the discovery, by your egregious folly and vanity?" + +"Oh, la, Sir Robert, do you think I am a fool?" + +"I fear you are little short of it," he replied; "at all events, you +have succeeded in knocking up my marriage with Miss Folliard. How did it +happen that they found you out?" + +She then detailed to him the circumstances exactly as the reader is +acquainted with them. + +He paused for some time, and then said, "There is some mystery at the +bottom of this which I must fathom. Have you any reason to know how the +family became acquainted with your history?" + +"No, sir; not in the least." + +"Do you think Miss Folliard meets any person privately?" + +"Not, sir, while I was with her." + +"Did she ever attempt to go out by herself?" + +"Not, sir, while I was with her." + +"Very well, then, I'll tell you what you must do; her father is above +with me now, in a perfect hurricane of indignation. Now you must say +that the girl Herbert, whom I recommended to the squire, was a friend of +yours; that she gave you the letter of recommendation which I gave her +to Mr. Folliard; that having married her sweetheart and left the country +with him, you were tempted to present yourself in her stead, and to +assume her name. I will call you up by and by; but what name will you +take?" + +"My mother's name, sir, was Wilson." + +"Very good; what was her Christian name?" + +"Catherine, sir." + +"And you must say that I know nothing whatsoever of the imposture you +were guilty of. I shall make it worth your while; and if you don't get +well through with it, and enable me to bamboozle the old fellow, I have +done with you. I shall send for you by and by." + +He then rejoined the squire, who was walking impatiently about the room. + +"Mr. Folliard," said he, "I have to apologize to you for this seeming +neglect; I had most important business to transact, and I merely went +downstairs to tell the gentleman that I could not possibly attend to it +now, and to request him to come in a couple of hours hence; pray excuse +me, for no business could be so important as that in which I am now +engaged with you.'" + +"Yes, but in the name of an outraged father, I demand again to know +whether you will give me satisfaction or not?" + +"I have already answered you, my dear sir, and if you will reflect upon +the reasons I have given you, I am certain you will admit that I have +the laws both of God and man on my side, and I feel it my duty to +regulate my conduct by both. As to the charge you bring against me, +about the girl Herbert, I am both ignorant and innocent of it." + +"Why, sir, how can you say so? how have you the face to say so?--did you +not give her a letter of recommendation to me, pledging yourself for her +moral character and fidelity?" + +"I grant it, but still I pledge you my honor that I looked upon her as +an extremely proper person to be about your daughter; you know, sir, +that you as well as I have had--and have still--apprehensions as to +Reilly's conduct and influence over her; and I did fear, and so did +you, that the maid who then attended her, and to whom I was told she was +attached with such unusual affection, might have availed herself of her +position, and either attempted to seduce her from her faith, or connive +at private meetings with Reilly." + +"Sir Robert, I know your plausibility--and, upon my soul, I pay it a +high compliment when I say it is equal to your cowardice." + +"Mr. Folliard, I can bear all this with patience, especially from +you--What's this?" he exclaimed, addressing the footman, who rushed into +the room in a state of considerable excitement. + +"Why, Sir Robert, there is a young woman below, who is crying and +lamenting, and saying she must see Mr. Folliard." + +"Damnation, sir," exclaimed Sir Robert, "what is this? why am I +interrupted in such a manner? I cannot have a gentleman ten minutes in +my study, engaged upon private and important business, but in bolts some +of you, to interrupt and disturb us. What does the girl want with me?" + +"It is not you she wants, sir," replied the footman, "but his honor, Mr. +Folliard." + +"Well, tell her to wait until he is disengaged." + +"No," replied Mr. Folliard, "send her up at once; what the devil can +this be? but you shall witness it." + +The baronet smiled knowingly. "Well," said he, "Mr. Folliard, upon my +honor, I thought you had sown your wild oats many a year ago; and, by +the way, according to all accounts--hem--but no matter; this, to be +sure, will be rather a late crop." + +"No, sir, I sowed my wild oats in the right season, when I was hot, +young, and impetuous; but long before your age, sir, that field had been +allowed to lie barren." + +He had scarcely concluded when Miss Herbert, acting upon a plan of +her own, which, were not the baronet a man of the most imperturbable +coolness, might have staggered, if not altogether confounded him, +entered the room. + +"Oh, sir!" she exclaimed, with a flood of tears, kneeling before Mr. +Folliard, "can you forgive and pardon me?" + +"It is not against you, foolish girl, that my resentment is or shall be +directed, but against the man who employed you--and there he sits." + +"Oh, sir!" she exclaimed, again turning to that worthy gentleman, who +seemed filled with astonishment. + +"In God's name!" said he, interrupting his accomplice, "what can this +mean? Who are you, my good girl?" + +"My name's Catherine Wilson, sir." + +"Catherine Wilson!" exclaimed the squire--"why, confound your brazen +face, are you not the person who styled yourself Miss Herbert, and who +lived, thank God, but for a short time only, in my family?" + +"I lived in your family, sir, but I am not the Miss Herbert that Sir +Robert Whitecraft recommended to you." + +"I certainly know nothing about you, my good girl," replied Sir Robert, +"nor do I recollect having ever seen you before; but proceed with what +you have to say, and let us hear it at once." + +"Yes, sir; but perhaps you are not the gentleman as is known to be Sir +Robert Whitecraft--him as hunts the priests. Oh, la, I'll surely be sent +to jail. Gentlemen, if you promise not to send me to jail, I'll tell you +everything." + +"Well, then, proceed," said the squire; "I will not send you to jail, +provided you tell the truth." + +"Nor I, my good girl," added Sir Robert, "but upon the same conditions." + +"Well, then, gentlemen, I was acquainted with Miss Herbert--she is +Hirish, but I'm English. This gentleman gave her a letter to you, +Mr. Folliard, to get her as maid to Miss Helen--she told me--oh, my +goodness, I shall surely be sent to jail." + +"Go on, girl," said the baronet somewhat sternly, by which tone of voice +he intimated--to her that she was pursuing the right course, and she was +quick enough to understand as much. + +"Well," she proceeded, "after Miss Herbert had got the letter, she told +her sweetheart, who wouldn't by no means allow her to take service, +because as why, he wanted to marry her; well, she consented, and they +did get married, and both of them left the country because her father +wasn't consenting. As the letter was of no use to her then, I asked her +for it, and offered myself in her name to you, sir, and that was the way +I came into your family for a short time." + +The baronet rose up, in well-feigned agitation, and exclaimed, +"Unfortunate girl! whoever you may be, you know not the serious mischief +and unhappiness that your imposture was nearly entailing upon me." + +"But did you not say that you bore an illegitimate child to this +gentleman?" asked the squire. + +"Oh, la! no, sir; you know I denied that; I never bore an illegitimate +child; I bore a love-child, but not to him; and there is no harm in +that, sure." + +"Well, she certainly has exculpated you, Sir Robert." + +"Gentlemen, will you excuse and pardon me? and will you promise not to +send me to jail?" + +"Go about your business," said Sir Robert, "you unfortunate girl, and be +guilty of no such impostures in future. Your conduct has nearly been +the means of putting enmity between two families of rank; or rather of +alienating one of them from the confidence and good-will of the other. +Go." + +She then courtesied to each, shedding, at the same time, what seemed to +be bitter tears of remorse--and took her departure, each of them looking +after her, and then at the other, with surprise and wonder. + +"Now, Mr. Folliard," said Sir Robert solemnly, "I have one question to +ask you, and it is this: could I possibly, or by any earthly natural +means, have been apprised of the honor of your visit to me this day? I +ask you in a serious--yes, and in a solemn spirit; because the happiness +of my future life depends on your reply." + +"Why, no," replied the credulous squire, "hang it, no, man--no, Sir +Robert; I'll do you that justice; I never mentioned my intention of +coming to call you out, to any individual but one, and that on my way +hither; he was unwell, too, after a hard night's drinking; but he said +he would shake himself up, and be ready to attend me as soon as the +place of meeting should be settled on. In point of fact, I did not +intend to see you to-day, but to send him with the message; but, as I +said, he was knocked up for a time, and you know my natural impatience. +No, certainly not, it was in every sense impossible that you could have +expected me: yes, if the devil was in it, I will do you that justice." + +"Well, I have another question to ask, my dear friend, equally important +with, if not more so than, the other. Do you hold me free from all blame +in what has happened through the imposture of that wretched girl?" + +"Why, after what has occurred just now, I certainly must, Sir Robert. As +you laid no anticipation of my visit, you certainly could not, nor had +you time to get up a scene." + +"Well, now, Mr. Folliard, you have taken a load off my heart; and I will +candidly confess to you that I have had my frailties like other men, +sown my wild oats like other men; but, unlike those who are not ashamed +to boast of such exploits, I did not think it necessary to trumpet my +own feelings. I do not say, my dear friend, that I have always been a +saint." + +"Why, now, that's manly and candid, Sir Robert, and I like you the +better for it. Yes, I do exonerate you from blame in this. There +certainly was sincerity in that wench's tears, and be hanged to her; +for, as you properly said, she was devilish near putting between our +families, and knocking up our intimacy. It is a delightful thing to +think that I shall be able to disabuse poor Helen's mind upon the +subject; for, I give you my honor, it caused her the greatest distress, +and excited her mind to a high pitch of indignation against you; but I +shall set all to rights." + +"And now that the matter is settled, Mr. Folliard, we must have lunch. I +will give you a glass of Burgundy, which, I am sure, you will like." + +"With all my heart," replied the placable and hearty old squire; +"after the agitation of the day a good glass of Burgundy will serve me +certainly." + +Lunch was accordingly ordered, and the squire, after taking half a +dozen bumpers of excellent wine, got into fine spirits, shook hands as +cordially as ever with the baronet, and drove home completely relieved +from the suspicions which he had entertained. + +The squire, on his return home, immediately called for his daughter, but +for some time to no purpose. The old man began to get alarmed, and had +not only Helen's room searched, but every room in the house. At length a +servant informed him that she was tending and arranging the green-house +flowers in the garden. + +"Oh, ay!" said he, after he had dismissed the servants, "Thank +God--thank God! I will go out to the dear girl; for she is a dear girl, +and it is a sin to suspect her. I wish to heaven that that scoundrel +Reilly would turn Protestant, and he should have her with all the veins +of my heart. Upon my soul, putting religion out of the question, one +would think that, in other respects, they were made for each other. But +it's all this cursed pride of his that prevents him; as if it signified +what any person's religion is, provided he's an honest man, and a loyal +subject." + +He thus proceeded with his soliloquy until he reached the garden, where +he found Reilly and her arranging the plants and flowers in a superb +green-house. + +"Well, Helen, my love, how is the greenhouse doing? Eh! why, what is +this?" + +At this exclamation the lovers started, but the old fellow was admiring +the improvement, which even he couldn't but notice. + +"Why, what is this?" he proceeded; "by the light of day, Helen, you have +made this a little paradise of flowers." + +"It was not I, papa," she replied; "all that I have been able to +contribute to the order; and beauty of the place has been very slight +indeed. It is all the result of this poor man's taste and skill. He's an +admirable botanist." + +"By the great Boyne, my girl, I think he could lick Malcomson himself, +as a botanist." + +"Shir," observed Reilly, "the young lady is underwaluin' herself; sure, +miss, it was yourself directed me what to do, and how to do it." + +"Look at that old chap, Helen," said her father, who felt in great good +humor; first, because he found that Helen was safe; and again, because +Sir Robert, as the unsuspecting old man thought, had cleared up the +circumstances of Miss Herbert's imposture; "I say, Helen, look at that +old chap: isn't he a nice bit of goods to run away with a pretty girl? +and what a taste she must have had to go with him! Upon my soul, it +beats cock-fighting--confound me, but it does." + +[Illustration PAGE 115--Isn't he a nice bit of goods to run away with a +pretty girl?] + +Helen's face became crimson as he spoke; and yet, such was the +ludicrous appearance which Reilly made, when put in connection with the +false scent on which her father was proceeding at such a rate, and the +act of gallantry imputed to him, that a strong feeling of humor overcame +her, and she burst into a loud ringing laugh, which she could not, for +some time, restrain; in this she was heartily joined by her father, who +laughed till the tears came down his cheeks. + +"And yet, Helen--ha--ha--ha, he's a stalwart old rogue still, and must +have been a devil of a tyke when he was young." + +After another fit of laughter from both father and daughter, the squire +said: + +"Now, Helen, my love, go in. I have good news for you, which I will +acquaint you with by and by." + +When she left the garden, her father addressed Reilly as follows: + +"Now, my good fellow, will you tell me how you came to know about Miss +Herbert having been seduced by Sir Robert Whitecraft?" + +"Fvhy, shir, from common report, shir." + +"Is that all? But don't you think," he replied, "that common report is +a common liar, as it mostly has been, and is, in this case. That's all +I have to say upon the subject. I have traced the affair, and find it +to be a falsehood from beginning to ending. I have. And now, go on as +you're doing, and I will make Malcomson raise your wages." + +"Thank you, shir," and he touched his nondescript with an air of great +thankfulness and humility. + +"Helen, my darling," said her father, on entering her own sitting-room, +"I said I had good news for you." + +Helen looked at him with a doubtful face, and simply said, "I hope it is +good, papa." + +"Why, my child, I won't enter into particulars; it is enough to say that +I discovered from an accidental meeting with that wretched girl we had +here that she was not Miss Herbert, as she called herself, at all, but +another, named Catherine Wilson, who, having got from Herbert the +letter of recommendation which I read to you, had the effrontery to +pass herself for her; but the other report was false. The girl Wilson, +apprehensive that either I or Sir Robert might send her to jail, having +seen my carriage stop at Sir Robert's house, came, with tears in her +eyes, to beg that if we would not punish her she would tell us the +truth, and she did so." + +Helen mused for some time, and seemed to decide instantly upon the +course of action she should pursue, or, rather, the course which she had +previously proposed to herself. She saw clearly, and had long known that +in the tactics and stratagems of life, her blunt but honest father was +no match at all for the deep hypocrisy and deceitful plausibility of Sir +Robert Whitecraft, the consequence was, that she allowed her father to +take his own way, without either remonstrance or contradiction. She knew +very well that on this occasion, as on every other where their wits and +wishes came in opposition, Sir Robert was always able to outgeneral and +overreach him; she therefore resolved to agitate herself as little +as possible, and to allow matters to flow on tranquilly, until the +crisis--the moment for action came. + +"Papa," she replied, "this intelligence must make your mind very easy; I +hope, however, you will restore poor faithful Connor to me. I never had +such an affectionate and kind creature; and, besides, not one of them +could dress me with such skill and taste as she could. Will you allow me +to have her back, sir?" + +"I will, Helen; but take care she doesn't make a Papist of you." + +"Indeed, papa, that is a strange whim: why, the poor girl never opened +her lips to me on the subject of religion during her life; nor, if I saw +that she attempted it, would I permit her. I am no theologian, papa, +and detest polemics, because I have always heard that those who are most +addicted to polemical controversy have least religion." + +"Well, my love, you shall have back poor Connor; and now I must go and +look over some papers in my study. Good-by, my love; and observe, Helen, +don't stay out too late in the garden, lest the chill of the air might +injure your health." + +"But you know I never do, and never did, papa." + +"Well, good-by again, my love." + +He then left her, and withdrew to his study to sign some papers, and +transact some business, which he had allowed to run into arrear. When he +had been there better than an hour, he rang the bell, and desired that +Malcomson, the gardener, should be sent to him, and that self-sufficient +and pedantic person made his appearance accordingly. + +"Well, Malcomson," said he, "how do you like the bearded fellow in the +garden?" + +"Ou, yer honor, weel eneugh; he does ken something o' the sceence o' +buttany, an' 'am thinkin' he must hae been a gude spell in Scotland, for +I canna guess whare else he could hae become acquent wi' it." + +"I see Malcomson, you'll still persist in your confounded pedantry +about your science. Now, what the devil has science to do with botany or +gardening?" + +"Weel, your honor, it wadna just become me to dispute wi' ye upon that +or any ither subjeck; but for a' that, it required profoond sceence, +and vera extensive learnin' to classify an' arrange a' the plants o' the +yearth, an' to gie them names, by whilk they dan be known throughout a' +the nations o' the warld." + +"Well, well--I suppose I must let you have your way." + +"Why, your honor," replied Malcomson, "'am sure it mair becomes me to +let you hae yours; but regerding this ould carl, I winna say, but he has +been weel indoctrinated in the sceence." + +"Ahem! well, well, go on." + +"An' it's no easy to guess whare he could hae gotten it. Indeed, 'am +of opinion that he's no without a hantle o' book lair; for, to do him +justice, de'il a question I spier at him, anent the learned names o' the +rare plants, that he hasna at his finger ends, and gies to me off-hand. +Naebody but a man that has gotten book lair could do yon." + +"Book lair, what is that?" + +"Ou, just a correck knowledge o' the learned names of the plants. I +dinna say, and I winna say, but he's a velliable assistant to me, an' +I shouldna wish to pairt wi' him. If he'd only shave off yon beard, an' +let himsel' be decently happed in good claiths, why he might pass in ony +gentleman's gerden for a skeelful buttanist." + +"Is he as good a kitchen gardener as he is in the green-house, and among +the flowers?" + +"Weel, your honor, guid troth, 'am sairly puzzled there; hoot, no, sir; +de'il a thing almost he kens about the kitchen gerden--a' his strength +lies among the flowers and in the green-house." + +"Well, well, that's where we principally want him. I sent for you, +Malcomson, to desire you'd raise his wages--the laborer is worthy of +his hire; and a good laborer of good hire. Let him have four shillings a +week additional." + +"Troth, your honor, 'am no sayin' but he weel deserves it; but, Lord +haud a care o' us, he's a queer one, yon." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Why, de'il heat he seems to care about siller any mair than if it was +sklate stains. On Saturday last, when he was paid his weekly wages by +the steward, he met a puir sickly-lookin' auld wife, wi' a string o' +sickly-looking weans at the body's heels; she didna ask him for charity, +for, in troth, he appeared, binna it wearna for the weans, as great an +objeck as hersel'; noo, what wad yer honor think? he gaes ower and gies +till her a hale crown o' siller out o' his ain wage. Was ever onything +heard like yon?" + +"Well, I know the cause of it, Malcomson. He's under a penance, and can +neither shave nor change his dress till his silly penance is out; and +I suppose it was to wash off a part of it that he gave this foolish +charity to the poor woman and her children. Come, although I condemn the +folly of it, I don't like him the worse for it." + +"Hout awa', your honor, what is it but rank Papistry, and a dependence +upon filthy works. The doited auld carl, to throw aff his siller that +gate; but that's Papistry a' ower--substituting works for grace and +faith--a' Papistry, a' Papistry! Well, your honor, I sal be conform to +your wushes--it's my duty, that." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII.--Awful Conduct of Squire Folliard + +--Fergus Reilly begins to Contravene the Red Rapparee + + +After Malcomson quitted him, the squire, with his golden-headed cane, +went to saunter about his beautiful grounds and his noble demesne, +proud, certainly, of his property, nor insensible to the beautiful +scenery which it presented from so many points of observation. He +had not been long here when a poor-looking peasant, dressed in shabby +frieze, approached him at as fast a pace as he could accomplish; and the +squire, after looking at him, exclaimed, in an angry tone: + +"Well, you rascal, what the devil brings you here?" + +The man stood for a little, and seemed so much exhausted and out of +breath that he could not speak. + +"I say, you unfortunate old vagrant," repeated the squire, "what brought +you here?" + +"It is a case of either life or death, sir," replied the poor peasant. + +"Why," said the squire, "what crime did you commit? Or, perhaps, you +broke prison, and are flying from the officers of justice; eh! is that +it? And you come to ask a magistrate to protect you!" + +"I am flying from the agents of persecution, sir, and know not where to +hide my head in order to avoid them." + +The hard-pressed but amiable priest--for such he was--adopted this +language of truth, because he knew the squire's character, and felt that +it would serve him more effectually than if he had attempted to conceal +his profession. "I am a Catholic priest, sir, and felt from bitter +experience that this disguise was necessary to the preservation of my +life. I throw myself upon your honor and generosity, for although hasty, +sir, you are reported to have a good and kind heart." + +"You are disposed to place confidence in me, then?" + +"I am, sir; my being before you now, and putting myself in your power, +is a proof of it." + +"Who are pursuing you? Sir Robert Whitecraft--eh?" + +"No, sir, Captain Smellpriest and his gang." + +"Ay, out of the frying pan into the fire; although I don't know that, +either. They say Smellpriest can do a generous thing sometimes--but the +other, when priest-hunting, never. What's your name?" + +"I'll tell you, without hesitation, sir--Macguire; I'm of the Macguires +of Fermanagh." + +"Ay! ay! why, then, you have good blood in your veins. But what offence +were you guilty of that you--but I need not ask; it is enough, in +the present state of the laws, that you are a Catholic priest. In the +meantime, are you aware that I myself transported a Catholic priest, and +that he would have swung only for my daughter, who went to the viceroy, +and, with much difficulty, got his sentence commuted to transportation +for life? I myself had already tried it, and failed; but she succeeded, +God bless her!" + +"Yes, God bless her!" replied the priest, "she succeeded, and her fame +has gone far and near, in consequence; yes, may God of his mercy bless +and guard her from all evil!" and as the poor hunted priest spoke, the +tears came to his eyes. This symptom of respect and affection, prompted +by the generous and heroic conduct of the far-famed Cooleen Bawn, +touched her father, and saved the priest. + +"Well," said he, after musing for a while, "so you say Smellpriest is +after you?" + +"He is, sir; they saw me at a distance, across the country, scrambling +over the park wall, and indeed I was near falling into their hands by +the difficulty I had in getting over it." + +"Well, come," replied the squire, "since you have had the courage +to place confidence in me, I won't abuse it; come along, I will both +conceal and protect you. I presume there is little time to be lost, +for those priest hounds will be apt to ride round to the entrance gate, +which I will desire the porter to close and lock, and then leave the +lodge." + +On their way home he did so, and ordered the porter up to the house. The +magnificent avenue was a serpentine one, and our friends had barely time +to get out of sight of the lodge, by a turn in it, when they heard the +voices of the pursuers, hallooing for the porter, and thundering at the +gate. + +"Ay, thunder away, only don't injure my gate, Smellpriest, or I'll make +you replace it; bawl yourselves hoarse--you are on the wrong side for +once!" + +When they were approaching the hall-door, which generally lay open-- + +"Confound me," said the squire, "if I know what to do with you; I +trust in God I won't get into odium by this. At all events, let us steal +upstairs as quietly as we can, and, if possible, without any one seeing +us." + +To the necessity of this the priest assented, and they had reached the +first landing of the staircase when out popped right in their teeth two +housemaids each with brush in hand. Now it instantly occurred to the +squire that in this unlucky crisis bribery was the safest resource. He +accordingly addressed them: + +"Come here, you jades, don't say a word about this man's presence +here--don't breathe it; here's five shillings apiece for you, and let +one of you go and bring me up, secretly, the key of the green-room in +the garret; it has not been opened for some time. Be quick now; or stay, +desire Lanigan to fetch it, and refreshment also; there's cold venison +and roast beef, and a bottle of wine; tell Lanigan I'm going to lunch, +and to lay the table in my study. Lanigan can be depended on," he added, +after the chambermaid had gone, "for when I concealed another priest +here once, he was entrusted with the secret, and was faithful." + +Now it so happened that one of those maids, who was a bitter Protestant, +at once recognized Father Maguire, notwithstanding his disguise. She had +been a servant for four or five years in the house of a wealthy farmer +who lived adjoining him, and with whom he had been in the habit +of frequently dining when no danger was to be apprehended from the +operation of the laws. Indeed, she and Malcomson, the gardener, were +the only two individuals in the squire's establishment who were not +Catholics. Malcomson was a manoeuvrer, and, as is pretty usual with +individuals of his class and country, he looked upon "Papistry" as +an abomination that ought to be removed from the land. Still, he was +cautious and shrewd, and seldom or never permitted those opinions to +interfere with or obstruct his own interests. Be this is it may, the +secret was not long kept. Esther Wilson impeached her master's loyalty, +and she herself was indignantly assailed for her treachery by Molly +Finigan, who hoped in her soul that her master and young mistress would +both die in the true Church yet. + +The whole kitchen was in a buzz; in fact, a regular scene ensued. Every +one spoke, except Lanigan, who, from former experience, understood +the case perfectly; but, as for Malcomson, whose zeal on this occasion +certainly got the better of his discretion, he seemed thunderstruck. + +"Eh, sirs! did ony one ever hear the like o' this?--to hide a rebel +priest frae the offended laws! But it canna be that this puir man is +athegether right in his head. Lord ha'e a care o' us! the man surely +must be demented, or he wouldna venture to bring such a person into his +ain house--into the vara house. I think, Maisther Lanigan, it wad be +just a precious bit o' service to religion and our laws to gang and tell +the next magistrate. Gude guide us! what an example he is settin' to +his loyal neighbors, and his hail connections! That ever we should see the +like o' this waefu' backsliding at his years! Lord ha'e a care o' us, I +say aince mair." + +"Oh, but there's more to come," said one of them, for, in the turmoil +produced by this shocking intelligence, they had forgotten to deliver +the message to Lanigan. + +"Mr. Lanigan," said Esther, and her breath was checked by a hysteric +hiccup, "Mr. Lanigan, you are to bring up the key of the green-room, and +plenty of venison, roast beef, and a bottle of wine! There!" + +"Baal, Maisther Lanigan, I winna stay langer under this roof; it's nae +cannie; I'll e'en gang out, and ha'e some nonsense clavers wi' yon queer +auld carl i' the gerden. The Lord ha'e a eare o' us!--what will the +warld come to next!" + +He accordingly repaired to the garden, where the first thing he did +was to give a fearful account to Reilly of their master's political +profligacy. The latter felt surprised, but not at all at Malcomson's +narrative. The fact was, he knew the exact circumstances of the case, +because he knew the squire's character, which was sometimes good, and +sometimes the reverse--just according to the humor he might be in: and +in reply observed to Malcomson, that-- + +"As his honor done a great dale o' good! to the poor o' the counthry, +I think it wouldn't be daicent in us, Misther Malcomson, to go for to +publish this generous act to the poor priesht; if he is wrong, let us +lave him to Gad, shir." + +"Ou ay, weel I dinna but you're richt; the mair that we won't hae to +answer for his transgressions; sae e'en let every herring hang by its +ain tail." + +In the meantime, Lanigan, who understood the affair well enough, +addressed the audience in the kitchen to the following effect: + +"Now," said he, "what a devil of a hubbub you all make about nothing! +Pray, young lady," addressing Esther Wilson, who alone had divulged the +circumstance, "did his honor desire you to keep what you seen saicret?" + +"He did, cook, he did," replied Esther; "and gave us money not to speak +about it, which is a proof of his guilt." + +"And the first thing you did was to blaze it to the whole kitchen! I'll +tell you what it is now--if he ever hears that you breathed a syllable +of it to mortal man, you won't be under his roof two hours." + +"Oh, but, surely, cook--" + +"Oh, but, surely, madam," replied Lanigan, "you talk of what you don't +understand; his honor knows very well what he's about, mid has authority +for it." + +This sobered her to some purpose; and Lanigan proceeded to execute his +master's orders. + +It is true Miss Esther and Malcomson were now silent, for their own +sakes; but it did not remove their indignation; so far from that, +Lanigan himself came in for a share of it, and was secretly looked upon +in the light of the squire's confidant in the transaction. + +Whilst matters were in this position, the Red Rapparee began gradually +to lose the confidence of his unscrupulous employer. He had promised +that worthy gentleman to betray his former gang, and deliver them up to +justice, in requital for the protection which he received from him. This +he would certainly have done, were it not for Fergus, who, happening to +meet one of them a day or two after the Rapparee had taken service with +Whitecraft upon the aforesaid condition,--informed the robber of that +fact, and advised him, if he wished to provide for his own safety and +that of his companions, to desire them forthwith to leave the country, +and, if possible, the kingdom. They accordingly took the hint; some of +them retired to distant and remote places, and others went beyond seas +for their security. The promise, therefore, which the Rapparee had made +to the baronet as a proof of gratitude for his protection, he now found +himself incapable of fulfilling, in consequence of the dispersion and +disappearance of his band. When he stated this fact to Sir Robert, he +gained little credit from him; and the consequence was that his patron +felt disposed to think that he was not a man to be depended on. Still, +what he had advanced in his own defence might be true; and although his +confidence in him was shaken, he resolved to maintain him yet in his +service, and that for two reasons--one of which was, that by having him +under his eye, and within his grasp, he could pounce upon him at any +moment; the other was, that, as he knew, from the previous shifts and +necessities of his own lawless life, all those dens and recesses and +caverns to which the Catholic priesthood, and a good number of the +people, were obliged to fly and conceal themselves, he must necessarily +be a useful guide to him as a priest-hunter. It is true he assured him +that he had procured his pardon from Government, principally, he said, +in consequence of his own influence, and because, in all his robberies, +it had not been known that he ever took away human life. In general, +however, this was the policy of the Rapparees, unless when they +identified themselves with political contests and outrages, and on those +occasions they were savage and cruel as fiends. In simple robbery on the +king's highway, or in burglaries in houses, they seldom, almost never, +committed murder, unless when resisted, and in defence of their lives. +On the contrary, they were quite gallant to females, whom they treated +with a kind of rude courtesy, not unfrequently returning the lady of the +house her gold watch--but this only on occasions when they had secured +a large booty of plate and money. The Threshers of 1805-6 and '7, so far +as cruelty goes, were a thousand times worse; for they spared neither +man nor woman in their infamous and nocturnal visits; and it is enough +to say, besides, that their cowardice was equal to their cruelty. It has +been proved, at special commissions held about those periods, that four +or five men, with red coats on them, have made between two or three +hundred of the miscreants run for their lives, and they tolerably +well-armed. Whether Sir Robert's account of the Rapparee's pardon was +true or false will appear in due time; for the truth is, that Whitecraft +was one of those men who, in consequence of his staunch loyalty +and burning zeal in carrying out the inhuman measures of the then +Government, was permitted with impunity to run into a licentiousness +of action, as a useful public man, which no modern government would, or +dare, permit. At the period of which we write, there was no press, so to +speak, in Ireland, and consequently no opportunity of at once bringing +the acts of the Irish Government, or of public men, to the test +of public opinion. Such men, therefore, as Whitecraft, looked upon +themselves as invested with irresponsible power; and almost in every +instance their conduct was approved of, recognized, and, in general, +rewarded by the Government of the day. The Beresford family enjoyed +something like this unenviable privilege, during the rebellion of +'98, and for some time afterwards. We have alluded to Mrs. Oxley, the +sheriffs, fat wife; whether fortunately or unfortunately for the poor +sheriff, who had some generous touches of character about him, it so +happened, at this period of our narrative she popped off one day, in a +fit of apoplexy, and he found himself a widower. Now, our acquaintance, +Fergus Reilly, who was as deeply disguised as our hero, had made his +mind up, if possible, to bring the Rapparee into trouble. This man had +led his patron to several places where it was likely that the persecuted +priests might be found; and, for this reason, Fergus knew that he was +serious in his object to betray them. This unnatural treachery of the +robber envenomed his heart against him, and he resolved to run a risk in +watching his motions. He had no earthly doubt that it was he who robbed +the sheriff. He knew, from furtive observations, as well as from general +report, that a discreditable intimacy existed between him and Mary +Mahon. This woman's little house was very convenient to that of +Whitecraft, to whom she was very useful in a certain capacity. She +had now given up her trade of fortune-telling--a trade which, at that +period, in consequence of the ignorance of the people, was very general +in Ireland. She was now more beneficially employed. Fergus, therefore, +confident in his disguise, resolved upon a bold and hazardous stroke. +He began to apprehend that if ever Tom Steeple, fool though he was, +kept too much about the haunts and resorts of the Rapparee, that cunning +scoundrel, who was an adept in all the various schemes and forms of +detection, might take the alarm, and, aided probably by Whitecraft, make +his escape out of the country. At best, the fool could only assure him +of his whereabouts; but he felt it necessary, in addition to this, to +procure, if the matter were possible, such evidence of his guilt as +might render his conviction of the robbery of the sheriff complete and +certain. One evening a wretched-looking old man, repeating his prayers, +with beads in hand, entered her cottage, which consisted of two rooms +and a kitchen; and after having presented himself, and put on his +hat--for we need scarcely say that no Catholic ever prays covered--he +asked lodging in Irish, for the night, and at this time it was dusk. + +"Well, good man," she replied, "you can have lodgings here for this +night. God forbid I'd put a poor wandherer out, an' it nearly dark." + +Fergus stared at her as if he did not understand what she said; she, +however, could speak Irish right well, and asked him in that language if +he could speak no English--"_Wuil Bearlha agud?_" (Have you English?) + +"_Ha neil foccal vaun Bearlha agum_." (I haven't one word of English.) + +"Well," said she, proceeding with the following short conversation in +Irish, "you can sleep here, and I will bring you in a wap o' straw from +the garden, when I have it to feed my cow, which his honor, Sir Robert, +gives me grass for; he would be a very kind man if he was a little more +generous--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Ay, but doesn't he hunt an' hang, an' transport our priests?" + +"Why, indeed, I believe he doesn't like a bone in a priest's body; +but then he's of a different religion--and it isn't for you or me to +construe him after our own way." + +"Well, well," said Fergus, "it isn't him I'm thinking of; but if I had a +mouthful or two of something to ait I'd go to sleep--for dear knows I'm +tired and hungry." + +"Why, then, of coorse you'll have something to ait, poor man, and +while you're eatin' it I'll fetch in a good bunch of straw, and make a +comfortable shake-down for you." + +"God mark you to grace, avourneen!" + +She then furnished him with plenty of oaten bread and mixed milk, and +while he was helping himself she brought in a large launch of straw, +which she shook out and settled for him. + +"I see," said she, "that you have your own blankets." + +"I have, acushla. Cheerna, but this is darlin' bread! Arra was this +baked upon a griddle or against the _muddhia arran?_"*. + + * The muddhia arran was a forked branch, cut from a tree, + and shaped exactly like a letter A--with a small stick + behind to support it. A piece of hoop iron was nailed to + it at the bottom, on which the cake rested--not + horizontally, but opposite the fire. When one side was done + the other was turned, and thus it was baked. + +"A griddle! Why, then, is it the likes o' me would have a griddle? that +indeed! No; but, any how, sure a griddle only scalds the bread; but +you'll find that this is not too much done; bekaise you know the ould +proverb, 'a raw dad makes a fat lad.'" + +"Troth," replied Fergus, "it's good bread, and fills the _boast_** of a +man's body; but now that I've made a good supper, I'll throw myself on +the straw, for I feel as if my eyelids had a millstone apiece upon them. +I never shtrip at night, but just throws my blanket over me, an' sleeps +like a top. Glory be to God! Oh, then, there's nothing like the health +ma'am: may God spare it to us! Amin, this night!" + + ** Boast--a figurative term, taken from a braggadocio or + boaster; it applies to any thing that is hollow or + deceitful: for instance, when some potatoes that grow + unusually large are cut in two, an empty space is found in + the centra, and that potato is termed boast, or empty. + +He accordingly threw himself on the shakedown, and in a short time, as +was evident by his snoring, fell into a profound sleep. + +This was an experiment, though a hazardous one, as we have said; but so +far it was successful. In the course of half an hour the Red Rapparee +came in, dressed in his uniform. On looking about him he exclaimed, with +an oath, + +"Who the hell is here?" + +"Why," replied Mary Mahon, "a poor ould man that axed for charity an' +lodgin' for the night." + +"And why did you give it to him?" + +"Bekaise my charity to him may take away some of my sins." + +"Some of your devils!" replied the savage, "and I think you have enough +of them about you. Didn't you know I was to come here to-night, as I do +almost every night, for an hour or two?" + +"You was drinkin'," she replied, "and you're drunk." + +"I am drunk, and I will be drunk as often as I can. It's a good man's +case. Why did you give a lodgin' to this ould vagabone?" + +"I tould you the raison," she replied; "but you needn't care about him, +for there's not a word of English in his cheek." + +"Faith, but he may have something in his purse, for all that. Is he +ould?" + +"A poor ould man." + +"So much the betther; be the livin' I'll try whether he has any ould +coins about him. Many a time--no, I don't say many a time--but twic't +I did it, and found it well worth my while, too. Some of these ould +scamers lie wid a purse o' goolden guineas under their head, and won't +confess it till the last moment. Who knows what this ould lad may have +about him? I'll thry anyhow," said the drunken ruffian; "It's not aisy +to give up an ould custom, Molly--the sheriff, my darlin', for that. I +aised him of his fines, and was near strikin' a double blow--I secured +his pocket-book, and made a good attempt to hang Willy Reilly for the +robbery into the bargain. Now, hang it, Molly, didn't I look a gentleman +in his' clothes, shoes, silver buckles, and all; wasn't it well we +secured them before the house was burned? Here," he added, "take a +sneeshin of this," pulling at the same time a pint bottle of whiskey +out of his pocket; "it'll rise your spirits, an' I'll see what cash this +ould codger has about him; an', by the way, how the devil do we +know that he doesn't understand every word we say. Suppose, +now--(hiccup)--that he heard me say I robbed the sheriff, wouldn't I be +in a nice pickle? But, tell me, can you get no trace of Reilly?" + +"Devil a trace; they say he has left the country." + +"If I had what that scoundrel has promised me for findin' him out or +securin' him--here's--here's--here's to you--I say, if I had, you and I +would"--Here he pointed with his thumb over his shoulder, as much as to +say they would try another climate. + +"And now," he proceeded, "for a search on the shake-down. Who knows but +the ould fellow has the yellow boys (guineas) about him? "--and he was +proceeding to search Fergus, when Mary flew at him like a tigress. + +"Stop, you cowardly robber!" she exclaimed; "would you bring down the +curse and the vengeance of God upon both of us. We have enough and too +much to answer for, let alone to rob the ould an' the poor." + +"Be aisy now," said he, "I'll make the search; sure I'm undher the +scoundrel Whitecraft's protection." + +"Yes, you are, and you're undher my protection too; and I tell you, if +you lay a hand upon him it'll be worse for you." + +"What--what do you mane?" + +"It's no matther what I mane; find it out." + +"How do I know but he has heard us?" + +We must now observe that Fergus's style of sleeping was admirably +adapted for his purpose. It was not accompanied by a loud and unbroken +snore; on the contrary, after it had risen to the highest and +most disagreeable intonations, it stopped short, with a loud and +indescribable backsnort in his nose, and then, after a lull of some +length, during which he groaned and muttered to himself, he again +resumed his sternutations in a manner so natural as would have imposed +upon Satan himself, if he had been present, as there is little doubt he +was, though not exactly visible to the eyes of his two precious agents. + +"Listen to that," replied the woman; "do you think, now, he's not +asleep? and even if he was sitting at the fire beside us, devil a +syllable we said he could understand. I spoke to him in English when he +came in, but he didn't know a word I said." + +"Well, then, let the ould fellow sleep away; I won't touch him." + +"Why, now, that's a good boy; go home to your barracks, and take a good +sleep yourself." + +"Ay, yes, certainly; but have you Reilly's clothes safe--shoes, silver +buckles, and all?" + +"Ay, as safe as the head on your shoulders; and, upon my soul, a great +dale safer, if you rob any more sheriffs." + +"Where are they, then?" + +"Why, they're in my flat box, behind the bed, where nobody could see +them." + +"Very well, Molly, that will do; I may want them wanst more," he +replied, pointing again with his thumb over his shoulder towards +Whitecraft's residence; "so goodnight; be a good girl, and take care of +yourself." + +"No," she replied, "but do you be a good boy, and take care of +yourself." And so they parted for the night. + +The next day Fergus, possessed of very important evidence against the +Rapparee, was travelling along the public road, not more than half a +mile from the residence of Sir Robert Whitecraft, when whom should he +meet but the identical sheriff, on horseback, that the Rapparee had +robbed. He put his hand to his hat, and asked him for charity. + +"Help a poor ould man, for the love and honor of God." + +"Why don't you go to work--why don't you go to work?" replied the +sheriff. + +"I am not able, sir," returned Fergus; "it wouldn't be good for my +health, your honor." + +"Well, pass on and don't trouble me; I have nothing for you." + +"Ah! thin, sir, if you'd give me a trifle, maybe I'd make it worth your +while." + +"What do you mean?" asked the sheriff, who knew that persons like him +had opportunities of hearing and knowing more about local circumstances, +in consequence of their vagrant life, than any other class of persons in +society. + +"What do you mean by what you have just said?" + +"Aren't you the sheriff, sir, that was robbed some time ago?" + +"I am." + +"Ah, sir, I see you are dressed in black; and I heard of the death of +the misthress, sir." + +"Well, but what has that to do with what you have just now said--that +you would make it worth my while if I gave you alms?" + +"I said so, sir; and I can, if you will be guided by me." + +"Speak out; I don't understand you." + +"Would you like to see the man that robbed you, sir, and would you know +him if you did see him?" + +"Unquestionably I would know him. They say it was Reilly, but I have +seen Reilly since; and although the dress was the same which Reilly +usually wears, yet the faces were different." + +"Is your honor going far?" asked Fergus. + +"No, I am going over to that farm-house, Tom Brady's; two or three of +his family are ill of fever, and I wish to do something for him; I am +about to make him my land bailiff." + +"What stay will you make there, your honor?" + +"A very short one--not more than ten or fifteen minutes." + +"Would it be inconvenient for your honor to remain there, or somewhere +about the house, for an hour, or may be a little longer?" + +"For what purpose? You are a mysterious old fellow." + +"Bekaise, if you'd wish to see the man that robbed you, I'll undhertake +to show him to you, face to face, within that time. Will your honor +promise this?" + +The sheriff paused upon this proposal, coming as it did from such an +equivocal authority. What, thought he, if it should be a plot for my +life, in consequence of the fines which I have been forced to levy upon +the Catholic priests and bishops in my official capacity. God knows I +feel it to be a painful duty. + +"What is your religion?" he asked, "and why should a gentleman in my +condition of life place any confidence upon the word of a common vagrant +like you, who must necessarily be imbued with all the prejudices of your +creed--for I suppose you are a Catholic?" + +"I am, sir; but, for all that, in half an hour's time I'll be a rank +Protestant." + +The sheriff smiled and asked, "How the devil's that?" + +"You are dressed in black, sir, in murnin' for your wife. I have seen +you go into Tom Brady's to give the sick creatures the rites of their +Church. I give notice to Sir Robert Whitecraft that a priest is there; +and my word to you, he and his hounds will soon be upon you. The man +that robbed you will be among them--no, but the foremost of them; and if +you don't know him, I can't help it--that's all, your honor." + +"Well," replied the sheriff, "I shall give you nothing now; because +I know not whether what you say can be relied upon or not. In the +meantime, I shall remain an hour or better, in Brady's house; and if +your words are not made good, I shall send to Sir Robert Whitecraft for +a military party to escort me home." + +"I know, your honor," replied Fergus, "that Sir Robert and his men are +at home to-day; and if I don't fulfil my words, I'll give your honor +lave to whip me through the county." + +"Well," said the sheriff, "I shall remain an hour or so in Brady's; but +I tell you that if you are deceiving me you shall not escape me; so look +to it, and think if what you propose to me is honest or not--if it be +not, woe betide you." + +Fergus immediately repaired to Sir Robert Whitecraft, to whom he +represented himself as a poor Protestant of the name of Bingham, +and informed him that a Popish priest was then in Tom Brady's house, +administering the rites of Popery to those who were sick in the family. + +"I seen him, your honor, go into the house; and he's there this minute'. +If your honor makes haste you'll catch him." + +In less than a quarter of an hour Sir Robert and his crew were in +stirrups, and on their way to Tom Brady's; and in the meantime, too, the +sheriff, dressed as he was, in black, came outside the door, from time +to time, more in apprehension of a plot against his life than of a visit +from Whitecraft, which he knew must end in nothing. Now, Whitecraft and +his followers, on approaching Brady's house, caught a glimpse of him--a +circumstance which not only confirmed the baronet in the correctness of +the information he had received, but also satisfied the sheriff that the +mendicant had not deceived him. Rapid was the rush they made to Brady's +house, and the very first that entered it was the Red Rapparee. He was +about to seize the sheriff, whom he pretended not to know; but in a +moment Sir Robert and the rest entered, when, on recognizing each other, +an explanation took place, with all due apologies to the functionary, +who said: + +"The mistake, Sir Robert, is very natural. I certainly have a clerical +appearance, as I am in mourning for my wife. I trust you will neither +hang nor transport me." + +"I am very sorry indeed, Mr. Oxley; but I only acted on information +received." + +"And I don't doubt, Sir Robert," replied the sheriff, "that the person +who gave you the information may have been deceived himself by my +ecclesiastical looking dress. I am sorry you have had so much trouble +for nothing; but, upon my word, I feel extremely delighted that I am not +a priest." + +In the meantime the sheriff had recognized the Rapparee, by a single +glance, as the man that had robbed him. He was now certain; but he took +care not to bestow the least sign of recognition upon him; so far from +that, he appeared to pay no attention whatsoever to the men; but chatted +with Sir Robert for some time, who returned home deeply disappointed, +though without imputing blame to his informant, who, he thought, was +very naturally misled by the dress of the sheriff. Fergus, however, +apprehensive of being involved in the prosecution of the Rapparee, +and thus discovered, made a point to avoid the sheriff, whose +cross-examination a consciousness of his previous life led him to dread. +Still, he had, to a certain extent, though not definitely, resolved to +become evidence against him; but only, as we have said, on the condition +of previously receiving a full pardon for his own misdeeds, which was +granted. For upwards of a month, however, the sheriff was confined to +his bed, having caught, whilst in Brady's, the malignant fever which +then raged throughout the country. + + + + +CHAPTEE XVIII.--Something not very Pleasant for all Parties. + +The position of England at this period was any thing but an easy one. +The Rebellion of '45 had commenced, and the young Pretender had gained +some signal victories. Independently of this, she was alarmed by the +rumor of a French invasion on her southern coast. Apprehensive lest the +Irish Catholics, galled and goaded as they were by the influence of +the penal laws, and the dreadful persecution which they caused them +to suffer, should flock to the standard of Prince Charles, himself a +Catholic, she deemed it expedient, in due time, to relax a little, +and accordingly she "checked her hand, and changed her pride." Milder +measures were soon resorted to, during this crisis, in order that by a +more liberal administration of justice the resentment of the suffering +Catholics might be conciliated, and their loyalty secured. This, +however, was a proceeding less of justice than expediency, and resulted +more from the actual and impending difficulties of England than from +any sincere wish on her part to give civil and religious freedom to her +Catholic subjects, or prosperity to the country in which, even then, +their numbers largely predominated. Yet, singular to say, when the +Rebellion first broke out, all the chapels in Dublin were closed, and +the Administration, as if guided by some unintelligible infatuation, +issued a proclamation, commanding the Catholic priesthood to depart +from the city. Those who refused this senseless and impolitic edict were +threatened with the utmost severity of the law. Harsh as that law was, +the Catholics obeyed it; yet even this obedience did not satisfy the +Protestant party, or rather that portion of them who were active agents +in carrying out this imprudent and unjustifiable rigor at such a period. +They were seized by a kind of panic, and imagined forsooth that a broken +down and disarmed people might engage in a general massacre of the Irish +Protestants. Whether this incomprehensible terror was real, is a matter +of doubt and uncertainty; or whether it was assumed as a justification +for assailing the Catholics in a general massacre, similar to that +which they apprehended, or pretended to apprehend, is also a matter of +question; yet certain it is, that a proposal to massacre them in cold +blood was made in the Privy Council. "But," says O'Connor, "the humanity +of the members rejected this barbarous proposal, and crushed in its +infancy a conspiracy hatched in Lurgan to extirpate the Catholics of +that town and vicinity." + +In the meantime, so active was the persecuting spirit of such men +as Whitecraft and Smellpriest that a great number of the unfortunate +priests fled to the metropolis, where, in a large and populous city, +they had a better chance of remaining _incogniti_ than when living +in the country, exposed and likely to be more marked by spies and +informers. A very dreadful catastrophe took place about this time. A +congregation of Catholic people had heard mass upon an old loft, which +had for many years been decayed--in fact, actually rotten. Mass was +over, and the priest was about to give them the parting benediction, +when the floor went down with a terrific crash. The result was dreadful. +The priest and a great many of the congregation were killed on the spot, +and a vast number of them wounded and maimed for life. The Protestant +inhabitants of Dublin sympathized deeply with the sufferers, whom +they relieved and succored as far as in them lay, and, by their +remonstrances, Government was shamed into a more human administration of +the laws. + +In order to satisfy our readers that we have not overdrawn our picture +of what the Catholics suffered in those unhappy times, we shall give a +quotation from the. Messrs. Chambers, of Edinburgh, themselves fair and +liberal men, and as impartial as they are able and well informed: + +"Since the pacification of Limerick, Ireland had been ruled exclusively +by the Protestant party, who, under the influence of feelings arising +from local and religious antipathies, had visited the Catholics with +many severities. The oath which had excluded the Catholics from +office had been followed, in 1698, by an Act of the Irish Parliament, +commanding all Romish priests to leave the kingdom, under the penalty +of transportation, a return from which was to be punishable by death. +Another law decreed forfeiture of property and civil rights to all +who should send their children abroad to be educated in the Catholic +faith."* + + * "History and Present State of the British Empire." + Edinburgh, W. and R. Chambers. + +Can any reasonable person be in doubt for a moment that those laws were +laws of extermination? In the meantime, let us hear the Messrs. Chambers +further: + +"After the death of William, who was much opposed to severities on +account of religion, Acts of still greater rigor were passed for +preventing the growth of Popery. Any child of a Roman Catholic who +should declare himself a Protestant was entitled to become the heir of +his estate, the father merely holding it for his lifetime, and having +no command over it. Catholics were made incapable of succeeding to +Protestants, and lands, passing over them, were to go to the next +Protestant heir. Catholic parents were prevented from being guardians,to +their own children; no Protestant possessing property was to be +permitted to marry a Catholic; and Catholics were rendered incapable +of purchasing landed property or enjoying long leases. These measures +naturally rendered the Catholics discontented I subjects, and led to +much turbulence. The common people of that persuasion, being denied all +access to justice, took it into their own hands, and acquired all those +lawless habits for which they have since been remarkable. Treachery, +cruelty, and all the lower passions, were called into vigorous exercise. +Even the Protestants, for their own sakes, were often obliged to connive +at the evasion of laws so extremely severe, and which introduced much +difficulty in their dealings with Catholics; but, when any Protestant +wished to be revenged upon a Catholic, or to extort money from him, he +found in these laws a ready instrument for his purpose. By an additional +Act, in 1726, it was ordained that a Roman Catholic priest, marrying a +Protestant to a Catholic, should suffer death; and in order that legal +redress might be still less accessible to the Catholics, it was enacted, +in 1728, that no one should be entitled to practise as an attorney who +had not been two years a Protestant." + +This is a clear and succinct epitome of the penal laws; true, much more +might be added; but it is enough to say that those who sow the wind will +reap the whirlwind. It is not by placing restrictions upon creeds or +ceremonies that religion can ever be checked, much less extinguished. +Like the camomile plant, the more it is trampled on the more it will +spread and grow; as the rude winds and the inclemency of the elements +only harden and make more vigorous the constitutions of those who +are exposed to them. In our state of the world, those who have the +administration of political laws in their hands, if they ever read +history, or can avail themselves of the experiences of ages, ought to +know that it is not by severity or persecution that the affections +of their fellow-subjects can be conciliated. We ourselves once knew +a brutal ruffian, who was a dealer in fruit in the little town of +Maynooth, and whose principle of correcting his children was to continue +whipping the poor things until they were forced to laugh! A person was +one day present when he commenced chastising one of them--a child of +about seven--upon this barbarous principle. This individual was then +young and strong, and something besides of a pugilist; but on witnessing +the affecting efforts of the little fellow to do that which was not +within the compass of any natural effort, he deliberately knocked the +ruffian down, after having first remonstrated with him to no purpose. He +arose, however, and attacked the other, but, thanks to a good arm and a +quick eye, he prostrated him again, and again, and again; he then +caught him by the throat, for he was already subdued, and squeezing his +windpipe to some purpose, the fellow said, in a choking voice, "Are you +going to kill me?" + +"No," replied the other, "I only want to see the length of your tongue; +don't be alarmed, the whole thing will end merrily; come, now, give +three of the heartiest laughs you ever gave in your life, or down goes +your apple-cart--you know what that means?" + +"I--I c--a--n'--t," said he. + +"Yes, you can," replied his castigator; "nothing's more easy; come, be +merry." + +The caitiff, for he was a coward, and wanted bottom, upon getting a +little wind, whilst the other held him by the throat, gave three of the +most ludicrous, but disastrous, howls that ever were witnessed. On his +opponent letting him go, he took to his heels, but got a kick on going +out that was rather calculated to accelerate his flight. Legislators, +therefore, ought to know that no political whipping will ever make a +people laugh at the pleasure of it. + +But to resume our narrative. England, now apprehensive, as we have said, +of a descent of the French upon her southern coast, and startled by the +successes of the young Pretender, who had cut Cope's army to pieces, +deemed it expedient to send over the celebrated Earl of Chesterfield +as Viceroy, with instructions to relax the rigor of the laws, and +conciliate the Catholics, as well as he could, so, at least, as to +prevent them from joining the Pretender, whose object it was understood +to be to cross the frontier and march upon London. Lord Chesterfield's +policy afforded great gratification to the Catholics, who were now +restored to their usual privileges; and its political object was so far +successful that, as we have said, not a single man of them ever joined +the Pretender. Still, the liberal Protestants, or, as they were termed, +the patriotic party, were not satisfied with the mere removal of the +Catholic restrictions. Ireland, at that time, was studded with men, or +rather with monsters, like Smellpriest and Whitecraft, who were stained +with the blood of their fellow-subjects and fellow-Christians. Sir +Robert Whitecraft, especially, was now in a bad position, although he +himself was ignorant of it. The French Ambassador demanded satisfaction, +in the name of his Court and the French nation, for the outrage that had +been committed upon a French. subject, and by which international +law was so grossly violated. We must say here that Whitecraft, in the +abundance of his loyalty and zeal, was in the habit, in his searches +after priests, and suspected lay Catholics, to pay domiciliary visits to +the houses of many Protestant magistrates, clergymen, and even gentlemen +of wealth and distinction, who were suspected, from their known enmity +to persecution, of harboring Catholic priests and others of that +persuasion; so that, in point of fact, he had created more enemies in +the country than any man living. The Marquis of------, Mr. Hastings, Mr. +Brown, together with a great number of the patriotic party, had +already transmitted a petition to the Lord Lieutenant, under the former +Administration; but it was not attended to, the only answer they got +having been a simple acknowledgment of its receipt. This, on coming +to Sir Robert's ears, which it did from one of the underlings of the +Castle, only gave a spur to his insolence, and still more fiercely +stimulated his persecuting spirit. He felt conscious that Government +would protect him, or rather reward him, for any acts of violence which +he might commit against the Catholic party, and so far, under his own +pet Administration, he was right. + +The petition we have alluded to having been treated with studied +contempt, the persons and party already mentioned came to the +determination of transmitting another, still more full and urgent, to +the new Viceroy, whose feeling it was, for the reasons we have stated, +to reverse the policy of his predecessor. + +His liberal administration encouraged them, therefore, to send him +a clear statement of the barbarous outrages committed by such men as +Smellpriest and Sir Robert Whitecraft, not only against his Majesty's +Roman Catholic subjects, but against many loyal Protestant magistrates, +and other Protestants of distinction and property, merely because they +were supposed to entertain a natural sympathy for their persecuted +fellow-subjects and fellow-countrymen. They said that the conduct of +those men and of the Government that had countenanced and encouraged +them had destroyed the prosperity of the country by interrupting and +annulling all bonafide commercial transactions between, Protestants and +Catholics. That those men had not only transgressed the instructions +they received, from his predecessor, but all those laws that go to the +security of life and property. That they were guilty of several cruel +and atrocious murders, arsons, and false imprisonments, for which they +were never brought to account; and that, in fine, they were steeped +in crime and blood, because they knew that his predecessor, ignorant, +perhaps, of the extent of their guilt, threw his shield over them, and +held them irresponsible to the laws for those savage outrages. + +They then stated that, in their humble judgment, a mere relaxation in +the operation of the severe and penal laws against Catholics would not +be an act of sufficient atonement to them for all they had greviously +suffered; that to overlook, or connive at, or protect those great +criminals would be at variance, not only with all principles of justice, +but with the spirit of the British Constitution itself, which never +recognizes, much less encourages, a wicked and deliberate violation of +its own laws. That the present was a critical moment, which demanded +great judgment and equal humanity in the administration of the laws in +Ireland. A rebellion was successfully progressing in Scotland, and it +appeared to them that not only common justice but sound policy ought to +prompt the Government to attract and conciliate the Catholic population +of Ireland by allowing them to participate in the benefits of the +Constitution, which hitherto existed not for them, thousands of whom, +finding their country but a bed of thorns, might, from a mere sense of +relief, or, what was more to be dreaded, a spirit of natural vengeance, +flock to the standard of the Pretender. + +His excellency, already aware of the startling but just demand which +had been made by the French Ambassador, for the national insult by +Whitecraft to his country, was himself startled and shocked by the +atrocities of those blood-stained delinquents. + +His reply, however, was brief, but to the purpose. + +His secretary acknowledged the receipt of the memorial, and stated that +the object of his Excellency was not to administer the laws in cruelty, +but in mercy; that he considered all classes of his Majesty's subjects +equally entitled to their protection; and that with respect to the +persons against whom such serious charges and allegations had been made, +he had only to say, that if they were substantiated against them in a +court of justice, they must suffer like other criminals--if they can be +proved, Government will leave them, as it would any common felons, to +the laws of the country. His Excellency is determined to administer +those laws with the strictest impartiality, and without leaning to any +particular class or creed. So far as the laws will allow him, their +protection shall be extended, on just and equal principles to the poor +and to the rich, to the Catholic and to the Protestant. + +This communication, which was kept strictly secret, reached the Marquis +of ---- at a critical period of our narrative. Whitecraft, who was +ignorant of it, but sufficiently aware of the milder measures which the +new Administration had adopted, finding that the trade of priest-hunting +and persecution was, for the present, at an end, resolved to accelerate +his marriage with Miss Folliard, and for this purpose he waited upon her +father, in order to secure his consent. His object was to retire to +his English estates, and there pass the remainder of his life with his +beautiful but reluctant bride. He paid his visit about two o'clock, and +was told that Miss Folliard and her father were in the garden. Hither he +accordingly repaired, and found the squire, his daughter, and Reilly, in +the green-house. When the squire saw him he cried out, with something +of a malicious triumph: "Hallo, Sir Robert! why art thou so pale, +young lover? why art thou so pale?--and why does thy lip hang, +Sir Robert?--new men, new measures, Sir Robert--and so, 'Othello's +occupation's gone,' and the Earl of Chesterfield goes to mass every +Sunday, and is now able to repeat his padareem in Irish." + +"I am glad to find you so pleasant, Mr. Folliard; but I'm delighted to +see the beautiful state of your green-house--oh, Miss Folliard!--excuse +me. Your back was to me, and you were engaged in trailing that beautiful +shrub; allow me the honor of shaking hands with you." + +"Sir Robert, I bid you good-day, but you see that I have my garden +gloves on; you will excuse me." + +"Oh, Miss Folliard," he replied, "your will is the spirit of the British +Constitution to me." + +"A spirit which, I fear, you have too frequently violated, Sir Robert; +but, as papa says, I believe your cruel occupation is gone--at least I +hope so." + +"'Gad, you got it there, Sir Robert," replied her father, laughing. + +"I must confess it," replied the baronet; "but I think, in order to +ingratiate myself with Miss Folliard, I shall take whatever side she +recommends me. How, Mr. Folliard," he proceeded, fixing his eyes upon +Reilly--"what the deuce is this? Have you got Robinson Crusoe here?" + +"We have," replied the squire; "but his man Friday has got married to a +Tipperary woman, and he's now in quest of a desert, island for him and +her to settle in." + +"I think, papa," said Helen, "that if the principles of Sir Robert and +his class were carried out, he would not have far to go to look for +one." + +"Another hit, Bob, you dog--another hit. W'ell said, Helen--well said, +I say. Crusoe, you villain, hold up your head, and thank God you're +christened." + +"Wid de help o' Gad, shir, I was christhened afwhore, sure, by de +priesht." + +This visit occurred about six weeks after the appointment of the new +Viceroy to the Government of Ireland, and about five after the sheriff's +illness. + +"Come, Whitecraft," said the squire, "come and let us have lunch: I'll +hold a crown I give you as good a glass of Burgundy as you gave me the +other day, and will say done first." + +"Won't Miss Folliard join us at lunch?" asked Whitecraft, looking to her +for an assent. + +"Why, I suppose so," replied her father; "won't you come, Helen?" + +"You know, papa, I never lunch." + +"'Gad, and neither you do, Helen. Come, Sir Robert, we will have a +mouthful to eat, and something good to wash it down; come along, man. +what the devil are you scrutinizing poor old Robinson Crusoe for? Come +along. I say, the old chap is making the green-house thrive; he beats +Malcomson. Here. Malcomson, you know Sir Robert Whitecraft, don't you?" + +"Hout, your honor, wha' disna ken Sir Robert Whitecraft? Isn't his name +far and near, as a braw defender o' the faith, and a putter down o' +Papistry?" + +"By the way, Malcomson," said Sir Robert, "where did you get Robinson +Crusoe, by which I mean that wild-looking man in the green-house?" + +"Saul, sir, it's a question I never speered at him. He cam' here as a +gaberlunzie, and on stating that he was indoctrinated in the sceence o' +buttany, his honor garred me employ him. De'il hae't but the truth I'll +tell--he's a clever buttanist, and knows a' the sceentific names aff +hand." + +"So that's all you know about him?" said Sir Robert. "He has a devil of +a beard, and is shockingly dressed. Why doesn't he shave?" + +"Ou, just some Papistry nonsense," replied the gardener; "but we hae +naething to do wi' that, sae lang's we get the worth o' our siller out +o' him." + +"Here's a shilling, Malcomson," said Sir Robert. + +"Na, na, your honor; a shilling's no for a man that understands the +sceence o' buttany: a shilling's for a flunky in livery; but as for me, +I couldna conscientiously condescend upon less than ten o' them, or +may be a pund British, but I'm feart that's contrair to your honor's +habits." + +"Well, then," said Sir Robert, "I have no more silver, and so I leave +you to the agreeable society of Robinson Crusoe." + +Reilly had watched Sir Robert's motions, as well as his countenance, in +a manner as furtively as possible. Sometimes, indeed, he stared at him +broadly, and with a stupid, oafish look, and again placed himself in +such a position behind the range of flower-pots which were placed upon +the ledges, that he could observe him without being perceived himself. +The force of habit, however, is extraordinary. Our hero was a man +exceedingly remarkable for personal cleanliness, and consequently made a +point to wash his hands morning and evening with peculiar care. Be this +as it may, the lynx eye of Sir Robert observed their whiteness, and he +instantly said to himself, "This is no common laborer; I know that he +is not, from the whiteness of his hands. Besides, he is disguised; it is +evident from the length of his beard, and the unnecessary coarseness of +his apparel. Then his figure, the symmetry and size of which no disguise +can conceal; this, and everything else, assures me that he is disguised, +and that he is, besides, no other individual than the man I want, +William Reilly, who has been hitherto my evil genius; but it shall go +hard with me, or I shall be his now." Such were his meditations as he +passed along with the squire to join him at lunch. + +When they had left the garden, Reilly addressed his _Cooleen Bawn_ as +follows: + +"Helen, I am discovered." + +"Discovered! O my God, no!" + +"Unquestionably, there is no doubt of it; it is certain." + +"But how do you know that it is certain?" + +"Because I observed that Whitecraft's eyes were never off my hands; he +knew that a common laborer could not possibly have such hands. Helen, I +am discovered, and must fly." + +"But you know that there is a change of Administration, and that the +severity of the laws has been relaxed against Catholics." + +"Yes, you told me so, and I have no fear for myself; but what I +apprehend is that this discovery, of which I feel certain, will +precipitate your marriage with that miscreant; they will entrap you into +it, and then I am miserable for ever." + +"Then, William, we must fly this very night; we will proceed to the +Continent, to some Protestant state, where we can get married without +any danger to the clergyman who may unite us." + +"It is all that is left for us," replied Reilly; "I should sooner lose +life than you, my beloved Helen; and now, what is to be done? fly we +must; and in anticipation of the necessity of this step I left a suit of +clothes with Lanigan: or rather with a poor widow, who was a pensioner +of mine--a Mrs. Buckley, from whom Lanigan got them, and has them. I +could not think of accompanying you in this vile dress. On your way in, +try to see Lanigan, and desire him to come out to me. There is not a +moment to be lost; and, my dear Helen, show no marks of agitation; be +calm and firm, or we are undone." + +"Rely on me, dear Reilly, rely on me; I shall, send Lanigan to you." + +She left him, and went to her room, when she rang the bell, and her +maid, the faithful Connor, who had been restored to her service, came to +her. + +"Connor," said she, "I shall not be able to dine with papa to-day, +especially as that wretch Whitecraft is likely to dine with him. Go to +Lanigan, and tell him to come to me, for I wish to know if he has any +thing light and delicate that he could send to my room; Connor, I am +very unhappy." + +"But, miss, sure they say that the laws are changed, and that Mr. Reilly +may go at large if he wishes." + +"I know that, Connor; but send Lanigan to me immediately." + +"When Lanigan entered he found the _Cooleen Bawn_ in tears. + +"My God, Miss Folliard," said he, "what is the matter with you? why are +you crying, or what have they done to you?" + +"Lanigan," she replied, wiping her eyes, "you and Connor only are in our +secret; we must fly this night." + +"This night, Miss Folliard!" + +"This night, Lanigan; and you must assist us." + +"To the last drop of my blood, I will." + +"Lanigan, Reilly is discovered." + +"Discovered, miss! good God, how was he discovered?" + +"By his hands--by the whiteness of his beautiful hands. Now, Lanigan, +Sir Robert, aware that he cannot act the tyrant at present, as he used +to do, will instigate my father to some act of outrage against him; +for you know, Lanigan, how cowardly, how cruel, how vindictive, the +detestable villain is; and most assuredly he will make my credulous and +generous, but hot-tempered, father the instrument of his vengeance +upon Reilly; and, besides, he will certainly urge him to bring about +an immediate marriage between himself and me, to which, it is true, I +would, and will die, sooner than consent. I will dine here, Lanigan, for +I cannot bear to look upon my dear father, whom I am about to--" Here +her tears interrupted her, and she could proceed no farther; at +length she recovered herself, and resumed: "I know," she added, "that +Whitecraft is now detailing his discovery and his plans. Oh!! that, for +Reilly's sake, I could become acquainted with them!" + +"What would you wish for dinner, Miss Folliard?" asked Lanigan calmly. + +"For dinner? oh, any thing, any thing; I care not what; but see Reilly, +tell him I have a second key for the back gate in the garden, and also +for the front; and, Lanigan--" + +"Well, Miss Folliard; but, for God's sake, don't cry so; your eyes will +get red, and your father may notice it." + +"True, thank you, Lanigan; and Reilly, besides, told me to keep myself +calm; but how can I, Lanigan? Oh, my father! my beloved father! how can +I abandon--desert him? No, Lanigan, I will not go; say to Reilly--say +I have changed my mind; tell him that my affection for my father has +overcome my love for him; say I will never marry--that my heart is +his, and never will or can be another's. But then again--he, the +noble-minded, the brave, the generous, the disinterested--alas! I know +not what to do, Lanigan, nor how to act. If I remain here, they will +strive to force this odious marriage on me; and then some fearful +catastrophe will happen; for, sooner than marry Whitecraft, I would +stab either him or myself. Either that, Lanigan, or I should go mad; +for do you know, Lanigan, that there is insanity in our family, by my +father's side?" + +"Unfortunately I know it, Miss Folliard; your uncle died in a mad-house, +and it was in that way the estate came to your father. But remember +what you say Mr. Reilly told you; be calm; I will send up some light +nourishing dinner to you, at the usual hour; and in the meantime I will +see him before then, and forge some excuse for bringing it up myself." + +"Stay, Lanigan, I am sadly perplexed; I scarcely know what I say; I +am in a state of inconceivable distraction. Suppose I should change my +mind; it is not unlikely; I am whirled about by a crowd of contending +emotions; but--well--let me see--oh, yes--it will be as well, Lanigan, +to have two horses ready saddled; that is no crime, I hope, if we should +go. I must, of course, put on my riding habit." + +"Begging your pardon, Miss Folliard, you'll do no such thing; would you +wish to have yourself discovered in the first inn you might put up at? +No, dress yourself in one of Connor's dresses so that you may appear as +humble as possible, and any thing but a lady of rank; otherwise, it will +be difficult for you to escape observation." + +"Well, Lanigan, all I can say is, that he and I shall place ourselves +under your advice and guidance. But my father--oh, my dear father!" and +again she wrung her hands and wept bitterly. + +"Miss Helen," said he, "as sure as the Lord's in heaven, you will +discover yourself; and, after all, how do you know that Sir Robert has +found out Mr. Reilly? Sure it's nothing but bare suspicion on both your +parts. At any rate, I'll saddle Paudeen O'Rafferty wid my own hands, and +I'll put on Molly Crudden's big pillion, for you know she's too fat to +walk to mass, and you will feel yourself quite easy and comfortable in +it" + +"No, no, Lanigan; I know not why the impression is on me; but I feel as +if I were never to experience comfort more. Go to Mr. Reilly; make +what arrangements he and you may think proper, and afterwards you can +acquaint me with them. You see, Lanigan, in what a state of excitement +and uncertainty I am. But tell Reilly that, rather than be forced into a +marriage, with Whitecraft--rather than go distracted--rather than +die--I shall fly with him." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX.--Reilly's Disguise Penetrated + +--Fergus Reilly is on the Trail of the Rapparee--He Escapes--Sir Robert +begins to feel Confident of Success. + + +Lanigan, on passing the dining parlor, heard what he conceived to be +loud and angry voices inside the room, and as the coast was clear +he deliberately put his ear to the key-hole, which ear drank in the +following conversation: + +"I say, Sir Robert, I'll shoot the villain. Do not hold me. My pistols +are unloaded and loaded every day in the year; and ever since I +transported that rebel priest I never go without them. But are you sure, +Sir Robert? Is it not possible you may be mistaken? I know you are a +suspicious fellow; but still, as I said, you are, for that very reason, +the more liable to be wrong. But, if it is he, what's to be done, unless +I shoot him?" + +"Under the last Administration, sir, I could have answered your +question; but you know that if you shoot him now you will be hanged. +All that's left for us is simply to effect this marriage the day after +tomorrow; the documents are all ready, and in the course of to-morrow +the license can be procured. In the meantime, you must dispatch him +to-night." + +"What do you mean, Sir Robert?" + +"I say you must send him about his business. In point of fact, I think +the fellow knows that he is discovered, and it is not unlikely that he +may make an effort to carry off your daughter this very night." + +"But, Sir Robert, can we not seize him and surrender him to the +authorities? Is he not an outlaw?" + +"Unfortunately, Mr. Folliard, he is not an outlaw; I stretched a little +too far there. It is true I got his name put into the _Hew and-Cry_, but +upon representations which I cannot prove." + +"And why did you do so, Sir Robert?" + +"Why, Mr. Folliard, to save your daughter." + +The old man paused. + +"Ah," he exclaimed, "that is a bad business--I mean for you; Sir Robert; +but we will talk it over. You shall stop and dine with me; I want some +one to talk with--some one who will support me and keep me in spirits;" +and as he spoke he sobbed bitterly. "I wish to God," he exclaimed, "that +neither I nor Helen--my dear Helen--had ever seen that fellow's face. +You will dine with me, Bob?" + +"I will, upon the strict condition that you keep yourself quiet, and +won't seem to understand any thing." + +"Would you recommend me to lock her up?" + +"By no means; that would only make matters worse. I shall dine with +you, but you must be calm and quiet, and not seem to entertain any +suspicions." + +"Very well, I shall; but what has become of our lunch? Touch the bell." + +This hint sent Lanigan downstairs, who met the butler coming up with it. + +"Why, Pat," said he, "what kept you so long with the lunch?" + +"I was just thinking," replied Pat, "how it would be possible to poison +that ugly, ill-made, long-legged scoundrel, without poisoning my master. +What's to be done, Lanigan? He will marry this darlin' in spite of us. +And sure, now we have our privileges once more, since this great Earl +came to rule over us; and sure, they say, he's a greater gentleman than +the king himself. All I can say is, that if this same Sir Robert forces +the Cooleen Baum to such an unnatural marriage, I'll try a dose, hit or +miss, for a cowheel anyway." + +Lanigan laughed, and the butler passed on with the lunch. + +We may state here that the squire, notwithstanding his outspoken manner +against Popery, like a terrible reverend baronet not long deceased, +who, notwithstanding his discovery of the most awful Popish plots, and +notwithstanding the most extravagant denunciations against Popery, like +him, we say, the old squire seldom had more than one or two Protestant +servants under his roof. Pat hated Longshanks, as he termed him, as did +all the household, which, indeed, was very natural, as he was such a +notorious persecutor of their religion and their clergy. + +Lanigan lost no time in acquainting Reilly with what he had heard, and +the heart of the latter palpitated with alarm on hearing that the +next day but one was likely to join his _Cooleen Bawn_, by violent and +unnatural proceedings, to the man whom she so much detested. He felt +that it was now time to act in order to save her. Arrangements were +consequently made between them as to the time and manner of their +escape, and those arrangements, together with the dialogue he had +overheard, Lanigan communicated to the _Cooleen Bawn_. + +The squire on that day experienced strange alternations of feeling. +His spirits seemed to rise and sink, as the quicksilver in the glass is +affected by the state of the atmosphere. He looked into the future with +terror, and again became, to the astonishment of his guest--we now talk +of their conduct after dinner--actuated by some thought or impulse that +put him into high spirits. Whitecraft, cool and cautious, resolved +to let him have his way; for the squire was drinking deeply, and the +Burgundy was good and strong. + +"Bob, my boy," said he, "you don't drink, and that is a bad sign. You +have either a bad head of late, or a bad heart, which is worse. Hang +you, sir, why don't you drink? I have seen you lay lots of my guests +under the table when you were quite cool; but now, what are you at? They +can't run away to-night. Helen doesn't know that the discovery has been +made. And now, Bob, you dog, listen to me, I say--would you have had the +manliness and courage to expose yourself for the sake of a pretty girl +as he did?--that is--here's a bumper to Helen! Curse you, will nothing +make you drink? No, faith, he hadn't seen Helen at the time; it was for +a worthless old fellow like me that he exposed himself; but no matter, +you may be right; perhaps it was a plot to get acquainted with her. +Still, I'm not sure of that; but if it was, I'll make him smart." + +After dinner the squire drank deeply--so deeply, indeed, that Whitecraft +was obliged to call up some of the male servants to carry him to his +chamber and put him to bed. In this task Lanigan assisted, and thanked +his stars that he was incapacitated from watching the lovers, or taking +any means to prevent their escape. As for Whitecraft, thought he, I will +soon send him about his business. Now, this gentleman's suspicions were +the more deeply excited, in consequence of Helen's refusal to meet +him at either lunch or dinner, a refusal which she gave on the plea of +indisposition. He had therefore made up his mind to watch the motions +of _Cooleen Bawn_, and he would have included Reilly in his surveillance +were it not that Lanigan informed him of what he termed the mysterious +disappearance of the under-gardener. + +"What!" exclaimed Whitecraft, "is he gone?" + +"He has gone, Sir Robert, and he left his week's wages behind him, for +he never came to the steward to ask it. And now, Sir Robert, to tell you +the truth, I'm not sorry he's gone; he was a disagreeable old fellow, +that nobody could make either head or tail of; but, Sir Robert, +listen--wait, sir, till I shut the door--it will soon be getting dusk: +you know you're not liked in the country, and now that we--I mean the +Catholics--have the countenance of Government, I think that riding late +won't be for your health. The night air, you know, isn't wholesome to +some people. I am merely givin' you a hint, Sir Robert, bekaise you are +a friend of my masther's, and I hope for your own sake you'll take it. +The sooner you mount your horse the better; and if you be guided by me, +you'll try and reach your own house before the darkness sets in. Who +knows what Reilly may be plotting? You know he doesn't like a bone in +your honor's skin; and the Reillys are cruel and desperate." + +"But, Lanigan, are you aware of any plot or conspiracy that has been got +up against my life?" + +"Not at all, your honor; but I put it to yourself, sir, whether you +don't feel that I'm speaking the truth." + +"I certainly know very well," replied the baronet, "that I am +exceedingly unpopular with the Popish party; but, in my conduct towards +them, I only carried out the laws that had been passed against them." + +"I know that, Sir Robert, and, as a Catholic, I am sorry that you and +others were supported and egged on by such laws. Why, sir, a hangman +could--give the same excuse, because if he put a rope about your neck, +and tied his cursed knot nately under your left ear, what was he doin' +but fulfillin' the law as you did? And now, Sir Robert, who would +shake hands with a hangman, unless some unfortunate highway robber or +murderer, that gives him his hand because he knows that he will never +see his purty face agin. This discourse is all folly, however--you +haven't a minute to lose--shall I order your horse?" + +"Yes, you had better, Lanigan," replied the other, with a dogged +appearance of cowardice and revenge. He could not forgive Lanigan the +illustration that involved the comparison of the hangman; still his +conscience and his cowardice both whispered to him that the cook was in +the right. + +This night was an eventful one. The course of our narrative brings us +and our readers to the house of Captain Smellpriest, who had for his +next-door neighbor the stalwart curate of the parish, the Rev. Samson +Strong, to whom some allusion has been I already made in these +pages. Now the difference between Smellpriest and Whitecraft was +this--Smellpriest was not a magistrate, as Whitecraft was, and in his +priest-hunting expeditions only acted upon warrants issued by some +bigoted and persecuting magistrate or other who lived in the district. +But as his propensity to hunt those unfortunate persons was known, the +execution of the warrants was almost in every instance entrusted to his +hands. It was not so with Sir Robert, who, being himself a magistrate, +might be said to have been in the position at once of judge and +executioner. At all events, the race of blood was pretty equal between +them, so far as the clergy was concerned; but in general enmity to +the Catholic community at large, Whitecraft was far more cruel and +comprehensive in his vengeance. It is indeed an observation founded upon +truth and experience, that in all creeds, in proportion to his ignorance +and bigotry, so is the violence of the persecutor. Whitecraft, the +self-constituted champion of Protestantism, had about as much religion +as Satan himself--or indeed less, for we are told that he believes +and trembles, while Whitecraft, on the contrary, neither believed nor +trembled. But if he did not fear God, he certainly feared man, and +on the night in question went home with as craven a heart--thanks +to Lanigan--as ever beat in a coward's bosom. Smellpriest, however, +differed from Whitecraft in many points; he was brave, though cruel, and +addicted to deep potations. Whitecraft, it is true, drank more deeply +still than he did; but, by some idiosyncrasy of stomach or constitution, +it had no more effect upon him than it had upon the cask from which it +had been drawn, unless, indeed, to reduce him to greater sobriety and +sharpen his prejudices. + +Be this as it may, the Rev. Samson Strong made his appearance in +Smellpriest's house with a warrant, or something in the shape of one, +which he placed in the gallant captain's hands, who was drunk. + +"What's this, oh, Samson the Strong? said Smellpriest, laughing and +hiccuping both at the same time. + +"It's a hunt, my dear friend. One of those priests of Baal has united +in unholy bands a Protestant subject with a subject of the harlot of +abominations." + +"Samson, my buck," said Smellpriest, "I hope this Popish priest of yours +will not turn out to be a wild-goose. You know you have sent me upon +many a wild-goose chase before; in--in--in fact, you nev--never sent me +upon any other. You're a blockhead, oh, divine Samson; and that--that +thick head of yours would flatten a cannon-ball. But what is it?--an +intermarriage between the two P's--Popish and Protestant?" + +"My dear," said his wife, "you must be aware that the Popishers have +only got liberty to clatter their beads in public; but not to marry a +Popisher to a Protestanter. This is a glorious opportunity for you to +come home with a feather in your cap, my dear. Has he far to go, Mr. +Strong? because he never goes out after the black game, as you call +them, sir, that I don't feel as if I--but I can't express what I feel at +his dear absence." + +Now we have said that Smellpriest was drunk, which, in point of fact, +was true; but not so drunk but that he observed some intelligent glances +pass between his wife and the broad-shouldered curate. + +"No, madam, only about two miles. Smellpriest, you know Jack Houlaghan's +stripe?" + +"Yes--I know Jack Houlaghan's stripe, in Kilrudden." + +"Well, when you g'et to the centre of the stripe, look a little to +your right, and--as the night is light enough--you will see a house--a +cottage rather; to this cottage bring your men, and there you will find +your game. I would not, captain, under other circumstances, advise you +to recruit your spirits with an additional glass or two of liquor; but, +as the night is cold, I really do recommend you to fortify yourself with +a little refreshment." + +He was easily induced to do so, and he accordingly took a couple of +glasses of punch, and when about to mount his horse, it was found that +he could not do so without the assistance of his men who were on duty, +in all about six, every one of whom, as well as the captain himself, was +well armed. It is unnecessary to state to the reader that the pursuit +was a vain one. They searched the house to no purpose; neither priest +or friar was there, and he, consequently, had the satisfaction of +performing another wild-goose chase with his usual success, whenever the +Rev. Samson Strong sent him in pursuit. In the meantime the moon went +down, and the night became exceedingly dark; but the captain's spirits +were high and boisterous, so much so that they began to put themselves +forth in song, the song in question being the once celebrated satire +upon James the Second and Tyrconnell, called "Lillibullero," now "The +Protestant Boys." How this song gained so much popularity it is +difficult to guess, for we are bound to say that a more pointless and +stupid production never came from the brain of man. Be this as it may, +we must leave the gallant captain and his gang singing it in full +chorus, and request our readers to accompany us to another locality. + +The sheriff had now recovered from a dreadful attack of the prevailing +epidemic, and was able to resume his duties. In the meantime he had +heard of the change which had taken place in the administration of +affairs at headquarters--a change at which he felt no regret, but rather +a good deal of satisfaction, as it relieved him from the performance of +very disagreeable and invidious duties, and the execution of many severe +and inhuman laws. He was now looking over and signing some papers, when +he rang the bell, and a servant entered. "Tom," said he, "there is an +old man, a poor mendicant, to call here, who was once a servant in our +family; when he comes show him into the office. I expect some important +family information from him respecting the property which we are +disputing about in the Court of Chancery." + +"Very well, sir," replied the servant, "I shall do so." + +This occurred on the day of Whitecraft's visit to Squire Folliard, and +it was on the evening of the same that Smellpriest was sent upon the +usual chase, on the information of the Rev. Samson Strong; so that the +events to which we have alluded occurred, as if by some secret relation +to each other, on the same day. + +At length our friend Fergus entered the office, in his usual garb of an +aged and confirmed mendicant. + +"Well, Reilly," said the sheriff, "I am glad you have come. I could have +taken up this ruffian, this Red Rapparee, as he is properly called, upon +suspicion; but that would have occasioned delay; and it is my object +to lodge him in jail this night, so as to give him no chance of escape +unless he breaks prison; but in order to prevent that, I shall give +strict injunctions, in consequence of the danger to be apprehended from +so powerful and desperate a character, that he be kept in strong irons." + +"If it be within the strength of man, sir, to break prison, he will; he +done it twice before; and he's under the notion that he never was born +to be hanged; some of the ould prophecy men, and Mary Mahon, it seems, +tould him so." + +"In the meantime, Reilly, we shall test the truth of such prophecies. +But listen. What is your wish that I should do for you, in addition to +what I have already done. You know what I have promised you, and that +for some time past, and that I have the Secretary's letter stating that +you are free, and have to dread neither arrest nor punishment; but that +is upon the condition that you shall give all the evidence against this +man that you are possessed of. In that case the Government will also +bountifully reward you besides." + +"The Government need not think of any such thing, your honor," replied +Reilly; "a penny of Government money will never cross my pocket. It +isn't for any reward I come against this man, but because he joined the +blood-hounds of Sir Robert Whitecraft against his own priests and his +own religion; or at last against the religion he professed, for I don't +think he ever had any." + +"Well, then, I can make you one of my officers." + +"Is it to go among the poor and distressed, sir, and help, maybe, to +take the bed from undher the sick father or the sick mother, and to +leave them without a stick undher the ould roof or naked walls? No, sir; +sooner than do that I'd take to the highway once more, and rob like +a man in the face of danger. That I may never see to-morrow," he +proceeded, with vehemence, "but I'd rather rob ten rich men than +harish one poor family. It was that work that druv me to the coorse I +left--that an' the persecution that was upon us. Take my word, sir, +that in nineteen cases out of twenty it was the laws themselves, and the +poverty they brought upon the country, that made the robbers." + +"But could you not give evidence against some others of the gang?" + +"No, sir; there is not one of them in this part of the kingdom, and I +believe the most of them all are out of it altogether. But, even if they +were not, I, sir, am not the man to betray them; the Red Rapparee would, +if he could get at them; but, thank God, I've put every man of them +beyond his reach." + +"You did! and pray, now, why, may I ask, did that happen?" + +"Bekaise it came to my ears that it was his intention to inform against +them, and to surrender them all to the Government." + +"Well, Reilly, after all, I believe you to be an honest fellow, even +although you were once a robber; but the question now is, what is to be +done? Are you sure of his whereabouts?" + +"I think so, sir; or, if I am not, I know one that is. But I have an +observation to make. You know, sir, I would a' gone abroad, a freeman +before this time, only that it's necessary I should still keep on my +disguise, in ordher that I may move about as I wish until I secure this +Red Rapparee. After that, sir, please God, I'll taste a mouthful of +freedom. In the meantime I know one, as I said, that will enable us to +make sure of him." + +"Pray, who is that?" + +"Tom Steeple, sir." + +"Do you mean the poor fool of that name--or rather, I believe, of that +nickname?" + +"I do, sir; and in many things he's less of a fool than wiser men. He +has been dodg-in' him for the last two or three days; and he's a +person that no one would ever suspect, unless, indeed, the cautious and +practised Rapparees; but in ordher to meet any such suspicion, I have +got upon the right trail myself--we're sure of him now, I think." + +"Well, Reilly," proceeded the sheriff, "I leave the management of the +capture of this man to yourself. You shall have a strong and determined +party to support you. Do you only show them the man, and, take my word +for it, they will secure the robber. After this affair is over you must +throw off those rags. I will furnish you with decent clothes, and you +can go out at large without fear or risk, and that under your own name +too. I took your hint, and declined swearing the informations against +him before the old squire, as I had intended, from an apprehension that +he might possibly blab the fact to Whitecraft, who, if your information +be correct, would have given him notice to fly, or otherwise concealed +him from justice." + +"Well, sir," said Reilly, "it's my opinion that the Rapparee will lodge +in Sligo jail before to-morrow mornin'; and it's a thousand pities that +Whitecraft shouldn't be sent there to keep him company." + +"He certainly is the most unpopular man living. In the exuberance of his +loyalty he has contrived to offend almost every liberal Protestant +in the county, and that with an unjustifiable degree of wanton, and +overbearing insolence, arising from his consciousness of impunity. +However, thank God, his day is gone by. But, mark me, Reilly--I had +almost forgotten--don't neglect to secure the clothes in which the +villain robbed me; they will be important." + +"I had no intention of forgetting them, sir; and that scheme for +throwing the guilt of his own villany on Mr. Reilly is another reason +why I appear against him." + +It was not, indeed, very easy for the Rapparee to escape. Whitecraft got +home safe, a little before dusk, after putting his unfortunate horse +to more than his natural speed. On his arrival he ordered wine to +be brought, and sat down to meditate upon the most feasible plan for +reinstating himself in the good graces of the new Government. After +pondering over many speculations to that effect, it occurred to him that +to secure the Rapparee, now that he could, as an agent and a guide, be +of no further use to him, was the most likely procedure to effect his +purpose. He accordingly rang for his usual attendant, and asked him if +he knew where O'Donnel was. The man replied that he waa generally in or +about Mary Mahon's. + +"Then," proceeded his master, "let him be with me to-morrow morning at +eleven o'clock." + +"If I see him, sir, I shall tell him." + +"And say that I have something to his advantage to mention to him." + +"Yes, sir; I shan't forget it." + +"Now," said he, after the servant had withdrawn, and taking a bumper of +wine, "I know not how it is, but I feel very uncomfortable somehow. +I certaintly did not expect a change in the Administration, nor a +relaxation in the carrying out of the laws against Papists; and, under +this impression, I fear I have gone too far, and that I may be brought +over the coals for my conduct. I understand that the old French Abbe is +returned, and once more a resident in the family of that cursed marquis. +I think, by the way, I should go and apologize to both the marquis and +the Abbe, and throw the blame of my own violence upon the conduct and +instructions of the last Government; that, and the giving up of this +ruffianly Rapparee to the present, may do something for me. This +country, however, now that matters have taken such an unexpected turn, +shall not long be my place of residence. As for Reilly, my marriage on +the day after tomorrow with that stubborn beauty, Helen Folliard, +will place an impassable barrier between him and her. I am glad he +has escaped, for he will not be in our way, and we shall start for my +English estates immediately after the ceremony. To-morrow, however, I +shall secure the Rapparee, and hand him over to the authorities. I could +have wished to hang Reilly, but now it is impossible; still, we shall +start for England immediately after the nuptial knot is tied, for I +don't think I could consider myself safe, now that he is at large, and +at liberty to appear in his proper name and person especially after all +the mischief I have done him, in addition to the fact of my bearing away +his _Cooleen Bawn_, as she is called." + +In fact, the man's mind was a turbid chaos of reflections upon the past +and the future, in which selfishness, disappointed vengeance, terror, +hypocritical policy, and every feeling that could fill the imagination +of a man possessed of a vacillating, cowardly, and cruel heart, with the +exception only of any thing that could border upon penitence or remorse. +That Miss Folliard was not indifferent to him is true; but the feeling +which he experienced towards her contained only two elements--sensuality +and avarice. Of love, in its purest, highest, and holiest sense, he was +utterly incapable; and he was not ignorant himself that, in the foul +attachment which he bore her, he was only carrying into effect the +principles of his previous life--those of a private debauchee, and a +miser. That amiable, but unhappy and distracted, lady spent that whole +evening in making preparations for her flight with Reilly. Her manner +was wild and excited; indeed, so much so that the presence of mind and +cool good sense, for which her maid Connor was remarkable, were scarcely +sufficient to guide and direct her in this distressing emergency. She +seemed to be absorbed by but one thought, and that was of her father. +His affection for her enlarged and expanded itself in her loving heart, +with a force and tenderness that nearly drove her into delirium. Connor, +in the meantime, got all things ready, she herself having entrusted the +management of every thing to her. The unhappy girl paced to and fro her +room, sobbing and weeping bitterly, wringing her hands, and exclaiming +from time to time: + +"Oh, my father! my dear and loving father! is this the return I am +making you for your tenderness and affection? what am I about to do? +what steps am I going to take? to leave you desolate, with no heart for +yours to repose upon! Alas! there was but one heart that you cared for, +and in the duty and affection of that all your hopes for my happiness +lay; and now, when you awake, you will find that that heart, the very +heart | on which you rested, has deserted you! When you come down to +breakfast in the morning, and find that your own Helen, your only one, +has gone--oh! who will sustain, or soothe, or calm you in the frenzied +grief of your desolation? But alas! what can I do but escape from that +cowardly and vindictive villain--the very incarnation of oppression +and persecution; the hypocrite, the secret debauchee, the mean, the +dastardly, whose inhuman ambition was based upon and nurtured by blood? +Alas! I have but the one remedy--flight with my noble minded lover, +whom that dastardly villain would have hunted, even to his murder, or +an ignominious death, which would have been worse. This flight is not +spontaneously mine; I am forced to it, and of two evils I will choose +the least; surely I am not bound to seal my own misery forever." + +Connor had by this time attempted, as far as she could, to disguise her +in one of her own dresses; but nothing could conceal the elegance and +exquisite proportion of her figure, nor the ladylike harmony and grace +of her motions. She then went to the oaken cabinet, mentioned by her +father in the opening of our narrative, and as she always had the key of +that portion of it which contained her own diamonds, and other property, +she took a casket of jewels of immense value from it, and returned to +her room, where she found Connor before her. + +"Mr. Reilly is ready, miss," she said, "and is waiting for you behind +the garden; the only one I dread in the house is Andy Cummiskey; he is +so much attached to the master that I think if he knew you were about to +escape he would tell him." + +"Well, Connor, we must only avoid him as well as we can; but where, +or how, shall I carry these jewels? in these slight pockets of yours, +Connor, they could not be safe." + +"Well, then, can't you give them to him to keep, and they'll be safe?" + +"True, Connor, so they will; but I give him a heart which he prizes +above them all. But, alas! my father! oh! Connor, shall I abandon him?" + +"Do not distress yourself, my dear Miss Folliard; your father loves you +too much to hold out his anger against you long. Did you not tell me +that if Reilly was a Protestant your father said he would rather marry +you to him than to Sir Robert, the villain, with all his wealth?" + +"I did, Connor, and my father certainly said so; but the serpent, +Connor, entwined himself about the poor credulous man, and succeeded +in embittering him against Reilly, who would rather go to the +scaffold--yes, and--which he would consider a greater sacrifice--rather +abandon even me than his religion. And do you think, Connor, that I do +not love my noble-minded Reilly the more deeply for this? I tell you, +Connor, that if he renounced his religion upon no other principle than +his love for me, I should despise him as a dishonorable, man, to whom it +would not be safe for me to entrust my happiness." + +"Well, well; but now it is time to start, and Reilly, as I said, is +waiting for you behind the garden." + +"Oh, Connor, and is it come to this? my dear papa! but I cannot go until +I see him; no, Connor, I could not; I shall go quietly into his room, +and take one look at him; probably it may be the last. Oh, my God! what +am I about to do! Connor, keep this casket until I return; I shall not +be long." + +She then went to his chamber. The blinds and curtains of the windows +had not been drawn, and it occurred to her that as her dress was so +different from any which her father had ever seen on her, some +suspicion might be created should he observe it. She therefore left the +candlestick which she had brought with her on the inside sill of a +lobby window, having observed at the door that the moonlight streamed in +through the windows upon his bed. Judge of her consternation, however, +when, on entering the room, her father, turning himself in the bed, +asked: + +"Is that Helen?" + +"It is, papa; I thought you had been asleep, and I came up to steal my +good-night kiss without any intention of awakening you." + +"I drank too much, Helen, with Whitecraft, whom wine--my +Burgundy--instead of warming, seems to turn into an icicle. However, he +is a devilish shrewd fellow. Helen, darling, there's a jug of water +on the table there; will you hand it to me; I'm all in a flame and a +fever." + +She did so, and her hand trembled so much that she was near spilling it. +He took a long draught, after which he smacked his lips, and seemed to +breathe more freely. + +"Helen," said he. + +"Well, dear papa." + +"Helen, I had something to mention to you, but--" + +"Don't disturb yourself to-night, papa; you are somewhat feverish," she +added, feeling his pulse; if you will excuse me, papa, I think you drank +too much; your pulse is very quick; if you could fall into rest again it +would be better for you." + +"Yes, it would; but my mind is uneasy and sorrowful. Helen, I thought +you loved me, my darling." + +"Oh, could you doubt it, papa? You see I am come as usual--no, not as +usual, either--to kiss you; I will place my cheek against yours, as I +used to do, dear papa, and you will allow me to weep--to weep--and +to say that never father deserved the love of a daughter as you have +deserved mine; and never did daughter love an affectionate and indulgent +father more tenderly than your _Cooleen Bawn_ does you." + +"I know it, Helen, I know it; your whole life has been a proof of it, +and will be a proof of it; I know you have no other object in this world +than to make papa happy; I know I feel that you are great-minded enough +to sacrifice everything to that." + +"Well, but, papa," she continued, "for all my former offences against +you will you pity and forgive me?" + +"I do both, you foolish darling; but what makes you speak so?" + +"Because I feel melancholy to-night, papa; and now, papa, if ever I +should do any thing wrong, won't you pity and forgive your own _Cooleen +Bawn_?" + +"Get along, you gipsy--don't be crying. What could you do that papa +wouldn't forgive you, unless to run away with Reilly? Don't you know +that you can wind me round your finger?" + +"Farewell, papa," she said, weeping all the time, for, in truth, she +found it impossible to control herself; "farewell--good night! and +remember that you may have a great deal to forgive your own _Cooleen +Bawn_ some of these days." + +On leaving the bedroom, where she was hurried by her feelings into +this indiscreet dialogue, she found herself nearly incapable of walking +without support. The contending affections for her father and her lover +had nearly overcome her. By the aid of the staircase she got to her +own room, where she was met by Connor, into whose arms she fell almost +helpless. + +"Ah, Connor," she said, alluding to her father, whom she could not trust +herself to name, "to-morrow morning what will become of him when +he finds that I am gone? But I know his affectionate heart. He will +relent--he will relent for the sake of his own _Cooleen Bawn_. The laws +against Catholics are now relaxed, and I am glad of it. But I have one +consolation, my dear girl, that I am trusting myself to a man of honor. +We will proceed directly to the Continent;--that is, if no calamitous +occurrence should take place to prevent us; and there, after our +nuptials shall have been duly celebrated, I will live happy with +Reilly--that is, Connor, as happy as absence from my dear father will +permit me--and Reilly will live happy, and, at least, free from the +persecution of bad laws, and such villains as base and vindictive +Whitecraft. You, Connor, must accompany me to the back of the garden, +and see me off. Take this purse, Connor, as some compensation for your +truth and the loss of your situation." + +It was now, when the moment of separation approached, that Connor's +tears began to flow, far less at the generosity of her mistress than +her affection, and that which she looked upon as probably their final +separation. + +"Dear Connor," said her mistress, "I would expect that support to my +breaking heart which I have hitherto experienced from you. Be firm now, +for you see I am not firm, and your tears only render me less adequate +to encounter the unknown vicissitudes which lie before me." + +"Well, then, I will be firm, my dear mistress; and I tell you that if +there is a God in heaven that rewards virtue and goodness like yours, +you will be happy yet. Come, now, he is waiting for you, and the less +time we lose the better. We shall go out by the back way--it is the +safest." + +They accordingly did so, and had nearly reached the back wall of the +garden when they met Malcomson and Cummiskey, on their way into the +kitchen, in order to have a mug of strong ale together. The two men, +on seeing the females approach, withdrew to the shelter of a clump of +trees, but not until they were known by Connor. + +"Come, my dear mistress," she whispered, "there is not one second of +time to be lost. Cummiskey, who is a Catholic, might overlook our being +here at this hour; because, although he is rather in the light of a +friend than a servant to your father, still he is a friend to Reilly as +well; but as for that ugly Scotchman, that is nothing but bone and skin, +I would place no dependence whatever upon him." + +We will not describe the meeting between Reilly and the _Cooleen Bawn_. +They had no time to lose in the tender expressions of their feelings. +Each shook hands with, and bid farewell to, poor affectionate Connor, +who was now drowned in tears; and thus they set off, with a view of +leaving the kingdom, and getting themselves legally married in Holland, +where they intended to reside. + + + + +CHAPTER XX.--The Rapparee Secured + +--Reilly and the _Cooleen Bawn_ Escape, and are Captured. + +Cummiskey had a private and comfortable room of his own, to which he and +the cannie Scotchman proceeded, after having ordered from the butler a +tankard of strong ale. There was a cheerful fire in the grate, and +when the tankard and glasses were placed upon the table the Scotchman +observed: + +"De'il be frae my saul, maisther Cummiskey, but ye're vera comfortable +here." + +"Why, in troth, I can't complain, Mr. Malcomson; here's your health, +sir, and after that we must drink another." + +"Mony thanks, Andrew." + +"Hang it, I'm not Andrew: that sounds like Scotch; I'm Andy, man alive." + +"Wfiel mony thanks, Andy; but for the maitter o' that, what the de'il +waur wad it be gin it were Scotch?" + +"Bekaise I wouldn't like to be considered a Scotchman, somehow." + +"Weel, Andrew--Andy--I do just suppose as muckle; gin ye war considered +Scotch, muckle more might be expeck' frae you than, being an Irisher as +you are, you could be prepared to answer to; whereas--" + +"Why, hang it, man alive, we can give three answers for your one." + +"Weel, but how is that now, Andy? Here's to ye in the meantime; and 'am +no savin' but this yill is just richt gude drink; it warms the pit o' +the stamach, man." + +"You mane by that the pit o' the stomach, I suppose." + +"Ay, just that." + +"Troth, Mr. Malcomson, you Scotchers bring everything to the pit o' the +stomach--no, begad, I ax your pardon, for although you take care of the +pratie bag, you don't forget the pocket." + +"And what for no, Andy? why the de'il war pockets made, gin they wanna to +be filled? but how hae ye Irishers three answers for our ane?" + +"Why, first with our tongue; and even with that we bate ye--flog you +hollow. You Scotchmen take so much time in givin' an answer that an +Irishman could say his pattherin aves before you spake. You think first +and spake aftherwards, and come out in sich a way that one would suppose +you say grace for every word you do spake; but it isn't 'for what we are +to receive' you ought to say 'may the Lord make us thankful, but for +what we are to lose'--that is, your Scotch nonsense; and, in troth, we +ought to be thankful for losin' it." + +"Weel, man, here's to ye, Andy--ou, man, but this yill is extraordinar' +gude." + +"Why," replied Andy, who, by the way, seldom went sober to bed, and who +was even now nearly three sheets in the wind, "it is. Mr. Malcomson, the +right stuff. But, as I was sayin', you Scotchmen think first and spake +afther--one of the most unlucky practices that ever anybody had. Now, +don't you see the advantage that the Irishman has over you; he spakes +first and thinks aftherwards, and then, you know, it gives him plenty +of time to think--here's God bless us all, anyhow--but that's the way an +Irishman bates a Scotchman in givin' an answer; for if he fails by word +o' mouth, why, whatever he's deficient in he makes up by the fist or +cudgel; and there's our three Irish answers for one Scotch." + +"Weel, man, a' richt--a' richt--we winna quarrel aboot it; but I thocht +ye promised to gie us another toast--de'il be frae my; saul, man, but +I'll drink as mony as you like wisiccan liquor as this." + +"Ay, troth, I did say so, and devil a thing but your Scotch nonsense +put it out o' my head. And now, Mr. Malcomson, let me advise you, as a +friend, never to attempt to have the whole conversation to yourself; it +I isn't daicent. + +"Weel, but the toast, man?" + +"Oh, ay; troth, your nonsense would put any thing out of a man's head. +Well, you see this comfortable room?" + +"Ou, ay; an vara comfortable it is; ma faith, I wuss I had ane like it. +The auld squire, however, talks o' buildin' a new gertlen-hoose." + +"Well, then, fill your bumper. Here's to her that got me this room, and +had it furnished as you see, in order that I might be at my aise in it +for the remaindher o' my life--I mane the _Cooleen Bawn_--the Lily of +the Plains of Boyle. Come, now, off with it; and if you take it from +your lantern jaws! till it's finished, divil a wet lip ever I'll give +you." + +The Scotchman was not indisposed to honor the toast; first, because the +ale was both strong and mellow, and secondly, because the _Cooleen Bawn_ +was a great favorite of his, in consequence of the deference she paid to +him as a botanist. + +"Eh, sirs," he exclaimed, after finishing | his bumper, "but she's a +bonnie lassie that, and as gude as she's bonnie--and de'il a higher +compliment she could get, I think. But, Andy, man, don't they talk some +clash and havers anent her predilection for that weel-farrant callan, +Reilly?" + +"All, my poor girl," replied Cummiskey, shaking his head sorrowfully; "I +pity her there; but the thing's impossible--they can't be married--the +law is against them." + +"Weel, Andy, they must e'en thole it; but 'am thinkin' they'll just +break bounds at last, an' tak' the law, as you Irish do, into their am +hands." + +"What do you mane by that?" asked Andy, whose temper began to get warm by +the observation. + +"Ah, man," replied the Scotchman, "dinna let your birses rise at that +gate. Noo, there's the filbert trees, ma friend, of whilk ane is male +and the tither female; and the upshot e'en is, Andy, that de'il a pickle +o' fruit ever the female produces until there's a braw halesome male +tree planted in the same gerden. But, ou, man, Andy, wasna yon she and +that bonnie jaud, Connor, that we met the noo? De'il be frae my laul, +but I jalouse she's aff wi' him this vara nicht." + +"Oh, dear, no!" replied Cummiskey, starting; "that would kill her +father; and yet there must be something in it, or what would bring them +there at such an hour? He and she may love one another as much as they +like, but I must think of my mas-ther." + +"In that case, then, our best plan is to gie the alarm." + +"Hould," replied Andy; "let us be cautious. They wouldn't go on foot, +I think; and before we rise a ruction in the house, let us find out +whether she has made off or not. Sit you here, and I'll try to see +Connor, her maid." + +"Ah, but, Andy, man, it's no just that pleasant to sit hei-e dry-lipped; +the tankard's, oot, ye ken." + +"Divil tankard the Scotch sowl o'you--who do you suppose could think of +a tankard, or any thing else, if what we suspect has happened? It will +kill him." + +He then proceeded to look for Connor, whom he met in tears, which she +was utterly unable to conceal. + +"Well, Miss Connor," he asked, "what's the matther? You're cryin', I +persave." + +"All, Cummiskey, my mistress is unwell." + +"Unwell! why she wasn't unwell a while ago, when the gardener and I met +her and you on your way to the back o' the garden." + +"Oh, yes," replied Connor; "I forced her to come out, to try what a +little cool air-might do for her." + +"Ay, but, Connor, did you force her to come in again?" + +"Force! there was no force necessary, Cummiskey. She's now in her own +room, quite ill." + +"Oh, then, if she's quite ill, it's right that her father should know +it, in ordher that a docther may be sent for." + +"Ah, but she's now asleep, Cummiskey--that sleep may set her to rights; +she may waken quite recovered; but you know it might be dangerous to +disturb her." + +"Ah, I believe you," he replied, dissembling; for he saw at once, by +Connor's agitated manner, that every word she uttered was a lie; "the +sleep will be good for her, the darlin'; but take care of her, Connor, +for the masther's sake; for what would become of him if any thing +happened her? You know that if she died he wouldn't live a week." + +"That's true, indeed," she replied; "and if she get's worse, Cummiskey, +I'll let the master know." + +"That's a good girl; ma gragal that you! war--good-by, acushla," and he +immediately! returned to his own room, after having observed that Connor +went down to the kitchen. + +"Now, Mr. Malcomson," said he, "there is a good fire before you. I ax +your pardon--just sit in the light of it for a minute or so; I want this +candle." + +"'Am sayin', Andy, gin ye haud awa to the kitchen, it wadna be a crime +to send up anither tankard o' that yill." + +To this the other made no reply, but walked out of the room, and very +deliberately proceeded to that of Helen. The door was open, the bed +unslept upon, the window-curtains undrawn; in fact, the room was +tenantless, Connor a liar and an accomplice, and the suspicions of +himself and Malcomson well founded. He then followed Connor to the +kitchen; but she too had disappeared, or at least hid herself from him. +He then desired the other female servants to ascertain whether Miss +Folliard was within or not, giving it as his opinion that she had eloped +with Willy Reilly. The uproar then commenced, the house was +searched, but no _Cooleen Bawn_ was found. Cummiskey himself remained +comparatively tranquil, but his tranquillity was neither more nor less +than an inexpressible sorrow for what he knew the affectionate old man +must suffer for the idol of his heart, upon whom he doted with such +unexampled tenderness and affection. On ascertaining that she was not +in the house, he went upstairs to his master's bedroom, having the +candlestick in his hand, and tapped at the door. There was no reply +from within, and on his entering he found the old man asleep. The +case, however, was one that admitted of no delay; but he felt that to +communicate the melancholy tidings was a fearful task, and he scarcely +knew in what words to shape the event which had occurred. At length he +stirred him gently, and the old man, half asleep, exclaimed: + +"Good-night, Helen--good-night, darling! I am not well; I had something +to tell you about the discovery of--but I will let you know it to-morrow +at breakfast. For your sake I shall let him escape: there now, go to +bed, my love." + +"Sir," said Cummiskey, "I hope you'll excuse me for disturbing you." + +"What? who? who's there? I thought it was my daughter." + +"No, sir, I wish it was; I'm come to tell you that Miss Folliard can't +be found: we have searched every nook and corner of the house to no +purpose: wherever she is, she's not undher this roof. I came to tell +you, and to bid you get up, that we may see what's to be done." + +"What," he exclaimed, starting up, "my child!--my child--my child gone! +God of heaven! God of heaven, support me!--my darling! my treasure! my +delight!--Oh, Cummiskey!--but it can't be--to desert me!--to leave me in +misery and sorrow, brokenhearted, distracted!--she that was the prop of +my age, that loved me as never child loved a, father! Begone, Cummiskey, +it is not so, it can't be, I say: search again; she is somewhere in the +house; you don't know, sirra, how she loved me: why, it was only this +night that, on taking her good-night kiss, she--ha--what? what?--she +wept, she wept bitterly, and bade me farewell! and said--Here, +Cummiskey, assist me to dress. Oh, I see it, Cummiskey, I see it! she +is gone! she is gone! yes, she bade me farewell; but I was unsteady and +unsettled after too much drink, and did not comprehend her meaning." + +It is impossible to describe the almost frantic distraction of that +loving father, who, as he said, had no prop to lean upon but his +_Cooleen Bawn_, for he himself often loved to call her by that +appellation. + +"Cummiskey," he proceeded, "we will pursue them--we must have my +darling back: yes, and I will forgive her, for what is she but a +child, Cummiskey, not yet twenty. But in the meantime I will shoot him +dead--dead--dead--if he had a thousand lives; and from this night out +I shall pursue Popery, in all its shapes and disguises; I will imprison +it, transport it, hang it--hang it, Cummiskey, as round as a hoop. Ring +the bell, and let Lanigan unload, and then reload my pistols; he always +does it; his father was my grandfather's gamekeeper, and he understands +fire-arms. Here, though, help me on with my boots first, and then I will +be dressed immediately. After giving the pistols to Lanigan, desire the +grooms and hostlers to saddle all the horses in the stables. We must set +out and pursue them. It is possible we may overtake them yet. I will +not level a pistol against my child; but, by the great Boyne! if we meet +them, come up with them, overtake them, his guilty spirit will stand +before the throne of judgment this night. Go now, give the pistols to +Lanigan, and tell him to reload them steadily." + +We leave them now, in order that we may follow the sheriff and his +party, who went to secure the body of the Red Rapparee. This worthy +person, not at all aware of the friendly office which his patron, Sir +Robert, intended to discharge towards him, felt himself quite safe, and +consequently took very little pains to secure his concealment. Indeed, +it could hardly be expected that he should, inasmuch as Whitecraft had +led him to understand, as we have said, that Government had pardoned +him his social trangressions, as a _per contra_ for those political ones +which they still expected from him. Such was his own view of the case, +although he was not altogether free from misgiving, and a certain vague +apprehension. Be this as it may, he had yet to learn a lesson which his +employer was not disposed to teach him by any other means than handing +him over to the authorities on the following day. How matters might have +terminated between him and the baronet it is out of our power to detail. +The man was at all times desperate and dreadful, where either revenge +or anger was excited, especially as he labored under the superstitious +impression that he was never to be hanged or perish by a violent death, +a sentiment then by no means uncommon among persons of his outrageous +and desperate life. It has been observed, and with truth, that the Irish +Rapparees seldom indulged in the habit of intoxication or intemperance, +and this is not at all to be wondered at. The meshes of authority +were always spread for them, and the very consciousness of this fact +sharpened their wits, and kept them perpetually on their guard against +the possibility of arrest. Nor was this all. The very nature of the +lawless and outrageous life they led, and their frequent exposure to +danger, rendered habits of caution necessary--and those were altogether +incompatible with habits of intemperance. Self-preservation rendered +this policy necessary, and we believe there are but few instances on +record of a Rapparee having been arrested in a state of intoxication. +Their laws, in fact, however barbarous they were in other matters, +rendered three cases of drunkenness a cause of expulsion from the gang. +O'Donnel, however, had now relaxed from the rigid observation of his own +rules, principally for the reasons we have already stated--by which we +mean, a conviction of his own impunity, as falsely communicated to him +by Sir Robert Whitecraft. The sheriff had not at first intended to be +personally present at his capture; but upon second consideration he came +to the determination of heading the party who were authorized to secure +him. This resolution of Oxley's had, as will presently be seen, a +serious effect upon the fate and fortunes of the _Cooleen Bawn_ and her +lover. The party, who were guided by Tom Steeple, did not go to Mary +Mahon's, but to a neighboring cottage, which was inhabited by a +distant relative of O'Donnel. A quarrel had taken place between the +fortune-teller and him, arising from his jealousy of Sir Robert, which +caused such an estrangement as prevented him for some time from visiting +her house. Tom Steeple, however, had haunted him as his shadow, without +ever coming in contact with him personally, and on this night he had +him set as a soho man has a hare in her form. Guided, therefore, by the +intelligent idiot and Fergus, the party readied the cottage in which +the Rapparee resided. The house was instantly surrounded and the door +knocked at, for the party knew that the man was inside. + +"Who is there?" asked the old woman who kept the cottage. + +"Open the door instantly," said the sheriff, "or we shall smash it in." + +"No, I won't," she replied; "no, I won't, you bosthoon, whoever you are. +I never did nothin' agin the laws, bad luck to them, and I won't open my +door to any strolling vagabone like you." + +"Produce the man we want," said the sheriff, "or we shall arrest you +for harboring an outlaw and a murderer. Your house is now surrounded by +military, acting under the king's orders." + +"Give me time," said the crone; "I was at my prayers when you came to +disturb me, and I'll finish them before I open the door, if you were +to burn the house over my head, and myself in it. Up," said she to the +Rapparee, "through the roof--get that ould table undher your feet--the +thatch is thin--slip out and lie on the roof till they go, and then let +them whistle jigs to the larks if they like." + +The habits of escape peculiar to the Rapparees were well known to +Fergus, who cautioned those who surrounded the house to watch the roof. +It was well they did so, for in less-time than we have taken to describe +it the body of the Rapparee was seen projecting itself upwards through +the thin thatch, and in an instant several muskets were levelled at him, +accompanied by instant orders to surrender on pain of being shot. Under +such circumstances there was no alternative, and in a few minutes he was +handcuffed and a prisoner. The party then proceeded along the road on +which some of the adventures already recorded in this narrative had +taken place, when they were met, at a sharp angle of it, by Reilly and +his _Cooleen Bawn_, both of whom were almost instantly recognized by the +sheriff and his party. Their arrest was immediate. + +"Mr. Reilly," said the sheriff, "I am sorry for this. You must feel +aware that I neither am or ever was disposed to be your enemy; but I now +find you carrying away a Protestant heiress, the daughter of my friend, +contrary to the laws of the land, a fact which in itself gives me the +power and authority to take you into custody, which I accordingly do in +his Majesty's name. I owe you no ill will, but in the meantime you must +return with me to Squire Folliard's house. Miss Folliard, you must, as +you know me to be your father's friend, consider that I feel it my duty +to restore you to him." + +"I am not without means of defence," replied Reilly, "but the exercise +of such means would be useless. Two of your lives I might take; but +yours, Mr. Sheriff, could not be one of them, and that you must feel." + +"I feel, Mr. Reilly, that you are a man of honor; and, in point of fact, +there is ample apology for your conduct in the exquisite beauty of the +young lady who accompanies you; but I must also feel for her father, +whose bereavement, occasioned by her loss, would most assuredly break +his heart." + +Here a deep panting of the bosom, accompanied by violent sobs, was heard +by the party, and _Cooleen Bawn_ whispered to Reilly, in a voice nearly +stifled by grief and excitement: + +"Dear Reilly, I love you; but it was madness in us to take this step; +let me return to my father--only let me see him safe?" + +"But Whitecraft?" + +"Death sooner. Reilly, I am ill, I am ill; this struggle is too much for +me. What shall I do? My head is swimming." + +[Illustration: PAGE 140--discharged a pistol at our hero] + +She had scarcely uttered these words when her father, accompanied by his +servants, dashed rapidly up, and Cummiskey, the old huntsman, instantly +seized Reilly, exclaiming, "Mr. Reilly, we have you now;" and whilst +he spoke, his impetuous old master dashed his horse to one side, +and discharged a pistol at our hero, and this failing, he discharged +another. Thanks to Lanigan, however, they were both harmless, that +worthy man having forgotten to put in bullets, or even as much powder as +would singe an ordinary whisker. + +"Forbear, sir," exclaimed the sheriff, addressing Cummiskey; "unhand Mr. +Reilly. He is already in custody, and you, Mr. Folliard, may thank God +that you are not a murderer this night. As a father, I grant that an +apology may be made for your resentment, but not to the shedding of +blood." + +"Lanigan! villain! treacherous and deceitful villain!" shouted the +squire, "it was your perfidy that deprived me of my revenge. Begone, you +sneaking old profligate, and never let me see your face again. You did +not load my pistols as you ought." + +"No, sir," replied Lanigan, "and I thank God that I did not. It wasn't +my intention to see your honor hanged for murder." + +"Mr. Folliard," observed the sheriff, you ought to bless God that +gave you a prudent servant, who had too much conscience to become the +instrument of your vengeance. Restrain your resentment for the present, +and leave Mr. Reilly to the laws of his country. We shall now proceed to +your house, where, as a magistrate, you can commit him to prison, and I +will see the warrant executed this night. We have also another prisoner +of some celebrity, the Red Rapparee." + +"By sun and moon, I'll go bail for him," replied the infuriated squire. +"I like that fellow because Reilly does not. Sir Robert spoke to me in +his favor. Yes, I shall go bail for him, to any amount." + +"His offence is not a bailable one," said the cool sheriff; "nor, if the +thing were possible, would it be creditable in you, as a magistrate, to +offer yourself as bail for a common robber, one of the most notorious +highwaymen of the day." + +"Well, but come along," replied the squire; "I have changed my mind; +we shall hang them both; Sir Robert will assist and support me. I could +overlook the offence of a man who only took my purse; yes, I could +overlook that, but the man who would rob me of my child--of the solace +and prop of my heart and life--of--of--of--" + +Here the tears came down his cheeks so copiously that his sobs prevented +him from proceeding. He recovered himself, however, for indeed he was +yet scarcely sober after the evening's indulgence, and the two parties +returned to his house, where, after having two or three glasses of +Burgundy to make his hand steady, he prepared himself to take the +sheriff's informations and sign unfortunate Reilly's committal to Sligo +jail. The vindictive tenacity of resentment by which the heart of the +ruffian Rapparee was animated against that young man was evinced, on +this occasion, by a satanic ingenuity of malice that was completely +in keeping with the ruffian's character. It was quite clear, from +the circumstances we are about to relate, that the red miscreant had +intended to rob Folliard's house on the night of his attack upon it, in +addition to the violent abduction of his daughter. We must premise here +that Reilly and the Rapparee were each strongly guarded in different +rooms, and the first thing the latter did was to get some one to inform +Mr. Folliard that he had a matter of importance concerning Reilly to +mention to him. This was immediately on their return, and before the +informations against Reilly were drawn up. Folliard, who knew not what +to think, paused for some time, and at! last, taking the sheriff along +with him, went! to hear what O'Donnel had to say. + +"Is that ruffian safe?" he asked, before entering the room; "have you so +secured him that he can't be mischievous?" + +"Quite safe, your honor, and as harmless as a lamb." + +He and the sheriff then entered, and found the huge savage champing his +teeth and churning with his jaws, until a line of white froth encircled +his mouth, rendering him a hideous and fearful object to look at. + +"What is this you want with me, you misbegotten villain," said +the squire. "Stand between the ruffian and me, fellows, in the +meantime--what is it, sirra?" + +"Who's the robber now, Mr. Folliard?" he asked, with something, however, +of a doubtful triumph in his red glaring eye. "Your daughter had jewels +in a black cabinet, and I'd have secured the same jewels and your +daughter along with them, on a certain night, only for Reilly; and it +was very natural he should out-general me, which he did; but it was only +to get both for himself. Let him be searched at wanst, and, although I +don't say he has them, yet I'd give a hundred to one he has; she would +never carry them while he was with her." + +The old squire, who would now, with peculiar pleasure, have acted in +the capacity of hangman in Reilly's case, had that unfortunate young man +been doomed to undergo the penalty of the law, and that no person in the +shape of Jack Ketch was forthcoming--he, we say--the squire--started +at once to the room where Reilly was secured, accompanied also by the +sheriff, and, after rushing in with a countenance inflamed by passion, +shouted out: + +"Seize and examine that villain; he has robbed me--examine him +instantly: he has stolen the family jewels." + +Reilly's countenance fell, for he knew his Fearful position; but +that which weighed heaviest upon his heart was a consciousness of the +misinterpretations which the world might put upon the motives of his +conduct in this elopement, imputing it to selfishness and a mercenary +spirit. When about to be searched, he said: + +"You need not; I will not submit to the indignity of such an +examination. I have and hold the jewels for Miss Folliard, whose +individual property I believe they are; nay, I am certain of it, because +she told me so, and requested me to keep them For her. Let her be sent +for, and I shall hand them back to her at once, but to no other person +without violence." + +"But she is not in a condition to receive them," replied the sheriff +(which was a fact); "I pledge my honor she, is not." + +"Well, then, Mr. Sheriff, I place them in your hands; you can do with +them as you wish--that is, either return them to Miss Folliard, the +legal owner of them, or to her father." + +The sheriff received the caske't which contained them, and immediately +handed it to Mr. Folliard, who put it in his pocket, exclaiming: + +"Now, Reilly, if we can hang you for nothing else, we can hang you for +this; and we will, sir." + +"You, sir," said Reilly, with melancholy indignation, "are privileged +to insult me; so, alas! is every man now; but I can retire into the +integrity of my own heart and find a consolation there of which you +cannot deprive me. My life is now a consideration of no importance to +myself since I shall die with the consciousness that your daughter loved +me. You do not hear this for the first time, for that daughter avowed +it to yourself! and if I had been mean and unprincipled enough to have +abandoned my religion, and that of my persecuted forefathers, I might +ere this have been her husband." + +"Come," said Folliard, who was not prepared with an answer to this, +"come," said he, addressing the sheriff, "come, till we make out his +_mittimus_, and give him the first shove to the gallows." They then left +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI.--Sir Robert Accepts of an Invitation. + + +The next morning rumor had, as they say, her hands and tongues very full +of business. Reilly and the Red Rapparee were lodged in Sligo jail that +night, and the next morning the fact was carried by the aforesaid rumor +far and wide over the whole country. One of the first whose ears it +reached was the gallant and virtuous Sir Robert Whitecraft, who no +sooner heard it than he ordered his horse and rode at a rapid rate +to see Mr. Folliard, in order, now that Reilly was out of the way, to +propose an instant marriage with the _Cooleen Bawn_. He found the old +man in a state very difficult to be described, for he had only just +returned to the drawing-room from the strongly sentinelled chamber of +his daughter. Indignation against Reilly seemed now nearly lost in the +melancholy situation of the wretched _Cooleen Bawn_. He had just seen +her, but, somehow, the interview had saddened and depressed his heart. +Her position and the state of her feelings would have been pitiable, +even to the eye of a stranger; what, then, must they not have been to a +father who loved her as he did? "Helen," said he, as he took a chair +in her room, after her guards had been desired to withdraw for a time, +"Helen, are you aware that you have eternally disgraced your own name, +and that of your father and your family?" + +Helen, who was as pale as death, looked at him with vacant and +unrecognizing eyes, but made no reply, for it was evident that she +either had not heard, or did not understand, a word he said. + +"Helen," said he, "did you hear me?" + +She looked upon him with a long look of distress and misery, but there +was the vacancy still, and no recognition. + +This, I suppose, thought the father, is just the case with every +love-sick girl in her condition, who will not be allowed to have her own +way; but of what use is a father unless he puts all this nonsense down, +and substitutes his own judgment for that of a silly girl. I will say +something now that will startle her, and I will say nothing but what I +will bring about. + +"Helen, my darling," he said, "are you both deaf and blind, that you can +neither see nor hear your father, and to-morrow your wedding-day? Sir +Robert Whitecraft will be here early; the special license is procured, +and after marriage you and he start for his English estates to spend the +honeymoon there, after which you both must return and live with me, for +I need scarcely say, Helen, that I could not live without you. Now I +think you ought to be a happy girl to get a husband possessed of such +immense property." + +She started and looked at him with something like returning +consciousness. "But where is Willy Reilly?" she asked. + +"The villain that would have robbed me of my property and my daughter is +now safe in Sligo jail." + +A flash of something like joy--at least the father took it as +such--sparkled in a strange kind of triumph from her eyes. + +"Ha," said she, "is that villain safe at last? Dear papa, I am tired of +all this--this--yes, I am tired of it, and it is time I should; but you +talked about something else, did you not? Something about Sir Robert +Whitecraft and a marriage. And what is my reply to that? why, it is +this, papa: I have but one life, sir. Now begone, and leave me, or, upon +my honor, I will push you out of the room. Have I not consented to all +your terms. Let Sir Robert come tomorrow and he shall call me his wife +before the sun reaches his meridian. Now, leave me; leave me, I say." + +In this uncertain state her father found himself compelled to retire to +the drawing-room, where Sir Robert and he met. + +"Mr. Folliard," said the baronet, "is this true?" + +"Is what true, Sir Robert?" said he sharply. + +"Why, that Reilly and the Red Rapparee are both in Sligo jail?" + +"It is true, Sir Robert; and it must be a cursed thing to be in jail for +a capital crime." + +"Are you becoming penitent," asked the other, "for bringing the laws of +the land to bear upon the villain that would have disgraced, and might +have ruined, your only daughter?" + +The father's heart was stung by the diabolical pungency of this +question. + +"Sir Robert," said he, "we will hang him if it was only to get the +villain out of the way; and if you will be here to-morrow at ten +o'clock, the marriage must take place. I'll suffer no further nonsense +about it; but, mark me, after the honeymoon shall have passed, you and +she must come and reside here; to think that I could live without her is +impossible. Be here, then, at ten o'clock; the special license is ready, +and I have asked the Rev. Samson Strong to perform the ceremony. A +couple of my neighbor Ashford's daughters will act as bridesmaids, and +I myself will give her away: the marriage articles are drawn up, as you +know, and there will be little time lost in signing them; and yet, it's +a pity to--but no matter--be here at ten." + +Whitecraft took his leave in high spirits. The arrest and imprisonment +of Reilly had removed the great impediment that had hitherto lain in the +way of his marriage; but not so the imprisonment of the Red Rapparee. +The baronet regretted that that public and notorious malefactor had been +taken out of his own hands, because he wished, as the reader knows, to +make the delivering of him up to the Government one of the elements of +his reconciliation to it. Still, as matters stood, he felt on the whole +gratified at what had happened. + +Folliard, after the baronet had gone, knew not exactly how to dispose +of himself. The truth is, the man's heart was an anomaly--a series of +contradictions, in which one feeling opposed another for a brief space, +and then was obliged to make way for a new prejudice equally transitory +and evanescent. Whitecraft he never heartily liked; for though the man +was blunt, he could look through a knave, and appreciate a man of +honor, with a great deal of shrewd accuracy. To be sure, Whitecraft was +enormously rich, but then he was penurious and inhospitable, two vices +strongly and decidedly opposed to the national feeling. + +"Curse the long-legged scoundrel," he exclaimed; "if he should beget +me a young breed of Whitecrafts like himself I would rather my daughter +were dead than marry him. Then, on the other hand, Reilly; hang the +fellow, had he only recanted his nonsensical creed, I could--but then, +again, he might, after marriage, bring her over to the Papists, and +then, by the Boyne, all my immense property would become Roman Catholic. +By Strongbow, he'd teach the very rivers that run through it to sing +Popish psalms in Latin: he would. However, the best way is to hang him +out of the way, and when Jack Ketch has done with him, so has Helen. +Curse Whitecraft, at all events!" + +We may as well hint here that he had touched the Burgundy to some +purpose; he was now in that state of mental imbecility where reason, +baffled and prostrated by severe mental suffering and agitation, was +incapable of sustaining him without having recourse to the bottle. In +the due progress of the night he was helped to bed, and had scarcely +been placed and covered up there when he fell fast asleep. + +Whitecraft, in the meantime, suspected, of course, or rather he was +perfectly aware of the fact, that unless by some ingenious manoeuvre, +of which he could form no conception, a marriage with the _Cooleen Bawn_ +would be a matter of surpassing difficulty; but he cared not, provided +it could be effected by any means, whether foul or fair. The attachment +of this scoundrel to the fair and beautiful _Cooleen Bawn_ was composed +of two of the worst principles of the heart--sensuality and avarice; +but, in this instance, avarice came in to support sensuality. What the +licentious passions of the debauchee might have failed to tempt him to, +the consideration of her large fortune accomplished. And such was the +sordid and abominable union of the motives which spurred him on to the +marriage. + +The next morning, being that which was fixed for his wedding-day, he was +roused at an early hour by a loud rapping at his hall-door. He started +on his elbow in the bed, and ringing the bell for his valet, asked, when +that gentleman entered his apartment half dressed, "What was the matter? +what cursed knocking was that? Don't they know I can hunt neither priest +nor Papist now, since this polite viceroy came here." + +"I don't know what the matter is, Sir Robert; they are at it again; +shall I open the door, sir?" + +"Certainly; open the door immediately." + +"I think you had better dress, Sir Robert, and see what they want." + +The baronet threw his long fleshless shanks out of the bed, and began to +get on his clothes as fast as he could. + +"Ha!" said he, when he was nearly dressed, "what if this should be +a Government prosecution for what I have undertaken to do on my own +responsibility during the last Administration? But no, surely it cannot +be; they would have given me some intimation of their proceedings. This +was due to my rank and station in the country, and to my exertions, a +zealous Protestant, to sustain the existence of Church and State. Curse +Church and State if it be! I have got myself, perhaps, into a pretty +mess by them." + +He had scarcely uttered the last words when Mr. Hastings, accompanied by +two or three officers of justice, entered his bedroom. + +"Ah, Hastings, my dear friend, what is the matter? Is there any thing +wrong, or can I be of any assistance to you? if so, command me. But we +are out of power now, you know. Still, show me how I can assist you. How +do you do?" and as he spoke he put his hand out to shake hands with. Mr. +Hastings. + +[Illustration: PAGE 143--No, Sir Robert, I cannot take your hand] + +"No, Sir Robert, I cannot take your hand, nor the hand of any man that +is red with the blood of murder. This," said he, turning to the officers, +"is Sir Robert Whitecraft; arrest him for murder and arson." + +"Why, bless me, Mr. Hastings, are you mad? Surely, I did nothing, unless +under the sanction and by the instructions of the last Government?" + +"That remains to be seen, Sir Robert; but, at all events, I cannot enter +into any discussion with you at present. I am here as a magistrate. +Informations have been sworn against you by several parties, and you +must now consider yourself our prisoner and come along with us. There is +a party of cavalry below to escort you to Sligo jail." + +"But how am I to be conveyed there? I hope I will be allowed my own +carriage?" + +"Unquestionably," replied Mr. Hastings; "I was about to have proposed it +myself. You shall be treated with every respect, six." + +"May I not breakfast before I go?" + +"Certainly, sir; we wish to discharge our duty in the mildest possible +manner." + +"Thank you, Hastings, thank you; you were always a good-hearted, +gentlemanly fellow. You will, of course, breakfast with me; and these +men must be attended to." + +And he rang the bell. + +"I have already breakfasted, Sir Robert; but even if I had not, it would +not become me, as your prosecutor, to do so; but perhaps the men--" + +"What," exclaimed the baronet, interrupting him, you my prosecutor! For +what, pray?" + +"That will come in time," replied the other; "and you may rest assured +that I would not be here now were I not made aware that you were about +to be married to that sweet girl whom you have persecuted with such a +mean and unmanly spirit, and designed to start with her for England this +day." + +Whitecraft, now that he felt the dreadful consequences of the awful +position in which he was placed, became the very picture of despair and +pusillanimity; his complexion turned haggard, his eyes wild, and his +hands trembled so much that he was not able to bring the tea or bread +and butter to his lips; in fact, such an impersonation of rank and I +unmanly cowardice could not be witnessed. He rose up, exclaiming, in +a faint and hollow voice, that echoed no other sensation than that of +horror: + +"I cannot breakfast; I can eat nothing. What a fate is this! on the very +day, too, which I thought would have consummated my happiness! Oh, it is +dreadful!" + +His servant then, by Mr. Hastings' orders, packed up changes of linen +and apparel in his trunk, for he saw that he himself had not the +presence of mind to pay attention to any thing. In the course of a few +minutes the carriage was ready, and with tottering steps he went down +the stairs, and was obliged to be assisted into it by two constables, +who took their places beside, him. Mr. Hastings bowed to him coldly, +but said nothing; the coachman smacked his whip, and was about to start, +when he turned round and said: + +"Where am I to drive, Sir Robert?" + +"To Sligo jail," replied one of the constables, "as quick as you can +too." + +The horses got a lash or two, and bounded on, whilst an escort of +cavalry, with swords drawn, attended the coach until it reached its +gloomy destination, where we will leave it for the present. + +The next morning, as matters approached to a crisis, the unsteady old +squire began to feel less comfortable in his mind than he could have +expected. To say truth, he had often felt it rather an unnatural process +to marry so lovely a girl to "such an ugly stork of a man as Whitecraft +was, and a knave to boot. I cannot forget how he took me in by the +'Hop-and-go-constant' affair. But then he's a good Protestant--not that +I mean he has a single spark of religion in his nondescript carcass; +but in those times it's not canting and psalm-singing we want, but good +political Protestantism, that will enable us to maintain our ascendancy +by other means than praying. Curse the hound that keeps him? Is this a +day for him to be late on? and it now half past ten o'clock; however, +he must come soon; but, upon my honor, I dread what will happen when +he does. A scene there will be no doubt of it; however, we must only +struggle through it as well as we can. I'll go and see Helen, and try to +reconcile her to this chap, or, at all events, to let her know at once +that, be the consequences what they may, she must marry him, if I were +myself to hold her at the altar." + +When he had concluded this soliloquy, Ellen Connor, without whose +society Helen could now scarcely live, and who, on this account, had not +been discharged after her elopement, she, we say, entered the room, +her eye resolute with determination, and sparkling with a feeling which +evinced an indignant sense of his cruelty in enforcing this odious +match. The old man looked at her with surprise, for, it was the first +time she had ever ventured to obtrude her conversation upon him,or to +speak, unless when spoken to. + +"Well, madam," said he, "what do you want? Have you any message from +your mistress? if not, what brings you here?" + +"I have no message from my mistress," she replied in a loud, if not in +a vehement, voice; "I don't think my mistress is capable of sending a +message; but I came to tell you that the God of heaven will soon send +you a message, and a black one too, if you allow this cursed marriage to +go on." + +"Get out, you jade--leave the room; how is it your affair?" + +"Because I have what you want--a heart of pity and affection in my +breast. Do you want to drive your daughter mad, or to take her life?" + +"Begone, you impudent hussy; why do you dare to come here on such an +occasion, only to annoy me?" + +"I will not begone," she replied, with a glowing cheek, "unless I am put +out by force--until I point out the consequences of your selfish tyranny +and weakness. I don't come to annoy you, but I come to warn you, and to +tell you, that I know your daughter better than you do yourself. This +marriage must not go on; or, if it does, send without delay to a lunatic +asylum for a keeper for that only daughter. I know her well, and I tell +you that that's what it'll come to." + +The squire had never been in the habit of being thus addressed by any of +his servants; and the consequence was that the thing was new to him; so +much so that he felt not only annoyed, but so much astounded, that he +absolutely lost, for a brief period, the use of his speech. He looked at +her with astonishment--then about the room--then up at the ceiling, and +at length spoke: + +"What the deuce does all this mean? What are you driving at? Prevent the +marriage, you say?" + +"If the man," proceeded Connor, not even waiting to give him an +answer--"if the man--had but one good point--one good quality--one +virtue in his whole composition to redeem him from contempt and +hatred--if he had but one feature in his face only as handsome as +the worst you could find in the devil's--yes, if he had but one good +thought, or one good feature in either his soul or body, why--vile as +it would be--and barbarous as it would be--and shameful and cruel as it +would be--still, it would have the one good thought, and the one good +feature to justify it. But here, in this deep and wretched villain, +there is nothing but one mass of vice and crime and deformity; all +that the eye can ses, or the heart discover, in his soul or body, is as +black, odious, and repulsive as could be conceived of the worst imp +of perdition. And this is the man--the persecutor--the miser--the +debauchee--the hypocrite--the murderer, and the coward, that you are +going to join your good--virtuous--spotless--and beautiful daughter +to! Oh, shame upon you, you heartless old man; don't dare to say, or +pretend, that you love her as a father ought, when you would sacrifice +her to so base and damnable a villain as that. And again, and what is +more, I tell you not to prosecute Reilly; for, as sure as the Lord +above is in heaven, your daughter is lost, and you'll not only curse +Whitecraft, but the day and hour in which you were born--black and +hopeless will be your doom if you do. And now, sir, I have done; I felt +it to be my duty to tell you this, and to warn you against what I know +will happen unless you go back upon the steps you have taken." + +She then courtesied to him respectfully, and left the room in a burst of +grief which seized her when she had concluded. + +Ellen Connor was a girl by no means deficient in education--thanks to +the care and kindness of the _Cooleen Bawn_, who had herself instructed +her. 'Tis true, she had in ordinary and familiar conversation a touch +of the brogue; but, when excited, or holding converse with respectable +persons, her language was such as would have done no discredit to many +persons in a much higher rank of life. + +After she had left the room, Folliard looked towards the door by +which she had taken her exit, as if he had her still in his vision. +He paused--he meditated--he walked about, and seemed taken thoroughly +aback. + +"By earth and sky," he exclaimed, "but that's the most comical affair I +have seen yet. Comical! no, not a touch of comicality in it. Zounds, is +it possible that the, jade has coerced and beaten me?--dared to beard +the lion in his own den--to strip him, as it were, of his claws, and +to pull the very fangs out of his jaws, and, after all, to walk away in +triumph? Hang me, but I must have a strong touch of the coward in me +or I would not have knuckled as I did to the jade. Yet, hold--can I, or +ought I to be angry with her, when I know that this hellish racket all +proceeded from her love to Helen. Hang me, but she's a precious bit +of goods, and I'll contrive to make her a present, somehow, for her +courage. Beat me! by sun and sky she did." + +He then proceeded to Helen's chamber, and ordered her attendants out of +the room; but, on looking at her, he felt surprised to perceive that +her complexion, instead of being pale, was quite flushed, and her +eyes flashing with a strange wild light that he had never seen in them +before. + +"Helen," said he, "what's the matter, love? are you unwell?" + +She placed her two snowy hands on her temples, and pressed them tightly, +as if striving to compress her brain and bring it within the influence +of reason. + +"I fear you are unwell, darling," he continued; "you look flushed and +feverish. Don't, however, be alarmed; if you're not well, I'd see that +knave of a fellow hanged before I'd marry you to him, and you in that +state. The thing's out of the question, my darling Helen, and must not +be done. No: God forbid that I should be the means of murdering my own +child." + +So much, we may fairly presume, proceeded from the pithy lecture of +Ellen Connor; but the truth was, that the undefinable old squire was the +greatest parental coward in the world. In the absence of his daughter +he would rant and swear and vapor, strike the ground with his staff, and +give other indications of the most extraordinary resolution, combined +with fiery passion, that seemed alarming. No sooner, however, did he go +into her presence, and contemplate not only her wonderful beauty, but +her goodness, her tenderness and affection for himself, than the bluster +departed from him, his resolution fell, his courage oozed away, and he +felt that he was fairly subdued, under which circumstances he generally +entered into a new treaty of friendship and affection with the enemy. + +Helen's head was aching dreadfully, and she felt feverish and +distracted. Her father's words, however, and the affection which they +expressed, went to her heart; she threw her arms about him, kissed him, +and was relieved by a copious flood of tears. + +"Papa," she said, "you are both kind and good; surely you wouldn't kill +your poor Helen?" + +"Me kill you, Helen!--oh, no, faith. If Whitecraft were hanged to-morrow +it wouldn't give me half so much pain as if your little finger ached." + +Just at this progress of the dialogue a smart and impatient knock came +to the door. + +"Who is that?" said the squire; "come in--or, stay till I see who you +are." He than opened the door and exclaimed, "What! Lanigan!--why, you +infernal old scoundrel! how dare you have the assurance to look me in +the face, or to come under my roof at all, after what I said to you +about the pistols?" + +"Ay, but you don't know the good news I have for you and Miss Helen." + +"Oh, Lanigan, is Reilly safe?--is he set at large? Oh, I am sure he must +be. Never was so noble, so pure, and so innocent a heart." + +"Curse him, look at the eye of him," said her father, pointing his cane +at Lanigan; "it's like the eye of a sharp-shooter. What are you grinning +at; you old scoundrel?" + +"Didn't you expect Sir Robert Whitecraft here to-day to marry Miss +Folliard, sir?" + +"I did, sirra, and I do; he'll be here immediately." + +"Devil a foot he'll come to-day, I can tell you; and that's the way he +treats your daughter!" + +"What does this old idiot mean, Helen? Have you been drinking, sirra?" + +"Not yet, sir, but plaise the Lord I'll soon be at it." + +"Lanigan," said Helen, "will you state at once what you have to say?" + +"I will, miss; but first and foremost, I must show you how to dance the +'Little House under the Hill,'" and as he spoke he commenced whistling +that celebrated air and dancing to it with considerable alacrity and +vigor, making allowances for his age. + +The father and daughter looked at each other, and Helen, notwithstanding +her broken spirits, could not avoid smiling. Lanigan continued the +dance, kept wheeling about to all parts of the room, like an old madcap, +cutting, capering, and knocking up his heels against his ham, with a +vivacity that was a perfect mystery to his two spectators, as was his +whole conduct. + +"Now, you drunken old scoundrel," said his master, catching him by the +collar and flourishing the cane over his head, "if you don't give a +direct answer I will cane you within an inch of your life. What do you +mean when you say that Sir Robert Whitecraft won't come here to-day?" + +"Becaise, sir, it isn't convanient to him." + +"Why isn't it convenient, you scoundrel?" + +"Bekaise, sir, he took it into his head to try a change of air for the +benefit of his health before he starts upon his journey; and as he got +a very friendly invitation to spend some time in Sligo jail he accepted +it, and if you go there you will find him before you. It seems he +started this morning in great state, with two nice men belonging to the +law in the carriage with him, to see that he should want for nothing, +and a party of cavalry surroundin' his honor's coach, as if he was one +of the judges, or the Lord Lieutenant." + +The figurative style of his narrative would unquestionably have caused +him to catch the weight of the cane aforesaid had not Helen interfered +and saved him for the nonce. + +"Let me at him, Helen, let me at him--the drunken old rip; why does he +dare to humbug us in this manner?" + +"Well, then, sir, if you wish to hear the good news, and especially you, +Miss Folliard, it will probably relieve your heart when I tell you that +Sir Robert Whitecraft is, before this time, in the jail of Sligo, for +a charge of murdher, and for burnin' Mr. Reilly's house and premises, +which it now seems aren't Mr. Reilly's at all--nor ever were--but +belong to Mr. Hastings." + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed the squire, "this is dreadful: but is it true, +sirra?" + +"Why, sir, if you go to his house you'll find it so." + +"Oh, papa," said Helen, "surely they wouldn't hang him?" + +"Hang him, Helen; why, Helen, the tide's turned; they want to make him +an example for the outrages that he and others have committed against +the unfortunate Papists. Hang him!--as I live, he and the Red Rapparee +will both swing from the same gallows; but there is one thing I say--if +he hangs I shall take care that that obstinate scoundrel, Reilly, shall +also swing along with him." + +Helen became as pale as ashes, the flush had disappeared from her +countenance, and she burst again into tears. + +"Oh, papa," she exclaimed, "spare Reilly: he is innocent." + +"I'll hang him," he replied, "if it should cost me ten thousand pounds. +Go you, sirra, and desire one of the grooms to saddle me Black Tom; he +is the fastest horse in my stables; I cannot rest till I ascertain the +truth of this." + +On passing the drawing-room he looked in, and found Mr. Strong and +the two Misses Ashford waiting, the one to perform, and the others to +attend, at the ceremony. + +"Sir. Strong and ladies," said he, with looks of great distraction, "I +fear there will be no marriage here to-day. An accident, I believe, has +happened to Sir Robert Whitecraft that will prevent his being a party in +the ceremony, for this day at least." + +"An accident!" exclaimed the ladies and the clergyman. "Pray, Mr. +Folliard, what is it? how did it happen?" + +"I am just going to ride over to Sir Robert's to learn everything about +it," he replied; "I will be but a short time absent. But now!" he added, +"here's his butler, and I will get everything from him. Oh, Thomas, is +this you? follow me to my study, Thomas." + +As the reader already knows all that Thomas could tell him, it is only +necessary to say that he returned to the drawing-room with a sad and +melancholy aspect. + +"There is no use," said he, addressing them, "in concealing what will +soon be known to the world. Sir Robert Whitecraft has been arrested on a +charge of murder and arson, and is now a prisoner in the county jail." + +This was startling intelligence to them all, especially to the parson, +who found that the hangman was likely to cut him out of his fees. +The ladies screamed, and said, "it was a shocking thing to have that +delightful man hanged;" and then asked if the bride-elect had heard it. + +"She has heard it," replied her father, "and I have just left her in +tears; but upon my soul, I don't think there is one of them shed for +him. Well, Mr. Strong, I believe, after all, there is likely to be no +marriage, but that is not your fault; you came here to do your duty, and +I think it only just--a word with you in the next apartment," he added, +and then led the way to the dining-room. "I was about to say, Mr. +Strong, that it would be neither just nor reasonable to deprive you of +your fees; here is a ten-pound note, and it would have been twenty had +the marriage taken place. I must go to Sligo to see the unfortunate +baronet, and say what can be done for him--that is, if anything can, +which I greatly doubt." + +The parson protested, against the receipt of the ten-pound note very +much in the style of a bashful schoolboy, who pretends to refuse an +apple from a strange relation when he comes to pay a visit, whilst, at +the same time, the young monkey's chops are watering for it. With some +faint show of reluctance he at length received it, and need we say that +it soon disappeared in one of his sanctified pockets. + +"Strong, my dear fellow," proceeded the squire, "you will take a seat +with these ladies in their carriage and see them home." + +"I would, with pleasure, my dear friend, but that I am called upon to +console poor Mrs. Smellpriest for the loss of the captain." + +"The captain! why, what has happened him?" + +"Alas! sir, an unexpected and unhappy fate. He went out last night a +priest-hunting, like a godly sportsman of the Church, as he was, and on +his return from an unsuccessful chase fell off his horse while in +the act of singing that far-famed melody called 'Lillibullero,' +and sustained such severe injuries that he died on that very night, +expressing a very ungodly penitence for his loyalty in persecuting so +many treasonable Popish priests." + +The squire seemed amazed, and, after a pause, said: + +"He repented, you say; upon my soul, then, I am glad to hear it, for +it is more than I expected from him, and, between you and me, Strong, I +fear it must have taken a devilish large extent of repentance to clear +him from the crimes he committed against both priests and Popery." + +"Ah," replied Strong, with a groan of deep despondency, "but, +unfortunately, my dear sir, he did not repent of his sins--that is the +worst of it--Satan must have tempted him to transfer his repentance to +those very acts of his life upon which, as Christian champion, he +should have depended for justification above--I mean, devoting his great +energies so zealously to the extermination of idolatry and error. What +was it but repenting for his chief virtues, instead of relying, like a +brave and dauntless soldier of our Establishment, upon his praiseworthy +exertions to rid it of its insidious and relentless enemies?" + +The squire looked at him. + +"I'll tell you what, Strong---by the great Boyne, I'd give a trifle to, +see you get a smart touch of persecution in your own person; it might +teach you a little more charity towards those who differ with you; but, +upon my honor, if any change in our national parties should soon take +place, and that the Papists should get the upper hand, I tell you to +your teeth that if ever your fat libs should be tickled by the whip of +persecution, they would render you great injustice who should do it for +the sake of religion--a commodity with which I see, from the spirit +of your present sentiments, you are not over-burdened. However, in the +meantime, I daresay that whatever portion you possess of it, you will +charitably expend in consoling his widow, as you say. Good-morning!" + +We must return, however, to the close of Smellpriest's very sudden and +premature departure from the scene of his cruel and merciless labors. +Having reached the strip already described to him by Mr. Strong, and to +which he was guided by his men, he himself having been too far advanced +in liquor to make out his way with any kind of certainty, he proceeded, +still under their direction, to the cottage adjoining, which was +immediately surrounded by the troopers. After knocking at the door with +violence, and demanding instant admittance, under the threat of smashing +it in, and burning the house as a harbor for rebellious priests, +the door was immediately opened by a gray-headed old man, feeble and +decrepit in appearance, but yet without any manifestation of terror +either in his voice or features. He held a candle in his hand, and asked +them, in a calm, composed voice, what it was they wanted, and why they +thus came to disturb him and his family at such an unseasonable hour. + +"Why, you treasonable old scoundrel," shouted Smellpriest, "haven't +you got a rebel and recusant Popish priest in the house? I say, you +gray-headed old villain, turn him out on the instant, or, if you +hesitate but half a minute, well make a bonfire of you, him, the house, +and all that's in it. Zounds, I don't see why I shouldn't burn a house +as well as Whitecraft. That cursed baronet is getting ahead of me, but +I think I am entitled to a bonfire as well as he is. Shall we burn the +house?" he added, addressing his men. + +"I think you had better not, captain," replied the principal of them; +"recollect there are new regulations now. It wouldn't be safe, and might +only end in hanging every man of us--yourself among the rest." + +"But why doesn't the old rebel produce the priest?" asked their leader. +"Come here, sirra--hear me--produce that lurking priest immediately." + +"I don't exactly understand you, captain," replied the old man, who +appeared to know Smellpriest right well. "I don't think it's to my house +you should come to look for a priest." + +"Why not, you villain? I have been directed here, and told that I would +find my game under your roof." + +"In the first place," replied the old man, with a firm and intrepid +voice, "I am no villain; and in the next, I say, that if any man +directed you to this house in quest of a priest, he must have purposely +sent you upon a fool's errand. I am a Protestant, Captain Smellpriest; +but, Protestant as I am, I tell you to your face that if I could give +shelter to a poor persecuted priest, and save him from the clutches +of such men as you and Sir Robert Whitecraft, I would do it. In the +meantime, there is neither priest nor friar under this roof; you can +come in and search in the house, if you wish." + +"Why, gog's 'ouns, father," exclaimed one of the men, "how does it come +that we find you here?" + +"Very simply, John," replied his father--for such he was--"I took this +cottage, and the bit of land that goes with it, from honest Andy Morrow, +and we are not many hours in it. The house was empty for the last six +months, so that I say again, whoever sent Captain Smellpriest here sent +him upon a fool's errand--upon a wild-goose chase." + +The gallant captain started upon hearing these latter words. + +"What does he say," he asked--"a wild-goose chase! Right--right," +he added, in a soliloquy; "Strong is at the bottom of it, the black +scoundrel! but still, let us search the house; the old fellow admits +that he would shelter a priest. Search the house I say. + + 'There was an old prophecy found in a bog, + Lillibullero, bullen ala, &c., &c.'" + +The house was accordingly searched, but it is unnecessary to add that +neither priest nor friar was found under the roof, nor any nook or +corner in which either one or the other could have been concealed. + +The party, who then directed their steps homewards, were proceeding +across the fields to the mountain road which ran close by, and parallel +with the stripe, when they perceived at once that Smellpriest was in a +rage, by the fact of his singing "Lillibullero;" for, whenever either +his rage or loyalty happened to run high, he uniformly made a point to +indulge himself in singing that celebrated ballad. + +"By jabers," said one of them to his companions, "there will be a battle +royal between the captain and Mr. Strong if he finds the parson at home +before him." + +"If there won't be a fight with the parson, there will with the wife," +replied the other. "Hang the same parson," he added; "many a dreary +chase he has sent us upon, with nothing but the fatigue of a dark and +slavish journey for our pains. With what bitterness he's giving us +'Lillibullero,' and he scarcely able to sit on his horse! I think I'll +advance, and ride beside him, otherwise, he may get an ugly tumble on +this hard road." + +He accordingly did so, observing, as he got near him, "I have taken the +liberty to ride close beside you, lest, as the night is dark, your horse +might stumble." + +"What! do you think I'm drunk, you scoundrel?--fall back, sir, +immediately. + +"'Lillibullero, bullen ala.' + +"I say I'm not drunk; but I'm in a terrible passion at that treacherous +scoundrel; but no matter, I saw something to-night--never mind, I say. + + "'There was an old prophecy found in a bog, + Lillibullero, bullen ala; + + That Ireland should be ruled by an Ass and a Dog, + Lillibullero, bullen ala; + + And now that same prophecy has come to pass-- + Lillibullero, bullen ala; + + For Talbot's the Dog, and James is the Ass, + Lillibullero, bullen ala.' + +"Never mind, I say; hang me, but I'll crop the villain, or crop both, +which is better still--steady, Schomberg--curse you." + +The same rut or chasm across the more open road on which they had +now got out, and that had nearly been so fatal to Mr. Brown, became +decidedly so to unfortunate Smellpriest. The horse, as his rider spoke, +stopped suddenly, and, shying quickly to the one side, the captain was +pitched off, and fell with his whole weight upon the hard pavement. The +man was an unwieldy, and consequently a heavy man, and the unexpected +fall stunned him into insensibility. After about ten minutes or so he +recovered his consciousness, however, and having been once more placed +upon his horse, was conducted home, two or three of his men, with much +difficulty, enabling him to maintain his seat in the saddle. In this +manner they reached his house, where they stripped and put him to bed, +having observed, to their consternation, that strong gushes of blood +welled, every three or four minutes, from his mouth. + +The grief of his faithful wife was outrageous; and Mr. Strong, who was +still there kindly awaiting his safe return, endeavored to compose her +distraction as well as he could. + +"My dear madam," said he, "why will you thus permit your grief to +overcome you? You will most assuredly injure your own precious health by +this dangerous outburst of sorrow. The zealous and truly loyal captain +is not, I trust, seriously injured; he will recover, under God, in a few +days. You may rest assured, my dear Mrs. Smellpriest, that his life is +too valuable to be taken at this unhappy period. No, he will, I trust +and hope, be spared until a strong anti-Popish Government shall come +in, when, if he is to lose it, he will lose it in some great and godly +exploit against the harlot of abominations." + +"Alas! my dear Mr. Strong, that is all very kind of you, to support my +breaking heart with such comfort; but, when he is gone, what will become +of me?" + +"You will not be left desolate, my dear madam--you will be +supported--cheered--consoled. Captain my friend, how do you feel now? +Are you easier?" + +"I am," replied the captain feebly--for he had not lost his +speech--"come near me, Strong." + +"With pleasure, dear captain, as becomes my duty, not only as a friend, +but as an humble and unworthy minister of religion. I trust you are not +in danger, but, under any circumstances, it is best, you know, to be +prepared for the worst. Do not then be cast down, nor allow your heart +to sink into despair. Remember that you have acted the part of a zealous +and faithful champion on behalf of our holy Church, and that you have +been a blessed scourge of Popery in this Pope-ridden country. Let that +reflection, then, be your consolation. Think of the many priests you +have hunted--and hunted successfully too; think of how many bitter +Papists of every class you have been the blessed means of committing +to the justice of our laws; think of the numbers of Popish priests +and bishops you have, in the faithful discharge of your pious +duty, committed to chains, imprisonment, transportation, and the +scaffold--think of all these things, I say, and take comfort to +your soul by the retrospect. Would you wish to receive the rites and +consolations of religion at my hands?" + +"Come near me, Strong," repeated Smell-priest. "The rites of religion +from you--the rights of perdition as soon, you hypocritical scoundrel;" +and as he spoke he caught a gush of blood as it issued from his +mouth and flung it with all the strength he had left right into the +clergyman's face. "Take that, you villain," he added; "I die in every +sense with my blood upon you. And as for my hunting of priests and +Papists, it is the only thing that lies at this moment heavy over my +heart. And as for that wife of mine, I'm sorry she's not in my place. +I know, of course, I'll be damned; but it can't be helped now. If I go +down, as down I will go, won't I have plenty of friends to keep me in +countenance. I know--I feel I'm dying; but I must take the consequences. +In the meantime, my best word and wish is, that that vile jade shan't +be permitted to approach or touch my body after I am dead. My curse upon +you both! for you brought me to this untimely death between you." + +"Why, my dear Smellpriest--" exclaimed the wife. + +"Don't call me Smellpriest," he replied, interrupting her; "my name is +Norbury. But it doesn't matter--it's all up with me, and I know it +will soon be all down with me; for down, down I'll go. Strong, you +hypocritical scoundrel, don't be a persecutor: look at me on the very +brink of perdition for it. And now the only comfort I have is, that I +let the poor Popish bishop off. I could not shoot him, or at any rate +make a prisoner of him, and he engaged in the worship of God." + +"Alas!" whispered Strong, "the poor man is verging on rank Popery--he is +hopeless." + +"But, Tom, dear," said the wife, "why are you displeased with me, your +own faithful partner? I that was so loving and affectionate to you? +I that urged you on in the path of duty? I that scoured your arms and +regimentals with my own hands--that mixed you your punch before you went +after the black game, as you used to say, and, again, had it ready for +you when you returned to precious Mr. Strong and me after a long hunt. +Don't die in anger with your own Grizzey, as you used to call me, my +dear Tom, or, if you do, I feel that I won't long survive you." + +"Ah! you jade," replied Tom, "didn't I see the wink between you +to-night, although you thought I was drunk? Ah, these wild-goose +chases!" + +"Tom, dear, we are both innocent. Oh, forgive your own Grizaey!" + +"So I do, you jade--my curse on you both." + +Whether it was the effort necessary to speak, in addition to the +excitement occasioned by his suspicions, and whether these suspicions +were well founded or not, we do not presume to say; but the fact was, +that, after another outgulp of blood had come up, he drew a long, +deep sigh, his under-jaw fell, and the wretched, half-penitent Captain +Smellpriest breathed his last. After which his wife, whether from +sorrow or remorse, became insensible, and remained in that state for a +considerable time; but at length she recovered, and, after expressing +the most violent sorrow, literally drove the Rev. Mr. Strong out of the +house, with many deep and bitter curses. But to return: + +In a few minutes the parties dispersed, and Folliard, too much absorbed +in the fates of Reilly and Whitecraft, prepared to ride to Sligo, to +ascertain if any thing could be done for the baronet. In the meantime, +while he and his old friend Cummiskey are on their way to see that +gentleman, we will ask the attention of our readers to the state of +Helen's mind, as it was affected by the distressing events which had so +rapidly and recently occurred. We need not assure them that deep anxiety +for the fate of her unfortunate lover lay upon her heart like gloom +of death itself. His image and his natural nobility of character, but, +above all, the purity and delicacy of his love for herself his manly and +faithful attachment to his religion, under temptations which few +hearts could resist--temptations of which she herself was, beyond all +comparison, the most trying and the most difficult to be withstood; his +refusal to leave the country on her account, even when the bloodhounds +of the law were pursuing him to his death in every direction; and the +reflection that this resolution of abiding by her, and watching over +her welfare and happiness, and guarding her, as far as he could, from +domestic persecution--all these reflections, in short, crowded upon her +mind with such fearful force that her reason began to totter, and she +felt apprehensive that she might not be able to bear the trial which +Reilly's position now placed before her in the most hideous colors. On +the other hand, there was Whitecraft, a man certainly who had committed +many crimes and murders and burnings, often, but not always, upon his +own responsibility; a man who, she knew, entertained no manly or tender +affection for her; he too about to meet a violent death! That she +detested him with an abhorrence as deep as ever woman entertained +against man was true; yet she was a woman, and this unhappy fate that +impended over him was not excluded out of the code of her heart's +humanity. She wished him also to be saved, if only that he might +withdraw from Ireland and repent of his crimes. Altogether she was in +a state bordering on frenzy and despair, and was often incapable of +continuing a sustained conversation. + +When Whitecraft reached the jail in his carriage, attended by a guard +of troopers, the jailor knew not what to make of it; but seeing the +carriage, which, after a glance or two, he immediately recognized as +that of the well-known grand juror, he came out, with hat in hand, +bowing most obsequiously. + +"I hope your honor's well; you are coming to inspect the prisoners, I +suppose? Always active on behalf of Church and State, Sir Robert." + +"Come, Mr. O'Shaughnessy," said one of the constables, "get on with no +nonsense. You're a mighty Church and State man now; but I remember when +there was as rank a rebel under your coat as ever thumped a craw. Sir +Robert, sir, is here as our prisoner, and will soon be yours, for murder +and arson, and God knows what besides. Be pleased to walk into the +hatch, Sir Robert, and there we surrender you to Mr. O'Shaughnessy, who +will treat you well if you pay him well." + +They then entered the hatch. The constable produced the _mittimus_ and +the baronet's person both together, after which they withdrew, having +failed to get the price of a glass from the baronet as a reward for +their civility. + +Such scenes have been described a hundred times, and we consequently +shall not delay our readers upon this. The baronet, indeed, imagined +that from his rank and influence the jailer might be induced to give him +comfortable apartments. He was in, however, for two capital felonies, +and the jailer, who was acquainted with the turn that public affairs had +taken, told him that upon his soul and conscience if the matter lay +with him he would not put his honor among the felons; but then he had no +discretion, because it was as much as his place was worth to break +the rules--a thing he couldn't think of doing as an honest man and an +upright officer. + +"But whatever I can do for you, Sir Robert, I'll do." + +"You will let me have pen and ink, won't you?" + +"Well, let me see. Yes, I will, Sir Robert; I'll stretch that far for +the sake of ould times." + + + + +CHAPTEE XXII. + +The Squire Comforts Whitecraft in his Affliction. + + +The old squire and Cummiskey lost little time in getting over the ground +to the town of Sligo, and, in order to reach it the more quickly, +they took a short cut by the old road which we have described at the +beginning of this narrative. On arriving at that part of it from which +they could view the spot where Reilly rescued them from the murderous +violence of the Red Rapparee, Cummiskey pointed to it. + +"Does your honor remember that place, where you see the ould buildin'?" + +"Yes, I think so. Is not that the place where the cursed Rapparee +attacked us?" + +"It is, sir; and where poor Reilly saved both our lives; and yet your +honor is goin' to hang him." + +"You know nothing about it, you old blockhead. It was all a plan got up +by Reilly and the Rapparee for the purpose of getting introduced to +my daughter, for his own base and selfish purposes. Yes, I'll hang him +certainly--no doubt of that." + +"Well, sir," replied Cummiskey, "it's one comfort that he won't hang by +himself." + +"No," said the other, "he and the Rapparee will stretch the same rope." + +"The Rapparee! faith, sir, hell have worse company." + +"What do you mean, sirra?" + +"Why, Sir Robert Whitecraft, sir; he always had gallows written in his +face; but, upon my soul, he'll soon have it about his neck, please God." + +"Faith, I'm afraid you are not far from the truth, Cummiskey," replied +his master; "however, I am going to make arrangements with him, to see +what can be done for the unfortunate man." + +"If you'll take my advice, sir, you'll have nothing to do with him. Keep +your hand out o' the pot; there's no man can skim boiling lead with his +hand and not burn his fingers--but a tinker." + +"Don't be saucy, you old dog; but ride on, for I must put Black Tom to +his speed." + +On arriving at the prison, the squire found Sir Robert pent up in a +miserable cell, with a table screwed to the floor, a pallet bed, and +a deal form. Perhaps his comfort might have been improved through +the medium of his purse, were it not that the Prison Board had held a +meeting that very day, subsequent to his committal, in which, with some +dissentients, they considered it their duty to warn the jailer against +granting him any indulgence beyond what he was entitled to as a felon, +and this under pain of their earnest displeasure. + +When the squire entered he found the melancholy baronet and +priest-hunter sitting upon the hard form, his head hanging down upon his +breast, or, indeed, we might say much farther; for, in consequence of +the almost unnatural length of his neck, it appeared on that occasion to +be growing out of the middle of his body, or of that fleshless vertebral +column which passed for one. + +"Well, baronet," exclaimed Folliard pretty loudly, "here's an exchange! +from the altar to the halter; from the matrimonial noose to honest Jack +Ketch's--and a devilish good escape it would be to many unfortunate +wretches in this same world." + +"Oh, Mr. Folliard," said the baronet, "is not this miserable? What will +become of me?" + +"Now, I tell you what, Whitecraft, I am come to speak to you upon your +position; but before I go farther, let me say a word or two to make you +repent, if possible, for what you have done to others." + +"For what I have done, Mr. Folliard! why should I not repent, when I +find I am to be hanged for it?" + +"Oh, hanged you will be, there is no doubt of that; but now consider a +little; here you are with a brown loaf, and--is that water in the jug?" + +"It is." + +"Very well; here you are, hard and fast, you who were accustomed to +luxuries, to the richest meats, and the richest wines--here you are with +a brown loaf, a jug of water, and the gallows before you! However, if +you wish to repent truly and sincerely, reflect upon the numbers that +you and your bloodhounds have consigned to places like this, and sent +from this to the gibbet, while you were rioting in luxury and triumph. +Good God, sir, hold up your head, and be a man. What if you are hanged? +Many a better man was. Hold up your head, I say." + +"I can't, my dear Folliard; it won't stay up for me." + +"Egad! and you'll soon get a receipt for holding it up. Why the mischief +can't you have spunk?" + +"Spunk; how the deuce could you expect spunk from any man in my +condition? It is difficult to understand you, Mr. Folliard; you told me +a minute ago to repent, and now you tell me to have spunk; pray what do +you mean by that?" + +"Why, confound it, I mean that you should repent with spunk. However, +let us come to more important matters; what can be done for you?" + +"I know not; I am incapable of thinking on any thing but that damned +gallows without; yet I should wish to make my will." + +"Your will! Why, I think you have lost your senses; don't you know that +when you're hanged every shilling and acre you are possessed of will be +forfeited to the crown?" + +"True," replied the other, "I had forgotten that. Could Hastings be +induced to decline prosecuting?" + +"What! to compromise a felony, and be transported himself. Thank you for +nothing baronet; that's rather a blue look up. No, our only plan is +to try and influence the grand jury to throw out the bills; but then, +again, there are indictments against you to no end. Hastings' case is +only a single one, and, even if he failed, it would not better your +condition a whit. Under the late Administration we could have saved you +by getting a packed jury; but that's out of the question now. All we can +do, I think, is to get up a memorial strongly signed, supplicating the +Lord Lieutenant to commute your sentence from hanging to transportation +for life. I must confess, however, there is little hope even there. They +will come down with their cursed reasoning and tell us that the rank and +education of the offender only aggravate the offence; and that, if they +allow a man so convicted to escape, in consequence of his high position +in life, every humble man found guilty and executed for the same +crime--is murdered. They will tell us it would be a prostitution of the +prerogative of the Crown to connive at crime in the rich and punish it +in the poor. And, again, there's the devil of it; your beggarly want of +hospitality in the first place, and the cursed swaggering severity with +which you carried out your loyalty, by making unexpected domiciliary +visits to the houses of loyal but humane Protestant families, with the +expectation of finding a priest or a Papist under their protection: both +these, I say, have made you the most unpopular man in the county; and, +upon my soul, Sir Robert, I don't think there will be a man upon +the grand jury whose family you have not insulted by your inveterate +loyalty. No one, I tell! you, likes a persecutor. Still, I say, I'll try +what I can do with the grand jury. I'll see my friends and yours--if you +have any now; make out a list of them in a day or two--and you may rest +assured that I will leave nothing undone to extricate you." + +"Thank you, Mr. Folliard; but do you know why I am here?" + +"To be sure I do." + +"No, you don't, sir. William Reilly, the Jesuit and Papist, is the cause +of it, and will be the cause of my utter ruin and ignominious death." + +"How is that? Make it plain to me; only make that plain to me." + +"He is the bosom friend of Hastings, and can sway him and move him and +manage him as a father would a child, or, rather, as a child would a +doting father. Reilly, sir, is at the bottom of this, his great object +always having been to prevent a marriage between me and your beautiful +daughter; I, who, after all, have done so much for Protestantism, am the +victim of that Jesuit and Papist." + +This vindictive suggestion took at once, and the impetuous old squire +started as if a new light had been let in upon his mind. We call him +impetuous, because, if he had reflected only for a moment upon the +diabolical persecution, both in person and property, which Reilly had +sustained at the baronet's hands, he ought not to have blamed him had! +he shot the scoundrel as if he had been one of the most rabid dogs that +ever ran frothing across a country. We say the suggestion, poisoned +as it was by the most specious falsehood, failed not to accomplish the +villain's object. + +Folliard grasped him by the hand. "Never-mind," said he; "keep yourself +quiet, and leave Reilly to me; I have him,that's enough." + +"No," replied the baronet, "it is not enough, because I know what will +happen: Miss Folliard's influence over you is a proverb; now she will +cajole and flatter and beguile you until she prevails upon you to let +the treacherous Jesuit slip through your fingers, and then he will get +off to the Continent, and laugh at you all, after having taken her with +him; for there is nothing more certain, if he escapes death through +your indulgence, than that you will, in the course of a few years, +find yourself grandfather to a brood of young Papists; and when I say +Papists, need I add rebels?" + +"Come," replied the hot-headed old man, "don't insult me; I am master of +my own house, and, well as I love my daughter, I would not for a moment +suffer her to interfere in a public matter of this or any other kind. +Now good-by; keep your spirits up, and if you are to die, why die like a +man." + +They then separated; and as Folliard was passing through the hatch, he +called the jailer into his own office, and strove to prevail upon him, +not ineffectually, to smuggle in some wine and other comforts to the +baronet. The man told him that he would with pleasure do so if he dared; +but that the caution against it which he had got that very day from the +Board rendered the thing impossible. Ere the squire left him, however, +his scruples were overcome, and the baronet, before he went to bed that +night, had a rost duck for supper, with two bottles of excellent claret +to wash it down and lull his conscience into slumber. + +"Confound it," the squire soliloquized, on their way home, "I am as +stupid as Whitecraft himself, who was never stupid until now; there have +I been with him in that cursed dungeon, and neither of us ever thought +of taking measures for his defence. Why, he must have the best lawyers +at the Bar, and fee them like princes. Gad! I have a great notion to +ride back and speak to him on the subject; he's in such a confounded +trepidation about his life that he can think of nothing else. No matter, +I shall write to him by a special messenger early in the morning. +It would be a cursed slap in the face to have one of our leading men +hanged--only, after all, for carrying out the wishes of an anti-Papist +Government, who connived at his conduct, and encouraged him in it. I +know he expected a coronet, and I have no doubt but he'd have got one +had his party remained in; but now all the unfortunate devil is likely +to get is a rope--and be hanged to them! However, as to my own case +about Reilly--I must secure a strong bar against him; and if we can only +prevail upon Helen to state the facts as they occurred, there is little +doubt that he shall suffer; for hang he must, in consequence of the +disgrace he has brought upon my daughter's name and mine. Whatever I +might have forgiven, I will never forgive him that." + +He then rode on at a rapid pace, and did not slacken his speed until he +reached home. Dinner was ready, and he sat down with none but Helen, who +could scarcely touch a morsel. Her father saw at once the state of her +mind, and felt that it would be injudicious to introduce any subject +that might be calculated to excite her. They accordingly talked upon +commonplace topics, and each assumed as much cheerfulness, and more than +they could command. It was a miserable sight, when properly understood, +to see the father and daughter forced, by the painful peculiarity of +their circumstances, thus to conceal their natural sentiments from each +other. Love, however, is often a disturber of families, as in the case +of Reilly and _Cooleen Bawn_; and so is an avaricious ambition, +when united to a selfish and a sensual attachment, as in the case of +Whitecraft. + +It is unnecessary now, and it would be only tedious, to dwell upon the +energetic preparations that were made for the three approaching trials. +Public rumor had taken them up and sent them abroad throughout the +greater portion of the kingdom. The three culprits were notorious--Sir +Robert Whitecraft, the priest-hunter and prosecutor; the notorious Red +Rapparee, whose exploits had been commemorated in a thousand ballads; +and "Willy Reilly," whose love for the far-famed _Cooleen Bawn_, +together with her unconquerable passion for him, had been known +throughout the empire. In fact, the interest which the public felt in +the result of the approaching trials was intense, not only in Ireland, +but throughout England and Scotland, where the circumstances connected +with them were borne on the wings of the press. Love, however, +especially the romance of it--and here were not only romance but reality +enough--love, we say, overcomes all collateral interests--and the +history of the loves of Willy Reilly and his "dear _Cooleen Bawn_" even +then touched the hearts of thousands, and moistened many a young eye for +his calamities and early fate, and the sorrows of his _Cooleen Bawn_. + +Helen's father, inspired by the devilish suggestions of Whitecraft, now +kept aloof from her as much as he could with decency do. He knew his own +weakness, and felt that if he suffered her to gain that portion of his +society to which she had been accustomed, his resolution might break +down, and the very result prognosticated by Whitecraft might be brought +about. Indeed his time was so little his own, between his activity in +defence of that villain and his energetic operations for the prosecution +of Reilly, that he had not much to spare her, except at meals. It +was not, however, through himself that he wished to win her over to +prosecute Reilly. No; he felt his difficulty, and knew that he could not +attempt to influence her with a good grace, or any force of argument. He +resolved, therefore, to set his attorney to work, who, as he understood +all the quirks and intricacy of the law, might be able to puzzle her +into compliance. This gentleman, however, who possessed at once a +rapacious heart and a stupid head, might have fleeced half the country +had the one been upon a par with the other. He was, besides, in his own +estimation, a lady-killer, and knew not how these interviews with +the fair _Cooleen Bawn_ might end. He, at all events, was a sound +Protestant, and if it were often said that you might as well ask a +Highlander for a knee-buckle as an attorney for religion, he could +conscientiously fall back upon the fact that political Protestantism and +religion were very different things--for an attorney. + +Instructed by Folliard, he accordingly waited upon her professionally, +in her father's study, during his absence, and opened his case as +follows: + +"I have called upon you, Miss Folliard, by the direction of your father, +professionally, and indeed I thank my stars that any professional +business should give me an opportunity of admiring so far-famed a +beauty." + +"Are you not Mr. Doldrum," she asked, "the celebrated attorney?" + +"Doldrum is certainly my name, my lovely client." + +"Well, Mr. Doldrum, I think I have heard of you; but permit me to say +that before you make love, as you seem about to do, I think it better +you should mention your professional business." + +"It is very simple, Miss Folliard; just to know whether you have any +objection to appearing as an evidence against--he--hem--against Mr. +Reilly." + +"Oh, then your business and time with me will be very brief, Mr. +Doldrum. It is my intention to see justice done, and for that purpose +I shall attend the trial, and if I find that my evidence will be +necessary, I assure you I shall give it. But, Mr. Doldrum, one word with +you before you go." + +"A hundred--a thousand, my dear lady." + +"It is this: I beg as a personal favor that you will use your great +influence with my father to prevent him from talking to me on this +subject until the day of trial comes. By being kind enough to do this +you will save me from much anxiety and annoyance." + +"I pledge you my honor, madam, that your wishes shall be complied with +to the letter, as far, at least, as any influence of mine can accomplish +them." + +"Thank you, sir; I wish you a good-morning." + +"Good-morning, madam; it shall not be my fault if you are harassed upon +this most painful subject; and I pledge you my reputation that I never +contributed to hang a man in my life with more regret than I experience +in this unfortunate case." + +It is quite a common thing to find vanity and stupidity united in the +same individual, as they were in Mr. Doldrum. He was Mr. Folliard's +country attorney, and, in consequence of his strong Protestant +politics, was engaged as the law agent of his property; and for the same +reason--that is, because he was a violent, he was considered a very able +man. + +There is a class of men in the world who, when they once engage in a +pursuit or an act of any importance, will persist in working it out, +rather than be supposed, by relinquishing it, when they discover +themselves wrong, to cast an imputation on their own judgments. To such +a class belonged Mr. Folliard, who never, in point of fact, acted upon +any fixed or distinct principle whatsoever; yet if he once took a matter +into his head, under the influence of caprice or impulse, no man could +evince more obstinacy or perseverance, apart from all its justice +or moral associations, so long, at least, as that caprice or impulse +lasted. The reader may have perceived from his dialogue with Helen, on +the morning appointed for her marriage with Whitecraft, that the worthy +baronet, had he made appearance, stood a strong chance of being sent +about his business as rank a bachelor as he had come. And yet, because +he was cunning enough to make the hot-brained and credulous old man +believe that Reilly was at the bottom of the plan for his destruction, +and Hastings only the passive agent in his hands; we say, because he +succeeded in making this impression, which he knew to be deliberately +false, upon his plastic nature, he, Folliard, worked himself up into +a vindictive bitterness peculiar to little minds, as well as a fixed +determination that Reilly should die; not by any means so much because +he took away his daughter as that his death might be marked in this +conflict of parties as a set-off against that of Whitecraft. + +In the meantime he and Helen entertained each a different apprehension; +he dreaded that she might exercise her influence over him for the +purpose of softening him against Reilly, whom, if he had suffered +himself to analyze his own heart, he would have found there in the shape +of something very like a favorite. Helen, on the contrary, knew that she +was expected to attend the trial, in order to give evidence against +her lover; and she lived for a few days after his committal under +the constant dread that her father would persecute her with endless +arguments to induce her attendance at the assizes. Such, besides, was +her love of truth and candor, and her hatred of dissimulation in every +shape, that, if either her father or the attorney had asked her, in +explicit terms, what the tendency of her evidence was to be, she would +at once have satisfied them that it should be in favor of her lover. In +the meantime she felt that, as they did not press her on this point, +it would have been madness to volunteer a disclosure of a matter so +important to the vindication of Reilly's conduct. To this we may add her +intimate knowledge of her father's whimsical character and unsteadiness +of purpose. She was not ignorant that, even if he were absolutely aware +that the tenor of her evidence was to go against Reilly, his mind might +change so decidedly as to call upon her to give evidence in his defence. +Under these circumstances she acted with singular prudence, in never +alluding to a topic of such difficulty, and which involved a contingency +that might affect her lover in a double sense. + +Her father's conduct, however, on this occasion, saved them both a vast +deal of trouble and annoyance, and the consequence was that they met +as seldom as possible. In addition to this, we may state that +Doldrum communicated the successful result of his interview with Miss +Folliard--her willingness to attend the trial and see justice done, upon +condition that she should not have the subject obtruded on her, either +by her father or any one else, until the appointed day should arrive, +when she would punctually attend. In this state were the relative +positions and feelings of father and daughter about a month before the +opening of the assizes. + +In the meantime the squire set himself to work for the baronet. The +ablest lawyers were obtained, but Whitecraft most positively objected +to Folliard's proposal of engaging Doldrum as his attorney; he knew the +stupidity and ignorance of the man, and would have nothing to do with +him as the conductor of his case. His own attorney, Mr. Sharply, was +engaged; and indeed his selection of a keen and able man such as he was +did credit both to his sagacity and foresight. + +Considering the state of the country at that particular period, the +matter began to assume a most important aspect, A portion of the +Protestant party, by which we mean those who had sanctioned all +Whitecraft's brutal and murderous excesses, called every energy and +exertion into work, in order to defeat the Government and protect +the leading man of their own clique. On the other hand, there was the +Government, firm and decided, by the just operation of the laws, to make +an example of the man who had not only availed himself of those laws +when they were with him, but who scrupled not to set them aside when +they were against him, and to force his bloodthirsty instincts upon his +own responsibility. The Government, however, were not without large and +active support from those liberal Protestants, who had been disgusted +and sickened by the irresponsible outrages of such persecutors as +Whitecraft and Smellpriest. Upon those men the new Government relied, +and relied with safety. The country was in a tumult, the bigoted party +threatened an insurrection; and they did so, not because they felt +themselves in a position to effect it, but in order to alarm and +intimidate the Government. On the other hand, the Catholics, who had +given decided proofs of their loyalty by refusing to join the Pretender, +now expressed their determination to support the Government if an +outbreak among that section of the Protestant party to which we have +just alluded should take place. + +But perhaps the real cause of the conduct of the Government might be +traced to Whitecraft's outrage upon a French subject in the person of +the Abbe ------. The matter, as we have stated, was seriously taken +up by the French Ambassador, in the name, and by the most positive +instructions, of his Court. The villain Whitecraft, in consequence of +that wanton and unjustifiable act, went far to involve the two nations +in a bitter and bloody war. England was every day under the apprehension +of a French invasion, which, of course, she dreaded; something must be +done to satisfy the French Court. Perhaps, had it not been for this, +the general outrages committed upon the unfortunate Catholics of Ireland +would never have become the subject of a detailed investigation. An +investigation, however, took place, by which a system of the most +incredible persecution was discovered, and a milder administration of +the laws was found judicious, in order to conciliate the Catholic party, +and prevent them from embracing the cause of the Pretender. At all +events, what between the necessity of satisfying the claims of the +French Government, and in apprehension of a Catholic defection, the +great and principal criminal was selected for punishment. The Irish +Government, however, who were already prepared with their charges, found +themselves already anticipated by Mr. Hastings, a fact which enabled +them to lie on their oars and await the result. + +Such was the state and condition of affairs as the assizes were within +ten days of opening. + +One evening about this time the old squire, who never remained long +in the same mode of feeling, sent for his daughter to the dining-room, +where he was engaged at his Burgundy. The poor girl feared that he was +about to introduce the painful subject which she dreaded so much--that +is to say, the necessity of giving her evidence against Reilly, After +some conversation, however, she was relieved, for he did not allude to +it; but he did to the fate of Reilly himself, the very subject which was +wringing her heart with agony. + +"Helen," said he, "I have been thinking of Reilly's affair, and it +strikes me that he may be saved, and become your husband still; because, +you know, that if Whitecraft was acquitted, now that he has been +publicly disgraced, I'd see the devil picking his bones--and very hard +picking he'd find them--before I'd give you to him as a wife." + +"Thank you, my dear papa; but let me ask why it is that you are so +active in stirring up his party to defend such a man?" + +"Foolish girl," he replied; "it is not the man, but the cause and +principle, we defend." + +"What, papa, the cause! bloodshed and persecution! I believe you to be +possessed of a humane heart, papa; but, notwithstanding his character +and his crimes, I do not wish the unfortunate man to be struck into the +grave without repentance." + +"Repentance, Helen! How the deuce could a man feel repentance who does +not believe the Christian religion?" + +"But then, sir, has he not the reputation of being a sound and leading +Protestant?" + +"Oh, hang his reputation; it is not of him I wish to speak to you, but +Reilly." + +Helen's heart beat rapidly and thickly, but she spoke not. + +"Yes," said he, "I have a project in my head that I think may save +Reilly." + +"Pray, what is it, may I ask, papa?" + +"No, you may not; but to-morrow I will give him an early call, and let +you know how I succeed, after my return to dinner; yes, I will tell +you after dinner. But listen, Helen, it is the opinion of the baronet's +friends that they will be able to save him." + +"I hope they may, sir; I should not wish to see any fellow-creature +brought to an ignominious death in the midst of his offences, and in the +prime of life." + +"But, on the contrary, if he swings, we are bound to sacrifice one of +the Papist party for him, and Reilly is the man. Now don't look so pale, +Helen--don't look as if death was settled in your face; his fate may +be avoided; but ask me nothing--the project's my own, and I will +communicate it to no one until after I shall have ascertained whether I +fail in it or not." + +"I trust, sir, it will be nothing that will involve him in anything +dishonorable; but why do I ask? He is incapable of that." + +"Well, well, leave the matter in my hand; and now, upon the strength +of my project, I'll take another bumper of Burgundy, and drink to its +success." + +Helen pleaded some cause for withdrawing, as she entertained an +apprehension that he might introduce the topic which she most +dreaded--that of her duty to give evidence against Reilly. When she +was gone he began to ponder over several subjects connected with the +principal characters of this narrative until he became drowsy, during +which period halters, gibbets, gallowses, hangmen, and judges jumbled +each other alternately through his fancy, until he fell fast asleep in +his easy-chair. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII.--The Squire becomes Theological and a Proselytizer, but +signally fails. + + +The next morning he and Cummiskey started for Sligo, and, as usual, when +they reached the jail the turnkey was about to conduct the squire to Sir +Robert's room, when the former turned and said: + +"I wish to see Mr. Reilly; lead me to his cell." + +"Reilly, sir!" exclaimed the man in astonishment. "Are you sure, sir, +it's not Sir Robert Whitecraft you want?" + +"Are you sure, sir, that it's not a cut of my whip about the ears you +want? Conduct me to where Reilly is, you rascal; do you pretend to +know the individual I wish to see better than I do myself? Push along, +sirra." + +The turnkey accordingly conducted him to Reilly's cell, which, +considerably to his surprise, was a much more comfortable one than had +been assigned to the baronet. When they had reached the corridor in +which it was situated, Folliard said, "Knock at the door, and when he +appears tell him that I wish to see him." + +"I will, your honor." + +"Say I won't detain him long." + +"I will, your honor." + +"Hang your honor, go and do what I desire you." + +"I will, your honor." + +Reilly's astonishment was beyond belief on learning that his vindictive +prosecutor had called upon him; but on more mature reflection, and +comparing what had happened before with the only motive which he could +assign for such a visit, he felt pretty certain that the squire came to +revive, in his own person, a subject which he had before proposed to +him through his daughter. There was no other earthly object to which he +could attribute his visit; but of course he made up his mind to receive +him with every courtesy. At length Folliard entered, and, before Reilly +had time to utter a syllable, commenced: + +"Reilly," said he, "you are astonished to see me here?" + +"I am, sir," replied Reilly, "very much." + +"Yes, I thought you would; and very few persons, except myself, would +come upon such an errand to the man that has disgraced my daughter, +myself, and my family; you have stained our name, sir--a name that was +never associated with any thing but honor and purity until you came +among us." + +"If you have paid me this visit, sir, only for the purpose of uttering +language which you know must be very painful to me, I would rather you +had declined to call upon me at all. I perceive no object you can have +in it, unless to gratify a feeling of enmity on your part, and excite +one of sorrow on mine. I say sorrow, because, on considering our +relative positions, and knowing the impetuosity of your temper, I am +sorry to see you here; it is scarcely generous in you to come, for the +purpose of indulging in a poor, and what, after all, may be an equivocal +and premature triumph over a man whose love for your daughter, you must +know, will seal his lips against the expression of one offensive word +towards you." + +"But how, let me ask, sir, do you know what brought me here? I didn't +come to scold you, nor to triumph over you; and I have already said +the worst I shall say. I know very well that you and Whitecraft will be +hanged, probably from the same rope too, but, in the meantime, I would +save you both if I could. I fear indeed that to save him is out of the +question, because it appears that there's a cart-load of indictments +against him." + +"How could you doubt it, sir, when you know the incredible extent of his +villany, both private and public? and yet this is the man to whom you +would have married your daughter!" + +"No; when I found Helen reduced to such a state the morning on which +they were to be married, I told her at once that as she felt so bitterly +against him I would never suffer him to become her husband. Neither will +I; if he were acquitted tomorrow I would tell him so; but you, Reilly, +love my daughter for her own sake." + +"For her own sake, sir, as you have said, I love her. If she had +millions, it could not increase my affection, and if she had not a +penny, it would not diminish it." + +"Well, but you can have her if you wish, notwithstanding." + +Reilly first looked at him with amazement; but he was so thoroughly +acquainted with his character, both from what he had seen and heard of +it, that his amazement passed away, and he simply replied: + +"Pray how, sir?" + +"Why, I'll tell you what, Reilly; except with respect to political +principles, I don't think, after all, that there's the difference of a a +rush between the Papist and the Protestant Churches, as mere religions. +My own opinion is, that there's neither of them any great shakes, as to +any effect they have on society, unless to disturb it. I have known as +good Papists as ever I did Protestants, and indeed I don't know why a +Papist should not be as good a man as a Protestant; nor why a Protestant +should not be as good a man as a Papist, on the other hand. Now, do you +see what I'm driving at?" + +"Well, I can't exactly say that I do," replied Reilly. + + +[Illustration: PAGE 157--There is not a toss-up between them] + + +"Then the upshot of the argument is this, that there is not a toss-up +between them, and any man getting into a scrape, and who could get out +of it by changing from one to the other--of course I mean from Popery to +Protestantism--would prove himself a man of good sound sense, and above +the prejudices of the world." + +The truth is, Reilly saw ere this what Folliard was approaching, and, as +he determined to allow him full scope, his reply was brief: + +"You seem fond of indulging in speculation, sir," replied Reilly, with +a smile; "but I should be glad to know why you introduce this subject to +me?" + +"To you?" replied Folliard; "why, who the devil else should or could I +introduce it to with such propriety? Here now are two religions; one's +not sixpence better nor worse than the other. Now, you belong to one of +them, and because you do you're here snug and fast. I say, then, I have +a proposal to make to you: you are yourself in a difficulty--you +have placed me in a difficulty--and you have placed poor Helen in a +difficulty--which, if any thing happens you, I think will break her +heart, poor child. Now you can take her, yourself, and me, out of all +our difficulties, if you have only sense enough to shove over from the +old P---- to the young P----. As a Protestant, you can marry Helen, +Reilly--but as a Papist, never! and you know the rest; for if you are +obstinate, and blind to your own interests, I must do my duty." + +"Will you allow me to ask, sir, whether Miss Folliard is aware of this +mission of yours to me?" + +"She aware! She never dreamt of it; but I have promised to tell her the +result after dinner to-day." + +"Well, sir," replied Reilly, "will you allow me to state to you a few +facts?" + +"Certainly; go on." + +"In the first place, then, such is your daughter's high and exquisite +sense of integrity and honor that, if I consented to the terms you +propose, she would reject me with indignation and scorn, as she ought +to do. There, then, is your project for accomplishing my selfish and +dishonest apostacy given to the winds. Your daughter, sir, is too pure +in all her moral feelings, and too noble-minded, to take to her arms a +renegade husband--a renegade, too, not from conviction, but from selfish +and mercenary purposes." + +"Confound the thing, this is but splitting hairs, Reilly, and talking +big for effect. Speak, however, for yourself; as for Helen, I know very +well that, in spite of your heroics and her's, she'd be devilish glad +you'd become a Protestant and marry her." + +"I am sorry to say, sir, that you don't know your own daughter; but as +for me, Mr. Folliard, if one word of your's, or of her's, could place +me on the British throne, I would not abandon my religion. Under no +circumstances would I abandon it; but least of all, now that it is +so barbarously persecuted by its enemies. This, sir, is my final +determination." + +"But do you know the alternative?" + +"No, sir, nor do you." + +"Don't I, faith? Why, the alternative is simply this--either marriage or +hanging!" + +"Be it so; in that case I will die like a man of honor and a true +Christian and Catholic, as I hope I am." + +"As a true fool, Reilly--as a true fool. I took this step privately, +out of respect for your character. See how many of your creed become +Protestants for the sake of mere property; think how many of them join +our Church for the purpose of ousting their own fathers and relatives +from their estates; and what is it all, on their parts, but the +consequence of an enlightened judgment that shows them the errors of +their old creed, and the truth of ours? I think, Reilly, you are loose +about the brains." + +"That may be, sir, but you will never find me loose about my +principles." + +"Are you aware, sir, that Helen is to appear against you as an +evidence?" + +"No, sir, I am not, neither do I believe it. But now, sir, I beg you to +terminate this useless and unpleasant interview. I can look into my +own conscience with satisfaction, and am prepared for the worst. If +the scaffold is to be my fate, I cannot but remember that many a noble +spirit has closed the cares of an unhappy life upon it. I wish you +good-day, Mr. Folliard." + +"By the Boyne! you are the most obstinate blockhead that ever lived; but +I've done; I did all in my power to save you--yet to no purpose. Upon my +soul, I'll come to your execution." + +"And if you do, you will see me die like a man and a gentleman; may I +humbly add, like a Christian!" + +The squire, on his way home, kept up a long, low whistle, broken only +by occasional soliloquies, in which Reilly's want of common-sense, and +neglect not only of his temporal interests, but of his life itself, were +the prevailing sentiments. He regretted his want of success, which he +imputed altogether to Reilly's obstinacy, instead of his integrity, +firmness, and honor. + +This train of reflection threw him into one of those capricious fits of +resentment so peculiar to his unsteady temper, and as he went along he +kept lashing himself up into a red heat of indignation and vengeance +against that unfortunate gentleman. After dinner that day he felt +somewhat puzzled as to whether he ought to communicate to his daughter +the result of his interview with Reilly or not. Upon consideration, +however, he deemed it more prudent to avoid the subject altogether, +for he felt apprehensive that, however she might approve of her lover's +conduct, the knowledge of his fate, which depended on it, would only +plunge her into deeper distress. The evening consequently passed without +any allusion to the subject, unless a peculiar tendency to melody, on +his part, might be taken to mean something; to this we might add +short abrupt ejaculations unconsciously uttered--such as--"Whew, whew, +whew--o--whew--o--hang the fellow! Whew, whew--o--whew--he's a +cursed goose, but an obstinate--whew, whew--o--whew--o. Ay, but no +matter--well--whew, whew--o, whew, whew! Helen, a cup of tea. Now, +Helen, do you know a discovery I have made--but how could you? No, you +don't, of course; but listen and pay attention to me, because it deeply +affects myself." + +The poor girl, apprehensive that he was about to divulge some painful +secret, became pale and a good deal agitated; she gave him a long, +inquiring look, but said nothing. + +"Yes, Helen, and the discovery is this: I find from experience that tea +and Burgundy--or, indeed, tea and any kind of wine--don't agree with my +constitution: curse the fel--whew, whew, whew, whew--o--whew; no, the +confounded mixture turns my stomach into nothing more nor less than a +bag of aquafortis--if he had but common--whew--" + +"Well, but, papa, why do you take tea, then?" + +"Because I'm an old fool, Helen; and if I am, there are some young ones +besides; but it can't be helped now--whew, whew--it was done for the +best." + +In this manner he went on for a considerable time, ejaculating mysteries +and enigmas, until he finished the second bottle, after which he went to +bed. + +It may be necessary to state here that, notwithstanding the incredible +force and tenderness of his affection for his daughter, he had, +ever since her elopement with Reilly, kept her under the strictest +surveillance, and in the greatest seclusion--that is to say, as the +proverb has it, "he locked the stable door when the steed was stolen;" +or if he did not realize the aphorism, he came very near it. + +Time, however, passes, and the assizes were at hand, a fearful Avatar of +judicial power to the guilty. The struggle between the parties who were +interested in the fate of Whitecraft, and those who felt the extent of +his unparalleled guilt, and the necessity not merely of making him an +example but of punishing him for his enormous crimes, was dreadful. The +infatuation of political rancor on one side, an infatuation which could +perceive nothing but the virtue of high and resolute Protestantism in +his conduct, blinded his supporters to the enormity of his conduct, and, +as a matter of course, they left no stone unturned to save his life. As +we said, however, they were outnumbered; but still they did not despair. +Reilly's friends had been early in the legal market, and succeeded in +retaining some of the ablest men at the bar, his leading counsel being +the celebrated advocate Fox, who was at that time one of the most +distinguished men at the Irish bar. Helen, as the assizes approached, +broke down so completely in her health that it was felt, if she remained +in that state, that she would be unable to attend; and although Reilly's +trial was first on the list, his opposing counsel succeeded in getting +it postponed for a day or two in order that an important witness, then +ill, he said, might be able to appear on their part. + +It is not our intention to go through the details of the trial of the +Red Rapparee. The evidence of Mary Mahon, Fergus O'Reilly, and +the sheriff, was complete; the chain was unbroken; the change of +apparel--the dialogue in Mary Mahon's cabin, in which he; avowed the +fact of his having robbed the sheriff--the identification of his person +by the said sheriff in the farmer's house, as before stated, left +nothing for the jury to do I but to bring in a verdict of guilty. +Mercy was out of the question. The hardened ruffian--the treacherous +ruffian--who had lent himself to the bloodthirsty schemes of +Whitecraft--and all this came out upon his trial, not certainly to the +advantage of the baronet--this hardened and treacherous ruffian, we say, +who had been a scourge to that part of the country for years, now felt, +when the verdict of guilty was brought in against him, just as a smith's +anvil might feel when struck by a feather. On hearing it, he growled a +hideous laugh, and exclaimed: + +"To the divil I pitch you all; I wish, though, that I had Tom Bradley, +the prophecy man, here, who tould me that I'd never be hanged, and that +the rope was never born for me." + +"If the rope was not born for you," observed the judge, "I fear I shall +be obliged to inform you that you were born for the rope. Your life has +been an outrage,upon civilized society." + +"Why, you ould dog!" said the Rapparee, "you can't hang me; haven't I a +pardon? didn't Sir Robert Whitecraft get me a pardon from the Government +for turnin' against the Catholics, and tellin' him where to find the +priests? Why, you joulter-headed ould dog, you can't hang me, or, if you +do, I'll leave them behind me that will put such a half ounce pill into +your guts as will make you turn up the whites of your eyes like a duck +in thundher. You'll hang me for robbery, you ould sinner! But what is +one half the world doin' but robbin' the other half? and what is the +other half doin' but robbin' them? As for Sir Robert Whitecraft, if he +desaved me by lies and falsehoods, as I'm afraid he did, all I say is, +that if I had him here for one minute I'd show him a trick he'd never +tell to mortal. Now go on, bigwig." + +Notwithstanding the solemnity of the position in which this obdurate +ruffian was placed, the judge found it nearly impossible to silence the +laughter of the audience and preserve order in the court. At length he +succeeded, and continued his brief address to the Rapparee: + +"Hardened and impenitent reprobate, in the course of my judicial duties, +onerous and often painful as they are and have been, I must say that, +although it has fallen to my lot to pronounce the awful sentence of +death upon many an unfeeling felon, I am bound to say that a public +malefactor so utterly devoid of all the feelings which belong to man, +and so strongly impregnated with those of the savage animal as you +are, has never stood in a dock before me, nor probably before any other +judge, living or dead. Would it be a waste of language to enforce upon +you the necessity of repentance? I fear it would; but it matters not; +the guilt of impenitence be on your own head, still I must do my duty; +try, then, and think of death, and a far more awful judgment than mine. +Think of the necessity you have for; supplicating mercy at the throne of +your Redeemer, who himself died for you, and for all of us, between two +thieves." + +"That has nothing to do with my case; I never was a thief; I robbed like +an honest man on the king's highways; but as for thievin', why, you ould +sinner, I never stole a farthing's worth in my life. Don't, then, pitch +such beggarly comparisons into my teeth. I never did what you and your +class often did; I never robbed the poor in the name of the blessed laws +of the land; I never oppressed the widow or the orphan; and for all that +I took from those that did oppress them, the divil a grain of sorrow +or repentance I feel for it, nor ever will feel for it. Oh! mother of +Moses! if I had a glass of whiskey!" + +The judge was obliged to enforce silence a second time; for, to-tell the +truth, there was something so ludicrously impenitent in the conduct of +this hardened convict that the audience could not resist it, especially +when it is remembered that the sympathies of the lower Irish are always +with such culprits. + +"Well," continued the judge, when silence was again restored, "your +unparalleled obduracy has gained one point; it was my intention to have +ordered you for execution tomorrow at the hour of twelve o'clock; but, +as a Christian man, I could not think for a moment of hurrying you into +eternity in your present state. The sentence of the court then is that +you be taken from the dock in which you now stand to the prison from +whence you came, and that from thence you be brought to the place of +execution on next Saturday, and there be hanged by the neck until you be +dead, and may God have mercy on your soul!" + +The Rapparee gazed at him with a look of the most hardened effrontery, +and exclaimed, "Is it in earnest you are?" after which he was once mor|e +committed to his cell, loaded with heavy chains, which he wore, by the I +way, during his trial. + +Now, in order to account for his outrageous conduct, we must make a +disclosure to the reader. There is in and about all jails a certain +officer yclept a hangman--an officer who is permitted a freer ingress +and egress than almost any other person connected with those gloomy +establishments. This hangman, who resided in the prison, had a brother +whom Sir Robert Whitecraft had hanged, and, it was thought, innocently. +Be this as it may, the man in question was heard to utter strong threats +of vengeance against Sir Robert for having his brother, whose innocence +he asserted, brought to execution. In some time after this a pistol was +fired one night at Sir Robert from behind a hedge, which missed him; but +as his myrmidons were with him, and the night was light, a pursuit took +place, and the guilty wretch was taken prisoner, with the pistol on his +person, still warm after having been discharged. The consequence was +that he was condemned to death. But it so happened that at this period, +although there were five or six executions to take place, yet there was +no hangman to be had, that officer having died suddenly, after a fit of +liquor, and the sheriff would have been obliged to discharge the office +with his own hands unless a finisher of the law could be found. In +brief, he was found, and in the person of the individual alluded to, +who, in consequence of his consenting to accept the office, got a +pardon from the Crown. Now this man and the Rapparee had been old +acquaintances, and renewed their friendship in prison. Through the means +of the hangman O'Donnel got in as much whiskey as he pleased, and we +need scarcely say that they often got intoxicated together. The secret, +therefore, which we had to disclose to the reader, in explanation of +the Rapparee's conduct at his trial, was simply this, that the man was +three-quarters drunk. + +After trial he was placed in a darker dungeon than before; but such was +the influence of the worthy executioner with every officer of the jail, +that he was permitted to go either in or out without search, and as he +often gave a "slug," as he called it, to the turnkeys, they consequently +allowed him, in this respect, whatever privileges he wished. Even the +Rapparee's dungeon was not impenetrable to him, especially as he put the +matter on a religious footing, to wit, that as the unfortunate robber +was not allowed the spiritual aid of his own clergy, he himself was +the only person left to prepare him for death, which he did with the +whiskey-bottle. + +The assizes on that occasion were protracted to an unusual length. The +country was in a most excited state, and party feeling ran fearfully +high. Nothing was talked of but the two trials, par excellence, to wit, +that of Whitecraft and Reilly; and scarcely a fair or market, for a +considerable time previous, ever came round in which there waa not +a battle on the subject of either one or the other of them, and not +unfrequently of both. Nobody was surprised at the conviction of the Red +Rapparee; but, on the contrary, every one was glad that the country had +at last got rid of him. + +Poor Helen, however, was not permitted to remain quiet, as she had +expected. When Mr. Doldrum had furnished the leading counsel with his +brief and a list of the witnesses, the other gentleman was surprised to +see the name of Helen Folliard among them. + +"How is this?" he inquired; "is not this the celebrated beauty who +eloped with him?" + +"It is, sir," replied Doldrum. + +"But," proceeded the other, "you have not instructed me in the nature of +the evidence she is prepared to give." + +"She is deeply penitent, sir, and in a very feeble state of health; so +much so that we were obliged to leave the tendency of her evidence to be +brought out on the trial." + +"Have you subpoenaed her?" + +"No, sir." + +"And why not, Mr. Doldrum? Don't you know that there is no understanding +the caprices of women. You ought to have subpoenaed her, because, if she +be a leading evidence, she may still change her mind and leave us in the +lurch." + +"I certainly did not subpoena her," replied Doldrum, "because, when I +mentioned it to her father, he told me that if I attempted it he would +break my head. It was enough, he said, that she had given her promise--a +thing, he added, which she was never known to break." + +"Go to her again, Doldrum; for unless we know what she can prove we will +be only working in the dark. Try her, at all events, and glean what you +can out of her. Her father tells me she is somewhat better, so I don't +apprehend you will have much difficulty in seeing her." + +Doldrum did see her, and was astonished at the striking change which +had, in so short a time, taken place in her appearance. She was pale, +and exhibited all the symptoms of an invalid, with the exception of her +eyes, which were not merely brilliant, but dazzling, and full of a +fire that flashed from them with something like triumph whenever her +attention was directed to the purport of her testimony. On this subject +they saw that it; would be quite useless, and probably worse than +useless, to press her, and they did not, consequently, put her to the +necessity of specifying the purport of her evidence. + +"I have already stated," said she, "that I shall attend the trial; that +ought, and must be, sufficient for you. I beg, then, you will withdraw, +sir. My improved health will enable me to attend, and you may rest +assured that if I have life I shall be there, as I have already told +you; but, I say, that if you wish to press me for the nature of my +evidence, you shall have it, and, as she spoke, her eyes flashed +fearfully, as they were in the habit of doing whenever she felt deeply +excited. Folliard himself became apprehensive of the danger which might +result from the discussion of any subject calculated to disturb her, +and insisted that she should be allowed to take her own way. In the +meantime, after they had left her, at her own request, her father +informed the attorney that she was getting both strong and cheerful, in +spite of her looks. + +"To be sure," said he, "she is pale! but that's only natural, after her +recent slight attack, and all the excitement and agitation she has for +some time past undergone. She sings and plays now, although I have heard +neither a song nor a tune from her for a long time past. In the +evening, too, she is exceedingly cheerful when we sit together in the +drawing-room; and she often laughs more heartily than I ever knew her to +do before in my life. Now, do you think, Doldrum, if she was breaking +her heart about Reilly that she would be in such spirits?" + +"No, sir; she would be melancholy and silent, and would neither sing, +nor laugh, nor play; at least I felt, so when I was in love with Miss +Swithers, who kept me in a state of equilibrium for better than two +years;--but that wasn't the worst of it, for she knocked the loyalty +clean out of me besides--indeed, so decidedly so that I never once sang +'Lillibullero' during the whole period of my attachment, and be hanged +to her." + +"And what became of her?" + +"Why, she married my clerk, who used to serve my love-letters upon her; +and when I expected to come in by execution--that is, by marriage--that +cursed little sheriff, Cupid, made a return of _nulla bona_. She and Sam +Snivel--a kind of half Puritan--entered a _dis_appearance, and I never +saw them since; but I am told they are in America. From what you tell +me, sir, I have no doubt but Miss Folliard will make a capital witness. +In fact, Reilly ought to feel proud of the honor of being hanged by her +evidence; she will be a host in herself." + +We have already stated that the leading counsel against Reilly had +succeeded in getting his trial postponed until Miss Folliard should +arrive at a sufficient state of health to appear against him. In the +meantime, the baronet's trial, which was in a political, indeed, +we might say, a national point of view, of far more importance than +Reilly's, was to come on next day. In the general extent of notoriety +or fame, Reilly had got in advance--though not much--of his implacable +rival. The two trials were, in fact, so closely united by the relative +position of the parties that public opinion was strangely and strongly +divided between them. Reilly and his _Cooleen Bawn_ had, by the unhappy +peculiarity of their fate, excited the interest of all the youthful and +loving part of society--an interest which was necessarily reflected +upon Whitecraft, as Reilly's rival, independently of the hold which +his forthcoming fate had upon grave and serious politicians. Reilly's +leading counsel, Fox, a man of great judgment and ability, gave it as +his opinion that in consequence of the exacerbated state of feeling +produced against the Catholics by the prosecution of Whitecraft--to +appease whom, the opinion went that it was instituted--it seemed +unlikely that Reilly had a single chance. Had his trial, he said, taken +place previous to that of Whitecraft's, he might have escaped many of +the consequences of Whitecraft's conviction; but now, should the latter +be convicted, the opposing party would die in the jury-box rather than +let Reilly escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV.--Jury of the Olden Time + +--Preparations--The Scales of Justice. + + +At last the trial came on, and Sir Robert Whitecraft, the great champion +of Protestantism--a creed which he did not believe--was conducted into +the court-house and placed in the dock. He was dressed in his best +apparel, in order to distinguish himself from common culprits, and to +give this poor external evidence of his rank, with a hope that it might +tell, to a certain extent at least, upon the feeling of the jury. When +placed in the dock, a general buzz and bustle agitated the whole +court His friends became alert, and whispered to each other with much +earnestness, and a vast number of them bowed to him, and shook hands +with him, and advised him to be cool, and keep up his spirits. His +appearance, however, was any thing but firm; his face was deadly pale, +his eyes dull and cowardly, his knees trembled so much that he was +obliged to support himself on the front of the dock. + +At length the trial commenced, and the case having been opened by a +young lawyer, a tall, intellectual-looking man, about the middle age, +of pale but handsome features, and an eye of singular penetration and +brilliancy, rose; and after pulling up his gown at the shoulders, +and otherwise adjusting it, proceeded to lay a statement of this +extraordinary case before the jury. + +He dwelt upon "the pain which he felt in contemplating a gentleman of +rank and vast wealth occupying the degraded position of a felon, but +not, he was sorry to say, of a common felon. The circumstances, my lord, +and gentlemen of the jury, which have brought the prisoner before you +this day, involve a long catalogue of crimes that as far transcend, in +the hideousness of their guilt, the offences of a common felon as his +rank and position in life do that of the humblest villain who ever stood +before a court of justice. + +"The position, gentlemen, of this country has for a long series of years +been peculiar, anomalous, and unhappy. Divided as it is, and has been, +by the bitter conflict between two opposing creeds and parties, it is +not to be wondered at that it should be a melancholy scene of misery, +destitution, famine, and crime; and, unhappily, it presents to us the +frightful aspect of all these. The nature, however, of the conflicts +between those creeds and parties, inasmuch as it bears upon the case of +the prisoner, gentlemen, who now stands for trial and a verdict at your +hands, is such as forces me, on that account, to dwell briefly upon it. +In doing so, I will have much, for the sake of our common humanity, to +regret and to deplore. It is a fundamental principle, gentlemen, in our +great and glorious Constitution, that the paramount end and object of +our laws is to protect the person, the liberty, and the property of +the subject. But there is something, gentlemen, still dearer to us than +either liberty, person, or property; something which claims a protection +from those laws that stamps them with a nobler and a loftier character, +when it is afforded, and weaves them into the hearts and feelings of +men of all creeds, when this divine mission of the law is fulfilled. I +allude, gentlemen, to the inalienable right of every man to worship God +freely, and according to his own conscience--without restraint--without +terror--without oppression, and, gentlemen of the jury, without +persecution. A man, or a whole people, worship God, we will assume, +sincerely, according to their notions of what is right, and, I say, +gentlemen, that the individual who persecutes that man, or those people, +for piously worshipping their Creator, commits blasphemy against the +Almighty--and stains, as it were, the mercy-seat with blood. + +"Gentlemen of the jury, let me ask you what has been the state and +condition of this unhappy and distracted country? I have mentioned two +opposing creeds, and consequently two opposing parties, and I have also +mentioned persecution; but let me also ask you again on which side has +the persecution existed? Look at your Roman Catholic fellow-subjects, +and ask yourselves to what terrible outburst of political and religious +vengeance have they not been subjected? But it is said they are not +faithful and loyal subjects, and that they detest the laws. Well, let +us consider this--let us take a cursory view of all that the spirit and +operation of the laws have left them to be thankful for--have brought +to bear upon them for the purpose, we must suppose, of securing their +attachment and their loyalty. Let us, gentlemen, calmly and solemnly, +and in a Christian temper, take a brief glance at the adventures which +the free and glorious spirit of the British Constitution has held out +to them, in order to secure their allegiance. In the first place, their +nobles and their gentry have been deprived of their property, and the +right of tenure has been denied even to the people. Ah, my lord, and +gentlemen of the jury, what ungrateful and disloyal miscreant could +avoid loving a Constitution, and hugging to his grateful heart laws +which showered down such blessings upon him, and upon all those who +belong to a creed so favored? But it would seem to have been felt that +these laws had still a stronger claim upon their affections. They would +protect their religion as they did their property; and in order +to attach them still more strongly, they shut up their places of +worship--they proscribed and banished and hung their clergy--they hung +or shot the unfortunate people who tied to worship God in the desert--in +mountain fastnesses and in caves, and threw their dead bodies to find +a tomb in the entrails of the birds of the air, or the dogs which even +persecution had made mad with hunger. But again--for this pleasing +panorama is not yet closed, the happy Catholics, who must have danced +with delight, under the privileges of such a Constitution, were deprived +of the right to occupy and possess all civil offices--their enterprise +was crushed--their industry made subservient to the rapacity of their +enemies, and not to their own prosperity. But this is far from being +all. The sources of knowledge--of knowledge which only can enlighten +and civilize the mind, prevent crime, and promote the progress of human +society--these sources of knowledge, I say, were sealed against +them; they were consequently left to ignorance, and its inseparable +associate--vice. All those noble principles which result from education, +and which lead youth into those moral footsteps in which they should +tread, were made criminal in the Catholic to pursue, and impossible to +attain; and having thus been reduced by ignorance to the perpetration of +those crimes which it uniformly produces--the people were punished for +that which oppressive laws had generated, and the ignorance which was +forced upon them was turned into a penalty and a persecution. They +were first made ignorant by one Act of Parliament, and then punished by +another for those crimes which ignorance produces. + +"And now, my lord, and gentlemen of the jury, it remains for me to +take another view of the state and condition of this wretched country. +Perhaps there is not in the world so hideously a penal code of laws +as that which appertains to the civil and religious rights of our +unfortunate Roman Catholic countrymen. It is not that this code is +fierce, inhuman, unchristian, barbarous, and Draconic, and conceived in +a spirit of blood--because it might be all this, and yet, through the +liberality and benevolence of those into whose hands it ought to be +entrusted for administration, much of its dreadful spirit might be +mitigated. And I am bound to say that a large and important class of the +Protestant community look upon such a code nearly with as much horror +as the Catholics themselves. Unfortunately, however, in every state of +society and of law analogous to ours, a certain class of men, say rather +of monsters, is sure to spring up, as it were, from hell, their throats +still parched and heated with that insatiable thirst which the guilty +glutton felt before them, and which they now are determined to slake +with blood. For some of these men the apology of selfishness, an anxiety +to raise themselves out of the struggles of genteel poverty, and +a wolfish wish to earn the wages of oppression, might be pleaded; +although, heaven knows, it is at best but a desperate and cowardly +apology. On the other hand, there are men not merely independent, but +wealthy, who, imbued with a fierce and unreasoning bigotry, and stained +by a black and unscrupulous ambition, start up into the front ranks of +persecution, and carry fire and death and murder as they go along, and +all this for the sake of adding to their reprobate names a title--a +title earned by the shedding of innocent blood--a title earned by the +oppression and persecution of their unresisting fellow-subjects--a +title, perhaps that of baronet; if I am mistaken in this, the individual +who stands before you in that dock could, for he might, set me right. + +"In fact, who are those who have lent themselves with such delight to +the execution of bad laws? of laws that, for the sake of religion and +Christianity, never ought to have been effected? Are they men of moral +and Christian lives? men whose walk has been edifying in the sight of +their fellows? are they men to whom society could look up as examples of +private virtue and the decorous influence of religion? are they men who, +on the Sabbath of God, repair with their wives and families to his holy +worship? Alas! no. These heroic persecutors, who hunt and punish a set +of disarmed men, are, in point of fact, not only a disgrace to that +religion in whose name they are persecutors, and on whose merciful +precepts they trample, but to all religion, in whatever light true +religion is contemplated. Vicious, ignorant, profligate, licentious, but +cunning, cruel, bigoted, and selfish, they make the spirit of oppressive +laws, and the miserable state of the country, the harvest of their gain. +Look more closely at the picture, gentlemen of the jury, and make, as I +am sure you will, the dismal and terrible circumstances which I will lay +before you your own. Imagine for a moment that those who are now, or at +least have been, the objects of hot and blood-scenting persecution, had, +by some political revolution, got the power of the State and of the laws +into their own hands; suppose, for it is easily supposed, that they +had stripped you of your property, deprived you of your civil rights, +disarmed you of the means of self-defence, persecuted yourselves and +proscribed your religion, or, vice versa, proscribed yourselves and +persecuted your religion, or, to come at once to the truth, proscribed +and persecuted both; suppose your churches shut up, your pious clergy +banished, and that, when on the bed of sickness or of death, some +of your family, hearing your cries for the consolations of religion, +ventured out, under the clouds of the night, pale with sorrow, and +trembling with apprehension, to steal for you, at the risk of life, that +comfort which none but a minister of God can effectually bestow upon the +parting spirit; suppose this, and suppose that your house is instantly +surrounded by some cruel but plausible Sir Robert Whitecraft, or some +drunken and ruffianly Captain Smellpriest, who, surrounded and supported +by armed miscreants, not only breaks open that house, but violates the +awful sanctify of the deathbed itself, drags out the minister of Christ +from his work of mercy, and leaves him a bloody corpse at our threshold. +I say, change places, gentlemen of the jury, and suppose in your own +imaginations that all those monstrous persecutions, all those murderous +and flagitious outrages, had been inflicted upon yourselves, with others +of an equally nefarious character; suppose all this, and you may easily +do so, for you have seen it all perpetrated in the name of God and the +law, or, to say the truth, in the hideous union of mammon and murder; +suppose all this, and you will feel what such men as he who stands +in that dock deserves from humanity and natural justice; for, alas! I +cannot say, from the laws of his country, under the protection of which, +and in the name of which, he and those who resemble him have deluged +that country with innocent blood, laid waste the cabin of the widow and +the orphan, and carried death and desolation wherever they went. But, +gentlemen, I shall stop here, as I do not wish to inflict unnecessary +pain upon you, even by this mitigated view of atrocities which have +taken place before your own eyes; yet I cannot close this portion of +my address without, referring to so large a number of our +fellow-Protestants with pride, as I am sure their Roman Catholic friends +do with gratitude. Who were those who, among the Protestant party, threw +the shield of their name and influence over their Catholic neighbors +and friends? Who, need I ask? The pious, the humane, the charitable, +the liberal, the benevolent, and the enlightened. Those were they who, +overlooking the mere theological distinctions of particular doctrines, +united in the great and universal creed of charity, held by them as a +common principle on which they might meet and understand and love each +other. And indeed, gentlemen of the jury, there cannot be a greater +proof of the oppressive spirit which animates this penal and inhuman +code than the fact that so many of those, for whose benefit it +was enacted, resisted its influence, on behalf of their Catholic +fellow-subjects, as far as they could, and left nothing undone to +support the laws of humanity against those of injustice and oppression. +When the persecuted Catholic could not invest his capital in the +purchase of property, the generous Protestant came forward, purchased +the property in his own name, became the _bona fide_ proprietor, and +then transferred its use and advantages to his Catholic friend. And +again, under what roof did the hunted Catholic priest first take refuge +from those bloodhounds of persecution? In most cases under that of his +charitable and Christian brother, the Protestant clergyman. Gentlemen, +could there be a bitterer libel upon the penal laws than the notorious +facts which I have the honor of stating to you? + +"The facts which have placed the prisoner at the bar before you are +these, and in detailing them I feel myself placed in circumstances of +great difficulty, and also of peculiar delicacy. The discharge, however, +of a public duty, which devolves upon me as leading law officer of the +Crown, forces me into a course which I cannot avoid, unless I should +shrink from promoting and accomplishing the ends of public justice. In +my position, and in the discharge of my solemn duties here to-day, I can +recognize no man's rank, no man's wealth, nor the prestige of any man's +name. So long as he stands at that bar, charged with great and heinous +crimes, I feel it my duty to strip him of all the advantages of his +birth and rank, and consider him simply a mere subject of the realm. + +"In order to show you, gentlemen of the jury, the animux under which +the prisoner at the bar acted, in the case before us, I must go back +a little--a period of some months. At that time a highly respectable +gentleman of an ancient and honored family in this country was one +evening on his way home from this town, attended, as usual, by his +servant. At a lonely place on a remote and antiquated road, which they +took as a shorter way, it so happened that, in consequence of a sudden +mist peculiar to those wild moors, they lost their path, and found +themselves in circumstances of danger and distress. The servant, +however, whistled, and his whistle was answered; a party of men, of +freebooters, of robbers, headed by a person called the Red Rapparee, who +has been convicted at these assizes, and who has been the scourge of the +country for years, came up to them, and as the Rapparee had borne this +respectable gentleman a deadly and implacable enmity for some time past, +he was about to murder both master and man, and actually had his musket +levelled at him, as others of his gang had at his aged servant, when +a person, a gentleman named Reilly--[there there was a loud cheer +throughout the court, which, however, was soon repressed, and the +Attorney-General proceeded]--this person started out from an old ruin, +met the robber face to face, and, in short, not only saved the lives of +the gentleman and his servant, but conducted them safely home. This act +of courage and humanity, by a Roman Catholic to a Protestant, had such +an effect upon the old gentleman's daughter, a lady whose name has +gone far and wide for her many virtues and wonderful beauty, that an +attachment was formed between the young gentleman and her. The prisoner +at the bar, gentlemen, was a suitor for her hand; but as the young and +amiable lady was acquainted with his character as a priest-hunter and +persecutor, she, though herself a Protestant, could look upon him only +with abhorrence. At all events, after the rescue of her father's life, +and her acquaintance with Mr. Reilly, the prisoner at the bar was +rejected with disdain, as he would have been, it seems, if Reilly never +had existed. Now, gentlemen I of the jury, observe that Reilly was a +Catholic, which was bad enough in the eyes of the prisoner at the bar; +but he was more; he was a rival, and were it not for the state of the +law, would, it appears, for there is no doubt of it now, have been +a successful one. From henceforth the prisoner at the bar marked Mr. +Reilly for vengeance, for destruction, for death. At this time he was +in the full exercise of irresponsible authority; he could burn, hang, +shoot, without being called to account; and as it will appear before +you, gentlemen, this consciousness of impunity stimulated him to the +perpetration of such outrages as, in civil life, and in a country free +from civil war, are unparalleled in the annals of crime and cruelty. + +"But, gentlemen, what did this man do? this man, so anxious to preserve +the peace of the country; this man, the terror of the surrounding +districts; what did he do, I ask? Why, he took the most notorious +robber of: his day, the fierce and guilty Rapparee--he took him into his +councils, in order that he might enable him to trace the object of +his vengeance, Reilly, in the first place, and to lead him to the +hiding-places of such unfortunate Catholic priests as had taken refuge +in the caves and fastnesses of the mountains. Instead of punishing this +notorious malefactor, he took him into his own house, made him, as he +was proud to call them, one of his priest-hounds, and induced him to +believe that he had procured him a pardon from Government. Reilly's name +he had, by his foul misrepresentations, got into the _Hue-and-Cry_, and +subsequently had him gazetted as an outlaw; and all this upon his own +irresponsible authority. I mention nothing, gentlemen, in connection +with this trial which we are not in a capacity to prove. + +"Having forced Reilly into a variety of disguises, and hunted him like +a mad dog through the country; having searched every: lurking-place in +which he thought he might I find him, he at length resolved on the only +course of vengeance he could pursue. He surrounded his habitation, and, +after searching for Reilly himself, he openly robbed him of all that was +valuable of that gentleman's furniture, then set fire to the house, and +in the clouds of the night reduced that and every out-office he had +to ashes--a capital felony. It so happens, however, that the house and +offices were, in point of fact, not the property of Reilly at all, but +of a most respectable Protestant gentleman and magistrate, Mr. Hastings, +with whose admirable! character I have no doubt you are all acquainted; +and all that remains for me to say is, that he is the prosecutor in this +case. + +"And now, gentlemen, we expect a calm, deliberate, and unbiassed verdict +from you. Look upon the prisoner at the bar as an innocent man until you +can, with a clear conscience, find him guilty of the charges which we +are in a condition to prove against him; but if there be any doubt upon +your minds, I hope you will give him the benefit of it." + +Sir Robert Whitecraft, in fact, had no defence, and could procure no +witnesses to counteract the irresistible body of evidence that was +produced against him. Notwithstanding all this, his friends calculated +upon the prejudices of a Protestant jury. His leading counsel made as +able a speech in his defence as could be made under the circumstances. +It consisted, however, of vague generalities, and dwelt upon the state +of the country and the necessity that existed for men of great spirit +and Protestant feeling to come out boldly, and, by courage and energy, +carry the laws that had passed for the suppression of Popery into active +and wholesome operation. "Those laws were passed by the wisest and +ablest assembly of legislators in the world, and to what purpose could +legislative enactments for the preservation of Protestant interests be +passed if men of true faith and loyalty could not be found to carry them +into effect. There were the laws; the prisoner at the bar did not make +those laws, and if he was invested with authority to carry them into +operation, what did he do but discharge a wholesome and important duty? +The country was admitted, on all sides, to be in a disturbed state; +Popery was attempting for years most insidiously to undermine the +Protestant Church, and to sap the foundation of all Protestant +interests; and if, by a pardonable excess of zeal, of zeal in the right +direction, and unconscious lapse in the discharge of what he would call, +those noble but fearful duties had occurred, was it for those who had +a sense of true liberty, and a manly detestation of Romish intrigue at +heart, to visit that upon the head of a true and loyal man as a +crime. Forbid it, the spirit of the British Constitution--forbid it, +heaven--forbid it, Protestantism. No, gentlemen of the jury," etc., etc. + +We need not go further, because we have condensed in the few sentences +given the gist of all he said. + +When the case was closed, the jury retired to their room, and as Sir +Robert Whitecraft's fate depends upon their verdict, we will be kind +enough to avail ourselves of the open sesame of our poor imagination to +introduce our readers invisibly into the jury-room. + +"Now," said the foreman, "what's to be done? Are we to sacrifice a +Protestant champion to Popery?" + +"To Popery! To the deuce," replied another. "It's not Popery that is +prosecuting him. Put down Popery by argument, by fair argument, but +don't murder those that profess it, in cold blood. As the Attorney* +General said, let us make it our own case, and if the Papishes treated +us as we have treated them, what would we say? By jingo, I'll hang +that fellow. He's a Protestant champion, they say; but I say he's a +Protestant bloodhound, and a cowardly rascal to boot." + +"How is he a cowardly rascal, Bob? Hasn't' he proved himself a brave man +against the Papishes? eh?" + +"A brave man! deuce thank him for being a brave man against poor devils +that are allowed nothing stouter than a horse-rod to defend themselves +with--when he has a party of well-armed bloodhounds at his back. He's +the worst landlord in Ireland, and, above all things, he's a tyrant to +his Protestant tenants, this champion of Protestantism. Ay, and fierce +as he is against Popery, there's not a Papish tenant on his estate that +he's not like a father to." + +"And how the deuce do you know that?" + +"Because I was head bailiff to him for ten years." + +"But doesn't all the world know that he hates the Papists, and would +have them massacred if he could?" + +"And so he does--and so he would; but it's all his cowardice, because +he's afraid that if he was harsh to his Popish tenants some of them +might shoot him from behind a hedge some fine night, and give him a +leaden bullet for his supper." + +"I know he's a coward," observed another, "because he allowed himself to +be horsewhipped by Major Bingham, and didn't call him out for it." + +"Oh, as to that," said another, "it was made up by their friends; but +what's to be done? All the evidence is against him, and we are on our +oaths to find a verdict according to the evidence." + +"Evidence be hanged," said another; "I'll sit here till doom's-day +before I find him guilty. Are we, that are all loyal Protestants, to +bring out a varjuice to please the Papishes? Oh, no, faith; but here's +the thing, gentlemen; mark me; here now, I take off my shoes, and I'll +ait them before I find him guilty;" and as he spoke he deliberately +slipped of his shoes, and placed them on the table, ready for his tough +and loyal repast. + +"By Gog," said another, "I'll hang him, in spite of your _teeth_; and, +afther aiten your brogues, you may go barefooted if you like. I have +brogues to ait as well as you, and one of mine is as big as two of +yours." + +This was followed by a chorus of laughter, after which they began to +consider the case before them, like admirable and well-reasoning +jurors, as they were. Two hours passed in wrangling and talking and +recriminating, when, at last, one of them, striking the table, exclaimed +with an oath: + +"All Europe won't save the villain. Didn't he seduce my sister's +daughter, and then throw her and her child back, with shame and +disgrace, on the family, without support?" + +"Look at that," said the owner of the shoe, holding it up triumphantly; +"that's my supper to-night, and my argument in his defence. I say +our--Protestant champion mustn't hang, at least until I starve first." + +The other, who sat opposite to him, put his hand across the table, and +snatching the shoe, struck its owner between the two eyes with it and +knocked him back on the floor. A scene of uproar took place, which +lasted for some minutes, but at length, by the influence of the foreman, +matters were brought to a somewhat amicable issue. In this way they +spent the time for a few hours more, when one of the usual messengers +came to know if they had agreed; but he was instantly dismissed to a +very warm settlement, with the assurance that they had not. + +"Come," said one of them, pulling out a pack of cards, "let us amuse +ourselves at any rate. Who's for a hand at the Spoil Five?" + +The cards were looked upon as a godsend, and in a few moments one half +the jury were busily engaged at that interesting game. The other portion +of them amused themselves, in the meantime, as well as they could. + +"Tom," said one of them, "were you ever on a special jury in a revenue +case?" + +"No," replied Tom, "never. Is there much fun?" + +"The devil's own fun; because if we find for the defendant, he's sure to +give us a splendid feed. But do you know how we manage when we find that +we can't agree?" + +"No. How is it?" + +"Why, you see, when the case is too clear against him, and that to find +for him would be too barefaced, we get every man to mark down on a slip +of paper the least amount of damages he is disposed to give against him; +when they're all down, we tot them up, and divide by twelve--"* + + *By no means an uncommon proceeding in revenue cases, + even at the present day. + +"Silence," said another, "till we hear John Dickson's song." + +The said John Dickson was at the time indulging them with a comic song, +which was encored with roars of laughter. + +"Hallo!" shouted one of those at the cards, "here's Jack Brereton has +prigged the ace of hearts." + +"Oh, gentlemen," said Jack, who was a greater knave at the cards than +any in the pack, "upon, my honor, gentlemen, you wrong me." + +"There--he has dropped it," said another; "look under the table." + +The search was made, and up was lugged the redoubtable ace of hearts +from under one of Jack's feet, who had hoped, by covering it, to escape +detection. Detected, however, he was, and, as they all knew him well, +the laughter was loud accordingly, and none of them laughed louder than +Jack himself. + +"Jack," said another of them, "let us have a touch of the legerdemain." + +"Gentlemen, attention," said Jack. "Will any of you lend me a +halfpenny?" + +This was immediately supplied to him, and the first thing he did was +to stick it on his forehead--although there had been brass enough there +before--to which it appeared to have been glued; after a space he took +it off and placed it in the palm of his right hand, which he closed, +and then, extending both his hands, shut, asked those about him in which +hand it was. Of course they all said in the right; but, upon Jack's +opening the said hand, there was no halfpenny there. + +In this way they discussed a case of life or death, until another knock +came, which "knock" received the same answer as before. + +"Faith," said a powerful-looking farmer from near the town of Boyle--the +very picture of health, "if they don't soon let us out I'll get sick. +It's I that always does the sickness for the jury when we're kept in too +long." + +"Why, then, Billy Bradley," asked one of them, "how could you, of all +men living, sham sickness on a doctor?" + +"Because," said Billy, with a grin, "I'm beginning to feel a divarsion +of blood to the head, for want of a beefsteak and a pot o' porther. My +father and grandfather both died of a divarsion of blood to the head." + +"I rather think," observed another, "that they died by taking their +divarsion at the beefsteak and the pot of porter." + +"No matther," said Billy, "they died at all events, and so will we all, +plaise God." + +"Gome," said one of them, "there is Jack Brereton and his cane--let us +come to business. What do you say, Jack, as to the prisoner?" + +Jack at the time had the aforesaid cane between his legs, over which he +was bent like a bow, with the head of it in his mouth. + +"Are you all agreed?" asked Jack. + +"All for a verdict of guilty, with the exception of this fellow and his +shoes." + +Jack Brereton was a handsome old fellow, with a red face and a pair +of watery eyes; he was a little lame, and crippled as he walked, +in consequence of a hip complaint, which he got by a fall from a +jaunting-car; but he was now steady enough, except the grog. + +"Jack, what do you say?" asked the foreman; "it's time to do something." + +"Why," replied Jack, "the scoundrel engaged me to put down a pump for +him, and I did it in such a manner as was a credit to his establishment. +To be sure, he wanted the water to come whenever it was asked; but I +told him that that wasn't my system; that I didn't want to make a good +thing too cheap; but that the water would come in genteel time--that is +to say, whenever they didn't want it; and faith the water bore me out." +And here Jack laughed heartily. "But no matter," proceeded Jack, "he's +only a _bujeen_; sure it was his mother nursed me. Where's that fellow +that's going to eat his shoes? Here, Ned Wilson, you flaming Protestant, +I have neither been a grand juror nor a petty juror of the county of +Sligo for nothing. Where are you? Take my cane, place it between your +knees as you saw me do, put your mouth down to the head of it, suck up +with all your strength, and you'll find that God will give you sense +afterwards." + +Wilson, who had taken such a fancy for eating his shoes, in order to +show his loyalty, was what is called a hard-goer, and besides a great +friend of Jack's. At all events, he followed his advice--put the head +of the huge cane into his mouth, and drew up accordingly. The cane, in +fact, was hollow all through, and contained about three half-pints of +strong whiskey. There was some wrangling with the man for a little time +after this; but at length he approached Jack, and handing him the empty +cane, said: + +"What's your opinion, Jack?" + +"Why, we must hang him," replied Jack. "He defrauded me in the pump; and +I ask you did you ever put your nose to a better pump than that?"* + + * We have been taken to task about this description of the + jury-room; but we believe, and have good reason to believe, + that every circumstance mentioned in it is a fact Do our + readers remember the history of Orr's trial, where three- + fourths of the jurors who convicted him were drunk--a fact + to which they themselves confirmed upon oath afterwards? + +"Give me your hand, Jack, we're agreed--he swings!" + +At this moment an officer came to ask the same question, when, in reply, +the twelve jurymen came out, and, amidst the most profound silence, the +foreman handed down the issue paper to the Clerk of the Crown. + +"Gentlemen," said that officer, after having cast his eye over it, "have +you agreed in your verdict?" + +"We have." + +"Is the prisoner at the bar guilty, or not guilty?" + +"Guilty!" + +Let us pause here a moment, and reflect upon the precarious tenure of +life, as it is frequently affected by such scenes as the above, in +the administration of justice. Here was a criminal of the deepest dye, +shivering in the dock with the natural apprehension of his fate, but +supported, notwithstanding, by the delay of the jury in coming to a +verdict. He argued reasonably enough, that in consequence of that very +delay he must necessarily have friends among them who would hold out to +the last. The state of suspense, however, in which he was held must +have been, and was, dreadful. His lips and throat became parched by +excitement, and he was obliged to drink three or four glasses of water. +Being unable to stand, he was accommodated with a chair, on which, while +he sat, the perspiration flowed from his pallid face. Yet, with the +exception of his own clique, there was scarcely an individual present +who did not hope that this trial would put an end to his career of +blood. After all, there was something of the retributive justice of +Providence even in the conduct and feelings of the jury; for, in point +of fact, it was more on account of his private crimes and private infamy +that they, however wrongly, brought in their verdict. Here was he, +encircled by their knowledge of his own iniquities, apart from his +public acts; and there, standing in that dock, from which he might have +gone out free, so far as regarded his political exploits, he found, +although he did not know it, the black weight of his private vices fall +upon his head in the shape of the verdict just delivered. It would be +impossible to describe his appearance on hearing it; his head fell down +upon his breast listless, helpless, and with a character of despair that +was painful to contemplate. + +When the verdict was handed down, the judge immediately put on the +black-cap; but Whitecraft's head was resting on his breast, and he did +not for some time see it. At length, stirred into something like life by +the accents of the judge, he raised his head with an effort. The latter +addressed him as thus: "Sir Robert Whitecraft, you have been convicted +this day by as enlightened a jury as ever sat in a jury-box. You must +be aware yourself, by the length of time, and consequently the deep and +serious investigation which they bestowed--and, it is evident, painfully +bestowed--upon your unhappy case, that your conviction is the deliberate +result of their conscientious opinion. It is obvious, as I said, from +the length of time occupied in the jury-room, that the evidence in your +case was sifted closely, and canvassed with the ability and experience +of able and honest men. In the verdict they have returned the Court +perfectly concurs; and it now only remains for me to pass upon you that +awful sentence of the law which is due to your cruel life and flagitious +crimes. Were you a man without education, nurtured in ignorance, and the +slave of its debasing consequences, some shade of compassion might be +felt for you on that account. But you cannot plead this; you cannot +plead poverty, or that necessity which urges many a political adventurer +to come out as a tyrant and oppressor upon his fellow-subjects, under +the shield of the law, and in the corrupt expectation of reward or +promotion. You were not only independent in your own circumstances, but +you possessed great wealth; and why you should shape yourself such an +awful course of crime can only be attributed to a heart naturally +fond of persecution and blood. I cannot, any more than the learned +Attorney-General, suffer the privileges of rank, wealth, or position +to sway me from the firm dictates of justice. You imagined that the +law would connive at you--and it did so too long, but, believe me, the +sooner or later it will abandon the individual that has been provoking +it, and, like a tiger when goaded beyond patience, will turn and tear +its victim to pieces. It remains for me now to pronounce the awful +sentence of the law upon you; but before I do so, let me entreat you to +turn your heart to that Being who will never refuse mercy to a repentant +sinner; and I press this upon you the more because you need not +entertain the slightest expectation of finding it in this world. In +order, therefore, that you may collect and compose your mind for the +great event that is before you, I will allow you four days, in order +that you may make a Christian use of your time, and prepare your spirit +for a greater tribunal than this. The sentence of the Court is that, +on the fifth day after this, you be, etc., etc., etc.; and may God have +mercy on your soul!" + +At first there was a dead silence in the Court, and a portion of the +audience was taken completely by surprise on hearing both the verdict' +and the sentence. At length a deep, condensed murmur, which arose by +degrees into a yell of execration, burst forth from his friends, whilst, +on the other hand, a peal of cheers and acclamations rang so +loudly through the court that they completely drowned the indignant +vociferations of the others. In the meantime silence was restored, and +it was found that the convict had been removed during the confusion +to one of the condemned cells. What now were his friends to do? Was it +possible to take any steps by which he might yet be saved from such +a disgraceful death? Pressed as they were for time, they came to +the conclusion that the only chance existing in his favor was for a +deputation of as many of the leading Protestants of the county, as could +be prevailed upon to join in the measure, to proceed to Dublin without +delay. Immediately, therefore, after the trial, a meeting of the +baronet's friends was held in the head inn of Sligo, where the matter +was earnestly discussed. Whitecraft had been a man of private and +solitary enjoyments--in social and domestic life, as cold, selfish, +inhospitable, and repulsive as he was cruel and unscrupulous in his +public career. + +The consequence was that he had few personal friends of either rank or +influence, and if the matter had rested upon his own personal character +and merits alone, he would have been left, without an effort, to the +fate which had that day been pronounced upon him. The consideration of +the matter, however, was not confined to himself as an individual, but +to the Protestant party at large, and his conviction was looked upon as +a Popish triumph. On this account many persons of rank and influence, +who would not otherwise have taken any interest in his fate, came +forward for the purpose, if possible, of defeating the Popish +party--who, by the way, had nothing whatsoever to do in promoting his +conviction--and of preventing the stigma and deep disgrace which his +execution would attach to their own. A very respectable deputation was +consequently formed, and in the course of the next day proceeded to +Dublin, to urge their claims in his favor with the Lord Lieutenant. +This nobleman, though apparently favorable to the Catholic people, was +nevertheless personally and secretly a bitter enemy to them. The state +policy which he was instructed and called upon to exercise in their +favor differed _toto coelo_ from his own impressions. He spoke to them, +however, sweetly and softly, praised them for their forbearance, +and made large promises in their favor, whilst, at the same time, +he entertained no intention of complying with their request. +The deputation, on arriving at the castle, ascertained, to their +mortification, that the viceroy would not be at home until the following +day, having spent the last week with a nobleman in the neighborhood; +they were consequently obliged to await his arrival. After his return +they were admitted to an audience, in which they stated their object +in waiting upon him, and urged with great earnestness the necessity +of arresting the fate of such a distinguished Protestant as Sir Robert +Whitecraft; after which they entered into a long statement of the +necessity that existed for such active and energetic men in the then +peculiar and dangerous state of the country. + +To all this, however, he replied with great suavity, assuring them that +no man felt more anxious to promote Protestant interests than he did, +and added that the relaxation of the laws against the Catholics was +not so much the result of his own personal policy or feeling as the +consequence of the instructions he had received from the English +Cabinet. He would be very glad to comply with the wishes of the +deputation if he could, but at present it was impossible. This man's +conduct was indefensible; for, not content in carrying out the laws +against the Catholics with unnecessary rigor, he committed a monstrous +outrage against a French subject of distinction, in consequence of which +the French Court, through their Ambassador in London, insisted upon his +punishment. + +"Very well, my lord," replied the spokesman of the deputation, "I beg to +assure you, that if a hair of this man's head is injured there will be +a massacre of the Popish population before two months; and I beg also to +let you know, for the satisfaction of the English Cabinet, that they +may embroil themselves with France, or get into whatever political +embarrassment they please, but an Irish Protestant will never hoist a +musket, or draw a sword, in their defence. Gentlemen, let us bid his +Excellency a good-morning." + +This was startling language, as the effect proved, for it startled +the viceroy into a compliance with their wishes, and they went home +post-haste, in order that the pardon might arrive in time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV.--Reilly stands his Trial + +Rumor of _Cooleen Bawn_'s Treachery--How it appears--Conclusion. + + +Life, they say, is a life of trials, and so may it be said of this +tale--at least of the conclusion of it; for we feel that it devolves +upon us once more to solicit the presence of our readers to the same +prison in which the Red Rapparee and Sir Robert Whitecraft received +their sentence of doom. + +As it is impossible to close the mouth or to silence the tongue of fame, +so we may assure our readers, as we have before, that the: history of +the loves of those two celebrated individuals, to wit, Willy Reilly and +the far-famed _Cooleen Bawn_, had given an interest to the coming trial +such as was never known within the memory of man, at that period, nor +perhaps equalled since. The Red Rapparee, Sir Robert Whitecraft, and all +the other celebrated "villains of that time, have nearly perished out of +tradition itself, whilst those of our hero and heroine are still fresh +in the feelings of the Connaught and Northern peasantry, at whose +hearths, during the winter evenings, the rude but fine old ballad that +commemorated that love is still sung with sympathy, and sometimes, as +we can I testify, with tears. This is fame. One circumstance, however, +which deepened the interest felt by the people, told powerfully against +the consistency of the _Cooleen Bawn_, which was, that she had resolved +to come forward that day to bear evidence against; her lover. Such +was the general impression received from her father, and the attorney +Doldrum, who conducted the trial against Reilly, although our readers +are well aware that on this point they spoke without authority. The +governor of the prison, on going that morning to conduct him to the bar, +said: + +"I am sorry, Mr. Reilly, to be the bearer of bad news; but as the +knowledge of it may be serviceable to you or your lawyers, I think I +ought to mention it to you." + +"Pray, what is it?" asked Reilly. + +"Why, sir, it is said to be a fact that the _Cooleen Bawn_ has proved +false and treacherous, and is coming this day to bear her testimony +against you." + +Reilly replied with a smile of confidence, which the darkness of the +room prevented the other from seeing, "Well, Mr. O'Shaugh-nessy, even +if she does, it cannot be helped; have you heard what the nature of her +evidence is likely to be?" + +"No; it seems her father and Doldrum the attorney asked her, and she +would not tell them; but she said she had made her mind up to attend the +trial and see justice done. Don't be cast down, Mr. Reilly, though, upon +my soul, I think she ought to have stood it out in your favor to the +last." + +"Come," said Reilly, "I am ready; time will tell, Mr. O'Shaughnessy, and +a short time too; a few hours now, and all will know the result." + +"I hope in God it may be in your favor, Mr. Reilly." + +"Thank you, O'Shaughnessy; lead on; I am ready to attend you." + +The jail was crowded even to suffocation; but this was not all. The +street opposite the jail was nearly as much crowded as the jail itself, +a moving, a crushing mass of thousands having been collected to abide +and hear the issue. It was with great difficulty, and not without the +aid of a strong military force, that a way could be cleared for the +judge as he approached the prison. The crowd was silent and passive, +but in consequence of the report that the _Cooleen Bawn_ was to appear +against Reilly, a profound melancholy and an expression of deep sorrow +seemed to brood over it. Immediately after the judge's carriage came +that of the squire, who was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Brown and +Mrs. Hastings, for Helen had insisted that her father should procure +their attendance. A private room in the prison had, by previous +arrangement, been prepared for them, and to this they were conducted by +a back way, so as to avoid the crushing of the crowd. It was by this +way also that the judge and lawyers entered the body of the court-house, +without passing through the congregated mass. + +At length the judge, having robed himself, took his seat on the bench, +and, on casting his eye over the court-house, was astonished at the +dense multitude that stood before him. On looking at the galleries, he +saw that they were crowded with ladies of rank and fashion. Every thing +having been now ready, the lawyers, each with his brief before him, and +each with a calm, but serious and meditative aspect, the Clerk of +the Crown cried out, in a voice which the hum of the crowd rendered +necessarily loud: + +"Mr. Jailer, put William Reilly to the bar." + +At that moment a stir, a murmur, especially among the ladies in the +gallery, and a turning of faces in the direction of the bar, took place +as Reilly came forward, and stood erect in front of the judge. The +very moment he made his appearance all eyes were fastened on him, and +whatever the prejudices may have been against the _Cooleen Bawn_ for +falling in love with a Papist, that moment of his appearance absolved +her from all--from every thing. A more noble or majestic figure never +stood at that or any other bar. In the very prime of manhood, scarcely +out of youth, with a figure like that of Antinous, tall, muscular, yet +elegant, brown hair of the richest shade, a lofty forehead, features of +the most manly cast, but exquisitely formed, and eyes which, but for +the mellow softness of their expression, an eagle might have envied +for their transparent brilliancy. The fame of his love for the _Cooleen +Bawn_ had come before him. The judge surveyed him with deep interest; +so did every eye that could catch a view of his countenance; but, +above all, were those in the gallery riveted upon him with a degree of +interest--and, now that they had seen him, of sympathy--which we shall +not attempt to describe. Some of them were so deeply affected that +they could not suppress their tears, which, by the aid of their +handkerchiefs, they endeavored to conceal as well as they could. +Government, in this case, as it was not one of political interest, +did not prosecute. A powerful bar was retained against Reilly, but an +equally powerful one was engaged for him, the leading lawyer being, as +we have stated, the celebrated advocate Fox, the Curran of his day. + +The charge against him consisted of only two counts--that of robbing +Squire Folliard of family jewels of immense value, and that of running +away with his daughter, a ward of Chancery, contrary to her consent and +inclination, and to the laws in that case made and provided. + +The first witness produced was the sheriff--and, indeed, to state the +truth, a very reluctant one was that humane gentleman on the occasion. +Having been sworn, the leading counsel proceeded: + +"You are the sheriff of this county?" + +"I am." + +"Are you aware that jewellery to a large amount was stolen recently from +Mr. Folliard?" + +"I am not." + +"You are not? Now, is it not a fact, of which you were an eye-witness, +that the jewellery in question was found upon the person of the prisoner +at the bar, in Mr. Folliard's house?" + +"I must confess that I saw him about to be searched, and that a very +valuable case of jewellery was found upon his person." + +"Yes, found upon his person--a very valuable case of jewellery, the +property of Mr. Folliard, found upon his person; mark that, gentlemen of +the jury." + +"Pardon me," said the sheriff, "I saw jewellery found upon him; but I +cannot say on my oath whether it belonged to Mr. Folliard or not; all I +can say is, that Mr. Folliard claimed the jewels as his." + +"As his--just so. Nobody had a better right to claim them than the +person to whom they belonged. What took place on the occasion?" + +"Why, Mr. Folliard, as I said, claimed them, and Mr. Reilly refused to +give them up to him." + +"You hear that, gentlemen--refused to surrender him the property of +which he had robbed him, even in his own house." + +"And when you searched the prisoner?" + +"We didn't search him; he refused to submit to a search." + +"Refused to submit to a search! No wonder, I think! But, at the time he +refused to submit to a search, had he the jewellery upon his person?" + +"He had." + +"He had? You hear that gentlemen--at the time he refused to be searched +he had the jewellery upon his person." + +The sheriff was then cross-examined by Fox, to the following effect: + +"Mr. Sheriff, have you been acquainted, or are you acquainted, with the +prisoner at the bar?" + +"Yes; I have known him for about three years--almost ever since he +settled in this county." + +"What is your opinion of him?" + +"My opinion of him is very high." + +"Yes--your opinion of him is very high," with a significant glance at +the jury--"I believe it is, and I believe it ought to be. Now, upon +your oath, do you believe that the prisoner at the bar is capable of the +theft or robbery imputed to him?" + +"I do not!" + +"You do not? What did he say when the jewels were found upon him?" + +"He refused to surrender them to Mr. Folliard as having no legal claim +upon them, and refused, at first, to place them in any hands but Miss +Folliard's own; but, on understanding that she was not in--a state to +receive them from him, he placed them in mine." + +"Then he considered that they were Miss Folliard's personal property, +and not her father's?" + +"So it seemed to me from what he said at the time." + +"That will do, sir; you may go down." + +"Alexander Folliard" and the father then made his appearance on the +table; he looked about him, with a restless eye, and appeared in a +state of great agitation, but it was the agitation of an enraged and +revengeful man. + +He turned his eyes upon Reilly, and exclaimed with bitterness: "There +you are, Willy Reilly, who have stained the reputation of my child, and +disgraced her family." + +"Mr. Folliard," said his lawyer, "you have had in your possession very +valuable family jewels." + +"I had." + +"Whose property were they?" + +"Why, mine, I should think." + +"Could you identify them?" + +"Certainly I could." + +"Are these the jewels in question?" + +The old man put on his spectacles, and examined them closely. + +"They are; I know every one of them." + +"They were stolen from you?" + +"They were." + +"On whose person, after having been stolen, were they found?" + +"On the person of the prisoner at the bar." + +"You swear that?" + +"I do; because I saw him take them out of his pocket in my own house +after he had been made prisoner and detected." + +"Then they are your property?" + +"Certainly--I consider them my property; who else's property could they +be." + +"Pray, is not your daughter a minor?" + +"She is." + +"And a ward in the Court of Chancery?" + +"Yes." + +"That will do, sir." + +The squire was then about to leave the table, when Mr. Fox addressed +him: + +"Not yet, Mr. Folliard, if you please; you swear the jewels are yours?" + +"I do; to whom else should they belong?" + +"Are you of opinion that the prisoner at the bar robbed you of them?" + +"I found them in his possession." + +"And you now identify them as the same jewels which you found in his +possession?" + +"Hang it, haven't I said so before?" + +"Pray, Mr. Folliard, keep your temper, if you please, and answer me +civilly and as a gentleman. Suffer me to ask you are there any other +family jewels in your possession?" + +"Yes, the Folliard jewels?" + +"The Folliard jewels! And how do they differ in denomination from those +found upon the prisoner?" + +"Those found upon the prisoner are called the Bingham jewels, from +the fact of my wife, who was a Bingham, having brought them into our +family." + +"And pray, did not your wife always consider those jewels as her own +private property?" + +"Why, I believe she did." + +"And did she not, at her death-bed, bequeath those very jewels to her +daughter, the present Miss Folliard, on the condition that she too +should consider them as her private property?" + +"Why, I believe she did; indeed, I am sure of it, because I was present +at the time." + +"In what part of the house were those jewels deposited?" + +"In a large oak cabinet that stands in a recess in my library." + +"Did you keep what you call the Folliard jewels there?" + +"Yes, all our jewellery was kept there." + +"But there was no portion of the Folliard jewellery touched?" + +"No; but the Bingham sets were all taken, and all found upon the +prisoner." + +"What was your opinion of the prisoner's circumstances?" + +"I could form no opinion about them." + +"Had he not the reputation of being an independent man?" + +"I believe such was the impression." + +"In what style of life did he live?" + +"Certainly in the style of a gentleman." + +"Do you think, then, that necessity was likely to tempt a man of +independence like him to steal your daughter's jewels?" + +"I'd advise you, Sergeant Fox, not to put me out of temper; I haven't +much to spare just now. What the deuce are you at?" + +"Will you answer my question?" + +"No, I don't think it was." + +"If the Bingham jewellery had been stolen by a thief, do you think that +thief would have left the Folliard jewellery behind him?" + +"I'll take my oath you wouldn't, if you had been in the place of the +person that took them. You'd have put the Bingham jewellery in one +pocket, and balanced it with the Folliard in the other. But," he added, +after a slight pause, "the villain stole from me a jewel more valuable +and dearer to her father's heart than all the jewellery of the universal +world put together. He stole my child, my only child," and as he spoke +the tears ran slowly down his cheeks. The court and spectators were +touched by this, and Fox felt that it was a point against them. Even he +himself was touched, and saw that, with respect to Reilly's safety, the +sooner he got rid of the old man, for the present at least, the better. + +"Mr. Folliard," said he, "you may withdraw now. Your daughter loved, +as what woman has not? There stands the object of her affections, and I +appeal to your own feelings whether any living woman could be blamed for +loving such a man. You may go down, sir, for the present." + +The prosecuting counsel then said: "My lord, we produce Miss Folliard +herself to bear testimony against this man. Crier, let Helen Folliard be +called." + +Now was the moment of intense and incredible interest. There was the +far-famed beauty herself, to appear against her manly lover. The stir +in the court, the expectation, the anxiety to see her, the stretching +of necks, the pressure of one over another, the fervor of curiosity, +was such as the reader may possibly conceive, but such certainly as +we cannot attempt to describe. She advanced from a side door, deeply +veiled; but the tall and majestic elegance of her figure not only struck +all hearts with admiration, but prepared them for the inexpressible +beauty with which the whole kingdom rang. She was assisted to the table, +and helped into the witness's chair by her father, who seemed to triumph +in her appearance there. On taking her seat, the buzz and murmur of the +spectators became hushed into a silence like that of death, and, until +she spoke, a feather might have been heard falling in the court. + +"Miss Folliard," said the judge, in a most respectful voice, "you are +deeply veiled--but perhaps you are not aware that, in order to give +evidence in a court of justice, your veil should be up; will you have +the goodness to raise it?" + +Deliberately and slowly she raised it, as the court had desired +her--but, oh! what an effulgence of beauty, what wonderful brilliancy, +what symmetry, what radiance, what tenderness, what expression! + +But we feel that to attempt the description of that face, which almost +had divinity stamped upon it, is beyond all our powers. The whole court, +every spectator, man and woman, all for a time were mute, whilst their +hearts drank in the delicious draught of admiration which such beauty +created. After having raised her veil, she looked around the court with +a kind of wonder, after which her eyes rested on Reilly, and immediately +her lids dropped, for she feared that she had done wrong in looking +upon him. This made many of those hearts who were interested in his fate +sink, and wonder why such treachery should be associated with features +that breathed only of angelic goodness and humanity. + +"Miss Folliard," said the leading counsel engaged against Reilly, "I am +happy to hear that you regret some past occurrences that took place with +respect to you and the prisoner at the bar." + +"Yes," she replied, in a voice that was melody itself, "I do regret +them." + +Fox kept his eye fixed upon her, after which he whispered something +to one or two of his brother lawyers; they shook their heads, and +immediately set themselves to hear and note her examination. + +"Miss Folliard, you are aware of the charges which have placed the +prisoner at the bar of justice and his country?" + +"Not exactly; I have heard little of it beyond the fact of his +incarceration." + +"He stands there charged with two very heinous crimes--one of them, +the theft or robbery of a valuable packet of jewels, your father's +property." + +"Oh, no," she replied, "they are my own exclusive property--not +my father's. They were the property of my dear mother, who, on her +death-bed, bequeathed them to me, in the presence of my father himself; +and I always considered them as mine." + +"But they were found upon the person of the prisoner?" + +"Oh, yes; but that is very easily explained. It is no secret now, that, +in order to avoid a marriage which my father was forcing on me with Sir +Robert Whitecraft, I chose the less evil, and committed myself to +the honor of Mr. Reilly. If I had not done so I should have committed +suicide, I think, rather than marry Whitecraft--a man so utterly devoid +of principle and delicacy that he sent an abandoned female into my +father's house in the capacity of my maid and also as a spy upon my +conduct." + +This astounding fact created an immense sensation throughout the court, +and the lawyer who was examining her began to feel that her object in +coming there was to give evidence in favor of Reilly, and not against +him. He determined, however, to try her a little farther, and proceeded: + +"But, Miss Folliard, how do you account for the fact of the Bingham +jewels being found upon the person of the prisoner?" + +"It is the simplest thing in the world," she replied. "I brought my own +jewels with me, and finding", as we proceeded, that I was likely to lose +them, having no pocket sufficiently safe in which to carry them, I asked +Reilly to take charge of them, which he did. Our unexpected capture, and +the consequent agitation, prevented him from returning them to me, and +they were accordingly found upon his person; but, as for stealing them, +he is just as guilty as his lordship on the bench." + +"Miss Folliard," proceeded the lawyer, "you have taken us by surprise +to-day. How does it happen that you volunteered your evidence against +the prisoner, and, now that you have come forward, every word you utter +is in his favor? Your mind must have recently changed--a fact which +takes very much away from the force of that evidence." + +"I pray you, sir, to understand me, and not suffer yourself to be +misled. I never stated that I was about to come here to give evidence +against Mr. Reilly; but I said, when strongly pressed to come, that I +would come, and see justice done. Had they asked me my meaning, I would +have instantly told them; because, I trust, I am incapable of falsehood; +and I will say now, that if my life could obtain that of William Reilly, +I would lay it willingly down for him, as I am certain he would lay down +his for the preservation of mine." + +There was a pause here, and a murmur of approbation ran through the +court. The opposing counsel, too, found that they had been led astray, +and that to examine her any further would be only a weakening of their +own cause. They attached, however, no blame of insincerity to her, but +visited with much bitterness the unexpected capsize which they had +got, on the stupid head of Doldrum, their attorney. They consequently +determined to ask her no more questions, and she was about to withdraw, +when Fox rose up, and said: + +"Miss Folliard, I am counsel for the prisoner at the bar, and I trust +you will answer me a few questions. I perceive, madam, that you are +fatigued of this scene; but the questions I shall put to you will be few +and brief. An attachment has existed for some time between you and the +prisoner at the bar? You need not be ashamed, madam, to reply to it." + +"I am not ashamed," she replied proudly, "and it is true." + +"Was your father aware of that attachment at any time?" + +"He was, from a very early period." + +"Pray, how did he discover it?" + +"I myself told him of my love for Reilly." + +"Did your father give his consent to that attachment?" + +"Conditionally he did." + +"And pray, Miss Folliard, what were the conditions?" + +"That Reilly should abjure his creed, and then no further obstacles +should stand in the way of our union, he said." + +"Was ever that proposal mentioned to Reilly?" + +"Yes, I mentioned it to him myself; but, well as he loved me, he would +suffer to go into an early grave, he said, sooner than abandon his +religion; and I loved him a thousand times better for his noble +adherence to it." + +"Did he not save your father's life?" + +"He did, and the life of a faithful and attached old servant at the same +time." + +Now, although this fact was generally known, yet the statement of it +here occasioned a strong expression of indignation against the man who +could come forward and prosecute the individual, to whose courage and +gallantry he stood indebted for his escape from murder. The uncertainty +of Folliard's character, however, was so well known, and his whimsical +changes of opinion such a matter of proverb among the people, that many +persons said to each other: + +"The cracked old squire is in one of his tantrums now; he'll be a proud +man if he can convict Reilly to-day; and perhaps to-morrow, or in a +month hence, he'll be cursing; himself for what he did--for that's his +way." + +"Well, Miss Folliard," said Fox, "we will not detain you any longer; +this to you must be a painful scene; you may retire, madam." + +[Illustration: PAGE 175--Give that ring to the prisoner] + + +She did not immediately withdraw, but taking a green silk purse out of +her bosom, she opened it, and, after inserting her long, white, taper +fingers into it, she brought out a valuable emerald ring, and placing it +in the hands of the crier, she said: + +"Give that ring to the prisoner: I know not, William," she added, +"whether I shall ever see you again or not. It may so happen that this is +the last time my eyes can ever rest upon you with love and sorrow." Here +a few bright tears ran down her lovely cheeks. "If you should be sent +to a far-off land, wear this for the sake of her who appreciated your +virtues, your noble spirit, and your pure and disinterested love; look +upon it when, perhaps, the Atlantic may roll between us, and when you +do, think of your _Cooleen Bawn_, and the love she bore you; but if a +still unhappier fate should be yours, let it be placed with you in your +grave, and next that heart, that noble heart, that refused to sacrifice +your honor and your religion even to your love for me. I will now go." + +There is nothing so brave and fearless as innocence. Her youth, the +majesty of her beauty, and the pathos of her expressions, absolutely +flooded the court with tears. The judge wept, and hardened old +barristers, with hearts like the nether millstone, were forced to put +their handkerchiefs to their eyes; but as they felt that it might be +detrimental to! their professional characters to be caught weeping, they +shaded off the pathos under the hypocritical pretence of blowing their +noses. The sobs from the ladies in the gallery were loud and vehement, +and Reilly himself was so deeply moved that he felt obliged to put his +face upon his hands, as he bent over the bar, in order to conceal his +emotion. He received the ring with moist eyes, kissed it, and placed it +in a small locket which he put in his bosom. + +"Now," said the _Cooleen Bawn_, "I am ready to go." + +She was then conducted to the room to which we have alluded, where she +met Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hastings, both of whom she found in tears--for +they had been in the gallery, and witnessed all that had happened. They +both embraced her tenderly, and attempted to console her as well as they +could; but a weight like death, she said, pressed upon her heart, and +she begged them not to distract her by their sympathy, kind and generous +as she felt it to be, but to allow her to sit, and nurture her own +thoughts until she could hear the verdict of the jury. Mrs. Hastings +returned to the gallery, and arrived there in time to hear the touching +and brilliant speech of Fox, which we are not presumptuous enough to +imagine, much less to stultify ourselves by attempting to give. He +dashed the charge of Reilly's theft of the jewels to pieces--not a +difficult task, after the evidence that had been given; and then dwelt +upon the loves of this celebrated pair with such force and eloquence +and pathos that the court was once more melted into tears. The closing +speech by the leading counsel against Reilly was bitter; but the gist +of it turned upon the fact of his having eloped with a ward of Chancery, +contrary to law; and he informed the jury that no affection--no consent +upon the part of any young lady under age was either a justification of, +or a protection against, such an abduction as that of which Reilly had +been guilty. The state of the law at the present time, he assured them, +rendered it a felony to marry a Catholic and a Protestant together; and +he then left the case in the hands, he said, of an honest Protestant +jury. + +The judge's charge was brief. He told the jury that they could not +convict the prisoner on the imputed felony of the jewels; but that the +proof of his having taken away Miss Folliard from her father's house, +with--as the law stood--her felonious abduction, for the purpose of +inveigling her into an unlawful marriage with himself, was the subject +for their consideration. Even had he been a Protestant, the law could +afford him no protection in the eye of the Court of Chancery. + +The jury retired; but their absence from their box was very brief. +Unfortunately, their foreman was cursed with a dreadful hesitation in +his speech, and, as he entered, the Clerk of the Crown said: + +"Well, gentlemen, have you agreed in your verdict?" + +There was a solemn silence, during which nothing was heard but a +convulsive working about the chest and glottis of the foreman, who at +length said: + +"We--we--we--we have." + +"Is the prisoner at the bar guilty or not guilty?" + +Here the internal but obstructed machinery of the chest and throat set +to work again, and at last the foreman was able to get out--"Guilty--" + +Mrs. Hastings had heard enough, and too much; and, as the sentence was +pronounced, she instantly withdrew; but how to convey the melancholy +tidings to the _Cooleen Bawn_ she knew not. In the meantime the foreman, +who had not fully delivered himself of the verdict, added, after two or +three desperate hiccups--"on the second count." + +This, if the foreman had not labored under such an extraordinary +hesitation, might have prevented much suffering, and many years of +unconscious calamity to one of the unhappy parties of whom we are +writing, inasmuch as the felony of the jewels would have been death, +whilst the elopement with a ward of Chancery was only transportation. + +When Mrs. Hastings entered the room where the _Cooleen Bawn_ was +awaiting the verdict with a dreadful intensity of feeling, the latter +rose up, and, throwing her arms about her neck, looked into her face, +with an expression of eagerness and wildness, which Mrs. Hastings +thought might be best allayed by knowing the worst, as the heart, in +such circumstances, generally collects itself, and falls back upon its +own resources. + +"Well, Mrs. Hastings, well--the verdict?" + +"Collect yourself, my child--be firm--be a woman. Collect yourself--for +you will require it. The verdict--Guilty!" + +The _Cooleen Bawn_ did not faint--nor become weak--but she put her fair +white hand to her forehead--then looked around the room, then upon Mrs. +Brown, and lastly upon Mrs. Hastings. They also looked upon her. God +help both her and them! Yes, they looked upon her countenance--that +lovely countenance--and then into her eyes--those eyes! But, alas! where +was their beauty now? Where their expression? + +"Miss Folliard! my darling Helen!" exclaimed Mrs. Hastings, in +tears--"great God, what is this, Mrs. Brown? Come here and look at her." + +Mrs. Brown, on looking at her, whispered, in choking accents, "Oh! my +God, the child's reason is overturned; what is there now in those once +glorious eyes but vacancy? Oh, that I had never lived to see this awful +day! Helen, the treasure, the delight of all who ever knew you, what +is wrong? Oh, speak to us--recognize us--your own two best +friends--Helen--Helen! speak to us." + +She looked upon them certainly; but it was with a dead and vacant stare +which wrung their hearts. + +"Come," said she, "tell me where is William Reilly? Oh, bring me to +William Reilly; they have taken me from him, and I. know not where to +find him." + +The two kind-hearted ladies looked at one another, each stupefied by the +mystery of what they witnessed. + +"Oh," said Mrs. Hastings, "her father must be instantly sent for Mrs. +Brown, go to the lobby--there is an officer there--desire him to go to +Mr. Folliard and say that--but we had better not alarm him too much," +she added, "say that Miss Folliard wishes to see him immediately." + +The judge, we may observe here, had not yet pronounced sentence upon +Reilly. The old man, who, under all possible circumstances, was so +affectionately devoted and attentive to his daughter, immediately +proceeded to the room, in a state of great triumph and exultation +exclaiming, "Guilty, guilty; we have noosed him at last." He even +snapped his fingers, and danced about for a time, until rebuked by Mrs. +Hastings. + +"Unhappy and miserable old man," she exclaimed, with tears, "what +have you done? Look at the condition of your only child, whom you have +murdered. She is now a maniac." + +[Illustration: PAGE 176--What, what is this? What do you mean?] + +"What," he exclaimed, rushing to her, "what, what is this? What do you +mean? Helen, my darling, my child--my delight--what is wrong with you? +Recollect yourself, my dearest treasure. Do you not know me, your own +father? Oh, Helen, Helen! for the love of God speak to me. Say you know +me--call me father--rouse yourself--recollect me--don't you know who I +am?" + +There, however, was the frightfully vacant glance, but no reply. + +"Oh," said she, in a low, calm voice, "where is William Reilly? They +have taken me from him, and I cannot find him; bring me to William +Reilly." + +"Don't you know me, Helen? don't you know your loving father? Oh, speak +to me, child of my heart! speak but one word as a proof that you know +me." + +She looked on him, but that look filled his heart with unutterable +anguish; he clasped her to that heart, he kissed her lips, he strove to +soothe and console her--but in vain. There was the vacant but unsettled +eye, from which the bright expression of reason was gone; but no +recognition--no spark of reflection or conscious thought--nothing but +the melancholy inquiry from those beautiful lips of--"Where's William +Reilly? They have taken me from him--and will not allow me to see him. +Oh, bring me to William Reilly!" + +"Oh, wretched fate!" exclaimed her distracted father, "I am--I am a +murderer, and faithful Connor was right--Mrs. Brown--Mrs. Hastings--hear +me, both--I was warned of this, but I would not listen either to reason +or remonstrance, and now I am punished, as Connor predicted. Great +heaven, what a fate both for her and me--for her the innocent, and for +me the guilty!" + +It is unnecessary to dwell upon the father's misery and distraction; +but, from all our readers have learned of his extraordinary tenderness +and affection for that good and lovely daughter, they may judge of what +he suffered. He immediately ordered his carriage, and had barely time to +hear that Reilly had been sentenced to transportation for seven years. +His daughter was quite meek and tractable; she spoke not, nor could any +ingenuity on their part extract the slightest reply from her. Neither +did she shed a single tear, but the vacant light of her eyes had +stamped a fatuitous expression on her features that was melancholy and +heartbreaking beyond all power of language to describe. + +No other person had seen her since the bereavement of her reason, except +the officer who kept guard on the lobby, and who, in the hurry and +distraction of the moment, had been dispatched by Mrs. Brown for a glass +of cold water. Her father's ravings, however, in the man's presence, +added to his own observation, and the distress of her female friends +were quite sufficient to satisfy him of the nature of her complaint, and +in less than half an hour it was through the whole court-house, and +the town besides, that the _Cooleen Bawn_ had gone mad on hearing the +sentence that was passed upon her lover. Her two friends accompanied her +home, and remained with her for the night. + +Such was the melancholy conclusion of the trial of Willy Reilly; but +even taking it at its worst, it involved a very different fate from +that of his vindictive rival, Whitecraft. It appeared that that worthy +gentleman and the Red Rapparee had been sentenced to die on the same +day, and at the same hour. It is true, Whitecraft was aware that a +deputation had gone post-haste to Dublin Castle to solicit his pardon, +or at least some lenient commutation of punishment. Still, it was feared +that, owing to the dreadful state of the roads, and the slow mode of +travelling at that period, there was a probability that the pardon might +not arrive in time to be available; and indeed there was every reason +to apprehend as much. The day appointed for the execution of the Red +Rapparee and him arrived--nay, the very hour had come; but still +there was hope, among his friends. The sheriff, a firm, but fair and +reasonable man, waited beyond the time named by the judge for his +execution. At length he felt the necessity of discharging his duty; for, +although more than an hour beyond the appointed period had now elapsed, +yet this delay proceeded from no personal regard he entertained for the +felon, but from respect for many of those who had interested themselves +in his fate. + +After an unusual delay the sheriff felt himself called upon to order +both the Rapparee and the baronet for execution. In waiting so long for +a pardon, he felt that he had transgressed his duty, and he accordingly +ordered them out for the last ceremony. The hardened Rapparee died +sullen and silent; the only regret he expressed being that he could not +live to see his old friend turned off before him. + +"Troth," replied the hangman, "only that the sheriff has ordhered me +to hang you first as bein' the betther man, I would give you that same +satisfaction; but if you're not in a very great hurry to the warm corner +you're goin' to, and if you will just take your time for a few minutes, +I'll engage to say you will soon have company. God speed you, any way," +he exclaimed as he turned him off; "only take your time, and wait for +your neighbors. Now, Sir Robert," said he, "turn about, they say, is +fair play--it's your turn now; but you look unbecomin' upon it. Hould up +your head, man, and don't be cast down. You'll have company where you're +goin'; for the Red Rapparee tould me to tell you that he'd wait for you. +Hallo!--what's that?" he exclaimed as he cast his eye to the distance +and discovered a horseman riding for life, with a white handkerchief, +or flag of some kind, floating in the breeze. The elevated position in +which the executioner was placed enabled him to see the signal before +it could be perceived by the crowd. "Come, Sir Robert," said he, "stand +where I'll place you--there's no use in asking you to hould up your +head, for you're not able; but listen. You hanged my brother that you +knew to be innocent; and now I hang you that I know to be guilty. Yes, +I hang you, with the white flag of the Lord Lieutenant's pardon for you +wavin' in the distance; and listen again, remember Willy Reilly;" and +with these words he launched him into eternity. + +The uproar among his friends was immense, as was the cheering from the +general crowd, at the just fate of this bad man. The former rushed to +the gallows, in order to cut him down, with a hope that life might +still be in him, a process which the sheriff, after perusing his pardon, +permitted them to carry into effect. The body was accordingly taken +into the prison, and a surgeon procured to examine it; but altogether +in vain; his hour had gone by, life was extinct, and all the honor they +could now pay Sir Robert Whitecraft was to give him a pompous funeral, +and declare him a martyr to Popery both of which they did. + +On the day previous to Reilly's departure his humble friend and +namesake, Fergus, at the earnest solicitation of Reilly himself, was +permitted to pay him a last melancholy visit. After his sentence, +as well as before it, every attention had been paid to him by +O'Shaughnessy, the jailer, who, although an avowed Protestant, and a +brand plucked from the burning, was, nevertheless, a lurking Catholic at +heart, and felt a corresponding sympathy with his prisoner. When +Fergus entered his cell he found him neither fettered nor manacled, but +perfectly in the enjoyment at least of bodily freedom. It is impossible, +indeed, to say how far the influence of money may have gone in securing +him the comforts which surrounded him, and the attentions which he +received. On entering his cell, Fergus was struck by the calm and +composed air with which he received him. His face, it is true, was paler +than usual, but a feeling of indignant pride, if not of fixed but stern +indignation, might be read under the composure into which he forced +himself, and which he endeavored to suppress. He approached Fergus, +and extending his hand with a peculiar smile, very difficult to be +described, said: + +"Fergus, I am glad to see you; I hope you are safe--at least I have +heard so." + +"I am safe, sir, and free," replied Fergus; "thanks to the Red Rapparee +and the sheriff for it." + +"Well," proceeded Reilly, "you have one comfort--the Red Rapparee will +neither tempt you nor trouble you again; but is there no danger of his +gang taking up his quarrel and avenging him?" + +"His gang, sir? Why, only for me he would a' betrayed every man of +them to Whitecraft and the Government, and had them hanged, drawn, +and quartered--ay, and their heads grinning at us in every town in the +county." + +"Well, Fergus, let his name and his crimes perish with him; but, as for +you, what do you intend to do?" + +"Troth, sir," replied Fergus, "it's more than I rightly know. I had my +hopes, like others; but, somehow, luck has left all sorts of lovers of +late--from Sir Robert Whitecraft to your humble servant." + +"But you may thank God," said Reilly, with a smile, "that you had not +Sir Robert Whitecraft's luck." + +"Faith, sir," replied Fergus archly, "there's a pair of us may do so. +You went nearer his luck--such as it was--than I did." + +"True enough," replied the other, with a serious air; "I had certainly a +narrow escape; but I wish to know, as I said, what you intend to do? It +is your duty now, Fergus, to settle industriously and honestly." + +"Ah, sir, honestly. I didn't expect that from you, Mr. Reilly." + +"Excuse me, Fergus," said Reilly, taking him by the hand; "when I said +honestly I did not mean to intimate any thing whatsoever against your +integrity. I know, unfortunately, the harsh circumstances which drove +you to associate with that remorseless villain and his gang; but I wish +you to resume an industrious life, and, if Ellen Connor is disposed to +unite her fate with yours, I have provided the means--ample means for +you both to be comfortable and happy. She who was so faithful to her +mistress will not fail to make you a good wife." + +"Ah," replied Fergus, "it's I that knows that well; but, unfortunately, +I have no hope there." + +"No hope; how is that? I thought your affection was mutual." + +"So it is, sir--or, rather, so it was; but she has affection for nobody +now, barring the _Cooleen Bawn_." + +Reilly paused, and appeared deeply moved by this. "What," said he, "will +she not leave her? But I am not surprised at it." + +"No, sir, she will not leave her, but has taken an oath to stay by her +night and day, until--better times come." + +We may say here that Reillys friends took care that neither jailer +nor turnkey should make him acquainted with the unhappy state of the +_Cooleen Bawn_; he was consequently ignorant of it, and, fortunately, +remained so until after his return home. + +"Fergus," said Reilly, "can you tell me how the _Cooleen Bawn_ bears the +sentence which sends me to a far country?" + +"How would she bear it, sir? You needn't ask: Connor, at all events, +will not part from her--not, anyway, until you come back." + +"Well, Fergus," proceeded Reilly, "I have, as I said, provided for you +both; what that provision is I will not mention now. Mr. Hastings will +inform you. But if you have a wish to leave this unhappy and distracted +country, even without Connor, why, by applying to him, you will be +enabled to do so; or, if you wish to stay at home and take a farm, you +may do so." + +"Divil a foot I'll leave the country," replied the other. "Ellen may +stick to the _Cooleen Bawn_, but, be my sowl, I'll stick to Ellen, if I +was to wait these seven years. I'll be as stiff as she is stout; but, at +any rate, she's worth waitin' for." + +"You may well say so," replied Reilly, "and I can quarrel neither with +your attachment nor your patience; but you will not forget to let +her know the provision which I have left for her in the hands of Mr. +Hastings, and tell her it is a slight reward for her noble attachment +to my dear _Cooleen Bawn_. Fergus," he proceeded, "have you ever had a +dream in the middle of which you awoke, then fell asleep and dreamt out +the dream?" + +"Troth had I, often, sir; and, by the way, talkin' of dreams, I dreamt +last night that I was wantin' Ellen to marry me, and she said, 'not yet, +Fergus, but in due time.'" + +"Well, Fergus," proceeded Reilly, "perhaps there is but half my dream +of life gone; who knows when I return--if I ever do--but my dream may +be completed? and happily, too; I know the truth and faith of my dear +_Cooleen Bawn_. And, Fergus, it is not merely my dear _Cooleen Bawn_ +that I feel for, but for my unfortunate country. I am not, however, +without hope that the day will come--although it may be a distant +one--when she will enjoy freedom, peace, and prosperity. Now, Fergus, +good-by, and farewell! Come, come, be a man," he added, with a +melancholy smile, whilst a tear stood even in his own eye--"come, +Fergus, I will not have this; I won't say farewell for ever, because I +expect to return and be happy yet--if not in my own country, at least +in some other, where there is more freedom and less persecution for +conscience' sake." + +Poor Fergus, however, when the parting moment arrived, was completely +overcome. He caught Reilly in his arms--wept over him bitterly--and, +after a last and sorrowful embrace, was prevailed upon to take his +leave. + +The history of the _Cooleen Bawn's_ melancholy fate soon went far and +near, and many an eye that had never rested on her beauty gave its +tribute of tears to her undeserved sorrows. There existed, however, one +individual who was the object of almost as deep a compassion; this was +her father, who was consumed by the bitterest and most profound remorse. +His whole character became changed by his terrible and unexpected shock, +by which his beautiful and angelic daughter had been blasted before +his eyes. He was no longer the boisterous and convivial old squire, +changeful and unsettled in all his opinions, but silent, quiet, and +abstracted almost from life. + +He wept incessantly, but his tears did not bring him comfort, for they +were tears of anguish and despair. Ten times a day he would proceed to +her chamber, or follow her to the garden where she loved to walk, always +in the delusive hope that he might catch some spark of returning reason +from those calm-looking but meaningless eyes, after which he would weep +like a child. With respect to his daughter, every thing was done for +her that wealth and human means could accomplish, but to no purpose; the +malady was too deeply seated to be affected by any known remedy, whether +moral or physical. From the moment she was struck into insanity she +was never known to smile, or to speak, unless when she chanced to see a +stranger, upon which she immediately approached, and asked, with clasped +hands: + +"Oh! can you tell me where is William Reilly? They have taken me from +him, and, I cannot find him. Oh! can you tell me where is William +Reilly?" + +There was, however, another individual upon whose heart the calamity of +the _Cooleen Bawn_ fell like a blight that seemed to have struck it into +such misery and sorrow as threatened to end only with life. This was +the faithful and attached Ellen Connor. On the day of Reilly's trial +she experienced the alternations of hope, uncertainty, and despair, with +such a depth of anxious feeling, and such feverish excitement, that the +period of time which elapsed appeared to her as if it would never come +to an end. She could neither sit, nor stand, nor work, nor read, nor +take her meals, nor scarcely think with any consistency or clearness +of thought. We have mentioned hope--but it was the faintest and the +feeblest element in that chaos of distress and confusion which filled +and distracted her mind. She knew the state and condition of the country +too well--she knew the powerful influence of Mr. Folliard in his native +county--she knew what the consequences to Reilly must be of taking +away a Protestant heiress; the fact was there--plain, distinct, and +incontrovertible, and she knew that no chance of impunity or acquittal +remained for any one of his creed guilty of such a violation of the +laws--we say, she knew all this--but it was not of the fate of Reilly +she thought. The girl was an acute observer, and both a close and clear +thinker. She had remarked in the _Cooleen Bawn_, on several occasions, +small gushes, as it were, of unsettled thought, and of temporary +wildness, almost approaching to insanity. She knew, besides, that +insanity was in the family on her father's side; * and, as she had so +boldly and firmly stated to that father himself, she dreaded the +result which Reilly's conviction might produce upon a mind with such +a tendency, worn down and depressed as it had been by all she had +suffered, and more especially what she must feel by the tumult and +agitation of that dreadful day. + + * The reader must take this as the necessary material for + our fiction. There never was insanity in Helen's family; and + we make this note to prevent them from taking unnecessary + offence. + +It was about two hours after dark when she was startled by the noise of +the carriage-wheels as they came up the avenue. Her heart beat as if it +would burst, the blood rushed to her head, and she became too giddy to +stand or walk; then it seemed to rush back to her heart, and she was +seized with thick breathing and feebleness; but at length, strengthened +by the very intensity of the interest she felt, she made her way to the +lower steps of the hall door in time to be present when the carriage +arrived at it. She determined, however, wrought up as she was to the +highest state of excitement, to await, to watch, to listen. She did +so. The carriage stopped at the usual place, the coachman came down and +opened the door, and Mr. Folliard came out. After him, assisted by Mrs. +Brown, came Helen, who was immediately conducted in between the latter +and her father. In the meantime poor Ellen could only look on. She was +incapable of asking a single question, but she followed them up to the +drawing-room where they conducted her mistress. When she was about to +enter, Mrs. Brown said: + +"Ellen, you had better not come in; your mistress is unwell." + +Mrs. Hastings then approached, and, with a good deal of judgment and +consideration, said: + +"I think it is better, Mrs. Brown, that Ellen should see her, or, +rather, that she should see Ellen. Who can tell how beneficial the +effect may be on her? We all know how she was attached to Ellen." + +In addition to those fearful intimations, Ellen heard inside the sobs +and groans of her distracted father, mingled with caresses and such +tender and affectionate language as, she knew by the words, could only +be addressed to a person incapable of understanding them. Mrs. Brown +held the door partially closed, but the faithful girl would not be +repulsed. She pushed in, exclaiming: + +"Stand back, Mrs. Brown, I must see my mistress!--if she is my mistress, +or anybody's mistress now,"--and accordingly she approached the settee +on which the _Cooleen Bawn_ sat. The old squire was wringing his hands, +sobbing, and giving vent to the most uncontrollable sorrow. + +"Oh, Ellen," said he, "pity and forgive me. Your mistress is gone, +gone!--she knows nobody!" + +"Stand aside," she replied; "stand aside all of you; let me to her." + +She knelt beside the settee, looked distractedly,--but keenly, at her +for about half a minute--but there she sat, calm, pale, and unconscious. +At length she turned her eyes upon Ellen--for ever since the girl's +entrance she had been gazing on vacancy--and immediately said: + +"Oh! can you tell me where is William Reilly? They have taken me from +him, and I cannot find him. Oh! will you tell me where is William +Reilly?" + +Ellen gave two or three rapid sobs; but, by a powerful effort, she +somewhat composed herself. + +"Miss Folliard," she said, in a choking voice, however, "darling Miss +Folliard--my beloved mistress--_Cooleen Bawn_--oh, do you not know +me--me, your own faithful Ellen, that loved you--and that loves you +so well--ay, beyond father and mother, and all others living in this +unhappy world? Oh, speak to me, dear mistress--speak to your own +faithful Ellen, and only say that you know me, or only look upon me as +if you did." + +Not a glance, however, of recognition followed those loving +solicitations; but there, before them all, she sat, with the pale face, +the sorrowful brow, and the vacant look. Ellen addressed her with equal +tenderness again and again, but with the same melancholy effect. The +effect was beyond question--reason had departed; the fair temple was +there, but the light of the divinity that had been enshrined in it was +no longer visible; it seemed to have been abandoned probably for +ever. Ellen now finding that every effort to restore her to rational +consciousness was ineffectual, rose up, and, looking about for a moment, +her eyes rested upon her father. + +"Oh, Ellen!" he exclaimed, "spare me, spare me--you know I'm in your +power. I neglected your honest and friendly warning, and now it is too +late." + +"Poor man!" she replied, "it is not she, but you, that is to be pitied. +No; after this miserable sight, never shall my lips breathe one syllable +of censure against you. Your punishment is too dreadful for that. But +when I look upon her--look upon her now--oh, my God! what is this?"-- + +"Help the girl," said Mrs. Brown quickly, and with alarm. "Oh, she has +fallen--raise her up, Mr. Folliard. Oh, my God, Mrs. Hastings, what a +scene is this!" + +They immediately opened her stays, and conveyed her to another settee, +where she lay for nearly a quarter of an hour in a calm and tranquil +insensibility. With the aid of the usual remedies, however, she was, but +with some difficulty, restored, after which she burst into tears, and +wept for some time bitterly. At length she recovered a certain degree of +composure, and, after settling her dress and luxuriant brown hair, aided +by Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hastings, she arose, and once more approaching +her lovely, but unconscious, mistress, knelt down, and, clasping her +hands, looked up to heaven, whilst she said: + +"Here, I take the Almighty God to witness, that from this moment out I +renounce father and mother, brother and sister, friend and relative, +man and woman, and will abide by my dear unhappy _Cooleen Bawn_--that +blighted flower before us--both by day and by night--through all +seasons--through all places wherever she may go, or be brought, until +it may please God to restore her to reason, or until death may close her +sufferings, should I live so long, and have health and strength to +carry out this solemn oath; so may God hear me, and assist me in my +intention." + +She then rose, and, putting her arms around the fair girl, kissed her +lips, and poured forth a copious flood of tears into her bosom. + +"I am yours now," she said, caressing her mournfully: "I am yours now, +my ever darling mistress; and from this hour forth nothing but death +will ever separate your own Connor from you." + +Well and faithfully did she keep that generous and heroic oath. Ever, +for many a long and hopeless year, was she to be found, both night and +day, by the side of that beautiful but melancholy sufferer. No other +hand ever dressed or undressed her; no other individual ever attended to +her wants, or complied with those little fitful changes and caprices to +which persons of her unhappy class are subject. The consequence of +this tender and devoted attachment was singular, but not by any +means incompatible, we think, even with her situation. If Connor, for +instance, was any short time absent, and another person supplied her +place, the _Cooleen Bawn_, in whose noble and loving heart the strong +instincts of affection could never die, uniformly appeared dissatisfied +and uneasy, and looked around her, as if for some object that would +afford her pleasure. On Ellen's reappearance a faint but placid smile +would shed its feeble light over her countenance, and she would appear +calm and contented; but, during all this time, word uttered she none, +with the exception of those to which we have already alluded. + +These were the only words she was known to utter, and no stranger ever +came in her way to whom she did not repeat them. In this way her father, +her maid, and herself passed through a melancholy existence for better +than six years, when a young physician of great promise happened to +settle in the town of Sligo, and her father having heard of it had him +immediately called in. After looking at her, however, he found himself +accosted in the same terms we have already given: + +"Oh! can you tell me where is William Reilly?" + +"William Reilly will soon be with you," he replied; "he will soon be +here." + +A start--barely, scarcely perceptible, was noticed by the keen eye of +the physician; but it passed away, and left nothing but that fixed and +beautiful vacancy behind it. + +"Sir," said the physician, "I do not absolutely despair of Miss +Folliard's recovery: the influence of some deep excitement, if it could +be made accessible, might produce a good effect; it was by a shock it +came upon her, and I am of opinion that if she ever does recover it will +be by something similar to that which induced her pitiable malady." + +"I will give a thousand pounds--five thousand--ten thousand, to any man +who will be fortunate enough to restore her to reason," said her father. + +"One course," proceeded the physician, "I would recommend you to pursue; +bring her about as much as you can; give her variety of scenery and +variety of new faces; visit your friends, and bring her with you. This +course may have some effect; as for medicine, it is of no use here, for +her health is in every other respect good." + +He then took his leave, having first received a fee which somewhat +astonished him. + +His advice, however, was followed; her father and she, and Connor, +during the summer and autumn months, visited among their acquaintances +and friends, by whom they were treated with the greatest and most +considerate kindness; but, so far as poor Helen was concerned, no +symptom of any salutary change became visible; the long, dull blank of +departed reason was still unbroken. + + * * * * * * * + +Better than seven years--and a half had now elapsed, when she and her +father came by invitation to pay a visit to a Mr. Hamilton, grandfather +to the late Dacre Hamilton of Monaghan, who--the grandfather we +mean--was one of the most notorious priest-hunters of the day, We need +not say that her faithful Connor was still in attendance. Old Folliard +went riding out with his friend, for he was now so much debilitated as +to be scarcely able to walk abroad for any distance, when, about the +hour of two o'clock, a man in the garb, and with all the bearing of a +perfect gentleman, knocked at the door, and inquired of the servant who +opened it whether Miss Folliard were not there. The servant replied in +the affirmative, upon which the stranger asked if he could see her. + +"Why, I suppose you must be aware, sir, of Miss Folliard's unfortunate +state of mind, and that she can see nobody; sir, she knows nobody, and +I have strict orders to deny her to every one unless some particular +friend of the family." + +The stranger put a guinea into his hand, and added, "I had the pleasure +of knowing her before she lost her reason, and as I have not seen her +since, I should be glad to see her now, or even to look on her for a +few minutes." + +"Come up, sir," replied the man, "and enter the drawing-room immediately +after me, or I shall be ordered to deny her." + +The gentleman followed him; but why did his cheek become pale, and why +did his heart palpitate as if it would burst and bound out of his bosom? +We shall see. On entering the drawing-room he bowed, and was about to +apologize for his intrusion, when the _Cooleen Bawn_, recognizing him as +a stranger, approached him and said: + +"Oh! can you tell me where is William Reilly? They have taken me from +him, and I cannot find him. Oh, can you tell me any thing about William +Reilly?" + +The stranger staggered at this miserable sight, but probably more at the +contemplation of that love which not even insanity could subdue. He felt +himself obliged to lean for support upon the back of a chair, during +which brief space he fixed his eyes upon her with a look of the most +inexpressible tenderness and sorrow. + +"Oh!" she repeated, "can you tell me where is William Reilly?" + +"Alas! Helen," said he, "I am William Reilly." + +"You!" she exclaimed. "Oh, no, the wide, wide Atlantic is between him and +me." + +"It was between us, Helen, but it is not now; I am here in life before +you--your own William Reilly, that William Reilly whom you loved so +well, but so fatally. I am he: do you not know me?" + +"You are not William Reilly," she replied; "if you were, you would have +a token." + +"Do you forget that?" he replied, placing in her hand the emerald ring +she had given him at the trial. She started on looking at it, and a +feeble flash was observed to proceed from her eyes. + +"This might come to you," she said, "by Reilly's death; yes, this might +come to you in that way; but there is another token which is known to +none but himself and me." + +"Whisper," said he, and as he spoke he applied his mouth to her ear, and +breathed the token into it. + +[Illustration: PAGE 182--It is he! it is he!] + +She stood back, her eyes flashed, her beautiful bosom heaved; she +advanced, looked once more, and exclaimed, with a scream, "It is he! +it is he!" and the next moment she was insensible in his arms. Long but +precious was that insensibility, and precious were the tears which his +eyes rained down upon that pale but lovel countenance. She was soon +placed upon a settee, but Reilly knelt beside her, and held one of her +hands in his. After a long trance she opened her eyes and again started. +Reilly pressed her hand and whispered in her ear, "Helen, I am with you +at last." + +She smiled on him and said, "Help me to sit up, until I look about me, +that I may be certain this is not a dream." + +She then looked about her, and as the ladies of the family spoke +tenderly to her, and caressed her, she fixed her eyes once more upon her +lover, and said, "It is not a dream then; this is a reality; but, alas! +Reilly, I tremble to think lest they should take you from me again." + +"You need entertain no such apprehension, my dear Helen," said the lady +of the mansion. "I have often heard your father say that he would give +twenty thousand pounds to have you well, and Reilly's wife. In fact, +you have nothing to fear in that, or any other quarter. But there's his +knock; he and my husband have returned, and I must break this +blessed news to him by degrees, lest it might be too much for him if +communicated without due and proper caution." + +She accordingly went down to the hall, where they were hanging up their +great coats and hats, and brought them into her husband's study. + +"Mr. Folliard," said she with a cheerful face, "I think, from some +symptoms of improvement noticed to-day in Helen, that we needn't be +without hope." + +"Alas, alas!" exclaimed the poor father, "I have no hope; after such +a length of time I am indeed without a shadow of expectation. If +unfortunate Reilly were here, indeed her seeing him, as that Sligo +doctor told me, might give her a chance. He saw her about a week before +we came down, and those were his words. But as for Reilly, even if he +were in the country, how could I look him in the face? What wouldn't I +give now that he were here, that Helen was well, and that one word of +mine could make them man and wife?" + +"Well, well," she replied, "don't be cast down; perhaps I could tell you +good news if I wished." + +"You're beating about the bush, Mary, at all events," said her husband, +laughing. + +"Perhaps, now, Mr. Folliard," she continued, "I could introduce a young +lady who is so fond of you, old and ugly as you are, that she would not +hesitate to kiss you tenderly, and cry with delight on your bosom you +old thief." + +They both started at her words with amazement, and her husband said: +"Egad, Alick, Helen's malady seems catching. What the deuce do you mean, +Molly? or must I, too, send for a doctor?" + +"Shall I introduce you to the lady, though?" she proceeded, addressing +the father; "but remember that, if I do, you must be a man, Mr. +Folliard!" + +"In God's name! do what you like," said Mr. Hamilton, "but do it at +once." + +She went upstairs, and said, "As I do not wish to bring your father up, +Helen, until he is prepared for a meeting with Mr. Reilly, I will bring +you down to him. The sight of you now will give him new life." + +"Oh, come, then," said Helen, "bring me to my father; do not lose a +moment, not a moment--oh, let me see him instantly!" + +The poor old man suspected something. "For a thousand!" said he, "this +is some good news about Helen!" + +"Make your mind up for that," replied his mend; "as sure as you live it +is; and if it be, bear it stoutly." + +In the course of a few minutes Mrs. Hamilton entered the room with +Helen, now awakened to perfect reason, smiling, and leaning upon her +arm. "Oh, dear papa!" she exclaimed, meeting him, with a flood of tears, +and resting her head on his bosom. + +"What, my darling!--my darling! And you know papa once more!--you know +him again, my darling Helen! Oh, thanks be to God for this happy day!" +And he kissed her lips, and pressed her to his heart, and wept over her +with ecstasy and delight. It was a tender and tearful embrace. + +"Oh, papa!" said she, "I fear I have caused you much pain and sorrow: +something has been wrong, but I am well now that he is here. I felt the +tones of his voice in my heart." + +"Who, darling, who?" + +"Reilly, papa." + +"Hamilton, bring him down instantly; but oh, Helen, darling, how will I +see him?--how can I see him? but he must come, and we must all be happy. +Bring him down." + +"You know, papa, that Reilly is generosity itself." + +"He is, he is, Helen, and how could I blame you for loving him?" + +[Illustration: PAGE 183--My son! my son!] + +Reilly soon entered; but the old man, already overpowered by what had +just occurred, was not able to speak to him for some time. He clasped +and pressed his hand, however, and at length said: + +"My son! my son! Now," he added, after he had recovered himself, "now +that I have both together, I will not allow one minute to pass until I +give you both my blessing; and in due time, when Helen gets strong, and +when I get a little stouter, you shall be married; the parson and the +priest will make you both happy. Reilly, can you forgive me?" + +"I have nothing to forgive you, sir," replied Reilly; "whatever you did +proceeded from your excessive affection for your daughter; I am more +than overpaid for any thing I may have suffered myself; had it been ages +of misery, this one moment would cancel the memory of it for ever." + +"I cannot give you my estate, Reilly," said the old man, "for that is +entailed, and goes to the next male issue; but I can give you fifty +thousand pounds with my girl, and that will keep you both comfortable +for life." + +"I thank you, sir," replied Reilly, "and for the sake of your daughter +I will not reject it; but I am myself in independent circumstances, and +could, even without your generosity, support Helen in a rank of life not +unsuitable to her condition." + +It is well known that, during the period in which the incidents of our +story took place, no man claiming the character of a gentleman ever +travelled without his own servant to attend him. After Reilly's return +to his native place, his first inquiries, as might be expected, were +after his _Cooleen Bawn_; and his next, after those who had been in some +degree connected with those painful circumstances in which he had been +involved previous to his trial and conviction. He found Mr. Brown and +Mr. Hastings much in the same state in which he left them. The latter, +who had been entrusted with all his personal and other property, under +certain conditions, that depended upon his return after the term of his +sentence should have expired, now restored to him, and again reinstated +him on the original terms into all his landed and other property, +together with such sums as had accrued from it during his absence, +so that he now found himself a wealthy man. Next to _Cooleen Bawn_, +however, one of his first inquiries was after Fergus Reilly, whom he +found domiciled with a neighboring middleman as a head servant, or kind +of under steward. We need not describe the delight of Fergus on once +more meeting his beloved relative at perfect liberty, and free from all +danger in his native land. + +"Fergus," said Reilly, "I understand you are still a bachelor--how does +that come?" + +"Why, sir," replied Fergus, "now that you know every thing about the +unhappy state of the _Cooleen Bawn_, surely you can't blame poor Ellen +for not desartin' her. As for me I cared nothing about any other girl, +and I never could let either my own dhrame, or what you said was +yours, out o' my head. I still had hope, and I still have, that she may +recover." + +Reilly made no reply to this, for he feared to entertain the vague +expectation to which Fergus alluded. + +"Well, Fergus," said he, "although I have undergone the sentence of a +convict, yet now, after my return, I am a rich man. For the sake of old +times--of old dangers and old difficulties--I should wish you to live +with me, and to attend me as my own personal servant or man. I shall get +you a suit of livery, and the crest of O'Reilly shall be upon it. I wish +you to attend upon me, Fergus, because you understand me, and because I +never will enjoy a happy heart, or one day's freedom from sorrow again. +All hope of that is past, but you will be useful to me--and that you +know." + +Fergus was deeply affected at these words, although he was gratified +in the highest degree at the proposal. In the course of a few days he +entered upon his duties, immediately after which Reilly set out on his +journey to Monaghan, to see once more his beloved, but unhappy, Cooleen +Baton. On arriving at that handsome and hospitable town, he put up at +an excellent inn, called the "Western Arms," kept by a man who was the +model of innkeepers, known by the sobriquet of "honest Peter Philips". +We need, not now recapitulate that with which the reader is already +acquainted; but we cannot omit describing a brief interview which took +place in the course of a few days after the restoration of the _Cooleen +Bawn_ to the perfect use of her reason, between two individuals, who, +we think, have some claim upon the good-will and good wishes of our +readers. We allude to Fergus Reilly and the faithful Ellen Connor. +Seated in a comfortable room in the aforesaid inn--now a respectable +and admirably kept hotel--with the same arms over the door, were the two +individuals alluded to. Before them stood a black bottle of a certain +fragrant liquor, as clear and colorless as water from the purest spring, +and, to judge of it by the eye, quite as harmless; but there was the +mistake. Never was hypocrisy better exemplified than by the contents of +that bottle. The liquor in question came, Fergus was informed, from +the green woods of Truagh, and more especially from a townland named +Derrygola, famous, besides, for stout men and pretty girls. + +"Well, now, Ellen darlin'," said Fergus, "if ever any two bachelors * +were entitled to drink their own healths, surely you and I are. Here's +to us--a happy marriage, soon and sudden. As for myself, I've had the +patience of a Trojan." + + *"Bachelor," in Ireland, especially in the country parts of + it, where English is not spoken correctly, is frequently + applied to both the sexes. + +Ellen pledged him beautifully with her eyes, but very moderately with +the liquor. + +"Bedad!" he proceeded, "seven years--ay, and a half--wasn't a bad +apprenticeship, at any rate; but, as I tould Mr. Reilly before he left +the country--upon my sowl, says I, Mr. Reilly, she's worth waitin' for; +and he admitted it." + +"But, Fergus, did ever any thing turn out so happy for all parties? To +me it's like a dream; I can scarcely believe it." + +"Faith, and if it be a dhrame, I hope it's one we'll never waken from. +And so the four of us are to be married on the same day; and we're all +to live with the squire." + +"We are, Fergus; the Cooleen Bawn will have it so; but, indeed, her +father is as anxious for it almost as she is. Ah, no, Fergus, she could +not part with her faithful Ellen, as she calls me; nor, after all, +Fergus, would her faithful Ellen wish to part with her?" + +"And he's to make me steward; begad, and if I don't make a good one, +I'll make an honest one. Faith, at all events, Ellen, we'll be in a +condition to provide for the childre', plaise God." + +Ellen gave him a blushing look of reproach, and desired him to keep a +proper tongue in his head. + +"But what will we do with the five hundred, Ellen, that the squire and +Mr. Reilly made up between them?" + +"We'll consult Mr. Reilly about it," she replied, "and no doubt but +he'll enable us to lay it out to the best advantage. Now, Fergus dear, +I must go," she added; "you know she can't bear me even now to be any +length of time away from her. Here's God bless them both, and continue +them in the happiness they now enjoy." + +"Amen," replied Fergus, "and here's God bless ourselves, and make us +more lovin' to one another every day we rise; and here's to take a +foretaste of it now, you thief." + +Some slight resistance, followed by certain smacking sounds, closed the +interview; for Ellen, having started to her feet, threw on her cloak and +bonnet, and hurried out of the room, giving back, however, a laughing +look at Fergus as she escaped. + +In a few months afterwards they were married, and lived with the old man +until he became a grandfather to two children, the eldest a boy, and +the second a girl. Upon the same day of their marriage their humble but +faithful friends were also united; so that there was a double wedding. +The ceremony, in the case of Reilly and his _Cooleen Bawn_, was +performed by the Reverend Mr. Brown first, and the parish priest +afterwards; Mr. Strong, who had been for several years conjoined to Mrs. +Smellpriest, having been rejected by both parties as the officiating +clergyman upon the occasion, although the lovely bride was certainly his +parishioner. Age and time, however, told upon the old man; and at the +expiration of three years they laid him, with many tears, in the grave +of his fathers. Soon after this Reilly and his wife, accompanied by +Fergus and Ellen--for the _Cooleen Bawn_ would not be separated from +the latter--removed to the Continent, where they had a numerous family, +principally of sons; and we need not tell our learned readers, at least, +that those young men distinguished not only themselves, but their name, +by acts of the most brilliant courage in continental warfare. And so, +gentle reader, ends the troubled history of Willy Reilly and his own +_Cooleen Bawn_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Willy Reilly, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLY REILLY *** + +***** This file should be named 16001-8.txt or 16001-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/0/16001/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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