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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16011-0.txt b/16011-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c5ed36 --- /dev/null +++ b/16011-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14588 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, 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: The Emigrants Of Ahadarra + The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16011] +Last Updated: March 2, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA. + + +By William Carleton + + + + +CHAPTER I.--A strong Farmer's Establishment and Family. + +It was one summer morning, about nine o'clock, when a little man, in +the garb and trim of a mendicant, accompanied by a slender but rather +handsome looking girl about sixteen, or it may be a year more, were upon +their way to the house of a man, who, from his position in life, might +be considered a wealthy agriculturist, and only a step or two beneath +the condition of a gentleman farmer, although much more plain and rustic +in his manners. The house and place had about them that characteristic +appearance of abundance and slovenly neglect which is, unfortunately, +almost peculiar to our country. The house was a long slated one, and +stood upon a little eminence, about three or four hundred yards from the +highway. It was approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue, +as it might be called, that was in very good keeping with the premises +to which it led. As you entered it from the road, you had to pass +through an iron gate, which it was a task to open, and which, when +opened, it was another task to shut. In consequence of this difficulty, +foot passengers had made themselves a way upon each side of it, through +which they went to and came from the house; and in this they were +sanctioned by the example of the family themselves, who, so long as +these side paths were passable, manifested as much reluctance to open or +close the gate as any one else. + +The month was May; and nothing could be more delightful and exhilarating +than the breeze which played over the green fields that were now radiant +with the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun. +Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labor +from which the hopes of ample and abundant harvests always spring. Here, +fixed in the ground, stood the spades of a boon* of laborers, who, as +was evident from that circumstance, were then at breakfast; in another +place might be seen the plough and a portion of the tackle lying beside +it, being expressive of the same fact. Around them, on every side, in +hedges, ditches, green fields, and meadows, the birds seemed +animated into joyous activity or incessant battle, by the business of +nest-building or love. Whilst all around, from earth and air, streamed +the ceaseless voice of universal melody and song. + + * A considerable number of men working together. + +On reaching the gate, Peety Dhu and his pretty daughter turned up +towards the house we have alluded to--which was the residence of a man +named Burke. On reaching it they were observed by a couple of large +dogs, who, partaking of the hospitable but neglected habits of the +family, first approached and looked at them for a moment, then wagged +their tails by way of welcome, and immediately scampered off into the +kitchen to forage for themselves. + +Burke's house and farmyard, though strongly indicative of wealth and +abundance in the owner, were, notwithstanding, evidently the property +of a man whose mind was far back in a knowledge of agriculture, and the +industrial pursuits that depend upon it. His haggard was slovenly in the +extreme, and his farmyard exceedingly offensive to most of the senses; +everything lay about in a careless and neglected manner;--wheelbarrows +without their trundles--sacks for days under the rain that fell from +the eaves of the houses--other implements embedded in mud--car-houses +tumbling down--the pump without a handle--the garden-gate open, and the +pigs hard at work destroying the vegetables, and rooting up the garden +in all directions. In fact, the very animals about the house were +conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly. If one +of the dogs, for instance, was hunted at the pigs, he ran in an apparent +fury towards that which happened to be nearest him, which merely lifted +its head and listened for a time--the dog, with loud and boisterous +barking, seizing its ear, led it along for three or four yards in that +position, after which, upon the pig demurring to proceed any further, +he very quietly dropped it and trotted in again, leaving the destructive +animal to resume its depredations. + +The house inside bore the same character. Winter and summer the +hall-door, which had long lost the knocker, lay hospitably open. The +parlor had a very equivocal appearance; for the furniture, though +originally good and of excellent materials, was stained and dinged and +hacked in a manner that denoted but little sense of care or cleanliness. +Many of the chairs, although not worn by age, wanted legs or backs, +evidently from ill-usage alone--the grate was without fire-irons--a +mahogany bookcase that stood in a recess to the right of the fireplace, +with glass doors and green silk blinds, had the glass all broken and +the silk stained almost out of its original color; whilst inside of +it, instead of books, lay a heterogeneous collection of garden seeds +in brown paper--an almanac of twenty years' standing, a dry ink-bottle, +some broken delf, and a large collection of blue-moulded shoes and +boots, together with an old blister of French flies, the lease of their +farm, and a great number of their receipts for rent. To crown all, the +clock in the other recess stood cobwebbed about the top, deprived of the +minute hand, and seeming to intimate by its silence that it had given +note of time's progress to this idle and negligent family to no purpose. + +On the drawing-room stairs there lay what had once been a carpet, but +so inseparable had been their connection that the stairs were now worn +through it, and it required a sharp eye to distinguish such fragments +of it as remained from the color of the dirty boards it covered and the +dust that lay on both. + +On entering the kitchen, Peety and his little girl found thirteen or +fourteen, in family laborers and servants of both sexes, seated at a +long deal table, each with a large wooden noggin of buttermilk and a +spoon of suitable dimensions, digging as if for a wager into one or +other of two immense wooden bowls of stirabout, so thick and firm in +consistency that, as the phrase goes, a man might dance on it. This, +however, was not the only picture of such enjoyment that the kitchen +afforded. Over beside the dresser was turned upon one side the huge pot +in which the morning meal had been made, and at the bottom of which, +inside of course, a spirit of rivalry equally vigorous and animated, but +by no means so harmonious, was kept up by two dogs and a couple of pigs, +which were squabbling and whining and snarling among each other, whilst +they tugged away at the scrapings, or residuum, that was left behind +after the stirabout had been emptied out of it. The whole kitchen, in +fact, had a strong and healthy smell of food--the dresser, a huge one, +was covered with an immense quantity of pewter, wood, and delf; and it +was only necessary to cast one's eye towards the chimney to perceive, by +the weighty masses of black hung beef and the huge sides and flitches +of deep yellow bacon which lined it, that plenty and abundance, even to +overflowing, predominated in the family. + +The “chimney-brace” projected far out over the fire-place towards the +floor, and under it on each side stretched two long hobs or chimney +corner seats, on which nearly a dozen persons could sit of a winter +evening. Mrs. Burke, a smart, good-looking little woman, though somewhat +advanced in years, kept passing in a kind of perpetual motion from +one part of the house to the other, with a large bunch of bright +keys jingling at one side, and a huge house-wife pocket, with a round +pin-cushion dangling beside it, at the other. Jemmy Burke himself, +a placid though solemn-faced man, was sitting on the hob in question +complacently smoking his pipe, whilst over the glowing remnants of an +immense turf fire hung a singing kettle, and beside it on three crushed +coals was the teapot, “waitin',” as the servants were in the habit of +expressing it, “for the masther and misthress's breakfast.” + +Peety, who was well known and a great favorite on his rounds, received a +warm and hospitable welcome from Jemmy Burke, who made him and the girl +sit upon the hob, and immediately ordered them breakfast. + +“Here, Nancy Devlin, get Peety and the girsha their skinfuls of +stirabout an' milk. Sit over to the fire, alanna, an' warm yourself.” + +“Warm, inagh!” replied Peety; “why, sure it's not a fire sich a blessed +mornin' as this she'd want--an' a blessed mornin' it is, glory be to +God!” + +“Troth, an' you're right, sure enough, Peety,” replied the good-natured +farmer; “a blessed saison it is for gettin' down the crops. Go over +there, now, you an' the girsha, to that other table, an'--whish!--kick +them pigs an' dogs out o' the house, an' be d--d to them! One can't hear +their ears for them--you an' the girsha, an' let us see what you can +do. Nancy, achora, jist dash a gawliogue o' sweet milk into their +noggins--they're not like us that's well fed every day--. it's but +seldom they get the likes, the creatures--so dash in a brave gawliogue +o' the sweet milk for them. Take your time, Peety,--aisy, alanna, 'till +you get what I'm sayin; it'll nourish an put strinth in you.” + +“Ah, Misther Burke,” replied Peety, in a tone of gratitude peculiar to +his class, “you're the ould* man still--ever an' always the large heart +an' lavish hand--an' so sign's on it--full an' plinty upon an' about +you--an' may it ever be so wid you an' yours, a chierna, I pray. An how +is the misthress, sir?” + + * That is to say, the same man still. + +“Throth, she's very well, Peety--has no raison to complain, thank God!” + +“Thank God, indeed! and betther may she be, is my worst wish to her--an' +Masther Hycy, sir?--but I needn't ax how he is. Isn't the whole country +ringin' wid his praises;--the blessin' o' God an you, acushla”--this +was to Nancy Devlin, on handing them the new milk--“draw over, darlin', +nearer to the table--there now”--this to his daughter, whom he settled +affectionately to her food. “Ay, indeed,” he proceeded, “sure there's +only the one word of it over the whole Barony we're sittin' in--that +there's neither fetch nor fellow for him through the whole parish. Some +people, indeed, say that Bryan M'Mahon comes near him; but only some, +for it's given up to Masther Hycy all to pieces.” + +“Faix, an' I for one, although I'm his father--amn't I, Rosha?” he +added, good-humoredly addressing his wife, who had just come into the +kitchen from above stairs. + +“Throth,” said the wife, who never replied with good humor unless when +addressed as Mrs. Burke, “you're ill off for something to speak about. +How are you, Peety? an' how is your little girl?” + +“In good health, ma'am, thank God an' you; an' very well employed at the +present time, thanks to you still!” + +To this Mrs. Burke made no reply; for it may be necessary to state +here, that although she was not actually penurious or altogether without +hospitality, and something that might occasionally be termed charity, +still it is due to honest Jemmy to inform the reader in the outset, +that, as Peety Dhu said, “the large heart and the lavish hand” + were especially his own. Mrs. Burke was considered to have been +handsome--indeed, a kind of rustic beauty in her day--and, like many of +that class, she had not been without a due share of vanity, or perhaps +we might say coquetry, if we were to speak the truth. Her teeth were +good, and she had a very pretty dimple in one of her cheeks when she +smiled, two circumstances which contributed strongly to sustain her good +humor, and an unaccountable tendency to laughter, when the poverty +of the jest was out of all proportion to the mirth that followed it. +Notwithstanding this apparently light and agreeable spirit, she was both +vulgar and arrogant, and labored under the weak and ridiculous ambition +of being considered a woman of high pretensions, who had been most +unfortunately thrown away, if not altogether lost, upon a husband whom +she considered as every way unworthy of her. Her father had risen into +the possession of some unexpected property when it was too late to +bestow upon her a suitable education, and the consequence was that, in +addition to natural vanity, on the score of beauty, she was a good +deal troubled with purse-pride, which, with a foolish susceptibility of +flattery, was a leading feature in her disposition. In addition to this, +she was an inveterate and incurable slattern, though a gay and lively +one; and we need scarcely say that whatever she did in the shape +of benevolence or charity, in most instances owed its origin to the +influences of the weaknesses she was known to possess. + +Breakfast, at length, was over, and the laborers, with an odd hiccup +here and there among them, from sheer repletion, got their hats and +began to proceed towards the farm. + +“Now, boys,” said Jemmy, after dropping a spittle into his pipe, +pressing it down with his little finger, and putting it into his +waistcoat pocket, “see an' get them praties down as soon as you can, an' +don't work as if you intended to keep your Christmas there; an' Paddy +the Bounce, I'll thank you to keep your jokes an' your stories to +yourself, an' not to be idlin' the rest till afther your work's done. +Throth it was an unlucky day I had anything to do wid you, you divartin' +vagabone--ha! ha! ha! When I hired him in the Micklemas fair,” proceeded +Jemmy, without addressing himself to any particular individual, “he +killed me wid laughin' to such a degree, that I couldn't refuse the +mehony whatsomever wages he axed; an' now he has the men, insteed o' +mindin' their work, dancin' through the field, an' likely to split at +the fun he tells them, ha! ha! ha! Be off, now, boys. Pettier Murphy, +you randletree, let,the girl alone. That's it Peggy, lay on him; ha! +devil's cure to you! take what you've got any way--you desarve it.” + +These latter observations were occasioned by a romping match that took +place between a young laborer and a good-looking girl who was employed +to drop potatoes for the men. + +At length those who were engaged in the labor of the field departed in +a cheerful group, and in a few minutes the noise of a horse's feet, +evidently proceeding at a rapid trot, was heard coming up the boreen or +avenue towards the house. + +“Ay,” exclaimed Burke, with a sigh, “there comes Hycy at a trot, an' the +wondher is it's not a gallop. That's the way he'll get through life, I +fear; an' if God doesn't change him he's more likely to gallop himself +to the Staff an' Bag (* Beggary.) than to anything else I know. I can't +nor I won't stand his extravagance--but it's his mother's fault, an' +she'll see what it'll come to in the long run.” + +He had scarcely concluded when his son entered the kitchen, alternately +singing and whistling the Foxhunter's jig in a manner that betokened +exuberant if not boisterous spirits. He was dressed in top boots, +a green riding-coat, yellow waistcoat, and drab cassimere small +clothes--quite in jockey trim, in fact. + +Hycy rather resembled his father in the lineaments of his face, and was, +consequently, considered handsome. He was about the middle size, and +remarkably well proportioned. In fact, it would be exceedingly difficult +to find a young fellow of manlier bearing or more striking personal +attractions. His features were regular, and his complexion fresh and +youthful looking, and altogether there was in his countenance and whole +appearance a cheerful, easy, generous, unreflecting dash of character +that not only made him a favorite on first acquaintance, but won +confidence by an openness of manner that completely disarmed suspicion. +It might have been observed, however, that his laugh, like his mother's, +never, or at least seldom, came directly from the heart, and that there +was a hard expression about his otherwise well-formed mouth, such as +rarely indicated generosity of feeling, or any acquaintance with the +kinder impulses of our nature. He was his mother's pet and favorite, and +her principal wish was that he should be looked upon and addressed as +a gentleman, and for that purpose she encouraged him to associate with +those only whose rank and position in life rendered any assumption of +equality on his part equally arrogant and obtrusive. In his own family +his bearing towards his parents was, in point of fact, the reverse +of what it ought to have been. He not only treated his father with +something bordering on contempt, but joined his mother in all that +ignorant pride which kept her perpetually bewailing the fate by which +she was doomed to become his wife. Nor did she herself come off better +at his hands. Whilst he flattered her vanity, and turned her foibles +to his own advantage, under the guise of a very dutiful affection, his +deportment towards her was marked by an ironical respect, which was the +more indefensible and unmanly because she could not see through it. The +poor woman had taken up the opinion, that difficult and unintelligible +language was one test of a gentleman; and her son by the use of such +language, let no opportunity pass of confirming her in this opinion, and +establishing his own claims to the character. + +“Where did you ride to this mornin' Misther Hycy?” + +“Down to take a look at Tom Burton's mare, Crazy Jane, ma'am:-- + + “'Away, my boys, to horse away, + The Chase admits of no delay--'” + +“Tom Burton!” re-echoed the father with a groan; “an so you're in Tom +Burton's hands! A swindlin', horse-dalin' scoundrel that would chate St. +Pether. Hycy, my man, if you go to look for wool to Tom you'll come home +shorn.” + + “'Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule + Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl, + That there's wrath and despair--” + +Thank you, father--much obliged; you entertain a good opinion of me.” + +“Do I, faith? Don't be too sure of that.” + +“I've bought her at any rate,” said Hycy--“thirty-five's the figure; but +she's a dead bargain at fifty.” + +“Bought her!” exclaimed the father; “an' how, in God's name, do you +expect to pay for her?” + +“By an order on a very excellent, worthy man and +gentleman-farmer--ycleped James Burke, Esquire--who has the honor +of being father to that ornament of the barony, Hycy Burke, the +accomplished. My worthy sire will fork out.” + +“If I do, that I may--” + +“Silence, poor creature!” said his wife, clapping her hand upon his +mouth--“make no rash or vulgar oaths. Surely, Misther Burke--” + +“How often did I bid you not to misther me? Holy scrapers, am I to be +misthered and pesthered this way, an' my name plane Jemmy Burke!” + +“You see, Hycy, the vulgarian will come out,” said his mother. “I say, +Misther Burke, are you to see your son worse mounted at the Herringstown +Hunt than any other gentleman among them? Have you no pride? + +“No, thank God! barin' that I'm an honest man an' no gentleman; an', as +for Hycy, Rosha--” + +“Mrs. Burke, father, if you please,” interposed Hycy; “remember who your +wife is at all events.” + +“Faith, Hycy, she'll come better off if I forget that same; but I tell +you that instead of bein' the laughin'-stock of the same Hunt, it's +betune the stilts of a plough you ought to be, or out in the fields +keepin' the men to their business.” + +“I paid three guineas earnest money, at all events,” said the son; “but +'it matters not,' as the preacher says-- + + “'When I was at home I was merry and frisky, + My dad kept a pig and my mother sold whiskey'-- + +Beg pardon, mother, no allusion--my word and honor none--to you I mean-- + + “'My uncle was rich, but would never be aisy + Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.' + +Fine times in the army, Mr. Burke, with every prospect of a speedy +promotion. Mother, my stomach craves its matutinal supply--I'm in +excellent condition for breakfast.” + +“It's ready. Jemmy, you'll--Misther Burke, I mane--you'll pay for +Misther Hycy's mare.” + +“If I do--you'll live to see it, that's all. Give the boy his +breakwhist.” + +“Thank you, worthy father--much obliged for your generosity-- + + “'Oh, love is the soul of a nate Irishman + He loves all that's lovely, loves all that he can, + With his sprig of--' + +Ah, Peety Dhu, how are you, my worthy peripatetic? Why, this daughter +of yours is getting quite a Hebe on our hands. Mrs. Burke, +breakfast--breakfast, madam, as you love Hycy, the accomplished.” So +saying, Hycy the accomplished proceeded to the parlor we have described, +followed by his maternal relative, as he often called his mother. + +“Well, upon my word and honor, mother,” said the aforesaid Hycy, who +knew and played upon his mother's weak points, “it is a sad thing to see +such a woman as you are, married to a man who has neither the spirit nor +feelings of a gentleman--my word and honor it is.” + +“I feel that, Hycy, but there's no help for spilt milk; we must only +make the best of a bad bargain. Are you coming to your breakfast,” she +shouted, calling to honest Jemmy, who still sat on the hob ruminating +with a kind of placid vexation over his son's extravagance--“your tay's +filled out!” + +“There let it,” he replied, “I'll have none of your plash to-day; I tuck +my skinful of good stiff stirabout that's worth a shipload of it. Drink +it yourselves--I'm no gintleman.” + +“Arrah, when did you find that out, Misther Burke?” she shouted back +again. + +“To his friends and acquaintances it is anything but a recent disco +very,” added Hycy; and each complimented the observation of the other +with a hearty laugh, during which the object of it went out to the +fields to join the men. + +“I'm afraid it's no go, mother,” proceeded the son, when breakfast was +finished--“he won't stand it. Ah, if both my parents were of the +same geometrical proportion, there would be little difficulty in this +business; but upon my honor and reputation, my dear mother, I think +between you and me that my father's a gross abstraction--a most +substantial and ponderous apparition.” + +“An' didn't I know that an' say that too all along?” replied his mother, +catching as much of the high English from him as she could manage: +“however, lave the enumeration of the mare to me. It'll go hard or I'll +get it out of him.” + +“It is done,” he replied; “your stratagetic powers are great, my dear +mother, consequently it is left in your hands.” + +Hycy, whilst in the kitchen, cast his eye several times upon the +handsome young daughter of Peety Dhu, a circumstance to which we owe the +instance of benevolent patronage now about to be recorded. + +“Mother,” he proceeds, “I think it would be a charity to rescue that +interesting little girl of Peety Dhu's from a life of mendicancy.” + +“From a what?” she asked, staring at him. + +“Why,” he replied, now really anxious to make himself understood--“from +the disgraceful line of life he's bringin' her up to. You should take +her in and provide for her.” + +“When I do, Hycy,” replied his mother, bridling, “it won't be a beggar's +daughter nor a niece of Philip Hogan's--sorrow bit.” + +“As for her being a niece of Hogan's, you know it is by his mother's +side; but wouldn't it be a feather in her cap to get under the +protection of a highly respectable woman, though? The patronage of a +person like you, Mrs. Burke, would be the making of her--my word and +honor it would.” + +“Hem!--ahem!--do you think so, Hycy?” + +“Tut, mother--that indeed!--can there be a doubt about it?” + +“Well then, in that case, I think she may stay--that is, if the father +will consent to it.” + +“Thank you, mother, for that example of protection and benevolence. I +feel that all my virtues certainly proceed from your side of the house +and are derived from yourself--there can be no doubt of that.” + +“Indeed I think so myself, Hycy, for where else would you get them? You +have the M'Swiggin nose; an' it can't be from any one else you take your +high notions. All you show of the gentleman, Hycy, it's not hard to name +them you have it from, I believe.” + +“Spoken like a Sybil. Mother, within the whole range of my female +acquaintances I don't know a woman that has in her so much of the +gentleman as yourself--my word and honor, mother.” + +“Behave, Hycy--behave now,” she replied, simpering; “however truth's +truth, at any rate.” + +We need scarcely say that the poor mendicant was delighted at the notion +of having his daughter placed in the family of so warm and independent a +man as Jemmy Burke. Yet the poor little fellow did not separate from the +girl without a strong manifestation of the affection he bore her. She +was his only child--the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for +him upon the desert of life. + +“I lave her wid you,” he said, addressing Mrs. Burke with tears in his +eyes, “as the only treasure an' happiness I have in this world. She is +the poor man's lamb, as I have hard read out of Scripture wanst; an' in +lavin' her undher your care, I lave all my little hopes in this world +wid her. I trust, ma'am, you'll guard her an' look afther her as if she +was one of your own.” + +This unlucky allusion might have broken up the whole contemplated +arrangement, had not Hycy stepped in to avert from Peety the offended +pride of the patroness. + +“I hope, Peety,” he said, “that you are fully sensible of the honor Mrs. +Burke does you and your daughter by taking the girl under her protection +and patronage?” + +“I am, God knows.” + +“And of the advantage it is to get her near so respectable a woman--so +highly respectable a woman?” + +“I am, in troth.” + +“And that it may be the making of your daughter's fortune?” + +“It may, indeed, Masther Hycy.” + +“And that there's no other woman of high respectability in the parish +capable of elevating her to the true principles of double and simple +proportion?” + +“No, in throth, sir, I don't think there is.” + +“Nor that can teach her the newest theories in dogmatic theology and +metaphysics, together with the whole system of Algebraic Equations if +the girl should require them?” + +“Divil another woman in the barony can match her at them by all +accounts,” replied Peety, catching the earnest enthusiasm of Hycy's +manner. + +“That will do, Peety; you see yourself, mother,” he added, taking her +aside and speaking in a low voice, “that the little fellow knows right +well the advantages of having her under your care and protection; +and it's very much to his credit, and speaks very highly for his +metempsychosis that he does so--hem!” + +“He was always a daicent, sinsible, poor creature of his kind,” replied +his mother “besides, Hycy, between you and me, she'll be more than worth +her bit.” + +“There now, Peety,” said her son, turning towards the mendicant; “it's +all settled--wait now for a minute till I write a couple of notes, which +you must deliver for me.” + +Peety sat accordingly, and commenced to lay down for his daughter's +guidance and conduct such instructions as he deemed suitable to the +situation she was about to enter and the new duties that necessarily +devolved upon her. + +In due time Hycy appeared, and placing two letters in Peety's hands, +said--“Go, Peety, to Gerald Cavanagh's, of Fenton's Farm, and if you +can get an opportunity, slip that note into Kathleen's hands--this, mark, +with the corner turned down--you won't forget that?” + +“No, sir.” + +“Very well--you're then to proceed to Tom M'Mahon's, and if you find +Bryan, his son, there, give him this; and if he's at the mountain farm +of Ahadarra, go to him. I don't expect an answer from Kathleen Cavanagh, +but I do from Bryan M'Mahon; and mark me, Peety.” + +“I do, sir.” + +“Are you sure you do?” + +“Sartin, sir.” + +“Silent as the grave then is the word in both cases--but if I ever +hear--” + +“That's enough, Masther Hycy; when the grave spakes about it so will I.” + +Peety took the letters and disappeared with an air rendered important +by the trust reposed in him; whilst Mrs. Burke looked inquiringly at her +son, as if her curiosity were a good deal excited. + +“One of them is to Kate or Kathleen Cavanagh, as they call her,” said +Hycy, in reply to her looks; “and the other for Bryan M'Mahon, who is +soft and generous--_probatum est_. I want to know if he'll stand for +thirty-five--and as for Kate, I'm making love to her, you must know.” + +“Kathleen Cavanagh,” replied his mother; “I'll never lend my privileges +to sich match.” + +“Match!” exclaimed Hycy, coolly. + +“Ah,” she replied warmly; “match or marriage will never--” + +“Marriage!” he repeated, “why, my most amiable maternal relative, do +you mean to insinuate to Hycy the accomplished, that he is obliged to +propose either match or marriage to every girl he makes love to? What a +prosaic world you'd have of it, my dear Mrs. Burke. This, ma'am, is +only an agreeable flirtation--not but that it's possible there may +be something in the shape of a noose matrimonial dangling in the +background. She combines, no doubt, in her unrivalled person, the +qualities of Hebe, Venus, and Diana--Hebe in youth, Venus in beauty, and +Diana in wisdom; so it's said, but I trust incorrectly, as respects one +of them--good-bye, mother--try your influence as touching Crazy Jane, +and report favorably-- + + “'Friend of my soul, this goblet sip, + 'Twill chase the pensive tear. &c.'” + + + + +CHAPTER II.--Gerald Cavanagh and his Family + +--Tom M'Mahon's return from Dublin. + + +The house of Gerald Cavanagh, though not so large as that of our +kind-hearted friend, Jemmy Burke, was a good specimen of what an Irish +farmer's residence ought to be. It was distant from Burke's somewhat +better than two miles, and stood almost, immediately inside the highway, +upon a sloping green that was vernal through the year. It was in +the cottage style, in the form of a cross, with a roof ornamentally +thatched, and was flanked at a little distance by the office-houses. +The grass was always so close on this green, as to have rather the +appearance of a well kept lawn. The thorn-trees stood in front of it, +clipped in the shape of round tables, on one of which, exposed to all +weathers, might be seen a pair of large churn-staves, bleached into a +white, fresh color, that caused a person to long for the butter they +made. On the other stood a large cage, in which was imprisoned a +blackbird, whose extraordinary melody had become proverbial in the +neighborhood. Down a little to the right of the hall-door, a pretty +winding gravelled pathway led to a clear spring well that was +overshadowed by a spreading white-thorn; and at each gable stood a +graceful elder or mountain-ash, whose red berries during the autumn had +a fine effect, and contrasted well with the mass of darker and larger +trees, by which the back portion of the house and the offices was almost +concealed. Both the house and green were in an elevated position, and +commanded a delightful expanse of rich meadows to the extent of nearly +one hundred acres, through which a placid river wound its easy way, like +some contented spirit that glides calmly and happily through the gentle +vicissitudes of an untroubled life. + +As Peety Dhu, whilst passing from the residence of our friend Jemmy +Burke to that of Gerald Cavanagh, considered himself in his vocation, +the reader will not be surprised to hear that it was considerably past +noon! when he arrived at Fenton's Farm; for by this name the property +was known on a portion of which the Cavanaghs lived. It might be about +the hours of two or three o'clock, when Peety, on arriving at the gate +which led into Cavanagh's house, very fortunately saw his daughter +Kathleen, in the act of feeding the blackbird aforementioned; and +prudently deeming this the best opportunity of accomplishing his +mission, he beckoned her to approach him. The good-natured girl did so: +saying at the same time--“What is the matter, Peety?--do you want me? +Won't you come into the kitchen?” + +“Thank you, avourneen, but I can't; I did want you, but it was only to +give you this letther. I suppose it will tell you all. Oh, thin, is it +any wondher that you should get it, an' that half the parish should be +dyin' in love wid you? for, in troth, it's enough to make an ould man +feel young agin even to look at you. I was afraid they might see me +givin' you the letther from the windy, and that's what made me sign to +you to come to me here. Good-bye _a colleen dhas_ (* Pretty girl.)--an' +it's you that's that sure enough.” + +The features, neck, and bosom of the girl, on receiving this +communication, were overspread with one general blush, and she stood, +for a few moments, irresolute and confused. In the mean time Peety had +passed on, and after a pause of a few minutes, she looked at the letter +more attentively, and slowly broke it open. It was probably the first +epistle she had ever received, and we need scarcely say that, as a +natural consequence, she was by no means quick in deciphering written +hand. Be this as it may, after having perused a few lines she started, +looked at the bottom for the name, then at the letter again; and as her +sister Hanna joined her, that brow on which a frown had been seldom ever +seen to sit, was now crimson with indignation. + +“Why, gracious goodness!” exclaims Hanna, “what is this, Kathleen? +Something has vexed you!--ha! a love-letter, too! In airnest, what ails +you? an' who is the letter from, if it's fair to ax?” + +“The letter is not for me,” replied Kathleen, putting it into her +sister's hand, “but when you read it you won't wonder that I'm angry.” + +As Hanna began to go slowly through it, she first laughed, but on +proceeding a little further her brow also reddened, and her whole +features expressed deep and unequivocal resentment. Having concluded the +perusal of this mysterious document, she, looked at her sister, who, in +return, gazed upon her. + +“Well, Kathleen, after all,” said Hanna, “it's not worth while losing +one's temper about it. Never think of it again; only to punish him, I'd +advise you, the next time you see Peety, to send it back.” + +“You don't suppose, Hanna, that I intended to keep it; but indeed,” she +added, with a smile; “it is not worth while bein' angry about.” + +As the sisters stood beside each other, holding this short conversation, +it would be difficult to find any two females more strikingly dissimilar +both in figure, features, and complexion. Hanna was plain, but not +disagreeable, especially when her face became animated with good humor. +Her complexion, though not at all of a sickly hue, was of that middle +tint which is neither pale nor sallow, but holds an equivocal position +between both. Her hair was black, but dull, and without that peculiar +gloss which accompanies either the very snowy skin of a fair beauty, +or, at least, the rich brown hue of a brunette. Her figure was in no way +remarkable, and she was rather under the middle size. + +Her sister, however, was a girl who deserves at our hands a more +accurate and lengthened description. Kathleen Cavanagh was considerably +above the middle size, her figure, in fact, being of the tallest; but no +earthly form could surpass it in symmetry, and that voluptuous fulness +of outline, which, when associated with a modest and youthful style of +beauty, is, of all others, the most fascinating and irresistible. The +whiteness of her unrivalled skin, and the gloss of health which shone +from it were almost dazzling. Her full bust, which literally glowed with +light and warmth, was moulded with inimitable proportion, and the masses +of rich brown hair that shaded her white and expansive forehead, added +incredible attractions to a face that was remarkable not only for +simple beauty in its finest sense, but that divine charm of ever-varying +expression which draws its lights and shadows, and the thousand graces +with which it is accompanied, directly from the heart. Her dark eyes +were large and flashing, and reflected by the vivacity or melancholy +which increased or over-shadowed their lustre, all those joys or +sorrows, and various shades of feeling by which she was moved, whilst +her mouth gave indication of extraordinary and entrancing sweetness, +especially when she smiled. + +Such was Kathleen Cavanagh, the qualities of whose mind were still +superior to the advantages of her person. And yet she shone not forth at +the first view, nor immediately dazzled the beholder by the brilliancy +of her charms. She was unquestionably a tall, fine looking country girl, +tastefully and appropriately dressed; but it was necessary to see her +more than once, and to have an opportunity of examining her, time after +time, to be able fully to appreciate the surprising character of her +beauty, and the incredible variety of those changes which sustain its +power and give it perpetual novelty to the heart and eye. It was, in +fact, of that dangerous description which improves on inspection, and +gradually develops itself upon the beholder, until he feels the full +extent of its influence, and is sensible, perhaps, when too late, that +he is its helpless and unresisting victim. + +Around the two thorn-trees we have alluded to were built circular seats +of the grassy turf, on which the two sisters, each engaged in knitting, +now sat chatting and laughing with that unrestrained good humor and +familiarity which gave unquestionable proof of the mutual confidence +and affection that subsisted between them. Their natural tempers and +dispositions were as dissimilar as their persons. Hanna was lively and +mirthful, somewhat hasty, but placable, quick in her feelings of either +joy or sorrow, and apparently not susceptible of deep or permanent +impressions; whilst Kathleen, on the other hand, was serious, quiet, and +placid--difficult to be provoked, of great sweetness of temper, with a +tinge of melancholy that occasionally gave an irresistible charm to her +voice and features, when conversing upon any subject that was calculated +to touch the heart, or in which she felt deeply. Unlike her sister, she +was resolute, firm, and almost immutable in her resolutions; but that +was because her resolutions were seldom hasty or unadvised, but the +result of a strong feeling of rectitude and great good sense. It is +true she possessed high feelings of self-respect, together with an +enthusiastic love for her religion, and a most earnest zeal for its +advancement; indeed, so strongly did these predominate in her mind, that +any act involving a personal slight towards herself, or indifference to +her creed and its propagation, were looked upon by Kathleen as crimes +for which there was no forgiveness. If she had any fellings, it was in +these two points they lay. But at the same time, we are bound to say, +that the courage and enthusiasm of Joan of Arc had been demanded of her +by the state and condition of her country and her creed, she would +have unquestionably sacrificed her life, if the sacrifice secured the +prosperity of either. + +Something of their difference of temperament might have been observed +during their conversation, while sitting under the white thorn. Every +now and then, for instance, Hanna would start up and commence a +series of little flirtations with the blackbird, which she called her +sweetheart, and again resume her chat and seat as before; or she would +attempt to catch a butterfly as it fluttered about her, or sometimes +give it pursuit over half the green, whilst Kathleen sat with laughing +and delighted eyes, and a smile of unutterable sweetness on her lips, +watching the success of this innocent frolic. In this situation we must +now leave them, to follow Peety, who is on his way to deliver the other +letter to Bryan M'Mahon. + +Our little black Mercury was not long in arriving at the house of Tom +M'Mahon, which he reached in company with that worthy man himself, whom +he happened to overtake near Carriglass where he lived. M'Mahon seemed +fatigued and travel-worn, and consequently was proceeding at a slow pace +when Peety overtook him. The latter observed this. + +“Why, thin, Tom,” said he, after the first salutations had passed, “you +look like a man that had jist put a tough journey over him.” + +“An' so I ought, Peety,” he replied, “for I have put a tough journey +over me.” + +“Musha where were you, thin, if it's fair to ax?” inquired Peety; “for +as for me that hears everything almost, the never a word I heard o' +this.” + +“I was in Dublin, thin, all the way,” replied the farmer, “strivin' to +get a renewal o' my laise from ould Squire Chevydale, the landlord; an' +upon my snuggins, Peety, you may call a journey to Dublin an' home agin +a tough one--devil a doubt of it. However, thank God, here we are at +home; an' blessed be His name that we have a home to come to; for, +afther all, what place is like it? Throth, Peety, my heart longed for +these brave fields of ours--for the lough there below, and the wild +hills above us; for it wasn't until I was away from them that I felt how +strong the love of them was in my heart.” + +M'Mahon was an old but hale man, with a figure and aspect that were much +above the common order even of the better class of peasants. There could +be no mistaking the decent and composed spirit of integrity which was +evident in his very manner; and there was something in his long flowing +locks, now tinged with gray, as they rested upon his shoulders, that +gave an air of singular respect to his whole appearance. + +On uttering the last words he stood, and looking around him became so +much affected that his eyes filled with tears. “Ay,” said he, “thank +God that we have our place to come to, an' that we will still have it to +come to, and blessed be His name for all things! Come, Peety,” he added, +after a pause, “let us see how they all are inside; I'm longin' to see +them, especially poor, dear Dora; an'--God bless me! here she is!--no, +she ran back to tell them--but ay--oh, ay! here she is again, my darlin' +girl, comin' to meet me.” + +He had scarcely uttered the words when an interesting, slender girl, +about eighteen, blushing, and laughing, and crying, all at once, came +flying towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, fell +upon his bosom, kissed him, and wept with delight at his return. + +“An' so, father dear, you're back to us! My gracious, we thought you'd +never come home! Sure you worn't sick? We thought maybe that you took +ill, or that--that--something happened you; and we wanted to send Bryan +after you--but nothing happened you?--nor you worn't sick?” + +“You affectionate, foolish darlin', no, I wasn't sick; nor nothing ill +happened me, Dora.” + +“Oh, thank God! Look at them,” she proceeded, directing his attention +to the house, “look at them all crowdin' to the door--and here's Shibby, +too, and Bryan himself--an' see my mother ready to lep out of herself +wid pure joy--the Lord be praised that you're safe back!” + +At this moment his second daughter ran to him, and a repetition of +welcome similar to that which he received from Dora took place. His son +Bryan grasped his hand, and said, whilst a tear stood even in his eye, +that he was glad to see him safe home. The old man, in return, grasped +his hand with an expression of deep feeling, and after having inquired +if they had been all well in his absence, he proceeded with them to the +house. Here the scene was still more interesting. Mrs. M'Mahon stood +smiling at the door, but as he came near, she was obliged once or twice +to wipe away the tears with the corner of her handkerchief. We have +often observed how much fervid piety is mingled with the affections of +the Irish people when in a state of excitement; and this meeting between +the old man and his wife presented an additional proof of it. + +“Blessed be God!” exclaimed his wife, tenderly embracing* him, “blessed +be God, Tom darlin', that you're safe back to us! An' how are you, +avourueen? an' wor you well ever since? an' there was nothin--musha, go +out o' this, Ranger, you thief--oh, God forgive me! what am I sayin'? +sure the poor dog is as glad as the best of us--arrah, thin, look at the +affectionate crathur, a'most beside himself! Dora, avillish, give him +the could stirabout that's in the skillet, jist for his affection, the +crathur. Here, Ranger--Ranger, I say--oh no, sorra one's in the house +now but yourself, Tom. Well, an' there was nothing wrong wid you?” + +“Nothin', Nancy, thanks be to the Almighty--down, poor fellow--there +now, Ranger--och, behave, you foolish dog--musha, see this!” + +“Throth, Tom,” continued his loving wife, “let what will happen, it's +the last journey ever we'll let you take from us. Ever an' ever, there +we wor thinkin' an' thinkin' a thousand things about you. At one time +that something happened you; then that you fell sick an' had none but +strangers about you. Throth we won't; let what will happen, you must +stay wid vis.” + +“Indeed an' I never knew how I loved the place, an' you all, till I +went; but, thank God, I hope it's the last journey ever I'll have to +take from either you or it.” + +“Shibby, run down to--or do you, Dora, go, you're the souplest--to Paddy +Mullen's and Jemmy Kelly's, and the rest of the neighbors, an' tell them +to come up, that your father's home. Run now, acushla, an' if you fall +don't wait to rise; an' Shibby, darlin', do you whang down a lot o' that +bacon into rashers, 'your father must be at death's door wid hunger; +but wasn't it well that I thought of having the whiskey in, for you see +afther Thursday last we didn't know what minute you'd dhrop in on us, +Tom, an' I said it was best to be prepared. Give Peety a chair, the +crature; come forrid, Peety, an' take a sate; an' how are you? an' how +is the girsha wid you, an' where is she?” + +To these questions, thus rapidly put, Peety returned suitable answers; +but indeed Mrs. M'Mahon did not wait to listen to them, having gone to +another room to produce the whisky she had provided for the occasion. + +“Here,” she said, reappearing with a huge bottle in one hand and a glass +in the other, “a sip o' the right sort will help you afther your long +journey; you must be tired, be coorse, so take this.” + +“Aisy, Bridget,” exclaimed her husband, “don't fill it; you'll make me +hearty.” (* tipsy) + +“Throth an' I will fill it,” she replied, “ay, an' put a heap on it. +There now, finish that bumper.” + +The old man, with a smiling and happy face, received the glass, and +taking his wife's hand in his, looked at her, and then upon them all, +with an expression of deep emotion. “Bridget, your health; childre', all +your healths; and here's to Carriglasa, an' may we long live happy in +it, as we will, plase God! Peety, not forgettin' you!” + +We need hardly say that the glass went round, nor that Peety was not +omitted in the hospitality any more than in the toast. + +“Here, Bryan,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “lay that bottle on the dresser, it's +not worth while puttin' it past till the neighbors comes up; an' it's +they that'll be the glad neighbors to see you safe back agin, Tom.” + +In this she spoke truth. Honest and hearty was the welcome he received +from them, as with sparkling eyes and a warm grasp they greeted him +on his return. Not only had Paddy Mullin and Jemmy Kelly run up in +haste--the latter, who had been digging in his garden, without waiting +to put on his hat or coat--but other families in the neighborhood, young +and old, crowded in to welcome him home---from Dublin--for in that lay +the principal charm. The bottle was again produced, and a holiday spirit +now prevailed among them. Questions upon questions were put to him with +reference to the wonders they had heard of the great metropolis--of +the murders and robberies committed upon travellers--the kidnapping of +strangers from the country--the Lord Lieutenant's Castle, with three +hundred and sixty-four windows in it, and all the extraordinary sights +and prodigies which it is supposed to contain. In a few minutes after +this friendly accession to their numbers had taken place, a youth +entered about nineteen years of age--handsome, tall, and well-made--in +fact, such a stripling as gave undeniable promise of becoming a fine, +powerful young man. On being handed a glass of whiskey he shook hands +with M'Mahon, welcomed him home, and then drank all their healths by +name until he came to that of Dora, when he paused, and, coloring, +merely nodded towards her. We cannot undertake to account for this +omission, nor do more than record what actually happened. Neither do we +know why Dora blushed so deeply as she did, nor why the sparkling and +rapid glance which she gave him in return occasioned him to look down +with an appearance of confusion and pain. That some understanding +subsisted between young Cavanagh--for he was Gerald's son--and Dora +might have been evident to a close observer; but in truth there was +at that moment no such thing as a close observer among them, every eye +being fixed with impatience and curiosity upon Tom M'Mahon, who had now +most of the conversation to himself, little else being left to the share +of his auditors than the interjectional phrases and exclamations of +wonder at his extraordinary account of Dublin. + +“But, father,” said Bryan, “about the business that brought you there? +Did you get the Renewal?” + +“I got as good,” replied the simple-hearted old man, “an' that was the, +word of a gintleman--an' sure they say that that's the best security in +the world.” + +“Well, but how was it?” they exclaimed, “an' how did it happen that you +didn't get the Lease itself?” + +“Why, you see,” he proceeded in reply, “the poor gintleman was near his +end--an' it was owin' to Pat Corrigan that I seen him at all--for Pat, +you know, is his own man. When I went in to where he sat I found Mr. +Fethertonge the agent wid him: he had a night-cap on, an' was sittin' +in a big armchair, wid one of his feet an' a leg swaythed wid flannel. I +thought he was goin' to write or sign papers. 'Well, M'Mahon,' says +he--for he was always as keen as a briar, an' knew me at once--'what do +you want? an' what has brought you from the country?' I then spoke to him +about the new lease; an' he said to Fethertonge, 'prepare M'Mahon's +lease, Fothertonge;--you shall have a new lease, M'Mahon. You are an +honest man, and your family have been so for many a long year upon +our property. As my health is unsartin,' he said, turning to Mr. +Fethertonge, 'I take Mr. Fethertonge here to witness, that in case +anything should happen me I give you my promise for a renewal--an' not +only in my name alone, but in my son's; an' I now lave it upon him to +fulfil my intentions an' my words, if I should not live to see it done +myself. Mr. Fethertonge here has brought me papers to sign, but I am not +able to hould a pen, or if I was I'd give you a written promise; but +you have my solemn word, I fear my dyin' word, in Mr. Fethertonge's +presence--that you shall have a lease of your farm at the ould rint. It +is such tenants as you we want, M'Mahon, an' that we ought to encourage +on our property. Fethertonge, do you in the mane time see that a lease +is prepared for M'Mahon; an' see, at all events, that my wishes shall be +carried into effect.' Sich was his last words to me, but he was a corpse +on the next day but one afterwards.” + +“It's jist as good,” they exclaimed with one voice; “for what is +betther, or what can be betther than _the word of an Irish gentleman?_” + +“What ought to be betther, at all events?” said Bryan. “Well, father, so +far everything is right, for there is no doubt but his son will fulfil +his words--Mr. Fethertonge himself isn't the thing; but I don't see why +he should be our enemy. We always stood well with the ould man, an' I +hope will with the son. Come, mother, move the bottle again--there's +another round in it still; an' as everything looks so well and our mind +is aisy, we'll see it to the bottom.” + +The conversation was again resumed, questions were once more asked +concerning the sights and sounds of Dublin, of which one would imagine +they could scarcely ever hear enough, until the evening was tolerably +far advanced, when the neighbors withdrew to their respective homes, and +left M'Mahon and his family altogether to themselves. + +Peety, now that the joy and gratulation for the return of their +father had somewhat subsided, lost no time in delivering Hycy Burke's +communication into the hands of Bryan. The latter, on opening it, +started with surprise not inferior to that with which Kathleen Cavanagh +had perused the missive addressed to her. Nor was this all. The letter +received by Bryan, as if the matter had been actually designed by the +writer, produced the selfsame symptoms of deep resentment upon him that +the mild and gentle Kathleen Cavanagh experienced on the perusal of her +own. His face became flushed and his eye blazed with indignation as +he went through its contents; after which he once more looked at the +superscription, and notwithstanding the vehement passion into which it +had thrown him, he was ultimately obliged to laugh. + +“Peety,” said he, resuming his gravity, “you carried a letter from Hycy +Burke to Kathleen Cavanagh to-day?” + +“Who says that?” replied Peety, who could not but remember the solemnity +of his promise to that accomplished gentleman. + +“I do, Peety.” + +“Well, I can't help you, Bryan, nor prevent you from thinking so, +sure--stick to that.” + +“Why, I know you did, Peety.” + +“Well, acushla, an' if you do, your only so much the wiser.” + +“Oh, I understand,” continued Bryan, “it's a private affair, or intended +to be so--an' Mr. Hycy has made you promise not to spake of it.” + +“Sure you know all about it, Bryan; an' isn't that enough for you? Only +what answer am I to give him?” + +“None at present, Peety; but say I'll see himself in a day or two.” + +“That's your answer, then?” + +“That's all the answer I can give till I see himself, as I said.” + +“Well, good-bye, Bryan, an' God be wid you!” + +“Good-bye, Peety!” and thus they parted. + + + + +CHAPTER III.--Jemmy Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of + +--Hycy and a Confidant + + +Hycy Burke was one of those persons who, under the appearance of a +somewhat ardent temperament, are capable of abiding the issue of +an event with more than ordinary patience. Having not the slightest +suspicion of the circumstance which occasioned Bryan M'Mahon's +resentment, he waited for a day of two under the expectation that his +friend was providing the sum necessary to accommodate him. The third +and fourth days passed, however, without his having received any reply +whatsoever; and Hycy, who had set his heart upon Crazy Jane, on +finding that his father--who possessed as much firmness as he did of +generosity--absolutely refused to pay for her, resolved to lose no more +time in putting Bryan's friendship to the test. To this, indeed, he was +urged by Burton, a wealthy but knavish country horse-dealer, as we said, +who wrote to him that unless he paid for her within a given period, he +must be under the necessity of closing with a person who had offered +him a higher price. This message was very offensive to Hycy, whose +great foible, as the reader knows, was to be considered a gentleman, not +merely in appearance, but in means and circumstances. He consequently +had come to the determination of writing again to M'Mahon upon the same +subject, when chance brought them together in the market of Ballymacan. + +After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the +matter:-- + +“I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane,” + said he, “and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty +deeply in your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe.” + +“I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but, +as you like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no +money.” + +Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a +minute, and said in quite a different tone-- + +“What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?” + +“Not knowingly--but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say about +it.” + +“I'm not aware of it,” replied the other---“my word and honor I'm not.” + +Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not +openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the +grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and +Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection, +would have been an act of great presumption on his part. + +“Good-bye, Hycy,” said he; “I have tould you my mind, and now I've done +with it.” + +“With all my heart!” said the other--“that's a matter of taste on your +part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in +your pocket. It's all right, I suppose--but you know best. Good-bye +to you, at all events,” he added; “be a good boy and take care of +yourself.” + +M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not. + +“By all that deserves an oath,” exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after +him, “if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you +your insulting conduct this day--and that I'll soon make you feel to +your cost!” + +This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much +mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through +the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could +judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked +with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their +loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other +parts of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At +length he seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say +which, and stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes +quite unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success +with which he did it--when, on looking down the street, he observed a +little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with +freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the +saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately +between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In +addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow +legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with +his whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was +nevertheless indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore +neither stockings nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong +clouted brogues upon his feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs +and a breast that were covered over with a fell of red close hair that +might have been long and strong enough for a badger. He carried in his +hand a short whip, resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such +a description as no man that had any regard for his health would wish to +come in contact with, especially from the hand of such a double-jointed +but misshapen Hercules as bore it. + +“Ted, how goes it, my man?” + +“_Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?_” replied Ted, surveying him with a +stare. + +“D--n you!” was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived +that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The +latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:--“I was about to abuse +you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me,” he said, “until I saw +Jennings, and then I _had_ you.” + +“Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the _Bairlha_ (* English +tongue)--'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you +'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy.” + +“D--n your Gaelic!” replied Hycy--“no, I won't--I don't speak it.” + +“The Laud forget you for that!” replied Ted, with a grin; “my ould +grandmudher might larn it from you--hach, ach, ha!” + +“None of your d--d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you.” + +“Fwhat would her be?” asked Ted, with a face in which there might be +read such a compound of cunning, vacuity, and ferocity as could rarely +be witnessed in the same countenance. + +“Can you come down to me to-night?” + +“No; I'll be busy.” + +“Where are you at work now?” + +“In Glendearg, above.” + +“Well, then, if you can't come to me, I must only go to you. Will you be +there tonight? I wish to speak to you on very particular business.” + +“Shiss; you _will_, dhin, wanst more?” asked the other, significantly. + +“I think so.” + +“Shiss--ay--vary good. Fwen will she come?” + +“About eleven or twelve; so don't be from about the place anywhere.” + +“Shiss---dhin--vary good. Is dhat all?” + +“That's all now. Are your turf _dry_ or _wet_* to-day?” + + * One method of selling Poteen is by bringing in kishes of + turf to the neighboring markets, when those who are up to + the secret purchase the turf, or pretend to do so; and while + in the act of discharging the load, the Keg of Poteen is + quickly passed into the house of him who purchases the + turf.--Are your turf wet or dry? was, consequently, a pass- + word. + +“Not vary dhry,” replied Ted, with a grin so wide that, as was +humorously said by a neighbor of his, “it would take a telescope to +enable a man to see from the one end of it to the other.” + +Hycy nodded and laughed, and Ted, cracking his whip, proceeded up the +town to sell his turf. + +Hycy now sauntered about through the market, chatting here and there +among acquaintances, with the air of a man to whom neither life nor +anything connected with it could occasion any earthly trouble. Indeed, +it mattered little what he felt, his easiness of manner was such that +not one of his acquaintances could for a moment impute to him the +possibility of ever being weighed down by trouble or care of any kind; +and lest his natural elasticity of spirits might fail to sustain this +perpetual buoyancy, he by no means neglected to fortify himself with +artificial support. Meet him when or where you might, be it at six +in the morning or twelve at night, you were certain to catch from his +breath the smell of liquor, either in its naked simplicity or disguised +and modified in some shape. + +His ride home, though a rapid, was by no means a pleasing one. M'Mahon +had not only refused to lend him the money he stood in need of, but +actually quarrelled with him, as far as he could judge, for no other +purpose but that he might make the quarrel a plea for refusing him. This +disappointment, to a person of Hycy's disposition, was, we have seen, +bitterly vexatious, and it may be presumed that he reached home in +anything but an agreeable humor. Having dismounted, he was about to +enter the hall-door, when his attention was directed towards that of the +kitchen by a rather loud hammering, and on turning his eyes to the +spot he found two or three tinkers very busily engaged in soldering, +clasping, and otherwise repairing certain vessels belonging to that warm +and spacious establishment. The leader of these vagrants was a man named +Philip Hogan, a fellow of surprising strength and desperate character, +whose feats of hardihood and daring had given him a fearful notoriety +over a large district of the country. Hogan was a man whom almost every +one feared, being, from confidence, we presume, in his great strength, +as well as by nature, both insolent, overbearing, and ruffianly in the +extreme. His inseparable and appropriate companion was a fierce and +powerful bull-dog of the old Irish breed, which he had so admirably +trained that it was only necessary to give him a sign, and he would +seize by the throat either man or beast, merely in compliance with the +will of his master. On this occasion he was accompanied by two of his +brothers, who were, in fact, nearly as impudent and offensive ruffians +as himself. Hycy paused for a moment, seemed thoughtful, and tapped his +boot with the point of his whip as he looked at them. On entering the +parlor he found dinner over, and his father, as was usual, waiting to +get his tumbler of punch. + +“Where's my mother?” he asked--“where's Mrs. Burke?” + +On uttering the last words he raised his voice so as she might +distinctly hear him. + +“She's above stairs gettin' the whiskey,” replied his father, “and God +knows she's long enough about it.” + +Hycy ran up, and meeting her on the lobby, said, in a low, anxious +voice-- + +“Well, what news? Will he stand it?” + +“No,” she replied, “you may give up the notion--he won't do it, an' +there's no use in axin' him any more.” + +“He won't do it!” repeated the son; “are you certain now?” + +“Sure an' sartin. I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' +worse he got.” + +Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are +not in possession at present; he immediately added:-- + +“Well, never mind. Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am--to be united to such +a d--d--hem!--to such a--a--such a--gentleman!” + +Mrs. Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to +indulge in any compassion of the kind. + +“The thing's now past cure,” she said; “I'm a marthyr, an' that's all +that's about it. Come down till I get you your dinner.” + +Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the “Bay +of Biscay:”-- + + “'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, + The rain a deluge pours; + The clouds were rent asunder + By light'ning's vivid--' + +By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing +at the kitchen door there?” + +“Troth, whatever they like,” she replied. “I tould that vagabond, +Philip, that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best +judge of that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, +an' takes everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat +a mendin' an' sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' +'by your lave.'” + +“It's perfectly well known that they're robbers,” said Hycy, “and the +general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who +are in this part of the country at present. However, I'll speak to the +ruffians about such conduct.” + +He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal +to one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood. +During a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, +but of what character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the +distance at which they stood rendered it impossible for any one to +ascertain. Hycy then returned to dinner, whilst his father in the +meantime sat smoking his pipe, and sipping from time to time at his +tumbler of punch. Mrs. Burke, herself, occupied an arm-chair to the +left of the fire, engaged at a stocking which was one of a pair that she +contrived to knit for her husband during every twelve months; and on +the score of which she pleaded strong claims to a character of most +exemplary and indefatigable industry. + +“Any news from the market, Hycy?” said his father. + +“Yes,” replied Hycy, in that dry ironical tone which he always used to +his parents--“rather interesting--Ballymacan is in the old place.” + +“Bekaise,” replied his father, with more quickness than might be +expected, as he whiffed away the smoke with a face of very sarcastic +humor; “I hard it had gone up a bit towards the mountains--but I knew +you wor the boy could tell me whether it had or not--ha!--ha!--ha!” + +This rejoinder, in addition to the intelligence Hycy had just received +from his mother, was not calculated to improve his temper. “You may +laugh,” he replied; “but if your respectable father had treated you in a +spirit so stingy and beggarly as that which I experience at your hands, +I don't know how you might have borne it.” + +“My father!” replied Burke; “take your time, Hycy--my hand to you, he +had a different son to manage from what I have.” + +“God sees that's truth,” exclaimed his wife, turning the expression to +her son's account. + +“I was no gentleman, Hycy,” Burke proceeded. + +“Ah, is it possible?” said the son, with a sneer. “Are you sure of that, +now?” + +“Nor no spendthrift, Hycy.” + +“No,” said the wife, “you never had the spirit; you were ever and always +a _molshy_.” (* A womanly, contemptible fellow) + +“An' yet _molshy_ as I was,” he replied, “you wor glad to catch me. +But Hycy, my good boy, I didn't cost my father at the rate of from a +hundre'-an'-fifty to two-hundre'-a-year, an' get myself laughed at and +snubbed by my superiors, for forcin' myself into their company.” + +“Can't you let the boy ait his dinner in peace, at any rate?” said his +mother. “Upon my credit I wouldn't be surprised if you drove him away +from us altogether.” + +“I only want to drive him into common sense, and the respectful feeling +he ought to show to both you an' me, Rosha,” said Burke; “if he expects +to have either luck or grace, or the blessing of God upon him, he'll +change his coorses, an' not keep breakin' my heart as he's doin'.” + +“Will you pay for the mare I bought, father?” asked Hycy, very +seriously. “I have already told you, that I paid three guineas earnest; +I hope you will regard your name and family so far as to prevent me from +breaking my word--besides leading the world to suppose that you are a +poor man.” + +“Regard my name and family!” returned the father, with a look of +bitterness and sorrow; “who is bringin' them into disgrace, Hycy?” + +“In the meantime,” replied the son, “I have asked a plain question, Mr. +Burke, and I expect a plain answer; will you pay for the mare?” + +“An' supposin' I don't?” + +“Why, then, Mr. Burke, if you don't you won't, that's all.” + +“I must stop some time,” replied his father, “an' that is now. I wont +pay for her.” + +“Well then, sir, I shall feel obliged, as your respectable wife has just +said, if you will allow me to eat, and if possible, live in peace.” + +“I'm speakin' only for your--” + +“That will do now--hush--silence if you please.” + +“Hycy dear,” said the mother; “why would you ax him another question +about it? Drop the thing altogether.” + +“I will, mother, but I pity you; in the meantime, I thank you, ma'am, of +your advice.” + +“Hycy,” she continued, with a view of changing the conversation; “did +you hear that Tom M'Bride's dead?” + +“No ma'am, but I expected it; when did he die?” + +Before his father could reply, a fumbling was heard at the hall-door; +and, the next moment, Hogan, thrust in his huge head and shoulders began +to examine the lock by attempting to turn the key in it. + +“Hogan, what are you about?” asked Hycy. + +“I beg your pardon,” replied the ruffian; “I only wished to know if the +lock wanted mendin'--that was all, Misther Hycy.” + +“Begone, sirra,” said the other; “how dare you have the presumption to +take such a liberty? you impudent scoundrel! Mother, you had better pay +them,” he added; “give the vagabonds anything they ask, to get rid of +them.” + +Having dined, her worthy son mixed a tumbler of punch, and while +drinking it, he amused himself, as was his custom, by singing snatches +of various songs, and drumming with his fingers upon the table; whilst +every now and then he could hear the tones of his mother's voice in high +altercation with Hogan and his brothers. This, however, after a time, +ceased, and she returned to the parlor a good deal chafed by the +dispute. + +“There's one thing I wonder at,” she observed, “that of all men in the +neighborhood, Gerald Cavanagh would allow sich vagabonds as they an Kate +Hogan is, to put in his kiln. Troth, Hycy,” she added, speaking to him +in a warning and significant tone of voice, “if there wasn't something +low an' mane in him, he wouldn't do it.” + + “'Tis when the cup is smiling before us. + And we pledge unto our hearts--' + +“Your health, mother. Mr. Burke, here's to you! Why I dare say you are +right, Mrs. Burke. The Cavanagh family is but an upstart one at best; +it wants antiquity, ma'am--a mere affair of yesterday, so what after all +could you expect from it?” + +Honest Jemmy looked at him and then groaned. “An upstart +family!--that'll do--oh, murdher--well, 'tis respectable at all events; +however, as to havin' the Hogans about them--they wor always about them; +it was the same in their father's time. I remember ould Laghlin Hogan, +an' his whole clanjamfrey, men an' women, young an' old, wor near six +months out o' the year about ould Gerald Cavanagh's--the present man's +father; and another thing you may build upon--that whoever ud chance +to speak a hard word against one o' the Cavanagh family, before Philip +Hogan or any of his brothers, would stand a strong chance of a shirtful +o' sore bones. Besides, we all know how Philip's father saved Mrs. +Cavanagh's life about nine or ten months after her marriage. At any +rate, whatever bad qualities the vagabonds have, want of gratitude isn't +among them.” + + “'------That are true, boys, true, + The sky of this life opens o'er us, + And heaven--' + +M'Bride, ma'am, will be a severe loss to his family.” + +“Throth he will, and a sarious loss--for among ourselves, there was none +o' them like him.” + + “'Gives a glance of its blue--' + +“I think I ought to go to the wake to-night. I know it's a bit of a +descent on my part, but still it is scarcely more than is due to a +decent neighbor. Yes, I shall go; it is determined on.” + + “'I ga'ed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate I fear I'll dearly rue; + I gat my death frae twa sweet een, + Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.' + +“Mine are brown, Mrs. Burke--the eyes you wot of; but alas! the family is +an upstart one, and that is strongly against the Protestant interest in +the case. Heigho!” + +Jemmy Burke, having finished his after-dinner pipe and his daily tumbler +both together, went out to his men; and Hycy, with whom he had left the +drinking materials, after having taken a tumbler or two, put on a strong +pair of boots, and changed the rest of his dress for a coarser 'suit, +bade his mother a polite good-bye, and informed her, that as he intended +to be present at M'Bride's wake he would most probably not return until +near morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IV.--A Poteen Still-House at Midnight--Its Inmates. + +About three miles in a south-western direction from Burke's residence, +the country was bounded by a range of high hills and mountains of a very +rugged and wild, but picturesque description. Although a portion of +the same landscape, yet nothing could be more strikingly distinct in +character than the position of the brown wild hills, as contrasted with +that of the mountains from which they abutted. The latter ran in long +and lofty ranges that were marked by a majestic and sublime simplicity, +whilst the hills were of all shapes and sizes, and seemed as if cast +about at random. As a matter of course the glens and valleys that +divided them ran in every possible direction, sometimes crossing and +intersecting each other at right angles, and sometimes running parallel, +or twisting away in opposite directions. In one of those glens that lay +nearest the mountains, or rather indeed among them, was a spot which +from its peculiar position would appear to have been designed from the +very beginning as a perfect paradise for the illicit distiller. It was a +kind of back chamber in the mountains, that might, in fact, have escaped +observation altogether, as it often did. The approach to it was by a +long precipitous glen, that could be entered only at its lower end, and +seemed to terminate against the abrupt side of the mountain, like a +cul de sac. At the very extremity, however, of this termination, and a +little on the right-hand side, there was a steep, narrow pass leading +into a recess which was completely encompassed by precipices. From this +there was only one means of escape independently of the gut through +which it was entered. The moors on the side most approachable were +level, and on a line to the eye with that portion of the mountains which +bounded it on the opposite side, so that as one looked forward the space +appeared to be perfectly continuous, and consequently no person could +suspect that there lay so deep and precipitous a glen between them. + +In the northern corner of this remarkable locality, a deep cave, having +every necessary property as a place for private distillation, ran under +the rocks, which met over it in a kind of gothic arch. A stream of water +just sufficient for the requisite purposes, fell in through a fissure +from above, forming such a little subterraneous cascade in the cavern +as human design itself could scarcely have surpassed in felicity of +adaptation to the objects of an illicit distiller. + +To this cave, then, we must take the liberty of transporting our +readers, in order to give them an opportunity of getting a peep at +the inside of a Poteen Still-house, and of hearing a portion of +conversation, which, although not remarkable for either elegance or +edification, we are, nevertheless, obliged to detail, as being in some +degree necessary to the elucidation of our narrative. Up in that end +which constituted the termination of the cave, and fixed upon a large +turf fire which burned within a circle of stones that supported it, was +a tolerably-sized Still, made of block-tin. The mouth of this Still was +closed by an air-tight cover, also of tin, called the Head, from which a +tube of the same metal projected into a large keeve, or condenser, that +was kept always filled with cool water by an incessant stream from the +cascade we have described, which always ran into and overflowed it. The +arm of this head was fitted and made air-tight, also, into a spiral tube +of copper, called the Worm, which rested in the water of the cooler; and +as it consisted of several convolutions, like a cork-screw, its office +was to condense the hot vapor which was transmitted to it from the +glowing Still into that description of spirits known as poteen. At the +bottom of this cooler, the Worm terminated in a small cock or spigot, +from which the spirits projected in a slender stream, about the +thickness of a quill, into a vessel placed for its reception. Such was +the position of the Still, Head, and Worm, when in full operation. +Fixed about the cave, upon rude stone stillions, were the usual vessels +requisite for the various processes through which it was necessary to +put the malt, before the wort, which is its first liquid shape, was +fermented, cleared off, and thrown into the Still to be singled; for +our readers must know that distillation is a double process, the first +product being called singlings, and the second or last, doublings--which +is the perfect liquor. Sacks of malt, empty vessels, piles of turf, +heaps of grains, tubs of wash, and kegs of whiskey, were lying about in +all directions, together with pots, pans, wooden trenchers, and dishes, +for culinary uses. The seats were round stones and black bosses which +were made of a light hard moss found in the mountains and bogs, and +frequently used as seats in rustic chimney corners. On entering, your +nose was assailed by such a mingled stench of warm grains, sour barm, +putrid potato skins, and strong whiskey, as required considerable +fortitude to bear without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. + +The persons assembled were in every way worthy of the place and its +dependencies. Seated fronting the fire was our friend Teddy Phats, which +was the only name he was ever known by, his wild, beetle brows lit into +a red, frightful glare of savage mirth that seemed incapable, in its +highest glee, to disengage itself entirely from an expression of the +man's unquenchable ferocity. Opposite to him sat a tall, smut-faced, +truculent-looking young fellow, with two piercing eyes and a pair of +grim brows, which, when taken into conjunction with a hard, unfeeling +mouth, from the corners of which two right lines ran down his chin, +giving that part of his face a most dismal expression, constituted +a countenance that matched exceedingly well with the visage of Teddy +Phats. This worthy gentleman was a tinker, and one of Hogan's brothers, +whom we have already introduced to our readers. Scattered about the fire +and through the cavern were a party of countrymen who came to purchase +whiskey for a wedding, and three or four publicans and shebeenmen who +had come on professional business. Some were drinking, some indulging in +song, and some were already lying drunk or asleep in different parts +of this subterraneous pandemonium. Exalted in what was considered the +position of honor sat a country hedge-schoolmaster, his mellow eye +beaming with something between natural humor, a sense of his own +importance, and the influence of pure whiskey, fresh it is called, from +the Still-eye. + +“Here, Teddy,” said one of the countrymen, “will you fill the bottle +again.” + +“No,” replied Teddy, who though as cunning as the devil himself, could +seldom be got to speak anything better than broken English, and that of +such a character that it was often scarcely intelligible. + +“No,” he replied; “I gav'd you wan bottle 'idout payment fwhor her, an' +by shapers I won't give none oder.” + +“Why, you burning beauty, aren't we takin' ten gallons, an' will you +begrudge us a second bottle?” + +“Shiss--devil purshue de bottle more ye'll drunk here 'idout de +_airigad_, (* Money) dat's fwhat you will.” + +“Teddy,” said the schoolmaster, “I drink propitiation to you as a +profissional gintle-man! No man uses more indepindent language than you +do. You are under no earthly obligation to Messrs. Syntax and Prosody. +Grammar, my worthy friend, is banished as an intruder from your +elocution, just as you would exclude a gauger from your Still-house.” + +“Fwhat about de gagur!” exclaimed Teddy, starting; “d--n him an' +shun-tax an' every oder tax, rint an' all--hee! hee! hee!” + +We may as well let our readers know, before we proceed farther, that in +the opinion of many, Teddy Phats understood and could speak English as +well as any man of his station in the country. In fairs or markets, or +other public places, he spoke, it is true, nothing but Irish unless in a +private way, and only to persons in whom he thought he could place every +confidence. It was often observed, however, that in such conversations +he occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English +to him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have +possessed a greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We +believe the fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller, +had found it, on some peculiar occasions connected with his profession, +rather an inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some +evidence in his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on +behalf of his friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to +believe, that the Irish language, when properly enunciated through the +medium of an interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially +when resorted to within the precincts of the country court-house and in +hearing of the judge. + +“You're a fool, Teddy,” said Hogan; “let them drink themselves; +blind--this liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way, +why, blazes to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for +another cargo.” + +Teddy immediately took the hint. + +“Barney Brogan,” he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub, +half knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted +as messenger, spy, and vidette; “listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere +dat bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em--ha, ha, +ha!” + +“More power to you, Vaynus,” exclaimed Keenan; “you're worth a thousand +pounds, quarry weight.” + +“I am inclined to think, Mr. Keenan,” said the schoolmaster, “that you +are in the habit occasionally of taking slight liberties wid the haythen +mythology. Little, I'll be bound, the divine goddess of beauty ever +dreamt she'd find a representative in Teddy Phats.” + +“Bravo! masther,” replied Keenan, “you're the boy can do--only that +English is too tall for me. At any rate,” he added, approaching the +worthy preceptor, “take a spell o' this--it's a language we can all +understand.” + +“You mane to say, Darby,” returned the other, “that it's a kind of +universal spelling-book amongst us, and so it is--an alphabet aisily +larned. Your health, now and under all circumstances! Teddy, or +Thaddeus, I drink to your symmetry and inexplicable proportions; and +I say for your comfort, my worthy distillator, that if you are not so +refulgent in beauty as Venus, you are a purer haythen.” + +“Fwhat a bloody fwhine _Bairlha_ man the meeisther is,” said Teddy, with +a grin. “Fwhaicks, meeisthur, your de posey of Tullyticklem, spishilly +wid Captain Fwhiskey at your back. You spake de Bairlha up den jist all +as one as nobody could understand her--ha, ha, ha!” + +The master, whose name was Finigan, or, as he wished to be called, +O'Finigan, looked upon Teddy and shook his head very significantly. + +“I'm afraid, my worthy distallator,” he proceeded, “that the proverb +which says '_latet anguis in herba_,' is not inapplicable in your +case. I think I can occasionally detect in these ferret-like orbs +that constitute such an attractive portion of your beauty, a passing +scintillation of intelligence which you wish to keep _a secretis_, as +they say.” + +“Mr. Finigan,” said Keenan, who had now returned to his friends, “if +you wouldn't be betther employed to-morrow, you'd be welcome to the +weddin'.” + +“Many thanks, Mr. Keenan,” replied Finigan; “I accept your hospitable +offer wid genuine cordiality. To-morrow will be a day worthy of a white +mark to all parties concerned. Horace calls it chalk, which is probably +the most appropriate substance with which the records of matrimonial +felicity could be registered, _crede experto_.” + +“At any rate, Misther Finigan, give the boys a holiday to-morrow, and be +down wid us airly.” + +“There is not,” replied Finigan, who was now pretty well advanced, “I +believe widin the compass of written or spoken language--and I might +on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good +authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves +the beauty of elocution--I say, then, there is not widin the compass of +spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable +to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a _Plantation +Seminary_; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you +that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly +pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock.” + +Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such +complacent volubility--a volubility that was deeply indebted to the +liquor he had taken--the following dialogue took place in a cautious +under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy. + +“So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?” + +“Shiss.” + +“B--t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?” + +“No, I won't,” replied the other, angrily; “I'll spake as I likes.” + +“What brings him up, do you know?” + +“Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon _her_ here,” he replied, +pointing to the still. “_You'll_ have a good job of her, fwhedher or +no.” + +“Why, will he want a new one, do you think?” + +“Shiss, to be sure--would ye tink I'd begin to _run_ (* A slang phrase +for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token moreover, +dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets--hee! hee! hee!” + +“Well, all that's right--don't work for him widout a new one complate, +Teddy--Still, Head, and Worm.” + +“Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't--he thried her afore, though.” + +“Nonsense!--no he didn't.” + +“Ah, ha! ay dhin--an' she milked well too--a good cow--a brave +_cheehony_ she was for him.” + +“An' why did he give it up?” + +“Fwhy--fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he +couldn't hunt wid de _dinnaousais_--wid de gentlemans.” + +“An' what if he's discovered now?” + +“Fwhat?--fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now an' +den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he +carries.” + +“If I don't mistake,” proceeded Hogan, “either himself or his family, +anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow.” + +“Eh, Batt?” asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside +him during this dialogue--“how is dhat now?” + +“I don't rightly know--I can't say,” replied Hogan, with a smile +murderously grim but knowing--“I'm not up; but the sportheen's a made +boy, I think.” + +“_Dher cheerna!_ you _are_ up,” said Teddy, giving him a furious glance +as he spoke; “there must be no saycrits, I say.” + +“You're a blasted liar, I tell you--I am not, but I suspect--that's +all.” + +“What brought you up dhis night?” asked Teddy, suspiciously. + +“Because I hard he was to come,” replied his companion; “but whether or +not I'd be here.” + +“_Tha sha maigh_--it's right--may be so--shiss, it's all right, may be +so--well?” + +Teddy, although he said it was all right, did not seem however to think +so. The furtive and suspicious glance which he gave Hogan from under his +red beetle brows should be seen in order to be understood. + +“Well?” said Hogan, re-echoing him--“it is well; an' what is more, my +Kate is to be up here wid a pair o' geese to roast for us, for we must +make him comfortable. She wint to thry her hand upon somebody's roost, +an' it'll go hard if she fails!” + +“Fwhail!” exclaimed Teddy, with a grin--“ah, the dioual a fwhail!” + +“An' another thing--he's comin' about Kathleen Cavanagh--Hycy is. He +wants to gain our intherest about her!” + +“Well, an' what harm?” + +“Maybe there is, though, it's whispered that he--hut! doesn't he say +himself that there isn't a girl of his own religion in the parish he'd +marry--now I'd like to see them married, Teddy, but as for anything +else--” + +“Hee! hee! hee!--well,” exclaimed Teddy, with a horrible grimace that +gave his whole countenance a facequake, “an' maybe he's right. Maybe it +'udn't be aisy to get a colleen of his religion--I tink his religion is +fwhere Phiddher Fwhite's estate is--beyant the beyands, Avhere the mare +foaled the fwhiddler--hee! hee! hee!” + +“He had better thry none of his sckames wid any of the Cavanaghs,” + said Bat, “for fraid he might be brought to bed of a mistake some fine +day--that's all I say; an' there's more eyes than mine upon him.” + +This dialogue was nearly lost in the loudness of a debate which had +originated with Keenan and certain of his friends in the lower part of +the still-house. Some misunderstanding relative to the families of the +parties about to be united had arisen, and was rising rapidly into a +comparative estimate of the prowess and strength of their respective +factions, and consequently assuming a very belligerent aspect, when a +tall, lank, but powerful female, made her appearance, carrying a large +bundle in her hand. + +“More power, Kate!” exclaimed Hogan. “I knew she would,” he added, +digging Teddy's ribs with his elbow. + +“Aisy, man!” said his companion; “if you love me, say so, but don't hint +it dat way.” + +“Show forth, Kate!” proceeded her husband; “let us see the +prog--hillo!--oh, holy Moses! what a pair o' beauties!” + +He then whipped up a horn measure, that contained certainly more than +a naggin, and putting it under the warm spirits that came out of the +still-eye, handed it to her. She took it, and coming up towards the +fire, which threw out a strong light, nodded to them, and, without +saying a word, literally pitched it down her throat, whilst at the same +time one of her eyes presented undeniable proofs of a recent conflict. +We have said that there were several persons singing and dancing, +and some asleep, in the remoter part of the cave; and this was true, +although we refrained from mingling up either their mirth or melody with +the conversation of the principal personages. All at once, however, +a series of noises, equally loud and unexpected, startled melodists, +conversationalists, and sleepers all to their legs. These were no other +than the piercing cackles of two alarmed geese which Hogan's wife had +secured from some neighboring farmer, in order to provide a supper for +our friend Hycy. + +“Ted,” said the female, “I lost my knife since I came out, or they'd be +quiet enough before this; lend me one a minute, you blissed babe.” + +“Shiss, to be sure, Kate,” he replied, handing her a large clasp knife +with a frightful blade; “an', Kate, whisper, woman alive--you're bought +up, I see.” + +“How is that, you red rascal?” + +“Bekaise, don't I see dat de purchaser has set his mark upon ye?--hee! +hee! hee!” and he pointed to her eye* as he spoke. + + * A black eye is said to be the devil's mark. + +“No,” she replied, nodding towards her husband, “that's his handy work; +an' ye divil's clip!” she added, turning to Teddy, “who has a betther +right?” + +She then bled the geese, and, looking about her, asked-- + +“Have you any wet hay or straw in the place?” + +“Ay, plenty of bote,” replied Teddy; “an' here's de greeshavigh ready.” + +She then wrapped the geese, feathers and all, separately in a covering +of wet hay, which she bound round them with thumb-ropes of the same +material, and clearing away a space among the burning ashes, placed each +of them in it, and covered them up closely. + +“Now,” said she, “put down a pot o' praities, and we won't go to bed +fastin'.” + +The different groups had now melted into one party, much upon the same +principle that the various little streamlets on the mountains around +them all run, when swollen by a sudden storm, into some larger torrent +equally precipitous and turbulent. Keenan, who was one of those +pertinacious fellows that are equally quarrelsome and hospitable when in +liquor, now resumed the debate with a characteristic impression of the +pugilistic superiority of his family:-- + +“I am right, I say: I remember it well, for although I wasn't there +myself, my father was, an' I often h'ard him say--God rest his +sowl!”--here he reverently took off his hat and looked upwards--“I often +h'ard him say that Paddy Keenan gave Mullin the first knock-down blow, +an' Pether--I mane no disrespect, but far from it--give us your hand, +man alive--you're going to be married upon my shisther to-morrow, +plaise God!--masther, you'll come, remimber? you'll be as welcome as the +flowers o' May, masther--so, Pether, as I was sayin'--I mane no offince +nor disrespect to you or yours, for you are, an' ever was, a daisent +family, an' well able to fight your corner when it came upon you--but +still, Pether--an' for all that--I say it--an' I'll stand to it--I'll +stand it--that's the chat!--that, man for man, there never was one +o' your seed, breed, or generation able to fight a Keenan--that's the +chat!--here's luck! + + “'Oh, 'twas in the month of May, + When the lambkins sport and play, + As I walked out to gain raycrayation, + I espied a comely maid. + Sequestrin' in the shade-- + On her beauty I gazed wid admiraytion,' + +No, Pether, you never could; the Mullins is good men--right good men, +but they couldn't do it.” + +“Barney,” said the brother of the bridegroom, “you may thank God that +Pether is going to be married to your sisther to-morrow as you say, or +we'd larn you another lesson--eh, masther? That's the chat too--ha! ha! +ha! To the divil wid sich impedence!” + +“Gintlemen,” said Finigan, now staggering down towards the parties, “I +am a man of pacific principles, acquainted wid the larned languages, +wid mathematics, wid philosophy, the science of morality according to +Fluxions--I grant you, I'm not college-bred; but, gintlemen, I never +invied the oysther in its shell--for, gintlemen, I'm not ashamed of +it, but I acquired--I absorbed my laming, I may say, upon locomotive +principles.” + +“Bravo, masther!” said Keenan; “that's what some o' them couldn't say--” + +“Upon locomotive principles. I admit Munster, gintlemen--glorious +Kerry!--yes, and I say I am not ashamed of it. I do plead guilty to the +peripatetic system: like a comet I travelled during my juvenile days--as +I may truly assert wid a slight modicum of latitude” (here he lurched +considerably to the one side)--“from star to star, until I was able to +exhibit all their brilliancy united simply, I can safely assert, in my +own humble person. Gintlemen, I have the honor of being able to write +'Philomath' after my name--which is O'Finigan, not Finigan, by any +means--and where is the oyster in his shell could do that? Yes, and +although they refused me a sizarship in Trinity College--for what will +not fear and envy do? + + “'Tantaene animis celesiibus irae' + +Yet I have the consolation to know that my name is seldom mentioned +among the literati of classical Kerry--_nudis cruribus_ as they +are--except as the Great O'Finigan! In the mane time--” + +“Bravo, Masther!” exclaimed Keenan, interrupting him. “Here, Ted! +another bottle, till the Great O'Finigan gets a glass of whiskey.” + +“Yes, gintlemen,” proceeded O'Finigan, “the alcohol shall be accepted, +_puris naturalibus_--which means, in its native--or more properly--but +which comes to the same thing--in its naked state; and, in the mane +time, I propose the health of one of my best benefactors--Gerald +Cavanagh, whose hospitable roof is a home--a domicilium to erudition +and respectability, when they happen, as they ought, to be legitimately +concatenated in the same person--as they are in your humble servant; and +I also beg leave to add the pride of the barony, his fair and virtuous +daughter, Kathleen, in conjunction wid the I accomplished son of another +benefactor of mine--honest James Burke--in conjunction, I say, wid his +son, Mr. Hyacinth. Ah, gintlemen--Billy Clinton, you thievin' villain! +you don't pay attention; I say, gintlemen, if I myself could deduct +a score of years from the period of my life, I should endeavor to run +through the conjugations of _amo_ in society wid that pearl of beauty. +In the mane time--” + +“Here's her health, masther,” returned Keenan, “an' her father's too, +an' Hycy Burke's into the bargain--is there any more o' them? Well, no +matter.” Then turning to his antagonist, he added, “I say agin, thin, +that a Mullin's not a match for a Keenan, nor never was--no, nor never +will be! That's the chat! and who's afeard to say it? eh, masther?” + +“It's a lie!” shouted one of the opposite party; “I'm able to lick e'er +a Keenan that ever went on nate's leather--an' that's my chat.” + +A blow from Keenan in reply was like a spark to gunpowder. In a moment +the cavern presented a scene singularly tragic-comic; the whole party +was one busy mass of battle, with the exception of Ted and Batt, and the +wife of the latter, who, having first hastily put aside everything that +might be injured, stood enjoying the conflict with most ferocious glee, +the schoolmaster having already withdrawn himself to his chair. Even +Barney Broghan, the fool, could not keep quiet, but on the contrary, +thrust himself into the quarrel, and began to strike indiscriminately at +all who came in his way, until an unlucky blow on the nose happening, +to draw his claret very copiously, he made a bound up behind the sill, +uttering a series of howlings, as from time to time he looked at his own +blood, that were amusing in the extreme. As it happened, however, the +influence of liquor was too strong upon both parties to enable them +to inflict on each other any serious injury. Such, however, was the +midnight pastime of the still-house when our friend Hycy entered. + +“What in the devil's name--or the guager's--which is worse--” he asked, +addressing himself to Batt and Teddy, “is the meaning of all this?” + +“Faith, you know a'most as much about it,” replied Hogan, laughing, “as +we do; they got drunk, an' that accounts for it.” + +“Mr. Burke,” said Finigan, who was now quite tipsy; “I am delighted to +be able to--to--yes, it is he,” he added, speaking to himself--“to see +you well.” + +“I have my doubts as to that, Mr. Finigan,” replied Hycy. + +“Fame, Mr. Burke,” continued the other, “has not been silent with regard +to your exploits. Your horsemanship, sir, and the trepid pertinacity +with which you fasten upon the reluctant society of men of rank, have +given you a notorious celebrity, of which your worthy father, honest +Jemmy, as he is called, ought to be justly proud. And you shine, Mr. +Burke, in the loves as well as in the--_tam veneri quam_--I was about to +add _Marti_, but it would be inappropriate, or might only remind you +of poor Biddy Martin. It is well known you are a most accomplished +gintleman, Mr. Burke--_homo fadus ad unguem--ad unguem_.” + +Hycy would have interrupted the schoolmaster, but that he felt puzzled +as to whether he spoke seriously or ironically; his attention besides +was divided between him and the party in conflict. + +“Come,” said he, addressing Hogan and Teddy, “put an end to this work, +and why did you, you misbegotten vagabond,” he added, turning to the +latter, “suffer these fellows to remain here when you knew I was to come +up?” + +“I must shell my fwisky,” replied Teddy, sullenly, “fwhedher you come or +stay.” + +“If you don't clear the place of them instantly,” replied Hycy, “I shall +return home again.” + +Hogan seemed a good deal alarmed at this intimation, and said--“Ay, +indeed, Terry, we had better put them out o' this.” + +“Fwhor fwhat?” asked Teddy, “dere my best customers shure--an' fwlay +would I quarrel wid 'em all fwor wan man?” + +“Good-night, then, you misshapen ruffian,” said Burke, about to go. + +“Aisy, Mr. Burke,” said. Hogan; “well soon make short work wid them. +Here, Ted, you devil's catch-penny, come an' help me! Hillo, here!” he +shouted, “what are you at, you gallows crew? Do you want to go to the +stone jug, I say? Be off out o' this--here's the guager, blast him, an' +the sogers! Clear out, I tell you, or every mother's son of you will +sleep undher the skull and cross-bones to-night.” (* Meaning the County +Prison) + +“Here you, Barney,” whispered Teddy, who certainly did not wish that +Burke should return as he came; “here, you great big fwhool you, give +past your yowlin' dere--and lookin' at your blood--run out dere, come in +an' shout the gauger an' de sogers.” + +Barney, who naturally imagined that the intelligence was true, complied +with the order he had received in a spirit of such alarming and dreadful +earnestness, that a few minutes found the still-house completely cleared +of the two parties, not excepting Hogan himself, who, having heard +nothing of Teddy's directions to the fool, took it now for granted that +that alarm was a real one, and ran along with the rest. The schoolmaster +had fallen asleep, Kate Hogan was engaged in making preparations for +supper at the lower end of the casern, and the fool had been dispatched +to fetch Hogan himself back, so that Hycy now saw there was a good +opportunity for stating at more length than he could in the market the +purpose of his visit. + +“Teddy,” said he, “now that the coast's clear, let us lose no time in +coming to the point. You are aware that Bryan M'Mahon has come into the +mountain farm of Ahadarra by the death of his uncle.” + +“Shiss; dese three years.” + +“You will stick to your cursed brogue,” said the other; “however, that's +your own affair. You are aware of this?” + +“I am.” + +“Well, I have made my mind up to take another turn at this,” and he +tapped the side of the still with his stick; “and I'll try it there. I +don't know a better place, and it is much more convenient than this.” + +Teddy looked at him from under his brows, but seemed rather at a loss to +comprehend his meaning. + +“Fwor fhy 'ud you go to Ahadarra?” + +“It's more convenient, and quite as well adapted for it as this place, +or nearly.” + +“Well! Shiss, well?” + +“Well; why that's all I have to say about it, except that I'm not to be +seen or known in the business at all--mark that.” + +“Shiss--well? De Hogans must know it?” + +“I am aware of that; we couldn't go on without them. This running of +your's will soon be over; very well. You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow +and pitch upon a proper situation for a house. These implements will +do.” + +“No, dey won't; I wouldn't tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet. +You must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an' dat will +be money down.” + +“Very well; I'll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or +two.” + +“Dat Ahadarra isn't so safe,” said Teddy. “Fwhy wouldn't you carry it on +here?” and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke. + +“Because,” replied Hycy, “I have been seen here too often already, and +my name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings. This +place, besides, is now too much known. It's best and safest to change +our bob, Ted.” + +“Dere's trewt in dhat, anyhow,” said the other, now evidently more +satisfied as to Hycy's motive in changing. “But,” he added, “as you +is now to schange, it 'ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor +Ahadarra.” + +“I know of none better or safer,” said Burke. + +“Ay, fifty,” returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; “but +no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself--'tis all the shame to +me.” + +“Ahadarra it must be then,” said the other, “and that ends it.” + +“Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be,” said Ted, and the conversation on +this subject dropped. + +The smuggler's supper now made it's appearance. The geese were +beautifully done, and as Hycy's appetite had got a keen stimulus by his +mountain walk, he rendered them ample justice. + +“Trot,” said Teddy, “sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough +to sharpen anybody's appetite.” + +Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for +that express purpose. Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for +a long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water. It +was not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh +that he consented to taste punch. Between the two, however, Burke's +vanity was admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by +hinting that Hycy, no matter how appearances might go, was by no means +indifferent to the interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh. + +At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his +leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very +pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of +home, across the mountains. + +He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, +observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that +hour of the night, to cross the mountains by himself. He accordingly +whispered a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as +he said, to see Mr. Hycy safe home. + + + + +CHAPTER V.--Who Robbed Jemmy Burke? + + +On the second morning after the night described in the last chapter, +Bryan M'Mahon had just returned to his father's house from his farm in +Ahadarra, for the purpose of accompanying him to an Emigration auction +in the neighborhood. The two farms of Carriglass and Ahadarra had been +in the family of the M'Mahon's for generations, and were the property +of the same landlord. About three years previous to the period of our +narrative, Toal M'Mahon, Bryan's uncle, died of an inflammatory attack, +leaving to his eldest nephew and favorite the stock farm of Ahadarra. +Toal had been a bachelor who lived wildly and extravagantly, and when he +died Bryan suceeeded to the farm, then as wild, by the way, and as much +neglected as its owner had been, with an arrear of two years' rent upon +it. In fact the house and offices had gone nearly to wreck, and when +Bryan entered into occupation he found that a large sum of money +should be expended in necessary improvements ere the place could +assume anything like a decent appearance. As a holding, however, it +was reasonable; and we may safely assert that if Toal M'Mahon had been +either industrious or careful he might have lived and died a wealthy +man upon it. As Ahadarra lay in the mountain district, it necessarily +covered a large space; in fact it constituted a townland in itself. The +greater portion of it, no doubt, was barren mountain, but then there +were about three hundred acres of strong rough land that was either +reclaimed or capable of being so. Bryan, who had not only energy and +activity, but capital to support both, felt, on becoming master of a +separate farm, that peculiar degree of pride which was only natural to +a young and enterprising man. He had now a fair opportunity, he thought, +of letting his friends see what skill and persevering exertion could +do. Accordingly he commenced his improvements in a spirit which at +least deserved success. He proceeded upon the best system then known to +intelligent agriculturalists, and nothing was left undone that he deemed +necessary to work out his purposes. He drained, reclaimed, made fences, +roads, and enclosures. Nor did he stop here. We said that the house and +offices were in a ruinous state when they came into his possession, and +the consequence was that he found it necessary to build a new dwelling +house and suitable offices, which he did on a more commodious and +eligible site. Altogether his expenditure on the farm could not have +been less than eight hundred pounds at the period of the landlord's +death, which, as the reader knows is that at which we have commenced our +narrative. + +Thomas M'Mahon's family consisted of--first, his father, a grey-haired +patriarch, who, though a very old man, was healthy and in the full +possession of all his faculties; next, himself; then his wife; Bryan, +the proprietor of Ahadarra; two other sons, both younger, and two +daughters, the eldest twenty, and the youngest about eighteen. The name +of the latter was Dora, a sweet and gentle girl, with beautiful auburn +hair, dark, brilliant eyes, full of intellect and feeling, an exquisite +mouth, and a figure which was remarkable for natural grace and great +symmetry. + +“Well, Bryan,” said the father, “what news from Ahadarra?” + +“Nothing particular from Ahadarra,” replied the son, “but our +good-natured friend, Jemmy Burke, had his house broken open and robbed +the night before last.” + +“Wurrah deheelish” exclaimed his mother, “no, he hadn't!” + +“Well, mother,” replied Bryan, laughing, “maybe not. I'm afeard it's too +true though.” + +“An' how much did he lose?” asked his father. + +“Between seventy and eighty pounds,” said Bryan. + +“It's too much,” observed the other; “still I'm glad it's no more; an' +since the villains did take it, it's well they tuck it from a man that +can afford to lose it.” + +“By all accounts,” said Arthur, or, as he was called, Art, “Hycy, the +sportheen, has pulled him down a bit. He's not so rich now, they say, as +he was three or four years ago.” + +“He's rich enough still,” observed his father; “but at any rate, upon +my sowl I'm sorry for him; he's the crame of an honest, kind-hearted +neighbor; an' I believe in my conscience if there's a man alive that +hasn't an ill-wisher, he is.” + +“Is it known who robbed him?” asked the grandfather, “or does he suspect +anybody?” + +“It's not known, of course, grandfather,” replied Bryan, “or I suppose +they would be in limbo before now; but there's quare talk about it. The +Hogans is suspected, it seems. Philip was caught examinin' the hall-door +the night before; an' that does look suspicious.” + +“Ay,” said the old man, “an' very likely they're the men. I remember +them this many a long day; it's forty years since Andy Hogan--he was +lame--Andy Boccah they called him--was hanged for the murdher of your +great-granduncle, Billy Shevlin, of Frughmore, so that they don't like +a bone in our bodies. That was the only murdher I remember of them, but +many a robbery was laid to their charge; an' every now and then +there was always sure to be an odd one transported for thievin', an' +house-breakin', and sich villainy.” + +“I wouldn't be surprised,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “but it was some o' them +tuck our two brave geese the night before last.” + +“Very likely, in throth, Bridget,” said her husband; “however, as the +ould proverb has it, 'honesty's the best policy.' Let them see which of +us I'll be the best off at the end of the year.” + +“There's an odd whisper here an' there about another robber,” continued +Bryan; “but I don't believe a word about it. No, no;--he's wild, and not +scrupulous in many things, but I always thought him generous, an' indeed +rather careless about money.” + +“You mane the sportheen?” said his brother Art. + +“The Hogans,” said the old man, recurring to the subject, as associated +with them, “would rob anybody barrin' the Cavanaghs; but I won't listen +to it, Bryan, that Hycy Burke, or the son of any honest man that ever +had an opportunity of hearin' the Word o' God, or livin' in a Christian +counthry, could ever think of robbin' his own father--his own father! I +won't listen to that.” + +“No, nor I, grandfather,” said Bryan, “putting everything else out of +the question, its too unnatural an act. What makes you shake your head, +Art?” + +“I never liked a bone in his body, somehow,” replied Art. + +“Ay, but my goodness, Art,” said Dora, “sure nobody would think of +robbin' their own father?” + +“He has been doin' little else these three years, Dora, by all +accounts,” replied Art. + +“Ay, but his father,” continued the innocent girl; “to break into the +house at night an' rob him like a robber!” + +“Well, I say, it's reported that he has been robbin' him these three +years in one shape or other,” continued Art; “but here's Shibby, let's +hear what she'll say. What do you think, shibby?” + +“About what, Art?” + +“That Hycy Burke would rob his father!” + +“Hut, tut! Art, what puts that into your head? Oh, no, Art--not at +all--to rob his father, an' him has been so indulgent to him!” + +“Indeed, I agree with you, Shibby,” said Bryan; “for although my opinion +of Hycy is changed very much for the worse of late, still I can't and +won't give in to that.” + +“An what has changed it for the worse?” asked his mother. “You an' he +wor very thick together always--eh? What has changed it, Bryan?” + +Bryan began to rub his hand down the sleeve of his coat, as if freeing +it from dust, or perhaps admiring its fabric, but made no reply. + +“Eh, Bryan,” she continued, “what has changed your opinion of him?” + +“Oh, nothing of much consequence, mother,” replied her son; “but +sometimes a feather will toll one how the wind blows.” + +As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the +family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly +allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving +that none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of +understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that +the sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. +Dora, his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking +his hand in hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish +laugh, that spoke a full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but +beautiful features into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes +which, in one of her years, gives a look of almost angelic purity +and grace. After about a minute or two, during which she paused, and +laughed, and blushed, and commenced to whisper, and again stopped, +she at last put her lips to his ear and whispered:--“Bryan, I know the +reason you don't like Hycy.” + +“You do?” he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his +turn;--“well--an'--ha!--ha!--no, you fool, you don't.” + +“May I never stir if I don't!” + +“Well, an' what is it?” + +“Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh--now!” + +“An' what do I care about that?” said her brother. + +“Oh, you thief!” she replied; “don't think you can play upon me. I know +your saycret.” + +“An' maybe, Dora,” he replied, “I have my saycrets. Do you know who was +inquirin' for you to-day?” + +“No,” she returned, “nor I don't care either--sorra bit.” + +“I met James Cavanagh there below”--he proceeded, still in a whisper, +and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, +however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned +her whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to +become expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned +upon him with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with +her mouth near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up +quickly, shook back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and +silken curls about her blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: “No--no. Let +me alone Bryan;” and on uttering these words she hurried into another +room.” + +“Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way,” observed her sister. “What did you +say to her?” + +“Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail,” he replied, laughing; “however, +as to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you +no lies.” + +“Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry,” continued Shibby, +“an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her.” + +“Ah, you're fishin' now, Shibby,” he replied, “and many thanks for your +good intentions. It's a saycret, an' that's all you're going to know +about it. But it's as much as 'll keep you on the look out this month +to come; and now you're punished for your curiosity--ha!--ha!--ha! Come, +father, if we're to go to Sam Wallace's auction it's time we should +think of movin'. Art, go an' help Tom Droogan to bring out the horses. +Rise your foot here, father, an' I'll put on your spur for you. We +may as well spake to Mr. Fethertonge, the agent, about the leases. I +promised we'd call on Gerald Cavanagh, to--an' he'll be waitin' for +us--hem!” + +His eye here glanced about, but Dora was not visible, and he accordingly +seemed to be more at his ease. “I think, father,” he added, “I must +trate you to a pair of spurs some of these days. This one, it's clear, +has been a long time in the family.” + +“Throth, an' on that account,” replied M'Mahon, “I'm not goin' to part +wid it for the best pair that ever were made. No, no, Bryan; I like +everything that I've known long. When my heart gets accustomed to +anything or to anybody”--here he glanced affectionately at his wife--“I +can't bear to part wid them, or to think of partin' wid them.” + +The horses were now ready, and in a brief space he and his son were +decently mounted, the latter smartly but not inappropriately dressed; +and M'Mahon himself, with his right spur, in a sober but comfortable +suit, over which was a huge Jock, his inseparable companion in every +fair, market, and other public place, during the whole year. Indeed, it +would not be easy to find two better representatives of that respectable +and independent class of Irish yeomanry of which our unfortunate country +stands so much in need, as was this man of high integrity and his +excellent son. + +On arriving at Gerald Cavanagh's, which was on their way to the auction, +it appeared that in order to have his company it was necessary they +should wait for a little, as he was not yet ready. That worthy man they +found in the act of shaving himself, seated very upright upon a chair +in the kitchen, his eyes fixed with great steadiness upon the opposite +wall, whilst lying between his legs upon the ground was a wooden dish +half filled with water, and on a chair beside him a small looking-glass, +with its backup, which, after feeling his face from time to time in an +experimental manner, he occasionally peeped into, and again laid down to +resume the operation. + +In the mean time, Mrs. Cavanagh set forward a chair for Tom M'Mahon, and +desired her daughter Hannah to place one for Bryan, which she did. The +two girls were spinning, and it might have been observed that Kathleen +appeared to apply herself to that becoming and feminine employment with +double industry after the appearance of the M'Mahons. Kate Hogan was +sitting in the chimney corner, smoking a pipe, and as she took it out +of her mouth to whiff away the smoke from time to time, she turned her +black piercing eyes alternately from Bryan M'Mahon to Kathleen with a +peculiar keenness of scrutiny. + +“An' how are you all up at Carriglass?” asked Mrs. Cavanagh. + +“Indeed we can't complain, thank God, as the times goes,” replied +M'Mahon. + +“An' the ould grandfather?--musha, but I was glad to see him look so +well on Sunday last!” + +“Troth he's as stout as e'er a one of us.” + +“The Lord continue it to him! I suppose you hard o' this robbery that +was done at honest Jemmy Burke's?” + +“I did, indeed, an' I was sorry to hear it.” + +“A hundre' an' fifty pounds is a terrible loss to anybody in such +times.” + +“A hundre' an' fifty!” exclaimed M'Mahon--“hut, tut!--no; I thought it +was only seventy or eighty. He did not lose so much, did he?” + +“So I'm tould.” + +“It was two--um--it was two--urn--urn--it was--um--um--it was two +hundre' itself,” observed Cavanagh, after he had finished a portion of +the operation, and given himself an opportunity of speaking--“it war +two hundre' itself, I'm tould, an' that's too much, by a hundre' and +ninety-nine pounds nineteen shillings an' eleven pence three fardens, to +be robbed of.” + +“Troth it is, Gerald,” replied M'Mahon; “but any way there's nothin' +but thievin' and robbin' goin'. You didn't hear that we came in for a +visit?” + +“You!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--“is it robbed? My goodness, no!” + +“Why,” he proceeded, “we'll be able to get over it afore we die, I hope. +On ere last night we had two of our fattest geese stolen.” + +“Two!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--“an' at this saison of the! year, too. +Well, that same's a loss.” + +“Honest woman,” said M'Mahon, addressing Kate Hogan, “maybe you'd give +me a draw o' the pipe?” + +“Maybe so,” she replied; “an' why wouldn't I? Shough! that is here!” + +“Long life to you, Katy. Well,” proceeded the worthy man, “if it was a +poor person that wanted them an' that took them from hardship, why God +forgive them as heartily as I do: but if they wor stole by a thief, for +thievin's sake, I hope I'll always be able to afford the loss of a pair +betther than the thief will to do without them; although God mend his or +her heart, whichever it was, in the mane time.” + +During this chat Bryan and Hanna Cavanagh were engaged in that +good-humored badinage that is common to persons of their age and +position. + +“I didn't see you at Mass last Sunday, Bryan?” said she, laughing; “an' +that's the way you attend to your devotions. Upon my word you promise +well!” + +“I seen you, then,” replied Bryan, “so it seems if I haven't betther +eyes I have betther eyesight.” + +“Indeed I suppose,” she replied, “you see everything but what you go to +see.” + +“Don't be too sure of that,” he replied, with an involuntary glance at +Kathleen, who seemed to enjoy her sister's liveliness, as was evident +from the sweet and complacent smile which beamed upon her features. + +“Indeed I suppose you're right,” she replied; “I suppose you go to say +everything but your prayers.” + +“An' is it in conversation with Jemmy Kelly,” asked Bryan, jocularly, +alluding to her supposed admirer, “that you perform your own devotions, +Miss Hanna?” + +“Hanna, achora,” said the father, “I think you're playin' the second +fiddle there--ha! ha! ha!” + +The laugh was now general against Hanna, who laughed as loudly, however, +as any of them. + +“Throth, Kathleen,” she exclaimed, “you're not worth knot's o' straws +or you'd help me against this fellow here; have you nothing,” she +proceeded, addressing Bryan, and nodding towards her sister, “to say +to her? Is everything to fall on my poor shoulders? Come, now,” with +another nod in the same direction, “she desarves it for not assistin' +me. Who does she say her devotions with?” + +“Hem--a--is it Kathleen you mane?” he inquired, with rather an +embarrassed look. + +“Not at all,” she replied ironically, “but my mother there--ha! ha! ha! +Come, now, we're waitin' for you.” + +“Come, now?” he repeated, purposely misunderstanding her--“oh, begad, +that's a fair challenge;” and he accordingly rose to approach her with +the felonious intent of getting a kiss; but Hanna started from her wheel +and ran out of the house to avoid him. + +“Throth, you're a madcap, Hanna,” exclaimed her mother, placidly--“an +antick crather, dear knows--her heart's in her mouth every minute of +the day; an' if she gets through the world wid it always as light, poor +girl, it'll be well for her.” + +“Kathleen, will you get me a towel or praskeen of some sort to wipe my +face wid,” said her father, looking about for the article he wanted. + +“I left one,” she replied, “on the back of your chair--an' there it is, +sure.” + +“Ay, achora, it's you that laves nothing undone that ought to be done; +an' so it is here, sure enough.” + +“Why, then, Gerald,” asked Tom M'Mahon, “in the name o' wonder what +makes you stick to the meal instead o' the soap when you're washin' +yourself?” + +“Throth, an' I ever will, Tom, an' for a good raison--becaise it's best +for the complexion.” + +The unconscious simplicity with which Cavanagh uttered this occasioned +loud laughter, from which Kathleen herself was unable to refrain. + +“By the piper, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, “that's the best thing I h'ard +this month o' Sundays. Why, it would be enough for one o' your daughters +to talk about complexion. Maybe you paint too--ha! ha! ha!” + +Hanna now put in her head, and asked “what is the fun?” but immediately +added, “Kathleen, here's a message for you.” + +“For me!” said Kathleen; “what is it?” + +“Here's Peety Dhu's daughter, an' she says she has something to say to +you.” + +“An' so Rosha Burke,” said Mrs. Cavanagh, “has taken her to live wid +them; I hope it'll turn out well for the poor thing.” + +“Will you come out, Kathleen,” said Hanna, again peeping in; “she +mustn't tell it to anyone but yourself.” + +“If she doesn't she may keep it, then,” replied Kathleen. “Tell her I +have no secrets,” she added, “nor I won't have any of her keeping.” + +“You must go in,” said Hanna, turning aside and addressing the +girl--“you must go in an' spake to her in the house.” + +“She can tell us all about the robbery, anyway,” observed Mr. Cavanagh. +“Come in, a-colleen--what are you afeard of?” + +“I have a word to say to her,” said the girl--“a message to deliver; but +it must be to nobody but herself. Whisper,” she proceeded, approaching +Kathleen, and about to address her. + +Kathleen immediately rose, and, looking on the messenger, said, “Who is +it from, Nanny?” + +“I mustn't let _them_ know,” replied the girl, looking at the rest. + +“Whatever it is, Or whoever it's from, you must spake it out then, +Nanny,” continued Kathleen. + +“It's from Hycy Burke, then,” replied the girl; “he wants to know if you +have any answer for him?” + +“Tell Hycy Burke,” replied Kathleen, “that I have no answer for him; an' +that I'll thank him to send me no more messages.” + +“Hut tut! you foolish girl,” exclaimed her mother, rising up and +approaching her daughter; “are you mad, Kathleen?” + +“What's come over you,” said the father, equally alarmed; “are you +beside yourself, sure enough, to send Hycy Burke sich a message as +that? Sit down, ma colleen, sit down, an' never mind her--don't think of +bringin' him back sich a message. Why, then,” he added, “in the name o' +mercy, Kathleen, what has come over you, to trate a respectable young +man like. Hycy Burke in that style?” + +“Simply, father, because I don't wish to receive any messages at all +from him.” + +“But your mother an' I is of a different opinion, Kathleen. We wish you +to resave messages from him; an' you know you're bound both by the laws +of God an' man to obey us an' be guided by us.” + +“I know I am, father,” she replied; “an' I hope I haven't been an +undutiful child to either of you for so far.” + +“That's true, Kathleen--God sees it's truth itself.” + +“What message do you expect to bring back, Nanny?” said the mother, +addressing the girl. + +“An answer,” replied the girl, seeing that everything must be and was +above board--“an answer to the letther he sent her.” + +“Did he send you a letther?” asked her father, seriously; “an' you never +let us know a word about it?--did he send you a letther?” + +Kathleen paused a moment and seemed to consult Hanna's looks, who had +now joined them. At length she replied, slowly, and as if in doubt +whether she ought to speak in the affirmative or not--“no, he sent me no +letter.” + +“Well now, take care, Kathleen,” said her mother; “I seen a letther in +your hands this very mornin'.” + +Kathleen blushed deeply; but as if anxious to give the conversation +another turn, and so to relieve herself, she replied, “I can't prevent +you, mother, or my father either, from sending back whatever answer you +wish; but this I say that, except the one I gave already, Hycy Burke +will never receive any message or any answer to a message from me; an' +now for the present let us drop it.” + +“Very well,” said her mother; “in the mane time, my good girsha, sit +down. Is it thrue that Jemmy Burke's house was robbed a couple o' nights +ago?” + +“True enough,” said the girl. + +“And how much did he lose?” asked M'Mahon; “for there's disputes about +it--some say more and some say less.” + +“Between seventy and eighty pounds,” replied Nanny; “the masther isn't +sure to a pound or so; but he knows it was near eighty, any way.” + +“That's just like him,” said Cavanagh; “his careless way of managin'. +Many a time I wondher at him;--he slobbers everything about that you'd +think he'd beggar himself, an' yet the luck and prosperity flows to him. +I declare to my goodness I think the very dirt under his feet turns to +money. Well, girsha, an' have they any suspicion of the robbers?” + +“Why,” said the girl, “they talk about”--she paused, and it was +quite evident from her manner that she felt not only embarrassed, but +distressed by the question. Indeed this was no matter of surprise; for +ever since the subject was alluded to, Kate Hogan's black piercing eyes +had not once been removed from hers, nor did the girl utter a single +word in reply to the questions asked of her without first, as it were, +consulting Kate's looks. + +A moment's reflection made Cavanagh feel that the question must be a +painful one to the girl, not only on her own account, but on that of +Kate herself; for even then it was pretty well known that Burke's family +entertained the strongest suspicion that the burglary had been committed +by these notorious vagabonds. + +“Well, ahagur,” said Cavanagh, “no matter now--it's all over unless they +catch the robbers. Come now,” he added, addressing M'Mahon and his son, +“if you're for the road I'm ready.” + +“Is it true, Mrs. Burke,” asked Bryan, “that you're goin' to have a Kemp +in your barn some o' these days?” + +“True enough, indeed,” replied the good woman, “an' that's true, too, +tell the girls, Bryan, and that they must come.” + +“Not I,” said the other, laughing; “if the girls here--wishes them to +come, let them go up and ask them.” + +“So we will, then,” replied Hanna, “an' little thanks to you for your +civility.” + +“I wish I knew the evenin',” said Bryan, “that I might be at +Carriglass.” + +“When will we go, Kathleen,” asked her sister, turning slyly to her. + +“Why, you're sich a light-brained cracked creature,” replied Kathleen, +“that I can't tell whether you're joking or not.” + +“The sorra joke I'm jokin',” she replied, striving suddenly to form +her features into a serious expression. “Well, then, I have it,” she +proceeded. “Some Thursday, Bryan, in the middle o' next week--now you +know I'm not jokin', Kathleen.” + +“Will you come, Kathleen?” inquired Bryan. + +“Why, if Hanna goes, I suppose I must,” she replied, but without looking +up. + +“Well then I'll have a sharp look-out on Thursday.” + +“Come now,” said Gerald, “let us move. Give the girsha something to ate +among you, for the credit of the house, before she goes back,” he added. +“Paddy Toole, girth that horse tighter, I tell you; I never can get you +to girth him as he ought to be girthed.” + +On bidding the women good-bye, Bryan looked towards Kathleen for a +moment, and her eye in return glanced on him as he was about to go. But +that simple glance, how significant was its import, and how clearly did +it convey the whole history of as pure a heart as ever beat within a +female bosom! + + + + +CHAPTEE VI.--Nanny Peety looks mysterious + +--Hycy proves himself a good Judge of Horse-Flesh. + + +The day was all light, and life, and animation. The crops were going +down fast in every direction, and the fields were alive and cheerful +with the voice of mirth and labor. As they got into the vicinity of +Wallace's house they overtook or were over-taken by several of their +neighbors, among whom was seen our old friend, Jemmy, or as I his +acquaintances generally called him, honest Jemmy Burke, mounted upon a +brood mare with a foal at her heels, all his other horses having been +engaged in the labor of the season. + +After having sympathized with him upon the loss he had sustained, +they soon allowed the subject to drop; for it was quite clear from the +expression of care, if not of sorrow, that was legible in his face, that +the very mention of it only caused him to feel additional anxiety. + +At length they reached Wallace's house, where they found a tolerably +large crowd of people waiting for the auction, which was not to commence +until the hour of one o'clock. + +Sam Wallace was a respectable Protestant farmer, who finding, as he +said, that there was no proper encouragement given to men who were +anxious and disposed to improve their property, had deemed it a wiser +step to dispose of his stock and furniture than to remain as he was--not +merely with no certain prospect of being able to maintain even his +present position, but with the chances against him of becoming every day +a poorer and more embarrassed man. His brother, who like himself, after +having been on the decline for a considerable period, had emigrated to +America, where he was prospering, now urged him to follow his example +and leave a country in which he said, in language that has become a +proverb, “everything was going to the bad.” Feeling that his brother's +words were unfortunately too true, Wallace, at all events, came to the +determination of following his example. + +The scene at which our friends arrived was indeed a striking and +impressive one. The majority of the crowd consisted of those who +belonged either to the Protestant or Presbyterian forms of worship; and +it might be with truth asserted, that nothing could surpass the clear +unquestionable character of independent intelligence which prevailed +among them. Along with this, however, there was an obvious spirit +of dissatisfaction, partial, it is true, as to numbers, but yet +sufficiently marked as to satisfy an observer that such a people, if +united upon any particular subject or occasion, were not for a moment to +be trifled with or cajoled. Their feelings upon the day in question were +stirred into more than usual warmth. A friend, a neighbor, a man of +an old and respectable family, frugal, industrious, and loyal, as +they said, both to king and country, was now forced from want of due +encouragement from his landlord, to disturb all his old associations +of friendship and kindred, and at rather an advanced state of life +to encounter the perils of a long voyage, and subject himself and his +family to the changes and chances which he must encounter in a new +world, and in a different state of society. Indeed, the feeling which +prompted the expression of these sentiments might be easily gathered +from the character that pervaded the crowd. Not to such an extent, +however, with respect to Wallace himself or any portion of his family, +There might be observed upon him and them a quiet but resolute spirit, +firm, collected, and cheerful; but still, while there were visible no +traces of dejection or grief, it was easy to perceive that under this +decent composure there existed a calm consciousness of strong stern +feeling, whose dignity, if not so touching, was quite as impressive as +the exhibition of louder and more clamorous grief. + +“Bryan,” said M'Mahon to his son, as the auction was proceeding, “I'll +slip up to the agent's, and do you see if them sheep goes for a fair +value--if they do, give a bid or two any how. I'm speakin' of that lot +we wor lookin' at, next the wall there.” + +“I'll pay attention to it,” said Bryan; “I know you'll find the agent at +home now, for I seen him goin' in a while ago; so hurry up, an' ax him +if he can say how soon we may expect the leases.” + +“Never fear, I will.” + +On entering Fethertonge's Hall, M'Mahon was treated with very marked +respect by the servant, who told him to walk into the parlor, and he +would let his master know. + +“He entertains a high opinion of you, Mister M'Mahon,” said he; “and I +heard him speak strongly about you the other day to some gentlemen that +dined with us--friends of the landlord's. Walk into the parlor.” + +In a few minutes M'Mahon was shown into Fethertonge's office, the walls +of which were, to a considerable height, lined with tin boxes, labelled +with the names of those whose title-deeds and other valuable papers they +contained. + +Fethertonge was a tall, pale, placid looking man, with rather a +benevolent cast of countenance, and eyes that were mild, but very +small in proportion to the other features of his face. His voice was +exceedingly low, and still more musical and sweet than low; in fact +it was such a voice as, one would imagine, ought to have seldom been +otherwise employed than in breathing hope and, consolation to despairing +sinners on their bed of death. Yet he had nothing of either the parson +or the preacher in his appearance. So far from that he was seldom known +to wear a black coat, unless when dressed for dinner, and not very +frequently even then, for he mostly wore blue. + +“M'Mahon,” said he, “take a seat. I am glad to see you. How are your +family?” + +“Both I an' they is well, I'm thankful to you, sir,” replied the farmer. + +“I hope you got safe home from the metropolis. How did you travel?” + +“Troth, I walked it, sir, every inch of the way, an' a long stretch it +is. I got safe, sir, an' many thanks to you.” + +“That was a sudden call poor Mr. Chevydale got, but not more so than +might, at his time of life, have been expected; at all events I hope he +was prepared for it, and indeed I have reason to think he was.” + +“I trust in God he was, sir,” replied M'Mahon; “so far as I and mine +is consarned, we have raison to wish it; he didn't forget us, Mr. +Fethertonge.” + +“No,” said the other, after some pause, “he did not indeed forget you, +M'Mahon.” + +“I tuck the liberty of callin' down, sir,” proceeded M'Mahon, “about +the leases he spoke of, an' to know how soon we may expect to have them +filled.” + +“That is for your son Bryan and yourself. How is Bryan proceeding with +Ahadarra, by the way? I spoke to him some time ago about his system of +cropping that farm, and some other matters of the kind; I must ride up +one of these days to see how he is doing. As to the leases, there is no +difficulty in the way, M'Mahon, except to get our young landlord to sign +them. That we will easily do, of course; in the meantime, do you go +on, improve your land, and strive to do something for your children, +M'Mahon; for, in this world, he that won't assist himself will find +very few that will. The leases are in Dublin; if you wish, I'll send for +them, and have them ready for the landlord's signature whenever he comes +down here; or I'll leave them in town, where I shall be more likely to +see him.” + +“Very well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “I lave it all in your own hands, for +I know that if you won't be my friend, you won't be my enemy.” + +“Well--certainly--I hope not. Will you take anything? Here, James, bring +in some brandy.” + +M'Mahon's protest against the brandy was anything but invincible. +Fethertonge's manner was so kind, so familiar, and his interest in the +success of himself and his family so unaffectedly warm and sincere, +that, after drinking his health, he took his leave with a light and. +happy heart. + +Their journey home was a little more lively than the depression of Jemmy +Burke's mind had allowed it to be on their way to the auction. Yet +each had his own peculiar feelings, independently of those which were +elicited by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of +Wallace's liquor, as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did, +was consequently in a better and more loquacious humor than he had been +during the day. On this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for +it was the opinion of every one there, that he had got the best bargain +disposed of during the day--a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime +condition. Gerald Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as +closely as possible to his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of +adhesion, with which our readers are already acquainted; and Bryan, +who saw and understood his motives, felt by no means comfortable at +witnessing such strong symptoms of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon +did not speak much, for, in truth, he could not overcome the depressing +effects of the scene he had witnessed, nor of the words uttered by +Wallace, as they bade each other farewell. + +Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between +whom a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a +public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop +together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses +in token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption +occurred, that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their +dialogue, which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the +mare whenever her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and +abrupt manner in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to +return and look for it. + +On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot, +but with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the +Hogans, who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip +and one of his brothers slept in their usual residence--Cavanagh's +corn-kiln--on that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his +wife Kate were both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion +might, indeed, very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence +of Hycy himself, who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from +any suspicion, as he knew both how and where they had passed the night +in question. So far, therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were +unquestionably reputed to be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all +suspicion. + +The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned +by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be +at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with +them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined, +yet it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a +suspicion that Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance +of the money. In about three or four days he happened to see her thrust +something into her father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he +could not avoid remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was +furtive and hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not +right. He resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he +felt, and accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his +departure, he brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to +concoct a reply, he asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such +a hurried manner into his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after +pausing a moment, replied, “Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes.” + +“Was that all?” he asked. + +“That was all, sir,” she replied. + +The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were +far from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the +avenue, and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance. + +“Peety,” said he, “what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a +while ago? I wish to know?” + +“Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy,” replied the +mendicant; “but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues, +and here they are,” he added, “if you wish to see them.” + +He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out, +when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being +detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned +instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the +unfortunate mendicant and his bags. + +As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the +kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at +him, some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into +further conversation with her. It struck him that she had been watching +his interview with her father, and could not avoid yielding to the +impression which had returned so strongly upon him. + +“I saw your father, Nanny,” he said, in as significant and dry a tone as +possible. + +“Did you, sir?” said she; and he remarked that while uttering the words, +she again colored deeply and did not raise her eyes to his face. + +“Yes,” he replied; “but he did not bear out what you said--he had no +pair of shoes in his bag.” + +“Did you see what he had in it, Master Hycy?” + +“Why,” said he, “a--hem--a--a--I didn't look--but I'll tell you what, +Nanny, I think you look as if you were in possession of some secret. I +say so, and don't imagine you can for a moment impose upon me. I know +what your father had in his bag.” + +“Well then, if you do, sir,” she replied, “you know the saycrit.” + +“So there is a secret, then?” + +“So you say, Masther Hycy.” + +“Nanny,” he proceeded, “it occurs to me now that you never underwent a +formal examination about this robbery that took place in our house.” + +“That wasn't my fault,” she replied; “I mostly happened to be out.” + +“Well, but do you know anything about it?” + +“Not a thing--no more than yourself, Mr. Hycy.” + +Her interrogator turned upon her a hard scrutinizing glance, in which +it was easy to see that she read a spirit of strong and dissatisfied +suspicion. She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing +upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion. + +“Because, Nanny,” he proceeded, “if you knew anything about it, and +didn't mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one +of the robbers.” + +“An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?” she replied; “surely the +first thing I'd do would be to tell.” + +“It's very strange,” observed Hycy, “that such a robbery could be +committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue +whatsoever to a discovery.” + +“Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy--if what your father and +mother an' all o' them say is true--that it wasn't often the hall-door +was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was fastened on +that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to prevent any +one from comin' in.” + +“Very true, Nanny,” he replied, “very true; and we have paid severely +for our negligence.” + +This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever +source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions +as connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however, +to watch her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the +impression that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few +days after the robbery. + +Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent +character, was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, +“always keep an eye to the main chance.” He was by no means over-tidy +either in his dress or farming; but it mattered little in what light you +contemplated him, you were always certain to find him a man not affected +by trifles, nor rigidly systematic in anything; but at the same time you +could not help observing that he was a man of strong points, whose life +was marked by a course of high prosperity, that seemed to flow in +upon him, as it were, by some peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, +however, was little less than the natural result of shrewd mother-wit, +happily applied to the: ordinary transactions of life, and assuming the +appearance of good fortune rather than of sound judgment, in consequence +of the simplicity of character under which it acted. Ever since the +night of the robbery, he had devoted himself more to the pipe than he +had ever been known to do before; he spoke little, too; but what he did +say was: ironical, though not by any means without a tinge of quiet but +caustic humor. + +Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking +as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed +in more than her usual finery. + +“What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?” she inquired. “Hycy, do you see +any appearance of him?” + +“No, ma'am,” replied the son; “I didn't know you wanted him.” + +Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing +away the smoke, asked--“And well, Rosha--begs pardon--Mrs. Burke--is it +a fair question to ax where you are bound for?” + +“Fair enough, Mr. Burke,” she replied; “but I'm not goin' to answer it.” + +“You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?” + +“I'm bound for a journey, sir.” + +“Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?” + +“No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke.” + +“Ah!” replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; “I'm +afraid it is.” + +“Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?” + +“Oh it doesn't signify,” he replied, dryly; “it's no novelty, I believe, +to hear a man--a married man--groan in this world; only if you wor for +a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my power.” + +“You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?” she exclaimed--“wishin' me to +go my long journey!” + +“Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?” asked the worthy son. + +“I think not,” replied Jemmy. “There's gintlemen enough o' the name--I'm +afraid one too many.” + +“Well,” exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception +of the look of a martyr as possible, “I'm sufferin' at all events; but +I know my crown's before me.” + +“Sich as it is,” replied her husband, “I dare say it is.” + +“I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'--but here's the car. Come +fardher up, Patsy.” + +Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. “Of +course, he'll discover it all,” said he, laughing. + +“I know he will,” she replied; “but when it's over, it's over, and +that's all.” + +Jemmy now met his son at the hall-door, and asked him if he knew where +his mother had gone. + +“I really cannot undertake to say,” replied the other. “Mrs. Burke, +father, is a competent judge of her own notions; but I presume to think +that she may take a drive upon her own car, without being so severely, +if not ungenerously catechised about it. I presume to think so, sir; but +I daresay I am wrong, and that even that is a crime on my part.” + +His father made no reply, but proceeded at an easy and thoughtful pace +to join his men in the field where they were at labor. + +Hycy, after his mother's return that evening, seemed rather in low +spirits, if one could form any correct estimate of his character by +appearances. He was very silent, and somewhat less given to those broken +snatches of melody than was his wont; and yet a close observer might +have read in his deportment, and especially in the peculiar expression +of his eye, that which seemed to indicate anything rather than +depression or gloom. His silence, to such an observer, might have +appeared rather the silence of satisfaction and triumph, than of +disappointment or vexation. + +His father, indeed, saw little of him that night, in consequence of the +honest man having preferred the hob of his wealthy and spacious kitchen +to the society of his wife and son in the parlor. The next morning, +however, they met at breakfast, as usual, when Hycy, after some ironical +compliments to his father's good taste, asked him, “if he would do him +the favor to step towards the stable and see his purchase.” + +“You don't mane Crazy Jane?” said the other, coolly. + +“I do,” replied Hycy; “and as I set a high value on your opinion, +perhaps you would be kind enough to say what you think of her.” + +Now, Hycy never for a moment dreamt that his father would have taken him +at his word, and we need hardly say that he was a good deal disconcerted +at the cool manner in which the other expressed his readiness to do so. + +“Well, Mr. Burke,” he proceeded, when they had reached the stable, +“there she is. Pray what do you think of her?” + +The old man looked at her from various points, passed his hand down +her limbs, clapped her on the back, felt her in different places, then +looked at her again. “She's a beauty,” said he, “a born beauty like +Billy Neelin's foal; what's this you say you paid for her?” + +“Thirty-five pounds.” + +“Tare-an-ounty, Hycy, she's dog chape--thirty-five!--why she's value for +double the sum.” + +“Nearly,” replied Hycy, quite elevated and; getting into good humor; “is +she not really now, father, a precious bit of flesh?” + +“Ah! you may swear that, Hycy; I tell you you won't act the honest man, +if you don't give him fifteen or twenty pounds over an' above what you +paid him. Tom Burton I see's too simple for you. Go and do what I bid +you; don't defraud the poor man; you have got a treasure, I tell you--a +beauty bright--an extraordinary baste--a wonderful animal--oh, dear me! +what a great purchase! Good-bye, Hycy. Bless my sowl! what a judge of +horseflesh you are!” + +Having uttered these words in a tone of grave and caustic irony, he left +his worthy son in a state of chagrin almost bordering on resentment, at +the strong contempt for Crazy-Jane, implied by the excessive eulogium +he had passed upon her. This feeling, however, was on reflection +considerably checked by his satisfaction on finding that the matter was +taken by his father so coolly. He had calculated on receiving a very +stormy lecture from him the moment he should become aware of his having +the animal in his possession; and he now felt rather relieved that +he should have escaped so easily. Be this as it may, Hycy was now in +excellent spirits. Not only had Crazy Jane been secured, but there were +strong symptoms of his being in cash. In a few days after the incident +of the stable, he contrived to see Philip Hogan, with whom he appointed +a final meeting in Cavanagh's kiln on the night of the Kemp; at which +meeting, Teddy Phats and the other two Hogans were also to be present, +in order to determine upon the steps which he ultimately proposed to +take, with a view to work out his purposes, whatever those purposes may +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.--The Spinster's Kemp. + + +A kemp, or camp, is a contest of industrial skill, or a competition +for priority in a display of rustic labor. Among men it is principally +resorted to in planting potatoes or reaping of corn, and generally only +on the day which closes the labor at each for the season; but in the +sense in which it is most usually practised and contested, it means a +trial of female skill at the spinning of linen yarn. It is, indeed, +a very cheerful assemblage of the fair sex; and, although strong and +desperate rivalry is the order of the day, yet it is conducted in +a spirit so light-hearted and amicable that we scarcely know a more +laudable or delightful recreation in country life. Its object is always +good, and its associations praiseworthy, inasmuch as they promote +industry, a spirit of becoming emulation, and principles of good will +and kindness to our neighbor. + +When a kemp is about to be held, the matter soon becomes generally known +in the neighborhood. Sometimes the young women are asked, but in +most instances, so eager are they to attend it that invitations are +unnecessary. In the whiter months, and in mountain districts, it is +often as picturesque as it is pleasant. The young women usually begin +to assemble about four o'clock in the morning; and, as they always go in +groups, accompanied besides by their sweethearts or some male relatives, +each of the latter bearing a large torch of well-dried bogfir, their +voices, and songs, and loud laughter break upon the stillness of +night with a holiday feeling, made ten times more delightful by the +surrounding darkness and the hour. When they have not the torches the +spinning-wheels are carried by the males, amidst an agreeable din of +fun, banter, repartee, and jest, such as scarcely any other rustic +amusement with which we are acquainted ever occasions. On arriving at +the house where the kemp is to be held, they are placed in the barn or +some clean outhouse; but indeed the numbers are usually such as to crowd +every available place that can be procured for their accommodation. From +the moment they arrive the lively din is incessant. Nothing is heard but +laughter, conversation, songs, and anecdotes, all rising in a loud key, +among the louder humming of the spinning-wheels and the stridulous noise +of the reeds, as they incessantly crack the cuts in the hands of the +reelers, who are perpetually turning them from morning to night, in +order to ascertain the quantity which every competitor has spun; and +she, of course, who has spun most wins the kemp, and is the queen for +the night. + +A kemp invariably closes with a dance--and a dance too upon an unusually +extensive scale. Indeed, during the whole day the fair competitors are +regaled from time to time with the enlivening strains of the fiddle or +bagpipes, and very often with the united melody of both together. + +On that morning the dwelling-house and mostly all the out-offices of +Gerald Cavanagh bore, in stir and bustle, a stronger resemblance to the +activity of so many bee-hives about to swarm than to anything else +to which we can think of comparing them. Mirth in all its shapes, of +laughter, glee, and song, rang out in every direction. The booming +of wheels and the creaking of reels, the loud banter, the peals of +laughter, the sweet Irish songs that filled up the pauses of the louder +mirth, and the strains of the fiddle that ever and anon added to the +enlivening spirit of the scene, all constituted such a full and general +chorus of hilarity as could seldom be witnessed. + +There were many girls present who took no part in the competition, but +who, as friends and acquaintances of Kathleen and Hanna, came to enjoy +the festive spirit of the day. Hanna herself, however, who had earned +some celebrity as a spinster, started for the honor of winning, as did +Dora M'Mahon, whose small and beautiful fingers seemed admirably adapted +for this graceful and peculiarly feminine process of Minerva. Towards +evening the neighbors assembled in considerable numbers, each interested +in the success of some peculiar favorite, whose former feats had induced +her friends to entertain on her behalf strong, if not certain, hopes of +victory. Kathleen, from a principle of generosity, patronized her young +friend, Dora M'Mahon; and Shibby M'Mahon, on the other hand, took +Hanna Cavanagh under her protection. As the evening advanced, and the +spectators and friends of the parties began to call, in order to be +present at the moment of victory, it would be difficult to witness any +assemblage of young women placed under circumstances of such striking +interest. The mirth and song and general murmur diminished by degrees, +until they altogether ceased, and. nothing was to be heard but the +perpetual cracking of the reels, the hum of the rapid wheels, and the +voices of the reelers, as they proclaimed the state of this enlivening +pool of industry. As for the fair competitors themselves, it might have +been observed that even those among them who had no, or at least but +slight pretensions to beauty, became actually interesting from the +excitement which prevailed. Their eyes lit by the active spirit of +rivalry within them, sparkled with peculiar brilliancy, their cheeks +became flushed or got pale as they felt themselves elevated or depressed +by the prospect or loss of victory. Nor were there wanting on this +occasion some vivid glances that were burthened, as they passed aslant, +their fair faces, with pithier feelings than those that originated from +a simple desire of victory. If truth must be told, baleful flashes, +unmeasured both in number and expression, were exchanged in a spirit +of true defiance between the interested and contending parties, as the +close of the contest approached. At length, by the proclamation of the +reelers, the great body of the competitors were thrown out, and they +consequently gave up the contest. It was now six o'clock, and the +first sound of seven o'clock by Captain Millar's bell was to close the +proceedings, and enable the reelers to proclaim the victor. Only four +names now remained to battle it out to the last; to wit, a country +farmer's daughter, named Betty Aikins, Dora M'Mahon, Hanna Cavanagh, and +a servant-girl belonging to another neighbor, named Peggy Bailly. This +ruck, as they say on the turf, was pretty well up together, but all +the rest nowhere. And now, to continue the metaphor, as is the case +at Goodwood or the Curragh, the whole interest was centered upon these +four. At the commencement of the last hour the state of the case was +proclaimed as follows: Betty Aikins, three dozen and eight cuts; Dora +M'Mahon, three dozen and seven cuts; Hanna Cavanagh, three dozen and +five cuts; and Peggy Bailly, three dozen and four cuts. Every individual +had now her own party anxious for her success, and amidst this hour of +interest how many hearts beat with all hopes and fears that are incident +even to the most circumscribed contest of human life. Opposite Dora +stood the youth whom we have already noticed, James Cavanagh, whose +salvation seemed but a very trifling thing when compared or put into +opposition with her success. Be this as it may, the moment was a most +exciting one even to those who felt no other interest than that which +naturally arises from human competition. And it was unquestionably +a beautiful thing to witness this particular contest between, four +youthful and industrious young women. Dora's otherwise pale and placid +features were now mantling, and her beautiful dark eyes flashing, +under the proud and ardent spirit of ambition, for such in fact was the +principle which now urged and animated the contest. When nearly half an +hour had passed, Kathleen came behind her, and stooping down, whispered, +“Dora, don't turn your wheel so quickly: you move the, foot-board too +fast--don't twist the thread too much, and you'll let down more.” + +Dora smiled and looked up to her with a grateful and flashing eye. +“Thank you, Kathleen,” she replied, nodding, “I'll take your advice.” + The state of the contest was then proclaimed:--Betty Aikins--three dozen +and ten cuts; Dora M'Mahon--three dozen and ten cuts; Hanna Cavanagh +--three dozen, six cuts and a half; Peggy Bailly--three dozen, five and +a half. + +On hearing this, Betty Aikin's cheek became scarlet, and as it is +useless to disguise the fact, several flashing glances that partook +more of a Penthesilean fire than the fearful spirit which usually +characterizes the industrious pursuits of Minerva, were shot at generous +Dora, who sustained her portion of the contest with singular spirit and +temper. + +“You may as well give it up, Dora M'Mahon,” exclaimed Betty; “there +never was one of your blood could open against an Aikins--the stuff is +not in you to beat me.” + +“A very little time will soon tell that,” replied Dora; “but indeed, +Betty, if I am doin' my best to win the kemp, I hope it's not in a bad +or unfriendly spirit, but in one of fair play and good humor.” + +The contest now went on for about fifteen minutes, with surpassing +interest and animation, at the expiration of which period, the seven +o'clock bell already alluded to, rang the hour for closing their labors +and determining the victory. Thus stood their relative position--Dora +M'Mahon, four hanks and three cuts; Betty Aikins, four hanks; Hanna +Cavanagh, three hanks and nine cuts; Peggy Bailly, three hanks and eight +cuts. + +When this result was made known, Betty Aikins burst into a loud fit +of grief, in which she sobbed as if her very heart would break, and +Kathleen stooping down, congratulated the beautiful girl upon her +victory, kissing her at the same time as she spoke--an act of love and +kindness in which she would have joyfully been followed by several of +her male friends, if they had dared to take that delicious liberty. + +The moment of victory, we believe, is that which may be relied upon as +the test of true greatness. Dora M'Mahon felt the pride of that moment +in its fullest extent, but she felt it only to influence her better and +nobler principles. After casting her eyes around to gather in, as it +were, that honest approbation which is so natural, and exchanging some +rapid glances with the youth we have alluded to, she went over to her +defeated competitor, and taking her hand said, “Don't cry, Betty, you +have no right to be ashamed; sure, as you say, it's the first time you +wor ever beaten; we couldn't all win; an' indeed if I feel proud +now, everyone knows an' says I have a right to be so; for where was +there--ay, or where is there--such a spinner as you are? + +“Shake hands now an' there's a kiss for you. If I won this kemp, it was +won more by chance than by anything else.” + +These generous expressions were not lost on Betty; on the contrary, they +soothed her so much that she gave her hand cordially to her young and +interesting conqueress, after which they all repaired to a supper of new +milk and flummery, than which there is nothing more delicious within the +wide range of luxury. This agreeable meal being over, they repaired to +the large barn where Mickey M'Grory the fiddler, was installed in his +own peculiar orchestra, consisting of an arm-chair of old Irish oak, +brought out from Gerald Cavanagh's parlor. + +It would indeed be difficult to find together such a group of happy +faces. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, Tom M'Mahon and his better +half, and several of the neighbors, of every age and creed, were all +assembled; and, in this instance, neither gray hairs nor length of years +were looked upon as privileged from a participation in the festivities +of the evening. Among the rest, gaunt and grim, were the three Hogans, +looking through the light-hearted assemblage with the dark and sinister +visages of thorough ruffians, who were altogether incapable of joining +in the cheerful and inoffensive amusements that went forward around +them. Kate Hogan sat in an obscure corner behind the fiddler, where +she was scarcely visible, but from which she enjoyed a full view of +everything that occurred in the house. + +A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader +has already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the +stable, where he disposed of it _sub silentio_, by which we mean without +the knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such +person about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him. +Among the rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O'Finigan the +Philomath made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably +advanced in liquor. The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen +of the kemp, as he styled her, was told that he might know her by the +flowers in her hair. “There she is, masther,” said one of them, “wid the +roses on her head.” + +“Well,” said O'Finigan, looking about him with surprise, “I have, before +now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed +of that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess +that this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been +quadrupled. Instead of one queen, wid Flora's fragrant favors in her +lock, I think I see four.” + +Finigan indeed was right. Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet +of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity +generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every +brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and +anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in +its honors. + +It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, +nor of the good humor which prevailed among them. It is enough to say +that the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young +folks, jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon +doors, by rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and +amusement were indulged in on the occasion. + +We have said that Tom M'Mahon and his family were there, but we should +have added, with one exception. Bryan did not arrive until the evening +was far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected +with his farm. On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of +welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him. Up until then +there were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and +we must ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion. Its was +clear that during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, +if not actually depressed, although a general observer would have seen +nothing in her beyond the natural sedateness of her manner. The two in +question were Kate Hogan and Dora M'Mahon. On Bryan's arrival, however, +the color of her cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more +sparkling, and a much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth. +Such, however, we are, and such is the mystery of our nature. It might +have been remarked that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his +appearance, with glances expressive of anything but good feeling. It was +not, however, when he first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that +these boding glances were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his +performing a reel with Kathleen. It might have been noticed that they +looked at him, and afterwards at each other, in a manner that could +admit of but little misapprehension. + +“Philip,” observed Finigan, addressing the elder Hogan,--“Philip, +the Macedonian--monarch of Macedon, I say, is not that performance +a beautiful specimen of the saltatory art? There is manly beauty, O +Philip! and modest carriage. + + “'With aquil beauty formed, and aquil grace, + Hers the soft blushes of the opening morn, + And his the radiance of the risen day.'” + +“It's night now, misther, if you plaise,” returned Hogan, gruffly; +“but we don't want your opinion here--stick to your pothooks and +hangers--keep to your trade.” + +“The _pot-hooks_ and _hangers_ are more _tui generis_, you misbegotten +satyr,” replied the schoolmaster; “that is, more appropriately +concatenated with your own trade than wid mine. I have no trade, sirra, +but a profession, and neither have you. You stand in the same degraded +ratio to a tradesman that a rascally quack does to a regular surgeon.” + +“You had better keep a civil tongue in jour head,” replied Hogan, +nettled at the laughter which the schoolmaster raised at his expense. + +“What! a civil tongue for you! Polite language for a rascally +sotherer of ould skillets and other anonymous utensils. Why, what +are you?--firstly, a general violation of the ten commandments; and, +secondly, a misshapen but faithful impersonation of the seven deadly +sins. Take my word for it, my worthy Macedonian, you will die any death +but a horizontal one--it's veracity I'm telling you. Yet there is some +comfort for you too--some comfort, I say again; for you who never lived +one upright hour will die an upright death. A certain official will +erect a perpendicular with you; but for that touck of Mathematics you +must go to the hangman, at whose hands you will have to receive the +rites of your church, you monstrous bog-trotting Gorgon. Mine a trade! +Shades of Academus, am I to bear this!” + +Finigan was, like most of his class, a privileged man; but on this +occasion the loudness of the mirth prevented Hogan's reply from being +heard. As to violence, nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever +dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the +consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when +provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon. +When he first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as +scarcely to be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of +the crowded house by no means improved him. + +In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the +good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke +among them--not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that +set off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In +fact, Hycy was a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full +of liveliness and apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly +perfect. He addressed the persons present with an air of easy +condescension, and went over immediately and shook hands, in a very +cordial manner, with Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned +round and bowed to the daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom +Kathleen was sitting. + +“Bryan,” said he, “there will be mistakes in the best of families. I +hate enmity. How, do you do?” + +Bryan nodded, and replied, “Pretty well, Hycy--how are you?” + +Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the +good man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him +every conceivable mark of attention. + +“Mrs. Cavanagh,” said he, after some chat, “may I be permitted to +indulge in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?” + +“Which of them?” asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a +reply--“to be sure you may.” + +“The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it +was not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius +Finigan--ah, no; the early indoctrinations will tell;--that is clear.” + +“I mean Miss Kathleen,” replied Hycy, without paying any attention to +Finigan's observations. + +“Why not?” exclaimed both; “of course you will--go over and bring her +out.” + +Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner, +“Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel +with you?” + +“I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke,” she replied gravely; “I have just +danced a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any +more to-night.” + +“A simple reel?” said Hycy; “perhaps you will so far favor me? I shall +consider it as a favor, I assure you.” + +“Excuse me, Mr. Burke, but I won't dance any more to-night.” + +“That's hard,” he replied, “especially as I came all the way to have +that pleasure. Perhaps you will change your mind, Miss Cavanagh?” + +“I'm not in the habit of changing my mind, Mr. Burke,” she replied, “and +I don't see any reason why I should do so now. I say once for all that I +won't dance any more to-night.” + +“What is it,” asked the mother, on perceiving her hesitation; “won't she +dance wid you? Hut, tut, Kathleen, what nonsense is this? To be sure you +must dance wid Mr. Burke; don't take any refusal, Mr. Burke--is that all +you know about girls.--sure nineteen refusals is aquil to one consent. +Go over, Gerald, and make her dance wid him,” she added, turning to her +husband. + +“What's the matter, Kathleen, that you won't dance wid Mr. Hycy?” asked +the good man. + +“Because I have danced all I will dance to-night, father.” + +“Tut, nonsense, you foolish girl--it's proud you ought to be that he'd +ax you. Get up and dance a reel wid him.” + +Hanna, who knew her sister's resolution when once formed, immediately +came to her rescue. “Don't ask her, father,” she said; “the truth is, +that I believe she has a headache--however, I'll take her place--have +you any objection to me, Mr. Burke?” + +None in the world--he would be very happy--only he regretted that he +could not have that pleasure also with his sister. + +“Ah, Mr. Hycy--which is properly Hyacinthus,” said Finigan; “I am able +to perceive that Cupid declines to be propitious in that quarter, or +perhaps it's the _irae amantium_,---which is, on being rendered into +vernacularity, a falling out of lovers; and if so, do not despair; for +as certain as it is, it will be followed by that most delectable of +processes, the _redintegratio amoris_, or the renewing of love. In fact, +he is a little better than a tyro--an ignoramus, who doesn't quarrel at +least once a week, wid the fair object of his amorous inclinations, an' +that for the sake of the reconciliaitons.” + +Hycy and Hanna were now about to dance, when Philip Hogan came forward, +and, with an oath, declared that Kathleen must dance--“He wouldn't see +Mr. Burke insulted that way by any such airs--and by--she must dance. +Come,” said he, “what stuff is this--we'll see whether you or I is +strongest;” and as he spoke he seized her rudely by the arm, and was +about to pull her out on the floor. + +Bryan M'Mahon sprung to his feet. “Let her go, you ruffian,” he +exclaimed; “let her go this instant.” + +“No, I won't,” replied the savage; “an' not for you, at any rate. Come, +Miss Kathleen, out you'll go:--for you indeed,” he added, in a ferocious +parenthesis, looking at Bryan; “it's you that's the cause of all this. +Come, miss, dance you must.” + +The words were scarcely uttered when M'Mahon, by a single blow on the +neck, felled him like an ox, and in an instant the whole place was a +scene of wild commotion. The Hogans, however, at all times unpopular, +had no chance in an open affray on such an occasion as this. The feeling +that predominated was, that the ruffianly interference of Philip had +been justly punished; and ere many minutes the usual harmony, with the +exception of some threatening looks and ferocious under growls from the +Hogans, was restored. Hycy and Hanna then went on with their dance, and +when it was over, the schoolmaster rose to depart. + +“Mr. Burke,” said he, “you are and have the reputation of being a +perfect gentleman _homo factus ad unguem_--as has been said by the +learned little Roman, who, between you and me, was not overburthened +with an excess of morality. I take the liberty, jinteels, of wishing you +a good-night--_precor vobia prosperam noctem!_ Ah, I can do it yet; but +it wasn't for nothing that I practised the peripatetics in larned Kerry, +where the great O'Finigan is not yet forgotten. I shall now seek a +contiguous place of repose, until the consequences of some slight +bacchanalin libations on my part shall have dispersed themselves into +thin air.” + +He accordingly departed, but from the unsteadiness of his step it was +clear that, as he said, the place of his repose must be contiguous +indeed. Had he been conscious of his own motions it is not likely he +would have sought for repose in Cavanagh's kiln, then the habitation of +the Hogans. It was probably the fact of the door having been left open, +which was generally the case in summer, that induced him to enter--for +enter he did--ignorant, it is to be presumed, that the dwelling he +was about to enter was then inhabited by the Hogans, whom he very much +disrelished. + +The place was nearly waste, and had a very desolate look. Scattered +around, and littered upon shake-down beds of straw, some half dozen +young besmutted savages, male and female, lay stretched in all +positions, some north, others south, without order or decency, but all +seeming in that barbarous luxury which denotes strong animal health and +an utter disregard of cleanliness and bodily comfort. Over in one of the +corners lay three or four budgets, old iron skillets, hammers, lumps of +melted lead, broken pots, a quantity of cows' horns for spoons, wooden +dishes that required clasping, old kettles that wanted repair, a couple +of cast off Poteen Stills, and a new one half made--all of which were +visible by the light of a large log of bog-fir which lay burning in the +fire-place. On looking around him, he descended a flight of stone steps +that led to the fireplace or the kiln or opening in which the fuel used +to dry the grain was always burned. This corner, which was eight or ten +feet below the other portion of the floor, being, in general, during the +summer months filled with straw, received the drowsy pedagogue, who, in +a few minutes, was as sound asleep as any of them about him. + +Hycy, who was conscious of his good figure, danced two or three times +afterwards. + +Dora M'Mahon had the honor of being his partner, as had one or two of +the best looking girls present. At the close of the last dance he looked +significantly at the Hogans, and nodded towards the door; after which it +might have been observed, that they slunk out one at a time, followed in +a few minutes by Kate Hycy, after some further chat with Gerald Cavanagh +and his wife, threw half a crown to Mickey M'Grory, and in his usual +courteous phraseology, through which there always ran, by the way, a vein +of strong irony, he politely wished them all a good night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII.--Anonymous Letter with a Name to It + +--Finigan's Dialogue with Hycy + + +The severest tax upon Hycy's powers of invention was, in consequence of +his habits of idleness, to find means of occupying his time. Sometimes, +it is true, he condescended to oversee the men while at work, but +there it was generally found that so far from keeping them to their +employment, he was a considerable drawback upon their industry. The +ordinary business of his life, however, was riding about the country, +and especially into the town of Ballymacan and home again. He was also a +regular attendant in all the neighboring fairs; and we may safely assert +that no race in the province ever came off without him. + +On the second day after his interview with Teddy Phats and the Hogans, +he was riding past the post-office, when he heard the window tapped, +and, on approaching, a letter was handed out to him, which on opening he +found to contain the following communication:-- + +“Worthy Mr. Hyacinthus-- + +“A friend unknown to you, but not altogether so to fame, and one. +whom no display of the subtlest ingenuity on behalf of your acute and +sagacious intellect could ever decypher through the medium of this +epistle, begs to convey to you a valuable portion of anonymous +information. When he says that he is not unknown to fame, the assertion, +as far as it goes, is pregnant wid veracity. Mark that I say, as far +as it goes, by which is meant the assertion as well as the fame of your +friend, the inditer of this significant epistle. Forty-eight square +miles of good sound fame your not inerudite correspondent can +conscientiously lay claim to; and although there is, with regret I admit +it, a considerable portion of the square superficies alluded to, waste +and uncultivated moor, yet I can say, wid that racy touch of genial and +expressive pride which distinguishes men of letters in general, that the +other portions of this fine district are inhabited by a multitudinity +of population in the highest degree creditable to the prolific powers +of the climate. 'Tisn't all as one, then, as that thistle-browsing +quadruped. Barney Heffeman, who presumes, in imitation of his betters, +to write Philomath after his name, and whose whole extent of literary +reputation is not more than two or three beggarly townlands, whom, by +the way, he is inoculating successfully wid his own ripe and flourishing +ignorance. No, sir; nor like Gusty Gibberish, or (as he has been most +facetiously christened by his Reverence, Father O'Flaherty) Demosthenes +M'Gosther, inasmuch as he is distinguished for an aisy and prodigal +superfluity of mere words, unsustained by intelligibility or meaning, +but who cannot claim in his own person a mile and a half of dacent +reputation. However, _quid multis_ Mr. Hyacinthus; 'tis no indoctrinated +or obscure scribe who now addresses you, and who does so from causes +that may be salutary to your own health and very gentlemanly fame, +according as you resave the same, not pretermitting interests involving, +probably, on your part, an abundant portion of pecuniarity. + +“In short, then, it has reached these ears, Mr. Hyacinthus, and between +you and me, they are not such a pair as, in consequence of their +longitudinity, can be copiously shaken, or which rise and fall according +to the will of the wearer; like those of the thistle-browser already +alluded to; it has reached them that you are about to substantiate a +a disreputable--excuse the phrase--co-partnership wid four of the most +ornamental villains on Hibernian earth, by which you must understand me +to mane that the villains aforesaid are not merely accomplished in all +the plain principles and practices of villainy, but finished off even +to its natest and most inganious decorations. Their whole life has been +most assiduously and successfully devoted to a general violation of the +ten commandments, as well as to the perpetual commission of the seven +deadly sins. Nay, the 'reserved cases' themselves can't escape them, and +it is well known that they wont rest satisfied wid the wide catalogue of +ordinary and general iniquity, but they must, by way of luxury, have a +lick at blasphemy, and some of the rarer vices, as often as they can, +for the villains are so fastidious that they won't put up wid +common wickedness like other people. I cannot, however, wid anything +approximating to a safe conscience, rest here. What I have said has +reference to the laws of God, but what I am about to enumerate relates +to the laws of man--to the laws of the land Wid respect, then, to them, +I do assure you, that although I myself look upon the violation of a +great number of the latter wid a very vanial squint, still, I say, I +do assure you that they have not left a single law made by Parliament +unfractured. They have gone over the whole statute-book several times, +and I believe are absolutely of opinion that the Parliament is doing +nothing. The most lynx-eyed investigator of old enactments could not +find one which has escaped them, for the villains are perfectly black +letter in that respect; and what is in proper keeping wid this, whenever +they hear of a new Act of Parliament they cannot rest either night or +day until they break it. And now for the inference: be on your +guard against this pandemonial squad. Whatever your object may be in +cultivating and keeping society wid them, theirs is to ruin you--fleece +was the word used--an I then to cut and run, leaving Mr. Hycy--the +acute, the penetrating, the accomplished--completely in the lurch. Be +influenced, then, by the amicitial admonitions of the inditer of this +correspondence. Become not a smuggler--forswear poteen. The Lord forgive +me, Mr. Hycy--no, I only wished to say forswear--not the poteen--but +any connection wid the illegal alembic from which it is distillated, +otherwise they will walk off wid the 'doublings,' or strong liquor, +leaving you nothing but the residuum or feints. Take a friend's advice, +therefore, and retrograde out of all society and connection wid the +villains I have described; or if you superciliously overlook this +warning, book it down as a fact that admits of no negation, that +you will be denuded of reputation, of honesty, and of any pecuniary +contingencies that you may happen to possess. This is a sincere advice +from + +“Your Anonymous Friend, + +“Patricius O'Finigan, Philomath.” + + +After perusing this characteristic production, Hycy paused for a little, +and felt it very probable that there might be some reasonable grounds +for its production, although he could scarcely understand upon what +motive these fellows should proceed to practice treachery towards him. +That they were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied; +but he knew it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters +connected with their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's +blunder--for such it evidently was--in signing his name to a document +that he intended to be anonymous. + +“At all events,” thought he, “I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he +calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me +such a warning.” + +He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin +that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little +bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating +from a different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of +common, where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour +Mr. O'Finigan went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The +little village of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood, +was composed of a couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small +grocer's and publican's, together with a Pound at the entrance, through +which ran a little stream necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to +drink. + +On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his +own name repeated by at least two dozen voices. + +“Here's a gintleman, masther”--“It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir “--“It is, +bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen--” + +“Him that rides the race, masther”--“Ay, an' he has on top-boots and +buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman--” + +“Silence!” said Finigan, “silence! I say; is this proper scholastic +decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you +reptiles, or castigation shall result. Here, Paddy Sparable,” he +added, rising up--“here, you nailroad, assume my office, and rule +the establishment till I return; and, mark me, as the son of a nailer, +sirra, I expect that you will rule them with a rod of iron--ha! ha! ha!” + +“Ay, but Paddy Pancake's here to-day, sir, an' he's able to welt me; so +that's it's only leathered I'd get, sir, i' you plase.” + +“But have you no officers? Call in aid, I ordher you. Can't you make +Sam Scaddhan and Phiddher Mackleswig there two policeman get Pancake +down--flatten him--if he prove contumacious during my absence. Pancake, +mark me, obedience is your cue, or, if not, the castigator here is your +alternative; there it is, freshly cut--ripe and ready--and you are not +to be told, at this time o' day, what portion of your corpus will catch +it. Whish-h-h!--silence! I say. How do you do, Mr. Burke? I am proud of +a visit from you, sir; perhaps you would light down and examine a class. +My Greeks are all absent to-day; but I have a beautiful class o' Romans +in the Fourth Book of Virgil--immortal Maro. Do try them, Mr. Hycy; if +they don't do Dido's death in a truly congenial spirit I am no classic. +Of one thing I can assure you, that they ought; for I pledge my +reputation it is not the first time I've made them practice the Irish +cry over it. This, however, was but natural; for it is now well known to +the learned that, if Dido herself was not a fair Hibernian, she at least +spoke excellent Irish. Ah, Mr. Hycy,” he added, with a grin, “the birch +is the only pathetic switch growing! Will you come in, sir?” + +“No, thank you, Mr. Finigan; but perhaps you would have the goodness +to come out for a little;” and, as he spoke, he nodded towards the +public-house. “I know the boys will be quiet until you return.” + +“If they don't,” replied Finigan, “the alternative is in no shape +enigmatical. Mark what I've already said, gintlemen. Sparable, do you +keep a faithful journal of the delinquents; and observe that there are +offices of importance in this world besides flagellating erudition into +reptiles like you.” + +He then looked about him with an air of vast importance, and joined Hycy +on his way to the public-house. Having ordered in the worthy pedagogue's +favorite beverage, not forgetting something of the same kind for +himself, he addressed Finigan as follows:-- + +“Finigan, I received a devilish queer letter from you to-day--take your +liquor in the mean time--what did you mean by it?” + +“From me, Mr. Hycy--_nego_, I say--_pugnis et calc bu nego_.” + +“Come, come, you know you wrote me an anonymous letter, referring to +some ridiculous copartnership or other that I can neither make head nor +tail of. Tell me candidly what you meant.” + +“Very good, Mr. Burke; but sure I know of old that jocularity was always +your forte--even when laying in under my own instruction that sound +classical substratum on which the superstructure of your subsequent +knowledge was erected, you were always addicted to the facetious and the +fabulous--both of which you contrived to blend together with an ease and +volubility of language that could not be surpassed.” + +“That is all very well; but you need not deny that you wrote me the +letter. Let me ask you seriously, what was it you warned me against?” + +“_Propino tibi salulem_--here's to you. No, but let me ask you what you +are at, Mr. Hycy? You may have resaved an anonymous letter, but I am +ignorant why you should paternize it upon me.” + +“Why, because it has all the marks and tokens of you.” + +“Eh?--to what does that amount? Surely you know my handwriting?” + +“Perfectly; but this is disguised evidently.” + +“Faith,” said the other, laughing, “maybe the inditer of it was +disguised when he wrote it.” + +“It might be,” replied Hycy; “however, take your liquor, and in the mean +time I shall feel exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Finigan, if you will +tell me the truth at once--whether you wrote it or whether you did +not?” + +“My response again is in the negative,” replied Finigan--“I disclaim it +altogether. I am not the scribe, you may rest assured of it, nor can I +say who is.” + +“Well, then,” said Hycy, “I find I must convict you yourself of the +fabulous at least; read that,” said he, placing the letter in his own +hands. “Like a true Irishman you signed your name unconsciously; and now +what have you to say for yourself?” + +“Simply,” replied the other, “that some knave, of most fictitious +imagination, has forged my name to it. No man can say that that is my +manuscription, Mr. Hycy.” These words he uttered with great coolness; +and Hycy, who was in many things a shrewd young fellow, deemed it better +to wait until the liquor, which was fast disappearing, should begin to +operate. At length, when about three-quarters of an hour had passed, he +resolved to attack his vanity. + +“Well, well, Finigan, as regards this letter, I must say I feel a good +deal disappointed.” + +“Why so, Mr. Hycy?” + +“Why, because I did not think there was any other man in the country who +could have written it.” + +“Eh? how is that now?” + +“Faith, it's very simple; the letter is written with surprising +ability--the language is beautiful--and the style, like the land of +Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. It is certainly a most uncommon +production.” + +“Now, seriously, do you think so? At all events, Mr. Hycy, it was +written by a friend of yours--that's a clear case.” + +“I think so; but what strikes me is its surprising ability; no wonder +the writer should say that he is not unknown to fame--he could not +possibly remain in obscurity.” + +“Mr. Hycy, your health--I remember when you were wid me you certainly +were _facile princeps_ for a ripe judgment, even in your rudiments; +so then, you are of opinion that the epistle in question has janius? +I think myself it is no everyday production; not I believe such as +the thistle-browser Heffernan, or Misther Demosthenes M'Gosther could +achieve--the one wid his mile and a half, and the other wid his three +townlands of reputation. No, sir, to the divil I pitch them both; they +could never indite such a document. Your health, Mr. Hycy--_propino +tibi_, I say; and you are right, _ille ego_--it's a a fact; I am the +man, sir--I acknowledge the charge.” + +This admission having been made, we need scarcely add that an +explanation was at at once given by Finigan of the motive which had +induced him to write the letter. + +“On laving the kemp,” said he, “and getting into the open air--_sub +diu_, Mr. Hycy--I felt a general liquidation of my whole bodily +strength, with a strong disposition to make short excursions to the +right or to the left rather than hold my way straight a-head, with, I +must confess, an equal tendency to deposit my body on my mother earth +and enact the soporiferous. On passing Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where +the Hogans kennel, I entered, and was greeted wid such a chorus of +sternutation as you might expect from a pigsty in midsummer, and made me +envy the unlicked young savages who indulged in it. At the period spoken +of neither you nor they had come in from the kemp. Even this is but a +dim recollection, and I remember nothing more until I overheard your +voice and theirs in dialogue as you were about to depart. After you +went, I heard the dialogue which I hinted at in the letter, between +Teddy Phats and them; and knowing my position and the misbegotten satyrs +by whom I was surrounded, I patiently waited until they were asleep, +when I quietly took my departure.” + +Burke could not help inferring from Finigan's manner, that he had +overheard a greater portion of their conversation on the occasion +alluded to than he seemed disposed to acknowledge. + +“Now, Finigan,” he said, “I feel disposed to place every confidence in +you. Will you answer candidly the question I am about to propose to you? +Did you hear Bryan M'Mahon's name mentioned?” + +“You say, Mr. Hycy,” replied Finigan, emptying his glass, “that you +would enthertain no apprehension in placing confidence in me?” + +“Not the slightest,” replied Hycy; “I believe you to be the very soul of +honor; and, besides, are you not my old master? As you say yourself, did +I not break grammatical ground, under you?” + +“The soul of honor,” replied the pedagogue, complacently--“that is +excellently said. Well, then, Mr. Burke, I shall not deal out my +confidence by beggarly instalments--I did hear Bryan M'Mahon's name +mentioned; and I heard a plan alluded to between you and them for +reducing him to--” + +“That was all humbug, Finigan, so far as I am concerned; but for the +present I am obliged to let them suppose what you allude to, in order +to keep them honest to myself if I can. You know they have a kind of +hereditary hatred against the M'Mahons; and if I did not allow them to +take their own way in this, I don't think I could depend on them.” + +“Well, there is raison in that too,” replied Finigan. + +“I am sure, Finigan,” proceeded Hycy, “that you are too honorable a man +to breathe either to Bryan M'Mahon or any one else, a single syllable +of the conversation which you overheard merely by accident. I say I +am certain you will never let it transpire, either by word of mouth or +writing. In me you may always calculate on finding a sincere friend; +and of this let me assure you, that your drink, if everything goes right +with us, won't cost you much--much! not a penny; if you had two throats +instead of one--as many necks as Hydra, we should supply them all.” + +“Give me your hand, Mr. Hycy--you are a gintleman, and I always said +would be one--I did, sir--I prognosticated as much years ago; and +sincerely felicitous am I that my prognostications have been verified +for so far. I said you would rise--that exaltation was before you--and +that your friends might not feel at all surprised at the elevated +position in which you will die. _Propino tibi_, again--and do not fear +that ever revelation of mine shall facilitate any catastrophe that may +await you.” + +Hycy looked keenly into the schoolmaster's face as he uttered the last +observation; but in the maudlin and collapsed features then before him +he could read nothing that intimated the sagacity of a double meaning. +This satisfied him; and after once more exacting from Finigan a pledge +of what he termed honorable confidence, he took his departure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX.--A Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery + + +This communication determined Hycy to forego his intention for the +present, and he consequently allowed the summer and autumn to pass +without keeping up much intercourse with either Teddy Phats or the +Hogans. The truth is, that Burke, although apparently frank and candid, +was constitutionally cautious, and inclined a good deal to suspicion. +He feared that no project, the knowledge of which was held in common +with Finigan, could be long kept a secret; and for that reason he make +up his mind to postpone the matter, and allow it to die away out of the +schoolmaster's mind ere he bestowed any further attention upon it. In +the meantime, the state of the country was gradually assuming a worse +and more depressing character. The season was unfavorable; and although +we do not assert that many died of immediate famine, yet we know that +hundreds--nay, thousands--died from the consequences of scarcity and +destitution--or, in plainer words, from fever and other diseases induced +by bad and insufficient food, and an absence of the necessary comforts +of life. Indeed, at the period of our narrative, the position of Ireland +was very gloomy; but when, we may ask, has it been otherwise, within +the memory of man, or the records of history? Placed as the country was, +emigration went forward on an extensive scale,--emigration, too, of +that peculiar description which every day enfeebles and impoverishes +the country, by depriving her of all that approaches to anything like +a comfortable and independent yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of +depletion which no country can bear long; and, as it is, at the moment +we are writing this, progressing at a rate beyond all precedent, it will +not, we trust, be altogether uninteresting to inquire into some of the +causes that have occasioned it. Let not our readers apprehend, however, +that we are about to turn our fictitious narrative into a dissertation +on political economy. Of course the principle cause of emigration is the +poverty and depressed state of the country; and it follows naturally, +that whatever occasions our poverty will necessarily occasion +emigration. The first cause of our poverty then, is Absenteeism, which, +by drawing six or seven millions out of the country, deprives our people +of employment and means of life to that amount. The next is the general +inattention of Irish landlords to the state and condition of their +own property, and an inexcusable want of sympathy with their tenantry, +which, indeed, is only a corollary from the former; for it can hardly +be expected that those who wilfully neglect themselves will feel a +warm interest in others. The next is the evil of subletting, by which +property becomes overloaded with human beings, who, for the most part, +are bound by no ties whatsoever to the owner of the soil. He is +not their landlord, nor are they his tenants; and so far from their +interests being in any way reciprocal, they are actually adversative. +It is his interest to have them removed, and, as circumstances +unfortunately stand, it is theirs to remain, inasmuch as their +alternative is ruin since they have no place of shelter to receive them. + +Political corruption, in the shape of the forty-shilling franchise, was +another cause, and one of the very worst, which led to the prostration +of the country by poverty and moral degradation, and for this the +proprietors of the soil are solely responsible. Nor can the use of the +potato, as the staple food of the laboring classes, in connection with +the truck system, and the consequent absence of money payments, in +addition to the necessary ignorance of domestic and social comforts +that resulted from them, be left out of this wretched catalogue of our +grievances. Another cause of emigration is to be found in the high and +exorbitant rents at which land is held by all classes of farmers--with +some exceptions we admit, as in the case of old leases--but especially +by those who hold under middlemen, or on the principle of subletting +generally. By this system a vast deal of distress and petty but most +harrassing oppression is every day in active operation upon the property +of the head landlord, which he can never know, and for which he is in no +other way responsible unless by having ever permitted the existence of +it for any purpose whatsoever. + +In a country distracted like Ireland, it would be impossible to omit the +existence of political and religious animosity as a strong and prominent +cause of our wretched poverty, and consequently of emigration. The +priest, instead of leaving temporal affairs to temporal men, most +improperly mingles himself in the angry turmoils of politics, to which, +by his interference, he communicates a peculiar and characteristic +bitterness. The landlord, on the other hand, having his own interests to +consult, does not wish to arm a political opponent with such powers as +he knows will most assuredly be turned against himself, and consequently +often refuses to grant a lease unless to those who will pledge +themselves to support him. This state of things, involving, as it does, +much that is wrong on both sides, is, has been, and will be, a present +and permanent curse to the country--a curse, too, which, until there +is more of humanity and justice on the one side, and of education +and liberal feeling on the other, is not likely to disappear from the +country. + +Though last, not least, comes the unaccountable and guilty neglect of +our legislature (if we can call it ours) in everything that pertained to +Irish interests. This, together with its almost necessary consequence of +dishonest agitation on the one hand, and well founded dissatisfaction on +the other, nearly completes the series of the causes which have produced +the poverty of the country, and, as a direct result, the emigration of +all that is most comfortable, independent, and moral among us. + +This poverty, arising, as it does, from so many causes, has propagated +itself with a rapidity which is startling; for every one knows that +poverty is proverbially prolific. And yet it is a grievous anomaly to +reflect that a country so far steeped in misery and destitution as +to have nearly one-half of its population in a state of most pitiable +pauperism, possesses a soil capable of employing and maintaining three +times the number of its inhabitants. When the causes, however, which we +have just enumerated are seriously looked at and considered, we think +its extraordinary result is, after all, so very natural, that the wonder +would indeed be were the state of Ireland otherwise than it is. As +matters stand at present, and as they are likely to continue, unless +parliament shall interfere by a comprehensive measure of legislation, +we must only rest contented with seeing the industrious, moral, and +respectable portion of our countrymen abandoning the land of their +birth and affections, and nothing but the very dregs--degraded alike +by idleness and immorality--remaining behind to multiply and perpetuate +their own wretchedness and degradation. + +It has been often said, and with great truth, that no man is more +devotedly attached to his native soil than an Irishman; yet it may +reasonably be asked, how this principle of attachment can be reconciled +with the strong tendency to emigration which characterizes our people. +We reply, that the tendency in question is a proof of the love of honest +industry, enterprise, and independence, by which our countrymen, when +not degraded by neglect and poverty, are actuated. It is not of this +class, however so degraded, that we now speak. On the contrary we +take the decent and respectable farmer as the subject of our +illustration--the man who, loving his native fields as if they were of +his blood, would almost as soon part with the one as the other. This man +it is, who, with the most child-like tenderness of affection towards the +land on which he and his have lived for centuries, will, nevertheless, +the moment he finds himself on the decline, and with no cheering hope +of prosperity or encouragement before him or his family, resolutely +determine to forget everything but the noble duties which he owes +to himself and them. He sees clearly, from the unhappy state of +the country, and the utter want of sympathy and attention which he +experiences at the hands of those who ought to have his interests at +heart, that if he attempt to hold his position under circumstances so +depressing and unfavorable, he must gradually sink, until he and his +become mingled with the great mass of pauperism which lies lik a an +incubus upon the energies of the country. What, therefore, can possibly +prove more strongly than this that the Irishman who is not dragged into +the swamp of degradation, in which hope and energy are paralyzed, is +strongly and heroically characterized by I those virtues of industry and +enterprise that throw their lustre over social life? + +There are other and still more indefensible causes, however, which too +frequently drive the independent farmer out of the country. In too +many cases it happens that the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, +countenanced or stimulated by the necessities and reckless extravagance +of the landlord, fall, like some unwholesome blight, upon that +enterprise and industry which would ultimately, if properly encouraged, +make the country prosperous and her landed proprietors independent men. +We allude to the nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who +have made improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay +for the improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this +crying and oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those +who fill the responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland, +than whom in general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous, +oppressive, arrogant, and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course +there are, and many, but speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert +nothing but what the condition of property, and of those who live upon +it, do at this moment and have for many a year testified. + +Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited +upon the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already +described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety +on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This +neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man, +who was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his +countrymen always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a +lease, which they look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely +inviolable and sacred, as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who, +although a young man, was not destitute of either observation or the +experience which it bestows, and who, moreover, had no disposition to +place unlimited confidence in Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague +suspicions with reference to the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not +the reputation of being a harsh man, or particularly unjust in his +dealings with the world; on the contrary, he was rather liked than +otherwise; for so soft was the melody of his voice, and so irresistible +the friendship and urbanity of his manner, that many persons felt as +much gratified by the refusal of a favor from him as they did at its +being granted by another. At length, towards the close of October, Bryan +himself told his father that he would, call upon the agent and urge him +to expedite the matter of the leases. “I don't know how it is,” said +he, “but some way or other I don't feel comfortable about this business: +Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is well spoken of in +general; but for all that there's always a man here an' there that says +he's not to be depended on.” + +“Troth an' he is to be depended on,” said his generous father; “his +words isn't like the words of a desaver, and it isn't till he shows the +cloven foot that I'll ever give in that he's, dishonest.” + +“Well,” said Bryan, “I'm sure I for one hope you may be right; but, at +any rate, as he's at home now I'll start and see him.” + +“Do then,” said his father, “bekaise I know you're a favorite of his; +for he tould me so wid his own lips.” + +“Well,” replied the other, laughing, “I hope you're right there too; +I'm sure I have no objection;” and he accordingly set out to see +Fethertonge, but with something of an impression that the object of +his visit was not likely to be accomplished without difficulty, if +accomplished at all. + +On reaching the agent's house he met a thin, tall man, named Clinton, +with a hooked nose and sinister aspect, riding down the avenue, after +having paid Fethertonge a visit. This person was the gauger of the +district, a bachelor and a man of considerable wealth, got together, +it is suspected, by practices that were not well capable of bearing the +light. His family consisted of a niece and a nephew, the latter of whom +had recently become a bosom friend of the accomplished Hycy Burke, who, +it was whispered, began to look upon Miss Clinton with a partial eye. +Hycy had got acquainted with him at the Herringstown races, where +he, Hycy, rode and won a considerable sweepstakes; and as both young +gentlemen were pretty much of the same habits of life, a very warm +intimacy had, for some time past, subsisted between them. Clinton, to +whom M'Mahon was known, addressed him in a friendly manner, and, after +some chat, he laid the point of his whip gently upon Bryan's shoulder, +so as to engage his attention. + +“M'Mahon,” said he, “I am glad I have met you, and I trust our meeting +will be for your good. You have had a dispute with Hycy Burke?” + +“Why, sir,” replied Bryan, smiling, “if I had it wasn't such as it was +worth his while to talk about.” + +“Well, M'Mahon, that's generously said on your part--now, listen to me; +don't allow yourself to be drawn into any illegal or illicit proceedings +by any one, friend or foe--if so, you will only put yourself into the +power of your enemies; for enemies you have, I can assure you.” + +“They say, sir, there is no one without them,” replied Bryan, smiling; +“but so far as I am consarned, I don't exactly understand what you mane. +I have no connection with anything, either illegal or--or--wrong in any +way, Mr. Clinton, and if any one tould you so, they spoke an untruth.” + +“Ay, ay,” said Clinton, “that may be so, and I hope it is so; but you +know that it could not be expected you would admit it even if it be +true. Will you in the mean time, be guided by a friend? I respect your +father and his family; I respect yourself, M'Mahon; and, consequently, +my advice to you is--keep out of the meshes of the law--avoid violating +it--and remember you have enemies. Now think of these words, and so +good-bye, M'Mahon! Indeed, I am glad for your own sake I met +you--good-bye!” + +As he uttered the last words he dashed on and left Bryan in a state +of perfect amazement at the strange and incomprehensible nature of the +communication he had just received. Indeed, so full was his mind of the +circumstance, that forgetting all his suspicions of Fethertonge, and +urged by the ingenuous impulse of an honest heart, he could not prevent +himself in the surprise and agitation of the moment from detailing the +conversation which he had just had with the gauger. + +“That is singular enough,” said Fethertonge--“he named Hycy Burke, +then?” + +“He did, sir.” + +“It is singular,” proceeded the other, as if speaking to himself; “in +truth, my dear M'Mahon, we were talking about you, discussing, in fact, +the same subject not many minutes ago; and what you tell me now is only +an additional proof that Clinton, who is sometimes harshly spoken of by +the way, is a straightforward, honest man.” + +“What could he mane, sir?” asked Bryan, “I never had anything to do +contrary to the law--I haven't now, nor do I ever intend to have--” + +“Well, I'm sure I do not know,” replied the agent: “he made no illusion +of that kind to me, from a generous apprehension, I dare say, lest he +might injure you in my opinion. He only desired me not rashly to listen +to anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who +were laboring to injure you in some way--but how--he either would not +tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for +I shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice.” + +“I tell you beforehand, sir,” said Bryan, with the conscious warmth +of rectitude, “and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear +anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should +say that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or +justice, you'll hear a falsehood--I don't care who it comes from--and +the man who tells you so is a liar.” + +“I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve +me to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn +into anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual +of your family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve +me--deeply would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so +honest--but no, I will not, for I cannot suppose it.” + +Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could +not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation +which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were +now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of +which he knew nothing. + +“You take it lightly,” said Fethertonge, with something of a serious +expression; “but remember, my dear Bryan, that I now speak as one +interested in, and, in fact, representing the other members of your +family. Remember, at all events, you are forewarned, and, in the +meantime, I thank Clinton--although I certainly would not have mentioned +names. Bryan, you can have no objection that I should speak to your +father on this subject?” + +“Not the slightest, sir,” replied Bryan; “spake to any one you like +about it; but, putting that aside, sir, for the present--about these +leases?” + +“Why, what apprehension have you about them, Byran?” + +“No apprehension, sir, sartinly; but you know yourself, Mr. Fethertonge, +that to a man like me, that's layin' out and expendin' money every day +upon Adaharra farm, and my father the same way upon Carriglass--I say, +to a man like me, to be layin' out his money, when you know yourself +that if the present landlord should refuse to carry his father's dying +words into effect--or, as you said this minute yourself, sir, if some +enemy should turn you against me, amn't I and my father and the whole +family liable to be put out, notwithstanding all the improvements we've +made, and the money we've spent in makin' them?” + +“Bryan,” said Fethertonge, after a pause, “every word you say is +unfortunately too true--too true--and such things, are a disgrace to the +country; indeed, I believe, they seldom occur in any country but this. +Will it in the mean time satisfy you when I state that, if old Mr. +Chevydale's intentions are not carried into effect by his son, I shall +forthwith resign my agency?” + +Bryan's conscience, generous as he was, notwithstanding his suspicions, +smote him deeply on hearing this determination so unequivocally +expressed. Indeed the whole tenor of their dialogue, taken in at one +view--especially Fethertonge's intention of speaking to Tom M'Mahon upon +the mysterious subject of Bryan's suspected delinquencies against +the law--so thoroughly satisfied him of the injustice he had rendered +Fethertonge, that he was for a time silent. + +At length he replied--“That, sir, is more than we could expect; but +at any rate there's one thing I'm now sartin of--that, if we're +disappointed, you won't be the cause of it.” + +“Yes; but of course you must put disappointment out of the question. The +landlord, will, without any doubt, grant the leases--I am satisfied of +that; indeed, there can be no doubt about it. By the way, I am anxious +to see Ahadarra and to ascertain the extent to which you have carried +your improvements. Clinton and I will probably take a ride up there some +day soon; and in the meantime do you keep improving, M'Mahon, for that's +the secret of all success--leave the rest to me. How is your father?” + +“Never was better, sir, I'm thankful to you.” + +“And your grandfather? how does he bear up?” + +“Faith, sir, wonderfully, considering his age.” + +“He must be very old now?” + +“He's ninety-four, sir, and that's a long age sure enough; but I'm sorry +to say that my mother's health isn't so well.” + +“Why, what is the matter with her? I'm sorry to hear this.” + +“Indeed we can't say; she's very poorly--her appetite is gone--she has a +cough, an' she doesn't get her rest at night.” + +“Why don't you get medical advice?” + +“So we did, sir. Dr. Sexton's attendin' her; but I don't think somehow +that he has a good opinion of her.” + +“Sexton's a skilful man, and I don't think she could be in better hands; +however, Bryan, I shall feel obliged if you will send down occasionally +to let me know how she gets on--once a week or so.” + +“Indeed we will, sir, an' I needn't say how much we feel obliged to you +for your kindness and good wishes.” + +“It must be more than good wishes, Bryan; but I trust that she will +get better. In the meantime leave the other matters to me, and you may +expect Clinton and I up at your farm to look some of these days.” + +“God forgive me,” thought Bryan, as he left the hall-door, “for the +injustice I did him, by supposin' for one minute that he wasn't disposed +to act fairly towards us. My father was right; an' it was foolish of +me to put my wit against his age an' experience. Oh, no, that man's +honest--there can;t be any mistake about it.” + +From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way +home, to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity +towards him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy +Burke had, in general, the character of being a generous, dashing +young fellow, with no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a +thoughtless inclination for extravagance; for such were the gentle +terms in which habits of seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in +the expenditure of money were clothed by those who at once fleeced and +despised him, but who were numerous enough to impress those opinions +upon a great number of the people. In turning over matters as they stood +between them, he could trace Burke's enemity to no adequate cause; +nor indeed could he believe it possible that he entertained any such +inveterate feeling of hostility against him. They had of late frequently +met, on which occasion Hycy spoke to him with nearly as much cordiality +as ever. Still, however, he could not altogether free himself from +the conviction, that both Clinton and Fethertonge must have had +unquestionable grounds for the hints which they had in such a friendly +way thrown out to him. + +In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet +behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him +at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, +on seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, “If you +are not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you.” + +The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, “a word, Bryan! ay, a +hundred--certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have some +conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?” + +“Hycy,” proceeded Bryan, “I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow +me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?” + +“Will you answer me another question?” replied Hycy. + +“If I can I will,” said Bryan. + +“Well, then,” replied Hycy, “I will answer you most candidly, Bryan--not +the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling +against me.” + +“And you wor right, too,” returned Bryan “for I really had.” + +“I remember,” proceeded Hycy, “that when I asked you to lend me +thirty-five pounds--and by the way that reminds me that I am still +pretty deep in your debt--you would neither lend it nor give any +satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that +feeling, Bryan?” + +“It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my +pocket,” replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which +Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself. “Read that,” said he, +“and I think you'll have no great trouble in understanding why I felt +as I did;--an' indeed, Hycy, to tell you the truth, I never had the same +opinion of you since.” Hycy, to his utter amazement, read as follows: + +“My Dear Miss Cavanagh:-- + +“Will you permit little Cupid, the god of Love, to enrol the name of +Hycy Burke on the long list of your adorers? And if you could corrupt +the little stone-blind divinity to blot out every name on it but my own, +I should think that a very handsome anticipation of the joys of Paradise +could be realized by that delightful fact. I say anticipation--for my +creed is, that the actual joys of Paradise exist no where, but within +the celestial circle of your ambrosial arms. That is the Paradise which +I propose to win; and you may rest assured that I shall bring the most +flaming zeal, the most fervent devotion, and all the genuine piety of +a true worshipper, to the task of attaining it. I shall carry, for +instance, a little Bible of Love in my pocket--for I am already a +divinity student or a young collegian under little Cupid aforesaid--and +I will have it all dogeared with refreshing texts for my edification. +I should state, however, that I am, as every good Christian is, awfully +exclusive in my creed; and will suffer no one, if I can prevent it, to +approach the Paradise I speak of but myself. In fact I am as jealous as +the very Deuce--whoever that personage may be--quite an Othello in my +way--a perfect raw-head-and-bloody-bones--with a sharp appetite and +teeth like a Walrus, ready to bolt my rivals in dozens. It is said, +my divine creature, or rather it is hinted, that a certain clodhopping +boor, from the congenial wilds of Ahadarra, is favored by some benignant +glances from those lights of yours that do mislead the moon. I hope this +is not so--bow wow!--ho! ho!--I smell the blood of a rival; and be he +great or small, red or black, or of any color in the rainbow, I +shall have him for my. breakfast--ho! ho! You see now, my most divine +Kathleen, what a terrible animal to all rivals and competitors for your +affections I shall be; and that if it were only for their own sakes, and +to prevent carnage and cannibalism, it will be well for you to banish +them once and forever, and be content only with myself. + +“Seriously, my dear Kathleen, I believe I am half-crazed; and, if so, +you are the sole cause of it. I can think of no other object than your +beautiful self; and I need scarcely say, that I shall have neither peace +nor happiness unless I shall be fortunate enough to gain a place in your +tender bosom. As for the Ahadarra man, I am surprised you should think of +such an ignorant clodhopper--a fellow whose place Providence especially +allotted to between the stilts of a plough, and at the tail of a pair +of horses. Perhaps you would be kind enough to take a walk on Thursday +evening, somewhere near the river--where I hope I shall have an +opportunity of declaring my affection for you in person. At all events I +shall be there with the ardent expectation of meeting you. + +“Ever your devoted worshipper, + +“Hycy Burke. + +“P.S.--Beware the clodhopper--bow wow!--ho! ho!” + + +On looking at the back of this singular production he was thunderstruck +to perceive that it was addressed to “Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, Ahadarra”--the +fact being that, in the hurry of the moment, he had misdirected the +letters--Bryan M'Mahon having received that which had been intended for +Kathleen, who, on the contrary, was pressingly solicited to lend him +thirty-fine pounds in order to secure “Crazy Jane.” + +Having perused this precious production, Hycy, in spite of his chagrin, +was not able to control a most irresistible fit of laughter, in which he +indulged for some minutes. The mistake being now discovered in Bryan's +case was necessarily discovered in that of both, a circumstance which +to Hycy, who now fully understood the mature and consequences of his +blunder, was, as we have stated, the subject of extraordinary mirth, in +which, to tell the truth, Bryan could not prevent himself from joining +him. + +“Well, but after all, Bryan,” said he, “what is there in this letter +to make you angry with me? Don't you see it's a piece of humbug from +beginning to end.” + +“I do, and I did,” replied Bryan; “but at that time I had never spoken +upon the subject of love or marriage to Kathleen Cavanagh, and I had no +authority nor right to take any one to task on her account, but, at the +same time, I couldn't even then either like or respect, much less lend +money to, any man that could humbug her, or treat such a girl with +disrespect--and in that letther you can't deny that you did both.” + +“I grant,” said Hycy, “that it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not +intended to offend her.” + +“I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy,” observed Bryan; “an' that if +she had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to +your discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken +there though.” + +“She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan--very far from it, +indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther +for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter +to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth, +Bryan, I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife.” + +“As to that,” replied the other, smiling, “we'll keep never minding--but +you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther, +an' I'm thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first +question--have you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to +injure me?” + +“Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill +feeling against you, nor any design to injure you.” + +“That's enough, Hycy,” replied his companion; “I think I'm bound to +believe your words.” + +“You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you +that I had--and if so, who was the person?” + +“It's enough for you to know,” said Bryan, “that whoever told it to me I +don't believe it.” + +“I certainly have a right to know,” returned Hycy; “but as the matter +is false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it--all I can +say to satisfy you is, what I have said already--that I entertain no ill +will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no +earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at +the present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing.” + +“You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?” + +“No: devil a syllable.” + +“Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?” + +Hycy pulled up his horse. + +“Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you,” he exclaimed. “Is it right +to have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that +there's something wrong with your upper works.” + +“Never mind,” replied Bryan, laughing, “I'm satisfied--the thing's a +mistake--so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the kind +against you and it's all right.” + +“What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?” + exclaimed Hycy.. + +“There now,” continued Bryan, “that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfied? +Move on, now and overtake your friend--by the way he's a fine horseman, +they say?” + +“Very few better,” said Hycy; “but some there are--and one I know--ha! +ha! ha! Good-bye, Bryan, and don't be made a fool of for nothing.” + +Bryan nodded and laughed, and Hycy dashed on to overtake his friend +Clinton. + +M'Mahon's way home lay by Gerald Cavanagh's house, near which as he +approached he saw Nanny Peety in close conversation with Kate Hogan. The +circumstance, knowing their relationship as he did, made no impression +whatsoever upon him, nor would he have bestowed a thought upon it, had +he been left to his own will in the matter. The women separated ere he +had come within three hundred yards of them; Kate, who had evidently +been convoying her niece a part of the way, having returned in the +direction of Cavanagh's, leaving Nanny to pursue her journey home, by +which she necessarily met M'Mahon. + +“Well, Nanny,” said the latter, “how are you?” + +“Faix, very well, I thank you, Bryan; how are all the family in +Carriglass?” + +“Barring my mother, they're all well, Nanny. I was glad to hear you +got so good a place, an' I'm still betther plaised to see you look so +well--for it's a proof that you feel comfortable in it.” + +“Why I can't complain,” she replied; “but you know there's no one widout +their throubles.” + +“Troubles, Nanny,” said Bryan, with surprise; “why surely, Nanny, +barrin' it's love, I don't see what trouble you can have.” + +“Well, and may be it is,” said the girl, smiling. + +“Oh, in that case,” replied Bryan, “I grant you're to be pitied; poor +thing, you look so ill and pale upon it, too. An' what is it like, +Nanny--this same love that's on you?” + +“Faix,” she replied, archly, “it's well for you that Miss Kathleen's not +to the fore or you daren't ax any one sich a question as that.” + +“Well done, Nanny,” he returned; “do you think she knows what it's +like?” + +“It's not me,” she replied again, “you ought to be axin' sich a question +from; if you don't know it I dunna who ought.” + +“Begad, you're sharp an' ready, Nanny,” replied Bryan, laughing; “well, +and how are you all in honest Jemmy Burke's?” + +“Some of us good, some of us bad, and some of us indifferent, but, thank +goodness, all in the best o' health.” + +“Good, bad, and indifferent,” replied Bryan, pausing a little. “Well, +now, Nanny, if one was to ask you who is the good in your family, what +would you say?” + +“Of coorse myself,” she returned; “an' stay--let me see--ay, the +masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us.” + +“And who's the indifferent, Nanny?” + +“Wait,” she replied; “yes--no doubt of it--if not worse--why the +mistress must come in for that, I think.” + +“And now for the bad, Nanny?” + +She shook her head before she spoke. “Ah,” she proceeded, “there would +be more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his +way.” + +“If who had his way?” + +“Masther Hycy.” + +“Why is he the bad among you?” + +“Thank God I know him now,” she replied, “an' he knows I do; but he +doesn't know how well I know him.” + +“Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?” asked Bryan, a good deal surprised, +and not a little interested at what he heard, “surely I thought Mr. Hycy +a good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all +events?” + +“Ah, it's little you know him,” she replied; “and I could”--she looked +at him and paused. + +“You could what?” he asked. + +“I could tell you something, but I daren't.” + +“Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?” + +“It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an' +Kathleen Cavanagh goin' to be married?” + +“We will be married, I hope.” + +“Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother +doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between +the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if +you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be.” + +“An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?” + +“He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of +him, so far from that, I could soon--but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an' +as I said, keep a sharp lookout;” and having uttered these words, she +tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had +said. + + + + +CHAPTER X.--More of the Hycy Correspondence + +A Family Debate--Honest Speculations. + + +Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down +upon her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of +whom looked upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object +exceedingly desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on +themselves. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of +the strictest integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with +hospitality, and remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections +in an extraordinary degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely +weak-minded, and almost silly, in consequence of an over-weening +anxiety to procure “great matches” for their children. Indeed it may be +observed, that natural affection frequently assumes this shape in the +paternal heart, nor is the vain ambition confined to the Irish peasant +alone. On the contrary, it may be seen as frequently, if not more so, in +the middle and higher classes, where it has ampler scope to work, than +in humbler and more virtuous life. It is this proud and ridiculous +principle which consigns youth, and beauty, and innocence, to the arms +of some dissipated profligate of rank, merely because he happens to +inherit a title which he disgraces. There is, we would wager, scarcely +an individual who knows the world, but is acquainted with some family +laboring under this insane anxiety for connection. Sometimes it is to +be found on the paternal side, but, like most of those senseless +inconsistencies which entail little else than ridicule or ruin, and +sometimes both, upon those who are the object of them, it is, for the +most part, a female attribute. + +Such as it is, however, our friend, Gerald Cavanagh, and his wife--who, +by the way, bore the domestic sceptre in all matters of importance--both +possessed it in all its amplitude and vigor. When the kemp had been +broken up that night, and the family assembled, Mrs. Cavanagh opened the +debate in an oration of great heat and bitterness, but sadly deficient +in moderation and logic. + +“What on earth could you mane, Kathleen,” she proceeded, “to refuse +dancin' wid such a young man--a gintleman I ought to say--as Hycy Burke, +the son of the wealthiest man in the whole parish, barring the gentry? +Where is the girl that wouldn't bounce at him?--that wouldn't lave +a single card unturned to secure him? Won't he have all his father's +wealth?--won't he have all his land when the ould man dies? and indeed +it's he that will live in jinteel style when he gets everything into +his own hands, as he ought to do, an' not go dhramin' an' dhromin' about +like his ould father, without bein' sartin whether he's alive or not. +He would be something for you, girl, something to turn out wid, an' +that one could feel proud out of; but indeed, Kathleen, as for pride +and decency, you never had as much o' them as you ought, nor do you hold +your head as high as many another girl in your place would do. Deed +and throth I'm vexed at you, and ashamed of you, to go for to hurt his +feelins as you did, widout either rhyme or raison.” + +“Troth,” said her father, taking up the argument where she left it, “I +dunno how I'll look the respectable young man in the face afther the way +you insulted him. Why on airth wouldn't you dance wid him?” + +“Because, father, I don't like him.” + +“An' why don't you like him?” asked her mother. “Where is there his +aquil for either face or figure in the parish, or the barony itself? +But I know the cause of it; you could dance with Bryan M'Mahon. But +take this with you--sorra ring ever Bryan M'Mahon will put on you wid +my consent or your father's, while there's any hope of Hycy Burke at any +rate.” + +Kathleen, during this long harangue, sat smiling and sedate, turning her +beautiful and brilliant eyes sometimes upon one parent, sometimes upon +another, and occasionally glancing with imperturbable sweetness and +good nature at her sister Hanna. At length, on getting an opportunity of +speaking, she replied,-- + +“Don't ask me, mother, to give anything in the way of encouragement to +Hycy Burke; don't ask me, I entrate you, for God's sake--the thing's +impossible, and I couldn't do it. I have no wish for his father's money, +nor any wish for the poor grandeur that you, mother dear, and my father, +seem to set your heart upon. I don't like Hycy Burke--I could never +like him; and rather than marry him, I declare solemnly to God, I would +prefer going into my grave.” + +As she uttered the last words, which she did with an earnestness that +startled them, her fine features became illuminated, as it were, with +a serene and brilliant solemnity of expression that was strikingly +impressive and beautiful. + +“Why couldn't you like him, now?” asked her father; “sure, as your +mother says, there's not his aquil for face or figure within many a mile +of him?” + +“But it's neither face nor figure that I look to most, father.” + +“Well, but think of his wealth, and the style he'll live in, I'll go +bail, when he gets married.” + +“That style maybe won't make his wife happy. No, father, it's neither +face, nor figure, nor style that I look to, but truth, pure affection, +and upright principle; now, I know that Hycy Burke has neither truth, +nor affection, nor principle; an' I wondher, besides, that you could +think of my ever marrying a man that has already destroyed the happiness +of two innocent girls, an' brought desolation, an' sorrow, an' shame +upon two happy families. Do you think that I will ever become the wife +of a profligate? An' is it you, father, an' still more you, mother, +that's a woman, that can urge me to think of joining my fate to that of +a man that has neither shame nor principle? I thought that if you didn't +respect decency an' truth, and a regard for what is right and proper, +that, at all events, you would respect the feelings of your child that +was taught their value.” + +Both parents felt somewhat abashed by the force of the truth and the +evident superiority of her character; but in a minute or two her worthy +father, from whose dogged obstinacy she inherited the firmness and +resolution for which she had ever been remarkable, again returned to the +subject. + +“If Hycy Burke was wild, Kathleen, so was many a good man before him; +an' that's no raison but he may turn out well yet, an' a credit to his +name, as I have no doubt he will. All that he did was only folly +an' indiscretion--we can't be too hard or uncharitable upon our +fellow-craytures.” + +“No,” chimed in her mother, “we can't. Doesn't all the world know that +a reformed rake makes a good husband?--an' besides, didn't them two +huzzies bring it on themselves?--why didn't they keep from him as they +ought? The fault, in such cases, is never all on one side.” + +Kathleen's brow and face and whole neck became crimson, as her mother, +in the worst spirit of a low and degrading ambition, uttered the +sentiments we have just written. Hanna had been all this time sitting +beside her, with one arm on her shoulder; but Kathleen, now turning +round, laid her face on her sister's bosom, and, with a pressure that +indicated shame and bitterness of heart, she wept. Hanna returned this +melancholy and distressing caress in the same mournful spirit, and both +wept together in silence. + +Gerald Cavanagh was the first who felt something like shame at the +rebuke conveyed by this tearful embrace of his pure-hearted and +ingenuous daughters, and he said, addressing his wife:-- + +“We're wrong to defend him, or any one, for the evil he has done, +bekaise it can't be defended; but, in the mane time, every day will +bring him more sense an' experience, an' he won't repute this work; +besides, a wife would settle him down.” + +“But, father,” said Hanna, now speaking for the first time, “there's +one thing that strikes me in the business you're talkin' about, an' it's +this--how do you know whether Hycy Burke has any notion, good, bad, or +indifferent, of marrying Kathleen?” + +“Why,” replied her mother, “didn't he write to her upon the subject?” + +“Why, indeed, mother, it's not an easy thing to answer that question,” + replied Hanna. “She sartinly resaved a letther from him, an' indeed, I +think,” she added, her animated face brightening into a smile, “that as +the boys is gone to bed, we had as good read it.” + +“No, Hanna, darling, don't,” said Kathleen--“I beg you won't read it.” + +“Well, but I beg I will,” she replied; “it'll show them, at any rate, +what kind of a reformation is likely to come over him. I have it here in +my pocket--ay, this is it. Now, father,” she proceeded, looking at the +letter, “here is a letter, sent to my sister--'To Miss Cavanagh,' that's +what's on the back of it--and what do you think Hycy, the sportheen, +asks her to do for him?” + +“Why, I suppose,” replied her mother, “to run away wid him?” + +“Na” + +“Then to give her consent to marry him?” said her father. + +“Both out,” replied Hanna; “no, indeed, but to lend him five-and-thirty +pounds to buy a mare, called Crazy Jane, belonging to Tom Burton, of the +Race Road!” + +“'My Dear Bryan--For heaven's sake, in addition to your other +generosities--for-which I acknowledge myself still in your debt--will +you lend me thirty-five pounds, to secure a beautiful mare belonging to +Tom Burton, of the Race Road? She is a perfect creature, and will, if I +am not quick, certainly slip through my fingers. Jemmy, the gentleman'-- + +“This is what he calls his father, you must know. + +“'Jemmy, the gentleman, has promised to stand to me some of these +days, and pay off all my transgressions, like a good, kind-hearted, +soft-headed old Trojan as he is; and, for this reason, I don't wish to +press him now. The mare is sold under peculiar circumstances; otherwise +I could have no chance of her at such a price. By the way, when did you +see Katsey'-- + +“Ay, Katsey!--think of that, now--doesn't he respect your daughter +very much, father? + +“'By the way, when did you see Katsey Cavanagh?--'” + +“What is this you're readin' to me?” asked her father. “You don't mean +to say that this letter is to Kathleen?” + +“Why, no; but so much the better--one has an opportunity now of seein' +what he is made of. The letter was intended for Bryan M'Mahon; but he +sent it, by mistake, to Kathleen. Listen--- + +“'When did you see Katsey Cavanagh? She certainly is not ill-looking, +and will originate you famous mountaineers. Do, like a good fellow, +stand by me at this pinch, and I will drink your health and Kat-sey's, +and that you may--' (what's this?) 'col--colonize Ahadarra with a race +of young Colossusses that the world will wonder at. + +“'Ever thine, + +“'H. Burke.' + +“Here's more, though: listen, mother, to your favorite, that you want to +marry Kathleen to:-- + +“'P.S. I will clear scores with you for all in the course of a few +months, and remember that, at your marriage, I must, with my own hand, +give you away to Katsey, the fair Oolossa.'” + + +The perusal of this document, at least so far as they could understand +it, astonished them not a little. Until they heard it read, both had +been of the opinion that Hycy had actually proposed for Kathleen, or at +least felt exceedingly anxious for the match. + +“An' does he talk about givin' her away to Bryan M'Mahon?” asked her +mother. Sorrow on his impidence!--Bryan M'Mahon indeed! Throth, it's not +upon his country side of wild mountain that Kathleen will go to live. +An' maybe, too, she has little loss in the same Hycy, for, afther all, +he's but a skite of a fellow, an' a profligate into the bargain.” + +“Paix an' his father,” said Gerald--“honest Jemmy--tould me that he'd +have it a match whether or not.” + +“His father did!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; “now, did he say so, Gerald?” + +“Well, in troth he did--said that he had I set his heart upon it, an' +that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her.” + +“The Lord direct us for the best!” exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of +the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor +of Hycy. “Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young +a man. However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own +good sense will show her what a match he'd be.” + +The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen +approached her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each +of the good woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep +feeling and affection:-- + +“Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because +you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't +make me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less +for Hycy Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and +good-night!--there's another for you, father; God bless you! and +good-night, too. Come, Hanna darling, come!” + +In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon +got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can +be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable +time previous to the disclosure. Between them it was arranged that he +and his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents, +as the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this +was done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived +once more to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation +with Jemmy Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way +of settling down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before +Hycy himself, with a wish that a union should take place between them. +This interview with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of +M'Mahon. At length, after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and +many interviews with reference to it, something like a compromise was +effected. Kathleen consented to accept the latter in marriage, but +firmly and resolutely refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor +mentioned. Her parents, however, hoping that their influence over her +might ultimately prevail, requested that she would not engage herself to +any one for two years, at the expiration of which period, if no change +in her sentiments should take place, she was to be at liberty to marry +M'Mahon. For the remainder of the summer and autumn, and up until +November, the period at which our narrative has now arrived, or, in +other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met Nanny Peety, matters had rested +precisely in the same position. This unexpected interview with the +mendicant's daughter, joined to the hints he had already received, once +more caused M'Mahon to feel considerably perplexed with regard to Hycy +Burke. The coincidence was very remarkable, and the identity of the +information, however limited, appeared to him to deserve all the +consideration which he could bestow upon it, but above all things he +resolved, if possible, to extract the secret out of Nanny Peety. + +One cause of Hycy Burke's extravagance was a hospitable habit of dining +and giving dinners in the head inn of Ballymacan. To ask any of his +associates to his father's house was only to expose the ignorance of his +parents, and this his pride would not suffer him to do. As a matter +of course he gave all his dinners, unless upon rare occasions, in Jack +Shepherd's excellent inn; but as young Clinton and he were on terms of +the most confidential intimacy, he had asked him to dine on the day in +question at his father's. + +“You know, my dear Harry,” he said to his friend, “there is no use in +striving to conceal the honest vulgarity of Jemmy the gentleman from you +who know it already. I may say ditto to madam, who is unquestionably the +most vulgar of the two--for, and I am sorry to say it, in addition to a +superabundant stock of vulgarity, she has still a larger assortment of +the prides; for instance, pride of wealth, of the purse, pride of--I +was going to add, birth--ha! ha! ha!--of person, ay, of beauty, if +you please--of her large possessions--but that comes under the purse +again--and lastly--but that is the only well-founded principle among +them--of her accomplished son, Hycy. This, now, being all within your +cognizance already, my dear Hal, you take a pig's cheek and a fowl with +me to-day. There will be nobody but ourselves, for when I see company at +home I neither admit the gentleman nor the lady to table. Damn it, you +know the thing would be impossible. If you wish it, however, we shall +probably call in the gentleman after dinner to have a quiz with him; +it may relieve us. I can promise you a glass of wine, too, and that's +another reason why we should keep him aloof until the punch comes. The +wine's always a _sub silencio_ affair, and, may heaven pity me, I get +growling enough from old Bruin on other subjects.” + +“Anything you wish, Hycy, I am your man; but somehow I don't relish the +idea of the quiz you speak of. 'Children, obey your parents,' says +Holy Scripture; and I'd as soon not help a young fellow to laugh at his +father.” + +“A devilish good subject he is, though--but you must know that I can +draw just distinctions, Hal. For instance, I respect his honesty--” + +“And copy it, eh?” + +“Certainly--I respect his integrity, too--in fact, I appreciate all his +good qualities, and only laugh at his vulgarity and foibles.” + +“You intend to marry, Hycy?” + +“Or, in other words, to call you brother some of these days.” + +“And to have sons and daughters?” + +“Please the fates.” + +“That will do,” replied Clinton, dryly. + +“Ho! ho!” said Hycy, “I see. Here's a mentor with a vengeance--a fellow +with a budget of morals cut and dry for immediate use--but hang all +morality, say I; like some of my friends that talk on the subject, +I have an idiosyncrasy of constitution against it, but an abundant +temperament for pleasure.” + +“That's a good definition,” said Clinton; “a master-touch, a very +correct likeness, indeed. I would at once know you from it, and so would +most of your friends.” + +“This day is Friday,” said Hycy, “more growling.” + +“Why so?” + +“Why, when I eat meat on a Friday, the pepper and sauce cost me nothing. +The 'gentlemen' lays on hard, but the lady extenuates, 'in regard to +it's bein' jinteel.'” + +“Well, but you have certainly no scruple yourself on the subject?” + +“Yes, I have, sir, a very strong one--in favor of the meat--ha! ha! ha!” + +“D--n me, whoever christened you Hycy the accomplished, hit you off.” + +“I did myself; because you must know, my worthy Hal, that, along with +all my other accomplishments, I am my own priest.' + +“And that is the reason why you hate the clergy? eh--ha! ha! ha!” + +“A hit, a hit, I do confess.” + +“Harke, Mr. Priest, will you give absolution--to Tom Corbet?” + +“Ah! Hal, no more an' thou lovest me--that sore is yet open. Curse the +villain. My word and honor, Hal, the gentleman' was right there. He +told me at the first glance what she was. Here comes a shower, let us +move on, and reach Ballymacan, if possible, before it falls. We shall be +home in fair time for dinner afterwards, and then for my proposal, +which, by the word and honor--” + +“And morality?” + +“Nonsense, Harry; is a man to speak nothing but truth or Scripture in +this world?--No--which I say by the honor of a gentleman, it will be +your interest to consider and accept.” + +“Very well, most accomplished. We shall see, and we shall hear, and then +we shall determine.” + +A ham and turkey were substituted for the pig's cheek and fowl, and we +need not say that Hycy and his friend accepted of the substitution with +great complacency. Dinner having been discussed, and a bottle of wine +finished, the punch came in, and each, after making himself a stiff +tumbler, acknowledged that he felt comfortable. Hycy, however, anxious +that he should make an impression, or in other words gain his point, +allowed Clinton to grow a little warm with liquor before he opened the +subject to which he had alluded. At length, when he had reached the +proper elevation, he began:-- + +“There's no man, my dear Harry, speaks apparently more nonsense than I +do in ordinary chat and conversation. For instance, to-day I was very +successful in it; but no matter, I hate seriousness, certainly, when +there is no necessity for it. However, as a set-off to that, I pledge +you my honor that no man can be more serious when it is necessary than +myself. For instance, you let out a matter to me the other night that +you probably forget now. You needn't stare--I am serious enough and +honorable enough to keep as an inviolable secret everything of the kind +that a man may happen to disclose in an unguarded moment.” + +“Go on, Hycy, I don't forget it--I don't, upon my soul.” + +“I allude to M'Mahon's farm in Ahadarra.” + +“I don't forget it; but you know, Hycy, my boy, I didn't mention either +M'Mahon or Ahadarra.” + +“You certainly did not mention them exactly; but, do you think I did +not know at once both the place and the party you allude to? My word and +honor, I saw them at a glance.” + +“Very well, go on with your word and honor;--you are right, I did mean +M'Mahon and Ahadarra--proceed, most accomplished, and most moral--” + +“Be quiet, Harry. Well, you have your eye upon that farm, and you say +you have a promise of it.” + +“Something like it; but the d--d landlord, Chevydale, is +impracticable--so my uncle says--and doesn't wish to disturb the +M'Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do +so--but d--n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to +their interests--d--n the fellow, I say.” + +“Don't curse or swear, most moral. Well, the lease of Ahadarra has +dropped, and of Carriglass too;--with Carriglass, however, we--that is +you--have nothing at all to do.” + +“Proceed?' + +“Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have +not been able to get either yes or no out of you.” + +“No.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me--proceed, most +accomplished. Where do you get your brandy? This is glorious. Well!” + +“Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent +way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M'Mahon shall +be obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss +Clinton?” + +“How will you do it?” + +“That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my +power. You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my +father's property.” + +“Come; I shall hold myself neuter--will that satisfy you? You shall +have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is +enough.” + +“Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, +besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and +favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out.” + +“Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!” + +“Curse them both! Will you promise this--to support me so far?” + +“Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot +water, and that waited on us at dinner--eh?” + +“Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You +don't answer?” + +“But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you--discard you--give +you to the winds?--eh?” + +“Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold +myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a +beggar.” + +“What! as a beggar?” + +“Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for +succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion.” + +“Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, +he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much +relish that, Hycy.” + +“It cannot be done though in any other way.” + +“I say--how do you call that girl?--Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what?” + +“I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the +subject altogether.” + +“There now--proceed, O Hyacinthus.” + +“How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is +more, to your own interests?” + +“Oh! my own interests!--well I am alive to them.” + +“Is it a bargain, then?” + +“It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious +Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra--to get possession of +it--and calculate upon my most--let me see--what's the best word--most +strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon it. I shall support +you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me accountable for +my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable persuasion, she must be +left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever decision she may come +to.” + +“There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more.” + +After Clinton had gone, Hycy felt considerably puzzled as to the manner +in which he had conducted himself during the whole evening. Sometimes he +imagined he was under the influence of liquor, for he had drunk pretty +freely; and again it struck him that he manifested an indifference to +the proposal made to him, which he only attempted to conceal lest Hycy +might perceive it. He thought, however, that he observed a seriousness +in Clinton, towards the close of their conversation, which could not +have been assumed; and as he gave himself a good deal of credit for +penetration, he felt satisfied that circumstances were in a proper +train, and likely, by a little management, to work out his purposes. + +Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the +parlor, and called Nanny Peety--“Nanny,” said he, “which of the Hogans +did you see to-day?” + +“None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out.” + +“Did you give her the message?” + +“Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did.” + +“What did you say, now?” + +“Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first, +that St. Pether was dead.” + +“And what did she say to that?” + +“Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was.” + +“And what did she mean by that, do you think?” + +“Faix, then, I dunna--barrin' that you're in the black books wid him, +and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that +didn't know you.” + +“Nanny,” he replied, laughing, “you are certainly a very smart girl, +and indeed a very pretty girl--a very interesting young woman, indeed, +Nanny; but you won't listen to reason.” + +“To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil.” + +“Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor +evil in that.” + +“I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too +much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you +know I won't.” + +“So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?” + +“I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in +spakin' to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my +character to look to.” + +“And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?” + +“I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him, +too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do.” + +“Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands.” + +“I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough.” + +“Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit.” + +“No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it.” + +“Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this +family?” + +“No,” sir; “but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going +out of it.” + +“It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed, +impracticable girls here.” + +“You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr. +Hycy.” + +“Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out +to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must +not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, how can I help it? It's very +natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl.” + +“But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others +before now--I needn't name them--widout name, or fame, or hope, or +happiness in this world.” + +“I won't be in until late, Nanny,” he replied, coolly. “Sit up for me. +You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;” and, having +nodded to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out. + +“Ay,” said she, after he had gone; “little you know, you hardened and +heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know +that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now +gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that +can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know +besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't.” + + + + +CHAPTEE XI.--Death of a Virtuous Mother. + +It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from +Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had, +in his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's +illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions +that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found +that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account. +Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed +jest. After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed--“What is the +matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow.” + +Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears--“We +are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that +we all love--as every one did that knew her.” + +“Hanna, darling,” said Kathleen, “this won't do. Poor girl! you are +likely to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real +danger. Your mother, Bryan,” she proceeded, “is much worse than she has +been. The priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't +follow that there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless.” + +“Oh, my God!” exclaimed Bryan, “is it so? My mother--and such a mother! +Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must leave +you--I must go.” + +“We will go up with you,” said Kathleen. “Hanna, we will go up; for, +if she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman +before she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and that it's +only a sudden attack that will pass away.” + +“Do so, Kathleen,” said her mother; “and you can fetch us word how she +is. May the Lord bring her safe over it at any rate; for surely the +family will break their hearts afther her, an' no wondher, for where was +her fellow?” + +Bryan was not capable of hearing these praises, which he knew to be +so well and so justly her due, with firmness; nor could he prevent his +tears, unless by a great effort, from bearing testimony to the depth +of his grief. Kathleen's gaze, however, was turned on him with an +expression which gave him strength; for indeed there was something noble +and. sustaining in the earnest and consoling sympathy which he read in +her dark and glorious eye. On their way to Carriglass there was little +spoken. Bryan's eye every now and then sought that of Kathleen; and +he learned, for the first time, that it is only in affliction that the +exquisite tenderness of true and disinterested love can be properly +appreciated and felt. Indeed he wondered at his own sensations; for +in proportion as his heart became alarmed at the contemplation of his +mother's loss, he felt, whenever he looked upon Kathleen, that it also +burned towards her with greater tenderness and power--so true is it +that sorrow and suffering purify and exalt all our nobler and better +emotions. + +Bryan and his companions, ere they had time to reach the house, were +seen and. recognized by the family, who, from the restlessness and +uncertainty which illness usually occasions, kept moving about and +running out from time to time to watch the arrival of the priest or +doctor. On this occasion Dora came to meet them; but, alas! with what +a different spirit from that which animated her on the return of her +father from the metropolis. Her gait was now slow, her step languid; +and they could perceive that, as she approached them, she wiped away the +tears. Indeed her whole appearance was indicative of the state of +her mother; when they met her, her bitter sobbing and the sorrowful +earnestness of manner with which she embraced the sisters, wore +melancholy assurances that the condition of the sufferer was not +improved. Hanna joined her tears with hers; but Kathleen, whose sweet +voice in attempting to give the affectionate girl consolation, was more +than once almost shaken out of its firmness, did all she could to soothe +and relieve her. + +On entering the house, they found a number of the neighboring females +assembled, and indeed the whole family, in consequence of the alarm +and agitation visible them, might not inaptly be compared to a brood of +domestic fowl when a hawk, bent on destruction, is seen hovering over +their heads. + +As is usual with Catholic families in their state of life, there were +several of those assembled, and also some of themselves, at joint prayer +in different parts of the house; and seated by her bedside was her +youngest son, Art, engaged, with sobbing voice and eyes every now and +then blinded with tears, in the perusal, for her comfort, of Prayers for +the Sick. Tom M'Mahon himself went about every now and then clasping +his hands, and turning up his eyes to heaven in a distracted manner, +exclaiming--“Oh! Bridget, Bridget, is it come to this at last! And +you're lavin' me--you're lavin' me! Oh, my God! what will I do--how will +I live, an' what will become of me!” + +On seeing Bryan, he ran to him and said,--“Oh! Bryan, to what point will +I turn?--where will I get consolation?--how will I bear it? Sure, +she was like a blessin' from heaven among us; ever full of peace, and +charity, and goodness--the kind word an' the sweet smile to all; but to +me--to me--oh! Bridget, Bridget, I'd rather die than live afther you!” + +“Father, dear, your takin' it too much to heart,” replied Bryan; “who +knows but God may spare her to us still? But you know that even if it's +His will to remove her from amongst us”--his voice here failed him for a +moment--“hem--to remove her from amongst us, it's our duty to submit +to it; but I hope in God she may recover still. Don't give way to sich +grief till we hear what the docthor will say, at all events. How did she +complain or get ill; for I think she wasn't worse when I left home?” + +“It's all in her stomach,” replied his father. “She was seized wid +cramps in her stomach, an' she complains very much of her head; but her +whole strength is gone, she can hardly spake, and she has death in her +face.” + +At this moment his brother Michael came to them, and +said--“Bryan--Bryan”--but he could proceed no farther. + +“Whisht, Michael,” said the other; “this is a shame; instead of +supportin' and cheer-in' my father, you're only doing him harm. I tell +you all that you'll find there's no raison for this great grief. Be a +man, Michael--” + +“She has heard your voice,” proceeded his brother, “and wishes to see +you.” + +This proof of her affection for him, at the very moment when he was +attempting to console others, was almost more than he could bear. +Bryan knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart +overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate +domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a +favorite. There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality, +which rarely made its appearance unless in some slight and +inconsiderable circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was +valuable in proportion to its delicacy and the caution with which it +was guarded. Always indeed in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the +partiality she bore him observable; and sometimes it consisted in a +postponement of his wishes or comforts to those of her other children, +because she felt that she might do with him that which she could not +with the others--thus calculating as it were upon his greater affection. +But it is wonderful to reflect in how many ways, and through what +ingenious devices the human heart can exhibit its tenderness. + +Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been +reading for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On +approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, +which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving +home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not +further diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally +occasion. But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk +into half its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, +stamped with the unequivocal impress of death. + +Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult +to conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, +now so full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, +he stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible +sorrow. + +“Bryan, dear,” she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat +subsided, “why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed +my dependence--I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for +weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow--I sent +for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God to +take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' +especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the +pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I +know he'll suffer when I'm gone. May the Lord pity and give him +strength!--for I can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I +ever seen his face until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind +look, an' that you all know.” + +“Oh how could he, mother dear? how could any one give you that? Who +was it that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and +affection?” + +“I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my +childre', and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not +frightened at death. An', Bryan, listen to the words of your dyin' +mother--” + +“Oh, don't say that yet, mother,” replied her son, sobbing; “don't say +so yet; who knows but God will spare your life, an' that you may be many +years with us still; they're all alarmed too much, I hope; but it's no +wondher we should, mother dear, when there's any appearance at all of +danger about you.” + +“Well, whether or not, Bryan, the advice I'm goin' to give you is +never out o' saison. Live always with the fear of God in your heart; +do nothing that you think will displease Him; love your +fellow-creatures--serve them and relieve their wants an' distresses as +far as you're able; be like your own father--kind and good to all about +you, not neglectin' your religious duties. Do this, Bryan, an' then when +the hour o' death comes, you'll feel a comfort an' happiness in your +heart that neither the world nor anything in it can give you. You'll +feel the peace of God there, an' you will die happy--happy.” + +Her spirit, animated by the purity and religious truth of this simple +but beautiful morality, kindled into pious fervor as she proceeded, +so much so indeed, that on turning her eyes towards heaven, whilst she +uttered the last words, they sparkled with the mild and serene light of +that simple but unconscious enthusiasm on behalf of all goodness which +had characterized her whole life, and which indeed is a living principle +among thousands of her humble countrywomen. + +“This, dear Bryan, is the advice I gave to them all; it an' my love is +the only legacy I have to lave them. An' my darlin' Dora, Bryan--oh, if +you be kind and tendher to any one o' them beyant another, be so to +her. My darlin'Dora! Oh! her heart's all affection, an' kindness, an' +generosity. But indeed, as I said, Bryan, the task must fall to you to +strengthen and console every one o' them. Ay!--an' you must begin now. +You wor ever, ever, a good son; an' may God keep you in the right faith, +an' may my blessin' an' His be wid you for ever! Amin.” + +There was a solemn and sustaining spirit in her words which strengthened +Bryan, who, besides, felt anxious to accomplish to the utmost extent the +affectionate purpose which had caused her to send for him. + +“It's a hard task, mother darlin,” he replied; “but I'll endeavor, with +God's help, to let them see that I haven't been your son for nothing; +but you don't know, mother, that Kathleen's here, an' Hanna. They wish +to see you, an' to get your blessin'.” + +“Bring them in,” she replied, “an' let Dora come wid them, an' stay +yourself, Bryan, becaise I'm but weak, an' I don't wish that they should +stay too long. God sees its not for want of love for the other girls +that I don't bid you bring them in, but that I don't wish to see them +sufferin' too much sorrow; but my darlin' Dora will expect to be where +Kathleen is, an' my own eyes likes to look upon her, an' upon Kathleen, +too, Bryan, for I feel my heart bound to her as if she was one of +ourselves, as I hope she will be.” + +“Oh, bless her! bless her! mother,” he said, with difficulty, “an' tell +her them words--say them to herself. I'll go now and bring them in.” + +He paused, however, for a minute or two, in order to compose his voice +and features, that he might not seem to set them an example of weakness, +after which he left the apartment with an appearance of greater +composure than he really felt. + +In a few minutes the four returned: Bryan, with Kathleen's hand locked +in his, and Hanna, with her arm affectionately wreathed about Dora's +neck, as if the good-hearted girl felt anxious to cherish and comfort +her under the heavy calamity to which she was about to be exposed, for +Dora wept bitterly. Mrs. M'Mahon signed to Hanna to approach, who, with +her characteristic ardor of feeling, now burst into tears herself, and +stooping down kissed her and wept aloud, whilst Dora's grief also burst +out afresh. + +The sick woman looked at Bryan, as if to solicit his interference, and +the look was immediately understood by Kathleen as well as by himself. + +“This is very wrong of you, Hanna,” said her sister; “out of affection +and pity to them, you ought to endeavor to act otherwise. They have +enough, an' to much, to feel, without your setting them example; and, +Dora dear, I thought you had more courage than you have. All this is +only grieving and disturbing your mother; an' I hope that, for her sake, +you'll both avoid it. I know it's hard to do so, but it's the difficulty +and the trial that calls upon us to have strength, otherwise what are +we better than them that we'd condemn or think little of for their own +weakness.” + +The truth and moral force of the words, and the firmness of manner that +marked Kathleen as she spoke, were immediately successful. The grief +of the two girls was at once hushed; and, after a slight pause, Mrs. +M'Mahon called Kathleen to her. + +“Dear Kathleen,” she said, “I did hope to see the day when you'd be +one of my own family, but it's not the will of God, it appears, that I +should; however, may His will be done! I hope still that day will +come, an' that your friends won't have any longer an objection to your +marriage wid Bryan. I am his mother, an' no one has a better right to +know his heart an' his temper, an' I can say, upon my dyin' bed, that a +better heart an' a better temper never was in man. I believe, Kathleen, +it was never known that a good son ever made a bad husband. However, +if it's God's will to bring you together, He will, and if it isn't, you +must only bear it patiently.” + +Bryan was silent, but his eye, from time to time, turned with a long +glance of love and sorrow upon Kathleen, whose complexion became pale +and red by turns. At length Dora, after her mother had concluded, went +over to Kathleen, and putting her arms around her neck, exclaimed, “Oh! +mother dear, something tells me that Kathleen will be my sisther yet, +an' if you'd ask her to promise--” + +Kathleen looked down upon the beautiful and expressive features of the +affectionate girl, and gently raising her hand she placed it upon Dora's +lips, in order to prevent the completion of the sentence. On doing so +she received a sorrowful glance of deep and imploring entreaty from +Bryan, which she returned with another that seemed to reprove him for +doubting her affection, or supposing that such a promise was even +necessary. “No, Dora dear,” she said, “I could make no promise without +the knowledge of my father and mother, or contrary to their wishes; but +did you think, darling, that such a thing was necessary?” She kissed the +sweet girl as she spoke, and Dora felt a tear on her cheek that was not +her own. + +Mrs. M'Mahon had been looking with a kind of mournful admiration upon +Kathleen during this little incident, and then proceeded. “She says what +is right and true; and it would be wrong, my poor child, to ask her to +give such a promise. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl--oh, do! an' +if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the best +gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here--come to me--let me put my +hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest upon you +for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree.” Hanna kissed her +again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might not be able +to restrain it, took her away. + +“Now,” proceeded the dying woman, “come to me, you Kathleen, my +daughter--sure you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and +stay with me awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to +any one out o' my own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own +child? Because I hope you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree.” + +Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower +of warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing +pressure, that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just +expressed. Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more +resuming her firmness, awaited the expected blessing. + +“Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour, +I endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son, +listen to me--love him as you may, and as I know you do.” + +“Why should I deny it?” said Kathleen, “I do love him.” + +“I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and +wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you.” + +She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety +and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that +was clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her +to the rest which she now required so much. + +The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In +the course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she +appeared somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the +worst, and in confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with +dreadful violence, and in the lapse of two hours after his visit, +this pious and virtuous woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a +patience and fortitude that could not be surpassed, expired in the midst +of her afflicted family. + +It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and +undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by +death, there supervenes upon the sorrow of many, a feeling of awful +sympathy with that individual whose love for the object has been, the +greatest, and whose loss is of course the most irreparable. So was it +with the M'Mahons. Thomas M'Mahon himself could not bear to witness the +sufferings of his wife, nor to hear her moans. He accordingly left the +house, and walked about the garden and farm-yard, in a state little +short of actual distraction. When the last scene was over, and her +actual sufferings closed for ever, the outrage of grief among his +children became almost hushed from a dread of witnessing the sufferings +of their father; and for the time a great portion of their own sorrow +was merged in what they felt for him. Nor was this feeling confined +to themselves. His neighbors and acquaintances, on hearing of Mrs. +M'Mahon's death, almost all exclaimed:-- + +“Oh, what will become of him? they are nothing an will forget her soon, +as is natural, well as they loved her; but poor Tom, oh! what on earth +will become of him?” Every eye, however, now turned toward Bryan, who +was the only one of the family possessed of courage enough to undertake +the task of breaking the heart-rending intelligence to their bereaved +father. + +“It must be done,” he said, “and the sooner it's done the better; what +would I give to have my darlin' Kathleen here. Her eye and her advice +would give me the strength that I stand so much in need of. My God, how +will I meet him, or break the sorrowful tidings to him at all! The Lord +support me!” + +“Ah, but Bryan,” said they, “you know he looks up to whatever you say, +and how much he is advised by you, if there happens to be a doubt about +anything. Except her that's gone, there was no one--” + +Bryan raised his hand with an expression of resolution and something +like despair, in order as well as he could to intimate to them, that he +wished to hear no allusion made to her whom they had lost, or that he +must become incapacitated to perform the task he had to encounter, and +taking his hat he proceeded to find his father, whom he met behind the +garden. + +It may be observed of deep grief, that whenever it is excited by the +loss of what is good and virtuous, it is never a solitary passion, we +mean within the circle of domestic life. So far from that, there is not +a kindred affection under the influence of a virtuous heart, that is not +stimulated, and strengthened by its emotions. How often, for instance, +have two members of the same family rushed into each other's arms, when +struck by a common sense of the loss of some individual that was dear to +both, because it was felt that the very fact of loving the same object +had now made them dear to each other. + +The father, on seeing Bryan approach, stood for a few moments and looked +at him eagerly; he then approached him with a hasty and unsettled step, +and said, “Bryan, Bryan, I see it in your face, she has left us, she has +left us, she has left us all, an' she has left me; an' how am I to live +without her? answer me that; an then give me consolation if you can.” + +He threw himself on his son's neck, and by a melancholy ingenuity +attempted to seduce him as it were from the firmness which he appeared +to preserve in the discharge of this sorrowful task, with a hope that he +might countenance him in the excess of his grief--“Oh,” he added, “I've +have lost her, Bryan--you and I, the two that she--that--she--Your word +was everything to her, a law to her; and she was so proud out of you--I +an' her eye would rest upon you smilin', as much as to say--there's my +son, haven't I a right to feel proud of him, for he has never once vexed +his mother's heart? nayther did you, Bryan, nayther did you, but now who +will praise you as she did? who will boast of you behind your back, for +she seldom did it to your face; and now that smile of love and kindness +will never be on her blessed lips more. Sure you won't blame me, +Bryan--oh, sure above all men livin', you won't blame me for feelin' her +loss as I do.” + +The associations excited by the language of his father were such as +Bryan was by no means prepared to meet. Still he concentrated all +his moral power and resolution in order to accomplish the task he had +undertaken, which, indeed, was not so much to announce his mother's +death, as to support his father under it. After a, violent effort, he at +length said:-- + +“Are you sorry, father, because God has taken my mother to Himself? +Would you wish to have her here, in pain and suffering? Do you grudge +her heaven? Father, you were always a brave and strong, fearless man, +but what are you now? Is this the example you are settin' to us, who +ought to look up to you for support? Don't you know my mother's in +heaven? Why, one would think you're sorry for it? Come, come, father, +set your childre' an example now when they want it, that they can look +up to--be a man, and don't forget that she's in God's Glory, Come in +now, and comfort the rest.” + +“Ay, but when I think of what she was, Bryan; of what she was to me, +Bryan, from the first day I ever called her my wife, ay, and before it, +when she could get better matches, when she struggled, and waited, and +fought for me, against all opposition, till her father an' mother saw +her heart was fixed upon me; hould your tongue, Bryan, I'll have no one' +to stop my grief for her, where is she? where's my wife, I tell you? +where's Bridget M'Mahon?--Bridget, where are you? have you left me, gone +from me, an' must I live here widout you? must I rise in the mornin,' +and neither see you nor hear you? or must I live here by myself an' +never have your opinion nor advice to ask upon anything as I used to +do--Bridget M'Mahon, why did you leave me? where are you from me?” + +“Here's Dora,” said a sweet but broken voice; “here's Dora M'Mahon--your +own Dora, too--and that you love bekaise I was like her. Oh, come with +me, father, darlin'. For her sake, compose yourself and come with me. +Oh, what are we to feel! wasn't she our mother? Wasn't she?--wasn't she? +What am I sayin'? Ay, but, now--we have no mother, now!” + +M'Mahon still leaned upon his son's neck, but on hearing his favorite +daughter's voice, he put his arm round to where she stood, and +clasping her in, brought her close to him and Bryan, so that the three +individuals formed one sorrowing group together. + +“Father,” repeated Dora, “come with me for my mother's sake.” + +He started. “What's that you say, Dora? For your mother's sake? I will, +darlin'--for her sake, I will. Ay, that's the way to manage me--for her +sake. Oh, what wouldn't I do for her sake? Come, then, God bless you, +darlin', for puttin' that into my head. You may make me do anything now, +Dora, jewel--if you just ax it for her sake. Oh, my God! an is it +come to this? An' am I talkin' this way?--but--well, for her sake, +darlin'--for her sake. Come, I'll go in--but--but--oh, Bryan, how can +I?” + +“You know father,” replied Bryan, who now held his arm, “we must all +die, and it will be well for us if we can die as she died. Didn't father +Peter say that if ever the light of heaven was in a human heart, it was +in hers?” + +“Ay, but when I go in an' look upon her, an' call Bridget, she won't +answer me.” + +“Father dear, you are takin' it too much to heart.” + +“Well, it'll be the first time she ever refused to answer me--the first +time that ever her lips will be silent when I spake to her.” + +“But, father,” said the sweet girl at his side, “think of me. Sure I'll +be your Dora more than ever, now. You know what you promised me this +minute. Oh, for her sake, and for God's sake, then, don't take it so +much to heart. It was my grandfather sent me to you, an' he says he +want's to see you, an' to spake to you.” + +“Oh!” he exclaimed, “My poor father, an' he won't be long afther her. +But this is the way wid all, Bryan--the way o' the world itself. We must +go. I didn't care, now, how soon I followed her. Oh, no, no.” + +“Don't say so, father; think of the family you have; think of how you +love them, and how they love you, father dear. Don't give way so much to +this sorrow. I know it's hard to bid you not to do it; but you know we +must strive to overcome ourselves. I hope there's happy days and years +before us still. We'll have our leases soon, you know, an' then we'll +feel firm and comfortable: an' you know you'll be--we'll all be near +where she sleeps.” + +“Where she sleeps. Well, there's comfort in that, Bryan--there's comfort +in that.” + +The old man, though very feeble, on seeing him approach, rose up and met +him. “Tom,” said he, “be a man, and don't shame my white hairs nor your +own. I lost your mother, an' I was as fond of her, an' had as good a +right, too, as ever you were of her that's now an angel in heaven; but +if I lost her, I bore it as a man ought. I never yet bid you do a thing +that you didn't do, but I now bid you stop cryin', an don't fly in the +face o' God as you're doin'. You respect my white hairs, an' God will +help you as he has done!” + +The venerable appearance of the old man, the melancholy but tremulous +earnestness with which he spoke, and the placid spirit of submission +which touched his whole bearing with the light of an inward piety +that no age could dim or overshadow, all combined to work a salutary +influence upon M'Mahon. He evidently made a great effort at composure, +nor without success. His grief became calm; he paid attention to other +matters, and by the aid of Bryan, and from an anxiety lest he should +disturb or offend his father by any further excess of sorrow, he was +enabled to preserve a greater degree of composure than might have been +expected. + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Hycy Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. + +The Hogans, who seldom missed a Wake, Dance, Cockfight or any other +place of amusement or tumult, were not present, we need scarcely assure +our readers, at the wake-house of Mrs. M'Mahon. On that night they and +Teddy Phats were all sitting in their usual domicile, the kiln, already +mentioned, expecting Hycy, when the following brief dialogue took place, +previous to his appearance: + +“What keeps this lad, Hycy?” said Bat; “an' a complate lad is in his +coat, when he has it on him. Troth I have my doubts whether this same +gentleman is to be depended on.” + +“Gentleman, indeed,” exclaimed Philip, “nothing short of that will sarve +him, shure. To be depinded on, Bat! Why, thin, its more than I'd like to +say. Howanever, he's as far in, an' farther than we are.” + +“There's no use in our quarrelin' wid him,” said Phats, in his natural +manner. “If he's in our power, we're in his; an' you know he could +soon make the counthry too hot to hold us. Along wid all, too, he's as +revengeful as the dioule himself, if not a thrifle more so.” + +“If he an' Kathleen gets bothered together,” said Philip, “'twould be a +good look up for us, at any rate.” + +Kate Hogan was the only female present, the truth being that Philip and +Ned were both widowers, owing, it was generally believed, to the brutal +treatment which their unfortunate wives received at their hands. + +“Don't quarrel wid him,” said she, “if you can, at any rate, till we get +him more in our power, an' that he'll be soon, maybe. If we fall out +wid him, we'd have to lave the place, an' maybe to go farther than we +intend, too. Wherever we went over the province, this you know was our +headquarters. Here's where all belongin' to us--I mane that ever died a +natural death, or drew their last breath in the counthry--rests, an' I'd +not like to go far from it.” + +“Let what will happen,” said Philip, with an oath, “I'd lose my right +arm before Bryan M'Mahon puts a ring on Kathleen.” + +“I can tell you that Hycy has no notion of marry in' her, thin,” said +Kate. + +“How do you know that?” asked her husband. + +“I've a little bird that tells me,” she replied. + +“Gerald Cavanagh an' his wife doesn't think so,” said Philip. “They and +Jemmy Burke has the match nearly made.” + +“They may make the match,” said Kate, “but it's more than they'll be +able to do to make the marriage. Hycy's at greater game, I tell you; but +whether he is or not, I tell you again that Bryan M'Mahon will have her +in spite of all opposition.” + +“May be not,” said Phats; “Hycy will take care o' that; he has him set; +he'll work him a charm; he'll take care that Bryan won't be long in a +fit way to offer himself as a match for her.” + +“More power to him in that,” said Philip; “if he makes a beggarman of +him he may depend on us to the back-bone.” + +“Have no hand in injurin' Bryan M'Mahon,” said Kate. “Keep him from +marryin' Kathleen if you like, or if you can; but, if you're wise, don't +injure the boy.” + +“Why so?” asked Philip. + +“That's nothing to you,” she replied; “for a raison I have; and mark me, +I warn you not to do so or it'll be worse for you.” + +“Why, who are we afraid of, barrin Hycy himself?” + +“It's no matther; there's them livin' could make you afeard, an' maybe +will, too, if you injure that boy.” + +“I'd just knock him on the head,” replied the ferocious ruffian, “as +soon as I would a mad dog.” + +“Whisht,” said Phats, “here's Hycy; don't you hear his foot?” + +Hycy entered in a few moments afterwards, and, after the usual +greetings, sat down by the fire. + +“De night's could,” said Phats, resuming his brogue; “but here,” he +added, pulling out a bottle of whiskey, “is something to warm de blood +in us. Will you thry it, Meeisther Hycy?” + +“By-and-by--not now; but help yourselves.” + +“When did you see Miss Kathleen, Masther Hycy,” asked Kate. + +“You mean Miss Kathleen the Proud?” he replied--“my Lady Dignity--I have +a crow to pluck with her.” + +“What crow have you to pluck wid her?” asked Kate, fiercely. “You'll +pluck no crow wid her, or, if you do, I'll find a bag to hould the +fedhers--mind that.” + +“No, no,” said Philip; “whatever's to be done, she must come to no +harm.” + +“Why, the crow I have to pluck with her, Mrs. Hogan, is--let me +see--why--to--to marry her--to bind her in the bands of holy wedlock; +and you know, when I do, I'm to give you all a house and place free +gratis for nothing during your lives--that's what I pledge myself to do, +and not a rope to hang yourselves, worthy gentlemen, as Finigan would +say. I pass over the fact,” he proceeded, laughing, “of the peculiar +intimacy which, on a certain occasion, was established between Jemmy, +the gentleman's old oak drawers, and your wrenching-irons; however, that +is not the matter at present, and I am somewhat in a hurry.” + +“You heard,” said Bat, “that Bryan M'Mahon has lost his mother?” + +“I did,” said the other; “poor orphan lad, I pity him.” + +“We know you do,” said Bat, with a vindictive but approving sneer. + +“I assure you,” continued Hycy, “I wish the young man well.” + +“Durin' der lives,” repeated Phats, who had evidently been pondering +over Hycy's promised gift to the Hogans;--“throth,” he observed with +a grin, “dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan +M'Mahon well,” he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows. + +“Shiss,” replied Hycy, mimicking him, “her does.” + +“But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat.” + +“For alls dats” replied the other. “Dat will do den,” said Phats, +composedly. “Enough of this,” said Hycy. “Now, Phats, have you examined +and pitched upon the place?” + +“Well, then,” replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, “I have; +an' a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of +Cullamore. But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of +Glencuil?” + +“Perfectly well,” replied Hycy, “he ruined him.” + +“But we don't know it,” said Ned; “how was it, Teddy?” + +“Why, he set up a still on his property--an' you know Adam owns the +whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra--an' afther three +or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it +was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger--may the +devil break his neck at any rate!--an' the redcoats--came and found all +right, Still, Head, and Worm.” + +“Well,” said Bat, “an' how did that ruin him?” + +“Why, by the present law,” returned Phats, “it's the townland that must +pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine, +however, and now he's a beggar--root an' branch, chick an' child out of +it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?” + +“No,” replied Hycy, “you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still, +because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the _sthad_ +an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two +every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for +your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be +done. Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict +account of this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played +on. There's another thirty-shilling note--or stay, I'll make it two +pounds--to enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels +and things from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?” he said, +addressing himself to Hogan. + +“All,” replied Philip; “sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in +Europe--ready to be set to work at a minute's notice.” + +“When,” said Hycy, rising, “will it be necessary that I should see you +again?” + +“We'll let you know,” replied Phats, “when we want you. Kate here can +drop in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word.” + +“Well, then, good-night--stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I go; +and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every +one of you on this occasion?” + +“We do,” replied Philip; “no doubt of it.” + +“Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul +of you ever breathes--I hope, by the way, that these young savages are +all asleep--” + +“As sound as a top,” said Bat, “everyone o' them.” + +“Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to +a human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the +business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold +you--and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of you +if it went to that.” + +Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance, +which was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have +something derisive in it. + +“Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable +Mrs. Hogan?” he asked. + +Kate gave either a feigned or a real start as he spoke. + +“Laughed at!” she exclaimed, as if surprised; “throth I wasn't thinkin +of you at all, Mr. Hycy. What wor you sayin'?” + +“That if my name ever happens to be mentioned in connection with +this business, I'll send the whole kit of you--hammers, budgets, +and sothering-irons--to hell or Connaught; so think of this now, and +goodnight.” + +“There goes as d----d vagabond,” said Ned, “as ever stretched hemp; and +only that it's our own business to make the most use we can out of him, +I didn't care the devil had him, for I don't like a bone in his skin.” + +“Why,” said Philip, “I see what he's at now. Sure enough he'll put the +copin'-stone on Bryan. M'Mahon at any rate--that, an' if we can get the +house and place out of him--an' what need we care?” + +“Send us to hell or Connaught,” said Kate; “well, that's not bad--ha! +ha! ha!” + +“What are you neigherin' at?” said her husband; “and what set you +a-caoklin' to his face a while ago?” + +She shook her head carelessly. “No matther,” she replied, “for a raison +I had.” + +“Would you let me know your raison, if you plaise?” + +“If I plaise--ay, you did well to put that in, for I don't plaise to let +you know any more about it. I laughed bekaise I liked to laugh; an' I +hope one may do that 'ithout being brought over the coals about it. Go +to bed, an' give me another glass o' whiskey, Ted--it always makes me +sleep.” + +Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating. + +“He is a good boy,” said he; “but at any rate our hands is in the lion's +mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him.” + +Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had. +been in for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him +considerable satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as +possible in executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself, +who was a thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great +relish for business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old +uncle the gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked +upon him as unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a +cheap farm, such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of +idleness and expense to those of application and industry. Being aware, +from common report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in +Ahadarra was out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but +knew not exactly in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing +it if he could, without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of +obloquy besides. Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners +who, without either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep +as good terms with the world as they can, whilst at the same time +they laugh and despise in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and +respect in it. His nephew, however, had some positive good, and not a +little of that light and reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for +heart and spirit. Hycy and he, though not very long acquainted, were, at +the present period of our narrative, on very intimate terms. They had, +it is true, a good many propensities in common, and these were what +constituted the bond between them. They were companions but not friends; +and Clinton saw many things in Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and +scarcely anything more than the contemptuous manner in which he spoke of +and treated his parents. He liked his society, because he was lively +and without any of that high and honorable moral feeling which is often +troublesome to a companion who, like Clinton, was not possessed of much +scruple while engaged in the pursuit of pleasures. On this account, +therefore, we say that he relished his society, but could neither +respect nor esteem him. + +On the following morning at breakfast, his uncle asked him where he had +dined the day before. + +“With Hycy Burke, sir,” replied the nephew. + +“Yes; that is honest Jemmy's son--a very great man in his own conceit, +Harry. You seem to like him very much.” + +Harry felt a good deal puzzled as to the nature of his reply. He knew +very well that his uncle did not relish Hycy, and he felt that he could +not exactly state his opinion of him without bringing in question +his own penetration and good taste in keeping his society. Then, with +respect to his sister, although he had no earthly intention of seeing +her the wife of such a person, still he resolved to be able to say to +Hycy that he had not broken his word, a consideration which would not +have bound Hycy one moment under the same circumstances. + +“He's a very pleasant young fellow, sir,” replied the other, “and has +been exceedingly civil and attentive to me.” + +“Ay!--do you like him--do you esteem him, I mean?” + +“I dare say I will, sir, when I come to know him better.” + +“Which is as much as to say that at present you do not. So I thought. +You have a portion of good sense about you, but in a thousand things +you're a jackass, Harry.” + +“Thank you, sir,” replied his nephew, laughing heartily; “thank you for +the compliment. I am your nephew, you know.” + +“You have a parcel of d----d scruples, I say, that are ridiculous. What +the devil need a man care about in this world but appearances? Mind your +own interests, keep up appearances, and you have done your duty.” + +“But I should like to do a little more than keep up appearances,” + replied his nephew. + +“I know you would,” said his uncle, “and it is for that especial reason +that I say you're carrying the ears. I'm now a long time in the world, +Masther Harry--sixty-two years--although I don't look it, nor anything +like it, and in the course of that time--or, at all events, ever +since I was able to form my own opinions, I never met a man that +wasn't a rogue in something, with the exception of--let me +see--one--two--three--four--five--I'm not able to make out the +half-dozen.” + +“And who were the five honorable exceptions?” asked his niece, smiling. + +“They were the five fools of the parish, Maria--and yet I am wrong, +still--for Bob M'Cann was as thievish as the very devil whenever he had +an opportunity. And now, do you know the conclusion I come to from all +this?” + +“I suppose,” said his niece, “that no man's honest but a fool.” + +“Thank you, Maria, Well done--you've hit it. By the way, it's seems +M'Mahon's wife, of Carriglass, is dead.” + +“Is she?” said Harry; “that is a respectable family, father, by all +accounts.” + +“Why, they neither rob nor steal, I believe,” replied his uncle. “They +are like most people, I suppose, honest in the eye of the law--honest +because the laws keep them so.” + +“I did not think your opinion of the world was so bad, uncle,” said +Maria; “I hope it is not so bad as you say it is.” + +“All I can say, then,” replied the old Cynic, “that if you wait till you +find an honest man for your husband, you'll die an old maid.” + +“Well, but excuse me, uncle, is that safe doctrine to lay down before +your nephew, or myself?” + +“Pooh, as to you, you silly girl, what have you to do with it? We're +taikin' about men, now--about the world, I say, and life in general.” + +“And don't you wish Harry to be honest?” + +“Yes, where it is his interest; and ditto to roguery, where it can be +done safely.” + +“I know you don't feel what you say, uncle,” she observed, “nor believe +it either.” + +“Not he, Maria,” said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; “but, +uncle, as to Hycy Burke--I don't--hem.” + +“You don't what?” asked the other, rising and staring at him. + +His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent. + +“You don't mean what, man?--always speak out. Here, help me on with +this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as +Ahadarra.” + +“That's a man I don't like,” said the nephew. “He's too soft and too +sweet, and speaks too low to be honest.” + +“Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?” replied his uncle. “He's +as good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to +the main point, and--keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;” + and with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was +peculiar to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept, +he left them. + +When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and +the latter said, “Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in +all he says on this subject?” + +Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister +than her uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the +affirmative, so much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little +for the sake of common decency. + +“Not at all, Maria; no man relishes honesty more than he does. He only +speaks in this fashion because he thinks that honest men are scarce, and +so they are. But, by-the-way, talking about Hycy Burke, Maria, how do +you like him?” + +“I can't say I admire him,” she replied, “but you know I have had very +slight opportunities of forming any opinion.” + +“From what you have seen of him, what do you think?” + +“Let me see,” she replied, pausing; “why, that he'll meet very few who +will think so highly of him as he does of himself.” + +“He thinks very highly of you, then.” + +“How do you know that?” she asked somewhat quickly. + +“Faith, Maria, from the best authority--because he himself told me so.” + +“So, then, I have had the honor of furnishing you with a topic of +conversation?” + +“Unquestionably, and you may prepare yourself for a surprise. He's +attached to you.” + +“I think not,” she replied calmly. + +“Why so?” he asked. + +“Because, if you wish to know the truth, I do not think him capable of +attachment to any one but himself.” + +“Faith, a very good reason, Maria; but, seriously, if he should +introduce the subject, I trust, at all events, that you will treat him +with respect.” + +“I shall certainly respect myself, Harry. He need not fear that I shall +read him one of my uncle's lectures upon life and honesty.” + +“I have promised not to be his enemy in the matter, and I shall keep my +word.” + +“So you may, Harry, with perfect safety. I am much obliged to him for +his good opinion; but”--she paused. + +“What do you stop at, Maria?” + +“I was only about to add,” she replied, “that I wish it was mutual.” + +“You wish it,” he exclaimed. “What do you mean by that, Maria?” + +She laughed. “Don't you know it is only a form of speech? a polite way +of saying that he does not rank high in my esteem?” + +“Well, well,” he replied, “settle that matter between you; perhaps the +devil is not so black as he's painted.” + +“A very unhappy illustration,” said his sister, “whatever has put it +into your head.' + +“Faith, and I don't know what put it there. However, all I can say in +the matter I have already said. I am not, nor shall I be, his enemy. +I'll trouble you, as you're near it, to touch the bell till George gets +the horse. I am going up to his father's, now. Shall I tell him that +John Wallace is discarded; that he will be received with smiles, and +that--” + +“How can you be so foolish, Harry?” + +“Well, good-bye, at any rate. You are perfectly capable of deciding for +yourself, Maria.” + +“I trust so,” she replied. “There's George with your horse now.” + +“It's a blue look-up, Master Hycy,” said Clinton to himself as he took +his way to Burke's. “I think you have but little chance in that quarter, +oh, most accomplished Hycy, and indeed I am not a whit sorry; but should +be very much so were it otherwise.” + +It is singular enough that whilst Clinton was introducing the subject +of Hycy's attachment to his sister, that worthy young gentleman was +sustaining a much more serious and vehement onset upon a similar subject +at home. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife having once got the notion of a +marriage between Kathleen and Hycy into their heads, were determined not +to rest until that desirable consummation should be brought about. In +accordance with this resolution, we must assure our readers that Gerald +never omitted any opportunity of introducing the matter to Jemmy Burke, +who, as he liked the Cavanaghs, and especially Kathleen herself, who, +indeed, was a general favorite, began to think that, although in point +of circumstances she was by no means a match for him, Hycy might do +still worse. It is true, his wife was outrageous at the bare mention of +it; but Jemmy, along with a good deal of blunt sarcasm, had a resolution +of his own, and not unfrequently took a kind of good-natured and +shrewd delight in opposing her wishes whenever he found them to be +unreasonable. For several months past he could not put his foot out of +the door that he was not haunted by honest Gerald Cavanagh, who had only +one idea constantly before him, that of raising his daughter to the rank +and state in which he knew, or at least calculated that Hycy Burke would +keep her. Go where he might, honest Jemmy was attended by honest Gerald, +like his fetch. At mass, at market, in every fair throughout the country +was Cavanagh sure to bring up the subject of the marriage; and what +was the best of it, he and his neighbor drank each other's healths so +repeatedly on the head of it, that they often separated in a state that +might be termed anything but sober. Nay, what is more, it was a fact +that they had more than once or twice absolutely arranged the whole +matter, and even appointed the day for the wedding, without either of +them being able to recollect the circumstances on the following morning. + +Whilst at breakfast on the morning in question, Burke, after finishing +his first cup of tea, addressed his worthy son as follows:-- + +“Hycy, do you intend to live always this way?” + +“Certainly not, Mr. Burke. I expect to dine on something more +substantial than tea.” + +“You're very stupid, Hycy, not to understand me; but, indeed, you never +were overstocked wid brains, unfortunately, as I know to my cost--but +what I mane is, have you any intention of changing your condition in +life? Do you intend to marry, or to go on spendin' money upon me at this +rate!” + +“The old lecture, Mrs. Burke,” said Hycy, addressing his mother. +“Father, you are sadly deficient in originality. Of late you are +perpetually repeating yourself. Why, I suppose to-morrow or next day, +you will become geometrical on our hands, or treat us to a grammatical +praxis. Don't you think it very likely, Mrs. Burke!” + +“And if he does,” replied his mother, “it's not the first time he has +been guilty of both; but of late, all the little shame he had, he has +lost it.” + +“Faith, and if I hadn't got a large stock, I'd a been run out of it this +many a day, in regard of what I had to lose in that way for you, Hycy. +However I'll thank you to listen to me. Have you any intention of +marryin' a wife?” + +“Unquestionably, Mr. Burke. Not a doubt of it.” + +“Well, I am glad to hear it. The sooner you're married, the sooner +you'll settle down. You'll know, then, my lad, what life is.” + +Honest Jemmy's sarcasm was likely to carry him too far from his purpose, +which was certainly not to give a malicious account of matrimony, but, +on the contrary, to recommend it to his worthy son. + +“Well, Mr. Burke,” said Hycy, winking at his mother, “proceed.” + +“The truth is, Hycy,” he added, “I have a wife in my eye for you.” + +“I thought as much,” replied the other. “I did imagine it was there you +had her; name--Mr. Burke--name?” + +“Troth, I'm ashamed, Hycy, to name her and yourself on the same day.” + +“Well, can't you name her to-day, and postpone me until to-morrow?” + +“It would be almost a pity to have her thrown away upon you. A good and +virtuous wife, however, may do a great deal to reclaim a bad husband, +and, indeed, you wouldn't be the first profligate that was reformed in +the same way.” + +“Many thanks, Mr. Burke; you are quite geological this morning; isn't +he, ma'am?” + +“When was he ever anything else? God pardon him! However, I know what +he's exterminatin' for; he wants you to marry Kathleen Cavanagh.” + +“Ay do I, Rosha; and she might make him a respectable man yet,--that is, +if any woman could.” + +“Geological again, mother; well, really now, Katsey Cavanagh is a +splendid girl, a fine animal, no doubt of it; all her points are good, +but, at the same time, Mr. Burke, a trifle too plebeian for Hycy the +accomplished.” + +“I tell you she's a devilish sight too good for you; and if you don't +marry her, you'll never get such a wife.” + +“Troth,” answered Mrs. Burke, “I think myself there's something over +you, or you wouldn't spake as you do--a wife for Hycy--one of Gerald +Cavanagh's daughters make a wife for him!--not while I'm alive at any +rate, plaise God.” + +“While you're alive; well, may be not:--but sure if it plases God to +bring it about, on your own plan, I must endaivor to be contented, +Rosha; ay, an' how do you know but I'd dance at their weddin' too! +ha! ha! ha!” + +“Oh, then, it's you that's the bitther pill, Jemmy Burke! but, thank +God, I disregard you at all events. It's little respect you pay to my +feelings, or ever did.” + +“I trust, my most amiable mother, that you won't suffer the equability +of your temper to be disturbed by anything proceeding from such an +antiphlogistic source. Allow me to say, Mr. Burke, that I have higher +game in view, and that for the present I must beg respectfully to +decline the proposal which you so kindly made, fully sensible as I am +of the honor you intended for me. If you will only exercise a little +patience, however, perhaps I shall have the pleasure ere long of +presenting to you a lady of high accomplishments, amiable manners, and +very considerable beauty.” + +“Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?” + +“Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest +Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as +possible, for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine.” + +“You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?” + +“For the present I say most assuredly not,” replied the son, in the same +ironical and polite tone. + +“Because,” continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there +was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, “as poor Gerald was +a good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry +her--_to oblige him_.” + +Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous +sarcasm implied in these words. “Father,” said he, to save trouble, and +to prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I +think it right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl +as Cavanagh's daughter.” + +“No,” continued his mother, “nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it.” + +“Very well,” said the father; “is that your mind?” + +“That's my mind, sir.” + +“Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better +manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother +home from school,--suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,--and suppose +I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a +gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is +something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men.” + +He took up his hat as he spoke and went out to the fields, leaving both +mother and son in no slight degree startled by an intimation so utterly +unexpected, but which they knew enough of him to believe was one not at +all unlikely to be acted on by a man who so frequently followed up his +own determinations with a spirit amounting almost to obstinacy. + +“I think, mother,” observed the latter, “we must take in sail a little; +'the gentleman' won't bear the ironical to such an extent, although he +is master of it in his own way; in other words, Mr. Burke won't bear to +be laughed at.” + +“Not he,” said his mother, in the tone of one who was half angry at him +on that very account, “he'll bear nothing.” + +“D--n it, to tell that vulgar bumpkin, Cavanagh, I suppose in a state +of maudlin drunkenness, that he would make me marry his daughter--to +oblige, him!--contempt could go no further; it was making a complete +cipher of me.” + +“Ay, but I'm disturbed about what he said going out, Hycy. I don't +half like the face he had on him when he said it; and when he comes to +discover other things, too, money matthers--there will be no keepin the +house wid him.” + +“I fear as much,” said Hycy; “however, we must only play our cards as +well as we can; he is an impracticable man, no doubt of it, and it is a +sad thing that a young fellow of spirit should be depending on such a-- + + “'Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, + How can you bloom so fresh and fair, + How can ye chant, ye little birds, + And I sae weary fu' o' care, &c., &c. + +“Well, well--I do not relish that last hint certainly, and if other +projects should fail, why, as touching the fair Katsey, it might not +be impossible that--however, time will develop. She is a fine girl, a +magnificent creature, no doubt of it, still, most maternal relative, as +I said, time will develop--by the way, Mrs. M'Mahon, the clodhopper's +mother, is to be interred to-morrow, and I suppose you and 'the +gentleman' will attend the funeral.” + +“Sartinly, we must.” + +“So shall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious +ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself, +meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky +thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, _non constat_, +as Finigan would say, time will develop.” + +“You're not gainin' ground with him at all events,” said his mother; +“ever since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards +both of us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and +has something on his mind ever since.” + +“I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I +said just now, I say time will develop.” + +He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which +consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as +they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII.--Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. + + +On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such +cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious +to soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and +Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into +the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood. +Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady, +the Roman Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing, +undertook to direct the religious devotions which are usual on such +occasions. In consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that +then existed in our unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that +persons were, from necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of +religious duties, who were possessed of very little education, if not, +as was too often the case, absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was +not absolutely illiterate, but, in good truth, he was by no means far +removed from that uncomfortable category. Finigan, the schoolmaster, +was also present; and as he claimed acquaintance with the classics, +and could understand and read with something like correctness the Latin +offices, which were frequently repeated on these occasions it would be +utterly impossible to describe the lofty scorn and haughty supercilious +contempt with which he contemplated poor Dennis, who kept muttering away +at the _Confiteor_ and _De Profundis_ with a barbarity of pronunciation +that rendered it impossible for human ears to understand a single word +he said. Finigan, swollen with an indignation which he could no longer +suppress, and stimulated by a glass or two of whiskey, took three or +four of the neighbors over to a corner, where, whilst his eyes rested on +Dennis with a most withering expression of scorn, he exclaimed--“Here, +hand me that manual, and get out o' my way, you illiterate nonentity and +most unsufferable appendage to religion.” + +He then took the book, and going over to the coffin, read in a loud +and sonorous voice the _De Profundis_ and other prayers for the dead, +casting his eyes from time to time upon the unfortunate clerk with a +contemptuous bitterness and scorn that, for force of expression, could +not be surpassed. When he had concluded, he looked around him with a +sense of lofty triumph that was irresistible in its way. “There,” said +he, “is something like accent and quantity for you--there is something +that may, without derogation to religion, be called respectable +perusal--an' yet to say that a man like me, wid classical +accomplishments and propensities from my very cradle, should be set +aside for that illiterate vulgarian, merely because, like every other +janius, I sometimes indulge in the delectable enjoyment of a copious +libation, is too bad.” + +This in fact was the gist of his resentment against O'Grady. He had been +in the habit for some time of acting as clerk to the priest, who bore +with his “copious libations,” as he called them, until common decency +rendered it impossible to allow him any longer the privilege of taking a +part as clerk in the ceremonies of religion. + +When this was over, a rustic choir, whom the parish clerk had organized, +and in a great measure taught himself, approached the body and sang a +hymn over it, after which the preparations for its removal began to be +made. + +Ever since the death of his wife, Thomas M'Mahon could not be prevailed +upon to taste a morsel of food. He went about from place to place, +marked by such evidences of utter prostration and despair that it was +painful to look upon him, especially when one considered the truth, +purity, and fervor of the affection that had subsisted between him and +the inestimable woman he had lost. The only two individuals capable of +exercising any influence upon him now were Bryan and his daughter Dora; +yet even they could not prevail upon him to take any sustenance. His +face was haggard and pale as death, his eyes red and bloodshot, and his +very body, which had always been erect and manly, was now stooped and +bent from the very intensity of his affliction. + +He had been about the garden during the scene just described, and from +the garden he passed round through all the office-houses, into every one +of which he entered, looking at them in the stupid bereavement of grief, +as if he had only noticed them for the first time. On going into the +cow-house where the animals were at their food, he approached one of +them--that which had been his wife's favorite, and which would suffer +no hand to milk her but her own--“Oh, Bracky,” he said, “little you know +who's gone from you--even you miss her already, for you refused for the +last three days to let any one of them milk you, when she was not here +to do it. Ah, Bracky, the kind hand and the kind word that you liked so +well will never be wid you more--that low sweet song that you loved to +listen to, and that made you turn round while she was milkin' you, an' +lick her wid your tongue from pure affection--for what was there that +had life that didn't love her? That low, sweet song, Bracky, you will +never hear again. Well, Bracky, for her sake I'm come to tell you, this +sorrowful mornin', that while I have life an' the means of keepin' you, +from me an' them she loved you will never part.” + +While he spoke the poor animal, feeling from the habit of instinct that +the hour of! milking had arrived, turned round and uttered once or twice +that affectionate lowing with which she usually called upon the departed +to come and relieve her of her fragrant burthen. This was more than +the heart-broken man could bear, he walked back, and entering the +wake-house, in a burst of vehement sorrow--“Oh, Bridget, my wife, my +wife--is it any wondher we should feel your loss, when your favorite, +Bracky, is callin' for you; but you won't come to her--that voice that +so often charmed her will never charm the poor affectionate creature +again.” + +“Father dear,” said Bryan, “if ever you were called upon to be a man it +is now.” + +“But, Byran, as God is to judge me,” replied his father, “the cow--her +own cow--is callin' for her in the cow-house widin--its truth--doesn't +everything miss her--even poor Bracky feels as if she was dasarted. Oh, +my God, an' what will we do--what will we do!” + +This anecdote told by the sorrowing husband was indeed inexpressingly +affecting. Bryan, who had collected all his firmness with a hope of +being able to sustain his father, was so much overpowered by this +circumstance that, after two or three ineffectual attempts to soothe +him, he was himself fairly overcome, and yielded for the moment to +bitter tears, whilst the whole family broke out into one general +outburst, of sorrow, accompanied in many cases by the spectators, who +were not proof against the influence of so natural and touching an +incident. + +Their neighbors and friends, in the meantime, were pouring in fast +from all directions. Jemmy Burke and his wife--the latter ridiculously +over-dressed--drove there upon their jaunting-car, which was considered +a great compliment, followed soon afterwards by Hycy and Harry Clinton +on horse-back. Gerald Cavanagh and his family also came, with the +exception of Kathleen and Hanna, who were, however, every moment +expected. The schoolmaster having finished the _De Profundis_, was, +as is usual, treated to glass of whiskey--a circumstance which just +advanced him to such a degree of fluency and easy assurance as was +necessary properly to develop the peculiarities of his character. Having +witnessed Bryan's failure at consolation, attended as it was by the +clamorous grief of the family, he deemed it his duty, especially as +he had just taken some part in the devotions, to undertake the task in +which Bryan had been so unsuccessful. + +“Thomas M'Mahon,” said he, “I'm disposed to blush--do you hear me, I +say? I am disposed to blush, I repate, for your want of--he doesn't hear +me:--will you pay attention? I am really disposed to blush”--and as he +uttered the words he stirred M'Mahon by shaking his shoulders two or +three times, in order to gain his attention. + +“Are you?” replied the other, replying in an absent manner to his words. +“God help you then, and assist you, for it's few can do it.” + +“Can do what?” + +“Och, I don't know; whatever you wor sayin'.” + +“Patience, my good friend, Thomas M'Mahon. I would call you Tom +familiarly, but that you are in affliction, and it is well known that +every one in affliction is, or at least ought to be, treated with +respect and much sympathetical consolation. You are now in deep sorrow; +but don't you knows that death is the end of all things? and believe me +there are many objects in this world which a wise and experienced man +would lose wid much greater regret than he would a mere wife. Think, for +instance, how many men there are--dreary and subdued creatures--who +dare not call their souls, if they have any, or anything else they do +possess, their own; think, I repate, of those who would give nine-tenths +of all they are worth simply to be in your present condition! Wretches +who from the moment they passed under the yoke matrimonial, to which all +other yokes are jokes, have often heard of liberty but never enjoyed it +for one single hour--the Lord help them!” + +“Amen!” exclaimed M'Mahon, unconsciously. + +“Yes,” proceeded Finigan, “unfortunate devils whose obstinacy has been +streaked by a black mark, or which ought rather to be termed a black and +blue mark, for that is an abler and more significant illustration, Poor +quadrupeds who have lived their whole miserable lives as married men +under an iron dynasty; and who know that the thunderings of Jupiter +himself, if he were now in vogue, would be mere music compared to the +fury of a conjugal tongue when agitated by any one of the thousand +causes that set it a-going so easily. Now, Thomas, I am far from +insinuating that ever you stood in that most pitiable category, but I +know many who have--heigho!--and I know many who do, and some besides +who will; for what was before may be agin, and it will be nothing but +ascendancy armed with her iron rod on the one hand, against patience, +submission, and tribulation, wid their groans and penances on the other. +Courage then, my worthy friend; do not be overwhelmed wid grief, for +I can assure you that as matters in general go on the surface of this +terraqueous globe, the death of a wife ought to be set down as a proof +that heaven does not altogether overlook us. 'Tis true there are tears +shed upon such occasions, and for very secret reason's too, if the truth +were known. Joy has its tears as well as grief, I believe, and it is +often rather difficult, under a blessing so completely disguised as the +death of a wi--of one's matrimonial partner, to restrain them. +Come then, be a man. There is Mr. Hycy Burke, a tender-hearted young +gentleman, and if you go on this way you will have him weeping' for +sheer sympathy, not pretermitting Mr. Clinton, his companion, who +is equally inclined to be pathetic, if one can judge from apparent +symptoms.” + +“I'm obliged to you, Masther,” replied M'Mahon, who had not heard, or +rather paid attention to, a single syllable he had uttered. “Of course +it's thruth you're savin'---it is--it is, _fureer gair_ it is; and she +that's gone from me is a proof of it. What wondher then that I should +shed tears, and feel as I do?” + +The unconscious simplicity of this reply to such a singular argument for +consolation as the schoolmaster had advanced, caused many to smile, +some to laugh outright, and others to sympathize still more deeply +with M'Mahon's sorrow. Finigan's allusion to Hycy and his companion was +justified by the contrast which the appearance of each presented. Hycy, +who enjoyed his lecture on the tribulations of matrimonial life very +much, laughed as he advanced in it, whilst Clinton, who was really +absorbed in a contemplation of the profound and solemn spirit which +marked the character of the grief he witnessed, and who felt impressed +besides by the touching emblems of death and bereavement which +surrounded him, gradually gave way to the impressions that gained on +him, until he almost felt the tears in his eyes. + +At this moment Kathleen and her sister Hanna entered the house, and a +general stir took place among those who were present, which was caused +by her strikingly noble figure and extraordinary beauty--a beauty which, +on the occasion in question, assumed a peculiarly dignified and majestic +character from the deep and earnest sympathy with the surrounding sorrow +that was impressed on it. + +Hycy and his companion surveyed her for many minutes; and the former +began to think that after all, if Miss Clinton should fail him, Kathleen +would make an admirable and most lovely wife. Her father soon after she +entered came over, and taking her hand said, “Come with me, Kathleen, +till you shake hands wid a great friend of yours--wid Misther Burke. +This is herself, Misther Burke,” he added, significantly, on putting her +hand into that of honest Jemmy, “an' I think no father need be ashamed +of her.” + +“Nor no father-in-law,” replied Jemmy, shaking her cordially by the +hand, “and whisper, darlin',” said he, putting his mouth close to her +ear, and speaking so as that he might not be heard by others, “I hope to +see you my daughter-in-law yet, if I could only get that boy beyant to +make himself worthy of you.” + +On speaking he turned his eyes on Hycy, who raised himself up, and +assuming his best looks intimated his consciousness of being the object +of his father's allusion to him. He then stepped over to where she +stood, and extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor +said, “I hope Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father, +won't refuse to honor the son.” + +Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply +still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty +that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption. + +“This, Mr. Hycy,” she replied, “is neither a time nor a place for empty +compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake +hands with him; but not till that time comes.” + +On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and +for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot +both grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured +its unalloyed sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt +mortified, and bit his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of +excessive vanity, the repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to +its publicity. Gerald Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his +wife could not help exclaiming aloud, “Kathleen! what do you mane? I +declare I'm ashamed of you!” + +Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon +forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the +funeral. + +This was indeed a trying and heart-rending scene. The faithful wife, the +virtuous mother, the kind friend, and the pious Christian, was now about +to be removed for ever from that domestic scene which her fidelity, her +virtue, her charity, and her piety, had filled with peace, and love, and +happiness. As the coffin, which had been resting upon two chairs, was +about to be removed, the grief of her family became loud and vehement. + +“Oh, Bridget!” exclaimed her husband, “and is it to come to this at +last! And you are lavin' us for evermore! Don't raise the coffin,” he +proceeded, “don't raise it. Oh! let us not part wid her till to-morrow; +let us know that she's undher the same roof wid us until then. An', +merciful Father, when I think where you're goin' to bring her to! Oh! +there lies the heart now widout one motion--dead and cowld--the heart +that loved us all as no other heart ever did! Bridget, my wife, don't +you hear me? But the day was that you'd hear me, an' that your kind an' +lovin' eye would turn on me wid that smile that was never broken. Where +is the wife that was true? Where is the lovin' mother, the charitable +heart to the poor and desolate, and the hand that was ever ready to aid +them that was in distress? Where are they all now? There, dead and cowld +forever, in that coffin. What has become of my wife, I say? What is +death at all, to take all we love from us this way? But sure God forgive +me for saying so, for isn't it the will of God? but oh! it is the +heaviest of all thrials to lose such a woman as she was!” + +Old grandfather, as he was called, had latterly become very feeble, +and was barely able to be out of bed on that occasion. When the tumult +reached the room where he sat with some of the aged neighbors, he +inquired what had occasioned it, and being told that the coffin was +about to be removed to the hearse, he rose up. + +“That is Tom's voice I hear,” said he, “and I must put an end to +this.” He accordingly made his appearance rather unexpectedly among them, +and approaching his son, said, putting his hand commandingly upon +his shoulder, and looking in his face with a solemn consciousness of +authority that was irresistible, “I command you, Tom, to stop. It's not +many commands that I'll ever give you--maybe this will be the last--and +it's not many ever I had occasion to give you, but now I command you to +stop and let the funeral go on.” He paused for a short time and looked +upon the features of his son with a full sense of what was due to his +authority. His great age, his white hairs, his venerable looks and +bearing, and the reverence which the tremulous but earnest tones of his +voice were calculated to inspire, filled his son with awe, and he was +silent. + +“Father,” said he, “I will; I'll try and obey you--I will.” + +“God bless you and comfort you, my dear son,” said the old man. “Keep +silence, now,” he proceeded, addressing the others, “and bring the +coffin to the hearse at wanst. And may God strengthen and support you +all, for it's I that knows your loss; but like a good mother as she was, +she has left none but good and dutiful childre' behind her.” + +Poor Dora, during the whole morning, had imposed a task upon herself +that was greater than her affectionate and sorrowing heart could bear. +She was very pale and exhausted by the force of what she had felt, and +her excessive weeping; but it was observed that she now appeared to +manifest a greater degree of fortitude than any of the rest. Still, +during this assumed calmness, the dear girl, every now and then, could +not help uttering a short convulsive sob, that indicated at once her +physical debility and extraordinary grief. She was evidently incapable +of entering into conversation, or at least, averse to it, and was +consequently very silent during the whole morning. As they stooped, +however, to remove the coffin, she threw herself upon it, exclaiming, +“Mother, its your own Dora--mother--mother--don't, mother--don't lave me +don't--I won't let her go--I won't let her go! I--I--” Even before she +could utter the words she intended to say, her head sank down, and her +pale but beautiful cheek lay exactly beside the name, Bridget M'Mahon, +that was upon it. + +“The poor child has fainted,” they exclaimed, “bring her to the fresh +air.” + +Ere any one had time, however, to raise her, James Cavanagh rushed over +to the coffin, and seizing her in his arms, bore her to the street, +where he placed her upon one of the chairs that had been left there +to support the coffin until keened over by the relatives and friends, +previous to its being-placed in the hearse; for such is the custom. +There is something exceedingly alarming in a swoon to a person who +witnesses it for the first time; which was the case with James Cavanagh. +Having placed her on the chair, he looked wildly upon her; then as +wildly upon those who were crowding round him. “What ails her?” he +exclaimed--“what ails her?--she is dead!--she is dead! Dora--Dora +dear--Dora dear, can't you spake or hear me?” + +Whilst he pronounced the words, a shower of tears gushed rapidly from +his eyes and fell upon her beautiful features, and in the impressive +tenderness of the moment, he caught her to his heart, and with +rapturous distraction and despair kissed her lips and exclaimed, “She is +dead!--she is dead!--an' all that's in the world is nothing to the love +I had for her!” + +“Stand aside, James,” said his sister Kathleen; “leave this instantly. +Forgive him, Bryan,” she said, looking at her lover with a burning brow, +“he doesn't know what he is doing.” + +“No, Kathleen,” replied, her brother, with a choking voice, “neither for +you nor for him, nor for a human crature, will I leave her.” + +“James, I'm ashamed of you,” said Hanna, rapidly and energetically +disengaging his arms from about the insensible girl; “have! you no +respect for Dora? If you love her as you say, you could hardly act as +you did.” + +“Why,” said he, staring at her, “what did I do?” + +Bryan took him firmly by the arm, and said, “Come away, you foolish boy; +I don't think you know what you did. Leave her to the girls. There, she +is recoverin'.” + +She did soon recover; but weak and broken down as she was, no persuasion +nor even authority could prevail upon her to remain at home. Jemmy +Burke, who had intended to offer Kathleen a seat upon his car, which, of +course, she would not have accepted, was now outmanoeuvred by his +wife, 'who got Dora beside herself, after having placed a sister of Tom +M'Mahon's beside him. + +At length, the coffin was brought out, and the keene raised over it, on +the conclusion of which it was placed in the hearse, and the procession +began to move on. + +There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly +indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of +persons which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In +such a case, the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which +the party has been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a +mile long. All the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, +or half-sirs in the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect +for the virtues of the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity +and upright spirit of the family that had been deprived of her so +unexpectedly. + +Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, +the schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as +to render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no +wish for it. + +“Well, Harry,” said his companion, “what do you think of the last +scene?” + +“You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl +that fainted, poor thing!” + +“Of course I do,” replied Hycy. + +“Why,” said the other, “I think the whole thing was very simple, and +consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in +love--there is no doubt of that--thought she had died; and upon my soul, +Hycy, there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of +such a passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, +I can understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the +tenderness by which he was actuated.” + +“What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?” asked Hycy, with more of interest +than he had probably ever felt in her before. + +“What do I think?” said the other, looking at him with a good deal of +surprise. “What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste +or common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her +one of the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! +what would not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a +polished and comprehensive education?” + +“She is very much of a lady as it is,” added Hycy, “and has great +natural dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has +left me under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her.” + +“And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little +Dora, which is quite captivating,” observed Clinton. + +“Very well,” replied the other, “I make jou a present of the two fair +rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education +and manner do. Maria is a delightful girl.” + +“She is an amiable and a good girl,” said her brother; “but, in point of +personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been +speaking of.” + +“Finigan,” said Hycy--“I beg your pardon, O'Finigan--the great +O'Finigan, Philomath--are you a good judge of beauty?” + +“Why, then, Mr. Hycy,” replied the pedagogue, “I think, above all +subjects, that a thorough understanding of that same comes most natural +to an Irishman. It is a pleasant topic to discuss at all times.” + +“Much pleasanter than marriage, I think,” said Clinton, smiling. + +“Ah, Mr. Clinton,” replied the other, with a shrug, “_de mortuis +nil nisi bonum_; but as touching beauty, in what sense do you ask my +opinion?” + +“Whether now, for instance, would your learned taste prefer Miss +Cavanagh or Miss Dora M'Mahon? and give your reasons.” + +“Taste, Mr. Hycy, is never, or at least seldom, guided by reason; the +question, however, is a fair one.” + +“One at least on a fair subject,” observed Clinton. + +“Very well said, Mr. Clinton,” replied the schoolmaster, with a +grin--“there goes wit for us, no less--and originality besides. See what +it is to have a great janius!--ha! ha! ha!” + +“Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” pursued Hycy, “but about the ladies? You have not +given us your opinion.” + +“Why, then, they are both highly gifted wid beauty, and strongly +calculated to excite the amorous sentiments of refined and elevated +affection.” + +“Well done, Mr. Plantation,” said Hycy; “you are improving--proceed.” + +“Miss Cavanagh, then,” continued Finigan, “I'd say was a goddess, and +Miss M'Mahon her attendant nymph.” + +“Good again, O'Finigan,” said Clinton; “you are evidently at home in the +mythology.” + +“Among the goddesses, at any rate,” replied the master, with another +grin. + +“Provided there is no matrimony in the question,” said Clinton. + +“Ah, Mr. Clinton, don't, if you please. That's a subject you may respect +yet as much as I do; but regarding my opinion of the two beauties in +question, why was it solicited, Mr. Hycy?” he added, turning to that +worthy gentlemen. + +“Faith, I'm not able to say, most learned Philomath; only, is it true +that Bryan, the clodhopper, has matrimonial designs upon the fair +daughter of the regal Cavanagh?” + +“_Sic vult fama_, Mr. Hycy, upon condition that a certain accomplished +young gentleman, whose surname commences with the second letter of +the alphabet, won't offer--for in that case, it is affirmed, that the +clodhopper should travel. By the way, Mr. Clinton, I met your uncle and +Mr. Fethertonge riding up towards Ahadarra this morning.” + +“Indeed!” exclaimed both; and as they spoke, each cast a look of inquiry +at the other. + +“What could bring them to Ahadarra, gentlemen?” asked Finigan, in a tone +of voice which rendered it a nice point to determine whether it was a +simple love of knowledge that induced him to put the question, or some +other motive that might have lain within a kind of ironical gravity that +accompanied it. + +“Why, I suppose a pair of good horses,” replied Hycy, “and their own +inclination.” + +“It was not the last, at all events,” said Finigan, “that ever brought +a thief to the gallows--ha! ha! ha! we must be facetious sometimes, Mr. +Hycy.” + +“You appear to enjoy that joke, Mr. Finigan,” said Hycy, rather tartly. + +“Faith,” replied Finigan, “it's a joke that very few do enjoy, I think.” + +“What is?” + +“Why, the gallows, sir--ha! ha! ha! but don't forget the O if you +plaise--ever and always the big O before Finigan--ha! ha! ha!” + +“Come, Clinton,” said Hycy, “move on a little. D--n that fellow!” he +cried--“he's a sneering scoundrel; and I'm half inclined to think he has +more in him than one would be apt to give him credit for.” + +“By the way, what could the visit to Ahadarra mean?” asked Clinton. “Do +you know anything about it, Hycy?” + +“Not about this; but it is very likely that I shall cause them, or +one of them at least, to visit it on some other occasion ere long; and +that's all I can say now. Curse that keening, what a barbarous practice +it is!' + +“I think not,” said the other; “on the contrary, I am of opinion that +there's something strikingly wild and poetical in it something that +argues us Irish to be a people of deep feeling and strong imagination: +two of the highest gifts of intellect.” + +“All stuff,” replied the accomplished Hycy, who, among his other +excellent qualities, could never afford to speak a good word to his +country Or her people. “All stuff and barbarous howling that we +learned from the wolves when we had them in Ireland. Here we are at the +graveyard.” + +“Hycy,” said his friend, “it never occurred to me to thing of asking +what religion you believe in.” + +“It is said,” replied Hycy, “that a fool may propose a question which +a wise man can't answer. As to religion, I have not yet made any +determination among the variety that is abroad. A man, however, can +be at no loss; for as every one of them is the best, it matters little +which of them he chooses. I think it likely I shall go to church with +your sister, should we ever do matrimony together. To a man like me +who's indifferent, respectability alone ought to determine.” + +Clinton made no reply to this; and in a few minutes afterward they +entered the churchyard, the coffin having been taken out of the hearse +and borne on the shoulders of her four nearest relatives,--Tom M'Mahon, +in deep silence and affliction, preceding it as chief mourner. + +There is a prostrating stupor, or rather a kind of agonizing delirium +that comes over the mind when we are forced to mingle with crowds, and +have our ears filled with the voices of lamentation, the sounds of the +death-bell, or the murmur of many people in conversation. 'Twas thus +M'Mahon felt during the whole procession. Sometimes he thought it was +relief, and again he felt as if it was only the mere alternation of +suffering into a sharper and more dreadful sorrow; for, change as it +might, there lay tugging at his heart the terrible consciousness that +she, I the bride of his youthful love and the companion of his +larger and more manly affection--the blameless wife and the stainless +woman--was about to be consigned to the grave, and that his eyes in this +life must; never rest upon her again. + +When the coffin was about to be lowered down, all the family, one after +another, clasped their arms about it, and kissed it with a passionate +fervor of grief that it was impossible to witness with firmness. At +length her husband, who had been looking on, approached it, and clasping +it in his arms like the rest, he said--“for ever and for ever, and for +ever, Bridget--but, no, gracious God, no; the day will come, Bridget, +when I will be with you here--I don't care now how soon. My happiness +is gone, asthore machree--life is nothing to me now--all's empty; and +there's neither joy, nor ease of mind, nor comfort for me any more. An' +this is our last parting--this is our last farewell, Bridget dear; but +from this out my hope is to be with you here; and if nothing else on my +bed of death was to console me, it would be, and it will be, that you +and I will then sleep together, never to be parted more. That will be my +consolation.” + +“Now, father dear,” said Bryan, “we didn't attempt to stop or prevent +you, and I hope you'll be something calm and come away for a little.” + +“Best of sons! but aren't you all good, for how could you be +otherwise with her blood in your veins?--bring me away; come you, Dora +darlin'--ay, that's it--support the: blessed child between you and +Hanna, Kathleen darlin'. Oh, wait, wait till we get out of hearin, or +the noise of the clay fallin' on the coffin will kill me.” + +They then walked to some distance, where they remained until the “narrow +house” was nearly filled, after which they once more surrounded it until +the last sod was beaten in. This being over, the sorrowing group sought +their way home with breaking hearts, leaving behind them her whom they +had loved so well reposing in the cold and unbroken solitude of the +grave. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV.--Mysterious Letter + +--Hycy Disclaims Sobriety--Ahadarra's in for it. + + +One day about a month after Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, Harry Clinton was +on his way to Jemmy Burke's, when he met Nanny Peety going towards +Ballymacan. + +“Well, Nanny,” he inquired, “where are you bound for, now?” + +“To the post-office with a letter from Masther Hycy, sir. I wanted him +to tell me who it was for, but he would not. Will you, Mr. Clinton?” and +she held out the letter to him as she spoke. + +Clinton felt a good deal surprised to see that it was addressed to his +uncle, and also written in a hand which he did not recognize to be that +of Hycy Burke. + +“Are you sure, Nanny,” he asked, “that this letter was written by Mr. +Hycy?” + +“Didn't I see him, sir?” she replied; “he wrote it before my eyes a +minute before he handed it to me. Who is it for, Mr. Clinton?” + +“Why are you so very anxious to know, Nanny?” he inquired. + +“Sorra thing,” she replied, “but curiosity--a woman's curiosity, you +know.” + +“Well, Nanny, you know, or ought to know, that it would not be right in +me to tell you who the letter is for, when Mr. Hycy did not think proper +to do so.” + +“True enough, sir,” she replied; “an I beg your pardon, Mr. Clinton, for +asking you; indeed it was wrong in me to tell you who it came from even, +bekaise Mr. Hycy told me not to let any one see it, only jist to slip it +into the post-office unknownst, as I passed it; an' that was what made +me wish to know who it was goin' to, since the thruth must be tould.” + +Clinton in turn now felt his curiosity stimulated as to the contents +of this mysterious epistle, and he resolved to watch, if possible, what +effect the perusal of it might have on his uncle, otherwise he was never +likely to hear a syllable that was contained in it, that worthy relative +being, from official necessity, a most uncommunicative person in all his +proceedings. + +“I wonder,” observed Clinton, “that Mr. Hycy would send to any one a +letter so slurred and blotted with ink as that is.” + +“Ay, but he blotted it purposely himself,” replied Nanny, “and that too +surprised me, and made me wish to know what he could mane by it.” + +“Perhaps it's a love-letter, Nanny,” said Clinton, laughing. + +“I would like to know who it is to, at any rate,” said the girl; “but +since you won't, tell me, sir, I must try and not lose my rest about it. +Good-bye, Mr. Clinton.” + +“Good-bye, Nanny;” and so they started. + +Young Clinton, who, though thoughtless and fond of pleasure, was not +without many excellent points of character, began now to perceive, +by every day's successive intimacy, the full extent of Hycy Burke's +profligacy of morals, and utter want of all honorable principle. +Notwithstanding this knowledge, however, he felt it extremely difficult, +nay, almost impossible, to separate himself from Hycy, who was an +extremely pleasant young fellow, and a very agreeable companion when +he pleased. He had in fact gained that personal ascendancy over him, or +that licentious influence which too many of his stamp are notorious for +exercising over better men than themselves; and he found that he could +not readily throw Hyoy off, without being considerably a loser by the +act. + +“I shall have nothing to do with his profligacy,” said he, “or his want +of principle, and I shall let him know, at all events, that I will not +abide by the agreement or compromise entered into between us some time +since at his father's. He shall not injure an honest man for me, nor +shall I promise him even neutrality with respect to his proposal for my +sister, whom I would rather see dead a hundred times than the wife of +such a fellow.” + +The next morning, about half an hour before breakfast, he told his uncle +that he was stepping into town and would bring him any letters that +might be for him in the post-office. He accordingly did so, and received +two letters, one Hycy's and the other with the crest and frank of the +sitting member for the county, who was no other than young Chevydale. +His uncle was at breakfast when he handed them to him, and we need +hardly say that the M.P. was honored by instant attention. The +Still-hound read it over very complacently. “Very well,” he exclaimed; +“very well, indeed, so far. Harry, we must be on the alert, now the +elections are approaching, and Chevydale will be stoutly opposed, it +seems. We must work for him, and secure as many votes as we can. It +is our interest to do so, Harry,--and he will make it our interest +besides.” + +“Has principle nothing to do with it, sir?” + +“Principle! begad, sir,” retorted the uncle, “there's no such thing as +principle--lay that down as a fact--there's no such thing in this world +as principle.” + +“Well, but consistency, uncle. For instance, you know you always vote on +the Tory side, and Chevydale is a Liberal and an Emancipator.” + +“Consistency is all d--d stuff, Harry, as principle. What does it mean? +why that if a man's once wrong he's always to be wrong--that is just the +amount of it. There's Chevydale, for instance, he has a brother who is a +rank Tory and a Commissioner of Excise, mark that; Chevydale and he play +into each other's hands, and Chevydale some of these days will sell the +Liberals, that is, if he can get good value for them. If I now vote on +the Tory side against Chevydale, his brother, the Tory Commissioner, +will be my enemy in spite of all his Toryism; but if I vote and exert +myself for Chevydale, the Liberal, I make his Tory of a brother my +friend for life. And now, talk to me about principle, or consistency +either.” + +His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle +were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly +pursued the subject no further. + +“Ay!” exclaimed the Still-hound, “what d--d scrawl have we got here? Ay, +ay, why this is better than I expected.” + +“What is better, uncle?” said the nephew, venturing an experiment. + +“Why,” replied the sagacious old rascal, “for you to mind your business, +if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent +inquiries, Master Harry.” With these words he went and. locked up both +letters in his desk. As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his +desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying +it in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers-- + +“To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: + +“Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you'd find a +Still-Hed an' Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in +Ahadarra. Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung's Orringemen an' a fren to the +axshize.” + +The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:-- + +“Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you +have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth.” + +“No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a +Still--hem.” + +“Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter. Very well. Your father's +death last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for +the present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into +practice, with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?” + +“Unfortunately, sir, it is too true.” + +“In the mean time you may leave 'unfortunate' out, and thank God that +you had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, +that I was a bachelor. Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home +for you; but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for +yourself; for I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich. +You don't relish surgery, you say?” + +“I can't endure it, uncle.” + +“But you like farming?” + +“Above every other mode of life.” + +“Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into +before long.” + +“Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are +fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands.” + +“Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my +brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must +make our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I +respect the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would +never work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise, +not so much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if +they could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of +honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both.” + +“Uncle,” said his nephew, “one word with you before you go.” + +“What is it?” + +“Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse +me for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?” + +“Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives +me good advice.” + +“If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended.” + +“Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better.” + +“You say you will procure me a farm. Now, uncle, there is one thing +I should wish in connection with that transaction, which is, that you +would have no underhand--hem!--no private understanding of any kind with +Mr. Hycy Burke.” + +“Me a private understanding with Hycy Burke! What in the devil's name +has put such a crotchet as that into your head?” + +“I only speak as I do, because I believe you have received a private +communication from him.” + +“Have I, faith! If so I am obliged to you--but I am simply ignorant of +the fact you mention; for, with my own knowledge', I never received a +line from him in my life.” + +“Then I must be wrong,” replied Harry; “that is all.” + +“Wrong! Certainly you are wrong. Hycy Burke, I am told, is a compound +of great knave and gross fool, the knavery rather prevailing. But how is +this? Are not you and he inseparable?” + +“He is a companion, uncle, but not a friend in the true sense--nor, +indeed, in any sense of that word. I spoke now, however, with reference +to a particular transaction, and not to his general character.” + +“Well, then, I have no underhand dealings with him, as you are pleased +to call them, nor ever had. I never to my knowledge received a line from +him in my life; but I tell you that if he comes in my way, and that I +can make use of him, I will. Perhaps he may serve us in the Elections. +Have you anything else to ask?” + +“No sir,” replied Harry, laughing. “Only I hope you will excuse me for +the liberty I took.” + +“Certainly, with all my heart, and you shall be always welcome to take +the same liberty. Good-bye, again.” + +Clinton now felt satisfied that Hycy's letter to his uncle was an +anonymous one, and although he could not divine its contents, he +still felt assured that it was in some way connected with the farm +transaction, or at all events detrimental to Bryan M'Mahon. He +consequently resolved to see Hycy, against whom, or rather against +whose principles he was beginning to entertain a strong repugnance, and +without any hesitation to repudiate the engagement he had entered into +with him. + +He found Hycy at home, or rather he found him in conversation with Bat +Hogan behind his father's garden. + +“What was that ruffian wanting with you, Hycy, if it's a fair question?” + +“Perfectly,” said Hycy, “from you; but not in sooth from your worthy +uncle.” + +“How is that?” + +“Simply, he wants to know if I'd buy a keg of Poteen which, it seems, he +has to sell. I declined because I have a sufficiently ample stock of it +on hands.” + +“My uncle,” said Clinton, prefers it to any other spirits; indeed, at +home he never drinks any other, and whenever he dines, thanks those who +give it the preference.” + +“Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time,” + said Hycy, “for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous +relish for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best.” + +Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on. + +“Hycy,” proceeded his companion, “with respect to that foolish +arrangement or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything +to say or do in it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my +account. I was half drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have +listened to such a proposal.” + +“What do you mean?” said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and +a pause of some time, “I don't understand you.” + +“Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with +reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most +amiable (d--n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the +other?” + +“No,” replied Hycy, “devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry.” + +“Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be +tipsy, though.” + +“I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d--dest, hypocritical rascal +in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get drunk +in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. However, +in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?” + +“No, no,” replied his friend, “it was a disgraceful affair on both +sides, and the less that's said of it the better.” + +By some good deal of persuasion, however, and an additional glass +of grog, he prevailed on Clinton to repeat the substance of the +stipulation; on hearing which, as if for the first time, he laughed very +heartily. + +“This liquor,” he proceeded, “is a strange compound, and puts queer +notions into our head. Why if there's an honest decent fellow in Europe, +whom I would feel anxious to serve beyond another, next to yourself, +Harry, it is Bryan M'Mahon. But why I should have spoken so, I can't +understand at all. In the first place, what means have of injuring +the man? And what is stronger still, what inclination have I, or could +have--and what is still better--should have?” + +“I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion.” + +“Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me +sooner about it. Still,” he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion +of it I should not wish to see cancelled--I mean your advocacy with Miss +Clinton.” + +“To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I +won't promise advocacy.” + +“Well neutrality?” + +“The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. +I have reason to think that my sister's objections against you are +insuperable.” + +“On what do they rest?” asked the other. + +“They are founded upon your want of morals,” replied Clinton. + +“Well, suppose I reform my morals?” + +“That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the +elements of reformation are rather slight within you.” + +“Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be +judged of his morals before marriage, but after.” + +“Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, +right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to +be such.” + +“But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither +have I the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and +over-impulsive from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off +with the new state. No, no, d--n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe +such prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down +and bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most +edifying attention. Another glass of grog?” + +“No, no.” + +“But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making +impressions against me.” + +“Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that +quarter.” + +“Will you allow me to try?” asked Hycy. + +“I have not the slightest objection,” replied the other, “because I +know how it will result.” + +“Very well,--thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, seriously +speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of lives we +ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. On +the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more +highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only +the best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might +stop and dine?” + +“No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my +dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me a call when in town.” + +Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of +ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So +high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of +performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair +sex,--all upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two +innocent country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment +for Miss Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the +rich beauty and magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this +contemplation of his lessened by considering that, with all his +gentlemanly manners, and accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she +preferred the clod-hopper, as he called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself. + +He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more +especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at +for it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering +conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he +imagined, execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen, +and perhaps, ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed +with Miss Clinton; for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public +instances of contempt with which she had treated him. There was still, +however, another consideration. His father had threatened to bring home +his brother Edward, then destined for the church, and altogether to +change his intentions in that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic +manner of the old man towards him of late, he began to entertain +apprehensions upon the subject. Taking therefore all these circumstances +into consideration, he resolved in any event to temporize a little, and +allow the father to suppose that he might be prevailed upon to marry +Kathleen Cavanagh. + +In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he +were together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject +himself. + +“I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something +like a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the +accomplished Hycy.” + +“I did, God forgive me.” + +“I have been thinking over that subject since.” + +“Have you, indeed,” said his father; “an' am I to make Ned a priest or a +farmer?” he asked, dryly. + +“The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination.” + +“So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my property, along wid +a good wife, to your brother Ned--Neddy I ought to call him, out of +compliment to you--ha! ha! ha!” + +“Proceed, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be facetious.” + +“To your brother Ned--Neddy--having them, and maybe along wid them the +same, wife too?” + +“No, not exactly; but out of respect to your wishes. + +“What's that?” said the old man, staring at him with a kind of comic +gravity--“out of respect to my wishes!” + +“That's what I've said,” replied the son. “Proceed.” + +His father looked at' him again, and replied, “Proceed yourself---it was +you introduced the subject. I'm now jack-indifferent about it.” + +“All I have to say,” continued Hycy, “is that I withdraw my ultimate +refusal, Mr. Burke. I shall entertain the question, as they say; and +it is not improbable but that I may dignify the fair Katsey with the +honorable title of Mrs. Burke.” + +“I wish you had spoken a little sooner, then,” replied his father, +“bekaise it so happens that Gerald Cavanagh an' I have the match between +her and your brother Ned as good as made.” + +“My brother Ned! Why, in the name of; all that's incredible, how could +that be encompassed?” + +“Very aisily,” said his father, “by the girl's waitin' for him. Ned is +rather young! yet, I grant you; he's nineteen, however, and two years +more, you know, will make him one-and-twenty--take him out o' chancery, +as they say.” + +“Very good, Mr. Burke, very good; in that case I have no more to say.” + +“Well,” pursued the father, in the same dry, half-comic, half-sarcastic +voice, “but what do you intend to do with yourself?” + +“As to that,” replied Hycy, who felt that the drift of the conversation +was setting in against him, “I shall take due time to consider.” + +“What height are you?” asked the father, rather abruptly. + +“I can't see, Mr. Burke, I really can't see what my height has to do +with the question.” + +“Bekaise,” proceeded the other, “I have some notion of putting you into +the army. You spoke of it wanst yourself, remimber; but then there's an +objection even to that.” + +“Pray, what is the objection, Mr. Burke?” + +“Why, it's most likely you'd have to fight--if you took to the milintary +trade.” + +“Why, upon my word, Mr. Burke, you shine in the sarcastic this evening.” + +“But, at any rate, you must take your chance for that. You're a fine, +active young fellow, and I suppose if they take to runnin' you won't be +the last of them.” + +“Good, Mr. Burke--proceed, though.” + +“An accordingly I have strong notions of buying you a corplar's or +a sargent's commission. A good deal of that, however, depends upon +yourself; but, as you say, I'll think of it.” + +Hycy, who could never bear ridicule, especially from the very man whom +he attempted to ridicule most, bounced up, and after muttering something +in the shape of an oath that was unintelligible, said, assuming all his +polite irony:-- + +“Do so, Mr. Burke; in the mean time I have the pleasure of wishing you a +very good evening, sir.” + +“Oh, a good-evening, sir,” replied the old fellow, “and when you come +home from the wars a full non-commissioned officer, you'll be scowerin' +up your halbert every Christmas an' Aisther, I hope; an' telling us long +stories--of all you killed an' ate while you were away from us.” + +Harry Clinton, now aware that the anonymous letter which his uncle had +received that morning was the production of Hycy, resolved to watch the +gauger's motions very closely. After a great deal of reflection upon +Hycy's want of memory concerning their bargain, and upon a close +comparison between his conduct and whole manner on the night in +question, and his own account of the matter in the course of their last +interview, he could not help feeling that his friend had stated a gross +falsehood, and that the pretended want of recollection was an ingenious +after-thought, adopted for the purpose of screening himself from the +consequences of whatever injury he might inflict upon Bryan M'Mahon. + +“Harry,” said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, “I am going upon +duty tonight.” + +“In what direction, sir? may I ask.” + +“Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however, +there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our +gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am +bound for Ahadarra.” + +“For Ahadarra--you say for Ahadarra, uncle?” + +“I do, nephew.” + +“By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel +alive,” exclaimed Harry; “I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you +would--would---I don't know what to say.” + +“That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the +soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my +duty, Harry.” + +“Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning, +sir, that you are now acting”?” + +“No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the +premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon +anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in +my time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it.” + +He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse, +that was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a +case of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and +two daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence. + +Their path lay directly to the south for about two miles. Having +traversed this distance they reached cross-roads, one of which branched +towards the left and was soon lost in a rough brown upland, into +which it branched by several little pathways that terminated in little +villages or solitary farmer's houses. For about two miles more they were +obliged to cross a dark reach of waste moor, where the soil was strong +and well capable of cultivation. Having avoided the villages and more +public thoroughfares, they pushed upward until they came into the black +heath itself, where it was impossible that horses could travel in such +darkness as then prevailed; for it was past ten o'clock, near the close +of December. Clinton consequently left his horse in the care of two +soldiers on a bit of green meadow by the side of Ahadarra Lough--a small +tarn or mountain lake about two hundred yards in diameter. They then +pushed up a long round swelling hill, on the other side of which was +a considerable stretch of cultivated land with Bryan M'Mahon's new and +improved houses at the head of it. This they kept to their right until +they came in sight of the wild but beautiful and picturesque Glen of +Althadhawan, which however was somewhat beyond the distance they had to +go. At length, after breasting another hill which was lost in the base +of Cullimore, they dropped down rapidly into a deep glen through which +ran a little streamlet that took its rise not a quarter of a mile above +them, and which supplied the apparatus for distillation with soft clear +water. This they followed until near the head of the glen, where, in a +position which might almost escape even a gauger's eye, they found the +object of their search. + +Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic +rocks thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or +diversion--between two of which the still-house was built in such a way, +that, were it not for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible +to discover it, or at all events, to suppose that it could be the +receptacle of a human being. + +On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find +the place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such +occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light +of a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in +Hycy's letter--to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the +exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash +that was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides. + +The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the +Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were +in the process of distillation. + +“Ay,” said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, “I think I understand +this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense--but a sure enough card +in another. The fine is certain, and Ahadarra is most undoubtedly in for +it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV.--State of the Country + +--Hycy's Friendship for Bryan M'Mahon--Bryan's Interview with his +Landlord. + + +M'Mahon's last interview with Fethertonge was of so cheering a nature, +and indicated on the part of that gentleman so much true and sterling +kindness towards the young man and his family, that he felt perfectly +satisfied on leaving him, and after having turned their conversation +over in his mind, that he might place every confidence in the assurance +he had given him. His father, too, who had never for a moment doubted +Feathertonge, felt equally gratified at Bryan's report of their +interview, as indeed did the whole family; they consequently spared +neither labor nor expense in the improvements which they were making on +their farms. + +The situation of the country and neighborhood at this period was indeed +peculiar, and such as we in this unhappy country have experienced +both before and since. I have already stated, that there was a partial +failure of the potato crop that season, a circumstance which uniformly +is the forerunner of famine and sickness. The failure, however, on that +occasion was not caused by a blight in the haulm, or to use plainer +words, by a sudden withering of the stalks, but by large portions of the +seed failing to grow. The partial scarcity, however, occasioned by this, +although it did not constitute what can with propriety be termed famine, +cause the great mass of pauperism which such a season always extends and +increases, to press so heavily upon the struggling farmers, that their +patience and benevolence became alike tired out and exhausted. This +perpetually recurring calamity acts with a most depressing effect +upon those persons in the country who have any claim to be considered +independent. It deprives them of hope, and consequently of energy, and +by relaxing the spirit of industry which has animated them, tends in +the course of time to unite them to the great body of pauperism which +oppresses and eats up the country. But let us not be misunderstood. This +evil alone is sufficiently disastrous to the industrial energies of +the class we mention; but when, in addition to this, the hitherto +independent farmer has to contend with high rents, want of sympathy in +his landlord, who probably is ignorant of his very existence, and has +never seen him perhaps in his life; and when it is considered that he is +left to the sharp practice and pettifogging, but plausible rapacity of +a dishonest agent, who feels that he is irresponsible, and may act the +petty tryant and vindictive oppressor if he wishes, having no restraint +over his principles but his interest, which, so far from restraining, +only guides and stimulates them;--when we reflect upon all this, and +feel, besides, that the political principles upon which the country is +governed are those that are calculated to promote British at the expense +of Irish interests--we say, when we reflect upon and ponder over all +this, we need not feel surprised that the prudent, the industrious, +and the respectable, who see nothing but gradual decline and ultimate +pauperism before them--who feel themselves neglected and overlooked, +and know that every sixth or seventh year they are liable to those +oppressive onsets of distress, sickness, and famine--we need not, we +repeat, feel at all surprised that those who constitute this industrious +and respectable class should fly from the evils which surround them, and +abandon, whilst they possess the power of doing so, the country in which +such evils are permitted to exist. + +It is upon this principle, or rather upon these principles, and for +these reasons, that the industry, the moral feeling, the independence, +and the strength of the country have been passing out of it for +years--leaving it, season after season, weaker, more impoverished, and +less capable of meeting those periodical disasters which, we may almost +say, are generated by the social disorder and political misrule of the +country. + +The fact is, and no reasonable or honest man capable of disencumbering +himself of political prejudices can deny it, that up until a recent +period the great body of the Irish people--the whole people--were mainly +looked upon and used as political instruments in the hands of the +higher classes, but not at all entitled to the possession of separate or +independent interests in their own right. It is true they were allowed +the possession of the forty-shilling franchise; but will any man say +that the existence of that civil right was a benefit to the country? So +far from that, it was a mere engine of corruption, and became, in +the hands of the Irish landlords, one of the most oppressive and +demoralizing curses that ever degraded a people. Perjury, fraud, +falsehood, and dishonesty, were its fruits, and the only legacy it +left to the country was an enormous mass of pauperism, and a national +morality comparatively vitiated and depraved, in spite of all religious +influence and of domestic affections that are both strong and tender. +Indeed it is exceedingly difficult to determine whether it has been more +injurious to the country in a political than in a moral sense. Be that +as it may, it had a powerful effect in producing the evils that we now +suffer, and our strong tendencies to social disorganization. By it the +landlords were induced, for the sake of multiplying, votes, to encourage +the subdivision of small holdings into those that were actually only +nominal or fictitious, and the consequences were, that in multiplying +votes they were multiplying families that had no fixed means of +subsistence--multiplying in fact a pauper population--multiplying not +only perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, but destitution, misery, +disease and death. By the forty-shilling franchise, the landlords +encumbered the soil with a loose and unsettled population that +possessed within itself, as poverty always does, a fearful facility of +reproduction--a population which pressed heavily upon the independent +class of farmers and yeomen, but which had no legal claim upon the +territory of the country. The moment, however, when the system which +produced and ended this wretched class, ceased to exist, they became not +only valueless in a political sense, but a dead weight upon the energies +of the country, and an almost insuperable impediment to its prosperity. +This great evil the landlords could conjure up, but they have not been +able to lay it since. Like Frankenstein in the novel, it pursues them to +the present moment, and must be satisfied or appeased in some way, or +it will unquestionably destroy them. From the abolition of the franchise +until now, an incessant struggle of opposing interests has been going on +in the country. The “forties” and their attendants must be fed; but the +soul on which they live in its present state is not capable of at the +same time supporting them and affording his claims to the landlord; for +the food must go to England to pay the rents and the poor “forties” must +starve. They are now in the way of the landlord--they are now in the way +of the farmer--they are in fact in way of each other, and unless some +wholesome and human principle, either of domestic employment or colonial +emigration, or perhaps both, shall be adopted, they will continue to +embarrass the country, and to drive out of it, always in connection with +other causes, the very class of persons that constitute its remaining +strength. + +At the present period of our narrative the neighborhood of Ballymacan +was in an unsettled and distressful state. The small farmers, and such +as held from six to sixteen acres, at a rent which they could at any +period with difficulty pay, were barely able to support themselves and +their families upon the produce of their holdings, so that the claims +of the landlord were out of the question. Such a position as this to the +unhappy class we speak of, is only another name for ruin. The bailiff, +who always lives upon the property, seeing their condition, and knowing +that they are not able to meet the coming gale, reports accordingly +to the agent, who, now cognizant that there is only one look-up for the +rent, seizes the poor man's corn and cattle, leaving himself and +his family within cold walls, and at an extinguished hearth. In this +condition were a vast number in the neighborhood of the locality laid in +our narrative. The extraordinary, but natural anxiety for holding land, +and the equally ardent spirit of competition which prevails in the +country, are always ready arguments in the mouth of the landlord and +agent, when they wish to raise the rent or eject the tenant. “If you +won't pay me such a rent, there are plenty that will. I have been +offered more than you pay, and more than I ask, and you know I must look +to my own interests!” In this case it is very likely that the landlord +speaks nothing but the truth; and as he is pressed on by his necessities +on the one hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a country so +circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition may be +easily conceived. + +In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting +the neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the +tenantry upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the +luxury of a contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member +during two sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated, +an Emancipator and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not +get his seat upon these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism +since his election, and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought, +but an indifferent chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat +before was a sturdy Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but +possessing that rare and inestimable quality, or rather combination of +qualities which constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man +of good property, and although somewhat deficient in the _suaviter in +modo_, yet in consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a +favorite with the people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty +wherever they find them in public men. + +Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and +once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful +to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our +humble individuals who constitute our _dramatis personae_. + +The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra, +was in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must +necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At +this time there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit +distillation, but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure +similar to the foregoing had been made, that the people in any +particular district became acquainted with it. By this enactment the +offending individual was looked upon as having no farther violated +the laws in that case made and provided, than those who had never been +engaged in such pursuits at all. In other words, the innocent, were +equally punished with the guilty. A heavy fine was imposed--not on the +offender, but on the whole townland in which he lived; so that the +guilt of one individual was not visited as it ought to have been on the +culprit himself, but equally distributed in all its penalties upon the +other inhabitants of the district in question, who may have had neither +act nor part in any violation of the laws whatsoever. + +Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed +him, scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally +alarmed, and with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to +incredible lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in +question was enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a +kind of legal confederacy against a system so destructive of industry +and morals. The act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not +merely imperative,--but fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It +immediately became the engine of malice and revenge between individual +enemies--often between rival factions, and not unfrequently between +parties instigated against each other by political rancor and hatred. +Indeed, so destructive of the lives and morals of the people was it +found, that in the course of a very few years it was repealed, but not +until it had led to repeated murders and brought ruin and destruction +upon many an unoffending and industrious family. + +Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger +and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled, +if possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for +his destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass, +where he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, “Having +come that far on his way,” he said, “to see him, and to ascertain +the truth of the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy +responsibility under which the illicit distillation had placed him.” + Bryan was naturally generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding +this, it was impossible that he should not entertain some slight +surmises touching the sincerity of Burke. + +“What is this, Bryan?” said the latter. “Can it be possible that you're +in for the Fine, as report goes?” + +“It's quite possible,” replied Bryan; “on yesterday I got a notice of +proceedings from the Board of Excise.” + +“But,” pursued his friend, “what devil could have tempted you to have +anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of +it?” + +“I had no more to do with it,” replied Bryan, “than you had--nor I don't +even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say it +was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that has their hands in everything +that's wicked and disgraceful. They would ruin me if they could,” said +Bryan, “and I suppose it was with the hope of doing so that they set up +the still where they did.” + +“Well, now,” replied Hycy, with an air of easy and natural generosity, +“I should be sorry to think so: they are d--d scoundrels, or rather +common ruffians, I grant you; but still, Bryan, I don't like to suspect +even such vagabonds without good grounds. Bad as we know them to be, I +have my doubts whether they are capable of setting about such an act +for the diabolical purpose of bringing you to ruin. Perhaps they merely +deemed the place on your farm a convenient one to build a still-house +in, and that they never thought further about it.” + +“Or what,” replied Bryan, “if there was some one behind their backs who +is worse than themselves? Mightn't sich a thing as that be possible?” + +“True,” replied Hycy, “true, indeed--that's not improbable. +Stay--no--well it may be--but--no--I can't think it.” + +“What is it you can't think?” + +“Why, such a thing might be,” proceeded Hycy, “if you have an enemy; but +I think, Bryan, you are too well liked--and justly so too--if you will +excuse me for saying so to your face--to have any enemy capable of going +such nefarious lengths as that.” + +Bryan paused and seemed a good deal struck with the truth of Hycy's +observation--“There's raison, sure enough in what you say, Hycy,” he +observed. “I don't know that I have a single enemy--unless the +Hogans themselves--that would feel any satisfaction in drivin' me to +destruction.” + +“And besides,” continued Hycy, “between you and me now, Bryan, who the +devil with an ounce of sense in his head would trust such scoundrels, or +put himself in their power?” + +Bryan considered this argument a still more forcible one than the other. + +“That's stronger still,” Re replied, “and indeed I am inclined to +think that after all, Hycy, it happened as you say. Teddy Phats I think +nothing at all about, for the poor, misshapen vagabone will distil +poteen for any one that employs him.” + +“True,” replied the other, “I agree with you; but what's to be done, +Bryan? for that's the main point now.” + +“I scarcely know,” replied Bryan, who now began to feel nothing but +kindness towards Hycy, in consequence of the interest which that young +fellow evidently took in his misfortune, for such, in serious truth, it +must be called. “I am the only proprietor of Ahadarra,” he proceeded, +“and, as a matter of course, the whole fine falls on my shoulders.” + +“Ay, that's the devil of it; but at all events, Bryan, there is nothing +got in this world without exertion and energy. Mr. Chevydale, +the Member, is now at home: he has come down to canvass for the +coming-election. I would recommend you to see him at once. You know--but +perhaps you don't though--that his brother is one of the Commissioners +of Excise; so that I don't know any man who can serve you more +effectually than Chevydale, if he wishes.” + +“But what could he do?” asked Bryan. + +“Why, by backing a memorial from you, stating the particulars, and +making out a strong case, he might get the fine reduced. I shall draw up +such a memorial if you wish.” + +“Thank you, Hycy--I'm obliged to you--these, I dare say, will be the +proper steps to take--thank you.” + +“Nonsense! but perhaps I may serve you a little in another way. I'm +very intimate with Harry Clinton, and who knows but I may be able to +influence the uncle a little through the nephew.” + +“It's whispered that you might do more through the niece,” replied +Bryan, laughing; “is that true?” + +“Nonsense, I tell you,” replied Hycy, affecting confusion; “for Heaven's +sake, Bryan, say nothing about that; how did it come to your ears?” + +“Faith, and that's more than I can tell you,” replied the other; “but I +know I heard it somewhere of late.” + +“It's not a subject, of course,” continued Hycy, “that I should wish to +become the topic of vulgar comment or conversation, and I'd much rather +you would endeavor to discountenance it whenever you hear it spoken of. +At all events, whether with niece or nephew,” proceeded Hycy, “you may +rest assured, that whatever service I can render you, I shall not +fail to do it. You and I have had a slight misunderstanding, but on +an occasion like this, Bryan, it should be a bitter one indeed that a +man--a generous man at least,--would or ought to remember.” + +This conversation took place whilst Bryan was proceeding to +Fethertonge's, Hycy being also on his way home. On arriving at the turn +of the road which led to Jemmy Burke's, Hycy caught the hand of his +companion, which he squeezed with an affectionate warmth, so cordial and +sincere in its character that Bryan cast every shadow of suspicion to +the winds, + +“Cheer up, Bryan, all will end better than you think, I hope. I shall +draw up a memorial for you this evening, as strongly and forcibly as +possible, and any other assistance that I can render you in this unhappy +difficulty I will do it. I know I am about ninety pounds in your debt, +and instead of talking to you in this way, or giving you fair words, +I ought rather to pay you your money. The 'gentleman,' however, is +impracticable for the present, but I trust--” + +“Not a word about it,” said Bryan, “you'll oblige me if you'll drop that +part of the subject; but listen, Hycy,--I think you're generous and a +little extravagant, and both is a good man's case--but that's not what +I'm going to spake about, truth's best at all times; I heard that you +were my enemy, and I was desired to be on my guard against you.” + +Hycy looked at him with that kind of surprise which is natural to an +innocent man, and simply said, “May I ask by whom, Bryan?” + +“I may tell you some other time,” replied Bryan, “but I won't now; all I +can say is, that I don't believe it, and I'm sure that ought to satisfy +you.” + +“I shall expect you to tell me, Bryan,” said the other, and then after +returning a few steps, he caught M'Mahon's hand again, and shaking +it warmly, once more added, “God bless you, Bryan; you are a generous +high-minded young fellow, and I only wish I was like you.” + +Bryan, after they had separated, felt that Hycy's advice was the very +best possible under the circumstances, and as he had heard for the first +time that Chevydale was in the country, he resolved to go at once and +state to him the peculiar grievance under which he labored. + +Chevydale's house was somewhat nearer Ahadarra than Fethertonge's, but +on the same line of road, and he accordingly proceeded to the residence +of his landlord. The mansion indeed was a fine one. It stood on the brow +of a gentle eminence, which commanded a glorious prospect of rich and +highly cultivated country. Behind, the landscape rose gradually until +it terminated in a range of mountains that protected the house from +the north. The present structure was modern, having been built by old +Chevydale, previous to his marriage. It was large and simple, but so +majestic in appearance, that nothing could surpass the harmony that +subsisted between its proportions and the magnificent old trees which +studded the glorious lawn that surrounded, it, and rose in thick +extensive masses that stretched far away behind the house. It stood in a +park, which for the beauties of wood and. water was indeed worthy of its +fine simplicity and grandeur--a park in which it was difficult to say +whether the beautiful, the picturesque, or the wild, predominated most. +And yet in this princely residence Mr. Chevydale did not reside more +than a month, or at most two, during the whole year. + +On reaching the hall-door, M'Mahon inquired from the servant who +appeared, if he could see Mr. Chevydale. + +“I'm afraid not,” said the servant, “but I will see; what's your name?” + +“Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, one of his tenants.” + +The servant returned to him in a few moments, and said, “Yes, he will +see you; follow me.” + +Bryan entered a library, where he found his landlord and Fethertonge +apparently engaged in business, and as he was in the act of doing so, he +overheard Chevydale saying--“No, no, I shall always see my tenants.” + +Bryan made his obeisance in his own plain way, and Chevydale said--“Are +you M'Mahon of Ahadarra?” + +“I am, sir,” replied Bryan. + +“I thought you were a much older man,” said Chevydale, “there certainly +must be, some mistake here,” he added, looking at Fethertonge. + +“M'Mahon of Ahadarra was a middle-aged man several years ago, but this +person is young enough to be his man.” + +“You speak of his uncle,” replied Fethertonge, “who is dead. This +young man, who now owns his uncle's farm, is son to Thomas M'Mahon of +Carriglass. How is your father, M'Mahon? I hope he bears up well under +his recent loss.” + +“Indeed but poorly, sir,” replied Bryan, “I fear he'll never be the same +man.” + +Chevydale here took to reading a newspaper, and in a minute or two +appeared to be altogether unconscious of Bryan's presence. + +“I'm afeard, sir,” said Bryan, addressing himself to the agent, who was +the only person likely to hear him, “I'm afeard, sir, that I've got into +trouble.” + +“Into trouble? how is that?” + +“Why, sir, there was a Still, Head, and Worm found upon Ahadarra, and +I'm going to be fined for it.” + +“M'Mahon,” replied the agent, “I am sorry to hear this, both on your own +account and that of your family. If I don't mistake, you were cautioned +and warned against this; but it was useless; yes, I am sorry for it; and +for you, too.” + +“I don't properly understand you, sir,” said Bryan. + +“Did I not myself forewarn you against having anything to do in matters +contrary to the law? You must remember I did, and on the very last +occasion, too, when you were in my office.” + +“I remember it right well, sir,” replied Bryan, “and I say now as I did +then, that I am not the man to break the law, or have act or part in +anything that's contrary to it. I know nothing about this business, +except that three ruffianly looking fellows named Hogan, common tinkers, +and common vagabonds to boot--men that are my enemies--are the persons +by all accounts who set up the still on my property. As for myself, I +had no more to do in it or with it than yourself or Mr. Chevydale here.” + +“Well,” replied Fethertonge, “I hope not. I should feel much +disappointed if you had, but you know, Bryan,” he added, good-humoredly, +“we could scarcely expect that you should admit such a piece of folly, +not to call it by a harsher name.” + +“If I had embarked in it,” replied M'Mahon, “I sartinly would not deny +it to you or Mr. Chevydale, at least; but, as I said before, I know +nothing more about it, than simply it was these ruffians and a fellow +named Phats, a Distiller, that set it a-working,--however, the question +is, what am I to do? If I must pay the fine for the whole townland, it +will beggar me--ruin me. It was that brought me to my landlord here,” he +added; “I believe, sir, you have a brother a Commissioner of Excise?” + +“Eh? what is that?” asked Chevydaie, looking up suddenly as Bryan asked +the question. + +M'Mahon was obliged to repeat all the circumstances once more, as did +Feathertonge the warning he had given him against having any connection +with illegal proceedings. + +“I am to get a memorial drawn up tomorrow, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “and I +was thinking that by giving the Board of Excise a true statement of the +case, they might reduce the fine; if they don't, I am ruined--that's +all.” + +“Certainly,” said his landlord, “that is a very good course to take; +indeed, your only course.” + +“I hope, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “that as you now know the true +circumstances of the case, you'll be kind, enough to support my +petition; I believe your brother, sir, is one of the Commissioners; +you would sartinly be able to do something with him.” + +“No,” replied Chevydaie, “I would not ask anything from him; but I +shall support your Petition, and try what I can do with the other +Commissioners. On principle, however, I make it a point never to ask +anything from my brother.” + +“Will I bring you the Petition, sir?” asked Bryan. + +“Fetch me the Petition.” + +“And Bryan,” said Fethertonge, raising his finger at him as if by way of +warning--and laughing--“hark ye, let this be the last.” + +“Fethertonge,” said the landlord, “I see 'Pratt has been found guilty, +and the sentence confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief.” + +“You will insist on it,” said Bryan, in reply to the agent, “but--” + +“There now, M'Mahon,” said the latter, “that will do; good day to you.” + +“I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the +bell?” + +“I don't know, sir,” replied the other, ringing as he spoke; “Neville's +testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did +not certainly look like sobriety.” + +“I had one other word to say, gentlemen,” added M'Mahon, “if you'll +allow me, now that I'm here.” + +Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful +but friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed +the subject. “I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some +other time, Bryan.” + +“But you know the proverb, sir,” said Bryan, smiling, “that there's no +time like the present; besides it's only a word.” + +“What is it?” asked the landlord. + +“About the leases, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “to know when it would be +convanient for you to sign them.” + +Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to +Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant. +At this moment a servant entered, saying, “The horses are at the door, +gentlemen.” + +“Come some other day, M'Mahon,” said Fethertonge; “do you not see that +we are going out to ride now--going on our canvass? Come to my office +some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the +country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter.” + +“Yes, come some other day, Mr.--Mr.--ay--M'Mahon; if there are leases +to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do my duty +as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. You know +I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, unless +when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any necessary +paper.” + +Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of +remonstrance, which seemed to say, “Why will you thus persist, when you +see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not +your friend?” Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the +result of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over +him, and in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that +which he had placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most +assuredly not becoming stronger. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI.---A Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan + +--Bryan M'Mahon is Cautioned against Political Temptation--He Seeks +Major Vanston's Interest with the Board of Excise. + + +The consequences of the calamity which was hanging over Bryan M'Mahon's +head, had become now pretty well understood, and occasioned a very +general and profound sympathy for the ruin in which it was likely to +involve him. Indeed, almost every one appeared to feel it more than he +himself did, and many, who on meeting him, were at first disposed to +offer him consolation, changed their purpose on witnessing his cheerful +and manly bearing under it. Throughout the whole country there was but +one family, with another exception, that felt gratified at the blow +which had fallen on him. The exception we speak of was no other than Mr, +Hycy Burke, and the family was that of the Hogans. As for Teddy +Phats, he was not the man to trouble himself by the loss of a moment's +indifference upon any earthly or other subject, saving and excepting +always that it involved the death, mutilation, or destruction in some +shape, of his great and relentless foe, the Gauger, whom he looked upon +as the impersonation of all that is hateful and villainous in life, and +only sent into this world to war with human happiness at large. +That great professional instinct, as the French say, and a strong +unaccountable disrelish of Hycy Burke, were the only two feelings that +disturbed the hardened indifference of his nature. + +One night, shortly after Bryan's visit to his landlord, the Hogans and +Phats were assembled in the kiln between the hours of twelve and one +o'clock, after having drunk nearly three quarts of whiskey among +them. The young savages, as usual, after the vagabond depredations or +mischievous exercises of the day, were snoring as we have described them +before; when Teddy, whom no quantity of liquor could affect beyond a +mere inveterate hardness of brogue and an indescribable effort at mirth +and melody, exclaimed--“Fwhy, dhen, dat's the stuff; and here's bad luck +to him that paid fwor it.” + +“I'll not drink it, you ugly _keout_,” exclaimed Philip, in his deep and +ruffianly voice; “but come--all o' yez fill up and drink my toast. Come, +Kate, you crame of hell's delights, fill till I give it. No,” he added +abruptly, “I won't drink that, you leprechaun; the man that ped for it +is Hycy Burke, and I like Hycy Burke for one thing, an' I'll not dhrink +bad luck to him. Come, are yez ready?” + +“Give it out, you hulk,” said Kate, “an' don't keep us here all night +over it.” + +“Here, then,” exclaimed the savage, with a grin of ferocious mirth, +distorting his grim colossal features into a smile that was frightful +and inhuman--“Here's may Bryan M'Mahon be soon a beggar, an' all his +breed the same! Drink it now, all o' yez, or, by the mortal counthryman, +I'll brain the first that'll refuse it.” + +The threat, in this case, was a drunken one, and on that very account +the more dangerous. + +“Well,” said Teddy, “I don't like to drink it; but if--” + +“_Honomondiaul!_ you d----d disciple,” thundered the giant, “down wid +it, or I'll split your skull!” + +Teddy had it down ere the words were concluded. + +“What!” exclaimed Hogan, or rather roared again, as he fastened his +blazing eyes on Kate--“what, you yalla mullotty, do you dar to refuse?” + +“Ay, do dar to refuse!--an' I'd see you fizzin' on the devil's +fryin'-pan, where you'll fiz yet, afore I'd dhrink it. Come, come,” she +replied, her eye blazing now as fiercely as his own, “keep quiet, I bid +you--keep calm; you ought to know me now, I think.” + +“Drink it,” he shouted, “or I'll brain you.” + +“Howl him,” said Teddy--“howl him; there's murdher in his eye. My soul +to happiness but he'll kill her.” + +“Will he, indeed?” said Bat, with a loud laugh, in which he was joined +by Ned--“will he, indeed?” they shouted. “Go on, Kate, you'll get +fair play if you want it--his eye, Teddy! ay, but look at her's, man +alive--look at her altogether! Go on, Kate--more power!” + +Teddy, on looking at her again, literally retreated a few paces from +sheer terror of the tremendous and intrepid fury who now stood before +him. It was then for the first time that he observed the huge bones and +immense muscular development that stood out into terrible strength +by the force of her rising passion. It was the eye, however, and the +features of the face which filled him with such an accountable dread. +The eyes were literally blazing, and the muscles of the face, now cast +into an expression which seemed at the same time to be laughter and +fury, were wrought up and blended together in such a way as made the +very countenance terrible by the emanation of murder which seemed to +break from every feature of it. “Drink it, I say again,” shouted Philip. +Kate made no reply, but, walking over to where he stood, she looked +closely into his eyes, and said, with grinding teeth--“Not if it was to +save you from the gallows, where you'll swing yet; but listen.” As she +spoke her words were hoarse and low, there was a volume of powerful +strength in her voice which stunned one like the roar of a lioness. +“Here,” she exclaimed, her voice now all at once rising or rather +shooting up to a most terrific scream--“here's a disgraceful death to +Hycy Burke! and may all that's good and prosperous in this world, ay, +and in the next, attend Bryan M'Mahon, the honest man! Now, Philip, my +man, see how I drink them both.” And, having concluded, she swallowed +the glass of whiskey, and again drawing her face within an inch of his +she glared right into his eyes. + +“Howl me,” he shouted, “or I'll sthrike, an' we'll have a death in the +house.” + +She raised one hand and waved it behind her, as an intimation that they +should not interfere. + +The laughter of the brothers now passed all bounds. “No, Kate, go on--we +won't interfere. You had better seize him.” + +“No,” she replied, “let him begin first, if he dar.” + +“Howl me,” shouted Philip, “she'll only be killed.” + +Another peal of laughter was the sole reply given to this by the +brothers. “He's goin',” they exclaimed, “he's gone--the white fedher's +in him--it's all over wid him--he's afeerd of her, an' not for nothing +either--ha! ha! ha! more power, Kate!” + +Stung by the contemptuous derision contained in this language, Philip +was stepping back in order to give himself proper room for a blow, when, +on the very instant that he moved, Kate, uttering something between a +howl and a yell, dashed her huge hands into his throat--which was, as +is usual with tinkers, without a cravat--and in a moment a desperate and +awful struggle took place between them. Strong as Philip was, he found +himself placed perfectly on the defensive by the terrific grip which +this furious opponent held of his throat. So powerful was it, indeed, +that not a single instant was allowed him for the exercise of any +aggressive violence against her by a blow, all his strength being +directed to unclasp her hands from his throat that he might be permitted +to breathe. As they pulled and tugged, however, it was evident that the +struggle was going against him--a hoarse, alarming howl once or twice +broke from him, that intimated terror and distress on his part. + +“That's right, Kate,” they shouted, “you have him--press tight--the +windpipe's goin'--bravo! he'll soon stagger an' come down, an' then you +may do as you like.” + +They tugged on, and dragged, and panted, with the furious vehemence of +the exertion; when at length Philip shouted, in a voice half-stifled by +strangulation, “Let g--o--o--o, I--I sa--y--y; ah! ah! ah!” + +Bat now ran over in a spirit of glee and triumph that cannot well be +described, and clapping his wife on the back, shouted--“Well done, +Kate; stick to him for half a minute and he's yours. Bravo! you clip o' +perdition, bravo!” + +He had scarcely uttered the words when the giant carcass of Philip +tottered and fell, dragging Kate along with it, who never for a moment +lost or loosened her hold. Her opponent now began to sprawl and kick +out his feet from a sense of suffocation, and in attempting to call for +assistance, nothing but low, deep gurgling noises could issue from his +lips, now livid with the pressure on his throat and covered with foam. +His face, too, at all times dark and savage, became literally black, and +he uttered such sternutations as, on seeing that they were accompanied +by the diminished struggles which betoken exhaustion, induced Teddy to +rush over for the purpose of rescuing him from her clutches. + +“Aisy,” said the others; “let them alone--a little thing will do it +now--it's almost over--she has given him his gruel--an' divil's cure to +him--he knew well enough what she could do--but he would have it.” + +Faint convulsive movements were all now that could be noticed in the +huge limbs of their brother, and still the savage tigress was at his +throat, when her husband at length said:-- + +“It's time, Ned--it's time--she may carry it too far--he's quiet enough +now. Come away, Kate, it's all right--let him alone--let go your hoult +of him.” + +Kate, however, as if she had tasted his blood, would listen to no such +language; all the force, and energies, and bloody instincts of the +incarnate fury were aroused within her, and she still stuck to her +victim. + +“Be japers she'll kill him,” shouted Bat, rushing to her; “come, +Ned, till we unclasp her--take care--pull quickly--bloody wars, he's +dead!--Kate, you divil!--you fury of hell! let go--let go, I say.” + +Kate, however, heard him not, but still tugged and stuck to the throat +of Philip's quivering carcass, until by a united effort they at length +disentangled her iron clutches from it, upon which she struggled and +howled like a beast of prey, and attempted with a strength that seemed +more akin to the emotion of a devil than that of a woman to get at him +again and again, in order to complete her work. + +“Come, Kate,” said her husband, “you're a Trojan--by japers you're a +Trojan; you've settled him any way--is there life in him?” he asked, “if +there is, dash wather or something in his face, an' drag him up out o' +that--ha! ha! Well done, Kate; only for you we'd lead a fine life wid +him--ay! an' a fine life that is--a hard life we led until you did +come--there now, more power to you--by the livin' Counthryman, there's +not your aquil in Europe--come now, settle down, an' don't keep all +movin' that way as if you wor at him again--sit down now, an' here's +another glass of whiskey for you.” + +In the mean time, Ned and Teddy Phats succeeded in recovering Philip, +whom they dragged over and placed upon a kind of bench, where in a few +minutes he recovered sufficiently to be able to speak--but ever and anon +he shook his head, and stretched his neck, and drew his breath deeply, +putting his hands up from time to time as if he strove to set his +windpipe more at ease. + +“Here Phil, my hairo,” said his triumphant brother Bat, “take another +glass, an' may be for all so strong and murdherin' as you are wid others +you now know--an' you knew before what our woman' can do at home wid +you.” + +“I've--hoch--hoch--I've done wid her--she's no woman; there's a devil +in her, an' if you take my advice, it's to Priest M'Scaddhan you'd bring +her, an' have the same devil prayed out of her--I that could murdher ere +a man in the parist a'most!” + +“Lave Bryan M'Mahon out,” said Kate. + +“No I won't,” replied Phil, sullenly, and with a voice still hoarse, +“no, I won't--I that could make smash of ere a man in the parish, to be +throttled into perdition by a blasted woman. She's a devil, I say; for +the last ten minutes I seen nothin' but fire, fire, fire, as red as +blazes, an' I hard somethin' yellin', yellin', in my ears.” + +“Ay!” replied Kate, “I know you did--that was the fire of hell you seen, +ready to resave you; an' the noise you hard was the voices of the devils +that wor comin' for your sowl--ay, an' the voices of the two wives you +murdhered--take care then, or I'll send you sooner to hell than you +dhrame of.” + +The scowl which she had in return for this threat was beyond all +description. + +“Oh, I have done wid you,” he replied; “you're not right, I say--but +never mind, I'll put a pin in M'Mahon's collar for this--ay will I.” + +“Don't!” she exclaimed, in one fearful monosyllable, and then she added +in a low condensed whisper, “or if you do, mark the consequence.” + +“Trot, Phil,” said Teddy, “I think you needn't throuble your head about +M'Mahon--he's done fwhor.” + +“An' mark me,” said Kate, “I'll take care of the man that done for him. +I know him well, betther than he suspects, an' can make him sup sorrow +whenever I like--an' would, too, only for one thing.” + +“An' fwhat's dhat wan thing?” asked Phats. + +“You'll know it when you're ouldher, may be,” replied Kate; “but you +must be ouldher first--I can keep my own secrets, thank God, an' will, +too--only mark me all o' yez; you know well what I am--let no injury +come to Bryan M'Mahon. For the sake of one person he must be safe.” + +“Well,” observed Teddy, “let us hear no more about them; it's all +settled that we are to set up in Glen Dearg above again--for this +Hycy,--who's sthrivin' to turn the penny where he can.” + +“It is,” said Bat; “an', to-morrow night, let us bring the things +up--this election will sarve us at any rate--but who will come in?” (* +That is, be returned.) + +“The villain of hell!” suddenly exclaimed Kate, as if to herself; “to +go to ruin the young man! That girl's breakin' her heart for what has +happened.” + +“What are you talkin' about?” asked her husband. + +“Nothing,” she replied; “only if you all intend to have any rest +to-night, throw yourselves in the shake-down there, an' go sleep. I'm +not to sit up the whole night here, I hope?” + +Philip, and Ned, and Teddy tumbled themselves into the straw, and in a +few minutes were in a state of perfect oblivion. + +“Hycy Burke is a bad boy, Bat,” she said, as the husband was about to +follow their example; “but he is marked--I've set my mark upon him.” + +“You appear to know something particular about him,” observed her +husband. + +“Maybe I do, an' maybe I don't,” she replied; “but I tell you, he's +marked--that's all--go to bed now.” + +He tumbled after the rest, Kate stretched herself in an, opposite +corner, and in a few minutes this savage orchestra was in full chorus. + +What an insoluble enigma is woman! From the specimen of feminine +delicacy and modest diffidence which we have just presented to the +reader, who would imagine that Kate Hogan was capable of entering into +the deep and rooted sorrow which Kathleen Cavanagh experienced when made +acquainted with the calamity which was about to crush her lover. Yet so +it was. In truth this fierce and furious woman who was at once a thief, +a liar, a drunkard, and an impostor, hardened in wickedness and deceit, +had in spite of all this a heart capable of virtuous aspirations, and +of loving what was excellent and good. It is true she was a hypocrite +herself, yet she detested Hycy Burke for his treachery. She was a thief +and a liar, yet she liked and respected Bryan M'Mahon for his truth and +honesty. Her heart, however, was not all depraved; and, indeed, it is +difficult to meet a woman in whose disposition, however corrupted by +evil society, and degraded by vice, there is not to be found a portion +of the angelic essence still remaining. In the case before us, however, +this may be easily accounted for. Kate Hogan, though a hell-cat and +devil, when provoked, was, amidst all her hardened violence and general +disregard of truth and honesty, a virtuous woman and a faithful wife. +Hence her natural regard for much that was good and pure, and her strong +sympathy with the sorrow which now fell upon Kathleen Cavanagh. + +Kathleen and her sister had been sitting sewing at the parlor window, on +the day Bryan had the interview we have detailed with Chevydale and the +agent, when they heard their father's voice inquiring for Hanna. + +“He has been at Jemmy Burke's, Kathleen,” said her sister, “and I'll +wager a nosegay, if one could get one, that he has news of this new +sweetheart of yours; he's bent, Kathleen,” she added, “to have you in +Jemmy Burke's family, cost what it may.” + +“So it seems, Hanna.” + +“They say Edward Burke is still a finer-looking young fellow than Hycy. +Now, Kathleen,” she added, laughing, “if you should spoil a priest +afther all! Well! un-likelier things have happened.” + +“That may be,” replied Kathleen, “but this won't happen for all that, +Hanna. Go, there he's calling for you again.” + +“Yes--yes,” she shouted; “throth, among you all, Kathleen, you're making +a regular go-between of me. My father thinks I can turn you round my +finger, and Bryan M'Mahon thinks--yes, I'm goin',” she answered again. +“Well, keep up your spirits; I'll soon have news for you about this +spoiled priest.” + +“Poor Hanna,” thought Kathleen; “where was there ever such a sister? She +does all she can to keep my spirits up; but it can't be. How can I see +him ruined and beggared, that had the high spirit and the true heart?” + +Hanna, her father, and mother, held a tolerably long discussion +together, in which Kathleen could only hear the tones of their voices +occasionally. It was evident, however, by the emphatic intonations of +the old couple, that they were urging some certain point, which her +faithful sister was deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by +seriousness, and at other times by mirth. At length she returned with +a countenance combating between seriousness and jest; the seriousness, +however, predominating. + +“Kathleen,” said she, “you never had a difficulty before you until now. +They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any +wish to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all +a trick of the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now +determined to disappoint them. What will you do?” + +“What would you recommend me?” asked Kathleen, looking at her with +something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there +was a slight smile upon her lips. + +“Why,” said the frank and candid girl, “certainly to run away with Bryan +M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything.” + +“Would it settle my father's heart,” said Kathleen, “and my +mother's?--would it settle my own character?--would it be the step that +all the world would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?--and putting all the +world aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God, +my dear Hanna?” + +“Kathleen, forgive me, darlin',” said her sister, throwing her arms +about her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; “I'm a foolish, +flighty creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't +advise you. Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine.” + +“If your head makes fifty mistakes,” said her sister, “your heart's an +excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when +you're in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put +together. Come, now.” + +They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora +M'Mahon who, as she said, “came down to ask them up a while, as the +house was now so lonesome;” and she added, with artless naivete, “I +don't know how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever +did before. Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you +as a stranger, and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to +you more and more.” + +Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration +which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding +this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to +say anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw +Bryan at the turn of the road approaching them. + +“Here's a friend of ours,” she exclaimed; “no less than Bryan M'Mahon +himself. Come, Dora, we can't go' up to Carriglass, but we'll walk back +with you a piece o' the way.” + +Bryan, who was then on his return from Chevydale's, soon joined them, +and they proceeded in the direction of his father's, Dora and Hanna +having, with good-humored consideration, gone forward as an advanced +guard, leaving Bryan and Kathleen to enjoy their tete-a-tete behind +them. + +“Dear Kathleen,” said Bryan, “I was very anxious to see you. You've +h'ard of this unfortunate business that has come upon me?” + +“I have,” she replied, “and I need not say that I'm sorry for it. Is it, +or will it be as bad as they report?” + +“Worse, Kathleen. I will have the fine for all Ahadarra to pay myself.” + +“But can nothing be done. Wouldn't they let you off when they come to +hear that, although the Still was found upon your land, yet it wasn't +yours, nor it wasn't you that was usin' it?” + +“I don't know how that may be. Hycy Burke tells me that they'll be apt +to reduce the fine, if I send them a petition or memorial, or whatever +they call it, an' he's to have one Written for me to-morrow.” + +“I'm afraid Hycy's a bad authority for anybody, Bryan.” + +“I don't think you do poor Hycy justice, Kathleen; he's not, in my +opinion, so bad as you think him. I don't know a man, nor I haven't +met a man that's sorrier for what has happened me; he came to see me +yesterday, and to know in what way he could serve me, an' wasn't called +upon to do so.” + +“I hope you're right, Bryan; for why should I wish Hycy Burke to be a +bad man, or why should I wish him ill? I may be mistaken in him, and I +hope I am.” + +“Indeed, I think you are, Kathleen; he's wild a good deal, I grant, +and has a spice of mischief in him, and many a worthy young fellow has +both.” + +“That's very true,” she replied; “however, we have h'ard bad enough of +him. There's none of us what we ought to be, Bryan. If you're called +upon to pay this fine, what will, be the consequence?” + +“Why, that I'll have to give up my farm--that I won't be left worth +sixpence.” + +“Who put the still up in Ahadarra?” she inquired. “Is it true that it +was the Hogan's?” + +“Indeed I believe there's no doubt about it,” he replied; “since I +left the landlord's, I have heard what satisfies me that it was them and +Teddy Phats.” + +Kathleen paused and sighed. “They are a vile crew,” she added, after a +little; “but, be they what they may, they're faithful and honest, and +affectionate to our family; an' that, I believe, is the only good about +them. Bryan, I am very sorry for this misfortune that has come upon you. +I am sorry for your own sake.” + +“And I,” replied Bryan, “am sorry for--I was goin' to say--yours; but +it would be, afther all, for my own. I haven't the same thoughts of you +now, dear Kathleen.” + +She gazed quickly, and with some surprise at him, and asked, “Why so, +Bryan?” + +“I'm changed--I'm a ruined man,” he replied; “I had bright hopes of +comfort and happiness--hopes that I doubt will never come to pass. +However,” he added, recovering himself, and assuming a look of +cheerfulness, “who knows if everything will turnout so badly as we +fear?” + +“That's the spirit you ought to show,” returned Kathleen; “You have +before you the example of a good father; don't be cast down, nor look +at the dark side; but you said you had not the same thoughts of me just +now; I don't understand you.” + +“Do you think,” he replied, with a smile, “that I meant to say my +affection for you was changed? Oh, no, Kathleen; but that my situation +is changed, or soon will be so; and that on that account we can't be the +same thing to one another that we have been.” + +“Bryan,” she replied, “you may always depend upon this, that so long as +you are true to your God and to yourself, I will be true to you. Depend +upon this once and forever.” + +“Kathleen, that's like yourself, but I could not think of bringing you +to shame.” He paused, and turning his eyes full upon her, added--“I'm +allowin' myself to sink again. Everything will turn out better than we +think, plaise God.” + +“I hope so,” she added, “but whatever happens, Bryan do you always act +an open, honest, manly part, as I know you will do; act always so as +that your conscience can't accuse you, or make you feel that you have +done anything that is wrong, or unworthy, or disgraceful; and then, dear +Bryan, welcome poverty may you say, as I will welcome Bryan M'Mahon with +it.” + +Both had paused for a little on their way, and stood for about a minute +moved by the interest which each felt in what the other uttered. As +Bryan's eye rested on the noble features and commanding figure of +Kathleen, he was somewhat started by the glow of enthusiasm which +lit both her eye and her cheek, although he was too unskilled in the +manifestations of character to know that it was enthusiasm she felt. + +They then proceeded, and after a short silence Bryan observed--“Dear +Kathleen, I know the value of the advice you are giving me, but will you +let me ask if you ever seen anything in my conduct, or heard anything in +my conversation, that makes you think it so necessary to give it to me?” + +“If I ever had, Bryan, it's not likely I'd be here at your side this day +to give it to you; but you're now likely to be brought into trials and +difficulties--into temptation--and it is then that you may think maybe +of what I'm sayin' now.” + +“Well, Kathleen,” he replied, smiling, “you're determined at all events +that the advice will come before the temptation; but, indeed, my own +dearest girl, my heart this moment is proud when I think that you are +so full of truth, an' feelin', and regard for me, as to give me such +advice, and to be able to give it. But still I hope I won't stand in +need of it, and that if the temptations you spoke of come in my way, +I will have your advice--ay, an' I trust in God the adviser, too--to +direct me.” + +“Are you sure, Bryan,” and she surveyed him closely as she spoke--“are +you sure that no part of the temptation has come across you already?” + +He looked surprised as she asked him this singular question. “I am,” + said he; “but, dear Kathleen, I can't rightly understand you. What +temptations do you mane?” + +“Have you not promised to vote for Mr. Vanston, the Tory candidate, who +never in his life voted for your religion or your liberty?” + +“Do you mane me, dearest Kathleen?” + +“You, certainly; who else could I mean when I ask you the question?” + +“Why, I never promised to vote for Vanston,” he replied; “an' what is +more--but who said I did?” + +“On the day before yesterday,” she proceeded, “two gentlemen came to our +house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to +vote for them--that is for Vanston.” + +“Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true. +I didn't promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me. Are you +satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?” + +“I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart +is easy. Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a +beggarly farm?” + +“But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm.” + +Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded. “What signifies +poverty, Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the +conscience clear and without a spot? Nothing--oh, nothing! As God is to +judge me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, +as I said awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate +by your side, if you could prove false to either.” + +The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire +which animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, +and Bryan, to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with +something like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks. + +He caught her hand and said “My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know +you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a +traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!” + +“Don't be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don't, my dear Bryan; for you +may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would +feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to +his religion or his suffering country.” + +“How could I,” he replied, “with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a +guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me? Well, now that your mind +is aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too. I have no doubt but +we'll be happy yet--at least I trust in God we will. Who knows but +everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they +may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my +good name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII.--Interview between Hycy and Finigan + +--The Former Propones for Miss Clinton--A love Scene + + +Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he +had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he +ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to +Bryan. The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience +he knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, +in excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy +Phats, was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would +inform upon him. After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came +to the conclusion that the school-master, Finigan, must have been +the traitor, and with this impression he resolved to give that worthy +personage a call upon his way home. He found him as usual at full work, +and as usual, also, in that state which is commonly termed half drunk, a +state, by the way, in which the learned pedagogue generally contrived +to keep himself night and day. Hycy did not enter his establishment, but +after having called him once or twice to no purpose--for such was the +din of the school that his voice could not penetrate it--he at length +knocked against the half open door, which caused him to be both seen +and heard more distinctly. On seeing him, the school-master got to his +limbs, and was about to address him, when Hycy said-- + +“Finigan, I wish to speak a few words to you.” + +“O'Finigan, sir--O'Finigan, Mr. Burke. It is enough, sir, to be deprived +of our hereditary territories, without being clipped of our names; they +should lave us those at all events unmutilated. O'Finigan, therefore, +Mr. Burke, whenever you address me, if you plaise.” + +“Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” continued Hycy, “if not inconvenient, I should +wish to speak a few words with you.” + +“No inconvenience in the world, Mr. Burke; I am always disposed to +oblige my friends whenever I can do so wid propriety. My advice, sir, +my friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to +guide them--my friendship to sustain--and my purse--hem!--ha, ha, ha--I +think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there,” he added, laughing, +“inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers term a +vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen,” he proceeded, addressing the scholars, +“I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a social cup +wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence of a short +interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my _locum tenens_ +until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put the +names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign' +is the word; an' see, Gusty--mairk me well--no bribery--no bread +nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the +culprits--otherwise you shall become their substitute in the +castigation, and I shall teach you to look one way and feel another, my +worthy con-disciple.” + +“Now, Finigan--I beg your pardon--O'Finigan,” said Hycy, when they were +seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with refreshments +before them, “I think I have reason to be seriously displeased with +you.” + +“Displeased with me!” exclaimed his companion; “and may I take the +liberty to interrogate wherefore, Mr. Hycy?” + +“You misrepresented me to Bryan M'Mahon,” said Hycy. + +“Upon what grounds and authority do you spake, sir?” asked Finigan, +whose dignity was beginning to take offence. + +“I have good grounds and excellent authority for what I say,” replied +Hycy. “You have acted a very dishonorable part, Mr. Finigan, and the +consequence is that I have ceased to be your friend.” + +“I act a dishonorable part. Why, sir, I scorn the imputation; but how +have I acted a dishonorable part? that's the point.” + +“You put Bryan M'Mahon upon his guard against me, and consequently left +an impression on his mind that I was his enemy.” + +“Well,” said the other, with a good deal of irony, “that is good! Have +I, indeed? And pray, Mr. Burke, who says so?” + +“I have already stated that my authority for it is good.” + +“But you must name you authority, sir, no lurking assassin shall be +permitted wid impunity to stab my fair reputation wid the foul dagger of +calumny and scandal. Name your authority, sir?” + +“I could do so.” + +“Well, sir, why don't you? Let me hear the name of the illiterate +miscreant, whoever he is, that has dared to tamper with my unblemished +fame.” + +“All I ask you,” continued Hycy, “is to candidly admit the fact, and +state why you acted as you did.” + +“Name your authority, sir, and then I shall speak. Perhaps I did, and +perhaps I did not; but when you name your authority I shall then +give you a more satisfactory reply. That's the language--the elevated +language--of a gentleman, Mr. Burke.” + +“My authority then is no other than Bryan M'Mahon himself,” replied +Hycy, “who told me that he was cautioned against me; so that I hope +you're now satisfied.” + +“Mr. Burke,” replied Finigan, assuming a lofty and impressive manner, +“I have known the M'Mahons for better than forty years; so, in fact, has +the country around them; and until the present moment I never heard that +a deliberate falsehood, or any breach of truth whatsoever, was imputed +to any one of them. Tom M'Mahon's simple word was never doubted, and +would pass aquil to many a man's oath; and it is the same thing wid the +whole family, man and women. They are proverbial, sir, for truth +and integrity, and a most spontaneous effusion of candor under all +circumstances. You will pardon me then, Mr. Hycy, if I avow a trifle of +heresy in this matter. You are yourself, wid great respect be it spoken, +sometimes said to sport your imagination occasionally, and to try your +hand wid considerable success at a _lapsus veritatis_. Pardon me, then, +if I think it somewhat more probable that you have just now stated what +an ould instructor of mine used to call a moral thumper; excuse me, I +say; and at all events I have the pleasure of drinking your health; and +if my conjecture be appropriate, here's also a somewhat closer adhesion +to the _veritas_ aforesaid to you!” + +“Do you mean to insinuate that I'm stating what is not true?” said +Burke, assuming an offended look, which, however, he did not feel. + +“No, sir,” replied Finigan, retorting his look with one of indignant +scorn, “far be it from me to insinuate any such thing. I broadly, and +in all the latitudinarianism of honest indignation, assert that it is a +d--d lie, begging your pardon, and drinking to your moral improvement a +second time; and ere you respond to what I've said, it would be as well, +in order to have the matter copiously discussed, if you ordhered in +a fresh supply of liquor, and help yourself, for, if the proverb be +true--_in vino veritas_--there it is again, but truth will be out, you +see--who knows but we may come to a thrifle of it from you yet? Ha! ha! +ha! Excuse the jest, Mr. Hycy. You remember little Horace,-- + + “'Quid vetat ridentem dicere verum?'” + +“Do you mean to say, sirra,” said Hycy, “that I have stated a lie?” + +“I mean to say that whoever asserts that I misrepresented you in any way +to Bryan M'Mahon, or ever cautioned him against you, states a lie of the +first magnitude--a moral thumper, of gigantic dimensions.” + +“Well, will you tell me what you did say to him?” + +“What I did say,” echoed Finigan. “Well,” he added, after a pause, +during which he I surveyed Hycy pretty closely--having now discovered +that he was, in fact, only proceeding upon mere suspicion--“I believe +I must acknowledge a portion of the misrepresentation. I must, on +secondary consideration, plead guilty to that fact.” + +“I thought as much,” said Hycy. + +“Here then--,” proceeded Finigan, with a broad and provoking grin +upon his coarse but humorous features, “here, Mr. Hycy, is what I +did say--says I, 'Bryan, I have a word to say to you, touching an +accomplished young gentleman, a friend of yours.' + +“'What is that?' asked the worthy Beit-nardus. + +“'It is regarding the all-accomplished Mr. Hyacinthus Burke,' I replied, +'who is a _homo-factus ad unguem_. Mr. Burke, Bryan,' I proceeded, 'is a +gentleman in the--hem--true sense of that word. He is generous, candid, +faithful, and honest; and in association wid all his other excellent +qualities, he is celebrated, among the select few who know him best, +for an extraordinary attachment to--truth.' Now, if that wasn't +misrepresentation, Mr. Hycy, I don't know what was. Ha! ha! ha!” + +“You're half drunk,” replied Hycy, “or I should rather say whole drunk, +I think, and scarcely know what you're saying; or rather, I believe +you're a bit of a knave, Mr. O'Finigan.” + +“Thanks, sir; many thanks for the prefix. Proceed.” + +“I have nothing more to add,” replied Hycy, rising up and preparing to +go. + +“Ay,” said Finigan, with another grin, “a bit of a knave, am I? Well, +now, isn't it better to be only a bit of a knave than a knave all out--a +knave in full proportions, from top to toe, from head to heel--like some +accomplished gentlemen that I have the! honor of being acquainted wid. +But in the I meantime, now, don't be in a hurry, man alive, nor look +as if you were fatted on vinegar. Sit down again; ordher in another +libation, and I shall make a disclosure that will be worth your waiting +for.” + +“You shall have the libation, as you call it, at all events,” said Hycy, +resuming his seat, but feeling, at the same time, by no means satisfied +with the lurking grin which occasionally played over Finigan's features. + +After much chat and banter, and several attempts on the part of Hycy to +insinuate himself into the pedagogue's confidence, he at length rose +to go. His companion was now in that state which strongly borders on +inebriety, and he calculated that if it were possible to worm anything +out of him, he was now in the best condition for it. Every effort, +however, was in vain; whenever he pressed the schoolmaster closely, the +vague, blank expression of intoxication disappeared for a moment, and +was replaced by the broad, humorous ridicule, full of self-possession +and consciousness, which always characterized Finigan, whether drunk or +sober. The man was naturally cunning, and ranked among a certain class +of topers who can be made drunk to a certain extent, and upon some +particular subjects, but who, beyond that, and with these limitations, +defy the influence of liquor. + +Hycy Burke was one of those men who, with smart and showy qualities +and great plausibility of manner, was yet altogether without purpose +or steadfast principle in the most ordinary affairs of life. He had no +fixed notions upon either morals, religion, or politics; and when we +say so, we may add, that he was equally without motive--that is, without +_adequate_ motive, in almost everything he did. + +The canvass was now going on with great zeal on the part of Chevydale +and Vanston. Sometimes Hycy was disposed to support the one and +sometimes the other, but as to feeling a firm attachment to the cause or +principles of either, it was not in his nature. + +Indeed, the approach of a general election was at all times calculated +to fill the heart of a thinking man with a strong sense of shame for his +kind, and of sorrow for the unreasoning and brutal tendency to slavery +and degradation which it exhibits. Upon this occasion the canvass, in, +consequence of the desperate struggle that must ensue, owing to the +equality of the opposing forces, was a remarkably early one. Party +feeling and religious animosity, as is usual, ran very high, each having +been made the mere stalking-horse or catchword of the rival candidates, +who cared nothing, or at least very little, about the masses on either +side, provided always that they could turn them to some advantage. + +It was one morning after the canvass had been going forward with great +activity on both sides for about a week, that Hycy, who now felt himself +rather peculiarly placed, rode down to Clinton's for the purpose of +formally paying his addresses to the gauger's interesting niece, and, +if possible, ascertaining his fate from her own lips. His brother Edward +had now been brought home in accordance with the expressed determination +of his father, with whom he was, unquestionably, a manifest favorite, a +circumstance which caused Hycy to detest him, and also deprived him in a +great degree of his mother's affection. Hycy had now resolved to pay his +devoirs to Kathleen Cavanagh, as a _dernier_ resort, in the event of +his failing with Miss Clinton; for, as regarding affection, he had +no earthly conception what it I meant. With this view he rode down to +Clinton's as we said, and met Harry coming out of the stable. + +“Harry,” said he, after his horse was put I up, “I am about to ask an +interview with your sister.” + +“I don't think she will grant it,” replied her brother, “you are by no +means a favorite; with her; however, you can try; perhaps she may. You +know the old adage, '_varium et imutabile semper_.' Who knows but she +may have changed her mind?” + +“Is your uncle within?” asked Hycy. + +“No,” replied his nephew, “he's gone to Fethertonge's upon some election +business.” + +“Could you not contrive,” said Hycy, “to leave her and me together, +then, and allow me to ascertain what I am to expect?” + +“Come in,” said Harry--“never say it again. If I can I will.” + +Hycy, as we have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of +persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his +really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit +which he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a +presentiment of success that is almost inseparable from persons of his +class, who can scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided +rejection by a woman as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry +Clinton himself, though but a young man, thought, as he afterwards +stated to his sister, that he never saw Hycy have so much the appearance +of a puppy as upon that occasion. As had been proposed, he withdrew, +however, and the lover being left in the drawing-room with Miss Clinton +began, with a simper that was rather coxcombical, to make allusions to +the weather, but in such a way as if there was some deep but delightful +meaning veiled under his commonplaces. At length he came directly to the +'point. + +“But passing from the weather, Miss Clinton, to a much more agreeable +topic, permit me to ask if you have ever turned your thoughts upon +matrimony?” + +The hectic of a moment, as Sterne. says, accompanied by a look that +slightly intimated displeasure, or something like it, was the only reply +he received for a quarter of a minute, when she said, after the feeling +probably had passed away--“No, indeed, Mr. Burke, I have not.” + +“Come, come, Miss Clinton,” said Hycy, with another smirk, “that won't +pass. Is it not laid down by the philosophers that you think of little +else from the time you are marriageable?” + +“By what philosophers?” + +“Why, let me see--by the philosophers in general--ha! ha! ha!” + +“I was not aware of that,” she replied; “but even if they have so ruled +it, I see no inference we can draw from that, except their ignorance of +the subject.” + +“It is so ruled, however,” said Hycy, “and philosophy is against you.” + +“I am willing it should, Mr. Burke, provided we have truth with us.” + +“Very good, indeed, Miss Clinton--that was well said; but, seriously, +have you ever thought of marriage?” + +“Doesn't philosophy say that we seldom think of anything else?” she +replied, smiling. Ask philosophy, then.” + +“But this really is a subject in which I feel a particular interest--a +personal interest; but, as for philosophy, I despise it--that is as it +is usually understood. The only philosophy of life is love, and that is +my doctrine.” + +“Is that your only doctrine?” + +“Pretty nearly; but it is much the same as that which appears in the +world under the different disguises of religion.” + +“I trust you do not mean to assert that love and religion are the same +thing, Mr. Burke?” + +“I do; the terms are purely convertible. Love is the universal religion +of man, and he is most religious who feels it most; that is your only +genuine piety. For instance, I am myself in a most exalted state of that +same piety this moment, and have been so for a considerable time past.” + +Miss Clinton felt a good deal embarrassed by the easy profligacy that +was expressed in these sentiments, and she made an effort to change the +subject. + +“Are you taking part in the canvass which is going on in the country, +Mr. Burke?” + +“Not much,” said he; “I despise politics as much as I cherish the little +rosy god; but really, Miss Clinton, I feel anxious to know your opinions +on marriage, and you have not stated them. Do you not think the nuptial +state the happiest?” + +“It's a subject I feel no inclination whatsoever to discuss, Mr. Burke; +it is a subject which, personally speaking, has never occupied from me +one moment's thought; and, having said so much, I trust you will have +the goodness to select some other topic for conversation.” + +“But I am so circumstanced, just now, Miss Clinton, that I cannot really +change it. The truth is, that I have felt very much attached to you for +some time past--upon my word and honor I have: it's a fact, I assure +you, Miss Clinton; and I now beg to make you a tender of myself +and--and--of all I am possessed of. I am a most ardent admirer of yours; +and the upmost extent of my ambition is to become an accepted one. Do +then, my dear Miss Clinton, allow me the charming privilege--pray, do.” + +“What will be the consequence if I do not?” she replied, smiling. + +“Upon my word and honor, I shall go nearly distracted, and get quite +melancholy; my happiness depends upon you, Miss Clinton; you are a very +delightful girl, quite a _nonpareil_, and I trust you will treat me with +kindness and consideration.” + +“Mr. Burke,” replied the lady, “I am much obliged for the preference you +express for me; but whether you are serious or in jest, I can only say +that I have no notion of matrimony; that I have never had any notion of +it; and that I can safely say, I have never seen the man whom I should +wish to call my husband. You will oblige me very much, then, if in +future you forbear to introduce this subject. Consider it a forbidden +one, so far as I am concerned, for I feel quite unworthy of so gifted +and accomplished a gentleman as Mr. Burke.” + +“You will not discard me surely, Miss Clinton?” + +“On that subject, unquestionably.” + +“No, no, my dear Miss Clinton, you will not say so; do not be so cruel; +you will distress me greatly, I assure you. I am very much deficient in +firmness, and your cruelty will afflict me and depress my spirits.” + +“I trust not, Mr. Burke. Your spirits are naturally good, and I have +no doubt but you will ultimately overcome this calamity--at least I +sincerely hope so.” + +“Ah, Miss Clinton, you little know the heart I have, nor my capacity for +feeling; my feelings, I assure you, are exceedingly tender, and I +get quite sunk under disappointment. Come, Miss Clinton, you must not +deprive me altogether of hope; it is too cruel. Do not say no forever.” + +The arch girl shook her head with something of mock solemnity, and +replied, “I must indeed, Mr. Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced, +and in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue +to sustain you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a +negative. I would fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and +your well-known sense of religion, will support you under such a trial.” + +This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave +it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully +understood. + +“Well, Miss Clinton,” said he, rising with a countenance in which there +was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a +struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, “I must +only hope that you probably may change your mind.” + +“Mr. Burke,” said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was +designed to terminate the interview, “there are subjects upon which a +girl of delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I +feel obliged to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's +housekeeper,” she added, taking up a bunch of keys, “and you must permit +me to wish you a good morning,” saying which, with a cool but very +polite inclination of her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who +cut anything but a dignified figure as he withdrew. + +“Well,” said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, “is +the report favorable?” + +“No,” replied Hycy, “anything but favorable. I fear, Harry, you have not +played me fair in this business.” + +“How is that?” asked the other, rather quickly. + +“I fear you've prejudiced your sister against me, and that instead of +giving me a clear stage, you gave me the 'no favor' portion of the adage +only.” + +“I am not in the habit of stating a falsehood, Hycy, nor of having any +assertion I make questioned; I have already told you, I think, that I +would not prejudice my sister against you. I now repeat that I have not +done so; but I cannot account for her prejudices against you any more +than I shall attempt to contradict or combat them, so far from that I +now tell you, that if she were unfortunately disposed to many you, I +would endeavor to prevent her.” + +“And pray why so, Harry, if it is a fair question?” + +“Perfectly fair; simply because I should not wish to see my sister +married to a man unburthened with any kind of principle. In fact, +without the slightest intention whatsoever, Hycy, to offer you offence, +I must say that you are not the man to whom I should entrust Maria's +peace and happiness; I am her only brother, and have a right to speak as +I do. I consider it my duty.” + +“Certainly,” replied Hycy, “if you think so, I cannot blame you; but I +see clearly that you misunderstand my character--that is all.” + +They separated in a few minutes afterwards, and Hycy in a very serious +and irritable mood rode homewards. In truth his prospects at this +peculiar period were anything but agreeable. Here his love-suit, if it +could be called so, had just been rejected by Miss Clinton, in a manner +that utterly precluded all future hope in that quarter. With Kathleen +Cavanagh he had been equally unsuccessful. His brother Edward was now at +home, too, a favorite with, and inseparable from his father, who of late +maintained any intercourse that took place between himself and Hycy, +with a spirit of cool, easy sarcasm, that was worse than anger itself. +His mother, also, in consequence of her unjustifiable attempts to +defend her son's irregularities, had lost nearly all influence with her +husband, and if the latter should withdraw, as he had threatened to +do, the allowance of a hundred a year with which he supplied him, he +scarcely saw on what hand he could turn. With Kathleen Cavanagh and Miss +Clinton he now felt equally indignant, nor did his friend Harry escape +a strong portion of his ill-will. Hycy, not being overburthened with +either a love or practice of truth himself, could not for a moment yield +credence to the assertion of young Clinton, that he took no stops to +prejudice his sister against him. He took it for granted, therefore, +that it was to his interference he owed the reception he had just got, +and he determined in some way or other to repay him for the ill-services +he had rendered him. + +The feeling of doubt and uncertainty with which Bryan M'Mahon parted +from his landlord and Fethertonge, the agent, after the interview we +have already described, lost none of their strength by time. Hycy's +memorial had been entrusted to Chevydale, who certainly promised to put +his case strongly before the Commissioners of Excise; and Bryan at first +had every reason to suppose that he would do so. Whether in consequence +of that negligence of his promise, for which he was rather remarkable, +or from some sinister influence that may have been exercised over him, +it is difficult to say, but the fact was that Bryan had now only ten +days between him and absolute ruin. He had taken the trouble to write +to the Secretary of Excise to know if his memorial had been laid +before them, and supported by Mr. Chevydale, who, he said, knew the +circumstances, and received a reply, stating that no such memorial +had been sent, and that Mr. Chevydale had taken no steps in the matter +whatsoever. We shall not now enter into a detail of all the visits +he had made to his landlord, whom he could never see a second time, +however, notwithstanding repeated solicitations to that effect. +Fethertonge he did see, and always was assured by him that his case was +safe and in good hands. + +“You are quite mistaken, Bryan,” said he, “if you think that either he +or I have any intention of neglecting your affair. You know yourself, +however, that he has not a moment for anything at the present time but +this confounded election. The contest will be a sharp one, but when it +is over we will take care of you.” + +“Yes, but it will then be too late,” replied Bryan; “I will be then a +ruined man.” + +“But, my dear Bryan, will you put no confidence in your friends? I tell +you you will not be ruined. If they follow up the matter so as to injure +you, we shall have the whole affair overhauled, and justice done you; +otherwise we shall bring it before Parliament.” + +“That may be all very well,” replied Bryan, “but it is rather odd that +he has not taken a single step in it yet.” + +“The memorial is before the Board,” said the other, “for some time, and +we expect an answer every day.” + +“But I know to the contrary,” replied Bryan, “for here is a letther from +the Secretary stating that no such memorial ever came before them.” + +“Never mind that,” replied Fethertonge, “he may not have seen it. The +Secretary! Lord bless you, he never reads a tenth of the memorials that +go in. Show me the letter. See there now--he did not write it all; don't +you see his signature is in a different, hand? Why will you not put +confidence in your friends, Bryan?” + +“Because,” replied the independent and honest young fellow, “I don't +think they're entitled to it--from me. They have neglected my business +very shamefully, after having led me to think otherwise. I have no +notion of any landlord suffering his tenant to be ruined before his face +without lifting a finger to prevent it.” + +“Oh! fie, Bryan, you are now losing your temper. I shall say no more to +you. Still I can make allowances. However, go home, and keep your +mind easy, we shall take care of you, notwithstanding your ill humor. +Stay--you pass Mr. Clinton's--will you be good! enough to call and tell +Harry Clinton I wish to speak to him, and I will feel obliged?” + +“Certainly, sir,” replied Bryan, “with pleasure. I wish you good +morning.” + +“Could it be possible,” he added, “that the hint Hycy Burke threw out +about young Clinton has any truth in it--'Harry Clinton will do you an +injury;' but more he would not say. I will now watch him well, for I +certainly cannot drame why he should be my enemy.” + +He met Clinton on the way, however, to whom he delivered the message. + +“I am much obliged to you,” said he, “I was already aware of it; but now +that I have met you, M'Mahon, allow me to ask if you have not entrusted +a memorial to the care of Mr. Chevydale, in order that it might be sent +up strongly supported by him to the Board of Excise?” + +“I have,” said Bryan, “and it has been sent, if I am to believe Mr. +Fethertonge.” + +“Listen to me, my honest friend--don't believe Fethertonge, nor don't +rely on Chevydale, who will do nothing more nor less than the agent +allows him. If you depend upon either or both, you are a ruined man, and +I am very much afraid you are that already. It has not been sent; but +observe that I mention this in confidence, and with an understanding +that, for the present, you will not name me in the matter.” + +“I sartinly will not,” replied Bryan, who was forcibly struck with +the truth and warmth of interest that were evident in his language and +manner; “and here is a letter that I received this very mornin' from the +Secretary of Excise, stating that no memorial on my behalf has been sent +up to them at all.” + +“Ay, just so; that is the true state of the matter.” + +“What, in God's name, am I to do, then?” asked Bryan, in a state of +great and evident perplexity. + +“I shall tell you; go to an honest man--I don't say, observe, that +Chevydale is not honest; but he is weak and negligent, and altogether +the slave and dupe of his agent. Go to-morrow morning early, about eight +o'clock, fetch another memorial, and wait upon Major Vanston; state +your case to him plainly and simply, and, my life for yours, he will +not neglect you, at all events. Get a fresh memorial drawn up this very +day.” + +“I can easily do that,” said Bryan, “for I have a rough copy of the one +I sent; it was Hycy Burke drew it up.” + +“Hycy Burke,” repeated Clinton, starting with surprise, “do you tell me +so?” + +“Sartinly,” replied the other, “why do you ask?” + +Clinton shook his head carelessly. “Well,” he said, “I am glad of it; it +is better late than never. Hycy Burke”--he paused and looked serious a +moment,--“yes,” he added, “I am glad of it. Go now and follow my advice, +and you will have at least a chance of succeeding, and perhaps of +defeating your enemies, that is, if you have any.” + +The pressure of time rendered energy and activity necessary in the case +of Bryan; and, accordingly, about eight o'clock next morning, he was +seeking permission to speak to the man against whom he and his family +had always conscientiously voted--because he had been opposed to the +spirit and principles of their religion. + +Major Vanston heard his case with patience, inquired more minutely into +the circumstances, asked where Ahadarra was, the name of his landlord, +and such other circumstance as were calculated to make the case clear. + +“Pray, who drew up this memorial?” he asked. + +“Mr. Hycy Burke, sir,” replied Bryan. + +“Ah, indeed,” said he, glancing with a singular meaning at M'Mahon. + +“You and Burke are intimate then?” + +“Why, we are, sir,” replied Bryan, “on very good terms.” + +“And now--Mr.'Burke has obliged you, I suppose, because you have obliged +him?” + +“Well, I don't know that he has obliged me much,” said Bryan, “but I +know that I have obliged him a good deal.” + +Vanston nodded and seemed satisfied. + +“Very well,” he proceeded; “but, with respect to this memorial. I can't +promise you much. Leave it with me, however, and you shall probably hear +from me again. I fear we are late in point of time; indeed, I have but +faint hopes of it altogether, and I would not recommend you to form any +strong expectations from the interference of any one; still, at the same +time,” he added, looking significantly at him, “I don't desire you to +despair altogether.” + +“He has as much notion,” thought Bryan, “of troubling his head about me +or my memorial, as I have for standin' candidate for the county. D--n +them all! they think of nobody but themselves!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII.--A Family Dialogue + +--Ahadarra not in for it--Bryan's Vote. + + +Honest Jemmy Burke, we have already said, had brought home his +second son, Edward, from school, for the purpose of training him to +agricultural pursuits, having now abandoned all notions of devoting him +to the Church, as he would have done had Hycy manifested towards him +even the ordinary proofs of affection and respect. + +“You druv me to it, Rosha,” said he to his wife; “but I'll let you both +know that I'm able to be masther in my own house still. You have made +your pet what he is; but I tell you that if God hasn't said it, you'll +curse one another with bitther hearts yet.” + +“Well, sure you have your own way,” replied his wife, “but you wor ever +and always self-willed and headstrong. However, it's all the mane blood +that's in you; it breaks your heart to see your son a gintleman; but in +spite of your strong brogues and felt caubeen, a gentleman he is, and +a gentleman he will be, an' that's all I have to say about it. You'll +tache your pet to hate his brother, I'll go bail.” + +“No, indeed, Rosha,” he replied, “I know my duty to God and my childre' +betther than to turn them against one another; but it's only a proof of +how little you know about Edward and his warm and lovin' heart, when you +spake as you do.” + +This indeed was true. Edward Burke was but a short time at home when he +saw clearly how matters stood in the family. He was in fact a youth of a +most affectionate and generous disposition, and instead of attempting to +make the breach wider, as Hycy had he been in his place would have done, +he did everything in his power to put the parties into a good state +of feeling with each other, and to preserve peace and harmony in the +family. + +One morning, a few days after Hycy's rejection by Miss Clinton, they +were all at breakfast, “the accomplished” being in one of his musical +and polite moods, his father bland but sarcastic, and Edward in a state +of actual pain on witnessing the wilful disrespect or rather contempt +that was implied by Hycy towards his parents. “Well, Ned,” said his +father, “didn't we spend a pleasant evenin' in Gerald Cavanagh's last +night? Isn't Kathleen a darlin'?” + +“She is a delightful girl,” replied Edward, “it can't be denied; indeed, +I don't think I ever saw so beautiful a girl, and as for her figure, it +is perfect--perfect.” + +“Ay,” said the father, “and it's she that knows the difference between a +decent sensible boy and a--gintleman--a highflyer. She was both kind and +civil to you, Ned.” + +“I don't know as to the kindness,” replied Edward; “but she was +certainly civil and agreeable, and I don't think it's in her nature to +be anything else.” + +“Except when she ought,” said his father; “but listen, Ned--dress +yourself up, get a buff waistcoat, a green jockey coat, a riding whip, +and a pair o' shinin' top-boots, titivate yourself up like a dandy, then +go to her wid lavendher water on your pocket-handkerchy, an' you'll see +how she'll settle you. Be my sowl, you'll be the happy boy when you get +her; don't you think so, Misther Hycy?” + +“Unquestionably, Mr. Burke, when you speak you shame an Oracle; as for +Master Ned--why-- + + “'I'm owre young,--I'm owre young, + I'm owre young to marry yet, + I'm owre young, 'twould be a sin + To take me from my Daddy yet.' + +I think, Master Edward, the Boy-god has already taken occupation; +the vituline affection for the fair Katsey has set in; heigho, what a +delightful period of life is that soft and lickful one of calf love, +when the tongue rolls about the dripping lips, the whites of the eyes +are turned towards the divine, the ox-eyed Katsey, and you are ready to +stagger over and blare out the otherwise unutterable affection.” + +“Very well described, Hycy, I see you have not forgotten your Homer +yet; but really Kathleen Cavanagh is a perfect Juno, and has the large, +liquid, soft ox-eye in perfection.” + +“Let me look at you,” said Hycy, turning round and staring at him with +a good deal of surprise; “begad, brother Ned, let me ask where you got +your connoisseurship upon women? eh? Oh, in the dictionary, I suppose, +where the common people say everything is to be found. Observe me, Mr. +Burke, you are taking your worthy son out of his proper vocation, the +Church. Send him to 'Maynewth,' he is too good a connoisseur on beauty +to be out of the Tribunal.” + +“Hycy,” replied his brother, “these are sentiments that do you no +credit, it is easy to sneer at religion or those who administer +it,--much easier than to praise the one, it would appear, or imitate the +virtues of the other.” + +“Beautiful rebuke,” said Hycy, again staring at him; “why, Masther +Edward, you are a prodigy of wonderful sense and unspotted virtue; love + has made you eloquent--“'I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue, + I gat my death frae twa sweet e'en, + Twa lovely e'en o' bonnie blue, &c, &c.'” + +“I am not in love yet, Hycy, but as my father wishes to bring about a +marriage between Kathleen and myself, you know,” he added, smiling, “it +will be my duty to fall in love with her as fast as I can.” + +“Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and +gentlemanly parent,--to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put +forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and +the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why +sittest thou so silent and so sad?” + +“Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy,” replied his mother, whom +Edward's return had cast into complete dejection, “when I see your +father strivin' to put between his own childre'.” + +“Me, Rosha!” exclaimed her husband; “God forgive you for that! but when +I see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or +civility--no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma to +try if I can't find affection in his brother.” + +“Ay,” said she, “that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your +eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among +a family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see +my heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was,” and as she spoke +the words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears. + +“Alas!” said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic--“where is the pride and +dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the +mother of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon +the pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and--give me another cup of +tea.” + +Edward shook his head at him, as if remonstrating against this most +undutiful and contemptuous style of conversation to his mother. “Don't +give way to tears, my dear mother,” he said; “indeed you do my father +injustice; he has neither said nor done anything to turn me against +Hycy. Why should he? So far from that, I know that he loves Hycy at +heart, all that he wishes is that Hycy would speak to him in his natural +voice, and treat him with respect, and the feeling that surely is due +to him. And so Hycy will, father; I am sure he respects and loves you in +spite of this levity and affectation. All we want is for each to give +up a little of his own way--when you become more respectful, Hycy, my +father's manner will change too: let us be at least sincere and natural +with each other, and there is nothing that I can see to prevent us from +living very happily.” + +“I have some money saved,” said Burke, turning to his wife--“a good +penny--too, more than the world thinks; and I declare to my God I would +give it twice over if I could hear that young man,” pointing to Hycy, +“speak these words with the same heart and feelings of him that spoke +them; but I fear that 'ud be a hopeless wish on my part, an' ever will.” + +“No, father,” said Edward, “it will not--Hycy and you will soon +understand one another. Hycy will see what, his duty towards you is, +and, sooner than be the means of grieving your heart, he will change the +foolish and thoughtless habit that offends you.” + +“Well, Edward, may God grant it,” exclaimed his father rising up from +breakfast, “and that's all I have to say----God grant it!” + +“Why, Sir Oracle, junior,” said Hycy, after his father had gone out, “or +rather Solomon Secundus, if you are now an unfledged philosopher on our +hand, what will you not be when your opinions are grown?” + +“My dear brother,” replied Edward, I cannot see what on earth you can +propose to yourself by adopting this ridiculous style of conversation +I cannot really see any object you can have in it. If it be to vex or +annoy my father, can you blame him if he feels both vexed and annoyed at +it. + +“Most sapiently said, Solomon Secundus-- + + “'Solomon Lob was a ploughman stout, + And a ranting cavalier; + And, when the civil war broke out, + It quickly did appear + That Solomon Lob was six feet high, + And fit for a grenadier. + So Solomon Lob march'd boldly forth + To sounds of bugle horns + And a weary march had Solomon Lob, + For Solomon Lob had corns. + Row,--ra--ra--row--de--dow.' + +“And so I wish you a good morning, most sapient Solomon. I go on +business of importance affecting--the welfare of the nation, or rather +of the empire at large--embracing all these regions, antipodial and +otherwise, on which the sun never sets. Good morning, therefore; +and, maternal relative, wishing the same to thee, with a less copious +exhibition of the hydraulics, a-hem!” + +“Where is he going, mother, do you know?” asked Edward. + +“Indeed I don't know, Edward,” she replied; “he seldom or never tells +us anything about his motions; but it vexes me to think that his father +won't make any allowance for his lightheartedness and fine spirits. Sure +now, Edward, you know yourself it's not raisonable to have a young man +like him mumpin' and mopin' about, as if there was a wake in the house?” + +The only reply Edward made to this weak and foolish speech was, “Yes; +but there is reason in everything, my dear mother. I have heard,” he +added, “that he is working for the Tory candidate, Vanston, and hope it +is not true.” + +“Why,” said his mother, “what differ does it make?” + +“Why,” replied the other, “that Vanston votes to keep us slaves, and +Chevydale to give us our political freedom: the one is opposed to our +religion and our liberty, and the other votes for both.” + +“Troth, as to religion,” observed the mother, “the poor boy doesn't +trouble his head much about it--bat it's not aisy for one that goes +into jinteel society to do so--an' that's what makes Hycy ait mate of a +Friday as fast as on any other day.” + +“I am sorry to hear that, mother,” replied Edward; “but Hycy is a very +young man still, and will mend all these matters yet.” + +“And that's what I'm tellin' his father,” she replied; “and if you'd +only see the way he looks at me, and puts a _cuir_ (* a grin--mostly +of contempt) upon him so bitther that it would a'most take the skin off +one.” + +Edward's observations with respect to Hycy's having taken a part in +forwarding the interests of Major Vanston were not without foundation. +He and Bryan M'Mahon had of late been upon very good terms; and it so +happened that in the course of one of their conversations about Kathleen +Cavanagh, Bryan had mentioned to him the fact of Kathleen's having heard +that he was pledged to vote with Vanston, and repeated the determination +to which she had resolved to come if he should do so. Now, it so +happened, that a portion of this was already well known to Hycy himself, +who, in fact, was the very individual who had assured Major Vanston, +and those who canvassed for him, that he himself had secured Bryan. +On hearing now from Bryan that Kathleen had put the issue of their +affection upon his political truth and consistency he resolved to avail +himself of that circumstance if he could. On hearing, besides, however, +that Harry Clinton had actually sent him (M'Mahon) to Vanston, and on +being told, in the course of conversation, that that gentleman asked who +had drawn up the memorial, he felt that every circumstance was turning +in his favor; for he determined now to saddle Clinton with the odium +which, in this treacherous transaction, was most likely to fall upon +himself. + +It is not our intention here to describe the brutal and disgraceful +scenes that occur at an election. It is enough to say that, after a +long, bitter, and tedious struggle, the last day of it arrived. Bryan +M'Mahon, having fully satisfied himself that his landlord had not taken +a single step to promote his interests in the matter of the memorial, +resolved from the beginning not to vote in his favor, and, of course, +not to vote at all. + +On the morning of the last day, with the exception of himself alone, +a single voter had not been left unpolled; and the position of the two +candidates was very peculiar, both having polled exactly the same number +of votes, and both being consequently equal. + +Bryan, having left home early, was at breakfast about eleven o'clock, in +a little recess off the bar of the head-inn, which was divided from +one end of the coffee-room by a thin partition of boards, through which +anything spoken in an ordinary tone of voice in that portion of the +room could be distinctly heard. Our readers may judge of his surprise +on hearing the following short but pithy dialogue of which he himself +formed the subject matter. The speakers, with whom were assembled +several of his landlord's committee, being no other than that worthy +gentleman and his agent. + +“What's to be done?” asked Chevydale; “here is what we call a dead heat. +Can no one prevail on that obstinate scoundrel, the Ahadarra man--what +do ye call, him? M'Master--M'Manus---M'--eh?” + +“M'Mahon,” replied Fethertonge, “I fear not; but, at all events, we +must try him again. Vote or not, however, we shall soon clear him out of +Ahadarra--we shall punish his insolence for daring to withhold his +vote; for, as sure as my name is Fethertonge, out he goes. The fine and +distillation affair, however, will save us a good deal of trouble, and +of course I am very glad you declined to have anything to do with the +support of his petition. The fellow is nothing else than shuffler, as I +told you. Vote or not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he +does, I have a good tenant to put in his place.” + +M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore +that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should +never go to the support of such a man. + +Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle +arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and +inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him. + +“No,” replied the postmaster; “but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him +I have here one for him, from Major Vanston--it's his frank and his +handwriting.” + +“I'm going directly to him,” said Hycy, “and will bring it to him; so +you had better hand it here.” + +The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his +way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making. + +“Nanny,” said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in +the stable and entered the parlor, “will you fetch me a candle and some +warm water?” + +“Yes, sir,” said Nanny; “but you must wait till I boil some, for there's +none hot.” + +“Be quick, then,” said he, “for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door +after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I +have spoken to you about it?” + +“Becaise it's never done,” she replied; “nobody ever bids me shut it but +yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it.” + +“Well, I'll thank you,” he said, “to pay more attention to what I say +to you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny; +and, mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall +pitch your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here.” + +“Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy.” + +“Begone now and get me the hot water,” he said, with a frown of anger +and vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which +the possession of Vanston's letter had already put him. + +We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable +manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is +enough to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to +peruse the contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:-- + +Sir,--I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from the +Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much +pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory +result of your memorial. + +“I am, sir, very sincerely yours, + +“Egbert Vanston. + +“To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, + +“Ahadarra.” + +(The enclosed.) + +“Sir,--I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of +Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial +to the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the +circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character +which memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce +the fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The +Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way +connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his +property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have +not the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law +has given them authority. + +“I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant, + +“Francis Fathom. + +“To Major Vanston, &c, &c.” + + +Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as +to evade all suspicion of their having been opened. + +“Now,” thought he, “what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is +possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for +I know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be +thrown by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First +and foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I +establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure +Vanston the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory +gentleman that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into +truth, and make Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it +was by Harry Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift +the odium of his voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose +body, by the way, does not contain a single bone that I like; and, +thirdly, having by his apostacy and treachery, as it will be called, +placed an insurmountable barrier between himself and the divine +Katsey, I will change my course with Jemmy, the gentleman--my sarcastic +dad--return and get reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and +by becoming a good Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt +but I shall secure the 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other +morning. This, I think, will be making the most of the cards, and, as +the moment is critical, I shall seek the clod-hopper and place this +seasonable communication in his hands.” + +He accordingly rode rapidly into town again, where he had not been many +minutes when he met M'Mahon, burning with indignation at the language of +his landlord and the agent. + +“I cannot have patience, Hycy,” he exclaimed, “under such scoundrelly +language as this; and while I have breath in my body, he never shall +have my vote!” + +“What's the matter, Bryan?” he asked; “you seem flushed.” + +“I do, Hycy, because I am flushed, and not without reason. I tell you +that my landlord, Chevydale, is a scoundrel, and Fethertonge a deceitful +villain.” + +“Pooh, man, is that by way of information? I thought you had something +in the shape of novelty to tell me. What has happened, however, and why +are you in such a white heat of indignation?” + +M'Mahon immediately detailed the conversation which he had overheard +behind the bar of the inn, and we need scarcely assure our readers that +Hycy did not omit the opportunity of throwing oil upon the fire which +blazed so strongly. + +“Bryan,” said he, “I know the agent to be a scoundrel, and what is +nearer the case still, I have every reason--but you must not ask me to +state them yet,--I have every reason to suspect that it is Fethertonge, +countenanced by Chevydale, who is at the bottom of the distillation +affair that has ruined you. The fact is, they are anxious to get you out +of Ahadarra, and thought that by secretly ruining you, they could most +plausibly effect it.” + +“I have now no earthly doubt of it, Hycy,” replied the other. + +“You need not,” replied Hycy; “and maybe I'm not far astray when I say, +that the hook-nosed old Still-hound, Clinton, is not a thousand miles +from the plot. I could name others connected with some of them--but I +wont, now.” + +When M'Mahon recollected the conversation which both Clinton and the +agent had held with him, with respect to violating the law, the truth +of Hycy's remark flashed upon him at once, and of course deepened his +indignation almost beyond endurance. + +“They are two d--d scoundrels,” pursued Hycy, “and I have reasons, +besides, for suspecting that it was their wish, if they could have done +it successfully, to have directed your suspicions against myself.” + +M'Mahon was, in fact, already convinced of this, and felt satisfied +that he saw through and understood the whole design against him, and was +perfectly aware of those who had brought him to ruin. + +“By the way,” said Hycy, “let me not forget that I have been looking for +you this hour or two; here is a letter I got for you in! the +post-office this morning. It has Vanston's frank, and I think is in his +handwriting.” + +M'Mahon's face, on perusing the letter, beamed with animation and +delight. “Here, Hycy,” said he, “read that; I'm safe yet, thank God, and +not a ruined man, as the villains thought to make me.” + +“By my soul and honor, Bryan,” exclaimed the other, “that is noble on +the part of Vanston, especially towards an individual from whom, as +well as from his whole family, he has ever experienced the strongest +opposition. However, if I were in your coat, I certainly would not +suffer him to outdo me in generosity. Good heavens! only contrast such +conduct with that of the other scoundrel, his opponent, and then see the +conclusion you must come to.” + +“Let Vanston be what he may, he's an honest man,” replied Bryan, “and +in less than ten minutes I'll have him the sittin' member. I would be +ungrateful and ungenerous, as you say, Hycy, not to do so. Come +along--come along, I bid you. I don't care what they say. The man that +saved me--who was his enemy--from ruin, will have my vote.” + +They accordingly proceeded towards the court house, and on their way +Hycy addressed him as follows:--“Now, Bryan, in order to give your +conduct an appearance of greater generosity, I will pretend to dissuade +you against voting for Vanston, or, rather, I will endeavor, as it were, +to get your vote for Chevydale. This will make the act more manly and +determined on your part, and consequently one much more high-minded and +creditable to your reputation. You will show them, besides, that you are +not the cowardly slave of your landlord.” + +It was accordingly so managed; the enthusiastic gratitude of the young +man overcame all considerations; and in a few minutes Major Vanston was +declared by the sheriff duly elected, by a majority of one vote only. + +It is no part of our intention to describe the fierce sensation which +this victory created among the greater portion of the people. The tumult +occasioned by their indignation and fury was outrageous and ruffianly as +usual; but as the election had now terminated, it soon ceased, and the +mobs began to disperse to their respective homes. Bryan for some three +hours or so was under the protection of the military, otherwise he would +have been literally torn limb from limb. In the mean time we must follow +Hycy. + +This worthy and straightforward young gentleman, having now accomplished +his purpose, and been the means of M'Mahon having exposed himself to +popular vengeance, took the first opportunity of withdrawing from him +secretly, and seeking Vanston's agent. Having found him, and retired out +of hearing, he simply said-- + +“I will trouble you for three hundred.” + +“You shall have it,” replied that honest gentleman; “you shall have it. +We fully acknowledge the value of your services in this matter; it is to +them we owe our return.” + +“There is no doubt in the matter,” replied Hycy; “but you know not my +difficulty, nor the dexterous card I had to play in accomplishing my +point.” + +“We are sensible of it all,” replied the other; “here,” said he, pulling +out his pocket-book, “are three notes for one hundred each.” + +“Give me two fifties,” said Hycy, “instead of this third note, and you +will oblige me. By the way, here is the major.” With this the other +immediately complied, without the major having been in any way cognizant +of the transaction. + +On entering the inner room where they stood, Vanston shook hands most +cordially with Hycy, and thanked him in very warm language for the part +he took, to which he had no hesitation in saying he owed his return. + +“Look upon me henceforth as a friend, Mr. Burke,” he added, “and a +sincere one, who will not forget the value of your influence with the +young man whose vote has gained me the election. I have already served +him essentially,--in fact saved him from ruin, and I am very glad of +it.” + +“I really feel very much gratified, Major Vanston, that I have had it in +my power,” replied Hycy, “to render you any service of importance; and +if I ever should stand in need of a favor at your hands, I shall not +hesitate to ask it.” + +“Nor I to grant it, Mr. Burke, if it be within the reach of my +influence.” + +“In the mean time,” said Hycy, “will you oblige me with a single franc?” + +“Certainly, Mr. Burke; with half a dozen of them.” + +“Thank you, sir, one will be quite sufficient; I require no more.” + +The major, however, gave him half a dozen of them, and after some +further chat, and many expressions of obligation on the part of the new +M.P., Hycy withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX.--Bryan Bribed--is Rejected by Kathleen. + + +In the course of about two or three hours after the transaction already +stated, old Peety Dim was proceeding towards the post-office with a +letter, partly in his closed hand, and partly up the inside of his +sleeve, so as that it might escape observation. The crowds were still +tumultuous, but less so than in the early part of the day; for, as we +said, they were diminishing in numbers, those who had been so long from +home feeling a natural wish to return to their families and the various +occupations and duties of life which they had during this protracted +contest been forced to neglect. Peety had got as far as the +market-house--which was about the centre of the street--on his way, we +say, to the post-office, when he met his daughter Nanny, who, after a +few words of inquiry, asked him where he was going. + +“Faith, an' that's more than I dare tell you,” he replied. + +“Why,” she said, “is there a saicret in it, I'm sure you needn't keep it +from me, whatever it is.” + +This she added in a serious and offended tone, which, however, was not +lost on the old man. + +“Well,” said he, “considherin' the man he is, an' what you know about +him, I think I may as well tell you. It's a letther I'm bringin' to slip +into the post-office, unknownst.” + +“Is it from Hycy?” she asked. + +“From Hycy, and no other.” + +“I'll hould a wager,” she replied, “that that's the very letther I seen +him openin' through the key hole doar this mornin'. Do you know who it's +to?” she inquired. + +“Oh, the sorra know; he said it was a love-letther, and that he did not +wish to be seen puttin' it in himself.” + +“Wait,” said she, “give it to me here for a minute; here's Father +M'Gowan comin' up, and I'll ax him who it's directed to.” + +She accordingly took the letter out of his hand, and approaching the +priest, asked him the name of the person to whom it was addressed. + +“Plaise your reverence,” she said, “what name's on the back of this?--I +mane,” said she, “who is goin' to?” + +The priest looked at it, and at once replied, “It is goin' to Bryan +M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, the traitor, and it comes from Major Vanston, +the enemy to his liberty and religion, that his infamous vote put into +Parliament, to rivet our chains, and continue our degradation. So there, +girl, you have now the bigot from whom it comes, and the apostate to +whom it goes. Who gave it to you?” + +Nanny, who from some motives of her own, felt reluctant to mention +Hycy's name in the matter, hastily replied, “A person, plaise your +reverence, from Major Vanston.” + +“Very well, girl, discharge your duty,” said the priest; “but I tell +you the devil will never sleep well till he has his clutches in the same +Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted.” + +Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two +afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put +it into the post-office. + +“Now,” said she to her father, “the people is scatterin' themselves +homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear--but listen--that letter +is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office here; +Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may be +passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the +post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day, +or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some +scheme afoot.” + +“Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny.” + +“Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you.” + +“Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,--always +does indeed wherever he meets me.” + +“No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion +of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell +you why I bid you, some day soon.” + +“Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I +say he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him.” + +Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man +would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street +in the direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for +groceries. + +Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and +the evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the +post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was +a letter for him. + +The post-master searched again, and replied, “No; but here's another for +Bryan M'Mahon.” + +“What!” he exclaimed, “another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive +correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from.” + +“There's no wonder at all about it,” replied the post-master, “it's from +Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and +all.” + +“Allow me to look,” said Hycy, glancing at it. “Yes, you are quite +right, that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever. +I will not fetch him this letter,” he proceeded, “because I know not +when I may see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him.” + +Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the +post-office, on seeing Hycy approach, that he might overhear this +conversation without being seen, felt, considerably surprised that Hycy +should seem to have been ignorant that there was a letter for M'Mahon, +seeing that it was he himself who had sent it there. He consequently +began to feel that there was some mystery in the matter; but whatever it +might be, he knew that it was beyond his power to develop. + +On coming forward from the dark part of the shop, where he had been +standing, he asked the post-master if there was a second letter for +M'Mahon. + +“No,” replied the man, “there is only the one. If you see him, tell him +there's a letter from Major Vanston in the office for him.” + +We must still trace Hycy's motions. On leaving the post-office, he went +directly to the Head Inn, where he knew Bryan M'Mahon was waiting until +the town should become perfectly calm and quiet. Here he found Bryan, +whose mind was swayed now to one side and now to another, on considering +the principle on which he had voted, and the consequences to which that +act might expose him. + +“I know I will have much to endure,” he thought, while pacing the room +by himself in every way, “but I little value anything the world at large +may think or say, so that I don't lose the love and good opinion of +Kathleen Cavanagh.” + +“Why, Bryan,” said Hycy, as he entered, “I think you must provide a +secretary some of these days, your correspondence is increasing so +rapidly.” + +“How is that?” inquired the other. + +“Simply that there's another letter in the post-office for you, and if I +don't mistake, from the same hand--that of our friend the Major.” + +“I'm not aware of anything he could have to write to me about now,” + replied Bryan; “I wonder what can it be?” + +“If you wish I shall fetch you the letter,” said Hycy, “as you have an +objection I suppose to go out until the town is empty.” + +“Thank you, Hycy, I'll feel obliged to you if you do; and Hycy, by +the way, I am sorry that you and I ever mistook or misunderstood one +another; but sich things happen to the best of friends, and why should +we hope to escape?” + +“Speak only for yourself, Bryan,” replied Hycy, “the misunderstanding +was altogether on your side, not on mine. I always knew your value and +esteemed you accordingly. I shall fetch your letter immediately.” + +On returning he placed the document aforesaid in M'Mahon's hands, +and said, in imitation of his friend Teddy Phats--“Come now, read her +up.” Bryan opened the letter, and in the act of doing so a fifty pound +note presented itself, of which, as it had been cut in two, one half +fell to the ground. + +“Hallo!” exclaimed Hycy, suddenly taking it up, “this looks well--what +have we here? A fifty pound note!” + +“Yes,” replied Bryan; “but why cut in two? here however is something +written, too--let me see-- + +“'Accept this as an earnest of better things for important services. The +fine imposed upon you has been reduced to fifty pounds--this will pay +it. + +“A DEEPLY OBLIGED FRIEND.'” + + +The two young men looked at each other for some time without speaking. +At length M'Mahon's face became crimsoned with indignation! + +“Who could have dared to do this?” said he, once more looking at the +bank-note and the few lines that accompanied it. “Who durst suppose +that a M'Mahon would sell his vote for a bribe? Did Vanston suppose that +money would sway me? for this I am sure must be his work.” + +“Don't be too sure of that,” replied Hycy; “don't be too sure that it's +not some one that wishes you worse than Vanston does. In my opinion, +Bryan, that letter and the note contained in it were sent to you by +some one who wishes to have it whispered abroad that you were bribed. It +surely could not be Vanston's interest to injure your character or your +circumstances in any sense; and I certainly think him too honorable to +deal in an anonymous bribe of that kind.” + +“Some scoundrel has done it, that's clear; but what would you have me to +do, Hycy? You are up to life and know the world a great deal better than +I do; how ought I to act now?” + +“I'll tell you candidly, my dear Bryan, how I think you ought to act, or +at least how I would act myself if I were in your place.” He then paused +for a minute and proceeded:--“You know I may be wrong, Bryan, but I +shall advise you at all events honestly, and to the best of my ability. +I would keep this letter and this note, and by the way, what else can +you do?--I would say nothing whatsoever about it. The secret, you know, +rests with yourself and me, with the exception of the party that sent +it. Now, mark me, I say--if the party that sent this be a friend, there +will be no more about it--it will drop into the grave; but if it came +from an enemy the cry of bribery will be whispered about, and there will +be an attack made on your character. In this case you can be at no loss +as to the source from whence the communication came--Fethertonge will +then most assuredly be the man; or, harkee, who knows but the whole +thing is an electioneering trick resorted to for the purpose of +impugning your vote, and of getting Vanston out on petition and +scrutiny. Faith and honor, Bryan, I think that this last is the true +reading.” + +“I'm inclined to agree with you there,” replied Bryan, “that looks like +the truth; and even then I agree with you still that Fethertonge is at +the bottom of it. Still how am I to act?” + +“In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said. Keep the letter and the +bank-note; say nothing about it--that is clearly your safest plan; do +not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be +necessary to your own character to show them.” + +“Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy. As you say no one knows the +secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say +nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered +about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me +by any bargain of mine.” + +Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as +much as to say--“Exactly so, that is precisely the fact,” and thus ended +the dialogue. + +We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath +necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most +minute speck will be offensively visible. So it is with human character +and integrity. Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary +reputation--to a family who had generally participated in all the good +and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of society, +his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party for +a very brief period--just as other votes given from the usual +motives--sometimes right and honorable--sometimes wrong and +corrupt--usually do. In his case, however, there was something +calculated to startle and alarm all those who knew and were capable of +appreciating the stainless honor and hereditary integrity of the family. +The M'Mahon's, though inoffensive and liberal in their intercourse with +the world, even upon matters of a polemical nature, were nevertheless +deeply and devotedly attached to their own religion, and to all those +who in any way labored or contributed to relieve it of its disabilities, +and restore those who professed it to that civil liberty which had been +so long denied them. This indeed was very natural on the part of the +M'Mahons, who would sooner have thought of taking to the highway, or +burning their neighbor's premises, than supporting the interests or +strengthening the hands of any public man placed, in a position to use +a hostile influence against them. There was only one other family in the +barony, who in all that the M'Mahon's felt respecting their religion and +civil liberty, Were far in advance of them. These were the Cavanaghs, +between whom and the M'Mahons their existed so many strong points +of resemblance that they only differed from the others in +degree--especially on matters connected with religion and its +privileges. In these matters the Cavanaghs were firm, stern, and +inflexible--nay, so heroic was the enthusiasm and so immovable the +attachment of this whole family to their creed, that we have no +hesitation whatever in saying that they would have laid down their lives +in its defence, or for its promotion, had such a sacrifice been demanded +from them. On such a family, then, it is scarcely necessary to +describe the effects of what was termed Bryan M'Mahon's apostacy. The +intelligence came upon them in fact like a calamity. On the very evening +before, Gerald Cavanagh, now a fierce advocate for Edward Burke, having, +in compliance with old Jemmy, altogether abandoned Hycy, had been urging +upon Kathleen the prudence and propriety of giving Bryan M'Mahon up, and +receiving the address of young Burke, who was to inherit the bulk of his +father's wealth and property; and among other arguments against M'Mahon +he stated a whisper then gaining ground, that it was his intention to +vote for Vanston. + +“But I know to the contrary, father,” said Kathleen, “for I spoke to +him on that very subject, and Bryan M'Mahon is neither treacherous nor +cowardly, an' won't of course abandon his religion or betray it into the +hands of its enemies. Once for all, then,” she added, calmly, and with +a smile full of affection and good humor, “I say you may spare both +yourself and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you +that I like and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he +really is what his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought--a true +gentleman--but that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to +conceal it, that Bryan M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves +false to his God, his religion, and his country, I will never prove +false to him nor withdraw my affections from him.” + +“For all that,” replied her father, “it's strongly suspected that he's +goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow.” + +Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an +enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; “No, father,” said she, “by the +light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston--unless Vanston +becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless life, but +if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a queen's, I'd +stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns traitor--let +me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!” + +As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by +which she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity +and high moral force of her character awed them, and her father +completely subdued, simply replied:-- + +“Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter +on you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke.” + +Kathleen, after wiping away her tears, thanked him, and said with a +smile, and in spite of the most boundless confidence in the integrity +of her lover, “never, at any rate, father, until Bryan M'Mahon turns a +traitor to his religion and his country.” + +On the evening of the next day, or rather late at night, her father +returned from the scene of contest, but very fortunately for Kathleen's +peace of mind during that night, he found on inquiry that she and Hanna +had been for a considerable time in bed. The following morning Hanna, +who always took an active share in the duties of the family, and who +would scarcely permit her sister to do anything, had been up a short +time before her, and heard from her mother's lips the history of Bryan's +treachery, as it was now termed by all. We need scarcely say that she +was deeply affected, and wept bitterly. Kathleen, who rose a few minutes +afterwards, thought she saw her sister endeavoring to conceal her +face, but the idea passed away without leaving anything like a fixed +impression upon it. Hanna, who was engaged in various parts of the +house, contrived still to keep her face from the observation of +her sister, until at length the latter was ultimately struck by the +circumstance as well as by Hanna's unusual silence. Just as her father +had entered to breakfast, a sob reached her ears, and on going over to +inquire if anything were wrong, Hanna, who was now fairly overcome, and +could conceal her distress no longer, ran over, and throwing herself on +Kathleen's neck, she exclaimed in a violent burst of grief, “Kathleen, +my darling sister, what will become of you! It's all true. Bryan has +proved false and a traitor; he voted for Vanston yesterday, and that +vote has put the bitter enemy of our faith into Parliament.” + +“Bryan M'Mahon a traitor!” exclaimed Kathleen; “no, Hanna--no, I +say--a thousand times no. It could not be--the thing is +impossible--impossible!” + +“It is as true as God's in heaven, that he voted yesterday for Vanston,” + said her father; “I both seen him and heard him, an' that vote it was +that gained Vanston the election.” + +Hanna, whose arms were still around her sister's neck, felt her stagger +beneath her on hearing those words from her father. + +“You say you saw him, father, and h'ard him vote for Vanston. You say +you did?” + +“I both seen the traitor an' h'ard him,” replied the old man. + +“Hanna, dear, let me sit down,” said Kathleen, and Hanna, encircling her +with one hand, drew a chair over with the other, on which, with a cheek +pale as death, her sister sat, whilst Hanna still wept with her arms +about her. After a long silence, she at last simply said:-- + +“I must bear it; but in this world my happiness is gone.” + +“Don't take it so much to heart avourneen,” said her mother; “but, any +way, hadn't you betther see himself, an' hear what he has to say for +himself. Maybe, afther all, it's not so bad as it looks. See him, +Kathleen; maybe there's not so much harm in it yet.” + +“No, mother, see him I will not, in that sense--Bryan M'Mahon a traitor! +Am I a dreamer? I am not asleep, and Bryan M'Mahon is false to God and +his country! I did think that he would give his life for both, if he was +called upon to do so; but not that he would prove false to them as he +has done.” + +“He has, indeed,” said her father, “and the very person you hate so +much, bad as you think him, did all in his power to prevent him from +doin' the black deed. I seen that, too, and h'ard it. Hycy persuaded him +as much as he could against it; but he wouldn't listen to him, nor pay +him any attention.” + +“Kathleen,” said her sister, “the angels in heaven fell, and surely it +isn't wonderful that even a good man should be tempted and fall from the +truth as they did?” + +Kathleen seemed too much abstracted by her distress to hear this. +She looked around at them all, one after another, and said in a low, +composed, and solemn voice, “All is over now between that young man and +me--and here is one request which I earnestly entreat you--every one of +you--to comply with.” + +“What is it darling?” said her mother. + +“It is,” she replied, “never in my hearing to mention his name while I +live. As for myself, I will never name him!” + +“And think, after all,” observed her father, “of poor Hycy bein' true to +his religion!” + +It would seem that her heart was struggling to fling the image of +M'Mahon from it, but without effect. It was likely she tried to hate him +for his apostacy, but she could not. Still, her spirit was darkened with +scorn and indignation at the act of dishonor which she felt her lover +had committed, just as the atmosphere is by a tempest. In fact, she +detested what she considered the baseness and treachery of the vote; but +could not of a sudden change a love so strong, so trusting, and so pure +as hers, into the passions of enmity and hatred. No sooner, however, had +her father named Hycy Burke with such approval, than the storm within +her directed itself against him, and she said, “For God's sake, father, +name not that unprincipled wretch to me any more. I hate and detest +him more than any man living he has no good quality to redeem him. +Ah! Hanna, Hanna, and is it come to this? The dream of my happiness has +vanished, and I awake to nothing now but affliction and sorrow. As for +happiness, I must think of that no more, father, after breakfast, do you +go up to that young man and tell him the resolution I have come to, and +that it is over for ever between him and. me.” + +Soon after this, she once more exacted a promise from them to observe a +strict silence on the unhappy event which had occurred, and by no +means ever to attempt offering her consolation. These promises they +religiously kept, and from this forth neither M'Mahon's name nor his +offence were made the topics of any conversation that occurred between +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX.--M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar + +--Receives his Sentence from Kathleen, and Resolves to Emigrate. + + +Whatever difficulty Bryan M'Mahon had among his family in defending the +course he had taken at the election, he found that not a soul belonging +to his own party would listen to any defense from him. The indignation, +obloquy, and spirit of revenge with which he was pursued and harassed, +excited in his heart, as they would in that of any generous man +conscious of his own integrity, a principle of contempt and defiance, +which, however they required independence in him, only made matters far +worse than they otherwise would have been. He expressed neither regret +nor repentance for having voted as he did; but on the contrary asserted +with a good deal of warmth, that if the same course lay open to him he +would again pursue it. + +“I will never vote for a scoundrel,” said he, “and I don't think that +there is anything in my religion that makes it a duty on me to do so. If +my religion is to be supported by scoundrels, the sooner it is forced +to depend on itself the better. Major Vanston is a good landlord, and +supports the rights of his tenantry, Catholic as well as Protestant; he +saved me from ruin when my own landlord refused to interfere for me, +an' Major Vanston, if he's conscientiously opposed to my religion, is an +honest man at all events, and an honest man I'll ever support against +a rogue, and let their politics go where they generally do, go to the +devil.” + +Party is a blind, selfish, infatuated monster, brutal and vehement, that +knows not what is meant by reason, justice, liberty, or truth. M'Mahon, +merely because he gave utterance with proper spirit to sentiments of +plain common sense, was assailed by every description of abuse, until he +knew not where to take refuge from that cowardly and ferocious tyranny +which in a hundred shapes proceeded from the public mob. On the +Sunday after the election, his parish priest, one of those political +fire-brands, who whether under a mitre or a white band, are equally +disgraceful and detrimental to religion and the peaceful interests +of mankind--this man, we say, openly denounced him from the altar, in +language which must have argued but little reverence for the sacred +place from which it was uttered, and which came with a very bad grace +from one who affected to be an advocate for liberty of conscience and a +minister of peace. + +“Ay,” he proceeded, standing on the altar, “it is well known to our +disgrace and shame how the election was lost. Oh, well may I say to our +disgrace and shame. Little did I think that any one, bearing the once +respectable name of M'Mahon upon him, should turn from the interests of +his holy church, spurn all truth, violate all principle, and enter into +a league of hell with the devil and the enemies of his church. Yes, you +apostate,” he proceeded, “you have entered into a league with him, and +ever since there is devil within you. You sold yourself to his agent and +representative, Vanston, You got him to interfere for you with the +Board of Excise, and the fine that was justly imposed on you for your +smugglin' and distillin' whiskey--not that I'm runin' down our whiskey, +because it's the best drinkin of that kind we have, and drinks beautiful +as scalhleen, wid a bit of butther and sugar in it--but it's notorious +that you went to Vanston, and offered if he'd get the fine off you, +that you'd give him your vote; an' if that's not sellin' yourself to the +devil, I don't know what is. Judas did the same thing when he betrayed +our Savior--the only difference is--that he got a thirty shilling +note--an' God knows it was a beggarly bargain--when his hand was in he +ought to have done the thing dacent--and you got the fine taken off +you; that's the difference--that's the difference. But there's more to +come--more corruption where that was. Along wid the removal of the fine +you got a better note than Mr. Judas got. Do you happen to know anything +about a fifty pound note cut in two halves? Eh? Am I tickling you? Do +you happen to know anything about that, you traicherous apostate? If +you don't, I do; and plaise God before many hours the public will know +enough of it, too. How dare you, then, polute the house of God, or come +in presence of His Holy altar, wid such a crust of crimes upon your +soul? Can you deny that you entered into a league of hell wid the devil +and Major Vanston, and that you promised him your vote if he'd get the +fine removed?” + +“I can,” replied Bryan; “there's not one word of truth in it.” + +“Do you hear that, my friends?” exclaimed the priest; “he calls your +priest a liar upon the altar of the livin' God.” + +Here M'Mahon was assailed by such a storm of groans and hisses as, to +say the least of it, was considerably at variance with the principles of +religion and the worship of God. + +“Do you deny,” the priest proceeded, “that you received a bribe of fifty +pounds on the very day you voted? Answer me that.” + +“I did receive a fifty-pound note in a--” + +Further he could not proceed. It was in vain that he attempted to give +a true account of the letter and its enclosure; the enmity was not +confined to either groans or hisses. He was seized upon in the very +chapel, dragged about in all directions, kicked, punched, and beaten, +until the apprehension of having a murder committed in presence of +God's altar caused the priest to interfere. M'Mahon, however, was +ejected from the chapel; but in such a state that, for some minutes, it +could scarcely be ascertained whether he was alive or dead. After he had +somewhat recovered, his friends assisted him home, where he lay confined +to a sick bed for better than a week. + +Such is a tolerably exact description of scenes which have too +frequently taken place in the country, to the disgrace of religion and +the dishonor of God. We are bound to say, however, that none among +the priesthood encourage or take a part in them, unless those low and +bigoted firebrands who are alike remarkable for vulgarity and ignorance, +and who are perpetually inflamed by that meddling spirit which tempts +them from the quiet path of duty into scenes of political strife and +enmity, in which they seem to be peculiarly at home. Such scenes are +repulsive to the educated priest, and to all who, from superior minds +and information, are perfectly aware that no earthly or other good, but, +on the contrary, much bitterness, strife, and evil, ever result from +them. + +Gerald Cavanagh was by no means so deeply affected by M'Mahon's vote +as were his two daughters. He looked upon the circumstance as one +calculated to promote the views which he entertained for Kathleen's +happiness. Ever since the notion of her marriage with Hycy Burke or +his brother--it mattered little to him which--he felt exceedingly +dissatisfied with her attachment to M'Mahon. Of this weakness, which we +may say, was the only one of the family, we have already spoken. He +lost little time, however, in going to communicate his daughter's +determination to that young man. It so happened, however, that, +notwithstanding three several journeys made for the purpose, he could +not see him; the fact being that Bryan always happened to be from +home when he went. Then came the denouncing scene which we have just +described, when his illness put it out of his power, without danger to +himself, to undergo anything calculated to discompose or disturb him. +The popular feeling, however, was fearfully high and indignant against +him. The report went that he had called Father M'Pepper, the senior +curate, a liar upon the very altar; and the commencement of +his explanation with respect to the fifty-pound note, was, not +unnaturally--since they would not permit him to speak--construed into an +open admission of his having been bribed. + +This was severe and trying enough, but it was not all. Chevydale, whom +he unseated by his vote, after having incurred several thousand pounds +of expense, was resolved to make him suffer for the loss of his seat, as +well as for having dared to vote against him--a purpose in which he was +strongly supported, or into which, we should rather say, he was urged by +Fethertonge, who, in point of fact, now that the leases had dropped, was +negotiating a beneficial bargain with the gauger, apart from Chevydale's +knowledge, who was a feeble, weak-minded man, without experience or a +proper knowledge of his duties. In fact, he was one of,those persons +who, having no fixed character of their own, are either good or evil, +according to the principles of those by whom they happen for the time to +be managed. If Chevydale had been under the guidance of a sensible and +humane agent, he would have been a good landlord; but the fact being +otherwise, he was, in Fethertonge's hands, anything but what a landlord +ought to be. Be this as it may, the period of M'Mahon's illness passed +away, and, on rising from his sick bed, he found the charge of bribery +one of universal belief, against which scarcely any person had the +courage to raise a voice. Even Hycy suffered himself, as it were, with +great regret and reluctance, to become at length persuaded of its truth. +Kathleen, on hearing that he himself had been forced to admit it in the +chapel, felt that the gloom which had of late wrapped her in its +shadow now became so black and impervious that she could see +nothing distinctly. The two facts--that is to say, the vote and the +bribery--seemed to her like some frightful hallucination which lay upon +her spirits--some formidable illusion that haunted her night and day, +and filled her whole being with desolation and sorrow. + +With respect to his own feelings, there was but one thought which gave +him concern, and this was an apprehension that Kathleen might be carried +away by the general prejudice which existed against him. + +“I know Kathleen, however,” he would say; “I know her truth, her good +sense, and her affection; and, whatever the world may say, she won't +follow its example and condemn me without a hearing. I will see her +tomorrow and explain all to her. Father,” he added, “will you ask Dora +if she will walk with me to the Long-shot Meadow? I think a stroll round +it will do me good. I haven't altogether recovered my strength yet.” + +“To be sure I will go with you, Bryan,” said the bright-eyed and +affectionate sister; “to be sure I will; it's on my way to Gerald +Cavanagh's; and I'm going down to see how they are, and to know if +something I heard about them is thrue. I want to satisfy myself; but +they musn't get on their high horse with me, I can tell them.” + +“You never doubted me, Dora,” said Bryan, as they went along--“you never +supposed for a moment that I could”--he paused. “I know,” he added, +“that it doesn't look well; but you never supposed that I acted from +treachery, or deceit, or want of affection or respect for my religion? +You don't suppose that what all the country is ringin' with--that I took +a bribe or made a bargain with Vanston--is true?” + +“Why do you ask me such questions?” she replied. “You acted on the spur +of the minute; and I say, afther what you heard from the landlord and +agent, if you had voted for him you'd be a mane, pitiful hound, unworthy +of your name and family. You did well to put him out. If I had been in +your place, 'out you go,' I'd say, 'you're not the man for my money.' +Don't let what the world says fret you, Bryan; sure, while you have +Kathleen and me at your back, you needn't care about them. At any rate, +it's well for Father M'Pepper that I'm not a man, or, priest as he +is, I'd make a stout horsewhip tiche him to mind his religion, and not +intermeddle in politics where he has no business.” + +“Why, you're a great little soldier, Dora,” replied Bryan, smiling on +her with affectionate admiration. + +“I hate anything tyrannical or overbearing,” she replied, “as I do +anything that's mane and ungenerous.” + +“As to Father M'Pepper, we're not to take him as an example of what his +brother priests in general are or ought to be. The man may think he is +doing only his duty; but, at all events, Dora, he has proved to me, very +much at my own cost, I grant, that he has more zeal than discretion! May +God forgive him; and that's the worst I wish him. When did you see or +hear from Kathleen? I long to give her an explanation of my conduct, +because I know she will listen to raison.” + +“That's more than I know yet, then,” replied Dora. “She has awful high +notions of our religion, an' thinks we ought to go about huntin' after +martyrdom. Yes, faix, she thinks we ought to lay down our lives for our +religion or our counthry, if we were to be called on to do so. Isn't +that nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them.” + +“It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought--that is, if our +deaths would serve either the one or the other.” + +“And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I +would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it.” + +“I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but +I know one who would.” + +“I know too--Kathleen.” + +“Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her +life for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a +sacrifice could be necessary.” + +“Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought +to tell it to you or not.” + +“I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor +can you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit.” + +“I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy +myself--that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and that +everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to know +whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I +ever did.” + +“And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks +I'm as bad as I'm reported to be.” + +“And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask +you the raison of it like a--ha! ha!--I was goin' to say like a man? +Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to +explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back, +and, when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong.” + +“She'd do nothing at the expense of truth,” replied her brother. + +“Truth!” exclaimed the lively and generous girl, now catching the warmth +from her own enthusiasm, “truth! who'd regard truth--” + +“Dora!” exclaimed Bryan, with a seriocomic smile. + +“Ha! ha! ha!--truth! what was I sayin'? No, I didn't mean to say +anything against truth; oh, no, God forgive me!” she added, immediately +softening, whilst her bright and beautiful eyes filled with tears, “oh, +no, nor against my darlin' Kathleen either; for, Bryan, I'm tould that +she has never smiled since; and that the color that left her cheeks when +she heard of your vote has never come back to it; and that, in short, +her heart is broken. However, I'll soon see her, and maybe I won't plade +your cause; no lawyer could match me. Whisht!” she exclaimed, “isn't +that Gerald himself comin' over to us?” + +“It is,” replied Bryan, “let us meet him;” and, as he spoke, they turned +their steps towards him. As they met, Bryan, forgetting everything that +had occurred, and influenced solely by the habit of former friendship +and good feeling, extended his hand with an intention of clasping that +of his old acquaintance, but the latter withdrew, and refused to meet +this usual exponent of good will. + +“Well, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, smiling, “I see you go with the world +too; but, since you won't shake hands with me, allow me to ask your +business.” + +“To deliver a message to you from my daughter, and she'd not allow me to +deliver it to any one but yourself. I came three times to see you before +your sickness, but I didn't find jou at home.” + +“What's the message, Gerald?” + +“The message, Bryan, is--that you are never to spake to her, nor will +she ever more name your name. She will never be your wife; for she says +that the heart that forgets its duty to God, and the hand that has been +soiled by a bribe, can never be anything to her but the cause of shame +and sorrow; and she bids me say that her happiness is gone and her heart +broken. Now, farewell, and think of the girl you have lost by disgracin' +your religion and your name.” + +Bryan paused for a moment, as if irresolute how to act, and exchanged +glances with his high-minded little sister. + +“Tell Kathleen, from me,” said the latter, “that if she had a little +more feeling, and a little less pride or religion, I don't know which, +she'd be more of a woman and less of a saint. My brother, tell her, has +disgraced neither his religion nor his name, and that he has too much of +the pride of an injured man to give back any answer to sich a message. +That's my answer, and not his, and you may ask her if it's either +religion or common justice that makes her condemn him she loved without +a hearing? Goodbye, now, Gerald; give my love to Hanna, and tell her +she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister.” + +Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that +he was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he +was about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing +eyes, and panting bosom of his heroic little sister. + +“You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a +message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own +defence.” + +The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon +him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice +to quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after +the heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and +reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On +hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which +the man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he +looked around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he +said, “Dora, is not this a fine country?” + +“It is,” she replied, looking at him with surprise. + +“Would you like,” he added, “to lave it?” + +“To lave it, Bryan!” she replied. “Oh, no, not to lave it;” and as she +spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face. + +“Poor Dora,” he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression +of love and compassion, “I know your saicret, and have done so this long +time; but don't be cast down. You have been a warm and faithful little +friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet.” + +Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with +tears. “I won't deny what you know, Bryan,” she replied; “and unless +he----” + +“Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come +what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not +stay. Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an +expense of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken +out of my hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket +of the landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house +and home without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and +other improvements that I made on that farm.” + +“It's a hard and cruel case,” said Dora; “an there can be no doubt but +that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't +you challenge them, an' fight them?” + +“Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!” replied her brother, smiling; “but +you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely +out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every +tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it. +No, no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country. We will +go to America; but, in the mean time, I'll see what I can do for you.” + +“Bryan, dear,” she said in a voice of entreaty, “don't think of it. +Oh, stay in your own country. Sure what other country could you like as +well?” + +“I grant you that, Dora; but the truth is, there seems to be a curse +over it; whatever's the raison of it, nothing goes right in it. The +landlords in general care little about the state and condition of their +tenantry. All they trouble themselves about is their rents. Look at my +own case, an' that's but one out of thousands that's happenin' every +day in the country. Grantin' that he didn't sarve me with this notice +to quit, an' supposin' he let me stay in the farm, he'd rise it on me in +sich a way as that I could hardly live in it; an' you know, Dora, that +to be merely strugglin' an' toilin' all one's life is anything but a +comfortable prospect. Then, in consequence of the people depondin upon +nothing but the potato for food, whenever that fails, which, in general, +it does every seventh or eighth year, there's a famine, an' then the +famine is followed by fever an' all kinds of contagious diseases, +in sich a way that the kingdom is turned into one great hospital and +grave-yard. It's these things that's sendin' so many thousands out of +the country; and if we're to go at all, let us go like the rest, while +we're able to go, an' not wait till we become too poor either to go or +stay with comfort.” + +“Well, I suppose,” replied his sister, “that what you say is true +enough; but for all that I'd rather bear anything in my own dear country +than go to a strange one. Do you think I'd not miss the summer sun +rising behind the Althadawan hills? an' how could I live without seein' +him set behind Mallybeney? An' then to live in a country where I'd not +see these ould hills, the green glens, and mountain rivers about us, +that have all grown into my heart. Oh, Bryan, dear, don't think of +it--don't think of it.” + +[Illustration: PAGE 603-- country where I'd not see these ould hills] + +“Dora,” replied the other, his fine countenance overshadowed with, deep +emotion as he spoke, “you cannot love these ould hills, as you cull +them, nor these beautiful glens, nor the mountain rivers better than I +do. It will go to my heart to leave them; but leave them I will--ay, and +when I go, you know that I will leave behind me one that's dearer ten +thousand times than them all. Kathleen's message has left me a heavy and +sorrowful heart.” + +“I pity her now,” replied the kind-hearted girl; “but, still, Bryan, she +sent you a harsh message. Ay, I pity her, for did you observe how the +father looked when he said that she bid him tell you her happiness was +gone, and her heart broken; still, she ought to have seen yourself and +heard your defence.” + +“I can neither blame her, nor will; neither can I properly justify my +vote, I grant; it was surely very wrong or she wouldn't feel it as she +does. Indeed. I think I oughtn't to have voted at all.” + +“I differ with you there, Bryan,” replied Dora, with animation, “I would +rather, ten times over, vote wrongly, than not vote from cowardice. +It's a mane, skulkin', shabby thing, to be afeard to vote when one has a +vote--it's unmanly.” + +“I know it is; and it was that very thought that made me vote. I felt +that it would look both mane and cowardly not to vote, and accordingly +I did vote.” + +“Ay, and you did right,” replied his spirited sister, “and I don't care +who opposes you, I'll support you for it, through thick and thin.” + +“And I suppose you may say through right and wrong, too?” + +“Ay, would I,” she replied; “eh?--what am I sayin?--throth, I'm a little +madcap, I think. No, I won't support you through right and wrong--it's +only when you're right you may depend on me.” + +They had now been more than an hour strolling about the fields, when +Bryan, who did not feel himself quite so strong as he imagined he was, +proposed to return to his father's, where, by the way, he had been +conveyed from the chapel on the Sunday when he had been so severely +maltreated. + +They accordingly did so, for he felt himself weak, and unable to prolong +his walk to any greater distance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI.--Thomas M'Mahon is forced to determine on Emigration. + + +Gerald Cavanaugh felt himself secretly relieved by the discharge of his +message to M'Mahon. + +“It is good,” thought he, “to have that affair settled, an' all +expectation of her marriage with him knocked up. I'll be bound a little +time will cool the foolish girl, and put Edward Burke in the way of +succeeding. As for Hycy, I see clearly that whoever is to succeed, he's +not the man--an' the more the pity, for the sorra one of them all so +much the gentleman, nor will live in sich style.” + +The gloom which lay upon the heart of Kathleen Cavanagh was neither +moody nor captious, but on the contrary remarkable for a spirit of +extreme gentleness and placidity. From the moment she had come to the +resolution of discarding M'Mahon, she was observed to become more +silent than she had ever been, but at the same time her deportment was +characterized by a tenderness towards the other members of the family +that was sorrowful and affecting to the last degree. Her sister Hanna's +sympathy was deep and full of sorrow. None of them, however, knew her +force of character, nor the inroads which, under guise of this placid +calm, strong grief was secretly making on her health and spirits. The +paleness, for instance, which settled on her cheeks, when the news +of her lover's apostacy, as it was called, and as she considered it, +reached her, never for one moment left it afterwards, and she resembled +some exquisitely chiselled statue moving by machinery, more than +anything else to which we can compare her. + +She was sitting with Hanna when her father returned, after having +delivered her message to M'Mahon. The old man seemed, if one could judge +by his features, to feel rather satisfied, as in fact was the case, and +after having put up his good hat, and laid aside his best coat, he +said, “I have delivered your message, Kathleen, an' dear knows I'm glad +there's an end to that business--it never had my warm heart.” + +“It always had mine, then,” replied Hanna, “an' I think we ought not to +judge our fellow creatures too severely, knowin' as we do that there's +no such thing as perfection in this world. What the sorra could have +come over him, or tempted him to vote as he did? What did he say, +father, when you brought him the message?” + +“Afther I declared it,” replied her father, “he was struck dumb, and +never once opened his lips; but if he didn't spake, his sister Dora +did.” + +“An' what did she say--generous and spirited little Dora!--what did she +say, father?” + +He then repeated the message as accurately as he could--for the honest +old man was imbued with too conscientious a love for truth to disguise +or conceal a single syllable that had been intrusted to him on either +side--“Throth,” said he, “the same Dora has the use of her tongue when +she pleases; 'ax her,' said she, spakin' of Kathleen, here, 'if it's +either religion or common justice that makes her condemn my brother +without hearin' his defence. Good-bye, now,' says she; 'give my love to +Hanna, and tell her 'she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister.'” + +“Poor Dora!” exclaimed Hanna, whilst the tears came to her eyes, “who +can blame her for defending so good and affectionate a brother? Plague +on it for an election! I wish there was no sich thing in the country.” + +“As for me,” said Kathleen, “I wouldn't condemn him without a hearing, +if I had any doubt about his conduct, but I have not. He voted for +Vanston--that can't be denied; and proved himself to have less honesty +and scruple than even that profligate Hycy Burke; and if he made a +bargain with Vanston, as is clear he did, an' voted for him because the +other got his fine reduced, why that is worse, because then he did it +knowingly an' with his eyes open, an' contrary to his conscience--ay, +an' to his solemn promise to myself; for I'll tell you now what I never +mentioned before, that I put him on his guard against doing so; and he +knew that if he did, all would and must be over between him and me.” + +“Is that true, Kathleen?” said Hanna with surprise; “but why need I ask +you such a question--it's enough that you say it--in that case then I +give him up at last; but who, oh, who could a' believed it?” + +“But that is not all,” continued Kathleen, in the same mournful and +resigned tone of voice--“there's the bribe--didn't hundreds hear him +acknowledge publicly in the chapel that he got it? What more is wanting? +How could I ever respect a man that has proved himself to be without +either honesty or principle? and why should it happen, that the man who +has so openly and so knowingly disgraced his religion and his name fall +to my lot? Oh, no--it matters little how I love him, and I grant that in +spite of all that has happened I have a lingering affection for him +even yet; still I don't think that affection will live long--I can now +neither respect or esteem him, an' when that is the case I can't surely +continue long to love him. I know,” she proceeded, “that it's not +possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful +conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you +all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may +and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if +I had never known him.” + +“Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for +himself?” asked Hanna. + +“No,” the other replied; “he heard my message, and was silent. You may +rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would +have said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's +defenceless.” + +In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel +surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the +declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of +Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her +relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added +to which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both +families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs--all we say +perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke, +and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not +despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last +said--“If Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to +give him, or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed +of; he may as well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot +love, I can at least respect him.” + +These circumstances, together with the period allowed to M'Mahon for +setting himself, if possible, right with Kathleen, in due time reached +his ears. It soon appeared, however, that Kathleen had not all the +pride--if pride it could be called--to herself. M'Mahon, on being made +acquainted with what had occurred, which he had heard from his sister +Dora, simply said--“Since she has not afforded myself any opportunity +of tellin' her the truth, I won't attempt to undeceive her. I will be as +proud as she is. That is all I say.” + +“And you are right, Tom,” replied Dora, “the name of M'Mahon mustn't be +consarned with anything that's mane or discreditable. The pride of our +old blood must be kept up, Tom; but still when we think of what she's +sufferin' we musn't open our lips against her.” + +“Oh, no,” he replied; “I know that it's neither harshness nor weakness, +nor useless pride that makes her act as she's doin', but a great mind +and a heart that's full of truth, high thoughts, and such a love for her +religion and its prosperity as I never saw in any one. Still, Dora, I'm +not the person that will ever sneak back to entreat and plead at her +feet like a slave, and by that means make myself look still worse in her +eyes; I know very well that if I did so she'd despise me. God bless her, +at all events, and make her happy! that's the worst I wish her.” + +“Amen,” replied Dora; “you have said nothing but the truth about her, +and indeed. I see, Tom, that you know her well.” + +Thus ended the generous dialogue of Dora and her affectionate brother, +who after all might have been induced by her to remain in his native +country and share whatever fate it might allot him, were it not that in +a few days afterwards, his father found that the only terms on which he +could obtain his farm were such as could scarcely be said to come within +the meaning and spirit of the landlord's adage, “live and let live.” + It is true that for the terms on which his farm was offered him he was +indebted to Chevydale himself, who said that as he knew his father had +entertained a high respect for old M'Mahon, he would not suffer him to +be put out. The father besides voted for him, and always had voted for +the family. “Do what you please with the son,” he proceeded--“get rid of +him as you like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him +have the farm upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't +you think now it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to +vote for Vanston, although he knew that I had it in my power to send him +about his business?” + +“It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I +witnessed,” returned the other. “The wily rascal calculated upon your +forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might +do what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however.” + +“Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us, +in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of +Excise.” + +“Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves +in the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have +such a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad +example, and calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous +principles among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for +us, rather well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious--and I +have it from the best authority--one of the parties who was cognizant +of his conduct--that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate +compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty +pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself, +being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was +mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already +infamous in the country.” + +“What, for receiving a bribe!” exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent +with a significant smile; “and what, pray, is the distinction between +him who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little, +my good Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we +do. A man would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that +you never had bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is +the consciousness of bribery on our own part that prevents us from +attempting to unseat Vanston.” + +“That's all very true, I grant you,” replied the other; “but in the +mean time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards +M'Mahon, is--not so much whether he is corrupt or not, as whether he has +unseated you; that is the fatal fact against him; and if we allow that +to pass without making him suffer for it, you will find that on the +next election he may have many an imitator, and your chances will not be +worth much--that's all.” + +“Very well, Fethertonge,” replied the indolent and feeble-minded man, +“I leave him to you; manage him or punish him as you like; but I do beg +that you will let me hear no more about him. Keep his father, however, +on the property; I insist on that; he is an honest man, for he voted for +me; keep him on his farm at reasonable terms too, such,--of course, as +he can live on.” + +The reasonable terms proposed by Fethertonge were, however, such as old +Tom M'Mahon could not with any prospect of independence encounter. Even +this, however, was not to him the most depressing consideration. Faith +had been wantonly and deliberately broken with him--the solemn words +of a dying man had been disregarded--and, as Fethertonge had made him +believe, by that son who had always professed to regard and honor his +father's memory. + +“I assure you, M'Mahon,” replied the agent, in the last interview he +ever had with him, “I assure you I have done all in my power to bring +matters about; but without avail. It is a painful thing to have to do +with an obstinate man, M'Mahon; with a man who, although he seems quiet +and easy, will and must have everything his own way.” + +“Well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “you know what his dying father's words +wor to me.” + +“And more than I know them, I can assure you,” he whispered, in a very +significant voice, and with a nod of the head that seemed to say, +“your landlord knows them as well as I do. I have done my duty, and +communicated them to him, as I ought.” + +M'Mahon shook his head in a melancholy manner, and said,-- + +“Well, sir, at any rate I know the worst. I couldn't now have any +confidence or trust in such a man; I could depend upon neither his word +or his promise; I couldn't look upon him as a friend, for he didn't +prove himself one to my son when he stood in need of one. It's clear +that he doesn't care about the welfare and prosperity of his tenantry; +and for that raison--or rather for all these raisons put together--I'll +join my son, and go to a country where, by all accounts, there's better +prospects for them that's honest and industrious than there is in this +unfortunate one of ours,--where the interest of the people is so much +neglected--neglected! no, but never thought of at all! Good-bye, sir,” + he added, taking up his hat, whilst the features of this sterling and +honest man were overcast with a solemn and pathetic spirit, “don't +consider me any longer your tenant. For many a long year has our names +been--but no matther--the time is come at last, and the M'Mahon's of +Carriglass and Ahadarra will be known there no more. It wasn't our +fault; we wor willin' to live--oh! not merely willin' to live, but +anxious to die there; but it can't be. Goodbye, sir.” And so they +parted. + +M'Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time +at Carriglass, before him. On entering the house his family, who were +all assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been +deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow. + +“Bryan,” said he, “you are right--as indeed you always are. Childre',” + he proceeded, “we must lave the place that we loved so much; where we +have lived for hundreds of years. This counthry isn't one now to prosper +in, as I said not long since--this very day. We must lave the ould +places, an' as I tould Fethertonge, the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and +Carriglass will be the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but +God's will be done! I must look to the intherest of you all, childre'; +but, God help us, that's what I can't do here for the future. Every one +of sense and substance is doin' so, an' why shouldn't we take care of +ourselves as well as the rest? What we want here is encouragement and +fair play; but _fareer gair_, it isn't to be had.” + +The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this +was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family +who were immediately moved,--all by sorrow, and some even to tears. +Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his +intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might +change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought +about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears +in her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming: “Oh, father +dear, don't think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it? What +other country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather--here he's +creepin' in, sure he's not the same man within the last few months,--oh, +how could you think of bringin' him, now that he's partly in his grave, +an' he,” she added, in a whisper full of compassion, “an' he partly +dotin' with feebleness and age.” + +“Hush!” said her father, “we must say nothing of it to him. That must be +kept a secret from him, an' it's likely he won't notice the change.” + +Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father's arm, said: +“Father, for the love of God, don't take us from Carriglass and +Ahadarra:--whatever the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let +us bear it here.” + +“Father, you won't bring us nor you won't go,” added Dora; “sure we +never could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy.” + +“Poor Dora!” said Bryan, “what a mistake that is! I feel the contrary; +for the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds +to what I'm sufferin'.” + +“Childre',” said the father, “our landlord has broken his own father's +dyin' promise--you all remember how full of delight I came home to you +from Dublin, and how she that's gone”--he paused;--he covered his face +with his open hands, through which the tears were seen to trickle. +This allusion to their beloved mother was too much for them. Arthur +and Michael sat in silence, not knowing exactly upon what grounds their +father had formed a resolution, which, when proposed to him by Bryan, +appeared to be one to which his heart could never lend its sanction. +No sooner was their mother named, however, than they too became deeply +moved, and when Kitty and Dora both rushed with an outcry of sorrow to +their father, exclaiming, “Oh, father dear, think of her that's in the +clay--for her sake, change your mind and don't take us to where we can +never weep a tear over her blessed grave, nor ever kneel over it to +offer a prayer within her hearin' for her soul!” + +“Childre,” he exclaimed, wiping away his tears that had indeed flowed +in all the bitterness of grief and undeserved affliction; “childre',” + he replied, “you must be manly now; it's because I love you an' feels +anxious to keep you from beggary and sorrow at a future time, and +destitution and distress, such as we see among so many about us every +day in the week, that I've made up my mind to go. Our landlord wont give +us our farm barrin' at a rent that 'tid bring us down day by day, to +poverty and distress like too many of our neighbors. We have yet some +thrifle o' money left, as much as will, by all accounts, enable us to +take--I mane to purchase a farm in America--an' isn't it betther for us +to go there, and be independent, no matther what it may cost our hearts +to suffer by doin' so, than to stay here until the few hundre' that +I've got together is melted away out of my pocket into the picket of a +landlord that never wanst throubles himself to know how we're gettin' +on, or whether we're doin' well or ill. Then think of his conduct to +Bryan, there; how he neglected him, and would let him go to ruin widout +ever movin' a finger to save him from it. No, childre', undher sich a +man I won't stay. Prepare yourselves, then, to lave this. In biddin' you +to do so, I'm actin' for the best towards you all. I'm doin' my duty by +you, and I expect for that raison, an' as obedient childre'--which I've +ever found you--that you'll do your duty by me, an' give no further +opposition to what I'm proposin' for your sakes. I know you're all +loath--an' you will be loath--to lave this place; but do you think?--do +you?--'that I--I--oh, my God!--do you think, I say, that I'll feel +nothing when we go? Oh! little you know of me if you think so! but, as +I said, we must do our duty. We see our neighbors fallin' away into +poverty, and distress, and destitution day by day, and if we remain in +this unfortunate country, we must only folly in their tracks, an' before +long be as miserable and helpless as they are.” + +His family were forced to admit the melancholy truth and strong sense +of all he had uttered, and, although the resolution to which he had come +was one of bitterness and sorrow to them all, yet from a principle of +affection and duty towards him, they felt that any opposition on their +part would have been unjustifiable and wrong. + +“But, sure,” the old man proceeded, “there's more than I've mentioned +yet, to send us away. Look at poor Bryan, there, how he was nearly +ruined by the villany of some cowardly scoundrel, or scoundrels, who set +up a still upon his farm; that's a black business, like many other black +business that's a disgrace to the country--an inoffensive young man, +that never made or did anything to make an enemy for himself, durin' his +whole life! An' another thing, bekaise he voted for the man that saved +him from destruction, as he ought to do, an' as I'm proud he did do, +listen now to the blackguard outcry that's against him; ay, and by a +crew of vagabonds that 'ud sell Christ himself, let alone their country, +or their religion, if they were bribed by Protestant goold for it! +Throth I'm sick of the counthry and the people; for instead of gettin' +betther, it's worse they're gettin' every day. Make up your minds then, +childre'; there's a curse on the counthry. Many o' the landlords are +bad enough, too bad, and too neglectful, God knows; but sure the people +themselves is as bad, an' as senseless on the other hand; aren't they +blinded so much by their bad feelin's, and short-sighted passions, that +it is often the best landlords they let out their revenge upon. Prepare +then, childre'; for out of the counthry, or at any rate from among the +people, the poverty and the misery that's in it, wid God's assistance, +we'll go while we're able to do so.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Mystery Among the Hogans + +--Finigan Defends the Absent. + + +The three Hogans, whom we have lost sight of for some time, were, as our +readers already know, three most unadulterated ruffians, in every +sense of that most respectable term. Yet, singular as it may appear, +notwithstanding their savage brutality, they were each and all possessed +of a genius for mechanical inventions and manual dexterity that was +perfectly astonishing when the low character of their moral, and +intellectual standard is considered. Kate Hogan, who, from her position, +could not possibly be kept out of their secrets, at least for any length +of time, was forced to notice of late that there was a much closer and +more cautious intimacy between Hycy Burke and them than she had ever +observed before. She remarked, besides, that not only was Teddy Phats +excluded from their councils, but she herself was sent out of the way, +whenever Hycy paid them a visit, which uniformly occurred at a late +hour, in the night. + +Another circumstance also occurred about this time which puzzled her not +a little: we mean the unusual absence of Philip for about a fortnight +from home. Now, there certainly nothing more offensive, especially to a +female, than the fact of excluding her from the knowledge of any secret, +a participation in which she may consider as a right. In her case +she felt that it argued want of confidence, and as she had never yet +betrayed any trust or secret reposed in her, she considered their +conduct towards her, not merely as an insult, but such as entitled them +to nothing at her hands but resentment, and a determination to thwart +their plans, whatever they might be, as soon as she should succeed in +making herself acquainted with them. What excited her resentment the +more bitterly was the arrival of a strange man and woman in company with +Philip, as she was able to collect, from the metropolis, to the former +of whom they all seemed to look with much deference as to a superior +spirit of the secret among them this man and his wife were clearly +in possession, as was evident from their whisperings and other +conversations, which they held apart, and uniformly out of her hearing. +It is true the strangers did not reside with the Hogans, but in a small +cabin adjacent to that in which Finigan taught his school. Much of the +same way of thinking was honest Teddy Phats, whom they had now also +abandoned, or rather completely cast off, and, what was still worse, +deprived of the whole apparatus for distillation, which, although +purchased by Hycy Burke's money, they very modestly appropriated to +themselves. Teddy, however, as well as Kate, knew that they were never +cautious without good reason, and as it had pleased them to cut him, as +the phrase goes, so did he, as Kate had done, resolve within himself to +penetrate their secret, if human ingenuity could effect it. + +In this position they were when honest Philip returned, as we have said, +after a fortnight's absence, from some place or places unknown. The +mystery, however, did not end here. Kate observed that, as before, much +of their conversation was held aloof from her, or in such enigmatical +phrases and whisperings, as rendered the substance of it perfectly +inscrutable to her. She observed, besides, that two of them were +frequently absent from the kiln where they lived; but that one always +remained at home to make certain that she should not follow or dog them +to the haunt they frequented. This precaution on their part was uniform. +As it was, however, Kate did not seem to notice it. On the contrary, no +one could exhibit a more finished appearance of stupid indifference than +she assumed upon these occasions, even although she knew by the removal +of the tools, or a portion of them, that her friends were engaged in +some business belonging to their craft. In this manner matters proceeded +for some weeks subsequent to the period of Philip's return. + +Kate also observed, with displeasure, that among all those who joined in +the outcry against Bryan M'Mahon, none made his conduct, such as it was +conceived to have been, a subject of more brutal and bitter triumph than +the Hogans. The only circumstance connected with him which grieved them +to the heart, was the fact that the distillation plot had not ruined him +as they expected it would have done. His disgrace, however, and unjust +ejectment from Ahadarra filled them with that low, ruffianly sense of +exultation, than which, coming from such scoundrels, there is scarcely +anything more detestable in human nature. + +One evening about this time they were sitting about the fire, the three +brothers, Kate, and the young unlicked savages of the family, when +Philip, after helping himself to a glass of quints, said,-- + +“At any rate, there'll be no match between Miss Kathleen and that +vagabond, Bryan M'Mahon. I think we helped to put a nail in his coffin +there, by gob.” + +“Ay,” said Kate, “an' you may boast of it, you unmanly vagabone; an' yet +you purtind to have a regard for the poor girl, an' a purty way you tuck +to show it--to have her as she is, goin' about wid a pale face an' a +broken heart. Don't you see it's her more than him you're punishin', you +savage of hell?” + +“You had betther keep your tongue off o' me,” he replied; “I won't get +into grips wid you any more, you barge o' blazes; but, if you provoke me +wid bad language, I'll give you a clink wid one o' these sotherin'-irons +that'll put a clasp on your tongue.” + +“Never attempt that,” she replied fiercely, “for, as sure as you do, +I'll have this knife,” showing him a large, sharp-pointed one, which, in +accordance with the customs of her class, hung by a black belt of strong +leather from her side--“I'll have this customer here greased in your +puddins, my buck, and, when the win's out o' you, see what you'll be +worth--fit for Captain James's hounds; although I dunno but the very +dogs themselves is too clane to ait you.” + +“Come,” said Bat, “we'll have no more o' this; do you, Philip, keep +quiet wid your sotherin'-iron, and, as for you, Kate, don't dhraw me +upon you; _na ha nan shin_--it isn't Philip you have. I say I'm right +well plaised that we helped to knock up the match.” + +“Don't be too sure,” replied Kate, “that it is knocked up; don't now, +mind my words; an' take care that, instead of knockin' it up, you +haven't knocked yourselves down. Chew your cud upon that now.” + +“What does she mane?” asked Ned, looking on her with a baleful glance, +in which might be read equal ferocity and alarm. “Why, traichery, of +coorse,” replied Philip, in his deep, glowing voice. “Kate,” said her +husband, starting into something' like an incipient fit of fury, but +suddenly checking himself--“Kate, my honey, what do you mane by them +words?” + +“What do I mane by them words?” she exclaimed, with an eye which turned +on him with cool defiance; “pick that out o' your larnin', Bat, my pet. +You can all keep your saicrets; an' I'll let you know that I can keep +mine.” + +“Be the Holy St. Lucifer,” said her husband, “if I wanst thought that +traichery 'ud enter your head, I'd take good care that it's in hell +you'd waken some fine mornin' afore long. So mind yourself, Kate, my +honey.” + +“Are you in nobody else's power but mine?” she replied, “ax yourselves +that--an' now do you mind yourself, Bat, my pet, and all o' yez.” + +“What is the raison,” asked her husband, “that I see you an' Nanny Peety +colloguin' an' huggermuggerin' so often together of late?” + +“Ah,” she replied, with a toss of disdain, “what a manly fellow you are +to want to get into women's saicrets! you may save your breath though.” + +“Whatever you collogue about, all I say is, that I don't like a bone in +the same Nanny Peety's body. She has an eye in her head that looks as if +it knew one's thoughts.” + +“An' maybe it does. One thing I know, and every one knows it, that it's +a very purty eye.” + +“Tell her, then, to keep out o' this; we want no spies here.” + +“Divil a word of it; she's my niece, an' the king's highway is as free +to her as it is to you or anybody else. She'll be welcome to me any time +she comes, an' let me see who'll dare to mislist her. She feels as she +ought to do, an' as every woman ought to do, ay, an' every man, too, +that is a man, or anything but a brute an' a coward--she feels for that +unfortunate, heart-broken girl 'ithout;' an' it'll be a strange thing +if them that brought her to what she's sufferin' won't suffer +themselves yet; there's a God above still, I hope, glory be to His name! +Traichery!” she exclaimed; “ah, you ill-minded villains, it's yourselves +you're thinkin' of, an' what you desarve. As for myself, it's neither +you nor your villainy that's in my head, but the sorrowful heart that's +in that poor girl 'ithout--ay, an' a broken one; for, indeed, broked it +is; and it's not long she'll be troub'lin' either friend or foe in this +world. The curse o' glory upon you all, you villains, and upon every one +that had a hand in bringing her to this!” + +Having uttered these words, she put her cloak and bonnet upon her, and +left the house, adding as she went out, “if it's any pleasure to you to +know it, I'll tell you. I'm goin' to meet Nancy Peety this minute, +an' you never seen sich colloguin' an' hugger-muggerin' as we'll have, +plaise goodness--ah, you ill-thinkin', skulkin' villains!” + +Kate Hogan, though a tigress when provoked, and a hardened, reckless +creature, scarcely remarkable for any particular virtue that could be +enumerated, and formidable from that savage strength and intrepidity +for which she was so well known, was yet not merely touched by the +sufferings of Kathleen Cavanagh, but absolutely took an interest in +them, at once so deep and full of sympathy, as to affect her temper and +disturb her peace of mind. Notwithstanding her character she was still +a woman; and, in matters involving the happiness of an innocent and +beautiful creature of her own sex, who had been so often personally kind +to herself, and whose family were protectors and benefactors to her and +her kindred, she felt as a woman. Though coarse-minded upon most many +matters, she was yet capable of making the humane distinction which her +brutal relatives could not understand or feel;--we mean the fact that, +in having lent themselves to the base conspiracy planned and concocted +by Hycy Burke, and in having been undoubtedly the cause of M'Mahon's +disgrace, as well as of his projected marriage with Kathleen having been +broken up, they did not perceive that she was equally a sufferer; or, +if they did, they were either too cunning or too hardened to acknowledge +it. For this particular circumstance, Kate, inasmuch as it involved deep +ingratitude on their part, could not at all forgive them. + +At this time, indeed, the melancholy position of Kathleen Cavanagh was +one which excited profound and general sorrow; and just in proportion +as this was sincere, so was the feeling of indignation against him whose +corruption and want of principle were supposed to have involved her +in their consequences. Two months or better of the period allotted by +Kathleen to the vindication of his character, had now elapsed, and yet +nothing had been done to set himself right either with her or the world. +She consequently argued and with apparent reason, that everything in the +shape of justification was out of his power, and this reflection only +deepened her affliction. Yes, it deepened her affliction; but it did +not; on that account succeed in enabling her to obliterate his image +the more easily from her heart. The fact was, that despite the force and +variety of the rumors that were abroad against him--and each succeeding +week brought in some fresh instance of his duplicity and profligacy, +thanks to the ingenious and fertile malignity of Hycy the +accomplished--despite of this, and despite of all, the natural reaction +of her heart had set in--their past endearments, their confidence their +tenderness, their love, now began, after the first vehement expression +of pride and high principle had exhausted the offended mind of its +indignation, to gradually resume their influence over her. A review, +besides, of her own conduct towards her lover was by no means +satisfactory to her. Whilst she could not certainly but condemn him, +she felt as if she had judged him upon a principle at once too cold and +rigorous. Indeed, now that a portion of time had enabled her mind to +cool, she could scarcely understand why it was that she had passed, so +harsh a sentence upon him. She was not, however, capable of analyzing +her own mind and feelings upon the occasion, or she might have known +that her severity towards the man I was the consequence, on her part, of +that innate scorn and indignation which pure and lofty minds naturally +entertain against everything dishonorable and base, and that it is a +very difficult thing to disassociate the crime from the criminal, even +in cases where the latter may have had a strong hold upon the affections +of such a noble nature. Nay, the very fact of finding that one's +affections have been fixed upon a person capable of such dishonor, +produces a double portion of indignation at the discovery of their +profligacy, because it supposes, in the first place, that something like +imposture must have been practised upon us in securing our affections, +or what is still more degrading, that we must have been materially +devoid of common penetration, or we could not have suffered ourselves to +become the dupe of craft and dissimulation. + +Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject +of her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts, +and detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act +inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists +temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach +it. + +Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her +heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by +the shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly +passed away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the +severity of the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to +look back upon her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more +softened medium of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her +slowly but surely, until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess +of her own severity towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally +return, as it were, to a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor, +from an unconscious principle of self-love, to work herself up into that +lofty hatred of dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the +effort was in vain. Every successive review of his guilt was attended +by a consciousness that she had been righteous overmuch, and that the +consequences of his treason, even against their common religion, were +not only rapidly diminishing in her heart, but yielding to something +that very nearly resembled remorse. + +Such was the state of her feelings on the day when Kate Hogan and her +male relatives indulged in the friendly and affectionate dialogue we +have just detailed. Her heart was smitten, in fact, with sorrow for the +harsh part she had taken against her lover, and she only waited for +an opportunity to pour out a full confession of all she felt into the +friendly ear of her sister. + +Gerald Cavanagh's family at this period was darkened by a general spirit +of depression and gloom. Their brother James, from whatever cause it may +have proceeded, seemed to be nearly as much cast down as his sister; and +were it not that Cavanagh himself and his wife sustained themselves by a +hope that Kathleen might ultimately relax so far as to admit, as she had +partly promised to do, the proposals of Edward Burke, it would have +been difficult to find so much suffering apart from death under the same +roof. + +On the day in question, our friend O'Finigan, whose habits of +intemperance had by no means diminished, called at Cavanagh's, as he had +been in the habit of doing. Poor Kathleen was now suffering, besides, +under the consequences of the injunction not to mention M'Mahon's name, +which she had imposed upon her own family--an injunction which they had +ever since faithfully observed. It was quite evident from the unusually +easy fluency of O'Finigan's manner, that he had not confined his +beverages, during the day, to mere water. Hanna, on seeing him enter, +said to Kathleen, in a whisper,-- + +“Hadn't you better come out and take a walk, Kathleen? This O'Finigan is +almost tipsy, and you know he'll be talking about certain subjects you +don't wish to hear.” + +“Time enough, dear Hanna,” she replied, with a sorrowful look at her +sister, “my heart is so full of suffering and pain that almost anything +will relieve it. You know I was always amused by Finigan's chat.” Her +sister, who had not as yet been made acquainted with the change which +had taken place in her heart, on hearing these words looked at her +closely, and smiled sorrowfully, but in such a manner as if she had +at that moment experienced a sensation of pleasure, if not of hope. +Hitherto, whenever a neighbor or stranger came in, Kathleen, fearing +that the forbidden name might become the topic of conversation, always +retired, either to another room or left the house altogether, in order +to relieve her own family from the painful predicament in which their +promise of silence to her had placed them. On this occasion, however, +Hanna perceived with equal surprise and pleasure that she kept her +ground. + +“Sit ye, merry jinteels!” said Finigan, as he entered; “I hope I see +you all in good health and spirits; I hope I do; although I am afraid if +what fame--an' by the way, Mrs. Cavanagh, my classicality tells me, that +the poet Maro blundered like a Hibernian, when he made the same fame a +trumpeter, in which, wid the exception of one point, he was completely +out of keeping. There's not in all litherature another instance of a +female trumpeter; and for sound raisons--if the fair sex were to get +possession of the tuba, God help the world, for it would soon be a noisy +one. However, let me recollect myself--where was I? Oh! ay--I am afraid +that if what fame says--an' by the way, her trumpet must have been a +speaking one--be true, that there's a fair individual here whose spirits +are not of the most exalted character; and indeed, and as I am the +noblest work of God--an honest man--I feel sorry to hear the fact.” + +The first portion of this address, we need scarcely say, was the only +part of it which was properly understood, if we except a word or two at +the close. + +“God save you, Misther Finigan.” + +“O'Finigan, if you plase, Mrs. Cavanagh.” + +“Well, well,” she replied, “O'Finigan, since it must be so; but in troth +I can!t always remember it, Misther Finigan, in regard that you didn't +always stand out for it yourself. Is there any news stirrin', you that's +abroad?” + +“Not exactly news, ma'am; but current reports that are now no novelty. +The M'Mahon's--” + +“Oh, never mind them,” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh, glancing at her +daughter, “if you have any 'other news let us hear it--pass over the +M'Mahons--they're not worth our talk, at least some o' them.” + +“Pardon me, Mrs. Cavanagh;--if Achilles at the head of his myrmidons was +to inform me to that effect, I'd tell him he had mistaken his customer. +My principle, ma'am--and 'tis one I glory in--is to defend the absent in +gineral, for it is both charitable and ginerous to do so--in gineral, I +say; but when I know that they are unjustly aspersed, I contemplate it +as' an act of duty on my part to vindicate them.” + +“Well,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “that's all very right an' thrue, Mr. +Finigan.” + +“It is, Mr. Finig--O'Finigan,” observed James Cavanagh, who was present, +“and your words are a credit and an honor to you.” + +“Thanks, James, for the compliment; for it is but truth. The scandal I +say (he proceeded without once regarding the hint: thrown out by Mrs. +Cavanagh) which has! been so studiously disseminated against Bryan +M'Mahon--spare your nods and winks, Mrs. Cavanagh, for if you winked at +me with as many eyes as Argus had, and nodded at me wid as many heads as +Hydra, or that baste in the Revelaytions, I'd not suppress a syllable of +truth;--no, ma'am, the _suppressio veri's_ no habit of mine; and I say +and assert--ay, and asseverate--that that honest and high-spirited +young man, named Bryan or Bernard M'Mahon, is the victim of villany +and falsehood--ay, of devilish hatred and ingenious but cowardly +vituperation.” + +“Kathleen,” whispered her sister, “will you come out, darlin'? this talk +must be painful to you.” + +Kathleen gave her a look of much mingled sorrow and entreaty as went to +her heart. Hanna, whose head had been lovingly reclining on her sister's +bosom, pressed her gently but affectionately to her heart, and made no +reply. + +“You wor always a friend of his,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “an' of course +you spake as a friend.” + +“Yes,” said Finigan, “I always was a friend of his, because I always +knew his honesty, his love of truth, his hatred of a mane action, ay, +and his generosity and courage. I knew him from the very egg, I may +say--_ab ovo_--Mrs. Cavanagh; it was I instilled his first principles into +him. Oh! I know well! I never had a scholar I was so proud out of. +Hycy Burke was smart, quick, and cunning; but then he was +traicherous--something of a coward when he had his match--strongly +addicted to fiction in most of his narratives, and what was still a +worse point about him, he had the infamous ingenuity, whenever he had a +point to gain--such as belying a boy and taking away his characther--of +making truth discharge all the blackguard duties of falsehoood. Oh! I +know them both well! But who among all I ever enlightened wid +instruction was the boy that always tould the truth, even when it went +against himself?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever defended the +absent?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever and always took the part of the +weak and defenceless against the strong and tyrannical?--why, Bryan +M'Mahon. Who fought for his religion, too, when the young heretics used +to turn it, or try to turn it, into ridicule--ay, and when cowardly and +traicherous Hycy used to sit quietly by, and either put the insult in +his pocket, or curry favor wid the young sneering vagabonds that abused +it? And yet, at the time Hycy was a thousand times a greater little +bigot than Bryan. The one, wid a juvenile rabble at his back, three to +one, was a tyrant over the young schismatics; whilst Bryan, like a brave +youth as he was, ever and always protected them against the disadvantage +of numbers, and insisted on showing them fair play. I am warm, Mrs. +Cavanagh,” he continued, “and heat, you know, generates thirst. I know +that a drop o' the right sort used to be somewhere undher this same +roof; but I'm afraid if the _fama clamosa_ be thrue, that the side of +the argument I have taken isn't exactly such as to guarantee me a touch +at the native--that is, taking it for granted that there's any in the +house.” + +This request was followed by a short silence. The Cavanagh's all, with +the exception of Kathleen, looked at each other, but every eye was +marked either by indecision or indifference. At length Hanna looked at +her sister, and simply said, “dear Kathleen!” + +“He has done,” replied the latter, in a low voice, “what I had not the +generosity to do--he has defended the absent.” + +“Darling Kathleen,” Hanna whispered, and then pressed her once more to +her heart. “You must have it, Mr. O'Finigan,” said she--“you must have +it, and that immediately;” and as she spoke, she proceeded to a cupboard +from which she produced a large black bottle, filled with that peculiar +liquid to which our worthy pedagogue was so devotedly addicted. + +“Ah,” said he, on receiving a bumper from the fair hand of Hanna, +“let the M'Mahons alone for the old original--indeed I ought to +say--aboriginal hospitality. Thanks, Miss Hanna; in the meantime I will +enunciate a toast, and although we shall not draw very strongly upon +sentiment for the terms, it shall be plain and pithy; here is 'that the +saddle of infamy may be soon placed upon the right horse,' and maybe +there's an individual not a thousand miles from us, and who is besides +not altogether incognizant of the learned languages, including a +tolerably comprehensive circle of mathematics, who will, to a certain +extent, contribute to the consummation of that most desirable event; +here then, I repate, is the toast--'may the saddle of infamy soon be +placed upon the right horse!'” + +Having drunk off the glass, he turned the mouth of it down upon his +corduroy breeches, as an intimation that he might probably find it +necessary to have recourse to it again. + +Hanna observed, or rather we should say, felt, that as Finigan proceeded +with his reminiscences of M'Mahon's school-boy days and the enumeration +of his virtues, her sister's heart and bosom quivered with deep and +almost irrepressible emotion. There was a good deal of enthusiasm in the +man's manner, because he was in earnest, and it was quite evident that +Kathleen's spirit had caught it as he went along, and that her heart +recognized the truth of the picture which he was drawing. We say she +literally felt the quiverings of her sister's heart against her own, +and to do the admirable girl justice, she rejoiced to recognize these +manifestations of returning affection. + +“It was only yesterday,” continued Finigan, resuming the discourse, +“that I met Bryan M'Mahon, and by the way, he has sorrow and distress, +poor fellow, in his face. 'Bryan,' said I, 'is it true that you and +your father's family are preparing to go to that _refugium peccatorum_, +America--that overgrown cupping-glass which is drawing the best blood of +our country out of it?' + +“'The people of Ireland,' he replied, 'have a right to bless God that +there is such a country to fly to, and to resave them from a land +where they're neglected and overlooked. It is true, Mr. O'Finigan,' he +proceeded--!' we have nothing in this country to live for now.' + +“'And so you are preparing?' I asked. + +“'I ought rather say,' he replied, 'that we are prepared; we go in +another month; I only wish we were there already.' + +“'I fear, Bryan,' said I, 'that you have not been well trated of late.' +He looked at me with something like surprise, but said nothing; and in +a quarter, I added, 'that was the last from which you were prepared to +expect justice without mercy.' + +“'I don't understand you,' he replied sharply; 'what do you mean?' + +“'Bryan,' said I, 'I scorn a moral circumbendibus where the direct truth +is necessary; I have heard it said, and I fear it is burthened wid too +much uncomfortable veracity, that Kathleen Cavanagh has donned the black +cap* in doing the judicial upon you, and that she considers her sentence +equal to the laws of the Medes and Persians, unchangeable--or, +like those of our own blessed church--wid reverence be the analogy +made--altogether infallible.' His eye blazed as I spoke; he caught me +where by the collar wid a grip that made me quake--'Another word against +Kathleen Cavanagh,' he replied, 'and I will shake every joint of your +carcass out of its place.' His little sister, Dora, was wid him at the +time; 'Give him a shake or two as it is,' she added, egging him on, 'for +what he has said already;' throth she's a lively little lady that, +an' if it wasn't that she has a pair of dark shining eyes, and sweet +features--ay, and as coaxin' a figure of her own--however, sorra may +care, somehow, I defy any one to, be angry wid her.” + + * Alluding to the practice of putting on the black cap when + the Judge condemns a felon to death. + +“Come, Mr. O'Finigan,” said James, approaching him, “you must have +another glass.” + +“Well no, James,” he replied, “I think not.” + +“Faith, but I say you will; if it was only to hear what Dora--hem--what +Bryan said. + +“Very well,” said the master, allowing him to take the glass which he +received again brimming, “thanks, James.” + +“'Well,' said Bryan, lettin' go my collar, 'blame any one you like; +blame me, blame Vanston, blame Chevydale, Fethertonge, anybody, +everybody, the Priest, the Bishop, the Pope,--but don't dare to blame +Kathleen Cavanagh.' + +“'Why,' said I, 'has she been right in her condemnation of you?' + +“'She has,' he replied, with a warmth of enthusiasm which lit up his +whole features; 'she has done nothing but what was right. She just acted +as she ought, and all I can say is, that I know I'm not worthy of her, +and never was. God bless her!' + +“'And don't let me hear,' said Dora, taking up the dialogue, 'that ever +you'll mention her name wid disrespect--mark that, Mr. O'Finigan, or +it'll be worse for you a thrifle.' + +“Her brother looked on her wid complacent affection, and patting her on +the head, said, 'Come, darling, don't beat him now. You see the risk you +run,' he added, as they went away, 'so don't draw down Dora's vengeance +on your head. She might forgive you an offence against herself; but she +won't forgive you one against Kathleen Cavanagh; and, Mister O'Finigan, +neither will I.'” + +“Masther,” said James Cavanagh, “you'll stop to-night with us?” + +“No, James, I have an engagement of more importance than you could ever +dhrame of, and about--but I'm not free or at liberty to develop the +plot--for plot it is--at any greater length. Many thanks to you in the +mane time for your hospitable intentions; but before I go, I have a word +to say. Now, what do you think of that young man's ginerosity, who would +rather have himself thought guilty than have her thought wrong; for, +whisper,--I say he's not guilty, and maybe--but, no ruatther, time will +tell, and soon tell, too, plaise God.” + +So saying he took up his hat, and politely wished them a pleasant +evening, but firmly refused to taste another drop of liquor, “lest,” + he added, “it might denude him of the necessary qualifications for +accomplishing the enterprise on which he was bint.” + +When he was gone, Kathleen brought her sister to their own room, and +throwing herself on her bosom, she spoke not, but wept calmly and in +silence for about twenty minutes. + +“Kathleen,” said Hanna, “I am glad to see this, and I often wished for +it.” + +“Whisht, dear Hanna,” she replied; “don't speak to me at present. +I'm not fit to talk on that unfortunate subject yet. 'Forgive us our +trespassess as we--we--forgive them that trespass against us!' Oh! +Hanna darling, how have I prayed?” They then rejoined the family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII.--Harry Clinton's Benevolence Defeated + +--His Uncle's Treachery--The Marriage of Kathleen and Edward Burke +Determined on + + +This partial restoration of M'Mahon to the affections of Kathleen +Cavanagh might have terminated in a full and perfect reconciliation +between them, were it not for circumstances which we are about to +detail. From what our readers know of young Clinton, we need not assure +them that, although wild and fond of pleasure, he was by no means devoid +of either generosity or principle. There were indeed few individuals, +perhaps scarcely any, in the neighborhood, who felt a deeper or +manlier sympathy for the adverse fate and evil repute which had come +so suddenly, and, as he believed in his soul, undeservedly, upon Bryan +M'Mahon. He resolved accordingly to make an effort for the purpose of +setting the unfortunate young man's character right with the public, or +if not with the public, at least in that quarter where such a service +might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald Cavanagh's family. +Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle sat reading the +newspaper, he addressed him as follows:-- + +“By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or +two.” + +“Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking +me any question you wish? Why should you not?” + +“This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of +your--your--profession.” + +“What is it?--what is it?” + +“You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of +Ahadarra?” + +“I do perfectly well.” + +“Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who +furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor +desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?” + +“No, I do not.” + +“Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?” + +“Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it +did.” + +“Should you wish to know, uncle?” + +“Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that +fortunate event.” + +“Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself.” + +“I should wish to know, though.” + +“Pray have you the letter?” + +“I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't +say which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it +turned up among some other communications of a similar stamp.” + +In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his +hands. + +“Now, uncle,” he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, “you +admit that this is the letter?” + +“I admit--why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as much?” + +“Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter.” + +“I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises +his tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to +make use of them. Go on.” + +“The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke.” + +“Very likely,” replied the cool old Still-Hound; “But I did not think he +would ever place us--” + +“You, sir, if you please.” + +“Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation +to him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?” + +His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny +Peety, and the discovery he had made through her of the letter having +been both written and sent by Hycy to the post-office. In order, +besides, to satisfy his relative that the getting up of the still was a +plan concocted by Hycy to ruin M'Mahon, through the, medium of the fine, +he detailed as much of Hycy's former proposal to him as he conveniently +could, without disclosing the part which he himself had undertaken to +perform in this concerted moment. + +“Well, Harry,” replied the old fellow after a pause, “he's a d--d +scoundrel, no doubt; but as his scoundrelism is his own, I don't see why +we should hesitate to avail ourselves of it. With respect, however, to +M'Mahon, I can assure you, that I was informed of his intention to set +up a Still a good while before I made the capture, and not by anonymous +information either. Now, what would you say if both I and Fethertonge +knew the whole plot long before it was put in practice?” + +As he spoke, he screwed his hard keen features into a most knavish +expression. + +“Yes,” he added; “and I can tell you that both the agent and I forwarned +M'Mahon against suffering himself to engage in anything illegal--which +was our duty as his friends you know--hem!” + +“Is that possible?” said his nephew, blushing for this villianous +admission. + +“Quite possible,” replied the other; “however, as I said, I don't see +why we should hesitate to avail ourselves of his villany.” + +“That is precisely what I was about to say, sir,” replied his nephew, +still musing on what he had heard. + +“Right, Harry; the farm is a good thing, or will be so, at least.” + +“The farm, sir! but I did not speak with reference to the farm.” + +“Then with reference to what did you speak?” + +“I meant, sir, that we should not hesitate to avail ourselves of his +villany, in setting M'Mahon right with the public as far as we could.” + +“With the whole public!--whew! Why, my good young man, I thought the +days of giants and windmills had gone by.” + +“Well, sir,” continued the nephew, “at all events there is one thing you +must do for me. I wish you to see old Gerald Cavanagh, and as far as +you can to restore his confidence in the honesty and integrity of young +M'Mahon. State to him that you have reason to know that his son has a +bitter enemy in the neighborhood; that great injustice had been done +to him in many ways, and that you would be glad that a reconciliation +should take place between the families.” + +“And so I am to set out upon the wild goose chase of reconciling a +wench, and a fellow, without knowing why or wherefore.” + +“No, sir--not at all---I will make Cavanough call upon you.” + +“I don't understand this,” replied the uncle, rubbing behind his ear; “I +don't perceive; but pray what interest have you in the matter?” + +“Upon my honor, uncle, none in life, unless an anxiety to serve poor +M'Mahon. The world is down upon him about that vote which, considering +all the circumstances, was more creditable to him than otherwise. I +know, however, that in consequence of the estrangement between him and +Miss Cavanagh, he is bent on emigrating. It is that fact which presses +upon him most. Now will you oblige me in this, uncle?” + +“Let Cavanagh call upon me,” he replied, “and if I can say anything to +soften the old fellow, perhaps I will.” + +“Thank you, uncle--thank you--I shall not forget this kindness.” + +“Well, then,” said his uncle, “I am going down to Fethertonge on a +certain matter of business, you understand, and--let me see--why, if +Cavanagh calls on me tomorrow about eleven, I shall see him at all +events.” + +Young Clinton felt surprised and grieved at what his uncle had just +hinted to him; but on the other hand, he felt considerably elated at the +prospect of being able to bring about a reconciliation between these two +families, and with this excellent motive in view he went to Cavanagh, +with whom he had a private conversation. Having been made aware +by M'Mahon himself of Cavanagh's prejudice against him, and the +predilections of himself and his wife for an alliance into Burke's +family, he merely told him that his uncle would be glad to see him the +next day about eleven o'clock, upon which the other promised to attend +to that gentleman. + +Old Clinton, on his way to Fethertonge's, met that worthy individual +riding into Ballymacan. + +“I was going down to you,” said he; “but where are you bound for?” + +“Into town,” replied the agent; “have you any objection to ride that +way?” + +“None in the world; it is just the same to me. Well, how are matters +proceeding?” + +“Not by any means well,” replied the other, “I begin to feel something +like alarm. I wish we had those M'Mahons out of the country. Vanston +has paid that d--d goose Chevydale a visit, and I fear that unless the +Ahadarra man and his father, and the whole crew of them, soon leave the +country, we shall break down in our object.” + +“Do you tell me so?” said the gauger, starting; “by Jove, it is well I +know this in time.” + +“I don't understand.” + +“Why,” continued. Clinton, “I was about to take a foolish step to-morrow +morning, for the express purpose, I believe, of keeping him, and +probably the whole family in the country.” + +He then detailed the conversation that he had with his nephew, upon +which Fethertonge convinced him that there was more in the wind with +respect to that step, than either he or his nephew, who he assured +him was made a cat's paw of in the business, suspected. “That's a deep +move,” said the agent, “but we shall defeat them, notwithstanding. +Everything, however, depends upon their leaving the country before +Chevydale happens to come at the real state of the case; still, it will +go hard or we shall baffle both him and them yet.” + +Whether Clinton Was sure that the step urged upon him by his nephew was +the result of a generous regard for M'Mahon, or that the former was made +a mere tool for ultimate purposes, in the hands of the Ahadarra man, as +he called him it is not easy to determine. Be this as it may, when +the hour of eleven came the next morning, he was prepared to set his +nephew's generosity aside, and act upon Fethertonge's theory of doing +everything in his power to get the whole connection out of the country, +“Ha,” he exclaimed, “I now understand what Harry meant with respect to +their emigration--'It is that fact which presses upon him most.' Oh ho! +is it so, indeed! Very good, Mr. M'Mahon--we shall act accordingly.” + +Gerald Cavanaugh had been made acquainted by his wife on the day before +with the partial revival of his daughter's affection for Bryan M'Mahon, +as well as with the enthusiastic defense of him made by Finigan, two +circumstances which gave him much concern and anxiety. On his return, +however, from Clinton's, his family observed that there was something of +a satisfactory expression mingled up with a good deal of grave thought +in his face. The truth is, if the worthy man thought for a moment that +the ultimate loss of M'Mahon would have seriously injured her peace +of mind, he would have bitterly regretted it, and perhaps encourage +a reconciliation. This was a result, however, that he could scarcely +comprehend. That she might fret and pine for a few months or so was the +worst he could calculate upon, and of course he took it for granted, +that the moment her affection for one was effaced, another might step +in, without any great risk of disappointment. + +“Well, Gerald,” said his wife, “what did Ganger Clinton want with you?” + +Gerald looked at his two daughters and sighed unconsciously. “It's not +good news,” he proceeded, “in one sense, but it is in another; it's +good news to all my family but that girl sittin' there,” pointing to +Kathleen. + +Unfortunately no evil intelligence could have rendered the unhappy +girl's cheek paler than it was; so that, so far as appearances went, it +was impossible to say what effect this startling communication had upon +her. + +“I was down wid Misther Clinton,” he proceeded; “he hard a report that +there was about to be a makin' up of the differences between Kathleen +there and Bryan, and he sent for me to say, that, for the girl's +sake--who he said was, as he had heard from all quarthers, a +respectable, genteel girl--he couldn't suffer a young man so full of +thraichery and desate, as he had good raisons to know Bryan M'Mahon +was, to impose himself upon her or her family. He cautioned me,” he +proceeded, “and all of us against him; and said that if I allowed a +marriage to take place between him and my daughter, he'd soon bring +disgrace upon her and us, as well as himself. 'You may take my word for +it, Mr. Cavanagh,' says he, 'that is not a thrifle 'ud make me send for +you in sich a business; but, as I happen to know the stuff he is made +of, I couldn't bear to see him take a decent family in so distastefully. +To my own knowledge, Cavanagh,' said he, 'he'd desave a saint, much less +your innocent and unsuspectin' daughter.'” + +“But, father,” said Hanna, “you know there's not a word of truth in that +report; and mayn't all that has been said, or at least some of what has +been said against Bryan, be as much a lie as that? Who on earth: could +sich a report come from?” + +“I axed Mr. Clinton the same question,” said the father, “and it appears +that it came from Bryan himself.” + +“Oh, God forbid!” exclaimed Hanna; “for, if it's a thing that he said +that, he'd say anything.” + +“I don't know,” returned the father, “I only spake it as I hard it, and, +what is more, I believe it--I believe it after what I hard this day; +everybody knows him now--man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an escape +that innocent girl had of him!” + +Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon +his shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after +looking at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and +calm but concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not +sit down. + +“After all,” she exclaimed, “there has been no new crime brought against +him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't +do so again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three +weeks to clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within +that time, take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish--of course +Hycy's out of the question--since you must have it so, for the sooner +I go to my grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it; +but, in the mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear +this long; there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon +it will soon put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow. Oh, +Bryan M'Mahon, can you be what is said of you! and, if you can, oh, why +did we ever meet, or why did I ever see you!” + +Her sister Hanna attempted to console her, but for once she failed. +Kathleen would hear no comfort, for she said she stood in need of none. + +“My mind is all dark,” said she, “or rather it is sick of this miserable +work. Why am I fastened upon by such suffering and distraction? Don't +attempt at present to console me, Hanna; I won't, because I can't be +consoled. I wish I knew this man--whether he is honest or not. If he is +the villain they say he is, and that with a false mask upon him, he has +imposed himself on me, and gained my affections by hypocrisy and deceit, +why, Hanna, my darling sister, I could stab him to the heart. To think +that I ever should come to love a villain that could betray his church, +his country, me--and take a bribe; yes, he has done it,” she proceeded, +catching fire from the force of her own detestation of what was wrong. +“Here, Hanna, I call back my words--I give him no further warning than +he has got: he knows the time, the greater part of it is past, and has +he ever made a single attempt to clear himself? No, because he cannot. +I despise him; he is unworthy of me, and I fear he ever was. Here, +father,” she said with vehemence, “listen to me, my dear father; and +you, my mother, beloved mother, hear me! At the expiration of three +weeks I will marry Edward Burke; he is a modest, and I think an +honest young man, who would not betray his religion nor his country, +nor--nor--any unhappy girl that might happen to love him; oh, no, he +would not--and so, after three weeks--I will marry him. Go now and tell +him so--say I said so; and you may rest assured I will not break my +word, although--I may break--break my heart--my heart! Now, Hanna, come +out and walk, dear--come out, and let us chat of other matters; yes, +of other matters; and you can tell me candidly whether you think Bryan +M'Mahon such a villain.” Struck by her own words she paused almost +exhausted, and, bending down, put her face upon her hands, and by a long +persevering effort, at length raised her head, and after a little time +appeared to have regained a good deal of composure; but not without +tears--for she had wept bitterly. + +On that night she told her sister that the last resolution she had come +to was that by which she was determined to abide. + +“You would not have me like a mere girl,” she said, “without the power +of knowing my own mind--no; let what may come I will send no messages +after him--and as sure as I have life I will marry Edward Burke after +the expiration of three weeks, if Bryan doesn't--but it's idle to talk +of it--if he could he would have done it before now. Good-night, dear +Hanna--good-night,” and after many a long and heavy sigh she sank to an +uneasy and troubled slumber. + +The next morning Gerald Cavanagh, who laid great stress upon the +distracted language of his daughter on the preceding night paid an early +visit to his friend, Jemmy Burke. He found the whole family assembled +at breakfast, and after the usual salutations, was asked to join them, +which invitation, however, having already breakfasted, he declined. Hycy +had of late been very much abroad--that is to say he was out very much +at night, and dined very frequently in the head-inn of Ballymacan, +when one would suppose he ought to have dined at home. On the present +occasion he saluted honest Gerald with a politeness peculiarly ironical. + +“Mr. Cavanagh,” said he, “I hope I see you in good health, sir. How +are all the ladies?--Hannah, the neat, and Kathleen--ah, Kathleen, the +divine!” + +“Troth, they're all very well, I thank you, Hycy; and how is yourself?” + +“Free from care, Mr. Cavanagh--a chartered libertine.” + +“A libertine!” exclaimed the honest farmer; “troth I've occasionally +heard as much; but until I heard it from your own lips divil a word of +it I believed.” + +“He is only jesting, Mr. Cavanagh,” said his brother; “he doesn't mean +exactly, nor indeed at all, what you suppose he does.” + +“Does he mean anything at all, Ned?” said his father, dryly, “for of +late it's no aisy matther to understand him.” + +“Well said, Mr. Burke,” replied Hycy; “I am like yourself, becoming +exceedingly oracular of late--but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this exquisite +union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed--does +it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt +clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?” + +“Gerald,” said the father, “as there's none here so handy at the +nonsense as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer +himself.” + +“Begad, Jemmy,” said Cavanagh, “to tell you the truth, I haven't +nonsense enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he +takes to speakin' common-sense I won't undhertake to hould any further +discourse wid him.” + +“Why will you continue,” said his brother in a low voice, “to render +yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?” + +“Well said, most vituline--_Solomon secundus_, well said.” + +“Hycy,” said his mother, “you ought to remimber that every one didn't +get the edi cation you did--an' that ignorant people like your father and +Gerald Kavanagh there can't undhercomestand one-half o' what you say. +Sure they know nothing o' book-lamin', and why do you give it them?” + +“Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke. They are two of the most +notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don't possess +your powers of ratiocination, madam?” + +“No,” replied his father; “nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, +Hycy.” + +Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, “One would think that joke +is pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke. Couldn't you strike out +something original now?” + +“All I can say is,” replied the father, “that the joke has betther +bottom than the garran it was made upon.” + +Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty +ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and +rode towards Ballymacan. + +It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, +unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them +Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward. +It is sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was +absolutely made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the +exception of the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at +their next meeting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV.--Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen + +--Dora and Her Lover. + + +The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full +of gloom and depression. Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our +independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our +great seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the +case for many a season previously. That something was wrong, and that +something is wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the +myriad's who, whilst they have the means in their hands, are anxious to +get out of it as fast as they can. And yet there is not a country in the +world, a population so affectionately attached to the soil--to the place +of their birth--as the Irish. In fact, the love of their native fields, +their green meadows, the dark mountains, and the glorious torrents that +gush from them, is a passion of which they have in foreign lands +been often known to die. It is called Home Sickness, and we are aware +ourselves of more than one or two cases in which individuals, in a +comparatively early stage of life, have pined away in secret after their +native hills, until the malady becoming known, unfortunately too late, +they sought once more the green fields and valleys among which they had +spent their youth, just in time to lay down their pale cheeks and rest +in their native clay for ever those hearts which absence and separation +from the very soil had broken. + +Now, nothing can be a greater proof of the pressure, the neglect, the +hopelessness of independence or comfort, which the condition of the +people, and the circumstances which occasioned it, have produced, than +the fact that the strong and sacred attachment which we have described +is utterly incapable of attaching them as residents in a country so +indescribably dear to their best affections. People may ask, and do ask, +and will ask, why Ireland is in such a peculiarly distressed state--why +there is always upon its surface a floating mass of pauperism without +parallel in Europe, or perhaps in the world? To this we reply simply +because the duties of property have uniformly been neglected. And in +what, may it be asked, do the duties of property consist? To this we +reply again, in an earnest fixed resolution to promote, in the first +place, the best social and domestic interests of the people, to improve +their condition, to stock their minds with, useful and appropriate +knowledge, to see that they shall be taught what a sense of decent +comfort means, that they shall not rest satisfied with a wad of straw +for a bed, and a meal of potatoes for food, and that they shall, +besides, come to understand the importance of their own position as +members of civil society. Had the landlords of Ireland paid attention +to these and other matters that directly involve their own welfare and +independence, as well as those of their neglected tenantry, they would +not be, as they now are, a class of men, some absolutely bankrupt, and +more on the very eve of it; and all this, to use a commercial phrase +painfully appropriate,--because they neglect their business. + +Who, until lately, ever heard of an Irish landlord having made the +subject of property, or the principles upon which it ought to be +administered, his study? By this we do not mean to say that they did not +occasionally bestow a thought upon their own interests; but, in doing +so, they were guided by erroneous principles that led them to place +these interests in antagonism with those of the people. They forgot +that poverty is the most fertile source of population, and that in every +neglected and ill-regulated state of society, they invariably reproduce +each other; but the landlords kept the people poor, and now they +are surprised, forsooth, at their poverty and the existence of a +superabundant population. + +“We know,” said they, “that the people are poor; but we know also that, +by subsisting merely upon the potato, and excluding better food and a +higher state of comfort, of course the more is left for the landlord.” + This in general was their principle--and its consequences are now upon +themselves. + +This, however, is a subject on which it is not our intention to +expatiate here. What we say is, that, in all the relations of civil +life, Her people were shamefully and criminally neglected. They were +left without education, permitted to remain ignorant of the arts of +life, and of that industrial knowledge on which, or rather on the +application of which, all public prosperity is based. + +And yet, although the people have great errors, without which no people +so long neglected can ever be found, and, although they have been for +centuries familiarized with suffering, yet it is absolute dread of +poverty that drives them from their native soil; They understand, +in fact, the progress of pauperism too well, and are willing to seek +fortune in any clime, rather than abide its approach to themselves--an +approach which they know is in their case inevitable and certain. For +instance, the very class of our countrymen that constitutes the great +bulk of our emigrants is to be found among those independent small +farmers who appear to understand something like comfort. One of these +men holding, say sixteen or eighteen acres, has a family we will suppose +of four sons and three daughters. This family grows up, the eldest son +marries, and the father, having no other way to provide for him, sets +apart three or four acres of his farm, on which he and his wife settle. +The second comes also to marry, and hopes his father won't treat him +worse than he treated his brother. He accordingly gets four acres more, +and settles down as his brother did. In this manner the holding is +frittered away and subdivided among them. For the first few years--that +is, before their children rise--they may struggle tolerably well; but, +at the expiration of twenty or twenty-five years, each brother finds +himself with such a family as his little strip of land cannot adequately +support, setting aside the claims of the landlord altogether; for rent +in these cases is almost out of the question. + +What, then, is the consequence? Why, that here is to be found a +population of paupers squatted upon patches of land quite incapable of +their support; and in seasons of famine and sickness, especially in a +country where labor is below its value, and employment inadequate to the +demand that is for it, this same population becomes a helpless burthen +upon it--a miserable addition to the mass of poverty and destitution +under which it groans. + +Such is the history of one class of emigrants in this unhappy land, +of ours; and what small farmer, with such a destiny as that we have +detailed staring him and his in the face, would not strain every nerve +that he might fly to any country--rather than remain to encounter the +frightful state of suffering which awaits him in this. + +Such, then, is an illustration of the motives which prompt one class +of emigrants to seek their fortune in other climes, while it is yet in +their power to do so. There is still a higher class, however, consisting +of strong farmers possessed of some property and wealth, who, on looking +around them, find that the mass of destitution which is so rapidly +increasing in every direction must necessarily press upon them in time, +and ultimately drag them down to its own level. But even if the naked +evils which pervade society among us were not capable of driving these +independent yeomen to other lands, we can assure our legislators +that what these circumstances, appalling as they are, may fail in +accomplishing, the recent act for the extra relief of able-bodied +paupers will complete--an act which, instead of being termed a Relief +Act, ought to be called an act for the ruin of the country, and the +confiscation of its property, both of which, if not repealed, it will +ultimately accomplish. We need not mention here cases of individual +neglect or injustice upon the part of landlords and agents, inasmuch as +we have partially founded our narrative upon a fact of this description. + +It has been said, we know, and in many instances with truth, that the +Irish are a negligent and careless people--without that perseverance and +enterprise for which their neighbors on the other side of the channel +are so remarkable. We are not, in point of fact, about to dispute the +justice of this charge; but, if it be true of the people, it is only so +indirectly. It is true of their condition and social circumstances in +this country, rather than of any constitutional deficiency in either +energy or industry that is inherent in their character. In their own +country they have not adequate motive for action--no guarantee that +industry shall secure them independence, or that the fruits of their +labor may not pass, at the will of; their landlords, into other hands. +Many, therefore, of the general imputations that are brought against +them in these respects, ought to be transferred rather to the depressing +circumstances in which they are placed than to the people themselves. +As a proof of; this, we have only to reflect upon their industry, +enterprise, and success, when relieved from the pressure of these +circumstances in other countries--especially in America, where exertion +and industry never, or at least seldom, fail to arrive at comfort and +independence. Make, then, the position of the Irishman reasonable--such, +for instance, as it is in any other country but his own--and he can +stand the test of comparison with any man. + +Not only, however, are the Irish flying from the evils that are to come, +but they feel a most affectionate anxiety to enable all those who are +bound to them by the ties of kindred and domestic affection to imitate +their example. There is not probably to be found in records of human +attachment such a beautiful history of unforgotten affection, as that +presented by the heroic devotion of Irish emigrants to those of their +kindred who remain here from inability to accompany them.* + + *The following extract, from a very sensible pamphlet by + Mr. Murray, is so appropriate to this subject, that we cannot + deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it here:-- + + “You have been accustomed to grapple with and master + figures, whether as representing the produce of former + tariffs, or in constructing new ones, or in showing the + income and expenditure of the greatest nation on the earth. + Those now about to be presented to you, as an appendix to + this communication, are small, very small, in their separate + amounts, and not by any means in the aggregate of the + magnitude of the sums you have been accustomed to deal with; + but they are large separately, and heaving large in the + aggregate, in all that is connected with the higher and + nobler parts of our nature--in all that relates to and + evinces the feelings of the heart towards those who are of + our kindred, no matter by what waters placed asunder or by + what distance separated. They are large, powerfully large, + in reading lessons of instruction to the statesman and + philanthropist, in dealing with a warm-hearted people for + their good, and placing them in a position of comparative + comfort to that in which they now are. The figures represent + the particulars of 7,917 separate Bills of Exchange, varying + in amount from £1 to £10 each--a few exceeding the latter + sum; so many separate offerings from the natives of Ireland + who have heretofore emigrated from its shores, sent to their + relations and friends in Ireland, drawn and paid between the + 1st of January and the 15th of December, 1846--not quite one + year; and amount in all to £41,261 9s. 11d. But this list, + long though it be, does not measure the number and amount of + such interesting offerings. It contains only about one-third + part of the whole number and value of such remittances that + have crossed the Atlantic to Ireland during the 349 days of + 1846. The data from which this list is complied enable the + writer to estimate with confidence the number and amount + drawn otherwise; and he calculates that the entire number, + for not quite one year, of such Bills, is £24,000, and the + amount £125,000, or, on an average, £5 4s. 3d. each. They + are sent from husband to wife, from father to child, from + child to father, mother, and grand-parents, from sister to + brother, and the reverse; and from and to those united by + all the ties of blood and friendship that bind us together + on earth. + + In the list, you will observe that these offerings of + affection are classed according to the parts of Ireland they + are drawn upon, and you will find that they are not confined + to one spot of it, but are general as regards the whole + country.”--_Ireland. its Present Condition and Future + Prospects, In n letter addressed to the Right Honorable Sir + Robert Peel, Baronet, by Robert Murray. Esq. Dublin, James + M'Olashan, 21 D'Olier Street, 1847_. + +Let it not be said, then, that the Irishman is deficient in any of the +moral elements or natural qualities which go to the formation of such +a character as might be made honorable to himself and beneficial to the +country. By the success of his exertions in a foreign land, it is clear +that he is not without industry, enterprise, and perseverance; and we +have no hesitation in saying that, if he were supplied at home with due +encouragement and adequate motive, his good qualities could be developed +with as much zeal, energy, and success as ever characterized them in a +foreign country. + +We trust the reader may understand what the condition of the country, at +the period of our narrative to which we refer, must have been, when such +multitudes as we have described rushed to our great seaports in order to +emigrate; the worst feature in this annual movement being that, whilst +the decent, the industrious, and the moral, all influenced by creditable +motives, went to seek independence in a distant land, the idle, the +ignorant, and the destitute necessarily remain at home--all as a +burthen, and too many of them as a disgrace to the country. + +Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and +painful, were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration +which, under the circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among +the people. It was, however, on their part a distressing and mournful +resolve. From the, moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the +whole family. Nothing a few months before had been farther from their +thoughts; but now there existed such a combination of arguments for +their departure, as influenced Bryan and his father, in spite of their +hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and Carriglass. Between them and the +Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan, +there was scarcely any intercourse. Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an +opportunity of exchanging a few words occasionally, but although the +former felt much anxiety for a somewhat lengthened and if possible +confidential conversation with her sparkling little friend, yet the +latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one particular subject, +feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on her part was +humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to compromise +the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora, +notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own +sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who +felt disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could. So indeed +would every one of the family, had they known them, for we need scarcely +say that the warm and generous girl was the centre in which all their +affections met. And this indeed was only justice to her, inasmuch as she +was willing on any occasion to sacrifice her interests, her wishes, or +anything connected with her own welfare, to their individual or general +happiness. We have said, however, that she had her own sorrows, and +this was true. From the moment she felt assured that their emigration +to America was certain, she manifested a depression so profound and +melancholy, that the heart of her brother Bryan, who alone knew its +cause, bled for her. This by the rest of the family was imputed to the +natural regret she felt, in common with themselves, at leaving the old +places for ever, with this difference to be sure--they imagined that she +felt the separation more acutely than they did. Still, as the period +for their departure approached, there was not one of the family, +notwithstanding what she felt herself, who labored so incessantly to +soothe and sustain the spirits of her father, who was fast sinking under +the prospect of being “forever removed,” as he said, “from the places +his heart had grown into.” She was in fact the general consoler of the +family, and yet her eye scarcely ever met that of her brother that a +tear did not tremble in it, and she felt disposed to burst out into an +agony of unrestrained grief. + +It was one evening in the week previous to their departure, that she +was on her return from Ballymacan, when on passing a bend of the road +between Carriglass and Fenton's farm, she met the cause of the sorrow +which oppressed her, in the handsome person of James Cavanaugh, to +whom she had been for more than a year and a half deeply and devotedly +attached, but without the knowledge of any individual living, save her +lover himself and her brother Bryan. + +On seeing him she naturally started, but it was a start of pleasure, and +she felt her cheek flush and again get pale, and her heart palpitated, +then was still a moment, and again resumed its tumultuous pulsations. + +“Blessed be God, my darlin' Dora, that I've met you at last,” said +James; “in heaven's name how did it happen that we haven't met for such +a length of time?” + +“I'm sure that's more than I can tell,” replied Dora, “or rather it's +what both, you and I know the cause of too well.” + +“Ah, poor Dora,” he exclaimed, “for your sake I don't wish to spake +about it at all; it left me many a sore heart when I thought of you.” + +Dora's natural pale cheek mantled, and her eyes deepened with a +beautiful severity, as she hastily turned them on him and said, “what do +you mane, James?” + +“About poor Bryan's conduct at the election,” he replied, “and that +fifty-pound note; and may hell consume it and him that tempted him with +it!” + +“Do you forget,” she said, “that you're spaking to his sister that knows +the falsehood of it all; an' how dare you in my presence attempt to say +or think that Bryan M'Mahon would or could do a mane or dishonest act? +I'm afeard, James, there's a kind of low suspicion in your family that's +not right, and I have my reasons for thinking so. I fear there's a want +of true generosity among you; and if I could be sure of it, I tell you +now, that whatever it might cost me, I'd never--but what am I sayin'? +that's past.” + +“Past! oh, why do you spake that way, Dora dear?” + +“It's no matter what I may suffer myself,” she replied; “no matter at +all about that; but wanst and for all, I tell you that let what may +happen, I'm not the girl to go into a family that have treated my dear +brother as yours has done. Your sister's conduct has been very harsh and +cruel to the man she was to be married to.” + +“My sister, Dora, never did anything but what was right.” + +“Well, then, let her go and marry the Pope, with reverence be it spoken, +for I don't know any other husband that's fit for her. I'd like to see +the girl that never did anything wrong; it's a sight I never saw yet, I +know.” + +“Dora, dear,” replied her lover, “I don't blame you for being angry. I +know that such a load of disgrace upon any family is enough to put one +past their temper. I don't care about that, however,” he proceeded; “if +he had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five +hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you +my wife.” + +Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language +of Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was +cool and cuttingly ironical. + +“Wouldn't you, indeed?” she replied; “dear me! I have a right to be +proud of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family +blackened by disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James.” + +“But you have done nothing wrong, Dora,” he replied; “'you're free from +any blame of that kind.” + +“I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?” she returned. “Ay, a thousand +things--for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't I +supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had +been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me +now?” + +“Why, that every word you say, and every lively look--ay, or angry if +you like--that you give--makes me love you more and more. An' plase God, +my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife.” + +“That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it. +Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my +brother.” + +“'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora.” + +“Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my +body.” + +“Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?” + +“Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would +pay attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to +send for him face to face, and to say--'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you +or one of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful +act'--and here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and +hereditary pride which are more precious relics in a family than +the costliest jewels that ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her +eyes--'and now, Bryan M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own--I ax no +other evidence but your own--I put it to your conscience--to that honor +that has never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it +to yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you--and answer +me as you are in the presence of God--did you do what they charge you +with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own +conscience?” + +The animated sparkle of her face was so delightful and fascinating that +her lover attempted to press her to his bosom; but she would not suffer +it. + +“Behave now,” she said firmly; “sorra bit--no,” she proceeded; “and +whilst all the world was against him, runnin' him down and blackenin' +him--was she ever the girl to stand up behind his back and defend him +like a--hem--defend him, I say, as a girl that loved him ought, and a +generous-girl would?” + +“But how could she when she believed, him to be wrong?” + +“Why did she believe him to be wrong upon mere hearsay? and granting +that he was wrong! do you think now if you had done what they say he did +(and they lie that say it), an' that I heard the world down on you for +your first slip, do you think, I say, that I'd not defend you out of +clane contrariness,--and to vex them--ay, would I.” + +“I know, darlin', that you'd do everything that's generous an' right; +but settin' that affair aside, my dear Dora, what are you and I to do?” + +“I don't know what we're to do,” she replied; “it's useless for you to +ax me from my father now; for he wouldn't give me to you,--sorra bit.” + +“But you'll give me yourself, Dora, darling.” + +“Not without his consent, no nor with it,--as the families stand this +moment; for I tell you again that the sorra ring ever I'll put on you +till your sister sends for my brother, axes his pardon, and makes up +with him, as she ought to do. Oh why, James dear, should she be so harsh +upon him,” she said, softening at once; “she that is so good an' so +faultless afther all? but I suppose that's the raison of it--she doesn't +know what it is to do anything that's not right.” + +“Dora,” said her lover, “don't be harsh on Kathleen; you don't know what +she's sufferin'. Dora, her heart's broke--broke.” + +The tears were already upon Dora's cheeks, and her lover, too, was +silent for a moment. + +“She has,” resumed the warm-hearted girl, “neither brother nor sister +that loves her, or can love her, better than I do, afther all.” + +“But in our case, darling, what's to be done?” he asked, drawing her +gently towards him. + +“I'll tell you then what I'd recommend you to do,” she replied; “spake +to my brother Bryan, and be guided by him. I must go now, it's quite +dusk.” + +There was a moment's pause, then a gentle remonstrance on the part of +Dora, followed, however, by that soft sound which proceeds from the +pressure of youthful lips--after which she bade her lover a hasty +good-night and hurried home. + + +[Illustration: PAGE 623-- I must leave you--I must go] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV.--The Old Places--Death of a Patriarch. + + +As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, +etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing +distress settled upon the whole family. It had not been their purpose to +apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, +and neither indeed had they done so. The fact, however, reached him from +the neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his +family to conceal the circumstance from him--at least as long as they +could--entered into conversation with him upon it, and by this means +he became acquainted with their determination. Age, within the last +few months--for he was now past ninety--had made sad work with both his +frame and intellect. Indeed, for some time past, he might be said +to hover between reason and dotage. Decrepitude had set in with such +ravages on his constitution that it could almost be marked by daily +stages. Sometimes he talked with singular good sense and feeling; but +on other occasions he either babbled quite heedlessly, or his intellect +would wander back to scenes and incidents of earlier life, many of which +he detailed with a pathos that was created and made touching by the +unconsciousness of his own state while relating them. They also observed +that of late he began to manifest a child-like cunning in many things +connected with himself and family, which, though amusing from its very +simplicity, afforded at the same time a certain indication that the +good old grandfather whom they all loved so well, and whose benignant +character had been only mellowed by age into a more plastic affection +for them all, was soon to be removed from before their eyes, never again +to diffuse among them that charm of domestic truth and love, and the +holy influences of all those fine old virtues which ancestral integrity +sheds over the heart, and transmits pure and untarnished from generation +to generation. + +On the day he made the discovery of their intention, he had been sitting +on a bench in the garden, a favorite seat of his for many a long year +previously; “And so,” said he to the neighbor with whom he had been +speaking, “you tell me that all our family is goin' to America?” + +“Why, dear me,” replied his acquaintance, “is it possible you didn't +know it?” + +“Ha!” he exclaimed, “I undherstand now why they used to be whisperin' +together so often, and lookin' at me; but indeed they might spake loud +enough now, for I'm so deaf that I can hardly hear anything. Howaniver, +Ned, listen--they all intend to go, you say; now listen, I say--I know +one that won't go; now, do you hear that? You needn't say anything about +it, but this I tell you--listen to me, what's your name? Barney, is it?” + +“Why, is it possible, you don't know Ned Gormley?” + +“Ay, Ned Gormley--och, so it is. Well listen, Ned--there's one they +won't bring; I can tell you that--the sorra foot I'll go to--to--where's +this you say they're goin' to, Jemmy?” + +Gormley shook his head. “Poor Bryan,” said he, “it's nearly all over wid +you, at any rate. To America, Bryan,” he repeated, in a loud voice. + +“Ay, to America. Well, the sorra foot ever I'll go to America--that one +thing I can tell them. I'm goin' in. Oh! never mind,” he exclaimed, +on Gormley offering him assistance, “I'm stout enough still; stout an' +active still; as soople as a two-year ould, thank God. Don't I bear up +wonderfully?” + +“Well, indeed you do, Bryan; it is wonderful, sure enough.” + +In a few minutes they arrived at the door; and the old man, recovering +as it were a portion of his former intellect, said, “lavin' this +place--these houses--an' goin' away--far, far away--to a strange +country--to strange people! an' to bring me, the ould white-haired +grandfather, away from all! that would be cruel; but my son Tom will +never do it.” + +“Well, at any rate, Bryan,” said his neighbor, “whether you go or stay, +God be wid you. It's a pity, God knows, that the like of you and your +family should leave the country; and sure if the landlord, as they say, +is angry about it, why doesn't he do what he ought to do? an' why does +he allow that smooth-tongued rap to lead him by the nose as he does? +Howandiver, as I said, whether you go or stay, Bryan, God be wid you!” + +During all that morning Thomas M'Mahon had been evidently suffering very +deeply from a contemplation of the change that was about to take place +by the departure of himself and his family from Carriglass. He had been +silent the greater part of the morning, and not unfrequently forced to +give away to tears, in which he was joined by his daughters, with the +exception of Dora, who, having assumed the office of comforter, felt +herself bound to maintain the appearance of a firmness which she did +not feel. In this mood he was when “grandfather,” as they called him, +entered the house, after having been made acquainted with their secret. +“Tom,” said he, approaching his son, “sure you wouldn't go to bring an +ould man away?” + +“Where to, father?” asked the other, a good deal alarmed. + +“Why, to America, where you're all goin' to. Oh! surely you wouldn't +bring the old man away from the green fields of Carriglass? Would you +lay my white head in a strange land, an' among a strange people? Would +you take poor ould grandfather away from them that expects him down, at +Carndhu where they sleep? Carndhu's a holy churchyard. Sure there never +was a Protestant buried in it but one, an' the next mornin' there was a +boortree bush growin' out o' the grave, an' it's there yet to prove the +maricle. Oh! ay, Carndhu's holy ground, an' that's where I must sleep.” + +These words were uttered with a tone of such earnest and childlike +entreaty as rendered them affecting in a most extraordinary degree, and +doubly so to those who heard him. Thomas's eyes, despite of every effort +to the contrary, filled with tears. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “he has found it +out at last; but how can I give him consolation, an' I stands in need of +it so much myself?” + +“Father,” said he, rising and placing the old man in the arm-chair, +which for the last half century had been his accustomed seat, “father, +we will go together--we will all be wid you. You'll not be among +strangers--you'll have your own about you still.” + +“But what's takin' you all away?” + +“Neglect and injustice, an' the evil tongues of them that ought to know +us betther. The landlord didn't turn out to be what he ought to be. May +God forgive him! But at any rate I'm sure he has been misled.” + +“Ould Chevydale,” said his father, “never was a bad landlord, an' he'd +not become a bad one now. That's not it.” + +“But the ould man's dead, father, an' its his son we're spakin' of.” + +“And the son of ould Chevydale must have something good about him. The +heart was always right wid his father, and every one knows there's a +great deal in true blood. Sooner or later it'll tell for itself--but +what is this? There was something troublin' me this minute. Oh! ay, +you're goin' away, then, to America; but, mark my words:--I won't go. +You may, but I'll stay here. I won't lave the green fields of Carriglass +for any one. It's not much I'll be among them now, an' it isn't worth +your while to take me from them. Here's where I was born--here's where +the limbs that's now stiff an' feeble was wanst young and active--here's +where the hair that's white as snow was fair an' curlin' like +goold--here's where I was young--here's where I grew ould--among these +dark hills and green fields--here you all know is where I was born; and, +in spite o' you all, here's where I'll die.” + +The old man was much moved by all these recollections; for, as he +proceeded, the tears fell fast from his aged eyes, and his voice became +tremulous and full of 'sorrow. + +“Wasn't it here, too,” he proceeded, “that Peggy Slevin, she that was +famed far an' near for her beauty, and that the sweet song was made +upon--'Peggy Na Laveen'---ay--ay, you may think yourselves fine an' +handsome; but, where was there sich a couple as grandfather and Peggy Na +Laveen was then?” + +As he uttered these words, his features that had been impressed by +grief, were lit up by a smile of that simple and harmless vanity which +often attends us to the very grave; after which he proceeded:-- + +“There, on the side of that hill is the roofless house where she was +born; an' there's not a field or hill about the place that her feet +didn't make holy to me. I remember her well. I see her, an' I think I +hear her voice on the top of Lisbane, ringin' sweetly across the valley +of the Mountain Wather, as I often did. An' is it to take me away now +from all this? Oh! no, childre', the white-haired grandfather couldn't +go. He couldn't lave the ould places--the ould places. If he did, he'd +die--he'd die. Oh, don't, for God's sake, Tom, as you love me!” + +There was a spirit of helpless entreaty in these last words that touched +his son, and indeed all who heard him, to the quick. + +“Grandfather dear, be quiet,” he replied; “God will direct all things +for the best. Don't cry,” he added, for the old man was crying like an +infant; “don't cry, but be quiet, and everything will be well in time. +It's a great trial, I know; but any change is better than to remain +here till we come, like so many others, to beggary. God will support us, +father.” + +The old man wiped his eyes, and seemed as if he had taken comfort +from the words of his son; whereas, the fact was, that his mind had +altogether passed from the subject; but not without that unconscious +feeling of pain which frequently remains after the recollection of that +which has occasioned it has passed away. + +It was evident, from the manner of the old man, that the knowledge +of their intended emigration had alarmed into action all the dormant +instincts of his nature; but this was clearly more than they were +competent to sustain for any length of time. Neither the tottering +frame, nor the feeble mind was strong enough to meet the shock +which came so unexpectedly upon them. The consequence may be easily +anticipated. On the following day he was able to be up only for an hour; +yet he was not sick, nor did he complain of any particular pain. His +only malady appeared to consist in that last and general prostration of +bodily and intellectual strength, by which persons of extreme old age, +who have enjoyed uninterrupted health, are affected at, or immediately +preceding their dissolution. His mind, however, though wandering and +unsteady, was vigorous in such manifestations as it made. For instance, +it seemed to be impressed by a twofold influence,--the memory of his +early life,--mingled with a vague perception of present anxiety, the +cause of which he occasionally was able to remember, but as often tried +to recollect in vain. + +On the second day after his discovery he was unable to rise at all; but, +as before, he complained of nothing, neither were his spirits depressed. +On the contrary they were rather agitated--sometimes into cheerfulness, +but more frequently into an expression of sorrow and lamentation, which +were, however, blended with old by-gone memories that were peculiarly +reflecting to those who heard them. In this way he went on, sinking +gradually until the day previous to the auction. On that morning, to +their surprise, he appeared to have absolutely regained new strength, +and to have been gifted with something like renovated power of speech. + +“I want to get up,” said he, “and it's only Tom an' Dora that I'll allow +to help me. You're all good, an' wor always good to grandfather, but Tom +was my best son, and signs on it--everything thruv wid him, an' God will +prosper an' bless him. Where's Dora?” + +“Here, grandfather.” + +“Ay, that's the voice above all o' them that went like music to my +heart; but well I know, and always did, who you have that voice from; +ay, an' I know whose eyes--an' it's them that's the lovely eyes--Dora +has. Isn't the day fine, Dora?” + +“It is, grandfather, a beautiful day.” + +“Ay, thank God. Well then I want to go out till I look--take one look at +the ould places; for somehow I think my heart was never so much in them +as now.” + +It is impossible to say how or why the feeling prevailed, but the fact +was, that the whole family were impressed with a conviction that this +partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed +the lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he +spoke occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous +patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he +called Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with +streaming eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After +having reached a little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of +the rich country beneath and around them, he called for his chair; “an', +Bryan,” said he, “the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me. +A blessin' will follow you, Bryan--a blessin' will follow my manly +grandson, that I often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan,” he +proceeded, when the latter had returned with the chair and placed him +in it, “listen, Bryan--when you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married--but I +needn't say it--where was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing +in that respect?--but when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your +own father was to her that's gone--ever and always kind and lovin', +an' what your grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last +time, was to her that's long, long an angel in heaven--my own Peggy +Slevin--but it's the Irish sound of it I like--Peggy Na Laveen. Bring +them all out here--but what is this?--why are you all cryin'? Sure; +there's nothing wrong--an' why do you cry?” + +The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and +the good old man proceeded:-- + +“Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me.” The latter, with uncovered head, did +so; and his father resumed:--“Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' son +I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to +you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;--that is, that I +have any right to lave you--I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may +God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to +give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant +you health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you.” + +“Oh! little you know, grandfather dear,” replied Shibby, “that we've +done wid both of them for ever.” + +“Shibby, God bless you, achora,” he returned; “but the ould man's lips +can spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin' +from the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words.” He +then paused for a few minutes, but appeared to take a comprehensive view +of the surrounding country. + +“But, grandfather,” proceeded simple-hearted Shibby, “sure the match +between Bryan and Kathleen Cavanagh is broken up, an' they're not to be +married at all.” + +“Don't I say, darlin', that they will be married, an' be happy--ay, +an' may God make them happy! as He will, blessed be His holy name! God, +acushla, can bring about everything in His own good way.” + +After another pause of some minutes he murmured to himself--“Peggy Na +Laveen--Peggy Na Laveen--how far that name has gone! Turn me round a +little. What brought us here, childre'? Oh! ay--I wanted to see the ould +places--there's Claghleim, where the walls of the house she was born +in, and the green garden, is both to the fore; yet I hope they won't be +disturbed, if it was only for the sake of them that's gone; an' there's +the rock on the top of Lisbane,where, in the summer evening, long, long +ago, I used to sit an' listen to Peggy Na Laveen singin' over our holy +songs--the darlin' ould songs of the counthry. Oh! clear an' sweet they +used to ring across the glen of the Mountain Wather. An' there's the +hills an' the fields where she an' I so often sported when we wor both +young; there they are, an' many a happy day we had on them; but sure God +was good to us, blessed be His name, as He ever will be to them that's +obadient to His holy will!” + +As he uttered the last words he clasped his two hands together, and, +having closed his eyes, he muttered something internally which they +could not understand. “Now,” said he, “bring me in again; I have got my +last look at them all--the ould places, the brave ould places! oh, who +would lave them for any other country? But at any rate, Tom, achora, +don't take me away from them; sure you wouldn't part me from the green +fields of Carriglass? Sure you'd not take me from the blessed graveyard +of Carndhu, where we all sleep. I couldn't rest in a sthrange grave, +nor among strange people; I couldn't rest, barrin' I'm wid her, Peggy Na +Laveen.” These words he uttered after his return into the house. + +“Grandfather,” said Bryan, “make your mind aisy; we won't take you +from the brave ould places, and you will sleep in Carndhu with Peggy Na +Laveen; make your heart and mind easy, then, for you won't be parted.” + +He turned his eyes upon the speaker, and a gleam of exultation and +delight settled upon his worn but venerable features; nor did it wholly +pass away, for, although his chin sank upon his breast, yet the placid +expression remained. On raising his head they perceived that this fine +and patriarchal representative of the truthful integrity and simple +manners of a bygone class had passed into a life where neither age +nor care can oppress the spirit, and from whose enjoyment no fear of +separation can ever disturb it. + +It is unnecessary to describe the sorrow which they felt. It must be +sufficient to say that seldom has grief for one so far advanced in +years been so sincere and deep. Age, joined to the knowledge of his +affectionate heart and many virtues, had encircled him with a halo of +love and pious veneration which caused his disappearance from among them +to be felt, as if a lamb of simple piety and unsullied truth had been +removed from their path for ever. + +That, indeed, was a busy and a melancholy day with the M'Mahons; for, +in addition to the death of the old grandfather, they were obliged to +receive farewell visits to no end from their relations, neighbors, and +acquaintances. Indeed it would be difficult to find a family in a state +of greater distress and sorrow. The auction, of course, was postponed +for a week--that is, until after the old man's funeral--and the +consequence was that circumstances, affecting the fate of our _dramatis +personae_ had time to be developed, which would otherwise have occurred +too late to be available for the purposes of our narrative. This renders +it necessary that we should return to a period in it somewhat anterior +to that at which we have now arrived. + + + + +CHAPTEE XXVI.--Containing a Variety of Matters. + +Our readers cannot have forgotten the angry dialogue which Kate Hogan +and her male relations indulged in upon the misunderstanding that had +occurred between the Cavanaghs and M'Mahons, and its imputed cause. +We stated at the time that Hycy Burke and the Hogans, together with a +strange man and woman, were embarked in some mysterious proceedings from +which both Kate Hogan and Teddy Phats had been excluded. For some time, +both before and after that night, there had been, on the other hand, +a good, deal of mysterious communication between several of our other +characters. For instance Kate Hogan and Nanny Peety had had frequent +interviews, to which, in the course of time, old Peety, Teddy Phats, +and, after him, our friend the schoolmaster had been admitted. Nanny +Peety had also called on Father Magowan, and, after him, upon young +Clinton; and it was evident, from the result of her disclosures to the +two latter, that they also took a warm interest, and were admitted to a +participation in, the councils we mention. To these proceedings Clinton +had not been long privy when he began to communicate with Vanston, who, +on his part, extended the mystery to Chevydale, between whom and himself +several confidential interviews had already taken place. Having thrown +out these hints to our readers, we beg them to accompany us once more to +the parlor of Clinton the gauger and his nephew. + +“So, uncle, now that you have been promoted to the Supervisorship, you +abandon the farm; you abandon Ahadarra?” + +“Why, won't I be out of the district, you blockhead? and you persist in +refusing it besides.” + +“Most positively; but I always suspected that Fethertonge was a +scoundrel, as his conduct in that very business with you was a +proo--hem, ahem.” + +“Go on,” said the uncle, coolly, “don't be ashamed, Harry; I was nearly +as great a scoundrel in that business as he was. I told you before that +I look upon the world as one great pigeon, which every man who can, +without exposing, himself, is obliged to pluck. Now, in the matter of +the farm, I only was about to pluck out a feather or two to put in my +own nest--or yours, if you had stood it.” + +“At any rate, uncle, I must admit that you are exceedingly candid.” + +“No such thing, you fool; there is scarcely an atom of candor in my +whole composition--I mean to the world, whatever I may be to you. +Candor, Harry, my boy, is a virtue which very few in this life, as it +goes, can afford to practice--at least I never could.” + +“Well but, uncle, is it not a pity to see that honest family ruined and +driven out of the country by the villany of Burke on the one hand, +and the deliberate fraud and corruption of Fethertonge, on the +other. However, now that you are resolved to unmask Fethertonge, I am +satisfied. It's a proof that you don't wish to see an honest family +oppressed and turned, without reasonable compensation, out of their +property.” + +“It's a proof of no such thing, I tell you. I don't care the devil had +the M'Mahons; but I am bound to this ninnyhammer of a landlord, who has +got me promoted, and who promises, besides, to get an appointment for +you. I cannot see him, I say, fleeced and plucked by this knavish agent, +who winds him about his finger like a thread; and, as to those poor +honest devils of M'Mahons, stop just a moment and I will show you a +document that may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in +order to enhance the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come +nearer the truth, the value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a +document, which I will immediately show you, in my hands.” + +He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned +and handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and +Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a +certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings. + +“Now,” he proceeded, “there's a document which proves Fethertonge, +notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have +reduced it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to +his account, he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old +Chevydale, it appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove, +the day before he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to +writing, which he did, and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons, +to whom, of course, it was never given.” + +“But what claim had you to it, uncle?” + +“Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I +might let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward +methods of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow +Burke has thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those +other mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is +all about and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or +transportation among them.” + +“Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession +of them:--There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty +girl--” + +“Ay, ay--no fear but there must be that in it; go along.” + +“A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's, +Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the +various stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this +girl, but without success. Her virtue was incorruptible.” + +“Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over.” + +“Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I +should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you +there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length--that is about a +week ago--was obliged to disclose to her father the endless persecution +which she had to endure at the hands of Hycy Burke; and in addition to +that disclosure, came another, to the effect that she had been for +a considerable period aware of a robbery which took place in old +Burke's--you may remember the stir it made--and which robbery was +perpetrated by Bat Hogan, one of these infamous tinkers that live in +Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, and under the protection of his family. The +girl's father--who, by the way, is no other than the little black +visaged mendicant who goes about the country--” + +“I know him--proceed.” + +“Her father, I say, on hearing these circumstances, naturally indignant +at Hycy Burke for his attempts to corrupt the principles of his +daughter, brought the latter with him to Father Magowan, in whose +presence she stated all she knew; adding, that she had secured Bat +Hogan's hat and shoes, which, in his hurry, he had forgotten on the +night of the robbery. She also requested the priest to call upon me, +'as she felt certain,' she said, 'in consequence of a letter of Burke's +which I happened to see as she carried it to the post-office, that I +could throw some light upon his villany. He did so.' It was on that +affair the priest called here the other day, and I very candidly +disclosed to him the history of that letter, and its effect in causing +the seizure of the distillery apparatus--the fact being that everything +was got up by Hycy himself--I mean at his cost, with a view to ruin +M'Mahon. And this I did the more readily, as the scoundrel has gone far +to involve me in the conduct imputed to M'Mahon, as his secret abbettor +and enemy.” + +“Well,” observed his uncle, “all that's a very pretty affair as it +stands; but what are you to do next?” + +“There is worse behind, I can assure you,” continued his nephew. “Hycy +Burke, who is proverbially extravagant, having at last, in an indirect +way, ruined young M'Mahon, from the double motive of ill-will and a wish +to raise money by running illicit spirits--” + +“The d--d scoundrel!” exclaimed the gauger, seized with a virtuous +fit of (professional) indignation, “that fellow would scruple at +nothing--proceed.” + +“By the way,” observed the other, rather maliciously, “he made a +complete tool of you in M'Mahon's affair.” + +“He did, the scoundrel,” replied his uncle, wincing a good deal; +“but, as the matter was likely to turn up, he was only working out my +purposes.” + +“He is in a bad mess now, however,” continued his nephew. + +“Why, is there worse to come?” + +“This same Nanny Peety, you must know, is a relative, it seems, to Bat +Hogan's wife. For some time past there has come a strange man named +Vincent, and his wife, to reside in the neighborhood, and this fellow in +conjunction with the Hogans, was managing some secret proceedings which +no one can penetrate. Now, it appears that Hogan's wife, who has been +kept out of this secret, got Nanny Peety to set her father to work in +order to discover it. Peety, by the advice of Hogan's wife, called in +Teddy Phat's--” + +“What's that? Teddy Phats? Now, by the way, Harry, don't abuse poor +Teddy. You will be surprised, Hal, when I tell you that he and I have +played into each other's hands for years. Yes, my boy, and I can assure +you that, owing to him, both Fethertonge and I were aware of Hycy's +Burke's plot against M'Mahon long before he set it a-going. The fellow, +however, will certainly be hanged yet.” + +“Faith, sir,” replied Harry, “instead of being hanged himself, he's +likely to hang others. In consequence of an accidental conversation +which Teddy Phats, and Finigan the tippling schoolmaster had, concerning +Vincent, the stranger I spoke of, who, it appears, lives next to +Finigan's school-house, Teddy discovered, through the pedagogue, who, by +the way, is abroad at all hours, that the aforesaid Vincent was in +the habit of going up every night to the most solitary part of the +mountains, but for what purpose, except upon another distillation +affair, he could not say.” + +The old gauger or supervisor, as he now considered himself, became +here so comically excited--or, we should rather say, so seriously +excited--that it was with difficulty the nephew could restrain his +laughter. He moved as if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, +his eyes brightened, and his naturally keen and knavish-looking features +were sharpened, as it were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that +he resembled a staunch old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh +slot of a hare. + +“Well,” said he, rubbing his hands--“well, go on--what happened? Do you +hear, Harry? What happened? Of course they're at the distillation again. +Don't you hear me, I say? What was the upshot?” + +“Why, the upshot was,” replied the other, “that nothing of sufficient +importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that +they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in +that of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy +Burke, or Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself.” + +“Tut, tut!” exclaimed Clinton, disappointed--“so after all, there has +been nothing done?” + +“Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these +matters have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three +interviews with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young +M'Mahon from the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds +such a position now with his employer that an infant's breath would +almost blow him out of his good opinion.” + +“I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you +to punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge +should escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it +should not, we will give him a breeze.” + +“I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an +investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous +letter with me--it may serve an honest man and help to punish a rogue. +What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?” + +“Well,” replied the uncle, “for the novelty of the thing I don't care if +I do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is +not prepared for it.” + +After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with +Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which +the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his +son. They found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would +have expected; but, in reality, the state of the country was such as +forced them to open their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere +political resentments or senseless party prejudices against each other, +but to the absolute necessity that existed for looking closely into the +state of their property, and the deplorable condition to which, if +they did not take judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be +reduced. They now began to discover a fact which they ought, long since, +to have known--viz.:--that the condition of the people and that of their +property was one and the same--perfectly identical in all things; and +that a poor tenantry never yet existed upon a thriving or independent +estate, or one that was beneficial to the landlord. + +Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival +of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps, +be without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of +it. + +“So,” says Vanston, “you are beginning to feel that there is something +wrong on your property, and that your agent is not doing you justice?” + +“I have reason to suspect,” replied Chevydale, “that he is neither more +nor less than feathering his own nest at the expense of myself and my +tenantry. I cannot understand why he is so anxious to get the M'Mahons +off the estate; a family unquestionably of great honesty, truth, and +integrity, and who, I believe, have been on the property before it +came into our possession at all. I feel--excuse me, Vanston, for the +admission, but upon my honor it is truth--I feel, I say, that, in the +matter of the election--that is, so far as M'Mahon was concerned, he--my +agent--made a cat's paw of me. He prevented me from supporting young +M'Mahon's memorial; he--he--prejudiced me against the family in several +ways, and now, that I am acquainted with the circumstances of strong and +just indignation against me under which M'Mahon voted, I can't at all +blame him. I would have done the same thing myself.” + +“There is d----d villany somewhere at work,” replied Vanston. “They talk +of a fifty-pound note that I am said to have sent to him by post. Now, I +pledge my honor as an honest man and a gentleman, that I have sifted and +examined all my agents, and am satisfied that he never received a penny +from me. Young Burke did certainly promise to secure me his vote; but I +have discovered Burke to be a most unprincipled profligate, corrupt and +dishonest. For, you may think it strange that, although he engaged to +procure me M'Mahon's vote, M'Mahon himself, whom I believe, assured me +that he never even asked him for it, until after he had overheard, in +the head inn, a conversation concerning himself that filled him with +bitter resentment against you and your agent.” + +“I remember it,” replied Chevydale, “and; yet my agents told me that +Burke did everything in his power to prevent M'Mahon from voting for +you.” + +“That,” replied the other, “was to preserve his own character from the +charge of inconsistency; for, I again assure you that he had promised us +M'Mahon's vote, and that he urged him privately to vote against you. But +d--n the scoundrel, he is not worth the conversation we had about him. +Father Magowan, in consequence of whose note to me I wrote to ask you +here, states in the communication I had from him, that the parties will +be here about twelve o'clock--Burke himself, he thinks, and M'Mahon +along with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out +of the parish--a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we +shall soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking +of the country, what is to be done?” + +“Simply,” replied Chevydale, “that we, the landed proprietors of +Ireland, should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile +causes of division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited +us, but set us together by the ears, we should take counsel among +ourselves, and after due and serious deliberation, come to the +determination that it is our duty to prevent Irish interests from being +made subservient to English interests, and from being legislated for +upon English principles.” + +“I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer.” + +“No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture. +Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation. +When we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British +Parliament--I allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal +members--what hope can we entertain of honesty and love of country from +such men? When we look, too, at many of our Corporations and strike an +average of their honesty and intellect, have we not a right to thank God +that the interests of our country are not confided to the management of +such an arrogant, corrupt, and vulgar crew as in general compose them. +The truth is, Vanston, we must become national in our own defense, and +whilst we repudiate, with a firm conviction of the folly on the one +hand, and the dishonesty on the other, of those who talk about Repeal, +we shall find it our best policy to forget the interests of any +particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down into one great +principle of national love and good-will toward each other. Let us only +become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when we were +unanimous upon other occasions.” + +“I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say,” + replied Vanston, “and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must +identify ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably +are ours.” + +“As to myself,” continued Chevydale, “I fear I have much to repair in +my conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy--in +fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil, +according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until +now, I did not suspect.” + +“The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others,” + replied Vanston; “but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity +of management in Irish property--such indifference and neglect upon our +part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in +most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under +show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently, +much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances.” + +The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his +nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they +brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we +should detail there conversation at full length. + +“I must confess,” said Clinton, “that I would have some reason to feel +ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it +not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the +commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to +excite any feeling one way or the other.” + +“But you must have known, Clinton,” said Chevydale, “that it was a most +iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest +agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man.” + +“What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?” + +“But had you not in your own possession my father's written +promise--written, too, on his death-bed--to these honest men, that they +should have their leases renewed?” + +“Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not +mine.” + +“As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle +you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the +transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say +there is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here.” + +“Faith, to tell you the truth,” replied Clinton, “as I said to Harry +here, because _I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not +prepared for it_.” + +“Well,” said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, “I am myself +very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say +that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been +made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take +care that it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can +deliberately avow his participation in such shameless profligacy would +be to identify myself with it. You have been doubly treacherous, Mr. +Clinton; first to me, whom you know to be your friend, and, in the next +place, to the unfortunate partner in your villany, and at my expense; +for d----d if I can call it less. What noise is that?” + +Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two +voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with +each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend +O'Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in +the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not +allow the great O to be suppressed. + +“Behave, and keep quiet, now,” said his Reverence, “you unfortunate +pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated.” + +“Pardon me, your Reverence,” replied O'Finigan; “_non ebrius sed vino +gravatus_, devil a thing more.” + +“Get out, you profligate,” replied the priest, “don't you know that +either, at this time o' day, is too bad?” + +“_Nego, dominie--nego, Dominie revendre_--denial is my principle, I say. +Do you assert that there's no difference between _ebrius_ and _gravatus +vino_?” + +“In your case, you reprobate, I do. Where would you get the vino? +However,” he proceeded, “as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is +possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular +subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and +it's likely we may get more truth out of you.” + +“Ay,” said the schoolmaster, “upon the principle that _in vino veritas_; +but you know that _gravatus vino_ and _ebrius_ are two different +things--_gravatus vino_, the juice o' the grape--och, och, as every one +knows, could and stupid; but _ebrius_ from blessed poteen, that warms +and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart.” + +The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance +and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room. + +“Gentlemen,” said the priest, “I trust you will excuse me for the +society in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that +this Finigan--” + +“Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn +of--” + +“Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really +inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence +can be of any advantage to us.” + +“He says,” replied the master, “that I am _ebrius_, whereas I replied +that I was only _vino gravatus_, by which I only meant _quasi vino +gravatus_; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober +until I'm half seas over--for it is then that I have all my wits +properly about me.” + +“In fact, gentleman,” proceeded the priest, “in consequence of certain +disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I +deemed it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here. She +is accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who +refuses to be separated from her--and insists, consequently, on coming +along with her. I don't exactly know what her motive may be in this; but +I am certain she has a motive. It is a gratification to me, however, to +find, gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion. +I sent word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M'Mahon; for I thought it only +fair that Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any +charge may be brought against him. I expect M'Mahon, too.” + +“Let us remove, then, to my office,” said, Chevydale--“it is now a few +minutes past twelve, and I dare say they will soon be here.” + +They accordingly did so; and, as he had said, the parties almost +immediately made their appearance. + +“Now, gentlemen,” said Father Magowan, “I am of opinion that the best +way is for this girl to state what she knows concerning these Hogans; +but I think I can now persave the raison why Kate Hogan has made it a +point to come with her. It is quite evident from her manner that she +wishes to intimidate this girl, and to prevent her from stating fully +and truly what she knows.” + +“No,” replied Kate, “it is no such thing--she must either state the +whole truth or nothing; that's what I want, an' what she must do--put +the saddle on the right horse, Nanny--since you will spake.” + +“It is a good proverbial illustration,” observed Finigan, “but I will +improve it--put the saddle of infamy, I say, upon the right horse, +Nanny. You see, gintlemen,” he added, turning to the magistrates, “my +improvement elevates the metaphor--proceed, girsha.” + + +“Gentlemen,” said Hycy, “I received a note from Father Magowan informing +me that it was probable certain charges might be brought against me--or +at least some complaints made,” he added, softening the expression--“and +I should be glad to know what they are all about, before this girl +commences formally to state them; I say so in order that I may not be +taken by surprise.” + +“You know,” replied the priest, “that you cannot be taken by surprise; +because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that +are against you.” + +Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston--and we +may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale. + +“By the way,” asked the former of these gentlemen, “does this +investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?” + +“Not, sir, so far as I am aware of--I come here because Father Magowan +wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country +now,” he added in a tone of deep melancholy, “there's an end to that for +ever.” + +“Now, my good girl,” said Chevydale, “you will state all you know +connected with these Hogans fully and truly--that is, neither more nor +less than the truth.” + +“All the truth, Nanny,” said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly +condensed power; “Hycy Burke,” she proceeded, “you ruined Bryan +M'Mahon here--and, by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's +heart--she's gone--no docthor could save her now; and for this you'll +soon know what Kate Hogan can do. Go on, Nanny.” + +“Well, gintlemon,” Nanny began, “in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here +that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by +the fine.” + +Hycy laughed. “Excellent!” said he; “Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did +not imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn +out to be enacted exactly in your office.” + +“Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate,” said the schoolmaster; +“but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become +a tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed, +girsha.” + +“How do you know,” asked Chevydale, “that this charge is true?” + +“If I don't know it,” she replied, “my aunt here does,--and I think so +does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others.” + +“Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?” asked Chevydale, +addressing Kate. + +“Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make +the Still, set it up--and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he +didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all +knew it was--'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above, +where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra.” + +“I assure you, gentlemen,” said Hycy, “that the respectability of the +witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments +and sense of justice;--a common vagabond and notorious thief on the one +hand, and a beggarman's brat on the other. However, proceed--I perceive +that I shall be obliged to sink under the force of such testimony--ha! +ha! ha!” + +At this moment old Jemmy Burke, having accidentally heard that morning +that such an investigation was to take place, and likely to bear upon +the conduct of his eldest son, resolved to be present at it, and he +accordingly presented himself as Hycy had concluded his observations. + +The high integrity of his character was at once recognized--he was +addressed in terms exceedingly respectful, if not deferential, by +the two magistrates--Chevydale having at once ordered the servant in +attendance to hand him a chair. He thanked him, however, but declined it +gratefully, and stood like the rest. + +In the meantime the investigation proceeded. “Mr. Burke,” said +Chevydale, addressing himself to the old man, whose features, by the +way, were full of sorrow and distress--“it may be as well to state to +you that we are not sitting now formally in our magisterial capacity, to +investigate any charges that may be brought against your son, but simply +making some preliminary inquiries with respect to other charges, which +we have been given to understand are about to be brought against the +notorious Hogans.” + +“Don't lay the blame upon the Hogans,” replied Kate, fiercely--“the +Hogans, bad as people say they are, only acted under Hycy Burke. It was +Hycy Burke.” + +“But,” said Chevydale, probably out of compassion for the old man, “you +must know we are not now investigating Mr. Burke's conduct.” + +“Proceed, gintlemen,” said his father, firmly but sorrowfully; “I have +heard it said too often that he was at the bottom of the plot that +ruined Bryan M'Mahon, or that wint near to ruin him; I wish to have that +well sifted, gintlemen, and to know the truth.” + +“I can swear,” continued Kate, “that it was him got up the whole plan, +and gave them the money for it. I seen him in our house--or, to come +nearer the truth, in Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where we live--givin' them +the money.” + +“As you are upon that subject, gentlemen,” observed Harry Clinton, “I +think it due to the character of Bryan M'Mahon to state that I am in a +capacity to prove that Hycy Burke was unquestionably at the bottom--or, +in point of fact, the originator--of his calamities with reference to +the act of illicit distillation, and the fine which he would have been +called on to pay, were it not that the Commissioners of Excise remitted +it.” + +“Thank you, Mr. Clinton,” replied Hycy; “I find I am not mistaken in +you--I think you are worthy of your accomplices”--and he pointed to Kate +and Nanny as he spoke--“proceed.” + +“We are passing,” observed Vanston, “from one to another rather +irregularly, I fear; don't you think we had better hear this girl fully +in the first place; but, my good girl,” he added, “you are to understand +that we are not here to investigate any charges against Mr. Hycy Burke, +but against the Hogans. You will please then to confine your charges to +them.” + +“But,” replied Nanny, “that's what I can't do, plase your honor, widout +bringin' in Hycy Burke too, bekaise himself an' the Hogans was joined in +everything.” + +“I think, gintlemen,” said the priest, “the best plan is to let her tell +her story in her own way.” + +“Perhaps so,” said Chevydale; “proceed, young woman, and state fully and +truly whatever you have got to say.” + +“Well, then,” she proceeded, “there's one thing I know--I know who +robbed Mr. Burke here;” and she pointed to the old man, who started. + +The magistrates also looked surprised. “How,” said Vanston, turning his +eyes keenly upon her, “you know of the robbery; and pray, how long have +you known it?'” + +“Ever since the night it was committed, plaise your honor.” + +“What a probable story!” exclaimed Hycy; “and you kept it to yourself, +like an honest girl as you are, until now!” + +“Why, Mr. Burke,” said Vanston, quickly and rather sharply, “surely you +can have no motive in impugning her evidence upon that subject?” + +Hycy bit his lip, for he instantly felt that he had overshot himself by +almost anticipating the charge, as if it were about to be made against +himself;--“What I think improbable in it,” said Hycy, “is that she +should, if in possession of the facts, keep them concealed so long.” + +“Oh, never fear, Mr. Hycy, I'll soon make that plain enough,” she +replied. + +“But in the mean time,” said Chevydale, “will you state the names of +those who did commit the robbery?” + +“I will,” she replied. + +“The whole truth, Nanny,” exclaimed Kate. + +“It was Bat Hogan, then, that robbed Mr. Burke,” she replied; +“and--and--” + +“Out wid it,” said Kate. + +“And who besides, my good girl?” inquired Vanston. + +The young woman looked round with compassion upon Jemmy Burke, and the +tears started to her eyes. “I pity him!” she exclaimed, “I pity him--that +good old man;” and, as she uttered the words, she wept aloud. + +“This, I fear, is getting rather a serious affair,” said Vanston, in a +low voice to Chevydale--“I see how the tide is likely to turn.” + +Chevydale merely nodded, as if he also comprehended it. “You were about +to add some other name?” said he; “in the mean time compose yourself and +proceed.” + +Hycy Burke's face at this moment had become white as a sheet; in fact, +to any one of common penetration, guilt and a dread of the coming +disclosure were legible in every lineament of it. + +“Who was the other person you were about to mention?” asked Vanston. + +“His own son, sir, Mr. Hycy Burke, there.” + +“Ha!” exclaimed Chevydale; “Mr. Hycy Burke, do you say? Mr. Burke,” + he added, addressing that gentleman, “how is this? Here is a grave and +serious charge against you. What have you to say to it?” + +“That it would be both grave and serious,” replied Hycy, “if it +possessed but one simple element, without which all evidence is +valueless--I mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well +name either of yourselves, gentlemen, as me.” + +“How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?” asked Hycy. + +“Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs.” + +“How did you see him?” asked Vanston. + +“Through a hole in the partition,” she replied, “where a knot of the +deal boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet +off o' the room the money was in.” + +“Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?” asked Vanston of the old +man. + +“It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue.” + +“Well, proceed,” said Chevydale. + +“I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it +creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the +chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he +had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I +folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of +the room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the +mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full--but in the teeth. I was +above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she +stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout +bein' seen myself. Well, when the mistress met him she was goin' to bawl +out wid terror, an' would, too, only that Masther Hycy flew to her, put +his hand on her mouth, an' whispered something in her ear. He then went +over to Bat, and got a large shafe of bank-notes from him, an' motioned +him to be off wid himself, an' that he'd see him to-morrow. Bat went +down in the dark, an' Hycy an' his mother had some conversation in a +low voice on the lobby. She seemed angry, an' he was speakin' soft an' +strivin' to put her into good humor again. I then dipt back to bed, but +the never a wink could I get till mornin'; an' when I went down, the +first thing I saw was Bat Hogan's shoes. It was hardly light at the +time; but at any rate I hid them where they couldn't be got, an' it was +well I did, for the first thing I saw was Bat himself peering about the +street and yard, like a man that was looking for something that he had +lost.” + +“But how did you know that the shoes were Hogan's?” asked Vanston. + +“Why, your honor, any one that ever seen the man might know that. One +of his heels is a trifle shorter than the other, which makes him halt a +little, an' he has a bunion as big as an egg on the other foot.” + +“Ay, Nanny,” said Kate, “that's the truth; but I can tell you more, +gentlemen. On the evenin' before, when Mr. Hycy came home, he made up +the plan to rob his father wid Phil Hogan; but Phil got drunk that night +an' Bat had to go in his place. Mr. Hycy promised to see the Hogans that +mornin' at his father's, about ten o'clock; but when they went he had +gone off to Ballymacan; an' as they expected him every minute, they +stayed about the place in spite o' the family, an' mended everything +they could lay their hands on. Bat an' Mr. Hycy met that night in Teddy +Phat's still-house, in Glendearg, an' went home together across the +mountains aftherward.” + +“Well, Mr. Burke, what have you to say to this?” asked Chevydale. + +“Why,” replied Hycy, “that it's a very respectable conspiracy as it +stands, supported by the thief and vagabond, and the beggar's brat.” + +“Was there any investigation at the time of its occurrence?” asked +Vanston. + +“There was, your honor,” replied Nanny; “it was proved, clearly enough +that Phil and Ned Hogan were both dead drunk that night an' couldn't +commit a robbery; an' Masther Hycy himself said that he knew how Bat +spent the night, an' that of course he couldn't do it; an' you know, +your honors, there was no gettin' over that. I have, or rather my father +has, Bat Hogan's shoes still.” + +“This, I repeat, seems a very serious charge, Mr. Burke,” said Chevydale +again. + +“Which, as I said before, contains not one particle of truth,” replied +Hycy. “If I had resolved to break open my father's chest to get cash out +of it, it is not likely that I would call in the aid of such a man +as Bat Hogan. As a proof that I had nothing to do with the robbery in +question, I can satisfy you that my mother, not many days after the +occurrence of it, was obliged to get her car and drive some three or +four miles' distance to borrow a hundred pounds for me from a friend of +hers, upon her own responsibility, which, had I committed the outrage in +question, I would not have required at all.” + +Old Burke's face would, at this period of the proceedings, have extorted +compassion from any heart. Sorrow, distress, agony of spirit, and shame, +were all so legible in his pale features--that those who were present +kept their eyes averted, from respect to the man, and from sympathy with +his sufferings. + +At length he himself came forward, and, after wiping away a few bitter +tears from his cheeks, he said--“Gentlemen, I care little about the +money I lost, nor about who took it--let it go--as for me, I won't miss +it; but there is one thing that cuts me to the heart--I'm spakin' about +the misfortune that was brought, or near bein' brought, upon this honest +an' generous-hearted young man, Bryan M'Mahon, through manes of a black +plot that was got up against him--I'm spakin' of the Still that was +found on his farm of Ahadarra. That, if my son had act or part in it, is +a thousand times worse than the other; as for the takin' of the money, +I don't care about it, as I said--nor I won't prosecute any one for it; +but I must have my mind satisfied about the other affair.” + +It is not our intention to dwell at any length upon the clear proofs of +his treachery and deceit, which were established against him by Harry +Clinton, who produced the anonymous letter to his uncle--brought home to +him as it was by his own evidence and that of Nanny Peety. + +“There is, however,” said Vanston, “another circumstance affecting the +reputation and honesty of Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, which in your presence, +Mr. M'Gowan, I am anxious to set at rest. I have already contradicted it +with indignation wherever I have heard it, and I am the more anxious +to do so, now, whilst M'Mahon and Burke are present, and because I have +been given to understand that you denounced him--M'Mahon--with such +hostility from the altar, as almost occasioned him to be put to death in +the house of God.” + +“You are undher a mistake there, Major Vanston, with great respect,” + replied the priest. “It wasn't I but my senior curate, Father M'Pepper; +and he has already been reprimanded by his Bishop.” + +“Well,” replied the other, “I am glad to hear it. However, I, now +solemnly declare, as an honest man and an Irish, gentleman, that neither +I, nor any one for me, with my knowledge, ever gave or sent any money to +Bryan M'Mahon; but perhaps we may ascertain who did. M'Mahon, have you +got the letter about you?” + +“I have, sir,” replied Bryan, “and the bank-note, too.” + +“You will find the frank and address both in your own handwriting,” said +Hycy. “It was I brought him the letter from the post-office.” + +“Show me the letter, if you plaise,” said Nanny, who, after looking +first at it and then at Hycy, added, “and it was I gave it this little +tear near the corner, and dhrew three scrapes of a pin across the paper, +an' there they are yet; an' now I can take my oath that it was Mr. Hycy +that sent that letther to Bryan M'Mahon--an' your Reverence is the very +man I showed it to, and that tould me who it was goin' to, in the street +of Ballymacan.”' + +On a close inspection of the letter it was clearly obvious that, +although there appeared at a cursory glance a strong resemblance between +the frank and the address, yet the difference was too plain to be +mistaken. + +“If there is further evidence necessary,” said Vanston, looking at Hycy +significantly, “my agent can produce it--and he is now in the house.” + +“I think you would not venture on that,” replied Hycy. + +“Don't be too sure of that,” said the other, determinedly. + +“Sir,” replied Father Magowan, “there is nothing further on that point +necessary--the proof is plain and clear; and now, Bryan M'Mahon, give +me your hand, for it is that of an honest man--I am proud to see that +you stand pure and unsullied again; and it shall be my duty to see that +justice shall be rendered! you, and ample compensation made for all that +you have suffered.” + +“Thank you, sir,” replied Bryan, with an air of deep dejection, “but I +am sorry to say it is now too late--I am done with the country, and with +those that misrepresented me, for ever.” + +Chevydale looked at him with deep attention for a moment, then whispered +something to Vanston, who smiled, and nodded his head approvingly. + +Jemmy Burke now prepared to go. “Good mornin', gintlemen,” he said, “I +am glad to see the honest name cleared and set right, as it ought to be; +but as for myself, I lave you wid a heavy--wid a breakin' heart.” + +As he disappeared at the door, Hycy rushed after him, exclaiming, +“Father, listen to me--don't go yet till you hear my defence. I will go +and fetch him back,” he exclaimed--“he must hear what I have to say for +myself.” + +He overtook his father at the bottom of the hall steps. “Give me a +hundred pounds,” said he, “and you will never see my face again.” + +“There is two hundre',” said his father; “I expected this. Your mother +confessed all to me this mornin', bekaise she knew it would come out +here, I suppose. Go now, for undher my roof you'll never come again. If +you can--reform your life--an' live at all events, as if there was a God +above you. Before you go answer me;--what made you bring in Bat Hogan +to rob me?” + +“Simply,” replied his son, “because I wished to make him and them feel +that I had them in my power--and now you have it.” + +[Illustration: PAGE 635-- Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse] + +Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in +a moment--“Ah!” exclaimed the old man, with bitterness of soul, “what +mightn't he be if his weak and foolish mother hadn't taken it into her +head to make a gentleman of him! But now she reaps as she sowed. She's +punished--an' that's enough.”--And thus does Hycy the accomplished make +his exit from our humble stage. + +“Gintlemen,” said Finigan, “now that the accomplished Mr. Hycy is +disposed of, I beg to state, that it will be productive of much public +good to the country to expatriate these three virtuous worthies, _qui +nomine gaudent_ Hogan--and the more so as it can be done on clear legal +grounds. They are a principal means of driving this respectable young +man, Bryan M'Mahon, and his father's family, out of the land of their +birth; and there will be something extremely appropriate--and indicative +besides of condign and retributive punishment--in sending them on their +travels at his Majesty's expense. I am here, in connection with others, +to furnish you with the necessary proof against them; and I am of +opinion that the sooner they are sent upon a voyage of discovery it will +be so much the better for the rejoicing neighborhood they will leave +behind them.” + +The hint was immediately taken with respect to them and Vincent, all +of whom had been engaged in coming under Hycy's auspices--they were +apprehended and imprisoned, the chief evidence against them being Teddy +Phats, Peety Dhu, and Finigan, who for once became a stag, as he called +it. They were indicted for a capital felony; but the prosecution having +been postponed for want of sufficient evidence, they were kept in +durance until next assizes;--having found it impossible to procure bail. +In the meantime new charges of uttering base coin came thick and strong +against them; and as the Crown lawyers found that they could not succeed +on the capital indictment--nor indeed did they wish to do so--they +tried them on the lighter one, and succeeded in getting sentence of +transportation passed against every one of them, with the exception of +Kate Hogan alone.--So that, as Finigan afterwards said, “instead of Bryan +M'Mahon, it was they themselves that became 'the Emigrants of Ahadarra,' +at the king's expense--and Mr. Hycy at his own.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII.--Conclusion. + + +How Kathleen Cavanagh spent the time that elapsed between the period +at which she last appeared to our readers and the present may be easily +gathered from what we are about to write. We have said already that her +father, upon the strength of some expressions uttered in a spirit of +distraction and agony, assured Jemmy Burke that she had consented to +marry his son Edward, after a given period. Honest Jemmy, however, never +for a moment suspected the nature of the basis upon which his worthy +neighbor had erected the superstructure of his narrative; but at +the same time he felt sadly puzzled by the melancholy and declining +appearance of her whom he looked upon as his future daughter-in-law. The +truth was that scarcely any of her acquaintances could recognize her as +the same majestic, tall, and beautiful girl whom they had known before +this heavy disappointment had come on her. Her exquisite figure had lost +most of its roundness, her eye no longer flashed--with its dark mellow +lustre, and her cheek--her damask cheek--distress and despair had fed +upon it, until little remained there but the hue of death itself. Her +health in fact was evidently beginning to go. Her appetite had abandoned +her; she slept little, and that little was restless and unrefreshing. +All her family, with the exception of her father and mother, who +sustained themselves with the silly ambition of their daughter being +able to keep her jaunting-car--for her father had made that point a +_sine qua non_--all, we say, with the above exceptions, became seriously +alarmed at the state of her mind and health. + +“Kathleen, dear,” said her affectionate sister, “I think you have +carried your feelings against Bryan far enough.” + +“My feelings against Bryan!” she exclamed. + +“Yes,” proceeded her sister, “I think you ought to forgive him.” + +“Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have +long since forgiven him, Hanna.” + +“Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?” + +“I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can +nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when +brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal--the man that +would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of +corruption--he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and he +must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling +principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is +because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that +I am as you see me.” + +“Then you do intend to marry?” asked Hanna, with a smile. + +“Why do you ask that, Hanna?” + +“Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man +your husband is to be.” + +“Hanna,” she replied, solemnly, “look at my cheek, look at my eye, look +at my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can. +Don't you see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it.” + +Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst +into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief. + +“Oh, you are changed, most woefully, Kathleen, darlin',” she exclaimed, +kissing her tenderly; “but if you could only bear up now, time would set +everything right, and bring you about right, as it will still, I hope.” + +Her sister mused for some time, and then added--“I think I could bear +up yet if he was to stay in the country; but when I recollect that he's +going to another land--forever--I feel that my heart is broken: as it +is, his disgrace and that thought are both killin' me. To-morrow the +auction comes on, and then he goes--after that I will never see him. I'm +afraid, Hanna, that I'll have to go to bed; I feel that I'm hardly able +to sit up.” + +Hanna once more pressed her to her heart and wept. + +“Don't cry, Hanna dear--don't cry for me; the bitterest part of my fate +will be partin' from you.” + +Hanna here pressed her again and wept aloud, whilst her spotless and +great-minded sister consoled her as well as she could. “Oh, what would +become of me!” exclaimed Hanna, sobbing; “if anything was to happen you, +or take you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die.” + +“Hanna,” said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on +that distressing subject; “on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan +to clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that +you'll do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing +me about Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him +your husband yet, and I think he's worthy of you--that's saying a great +deal, I know. You love him, Hanna--I know it, and he loves you, Hanna, +for he told me so the last day but one he was here;--you remember they +all went out, and left us together, and then he told me all.” + +Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when +a rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this +dialogue took place in the parlor--exclaiming, “God save all here! How +do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?” + +“Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl +that's a little low spirited for some time past.” + +“Ay, ay, I know the cause of that--it's no secret--where is she now? If +she's in the house let me see her.” + +The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features, +immediately made their appearance. + +“God be good to us!” he exclaimed, “here's a change! Why, may I never +sin, if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard +us! look at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?” + +“Nothing on airth,” she replied; “her complaint's upon the spirits, an' +we didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her.” + +“Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your +sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he +ever was--an honest an' upright young man.” + +Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without +seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and +was about to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with +alarm--“Kathleen, what ails you, dear? Where are you going?” + +“Going,” she replied; “I was going to--where?--why?--what--what has +happened?” + +“The news came upon her too much by surprise,” said Hanna, looking +towards the priest. + +“Kathleen, darlin',” exclaimed her mother, “try and compose yourself. +Lord guard us, what can ail her?” + +“Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father +Magowan stay where you are.” + +They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she +recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which +the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated. +Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom +and indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had +recovered a little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the +circumstances connected with the changes that had affected her lover's +character so deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the +following determination--a determination, by the way, which we earnestly +recommend to all politicians of his profession. + +“As for my part,” said he, “it has opened my eyes to one thing that +I won't forget:--a single word of politics I shall never suffer to +be preached from the altar while I live; neither shall I allow +denouncements for political offences. The altar, as the bishop told +me--and a hard rap he gave Mr. M'Pepper across the knuckles for Bryan's +affair--'the altar,' said he, 'isn't the place for politics, but for +religion; an' I hope I may never hear of its being desecrated with +politics again,' said his lordship, an' neither I will, I assure you.” + +The intelligence of the unexpected change that had taken place in favor +of the M'Mahon's, did not reach them on that day, which was the same, +as we have stated, on which their grandfather departed this life. The +relief felt by Thomas M'Mahon and his family at this old man's death, +took nothing from the sorrow which weighed them down so heavily in +consequence of their separation from the abode of their forefathers +and the place of their birth. They knew, or at least they took it for +granted that their grandfather would never have borne the long voyage +across the Atlantic, a circumstance which distressed them very much. His +death, however, exhibiting, as it did, the undying attachment to home +which nothing else could extinguish, only kindled the same affection +more strongly and tenderly in their hearts. The account of it had gone +abroad through the neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the +auction would be postponed until that day week. And now that he was +gone, all their hearts turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and +almost agonizing' struggles which their coming departure caused their +father to contend with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained +them all, absolutely feared that his courage would fail him, or that his +very health would break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister, +Dora, who, although too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings, +did not endure the less on that account. + +“My dear Dora,” said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, “I +know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between +the Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had +intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God +knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in +denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel.” + +“Don't fret for me, Bryan,” she replied; “I'm willin' to bear my share +of the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything +mane or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and +lave him for ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must +submit to it. May God strengthen and enable me! and that's my earnest +prayer. I also often prayed that you an' Kathleen might be reconciled; +but I wasn't heard, it seems. I sometimes think that you ought to go to +her; but then on second thoughts I can hardly advise you to do so.” + +“No, Dora, I never will, dear; she ought to have heard me as you said +face to face; instead o' that she condemned me without a hearin'. An' +yet, Dora,” he added, “little she knows--little she drames, what I'm +sufferin on her account, and how I love her--more now than ever, I +think; she's so changed, they say, that you could scarcely know her.” As +he spoke, a single tear fell upon Dora's hand which he held in his. + +“Come. Bryan,” she said, assuming a cheerfulness which she did not feel, +“don't have it to say that little Dora, who ought and does look up to +you for support, must begin to support you herself; to-morrow's the +last day--who knows but she may relent yet?” Bryan smiled faintly, then +patted her head, and said, “darling little Dora, the wealth of nations +couldn't purchase you.” + +“Not to do any thing mane or wrong, at any rate,” she replied; after +which she went in to attend to the affairs of the family, for this +conversation took place in the garden. + +As evening approached, a deep gloom, the consequence of strong inward +suffering, overspread the features and bearing of Thomas M'Mahon. For +some time past, he had almost given himself over to the influence of +what he experienced--a fact that was observable in many ways, all more +or less tending to revive the affection which he felt for his departed +wife. For instance, ever since their minds had been made up to emigrate, +he had watched, and tended, and fed Bracky, her favorite cow, with his +own hands; nor would he suffer any one else in the family to go near +her, with the exception of Dora, by whom she had been milked ever since +her mother's death, and to whom the poor animal had now transferred her +affection. He also cleaned and oiled her spinning-wheel, examined her +clothes, and kept himself perpetually engaged in looking at every object +that was calculated to bring her once more before his imagination. + +About a couple of hours before sunset, without saying where he was +going, he sauntered down to the graveyard of Gamdhu where she lay, and +having first uncovered his head and offered up a prayer for the repose +of her soul, he wept bitterly. + +“Bridget,” said he, in that strong figurative language so frequently +used by the Irish, when under the influence of deep, emotion; “Bridget, +wife of my heart, you are removed from the thrials and throubles of this +world--from the thrials and throubles that have come upon us. I'm come, +now--your own husband--him that loved you beyant everything on this +earth, to tell you why the last wish o' my heart, which was to sleep +where I ought to sleep, by your side, can't be granted to me, and to +explain to you why it is, in case you'd miss me from my place beside +you. This unfortunate counthry, Bridget, has changed, an' is changin' +fast for the worse. The landlord hasn't proved himself to be towards us +what he ought to be, and what we expected he would; an' so, rather than +remain at the terms he axes from us, it's better for us to thry our +fortune in America; bekaise, if we stay here, we must only come to +poverty an' destitution, an' sorrow; an' you know how it 'ud break my +heart to see our childre' brought to that, in the very place where they +wor always respected. They're all good to me, as they ever wor to' us +both, acushla machree; but poor Bryan, that you loved so much--your +favorite and your pride--has had much to suffer, darlin', since you left +us; but blessed be God, he bears it manfully and patiently, although +I can see by the sorrow on my boy's brow that the heart widin him is +breakin'. He's not, afther all, to be married, as you hoped and wished +he would, to Kathleen Cavanagh. Her mind has been poisoned against him; +but little she knows him, or she'd not turn from him as she did. An' +now, Bridget, asthore machree, is it come to this wid me? I must lave +you for ever. I must lave--as my father said, that went this day to +heaven as you know, now--I must lave, as he said, the ould places. I +must go to a strange country, and sleep among a strange people; but +it's for the sake of our childre' I do so, lavin' you alone there where +you're sleepin'? I wouldn't lave you if I could help it; but we'll +meet yet in heaven, my blessed wife, where there won't be distress, or +injustice, or sorrow to part us. Achora machree, I'm come, then, to take +my last farewell of you. Farewell, then, my darlin' wife, till we meet +for evermore in heaven!” + +He departed from the grave slowly, and returned in deep sorrow to his +own house. + +About twelve o'clock the next morning, the family and those neighbors +who were assembled as usual at the wake-house, from respect to the dead, +were a good deal surprised by the appearance of Mr. Vanston and their +landlord, both of whom entered the house. + +“Gentlemen, you're welcome,” said old M'Mahon; “but I'm sorry to say +that it's to a house of grief and throuble I must welcome you--death's +here, gentlemen, and more than death; but God's will be done, we must be +obaidient.” + +“M'Mahon,” said Chevydale, “give me your hand. I am sorry that either +you or your son have suffered anything on my account. I am come now to +render you an act of justice--to compensate both you and him, as far +as I can, for the anxiety you have endured. Consider yourselves +both, therefore, as restored to your farms at the terms you proposed +originally. I shall have leases prepared--give up the notion of +emigration--the country cannot spare such men as you and your admirable +son. I shall have leases I say prepared, and you will be under no +necessity of leaving either Carriglass or Ahadarra.” + +Need we describe the effect which such a communication had upon this +sterling-hearted family? Need we assure our readers that the weight +was removed from all their hearts, and the cloud from every brow? Is it +necessary to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his high-minded Kathleen were +married? that Dora and James followed their example, and that Edward +Burke, in due time, bestowed his hand upon sweet and affectionate Hanna +Cavanagh? + +We have little now to add. Young Clinton, in the course of a few +months, became agent to Chevydale, whose property soon gave proofs that +kindness, good judgment, and upright principle were best calculated not +only to improve it, but to place a landlord and his tenantry on that +footing of mutual good-will and reciprocal interest upon which they +should ever stand towards each other. + +We need scarcely say that the sympathy felt for honest Jemmy Burke, in +consequence of the disgraceful conduct of his son, was deep and general. +He himself did not recover it for a long period, and it was observed +that, in future, not one of his friends ever uttered Hycy's name in his +presence. + +With respect to that young gentleman's fate and that of Teddy Phats, +we have to record a rather remarkable coincidence. In about three years +after his escape, his father received an account of his death from +Montreal, where it appears he expired under circumstances of great +wretchedness and destitution, after having led, during his residence +there, a most profligate and disgraceful life. Early the same day +on which the intelligence of his death reached his family, they also +received an account through the M'Mahons to the effect that Teddy Phats +had, on the preceding night, fallen from one of the cliffs of Althadawan +and broken his neck; a fate which occasioned neither surprise nor +sorrow. + +We have only to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his wife took Nanny Peety +into their service; and that Kate Hogan and Mr. O'Finigan had always a +comfortable seat at their hospitable hearth; and the latter a warm glass +of punch occasionally, for the purpose, as he said himself, of keeping +him properly sober. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + +***** This file should be named 16011-0.txt or 16011-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16011/ + +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. 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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: The Emigrants Of Ahadarra + The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA. + + +By William Carleton + + + + +CHAPTER I.--A strong Farmer's Establishment and Family. + +It was one summer morning, about nine o'clock, when a little man, in +the garb and trim of a mendicant, accompanied by a slender but rather +handsome looking girl about sixteen, or it may be a year more, were upon +their way to the house of a man, who, from his position in life, might +be considered a wealthy agriculturist, and only a step or two beneath +the condition of a gentleman farmer, although much more plain and rustic +in his manners. The house and place had about them that characteristic +appearance of abundance and slovenly neglect which is, unfortunately, +almost peculiar to our country. The house was a long slated one, and +stood upon a little eminence, about three or four hundred yards from the +highway. It was approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue, +as it might be called, that was in very good keeping with the premises +to which it led. As you entered it from the road, you had to pass +through an iron gate, which it was a task to open, and which, when +opened, it was another task to shut. In consequence of this difficulty, +foot passengers had made themselves a way upon each side of it, through +which they went to and came from the house; and in this they were +sanctioned by the example of the family themselves, who, so long as +these side paths were passable, manifested as much reluctance to open or +close the gate as any one else. + +The month was May; and nothing could be more delightful and exhilarating +than the breeze which played over the green fields that were now radiant +with the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun. +Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labor +from which the hopes of ample and abundant harvests always spring. Here, +fixed in the ground, stood the spades of a boon* of laborers, who, as +was evident from that circumstance, were then at breakfast; in another +place might be seen the plough and a portion of the tackle lying beside +it, being expressive of the same fact. Around them, on every side, in +hedges, ditches, green fields, and meadows, the birds seemed +animated into joyous activity or incessant battle, by the business of +nest-building or love. Whilst all around, from earth and air, streamed +the ceaseless voice of universal melody and song. + + * A considerable number of men working together. + +On reaching the gate, Peety Dhu and his pretty daughter turned up +towards the house we have alluded to--which was the residence of a man +named Burke. On reaching it they were observed by a couple of large +dogs, who, partaking of the hospitable but neglected habits of the +family, first approached and looked at them for a moment, then wagged +their tails by way of welcome, and immediately scampered off into the +kitchen to forage for themselves. + +Burke's house and farmyard, though strongly indicative of wealth and +abundance in the owner, were, notwithstanding, evidently the property +of a man whose mind was far back in a knowledge of agriculture, and the +industrial pursuits that depend upon it. His haggard was slovenly in the +extreme, and his farmyard exceedingly offensive to most of the senses; +everything lay about in a careless and neglected manner;--wheelbarrows +without their trundles--sacks for days under the rain that fell from +the eaves of the houses--other implements embedded in mud--car-houses +tumbling down--the pump without a handle--the garden-gate open, and the +pigs hard at work destroying the vegetables, and rooting up the garden +in all directions. In fact, the very animals about the house were +conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly. If one +of the dogs, for instance, was hunted at the pigs, he ran in an apparent +fury towards that which happened to be nearest him, which merely lifted +its head and listened for a time--the dog, with loud and boisterous +barking, seizing its ear, led it along for three or four yards in that +position, after which, upon the pig demurring to proceed any further, +he very quietly dropped it and trotted in again, leaving the destructive +animal to resume its depredations. + +The house inside bore the same character. Winter and summer the +hall-door, which had long lost the knocker, lay hospitably open. The +parlor had a very equivocal appearance; for the furniture, though +originally good and of excellent materials, was stained and dinged and +hacked in a manner that denoted but little sense of care or cleanliness. +Many of the chairs, although not worn by age, wanted legs or backs, +evidently from ill-usage alone--the grate was without fire-irons--a +mahogany bookcase that stood in a recess to the right of the fireplace, +with glass doors and green silk blinds, had the glass all broken and +the silk stained almost out of its original color; whilst inside of +it, instead of books, lay a heterogeneous collection of garden seeds +in brown paper--an almanac of twenty years' standing, a dry ink-bottle, +some broken delf, and a large collection of blue-moulded shoes and +boots, together with an old blister of French flies, the lease of their +farm, and a great number of their receipts for rent. To crown all, the +clock in the other recess stood cobwebbed about the top, deprived of the +minute hand, and seeming to intimate by its silence that it had given +note of time's progress to this idle and negligent family to no purpose. + +On the drawing-room stairs there lay what had once been a carpet, but +so inseparable had been their connection that the stairs were now worn +through it, and it required a sharp eye to distinguish such fragments +of it as remained from the color of the dirty boards it covered and the +dust that lay on both. + +On entering the kitchen, Peety and his little girl found thirteen or +fourteen, in family laborers and servants of both sexes, seated at a +long deal table, each with a large wooden noggin of buttermilk and a +spoon of suitable dimensions, digging as if for a wager into one or +other of two immense wooden bowls of stirabout, so thick and firm in +consistency that, as the phrase goes, a man might dance on it. This, +however, was not the only picture of such enjoyment that the kitchen +afforded. Over beside the dresser was turned upon one side the huge pot +in which the morning meal had been made, and at the bottom of which, +inside of course, a spirit of rivalry equally vigorous and animated, but +by no means so harmonious, was kept up by two dogs and a couple of pigs, +which were squabbling and whining and snarling among each other, whilst +they tugged away at the scrapings, or residuum, that was left behind +after the stirabout had been emptied out of it. The whole kitchen, in +fact, had a strong and healthy smell of food--the dresser, a huge one, +was covered with an immense quantity of pewter, wood, and delf; and it +was only necessary to cast one's eye towards the chimney to perceive, by +the weighty masses of black hung beef and the huge sides and flitches +of deep yellow bacon which lined it, that plenty and abundance, even to +overflowing, predominated in the family. + +The "chimney-brace" projected far out over the fire-place towards the +floor, and under it on each side stretched two long hobs or chimney +corner seats, on which nearly a dozen persons could sit of a winter +evening. Mrs. Burke, a smart, good-looking little woman, though somewhat +advanced in years, kept passing in a kind of perpetual motion from +one part of the house to the other, with a large bunch of bright +keys jingling at one side, and a huge house-wife pocket, with a round +pin-cushion dangling beside it, at the other. Jemmy Burke himself, +a placid though solemn-faced man, was sitting on the hob in question +complacently smoking his pipe, whilst over the glowing remnants of an +immense turf fire hung a singing kettle, and beside it on three crushed +coals was the teapot, "waitin'," as the servants were in the habit of +expressing it, "for the masther and misthress's breakfast." + +Peety, who was well known and a great favorite on his rounds, received a +warm and hospitable welcome from Jemmy Burke, who made him and the girl +sit upon the hob, and immediately ordered them breakfast. + +"Here, Nancy Devlin, get Peety and the girsha their skinfuls of +stirabout an' milk. Sit over to the fire, alanna, an' warm yourself." + +"Warm, inagh!" replied Peety; "why, sure it's not a fire sich a blessed +mornin' as this she'd want--an' a blessed mornin' it is, glory be to +God!" + +"Troth, an' you're right, sure enough, Peety," replied the good-natured +farmer; "a blessed saison it is for gettin' down the crops. Go over +there, now, you an' the girsha, to that other table, an'--whish!--kick +them pigs an' dogs out o' the house, an' be d--d to them! One can't hear +their ears for them--you an' the girsha, an' let us see what you can +do. Nancy, achora, jist dash a gawliogue o' sweet milk into their +noggins--they're not like us that's well fed every day--. it's but +seldom they get the likes, the creatures--so dash in a brave gawliogue +o' the sweet milk for them. Take your time, Peety,--aisy, alanna, 'till +you get what I'm sayin; it'll nourish an put strinth in you." + +"Ah, Misther Burke," replied Peety, in a tone of gratitude peculiar to +his class, "you're the ould* man still--ever an' always the large heart +an' lavish hand--an' so sign's on it--full an' plinty upon an' about +you--an' may it ever be so wid you an' yours, a chierna, I pray. An how +is the misthress, sir?" + + * That is to say, the same man still. + +"Throth, she's very well, Peety--has no raison to complain, thank God!" + +"Thank God, indeed! and betther may she be, is my worst wish to her--an' +Masther Hycy, sir?--but I needn't ax how he is. Isn't the whole country +ringin' wid his praises;--the blessin' o' God an you, acushla"--this +was to Nancy Devlin, on handing them the new milk--"draw over, darlin', +nearer to the table--there now"--this to his daughter, whom he settled +affectionately to her food. "Ay, indeed," he proceeded, "sure there's +only the one word of it over the whole Barony we're sittin' in--that +there's neither fetch nor fellow for him through the whole parish. Some +people, indeed, say that Bryan M'Mahon comes near him; but only some, +for it's given up to Masther Hycy all to pieces." + +"Faix, an' I for one, although I'm his father--amn't I, Rosha?" he +added, good-humoredly addressing his wife, who had just come into the +kitchen from above stairs. + +"Throth," said the wife, who never replied with good humor unless when +addressed as Mrs. Burke, "you're ill off for something to speak about. +How are you, Peety? an' how is your little girl?" + +"In good health, ma'am, thank God an' you; an' very well employed at the +present time, thanks to you still!" + +To this Mrs. Burke made no reply; for it may be necessary to state +here, that although she was not actually penurious or altogether without +hospitality, and something that might occasionally be termed charity, +still it is due to honest Jemmy to inform the reader in the outset, +that, as Peety Dhu said, "the large heart and the lavish hand" +were especially his own. Mrs. Burke was considered to have been +handsome--indeed, a kind of rustic beauty in her day--and, like many of +that class, she had not been without a due share of vanity, or perhaps +we might say coquetry, if we were to speak the truth. Her teeth were +good, and she had a very pretty dimple in one of her cheeks when she +smiled, two circumstances which contributed strongly to sustain her good +humor, and an unaccountable tendency to laughter, when the poverty +of the jest was out of all proportion to the mirth that followed it. +Notwithstanding this apparently light and agreeable spirit, she was both +vulgar and arrogant, and labored under the weak and ridiculous ambition +of being considered a woman of high pretensions, who had been most +unfortunately thrown away, if not altogether lost, upon a husband whom +she considered as every way unworthy of her. Her father had risen into +the possession of some unexpected property when it was too late to +bestow upon her a suitable education, and the consequence was that, in +addition to natural vanity, on the score of beauty, she was a good +deal troubled with purse-pride, which, with a foolish susceptibility of +flattery, was a leading feature in her disposition. In addition to this, +she was an inveterate and incurable slattern, though a gay and lively +one; and we need scarcely say that whatever she did in the shape +of benevolence or charity, in most instances owed its origin to the +influences of the weaknesses she was known to possess. + +Breakfast, at length, was over, and the laborers, with an odd hiccup +here and there among them, from sheer repletion, got their hats and +began to proceed towards the farm. + +"Now, boys," said Jemmy, after dropping a spittle into his pipe, +pressing it down with his little finger, and putting it into his +waistcoat pocket, "see an' get them praties down as soon as you can, an' +don't work as if you intended to keep your Christmas there; an' Paddy +the Bounce, I'll thank you to keep your jokes an' your stories to +yourself, an' not to be idlin' the rest till afther your work's done. +Throth it was an unlucky day I had anything to do wid you, you divartin' +vagabone--ha! ha! ha! When I hired him in the Micklemas fair," proceeded +Jemmy, without addressing himself to any particular individual, "he +killed me wid laughin' to such a degree, that I couldn't refuse the +mehony whatsomever wages he axed; an' now he has the men, insteed o' +mindin' their work, dancin' through the field, an' likely to split at +the fun he tells them, ha! ha! ha! Be off, now, boys. Pettier Murphy, +you randletree, let,the girl alone. That's it Peggy, lay on him; ha! +devil's cure to you! take what you've got any way--you desarve it." + +These latter observations were occasioned by a romping match that took +place between a young laborer and a good-looking girl who was employed +to drop potatoes for the men. + +At length those who were engaged in the labor of the field departed in +a cheerful group, and in a few minutes the noise of a horse's feet, +evidently proceeding at a rapid trot, was heard coming up the boreen or +avenue towards the house. + +"Ay," exclaimed Burke, with a sigh, "there comes Hycy at a trot, an' the +wondher is it's not a gallop. That's the way he'll get through life, I +fear; an' if God doesn't change him he's more likely to gallop himself +to the Staff an' Bag (* Beggary.) than to anything else I know. I can't +nor I won't stand his extravagance--but it's his mother's fault, an' +she'll see what it'll come to in the long run." + +He had scarcely concluded when his son entered the kitchen, alternately +singing and whistling the Foxhunter's jig in a manner that betokened +exuberant if not boisterous spirits. He was dressed in top boots, +a green riding-coat, yellow waistcoat, and drab cassimere small +clothes--quite in jockey trim, in fact. + +Hycy rather resembled his father in the lineaments of his face, and was, +consequently, considered handsome. He was about the middle size, and +remarkably well proportioned. In fact, it would be exceedingly difficult +to find a young fellow of manlier bearing or more striking personal +attractions. His features were regular, and his complexion fresh and +youthful looking, and altogether there was in his countenance and whole +appearance a cheerful, easy, generous, unreflecting dash of character +that not only made him a favorite on first acquaintance, but won +confidence by an openness of manner that completely disarmed suspicion. +It might have been observed, however, that his laugh, like his mother's, +never, or at least seldom, came directly from the heart, and that there +was a hard expression about his otherwise well-formed mouth, such as +rarely indicated generosity of feeling, or any acquaintance with the +kinder impulses of our nature. He was his mother's pet and favorite, and +her principal wish was that he should be looked upon and addressed as +a gentleman, and for that purpose she encouraged him to associate with +those only whose rank and position in life rendered any assumption of +equality on his part equally arrogant and obtrusive. In his own family +his bearing towards his parents was, in point of fact, the reverse +of what it ought to have been. He not only treated his father with +something bordering on contempt, but joined his mother in all that +ignorant pride which kept her perpetually bewailing the fate by which +she was doomed to become his wife. Nor did she herself come off better +at his hands. Whilst he flattered her vanity, and turned her foibles +to his own advantage, under the guise of a very dutiful affection, his +deportment towards her was marked by an ironical respect, which was the +more indefensible and unmanly because she could not see through it. The +poor woman had taken up the opinion, that difficult and unintelligible +language was one test of a gentleman; and her son by the use of such +language, let no opportunity pass of confirming her in this opinion, and +establishing his own claims to the character. + +"Where did you ride to this mornin' Misther Hycy?" + +"Down to take a look at Tom Burton's mare, Crazy Jane, ma'am:-- + + "'Away, my boys, to horse away, + The Chase admits of no delay--'" + +"Tom Burton!" re-echoed the father with a groan; "an so you're in Tom +Burton's hands! A swindlin', horse-dalin' scoundrel that would chate St. +Pether. Hycy, my man, if you go to look for wool to Tom you'll come home +shorn." + + "'Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule + Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl, + That there's wrath and despair--" + +Thank you, father--much obliged; you entertain a good opinion of me." + +"Do I, faith? Don't be too sure of that." + +"I've bought her at any rate," said Hycy--"thirty-five's the figure; but +she's a dead bargain at fifty." + +"Bought her!" exclaimed the father; "an' how, in God's name, do you +expect to pay for her?" + +"By an order on a very excellent, worthy man and +gentleman-farmer--ycleped James Burke, Esquire--who has the honor +of being father to that ornament of the barony, Hycy Burke, the +accomplished. My worthy sire will fork out." + +"If I do, that I may--" + +"Silence, poor creature!" said his wife, clapping her hand upon his +mouth--"make no rash or vulgar oaths. Surely, Misther Burke--" + +"How often did I bid you not to misther me? Holy scrapers, am I to be +misthered and pesthered this way, an' my name plane Jemmy Burke!" + +"You see, Hycy, the vulgarian will come out," said his mother. "I say, +Misther Burke, are you to see your son worse mounted at the Herringstown +Hunt than any other gentleman among them? Have you no pride? + +"No, thank God! barin' that I'm an honest man an' no gentleman; an', as +for Hycy, Rosha--" + +"Mrs. Burke, father, if you please," interposed Hycy; "remember who your +wife is at all events." + +"Faith, Hycy, she'll come better off if I forget that same; but I tell +you that instead of bein' the laughin'-stock of the same Hunt, it's +betune the stilts of a plough you ought to be, or out in the fields +keepin' the men to their business." + +"I paid three guineas earnest money, at all events," said the son; "but +'it matters not,' as the preacher says-- + + "'When I was at home I was merry and frisky, + My dad kept a pig and my mother sold whiskey'-- + +Beg pardon, mother, no allusion--my word and honor none--to you I mean-- + + "'My uncle was rich, but would never be aisy + Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.' + +Fine times in the army, Mr. Burke, with every prospect of a speedy +promotion. Mother, my stomach craves its matutinal supply--I'm in +excellent condition for breakfast." + +"It's ready. Jemmy, you'll--Misther Burke, I mane--you'll pay for +Misther Hycy's mare." + +"If I do--you'll live to see it, that's all. Give the boy his +breakwhist." + +"Thank you, worthy father--much obliged for your generosity-- + + "'Oh, love is the soul of a nate Irishman + He loves all that's lovely, loves all that he can, + With his sprig of--' + +Ah, Peety Dhu, how are you, my worthy peripatetic? Why, this daughter +of yours is getting quite a Hebe on our hands. Mrs. Burke, +breakfast--breakfast, madam, as you love Hycy, the accomplished." So +saying, Hycy the accomplished proceeded to the parlor we have described, +followed by his maternal relative, as he often called his mother. + +"Well, upon my word and honor, mother," said the aforesaid Hycy, who +knew and played upon his mother's weak points, "it is a sad thing to see +such a woman as you are, married to a man who has neither the spirit nor +feelings of a gentleman--my word and honor it is." + +"I feel that, Hycy, but there's no help for spilt milk; we must only +make the best of a bad bargain. Are you coming to your breakfast," she +shouted, calling to honest Jemmy, who still sat on the hob ruminating +with a kind of placid vexation over his son's extravagance--"your tay's +filled out!" + +"There let it," he replied, "I'll have none of your plash to-day; I tuck +my skinful of good stiff stirabout that's worth a shipload of it. Drink +it yourselves--I'm no gintleman." + +"Arrah, when did you find that out, Misther Burke?" she shouted back +again. + +"To his friends and acquaintances it is anything but a recent disco +very," added Hycy; and each complimented the observation of the other +with a hearty laugh, during which the object of it went out to the +fields to join the men. + +"I'm afraid it's no go, mother," proceeded the son, when breakfast was +finished--"he won't stand it. Ah, if both my parents were of the +same geometrical proportion, there would be little difficulty in this +business; but upon my honor and reputation, my dear mother, I think +between you and me that my father's a gross abstraction--a most +substantial and ponderous apparition." + +"An' didn't I know that an' say that too all along?" replied his mother, +catching as much of the high English from him as she could manage: +"however, lave the enumeration of the mare to me. It'll go hard or I'll +get it out of him." + +"It is done," he replied; "your stratagetic powers are great, my dear +mother, consequently it is left in your hands." + +Hycy, whilst in the kitchen, cast his eye several times upon the +handsome young daughter of Peety Dhu, a circumstance to which we owe the +instance of benevolent patronage now about to be recorded. + +"Mother," he proceeds, "I think it would be a charity to rescue that +interesting little girl of Peety Dhu's from a life of mendicancy." + +"From a what?" she asked, staring at him. + +"Why," he replied, now really anxious to make himself understood--"from +the disgraceful line of life he's bringin' her up to. You should take +her in and provide for her." + +"When I do, Hycy," replied his mother, bridling, "it won't be a beggar's +daughter nor a niece of Philip Hogan's--sorrow bit." + +"As for her being a niece of Hogan's, you know it is by his mother's +side; but wouldn't it be a feather in her cap to get under the +protection of a highly respectable woman, though? The patronage of a +person like you, Mrs. Burke, would be the making of her--my word and +honor it would." + +"Hem!--ahem!--do you think so, Hycy?" + +"Tut, mother--that indeed!--can there be a doubt about it?" + +"Well then, in that case, I think she may stay--that is, if the father +will consent to it." + +"Thank you, mother, for that example of protection and benevolence. I +feel that all my virtues certainly proceed from your side of the house +and are derived from yourself--there can be no doubt of that." + +"Indeed I think so myself, Hycy, for where else would you get them? You +have the M'Swiggin nose; an' it can't be from any one else you take your +high notions. All you show of the gentleman, Hycy, it's not hard to name +them you have it from, I believe." + +"Spoken like a Sybil. Mother, within the whole range of my female +acquaintances I don't know a woman that has in her so much of the +gentleman as yourself--my word and honor, mother." + +"Behave, Hycy--behave now," she replied, simpering; "however truth's +truth, at any rate." + +We need scarcely say that the poor mendicant was delighted at the notion +of having his daughter placed in the family of so warm and independent a +man as Jemmy Burke. Yet the poor little fellow did not separate from the +girl without a strong manifestation of the affection he bore her. She +was his only child--the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for +him upon the desert of life. + +"I lave her wid you," he said, addressing Mrs. Burke with tears in his +eyes, "as the only treasure an' happiness I have in this world. She is +the poor man's lamb, as I have hard read out of Scripture wanst; an' in +lavin' her undher your care, I lave all my little hopes in this world +wid her. I trust, ma'am, you'll guard her an' look afther her as if she +was one of your own." + +This unlucky allusion might have broken up the whole contemplated +arrangement, had not Hycy stepped in to avert from Peety the offended +pride of the patroness. + +"I hope, Peety," he said, "that you are fully sensible of the honor Mrs. +Burke does you and your daughter by taking the girl under her protection +and patronage?" + +"I am, God knows." + +"And of the advantage it is to get her near so respectable a woman--so +highly respectable a woman?" + +"I am, in troth." + +"And that it may be the making of your daughter's fortune?" + +"It may, indeed, Masther Hycy." + +"And that there's no other woman of high respectability in the parish +capable of elevating her to the true principles of double and simple +proportion?" + +"No, in throth, sir, I don't think there is." + +"Nor that can teach her the newest theories in dogmatic theology and +metaphysics, together with the whole system of Algebraic Equations if +the girl should require them?" + +"Divil another woman in the barony can match her at them by all +accounts," replied Peety, catching the earnest enthusiasm of Hycy's +manner. + +"That will do, Peety; you see yourself, mother," he added, taking her +aside and speaking in a low voice, "that the little fellow knows right +well the advantages of having her under your care and protection; +and it's very much to his credit, and speaks very highly for his +metempsychosis that he does so--hem!" + +"He was always a daicent, sinsible, poor creature of his kind," replied +his mother "besides, Hycy, between you and me, she'll be more than worth +her bit." + +"There now, Peety," said her son, turning towards the mendicant; "it's +all settled--wait now for a minute till I write a couple of notes, which +you must deliver for me." + +Peety sat accordingly, and commenced to lay down for his daughter's +guidance and conduct such instructions as he deemed suitable to the +situation she was about to enter and the new duties that necessarily +devolved upon her. + +In due time Hycy appeared, and placing two letters in Peety's hands, +said--"Go, Peety, to Gerald Cavanagh's, of Fenton's Farm, and if you +can get an opportunity, slip that note into Kathleen's hands--this, mark, +with the corner turned down--you won't forget that?" + +"No, sir." + +"Very well--you're then to proceed to Tom M'Mahon's, and if you find +Bryan, his son, there, give him this; and if he's at the mountain farm +of Ahadarra, go to him. I don't expect an answer from Kathleen Cavanagh, +but I do from Bryan M'Mahon; and mark me, Peety." + +"I do, sir." + +"Are you sure you do?" + +"Sartin, sir." + +"Silent as the grave then is the word in both cases--but if I ever +hear--" + +"That's enough, Masther Hycy; when the grave spakes about it so will I." + +Peety took the letters and disappeared with an air rendered important +by the trust reposed in him; whilst Mrs. Burke looked inquiringly at her +son, as if her curiosity were a good deal excited. + +"One of them is to Kate or Kathleen Cavanagh, as they call her," said +Hycy, in reply to her looks; "and the other for Bryan M'Mahon, who is +soft and generous--_probatum est_. I want to know if he'll stand for +thirty-five--and as for Kate, I'm making love to her, you must know." + +"Kathleen Cavanagh," replied his mother; "I'll never lend my privileges +to sich match." + +"Match!" exclaimed Hycy, coolly. + +"Ah," she replied warmly; "match or marriage will never--" + +"Marriage!" he repeated, "why, my most amiable maternal relative, do +you mean to insinuate to Hycy the accomplished, that he is obliged to +propose either match or marriage to every girl he makes love to? What a +prosaic world you'd have of it, my dear Mrs. Burke. This, ma'am, is +only an agreeable flirtation--not but that it's possible there may +be something in the shape of a noose matrimonial dangling in the +background. She combines, no doubt, in her unrivalled person, the +qualities of Hebe, Venus, and Diana--Hebe in youth, Venus in beauty, and +Diana in wisdom; so it's said, but I trust incorrectly, as respects one +of them--good-bye, mother--try your influence as touching Crazy Jane, +and report favorably-- + + "'Friend of my soul, this goblet sip, + 'Twill chase the pensive tear. &c.'" + + + + +CHAPTER II.--Gerald Cavanagh and his Family + +--Tom M'Mahon's return from Dublin. + + +The house of Gerald Cavanagh, though not so large as that of our +kind-hearted friend, Jemmy Burke, was a good specimen of what an Irish +farmer's residence ought to be. It was distant from Burke's somewhat +better than two miles, and stood almost, immediately inside the highway, +upon a sloping green that was vernal through the year. It was in +the cottage style, in the form of a cross, with a roof ornamentally +thatched, and was flanked at a little distance by the office-houses. +The grass was always so close on this green, as to have rather the +appearance of a well kept lawn. The thorn-trees stood in front of it, +clipped in the shape of round tables, on one of which, exposed to all +weathers, might be seen a pair of large churn-staves, bleached into a +white, fresh color, that caused a person to long for the butter they +made. On the other stood a large cage, in which was imprisoned a +blackbird, whose extraordinary melody had become proverbial in the +neighborhood. Down a little to the right of the hall-door, a pretty +winding gravelled pathway led to a clear spring well that was +overshadowed by a spreading white-thorn; and at each gable stood a +graceful elder or mountain-ash, whose red berries during the autumn had +a fine effect, and contrasted well with the mass of darker and larger +trees, by which the back portion of the house and the offices was almost +concealed. Both the house and green were in an elevated position, and +commanded a delightful expanse of rich meadows to the extent of nearly +one hundred acres, through which a placid river wound its easy way, like +some contented spirit that glides calmly and happily through the gentle +vicissitudes of an untroubled life. + +As Peety Dhu, whilst passing from the residence of our friend Jemmy +Burke to that of Gerald Cavanagh, considered himself in his vocation, +the reader will not be surprised to hear that it was considerably past +noon! when he arrived at Fenton's Farm; for by this name the property +was known on a portion of which the Cavanaghs lived. It might be about +the hours of two or three o'clock, when Peety, on arriving at the gate +which led into Cavanagh's house, very fortunately saw his daughter +Kathleen, in the act of feeding the blackbird aforementioned; and +prudently deeming this the best opportunity of accomplishing his +mission, he beckoned her to approach him. The good-natured girl did so: +saying at the same time--"What is the matter, Peety?--do you want me? +Won't you come into the kitchen?" + +"Thank you, avourneen, but I can't; I did want you, but it was only to +give you this letther. I suppose it will tell you all. Oh, thin, is it +any wondher that you should get it, an' that half the parish should be +dyin' in love wid you? for, in troth, it's enough to make an ould man +feel young agin even to look at you. I was afraid they might see me +givin' you the letther from the windy, and that's what made me sign to +you to come to me here. Good-bye _a colleen dhas_ (* Pretty girl.)--an' +it's you that's that sure enough." + +The features, neck, and bosom of the girl, on receiving this +communication, were overspread with one general blush, and she stood, +for a few moments, irresolute and confused. In the mean time Peety had +passed on, and after a pause of a few minutes, she looked at the letter +more attentively, and slowly broke it open. It was probably the first +epistle she had ever received, and we need scarcely say that, as a +natural consequence, she was by no means quick in deciphering written +hand. Be this as it may, after having perused a few lines she started, +looked at the bottom for the name, then at the letter again; and as her +sister Hanna joined her, that brow on which a frown had been seldom ever +seen to sit, was now crimson with indignation. + +"Why, gracious goodness!" exclaims Hanna, "what is this, Kathleen? +Something has vexed you!--ha! a love-letter, too! In airnest, what ails +you? an' who is the letter from, if it's fair to ax?" + +"The letter is not for me," replied Kathleen, putting it into her +sister's hand, "but when you read it you won't wonder that I'm angry." + +As Hanna began to go slowly through it, she first laughed, but on +proceeding a little further her brow also reddened, and her whole +features expressed deep and unequivocal resentment. Having concluded the +perusal of this mysterious document, she, looked at her sister, who, in +return, gazed upon her. + +"Well, Kathleen, after all," said Hanna, "it's not worth while losing +one's temper about it. Never think of it again; only to punish him, I'd +advise you, the next time you see Peety, to send it back." + +"You don't suppose, Hanna, that I intended to keep it; but indeed," she +added, with a smile; "it is not worth while bein' angry about." + +As the sisters stood beside each other, holding this short conversation, +it would be difficult to find any two females more strikingly dissimilar +both in figure, features, and complexion. Hanna was plain, but not +disagreeable, especially when her face became animated with good humor. +Her complexion, though not at all of a sickly hue, was of that middle +tint which is neither pale nor sallow, but holds an equivocal position +between both. Her hair was black, but dull, and without that peculiar +gloss which accompanies either the very snowy skin of a fair beauty, +or, at least, the rich brown hue of a brunette. Her figure was in no way +remarkable, and she was rather under the middle size. + +Her sister, however, was a girl who deserves at our hands a more +accurate and lengthened description. Kathleen Cavanagh was considerably +above the middle size, her figure, in fact, being of the tallest; but no +earthly form could surpass it in symmetry, and that voluptuous fulness +of outline, which, when associated with a modest and youthful style of +beauty, is, of all others, the most fascinating and irresistible. The +whiteness of her unrivalled skin, and the gloss of health which shone +from it were almost dazzling. Her full bust, which literally glowed with +light and warmth, was moulded with inimitable proportion, and the masses +of rich brown hair that shaded her white and expansive forehead, added +incredible attractions to a face that was remarkable not only for +simple beauty in its finest sense, but that divine charm of ever-varying +expression which draws its lights and shadows, and the thousand graces +with which it is accompanied, directly from the heart. Her dark eyes +were large and flashing, and reflected by the vivacity or melancholy +which increased or over-shadowed their lustre, all those joys or +sorrows, and various shades of feeling by which she was moved, whilst +her mouth gave indication of extraordinary and entrancing sweetness, +especially when she smiled. + +Such was Kathleen Cavanagh, the qualities of whose mind were still +superior to the advantages of her person. And yet she shone not forth at +the first view, nor immediately dazzled the beholder by the brilliancy +of her charms. She was unquestionably a tall, fine looking country girl, +tastefully and appropriately dressed; but it was necessary to see her +more than once, and to have an opportunity of examining her, time after +time, to be able fully to appreciate the surprising character of her +beauty, and the incredible variety of those changes which sustain its +power and give it perpetual novelty to the heart and eye. It was, in +fact, of that dangerous description which improves on inspection, and +gradually develops itself upon the beholder, until he feels the full +extent of its influence, and is sensible, perhaps, when too late, that +he is its helpless and unresisting victim. + +Around the two thorn-trees we have alluded to were built circular seats +of the grassy turf, on which the two sisters, each engaged in knitting, +now sat chatting and laughing with that unrestrained good humor and +familiarity which gave unquestionable proof of the mutual confidence +and affection that subsisted between them. Their natural tempers and +dispositions were as dissimilar as their persons. Hanna was lively and +mirthful, somewhat hasty, but placable, quick in her feelings of either +joy or sorrow, and apparently not susceptible of deep or permanent +impressions; whilst Kathleen, on the other hand, was serious, quiet, and +placid--difficult to be provoked, of great sweetness of temper, with a +tinge of melancholy that occasionally gave an irresistible charm to her +voice and features, when conversing upon any subject that was calculated +to touch the heart, or in which she felt deeply. Unlike her sister, she +was resolute, firm, and almost immutable in her resolutions; but that +was because her resolutions were seldom hasty or unadvised, but the +result of a strong feeling of rectitude and great good sense. It is +true she possessed high feelings of self-respect, together with an +enthusiastic love for her religion, and a most earnest zeal for its +advancement; indeed, so strongly did these predominate in her mind, that +any act involving a personal slight towards herself, or indifference to +her creed and its propagation, were looked upon by Kathleen as crimes +for which there was no forgiveness. If she had any fellings, it was in +these two points they lay. But at the same time, we are bound to say, +that the courage and enthusiasm of Joan of Arc had been demanded of her +by the state and condition of her country and her creed, she would +have unquestionably sacrificed her life, if the sacrifice secured the +prosperity of either. + +Something of their difference of temperament might have been observed +during their conversation, while sitting under the white thorn. Every +now and then, for instance, Hanna would start up and commence a +series of little flirtations with the blackbird, which she called her +sweetheart, and again resume her chat and seat as before; or she would +attempt to catch a butterfly as it fluttered about her, or sometimes +give it pursuit over half the green, whilst Kathleen sat with laughing +and delighted eyes, and a smile of unutterable sweetness on her lips, +watching the success of this innocent frolic. In this situation we must +now leave them, to follow Peety, who is on his way to deliver the other +letter to Bryan M'Mahon. + +Our little black Mercury was not long in arriving at the house of Tom +M'Mahon, which he reached in company with that worthy man himself, whom +he happened to overtake near Carriglass where he lived. M'Mahon seemed +fatigued and travel-worn, and consequently was proceeding at a slow pace +when Peety overtook him. The latter observed this. + +"Why, thin, Tom," said he, after the first salutations had passed, "you +look like a man that had jist put a tough journey over him." + +"An' so I ought, Peety," he replied, "for I have put a tough journey +over me." + +"Musha where were you, thin, if it's fair to ax?" inquired Peety; "for +as for me that hears everything almost, the never a word I heard o' +this." + +"I was in Dublin, thin, all the way," replied the farmer, "strivin' to +get a renewal o' my laise from ould Squire Chevydale, the landlord; an' +upon my snuggins, Peety, you may call a journey to Dublin an' home agin +a tough one--devil a doubt of it. However, thank God, here we are at +home; an' blessed be His name that we have a home to come to; for, +afther all, what place is like it? Throth, Peety, my heart longed for +these brave fields of ours--for the lough there below, and the wild +hills above us; for it wasn't until I was away from them that I felt how +strong the love of them was in my heart." + +M'Mahon was an old but hale man, with a figure and aspect that were much +above the common order even of the better class of peasants. There could +be no mistaking the decent and composed spirit of integrity which was +evident in his very manner; and there was something in his long flowing +locks, now tinged with gray, as they rested upon his shoulders, that +gave an air of singular respect to his whole appearance. + +On uttering the last words he stood, and looking around him became so +much affected that his eyes filled with tears. "Ay," said he, "thank +God that we have our place to come to, an' that we will still have it to +come to, and blessed be His name for all things! Come, Peety," he added, +after a pause, "let us see how they all are inside; I'm longin' to see +them, especially poor, dear Dora; an'--God bless me! here she is!--no, +she ran back to tell them--but ay--oh, ay! here she is again, my darlin' +girl, comin' to meet me." + +He had scarcely uttered the words when an interesting, slender girl, +about eighteen, blushing, and laughing, and crying, all at once, came +flying towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, fell +upon his bosom, kissed him, and wept with delight at his return. + +"An' so, father dear, you're back to us! My gracious, we thought you'd +never come home! Sure you worn't sick? We thought maybe that you took +ill, or that--that--something happened you; and we wanted to send Bryan +after you--but nothing happened you?--nor you worn't sick?" + +"You affectionate, foolish darlin', no, I wasn't sick; nor nothing ill +happened me, Dora." + +"Oh, thank God! Look at them," she proceeded, directing his attention +to the house, "look at them all crowdin' to the door--and here's Shibby, +too, and Bryan himself--an' see my mother ready to lep out of herself +wid pure joy--the Lord be praised that you're safe back!" + +At this moment his second daughter ran to him, and a repetition of +welcome similar to that which he received from Dora took place. His son +Bryan grasped his hand, and said, whilst a tear stood even in his eye, +that he was glad to see him safe home. The old man, in return, grasped +his hand with an expression of deep feeling, and after having inquired +if they had been all well in his absence, he proceeded with them to the +house. Here the scene was still more interesting. Mrs. M'Mahon stood +smiling at the door, but as he came near, she was obliged once or twice +to wipe away the tears with the corner of her handkerchief. We have +often observed how much fervid piety is mingled with the affections of +the Irish people when in a state of excitement; and this meeting between +the old man and his wife presented an additional proof of it. + +"Blessed be God!" exclaimed his wife, tenderly embracing* him, "blessed +be God, Tom darlin', that you're safe back to us! An' how are you, +avourueen? an' wor you well ever since? an' there was nothin--musha, go +out o' this, Ranger, you thief--oh, God forgive me! what am I sayin'? +sure the poor dog is as glad as the best of us--arrah, thin, look at the +affectionate crathur, a'most beside himself! Dora, avillish, give him +the could stirabout that's in the skillet, jist for his affection, the +crathur. Here, Ranger--Ranger, I say--oh no, sorra one's in the house +now but yourself, Tom. Well, an' there was nothing wrong wid you?" + +"Nothin', Nancy, thanks be to the Almighty--down, poor fellow--there +now, Ranger--och, behave, you foolish dog--musha, see this!" + +"Throth, Tom," continued his loving wife, "let what will happen, it's +the last journey ever we'll let you take from us. Ever an' ever, there +we wor thinkin' an' thinkin' a thousand things about you. At one time +that something happened you; then that you fell sick an' had none but +strangers about you. Throth we won't; let what will happen, you must +stay wid vis." + +"Indeed an' I never knew how I loved the place, an' you all, till I +went; but, thank God, I hope it's the last journey ever I'll have to +take from either you or it." + +"Shibby, run down to--or do you, Dora, go, you're the souplest--to Paddy +Mullen's and Jemmy Kelly's, and the rest of the neighbors, an' tell them +to come up, that your father's home. Run now, acushla, an' if you fall +don't wait to rise; an' Shibby, darlin', do you whang down a lot o' that +bacon into rashers, 'your father must be at death's door wid hunger; +but wasn't it well that I thought of having the whiskey in, for you see +afther Thursday last we didn't know what minute you'd dhrop in on us, +Tom, an' I said it was best to be prepared. Give Peety a chair, the +crature; come forrid, Peety, an' take a sate; an' how are you? an' how +is the girsha wid you, an' where is she?" + +To these questions, thus rapidly put, Peety returned suitable answers; +but indeed Mrs. M'Mahon did not wait to listen to them, having gone to +another room to produce the whisky she had provided for the occasion. + +"Here," she said, reappearing with a huge bottle in one hand and a glass +in the other, "a sip o' the right sort will help you afther your long +journey; you must be tired, be coorse, so take this." + +"Aisy, Bridget," exclaimed her husband, "don't fill it; you'll make me +hearty." (* tipsy) + +"Throth an' I will fill it," she replied, "ay, an' put a heap on it. +There now, finish that bumper." + +The old man, with a smiling and happy face, received the glass, and +taking his wife's hand in his, looked at her, and then upon them all, +with an expression of deep emotion. "Bridget, your health; childre', all +your healths; and here's to Carriglasa, an' may we long live happy in +it, as we will, plase God! Peety, not forgettin' you!" + +We need hardly say that the glass went round, nor that Peety was not +omitted in the hospitality any more than in the toast. + +"Here, Bryan," said Mrs. M'Mahon, "lay that bottle on the dresser, it's +not worth while puttin' it past till the neighbors comes up; an' it's +they that'll be the glad neighbors to see you safe back agin, Tom." + +In this she spoke truth. Honest and hearty was the welcome he received +from them, as with sparkling eyes and a warm grasp they greeted him +on his return. Not only had Paddy Mullin and Jemmy Kelly run up in +haste--the latter, who had been digging in his garden, without waiting +to put on his hat or coat--but other families in the neighborhood, young +and old, crowded in to welcome him home---from Dublin--for in that lay +the principal charm. The bottle was again produced, and a holiday spirit +now prevailed among them. Questions upon questions were put to him with +reference to the wonders they had heard of the great metropolis--of +the murders and robberies committed upon travellers--the kidnapping of +strangers from the country--the Lord Lieutenant's Castle, with three +hundred and sixty-four windows in it, and all the extraordinary sights +and prodigies which it is supposed to contain. In a few minutes after +this friendly accession to their numbers had taken place, a youth +entered about nineteen years of age--handsome, tall, and well-made--in +fact, such a stripling as gave undeniable promise of becoming a fine, +powerful young man. On being handed a glass of whiskey he shook hands +with M'Mahon, welcomed him home, and then drank all their healths by +name until he came to that of Dora, when he paused, and, coloring, +merely nodded towards her. We cannot undertake to account for this +omission, nor do more than record what actually happened. Neither do we +know why Dora blushed so deeply as she did, nor why the sparkling and +rapid glance which she gave him in return occasioned him to look down +with an appearance of confusion and pain. That some understanding +subsisted between young Cavanagh--for he was Gerald's son--and Dora +might have been evident to a close observer; but in truth there was +at that moment no such thing as a close observer among them, every eye +being fixed with impatience and curiosity upon Tom M'Mahon, who had now +most of the conversation to himself, little else being left to the share +of his auditors than the interjectional phrases and exclamations of +wonder at his extraordinary account of Dublin. + +"But, father," said Bryan, "about the business that brought you there? +Did you get the Renewal?" + +"I got as good," replied the simple-hearted old man, "an' that was the, +word of a gintleman--an' sure they say that that's the best security in +the world." + +"Well, but how was it?" they exclaimed, "an' how did it happen that you +didn't get the Lease itself?" + +"Why, you see," he proceeded in reply, "the poor gintleman was near his +end--an' it was owin' to Pat Corrigan that I seen him at all--for Pat, +you know, is his own man. When I went in to where he sat I found Mr. +Fethertonge the agent wid him: he had a night-cap on, an' was sittin' +in a big armchair, wid one of his feet an' a leg swaythed wid flannel. I +thought he was goin' to write or sign papers. 'Well, M'Mahon,' says +he--for he was always as keen as a briar, an' knew me at once--'what do +you want? an' what has brought you from the country?' I then spoke to him +about the new lease; an' he said to Fethertonge, 'prepare M'Mahon's +lease, Fothertonge;--you shall have a new lease, M'Mahon. You are an +honest man, and your family have been so for many a long year upon +our property. As my health is unsartin,' he said, turning to Mr. +Fethertonge, 'I take Mr. Fethertonge here to witness, that in case +anything should happen me I give you my promise for a renewal--an' not +only in my name alone, but in my son's; an' I now lave it upon him to +fulfil my intentions an' my words, if I should not live to see it done +myself. Mr. Fethertonge here has brought me papers to sign, but I am not +able to hould a pen, or if I was I'd give you a written promise; but +you have my solemn word, I fear my dyin' word, in Mr. Fethertonge's +presence--that you shall have a lease of your farm at the ould rint. It +is such tenants as you we want, M'Mahon, an' that we ought to encourage +on our property. Fethertonge, do you in the mane time see that a lease +is prepared for M'Mahon; an' see, at all events, that my wishes shall be +carried into effect.' Sich was his last words to me, but he was a corpse +on the next day but one afterwards." + +"It's jist as good," they exclaimed with one voice; "for what is +betther, or what can be betther than _the word of an Irish gentleman?_" + +"What ought to be betther, at all events?" said Bryan. "Well, father, so +far everything is right, for there is no doubt but his son will fulfil +his words--Mr. Fethertonge himself isn't the thing; but I don't see why +he should be our enemy. We always stood well with the ould man, an' I +hope will with the son. Come, mother, move the bottle again--there's +another round in it still; an' as everything looks so well and our mind +is aisy, we'll see it to the bottom." + +The conversation was again resumed, questions were once more asked +concerning the sights and sounds of Dublin, of which one would imagine +they could scarcely ever hear enough, until the evening was tolerably +far advanced, when the neighbors withdrew to their respective homes, and +left M'Mahon and his family altogether to themselves. + +Peety, now that the joy and gratulation for the return of their +father had somewhat subsided, lost no time in delivering Hycy Burke's +communication into the hands of Bryan. The latter, on opening it, +started with surprise not inferior to that with which Kathleen Cavanagh +had perused the missive addressed to her. Nor was this all. The letter +received by Bryan, as if the matter had been actually designed by the +writer, produced the selfsame symptoms of deep resentment upon him that +the mild and gentle Kathleen Cavanagh experienced on the perusal of her +own. His face became flushed and his eye blazed with indignation as +he went through its contents; after which he once more looked at the +superscription, and notwithstanding the vehement passion into which it +had thrown him, he was ultimately obliged to laugh. + +"Peety," said he, resuming his gravity, "you carried a letter from Hycy +Burke to Kathleen Cavanagh to-day?" + +"Who says that?" replied Peety, who could not but remember the solemnity +of his promise to that accomplished gentleman. + +"I do, Peety." + +"Well, I can't help you, Bryan, nor prevent you from thinking so, +sure--stick to that." + +"Why, I know you did, Peety." + +"Well, acushla, an' if you do, your only so much the wiser." + +"Oh, I understand," continued Bryan, "it's a private affair, or intended +to be so--an' Mr. Hycy has made you promise not to spake of it." + +"Sure you know all about it, Bryan; an' isn't that enough for you? Only +what answer am I to give him?" + +"None at present, Peety; but say I'll see himself in a day or two." + +"That's your answer, then?" + +"That's all the answer I can give till I see himself, as I said." + +"Well, good-bye, Bryan, an' God be wid you!" + +"Good-bye, Peety!" and thus they parted. + + + + +CHAPTER III.--Jemmy Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of + +--Hycy and a Confidant + + +Hycy Burke was one of those persons who, under the appearance of a +somewhat ardent temperament, are capable of abiding the issue of +an event with more than ordinary patience. Having not the slightest +suspicion of the circumstance which occasioned Bryan M'Mahon's +resentment, he waited for a day of two under the expectation that his +friend was providing the sum necessary to accommodate him. The third +and fourth days passed, however, without his having received any reply +whatsoever; and Hycy, who had set his heart upon Crazy Jane, on +finding that his father--who possessed as much firmness as he did of +generosity--absolutely refused to pay for her, resolved to lose no more +time in putting Bryan's friendship to the test. To this, indeed, he was +urged by Burton, a wealthy but knavish country horse-dealer, as we said, +who wrote to him that unless he paid for her within a given period, he +must be under the necessity of closing with a person who had offered +him a higher price. This message was very offensive to Hycy, whose +great foible, as the reader knows, was to be considered a gentleman, not +merely in appearance, but in means and circumstances. He consequently +had come to the determination of writing again to M'Mahon upon the same +subject, when chance brought them together in the market of Ballymacan. + +After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the +matter:-- + +"I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane," +said he, "and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty +deeply in your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe." + +"I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but, +as you like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no +money." + +Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a +minute, and said in quite a different tone-- + +"What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?" + +"Not knowingly--but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say about +it." + +"I'm not aware of it," replied the other---"my word and honor I'm not." + +Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not +openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the +grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and +Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection, +would have been an act of great presumption on his part. + +"Good-bye, Hycy," said he; "I have tould you my mind, and now I've done +with it." + +"With all my heart!" said the other--"that's a matter of taste on your +part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in +your pocket. It's all right, I suppose--but you know best. Good-bye +to you, at all events," he added; "be a good boy and take care of +yourself." + +M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not. + +"By all that deserves an oath," exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after +him, "if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you +your insulting conduct this day--and that I'll soon make you feel to +your cost!" + +This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much +mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through +the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could +judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked +with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their +loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other +parts of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At +length he seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say +which, and stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes +quite unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success +with which he did it--when, on looking down the street, he observed a +little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with +freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the +saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately +between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In +addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow +legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with +his whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was +nevertheless indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore +neither stockings nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong +clouted brogues upon his feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs +and a breast that were covered over with a fell of red close hair that +might have been long and strong enough for a badger. He carried in his +hand a short whip, resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such +a description as no man that had any regard for his health would wish to +come in contact with, especially from the hand of such a double-jointed +but misshapen Hercules as bore it. + +"Ted, how goes it, my man?" + +"_Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?_" replied Ted, surveying him with a +stare. + +"D--n you!" was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived +that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The +latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:--"I was about to abuse +you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me," he said, "until I saw +Jennings, and then I _had_ you." + +"Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the _Bairlha_ (* English +tongue)--'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you +'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy." + +"D--n your Gaelic!" replied Hycy--"no, I won't--I don't speak it." + +"The Laud forget you for that!" replied Ted, with a grin; "my ould +grandmudher might larn it from you--hach, ach, ha!" + +"None of your d--d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you." + +"Fwhat would her be?" asked Ted, with a face in which there might be +read such a compound of cunning, vacuity, and ferocity as could rarely +be witnessed in the same countenance. + +"Can you come down to me to-night?" + +"No; I'll be busy." + +"Where are you at work now?" + +"In Glendearg, above." + +"Well, then, if you can't come to me, I must only go to you. Will you be +there tonight? I wish to speak to you on very particular business." + +"Shiss; you _will_, dhin, wanst more?" asked the other, significantly. + +"I think so." + +"Shiss--ay--vary good. Fwen will she come?" + +"About eleven or twelve; so don't be from about the place anywhere." + +"Shiss---dhin--vary good. Is dhat all?" + +"That's all now. Are your turf _dry_ or _wet_* to-day?" + + * One method of selling Poteen is by bringing in kishes of + turf to the neighboring markets, when those who are up to + the secret purchase the turf, or pretend to do so; and while + in the act of discharging the load, the Keg of Poteen is + quickly passed into the house of him who purchases the + turf.--Are your turf wet or dry? was, consequently, a pass- + word. + +"Not vary dhry," replied Ted, with a grin so wide that, as was +humorously said by a neighbor of his, "it would take a telescope to +enable a man to see from the one end of it to the other." + +Hycy nodded and laughed, and Ted, cracking his whip, proceeded up the +town to sell his turf. + +Hycy now sauntered about through the market, chatting here and there +among acquaintances, with the air of a man to whom neither life nor +anything connected with it could occasion any earthly trouble. Indeed, +it mattered little what he felt, his easiness of manner was such that +not one of his acquaintances could for a moment impute to him the +possibility of ever being weighed down by trouble or care of any kind; +and lest his natural elasticity of spirits might fail to sustain this +perpetual buoyancy, he by no means neglected to fortify himself with +artificial support. Meet him when or where you might, be it at six +in the morning or twelve at night, you were certain to catch from his +breath the smell of liquor, either in its naked simplicity or disguised +and modified in some shape. + +His ride home, though a rapid, was by no means a pleasing one. M'Mahon +had not only refused to lend him the money he stood in need of, but +actually quarrelled with him, as far as he could judge, for no other +purpose but that he might make the quarrel a plea for refusing him. This +disappointment, to a person of Hycy's disposition, was, we have seen, +bitterly vexatious, and it may be presumed that he reached home in +anything but an agreeable humor. Having dismounted, he was about to +enter the hall-door, when his attention was directed towards that of the +kitchen by a rather loud hammering, and on turning his eyes to the +spot he found two or three tinkers very busily engaged in soldering, +clasping, and otherwise repairing certain vessels belonging to that warm +and spacious establishment. The leader of these vagrants was a man named +Philip Hogan, a fellow of surprising strength and desperate character, +whose feats of hardihood and daring had given him a fearful notoriety +over a large district of the country. Hogan was a man whom almost every +one feared, being, from confidence, we presume, in his great strength, +as well as by nature, both insolent, overbearing, and ruffianly in the +extreme. His inseparable and appropriate companion was a fierce and +powerful bull-dog of the old Irish breed, which he had so admirably +trained that it was only necessary to give him a sign, and he would +seize by the throat either man or beast, merely in compliance with the +will of his master. On this occasion he was accompanied by two of his +brothers, who were, in fact, nearly as impudent and offensive ruffians +as himself. Hycy paused for a moment, seemed thoughtful, and tapped his +boot with the point of his whip as he looked at them. On entering the +parlor he found dinner over, and his father, as was usual, waiting to +get his tumbler of punch. + +"Where's my mother?" he asked--"where's Mrs. Burke?" + +On uttering the last words he raised his voice so as she might +distinctly hear him. + +"She's above stairs gettin' the whiskey," replied his father, "and God +knows she's long enough about it." + +Hycy ran up, and meeting her on the lobby, said, in a low, anxious +voice-- + +"Well, what news? Will he stand it?" + +"No," she replied, "you may give up the notion--he won't do it, an' +there's no use in axin' him any more." + +"He won't do it!" repeated the son; "are you certain now?" + +"Sure an' sartin. I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' +worse he got." + +Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are +not in possession at present; he immediately added:-- + +"Well, never mind. Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am--to be united to such +a d--d--hem!--to such a--a--such a--gentleman!" + +Mrs. Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to +indulge in any compassion of the kind. + +"The thing's now past cure," she said; "I'm a marthyr, an' that's all +that's about it. Come down till I get you your dinner." + +Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the "Bay +of Biscay:"-- + + "'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, + The rain a deluge pours; + The clouds were rent asunder + By light'ning's vivid--' + +By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing +at the kitchen door there?" + +"Troth, whatever they like," she replied. "I tould that vagabond, +Philip, that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best +judge of that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, +an' takes everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat +a mendin' an' sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' +'by your lave.'" + +"It's perfectly well known that they're robbers," said Hycy, "and the +general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who +are in this part of the country at present. However, I'll speak to the +ruffians about such conduct." + +He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal +to one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood. +During a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, +but of what character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the +distance at which they stood rendered it impossible for any one to +ascertain. Hycy then returned to dinner, whilst his father in the +meantime sat smoking his pipe, and sipping from time to time at his +tumbler of punch. Mrs. Burke, herself, occupied an arm-chair to the +left of the fire, engaged at a stocking which was one of a pair that she +contrived to knit for her husband during every twelve months; and on +the score of which she pleaded strong claims to a character of most +exemplary and indefatigable industry. + +"Any news from the market, Hycy?" said his father. + +"Yes," replied Hycy, in that dry ironical tone which he always used to +his parents--"rather interesting--Ballymacan is in the old place." + +"Bekaise," replied his father, with more quickness than might be +expected, as he whiffed away the smoke with a face of very sarcastic +humor; "I hard it had gone up a bit towards the mountains--but I knew +you wor the boy could tell me whether it had or not--ha!--ha!--ha!" + +This rejoinder, in addition to the intelligence Hycy had just received +from his mother, was not calculated to improve his temper. "You may +laugh," he replied; "but if your respectable father had treated you in a +spirit so stingy and beggarly as that which I experience at your hands, +I don't know how you might have borne it." + +"My father!" replied Burke; "take your time, Hycy--my hand to you, he +had a different son to manage from what I have." + +"God sees that's truth," exclaimed his wife, turning the expression to +her son's account. + +"I was no gentleman, Hycy," Burke proceeded. + +"Ah, is it possible?" said the son, with a sneer. "Are you sure of that, +now?" + +"Nor no spendthrift, Hycy." + +"No," said the wife, "you never had the spirit; you were ever and always +a _molshy_." (* A womanly, contemptible fellow) + +"An' yet _molshy_ as I was," he replied, "you wor glad to catch me. +But Hycy, my good boy, I didn't cost my father at the rate of from a +hundre'-an'-fifty to two-hundre'-a-year, an' get myself laughed at and +snubbed by my superiors, for forcin' myself into their company." + +"Can't you let the boy ait his dinner in peace, at any rate?" said his +mother. "Upon my credit I wouldn't be surprised if you drove him away +from us altogether." + +"I only want to drive him into common sense, and the respectful feeling +he ought to show to both you an' me, Rosha," said Burke; "if he expects +to have either luck or grace, or the blessing of God upon him, he'll +change his coorses, an' not keep breakin' my heart as he's doin'." + +"Will you pay for the mare I bought, father?" asked Hycy, very +seriously. "I have already told you, that I paid three guineas earnest; +I hope you will regard your name and family so far as to prevent me from +breaking my word--besides leading the world to suppose that you are a +poor man." + +"Regard my name and family!" returned the father, with a look of +bitterness and sorrow; "who is bringin' them into disgrace, Hycy?" + +"In the meantime," replied the son, "I have asked a plain question, Mr. +Burke, and I expect a plain answer; will you pay for the mare?" + +"An' supposin' I don't?" + +"Why, then, Mr. Burke, if you don't you won't, that's all." + +"I must stop some time," replied his father, "an' that is now. I wont +pay for her." + +"Well then, sir, I shall feel obliged, as your respectable wife has just +said, if you will allow me to eat, and if possible, live in peace." + +"I'm speakin' only for your--" + +"That will do now--hush--silence if you please." + +"Hycy dear," said the mother; "why would you ax him another question +about it? Drop the thing altogether." + +"I will, mother, but I pity you; in the meantime, I thank you, ma'am, of +your advice." + +"Hycy," she continued, with a view of changing the conversation; "did +you hear that Tom M'Bride's dead?" + +"No ma'am, but I expected it; when did he die?" + +Before his father could reply, a fumbling was heard at the hall-door; +and, the next moment, Hogan, thrust in his huge head and shoulders began +to examine the lock by attempting to turn the key in it. + +"Hogan, what are you about?" asked Hycy. + +"I beg your pardon," replied the ruffian; "I only wished to know if the +lock wanted mendin'--that was all, Misther Hycy." + +"Begone, sirra," said the other; "how dare you have the presumption to +take such a liberty? you impudent scoundrel! Mother, you had better pay +them," he added; "give the vagabonds anything they ask, to get rid of +them." + +Having dined, her worthy son mixed a tumbler of punch, and while +drinking it, he amused himself, as was his custom, by singing snatches +of various songs, and drumming with his fingers upon the table; whilst +every now and then he could hear the tones of his mother's voice in high +altercation with Hogan and his brothers. This, however, after a time, +ceased, and she returned to the parlor a good deal chafed by the +dispute. + +"There's one thing I wonder at," she observed, "that of all men in the +neighborhood, Gerald Cavanagh would allow sich vagabonds as they an Kate +Hogan is, to put in his kiln. Troth, Hycy," she added, speaking to him +in a warning and significant tone of voice, "if there wasn't something +low an' mane in him, he wouldn't do it." + + "'Tis when the cup is smiling before us. + And we pledge unto our hearts--' + +"Your health, mother. Mr. Burke, here's to you! Why I dare say you are +right, Mrs. Burke. The Cavanagh family is but an upstart one at best; +it wants antiquity, ma'am--a mere affair of yesterday, so what after all +could you expect from it?" + +Honest Jemmy looked at him and then groaned. "An upstart +family!--that'll do--oh, murdher--well, 'tis respectable at all events; +however, as to havin' the Hogans about them--they wor always about them; +it was the same in their father's time. I remember ould Laghlin Hogan, +an' his whole clanjamfrey, men an' women, young an' old, wor near six +months out o' the year about ould Gerald Cavanagh's--the present man's +father; and another thing you may build upon--that whoever ud chance +to speak a hard word against one o' the Cavanagh family, before Philip +Hogan or any of his brothers, would stand a strong chance of a shirtful +o' sore bones. Besides, we all know how Philip's father saved Mrs. +Cavanagh's life about nine or ten months after her marriage. At any +rate, whatever bad qualities the vagabonds have, want of gratitude isn't +among them." + + "'------That are true, boys, true, + The sky of this life opens o'er us, + And heaven--' + +M'Bride, ma'am, will be a severe loss to his family." + +"Throth he will, and a sarious loss--for among ourselves, there was none +o' them like him." + + "'Gives a glance of its blue--' + +"I think I ought to go to the wake to-night. I know it's a bit of a +descent on my part, but still it is scarcely more than is due to a +decent neighbor. Yes, I shall go; it is determined on." + + "'I ga'ed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate I fear I'll dearly rue; + I gat my death frae twa sweet een, + Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.' + +"Mine are brown, Mrs. Burke--the eyes you wot of; but alas! the family is +an upstart one, and that is strongly against the Protestant interest in +the case. Heigho!" + +Jemmy Burke, having finished his after-dinner pipe and his daily tumbler +both together, went out to his men; and Hycy, with whom he had left the +drinking materials, after having taken a tumbler or two, put on a strong +pair of boots, and changed the rest of his dress for a coarser 'suit, +bade his mother a polite good-bye, and informed her, that as he intended +to be present at M'Bride's wake he would most probably not return until +near morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IV.--A Poteen Still-House at Midnight--Its Inmates. + +About three miles in a south-western direction from Burke's residence, +the country was bounded by a range of high hills and mountains of a very +rugged and wild, but picturesque description. Although a portion of +the same landscape, yet nothing could be more strikingly distinct in +character than the position of the brown wild hills, as contrasted with +that of the mountains from which they abutted. The latter ran in long +and lofty ranges that were marked by a majestic and sublime simplicity, +whilst the hills were of all shapes and sizes, and seemed as if cast +about at random. As a matter of course the glens and valleys that +divided them ran in every possible direction, sometimes crossing and +intersecting each other at right angles, and sometimes running parallel, +or twisting away in opposite directions. In one of those glens that lay +nearest the mountains, or rather indeed among them, was a spot which +from its peculiar position would appear to have been designed from the +very beginning as a perfect paradise for the illicit distiller. It was a +kind of back chamber in the mountains, that might, in fact, have escaped +observation altogether, as it often did. The approach to it was by a +long precipitous glen, that could be entered only at its lower end, and +seemed to terminate against the abrupt side of the mountain, like a +cul de sac. At the very extremity, however, of this termination, and a +little on the right-hand side, there was a steep, narrow pass leading +into a recess which was completely encompassed by precipices. From this +there was only one means of escape independently of the gut through +which it was entered. The moors on the side most approachable were +level, and on a line to the eye with that portion of the mountains which +bounded it on the opposite side, so that as one looked forward the space +appeared to be perfectly continuous, and consequently no person could +suspect that there lay so deep and precipitous a glen between them. + +In the northern corner of this remarkable locality, a deep cave, having +every necessary property as a place for private distillation, ran under +the rocks, which met over it in a kind of gothic arch. A stream of water +just sufficient for the requisite purposes, fell in through a fissure +from above, forming such a little subterraneous cascade in the cavern +as human design itself could scarcely have surpassed in felicity of +adaptation to the objects of an illicit distiller. + +To this cave, then, we must take the liberty of transporting our +readers, in order to give them an opportunity of getting a peep at +the inside of a Poteen Still-house, and of hearing a portion of +conversation, which, although not remarkable for either elegance or +edification, we are, nevertheless, obliged to detail, as being in some +degree necessary to the elucidation of our narrative. Up in that end +which constituted the termination of the cave, and fixed upon a large +turf fire which burned within a circle of stones that supported it, was +a tolerably-sized Still, made of block-tin. The mouth of this Still was +closed by an air-tight cover, also of tin, called the Head, from which a +tube of the same metal projected into a large keeve, or condenser, that +was kept always filled with cool water by an incessant stream from the +cascade we have described, which always ran into and overflowed it. The +arm of this head was fitted and made air-tight, also, into a spiral tube +of copper, called the Worm, which rested in the water of the cooler; and +as it consisted of several convolutions, like a cork-screw, its office +was to condense the hot vapor which was transmitted to it from the +glowing Still into that description of spirits known as poteen. At the +bottom of this cooler, the Worm terminated in a small cock or spigot, +from which the spirits projected in a slender stream, about the +thickness of a quill, into a vessel placed for its reception. Such was +the position of the Still, Head, and Worm, when in full operation. +Fixed about the cave, upon rude stone stillions, were the usual vessels +requisite for the various processes through which it was necessary to +put the malt, before the wort, which is its first liquid shape, was +fermented, cleared off, and thrown into the Still to be singled; for +our readers must know that distillation is a double process, the first +product being called singlings, and the second or last, doublings--which +is the perfect liquor. Sacks of malt, empty vessels, piles of turf, +heaps of grains, tubs of wash, and kegs of whiskey, were lying about in +all directions, together with pots, pans, wooden trenchers, and dishes, +for culinary uses. The seats were round stones and black bosses which +were made of a light hard moss found in the mountains and bogs, and +frequently used as seats in rustic chimney corners. On entering, your +nose was assailed by such a mingled stench of warm grains, sour barm, +putrid potato skins, and strong whiskey, as required considerable +fortitude to bear without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. + +The persons assembled were in every way worthy of the place and its +dependencies. Seated fronting the fire was our friend Teddy Phats, which +was the only name he was ever known by, his wild, beetle brows lit into +a red, frightful glare of savage mirth that seemed incapable, in its +highest glee, to disengage itself entirely from an expression of the +man's unquenchable ferocity. Opposite to him sat a tall, smut-faced, +truculent-looking young fellow, with two piercing eyes and a pair of +grim brows, which, when taken into conjunction with a hard, unfeeling +mouth, from the corners of which two right lines ran down his chin, +giving that part of his face a most dismal expression, constituted +a countenance that matched exceedingly well with the visage of Teddy +Phats. This worthy gentleman was a tinker, and one of Hogan's brothers, +whom we have already introduced to our readers. Scattered about the fire +and through the cavern were a party of countrymen who came to purchase +whiskey for a wedding, and three or four publicans and shebeenmen who +had come on professional business. Some were drinking, some indulging in +song, and some were already lying drunk or asleep in different parts +of this subterraneous pandemonium. Exalted in what was considered the +position of honor sat a country hedge-schoolmaster, his mellow eye +beaming with something between natural humor, a sense of his own +importance, and the influence of pure whiskey, fresh it is called, from +the Still-eye. + +"Here, Teddy," said one of the countrymen, "will you fill the bottle +again." + +"No," replied Teddy, who though as cunning as the devil himself, could +seldom be got to speak anything better than broken English, and that of +such a character that it was often scarcely intelligible. + +"No," he replied; "I gav'd you wan bottle 'idout payment fwhor her, an' +by shapers I won't give none oder." + +"Why, you burning beauty, aren't we takin' ten gallons, an' will you +begrudge us a second bottle?" + +"Shiss--devil purshue de bottle more ye'll drunk here 'idout de +_airigad_, (* Money) dat's fwhat you will." + +"Teddy," said the schoolmaster, "I drink propitiation to you as a +profissional gintle-man! No man uses more indepindent language than you +do. You are under no earthly obligation to Messrs. Syntax and Prosody. +Grammar, my worthy friend, is banished as an intruder from your +elocution, just as you would exclude a gauger from your Still-house." + +"Fwhat about de gagur!" exclaimed Teddy, starting; "d--n him an' +shun-tax an' every oder tax, rint an' all--hee! hee! hee!" + +We may as well let our readers know, before we proceed farther, that in +the opinion of many, Teddy Phats understood and could speak English as +well as any man of his station in the country. In fairs or markets, or +other public places, he spoke, it is true, nothing but Irish unless in a +private way, and only to persons in whom he thought he could place every +confidence. It was often observed, however, that in such conversations +he occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English +to him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have +possessed a greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We +believe the fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller, +had found it, on some peculiar occasions connected with his profession, +rather an inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some +evidence in his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on +behalf of his friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to +believe, that the Irish language, when properly enunciated through the +medium of an interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially +when resorted to within the precincts of the country court-house and in +hearing of the judge. + +"You're a fool, Teddy," said Hogan; "let them drink themselves; +blind--this liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way, +why, blazes to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for +another cargo." + +Teddy immediately took the hint. + +"Barney Brogan," he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub, +half knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted +as messenger, spy, and vidette; "listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere +dat bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em--ha, ha, +ha!" + +"More power to you, Vaynus," exclaimed Keenan; "you're worth a thousand +pounds, quarry weight." + +"I am inclined to think, Mr. Keenan," said the schoolmaster, "that you +are in the habit occasionally of taking slight liberties wid the haythen +mythology. Little, I'll be bound, the divine goddess of beauty ever +dreamt she'd find a representative in Teddy Phats." + +"Bravo! masther," replied Keenan, "you're the boy can do--only that +English is too tall for me. At any rate," he added, approaching the +worthy preceptor, "take a spell o' this--it's a language we can all +understand." + +"You mane to say, Darby," returned the other, "that it's a kind of +universal spelling-book amongst us, and so it is--an alphabet aisily +larned. Your health, now and under all circumstances! Teddy, or +Thaddeus, I drink to your symmetry and inexplicable proportions; and +I say for your comfort, my worthy distillator, that if you are not so +refulgent in beauty as Venus, you are a purer haythen." + +"Fwhat a bloody fwhine _Bairlha_ man the meeisther is," said Teddy, with +a grin. "Fwhaicks, meeisthur, your de posey of Tullyticklem, spishilly +wid Captain Fwhiskey at your back. You spake de Bairlha up den jist all +as one as nobody could understand her--ha, ha, ha!" + +The master, whose name was Finigan, or, as he wished to be called, +O'Finigan, looked upon Teddy and shook his head very significantly. + +"I'm afraid, my worthy distallator," he proceeded, "that the proverb +which says '_latet anguis in herba_,' is not inapplicable in your +case. I think I can occasionally detect in these ferret-like orbs +that constitute such an attractive portion of your beauty, a passing +scintillation of intelligence which you wish to keep _a secretis_, as +they say." + +"Mr. Finigan," said Keenan, who had now returned to his friends, "if +you wouldn't be betther employed to-morrow, you'd be welcome to the +weddin'." + +"Many thanks, Mr. Keenan," replied Finigan; "I accept your hospitable +offer wid genuine cordiality. To-morrow will be a day worthy of a white +mark to all parties concerned. Horace calls it chalk, which is probably +the most appropriate substance with which the records of matrimonial +felicity could be registered, _crede experto_." + +"At any rate, Misther Finigan, give the boys a holiday to-morrow, and be +down wid us airly." + +"There is not," replied Finigan, who was now pretty well advanced, "I +believe widin the compass of written or spoken language--and I might +on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good +authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves +the beauty of elocution--I say, then, there is not widin the compass of +spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable +to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a _Plantation +Seminary_; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you +that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly +pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock." + +Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such +complacent volubility--a volubility that was deeply indebted to the +liquor he had taken--the following dialogue took place in a cautious +under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy. + +"So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?" + +"Shiss." + +"B--t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?" + +"No, I won't," replied the other, angrily; "I'll spake as I likes." + +"What brings him up, do you know?" + +"Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon _her_ here," he replied, +pointing to the still. "_You'll_ have a good job of her, fwhedher or +no." + +"Why, will he want a new one, do you think?" + +"Shiss, to be sure--would ye tink I'd begin to _run_ (* A slang phrase +for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token moreover, +dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets--hee! hee! hee!" + +"Well, all that's right--don't work for him widout a new one complate, +Teddy--Still, Head, and Worm." + +"Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't--he thried her afore, though." + +"Nonsense!--no he didn't." + +"Ah, ha! ay dhin--an' she milked well too--a good cow--a brave +_cheehony_ she was for him." + +"An' why did he give it up?" + +"Fwhy--fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he +couldn't hunt wid de _dinnaousais_--wid de gentlemans." + +"An' what if he's discovered now?" + +"Fwhat?--fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now an' +den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he +carries." + +"If I don't mistake," proceeded Hogan, "either himself or his family, +anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow." + +"Eh, Batt?" asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside +him during this dialogue--"how is dhat now?" + +"I don't rightly know--I can't say," replied Hogan, with a smile +murderously grim but knowing--"I'm not up; but the sportheen's a made +boy, I think." + +"_Dher cheerna!_ you _are_ up," said Teddy, giving him a furious glance +as he spoke; "there must be no saycrits, I say." + +"You're a blasted liar, I tell you--I am not, but I suspect--that's +all." + +"What brought you up dhis night?" asked Teddy, suspiciously. + +"Because I hard he was to come," replied his companion; "but whether or +not I'd be here." + +"_Tha sha maigh_--it's right--may be so--shiss, it's all right, may be +so--well?" + +Teddy, although he said it was all right, did not seem however to think +so. The furtive and suspicious glance which he gave Hogan from under his +red beetle brows should be seen in order to be understood. + +"Well?" said Hogan, re-echoing him--"it is well; an' what is more, my +Kate is to be up here wid a pair o' geese to roast for us, for we must +make him comfortable. She wint to thry her hand upon somebody's roost, +an' it'll go hard if she fails!" + +"Fwhail!" exclaimed Teddy, with a grin--"ah, the dioual a fwhail!" + +"An' another thing--he's comin' about Kathleen Cavanagh--Hycy is. He +wants to gain our intherest about her!" + +"Well, an' what harm?" + +"Maybe there is, though, it's whispered that he--hut! doesn't he say +himself that there isn't a girl of his own religion in the parish he'd +marry--now I'd like to see them married, Teddy, but as for anything +else--" + +"Hee! hee! hee!--well," exclaimed Teddy, with a horrible grimace that +gave his whole countenance a facequake, "an' maybe he's right. Maybe it +'udn't be aisy to get a colleen of his religion--I tink his religion is +fwhere Phiddher Fwhite's estate is--beyant the beyands, Avhere the mare +foaled the fwhiddler--hee! hee! hee!" + +"He had better thry none of his sckames wid any of the Cavanaghs," +said Bat, "for fraid he might be brought to bed of a mistake some fine +day--that's all I say; an' there's more eyes than mine upon him." + +This dialogue was nearly lost in the loudness of a debate which had +originated with Keenan and certain of his friends in the lower part of +the still-house. Some misunderstanding relative to the families of the +parties about to be united had arisen, and was rising rapidly into a +comparative estimate of the prowess and strength of their respective +factions, and consequently assuming a very belligerent aspect, when a +tall, lank, but powerful female, made her appearance, carrying a large +bundle in her hand. + +"More power, Kate!" exclaimed Hogan. "I knew she would," he added, +digging Teddy's ribs with his elbow. + +"Aisy, man!" said his companion; "if you love me, say so, but don't hint +it dat way." + +"Show forth, Kate!" proceeded her husband; "let us see the +prog--hillo!--oh, holy Moses! what a pair o' beauties!" + +He then whipped up a horn measure, that contained certainly more than +a naggin, and putting it under the warm spirits that came out of the +still-eye, handed it to her. She took it, and coming up towards the +fire, which threw out a strong light, nodded to them, and, without +saying a word, literally pitched it down her throat, whilst at the same +time one of her eyes presented undeniable proofs of a recent conflict. +We have said that there were several persons singing and dancing, +and some asleep, in the remoter part of the cave; and this was true, +although we refrained from mingling up either their mirth or melody with +the conversation of the principal personages. All at once, however, +a series of noises, equally loud and unexpected, startled melodists, +conversationalists, and sleepers all to their legs. These were no other +than the piercing cackles of two alarmed geese which Hogan's wife had +secured from some neighboring farmer, in order to provide a supper for +our friend Hycy. + +"Ted," said the female, "I lost my knife since I came out, or they'd be +quiet enough before this; lend me one a minute, you blissed babe." + +"Shiss, to be sure, Kate," he replied, handing her a large clasp knife +with a frightful blade; "an', Kate, whisper, woman alive--you're bought +up, I see." + +"How is that, you red rascal?" + +"Bekaise, don't I see dat de purchaser has set his mark upon ye?--hee! +hee! hee!" and he pointed to her eye* as he spoke. + + * A black eye is said to be the devil's mark. + +"No," she replied, nodding towards her husband, "that's his handy work; +an' ye divil's clip!" she added, turning to Teddy, "who has a betther +right?" + +She then bled the geese, and, looking about her, asked-- + +"Have you any wet hay or straw in the place?" + +"Ay, plenty of bote," replied Teddy; "an' here's de greeshavigh ready." + +She then wrapped the geese, feathers and all, separately in a covering +of wet hay, which she bound round them with thumb-ropes of the same +material, and clearing away a space among the burning ashes, placed each +of them in it, and covered them up closely. + +"Now," said she, "put down a pot o' praities, and we won't go to bed +fastin'." + +The different groups had now melted into one party, much upon the same +principle that the various little streamlets on the mountains around +them all run, when swollen by a sudden storm, into some larger torrent +equally precipitous and turbulent. Keenan, who was one of those +pertinacious fellows that are equally quarrelsome and hospitable when in +liquor, now resumed the debate with a characteristic impression of the +pugilistic superiority of his family:-- + +"I am right, I say: I remember it well, for although I wasn't there +myself, my father was, an' I often h'ard him say--God rest his +sowl!"--here he reverently took off his hat and looked upwards--"I often +h'ard him say that Paddy Keenan gave Mullin the first knock-down blow, +an' Pether--I mane no disrespect, but far from it--give us your hand, +man alive--you're going to be married upon my shisther to-morrow, +plaise God!--masther, you'll come, remimber? you'll be as welcome as the +flowers o' May, masther--so, Pether, as I was sayin'--I mane no offince +nor disrespect to you or yours, for you are, an' ever was, a daisent +family, an' well able to fight your corner when it came upon you--but +still, Pether--an' for all that--I say it--an' I'll stand to it--I'll +stand it--that's the chat!--that, man for man, there never was one +o' your seed, breed, or generation able to fight a Keenan--that's the +chat!--here's luck! + + "'Oh, 'twas in the month of May, + When the lambkins sport and play, + As I walked out to gain raycrayation, + I espied a comely maid. + Sequestrin' in the shade-- + On her beauty I gazed wid admiraytion,' + +No, Pether, you never could; the Mullins is good men--right good men, +but they couldn't do it." + +"Barney," said the brother of the bridegroom, "you may thank God that +Pether is going to be married to your sisther to-morrow as you say, or +we'd larn you another lesson--eh, masther? That's the chat too--ha! ha! +ha! To the divil wid sich impedence!" + +"Gintlemen," said Finigan, now staggering down towards the parties, "I +am a man of pacific principles, acquainted wid the larned languages, +wid mathematics, wid philosophy, the science of morality according to +Fluxions--I grant you, I'm not college-bred; but, gintlemen, I never +invied the oysther in its shell--for, gintlemen, I'm not ashamed of +it, but I acquired--I absorbed my laming, I may say, upon locomotive +principles." + +"Bravo, masther!" said Keenan; "that's what some o' them couldn't say--" + +"Upon locomotive principles. I admit Munster, gintlemen--glorious +Kerry!--yes, and I say I am not ashamed of it. I do plead guilty to the +peripatetic system: like a comet I travelled during my juvenile days--as +I may truly assert wid a slight modicum of latitude" (here he lurched +considerably to the one side)--"from star to star, until I was able to +exhibit all their brilliancy united simply, I can safely assert, in my +own humble person. Gintlemen, I have the honor of being able to write +'Philomath' after my name--which is O'Finigan, not Finigan, by any +means--and where is the oyster in his shell could do that? Yes, and +although they refused me a sizarship in Trinity College--for what will +not fear and envy do? + + "'Tantaene animis celesiibus irae' + +Yet I have the consolation to know that my name is seldom mentioned +among the literati of classical Kerry--_nudis cruribus_ as they +are--except as the Great O'Finigan! In the mane time--" + +"Bravo, Masther!" exclaimed Keenan, interrupting him. "Here, Ted! +another bottle, till the Great O'Finigan gets a glass of whiskey." + +"Yes, gintlemen," proceeded O'Finigan, "the alcohol shall be accepted, +_puris naturalibus_--which means, in its native--or more properly--but +which comes to the same thing--in its naked state; and, in the mane +time, I propose the health of one of my best benefactors--Gerald +Cavanagh, whose hospitable roof is a home--a domicilium to erudition +and respectability, when they happen, as they ought, to be legitimately +concatenated in the same person--as they are in your humble servant; and +I also beg leave to add the pride of the barony, his fair and virtuous +daughter, Kathleen, in conjunction wid the I accomplished son of another +benefactor of mine--honest James Burke--in conjunction, I say, wid his +son, Mr. Hyacinth. Ah, gintlemen--Billy Clinton, you thievin' villain! +you don't pay attention; I say, gintlemen, if I myself could deduct +a score of years from the period of my life, I should endeavor to run +through the conjugations of _amo_ in society wid that pearl of beauty. +In the mane time--" + +"Here's her health, masther," returned Keenan, "an' her father's too, +an' Hycy Burke's into the bargain--is there any more o' them? Well, no +matter." Then turning to his antagonist, he added, "I say agin, thin, +that a Mullin's not a match for a Keenan, nor never was--no, nor never +will be! That's the chat! and who's afeard to say it? eh, masther?" + +"It's a lie!" shouted one of the opposite party; "I'm able to lick e'er +a Keenan that ever went on nate's leather--an' that's my chat." + +A blow from Keenan in reply was like a spark to gunpowder. In a moment +the cavern presented a scene singularly tragic-comic; the whole party +was one busy mass of battle, with the exception of Ted and Batt, and the +wife of the latter, who, having first hastily put aside everything that +might be injured, stood enjoying the conflict with most ferocious glee, +the schoolmaster having already withdrawn himself to his chair. Even +Barney Broghan, the fool, could not keep quiet, but on the contrary, +thrust himself into the quarrel, and began to strike indiscriminately at +all who came in his way, until an unlucky blow on the nose happening, +to draw his claret very copiously, he made a bound up behind the sill, +uttering a series of howlings, as from time to time he looked at his own +blood, that were amusing in the extreme. As it happened, however, the +influence of liquor was too strong upon both parties to enable them +to inflict on each other any serious injury. Such, however, was the +midnight pastime of the still-house when our friend Hycy entered. + +"What in the devil's name--or the guager's--which is worse--" he asked, +addressing himself to Batt and Teddy, "is the meaning of all this?" + +"Faith, you know a'most as much about it," replied Hogan, laughing, "as +we do; they got drunk, an' that accounts for it." + +"Mr. Burke," said Finigan, who was now quite tipsy; "I am delighted to +be able to--to--yes, it is he," he added, speaking to himself--"to see +you well." + +"I have my doubts as to that, Mr. Finigan," replied Hycy. + +"Fame, Mr. Burke," continued the other, "has not been silent with regard +to your exploits. Your horsemanship, sir, and the trepid pertinacity +with which you fasten upon the reluctant society of men of rank, have +given you a notorious celebrity, of which your worthy father, honest +Jemmy, as he is called, ought to be justly proud. And you shine, Mr. +Burke, in the loves as well as in the--_tam veneri quam_--I was about to +add _Marti_, but it would be inappropriate, or might only remind you +of poor Biddy Martin. It is well known you are a most accomplished +gintleman, Mr. Burke--_homo fadus ad unguem--ad unguem_." + +Hycy would have interrupted the schoolmaster, but that he felt puzzled +as to whether he spoke seriously or ironically; his attention besides +was divided between him and the party in conflict. + +"Come," said he, addressing Hogan and Teddy, "put an end to this work, +and why did you, you misbegotten vagabond," he added, turning to the +latter, "suffer these fellows to remain here when you knew I was to come +up?" + +"I must shell my fwisky," replied Teddy, sullenly, "fwhedher you come or +stay." + +"If you don't clear the place of them instantly," replied Hycy, "I shall +return home again." + +Hogan seemed a good deal alarmed at this intimation, and said--"Ay, +indeed, Terry, we had better put them out o' this." + +"Fwhor fwhat?" asked Teddy, "dere my best customers shure--an' fwlay +would I quarrel wid 'em all fwor wan man?" + +"Good-night, then, you misshapen ruffian," said Burke, about to go. + +"Aisy, Mr. Burke," said. Hogan; "well soon make short work wid them. +Here, Ted, you devil's catch-penny, come an' help me! Hillo, here!" he +shouted, "what are you at, you gallows crew? Do you want to go to the +stone jug, I say? Be off out o' this--here's the guager, blast him, an' +the sogers! Clear out, I tell you, or every mother's son of you will +sleep undher the skull and cross-bones to-night." (* Meaning the County +Prison) + +"Here you, Barney," whispered Teddy, who certainly did not wish that +Burke should return as he came; "here, you great big fwhool you, give +past your yowlin' dere--and lookin' at your blood--run out dere, come in +an' shout the gauger an' de sogers." + +Barney, who naturally imagined that the intelligence was true, complied +with the order he had received in a spirit of such alarming and dreadful +earnestness, that a few minutes found the still-house completely cleared +of the two parties, not excepting Hogan himself, who, having heard +nothing of Teddy's directions to the fool, took it now for granted that +that alarm was a real one, and ran along with the rest. The schoolmaster +had fallen asleep, Kate Hogan was engaged in making preparations for +supper at the lower end of the casern, and the fool had been dispatched +to fetch Hogan himself back, so that Hycy now saw there was a good +opportunity for stating at more length than he could in the market the +purpose of his visit. + +"Teddy," said he, "now that the coast's clear, let us lose no time in +coming to the point. You are aware that Bryan M'Mahon has come into the +mountain farm of Ahadarra by the death of his uncle." + +"Shiss; dese three years." + +"You will stick to your cursed brogue," said the other; "however, that's +your own affair. You are aware of this?" + +"I am." + +"Well, I have made my mind up to take another turn at this," and he +tapped the side of the still with his stick; "and I'll try it there. I +don't know a better place, and it is much more convenient than this." + +Teddy looked at him from under his brows, but seemed rather at a loss to +comprehend his meaning. + +"Fwor fhy 'ud you go to Ahadarra?" + +"It's more convenient, and quite as well adapted for it as this place, +or nearly." + +"Well! Shiss, well?" + +"Well; why that's all I have to say about it, except that I'm not to be +seen or known in the business at all--mark that." + +"Shiss--well? De Hogans must know it?" + +"I am aware of that; we couldn't go on without them. This running of +your's will soon be over; very well. You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow +and pitch upon a proper situation for a house. These implements will +do." + +"No, dey won't; I wouldn't tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet. +You must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an' dat will +be money down." + +"Very well; I'll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or +two." + +"Dat Ahadarra isn't so safe," said Teddy. "Fwhy wouldn't you carry it on +here?" and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke. + +"Because," replied Hycy, "I have been seen here too often already, and +my name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings. This +place, besides, is now too much known. It's best and safest to change +our bob, Ted." + +"Dere's trewt in dhat, anyhow," said the other, now evidently more +satisfied as to Hycy's motive in changing. "But," he added, "as you +is now to schange, it 'ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor +Ahadarra." + +"I know of none better or safer," said Burke. + +"Ay, fifty," returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; "but +no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself--'tis all the shame to +me." + +"Ahadarra it must be then," said the other, "and that ends it." + +"Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be," said Ted, and the conversation on +this subject dropped. + +The smuggler's supper now made it's appearance. The geese were +beautifully done, and as Hycy's appetite had got a keen stimulus by his +mountain walk, he rendered them ample justice. + +"Trot," said Teddy, "sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough +to sharpen anybody's appetite." + +Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for +that express purpose. Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for +a long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water. It +was not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh +that he consented to taste punch. Between the two, however, Burke's +vanity was admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by +hinting that Hycy, no matter how appearances might go, was by no means +indifferent to the interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh. + +At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his +leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very +pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of +home, across the mountains. + +He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, +observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that +hour of the night, to cross the mountains by himself. He accordingly +whispered a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as +he said, to see Mr. Hycy safe home. + + + + +CHAPTER V.--Who Robbed Jemmy Burke? + + +On the second morning after the night described in the last chapter, +Bryan M'Mahon had just returned to his father's house from his farm in +Ahadarra, for the purpose of accompanying him to an Emigration auction +in the neighborhood. The two farms of Carriglass and Ahadarra had been +in the family of the M'Mahon's for generations, and were the property +of the same landlord. About three years previous to the period of our +narrative, Toal M'Mahon, Bryan's uncle, died of an inflammatory attack, +leaving to his eldest nephew and favorite the stock farm of Ahadarra. +Toal had been a bachelor who lived wildly and extravagantly, and when he +died Bryan suceeeded to the farm, then as wild, by the way, and as much +neglected as its owner had been, with an arrear of two years' rent upon +it. In fact the house and offices had gone nearly to wreck, and when +Bryan entered into occupation he found that a large sum of money +should be expended in necessary improvements ere the place could +assume anything like a decent appearance. As a holding, however, it +was reasonable; and we may safely assert that if Toal M'Mahon had been +either industrious or careful he might have lived and died a wealthy +man upon it. As Ahadarra lay in the mountain district, it necessarily +covered a large space; in fact it constituted a townland in itself. The +greater portion of it, no doubt, was barren mountain, but then there +were about three hundred acres of strong rough land that was either +reclaimed or capable of being so. Bryan, who had not only energy and +activity, but capital to support both, felt, on becoming master of a +separate farm, that peculiar degree of pride which was only natural to +a young and enterprising man. He had now a fair opportunity, he thought, +of letting his friends see what skill and persevering exertion could +do. Accordingly he commenced his improvements in a spirit which at +least deserved success. He proceeded upon the best system then known to +intelligent agriculturalists, and nothing was left undone that he deemed +necessary to work out his purposes. He drained, reclaimed, made fences, +roads, and enclosures. Nor did he stop here. We said that the house and +offices were in a ruinous state when they came into his possession, and +the consequence was that he found it necessary to build a new dwelling +house and suitable offices, which he did on a more commodious and +eligible site. Altogether his expenditure on the farm could not have +been less than eight hundred pounds at the period of the landlord's +death, which, as the reader knows is that at which we have commenced our +narrative. + +Thomas M'Mahon's family consisted of--first, his father, a grey-haired +patriarch, who, though a very old man, was healthy and in the full +possession of all his faculties; next, himself; then his wife; Bryan, +the proprietor of Ahadarra; two other sons, both younger, and two +daughters, the eldest twenty, and the youngest about eighteen. The name +of the latter was Dora, a sweet and gentle girl, with beautiful auburn +hair, dark, brilliant eyes, full of intellect and feeling, an exquisite +mouth, and a figure which was remarkable for natural grace and great +symmetry. + +"Well, Bryan," said the father, "what news from Ahadarra?" + +"Nothing particular from Ahadarra," replied the son, "but our +good-natured friend, Jemmy Burke, had his house broken open and robbed +the night before last." + +"Wurrah deheelish" exclaimed his mother, "no, he hadn't!" + +"Well, mother," replied Bryan, laughing, "maybe not. I'm afeard it's too +true though." + +"An' how much did he lose?" asked his father. + +"Between seventy and eighty pounds," said Bryan. + +"It's too much," observed the other; "still I'm glad it's no more; an' +since the villains did take it, it's well they tuck it from a man that +can afford to lose it." + +"By all accounts," said Arthur, or, as he was called, Art, "Hycy, the +sportheen, has pulled him down a bit. He's not so rich now, they say, as +he was three or four years ago." + +"He's rich enough still," observed his father; "but at any rate, upon +my sowl I'm sorry for him; he's the crame of an honest, kind-hearted +neighbor; an' I believe in my conscience if there's a man alive that +hasn't an ill-wisher, he is." + +"Is it known who robbed him?" asked the grandfather, "or does he suspect +anybody?" + +"It's not known, of course, grandfather," replied Bryan, "or I suppose +they would be in limbo before now; but there's quare talk about it. The +Hogans is suspected, it seems. Philip was caught examinin' the hall-door +the night before; an' that does look suspicious." + +"Ay," said the old man, "an' very likely they're the men. I remember +them this many a long day; it's forty years since Andy Hogan--he was +lame--Andy Boccah they called him--was hanged for the murdher of your +great-granduncle, Billy Shevlin, of Frughmore, so that they don't like +a bone in our bodies. That was the only murdher I remember of them, but +many a robbery was laid to their charge; an' every now and then +there was always sure to be an odd one transported for thievin', an' +house-breakin', and sich villainy." + +"I wouldn't be surprised," said Mrs. M'Mahon, "but it was some o' them +tuck our two brave geese the night before last." + +"Very likely, in throth, Bridget," said her husband; "however, as the +ould proverb has it, 'honesty's the best policy.' Let them see which of +us I'll be the best off at the end of the year." + +"There's an odd whisper here an' there about another robber," continued +Bryan; "but I don't believe a word about it. No, no;--he's wild, and not +scrupulous in many things, but I always thought him generous, an' indeed +rather careless about money." + +"You mane the sportheen?" said his brother Art. + +"The Hogans," said the old man, recurring to the subject, as associated +with them, "would rob anybody barrin' the Cavanaghs; but I won't listen +to it, Bryan, that Hycy Burke, or the son of any honest man that ever +had an opportunity of hearin' the Word o' God, or livin' in a Christian +counthry, could ever think of robbin' his own father--his own father! I +won't listen to that." + +"No, nor I, grandfather," said Bryan, "putting everything else out of +the question, its too unnatural an act. What makes you shake your head, +Art?" + +"I never liked a bone in his body, somehow," replied Art. + +"Ay, but my goodness, Art," said Dora, "sure nobody would think of +robbin' their own father?" + +"He has been doin' little else these three years, Dora, by all +accounts," replied Art. + +"Ay, but his father," continued the innocent girl; "to break into the +house at night an' rob him like a robber!" + +"Well, I say, it's reported that he has been robbin' him these three +years in one shape or other," continued Art; "but here's Shibby, let's +hear what she'll say. What do you think, shibby?" + +"About what, Art?" + +"That Hycy Burke would rob his father!" + +"Hut, tut! Art, what puts that into your head? Oh, no, Art--not at +all--to rob his father, an' him has been so indulgent to him!" + +"Indeed, I agree with you, Shibby," said Bryan; "for although my opinion +of Hycy is changed very much for the worse of late, still I can't and +won't give in to that." + +"An what has changed it for the worse?" asked his mother. "You an' he +wor very thick together always--eh? What has changed it, Bryan?" + +Bryan began to rub his hand down the sleeve of his coat, as if freeing +it from dust, or perhaps admiring its fabric, but made no reply. + +"Eh, Bryan," she continued, "what has changed your opinion of him?" + +"Oh, nothing of much consequence, mother," replied her son; "but +sometimes a feather will toll one how the wind blows." + +As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the +family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly +allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving +that none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of +understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that +the sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. +Dora, his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking +his hand in hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish +laugh, that spoke a full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but +beautiful features into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes +which, in one of her years, gives a look of almost angelic purity +and grace. After about a minute or two, during which she paused, and +laughed, and blushed, and commenced to whisper, and again stopped, +she at last put her lips to his ear and whispered:--"Bryan, I know the +reason you don't like Hycy." + +"You do?" he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his +turn;--"well--an'--ha!--ha!--no, you fool, you don't." + +"May I never stir if I don't!" + +"Well, an' what is it?" + +"Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh--now!" + +"An' what do I care about that?" said her brother. + +"Oh, you thief!" she replied; "don't think you can play upon me. I know +your saycret." + +"An' maybe, Dora," he replied, "I have my saycrets. Do you know who was +inquirin' for you to-day?" + +"No," she returned, "nor I don't care either--sorra bit." + +"I met James Cavanagh there below"--he proceeded, still in a whisper, +and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, +however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned +her whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to +become expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned +upon him with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with +her mouth near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up +quickly, shook back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and +silken curls about her blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: "No--no. Let +me alone Bryan;" and on uttering these words she hurried into another +room." + +"Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way," observed her sister. "What did you +say to her?" + +"Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail," he replied, laughing; "however, +as to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you +no lies." + +"Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry," continued Shibby, +"an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her." + +"Ah, you're fishin' now, Shibby," he replied, "and many thanks for your +good intentions. It's a saycret, an' that's all you're going to know +about it. But it's as much as 'll keep you on the look out this month +to come; and now you're punished for your curiosity--ha!--ha!--ha! Come, +father, if we're to go to Sam Wallace's auction it's time we should +think of movin'. Art, go an' help Tom Droogan to bring out the horses. +Rise your foot here, father, an' I'll put on your spur for you. We +may as well spake to Mr. Fethertonge, the agent, about the leases. I +promised we'd call on Gerald Cavanagh, to--an' he'll be waitin' for +us--hem!" + +His eye here glanced about, but Dora was not visible, and he accordingly +seemed to be more at his ease. "I think, father," he added, "I must +trate you to a pair of spurs some of these days. This one, it's clear, +has been a long time in the family." + +"Throth, an' on that account," replied M'Mahon, "I'm not goin' to part +wid it for the best pair that ever were made. No, no, Bryan; I like +everything that I've known long. When my heart gets accustomed to +anything or to anybody"--here he glanced affectionately at his wife--"I +can't bear to part wid them, or to think of partin' wid them." + +The horses were now ready, and in a brief space he and his son were +decently mounted, the latter smartly but not inappropriately dressed; +and M'Mahon himself, with his right spur, in a sober but comfortable +suit, over which was a huge Jock, his inseparable companion in every +fair, market, and other public place, during the whole year. Indeed, it +would not be easy to find two better representatives of that respectable +and independent class of Irish yeomanry of which our unfortunate country +stands so much in need, as was this man of high integrity and his +excellent son. + +On arriving at Gerald Cavanagh's, which was on their way to the auction, +it appeared that in order to have his company it was necessary they +should wait for a little, as he was not yet ready. That worthy man they +found in the act of shaving himself, seated very upright upon a chair +in the kitchen, his eyes fixed with great steadiness upon the opposite +wall, whilst lying between his legs upon the ground was a wooden dish +half filled with water, and on a chair beside him a small looking-glass, +with its backup, which, after feeling his face from time to time in an +experimental manner, he occasionally peeped into, and again laid down to +resume the operation. + +In the mean time, Mrs. Cavanagh set forward a chair for Tom M'Mahon, and +desired her daughter Hannah to place one for Bryan, which she did. The +two girls were spinning, and it might have been observed that Kathleen +appeared to apply herself to that becoming and feminine employment with +double industry after the appearance of the M'Mahons. Kate Hogan was +sitting in the chimney corner, smoking a pipe, and as she took it out +of her mouth to whiff away the smoke from time to time, she turned her +black piercing eyes alternately from Bryan M'Mahon to Kathleen with a +peculiar keenness of scrutiny. + +"An' how are you all up at Carriglass?" asked Mrs. Cavanagh. + +"Indeed we can't complain, thank God, as the times goes," replied +M'Mahon. + +"An' the ould grandfather?--musha, but I was glad to see him look so +well on Sunday last!" + +"Troth he's as stout as e'er a one of us." + +"The Lord continue it to him! I suppose you hard o' this robbery that +was done at honest Jemmy Burke's?" + +"I did, indeed, an' I was sorry to hear it." + +"A hundre' an' fifty pounds is a terrible loss to anybody in such +times." + +"A hundre' an' fifty!" exclaimed M'Mahon--"hut, tut!--no; I thought it +was only seventy or eighty. He did not lose so much, did he?" + +"So I'm tould." + +"It was two--um--it was two--urn--urn--it was--um--um--it was two +hundre' itself," observed Cavanagh, after he had finished a portion of +the operation, and given himself an opportunity of speaking--"it war +two hundre' itself, I'm tould, an' that's too much, by a hundre' and +ninety-nine pounds nineteen shillings an' eleven pence three fardens, to +be robbed of." + +"Troth it is, Gerald," replied M'Mahon; "but any way there's nothin' +but thievin' and robbin' goin'. You didn't hear that we came in for a +visit?" + +"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--"is it robbed? My goodness, no!" + +"Why," he proceeded, "we'll be able to get over it afore we die, I hope. +On ere last night we had two of our fattest geese stolen." + +"Two!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--"an' at this saison of the! year, too. +Well, that same's a loss." + +"Honest woman," said M'Mahon, addressing Kate Hogan, "maybe you'd give +me a draw o' the pipe?" + +"Maybe so," she replied; "an' why wouldn't I? Shough! that is here!" + +"Long life to you, Katy. Well," proceeded the worthy man, "if it was a +poor person that wanted them an' that took them from hardship, why God +forgive them as heartily as I do: but if they wor stole by a thief, for +thievin's sake, I hope I'll always be able to afford the loss of a pair +betther than the thief will to do without them; although God mend his or +her heart, whichever it was, in the mane time." + +During this chat Bryan and Hanna Cavanagh were engaged in that +good-humored badinage that is common to persons of their age and +position. + +"I didn't see you at Mass last Sunday, Bryan?" said she, laughing; "an' +that's the way you attend to your devotions. Upon my word you promise +well!" + +"I seen you, then," replied Bryan, "so it seems if I haven't betther +eyes I have betther eyesight." + +"Indeed I suppose," she replied, "you see everything but what you go to +see." + +"Don't be too sure of that," he replied, with an involuntary glance at +Kathleen, who seemed to enjoy her sister's liveliness, as was evident +from the sweet and complacent smile which beamed upon her features. + +"Indeed I suppose you're right," she replied; "I suppose you go to say +everything but your prayers." + +"An' is it in conversation with Jemmy Kelly," asked Bryan, jocularly, +alluding to her supposed admirer, "that you perform your own devotions, +Miss Hanna?" + +"Hanna, achora," said the father, "I think you're playin' the second +fiddle there--ha! ha! ha!" + +The laugh was now general against Hanna, who laughed as loudly, however, +as any of them. + +"Throth, Kathleen," she exclaimed, "you're not worth knot's o' straws +or you'd help me against this fellow here; have you nothing," she +proceeded, addressing Bryan, and nodding towards her sister, "to say +to her? Is everything to fall on my poor shoulders? Come, now," with +another nod in the same direction, "she desarves it for not assistin' +me. Who does she say her devotions with?" + +"Hem--a--is it Kathleen you mane?" he inquired, with rather an +embarrassed look. + +"Not at all," she replied ironically, "but my mother there--ha! ha! ha! +Come, now, we're waitin' for you." + +"Come, now?" he repeated, purposely misunderstanding her--"oh, begad, +that's a fair challenge;" and he accordingly rose to approach her with +the felonious intent of getting a kiss; but Hanna started from her wheel +and ran out of the house to avoid him. + +"Throth, you're a madcap, Hanna," exclaimed her mother, placidly--"an +antick crather, dear knows--her heart's in her mouth every minute of +the day; an' if she gets through the world wid it always as light, poor +girl, it'll be well for her." + +"Kathleen, will you get me a towel or praskeen of some sort to wipe my +face wid," said her father, looking about for the article he wanted. + +"I left one," she replied, "on the back of your chair--an' there it is, +sure." + +"Ay, achora, it's you that laves nothing undone that ought to be done; +an' so it is here, sure enough." + +"Why, then, Gerald," asked Tom M'Mahon, "in the name o' wonder what +makes you stick to the meal instead o' the soap when you're washin' +yourself?" + +"Throth, an' I ever will, Tom, an' for a good raison--becaise it's best +for the complexion." + +The unconscious simplicity with which Cavanagh uttered this occasioned +loud laughter, from which Kathleen herself was unable to refrain. + +"By the piper, Gerald," said M'Mahon, "that's the best thing I h'ard +this month o' Sundays. Why, it would be enough for one o' your daughters +to talk about complexion. Maybe you paint too--ha! ha! ha!" + +Hanna now put in her head, and asked "what is the fun?" but immediately +added, "Kathleen, here's a message for you." + +"For me!" said Kathleen; "what is it?" + +"Here's Peety Dhu's daughter, an' she says she has something to say to +you." + +"An' so Rosha Burke," said Mrs. Cavanagh, "has taken her to live wid +them; I hope it'll turn out well for the poor thing." + +"Will you come out, Kathleen," said Hanna, again peeping in; "she +mustn't tell it to anyone but yourself." + +"If she doesn't she may keep it, then," replied Kathleen. "Tell her I +have no secrets," she added, "nor I won't have any of her keeping." + +"You must go in," said Hanna, turning aside and addressing the +girl--"you must go in an' spake to her in the house." + +"She can tell us all about the robbery, anyway," observed Mr. Cavanagh. +"Come in, a-colleen--what are you afeard of?" + +"I have a word to say to her," said the girl--"a message to deliver; but +it must be to nobody but herself. Whisper," she proceeded, approaching +Kathleen, and about to address her. + +Kathleen immediately rose, and, looking on the messenger, said, "Who is +it from, Nanny?" + +"I mustn't let _them_ know," replied the girl, looking at the rest. + +"Whatever it is, Or whoever it's from, you must spake it out then, +Nanny," continued Kathleen. + +"It's from Hycy Burke, then," replied the girl; "he wants to know if you +have any answer for him?" + +"Tell Hycy Burke," replied Kathleen, "that I have no answer for him; an' +that I'll thank him to send me no more messages." + +"Hut tut! you foolish girl," exclaimed her mother, rising up and +approaching her daughter; "are you mad, Kathleen?" + +"What's come over you," said the father, equally alarmed; "are you +beside yourself, sure enough, to send Hycy Burke sich a message as +that? Sit down, ma colleen, sit down, an' never mind her--don't think of +bringin' him back sich a message. Why, then," he added, "in the name o' +mercy, Kathleen, what has come over you, to trate a respectable young +man like. Hycy Burke in that style?" + +"Simply, father, because I don't wish to receive any messages at all +from him." + +"But your mother an' I is of a different opinion, Kathleen. We wish you +to resave messages from him; an' you know you're bound both by the laws +of God an' man to obey us an' be guided by us." + +"I know I am, father," she replied; "an' I hope I haven't been an +undutiful child to either of you for so far." + +"That's true, Kathleen--God sees it's truth itself." + +"What message do you expect to bring back, Nanny?" said the mother, +addressing the girl. + +"An answer," replied the girl, seeing that everything must be and was +above board--"an answer to the letther he sent her." + +"Did he send you a letther?" asked her father, seriously; "an' you never +let us know a word about it?--did he send you a letther?" + +Kathleen paused a moment and seemed to consult Hanna's looks, who had +now joined them. At length she replied, slowly, and as if in doubt +whether she ought to speak in the affirmative or not--"no, he sent me no +letter." + +"Well now, take care, Kathleen," said her mother; "I seen a letther in +your hands this very mornin'." + +Kathleen blushed deeply; but as if anxious to give the conversation +another turn, and so to relieve herself, she replied, "I can't prevent +you, mother, or my father either, from sending back whatever answer you +wish; but this I say that, except the one I gave already, Hycy Burke +will never receive any message or any answer to a message from me; an' +now for the present let us drop it." + +"Very well," said her mother; "in the mane time, my good girsha, sit +down. Is it thrue that Jemmy Burke's house was robbed a couple o' nights +ago?" + +"True enough," said the girl. + +"And how much did he lose?" asked M'Mahon; "for there's disputes about +it--some say more and some say less." + +"Between seventy and eighty pounds," replied Nanny; "the masther isn't +sure to a pound or so; but he knows it was near eighty, any way." + +"That's just like him," said Cavanagh; "his careless way of managin'. +Many a time I wondher at him;--he slobbers everything about that you'd +think he'd beggar himself, an' yet the luck and prosperity flows to him. +I declare to my goodness I think the very dirt under his feet turns to +money. Well, girsha, an' have they any suspicion of the robbers?" + +"Why," said the girl, "they talk about"--she paused, and it was +quite evident from her manner that she felt not only embarrassed, but +distressed by the question. Indeed this was no matter of surprise; for +ever since the subject was alluded to, Kate Hogan's black piercing eyes +had not once been removed from hers, nor did the girl utter a single +word in reply to the questions asked of her without first, as it were, +consulting Kate's looks. + +A moment's reflection made Cavanagh feel that the question must be a +painful one to the girl, not only on her own account, but on that of +Kate herself; for even then it was pretty well known that Burke's family +entertained the strongest suspicion that the burglary had been committed +by these notorious vagabonds. + +"Well, ahagur," said Cavanagh, "no matter now--it's all over unless they +catch the robbers. Come now," he added, addressing M'Mahon and his son, +"if you're for the road I'm ready." + +"Is it true, Mrs. Burke," asked Bryan, "that you're goin' to have a Kemp +in your barn some o' these days?" + +"True enough, indeed," replied the good woman, "an' that's true, too, +tell the girls, Bryan, and that they must come." + +"Not I," said the other, laughing; "if the girls here--wishes them to +come, let them go up and ask them." + +"So we will, then," replied Hanna, "an' little thanks to you for your +civility." + +"I wish I knew the evenin'," said Bryan, "that I might be at +Carriglass." + +"When will we go, Kathleen," asked her sister, turning slyly to her. + +"Why, you're sich a light-brained cracked creature," replied Kathleen, +"that I can't tell whether you're joking or not." + +"The sorra joke I'm jokin'," she replied, striving suddenly to form +her features into a serious expression. "Well, then, I have it," she +proceeded. "Some Thursday, Bryan, in the middle o' next week--now you +know I'm not jokin', Kathleen." + +"Will you come, Kathleen?" inquired Bryan. + +"Why, if Hanna goes, I suppose I must," she replied, but without looking +up. + +"Well then I'll have a sharp look-out on Thursday." + +"Come now," said Gerald, "let us move. Give the girsha something to ate +among you, for the credit of the house, before she goes back," he added. +"Paddy Toole, girth that horse tighter, I tell you; I never can get you +to girth him as he ought to be girthed." + +On bidding the women good-bye, Bryan looked towards Kathleen for a +moment, and her eye in return glanced on him as he was about to go. But +that simple glance, how significant was its import, and how clearly did +it convey the whole history of as pure a heart as ever beat within a +female bosom! + + + + +CHAPTEE VI.--Nanny Peety looks mysterious + +--Hycy proves himself a good Judge of Horse-Flesh. + + +The day was all light, and life, and animation. The crops were going +down fast in every direction, and the fields were alive and cheerful +with the voice of mirth and labor. As they got into the vicinity of +Wallace's house they overtook or were over-taken by several of their +neighbors, among whom was seen our old friend, Jemmy, or as I his +acquaintances generally called him, honest Jemmy Burke, mounted upon a +brood mare with a foal at her heels, all his other horses having been +engaged in the labor of the season. + +After having sympathized with him upon the loss he had sustained, +they soon allowed the subject to drop; for it was quite clear from the +expression of care, if not of sorrow, that was legible in his face, that +the very mention of it only caused him to feel additional anxiety. + +At length they reached Wallace's house, where they found a tolerably +large crowd of people waiting for the auction, which was not to commence +until the hour of one o'clock. + +Sam Wallace was a respectable Protestant farmer, who finding, as he +said, that there was no proper encouragement given to men who were +anxious and disposed to improve their property, had deemed it a wiser +step to dispose of his stock and furniture than to remain as he was--not +merely with no certain prospect of being able to maintain even his +present position, but with the chances against him of becoming every day +a poorer and more embarrassed man. His brother, who like himself, after +having been on the decline for a considerable period, had emigrated to +America, where he was prospering, now urged him to follow his example +and leave a country in which he said, in language that has become a +proverb, "everything was going to the bad." Feeling that his brother's +words were unfortunately too true, Wallace, at all events, came to the +determination of following his example. + +The scene at which our friends arrived was indeed a striking and +impressive one. The majority of the crowd consisted of those who +belonged either to the Protestant or Presbyterian forms of worship; and +it might be with truth asserted, that nothing could surpass the clear +unquestionable character of independent intelligence which prevailed +among them. Along with this, however, there was an obvious spirit +of dissatisfaction, partial, it is true, as to numbers, but yet +sufficiently marked as to satisfy an observer that such a people, if +united upon any particular subject or occasion, were not for a moment to +be trifled with or cajoled. Their feelings upon the day in question were +stirred into more than usual warmth. A friend, a neighbor, a man of +an old and respectable family, frugal, industrious, and loyal, as +they said, both to king and country, was now forced from want of due +encouragement from his landlord, to disturb all his old associations +of friendship and kindred, and at rather an advanced state of life +to encounter the perils of a long voyage, and subject himself and his +family to the changes and chances which he must encounter in a new +world, and in a different state of society. Indeed, the feeling which +prompted the expression of these sentiments might be easily gathered +from the character that pervaded the crowd. Not to such an extent, +however, with respect to Wallace himself or any portion of his family, +There might be observed upon him and them a quiet but resolute spirit, +firm, collected, and cheerful; but still, while there were visible no +traces of dejection or grief, it was easy to perceive that under this +decent composure there existed a calm consciousness of strong stern +feeling, whose dignity, if not so touching, was quite as impressive as +the exhibition of louder and more clamorous grief. + +"Bryan," said M'Mahon to his son, as the auction was proceeding, "I'll +slip up to the agent's, and do you see if them sheep goes for a fair +value--if they do, give a bid or two any how. I'm speakin' of that lot +we wor lookin' at, next the wall there." + +"I'll pay attention to it," said Bryan; "I know you'll find the agent at +home now, for I seen him goin' in a while ago; so hurry up, an' ax him +if he can say how soon we may expect the leases." + +"Never fear, I will." + +On entering Fethertonge's Hall, M'Mahon was treated with very marked +respect by the servant, who told him to walk into the parlor, and he +would let his master know. + +"He entertains a high opinion of you, Mister M'Mahon," said he; "and I +heard him speak strongly about you the other day to some gentlemen that +dined with us--friends of the landlord's. Walk into the parlor." + +In a few minutes M'Mahon was shown into Fethertonge's office, the walls +of which were, to a considerable height, lined with tin boxes, labelled +with the names of those whose title-deeds and other valuable papers they +contained. + +Fethertonge was a tall, pale, placid looking man, with rather a +benevolent cast of countenance, and eyes that were mild, but very +small in proportion to the other features of his face. His voice was +exceedingly low, and still more musical and sweet than low; in fact +it was such a voice as, one would imagine, ought to have seldom been +otherwise employed than in breathing hope and, consolation to despairing +sinners on their bed of death. Yet he had nothing of either the parson +or the preacher in his appearance. So far from that he was seldom known +to wear a black coat, unless when dressed for dinner, and not very +frequently even then, for he mostly wore blue. + +"M'Mahon," said he, "take a seat. I am glad to see you. How are your +family?" + +"Both I an' they is well, I'm thankful to you, sir," replied the farmer. + +"I hope you got safe home from the metropolis. How did you travel?" + +"Troth, I walked it, sir, every inch of the way, an' a long stretch it +is. I got safe, sir, an' many thanks to you." + +"That was a sudden call poor Mr. Chevydale got, but not more so than +might, at his time of life, have been expected; at all events I hope he +was prepared for it, and indeed I have reason to think he was." + +"I trust in God he was, sir," replied M'Mahon; "so far as I and mine +is consarned, we have raison to wish it; he didn't forget us, Mr. +Fethertonge." + +"No," said the other, after some pause, "he did not indeed forget you, +M'Mahon." + +"I tuck the liberty of callin' down, sir," proceeded M'Mahon, "about +the leases he spoke of, an' to know how soon we may expect to have them +filled." + +"That is for your son Bryan and yourself. How is Bryan proceeding with +Ahadarra, by the way? I spoke to him some time ago about his system of +cropping that farm, and some other matters of the kind; I must ride up +one of these days to see how he is doing. As to the leases, there is no +difficulty in the way, M'Mahon, except to get our young landlord to sign +them. That we will easily do, of course; in the meantime, do you go +on, improve your land, and strive to do something for your children, +M'Mahon; for, in this world, he that won't assist himself will find +very few that will. The leases are in Dublin; if you wish, I'll send for +them, and have them ready for the landlord's signature whenever he comes +down here; or I'll leave them in town, where I shall be more likely to +see him." + +"Very well, sir," replied M'Mahon, "I lave it all in your own hands, for +I know that if you won't be my friend, you won't be my enemy." + +"Well--certainly--I hope not. Will you take anything? Here, James, bring +in some brandy." + +M'Mahon's protest against the brandy was anything but invincible. +Fethertonge's manner was so kind, so familiar, and his interest in the +success of himself and his family so unaffectedly warm and sincere, +that, after drinking his health, he took his leave with a light and. +happy heart. + +Their journey home was a little more lively than the depression of Jemmy +Burke's mind had allowed it to be on their way to the auction. Yet +each had his own peculiar feelings, independently of those which were +elicited by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of +Wallace's liquor, as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did, +was consequently in a better and more loquacious humor than he had been +during the day. On this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for +it was the opinion of every one there, that he had got the best bargain +disposed of during the day--a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime +condition. Gerald Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as +closely as possible to his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of +adhesion, with which our readers are already acquainted; and Bryan, +who saw and understood his motives, felt by no means comfortable at +witnessing such strong symptoms of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon +did not speak much, for, in truth, he could not overcome the depressing +effects of the scene he had witnessed, nor of the words uttered by +Wallace, as they bade each other farewell. + +Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between +whom a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a +public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop +together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses +in token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption +occurred, that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their +dialogue, which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the +mare whenever her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and +abrupt manner in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to +return and look for it. + +On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot, +but with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the +Hogans, who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip +and one of his brothers slept in their usual residence--Cavanagh's +corn-kiln--on that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his +wife Kate were both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion +might, indeed, very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence +of Hycy himself, who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from +any suspicion, as he knew both how and where they had passed the night +in question. So far, therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were +unquestionably reputed to be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all +suspicion. + +The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned +by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be +at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with +them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined, +yet it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a +suspicion that Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance +of the money. In about three or four days he happened to see her thrust +something into her father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he +could not avoid remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was +furtive and hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not +right. He resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he +felt, and accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his +departure, he brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to +concoct a reply, he asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such +a hurried manner into his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after +pausing a moment, replied, "Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes." + +"Was that all?" he asked. + +"That was all, sir," she replied. + +The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were +far from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the +avenue, and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance. + +"Peety," said he, "what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a +while ago? I wish to know?" + +"Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy," replied the +mendicant; "but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues, +and here they are," he added, "if you wish to see them." + +He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out, +when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being +detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned +instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the +unfortunate mendicant and his bags. + +As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the +kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at +him, some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into +further conversation with her. It struck him that she had been watching +his interview with her father, and could not avoid yielding to the +impression which had returned so strongly upon him. + +"I saw your father, Nanny," he said, in as significant and dry a tone as +possible. + +"Did you, sir?" said she; and he remarked that while uttering the words, +she again colored deeply and did not raise her eyes to his face. + +"Yes," he replied; "but he did not bear out what you said--he had no +pair of shoes in his bag." + +"Did you see what he had in it, Master Hycy?" + +"Why," said he, "a--hem--a--a--I didn't look--but I'll tell you what, +Nanny, I think you look as if you were in possession of some secret. I +say so, and don't imagine you can for a moment impose upon me. I know +what your father had in his bag." + +"Well then, if you do, sir," she replied, "you know the saycrit." + +"So there is a secret, then?" + +"So you say, Masther Hycy." + +"Nanny," he proceeded, "it occurs to me now that you never underwent a +formal examination about this robbery that took place in our house." + +"That wasn't my fault," she replied; "I mostly happened to be out." + +"Well, but do you know anything about it?" + +"Not a thing--no more than yourself, Mr. Hycy." + +Her interrogator turned upon her a hard scrutinizing glance, in which +it was easy to see that she read a spirit of strong and dissatisfied +suspicion. She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing +upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion. + +"Because, Nanny," he proceeded, "if you knew anything about it, and +didn't mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one +of the robbers." + +"An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?" she replied; "surely the +first thing I'd do would be to tell." + +"It's very strange," observed Hycy, "that such a robbery could be +committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue +whatsoever to a discovery." + +"Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy--if what your father and +mother an' all o' them say is true--that it wasn't often the hall-door +was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was fastened on +that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to prevent any +one from comin' in." + +"Very true, Nanny," he replied, "very true; and we have paid severely +for our negligence." + +This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever +source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions +as connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however, +to watch her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the +impression that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few +days after the robbery. + +Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent +character, was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, +"always keep an eye to the main chance." He was by no means over-tidy +either in his dress or farming; but it mattered little in what light you +contemplated him, you were always certain to find him a man not affected +by trifles, nor rigidly systematic in anything; but at the same time you +could not help observing that he was a man of strong points, whose life +was marked by a course of high prosperity, that seemed to flow in +upon him, as it were, by some peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, +however, was little less than the natural result of shrewd mother-wit, +happily applied to the: ordinary transactions of life, and assuming the +appearance of good fortune rather than of sound judgment, in consequence +of the simplicity of character under which it acted. Ever since the +night of the robbery, he had devoted himself more to the pipe than he +had ever been known to do before; he spoke little, too; but what he did +say was: ironical, though not by any means without a tinge of quiet but +caustic humor. + +Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking +as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed +in more than her usual finery. + +"What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?" she inquired. "Hycy, do you see +any appearance of him?" + +"No, ma'am," replied the son; "I didn't know you wanted him." + +Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing +away the smoke, asked--"And well, Rosha--begs pardon--Mrs. Burke--is it +a fair question to ax where you are bound for?" + +"Fair enough, Mr. Burke," she replied; "but I'm not goin' to answer it." + +"You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?" + +"I'm bound for a journey, sir." + +"Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?" + +"No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke." + +"Ah!" replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; "I'm +afraid it is." + +"Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?" + +"Oh it doesn't signify," he replied, dryly; "it's no novelty, I believe, +to hear a man--a married man--groan in this world; only if you wor for +a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my power." + +"You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?" she exclaimed--"wishin' me to +go my long journey!" + +"Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?" asked the worthy son. + +"I think not," replied Jemmy. "There's gintlemen enough o' the name--I'm +afraid one too many." + +"Well," exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception +of the look of a martyr as possible, "I'm sufferin' at all events; but +I know my crown's before me." + +"Sich as it is," replied her husband, "I dare say it is." + +"I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'--but here's the car. Come +fardher up, Patsy." + +Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. "Of +course, he'll discover it all," said he, laughing. + +"I know he will," she replied; "but when it's over, it's over, and +that's all." + +Jemmy now met his son at the hall-door, and asked him if he knew where +his mother had gone. + +"I really cannot undertake to say," replied the other. "Mrs. Burke, +father, is a competent judge of her own notions; but I presume to think +that she may take a drive upon her own car, without being so severely, +if not ungenerously catechised about it. I presume to think so, sir; but +I daresay I am wrong, and that even that is a crime on my part." + +His father made no reply, but proceeded at an easy and thoughtful pace +to join his men in the field where they were at labor. + +Hycy, after his mother's return that evening, seemed rather in low +spirits, if one could form any correct estimate of his character by +appearances. He was very silent, and somewhat less given to those broken +snatches of melody than was his wont; and yet a close observer might +have read in his deportment, and especially in the peculiar expression +of his eye, that which seemed to indicate anything rather than +depression or gloom. His silence, to such an observer, might have +appeared rather the silence of satisfaction and triumph, than of +disappointment or vexation. + +His father, indeed, saw little of him that night, in consequence of the +honest man having preferred the hob of his wealthy and spacious kitchen +to the society of his wife and son in the parlor. The next morning, +however, they met at breakfast, as usual, when Hycy, after some ironical +compliments to his father's good taste, asked him, "if he would do him +the favor to step towards the stable and see his purchase." + +"You don't mane Crazy Jane?" said the other, coolly. + +"I do," replied Hycy; "and as I set a high value on your opinion, +perhaps you would be kind enough to say what you think of her." + +Now, Hycy never for a moment dreamt that his father would have taken him +at his word, and we need hardly say that he was a good deal disconcerted +at the cool manner in which the other expressed his readiness to do so. + +"Well, Mr. Burke," he proceeded, when they had reached the stable, +"there she is. Pray what do you think of her?" + +The old man looked at her from various points, passed his hand down +her limbs, clapped her on the back, felt her in different places, then +looked at her again. "She's a beauty," said he, "a born beauty like +Billy Neelin's foal; what's this you say you paid for her?" + +"Thirty-five pounds." + +"Tare-an-ounty, Hycy, she's dog chape--thirty-five!--why she's value for +double the sum." + +"Nearly," replied Hycy, quite elevated and; getting into good humor; "is +she not really now, father, a precious bit of flesh?" + +"Ah! you may swear that, Hycy; I tell you you won't act the honest man, +if you don't give him fifteen or twenty pounds over an' above what you +paid him. Tom Burton I see's too simple for you. Go and do what I bid +you; don't defraud the poor man; you have got a treasure, I tell you--a +beauty bright--an extraordinary baste--a wonderful animal--oh, dear me! +what a great purchase! Good-bye, Hycy. Bless my sowl! what a judge of +horseflesh you are!" + +Having uttered these words in a tone of grave and caustic irony, he left +his worthy son in a state of chagrin almost bordering on resentment, at +the strong contempt for Crazy-Jane, implied by the excessive eulogium +he had passed upon her. This feeling, however, was on reflection +considerably checked by his satisfaction on finding that the matter was +taken by his father so coolly. He had calculated on receiving a very +stormy lecture from him the moment he should become aware of his having +the animal in his possession; and he now felt rather relieved that +he should have escaped so easily. Be this as it may, Hycy was now in +excellent spirits. Not only had Crazy Jane been secured, but there were +strong symptoms of his being in cash. In a few days after the incident +of the stable, he contrived to see Philip Hogan, with whom he appointed +a final meeting in Cavanagh's kiln on the night of the Kemp; at which +meeting, Teddy Phats and the other two Hogans were also to be present, +in order to determine upon the steps which he ultimately proposed to +take, with a view to work out his purposes, whatever those purposes may +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.--The Spinster's Kemp. + + +A kemp, or camp, is a contest of industrial skill, or a competition +for priority in a display of rustic labor. Among men it is principally +resorted to in planting potatoes or reaping of corn, and generally only +on the day which closes the labor at each for the season; but in the +sense in which it is most usually practised and contested, it means a +trial of female skill at the spinning of linen yarn. It is, indeed, +a very cheerful assemblage of the fair sex; and, although strong and +desperate rivalry is the order of the day, yet it is conducted in +a spirit so light-hearted and amicable that we scarcely know a more +laudable or delightful recreation in country life. Its object is always +good, and its associations praiseworthy, inasmuch as they promote +industry, a spirit of becoming emulation, and principles of good will +and kindness to our neighbor. + +When a kemp is about to be held, the matter soon becomes generally known +in the neighborhood. Sometimes the young women are asked, but in +most instances, so eager are they to attend it that invitations are +unnecessary. In the whiter months, and in mountain districts, it is +often as picturesque as it is pleasant. The young women usually begin +to assemble about four o'clock in the morning; and, as they always go in +groups, accompanied besides by their sweethearts or some male relatives, +each of the latter bearing a large torch of well-dried bogfir, their +voices, and songs, and loud laughter break upon the stillness of +night with a holiday feeling, made ten times more delightful by the +surrounding darkness and the hour. When they have not the torches the +spinning-wheels are carried by the males, amidst an agreeable din of +fun, banter, repartee, and jest, such as scarcely any other rustic +amusement with which we are acquainted ever occasions. On arriving at +the house where the kemp is to be held, they are placed in the barn or +some clean outhouse; but indeed the numbers are usually such as to crowd +every available place that can be procured for their accommodation. From +the moment they arrive the lively din is incessant. Nothing is heard but +laughter, conversation, songs, and anecdotes, all rising in a loud key, +among the louder humming of the spinning-wheels and the stridulous noise +of the reeds, as they incessantly crack the cuts in the hands of the +reelers, who are perpetually turning them from morning to night, in +order to ascertain the quantity which every competitor has spun; and +she, of course, who has spun most wins the kemp, and is the queen for +the night. + +A kemp invariably closes with a dance--and a dance too upon an unusually +extensive scale. Indeed, during the whole day the fair competitors are +regaled from time to time with the enlivening strains of the fiddle or +bagpipes, and very often with the united melody of both together. + +On that morning the dwelling-house and mostly all the out-offices of +Gerald Cavanagh bore, in stir and bustle, a stronger resemblance to the +activity of so many bee-hives about to swarm than to anything else +to which we can think of comparing them. Mirth in all its shapes, of +laughter, glee, and song, rang out in every direction. The booming +of wheels and the creaking of reels, the loud banter, the peals of +laughter, the sweet Irish songs that filled up the pauses of the louder +mirth, and the strains of the fiddle that ever and anon added to the +enlivening spirit of the scene, all constituted such a full and general +chorus of hilarity as could seldom be witnessed. + +There were many girls present who took no part in the competition, but +who, as friends and acquaintances of Kathleen and Hanna, came to enjoy +the festive spirit of the day. Hanna herself, however, who had earned +some celebrity as a spinster, started for the honor of winning, as did +Dora M'Mahon, whose small and beautiful fingers seemed admirably adapted +for this graceful and peculiarly feminine process of Minerva. Towards +evening the neighbors assembled in considerable numbers, each interested +in the success of some peculiar favorite, whose former feats had induced +her friends to entertain on her behalf strong, if not certain, hopes of +victory. Kathleen, from a principle of generosity, patronized her young +friend, Dora M'Mahon; and Shibby M'Mahon, on the other hand, took +Hanna Cavanagh under her protection. As the evening advanced, and the +spectators and friends of the parties began to call, in order to be +present at the moment of victory, it would be difficult to witness any +assemblage of young women placed under circumstances of such striking +interest. The mirth and song and general murmur diminished by degrees, +until they altogether ceased, and. nothing was to be heard but the +perpetual cracking of the reels, the hum of the rapid wheels, and the +voices of the reelers, as they proclaimed the state of this enlivening +pool of industry. As for the fair competitors themselves, it might have +been observed that even those among them who had no, or at least but +slight pretensions to beauty, became actually interesting from the +excitement which prevailed. Their eyes lit by the active spirit of +rivalry within them, sparkled with peculiar brilliancy, their cheeks +became flushed or got pale as they felt themselves elevated or depressed +by the prospect or loss of victory. Nor were there wanting on this +occasion some vivid glances that were burthened, as they passed aslant, +their fair faces, with pithier feelings than those that originated from +a simple desire of victory. If truth must be told, baleful flashes, +unmeasured both in number and expression, were exchanged in a spirit +of true defiance between the interested and contending parties, as the +close of the contest approached. At length, by the proclamation of the +reelers, the great body of the competitors were thrown out, and they +consequently gave up the contest. It was now six o'clock, and the +first sound of seven o'clock by Captain Millar's bell was to close the +proceedings, and enable the reelers to proclaim the victor. Only four +names now remained to battle it out to the last; to wit, a country +farmer's daughter, named Betty Aikins, Dora M'Mahon, Hanna Cavanagh, and +a servant-girl belonging to another neighbor, named Peggy Bailly. This +ruck, as they say on the turf, was pretty well up together, but all +the rest nowhere. And now, to continue the metaphor, as is the case +at Goodwood or the Curragh, the whole interest was centered upon these +four. At the commencement of the last hour the state of the case was +proclaimed as follows: Betty Aikins, three dozen and eight cuts; Dora +M'Mahon, three dozen and seven cuts; Hanna Cavanagh, three dozen and +five cuts; and Peggy Bailly, three dozen and four cuts. Every individual +had now her own party anxious for her success, and amidst this hour of +interest how many hearts beat with all hopes and fears that are incident +even to the most circumscribed contest of human life. Opposite Dora +stood the youth whom we have already noticed, James Cavanagh, whose +salvation seemed but a very trifling thing when compared or put into +opposition with her success. Be this as it may, the moment was a most +exciting one even to those who felt no other interest than that which +naturally arises from human competition. And it was unquestionably +a beautiful thing to witness this particular contest between, four +youthful and industrious young women. Dora's otherwise pale and placid +features were now mantling, and her beautiful dark eyes flashing, +under the proud and ardent spirit of ambition, for such in fact was the +principle which now urged and animated the contest. When nearly half an +hour had passed, Kathleen came behind her, and stooping down, whispered, +"Dora, don't turn your wheel so quickly: you move the, foot-board too +fast--don't twist the thread too much, and you'll let down more." + +Dora smiled and looked up to her with a grateful and flashing eye. +"Thank you, Kathleen," she replied, nodding, "I'll take your advice." +The state of the contest was then proclaimed:--Betty Aikins--three dozen +and ten cuts; Dora M'Mahon--three dozen and ten cuts; Hanna Cavanagh +--three dozen, six cuts and a half; Peggy Bailly--three dozen, five and +a half. + +On hearing this, Betty Aikin's cheek became scarlet, and as it is +useless to disguise the fact, several flashing glances that partook +more of a Penthesilean fire than the fearful spirit which usually +characterizes the industrious pursuits of Minerva, were shot at generous +Dora, who sustained her portion of the contest with singular spirit and +temper. + +"You may as well give it up, Dora M'Mahon," exclaimed Betty; "there +never was one of your blood could open against an Aikins--the stuff is +not in you to beat me." + +"A very little time will soon tell that," replied Dora; "but indeed, +Betty, if I am doin' my best to win the kemp, I hope it's not in a bad +or unfriendly spirit, but in one of fair play and good humor." + +The contest now went on for about fifteen minutes, with surpassing +interest and animation, at the expiration of which period, the seven +o'clock bell already alluded to, rang the hour for closing their labors +and determining the victory. Thus stood their relative position--Dora +M'Mahon, four hanks and three cuts; Betty Aikins, four hanks; Hanna +Cavanagh, three hanks and nine cuts; Peggy Bailly, three hanks and eight +cuts. + +When this result was made known, Betty Aikins burst into a loud fit +of grief, in which she sobbed as if her very heart would break, and +Kathleen stooping down, congratulated the beautiful girl upon her +victory, kissing her at the same time as she spoke--an act of love and +kindness in which she would have joyfully been followed by several of +her male friends, if they had dared to take that delicious liberty. + +The moment of victory, we believe, is that which may be relied upon as +the test of true greatness. Dora M'Mahon felt the pride of that moment +in its fullest extent, but she felt it only to influence her better and +nobler principles. After casting her eyes around to gather in, as it +were, that honest approbation which is so natural, and exchanging some +rapid glances with the youth we have alluded to, she went over to her +defeated competitor, and taking her hand said, "Don't cry, Betty, you +have no right to be ashamed; sure, as you say, it's the first time you +wor ever beaten; we couldn't all win; an' indeed if I feel proud +now, everyone knows an' says I have a right to be so; for where was +there--ay, or where is there--such a spinner as you are? + +"Shake hands now an' there's a kiss for you. If I won this kemp, it was +won more by chance than by anything else." + +These generous expressions were not lost on Betty; on the contrary, they +soothed her so much that she gave her hand cordially to her young and +interesting conqueress, after which they all repaired to a supper of new +milk and flummery, than which there is nothing more delicious within the +wide range of luxury. This agreeable meal being over, they repaired to +the large barn where Mickey M'Grory the fiddler, was installed in his +own peculiar orchestra, consisting of an arm-chair of old Irish oak, +brought out from Gerald Cavanagh's parlor. + +It would indeed be difficult to find together such a group of happy +faces. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, Tom M'Mahon and his better +half, and several of the neighbors, of every age and creed, were all +assembled; and, in this instance, neither gray hairs nor length of years +were looked upon as privileged from a participation in the festivities +of the evening. Among the rest, gaunt and grim, were the three Hogans, +looking through the light-hearted assemblage with the dark and sinister +visages of thorough ruffians, who were altogether incapable of joining +in the cheerful and inoffensive amusements that went forward around +them. Kate Hogan sat in an obscure corner behind the fiddler, where +she was scarcely visible, but from which she enjoyed a full view of +everything that occurred in the house. + +A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader +has already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the +stable, where he disposed of it _sub silentio_, by which we mean without +the knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such +person about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him. +Among the rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O'Finigan the +Philomath made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably +advanced in liquor. The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen +of the kemp, as he styled her, was told that he might know her by the +flowers in her hair. "There she is, masther," said one of them, "wid the +roses on her head." + +"Well," said O'Finigan, looking about him with surprise, "I have, before +now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed +of that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess +that this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been +quadrupled. Instead of one queen, wid Flora's fragrant favors in her +lock, I think I see four." + +Finigan indeed was right. Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet +of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity +generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every +brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and +anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in +its honors. + +It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, +nor of the good humor which prevailed among them. It is enough to say +that the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young +folks, jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon +doors, by rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and +amusement were indulged in on the occasion. + +We have said that Tom M'Mahon and his family were there, but we should +have added, with one exception. Bryan did not arrive until the evening +was far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected +with his farm. On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of +welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him. Up until then +there were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and +we must ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion. Its was +clear that during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, +if not actually depressed, although a general observer would have seen +nothing in her beyond the natural sedateness of her manner. The two in +question were Kate Hogan and Dora M'Mahon. On Bryan's arrival, however, +the color of her cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more +sparkling, and a much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth. +Such, however, we are, and such is the mystery of our nature. It might +have been remarked that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his +appearance, with glances expressive of anything but good feeling. It was +not, however, when he first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that +these boding glances were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his +performing a reel with Kathleen. It might have been noticed that they +looked at him, and afterwards at each other, in a manner that could +admit of but little misapprehension. + +"Philip," observed Finigan, addressing the elder Hogan,--"Philip, +the Macedonian--monarch of Macedon, I say, is not that performance +a beautiful specimen of the saltatory art? There is manly beauty, O +Philip! and modest carriage. + + "'With aquil beauty formed, and aquil grace, + Hers the soft blushes of the opening morn, + And his the radiance of the risen day.'" + +"It's night now, misther, if you plaise," returned Hogan, gruffly; +"but we don't want your opinion here--stick to your pothooks and +hangers--keep to your trade." + +"The _pot-hooks_ and _hangers_ are more _tui generis_, you misbegotten +satyr," replied the schoolmaster; "that is, more appropriately +concatenated with your own trade than wid mine. I have no trade, sirra, +but a profession, and neither have you. You stand in the same degraded +ratio to a tradesman that a rascally quack does to a regular surgeon." + +"You had better keep a civil tongue in jour head," replied Hogan, +nettled at the laughter which the schoolmaster raised at his expense. + +"What! a civil tongue for you! Polite language for a rascally +sotherer of ould skillets and other anonymous utensils. Why, what +are you?--firstly, a general violation of the ten commandments; and, +secondly, a misshapen but faithful impersonation of the seven deadly +sins. Take my word for it, my worthy Macedonian, you will die any death +but a horizontal one--it's veracity I'm telling you. Yet there is some +comfort for you too--some comfort, I say again; for you who never lived +one upright hour will die an upright death. A certain official will +erect a perpendicular with you; but for that touck of Mathematics you +must go to the hangman, at whose hands you will have to receive the +rites of your church, you monstrous bog-trotting Gorgon. Mine a trade! +Shades of Academus, am I to bear this!" + +Finigan was, like most of his class, a privileged man; but on this +occasion the loudness of the mirth prevented Hogan's reply from being +heard. As to violence, nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever +dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the +consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when +provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon. +When he first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as +scarcely to be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of +the crowded house by no means improved him. + +In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the +good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke +among them--not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that +set off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In +fact, Hycy was a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full +of liveliness and apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly +perfect. He addressed the persons present with an air of easy +condescension, and went over immediately and shook hands, in a very +cordial manner, with Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned +round and bowed to the daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom +Kathleen was sitting. + +"Bryan," said he, "there will be mistakes in the best of families. I +hate enmity. How, do you do?" + +Bryan nodded, and replied, "Pretty well, Hycy--how are you?" + +Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the +good man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him +every conceivable mark of attention. + +"Mrs. Cavanagh," said he, after some chat, "may I be permitted to +indulge in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?" + +"Which of them?" asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a +reply--"to be sure you may." + +"The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it +was not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius +Finigan--ah, no; the early indoctrinations will tell;--that is clear." + +"I mean Miss Kathleen," replied Hycy, without paying any attention to +Finigan's observations. + +"Why not?" exclaimed both; "of course you will--go over and bring her +out." + +Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner, +"Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel +with you?" + +"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke," she replied gravely; "I have just +danced a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any +more to-night." + +"A simple reel?" said Hycy; "perhaps you will so far favor me? I shall +consider it as a favor, I assure you." + +"Excuse me, Mr. Burke, but I won't dance any more to-night." + +"That's hard," he replied, "especially as I came all the way to have +that pleasure. Perhaps you will change your mind, Miss Cavanagh?" + +"I'm not in the habit of changing my mind, Mr. Burke," she replied, "and +I don't see any reason why I should do so now. I say once for all that I +won't dance any more to-night." + +"What is it," asked the mother, on perceiving her hesitation; "won't she +dance wid you? Hut, tut, Kathleen, what nonsense is this? To be sure you +must dance wid Mr. Burke; don't take any refusal, Mr. Burke--is that all +you know about girls.--sure nineteen refusals is aquil to one consent. +Go over, Gerald, and make her dance wid him," she added, turning to her +husband. + +"What's the matter, Kathleen, that you won't dance wid Mr. Hycy?" asked +the good man. + +"Because I have danced all I will dance to-night, father." + +"Tut, nonsense, you foolish girl--it's proud you ought to be that he'd +ax you. Get up and dance a reel wid him." + +Hanna, who knew her sister's resolution when once formed, immediately +came to her rescue. "Don't ask her, father," she said; "the truth is, +that I believe she has a headache--however, I'll take her place--have +you any objection to me, Mr. Burke?" + +None in the world--he would be very happy--only he regretted that he +could not have that pleasure also with his sister. + +"Ah, Mr. Hycy--which is properly Hyacinthus," said Finigan; "I am able +to perceive that Cupid declines to be propitious in that quarter, or +perhaps it's the _irae amantium_,---which is, on being rendered into +vernacularity, a falling out of lovers; and if so, do not despair; for +as certain as it is, it will be followed by that most delectable of +processes, the _redintegratio amoris_, or the renewing of love. In fact, +he is a little better than a tyro--an ignoramus, who doesn't quarrel at +least once a week, wid the fair object of his amorous inclinations, an' +that for the sake of the reconciliaitons." + +Hycy and Hanna were now about to dance, when Philip Hogan came forward, +and, with an oath, declared that Kathleen must dance--"He wouldn't see +Mr. Burke insulted that way by any such airs--and by--she must dance. +Come," said he, "what stuff is this--we'll see whether you or I is +strongest;" and as he spoke he seized her rudely by the arm, and was +about to pull her out on the floor. + +Bryan M'Mahon sprung to his feet. "Let her go, you ruffian," he +exclaimed; "let her go this instant." + +"No, I won't," replied the savage; "an' not for you, at any rate. Come, +Miss Kathleen, out you'll go:--for you indeed," he added, in a ferocious +parenthesis, looking at Bryan; "it's you that's the cause of all this. +Come, miss, dance you must." + +The words were scarcely uttered when M'Mahon, by a single blow on the +neck, felled him like an ox, and in an instant the whole place was a +scene of wild commotion. The Hogans, however, at all times unpopular, +had no chance in an open affray on such an occasion as this. The feeling +that predominated was, that the ruffianly interference of Philip had +been justly punished; and ere many minutes the usual harmony, with the +exception of some threatening looks and ferocious under growls from the +Hogans, was restored. Hycy and Hanna then went on with their dance, and +when it was over, the schoolmaster rose to depart. + +"Mr. Burke," said he, "you are and have the reputation of being a +perfect gentleman _homo factus ad unguem_--as has been said by the +learned little Roman, who, between you and me, was not overburthened +with an excess of morality. I take the liberty, jinteels, of wishing you +a good-night--_precor vobia prosperam noctem!_ Ah, I can do it yet; but +it wasn't for nothing that I practised the peripatetics in larned Kerry, +where the great O'Finigan is not yet forgotten. I shall now seek a +contiguous place of repose, until the consequences of some slight +bacchanalin libations on my part shall have dispersed themselves into +thin air." + +He accordingly departed, but from the unsteadiness of his step it was +clear that, as he said, the place of his repose must be contiguous +indeed. Had he been conscious of his own motions it is not likely he +would have sought for repose in Cavanagh's kiln, then the habitation of +the Hogans. It was probably the fact of the door having been left open, +which was generally the case in summer, that induced him to enter--for +enter he did--ignorant, it is to be presumed, that the dwelling he +was about to enter was then inhabited by the Hogans, whom he very much +disrelished. + +The place was nearly waste, and had a very desolate look. Scattered +around, and littered upon shake-down beds of straw, some half dozen +young besmutted savages, male and female, lay stretched in all +positions, some north, others south, without order or decency, but all +seeming in that barbarous luxury which denotes strong animal health and +an utter disregard of cleanliness and bodily comfort. Over in one of the +corners lay three or four budgets, old iron skillets, hammers, lumps of +melted lead, broken pots, a quantity of cows' horns for spoons, wooden +dishes that required clasping, old kettles that wanted repair, a couple +of cast off Poteen Stills, and a new one half made--all of which were +visible by the light of a large log of bog-fir which lay burning in the +fire-place. On looking around him, he descended a flight of stone steps +that led to the fireplace or the kiln or opening in which the fuel used +to dry the grain was always burned. This corner, which was eight or ten +feet below the other portion of the floor, being, in general, during the +summer months filled with straw, received the drowsy pedagogue, who, in +a few minutes, was as sound asleep as any of them about him. + +Hycy, who was conscious of his good figure, danced two or three times +afterwards. + +Dora M'Mahon had the honor of being his partner, as had one or two of +the best looking girls present. At the close of the last dance he looked +significantly at the Hogans, and nodded towards the door; after which it +might have been observed, that they slunk out one at a time, followed in +a few minutes by Kate Hycy, after some further chat with Gerald Cavanagh +and his wife, threw half a crown to Mickey M'Grory, and in his usual +courteous phraseology, through which there always ran, by the way, a vein +of strong irony, he politely wished them all a good night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII.--Anonymous Letter with a Name to It + +--Finigan's Dialogue with Hycy + + +The severest tax upon Hycy's powers of invention was, in consequence of +his habits of idleness, to find means of occupying his time. Sometimes, +it is true, he condescended to oversee the men while at work, but +there it was generally found that so far from keeping them to their +employment, he was a considerable drawback upon their industry. The +ordinary business of his life, however, was riding about the country, +and especially into the town of Ballymacan and home again. He was also a +regular attendant in all the neighboring fairs; and we may safely assert +that no race in the province ever came off without him. + +On the second day after his interview with Teddy Phats and the Hogans, +he was riding past the post-office, when he heard the window tapped, +and, on approaching, a letter was handed out to him, which on opening he +found to contain the following communication:-- + +"Worthy Mr. Hyacinthus-- + +"A friend unknown to you, but not altogether so to fame, and one. +whom no display of the subtlest ingenuity on behalf of your acute and +sagacious intellect could ever decypher through the medium of this +epistle, begs to convey to you a valuable portion of anonymous +information. When he says that he is not unknown to fame, the assertion, +as far as it goes, is pregnant wid veracity. Mark that I say, as far +as it goes, by which is meant the assertion as well as the fame of your +friend, the inditer of this significant epistle. Forty-eight square +miles of good sound fame your not inerudite correspondent can +conscientiously lay claim to; and although there is, with regret I admit +it, a considerable portion of the square superficies alluded to, waste +and uncultivated moor, yet I can say, wid that racy touch of genial and +expressive pride which distinguishes men of letters in general, that the +other portions of this fine district are inhabited by a multitudinity +of population in the highest degree creditable to the prolific powers +of the climate. 'Tisn't all as one, then, as that thistle-browsing +quadruped. Barney Heffeman, who presumes, in imitation of his betters, +to write Philomath after his name, and whose whole extent of literary +reputation is not more than two or three beggarly townlands, whom, by +the way, he is inoculating successfully wid his own ripe and flourishing +ignorance. No, sir; nor like Gusty Gibberish, or (as he has been most +facetiously christened by his Reverence, Father O'Flaherty) Demosthenes +M'Gosther, inasmuch as he is distinguished for an aisy and prodigal +superfluity of mere words, unsustained by intelligibility or meaning, +but who cannot claim in his own person a mile and a half of dacent +reputation. However, _quid multis_ Mr. Hyacinthus; 'tis no indoctrinated +or obscure scribe who now addresses you, and who does so from causes +that may be salutary to your own health and very gentlemanly fame, +according as you resave the same, not pretermitting interests involving, +probably, on your part, an abundant portion of pecuniarity. + +"In short, then, it has reached these ears, Mr. Hyacinthus, and between +you and me, they are not such a pair as, in consequence of their +longitudinity, can be copiously shaken, or which rise and fall according +to the will of the wearer; like those of the thistle-browser already +alluded to; it has reached them that you are about to substantiate a +a disreputable--excuse the phrase--co-partnership wid four of the most +ornamental villains on Hibernian earth, by which you must understand me +to mane that the villains aforesaid are not merely accomplished in all +the plain principles and practices of villainy, but finished off even +to its natest and most inganious decorations. Their whole life has been +most assiduously and successfully devoted to a general violation of the +ten commandments, as well as to the perpetual commission of the seven +deadly sins. Nay, the 'reserved cases' themselves can't escape them, and +it is well known that they wont rest satisfied wid the wide catalogue of +ordinary and general iniquity, but they must, by way of luxury, have a +lick at blasphemy, and some of the rarer vices, as often as they can, +for the villains are so fastidious that they won't put up wid +common wickedness like other people. I cannot, however, wid anything +approximating to a safe conscience, rest here. What I have said has +reference to the laws of God, but what I am about to enumerate relates +to the laws of man--to the laws of the land Wid respect, then, to them, +I do assure you, that although I myself look upon the violation of a +great number of the latter wid a very vanial squint, still, I say, I +do assure you that they have not left a single law made by Parliament +unfractured. They have gone over the whole statute-book several times, +and I believe are absolutely of opinion that the Parliament is doing +nothing. The most lynx-eyed investigator of old enactments could not +find one which has escaped them, for the villains are perfectly black +letter in that respect; and what is in proper keeping wid this, whenever +they hear of a new Act of Parliament they cannot rest either night or +day until they break it. And now for the inference: be on your +guard against this pandemonial squad. Whatever your object may be in +cultivating and keeping society wid them, theirs is to ruin you--fleece +was the word used--an I then to cut and run, leaving Mr. Hycy--the +acute, the penetrating, the accomplished--completely in the lurch. Be +influenced, then, by the amicitial admonitions of the inditer of this +correspondence. Become not a smuggler--forswear poteen. The Lord forgive +me, Mr. Hycy--no, I only wished to say forswear--not the poteen--but +any connection wid the illegal alembic from which it is distillated, +otherwise they will walk off wid the 'doublings,' or strong liquor, +leaving you nothing but the residuum or feints. Take a friend's advice, +therefore, and retrograde out of all society and connection wid the +villains I have described; or if you superciliously overlook this +warning, book it down as a fact that admits of no negation, that +you will be denuded of reputation, of honesty, and of any pecuniary +contingencies that you may happen to possess. This is a sincere advice +from + +"Your Anonymous Friend, + +"Patricius O'Finigan, Philomath." + + +After perusing this characteristic production, Hycy paused for a little, +and felt it very probable that there might be some reasonable grounds +for its production, although he could scarcely understand upon what +motive these fellows should proceed to practice treachery towards him. +That they were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied; +but he knew it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters +connected with their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's +blunder--for such it evidently was--in signing his name to a document +that he intended to be anonymous. + +"At all events," thought he, "I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he +calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me +such a warning." + +He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin +that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little +bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating +from a different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of +common, where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour +Mr. O'Finigan went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The +little village of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood, +was composed of a couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small +grocer's and publican's, together with a Pound at the entrance, through +which ran a little stream necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to +drink. + +On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his +own name repeated by at least two dozen voices. + +"Here's a gintleman, masther"--"It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir "--"It is, +bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen--" + +"Him that rides the race, masther"--"Ay, an' he has on top-boots and +buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman--" + +"Silence!" said Finigan, "silence! I say; is this proper scholastic +decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you +reptiles, or castigation shall result. Here, Paddy Sparable," he +added, rising up--"here, you nailroad, assume my office, and rule +the establishment till I return; and, mark me, as the son of a nailer, +sirra, I expect that you will rule them with a rod of iron--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Ay, but Paddy Pancake's here to-day, sir, an' he's able to welt me; so +that's it's only leathered I'd get, sir, i' you plase." + +"But have you no officers? Call in aid, I ordher you. Can't you make +Sam Scaddhan and Phiddher Mackleswig there two policeman get Pancake +down--flatten him--if he prove contumacious during my absence. Pancake, +mark me, obedience is your cue, or, if not, the castigator here is your +alternative; there it is, freshly cut--ripe and ready--and you are not +to be told, at this time o' day, what portion of your corpus will catch +it. Whish-h-h!--silence! I say. How do you do, Mr. Burke? I am proud of +a visit from you, sir; perhaps you would light down and examine a class. +My Greeks are all absent to-day; but I have a beautiful class o' Romans +in the Fourth Book of Virgil--immortal Maro. Do try them, Mr. Hycy; if +they don't do Dido's death in a truly congenial spirit I am no classic. +Of one thing I can assure you, that they ought; for I pledge my +reputation it is not the first time I've made them practice the Irish +cry over it. This, however, was but natural; for it is now well known to +the learned that, if Dido herself was not a fair Hibernian, she at least +spoke excellent Irish. Ah, Mr. Hycy," he added, with a grin, "the birch +is the only pathetic switch growing! Will you come in, sir?" + +"No, thank you, Mr. Finigan; but perhaps you would have the goodness +to come out for a little;" and, as he spoke, he nodded towards the +public-house. "I know the boys will be quiet until you return." + +"If they don't," replied Finigan, "the alternative is in no shape +enigmatical. Mark what I've already said, gintlemen. Sparable, do you +keep a faithful journal of the delinquents; and observe that there are +offices of importance in this world besides flagellating erudition into +reptiles like you." + +He then looked about him with an air of vast importance, and joined Hycy +on his way to the public-house. Having ordered in the worthy pedagogue's +favorite beverage, not forgetting something of the same kind for +himself, he addressed Finigan as follows:-- + +"Finigan, I received a devilish queer letter from you to-day--take your +liquor in the mean time--what did you mean by it?" + +"From me, Mr. Hycy--_nego_, I say--_pugnis et calc bu nego_." + +"Come, come, you know you wrote me an anonymous letter, referring to +some ridiculous copartnership or other that I can neither make head nor +tail of. Tell me candidly what you meant." + +"Very good, Mr. Burke; but sure I know of old that jocularity was always +your forte--even when laying in under my own instruction that sound +classical substratum on which the superstructure of your subsequent +knowledge was erected, you were always addicted to the facetious and the +fabulous--both of which you contrived to blend together with an ease and +volubility of language that could not be surpassed." + +"That is all very well; but you need not deny that you wrote me the +letter. Let me ask you seriously, what was it you warned me against?" + +"_Propino tibi salulem_--here's to you. No, but let me ask you what you +are at, Mr. Hycy? You may have resaved an anonymous letter, but I am +ignorant why you should paternize it upon me." + +"Why, because it has all the marks and tokens of you." + +"Eh?--to what does that amount? Surely you know my handwriting?" + +"Perfectly; but this is disguised evidently." + +"Faith," said the other, laughing, "maybe the inditer of it was +disguised when he wrote it." + +"It might be," replied Hycy; "however, take your liquor, and in the mean +time I shall feel exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Finigan, if you will +tell me the truth at once--whether you wrote it or whether you did +not?" + +"My response again is in the negative," replied Finigan--"I disclaim it +altogether. I am not the scribe, you may rest assured of it, nor can I +say who is." + +"Well, then," said Hycy, "I find I must convict you yourself of the +fabulous at least; read that," said he, placing the letter in his own +hands. "Like a true Irishman you signed your name unconsciously; and now +what have you to say for yourself?" + +"Simply," replied the other, "that some knave, of most fictitious +imagination, has forged my name to it. No man can say that that is my +manuscription, Mr. Hycy." These words he uttered with great coolness; +and Hycy, who was in many things a shrewd young fellow, deemed it better +to wait until the liquor, which was fast disappearing, should begin to +operate. At length, when about three-quarters of an hour had passed, he +resolved to attack his vanity. + +"Well, well, Finigan, as regards this letter, I must say I feel a good +deal disappointed." + +"Why so, Mr. Hycy?" + +"Why, because I did not think there was any other man in the country who +could have written it." + +"Eh? how is that now?" + +"Faith, it's very simple; the letter is written with surprising +ability--the language is beautiful--and the style, like the land of +Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. It is certainly a most uncommon +production." + +"Now, seriously, do you think so? At all events, Mr. Hycy, it was +written by a friend of yours--that's a clear case." + +"I think so; but what strikes me is its surprising ability; no wonder +the writer should say that he is not unknown to fame--he could not +possibly remain in obscurity." + +"Mr. Hycy, your health--I remember when you were wid me you certainly +were _facile princeps_ for a ripe judgment, even in your rudiments; +so then, you are of opinion that the epistle in question has janius? +I think myself it is no everyday production; not I believe such as +the thistle-browser Heffernan, or Misther Demosthenes M'Gosther could +achieve--the one wid his mile and a half, and the other wid his three +townlands of reputation. No, sir, to the divil I pitch them both; they +could never indite such a document. Your health, Mr. Hycy--_propino +tibi_, I say; and you are right, _ille ego_--it's a a fact; I am the +man, sir--I acknowledge the charge." + +This admission having been made, we need scarcely add that an +explanation was at at once given by Finigan of the motive which had +induced him to write the letter. + +"On laving the kemp," said he, "and getting into the open air--_sub +diu_, Mr. Hycy--I felt a general liquidation of my whole bodily +strength, with a strong disposition to make short excursions to the +right or to the left rather than hold my way straight a-head, with, I +must confess, an equal tendency to deposit my body on my mother earth +and enact the soporiferous. On passing Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where +the Hogans kennel, I entered, and was greeted wid such a chorus of +sternutation as you might expect from a pigsty in midsummer, and made me +envy the unlicked young savages who indulged in it. At the period spoken +of neither you nor they had come in from the kemp. Even this is but a +dim recollection, and I remember nothing more until I overheard your +voice and theirs in dialogue as you were about to depart. After you +went, I heard the dialogue which I hinted at in the letter, between +Teddy Phats and them; and knowing my position and the misbegotten satyrs +by whom I was surrounded, I patiently waited until they were asleep, +when I quietly took my departure." + +Burke could not help inferring from Finigan's manner, that he had +overheard a greater portion of their conversation on the occasion +alluded to than he seemed disposed to acknowledge. + +"Now, Finigan," he said, "I feel disposed to place every confidence in +you. Will you answer candidly the question I am about to propose to you? +Did you hear Bryan M'Mahon's name mentioned?" + +"You say, Mr. Hycy," replied Finigan, emptying his glass, "that you +would enthertain no apprehension in placing confidence in me?" + +"Not the slightest," replied Hycy; "I believe you to be the very soul of +honor; and, besides, are you not my old master? As you say yourself, did +I not break grammatical ground, under you?" + +"The soul of honor," replied the pedagogue, complacently--"that is +excellently said. Well, then, Mr. Burke, I shall not deal out my +confidence by beggarly instalments--I did hear Bryan M'Mahon's name +mentioned; and I heard a plan alluded to between you and them for +reducing him to--" + +"That was all humbug, Finigan, so far as I am concerned; but for the +present I am obliged to let them suppose what you allude to, in order +to keep them honest to myself if I can. You know they have a kind of +hereditary hatred against the M'Mahons; and if I did not allow them to +take their own way in this, I don't think I could depend on them." + +"Well, there is raison in that too," replied Finigan. + +"I am sure, Finigan," proceeded Hycy, "that you are too honorable a man +to breathe either to Bryan M'Mahon or any one else, a single syllable +of the conversation which you overheard merely by accident. I say I +am certain you will never let it transpire, either by word of mouth or +writing. In me you may always calculate on finding a sincere friend; +and of this let me assure you, that your drink, if everything goes right +with us, won't cost you much--much! not a penny; if you had two throats +instead of one--as many necks as Hydra, we should supply them all." + +"Give me your hand, Mr. Hycy--you are a gintleman, and I always said +would be one--I did, sir--I prognosticated as much years ago; and +sincerely felicitous am I that my prognostications have been verified +for so far. I said you would rise--that exaltation was before you--and +that your friends might not feel at all surprised at the elevated +position in which you will die. _Propino tibi_, again--and do not fear +that ever revelation of mine shall facilitate any catastrophe that may +await you." + +Hycy looked keenly into the schoolmaster's face as he uttered the last +observation; but in the maudlin and collapsed features then before him +he could read nothing that intimated the sagacity of a double meaning. +This satisfied him; and after once more exacting from Finigan a pledge +of what he termed honorable confidence, he took his departure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX.--A Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery + + +This communication determined Hycy to forego his intention for the +present, and he consequently allowed the summer and autumn to pass +without keeping up much intercourse with either Teddy Phats or the +Hogans. The truth is, that Burke, although apparently frank and candid, +was constitutionally cautious, and inclined a good deal to suspicion. +He feared that no project, the knowledge of which was held in common +with Finigan, could be long kept a secret; and for that reason he make +up his mind to postpone the matter, and allow it to die away out of the +schoolmaster's mind ere he bestowed any further attention upon it. In +the meantime, the state of the country was gradually assuming a worse +and more depressing character. The season was unfavorable; and although +we do not assert that many died of immediate famine, yet we know that +hundreds--nay, thousands--died from the consequences of scarcity and +destitution--or, in plainer words, from fever and other diseases induced +by bad and insufficient food, and an absence of the necessary comforts +of life. Indeed, at the period of our narrative, the position of Ireland +was very gloomy; but when, we may ask, has it been otherwise, within +the memory of man, or the records of history? Placed as the country was, +emigration went forward on an extensive scale,--emigration, too, of +that peculiar description which every day enfeebles and impoverishes +the country, by depriving her of all that approaches to anything like +a comfortable and independent yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of +depletion which no country can bear long; and, as it is, at the moment +we are writing this, progressing at a rate beyond all precedent, it will +not, we trust, be altogether uninteresting to inquire into some of the +causes that have occasioned it. Let not our readers apprehend, however, +that we are about to turn our fictitious narrative into a dissertation +on political economy. Of course the principle cause of emigration is the +poverty and depressed state of the country; and it follows naturally, +that whatever occasions our poverty will necessarily occasion +emigration. The first cause of our poverty then, is Absenteeism, which, +by drawing six or seven millions out of the country, deprives our people +of employment and means of life to that amount. The next is the general +inattention of Irish landlords to the state and condition of their +own property, and an inexcusable want of sympathy with their tenantry, +which, indeed, is only a corollary from the former; for it can hardly +be expected that those who wilfully neglect themselves will feel a +warm interest in others. The next is the evil of subletting, by which +property becomes overloaded with human beings, who, for the most part, +are bound by no ties whatsoever to the owner of the soil. He is +not their landlord, nor are they his tenants; and so far from their +interests being in any way reciprocal, they are actually adversative. +It is his interest to have them removed, and, as circumstances +unfortunately stand, it is theirs to remain, inasmuch as their +alternative is ruin since they have no place of shelter to receive them. + +Political corruption, in the shape of the forty-shilling franchise, was +another cause, and one of the very worst, which led to the prostration +of the country by poverty and moral degradation, and for this the +proprietors of the soil are solely responsible. Nor can the use of the +potato, as the staple food of the laboring classes, in connection with +the truck system, and the consequent absence of money payments, in +addition to the necessary ignorance of domestic and social comforts +that resulted from them, be left out of this wretched catalogue of our +grievances. Another cause of emigration is to be found in the high and +exorbitant rents at which land is held by all classes of farmers--with +some exceptions we admit, as in the case of old leases--but especially +by those who hold under middlemen, or on the principle of subletting +generally. By this system a vast deal of distress and petty but most +harrassing oppression is every day in active operation upon the property +of the head landlord, which he can never know, and for which he is in no +other way responsible unless by having ever permitted the existence of +it for any purpose whatsoever. + +In a country distracted like Ireland, it would be impossible to omit the +existence of political and religious animosity as a strong and prominent +cause of our wretched poverty, and consequently of emigration. The +priest, instead of leaving temporal affairs to temporal men, most +improperly mingles himself in the angry turmoils of politics, to which, +by his interference, he communicates a peculiar and characteristic +bitterness. The landlord, on the other hand, having his own interests to +consult, does not wish to arm a political opponent with such powers as +he knows will most assuredly be turned against himself, and consequently +often refuses to grant a lease unless to those who will pledge +themselves to support him. This state of things, involving, as it does, +much that is wrong on both sides, is, has been, and will be, a present +and permanent curse to the country--a curse, too, which, until there +is more of humanity and justice on the one side, and of education +and liberal feeling on the other, is not likely to disappear from the +country. + +Though last, not least, comes the unaccountable and guilty neglect of +our legislature (if we can call it ours) in everything that pertained to +Irish interests. This, together with its almost necessary consequence of +dishonest agitation on the one hand, and well founded dissatisfaction on +the other, nearly completes the series of the causes which have produced +the poverty of the country, and, as a direct result, the emigration of +all that is most comfortable, independent, and moral among us. + +This poverty, arising, as it does, from so many causes, has propagated +itself with a rapidity which is startling; for every one knows that +poverty is proverbially prolific. And yet it is a grievous anomaly to +reflect that a country so far steeped in misery and destitution as +to have nearly one-half of its population in a state of most pitiable +pauperism, possesses a soil capable of employing and maintaining three +times the number of its inhabitants. When the causes, however, which we +have just enumerated are seriously looked at and considered, we think +its extraordinary result is, after all, so very natural, that the wonder +would indeed be were the state of Ireland otherwise than it is. As +matters stand at present, and as they are likely to continue, unless +parliament shall interfere by a comprehensive measure of legislation, +we must only rest contented with seeing the industrious, moral, and +respectable portion of our countrymen abandoning the land of their +birth and affections, and nothing but the very dregs--degraded alike +by idleness and immorality--remaining behind to multiply and perpetuate +their own wretchedness and degradation. + +It has been often said, and with great truth, that no man is more +devotedly attached to his native soil than an Irishman; yet it may +reasonably be asked, how this principle of attachment can be reconciled +with the strong tendency to emigration which characterizes our people. +We reply, that the tendency in question is a proof of the love of honest +industry, enterprise, and independence, by which our countrymen, when +not degraded by neglect and poverty, are actuated. It is not of this +class, however so degraded, that we now speak. On the contrary we +take the decent and respectable farmer as the subject of our +illustration--the man who, loving his native fields as if they were of +his blood, would almost as soon part with the one as the other. This man +it is, who, with the most child-like tenderness of affection towards the +land on which he and his have lived for centuries, will, nevertheless, +the moment he finds himself on the decline, and with no cheering hope +of prosperity or encouragement before him or his family, resolutely +determine to forget everything but the noble duties which he owes +to himself and them. He sees clearly, from the unhappy state of +the country, and the utter want of sympathy and attention which he +experiences at the hands of those who ought to have his interests at +heart, that if he attempt to hold his position under circumstances so +depressing and unfavorable, he must gradually sink, until he and his +become mingled with the great mass of pauperism which lies lik a an +incubus upon the energies of the country. What, therefore, can possibly +prove more strongly than this that the Irishman who is not dragged into +the swamp of degradation, in which hope and energy are paralyzed, is +strongly and heroically characterized by I those virtues of industry and +enterprise that throw their lustre over social life? + +There are other and still more indefensible causes, however, which too +frequently drive the independent farmer out of the country. In too +many cases it happens that the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, +countenanced or stimulated by the necessities and reckless extravagance +of the landlord, fall, like some unwholesome blight, upon that +enterprise and industry which would ultimately, if properly encouraged, +make the country prosperous and her landed proprietors independent men. +We allude to the nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who +have made improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay +for the improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this +crying and oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those +who fill the responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland, +than whom in general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous, +oppressive, arrogant, and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course +there are, and many, but speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert +nothing but what the condition of property, and of those who live upon +it, do at this moment and have for many a year testified. + +Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited +upon the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already +described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety +on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This +neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man, +who was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his +countrymen always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a +lease, which they look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely +inviolable and sacred, as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who, +although a young man, was not destitute of either observation or the +experience which it bestows, and who, moreover, had no disposition to +place unlimited confidence in Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague +suspicions with reference to the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not +the reputation of being a harsh man, or particularly unjust in his +dealings with the world; on the contrary, he was rather liked than +otherwise; for so soft was the melody of his voice, and so irresistible +the friendship and urbanity of his manner, that many persons felt as +much gratified by the refusal of a favor from him as they did at its +being granted by another. At length, towards the close of October, Bryan +himself told his father that he would, call upon the agent and urge him +to expedite the matter of the leases. "I don't know how it is," said +he, "but some way or other I don't feel comfortable about this business: +Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is well spoken of in +general; but for all that there's always a man here an' there that says +he's not to be depended on." + +"Troth an' he is to be depended on," said his generous father; "his +words isn't like the words of a desaver, and it isn't till he shows the +cloven foot that I'll ever give in that he's, dishonest." + +"Well," said Bryan, "I'm sure I for one hope you may be right; but, at +any rate, as he's at home now I'll start and see him." + +"Do then," said his father, "bekaise I know you're a favorite of his; +for he tould me so wid his own lips." + +"Well," replied the other, laughing, "I hope you're right there too; +I'm sure I have no objection;" and he accordingly set out to see +Fethertonge, but with something of an impression that the object of +his visit was not likely to be accomplished without difficulty, if +accomplished at all. + +On reaching the agent's house he met a thin, tall man, named Clinton, +with a hooked nose and sinister aspect, riding down the avenue, after +having paid Fethertonge a visit. This person was the gauger of the +district, a bachelor and a man of considerable wealth, got together, +it is suspected, by practices that were not well capable of bearing the +light. His family consisted of a niece and a nephew, the latter of whom +had recently become a bosom friend of the accomplished Hycy Burke, who, +it was whispered, began to look upon Miss Clinton with a partial eye. +Hycy had got acquainted with him at the Herringstown races, where +he, Hycy, rode and won a considerable sweepstakes; and as both young +gentlemen were pretty much of the same habits of life, a very warm +intimacy had, for some time past, subsisted between them. Clinton, to +whom M'Mahon was known, addressed him in a friendly manner, and, after +some chat, he laid the point of his whip gently upon Bryan's shoulder, +so as to engage his attention. + +"M'Mahon," said he, "I am glad I have met you, and I trust our meeting +will be for your good. You have had a dispute with Hycy Burke?" + +"Why, sir," replied Bryan, smiling, "if I had it wasn't such as it was +worth his while to talk about." + +"Well, M'Mahon, that's generously said on your part--now, listen to me; +don't allow yourself to be drawn into any illegal or illicit proceedings +by any one, friend or foe--if so, you will only put yourself into the +power of your enemies; for enemies you have, I can assure you." + +"They say, sir, there is no one without them," replied Bryan, smiling; +"but so far as I am consarned, I don't exactly understand what you mane. +I have no connection with anything, either illegal or--or--wrong in any +way, Mr. Clinton, and if any one tould you so, they spoke an untruth." + +"Ay, ay," said Clinton, "that may be so, and I hope it is so; but you +know that it could not be expected you would admit it even if it be +true. Will you in the mean time, be guided by a friend? I respect your +father and his family; I respect yourself, M'Mahon; and, consequently, +my advice to you is--keep out of the meshes of the law--avoid violating +it--and remember you have enemies. Now think of these words, and so +good-bye, M'Mahon! Indeed, I am glad for your own sake I met +you--good-bye!" + +As he uttered the last words he dashed on and left Bryan in a state +of perfect amazement at the strange and incomprehensible nature of the +communication he had just received. Indeed, so full was his mind of the +circumstance, that forgetting all his suspicions of Fethertonge, and +urged by the ingenuous impulse of an honest heart, he could not prevent +himself in the surprise and agitation of the moment from detailing the +conversation which he had just had with the gauger. + +"That is singular enough," said Fethertonge--"he named Hycy Burke, +then?" + +"He did, sir." + +"It is singular," proceeded the other, as if speaking to himself; "in +truth, my dear M'Mahon, we were talking about you, discussing, in fact, +the same subject not many minutes ago; and what you tell me now is only +an additional proof that Clinton, who is sometimes harshly spoken of by +the way, is a straightforward, honest man." + +"What could he mane, sir?" asked Bryan, "I never had anything to do +contrary to the law--I haven't now, nor do I ever intend to have--" + +"Well, I'm sure I do not know," replied the agent: "he made no illusion +of that kind to me, from a generous apprehension, I dare say, lest he +might injure you in my opinion. He only desired me not rashly to listen +to anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who +were laboring to injure you in some way--but how--he either would not +tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for +I shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice." + +"I tell you beforehand, sir," said Bryan, with the conscious warmth +of rectitude, "and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear +anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should +say that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or +justice, you'll hear a falsehood--I don't care who it comes from--and +the man who tells you so is a liar." + +"I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve +me to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn +into anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual +of your family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve +me--deeply would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so +honest--but no, I will not, for I cannot suppose it." + +Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could +not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation +which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were +now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of +which he knew nothing. + +"You take it lightly," said Fethertonge, with something of a serious +expression; "but remember, my dear Bryan, that I now speak as one +interested in, and, in fact, representing the other members of your +family. Remember, at all events, you are forewarned, and, in the +meantime, I thank Clinton--although I certainly would not have mentioned +names. Bryan, you can have no objection that I should speak to your +father on this subject?" + +"Not the slightest, sir," replied Bryan; "spake to any one you like +about it; but, putting that aside, sir, for the present--about these +leases?" + +"Why, what apprehension have you about them, Byran?" + +"No apprehension, sir, sartinly; but you know yourself, Mr. Fethertonge, +that to a man like me, that's layin' out and expendin' money every day +upon Adaharra farm, and my father the same way upon Carriglass--I say, +to a man like me, to be layin' out his money, when you know yourself +that if the present landlord should refuse to carry his father's dying +words into effect--or, as you said this minute yourself, sir, if some +enemy should turn you against me, amn't I and my father and the whole +family liable to be put out, notwithstanding all the improvements we've +made, and the money we've spent in makin' them?" + +"Bryan," said Fethertonge, after a pause, "every word you say is +unfortunately too true--too true--and such things, are a disgrace to the +country; indeed, I believe, they seldom occur in any country but this. +Will it in the mean time satisfy you when I state that, if old Mr. +Chevydale's intentions are not carried into effect by his son, I shall +forthwith resign my agency?" + +Bryan's conscience, generous as he was, notwithstanding his suspicions, +smote him deeply on hearing this determination so unequivocally +expressed. Indeed the whole tenor of their dialogue, taken in at one +view--especially Fethertonge's intention of speaking to Tom M'Mahon upon +the mysterious subject of Bryan's suspected delinquencies against +the law--so thoroughly satisfied him of the injustice he had rendered +Fethertonge, that he was for a time silent. + +At length he replied--"That, sir, is more than we could expect; but +at any rate there's one thing I'm now sartin of--that, if we're +disappointed, you won't be the cause of it." + +"Yes; but of course you must put disappointment out of the question. The +landlord, will, without any doubt, grant the leases--I am satisfied of +that; indeed, there can be no doubt about it. By the way, I am anxious +to see Ahadarra and to ascertain the extent to which you have carried +your improvements. Clinton and I will probably take a ride up there some +day soon; and in the meantime do you keep improving, M'Mahon, for that's +the secret of all success--leave the rest to me. How is your father?" + +"Never was better, sir, I'm thankful to you." + +"And your grandfather? how does he bear up?" + +"Faith, sir, wonderfully, considering his age." + +"He must be very old now?" + +"He's ninety-four, sir, and that's a long age sure enough; but I'm sorry +to say that my mother's health isn't so well." + +"Why, what is the matter with her? I'm sorry to hear this." + +"Indeed we can't say; she's very poorly--her appetite is gone--she has a +cough, an' she doesn't get her rest at night." + +"Why don't you get medical advice?" + +"So we did, sir. Dr. Sexton's attendin' her; but I don't think somehow +that he has a good opinion of her." + +"Sexton's a skilful man, and I don't think she could be in better hands; +however, Bryan, I shall feel obliged if you will send down occasionally +to let me know how she gets on--once a week or so." + +"Indeed we will, sir, an' I needn't say how much we feel obliged to you +for your kindness and good wishes." + +"It must be more than good wishes, Bryan; but I trust that she will +get better. In the meantime leave the other matters to me, and you may +expect Clinton and I up at your farm to look some of these days." + +"God forgive me," thought Bryan, as he left the hall-door, "for the +injustice I did him, by supposin' for one minute that he wasn't disposed +to act fairly towards us. My father was right; an' it was foolish of +me to put my wit against his age an' experience. Oh, no, that man's +honest--there can;t be any mistake about it." + +From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way +home, to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity +towards him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy +Burke had, in general, the character of being a generous, dashing +young fellow, with no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a +thoughtless inclination for extravagance; for such were the gentle +terms in which habits of seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in +the expenditure of money were clothed by those who at once fleeced and +despised him, but who were numerous enough to impress those opinions +upon a great number of the people. In turning over matters as they stood +between them, he could trace Burke's enemity to no adequate cause; +nor indeed could he believe it possible that he entertained any such +inveterate feeling of hostility against him. They had of late frequently +met, on which occasion Hycy spoke to him with nearly as much cordiality +as ever. Still, however, he could not altogether free himself from +the conviction, that both Clinton and Fethertonge must have had +unquestionable grounds for the hints which they had in such a friendly +way thrown out to him. + +In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet +behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him +at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, +on seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, "If you +are not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you." + +The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, "a word, Bryan! ay, a +hundred--certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have some +conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?" + +"Hycy," proceeded Bryan, "I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow +me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?" + +"Will you answer me another question?" replied Hycy. + +"If I can I will," said Bryan. + +"Well, then,"'replied Hycy, "I will answer you most candidly, Bryan--not +the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling +against me." + +"And you wor right, too," returned Bryan "for I really had." + +"I remember," proceeded Hycy, "that when I asked you to lend me +thirty-five pounds--and by the way that reminds me that I am still +pretty deep in your debt--you would neither lend it nor give any +satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that +feeling, Bryan?" + +"It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my +pocket," replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which +Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself. "Read that," said he, +"and I think you'll have no great trouble in understanding why I felt +as I did;--an' indeed, Hycy, to tell you the truth, I never had the same +opinion of you since." Hycy, to his utter amazement, read as follows: + +"My Dear Miss Cavanagh:-- + +"Will you permit little Cupid, the god of Love, to enrol the name of +Hycy Burke on the long list of your adorers? And if you could corrupt +the little stone-blind divinity to blot out every name on it but my own, +I should think that a very handsome anticipation of the joys of Paradise +could be realized by that delightful fact. I say anticipation--for my +creed is, that the actual joys of Paradise exist no where, but within +the celestial circle of your ambrosial arms. That is the Paradise which +I propose to win; and you may rest assured that I shall bring the most +flaming zeal, the most fervent devotion, and all the genuine piety of +a true worshipper, to the task of attaining it. I shall carry, for +instance, a little Bible of Love in my pocket--for I am already a +divinity student or a young collegian under little Cupid aforesaid--and +I will have it all dogeared with refreshing texts for my edification. +I should state, however, that I am, as every good Christian is, awfully +exclusive in my creed; and will suffer no one, if I can prevent it, to +approach the Paradise I speak of but myself. In fact I am as jealous as +the very Deuce--whoever that personage may be--quite an Othello in my +way--a perfect raw-head-and-bloody-bones--with a sharp appetite and +teeth like a Walrus, ready to bolt my rivals in dozens. It is said, +my divine creature, or rather it is hinted, that a certain clodhopping +boor, from the congenial wilds of Ahadarra, is favored by some benignant +glances from those lights of yours that do mislead the moon. I hope this +is not so--bow wow!--ho! ho!--I smell the blood of a rival; and be he +great or small, red or black, or of any color in the rainbow, I +shall have him for my. breakfast--ho! ho! You see now, my most divine +Kathleen, what a terrible animal to all rivals and competitors for your +affections I shall be; and that if it were only for their own sakes, and +to prevent carnage and cannibalism, it will be well for you to banish +them once and forever, and be content only with myself. + +"Seriously, my dear Kathleen, I believe I am half-crazed; and, if so, +you are the sole cause of it. I can think of no other object than your +beautiful self; and I need scarcely say, that I shall have neither peace +nor happiness unless I shall be fortunate enough to gain a place in your +tender bosom. As for the Ahadarra man, I am surprised you should think of +such an ignorant clodhopper--a fellow whose place Providence especially +allotted to between the stilts of a plough, and at the tail of a pair +of horses. Perhaps you would be kind enough to take a walk on Thursday +evening, somewhere near the river--where I hope I shall have an +opportunity of declaring my affection for you in person. At all events I +shall be there with the ardent expectation of meeting you. + +"Ever your devoted worshipper, + +"Hycy Burke. + +"P.S.--Beware the clodhopper--bow wow!--ho! ho!" + + +On looking at the back of this singular production he was thunderstruck +to perceive that it was addressed to "Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, Ahadarra"--the +fact being that, in the hurry of the moment, he had misdirected the +letters--Bryan M'Mahon having received that which had been intended for +Kathleen, who, on the contrary, was pressingly solicited to lend him +thirty-fine pounds in order to secure "Crazy Jane." + +Having perused this precious production, Hycy, in spite of his chagrin, +was not able to control a most irresistible fit of laughter, in which he +indulged for some minutes. The mistake being now discovered in Bryan's +case was necessarily discovered in that of both, a circumstance which +to Hycy, who now fully understood the mature and consequences of his +blunder, was, as we have stated, the subject of extraordinary mirth, in +which, to tell the truth, Bryan could not prevent himself from joining +him. + +"Well, but after all, Bryan," said he, "what is there in this letter +to make you angry with me? Don't you see it's a piece of humbug from +beginning to end." + +"I do, and I did," replied Bryan; "but at that time I had never spoken +upon the subject of love or marriage to Kathleen Cavanagh, and I had no +authority nor right to take any one to task on her account, but, at the +same time, I couldn't even then either like or respect, much less lend +money to, any man that could humbug her, or treat such a girl with +disrespect--and in that letther you can't deny that you did both." + +"I grant," said Hycy, "that it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not +intended to offend her." + +"I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy," observed Bryan; "an' that if +she had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to +your discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken +there though." + +"She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan--very far from it, +indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther +for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter +to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth, +Bryan, I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife." + +"As to that," replied the other, smiling, "we'll keep never minding--but +you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther, +an' I'm thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first +question--have you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to +injure me?" + +"Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill +feeling against you, nor any design to injure you." + +"That's enough, Hycy," replied his companion; "I think I'm bound to +believe your words." + +"You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you +that I had--and if so, who was the person?" + +"It's enough for you to know," said Bryan, "that whoever told it to me I +don't believe it." + +"I certainly have a right to know," returned Hycy; "but as the matter +is false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it--all I can +say to satisfy you is, what I have said already--that I entertain no ill +will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no +earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at +the present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing." + +"You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?" + +"No: devil a syllable." + +"Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?" + +Hycy pulled up his horse. + +"Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you," he exclaimed. "Is it right +to have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that +there's something wrong with your upper works." + +"Never mind," replied Bryan, laughing, "I'm satisfied--the thing's a +mistake--so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the kind +against you and it's all right." + +"What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?" +exclaimed Hycy.. + +"There now," continued Bryan, "that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfied? +Move on, now and overtake your friend--by the way he's a fine horseman, +they say?" + +"Very few better," said Hycy; "but some there are--and one I know--ha! +ha! ha! Good-bye, Bryan, and don't be made a fool of for nothing." + +Bryan nodded and laughed, and Hycy dashed on to overtake his friend +Clinton. + +M'Mahon's way home lay by Gerald Cavanagh's house, near which as he +approached he saw Nanny Peety in close conversation with Kate Hogan. The +circumstance, knowing their relationship as he did, made no impression +whatsoever upon him, nor would he have bestowed a thought upon it, had +he been left to his own will in the matter. The women separated ere he +had come within three hundred yards of them; Kate, who had evidently +been convoying her niece a part of the way, having returned in the +direction of Cavanagh's, leaving Nanny to pursue her journey home, by +which she necessarily met M'Mahon. + +"Well, Nanny," said the latter, "how are you?" + +"Faix, very well, I thank you, Bryan; how are all the family in +Carriglass?" + +"Barring my mother, they're all well, Nanny. I was glad to hear you +got so good a place, an' I'm still betther plaised to see you look so +well--for it's a proof that you feel comfortable in it." + +"Why I can't complain," she replied; "but you know there's no one widout +their throubles." + +"Troubles, Nanny," said Bryan, with surprise; "why surely, Nanny, +barrin' it's love, I don't see what trouble you can have." + +"Well, and may be it is," said the girl, smiling. + +"Oh, in that case," replied Bryan, "I grant you're to be pitied; poor +thing, you look so ill and pale upon it, too. An' what is it like, +Nanny--this same love that's on you?" + +"Faix," she replied, archly, "it's well for you that Miss Kathleen's not +to the fore or you daren't ax any one sich a question as that." + +"Well done, Nanny," he returned; "do you think she knows what it's +like?" + +"It's not me," she replied again, "you ought to be axin' sich a question +from; if you don't know it I dunna who ought." + +"Begad, you're sharp an' ready, Nanny," replied Bryan, laughing; "well, +and how are you all in honest Jemmy Burke's?" + +"Some of us good, some of us bad, and some of us indifferent, but, thank +goodness, all in the best o' health." + +"Good, bad, and indifferent," replied Bryan, pausing a little. "Well, +now, Nanny, if one was to ask you who is the good in your family, what +would you say?" + +"Of coorse myself," she returned; "an' stay--let me see--ay, the +masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us." + +"And who's the indifferent, Nanny?" + +"Wait," she replied; "yes--no doubt of it--if not worse--why the +mistress must come in for that, I think." + +"And now for the bad, Nanny?" + +She shook her head before she spoke. "Ah," she proceeded, "there would +be more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his +way." + +"If who had his way?" + +"Masther Hycy." + +"Why is he the bad among you?" + +"Thank God I know him now," she replied, "an' he knows I do; but he +doesn't know how well I know him." + +"Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?" asked Bryan, a good deal surprised, +and not a little interested at what he heard, "surely I thought Mr. Hycy +a good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all +events?" + +"Ah, it's little you know him," she replied; "and I could"--she looked +at him and paused. + +"You could what?" he asked. + +"I could tell you something, but I daren't." + +"Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?" + +"It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an' +Kathleen Cavanagh goin' to be married?" + +"We will be married, I hope." + +"Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother +doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between +the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if +you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be." + +"An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?" + +"He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of +him, so far from that, I could soon--but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an' +as I said, keep a sharp lookout;" and having uttered these words, she +tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had +said. + + + + +CHAPTER X.--More of the Hycy Correspondence + +A Family Debate--Honest Speculations. + + +Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down +upon her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of +whom looked upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object +exceedingly desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on +themselves. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of +the strictest integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with +hospitality, and remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections +in an extraordinary degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely +weak-minded, and almost silly, in consequence of an over-weening +anxiety to procure "great matches" for their children. Indeed it may be +observed, that natural affection frequently assumes this shape in the +paternal heart, nor is the vain ambition confined to the Irish peasant +alone. On the contrary, it may be seen as frequently, if not more so, in +the middle and higher classes, where it has ampler scope to work, than +in humbler and more virtuous life. It is this proud and ridiculous +principle which consigns youth, and beauty, and innocence, to the arms +of some dissipated profligate of rank, merely because he happens to +inherit a title which he disgraces. There is, we would wager, scarcely +an individual who knows the world, but is acquainted with some family +laboring under this insane anxiety for connection. Sometimes it is to +be found on the paternal side, but, like most of those senseless +inconsistencies which entail little else than ridicule or ruin, and +sometimes both, upon those who are the object of them, it is, for the +most part, a female attribute. + +Such as it is, however, our friend, Gerald Cavanagh, and his wife--who, +by the way, bore the domestic sceptre in all matters of importance--both +possessed it in all its amplitude and vigor. When the kemp had been +broken up that night, and the family assembled, Mrs. Cavanagh opened the +debate in an oration of great heat and bitterness, but sadly deficient +in moderation and logic. + +"What on earth could you mane, Kathleen," she proceeded, "to refuse +dancin' wid such a young man--a gintleman I ought to say--as Hycy Burke, +the son of the wealthiest man in the whole parish, barring the gentry? +Where is the girl that wouldn't bounce at him?--that wouldn't lave +a single card unturned to secure him? Won't he have all his father's +wealth?--won't he have all his land when the ould man dies? and indeed +it's he that will live in jinteel style when he gets everything into +his own hands, as he ought to do, an' not go dhramin' an' dhromin' about +like his ould father, without bein' sartin whether he's alive or not. +He would be something for you, girl, something to turn out wid, an' +that one could feel proud out of; but indeed, Kathleen, as for pride +and decency, you never had as much o' them as you ought, nor do you hold +your head as high as many another girl in your place would do. Deed +and throth I'm vexed at you, and ashamed of you, to go for to hurt his +feelins as you did, widout either rhyme or raison." + +"Troth," said her father, taking up the argument where she left it, "I +dunno how I'll look the respectable young man in the face afther the way +you insulted him. Why on airth wouldn't you dance wid him?" + +"Because, father, I don't like him." + +"An' why don't you like him?" asked her mother. "Where is there his +aquil for either face or figure in the parish, or the barony itself? +But I know the cause of it; you could dance with Bryan M'Mahon. But +take this with you--sorra ring ever Bryan M'Mahon will put on you wid +my consent or your father's, while there's any hope of Hycy Burke at any +rate." + +Kathleen, during this long harangue, sat smiling and sedate, turning her +beautiful and brilliant eyes sometimes upon one parent, sometimes upon +another, and occasionally glancing with imperturbable sweetness and +good nature at her sister Hanna. At length, on getting an opportunity of +speaking, she replied,-- + +"Don't ask me, mother, to give anything in the way of encouragement to +Hycy Burke; don't ask me, I entrate you, for God's sake--the thing's +impossible, and I couldn't do it. I have no wish for his father's money, +nor any wish for the poor grandeur that you, mother dear, and my father, +seem to set your heart upon. I don't like Hycy Burke--I could never +like him; and rather than marry him, I declare solemnly to God, I would +prefer going into my grave." + +As she uttered the last words, which she did with an earnestness that +startled them, her fine features became illuminated, as it were, with +a serene and brilliant solemnity of expression that was strikingly +impressive and beautiful. + +"Why couldn't you like him, now?" asked her father; "sure, as your +mother says, there's not his aquil for face or figure within many a mile +of him?" + +"But it's neither face nor figure that I look to most, father." + +"Well, but think of his wealth, and the style he'll live in, I'll go +bail, when he gets married." + +"That style maybe won't make his wife happy. No, father, it's neither +face, nor figure, nor style that I look to, but truth, pure affection, +and upright principle; now, I know that Hycy Burke has neither truth, +nor affection, nor principle; an' I wondher, besides, that you could +think of my ever marrying a man that has already destroyed the happiness +of two innocent girls, an' brought desolation, an' sorrow, an' shame +upon two happy families. Do you think that I will ever become the wife +of a profligate? An' is it you, father, an' still more you, mother, +that's a woman, that can urge me to think of joining my fate to that of +a man that has neither shame nor principle? I thought that if you didn't +respect decency an' truth, and a regard for what is right and proper, +that, at all events, you would respect the feelings of your child that +was taught their value." + +Both parents felt somewhat abashed by the force of the truth and the +evident superiority of her character; but in a minute or two her worthy +father, from whose dogged obstinacy she inherited the firmness and +resolution for which she had ever been remarkable, again returned to the +subject. + +"If Hycy Burke was wild, Kathleen, so was many a good man before him; +an' that's no raison but he may turn out well yet, an' a credit to his +name, as I have no doubt he will. All that he did was only folly +an' indiscretion--we can't be too hard or uncharitable upon our +fellow-craytures." + +"No," chimed in her mother, "we can't. Doesn't all the world know that +a reformed rake makes a good husband?--an' besides, didn't them two +huzzies bring it on themselves?--why didn't they keep from him as they +ought? The fault, in such cases, is never all on one side." + +Kathleen's brow and face and whole neck became crimson, as her mother, +in the worst spirit of a low and degrading ambition, uttered the +sentiments we have just written. Hanna had been all this time sitting +beside her, with one arm on her shoulder; but Kathleen, now turning +round, laid her face on her sister's bosom, and, with a pressure that +indicated shame and bitterness of heart, she wept. Hanna returned this +melancholy and distressing caress in the same mournful spirit, and both +wept together in silence. + +Gerald Cavanagh was the first who felt something like shame at the +rebuke conveyed by this tearful embrace of his pure-hearted and +ingenuous daughters, and he said, addressing his wife:-- + +"We're wrong to defend him, or any one, for the evil he has done, +bekaise it can't be defended; but, in the mane time, every day will +bring him more sense an' experience, an' he won't repute this work; +besides, a wife would settle him down." + +"But, father," said Hanna, now speaking for the first time, "there's +one thing that strikes me in the business you're talkin' about, an' it's +this--how do you know whether Hycy Burke has any notion, good, bad, or +indifferent, of marrying Kathleen?" + +"Why," replied her mother, "didn't he write to her upon the subject?" + +"Why, indeed, mother, it's not an easy thing to answer that question," +replied Hanna. "She sartinly resaved a letther from him, an' indeed, I +think," she added, her animated face brightening into a smile, "that as +the boys is gone to bed, we had as good read it." + +"No, Hanna, darling, don't," said Kathleen--"I beg you won't read it." + +"Well, but I beg I will," she replied; "it'll show them, at any rate, +what kind of a reformation is likely to come over him. I have it here in +my pocket--ay, this is it. Now, father," she proceeded, looking at the +letter, "here is a letter, sent to my sister--'To Miss Cavanagh,' that's +what's on the back of it--and what do you think Hycy, the sportheen, +asks her to do for him?" + +"Why, I suppose," replied her mother, "to run away wid him?" + +"Na" + +"Then to give her consent to marry him?" said her father. + +"Both out," replied Hanna; "no, indeed, but to lend him five-and-thirty +pounds to buy a mare, called Crazy Jane, belonging to Tom Burton, of the +Race Road!" + +"'My Dear Bryan--For heaven's sake, in addition to your other +generosities--for-which I acknowledge myself still in your debt--will +you lend me thirty-five pounds, to secure a beautiful mare belonging to +Tom Burton, of the Race Road? She is a perfect creature, and will, if I +am not quick, certainly slip through my fingers. Jemmy, the gentleman'-- + +"This is what he calls his father, you must know. + +"'Jemmy, the gentleman, has promised to stand to me some of these +days, and pay off all my transgressions, like a good, kind-hearted, +soft-headed old Trojan as he is; and, for this reason, I don't wish to +press him now. The mare is sold under peculiar circumstances; otherwise +I could have no chance of her at such a price. By the way, when did you +see Katsey'-- + +"Ay, Katsey!--think of that, now--doesn't he respect your daughter +very much, father? + +"'By the way, when did you see Katsey Cavanagh?--'" + +"What is this you're readin' to me?" asked her father. "You don't mean +to say that this letter is to Kathleen?" + +"Why, no; but so much the better--one has an opportunity now of seein' +what he is made of. The letter was intended for Bryan M'Mahon; but he +sent it, by mistake, to Kathleen. Listen--- + +"'When did you see Katsey Cavanagh? She certainly is not ill-looking, +and will originate you famous mountaineers. Do, like a good fellow, +stand by me at this pinch, and I will drink your health and Kat-sey's, +and that you may--' (what's this?) 'col--colonize Ahadarra with a race +of young Colossusses that the world will wonder at. + +"'Ever thine, + +"'H. Burke.' + +"Here's more, though: listen, mother, to your favorite, that you want to +marry Kathleen to:-- + +"'P.S. I will clear scores with you for all in the course of a few +months, and remember that, at your marriage, I must, with my own hand, +give you away to Katsey, the fair Oolossa.'" + + +The perusal of this document, at least so far as they could understand +it, astonished them not a little. Until they heard it read, both had +been of the opinion that Hycy had actually proposed for Kathleen, or at +least felt exceedingly anxious for the match. + +"An' does he talk about givin' her away to Bryan M'Mahon?" asked her +mother. Sorrow on his impidence!--Bryan M'Mahon indeed! Throth, it's not +upon his country side of wild mountain that Kathleen will go to live. +An' maybe, too, she has little loss in the same Hycy, for, afther all, +he's but a skite of a fellow, an' a profligate into the bargain." + +"Paix an' his father," said Gerald--"honest Jemmy--tould me that he'd +have it a match whether or not." + +"His father did!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; "now, did he say so, Gerald?" + +"Well, in troth he did--said that he had I set his heart upon it, an' +that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her." + +"The Lord direct us for the best!" exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of +the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor +of Hycy. "Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young +a man. However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own +good sense will show her what a match he'd be." + +The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen +approached her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each +of the good woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep +feeling and affection:-- + +"Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because +you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't +make me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less +for Hycy Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and +good-night!--there's another for you, father; God bless you! and +good-night, too. Come, Hanna darling, come!" + +In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon +got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can +be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable +time previous to the disclosure. Between them it was arranged that he +and his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents, +as the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this +was done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived +once more to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation +with Jemmy Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way +of settling down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before +Hycy himself, with a wish that a union should take place between them. +This interview with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of +M'Mahon. At length, after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and +many interviews with reference to it, something like a compromise was +effected. Kathleen consented to accept the latter in marriage, but +firmly and resolutely refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor +mentioned. Her parents, however, hoping that their influence over her +might ultimately prevail, requested that she would not engage herself to +any one for two years, at the expiration of which period, if no change +in her sentiments should take place, she was to be at liberty to marry +M'Mahon. For the remainder of the summer and autumn, and up until +November, the period at which our narrative has now arrived, or, in +other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met Nanny Peety, matters had rested +precisely in the same position. This unexpected interview with the +mendicant's daughter, joined to the hints he had already received, once +more caused M'Mahon to feel considerably perplexed with regard to Hycy +Burke. The coincidence was very remarkable, and the identity of the +information, however limited, appeared to him to deserve all the +consideration which he could bestow upon it, but above all things he +resolved, if possible, to extract the secret out of Nanny Peety. + +One cause of Hycy Burke's extravagance was a hospitable habit of dining +and giving dinners in the head inn of Ballymacan. To ask any of his +associates to his father's house was only to expose the ignorance of his +parents, and this his pride would not suffer him to do. As a matter +of course he gave all his dinners, unless upon rare occasions, in Jack +Shepherd's excellent inn; but as young Clinton and he were on terms of +the most confidential intimacy, he had asked him to dine on the day in +question at his father's. + +"You know, my dear Harry," he said to his friend, "there is no use in +striving to conceal the honest vulgarity of Jemmy the gentleman from you +who know it already. I may say ditto to madam, who is unquestionably the +most vulgar of the two--for, and I am sorry to say it, in addition to a +superabundant stock of vulgarity, she has still a larger assortment of +the prides; for instance, pride of wealth, of the purse, pride of--I +was going to add, birth--ha! ha! ha!--of person, ay, of beauty, if +you please--of her large possessions--but that comes under the purse +again--and lastly--but that is the only well-founded principle among +them--of her accomplished son, Hycy. This, now, being all within your +cognizance already, my dear Hal, you take a pig's cheek and a fowl with +me to-day. There will be nobody but ourselves, for when I see company at +home I neither admit the gentleman nor the lady to table. Damn it, you +know the thing would be impossible. If you wish it, however, we shall +probably call in the gentleman after dinner to have a quiz with him; +it may relieve us. I can promise you a glass of wine, too, and that's +another reason why we should keep him aloof until the punch comes. The +wine's always a _sub silencio_ affair, and, may heaven pity me, I get +growling enough from old Bruin on other subjects." + +"Anything you wish, Hycy, I am your man; but somehow I don't relish the +idea of the quiz you speak of. 'Children, obey your parents,' says +Holy Scripture; and I'd as soon not help a young fellow to laugh at his +father." + +"A devilish good subject he is, though--but you must know that I can +draw just distinctions, Hal. For instance, I respect his honesty--" + +"And copy it, eh?" + +"Certainly--I respect his integrity, too--in fact, I appreciate all his +good qualities, and only laugh at his vulgarity and foibles." + +"You intend to marry, Hycy?" + +"Or, in other words, to call you brother some of these days." + +"And to have sons and daughters?" + +"Please the fates." + +"That will do," replied Clinton, dryly. + +"Ho! ho!" said Hycy, "I see. Here's a mentor with a vengeance--a fellow +with a budget of morals cut and dry for immediate use--but hang all +morality, say I; like some of my friends that talk on the subject, +I have an idiosyncrasy of constitution against it, but an abundant +temperament for pleasure." + +"That's a good definition," said Clinton; "a master-touch, a very +correct likeness, indeed. I would at once know you from it, and so would +most of your friends." + +"This day is Friday," said Hycy, "more growling." + +"Why so?" + +"Why, when I eat meat on a Friday, the pepper and sauce cost me nothing. +The 'gentlemen' lays on hard, but the lady extenuates, 'in regard to +it's bein' jinteel.'" + +"Well, but you have certainly no scruple yourself on the subject?" + +"Yes, I have, sir, a very strong one--in favor of the meat--ha! ha! ha!" + +"D--n me, whoever christened you Hycy the accomplished, hit you off." + +"I did myself; because you must know, my worthy Hal, that, along with +all my other accomplishments, I am my own priest.' + +"And that is the reason why you hate the clergy? eh--ha! ha! ha!" + +"A hit, a hit, I do confess." + +"Harke, Mr. Priest, will you give absolution--to Tom Corbet?" + +"Ah! Hal, no more an' thou lovest me--that sore is yet open. Curse the +villain. My word and honor, Hal, the gentleman' was right there. He +told me at the first glance what she was. Here comes a shower, let us +move on, and reach Ballymacan, if possible, before it falls. We shall be +home in fair time for dinner afterwards, and then for my proposal, +which, by the word and honor--" + +"And morality?" + +"Nonsense, Harry; is a man to speak nothing but truth or Scripture in +this world?--No--which I say by the honor of a gentleman, it will be +your interest to consider and accept." + +"Very well, most accomplished. We shall see, and we shall hear, and then +we shall determine." + +A ham and turkey were substituted for the pig's cheek and fowl, and we +need not say that Hycy and his friend accepted of the substitution with +great complacency. Dinner having been discussed, and a bottle of wine +finished, the punch came in, and each, after making himself a stiff +tumbler, acknowledged that he felt comfortable. Hycy, however, anxious +that he should make an impression, or in other words gain his point, +allowed Clinton to grow a little warm with liquor before he opened the +subject to which he had alluded. At length, when he had reached the +proper elevation, he began:-- + +"There's no man, my dear Harry, speaks apparently more nonsense than I +do in ordinary chat and conversation. For instance, to-day I was very +successful in it; but no matter, I hate seriousness, certainly, when +there is no necessity for it. However, as a set-off to that, I pledge +you my honor that no man can be more serious when it is necessary than +myself. For instance, you let out a matter to me the other night that +you probably forget now. You needn't stare--I am serious enough and +honorable enough to keep as an inviolable secret everything of the kind +that a man may happen to disclose in an unguarded moment." + +"Go on, Hycy, I don't forget it--I don't, upon my soul." + +"I allude to M'Mahon's farm in Ahadarra." + +"I don't forget it; but you know, Hycy, my boy, I didn't mention either +M'Mahon or Ahadarra." + +"You certainly did not mention them exactly; but, do you think I did +not know at once both the place and the party you allude to? My word and +honor, I saw them at a glance." + +"Very well, go on with your word and honor;--you are right, I did mean +M'Mahon and Ahadarra--proceed, most accomplished, and most moral--" + +"Be quiet, Harry. Well, you have your eye upon that farm, and you say +you have a promise of it." + +"Something like it; but the d--d landlord, Chevydale, is +impracticable--so my uncle says--and doesn't wish to disturb the +M'Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do +so--but d--n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to +their interests--d--n the fellow, I say." + +"Don't curse or swear, most moral. Well, the lease of Ahadarra has +dropped, and of Carriglass too;--with Carriglass, however, we--that is +you--have nothing at all to do." + +"Proceed?' + +"Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have +not been able to get either yes or no out of you." + +"No." + +"What do you mean?" + +"That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me--proceed, most +accomplished. Where do you get your brandy? This is glorious. Well!" + +"Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent +way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M'Mahon shall +be obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss +Clinton?" + +"How will you do it?" + +"That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my +power. You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my +father's property." + +"Come; I shall hold myself neuter--will that satisfy you? You shall +have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is +enough." + +"Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, +besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and +favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out." + +"Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!" + +"Curse them both! Will you promise this--to support me so far?" + +"Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot +water, and that waited on us at dinner--eh?" + +"Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You +don't answer?" + +"But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you--discard you--give +you to the winds?--eh?" + +"Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold +myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a +beggar." + +"What! as a beggar?" + +"Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for +succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion." + +"Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, +he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much +relish that, Hycy." + +"It cannot be done though in any other way." + +"I say--how do you call that girl?--Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what?" + +"I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the +subject altogether." + +"There now--proceed, O Hyacinthus." + +"How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is +more, to your own interests?" + +"Oh! my own interests!--well I am alive to them." + +"Is it a bargain, then?" + +"It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious +Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra--to get possession of +it--and calculate upon my most--let me see--what's the best word--most +strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon it. I shall support +you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me accountable for +my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable persuasion, she must be +left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever decision she may come +to." + +"There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more." + +After Clinton had gone, Hycy felt considerably puzzled as to the manner +in which he had conducted himself during the whole evening. Sometimes he +imagined he was under the influence of liquor, for he had drunk pretty +freely; and again it struck him that he manifested an indifference to +the proposal made to him, which he only attempted to conceal lest Hycy +might perceive it. He thought, however, that he observed a seriousness +in Clinton, towards the close of their conversation, which could not +have been assumed; and as he gave himself a good deal of credit for +penetration, he felt satisfied that circumstances were in a proper +train, and likely, by a little management, to work out his purposes. + +Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the +parlor, and called Nanny Peety--"Nanny," said he, "which of the Hogans +did you see to-day?" + +"None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out." + +"Did you give her the message?" + +"Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did." + +"What did you say, now?" + +"Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first, +that St. Pether was dead." + +"And what did she say to that?" + +"Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was." + +"And what did she mean by that, do you think?" + +"Faix, then, I dunna--barrin' that you're in the black books wid him, +and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that +didn't know you." + +"Nanny," he replied, laughing, "you are certainly a very smart girl, +and indeed a very pretty girl--a very interesting young woman, indeed, +Nanny; but you won't listen to reason." + +"To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil." + +"Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor +evil in that." + +"I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too +much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you +know I won't." + +"So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?" + +"I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in +spakin' to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my +character to look to." + +"And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?" + +"I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him, +too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do." + +"Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands." + +"I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough." + +"Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit." + +"No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it." + +"Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this +family?" + +"No," sir; "but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going +out of it." + +"It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed, +impracticable girls here." + +"You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr. +Hycy." + +"Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out +to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must +not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, how can I help it? It's very +natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl." + +"But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others +before now--I needn't name them--widout name, or fame, or hope, or +happiness in this world." + +"I won't be in until late, Nanny," he replied, coolly. "Sit up for me. +You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;" and, having +nodded to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out. + +"Ay," said she, after he had gone; "little you know, you hardened and +heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know +that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now +gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that +can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know +besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't." + + + + +CHAPTEE XI.--Death of a Virtuous Mother. + +It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from +Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had, +in his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's +illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions +that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found +that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account. +Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed +jest. After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed--"What is the +matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow." + +Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears--"We +are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that +we all love--as every one did that knew her." + +"Hanna, darling," said Kathleen, "this won't do. Poor girl! you are +likely to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real +danger. Your mother, Bryan," she proceeded, "is much worse than she has +been. The priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't +follow that there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless." + +"Oh, my God!" exclaimed Bryan, "is it so? My mother--and such a mother! +Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must leave +you--I must go." + +"We will go up with you," said Kathleen. "Hanna, we will go up; for, +if she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman +before she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and that it's +only a sudden attack that will pass away." + +"Do so, Kathleen," said her mother; "and you can fetch us word how she +is. May the Lord bring her safe over it at any rate; for surely the +family will break their hearts afther her, an' no wondher, for where was +her fellow?" + +Bryan was not capable of hearing these praises, which he knew to be +so well and so justly her due, with firmness; nor could he prevent his +tears, unless by a great effort, from bearing testimony to the depth +of his grief. Kathleen's gaze, however, was turned on him with an +expression which gave him strength; for indeed there was something noble +and. sustaining in the earnest and consoling sympathy which he read in +her dark and glorious eye. On their way to Carriglass there was little +spoken. Bryan's eye every now and then sought that of Kathleen; and +he learned, for the first time, that it is only in affliction that the +exquisite tenderness of true and disinterested love can be properly +appreciated and felt. Indeed he wondered at his own sensations; for +in proportion as his heart became alarmed at the contemplation of his +mother's loss, he felt, whenever he looked upon Kathleen, that it also +burned towards her with greater tenderness and power--so true is it +that sorrow and suffering purify and exalt all our nobler and better +emotions. + +Bryan and his companions, ere they had time to reach the house, were +seen and. recognized by the family, who, from the restlessness and +uncertainty which illness usually occasions, kept moving about and +running out from time to time to watch the arrival of the priest or +doctor. On this occasion Dora came to meet them; but, alas! with what +a different spirit from that which animated her on the return of her +father from the metropolis. Her gait was now slow, her step languid; +and they could perceive that, as she approached them, she wiped away the +tears. Indeed her whole appearance was indicative of the state of +her mother; when they met her, her bitter sobbing and the sorrowful +earnestness of manner with which she embraced the sisters, wore +melancholy assurances that the condition of the sufferer was not +improved. Hanna joined her tears with hers; but Kathleen, whose sweet +voice in attempting to give the affectionate girl consolation, was more +than once almost shaken out of its firmness, did all she could to soothe +and relieve her. + +On entering the house, they found a number of the neighboring females +assembled, and indeed the whole family, in consequence of the alarm +and agitation visible them, might not inaptly be compared to a brood of +domestic fowl when a hawk, bent on destruction, is seen hovering over +their heads. + +As is usual with Catholic families in their state of life, there were +several of those assembled, and also some of themselves, at joint prayer +in different parts of the house; and seated by her bedside was her +youngest son, Art, engaged, with sobbing voice and eyes every now and +then blinded with tears, in the perusal, for her comfort, of Prayers for +the Sick. Tom M'Mahon himself went about every now and then clasping +his hands, and turning up his eyes to heaven in a distracted manner, +exclaiming--"Oh! Bridget, Bridget, is it come to this at last! And +you're lavin' me--you're lavin' me! Oh, my God! what will I do--how will +I live, an' what will become of me!" + +On seeing Bryan, he ran to him and said,--"Oh! Bryan, to what point will +I turn?--where will I get consolation?--how will I bear it? Sure, +she was like a blessin' from heaven among us; ever full of peace, and +charity, and goodness--the kind word an' the sweet smile to all; but to +me--to me--oh! Bridget, Bridget, I'd rather die than live afther you!" + +"Father, dear, your takin' it too much to heart," replied Bryan; "who +knows but God may spare her to us still? But you know that even if it's +His will to remove her from amongst us"--his voice here failed him for a +moment--"hem--to remove her from amongst us, it's our duty to submit +to it; but I hope in God she may recover still. Don't give way to sich +grief till we hear what the docthor will say, at all events. How did she +complain or get ill; for I think she wasn't worse when I left home?" + +"It's all in her stomach," replied his father. "She was seized wid +cramps in her stomach, an' she complains very much of her head; but her +whole strength is gone, she can hardly spake, and she has death in her +face." + +At this moment his brother Michael came to them, and +said--"Bryan--Bryan"--but he could proceed no farther. + +"Whisht, Michael," said the other; "this is a shame; instead of +supportin' and cheer-in' my father, you're only doing him harm. I tell +you all that you'll find there's no raison for this great grief. Be a +man, Michael--" + +"She has heard your voice," proceeded his brother, "and wishes to see +you." + +This proof of her affection for him, at the very moment when he was +attempting to console others, was almost more than he could bear. +Bryan knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart +overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate +domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a +favorite. There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality, +which rarely made its appearance unless in some slight and +inconsiderable circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was +valuable in proportion to its delicacy and the caution with which it +was guarded. Always indeed in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the +partiality she bore him observable; and sometimes it consisted in a +postponement of his wishes or comforts to those of her other children, +because she felt that she might do with him that which she could not +with the others--thus calculating as it were upon his greater affection. +But it is wonderful to reflect in how many ways, and through what +ingenious devices the human heart can exhibit its tenderness. + +Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been +reading for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On +approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, +which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving +home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not +further diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally +occasion. But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk +into half its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, +stamped with the unequivocal impress of death. + +Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult +to conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, +now so full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, +he stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible +sorrow. + +"Bryan, dear," she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat +subsided, "why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed +my dependence--I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for +weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow--I sent +for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God to +take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' +especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the +pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I +know he'll suffer when I'm gone. May the Lord pity and give him +strength!--for I can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I +ever seen his face until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind +look, an' that you all know." + +"Oh how could he, mother dear? how could any one give you that? Who +was it that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and +affection?" + +"I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my +childre', and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not +frightened at death. An', Bryan, listen to the words of your dyin' +mother--" + +"Oh, don't say that yet, mother," replied her son, sobbing; "don't say +so yet; who knows but God will spare your life, an' that you may be many +years with us still; they're all alarmed too much, I hope; but it's no +wondher we should, mother dear, when there's any appearance at all of +danger about you." + +"Well, whether or not, Bryan, the advice I'm goin' to give you is +never out o' saison. Live always with the fear of God in your heart; +do nothing that you think will displease Him; love your +fellow-creatures--serve them and relieve their wants an' distresses as +far as you're able; be like your own father--kind and good to all about +you, not neglectin' your religious duties. Do this, Bryan, an' then when +the hour o' death comes, you'll feel a comfort an' happiness in your +heart that neither the world nor anything in it can give you. You'll +feel the peace of God there, an' you will die happy--happy." + +Her spirit, animated by the purity and religious truth of this simple +but beautiful morality, kindled into pious fervor as she proceeded, +so much so indeed, that on turning her eyes towards heaven, whilst she +uttered the last words, they sparkled with the mild and serene light of +that simple but unconscious enthusiasm on behalf of all goodness which +had characterized her whole life, and which indeed is a living principle +among thousands of her humble countrywomen. + +"This, dear Bryan, is the advice I gave to them all; it an' my love is +the only legacy I have to lave them. An' my darlin' Dora, Bryan--oh, if +you be kind and tendher to any one o' them beyant another, be so to +her. My darlin'Dora! Oh! her heart's all affection, an' kindness, an' +generosity. But indeed, as I said, Bryan, the task must fall to you to +strengthen and console every one o' them. Ay!--an' you must begin now. +You wor ever, ever, a good son; an' may God keep you in the right faith, +an' may my blessin' an' His be wid you for ever! Amin." + +There was a solemn and sustaining spirit in her words which strengthened +Bryan, who, besides, felt anxious to accomplish to the utmost extent the +affectionate purpose which had caused her to send for him. + +"It's a hard task, mother darlin," he replied; "but I'll endeavor, with +God's help, to let them see that I haven't been your son for nothing; +but you don't know, mother, that Kathleen's here, an' Hanna. They wish +to see you, an' to get your blessin'." + +"Bring them in," she replied, "an' let Dora come wid them, an' stay +yourself, Bryan, becaise I'm but weak, an' I don't wish that they should +stay too long. God sees its not for want of love for the other girls +that I don't bid you bring them in, but that I don't wish to see them +sufferin' too much sorrow; but my darlin' Dora will expect to be where +Kathleen is, an' my own eyes likes to look upon her, an' upon Kathleen, +too, Bryan, for I feel my heart bound to her as if she was one of +ourselves, as I hope she will be." + +"Oh, bless her! bless her! mother," he said, with difficulty, "an' tell +her them words--say them to herself. I'll go now and bring them in." + +He paused, however, for a minute or two, in order to compose his voice +and features, that he might not seem to set them an example of weakness, +after which he left the apartment with an appearance of greater +composure than he really felt. + +In a few minutes the four returned: Bryan, with Kathleen's hand locked +in his, and Hanna, with her arm affectionately wreathed about Dora's +neck, as if the good-hearted girl felt anxious to cherish and comfort +her under the heavy calamity to which she was about to be exposed, for +Dora wept bitterly. Mrs. M'Mahon signed to Hanna to approach, who, with +her characteristic ardor of feeling, now burst into tears herself, and +stooping down kissed her and wept aloud, whilst Dora's grief also burst +out afresh. + +The sick woman looked at Bryan, as if to solicit his interference, and +the look was immediately understood by Kathleen as well as by himself. + +"This is very wrong of you, Hanna," said her sister; "out of affection +and pity to them, you ought to endeavor to act otherwise. They have +enough, an' to much, to feel, without your setting them example; and, +Dora dear, I thought you had more courage than you have. All this is +only grieving and disturbing your mother; an' I hope that, for her sake, +you'll both avoid it. I know it's hard to do so, but it's the difficulty +and the trial that calls upon us to have strength, otherwise what are +we better than them that we'd condemn or think little of for their own +weakness." + +The truth and moral force of the words, and the firmness of manner that +marked Kathleen as she spoke, were immediately successful. The grief +of the two girls was at once hushed; and, after a slight pause, Mrs. +M'Mahon called Kathleen to her. + +"Dear Kathleen," she said, "I did hope to see the day when you'd be +one of my own family, but it's not the will of God, it appears, that I +should; however, may His will be done! I hope still that day will +come, an' that your friends won't have any longer an objection to your +marriage wid Bryan. I am his mother, an' no one has a better right to +know his heart an' his temper, an' I can say, upon my dyin' bed, that a +better heart an' a better temper never was in man. I believe, Kathleen, +it was never known that a good son ever made a bad husband. However, +if it's God's will to bring you together, He will, and if it isn't, you +must only bear it patiently." + +Bryan was silent, but his eye, from time to time, turned with a long +glance of love and sorrow upon Kathleen, whose complexion became pale +and red by turns. At length Dora, after her mother had concluded, went +over to Kathleen, and putting her arms around her neck, exclaimed, "Oh! +mother dear, something tells me that Kathleen will be my sisther yet, +an' if you'd ask her to promise--" + +Kathleen looked down upon the beautiful and expressive features of the +affectionate girl, and gently raising her hand she placed it upon Dora's +lips, in order to prevent the completion of the sentence. On doing so +she received a sorrowful glance of deep and imploring entreaty from +Bryan, which she returned with another that seemed to reprove him for +doubting her affection, or supposing that such a promise was even +necessary. "No, Dora dear," she said, "I could make no promise without +the knowledge of my father and mother, or contrary to their wishes; but +did you think, darling, that such a thing was necessary?" She kissed the +sweet girl as she spoke, and Dora felt a tear on her cheek that was not +her own. + +Mrs. M'Mahon had been looking with a kind of mournful admiration upon +Kathleen during this little incident, and then proceeded. "She says what +is right and true; and it would be wrong, my poor child, to ask her to +give such a promise. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl--oh, do! an' +if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the best +gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here--come to me--let me put my +hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest upon you +for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree." Hanna kissed her +again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might not be able +to restrain it, took her away. + +"Now," proceeded the dying woman, "come to me, you Kathleen, my +daughter--sure you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and +stay with me awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to +any one out o' my own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own +child? Because I hope you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree." + +Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower +of warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing +pressure, that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just +expressed. Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more +resuming her firmness, awaited the expected blessing. + +"Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour, +I endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son, +listen to me--love him as you may, and as I know you do." + +"Why should I deny it?" said Kathleen, "I do love him." + +"I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and +wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you." + +She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety +and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that +was clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her +to the rest which she now required so much. + +The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In +the course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she +appeared somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the +worst, and in confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with +dreadful violence, and in the lapse of two hours after his visit, +this pious and virtuous woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a +patience and fortitude that could not be surpassed, expired in the midst +of her afflicted family. + +It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and +undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by +death, there supervenes upon the sorrow of many, a feeling of awful +sympathy with that individual whose love for the object has been, the +greatest, and whose loss is of course the most irreparable. So was it +with the M'Mahons. Thomas M'Mahon himself could not bear to witness the +sufferings of his wife, nor to hear her moans. He accordingly left the +house, and walked about the garden and farm-yard, in a state little +short of actual distraction. When the last scene was over, and her +actual sufferings closed for ever, the outrage of grief among his +children became almost hushed from a dread of witnessing the sufferings +of their father; and for the time a great portion of their own sorrow +was merged in what they felt for him. Nor was this feeling confined +to themselves. His neighbors and acquaintances, on hearing of Mrs. +M'Mahon's death, almost all exclaimed:-- + +"Oh, what will become of him? they are nothing an will forget her soon, +as is natural, well as they loved her; but poor Tom, oh! what on earth +will become of him?" Every eye, however, now turned toward Bryan, who +was the only one of the family possessed of courage enough to undertake +the task of breaking the heart-rending intelligence to their bereaved +father. + +"It must be done," he said, "and the sooner it's done the better; what +would I give to have my darlin' Kathleen here. Her eye and her advice +would give me the strength that I stand so much in need of. My God, how +will I meet him, or break the sorrowful tidings to him at all! The Lord +support me!" + +"Ah, but Bryan," said they, "you know he looks up to whatever you say, +and how much he is advised by you, if there happens to be a doubt about +anything. Except her that's gone, there was no one--" + +Bryan raised his hand with an expression of resolution and something +like despair, in order as well as he could to intimate to them, that he +wished to hear no allusion made to her whom they had lost, or that he +must become incapacitated to perform the task he had to encounter, and +taking his hat he proceeded to find his father, whom he met behind the +garden. + +It may be observed of deep grief, that whenever it is excited by the +loss of what is good and virtuous, it is never a solitary passion, we +mean within the circle of domestic life. So far from that, there is not +a kindred affection under the influence of a virtuous heart, that is not +stimulated, and strengthened by its emotions. How often, for instance, +have two members of the same family rushed into each other's arms, when +struck by a common sense of the loss of some individual that was dear to +both, because it was felt that the very fact of loving the same object +had now made them dear to each other. + +The father, on seeing Bryan approach, stood for a few moments and looked +at him eagerly; he then approached him with a hasty and unsettled step, +and said, "Bryan, Bryan, I see it in your face, she has left us, she has +left us, she has left us all, an' she has left me; an' how am I to live +without her? answer me that; an then give me consolation if you can." + +He threw himself on his son's neck, and by a melancholy ingenuity +attempted to seduce him as it were from the firmness which he appeared +to preserve in the discharge of this sorrowful task, with a hope that he +might countenance him in the excess of his grief--"Oh," he added, "I've +have lost her, Bryan--you and I, the two that she--that--she--Your word +was everything to her, a law to her; and she was so proud out of you--I +an' her eye would rest upon you smilin', as much as to say--there's my +son, haven't I a right to feel proud of him, for he has never once vexed +his mother's heart? nayther did you, Bryan, nayther did you, but now who +will praise you as she did? who will boast of you behind your back, for +she seldom did it to your face; and now that smile of love and kindness +will never be on her blessed lips more. Sure you won't blame me, +Bryan--oh, sure above all men livin', you won't blame me for feelin' her +loss as I do." + +The associations excited by the language of his father were such as +Bryan was by no means prepared to meet. Still he concentrated all +his moral power and resolution in order to accomplish the task he had +undertaken, which, indeed, was not so much to announce his mother's +death, as to support his father under it. After a, violent effort, he at +length said:-- + +"Are you sorry, father, because God has taken my mother to Himself? +Would you wish to have her here, in pain and suffering? Do you grudge +her heaven? Father, you were always a brave and strong, fearless man, +but what are you now? Is this the example you are settin' to us, who +ought to look up to you for support? Don't you know my mother's in +heaven? Why, one would think you're sorry for it? Come, come, father, +set your childre' an example now when they want it, that they can look +up to--be a man, and don't forget that she's in God's Glory, Come in +now, and comfort the rest." + +"Ay, but when I think of what she was, Bryan; of what she was to me, +Bryan, from the first day I ever called her my wife, ay, and before it, +when she could get better matches, when she struggled, and waited, and +fought for me, against all opposition, till her father an' mother saw +her heart was fixed upon me; hould your tongue, Bryan, I'll have no one' +to stop my grief for her, where is she? where's my wife, I tell you? +where's Bridget M'Mahon?--Bridget, where are you? have you left me, gone +from me, an' must I live here widout you? must I rise in the mornin,' +and neither see you nor hear you? or must I live here by myself an' +never have your opinion nor advice to ask upon anything as I used to +do--Bridget M'Mahon, why did you leave me? where are you from me?" + +"Here's Dora," said a sweet but broken voice; "here's Dora M'Mahon--your +own Dora, too--and that you love bekaise I was like her. Oh, come with +me, father, darlin'. For her sake, compose yourself and come with me. +Oh, what are we to feel! wasn't she our mother? Wasn't she?--wasn't she? +What am I sayin'? Ay, but, now--we have no mother, now!" + +M'Mahon still leaned upon his son's neck, but on hearing his favorite +daughter's voice, he put his arm round to where she stood, and +clasping her in, brought her close to him and Bryan, so that the three +individuals formed one sorrowing group together. + +"Father," repeated Dora, "come with me for my mother's sake." + +He started. "What's that you say, Dora? For your mother's sake? I will, +darlin'--for her sake, I will. Ay, that's the way to manage me--for her +sake. Oh, what wouldn't I do for her sake? Come, then, God bless you, +darlin', for puttin' that into my head. You may make me do anything now, +Dora, jewel--if you just ax it for her sake. Oh, my God! an is it +come to this? An' am I talkin' this way?--but--well, for her sake, +darlin'--for her sake. Come, I'll go in--but--but--oh, Bryan, how can +I?" + +"You know father," replied Bryan, who now held his arm, "we must all +die, and it will be well for us if we can die as she died. Didn't father +Peter say that if ever the light of heaven was in a human heart, it was +in hers?" + +"Ay, but when I go in an' look upon her, an' call Bridget, she won't +answer me." + +"Father dear, you are takin' it too much to heart." + +"Well, it'll be the first time she ever refused to answer me--the first +time that ever her lips will be silent when I spake to her." + +"But, father," said the sweet girl at his side, "think of me. Sure I'll +be your Dora more than ever, now. You know what you promised me this +minute. Oh, for her sake, and for God's sake, then, don't take it so +much to heart. It was my grandfather sent me to you, an' he says he +want's to see you, an' to spake to you." + +"Oh!" he exclaimed, "My poor father, an' he won't be long afther her. +But this is the way wid all, Bryan--the way o' the world itself. We must +go. I didn't care, now, how soon I followed her. Oh, no, no." + +"Don't say so, father; think of the family you have; think of how you +love them, and how they love you, father dear. Don't give way so much to +this sorrow. I know it's hard to bid you not to do it; but you know we +must strive to overcome ourselves. I hope there's happy days and years +before us still. We'll have our leases soon, you know, an' then we'll +feel firm and comfortable: an' you know you'll be--we'll all be near +where she sleeps." + +"Where she sleeps. Well, there's comfort in that, Bryan--there's comfort +in that." + +The old man, though very feeble, on seeing him approach, rose up and met +him. "Tom," said he, "be a man, and don't shame my white hairs nor your +own. I lost your mother, an' I was as fond of her, an' had as good a +right, too, as ever you were of her that's now an angel in heaven; but +if I lost her, I bore it as a man ought. I never yet bid you do a thing +that you didn't do, but I now bid you stop cryin', an don't fly in the +face o' God as you're doin'. You respect my white hairs, an' God will +help you as he has done!" + +The venerable appearance of the old man, the melancholy but tremulous +earnestness with which he spoke, and the placid spirit of submission +which touched his whole bearing with the light of an inward piety +that no age could dim or overshadow, all combined to work a salutary +influence upon M'Mahon. He evidently made a great effort at composure, +nor without success. His grief became calm; he paid attention to other +matters, and by the aid of Bryan, and from an anxiety lest he should +disturb or offend his father by any further excess of sorrow, he was +enabled to preserve a greater degree of composure than might have been +expected. + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Hycy Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. + +The Hogans, who seldom missed a Wake, Dance, Cockfight or any other +place of amusement or tumult, were not present, we need scarcely assure +our readers, at the wake-house of Mrs. M'Mahon. On that night they and +Teddy Phats were all sitting in their usual domicile, the kiln, already +mentioned, expecting Hycy, when the following brief dialogue took place, +previous to his appearance: + +"What keeps this lad, Hycy?" said Bat; "an' a complate lad is in his +coat, when he has it on him. Troth I have my doubts whether this same +gentleman is to be depended on." + +"Gentleman, indeed," exclaimed Philip, "nothing short of that will sarve +him, shure. To be depinded on, Bat! Why, thin, its more than I'd like to +say. Howanever, he's as far in, an' farther than we are." + +"There's no use in our quarrelin' wid him," said Phats, in his natural +manner. "If he's in our power, we're in his; an' you know he could +soon make the counthry too hot to hold us. Along wid all, too, he's as +revengeful as the dioule himself, if not a thrifle more so." + +"If he an' Kathleen gets bothered together," said Philip, "'twould be a +good look up for us, at any rate." + +Kate Hogan was the only female present, the truth being that Philip and +Ned were both widowers, owing, it was generally believed, to the brutal +treatment which their unfortunate wives received at their hands. + +"Don't quarrel wid him," said she, "if you can, at any rate, till we get +him more in our power, an' that he'll be soon, maybe. If we fall out +wid him, we'd have to lave the place, an' maybe to go farther than we +intend, too. Wherever we went over the province, this you know was our +headquarters. Here's where all belongin' to us--I mane that ever died a +natural death, or drew their last breath in the counthry--rests, an' I'd +not like to go far from it." + +"Let what will happen," said Philip, with an oath, "I'd lose my right +arm before Bryan M'Mahon puts a ring on Kathleen." + +"I can tell you that Hycy has no notion of marry in' her, thin," said +Kate. + +"How do you know that?" asked her husband. + +"I've a little bird that tells me," she replied. + +"Gerald Cavanagh an' his wife doesn't think so," said Philip. "They and +Jemmy Burke has the match nearly made." + +"They may make the match," said Kate, "but it's more than they'll be +able to do to make the marriage. Hycy's at greater game, I tell you; but +whether he is or not, I tell you again that Bryan M'Mahon will have her +in spite of all opposition." + +"May be not," said Phats; "Hycy will take care o' that; he has him set; +he'll work him a charm; he'll take care that Bryan won't be long in a +fit way to offer himself as a match for her." + +"More power to him in that," said Philip; "if he makes a beggarman of +him he may depend on us to the back-bone." + +"Have no hand in injurin' Bryan M'Mahon," said Kate. "Keep him from +marryin' Kathleen if you like, or if you can; but, if you're wise, don't +injure the boy." + +"Why so?" asked Philip. + +"That's nothing to you," she replied; "for a raison I have; and mark me, +I warn you not to do so or it'll be worse for you." + +"Why, who are we afraid of, barrin Hycy himself?" + +"It's no matther; there's them livin' could make you afeard, an' maybe +will, too, if you injure that boy." + +"I'd just knock him on the head," replied the ferocious ruffian, "as +soon as I would a mad dog." + +"Whisht," said Phats, "here's Hycy; don't you hear his foot?" + +Hycy entered in a few moments afterwards, and, after the usual +greetings, sat down by the fire. + +"De night's could," said Phats, resuming his brogue; "but here," he +added, pulling out a bottle of whiskey, "is something to warm de blood +in us. Will you thry it, Meeisther Hycy?" + +"By-and-by--not now; but help yourselves." + +"When did you see Miss Kathleen, Masther Hycy," asked Kate. + +"You mean Miss Kathleen the Proud?" he replied--"my Lady Dignity--I have +a crow to pluck with her." + +"What crow have you to pluck wid her?" asked Kate, fiercely. "You'll +pluck no crow wid her, or, if you do, I'll find a bag to hould the +fedhers--mind that." + +"No, no," said Philip; "whatever's to be done, she must come to no +harm." + +"Why, the crow I have to pluck with her, Mrs. Hogan, is--let me +see--why--to--to marry her--to bind her in the bands of holy wedlock; +and you know, when I do, I'm to give you all a house and place free +gratis for nothing during your lives--that's what I pledge myself to do, +and not a rope to hang yourselves, worthy gentlemen, as Finigan would +say. I pass over the fact," he proceeded, laughing, "of the peculiar +intimacy which, on a certain occasion, was established between Jemmy, +the gentleman's old oak drawers, and your wrenching-irons; however, that +is not the matter at present, and I am somewhat in a hurry." + +"You heard," said Bat, "that Bryan M'Mahon has lost his mother?" + +"I did," said the other; "poor orphan lad, I pity him." + +"We know you do," said Bat, with a vindictive but approving sneer. + +"I assure you," continued Hycy, "I wish the young man well." + +"Durin' der lives," repeated Phats, who had evidently been pondering +over Hycy's promised gift to the Hogans;--"throth," he observed with +a grin, "dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan +M'Mahon well," he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows. + +"Shiss," replied Hycy, mimicking him, "her does." + +"But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat." + +"For alls dats" replied the other. "Dat will do den," said Phats, +composedly. "Enough of this," said Hycy. "Now, Phats, have you examined +and pitched upon the place?" + +"Well, then," replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, "I have; +an' a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of +Cullamore. But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of +Glencuil?" + +"Perfectly well," replied Hycy, "he ruined him." + +"But we don't know it," said Ned; "how was it, Teddy?" + +"Why, he set up a still on his property--an' you know Adam owns the +whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra--an' afther three +or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it +was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger--may the +devil break his neck at any rate!--an' the redcoats--came and found all +right, Still, Head, and Worm." + +"Well," said Bat, "an' how did that ruin him?" + +"Why, by the present law," returned Phats, "it's the townland that must +pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine, +however, and now he's a beggar--root an' branch, chick an' child out of +it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still, +because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the _sthad_ +an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two +every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for +your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be +done. Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict +account of this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played +on. There's another thirty-shilling note--or stay, I'll make it two +pounds--to enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels +and things from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?" he said, +addressing himself to Hogan. + +"All," replied Philip; "sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in +Europe--ready to be set to work at a minute's notice." + +"When," said Hycy, rising, "will it be necessary that I should see you +again?" + +"We'll let you know," replied Phats, "when we want you. Kate here can +drop in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word." + +"Well, then, good-night--stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I go; +and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every +one of you on this occasion?" + +"We do," replied Philip; "no doubt of it." + +"Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul +of you ever breathes--I hope, by the way, that these young savages are +all asleep--" + +"As sound as a top," said Bat, "everyone o' them." + +"Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to +a human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the +business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold +you--and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of you +if it went to that." + +Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance, +which was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have +something derisive in it. + +"Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable +Mrs. Hogan?" he asked. + +Kate gave either a feigned or a real start as he spoke. + +"Laughed at!" she exclaimed, as if surprised; "throth I wasn't thinkin +of you at all, Mr. Hycy. What wor you sayin'?" + +"That if my name ever happens to be mentioned in connection with +this business, I'll send the whole kit of you--hammers, budgets, +and sothering-irons--to hell or Connaught; so think of this now, and +goodnight." + +"There goes as d----d vagabond," said Ned, "as ever stretched hemp; and +only that it's our own business to make the most use we can out of him, +I didn't care the devil had him, for I don't like a bone in his skin." + +"Why," said Philip, "I see what he's at now. Sure enough he'll put the +copin'-stone on Bryan. M'Mahon at any rate--that, an' if we can get the +house and place out of him--an' what need we care?" + +"Send us to hell or Connaught," said Kate; "well, that's not bad--ha! +ha! ha!" + +"What are you neigherin' at?" said her husband; "and what set you +a-caoklin' to his face a while ago?" + +She shook her head carelessly. "No matther," she replied, "for a raison +I had." + +"Would you let me know your raison, if you plaise?" + +"If I plaise--ay, you did well to put that in, for I don't plaise to let +you know any more about it. I laughed bekaise I liked to laugh; an' I +hope one may do that 'ithout being brought over the coals about it. Go +to bed, an' give me another glass o' whiskey, Ted--it always makes me +sleep." + +Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating. + +"He is a good boy," said he; "but at any rate our hands is in the lion's +mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him." + +Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had. +been in for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him +considerable satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as +possible in executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself, +who was a thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great +relish for business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old +uncle the gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked +upon him as unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a +cheap farm, such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of +idleness and expense to those of application and industry. Being aware, +from common report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in +Ahadarra was out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but +knew not exactly in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing +it if he could, without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of +obloquy besides. Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners +who, without either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep +as good terms with the world as they can, whilst at the same time +they laugh and despise in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and +respect in it. His nephew, however, had some positive good, and not a +little of that light and reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for +heart and spirit. Hycy and he, though not very long acquainted, were, at +the present period of our narrative, on very intimate terms. They had, +it is true, a good many propensities in common, and these were what +constituted the bond between them. They were companions but not friends; +and Clinton saw many things in Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and +scarcely anything more than the contemptuous manner in which he spoke of +and treated his parents. He liked his society, because he was lively +and without any of that high and honorable moral feeling which is often +troublesome to a companion who, like Clinton, was not possessed of much +scruple while engaged in the pursuit of pleasures. On this account, +therefore, we say that he relished his society, but could neither +respect nor esteem him. + +On the following morning at breakfast, his uncle asked him where he had +dined the day before. + +"With Hycy Burke, sir," replied the nephew. + +"Yes; that is honest Jemmy's son--a very great man in his own conceit, +Harry. You seem to like him very much." + +Harry felt a good deal puzzled as to the nature of his reply. He knew +very well that his uncle did not relish Hycy, and he felt that he could +not exactly state his opinion of him without bringing in question +his own penetration and good taste in keeping his society. Then, with +respect to his sister, although he had no earthly intention of seeing +her the wife of such a person, still he resolved to be able to say to +Hycy that he had not broken his word, a consideration which would not +have bound Hycy one moment under the same circumstances. + +"He's a very pleasant young fellow, sir," replied the other, "and has +been exceedingly civil and attentive to me." + +"Ay!--do you like him--do you esteem him, I mean?" + +"I dare say I will, sir, when I come to know him better." + +"Which is as much as to say that at present you do not. So I thought. +You have a portion of good sense about you, but in a thousand things +you're a jackass, Harry." + +"Thank you, sir," replied his nephew, laughing heartily; "thank you for +the compliment. I am your nephew, you know." + +"You have a parcel of d----d scruples, I say, that are ridiculous. What +the devil need a man care about in this world but appearances? Mind your +own interests, keep up appearances, and you have done your duty." + +"But I should like to do a little more than keep up appearances," +replied his nephew. + +"I know you would," said his uncle, "and it is for that especial reason +that I say you're carrying the ears. I'm now a long time in the world, +Masther Harry--sixty-two years--although I don't look it, nor anything +like it, and in the course of that time--or, at all events, ever +since I was able to form my own opinions, I never met a man that +wasn't a rogue in something, with the exception of--let me +see--one--two--three--four--five--I'm not able to make out the +half-dozen." + +"And who were the five honorable exceptions?" asked his niece, smiling. + +"They were the five fools of the parish, Maria--and yet I am wrong, +still--for Bob M'Cann was as thievish as the very devil whenever he had +an opportunity. And now, do you know the conclusion I come to from all +this?" + +"I suppose," said his niece, "that no man's honest but a fool." + +"Thank you, Maria, Well done--you've hit it. By the way, it's seems +M'Mahon's wife, of Carriglass, is dead." + +"Is she?" said Harry; "that is a respectable family, father, by all +accounts." + +"Why, they neither rob nor steal, I believe," replied his uncle. "They +are like most people, I suppose, honest in the eye of the law--honest +because the laws keep them so." + +"I did not think your opinion of the world was so bad, uncle," said +Maria; "I hope it is not so bad as you say it is." + +"All I can say, then," replied the old Cynic, "that if you wait till you +find an honest man for your husband, you'll die an old maid." + +"Well, but excuse me, uncle, is that safe doctrine to lay down before +your nephew, or myself?" + +"Pooh, as to you, you silly girl, what have you to do with it? We're +taikin' about men, now--about the world, I say, and life in general." + +"And don't you wish Harry to be honest?" + +"Yes, where it is his interest; and ditto to roguery, where it can be +done safely." + +"I know you don't feel what you say, uncle," she observed, "nor believe +it either." + +"Not he, Maria," said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; "but, +uncle, as to Hycy Burke--I don't--hem." + +"You don't what?" asked the other, rising and staring at him. + +His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent. + +"You don't mean what, man?--always speak out. Here, help me on with +this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as +Ahadarra." + +"That's a man I don't like," said the nephew. "He's too soft and too +sweet, and speaks too low to be honest." + +"Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?" replied his uncle. "He's +as good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to +the main point, and--keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;" +and with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was +peculiar to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept, +he left them. + +When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and +the latter said, "Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in +all he says on this subject?" + +Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister +than her uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the +affirmative, so much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little +for the sake of common decency. + +"Not at all, Maria; no man relishes honesty more than he does. He only +speaks in this fashion because he thinks that honest men are scarce, and +so they are. But, by-the-way, talking about Hycy Burke, Maria, how do +you like him?" + +"I can't say I admire him," she replied, "but you know I have had very +slight opportunities of forming any opinion." + +"From what you have seen of him, what do you think?" + +"Let me see," she replied, pausing; "why, that he'll meet very few who +will think so highly of him as he does of himself." + +"He thinks very highly of you, then." + +"How do you know that?" she asked somewhat quickly. + +"Faith, Maria, from the best authority--because he himself told me so." + +"So, then, I have had the honor of furnishing you with a topic of +conversation?" + +"Unquestionably, and you may prepare yourself for a surprise. He's +attached to you." + +"I think not," she replied calmly. + +"Why so?" he asked. + +"Because, if you wish to know the truth, I do not think him capable of +attachment to any one but himself." + +"Faith, a very good reason, Maria; but, seriously, if he should +introduce the subject, I trust, at all events, that you will treat him +with respect." + +"I shall certainly respect myself, Harry. He need not fear that I shall +read him one of my uncle's lectures upon life and honesty." + +"I have promised not to be his enemy in the matter, and I shall keep my +word." + +"So you may, Harry, with perfect safety. I am much obliged to him for +his good opinion; but"--she paused. + +"What do you stop at, Maria?" + +"I was only about to add," she replied, "that I wish it was mutual." + +"You wish it," he exclaimed. "What do you mean by that, Maria?" + +She laughed. "Don't you know it is only a form of speech? a polite way +of saying that he does not rank high in my esteem?" + +"Well, well," he replied, "settle that matter between you; perhaps the +devil is not so black as he's painted." + +"A very unhappy illustration," said his sister, "whatever has put it +into your head.' + +"Faith, and I don't know what put it there. However, all I can say in +the matter I have already said. I am not, nor shall I be, his enemy. +I'll trouble you, as you're near it, to touch the bell till George gets +the horse. I am going up to his father's, now. Shall I tell him that +John Wallace is discarded; that he will be received with smiles, and +that--" + +"How can you be so foolish, Harry?" + +"Well, good-bye, at any rate. You are perfectly capable of deciding for +yourself, Maria." + +"I trust so," she replied. "There's George with your horse now." + +"It's a blue look-up, Master Hycy," said Clinton to himself as he took +his way to Burke's. "I think you have but little chance in that quarter, +oh, most accomplished Hycy, and indeed I am not a whit sorry; but should +be very much so were it otherwise." + +It is singular enough that whilst Clinton was introducing the subject +of Hycy's attachment to his sister, that worthy young gentleman was +sustaining a much more serious and vehement onset upon a similar subject +at home. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife having once got the notion of a +marriage between Kathleen and Hycy into their heads, were determined not +to rest until that desirable consummation should be brought about. In +accordance with this resolution, we must assure our readers that Gerald +never omitted any opportunity of introducing the matter to Jemmy Burke, +who, as he liked the Cavanaghs, and especially Kathleen herself, who, +indeed, was a general favorite, began to think that, although in point +of circumstances she was by no means a match for him, Hycy might do +still worse. It is true, his wife was outrageous at the bare mention of +it; but Jemmy, along with a good deal of blunt sarcasm, had a resolution +of his own, and not unfrequently took a kind of good-natured and +shrewd delight in opposing her wishes whenever he found them to be +unreasonable. For several months past he could not put his foot out of +the door that he was not haunted by honest Gerald Cavanagh, who had only +one idea constantly before him, that of raising his daughter to the rank +and state in which he knew, or at least calculated that Hycy Burke would +keep her. Go where he might, honest Jemmy was attended by honest Gerald, +like his fetch. At mass, at market, in every fair throughout the country +was Cavanagh sure to bring up the subject of the marriage; and what +was the best of it, he and his neighbor drank each other's healths so +repeatedly on the head of it, that they often separated in a state that +might be termed anything but sober. Nay, what is more, it was a fact +that they had more than once or twice absolutely arranged the whole +matter, and even appointed the day for the wedding, without either of +them being able to recollect the circumstances on the following morning. + +Whilst at breakfast on the morning in question, Burke, after finishing +his first cup of tea, addressed his worthy son as follows:-- + +"Hycy, do you intend to live always this way?" + +"Certainly not, Mr. Burke. I expect to dine on something more +substantial than tea." + +"You're very stupid, Hycy, not to understand me; but, indeed, you never +were overstocked wid brains, unfortunately, as I know to my cost--but +what I mane is, have you any intention of changing your condition in +life? Do you intend to marry, or to go on spendin' money upon me at this +rate!" + +"The old lecture, Mrs. Burke," said Hycy, addressing his mother. +"Father, you are sadly deficient in originality. Of late you are +perpetually repeating yourself. Why, I suppose to-morrow or next day, +you will become geometrical on our hands, or treat us to a grammatical +praxis. Don't you think it very likely, Mrs. Burke!" + +"And if he does," replied his mother, "it's not the first time he has +been guilty of both; but of late, all the little shame he had, he has +lost it." + +"Faith, and if I hadn't got a large stock, I'd a been run out of it this +many a day, in regard of what I had to lose in that way for you, Hycy. +However I'll thank you to listen to me. Have you any intention of +marryin' a wife?" + +"Unquestionably, Mr. Burke. Not a doubt of it." + +"Well, I am glad to hear it. The sooner you're married, the sooner +you'll settle down. You'll know, then, my lad, what life is." + +Honest Jemmy's sarcasm was likely to carry him too far from his purpose, +which was certainly not to give a malicious account of matrimony, but, +on the contrary, to recommend it to his worthy son. + +"Well, Mr. Burke," said Hycy, winking at his mother, "proceed." + +"The truth is, Hycy," he added, "I have a wife in my eye for you." + +"I thought as much," replied the other. "I did imagine it was there you +had her; name--Mr. Burke--name?" + +"Troth, I'm ashamed, Hycy, to name her and yourself on the same day." + +"Well, can't you name her to-day, and postpone me until to-morrow?" + +"It would be almost a pity to have her thrown away upon you. A good and +virtuous wife, however, may do a great deal to reclaim a bad husband, +and, indeed, you wouldn't be the first profligate that was reformed in +the same way." + +"Many thanks, Mr. Burke; you are quite geological this morning; isn't +he, ma'am?" + +"When was he ever anything else? God pardon him! However, I know what +he's exterminatin' for; he wants you to marry Kathleen Cavanagh." + +"Ay do I, Rosha; and she might make him a respectable man yet,--that is, +if any woman could." + +"Geological again, mother; well, really now, Katsey Cavanagh is a +splendid girl, a fine animal, no doubt of it; all her points are good, +but, at the same time, Mr. Burke, a trifle too plebeian for Hycy the +accomplished." + +"I tell you she's a devilish sight too good for you; and if you don't +marry her, you'll never get such a wife." + +"Troth," answered Mrs. Burke, "I think myself there's something over +you, or you wouldn't spake as you do--a wife for Hycy--one of Gerald +Cavanagh's daughters make a wife for him!--not while I'm alive at any +rate, plaise God." + +"While you're alive; well, may be not:--but sure if it plases God to +bring it about, on your own plan, I must endaivor to be contented, +Rosha; ay, an' how do you know but I'd dance at their weddin' too! +ha! ha! ha!" + +"Oh, then, it's you that's the bitther pill, Jemmy Burke! but, thank +God, I disregard you at all events. It's little respect you pay to my +feelings, or ever did." + +"I trust, my most amiable mother, that you won't suffer the equability +of your temper to be disturbed by anything proceeding from such an +antiphlogistic source. Allow me to say, Mr. Burke, that I have higher +game in view, and that for the present I must beg respectfully to +decline the proposal which you so kindly made, fully sensible as I am +of the honor you intended for me. If you will only exercise a little +patience, however, perhaps I shall have the pleasure ere long of +presenting to you a lady of high accomplishments, amiable manners, and +very considerable beauty." + +"Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?" + +"Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest +Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as +possible, for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine." + +"You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?" + +"For the present I say most assuredly not," replied the son, in the same +ironical and polite tone. + +"Because," continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there +was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, "as poor Gerald was +a good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry +her--_to oblige him_." + +Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous +sarcasm implied in these words. "Father," said he, to save trouble, and +to prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I +think it right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl +as Cavanagh's daughter." + +"No," continued his mother, "nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it." + +"Very well," said the father; "is that your mind?" + +"That's my mind, sir." + +"Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better +manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother +home from school,--suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,--and suppose +I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a +gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is +something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men." + +He took up his hat as he spoke and went out to the fields, leaving both +mother and son in no slight degree startled by an intimation so utterly +unexpected, but which they knew enough of him to believe was one not at +all unlikely to be acted on by a man who so frequently followed up his +own determinations with a spirit amounting almost to obstinacy. + +"I think, mother," observed the latter, "we must take in sail a little; +'the gentleman' won't bear the ironical to such an extent, although he +is master of it in his own way; in other words, Mr. Burke won't bear to +be laughed at." + +"Not he," said his mother, in the tone of one who was half angry at him +on that very account, "he'll bear nothing." + +"D--n it, to tell that vulgar bumpkin, Cavanagh, I suppose in a state +of maudlin drunkenness, that he would make me marry his daughter--to +oblige, him!--contempt could go no further; it was making a complete +cipher of me." + +"Ay, but I'm disturbed about what he said going out, Hycy. I don't +half like the face he had on him when he said it; and when he comes to +discover other things, too, money matthers--there will be no keepin the +house wid him." + +"I fear as much," said Hycy; "however, we must only play our cards as +well as we can; he is an impracticable man, no doubt of it, and it is a +sad thing that a young fellow of spirit should be depending on such a-- + + "'Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, + How can you bloom so fresh and fair, + How can ye chant, ye little birds, + And I sae weary fu' o' care, &c., &c. + +"Well, well--I do not relish that last hint certainly, and if other +projects should fail, why, as touching the fair Katsey, it might not +be impossible that--however, time will develop. She is a fine girl, a +magnificent creature, no doubt of it, still, most maternal relative, as +I said, time will develop--by the way, Mrs. M'Mahon, the clodhopper's +mother, is to be interred to-morrow, and I suppose you and 'the +gentleman' will attend the funeral." + +"Sartinly, we must." + +"So shall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious +ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself, +meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky +thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, _non constat_, +as Finigan would say, time will develop." + +"You're not gainin' ground with him at all events," said his mother; +"ever since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards +both of us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and +has something on his mind ever since." + +"I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I +said just now, I say time will develop." + +He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which +consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as +they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII.--Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. + + +On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such +cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious +to soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and +Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into +the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood. +Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady, +the Roman Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing, +undertook to direct the religious devotions which are usual on such +occasions. In consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that +then existed in our unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that +persons were, from necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of +religious duties, who were possessed of very little education, if not, +as was too often the case, absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was +not absolutely illiterate, but, in good truth, he was by no means far +removed from that uncomfortable category. Finigan, the schoolmaster, +was also present; and as he claimed acquaintance with the classics, +and could understand and read with something like correctness the Latin +offices, which were frequently repeated on these occasions it would be +utterly impossible to describe the lofty scorn and haughty supercilious +contempt with which he contemplated poor Dennis, who kept muttering away +at the _Confiteor_ and _De Profundis_ with a barbarity of pronunciation +that rendered it impossible for human ears to understand a single word +he said. Finigan, swollen with an indignation which he could no longer +suppress, and stimulated by a glass or two of whiskey, took three or +four of the neighbors over to a corner, where, whilst his eyes rested on +Dennis with a most withering expression of scorn, he exclaimed--"Here, +hand me that manual, and get out o' my way, you illiterate nonentity and +most unsufferable appendage to religion." + +He then took the book, and going over to the coffin, read in a loud +and sonorous voice the _De Profundis_ and other prayers for the dead, +casting his eyes from time to time upon the unfortunate clerk with a +contemptuous bitterness and scorn that, for force of expression, could +not be surpassed. When he had concluded, he looked around him with a +sense of lofty triumph that was irresistible in its way. "There," said +he, "is something like accent and quantity for you--there is something +that may, without derogation to religion, be called respectable +perusal--an' yet to say that a man like me, wid classical +accomplishments and propensities from my very cradle, should be set +aside for that illiterate vulgarian, merely because, like every other +janius, I sometimes indulge in the delectable enjoyment of a copious +libation, is too bad." + +This in fact was the gist of his resentment against O'Grady. He had been +in the habit for some time of acting as clerk to the priest, who bore +with his "copious libations," as he called them, until common decency +rendered it impossible to allow him any longer the privilege of taking a +part as clerk in the ceremonies of religion. + +When this was over, a rustic choir, whom the parish clerk had organized, +and in a great measure taught himself, approached the body and sang a +hymn over it, after which the preparations for its removal began to be +made. + +Ever since the death of his wife, Thomas M'Mahon could not be prevailed +upon to taste a morsel of food. He went about from place to place, +marked by such evidences of utter prostration and despair that it was +painful to look upon him, especially when one considered the truth, +purity, and fervor of the affection that had subsisted between him and +the inestimable woman he had lost. The only two individuals capable of +exercising any influence upon him now were Bryan and his daughter Dora; +yet even they could not prevail upon him to take any sustenance. His +face was haggard and pale as death, his eyes red and bloodshot, and his +very body, which had always been erect and manly, was now stooped and +bent from the very intensity of his affliction. + +He had been about the garden during the scene just described, and from +the garden he passed round through all the office-houses, into every one +of which he entered, looking at them in the stupid bereavement of grief, +as if he had only noticed them for the first time. On going into the +cow-house where the animals were at their food, he approached one of +them--that which had been his wife's favorite, and which would suffer +no hand to milk her but her own--"Oh, Bracky," he said, "little you know +who's gone from you--even you miss her already, for you refused for the +last three days to let any one of them milk you, when she was not here +to do it. Ah, Bracky, the kind hand and the kind word that you liked so +well will never be wid you more--that low sweet song that you loved to +listen to, and that made you turn round while she was milkin' you, an' +lick her wid your tongue from pure affection--for what was there that +had life that didn't love her? That low, sweet song, Bracky, you will +never hear again. Well, Bracky, for her sake I'm come to tell you, this +sorrowful mornin', that while I have life an' the means of keepin' you, +from me an' them she loved you will never part." + +While he spoke the poor animal, feeling from the habit of instinct that +the hour of! milking had arrived, turned round and uttered once or twice +that affectionate lowing with which she usually called upon the departed +to come and relieve her of her fragrant burthen. This was more than +the heart-broken man could bear, he walked back, and entering the +wake-house, in a burst of vehement sorrow--"Oh, Bridget, my wife, my +wife--is it any wondher we should feel your loss, when your favorite, +Bracky, is callin' for you; but you won't come to her--that voice that +so often charmed her will never charm the poor affectionate creature +again." + +"Father dear," said Bryan, "if ever you were called upon to be a man it +is now." + +"But, Byran, as God is to judge me," replied his father, "the cow--her +own cow--is callin' for her in the cow-house widin--its truth--doesn't +everything miss her--even poor Bracky feels as if she was dasarted. Oh, +my God, an' what will we do--what will we do!" + +This anecdote told by the sorrowing husband was indeed inexpressingly +affecting. Bryan, who had collected all his firmness with a hope of +being able to sustain his father, was so much overpowered by this +circumstance that, after two or three ineffectual attempts to soothe +him, he was himself fairly overcome, and yielded for the moment to +bitter tears, whilst the whole family broke out into one general +outburst, of sorrow, accompanied in many cases by the spectators, who +were not proof against the influence of so natural and touching an +incident. + +Their neighbors and friends, in the meantime, were pouring in fast +from all directions. Jemmy Burke and his wife--the latter ridiculously +over-dressed--drove there upon their jaunting-car, which was considered +a great compliment, followed soon afterwards by Hycy and Harry Clinton +on horse-back. Gerald Cavanagh and his family also came, with the +exception of Kathleen and Hanna, who were, however, every moment +expected. The schoolmaster having finished the _De Profundis_, was, +as is usual, treated to glass of whiskey--a circumstance which just +advanced him to such a degree of fluency and easy assurance as was +necessary properly to develop the peculiarities of his character. Having +witnessed Bryan's failure at consolation, attended as it was by the +clamorous grief of the family, he deemed it his duty, especially as +he had just taken some part in the devotions, to undertake the task in +which Bryan had been so unsuccessful. + +"Thomas M'Mahon," said he, "I'm disposed to blush--do you hear me, I +say? I am disposed to blush, I repate, for your want of--he doesn't hear +me:--will you pay attention? I am really disposed to blush"--and as he +uttered the words he stirred M'Mahon by shaking his shoulders two or +three times, in order to gain his attention. + +"Are you?" replied the other, replying in an absent manner to his words. +"God help you then, and assist you, for it's few can do it." + +"Can do what?" + +"Och, I don't know; whatever you wor sayin'." + +"Patience, my good friend, Thomas M'Mahon. I would call you Tom +familiarly, but that you are in affliction, and it is well known that +every one in affliction is, or at least ought to be, treated with +respect and much sympathetical consolation. You are now in deep sorrow; +but don't you knows that death is the end of all things? and believe me +there are many objects in this world which a wise and experienced man +would lose wid much greater regret than he would a mere wife. Think, for +instance, how many men there are--dreary and subdued creatures--who +dare not call their souls, if they have any, or anything else they do +possess, their own; think, I repate, of those who would give nine-tenths +of all they are worth simply to be in your present condition! Wretches +who from the moment they passed under the yoke matrimonial, to which all +other yokes are jokes, have often heard of liberty but never enjoyed it +for one single hour--the Lord help them!" + +"Amen!" exclaimed M'Mahon, unconsciously. + +"Yes," proceeded Finigan, "unfortunate devils whose obstinacy has been +streaked by a black mark, or which ought rather to be termed a black and +blue mark, for that is an abler and more significant illustration, Poor +quadrupeds who have lived their whole miserable lives as married men +under an iron dynasty; and who know that the thunderings of Jupiter +himself, if he were now in vogue, would be mere music compared to the +fury of a conjugal tongue when agitated by any one of the thousand +causes that set it a-going so easily. Now, Thomas, I am far from +insinuating that ever you stood in that most pitiable category, but I +know many who have--heigho!--and I know many who do, and some besides +who will; for what was before may be agin, and it will be nothing but +ascendancy armed with her iron rod on the one hand, against patience, +submission, and tribulation, wid their groans and penances on the other. +Courage then, my worthy friend; do not be overwhelmed wid grief, for +I can assure you that as matters in general go on the surface of this +terraqueous globe, the death of a wife ought to be set down as a proof +that heaven does not altogether overlook us. 'Tis true there are tears +shed upon such occasions, and for very secret reason's too, if the truth +were known. Joy has its tears as well as grief, I believe, and it is +often rather difficult, under a blessing so completely disguised as the +death of a wi--of one's matrimonial partner, to restrain them. +Come then, be a man. There is Mr. Hycy Burke, a tender-hearted young +gentleman, and if you go on this way you will have him weeping' for +sheer sympathy, not pretermitting Mr. Clinton, his companion, who +is equally inclined to be pathetic, if one can judge from apparent +symptoms." + +"I'm obliged to you, Masther," replied M'Mahon, who had not heard, or +rather paid attention to, a single syllable he had uttered. "Of course +it's thruth you're savin'---it is--it is, _fureer gair_ it is; and she +that's gone from me is a proof of it. What wondher then that I should +shed tears, and feel as I do?" + +The unconscious simplicity of this reply to such a singular argument for +consolation as the schoolmaster had advanced, caused many to smile, +some to laugh outright, and others to sympathize still more deeply +with M'Mahon's sorrow. Finigan's allusion to Hycy and his companion was +justified by the contrast which the appearance of each presented. Hycy, +who enjoyed his lecture on the tribulations of matrimonial life very +much, laughed as he advanced in it, whilst Clinton, who was really +absorbed in a contemplation of the profound and solemn spirit which +marked the character of the grief he witnessed, and who felt impressed +besides by the touching emblems of death and bereavement which +surrounded him, gradually gave way to the impressions that gained on +him, until he almost felt the tears in his eyes. + +At this moment Kathleen and her sister Hanna entered the house, and a +general stir took place among those who were present, which was caused +by her strikingly noble figure and extraordinary beauty--a beauty which, +on the occasion in question, assumed a peculiarly dignified and majestic +character from the deep and earnest sympathy with the surrounding sorrow +that was impressed on it. + +Hycy and his companion surveyed her for many minutes; and the former +began to think that after all, if Miss Clinton should fail him, Kathleen +would make an admirable and most lovely wife. Her father soon after she +entered came over, and taking her hand said, "Come with me, Kathleen, +till you shake hands wid a great friend of yours--wid Misther Burke. +This is herself, Misther Burke," he added, significantly, on putting her +hand into that of honest Jemmy, "an' I think no father need be ashamed +of her." + +"Nor no father-in-law," replied Jemmy, shaking her cordially by the +hand, "and whisper, darlin'," said he, putting his mouth close to her +ear, and speaking so as that he might not be heard by others, "I hope to +see you my daughter-in-law yet, if I could only get that boy beyant to +make himself worthy of you." + +On speaking he turned his eyes on Hycy, who raised himself up, and +assuming his best looks intimated his consciousness of being the object +of his father's allusion to him. He then stepped over to where she +stood, and extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor +said, "I hope Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father, +won't refuse to honor the son." + +Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply +still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty +that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption. + +"This, Mr. Hycy," she replied, "is neither a time nor a place for empty +compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake +hands with him; but not till that time comes." + +On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and +for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot +both grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured +its unalloyed sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt +mortified, and bit his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of +excessive vanity, the repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to +its publicity. Gerald Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his +wife could not help exclaiming aloud, "Kathleen! what do you mane? I +declare I'm ashamed of you!" + +Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon +forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the +funeral. + +This was indeed a trying and heart-rending scene. The faithful wife, the +virtuous mother, the kind friend, and the pious Christian, was now about +to be removed for ever from that domestic scene which her fidelity, her +virtue, her charity, and her piety, had filled with peace, and love, and +happiness. As the coffin, which had been resting upon two chairs, was +about to be removed, the grief of her family became loud and vehement. + +"Oh, Bridget!" exclaimed her husband, "and is it to come to this at +last! And you are lavin' us for evermore! Don't raise the coffin," he +proceeded, "don't raise it. Oh! let us not part wid her till to-morrow; +let us know that she's undher the same roof wid us until then. An', +merciful Father, when I think where you're goin' to bring her to! Oh! +there lies the heart now widout one motion--dead and cowld--the heart +that loved us all as no other heart ever did! Bridget, my wife, don't +you hear me? But the day was that you'd hear me, an' that your kind an' +lovin' eye would turn on me wid that smile that was never broken. Where +is the wife that was true? Where is the lovin' mother, the charitable +heart to the poor and desolate, and the hand that was ever ready to aid +them that was in distress? Where are they all now? There, dead and cowld +forever, in that coffin. What has become of my wife, I say? What is +death at all, to take all we love from us this way? But sure God forgive +me for saying so, for isn't it the will of God? but oh! it is the +heaviest of all thrials to lose such a woman as she was!" + +Old grandfather, as he was called, had latterly become very feeble, +and was barely able to be out of bed on that occasion. When the tumult +reached the room where he sat with some of the aged neighbors, he +inquired what had occasioned it, and being told that the coffin was +about to be removed to the hearse, he rose up. + +"That is Tom's voice I hear," said he, "and I must put an end to +this." He accordingly made his appearance rather unexpectedly among them, +and approaching his son, said, putting his hand commandingly upon +his shoulder, and looking in his face with a solemn consciousness of +authority that was irresistible, "I command you, Tom, to stop. It's not +many commands that I'll ever give you--maybe this will be the last--and +it's not many ever I had occasion to give you, but now I command you to +stop and let the funeral go on." He paused for a short time and looked +upon the features of his son with a full sense of what was due to his +authority. His great age, his white hairs, his venerable looks and +bearing, and the reverence which the tremulous but earnest tones of his +voice were calculated to inspire, filled his son with awe, and he was +silent. + +"Father," said he, "I will; I'll try and obey you--I will." + +"God bless you and comfort you, my dear son," said the old man. "Keep +silence, now," he proceeded, addressing the others, "and bring the +coffin to the hearse at wanst. And may God strengthen and support you +all, for it's I that knows your loss; but like a good mother as she was, +she has left none but good and dutiful childre' behind her." + +Poor Dora, during the whole morning, had imposed a task upon herself +that was greater than her affectionate and sorrowing heart could bear. +She was very pale and exhausted by the force of what she had felt, and +her excessive weeping; but it was observed that she now appeared to +manifest a greater degree of fortitude than any of the rest. Still, +during this assumed calmness, the dear girl, every now and then, could +not help uttering a short convulsive sob, that indicated at once her +physical debility and extraordinary grief. She was evidently incapable +of entering into conversation, or at least, averse to it, and was +consequently very silent during the whole morning. As they stooped, +however, to remove the coffin, she threw herself upon it, exclaiming, +"Mother, its your own Dora--mother--mother--don't, mother--don't lave me +don't--I won't let her go--I won't let her go! I--I--" Even before she +could utter the words she intended to say, her head sank down, and her +pale but beautiful cheek lay exactly beside the name, Bridget M'Mahon, +that was upon it. + +"The poor child has fainted," they exclaimed, "bring her to the fresh +air." + +Ere any one had time, however, to raise her, James Cavanagh rushed over +to the coffin, and seizing her in his arms, bore her to the street, +where he placed her upon one of the chairs that had been left there +to support the coffin until keened over by the relatives and friends, +previous to its being-placed in the hearse; for such is the custom. +There is something exceedingly alarming in a swoon to a person who +witnesses it for the first time; which was the case with James Cavanagh. +Having placed her on the chair, he looked wildly upon her; then as +wildly upon those who were crowding round him. "What ails her?" he +exclaimed--"what ails her?--she is dead!--she is dead! Dora--Dora +dear--Dora dear, can't you spake or hear me?" + +Whilst he pronounced the words, a shower of tears gushed rapidly from +his eyes and fell upon her beautiful features, and in the impressive +tenderness of the moment, he caught her to his heart, and with +rapturous distraction and despair kissed her lips and exclaimed, "She is +dead!--she is dead!--an' all that's in the world is nothing to the love +I had for her!" + +"Stand aside, James," said his sister Kathleen; "leave this instantly. +Forgive him, Bryan," she said, looking at her lover with a burning brow, +"he doesn't know what he is doing." + +"No, Kathleen," replied, her brother, with a choking voice, "neither for +you nor for him, nor for a human crature, will I leave her." + +"James, I'm ashamed of you," said Hanna, rapidly and energetically +disengaging his arms from about the insensible girl; "have! you no +respect for Dora? If you love her as you say, you could hardly act as +you did." + +"Why," said he, staring at her, "what did I do?" + +Bryan took him firmly by the arm, and said, "Come away, you foolish boy; +I don't think you know what you did. Leave her to the girls. There, she +is recoverin'." + +She did soon recover; but weak and broken down as she was, no persuasion +nor even authority could prevail upon her to remain at home. Jemmy +Burke, who had intended to offer Kathleen a seat upon his car, which, of +course, she would not have accepted, was now outmanoeuvred by his +wife, 'who got Dora beside herself, after having placed a sister of Tom +M'Mahon's beside him. + +At length, the coffin was brought out, and the keene raised over it, on +the conclusion of which it was placed in the hearse, and the procession +began to move on. + +There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly +indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of +persons which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In +such a case, the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which +the party has been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a +mile long. All the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, +or half-sirs in the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect +for the virtues of the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity +and upright spirit of the family that had been deprived of her so +unexpectedly. + +Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, +the schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as +to render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no +wish for it. + +"Well, Harry," said his companion, "what do you think of the last +scene?" + +"You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl +that fainted, poor thing!" + +"Of course I do," replied Hycy. + +"Why," said the other, "I think the whole thing was very simple, and +consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in +love--there is no doubt of that--thought she had died; and upon my soul, +Hycy, there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of +such a passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, +I can understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the +tenderness by which he was actuated." + +"What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?" asked Hycy, with more of interest +than he had probably ever felt in her before. + +"What do I think?" said the other, looking at him with a good deal of +surprise. "What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste +or common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her +one of the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! +what would not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a +polished and comprehensive education?" + +"She is very much of a lady as it is," added Hycy, "and has great +natural dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has +left me under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her." + +"And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little +Dora, which is quite captivating," observed Clinton. + +"Very well," replied the other, "I make jou a present of the two fair +rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education +and manner do. Maria is a delightful girl." + +"She is an amiable and a good girl," said her brother; "but, in point of +personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been +speaking of." + +"Finigan," said Hycy--"I beg your pardon, O'Finigan--the great +O'Finigan, Philomath--are you a good judge of beauty?" + +"Why, then, Mr. Hycy," replied the pedagogue, "I think, above all +subjects, that a thorough understanding of that same comes most natural +to an Irishman. It is a pleasant topic to discuss at all times." + +"Much pleasanter than marriage, I think," said Clinton, smiling. + +"Ah, Mr. Clinton," replied the other, with a shrug, "_de mortuis +nil nisi bonum_; but as touching beauty, in what sense do you ask my +opinion?" + +"Whether now, for instance, would your learned taste prefer Miss +Cavanagh or Miss Dora M'Mahon? and give your reasons." + +"Taste, Mr. Hycy, is never, or at least seldom, guided by reason; the +question, however, is a fair one." + +"One at least on a fair subject," observed Clinton. + +"Very well said, Mr. Clinton," replied the schoolmaster, with a +grin--"there goes wit for us, no less--and originality besides. See what +it is to have a great janius!--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Well, Mr. O'Finigan," pursued Hycy, "but about the ladies? You have not +given us your opinion." + +"Why, then, they are both highly gifted wid beauty, and strongly +calculated to excite the amorous sentiments of refined and elevated +affection." + +"Well done, Mr. Plantation," said Hycy; "you are improving--proceed." + +"Miss Cavanagh, then," continued Finigan, "I'd say was a goddess, and +Miss M'Mahon her attendant nymph." + +"Good again, O'Finigan," said Clinton; "you are evidently at home in the +mythology." + +"Among the goddesses, at any rate," replied the master, with another +grin. + +"Provided there is no matrimony in the question," said Clinton. + +"Ah, Mr. Clinton, don't, if you please. That's a subject you may respect +yet as much as I do; but regarding my opinion of the two beauties in +question, why was it solicited, Mr. Hycy?" he added, turning to that +worthy gentlemen. + +"Faith, I'm not able to say, most learned Philomath; only, is it true +that Bryan, the clodhopper, has matrimonial designs upon the fair +daughter of the regal Cavanagh?" + +"_Sic vult fama_, Mr. Hycy, upon condition that a certain accomplished +young gentleman, whose surname commences with the second letter of +the alphabet, won't offer--for in that case, it is affirmed, that the +clodhopper should travel. By the way, Mr. Clinton, I met your uncle and +Mr. Fethertonge riding up towards Ahadarra this morning." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed both; and as they spoke, each cast a look of inquiry +at the other. + +"What could bring them to Ahadarra, gentlemen?" asked Finigan, in a tone +of voice which rendered it a nice point to determine whether it was a +simple love of knowledge that induced him to put the question, or some +other motive that might have lain within a kind of ironical gravity that +accompanied it. + +"Why, I suppose a pair of good horses," replied Hycy, "and their own +inclination." + +"It was not the last, at all events," said Finigan, "that ever brought +a thief to the gallows--ha! ha! ha! we must be facetious sometimes, Mr. +Hycy." + +"You appear to enjoy that joke, Mr. Finigan," said Hycy, rather tartly. + +"Faith," replied Finigan, "it's a joke that very few do enjoy, I think." + +"What is?" + +"Why, the gallows, sir--ha! ha! ha! but don't forget the O if you +plaise--ever and always the big O before Finigan--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Come, Clinton," said Hycy, "move on a little. D--n that fellow!" he +cried--"he's a sneering scoundrel; and I'm half inclined to think he has +more in him than one would be apt to give him credit for." + +"By the way, what could the visit to Ahadarra mean?" asked Clinton. "Do +you know anything about it, Hycy?" + +"Not about this; but it is very likely that I shall cause them, or +one of them at least, to visit it on some other occasion ere long; and +that's all I can say now. Curse that keening, what a barbarous practice +it is!' + +"I think not," said the other; "on the contrary, I am of opinion that +there's something strikingly wild and poetical in it something that +argues us Irish to be a people of deep feeling and strong imagination: +two of the highest gifts of intellect." + +"All stuff," replied the accomplished Hycy, who, among his other +excellent qualities, could never afford to speak a good word to his +country Or her people. "All stuff and barbarous howling that we +learned from the wolves when we had them in Ireland. Here we are at the +graveyard." + +"Hycy," said his friend, "it never occurred to me to thing of asking +what religion you believe in." + +"It is said," replied Hycy, "that a fool may propose a question which +a wise man can't answer. As to religion, I have not yet made any +determination among the variety that is abroad. A man, however, can +be at no loss; for as every one of them is the best, it matters little +which of them he chooses. I think it likely I shall go to church with +your sister, should we ever do matrimony together. To a man like me +who's indifferent, respectability alone ought to determine." + +Clinton made no reply to this; and in a few minutes afterward they +entered the churchyard, the coffin having been taken out of the hearse +and borne on the shoulders of her four nearest relatives,--Tom M'Mahon, +in deep silence and affliction, preceding it as chief mourner. + +There is a prostrating stupor, or rather a kind of agonizing delirium +that comes over the mind when we are forced to mingle with crowds, and +have our ears filled with the voices of lamentation, the sounds of the +death-bell, or the murmur of many people in conversation. 'Twas thus +M'Mahon felt during the whole procession. Sometimes he thought it was +relief, and again he felt as if it was only the mere alternation of +suffering into a sharper and more dreadful sorrow; for, change as it +might, there lay tugging at his heart the terrible consciousness that +she, I the bride of his youthful love and the companion of his +larger and more manly affection--the blameless wife and the stainless +woman--was about to be consigned to the grave, and that his eyes in this +life must; never rest upon her again. + +When the coffin was about to be lowered down, all the family, one after +another, clasped their arms about it, and kissed it with a passionate +fervor of grief that it was impossible to witness with firmness. At +length her husband, who had been looking on, approached it, and clasping +it in his arms like the rest, he said--"for ever and for ever, and for +ever, Bridget--but, no, gracious God, no; the day will come, Bridget, +when I will be with you here--I don't care now how soon. My happiness +is gone, asthore machree--life is nothing to me now--all's empty; and +there's neither joy, nor ease of mind, nor comfort for me any more. An' +this is our last parting--this is our last farewell, Bridget dear; but +from this out my hope is to be with you here; and if nothing else on my +bed of death was to console me, it would be, and it will be, that you +and I will then sleep together, never to be parted more. That will be my +consolation." + +"Now, father dear," said Bryan, "we didn't attempt to stop or prevent +you, and I hope you'll be something calm and come away for a little." + +"Best of sons! but aren't you all good, for how could you be +otherwise with her blood in your veins?--bring me away; come you, Dora +darlin'--ay, that's it--support the: blessed child between you and +Hanna, Kathleen darlin'. Oh, wait, wait till we get out of hearin, or +the noise of the clay fallin' on the coffin will kill me." + +They then walked to some distance, where they remained until the "narrow +house" was nearly filled, after which they once more surrounded it until +the last sod was beaten in. This being over, the sorrowing group sought +their way home with breaking hearts, leaving behind them her whom they +had loved so well reposing in the cold and unbroken solitude of the +grave. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV.--Mysterious Letter + +--Hycy Disclaims Sobriety--Ahadarra's in for it. + + +One day about a month after Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, Harry Clinton was +on his way to Jemmy Burke's, when he met Nanny Peety going towards +Ballymacan. + +"Well, Nanny," he inquired, "where are you bound for, now?" + +"To the post-office with a letter from Masther Hycy, sir. I wanted him +to tell me who it was for, but he would not. Will you, Mr. Clinton?" and +she held out the letter to him as she spoke. + +Clinton felt a good deal surprised to see that it was addressed to his +uncle, and also written in a hand which he did not recognize to be that +of Hycy Burke. + +"Are you sure, Nanny," he asked, "that this letter was written by Mr. +Hycy?" + +"Didn't I see him, sir?" she replied; "he wrote it before my eyes a +minute before he handed it to me. Who is it for, Mr. Clinton?" + +"Why are you so very anxious to know, Nanny?" he inquired. + +"Sorra thing," she replied, "but curiosity--a woman's curiosity, you +know." + +"Well, Nanny, you know, or ought to know, that it would not be right in +me to tell you who the letter is for, when Mr. Hycy did not think proper +to do so." + +"True enough, sir," she replied; "an I beg your pardon, Mr. Clinton, for +asking you; indeed it was wrong in me to tell you who it came from even, +bekaise Mr. Hycy told me not to let any one see it, only jist to slip it +into the post-office unknownst, as I passed it; an' that was what made +me wish to know who it was goin' to, since the thruth must be tould." + +Clinton in turn now felt his curiosity stimulated as to the contents +of this mysterious epistle, and he resolved to watch, if possible, what +effect the perusal of it might have on his uncle, otherwise he was never +likely to hear a syllable that was contained in it, that worthy relative +being, from official necessity, a most uncommunicative person in all his +proceedings. + +"I wonder," observed Clinton, "that Mr. Hycy would send to any one a +letter so slurred and blotted with ink as that is." + +"Ay, but he blotted it purposely himself," replied Nanny, "and that too +surprised me, and made me wish to know what he could mane by it." + +"Perhaps it's a love-letter, Nanny," said Clinton, laughing. + +"I would like to know who it is to, at any rate," said the girl; "but +since you won't, tell me, sir, I must try and not lose my rest about it. +Good-bye, Mr. Clinton." + +"Good-bye, Nanny;" and so they started. + +Young Clinton, who, though thoughtless and fond of pleasure, was not +without many excellent points of character, began now to perceive, +by every day's successive intimacy, the full extent of Hycy Burke's +profligacy of morals, and utter want of all honorable principle. +Notwithstanding this knowledge, however, he felt it extremely difficult, +nay, almost impossible, to separate himself from Hycy, who was an +extremely pleasant young fellow, and a very agreeable companion when +he pleased. He had in fact gained that personal ascendancy over him, or +that licentious influence which too many of his stamp are notorious for +exercising over better men than themselves; and he found that he could +not readily throw Hyoy off, without being considerably a loser by the +act. + +"I shall have nothing to do with his profligacy," said he, "or his want +of principle, and I shall let him know, at all events, that I will not +abide by the agreement or compromise entered into between us some time +since at his father's. He shall not injure an honest man for me, nor +shall I promise him even neutrality with respect to his proposal for my +sister, whom I would rather see dead a hundred times than the wife of +such a fellow." + +The next morning, about half an hour before breakfast, he told his uncle +that he was stepping into town and would bring him any letters that +might be for him in the post-office. He accordingly did so, and received +two letters, one Hycy's and the other with the crest and frank of the +sitting member for the county, who was no other than young Chevydale. +His uncle was at breakfast when he handed them to him, and we need +hardly say that the M.P. was honored by instant attention. The +Still-hound read it over very complacently. "Very well," he exclaimed; +"very well, indeed, so far. Harry, we must be on the alert, now the +elections are approaching, and Chevydale will be stoutly opposed, it +seems. We must work for him, and secure as many votes as we can. It +is our interest to do so, Harry,--and he will make it our interest +besides." + +"Has principle nothing to do with it, sir?" + +"Principle! begad, sir," retorted the uncle, "there's no such thing as +principle--lay that down as a fact--there's no such thing in this world +as principle." + +"Well, but consistency, uncle. For instance, you know you always vote on +the Tory side, and Chevydale is a Liberal and an Emancipator." + +"Consistency is all d--d stuff, Harry, as principle. What does it mean? +why that if a man's once wrong he's always to be wrong--that is just the +amount of it. There's Chevydale, for instance, he has a brother who is a +rank Tory and a Commissioner of Excise, mark that; Chevydale and he play +into each other's hands, and Chevydale some of these days will sell the +Liberals, that is, if he can get good value for them. If I now vote on +the Tory side against Chevydale, his brother, the Tory Commissioner, +will be my enemy in spite of all his Toryism; but if I vote and exert +myself for Chevydale, the Liberal, I make his Tory of a brother my +friend for life. And now, talk to me about principle, or consistency +either." + +His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle +were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly +pursued the subject no further. + +"Ay!" exclaimed the Still-hound, "what d--d scrawl have we got here? Ay, +ay, why this is better than I expected." + +"What is better, uncle?" said the nephew, venturing an experiment. + +"Why," replied the sagacious old rascal, "for you to mind your business, +if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent +inquiries, Master Harry." With these words he went and. locked up both +letters in his desk. As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his +desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying +it in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers-- + +"To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: + +"Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you'd find a +Still-Hed an' Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in +Ahadarra. Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung's Orringemen an' a fren to the +axshize." + +The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:-- + +"Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you +have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth." + +"No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a +Still--hem." + +"Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter. Very well. Your father's +death last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for +the present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into +practice, with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?" + +"Unfortunately, sir, it is too true." + +"In the mean time you may leave 'unfortunate' out, and thank God that +you had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, +that I was a bachelor. Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home +for you; but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for +yourself; for I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich. +You don't relish surgery, you say?" + +"I can't endure it, uncle." + +"But you like farming?" + +"Above every other mode of life." + +"Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into +before long." + +"Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are +fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands." + +"Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my +brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must +make our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I +respect the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would +never work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise, +not so much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if +they could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of +honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both." + +"Uncle," said his nephew, "one word with you before you go." + +"What is it?" + +"Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse +me for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?" + +"Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives +me good advice." + +"If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended." + +"Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better." + +"You say you will procure me a farm. Now, uncle, there is one thing +I should wish in connection with that transaction, which is, that you +would have no underhand--hem!--no private understanding of any kind with +Mr. Hycy Burke." + +"Me a private understanding with Hycy Burke! What in the devil's name +has put such a crotchet as that into your head?" + +"I only speak as I do, because I believe you have received a private +communication from him." + +"Have I, faith! If so I am obliged to you--but I am simply ignorant of +the fact you mention; for, with my own knowledge', I never received a +line from him in my life." + +"Then I must be wrong," replied Harry; "that is all." + +"Wrong! Certainly you are wrong. Hycy Burke, I am told, is a compound +of great knave and gross fool, the knavery rather prevailing. But how is +this? Are not you and he inseparable?" + +"He is a companion, uncle, but not a friend in the true sense--nor, +indeed, in any sense of that word. I spoke now, however, with reference +to a particular transaction, and not to his general character." + +"Well, then, I have no underhand dealings with him, as you are pleased +to call them, nor ever had. I never to my knowledge received a line from +him in my life; but I tell you that if he comes in my way, and that I +can make use of him, I will. Perhaps he may serve us in the Elections. +Have you anything else to ask?" + +"No sir," replied Harry, laughing. "Only I hope you will excuse me for +the liberty I took." + +"Certainly, with all my heart, and you shall be always welcome to take +the same liberty. Good-bye, again." + +Clinton now felt satisfied that Hycy's letter to his uncle was an +anonymous one, and although he could not divine its contents, he +still felt assured that it was in some way connected with the farm +transaction, or at all events detrimental to Bryan M'Mahon. He +consequently resolved to see Hycy, against whom, or rather against +whose principles he was beginning to entertain a strong repugnance, and +without any hesitation to repudiate the engagement he had entered into +with him. + +He found Hycy at home, or rather he found him in conversation with Bat +Hogan behind his father's garden. + +"What was that ruffian wanting with you, Hycy, if it's a fair question?" + +"Perfectly," said Hycy, "from you; but not in sooth from your worthy +uncle." + +"How is that?" + +"Simply, he wants to know if I'd buy a keg of Poteen which, it seems, he +has to sell. I declined because I have a sufficiently ample stock of it +on hands." + +"My uncle," said Clinton, prefers it to any other spirits; indeed, at +home he never drinks any other, and whenever he dines, thanks those who +give it the preference." + +"Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time," +said Hycy, "for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous +relish for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best." + +Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on. + +"Hycy," proceeded his companion, "with respect to that foolish +arrangement or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything +to say or do in it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my +account. I was half drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have +listened to such a proposal." + +"What do you mean?" said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and +a pause of some time, "I don't understand you." + +"Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with +reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most +amiable (d--n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the +other?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry." + +"Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be +tipsy, though." + +"I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d--dest, hypocritical rascal +in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get drunk +in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. However, +in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?" + +"No, no," replied his friend, "it was a disgraceful affair on both +sides, and the less that's said of it the better." + +By some good deal of persuasion, however, and an additional glass +of grog, he prevailed on Clinton to repeat the substance of the +stipulation; on hearing which, as if for the first time, he laughed very +heartily. + +"This liquor," he proceeded, "is a strange compound, and puts queer +notions into our head. Why if there's an honest decent fellow in Europe, +whom I would feel anxious to serve beyond another, next to yourself, +Harry, it is Bryan M'Mahon. But why I should have spoken so, I can't +understand at all. In the first place, what means have of injuring +the man? And what is stronger still, what inclination have I, or could +have--and what is still better--should have?" + +"I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion." + +"Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me +sooner about it. Still," he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion +of it I should not wish to see cancelled--I mean your advocacy with Miss +Clinton." + +"To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I +won't promise advocacy." + +"Well neutrality?" + +"The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. +I have reason to think that my sister's objections against you are +insuperable." + +"On what do they rest?" asked the other. + +"They are founded upon your want of morals," replied Clinton. + +"Well, suppose I reform my morals?" + +"That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the +elements of reformation are rather slight within you." + +"Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be +judged of his morals before marriage, but after." + +"Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, +right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to +be such." + +"But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither +have I the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and +over-impulsive from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off +with the new state. No, no, d--n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe +such prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down +and bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most +edifying attention. Another glass of grog?" + +"No, no." + +"But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making +impressions against me." + +"Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that +quarter." + +"Will you allow me to try?" asked Hycy. + +"I have not the slightest objection," replied the other, "because I +know how it will result." + +"Very well,--thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, seriously +speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of lives we +ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. On +the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more +highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only +the best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might +stop and dine?" + +"No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my +dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me a call when in town." + +Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of +ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So +high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of +performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair +sex,--all upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two +innocent country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment +for Miss Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the +rich beauty and magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this +contemplation of his lessened by considering that, with all his +gentlemanly manners, and accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she +preferred the clod-hopper, as he called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself. + +He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more +especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at +for it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering +conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he +imagined, execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen, +and perhaps, ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed +with Miss Clinton; for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public +instances of contempt with which she had treated him. There was still, +however, another consideration. His father had threatened to bring home +his brother Edward, then destined for the church, and altogether to +change his intentions in that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic +manner of the old man towards him of late, he began to entertain +apprehensions upon the subject. Taking therefore all these circumstances +into consideration, he resolved in any event to temporize a little, and +allow the father to suppose that he might be prevailed upon to marry +Kathleen Cavanagh. + +In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he +were together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject +himself. + +"I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something +like a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the +accomplished Hycy." + +"I did, God forgive me." + +"I have been thinking over that subject since." + +"Have you, indeed," said his father; "an' am I to make Ned a priest or a +farmer?" he asked, dryly. + +"The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination." + +"So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my property, along wid +a good wife, to your brother Ned--Neddy I ought to call him, out of +compliment to you--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Proceed, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be facetious." + +"To your brother Ned--Neddy--having them, and maybe along wid them the +same, wife too?" + +"No, not exactly; but out of respect to your wishes. + +"What's that?" said the old man, staring at him with a kind of comic +gravity--"out of respect to my wishes!" + +"That's what I've said," replied the son. "Proceed." + +His father looked at' him again, and replied, "Proceed yourself---it was +you introduced the subject. I'm now jack-indifferent about it." + +"All I have to say," continued Hycy, "is that I withdraw my ultimate +refusal, Mr. Burke. I shall entertain the question, as they say; and +it is not improbable but that I may dignify the fair Katsey with the +honorable title of Mrs. Burke." + +"I wish you had spoken a little sooner, then," replied his father, +"bekaise it so happens that Gerald Cavanagh an' I have the match between +her and your brother Ned as good as made." + +"My brother Ned! Why, in the name of; all that's incredible, how could +that be encompassed?" + +"Very aisily," said his father, "by the girl's waitin' for him. Ned is +rather young! yet, I grant you; he's nineteen, however, and two years +more, you know, will make him one-and-twenty--take him out o' chancery, +as they say." + +"Very good, Mr. Burke, very good; in that case I have no more to say." + +"Well," pursued the father, in the same dry, half-comic, half-sarcastic +voice, "but what do you intend to do with yourself?" + +"As to that," replied Hycy, who felt that the drift of the conversation +was setting in against him, "I shall take due time to consider." + +"What height are you?" asked the father, rather abruptly. + +"I can't see, Mr. Burke, I really can't see what my height has to do +with the question." + +"Bekaise," proceeded the other, "I have some notion of putting you into +the army. You spoke of it wanst yourself, remimber; but then there's an +objection even to that." + +"Pray, what is the objection, Mr. Burke?" + +"Why, it's most likely you'd have to fight--if you took to the milintary +trade." + +"Why, upon my word, Mr. Burke, you shine in the sarcastic this evening." + +"But, at any rate, you must take your chance for that. You're a fine, +active young fellow, and I suppose if they take to runnin' you won't be +the last of them." + +"Good, Mr. Burke--proceed, though." + +"An accordingly I have strong notions of buying you a corplar's or +a sargent's commission. A good deal of that, however, depends upon +yourself; but, as you say, I'll think of it." + +Hycy, who could never bear ridicule, especially from the very man whom +he attempted to ridicule most, bounced up, and after muttering something +in the shape of an oath that was unintelligible, said, assuming all his +polite irony:-- + +"Do so, Mr. Burke; in the mean time I have the pleasure of wishing you a +very good evening, sir." + +"Oh, a good-evening, sir," replied the old fellow, "and when you come +home from the wars a full non-commissioned officer, you'll be scowerin' +up your halbert every Christmas an' Aisther, I hope; an' telling us long +stories--of all you killed an' ate while you were away from us." + +Harry Clinton, now aware that the anonymous letter which his uncle had +received that morning was the production of Hycy, resolved to watch the +gauger's motions very closely. After a great deal of reflection upon +Hycy's want of memory concerning their bargain, and upon a close +comparison between his conduct and whole manner on the night in +question, and his own account of the matter in the course of their last +interview, he could not help feeling that his friend had stated a gross +falsehood, and that the pretended want of recollection was an ingenious +after-thought, adopted for the purpose of screening himself from the +consequences of whatever injury he might inflict upon Bryan M'Mahon. + +"Harry," said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, "I am going upon +duty tonight." + +"In what direction, sir? may I ask." + +"Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however, +there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our +gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am +bound for Ahadarra." + +"For Ahadarra--you say for Ahadarra, uncle?" + +"I do, nephew." + +"By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel +alive," exclaimed Harry; "I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you +would--would---I don't know what to say." + +"That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the +soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my +duty, Harry." + +"Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning, +sir, that you are now acting"?" + +"No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the +premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon +anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in +my time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it." + +He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse, +that was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a +case of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and +two daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence. + +Their path lay directly to the south for about two miles. Having +traversed this distance they reached cross-roads, one of which branched +towards the left and was soon lost in a rough brown upland, into +which it branched by several little pathways that terminated in little +villages or solitary farmer's houses. For about two miles more they were +obliged to cross a dark reach of waste moor, where the soil was strong +and well capable of cultivation. Having avoided the villages and more +public thoroughfares, they pushed upward until they came into the black +heath itself, where it was impossible that horses could travel in such +darkness as then prevailed; for it was past ten o'clock, near the close +of December. Clinton consequently left his horse in the care of two +soldiers on a bit of green meadow by the side of Ahadarra Lough--a small +tarn or mountain lake about two hundred yards in diameter. They then +pushed up a long round swelling hill, on the other side of which was +a considerable stretch of cultivated land with Bryan M'Mahon's new and +improved houses at the head of it. This they kept to their right until +they came in sight of the wild but beautiful and picturesque Glen of +Althadhawan, which however was somewhat beyond the distance they had to +go. At length, after breasting another hill which was lost in the base +of Cullimore, they dropped down rapidly into a deep glen through which +ran a little streamlet that took its rise not a quarter of a mile above +them, and which supplied the apparatus for distillation with soft clear +water. This they followed until near the head of the glen, where, in a +position which might almost escape even a gauger's eye, they found the +object of their search. + +Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic +rocks thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or +diversion--between two of which the still-house was built in such a way, +that, were it not for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible +to discover it, or at all events, to suppose that it could be the +receptacle of a human being. + +On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find +the place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such +occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light +of a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in +Hycy's letter--to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the +exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash +that was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides. + +The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the +Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were +in the process of distillation. + +"Ay," said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, "I think I understand +this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense--but a sure enough card +in another. The fine is certain, and Ahadarra is most undoubtedly in for +it." + + + + +CHAPTER XV.--State of the Country + +--Hycy's Friendship for Bryan M'Mahon--Bryan's Interview with his +Landlord. + + +M'Mahon's last interview with Fethertonge was of so cheering a nature, +and indicated on the part of that gentleman so much true and sterling +kindness towards the young man and his family, that he felt perfectly +satisfied on leaving him, and after having turned their conversation +over in his mind, that he might place every confidence in the assurance +he had given him. His father, too, who had never for a moment doubted +Feathertonge, felt equally gratified at Bryan's report of their +interview, as indeed did the whole family; they consequently spared +neither labor nor expense in the improvements which they were making on +their farms. + +The situation of the country and neighborhood at this period was indeed +peculiar, and such as we in this unhappy country have experienced +both before and since. I have already stated, that there was a partial +failure of the potato crop that season, a circumstance which uniformly +is the forerunner of famine and sickness. The failure, however, on that +occasion was not caused by a blight in the haulm, or to use plainer +words, by a sudden withering of the stalks, but by large portions of the +seed failing to grow. The partial scarcity, however, occasioned by this, +although it did not constitute what can with propriety be termed famine, +cause the great mass of pauperism which such a season always extends and +increases, to press so heavily upon the struggling farmers, that their +patience and benevolence became alike tired out and exhausted. This +perpetually recurring calamity acts with a most depressing effect +upon those persons in the country who have any claim to be considered +independent. It deprives them of hope, and consequently of energy, and +by relaxing the spirit of industry which has animated them, tends in +the course of time to unite them to the great body of pauperism which +oppresses and eats up the country. But let us not be misunderstood. This +evil alone is sufficiently disastrous to the industrial energies of +the class we mention; but when, in addition to this, the hitherto +independent farmer has to contend with high rents, want of sympathy in +his landlord, who probably is ignorant of his very existence, and has +never seen him perhaps in his life; and when it is considered that he is +left to the sharp practice and pettifogging, but plausible rapacity of +a dishonest agent, who feels that he is irresponsible, and may act the +petty tryant and vindictive oppressor if he wishes, having no restraint +over his principles but his interest, which, so far from restraining, +only guides and stimulates them;--when we reflect upon all this, and +feel, besides, that the political principles upon which the country is +governed are those that are calculated to promote British at the expense +of Irish interests--we say, when we reflect upon and ponder over all +this, we need not feel surprised that the prudent, the industrious, +and the respectable, who see nothing but gradual decline and ultimate +pauperism before them--who feel themselves neglected and overlooked, +and know that every sixth or seventh year they are liable to those +oppressive onsets of distress, sickness, and famine--we need not, we +repeat, feel at all surprised that those who constitute this industrious +and respectable class should fly from the evils which surround them, and +abandon, whilst they possess the power of doing so, the country in which +such evils are permitted to exist. + +It is upon this principle, or rather upon these principles, and for +these reasons, that the industry, the moral feeling, the independence, +and the strength of the country have been passing out of it for +years--leaving it, season after season, weaker, more impoverished, and +less capable of meeting those periodical disasters which, we may almost +say, are generated by the social disorder and political misrule of the +country. + +The fact is, and no reasonable or honest man capable of disencumbering +himself of political prejudices can deny it, that up until a recent +period the great body of the Irish people--the whole people--were mainly +looked upon and used as political instruments in the hands of the +higher classes, but not at all entitled to the possession of separate or +independent interests in their own right. It is true they were allowed +the possession of the forty-shilling franchise; but will any man say +that the existence of that civil right was a benefit to the country? So +far from that, it was a mere engine of corruption, and became, in +the hands of the Irish landlords, one of the most oppressive and +demoralizing curses that ever degraded a people. Perjury, fraud, +falsehood, and dishonesty, were its fruits, and the only legacy it +left to the country was an enormous mass of pauperism, and a national +morality comparatively vitiated and depraved, in spite of all religious +influence and of domestic affections that are both strong and tender. +Indeed it is exceedingly difficult to determine whether it has been more +injurious to the country in a political than in a moral sense. Be that +as it may, it had a powerful effect in producing the evils that we now +suffer, and our strong tendencies to social disorganization. By it the +landlords were induced, for the sake of multiplying, votes, to encourage +the subdivision of small holdings into those that were actually only +nominal or fictitious, and the consequences were, that in multiplying +votes they were multiplying families that had no fixed means of +subsistence--multiplying in fact a pauper population--multiplying not +only perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, but destitution, misery, +disease and death. By the forty-shilling franchise, the landlords +encumbered the soil with a loose and unsettled population that +possessed within itself, as poverty always does, a fearful facility of +reproduction--a population which pressed heavily upon the independent +class of farmers and yeomen, but which had no legal claim upon the +territory of the country. The moment, however, when the system which +produced and ended this wretched class, ceased to exist, they became not +only valueless in a political sense, but a dead weight upon the energies +of the country, and an almost insuperable impediment to its prosperity. +This great evil the landlords could conjure up, but they have not been +able to lay it since. Like Frankenstein in the novel, it pursues them to +the present moment, and must be satisfied or appeased in some way, or +it will unquestionably destroy them. From the abolition of the franchise +until now, an incessant struggle of opposing interests has been going on +in the country. The "forties" and their attendants must be fed; but the +soul on which they live in its present state is not capable of at the +same time supporting them and affording his claims to the landlord; for +the food must go to England to pay the rents and the poor "forties" must +starve. They are now in the way of the landlord--they are now in the way +of the farmer--they are in fact in way of each other, and unless some +wholesome and human principle, either of domestic employment or colonial +emigration, or perhaps both, shall be adopted, they will continue to +embarrass the country, and to drive out of it, always in connection with +other causes, the very class of persons that constitute its remaining +strength. + +At the present period of our narrative the neighborhood of Ballymacan +was in an unsettled and distressful state. The small farmers, and such +as held from six to sixteen acres, at a rent which they could at any +period with difficulty pay, were barely able to support themselves and +their families upon the produce of their holdings, so that the claims +of the landlord were out of the question. Such a position as this to the +unhappy class we speak of, is only another name for ruin. The bailiff, +who always lives upon the property, seeing their condition, and knowing +that they are not able to meet the coming gale, reports accordingly +to the agent, who, now cognizant that there is only one look-up for the +rent, seizes the poor man's corn and cattle, leaving himself and +his family within cold walls, and at an extinguished hearth. In this +condition were a vast number in the neighborhood of the locality laid in +our narrative. The extraordinary, but natural anxiety for holding land, +and the equally ardent spirit of competition which prevails in the +country, are always ready arguments in the mouth of the landlord and +agent, when they wish to raise the rent or eject the tenant. "If you +won't pay me such a rent, there are plenty that will. I have been +offered more than you pay, and more than I ask, and you know I must look +to my own interests!" In this case it is very likely that the landlord +speaks nothing but the truth; and as he is pressed on by his necessities +on the one hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a country so +circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition may be +easily conceived. + +In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting +the neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the +tenantry upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the +luxury of a contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member +during two sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated, +an Emancipator and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not +get his seat upon these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism +since his election, and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought, +but an indifferent chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat +before was a sturdy Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but +possessing that rare and inestimable quality, or rather combination of +qualities which constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man +of good property, and although somewhat deficient in the _suaviter in +modo_, yet in consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a +favorite with the people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty +wherever they find them in public men. + +Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and +once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful +to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our +humble individuals who constitute our _dramatis personae_. + +The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra, +was in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must +necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At +this time there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit +distillation, but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure +similar to the foregoing had been made, that the people in any +particular district became acquainted with it. By this enactment the +offending individual was looked upon as having no farther violated +the laws in that case made and provided, than those who had never been +engaged in such pursuits at all. In other words, the innocent, were +equally punished with the guilty. A heavy fine was imposed--not on the +offender, but on the whole townland in which he lived; so that the +guilt of one individual was not visited as it ought to have been on the +culprit himself, but equally distributed in all its penalties upon the +other inhabitants of the district in question, who may have had neither +act nor part in any violation of the laws whatsoever. + +Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed +him, scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally +alarmed, and with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to +incredible lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in +question was enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a +kind of legal confederacy against a system so destructive of industry +and morals. The act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not +merely imperative,--but fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It +immediately became the engine of malice and revenge between individual +enemies--often between rival factions, and not unfrequently between +parties instigated against each other by political rancor and hatred. +Indeed, so destructive of the lives and morals of the people was it +found, that in the course of a very few years it was repealed, but not +until it had led to repeated murders and brought ruin and destruction +upon many an unoffending and industrious family. + +Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger +and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled, +if possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for +his destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass, +where he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, "Having +come that far on his way," he said, "to see him, and to ascertain +the truth of the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy +responsibility under which the illicit distillation had placed him." +Bryan was naturally generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding +this, it was impossible that he should not entertain some slight +surmises touching the sincerity of Burke. + +"What is this, Bryan?" said the latter. "Can it be possible that you're +in for the Fine, as report goes?" + +"It's quite possible," replied Bryan; "on yesterday I got a notice of +proceedings from the Board of Excise." + +"But," pursued his friend, "what devil could have tempted you to have +anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of +it?" + +"I had no more to do with it," replied Bryan, "than you had--nor I don't +even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say it +was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that has their hands in everything +that's wicked and disgraceful. They would ruin me if they could," said +Bryan, "and I suppose it was with the hope of doing so that they set up +the still where they did." + +"Well, now," replied Hycy, with an air of easy and natural generosity, +"I should be sorry to think so: they are d--d scoundrels, or rather +common ruffians, I grant you; but still, Bryan, I don't like to suspect +even such vagabonds without good grounds. Bad as we know them to be, I +have my doubts whether they are capable of setting about such an act +for the diabolical purpose of bringing you to ruin. Perhaps they merely +deemed the place on your farm a convenient one to build a still-house +in, and that they never thought further about it." + +"Or what," replied Bryan, "if there was some one behind their backs who +is worse than themselves? Mightn't sich a thing as that be possible?" + +"True," replied Hycy, "true, indeed--that's not improbable. +Stay--no--well it may be--but--no--I can't think it." + +"What is it you can't think?" + +"Why, such a thing might be," proceeded Hycy, "if you have an enemy; but +I think, Bryan, you are too well liked--and justly so too--if you will +excuse me for saying so to your face--to have any enemy capable of going +such nefarious lengths as that." + +Bryan paused and seemed a good deal struck with the truth of Hycy's +observation--"There's raison, sure enough in what you say, Hycy," he +observed. "I don't know that I have a single enemy--unless the +Hogans themselves--that would feel any satisfaction in drivin' me to +destruction." + +"And besides," continued Hycy, "between you and me now, Bryan, who the +devil with an ounce of sense in his head would trust such scoundrels, or +put himself in their power?" + +Bryan considered this argument a still more forcible one than the other. + +"That's stronger still," Re replied, "and indeed I am inclined to +think that after all, Hycy, it happened as you say. Teddy Phats I think +nothing at all about, for the poor, misshapen vagabone will distil +poteen for any one that employs him." + +"True," replied the other, "I agree with you; but what's to be done, +Bryan? for that's the main point now." + +"I scarcely know," replied Bryan, who now began to feel nothing but +kindness towards Hycy, in consequence of the interest which that young +fellow evidently took in his misfortune, for such, in serious truth, it +must be called. "I am the only proprietor of Ahadarra," he proceeded, +"and, as a matter of course, the whole fine falls on my shoulders." + +"Ay, that's the devil of it; but at all events, Bryan, there is nothing +got in this world without exertion and energy. Mr. Chevydale, +the Member, is now at home: he has come down to canvass for the +coming-election. I would recommend you to see him at once. You know--but +perhaps you don't though--that his brother is one of the Commissioners +of Excise; so that I don't know any man who can serve you more +effectually than Chevydale, if he wishes." + +"But what could he do?" asked Bryan. + +"Why, by backing a memorial from you, stating the particulars, and +making out a strong case, he might get the fine reduced. I shall draw up +such a memorial if you wish." + +"Thank you, Hycy--I'm obliged to you--these, I dare say, will be the +proper steps to take--thank you." + +"Nonsense! but perhaps I may serve you a little in another way. I'm +very intimate with Harry Clinton, and who knows but I may be able to +influence the uncle a little through the nephew." + +"It's whispered that you might do more through the niece," replied +Bryan, laughing; "is that true?" + +"Nonsense, I tell you," replied Hycy, affecting confusion; "for Heaven's +sake, Bryan, say nothing about that; how did it come to your ears?" + +"Faith, and that's more than I can tell you," replied the other; "but I +know I heard it somewhere of late." + +"It's not a subject, of course," continued Hycy, "that I should wish to +become the topic of vulgar comment or conversation, and I'd much rather +you would endeavor to discountenance it whenever you hear it spoken of. +At all events, whether with niece or nephew," proceeded Hycy, "you may +rest assured, that whatever service I can render you, I shall not +fail to do it. You and I have had a slight misunderstanding, but on +an occasion like this, Bryan, it should be a bitter one indeed that a +man--a generous man at least,--would or ought to remember." + +This conversation took place whilst Bryan was proceeding to +Fethertonge's, Hycy being also on his way home. On arriving at the turn +of the road which led to Jemmy Burke's, Hycy caught the hand of his +companion, which he squeezed with an affectionate warmth, so cordial and +sincere in its character that Bryan cast every shadow of suspicion to +the winds, + +"Cheer up, Bryan, all will end better than you think, I hope. I shall +draw up a memorial for you this evening, as strongly and forcibly as +possible, and any other assistance that I can render you in this unhappy +difficulty I will do it. I know I am about ninety pounds in your debt, +and instead of talking to you in this way, or giving you fair words, +I ought rather to pay you your money. The 'gentleman,' however, is +impracticable for the present, but I trust--" + +"Not a word about it," said Bryan, "you'll oblige me if you'll drop that +part of the subject; but listen, Hycy,--I think you're generous and a +little extravagant, and both is a good man's case--but that's not what +I'm going to spake about, truth's best at all times; I heard that you +were my enemy, and I was desired to be on my guard against you." + +Hycy looked at him with that kind of surprise which is natural to an +innocent man, and simply said, "May I ask by whom, Bryan?" + +"I may tell you some other time," replied Bryan, "but I won't now; all I +can say is, that I don't believe it, and I'm sure that ought to satisfy +you." + +"I shall expect you to tell me, Bryan," said the other, and then after +returning a few steps, he caught M'Mahon's hand again, and shaking +it warmly, once more added, "God bless you, Bryan; you are a generous +high-minded young fellow, and I only wish I was like you." + +Bryan, after they had separated, felt that Hycy's advice was the very +best possible under the circumstances, and as he had heard for the first +time that Chevydale was in the country, he resolved to go at once and +state to him the peculiar grievance under which he labored. + +Chevydale's house was somewhat nearer Ahadarra than Fethertonge's, but +on the same line of road, and he accordingly proceeded to the residence +of his landlord. The mansion indeed was a fine one. It stood on the brow +of a gentle eminence, which commanded a glorious prospect of rich and +highly cultivated country. Behind, the landscape rose gradually until +it terminated in a range of mountains that protected the house from +the north. The present structure was modern, having been built by old +Chevydale, previous to his marriage. It was large and simple, but so +majestic in appearance, that nothing could surpass the harmony that +subsisted between its proportions and the magnificent old trees which +studded the glorious lawn that surrounded, it, and rose in thick +extensive masses that stretched far away behind the house. It stood in a +park, which for the beauties of wood and. water was indeed worthy of its +fine simplicity and grandeur--a park in which it was difficult to say +whether the beautiful, the picturesque, or the wild, predominated most. +And yet in this princely residence Mr. Chevydale did not reside more +than a month, or at most two, during the whole year. + +On reaching the hall-door, M'Mahon inquired from the servant who +appeared, if he could see Mr. Chevydale. + +"I'm afraid not," said the servant, "but I will see; what's your name?" + +"Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, one of his tenants." + +The servant returned to him in a few moments, and said, "Yes, he will +see you; follow me." + +Bryan entered a library, where he found his landlord and Fethertonge +apparently engaged in business, and as he was in the act of doing so, he +overheard Chevydale saying--"No, no, I shall always see my tenants." + +Bryan made his obeisance in his own plain way, and Chevydale said--"Are +you M'Mahon of Ahadarra?" + +"I am, sir," replied Bryan. + +"I thought you were a much older man," said Chevydale, "there certainly +must be, some mistake here," he added, looking at Fethertonge. + +"M'Mahon of Ahadarra was a middle-aged man several years ago, but this +person is young enough to be his man." + +"You speak of his uncle," replied Fethertonge, "who is dead. This +young man, who now owns his uncle's farm, is son to Thomas M'Mahon of +Carriglass. How is your father, M'Mahon? I hope he bears up well under +his recent loss." + +"Indeed but poorly, sir," replied Bryan, "I fear he'll never be the same +man." + +Chevydale here took to reading a newspaper, and in a minute or two +appeared to be altogether unconscious of Bryan's presence. + +"I'm afeard, sir," said Bryan, addressing himself to the agent, who was +the only person likely to hear him, "I'm afeard, sir, that I've got into +trouble." + +"Into trouble? how is that?" + +"Why, sir, there was a Still, Head, and Worm found upon Ahadarra, and +I'm going to be fined for it." + +"M'Mahon," replied the agent, "I am sorry to hear this, both on your own +account and that of your family. If I don't mistake, you were cautioned +and warned against this; but it was useless; yes, I am sorry for it; and +for you, too." + +"I don't properly understand you, sir," said Bryan. + +"Did I not myself forewarn you against having anything to do in matters +contrary to the law? You must remember I did, and on the very last +occasion, too, when you were in my office." + +"I remember it right well, sir," replied Bryan, "and I say now as I did +then, that I am not the man to break the law, or have act or part in +anything that's contrary to it. I know nothing about this business, +except that three ruffianly looking fellows named Hogan, common tinkers, +and common vagabonds to boot--men that are my enemies--are the persons +by all accounts who set up the still on my property. As for myself, I +had no more to do in it or with it than yourself or Mr. Chevydale here." + +"Well," replied Fethertonge, "I hope not. I should feel much +disappointed if you had, but you know, Bryan," he added, good-humoredly, +"we could scarcely expect that you should admit such a piece of folly, +not to call it by a harsher name." + +"If I had embarked in it," replied M'Mahon, "I sartinly would not deny +it to you or Mr. Chevydale, at least; but, as I said before, I know +nothing more about it, than simply it was these ruffians and a fellow +named Phats, a Distiller, that set it a-working,--however, the question +is, what am I to do? If I must pay the fine for the whole townland, it +will beggar me--ruin me. It was that brought me to my landlord here," he +added; "I believe, sir, you have a brother a Commissioner of Excise?" + +"Eh? what is that?" asked Chevydaie, looking up suddenly as Bryan asked +the question. + +M'Mahon was obliged to repeat all the circumstances once more, as did +Feathertonge the warning he had given him against having any connection +with illegal proceedings. + +"I am to get a memorial drawn up tomorrow, sir," proceeded Bryan, "and I +was thinking that by giving the Board of Excise a true statement of the +case, they might reduce the fine; if they don't, I am ruined--that's +all." + +"Certainly," said his landlord, "that is a very good course to take; +indeed, your only course." + +"I hope, sir," proceeded Bryan, "that as you now know the true +circumstances of the case, you'll be kind, enough to support my +petition; I believe your brother, sir, is one of the Commissioners; +you would sartinly be able to do something with him." + +"No," replied Chevydaie, "I would not ask anything from him; but I +shall support your Petition, and try what I can do with the other +Commissioners. On principle, however, I make it a point never to ask +anything from my brother." + +"Will I bring you the Petition, sir?" asked Bryan. + +"Fetch me the Petition." + +"And Bryan," said Fethertonge, raising his finger at him as if by way of +warning--and laughing--"hark ye, let this be the last." + +"Fethertonge," said the landlord, "I see 'Pratt has been found guilty, +and the sentence confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief." + +"You will insist on it," said Bryan, in reply to the agent, "but--" + +"There now, M'Mahon," said the latter, "that will do; good day to you." + +"I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the +bell?" + +"I don't know, sir," replied the other, ringing as he spoke; "Neville's +testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did +not certainly look like sobriety." + +"I had one other word to say, gentlemen," added M'Mahon, "if you'll +allow me, now that I'm here." + +Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful +but friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed +the subject. "I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some +other time, Bryan." + +"But you know the proverb, sir," said Bryan, smiling, "that there's no +time like the present; besides it's only a word." + +"What is it?" asked the landlord. + +"About the leases, sir," replied M'Mahon, "to know when it would be +convanient for you to sign them." + +Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to +Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant. +At this moment a servant entered, saying, "The horses are at the door, +gentlemen." + +"Come some other day, M'Mahon," said Fethertonge; "do you not see that +we are going out to ride now--going on our canvass? Come to my office +some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the +country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter." + +"Yes, come some other day, Mr.--Mr.--ay--M'Mahon; if there are leases +to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do my duty +as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. You know +I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, unless +when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any necessary +paper." + +Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of +remonstrance, which seemed to say, "Why will you thus persist, when you +see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not +your friend?" Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the +result of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over +him, and in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that +which he had placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most +assuredly not becoming stronger. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI.---A Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan + +--Bryan M'Mahon is Cautioned against Political Temptation--He Seeks +Major Vanston's Interest with the Board of Excise. + + +The consequences of the calamity which was hanging over Bryan M'Mahon's +head, had become now pretty well understood, and occasioned a very +general and profound sympathy for the ruin in which it was likely to +involve him. Indeed, almost every one appeared to feel it more than he +himself did, and many, who on meeting him, were at first disposed to +offer him consolation, changed their purpose on witnessing his cheerful +and manly bearing under it. Throughout the whole country there was but +one family, with another exception, that felt gratified at the blow +which had fallen on him. The exception we speak of was no other than Mr, +Hycy Burke, and the family was that of the Hogans. As for Teddy +Phats, he was not the man to trouble himself by the loss of a moment's +indifference upon any earthly or other subject, saving and excepting +always that it involved the death, mutilation, or destruction in some +shape, of his great and relentless foe, the Gauger, whom he looked upon +as the impersonation of all that is hateful and villainous in life, and +only sent into this world to war with human happiness at large. +That great professional instinct, as the French say, and a strong +unaccountable disrelish of Hycy Burke, were the only two feelings that +disturbed the hardened indifference of his nature. + +One night, shortly after Bryan's visit to his landlord, the Hogans and +Phats were assembled in the kiln between the hours of twelve and one +o'clock, after having drunk nearly three quarts of whiskey among +them. The young savages, as usual, after the vagabond depredations or +mischievous exercises of the day, were snoring as we have described them +before; when Teddy, whom no quantity of liquor could affect beyond a +mere inveterate hardness of brogue and an indescribable effort at mirth +and melody, exclaimed--"Fwhy, dhen, dat's the stuff; and here's bad luck +to him that paid fwor it." + +"I'll not drink it, you ugly _keout_," exclaimed Philip, in his deep and +ruffianly voice; "but come--all o' yez fill up and drink my toast. Come, +Kate, you crame of hell's delights, fill till I give it. No," he added +abruptly, "I won't drink that, you leprechaun; the man that ped for it +is Hycy Burke, and I like Hycy Burke for one thing, an' I'll not dhrink +bad luck to him. Come, are yez ready?" + +"Give it out, you hulk," said Kate, "an' don't keep us here all night +over it." + +"Here, then," exclaimed the savage, with a grin of ferocious mirth, +distorting his grim colossal features into a smile that was frightful +and inhuman--"Here's may Bryan M'Mahon be soon a beggar, an' all his +breed the same! Drink it now, all o' yez, or, by the mortal counthryman, +I'll brain the first that'll refuse it." + +The threat, in this case, was a drunken one, and on that very account +the more dangerous. + +"Well," said Teddy, "I don't like to drink it; but if--" + +"_Honomondiaul!_ you d----d disciple," thundered the giant, "down wid +it, or I'll split your skull!" + +Teddy had it down ere the words were concluded. + +"What!" exclaimed Hogan, or rather roared again, as he fastened his +blazing eyes on Kate--"what, you yalla mullotty, do you dar to refuse?" + +"Ay, do dar to refuse!--an' I'd see you fizzin' on the devil's +fryin'-pan, where you'll fiz yet, afore I'd dhrink it. Come, come," she +replied, her eye blazing now as fiercely as his own, "keep quiet, I bid +you--keep calm; you ought to know me now, I think." + +"Drink it," he shouted, "or I'll brain you." + +"Howl him," said Teddy--"howl him; there's murdher in his eye. My soul +to happiness but he'll kill her." + +"Will he, indeed?" said Bat, with a loud laugh, in which he was joined +by Ned--"will he, indeed?" they shouted. "Go on, Kate, you'll get +fair play if you want it--his eye, Teddy! ay, but look at her's, man +alive--look at her altogether! Go on, Kate--more power!" + +Teddy, on looking at her again, literally retreated a few paces from +sheer terror of the tremendous and intrepid fury who now stood before +him. It was then for the first time that he observed the huge bones and +immense muscular development that stood out into terrible strength +by the force of her rising passion. It was the eye, however, and the +features of the face which filled him with such an accountable dread. +The eyes were literally blazing, and the muscles of the face, now cast +into an expression which seemed at the same time to be laughter and +fury, were wrought up and blended together in such a way as made the +very countenance terrible by the emanation of murder which seemed to +break from every feature of it. "Drink it, I say again," shouted Philip. +Kate made no reply, but, walking over to where he stood, she looked +closely into his eyes, and said, with grinding teeth--"Not if it was to +save you from the gallows, where you'll swing yet; but listen." As she +spoke her words were hoarse and low, there was a volume of powerful +strength in her voice which stunned one like the roar of a lioness. +"Here," she exclaimed, her voice now all at once rising or rather +shooting up to a most terrific scream--"here's a disgraceful death to +Hycy Burke! and may all that's good and prosperous in this world, ay, +and in the next, attend Bryan M'Mahon, the honest man! Now, Philip, my +man, see how I drink them both." And, having concluded, she swallowed +the glass of whiskey, and again drawing her face within an inch of his +she glared right into his eyes. + +"Howl me," he shouted, "or I'll sthrike, an' we'll have a death in the +house." + +She raised one hand and waved it behind her, as an intimation that they +should not interfere. + +The laughter of the brothers now passed all bounds. "No, Kate, go on--we +won't interfere. You had better seize him." + +"No," she replied, "let him begin first, if he dar." + +"Howl me," shouted Philip, "she'll only be killed." + +Another peal of laughter was the sole reply given to this by the +brothers. "He's goin'," they exclaimed, "he's gone--the white fedher's +in him--it's all over wid him--he's afeerd of her, an' not for nothing +either--ha! ha! ha! more power, Kate!" + +Stung by the contemptuous derision contained in this language, Philip +was stepping back in order to give himself proper room for a blow, when, +on the very instant that he moved, Kate, uttering something between a +howl and a yell, dashed her huge hands into his throat--which was, as +is usual with tinkers, without a cravat--and in a moment a desperate and +awful struggle took place between them. Strong as Philip was, he found +himself placed perfectly on the defensive by the terrific grip which +this furious opponent held of his throat. So powerful was it, indeed, +that not a single instant was allowed him for the exercise of any +aggressive violence against her by a blow, all his strength being +directed to unclasp her hands from his throat that he might be permitted +to breathe. As they pulled and tugged, however, it was evident that the +struggle was going against him--a hoarse, alarming howl once or twice +broke from him, that intimated terror and distress on his part. + +"That's right, Kate," they shouted, "you have him--press tight--the +windpipe's goin'--bravo! he'll soon stagger an' come down, an' then you +may do as you like." + +They tugged on, and dragged, and panted, with the furious vehemence of +the exertion; when at length Philip shouted, in a voice half-stifled by +strangulation, "Let g--o--o--o, I--I sa--y--y; ah! ah! ah!" + +Bat now ran over in a spirit of glee and triumph that cannot well be +described, and clapping his wife on the back, shouted--"Well done, +Kate; stick to him for half a minute and he's yours. Bravo! you clip o' +perdition, bravo!" + +He had scarcely uttered the words when the giant carcass of Philip +tottered and fell, dragging Kate along with it, who never for a moment +lost or loosened her hold. Her opponent now began to sprawl and kick +out his feet from a sense of suffocation, and in attempting to call for +assistance, nothing but low, deep gurgling noises could issue from his +lips, now livid with the pressure on his throat and covered with foam. +His face, too, at all times dark and savage, became literally black, and +he uttered such sternutations as, on seeing that they were accompanied +by the diminished struggles which betoken exhaustion, induced Teddy to +rush over for the purpose of rescuing him from her clutches. + +"Aisy," said the others; "let them alone--a little thing will do it +now--it's almost over--she has given him his gruel--an' divil's cure to +him--he knew well enough what she could do--but he would have it." + +Faint convulsive movements were all now that could be noticed in the +huge limbs of their brother, and still the savage tigress was at his +throat, when her husband at length said:-- + +"It's time, Ned--it's time--she may carry it too far--he's quiet enough +now. Come away, Kate, it's all right--let him alone--let go your hoult +of him." + +Kate, however, as if she had tasted his blood, would listen to no such +language; all the force, and energies, and bloody instincts of the +incarnate fury were aroused within her, and she still stuck to her +victim. + +"Be japers she'll kill him," shouted Bat, rushing to her; "come, +Ned, till we unclasp her--take care--pull quickly--bloody wars, he's +dead!--Kate, you divil!--you fury of hell! let go--let go, I say." + +Kate, however, heard him not, but still tugged and stuck to the throat +of Philip's quivering carcass, until by a united effort they at length +disentangled her iron clutches from it, upon which she struggled and +howled like a beast of prey, and attempted with a strength that seemed +more akin to the emotion of a devil than that of a woman to get at him +again and again, in order to complete her work. + +"Come, Kate," said her husband, "you're a Trojan--by japers you're a +Trojan; you've settled him any way--is there life in him?" he asked, "if +there is, dash wather or something in his face, an' drag him up out o' +that--ha! ha! Well done, Kate; only for you we'd lead a fine life wid +him--ay! an' a fine life that is--a hard life we led until you did +come--there now, more power to you--by the livin' Counthryman, there's +not your aquil in Europe--come now, settle down, an' don't keep all +movin' that way as if you wor at him again--sit down now, an' here's +another glass of whiskey for you." + +In the mean time, Ned and Teddy Phats succeeded in recovering Philip, +whom they dragged over and placed upon a kind of bench, where in a few +minutes he recovered sufficiently to be able to speak--but ever and anon +he shook his head, and stretched his neck, and drew his breath deeply, +putting his hands up from time to time as if he strove to set his +windpipe more at ease. + +"Here Phil, my hairo," said his triumphant brother Bat, "take another +glass, an' may be for all so strong and murdherin' as you are wid others +you now know--an' you knew before what our woman' can do at home wid +you." + +"I've--hoch--hoch--I've done wid her--she's no woman; there's a devil +in her, an' if you take my advice, it's to Priest M'Scaddhan you'd bring +her, an' have the same devil prayed out of her--I that could murdher ere +a man in the parist a'most!" + +"Lave Bryan M'Mahon out," said Kate. + +"No I won't," replied Phil, sullenly, and with a voice still hoarse, +"no, I won't--I that could make smash of ere a man in the parish, to be +throttled into perdition by a blasted woman. She's a devil, I say; for +the last ten minutes I seen nothin' but fire, fire, fire, as red as +blazes, an' I hard somethin' yellin', yellin', in my ears." + +"Ay!" replied Kate, "I know you did--that was the fire of hell you seen, +ready to resave you; an' the noise you hard was the voices of the devils +that wor comin' for your sowl--ay, an' the voices of the two wives you +murdhered--take care then, or I'll send you sooner to hell than you +dhrame of." + +The scowl which she had in return for this threat was beyond all +description. + +"Oh, I have done wid you," he replied; "you're not right, I say--but +never mind, I'll put a pin in M'Mahon's collar for this--ay will I." + +"Don't!" she exclaimed, in one fearful monosyllable, and then she added +in a low condensed whisper, "or if you do, mark the consequence." + +"Trot, Phil," said Teddy, "I think you needn't throuble your head about +M'Mahon--he's done fwhor." + +"An' mark me," said Kate, "I'll take care of the man that done for him. +I know him well, betther than he suspects, an' can make him sup sorrow +whenever I like--an' would, too, only for one thing." + +"An' fwhat's dhat wan thing?" asked Phats. + +"You'll know it when you're ouldher, may be," replied Kate; "but you +must be ouldher first--I can keep my own secrets, thank God, an' will, +too--only mark me all o' yez; you know well what I am--let no injury +come to Bryan M'Mahon. For the sake of one person he must be safe." + +"Well," observed Teddy, "let us hear no more about them; it's all +settled that we are to set up in Glen Dearg above again--for this +Hycy,--who's sthrivin' to turn the penny where he can." + +"It is," said Bat; "an', to-morrow night, let us bring the things +up--this election will sarve us at any rate--but who will come in?" (* +That is, be returned.) + +"The villain of hell!" suddenly exclaimed Kate, as if to herself; "to +go to ruin the young man! That girl's breakin' her heart for what has +happened." + +"What are you talkin' about?" asked her husband. + +"Nothing," she replied; "only if you all intend to have any rest +to-night, throw yourselves in the shake-down there, an' go sleep. I'm +not to sit up the whole night here, I hope?" + +Philip, and Ned, and Teddy tumbled themselves into the straw, and in a +few minutes were in a state of perfect oblivion. + +"Hycy Burke is a bad boy, Bat," she said, as the husband was about to +follow their example; "but he is marked--I've set my mark upon him." + +"You appear to know something particular about him," observed her +husband. + +"Maybe I do, an' maybe I don't," she replied; "but I tell you, he's +marked--that's all--go to bed now." + +He tumbled after the rest, Kate stretched herself in an, opposite +corner, and in a few minutes this savage orchestra was in full chorus. + +What an insoluble enigma is woman! From the specimen of feminine +delicacy and modest diffidence which we have just presented to the +reader, who would imagine that Kate Hogan was capable of entering into +the deep and rooted sorrow which Kathleen Cavanagh experienced when made +acquainted with the calamity which was about to crush her lover. Yet so +it was. In truth this fierce and furious woman who was at once a thief, +a liar, a drunkard, and an impostor, hardened in wickedness and deceit, +had in spite of all this a heart capable of virtuous aspirations, and +of loving what was excellent and good. It is true she was a hypocrite +herself, yet she detested Hycy Burke for his treachery. She was a thief +and a liar, yet she liked and respected Bryan M'Mahon for his truth and +honesty. Her heart, however, was not all depraved; and, indeed, it is +difficult to meet a woman in whose disposition, however corrupted by +evil society, and degraded by vice, there is not to be found a portion +of the angelic essence still remaining. In the case before us, however, +this may be easily accounted for. Kate Hogan, though a hell-cat and +devil, when provoked, was, amidst all her hardened violence and general +disregard of truth and honesty, a virtuous woman and a faithful wife. +Hence her natural regard for much that was good and pure, and her strong +sympathy with the sorrow which now fell upon Kathleen Cavanagh. + +Kathleen and her sister had been sitting sewing at the parlor window, on +the day Bryan had the interview we have detailed with Chevydale and the +agent, when they heard their father's voice inquiring for Hanna. + +"He has been at Jemmy Burke's, Kathleen," said her sister, "and I'll +wager a nosegay, if one could get one, that he has news of this new +sweetheart of yours; he's bent, Kathleen," she added, "to have you in +Jemmy Burke's family, cost what it may." + +"So it seems, Hanna." + +"They say Edward Burke is still a finer-looking young fellow than Hycy. +Now, Kathleen," she added, laughing, "if you should spoil a priest +afther all! Well! un-likelier things have happened." + +"That may be," replied Kathleen, "but this won't happen for all that, +Hanna. Go, there he's calling for you again." + +"Yes--yes," she shouted; "throth, among you all, Kathleen, you're making +a regular go-between of me. My father thinks I can turn you round my +finger, and Bryan M'Mahon thinks--yes, I'm goin'," she answered again. +"Well, keep up your spirits; I'll soon have news for you about this +spoiled priest." + +"Poor Hanna," thought Kathleen; "where was there ever such a sister? She +does all she can to keep my spirits up; but it can't be. How can I see +him ruined and beggared, that had the high spirit and the true heart?" + +Hanna, her father, and mother, held a tolerably long discussion +together, in which Kathleen could only hear the tones of their voices +occasionally. It was evident, however, by the emphatic intonations of +the old couple, that they were urging some certain point, which her +faithful sister was deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by +seriousness, and at other times by mirth. At length she returned with +a countenance combating between seriousness and jest; the seriousness, +however, predominating. + +"Kathleen," said she, "you never had a difficulty before you until now. +They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any +wish to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all +a trick of the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now +determined to disappoint them. What will you do?" + +"What would you recommend me?" asked Kathleen, looking at her with +something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there +was a slight smile upon her lips. + +"Why," said the frank and candid girl, "certainly to run away with Bryan +M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything." + +"Would it settle my father's heart," said Kathleen, "and my +mother's?--would it settle my own character?--would it be the step that +all the world would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?--and putting all the +world aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God, +my dear Hanna?" + +"Kathleen, forgive me, darlin'," said her sister, throwing her arms +about her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; "I'm a foolish, +flighty creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't +advise you. Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine." + +"If your head makes fifty mistakes," said her sister, "your heart's an +excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when +you're in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put +together. Come, now." + +They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora +M'Mahon who, as she said, "came down to ask them up a while, as the +house was now so lonesome;" and she added, with artless naivete, "I +don't know how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever +did before. Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you +as a stranger, and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to +you more and more." + +Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration +which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding +this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to +say anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw +Bryan at the turn of the road approaching them. + +"Here's a friend of ours," she exclaimed; "no less than Bryan M'Mahon +himself. Come, Dora, we can't go' up to Carriglass, but we'll walk back +with you a piece o' the way." + +Bryan, who was then on his return from Chevydale's, soon joined them, +and they proceeded in the direction of his father's, Dora and Hanna +having, with good-humored consideration, gone forward as an advanced +guard, leaving Bryan and Kathleen to enjoy their tete-a-tete behind +them. + +"Dear Kathleen," said Bryan, "I was very anxious to see you. You've +h'ard of this unfortunate business that has come upon me?" + +"I have," she replied, "and I need not say that I'm sorry for it. Is it, +or will it be as bad as they report?" + +"Worse, Kathleen. I will have the fine for all Ahadarra to pay myself." + +"But can nothing be done. Wouldn't they let you off when they come to +hear that, although the Still was found upon your land, yet it wasn't +yours, nor it wasn't you that was usin' it?" + +"I don't know how that may be. Hycy Burke tells me that they'll be apt +to reduce the fine, if I send them a petition or memorial, or whatever +they call it, an' he's to have one Written for me to-morrow." + +"I'm afraid Hycy's a bad authority for anybody, Bryan." + +"I don't think you do poor Hycy justice, Kathleen; he's not, in my +opinion, so bad as you think him. I don't know a man, nor I haven't +met a man that's sorrier for what has happened me; he came to see me +yesterday, and to know in what way he could serve me, an' wasn't called +upon to do so." + +"I hope you're right, Bryan; for why should I wish Hycy Burke to be a +bad man, or why should I wish him ill? I may be mistaken in him, and I +hope I am." + +"Indeed, I think you are, Kathleen; he's wild a good deal, I grant, +and has a spice of mischief in him, and many a worthy young fellow has +both." + +"That's very true," she replied; "however, we have h'ard bad enough of +him. There's none of us what we ought to be, Bryan. If you're called +upon to pay this fine, what will, be the consequence?" + +"Why, that I'll have to give up my farm--that I won't be left worth +sixpence." + +"Who put the still up in Ahadarra?" she inquired. "Is it true that it +was the Hogan's?" + +"Indeed I believe there's no doubt about it," he replied; "since I +left the landlord's, I have heard what satisfies me that it was them and +Teddy Phats." + +Kathleen paused and sighed. "They are a vile crew," she added, after a +little; "but, be they what they may, they're faithful and honest, and +affectionate to our family; an' that, I believe, is the only good about +them. Bryan, I am very sorry for this misfortune that has come upon you. +I am sorry for your own sake." + +"And I," replied Bryan, "am sorry for--I was goin' to say--yours; but +it would be, afther all, for my own. I haven't the same thoughts of you +now, dear Kathleen." + +She gazed quickly, and with some surprise at him, and asked, "Why so, +Bryan?" + +"I'm changed--I'm a ruined man," he replied; "I had bright hopes of +comfort and happiness--hopes that I doubt will never come to pass. +However," he added, recovering himself, and assuming a look of +cheerfulness, "who knows if everything will turnout so badly as we +fear?" + +"That's the spirit you ought to show," returned Kathleen; "You have +before you the example of a good father; don't be cast down, nor look +at the dark side; but you said you had not the same thoughts of me just +now; I don't understand you." + +"Do you think," he replied, with a smile, "that I meant to say my +affection for you was changed? Oh, no, Kathleen; but that my situation +is changed, or soon will be so; and that on that account we can't be the +same thing to one another that we have been." + +"Bryan," she replied, "you may always depend upon this, that so long as +you are true to your God and to yourself, I will be true to you. Depend +upon this once and forever." + +"Kathleen, that's like yourself, but I could not think of bringing you +to shame." He paused, and turning his eyes full upon her, added--"I'm +allowin' myself to sink again. Everything will turn out better than we +think, plaise God." + +"I hope so," she added, "but whatever happens, Bryan do you always act +an open, honest, manly part, as I know you will do; act always so as +that your conscience can't accuse you, or make you feel that you have +done anything that is wrong, or unworthy, or disgraceful; and then, dear +Bryan, welcome poverty may you say, as I will welcome Bryan M'Mahon with +it." + +Both had paused for a little on their way, and stood for about a minute +moved by the interest which each felt in what the other uttered. As +Bryan's eye rested on the noble features and commanding figure of +Kathleen, he was somewhat started by the glow of enthusiasm which +lit both her eye and her cheek, although he was too unskilled in the +manifestations of character to know that it was enthusiasm she felt. + +They then proceeded, and after a short silence Bryan observed--"Dear +Kathleen, I know the value of the advice you are giving me, but will you +let me ask if you ever seen anything in my conduct, or heard anything in +my conversation, that makes you think it so necessary to give it to me?" + +"If I ever had, Bryan, it's not likely I'd be here at your side this day +to give it to you; but you're now likely to be brought into trials and +difficulties--into temptation--and it is then that you may think maybe +of what I'm sayin' now." + +"Well, Kathleen," he replied, smiling, "you're determined at all events +that the advice will come before the temptation; but, indeed, my own +dearest girl, my heart this moment is proud when I think that you are +so full of truth, an' feelin', and regard for me, as to give me such +advice, and to be able to give it. But still I hope I won't stand in +need of it, and that if the temptations you spoke of come in my way, +I will have your advice--ay, an' I trust in God the adviser, too--to +direct me." + +"Are you sure, Bryan," and she surveyed him closely as she spoke--"are +you sure that no part of the temptation has come across you already?" + +He looked surprised as she asked him this singular question. "I am," +said he; "but, dear Kathleen, I can't rightly understand you. What +temptations do you mane?" + +"Have you not promised to vote for Mr. Vanston, the Tory candidate, who +never in his life voted for your religion or your liberty?" + +"Do you mane me, dearest Kathleen?" + +"You, certainly; who else could I mean when I ask you the question?" + +"Why, I never promised to vote for Vanston," he replied; "an' what is +more--but who said I did?" + +"On the day before yesterday," she proceeded, "two gentlemen came to our +house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to +vote for them--that is for Vanston." + +"Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true. +I didn't promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me. Are you +satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?" + +"I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart +is easy. Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a +beggarly farm?" + +"But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm." + +Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded. "What signifies +poverty, Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the +conscience clear and without a spot? Nothing--oh, nothing! As God is to +judge me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, +as I said awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate +by your side, if you could prove false to either." + +The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire +which animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, +and Bryan, to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with +something like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks. + +He caught her hand and said "My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know +you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a +traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!" + +"Don't be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don't, my dear Bryan; for you +may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would +feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to +his religion or his suffering country." + +"How could I," he replied, "with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a +guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me? Well, now that your mind +is aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too. I have no doubt but +we'll be happy yet--at least I trust in God we will. Who knows but +everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they +may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my +good name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII.--Interview between Hycy and Finigan + +--The Former Propones for Miss Clinton--A love Scene + + +Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he +had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he +ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to +Bryan. The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience +he knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, +in excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy +Phats, was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would +inform upon him. After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came +to the conclusion that the school-master, Finigan, must have been +the traitor, and with this impression he resolved to give that worthy +personage a call upon his way home. He found him as usual at full work, +and as usual, also, in that state which is commonly termed half drunk, a +state, by the way, in which the learned pedagogue generally contrived +to keep himself night and day. Hycy did not enter his establishment, but +after having called him once or twice to no purpose--for such was the +din of the school that his voice could not penetrate it--he at length +knocked against the half open door, which caused him to be both seen +and heard more distinctly. On seeing him, the school-master got to his +limbs, and was about to address him, when Hycy said-- + +"Finigan, I wish to speak a few words to you." + +"O'Finigan, sir--O'Finigan, Mr. Burke. It is enough, sir, to be deprived +of our hereditary territories, without being clipped of our names; they +should lave us those at all events unmutilated. O'Finigan, therefore, +Mr. Burke, whenever you address me, if you plaise." + +"Well, Mr. O'Finigan," continued Hycy, "if not inconvenient, I should +wish to speak a few words with you." + +"No inconvenience in the world, Mr. Burke; I am always disposed to +oblige my friends whenever I can do so wid propriety. My advice, sir, +my friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to +guide them--my friendship to sustain--and my purse--hem!--ha, ha, ha--I +think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there," he added, laughing, +"inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers term a +vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen," he proceeded, addressing the scholars, +"I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a social cup +wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence of a short +interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my _locum tenens_ +until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put the +names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign' +is the word; an' see, Gusty--mairk me well--no bribery--no bread +nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the +culprits--otherwise you shall become their substitute in the +castigation, and I shall teach you to look one way and feel another, my +worthy con-disciple." + +"Now, Finigan--I beg your pardon--O'Finigan," said Hycy, when they were +seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with refreshments +before them, "I think I have reason to be seriously displeased with +you." + +"Displeased with me!" exclaimed his companion; "and may I take the +liberty to interrogate wherefore, Mr. Hycy?" + +"You misrepresented me to Bryan M'Mahon," said Hycy. + +"Upon what grounds and authority do you spake, sir?" asked Finigan, +whose dignity was beginning to take offence. + +"I have good grounds and excellent authority for what I say," replied +Hycy. "You have acted a very dishonorable part, Mr. Finigan, and the +consequence is that I have ceased to be your friend." + +"I act a dishonorable part. Why, sir, I scorn the imputation; but how +have I acted a dishonorable part? that's the point." + +"You put Bryan M'Mahon upon his guard against me, and consequently left +an impression on his mind that I was his enemy." + +"Well," said the other, with a good deal of irony, "that is good! Have +I, indeed? And pray, Mr. Burke, who says so?" + +"I have already stated that my authority for it is good." + +"But you must name you authority, sir, no lurking assassin shall be +permitted wid impunity to stab my fair reputation wid the foul dagger of +calumny and scandal. Name your authority, sir?" + +"I could do so." + +"Well, sir, why don't you? Let me hear the name of the illiterate +miscreant, whoever he is, that has dared to tamper with my unblemished +fame." + +"All I ask you," continued Hycy, "is to candidly admit the fact, and +state why you acted as you did." + +"Name your authority, sir, and then I shall speak. Perhaps I did, and +perhaps I did not; but when you name your authority I shall then +give you a more satisfactory reply. That's the language--the elevated +language--of a gentleman, Mr. Burke." + +"My authority then is no other than Bryan M'Mahon himself," replied +Hycy, "who told me that he was cautioned against me; so that I hope +you're now satisfied." + +"Mr. Burke," replied Finigan, assuming a lofty and impressive manner, +"I have known the M'Mahons for better than forty years; so, in fact, has +the country around them; and until the present moment I never heard that +a deliberate falsehood, or any breach of truth whatsoever, was imputed +to any one of them. Tom M'Mahon's simple word was never doubted, and +would pass aquil to many a man's oath; and it is the same thing wid the +whole family, man and women. They are proverbial, sir, for truth +and integrity, and a most spontaneous effusion of candor under all +circumstances. You will pardon me then, Mr. Hycy, if I avow a trifle of +heresy in this matter. You are yourself, wid great respect be it spoken, +sometimes said to sport your imagination occasionally, and to try your +hand wid considerable success at a _lapsus veritatis_. Pardon me, then, +if I think it somewhat more probable that you have just now stated what +an ould instructor of mine used to call a moral thumper; excuse me, I +say; and at all events I have the pleasure of drinking your health; and +if my conjecture be appropriate, here's also a somewhat closer adhesion +to the _veritas_ aforesaid to you!" + +"Do you mean to insinuate that I'm stating what is not true?" said +Burke, assuming an offended look, which, however, he did not feel. + +"No, sir," replied Finigan, retorting his look with one of indignant +scorn, "far be it from me to insinuate any such thing. I broadly, and +in all the latitudinarianism of honest indignation, assert that it is a +d--d lie, begging your pardon, and drinking to your moral improvement a +second time; and ere you respond to what I've said, it would be as well, +in order to have the matter copiously discussed, if you ordhered in +a fresh supply of liquor, and help yourself, for, if the proverb be +true--_in vino veritas_--there it is again, but truth will be out, you +see--who knows but we may come to a thrifle of it from you yet? Ha! ha! +ha! Excuse the jest, Mr. Hycy. You remember little Horace,-- + + "'Quid vetat ridentem dicere verum?'" + +"Do you mean to say, sirra," said Hycy, "that I have stated a lie?" + +"I mean to say that whoever asserts that I misrepresented you in any way +to Bryan M'Mahon, or ever cautioned him against you, states a lie of the +first magnitude--a moral thumper, of gigantic dimensions." + +"Well, will you tell me what you did say to him?" + +"What I did say," echoed Finigan. "Well," he added, after a pause, +during which he I surveyed Hycy pretty closely--having now discovered +that he was, in fact, only proceeding upon mere suspicion--"I believe +I must acknowledge a portion of the misrepresentation. I must, on +secondary consideration, plead guilty to that fact." + +"I thought as much," said Hycy. + +"Here then--," proceeded Finigan, with a broad and provoking grin +upon his coarse but humorous features, "here, Mr. Hycy, is what I +did say--says I, 'Bryan, I have a word to say to you, touching an +accomplished young gentleman, a friend of yours.' + +"'What is that?' asked the worthy Beit-nardus. + +"'It is regarding the all-accomplished Mr. Hyacinthus Burke,' I replied, +'who is a _homo-factus ad unguem_. Mr. Burke, Bryan,' I proceeded, 'is a +gentleman in the--hem--true sense of that word. He is generous, candid, +faithful, and honest; and in association wid all his other excellent +qualities, he is celebrated, among the select few who know him best, +for an extraordinary attachment to--truth.' Now, if that wasn't +misrepresentation, Mr. Hycy, I don't know what was. Ha! ha! ha!" + +"You're half drunk," replied Hycy, "or I should rather say whole drunk, +I think, and scarcely know what you're saying; or rather, I believe +you're a bit of a knave, Mr. O'Finigan." + +"Thanks, sir; many thanks for the prefix. Proceed." + +"I have nothing more to add," replied Hycy, rising up and preparing to +go. + +"Ay," said Finigan, with another grin, "a bit of a knave, am I? Well, +now, isn't it better to be only a bit of a knave than a knave all out--a +knave in full proportions, from top to toe, from head to heel--like some +accomplished gentlemen that I have the! honor of being acquainted wid. +But in the I meantime, now, don't be in a hurry, man alive, nor look +as if you were fatted on vinegar. Sit down again; ordher in another +libation, and I shall make a disclosure that will be worth your waiting +for." + +"You shall have the libation, as you call it, at all events," said Hycy, +resuming his seat, but feeling, at the same time, by no means satisfied +with the lurking grin which occasionally played over Finigan's features. + +After much chat and banter, and several attempts on the part of Hycy to +insinuate himself into the pedagogue's confidence, he at length rose +to go. His companion was now in that state which strongly borders on +inebriety, and he calculated that if it were possible to worm anything +out of him, he was now in the best condition for it. Every effort, +however, was in vain; whenever he pressed the schoolmaster closely, the +vague, blank expression of intoxication disappeared for a moment, and +was replaced by the broad, humorous ridicule, full of self-possession +and consciousness, which always characterized Finigan, whether drunk or +sober. The man was naturally cunning, and ranked among a certain class +of topers who can be made drunk to a certain extent, and upon some +particular subjects, but who, beyond that, and with these limitations, +defy the influence of liquor. + +Hycy Burke was one of those men who, with smart and showy qualities +and great plausibility of manner, was yet altogether without purpose +or steadfast principle in the most ordinary affairs of life. He had no +fixed notions upon either morals, religion, or politics; and when we +say so, we may add, that he was equally without motive--that is, without +_adequate_ motive, in almost everything he did. + +The canvass was now going on with great zeal on the part of Chevydale +and Vanston. Sometimes Hycy was disposed to support the one and +sometimes the other, but as to feeling a firm attachment to the cause or +principles of either, it was not in his nature. + +Indeed, the approach of a general election was at all times calculated +to fill the heart of a thinking man with a strong sense of shame for his +kind, and of sorrow for the unreasoning and brutal tendency to slavery +and degradation which it exhibits. Upon this occasion the canvass, in, +consequence of the desperate struggle that must ensue, owing to the +equality of the opposing forces, was a remarkably early one. Party +feeling and religious animosity, as is usual, ran very high, each having +been made the mere stalking-horse or catchword of the rival candidates, +who cared nothing, or at least very little, about the masses on either +side, provided always that they could turn them to some advantage. + +It was one morning after the canvass had been going forward with great +activity on both sides for about a week, that Hycy, who now felt himself +rather peculiarly placed, rode down to Clinton's for the purpose of +formally paying his addresses to the gauger's interesting niece, and, +if possible, ascertaining his fate from her own lips. His brother Edward +had now been brought home in accordance with the expressed determination +of his father, with whom he was, unquestionably, a manifest favorite, a +circumstance which caused Hycy to detest him, and also deprived him in a +great degree of his mother's affection. Hycy had now resolved to pay his +devoirs to Kathleen Cavanagh, as a _dernier_ resort, in the event of +his failing with Miss Clinton; for, as regarding affection, he had +no earthly conception what it I meant. With this view he rode down to +Clinton's as we said, and met Harry coming out of the stable. + +"Harry," said he, after his horse was put I up, "I am about to ask an +interview with your sister." + +"I don't think she will grant it," replied her brother, "you are by no +means a favorite; with her; however, you can try; perhaps she may. You +know the old adage, '_varium et imutabile semper_.' Who knows but she +may have changed her mind?" + +"Is your uncle within?" asked Hycy. + +"No," replied his nephew, "he's gone to Fethertonge's upon some election +business." + +"Could you not contrive," said Hycy, "to leave her and me together, +then, and allow me to ascertain what I am to expect?" + +"Come in," said Harry--"never say it again. If I can I will." + +Hycy, as we have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of +persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his +really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit +which he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a +presentiment of success that is almost inseparable from persons of his +class, who can scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided +rejection by a woman as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry +Clinton himself, though but a young man, thought, as he afterwards +stated to his sister, that he never saw Hycy have so much the appearance +of a puppy as upon that occasion. As had been proposed, he withdrew, +however, and the lover being left in the drawing-room with Miss Clinton +began, with a simper that was rather coxcombical, to make allusions to +the weather, but in such a way as if there was some deep but delightful +meaning veiled under his commonplaces. At length he came directly to the +'point. + +"But passing from the weather, Miss Clinton, to a much more agreeable +topic, permit me to ask if you have ever turned your thoughts upon +matrimony?" + +The hectic of a moment, as Sterne. says, accompanied by a look that +slightly intimated displeasure, or something like it, was the only reply +he received for a quarter of a minute, when she said, after the feeling +probably had passed away--"No, indeed, Mr. Burke, I have not." + +"Come, come, Miss Clinton," said Hycy, with another smirk, "that won't +pass. Is it not laid down by the philosophers that you think of little +else from the time you are marriageable?" + +"By what philosophers?" + +"Why, let me see--by the philosophers in general--ha! ha! ha!" + +"I was not aware of that," she replied; "but even if they have so ruled +it, I see no inference we can draw from that, except their ignorance of +the subject." + +"It is so ruled, however," said Hycy, "and philosophy is against you." + +"I am willing it should, Mr. Burke, provided we have truth with us." + +"Very good, indeed, Miss Clinton--that was well said; but, seriously, +have you ever thought of marriage?" + +"Doesn't philosophy say that we seldom think of anything else?" she +replied, smiling. Ask philosophy, then." + +"But this really is a subject in which I feel a particular interest--a +personal interest; but, as for philosophy, I despise it--that is as it +is usually understood. The only philosophy of life is love, and that is +my doctrine." + +"Is that your only doctrine?" + +"Pretty nearly; but it is much the same as that which appears in the +world under the different disguises of religion." + +"I trust you do not mean to assert that love and religion are the same +thing, Mr. Burke?" + +"I do; the terms are purely convertible. Love is the universal religion +of man, and he is most religious who feels it most; that is your only +genuine piety. For instance, I am myself in a most exalted state of that +same piety this moment, and have been so for a considerable time past." + +Miss Clinton felt a good deal embarrassed by the easy profligacy that +was expressed in these sentiments, and she made an effort to change the +subject. + +"Are you taking part in the canvass which is going on in the country, +Mr. Burke?" + +"Not much," said he; "I despise politics as much as I cherish the little +rosy god; but really, Miss Clinton, I feel anxious to know your opinions +on marriage, and you have not stated them. Do you not think the nuptial +state the happiest?" + +"It's a subject I feel no inclination whatsoever to discuss, Mr. Burke; +it is a subject which, personally speaking, has never occupied from me +one moment's thought; and, having said so much, I trust you will have +the goodness to select some other topic for conversation." + +"But I am so circumstanced, just now, Miss Clinton, that I cannot really +change it. The truth is, that I have felt very much attached to you for +some time past--upon my word and honor I have: it's a fact, I assure +you, Miss Clinton; and I now beg to make you a tender of myself +and--and--of all I am possessed of. I am a most ardent admirer of yours; +and the upmost extent of my ambition is to become an accepted one. Do +then, my dear Miss Clinton, allow me the charming privilege--pray, do." + +"What will be the consequence if I do not?" she replied, smiling. + +"Upon my word and honor, I shall go nearly distracted, and get quite +melancholy; my happiness depends upon you, Miss Clinton; you are a very +delightful girl, quite a _nonpareil_, and I trust you will treat me with +kindness and consideration." + +"Mr. Burke," replied the lady, "I am much obliged for the preference you +express for me; but whether you are serious or in jest, I can only say +that I have no notion of matrimony; that I have never had any notion of +it; and that I can safely say, I have never seen the man whom I should +wish to call my husband. You will oblige me very much, then, if in +future you forbear to introduce this subject. Consider it a forbidden +one, so far as I am concerned, for I feel quite unworthy of so gifted +and accomplished a gentleman as Mr. Burke." + +"You will not discard me surely, Miss Clinton?" + +"On that subject, unquestionably." + +"No, no, my dear Miss Clinton, you will not say so; do not be so cruel; +you will distress me greatly, I assure you. I am very much deficient in +firmness, and your cruelty will afflict me and depress my spirits." + +"I trust not, Mr. Burke. Your spirits are naturally good, and I have +no doubt but you will ultimately overcome this calamity--at least I +sincerely hope so." + +"Ah, Miss Clinton, you little know the heart I have, nor my capacity for +feeling; my feelings, I assure you, are exceedingly tender, and I +get quite sunk under disappointment. Come, Miss Clinton, you must not +deprive me altogether of hope; it is too cruel. Do not say no forever." + +The arch girl shook her head with something of mock solemnity, and +replied, "I must indeed, Mr. Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced, +and in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue +to sustain you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a +negative. I would fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and +your well-known sense of religion, will support you under such a trial." + +This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave +it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully +understood. + +"Well, Miss Clinton," said he, rising with a countenance in which there +was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a +struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, "I must +only hope that you probably may change your mind." + +"Mr. Burke," said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was +designed to terminate the interview, "there are subjects upon which a +girl of delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I +feel obliged to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's +housekeeper," she added, taking up a bunch of keys, "and you must permit +me to wish you a good morning," saying which, with a cool but very +polite inclination of her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who +cut anything but a dignified figure as he withdrew. + +"Well," said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, "is +the report favorable?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "anything but favorable. I fear, Harry, you have not +played me fair in this business." + +"How is that?" asked the other, rather quickly. + +"I fear you've prejudiced your sister against me, and that instead of +giving me a clear stage, you gave me the 'no favor' portion of the adage +only." + +"I am not in the habit of stating a falsehood, Hycy, nor of having any +assertion I make questioned; I have already told you, I think, that I +would not prejudice my sister against you. I now repeat that I have not +done so; but I cannot account for her prejudices against you any more +than I shall attempt to contradict or combat them, so far from that I +now tell you, that if she were unfortunately disposed to many you, I +would endeavor to prevent her." + +"And pray why so, Harry, if it is a fair question?" + +"Perfectly fair; simply because I should not wish to see my sister +married to a man unburthened with any kind of principle. In fact, +without the slightest intention whatsoever, Hycy, to offer you offence, +I must say that you are not the man to whom I should entrust Maria's +peace and happiness; I am her only brother, and have a right to speak as +I do. I consider it my duty." + +"Certainly," replied Hycy, "if you think so, I cannot blame you; but I +see clearly that you misunderstand my character--that is all." + +They separated in a few minutes afterwards, and Hycy in a very serious +and irritable mood rode homewards. In truth his prospects at this +peculiar period were anything but agreeable. Here his love-suit, if it +could be called so, had just been rejected by Miss Clinton, in a manner +that utterly precluded all future hope in that quarter. With Kathleen +Cavanagh he had been equally unsuccessful. His brother Edward was now at +home, too, a favorite with, and inseparable from his father, who of late +maintained any intercourse that took place between himself and Hycy, +with a spirit of cool, easy sarcasm, that was worse than anger itself. +His mother, also, in consequence of her unjustifiable attempts to +defend her son's irregularities, had lost nearly all influence with her +husband, and if the latter should withdraw, as he had threatened to +do, the allowance of a hundred a year with which he supplied him, he +scarcely saw on what hand he could turn. With Kathleen Cavanagh and Miss +Clinton he now felt equally indignant, nor did his friend Harry escape +a strong portion of his ill-will. Hycy, not being overburthened with +either a love or practice of truth himself, could not for a moment yield +credence to the assertion of young Clinton, that he took no stops to +prejudice his sister against him. He took it for granted, therefore, +that it was to his interference he owed the reception he had just got, +and he determined in some way or other to repay him for the ill-services +he had rendered him. + +The feeling of doubt and uncertainty with which Bryan M'Mahon parted +from his landlord and Fethertonge, the agent, after the interview we +have already described, lost none of their strength by time. Hycy's +memorial had been entrusted to Chevydale, who certainly promised to put +his case strongly before the Commissioners of Excise; and Bryan at first +had every reason to suppose that he would do so. Whether in consequence +of that negligence of his promise, for which he was rather remarkable, +or from some sinister influence that may have been exercised over him, +it is difficult to say, but the fact was that Bryan had now only ten +days between him and absolute ruin. He had taken the trouble to write +to the Secretary of Excise to know if his memorial had been laid +before them, and supported by Mr. Chevydale, who, he said, knew the +circumstances, and received a reply, stating that no such memorial +had been sent, and that Mr. Chevydale had taken no steps in the matter +whatsoever. We shall not now enter into a detail of all the visits +he had made to his landlord, whom he could never see a second time, +however, notwithstanding repeated solicitations to that effect. +Fethertonge he did see, and always was assured by him that his case was +safe and in good hands. + +"You are quite mistaken, Bryan," said he, "if you think that either he +or I have any intention of neglecting your affair. You know yourself, +however, that he has not a moment for anything at the present time but +this confounded election. The contest will be a sharp one, but when it +is over we will take care of you." + +"Yes, but it will then be too late," replied Bryan; "I will be then a +ruined man." + +"But, my dear Bryan, will you put no confidence in your friends? I tell +you you will not be ruined. If they follow up the matter so as to injure +you, we shall have the whole affair overhauled, and justice done you; +otherwise we shall bring it before Parliament." + +"That may be all very well," replied Bryan, "but it is rather odd that +he has not taken a single step in it yet." + +"The memorial is before the Board," said the other, "for some time, and +we expect an answer every day." + +"But I know to the contrary," replied Bryan, "for here is a letther from +the Secretary stating that no such memorial ever came before them." + +"Never mind that," replied Fethertonge, "he may not have seen it. The +Secretary! Lord bless you, he never reads a tenth of the memorials that +go in. Show me the letter. See there now--he did not write it all; don't +you see his signature is in a different, hand? Why will you not put +confidence in your friends, Bryan?" + +"Because," replied the independent and honest young fellow, "I don't +think they're entitled to it--from me. They have neglected my business +very shamefully, after having led me to think otherwise. I have no +notion of any landlord suffering his tenant to be ruined before his face +without lifting a finger to prevent it." + +"Oh! fie, Bryan, you are now losing your temper. I shall say no more to +you. Still I can make allowances. However, go home, and keep your +mind easy, we shall take care of you, notwithstanding your ill humor. +Stay--you pass Mr. Clinton's--will you be good! enough to call and tell +Harry Clinton I wish to speak to him, and I will feel obliged?" + +"Certainly, sir," replied Bryan, "with pleasure. I wish you good +morning." + +"Could it be possible," he added, "that the hint Hycy Burke threw out +about young Clinton has any truth in it--'Harry Clinton will do you an +injury;' but more he would not say. I will now watch him well, for I +certainly cannot drame why he should be my enemy." + +He met Clinton on the way, however, to whom he delivered the message. + +"I am much obliged to you," said he, "I was already aware of it; but now +that I have met you, M'Mahon, allow me to ask if you have not entrusted +a memorial to the care of Mr. Chevydale, in order that it might be sent +up strongly supported by him to the Board of Excise?" + +"I have," said Bryan, "and it has been sent, if I am to believe Mr. +Fethertonge." + +"Listen to me, my honest friend--don't believe Fethertonge, nor don't +rely on Chevydale, who will do nothing more nor less than the agent +allows him. If you depend upon either or both, you are a ruined man, and +I am very much afraid you are that already. It has not been sent; but +observe that I mention this in confidence, and with an understanding +that, for the present, you will not name me in the matter." + +"I sartinly will not," replied Bryan, who was forcibly struck with +the truth and warmth of interest that were evident in his language and +manner; "and here is a letter that I received this very mornin' from the +Secretary of Excise, stating that no memorial on my behalf has been sent +up to them at all." + +"Ay, just so; that is the true state of the matter." + +"What, in God's name, am I to do, then?" asked Bryan, in a state of +great and evident perplexity. + +"I shall tell you; go to an honest man--I don't say, observe, that +Chevydale is not honest; but he is weak and negligent, and altogether +the slave and dupe of his agent. Go to-morrow morning early, about eight +o'clock, fetch another memorial, and wait upon Major Vanston; state +your case to him plainly and simply, and, my life for yours, he will +not neglect you, at all events. Get a fresh memorial drawn up this very +day." + +"I can easily do that," said Bryan, "for I have a rough copy of the one +I sent; it was Hycy Burke drew it up." + +"Hycy Burke," repeated Clinton, starting with surprise, "do you tell me +so?" + +"Sartinly," replied the other, "why do you ask?" + +Clinton shook his head carelessly. "Well," he said, "I am glad of it; it +is better late than never. Hycy Burke"--he paused and looked serious a +moment,--"yes," he added, "I am glad of it. Go now and follow my advice, +and you will have at least a chance of succeeding, and perhaps of +defeating your enemies, that is, if you have any." + +The pressure of time rendered energy and activity necessary in the case +of Bryan; and, accordingly, about eight o'clock next morning, he was +seeking permission to speak to the man against whom he and his family +had always conscientiously voted--because he had been opposed to the +spirit and principles of their religion. + +Major Vanston heard his case with patience, inquired more minutely into +the circumstances, asked where Ahadarra was, the name of his landlord, +and such other circumstance as were calculated to make the case clear. + +"Pray, who drew up this memorial?" he asked. + +"Mr. Hycy Burke, sir," replied Bryan. + +"Ah, indeed," said he, glancing with a singular meaning at M'Mahon. + +"You and Burke are intimate then?" + +"Why, we are, sir," replied Bryan, "on very good terms." + +"And now--Mr.'Burke has obliged you, I suppose, because you have obliged +him?" + +"Well, I don't know that he has obliged me much," said Bryan, "but I +know that I have obliged him a good deal." + +Vanston nodded and seemed satisfied. + +"Very well," he proceeded; "but, with respect to this memorial. I can't +promise you much. Leave it with me, however, and you shall probably hear +from me again. I fear we are late in point of time; indeed, I have but +faint hopes of it altogether, and I would not recommend you to form any +strong expectations from the interference of any one; still, at the same +time," he added, looking significantly at him, "I don't desire you to +despair altogether." + +"He has as much notion," thought Bryan, "of troubling his head about me +or my memorial, as I have for standin' candidate for the county. D--n +them all! they think of nobody but themselves!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII.--A Family Dialogue + +--Ahadarra not in for it--Bryan's Vote. + + +Honest Jemmy Burke, we have already said, had brought home his +second son, Edward, from school, for the purpose of training him to +agricultural pursuits, having now abandoned all notions of devoting him +to the Church, as he would have done had Hycy manifested towards him +even the ordinary proofs of affection and respect. + +"You druv me to it, Rosha," said he to his wife; "but I'll let you both +know that I'm able to be masther in my own house still. You have made +your pet what he is; but I tell you that if God hasn't said it, you'll +curse one another with bitther hearts yet." + +"Well, sure you have your own way," replied his wife, "but you wor ever +and always self-willed and headstrong. However, it's all the mane blood +that's in you; it breaks your heart to see your son a gintleman; but in +spite of your strong brogues and felt caubeen, a gentleman he is, and +a gentleman he will be, an' that's all I have to say about it. You'll +tache your pet to hate his brother, I'll go bail." + +"No, indeed, Rosha," he replied, "I know my duty to God and my childre' +betther than to turn them against one another; but it's only a proof of +how little you know about Edward and his warm and lovin' heart, when you +spake as you do." + +This indeed was true. Edward Burke was but a short time at home when he +saw clearly how matters stood in the family. He was in fact a youth of a +most affectionate and generous disposition, and instead of attempting to +make the breach wider, as Hycy had he been in his place would have done, +he did everything in his power to put the parties into a good state +of feeling with each other, and to preserve peace and harmony in the +family. + +One morning, a few days after Hycy's rejection by Miss Clinton, they +were all at breakfast, "the accomplished" being in one of his musical +and polite moods, his father bland but sarcastic, and Edward in a state +of actual pain on witnessing the wilful disrespect or rather contempt +that was implied by Hycy towards his parents. "Well, Ned," said his +father, "didn't we spend a pleasant evenin' in Gerald Cavanagh's last +night? Isn't Kathleen a darlin'?" + +"She is a delightful girl," replied Edward, "it can't be denied; indeed, +I don't think I ever saw so beautiful a girl, and as for her figure, it +is perfect--perfect." + +"Ay," said the father, "and it's she that knows the difference between a +decent sensible boy and a--gintleman--a highflyer. She was both kind and +civil to you, Ned." + +"I don't know as to the kindness," replied Edward; "but she was +certainly civil and agreeable, and I don't think it's in her nature to +be anything else." + +"Except when she ought," said his father; "but listen, Ned--dress +yourself up, get a buff waistcoat, a green jockey coat, a riding whip, +and a pair o' shinin' top-boots, titivate yourself up like a dandy, then +go to her wid lavendher water on your pocket-handkerchy, an' you'll see +how she'll settle you. Be my sowl, you'll be the happy boy when you get +her; don't you think so, Misther Hycy?" + +"Unquestionably, Mr. Burke, when you speak you shame an Oracle; as for +Master Ned--why-- + + "'I'm owre young,--I'm owre young, + I'm owre young to marry yet, + I'm owre young, 'twould be a sin + To take me from my Daddy yet.' + +I think, Master Edward, the Boy-god has already taken occupation; +the vituline affection for the fair Katsey has set in; heigho, what a +delightful period of life is that soft and lickful one of calf love, +when the tongue rolls about the dripping lips, the whites of the eyes +are turned towards the divine, the ox-eyed Katsey, and you are ready to +stagger over and blare out the otherwise unutterable affection." + +"Very well described, Hycy, I see you have not forgotten your Homer +yet; but really Kathleen Cavanagh is a perfect Juno, and has the large, +liquid, soft ox-eye in perfection." + +"Let me look at you," said Hycy, turning round and staring at him with +a good deal of surprise; "begad, brother Ned, let me ask where you got +your connoisseurship upon women? eh? Oh, in the dictionary, I suppose, +where the common people say everything is to be found. Observe me, Mr. +Burke, you are taking your worthy son out of his proper vocation, the +Church. Send him to 'Maynewth,' he is too good a connoisseur on beauty +to be out of the Tribunal." + +"Hycy," replied his brother, "these are sentiments that do you no +credit, it is easy to sneer at religion or those who administer +it,--much easier than to praise the one, it would appear, or imitate the +virtues of the other." + +"Beautiful rebuke," said Hycy, again staring at him; "why, Masther +Edward, you are a prodigy of wonderful sense and unspotted virtue; love + has made you eloquent--"'I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue, + I gat my death frae twa sweet e'en, + Twa lovely e'en o' bonnie blue, &c, &c.'" + +"I am not in love yet, Hycy, but as my father wishes to bring about a +marriage between Kathleen and myself, you know," he added, smiling, "it +will be my duty to fall in love with her as fast as I can." + +"Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and +gentlemanly parent,--to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put +forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and +the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why +sittest thou so silent and so sad?" + +"Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy," replied his mother, whom +Edward's return had cast into complete dejection, "when I see your +father strivin' to put between his own childre'." + +"Me, Rosha!" exclaimed her husband; "God forgive you for that! but when +I see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or +civility--no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma to +try if I can't find affection in his brother." + +"Ay," said she, "that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your +eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among +a family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see +my heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was," and as she spoke +the words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears. + +"Alas!" said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic--"where is the pride and +dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the +mother of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon +the pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and--give me another cup of +tea." + +Edward shook his head at him, as if remonstrating against this most +undutiful and contemptuous style of conversation to his mother. "Don't +give way to tears, my dear mother," he said; "indeed you do my father +injustice; he has neither said nor done anything to turn me against +Hycy. Why should he? So far from that, I know that he loves Hycy at +heart, all that he wishes is that Hycy would speak to him in his natural +voice, and treat him with respect, and the feeling that surely is due +to him. And so Hycy will, father; I am sure he respects and loves you in +spite of this levity and affectation. All we want is for each to give +up a little of his own way--when you become more respectful, Hycy, my +father's manner will change too: let us be at least sincere and natural +with each other, and there is nothing that I can see to prevent us from +living very happily." + +"I have some money saved," said Burke, turning to his wife--"a good +penny--too, more than the world thinks; and I declare to my God I would +give it twice over if I could hear that young man," pointing to Hycy, +"speak these words with the same heart and feelings of him that spoke +them; but I fear that 'ud be a hopeless wish on my part, an' ever will." + +"No, father," said Edward, "it will not--Hycy and you will soon +understand one another. Hycy will see what, his duty towards you is, +and, sooner than be the means of grieving your heart, he will change the +foolish and thoughtless habit that offends you." + +"Well, Edward, may God grant it," exclaimed his father rising up from +breakfast, "and that's all I have to say----God grant it!" + +"Why, Sir Oracle, junior," said Hycy, after his father had gone out, "or +rather Solomon Secundus, if you are now an unfledged philosopher on our +hand, what will you not be when your opinions are grown?" + +"My dear brother," replied Edward, I cannot see what on earth you can +propose to yourself by adopting this ridiculous style of conversation +I cannot really see any object you can have in it. If it be to vex or +annoy my father, can you blame him if he feels both vexed and annoyed at +it. + +"Most sapiently said, Solomon Secundus-- + + "'Solomon Lob was a ploughman stout, + And a ranting cavalier; + And, when the civil war broke out, + It quickly did appear + That Solomon Lob was six feet high, + And fit for a grenadier. + So Solomon Lob march'd boldly forth + To sounds of bugle horns + And a weary march had Solomon Lob, + For Solomon Lob had corns. + Row,--ra--ra--row--de--dow.' + +"And so I wish you a good morning, most sapient Solomon. I go on +business of importance affecting--the welfare of the nation, or rather +of the empire at large--embracing all these regions, antipodial and +otherwise, on which the sun never sets. Good morning, therefore; +and, maternal relative, wishing the same to thee, with a less copious +exhibition of the hydraulics, a-hem!" + +"Where is he going, mother, do you know?" asked Edward. + +"Indeed I don't know, Edward," she replied; "he seldom or never tells +us anything about his motions; but it vexes me to think that his father +won't make any allowance for his lightheartedness and fine spirits. Sure +now, Edward, you know yourself it's not raisonable to have a young man +like him mumpin' and mopin' about, as if there was a wake in the house?" + +The only reply Edward made to this weak and foolish speech was, "Yes; +but there is reason in everything, my dear mother. I have heard," he +added, "that he is working for the Tory candidate, Vanston, and hope it +is not true." + +"Why," said his mother, "what differ does it make?" + +"Why," replied the other, "that Vanston votes to keep us slaves, and +Chevydale to give us our political freedom: the one is opposed to our +religion and our liberty, and the other votes for both." + +"Troth, as to religion," observed the mother, "the poor boy doesn't +trouble his head much about it--bat it's not aisy for one that goes +into jinteel society to do so--an' that's what makes Hycy ait mate of a +Friday as fast as on any other day." + +"I am sorry to hear that, mother," replied Edward; "but Hycy is a very +young man still, and will mend all these matters yet." + +"And that's what I'm tellin' his father," she replied; "and if you'd +only see the way he looks at me, and puts a _cuir_ (* a grin--mostly +of contempt) upon him so bitther that it would a'most take the skin off +one." + +Edward's observations with respect to Hycy's having taken a part in +forwarding the interests of Major Vanston were not without foundation. +He and Bryan M'Mahon had of late been upon very good terms; and it so +happened that in the course of one of their conversations about Kathleen +Cavanagh, Bryan had mentioned to him the fact of Kathleen's having heard +that he was pledged to vote with Vanston, and repeated the determination +to which she had resolved to come if he should do so. Now, it so +happened, that a portion of this was already well known to Hycy himself, +who, in fact, was the very individual who had assured Major Vanston, +and those who canvassed for him, that he himself had secured Bryan. +On hearing now from Bryan that Kathleen had put the issue of their +affection upon his political truth and consistency he resolved to avail +himself of that circumstance if he could. On hearing, besides, however, +that Harry Clinton had actually sent him (M'Mahon) to Vanston, and on +being told, in the course of conversation, that that gentleman asked who +had drawn up the memorial, he felt that every circumstance was turning +in his favor; for he determined now to saddle Clinton with the odium +which, in this treacherous transaction, was most likely to fall upon +himself. + +It is not our intention here to describe the brutal and disgraceful +scenes that occur at an election. It is enough to say that, after a +long, bitter, and tedious struggle, the last day of it arrived. Bryan +M'Mahon, having fully satisfied himself that his landlord had not taken +a single step to promote his interests in the matter of the memorial, +resolved from the beginning not to vote in his favor, and, of course, +not to vote at all. + +On the morning of the last day, with the exception of himself alone, +a single voter had not been left unpolled; and the position of the two +candidates was very peculiar, both having polled exactly the same number +of votes, and both being consequently equal. + +Bryan, having left home early, was at breakfast about eleven o'clock, in +a little recess off the bar of the head-inn, which was divided from +one end of the coffee-room by a thin partition of boards, through which +anything spoken in an ordinary tone of voice in that portion of the +room could be distinctly heard. Our readers may judge of his surprise +on hearing the following short but pithy dialogue of which he himself +formed the subject matter. The speakers, with whom were assembled +several of his landlord's committee, being no other than that worthy +gentleman and his agent. + +"What's to be done?" asked Chevydale; "here is what we call a dead heat. +Can no one prevail on that obstinate scoundrel, the Ahadarra man--what +do ye call, him? M'Master--M'Manus---M'--eh?" + +"M'Mahon," replied Fethertonge, "I fear not; but, at all events, we +must try him again. Vote or not, however, we shall soon clear him out of +Ahadarra--we shall punish his insolence for daring to withhold his +vote; for, as sure as my name is Fethertonge, out he goes. The fine and +distillation affair, however, will save us a good deal of trouble, and +of course I am very glad you declined to have anything to do with the +support of his petition. The fellow is nothing else than shuffler, as I +told you. Vote or not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he +does, I have a good tenant to put in his place." + +M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore +that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should +never go to the support of such a man. + +Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle +arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and +inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him. + +"No," replied the postmaster; "but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him +I have here one for him, from Major Vanston--it's his frank and his +handwriting." + +"I'm going directly to him," said Hycy, "and will bring it to him; so +you had better hand it here." + +The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his +way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making. + +"Nanny," said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in +the stable and entered the parlor, "will you fetch me a candle and some +warm water?" + +"Yes, sir," said Nanny; "but you must wait till I boil some, for there's +none hot." + +"Be quick, then," said he, "for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door +after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I +have spoken to you about it?" + +"Becaise it's never done," she replied; "nobody ever bids me shut it but +yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it." + +"Well, I'll thank you," he said, "to pay more attention to what I say +to you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny; +and, mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall +pitch your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here." + +"Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy." + +"Begone now and get me the hot water," he said, with a frown of anger +and vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which +the possession of Vanston's letter had already put him. + +We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable +manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is +enough to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to +peruse the contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:-- + +Sir,--I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from the +Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much +pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory +result of your memorial. + +"I am, sir, very sincerely yours, + +"Egbert Vanston. + +"To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, + +"Ahadarra." + +(The enclosed.) + +"Sir,--I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of +Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial +to the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the +circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character +which memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce +the fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The +Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way +connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his +property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have +not the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law +has given them authority. + +"I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant, + +"Francis Fathom. + +"To Major Vanston, &c, &c." + + +Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as +to evade all suspicion of their having been opened. + +"Now," thought he, "what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is +possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for +I know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be +thrown by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First +and foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I +establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure +Vanston the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory +gentleman that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into +truth, and make Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it +was by Harry Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift +the odium of his voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose +body, by the way, does not contain a single bone that I like; and, +thirdly, having by his apostacy and treachery, as it will be called, +placed an insurmountable barrier between himself and the divine +Katsey, I will change my course with Jemmy, the gentleman--my sarcastic +dad--return and get reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and +by becoming a good Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt +but I shall secure the 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other +morning. This, I think, will be making the most of the cards, and, as +the moment is critical, I shall seek the clod-hopper and place this +seasonable communication in his hands." + +He accordingly rode rapidly into town again, where he had not been many +minutes when he met M'Mahon, burning with indignation at the language of +his landlord and the agent. + +"I cannot have patience, Hycy," he exclaimed, "under such scoundrelly +language as this; and while I have breath in my body, he never shall +have my vote!" + +"What's the matter, Bryan?" he asked; "you seem flushed." + +"I do, Hycy, because I am flushed, and not without reason. I tell you +that my landlord, Chevydale, is a scoundrel, and Fethertonge a deceitful +villain." + +"Pooh, man, is that by way of information? I thought you had something +in the shape of novelty to tell me. What has happened, however, and why +are you in such a white heat of indignation?" + +M'Mahon immediately detailed the conversation which he had overheard +behind the bar of the inn, and we need scarcely assure our readers that +Hycy did not omit the opportunity of throwing oil upon the fire which +blazed so strongly. + +"Bryan," said he, "I know the agent to be a scoundrel, and what is +nearer the case still, I have every reason--but you must not ask me to +state them yet,--I have every reason to suspect that it is Fethertonge, +countenanced by Chevydale, who is at the bottom of the distillation +affair that has ruined you. The fact is, they are anxious to get you out +of Ahadarra, and thought that by secretly ruining you, they could most +plausibly effect it." + +"I have now no earthly doubt of it, Hycy," replied the other. + +"You need not," replied Hycy; "and maybe I'm not far astray when I say, +that the hook-nosed old Still-hound, Clinton, is not a thousand miles +from the plot. I could name others connected with some of them--but I +wont, now." + +When M'Mahon recollected the conversation which both Clinton and the +agent had held with him, with respect to violating the law, the truth +of Hycy's remark flashed upon him at once, and of course deepened his +indignation almost beyond endurance. + +"They are two d--d scoundrels," pursued Hycy, "and I have reasons, +besides, for suspecting that it was their wish, if they could have done +it successfully, to have directed your suspicions against myself." + +M'Mahon was, in fact, already convinced of this, and felt satisfied +that he saw through and understood the whole design against him, and was +perfectly aware of those who had brought him to ruin. + +"By the way," said Hycy, "let me not forget that I have been looking for +you this hour or two; here is a letter I got for you in! the +post-office this morning. It has Vanston's frank, and I think is in his +handwriting." + +M'Mahon's face, on perusing the letter, beamed with animation and +delight. "Here, Hycy," said he, "read that; I'm safe yet, thank God, and +not a ruined man, as the villains thought to make me." + +"By my soul and honor, Bryan," exclaimed the other, "that is noble on +the part of Vanston, especially towards an individual from whom, as +well as from his whole family, he has ever experienced the strongest +opposition. However, if I were in your coat, I certainly would not +suffer him to outdo me in generosity. Good heavens! only contrast such +conduct with that of the other scoundrel, his opponent, and then see the +conclusion you must come to." + +"Let Vanston be what he may, he's an honest man," replied Bryan, "and +in less than ten minutes I'll have him the sittin' member. I would be +ungrateful and ungenerous, as you say, Hycy, not to do so. Come +along--come along, I bid you. I don't care what they say. The man that +saved me--who was his enemy--from ruin, will have my vote." + +They accordingly proceeded towards the court house, and on their way +Hycy addressed him as follows:--"Now, Bryan, in order to give your +conduct an appearance of greater generosity, I will pretend to dissuade +you against voting for Vanston, or, rather, I will endeavor, as it were, +to get your vote for Chevydale. This will make the act more manly and +determined on your part, and consequently one much more high-minded and +creditable to your reputation. You will show them, besides, that you are +not the cowardly slave of your landlord." + +It was accordingly so managed; the enthusiastic gratitude of the young +man overcame all considerations; and in a few minutes Major Vanston was +declared by the sheriff duly elected, by a majority of one vote only. + +It is no part of our intention to describe the fierce sensation which +this victory created among the greater portion of the people. The tumult +occasioned by their indignation and fury was outrageous and ruffianly as +usual; but as the election had now terminated, it soon ceased, and the +mobs began to disperse to their respective homes. Bryan for some three +hours or so was under the protection of the military, otherwise he would +have been literally torn limb from limb. In the mean time we must follow +Hycy. + +This worthy and straightforward young gentleman, having now accomplished +his purpose, and been the means of M'Mahon having exposed himself to +popular vengeance, took the first opportunity of withdrawing from him +secretly, and seeking Vanston's agent. Having found him, and retired out +of hearing, he simply said-- + +"I will trouble you for three hundred." + +"You shall have it," replied that honest gentleman; "you shall have it. +We fully acknowledge the value of your services in this matter; it is to +them we owe our return." + +"There is no doubt in the matter," replied Hycy; "but you know not my +difficulty, nor the dexterous card I had to play in accomplishing my +point." + +"We are sensible of it all," replied the other; "here," said he, pulling +out his pocket-book, "are three notes for one hundred each." + +"Give me two fifties," said Hycy, "instead of this third note, and you +will oblige me. By the way, here is the major." With this the other +immediately complied, without the major having been in any way cognizant +of the transaction. + +On entering the inner room where they stood, Vanston shook hands most +cordially with Hycy, and thanked him in very warm language for the part +he took, to which he had no hesitation in saying he owed his return. + +"Look upon me henceforth as a friend, Mr. Burke," he added, "and a +sincere one, who will not forget the value of your influence with the +young man whose vote has gained me the election. I have already served +him essentially,--in fact saved him from ruin, and I am very glad of +it." + +"I really feel very much gratified, Major Vanston, that I have had it in +my power," replied Hycy, "to render you any service of importance; and +if I ever should stand in need of a favor at your hands, I shall not +hesitate to ask it." + +"Nor I to grant it, Mr. Burke, if it be within the reach of my +influence." + +"In the mean time," said Hycy, "will you oblige me with a single franc?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Burke; with half a dozen of them." + +"Thank you, sir, one will be quite sufficient; I require no more." + +The major, however, gave him half a dozen of them, and after some +further chat, and many expressions of obligation on the part of the new +M.P., Hycy withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX.--Bryan Bribed--is Rejected by Kathleen. + + +In the course of about two or three hours after the transaction already +stated, old Peety Dim was proceeding towards the post-office with a +letter, partly in his closed hand, and partly up the inside of his +sleeve, so as that it might escape observation. The crowds were still +tumultuous, but less so than in the early part of the day; for, as we +said, they were diminishing in numbers, those who had been so long from +home feeling a natural wish to return to their families and the various +occupations and duties of life which they had during this protracted +contest been forced to neglect. Peety had got as far as the +market-house--which was about the centre of the street--on his way, we +say, to the post-office, when he met his daughter Nanny, who, after a +few words of inquiry, asked him where he was going. + +"Faith, an' that's more than I dare tell you," he replied. + +"Why," she said, "is there a saicret in it, I'm sure you needn't keep it +from me, whatever it is." + +This she added in a serious and offended tone, which, however, was not +lost on the old man. + +"Well," said he, "considherin' the man he is, an' what you know about +him, I think I may as well tell you. It's a letther I'm bringin' to slip +into the post-office, unknownst." + +"Is it from Hycy?" she asked. + +"From Hycy, and no other." + +"I'll hould a wager," she replied, "that that's the very letther I seen +him openin' through the key hole doar this mornin'. Do you know who it's +to?" she inquired. + +"Oh, the sorra know; he said it was a love-letther, and that he did not +wish to be seen puttin' it in himself." + +"Wait," said she, "give it to me here for a minute; here's Father +M'Gowan comin' up, and I'll ax him who it's directed to." + +She accordingly took the letter out of his hand, and approaching the +priest, asked him the name of the person to whom it was addressed. + +"Plaise your reverence," she said, "what name's on the back of this?--I +mane," said she, "who is goin' to?" + +The priest looked at it, and at once replied, "It is goin' to Bryan +M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, the traitor, and it comes from Major Vanston, +the enemy to his liberty and religion, that his infamous vote put into +Parliament, to rivet our chains, and continue our degradation. So there, +girl, you have now the bigot from whom it comes, and the apostate to +whom it goes. Who gave it to you?" + +Nanny, who from some motives of her own, felt reluctant to mention +Hycy's name in the matter, hastily replied, "A person, plaise your +reverence, from Major Vanston." + +"Very well, girl, discharge your duty," said the priest; "but I tell +you the devil will never sleep well till he has his clutches in the same +Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted." + +Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two +afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put +it into the post-office. + +"Now," said she to her father, "the people is scatterin' themselves +homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear--but listen--that letter +is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office here; +Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may be +passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the +post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day, +or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some +scheme afoot." + +"Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny." + +"Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you." + +"Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,--always +does indeed wherever he meets me." + +"No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion +of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell +you why I bid you, some day soon." + +"Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I +say he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him." + +Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man +would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street +in the direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for +groceries. + +Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and +the evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the +post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was +a letter for him. + +The post-master searched again, and replied, "No; but here's another for +Bryan M'Mahon." + +"What!" he exclaimed, "another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive +correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from." + +"There's no wonder at all about it," replied the post-master, "it's from +Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and +all." + +"Allow me to look," said Hycy, glancing at it. "Yes, you are quite +right, that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever. +I will not fetch him this letter," he proceeded, "because I know not +when I may see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him." + +Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the +post-office, on seeing Hycy approach, that he might overhear this +conversation without being seen, felt, considerably surprised that Hycy +should seem to have been ignorant that there was a letter for M'Mahon, +seeing that it was he himself who had sent it there. He consequently +began to feel that there was some mystery in the matter; but whatever it +might be, he knew that it was beyond his power to develop. + +On coming forward from the dark part of the shop, where he had been +standing, he asked the post-master if there was a second letter for +M'Mahon. + +"No," replied the man, "there is only the one. If you see him, tell him +there's a letter from Major Vanston in the office for him." + +We must still trace Hycy's motions. On leaving the post-office, he went +directly to the Head Inn, where he knew Bryan M'Mahon was waiting until +the town should become perfectly calm and quiet. Here he found Bryan, +whose mind was swayed now to one side and now to another, on considering +the principle on which he had voted, and the consequences to which that +act might expose him. + +"I know I will have much to endure," he thought, while pacing the room +by himself in every way, "but I little value anything the world at large +may think or say, so that I don't lose the love and good opinion of +Kathleen Cavanagh." + +"Why, Bryan," said Hycy, as he entered, "I think you must provide a +secretary some of these days, your correspondence is increasing so +rapidly." + +"How is that?" inquired the other. + +"Simply that there's another letter in the post-office for you, and if I +don't mistake, from the same hand--that of our friend the Major." + +"I'm not aware of anything he could have to write to me about now," +replied Bryan; "I wonder what can it be?" + +"If you wish I shall fetch you the letter," said Hycy, "as you have an +objection I suppose to go out until the town is empty." + +"Thank you, Hycy, I'll feel obliged to you if you do; and Hycy, by +the way, I am sorry that you and I ever mistook or misunderstood one +another; but sich things happen to the best of friends, and why should +we hope to escape?" + +"Speak only for yourself, Bryan," replied Hycy, "the misunderstanding +was altogether on your side, not on mine. I always knew your value and +esteemed you accordingly. I shall fetch your letter immediately." + +On returning he placed the document aforesaid in M'Mahon's hands, +and said, in imitation of his friend Teddy Phats--"Come now, read her +up." Bryan opened the letter, and in the act of doing so a fifty pound +note presented itself, of which, as it had been cut in two, one half +fell to the ground. + +"Hallo!" exclaimed Hycy, suddenly taking it up, "this looks well--what +have we here? A fifty pound note!" + +"Yes," replied Bryan; "but why cut in two? here however is something +written, too--let me see-- + +"'Accept this as an earnest of better things for important services. The +fine imposed upon you has been reduced to fifty pounds--this will pay +it. + +"A DEEPLY OBLIGED FRIEND.'" + + +The two young men looked at each other for some time without speaking. +At length M'Mahon's face became crimsoned with indignation! + +"Who could have dared to do this?" said he, once more looking at the +bank-note and the few lines that accompanied it. "Who durst suppose +that a M'Mahon would sell his vote for a bribe? Did Vanston suppose that +money would sway me? for this I am sure must be his work." + +"Don't be too sure of that," replied Hycy; "don't be too sure that it's +not some one that wishes you worse than Vanston does. In my opinion, +Bryan, that letter and the note contained in it were sent to you by +some one who wishes to have it whispered abroad that you were bribed. It +surely could not be Vanston's interest to injure your character or your +circumstances in any sense; and I certainly think him too honorable to +deal in an anonymous bribe of that kind." + +"Some scoundrel has done it, that's clear; but what would you have me to +do, Hycy? You are up to life and know the world a great deal better than +I do; how ought I to act now?" + +"I'll tell you candidly, my dear Bryan, how I think you ought to act, or +at least how I would act myself if I were in your place." He then paused +for a minute and proceeded:--"You know I may be wrong, Bryan, but I +shall advise you at all events honestly, and to the best of my ability. +I would keep this letter and this note, and by the way, what else can +you do?--I would say nothing whatsoever about it. The secret, you know, +rests with yourself and me, with the exception of the party that sent +it. Now, mark me, I say--if the party that sent this be a friend, there +will be no more about it--it will drop into the grave; but if it came +from an enemy the cry of bribery will be whispered about, and there will +be an attack made on your character. In this case you can be at no loss +as to the source from whence the communication came--Fethertonge will +then most assuredly be the man; or, harkee, who knows but the whole +thing is an electioneering trick resorted to for the purpose of +impugning your vote, and of getting Vanston out on petition and +scrutiny. Faith and honor, Bryan, I think that this last is the true +reading." + +"I'm inclined to agree with you there," replied Bryan, "that looks like +the truth; and even then I agree with you still that Fethertonge is at +the bottom of it. Still how am I to act?" + +"In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said. Keep the letter and the +bank-note; say nothing about it--that is clearly your safest plan; do +not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be +necessary to your own character to show them." + +"Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy. As you say no one knows the +secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say +nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered +about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me +by any bargain of mine." + +Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as +much as to say--"Exactly so, that is precisely the fact," and thus ended +the dialogue. + +We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath +necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most +minute speck will be offensively visible. So it is with human character +and integrity. Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary +reputation--to a family who had generally participated in all the good +and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of society, +his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party for +a very brief period--just as other votes given from the usual +motives--sometimes right and honorable--sometimes wrong and +corrupt--usually do. In his case, however, there was something +calculated to startle and alarm all those who knew and were capable of +appreciating the stainless honor and hereditary integrity of the family. +The M'Mahon's, though inoffensive and liberal in their intercourse with +the world, even upon matters of a polemical nature, were nevertheless +deeply and devotedly attached to their own religion, and to all those +who in any way labored or contributed to relieve it of its disabilities, +and restore those who professed it to that civil liberty which had been +so long denied them. This indeed was very natural on the part of the +M'Mahons, who would sooner have thought of taking to the highway, or +burning their neighbor's premises, than supporting the interests or +strengthening the hands of any public man placed, in a position to use +a hostile influence against them. There was only one other family in the +barony, who in all that the M'Mahon's felt respecting their religion and +civil liberty, Were far in advance of them. These were the Cavanaghs, +between whom and the M'Mahons their existed so many strong points +of resemblance that they only differed from the others in +degree--especially on matters connected with religion and its +privileges. In these matters the Cavanaghs were firm, stern, and +inflexible--nay, so heroic was the enthusiasm and so immovable the +attachment of this whole family to their creed, that we have no +hesitation whatever in saying that they would have laid down their lives +in its defence, or for its promotion, had such a sacrifice been demanded +from them. On such a family, then, it is scarcely necessary to +describe the effects of what was termed Bryan M'Mahon's apostacy. The +intelligence came upon them in fact like a calamity. On the very evening +before, Gerald Cavanagh, now a fierce advocate for Edward Burke, having, +in compliance with old Jemmy, altogether abandoned Hycy, had been urging +upon Kathleen the prudence and propriety of giving Bryan M'Mahon up, and +receiving the address of young Burke, who was to inherit the bulk of his +father's wealth and property; and among other arguments against M'Mahon +he stated a whisper then gaining ground, that it was his intention to +vote for Vanston. + +"But I know to the contrary, father," said Kathleen, "for I spoke to +him on that very subject, and Bryan M'Mahon is neither treacherous nor +cowardly, an' won't of course abandon his religion or betray it into the +hands of its enemies. Once for all, then," she added, calmly, and with +a smile full of affection and good humor, "I say you may spare both +yourself and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you +that I like and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he +really is what his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought--a true +gentleman--but that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to +conceal it, that Bryan M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves +false to his God, his religion, and his country, I will never prove +false to him nor withdraw my affections from him." + +"For all that," replied her father, "it's strongly suspected that he's +goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow." + +Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an +enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; "No, father," said she, "by the +light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston--unless Vanston +becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless life, but +if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a queen's, I'd +stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns traitor--let +me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!" + +As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by +which she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity +and high moral force of her character awed them, and her father +completely subdued, simply replied:-- + +"Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter +on you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke." + +Kathleen, after wiping away her tears, thanked him, and said with a +smile, and in spite of the most boundless confidence in the integrity +of her lover, "never, at any rate, father, until Bryan M'Mahon turns a +traitor to his religion and his country." + +On the evening of the next day, or rather late at night, her father +returned from the scene of contest, but very fortunately for Kathleen's +peace of mind during that night, he found on inquiry that she and Hanna +had been for a considerable time in bed. The following morning Hanna, +who always took an active share in the duties of the family, and who +would scarcely permit her sister to do anything, had been up a short +time before her, and heard from her mother's lips the history of Bryan's +treachery, as it was now termed by all. We need scarcely say that she +was deeply affected, and wept bitterly. Kathleen, who rose a few minutes +afterwards, thought she saw her sister endeavoring to conceal her +face, but the idea passed away without leaving anything like a fixed +impression upon it. Hanna, who was engaged in various parts of the +house, contrived still to keep her face from the observation of +her sister, until at length the latter was ultimately struck by the +circumstance as well as by Hanna's unusual silence. Just as her father +had entered to breakfast, a sob reached her ears, and on going over to +inquire if anything were wrong, Hanna, who was now fairly overcome, and +could conceal her distress no longer, ran over, and throwing herself on +Kathleen's neck, she exclaimed in a violent burst of grief, "Kathleen, +my darling sister, what will become of you! It's all true. Bryan has +proved false and a traitor; he voted for Vanston yesterday, and that +vote has put the bitter enemy of our faith into Parliament." + +"Bryan M'Mahon a traitor!" exclaimed Kathleen; "no, Hanna--no, I +say--a thousand times no. It could not be--the thing is +impossible--impossible!" + +"It is as true as God's in heaven, that he voted yesterday for Vanston," +said her father; "I both seen him and heard him, an' that vote it was +that gained Vanston the election." + +Hanna, whose arms were still around her sister's neck, felt her stagger +beneath her on hearing those words from her father. + +"You say you saw him, father, and h'ard him vote for Vanston. You say +you did?" + +"I both seen the traitor an' h'ard him," replied the old man. + +"Hanna, dear, let me sit down," said Kathleen, and Hanna, encircling her +with one hand, drew a chair over with the other, on which, with a cheek +pale as death, her sister sat, whilst Hanna still wept with her arms +about her. After a long silence, she at last simply said:-- + +"I must bear it; but in this world my happiness is gone." + +"Don't take it so much to heart avourneen," said her mother; "but, any +way, hadn't you betther see himself, an' hear what he has to say for +himself. Maybe, afther all, it's not so bad as it looks. See him, +Kathleen; maybe there's not so much harm in it yet." + +"No, mother, see him I will not, in that sense--Bryan M'Mahon a traitor! +Am I a dreamer? I am not asleep, and Bryan M'Mahon is false to God and +his country! I did think that he would give his life for both, if he was +called upon to do so; but not that he would prove false to them as he +has done." + +"He has, indeed," said her father, "and the very person you hate so +much, bad as you think him, did all in his power to prevent him from +doin' the black deed. I seen that, too, and h'ard it. Hycy persuaded him +as much as he could against it; but he wouldn't listen to him, nor pay +him any attention." + +"Kathleen," said her sister, "the angels in heaven fell, and surely it +isn't wonderful that even a good man should be tempted and fall from the +truth as they did?" + +Kathleen seemed too much abstracted by her distress to hear this. +She looked around at them all, one after another, and said in a low, +composed, and solemn voice, "All is over now between that young man and +me--and here is one request which I earnestly entreat you--every one of +you--to comply with." + +"What is it darling?" said her mother. + +"It is," she replied, "never in my hearing to mention his name while I +live. As for myself, I will never name him!" + +"And think, after all," observed her father, "of poor Hycy bein' true to +his religion!" + +It would seem that her heart was struggling to fling the image of +M'Mahon from it, but without effect. It was likely she tried to hate him +for his apostacy, but she could not. Still, her spirit was darkened with +scorn and indignation at the act of dishonor which she felt her lover +had committed, just as the atmosphere is by a tempest. In fact, she +detested what she considered the baseness and treachery of the vote; but +could not of a sudden change a love so strong, so trusting, and so pure +as hers, into the passions of enmity and hatred. No sooner, however, had +her father named Hycy Burke with such approval, than the storm within +her directed itself against him, and she said, "For God's sake, father, +name not that unprincipled wretch to me any more. I hate and detest +him more than any man living he has no good quality to redeem him. +Ah! Hanna, Hanna, and is it come to this? The dream of my happiness has +vanished, and I awake to nothing now but affliction and sorrow. As for +happiness, I must think of that no more, father, after breakfast, do you +go up to that young man and tell him the resolution I have come to, and +that it is over for ever between him and. me." + +Soon after this, she once more exacted a promise from them to observe a +strict silence on the unhappy event which had occurred, and by no +means ever to attempt offering her consolation. These promises they +religiously kept, and from this forth neither M'Mahon's name nor his +offence were made the topics of any conversation that occurred between +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX.--M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar + +--Receives his Sentence from Kathleen, and Resolves to Emigrate. + + +Whatever difficulty Bryan M'Mahon had among his family in defending the +course he had taken at the election, he found that not a soul belonging +to his own party would listen to any defense from him. The indignation, +obloquy, and spirit of revenge with which he was pursued and harassed, +excited in his heart, as they would in that of any generous man +conscious of his own integrity, a principle of contempt and defiance, +which, however they required independence in him, only made matters far +worse than they otherwise would have been. He expressed neither regret +nor repentance for having voted as he did; but on the contrary asserted +with a good deal of warmth, that if the same course lay open to him he +would again pursue it. + +"I will never vote for a scoundrel," said he, "and I don't think that +there is anything in my religion that makes it a duty on me to do so. If +my religion is to be supported by scoundrels, the sooner it is forced +to depend on itself the better. Major Vanston is a good landlord, and +supports the rights of his tenantry, Catholic as well as Protestant; he +saved me from ruin when my own landlord refused to interfere for me, +an' Major Vanston, if he's conscientiously opposed to my religion, is an +honest man at all events, and an honest man I'll ever support against +a rogue, and let their politics go where they generally do, go to the +devil." + +Party is a blind, selfish, infatuated monster, brutal and vehement, that +knows not what is meant by reason, justice, liberty, or truth. M'Mahon, +merely because he gave utterance with proper spirit to sentiments of +plain common sense, was assailed by every description of abuse, until he +knew not where to take refuge from that cowardly and ferocious tyranny +which in a hundred shapes proceeded from the public mob. On the +Sunday after the election, his parish priest, one of those political +fire-brands, who whether under a mitre or a white band, are equally +disgraceful and detrimental to religion and the peaceful interests +of mankind--this man, we say, openly denounced him from the altar, in +language which must have argued but little reverence for the sacred +place from which it was uttered, and which came with a very bad grace +from one who affected to be an advocate for liberty of conscience and a +minister of peace. + +"Ay," he proceeded, standing on the altar, "it is well known to our +disgrace and shame how the election was lost. Oh, well may I say to our +disgrace and shame. Little did I think that any one, bearing the once +respectable name of M'Mahon upon him, should turn from the interests of +his holy church, spurn all truth, violate all principle, and enter into +a league of hell with the devil and the enemies of his church. Yes, you +apostate," he proceeded, "you have entered into a league with him, and +ever since there is devil within you. You sold yourself to his agent and +representative, Vanston, You got him to interfere for you with the +Board of Excise, and the fine that was justly imposed on you for your +smugglin' and distillin' whiskey--not that I'm runin' down our whiskey, +because it's the best drinkin of that kind we have, and drinks beautiful +as scalhleen, wid a bit of butther and sugar in it--but it's notorious +that you went to Vanston, and offered if he'd get the fine off you, +that you'd give him your vote; an' if that's not sellin' yourself to the +devil, I don't know what is. Judas did the same thing when he betrayed +our Savior--the only difference is--that he got a thirty shilling +note--an' God knows it was a beggarly bargain--when his hand was in he +ought to have done the thing dacent--and you got the fine taken off +you; that's the difference--that's the difference. But there's more to +come--more corruption where that was. Along wid the removal of the fine +you got a better note than Mr. Judas got. Do you happen to know anything +about a fifty pound note cut in two halves? Eh? Am I tickling you? Do +you happen to know anything about that, you traicherous apostate? If +you don't, I do; and plaise God before many hours the public will know +enough of it, too. How dare you, then, polute the house of God, or come +in presence of His Holy altar, wid such a crust of crimes upon your +soul? Can you deny that you entered into a league of hell wid the devil +and Major Vanston, and that you promised him your vote if he'd get the +fine removed?" + +"I can," replied Bryan; "there's not one word of truth in it." + +"Do you hear that, my friends?" exclaimed the priest; "he calls your +priest a liar upon the altar of the livin' God." + +Here M'Mahon was assailed by such a storm of groans and hisses as, to +say the least of it, was considerably at variance with the principles of +religion and the worship of God. + +"Do you deny," the priest proceeded, "that you received a bribe of fifty +pounds on the very day you voted? Answer me that." + +"I did receive a fifty-pound note in a--" + +Further he could not proceed. It was in vain that he attempted to give +a true account of the letter and its enclosure; the enmity was not +confined to either groans or hisses. He was seized upon in the very +chapel, dragged about in all directions, kicked, punched, and beaten, +until the apprehension of having a murder committed in presence of +God's altar caused the priest to interfere. M'Mahon, however, was +ejected from the chapel; but in such a state that, for some minutes, it +could scarcely be ascertained whether he was alive or dead. After he had +somewhat recovered, his friends assisted him home, where he lay confined +to a sick bed for better than a week. + +Such is a tolerably exact description of scenes which have too +frequently taken place in the country, to the disgrace of religion and +the dishonor of God. We are bound to say, however, that none among +the priesthood encourage or take a part in them, unless those low and +bigoted firebrands who are alike remarkable for vulgarity and ignorance, +and who are perpetually inflamed by that meddling spirit which tempts +them from the quiet path of duty into scenes of political strife and +enmity, in which they seem to be peculiarly at home. Such scenes are +repulsive to the educated priest, and to all who, from superior minds +and information, are perfectly aware that no earthly or other good, but, +on the contrary, much bitterness, strife, and evil, ever result from +them. + +Gerald Cavanagh was by no means so deeply affected by M'Mahon's vote +as were his two daughters. He looked upon the circumstance as one +calculated to promote the views which he entertained for Kathleen's +happiness. Ever since the notion of her marriage with Hycy Burke or +his brother--it mattered little to him which--he felt exceedingly +dissatisfied with her attachment to M'Mahon. Of this weakness, which we +may say, was the only one of the family, we have already spoken. He +lost little time, however, in going to communicate his daughter's +determination to that young man. It so happened, however, that, +notwithstanding three several journeys made for the purpose, he could +not see him; the fact being that Bryan always happened to be from +home when he went. Then came the denouncing scene which we have just +described, when his illness put it out of his power, without danger to +himself, to undergo anything calculated to discompose or disturb him. +The popular feeling, however, was fearfully high and indignant against +him. The report went that he had called Father M'Pepper, the senior +curate, a liar upon the very altar; and the commencement of +his explanation with respect to the fifty-pound note, was, not +unnaturally--since they would not permit him to speak--construed into an +open admission of his having been bribed. + +This was severe and trying enough, but it was not all. Chevydale, whom +he unseated by his vote, after having incurred several thousand pounds +of expense, was resolved to make him suffer for the loss of his seat, as +well as for having dared to vote against him--a purpose in which he was +strongly supported, or into which, we should rather say, he was urged by +Fethertonge, who, in point of fact, now that the leases had dropped, was +negotiating a beneficial bargain with the gauger, apart from Chevydale's +knowledge, who was a feeble, weak-minded man, without experience or a +proper knowledge of his duties. In fact, he was one of,those persons +who, having no fixed character of their own, are either good or evil, +according to the principles of those by whom they happen for the time to +be managed. If Chevydale had been under the guidance of a sensible and +humane agent, he would have been a good landlord; but the fact being +otherwise, he was, in Fethertonge's hands, anything but what a landlord +ought to be. Be this as it may, the period of M'Mahon's illness passed +away, and, on rising from his sick bed, he found the charge of bribery +one of universal belief, against which scarcely any person had the +courage to raise a voice. Even Hycy suffered himself, as it were, with +great regret and reluctance, to become at length persuaded of its truth. +Kathleen, on hearing that he himself had been forced to admit it in the +chapel, felt that the gloom which had of late wrapped her in its +shadow now became so black and impervious that she could see +nothing distinctly. The two facts--that is to say, the vote and the +bribery--seemed to her like some frightful hallucination which lay upon +her spirits--some formidable illusion that haunted her night and day, +and filled her whole being with desolation and sorrow. + +With respect to his own feelings, there was but one thought which gave +him concern, and this was an apprehension that Kathleen might be carried +away by the general prejudice which existed against him. + +"I know Kathleen, however," he would say; "I know her truth, her good +sense, and her affection; and, whatever the world may say, she won't +follow its example and condemn me without a hearing. I will see her +tomorrow and explain all to her. Father," he added, "will you ask Dora +if she will walk with me to the Long-shot Meadow? I think a stroll round +it will do me good. I haven't altogether recovered my strength yet." + +"To be sure I will go with you, Bryan," said the bright-eyed and +affectionate sister; "to be sure I will; it's on my way to Gerald +Cavanagh's; and I'm going down to see how they are, and to know if +something I heard about them is thrue. I want to satisfy myself; but +they musn't get on their high horse with me, I can tell them." + +"You never doubted me, Dora," said Bryan, as they went along--"you never +supposed for a moment that I could"--he paused. "I know," he added, +"that it doesn't look well; but you never supposed that I acted from +treachery, or deceit, or want of affection or respect for my religion? +You don't suppose that what all the country is ringin' with--that I took +a bribe or made a bargain with Vanston--is true?" + +"Why do you ask me such questions?" she replied. "You acted on the spur +of the minute; and I say, afther what you heard from the landlord and +agent, if you had voted for him you'd be a mane, pitiful hound, unworthy +of your name and family. You did well to put him out. If I had been in +your place, 'out you go,' I'd say, 'you're not the man for my money.' +Don't let what the world says fret you, Bryan; sure, while you have +Kathleen and me at your back, you needn't care about them. At any rate, +it's well for Father M'Pepper that I'm not a man, or, priest as he +is, I'd make a stout horsewhip tiche him to mind his religion, and not +intermeddle in politics where he has no business." + +"Why, you're a great little soldier, Dora," replied Bryan, smiling on +her with affectionate admiration. + +"I hate anything tyrannical or overbearing," she replied, "as I do +anything that's mane and ungenerous." + +"As to Father M'Pepper, we're not to take him as an example of what his +brother priests in general are or ought to be. The man may think he is +doing only his duty; but, at all events, Dora, he has proved to me, very +much at my own cost, I grant, that he has more zeal than discretion! May +God forgive him; and that's the worst I wish him. When did you see or +hear from Kathleen? I long to give her an explanation of my conduct, +because I know she will listen to raison." + +"That's more than I know yet, then," replied Dora. "She has awful high +notions of our religion, an' thinks we ought to go about huntin' after +martyrdom. Yes, faix, she thinks we ought to lay down our lives for our +religion or our counthry, if we were to be called on to do so. Isn't +that nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them." + +"It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought--that is, if our +deaths would serve either the one or the other." + +"And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I +would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it." + +"I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but +I know one who would." + +"I know too--Kathleen." + +"Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her +life for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a +sacrifice could be necessary." + +"Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought +to tell it to you or not." + +"I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor +can you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit." + +"I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy +myself--that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and that +everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to know +whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I +ever did." + +"And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks +I'm as bad as I'm reported to be." + +"And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask +you the raison of it like a--ha! ha!--I was goin' to say like a man? +Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to +explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back, +and, when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong." + +"She'd do nothing at the expense of truth," replied her brother. + +"Truth!" exclaimed the lively and generous girl, now catching the warmth +from her own enthusiasm, "truth! who'd regard truth--" + +"Dora!" exclaimed Bryan, with a seriocomic smile. + +"Ha! ha! ha!--truth! what was I sayin'? No, I didn't mean to say +anything against truth; oh, no, God forgive me!" she added, immediately +softening, whilst her bright and beautiful eyes filled with tears, "oh, +no, nor against my darlin' Kathleen either; for, Bryan, I'm tould that +she has never smiled since; and that the color that left her cheeks when +she heard of your vote has never come back to it; and that, in short, +her heart is broken. However, I'll soon see her, and maybe I won't plade +your cause; no lawyer could match me. Whisht!" she exclaimed, "isn't +that Gerald himself comin' over to us?" + +"It is," replied Bryan, "let us meet him;" and, as he spoke, they turned +their steps towards him. As they met, Bryan, forgetting everything that +had occurred, and influenced solely by the habit of former friendship +and good feeling, extended his hand with an intention of clasping that +of his old acquaintance, but the latter withdrew, and refused to meet +this usual exponent of good will. + +"Well, Gerald," said M'Mahon, smiling, "I see you go with the world +too; but, since you won't shake hands with me, allow me to ask your +business." + +"To deliver a message to you from my daughter, and she'd not allow me to +deliver it to any one but yourself. I came three times to see you before +your sickness, but I didn't find jou at home." + +"What's the message, Gerald?" + +"The message, Bryan, is--that you are never to spake to her, nor will +she ever more name your name. She will never be your wife; for she says +that the heart that forgets its duty to God, and the hand that has been +soiled by a bribe, can never be anything to her but the cause of shame +and sorrow; and she bids me say that her happiness is gone and her heart +broken. Now, farewell, and think of the girl you have lost by disgracin' +your religion and your name." + +Bryan paused for a moment, as if irresolute how to act, and exchanged +glances with his high-minded little sister. + +"Tell Kathleen, from me," said the latter, "that if she had a little +more feeling, and a little less pride or religion, I don't know which, +she'd be more of a woman and less of a saint. My brother, tell her, has +disgraced neither his religion nor his name, and that he has too much of +the pride of an injured man to give back any answer to sich a message. +That's my answer, and not his, and you may ask her if it's either +religion or common justice that makes her condemn him she loved without +a hearing? Goodbye, now, Gerald; give my love to Hanna, and tell her +she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister." + +Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that +he was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he +was about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing +eyes, and panting bosom of his heroic little sister. + +"You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a +message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own +defence." + +The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon +him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice +to quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after +the heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and +reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On +hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which +the man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he +looked around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he +said, "Dora, is not this a fine country?" + +"It is," she replied, looking at him with surprise. + +"Would you like," he added, "to lave it?" + +"To lave it, Bryan!" she replied. "Oh, no, not to lave it;" and as she +spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face. + +"Poor Dora," he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression +of love and compassion, "I know your saicret, and have done so this long +time; but don't be cast down. You have been a warm and faithful little +friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet." + +Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with +tears. "I won't deny what you know, Bryan," she replied; "and unless +he----" + +"Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come +what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not +stay. Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an +expense of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken +out of my hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket +of the landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house +and home without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and +other improvements that I made on that farm." + +"It's a hard and cruel case," said Dora; "an there can be no doubt but +that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't +you challenge them, an' fight them?" + +"Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!" replied her brother, smiling; "but +you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely +out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every +tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it. +No, no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country. We will +go to America; but, in the mean time, I'll see what I can do for you." + +"Bryan, dear," she said in a voice of entreaty, "don't think of it. +Oh, stay in your own country. Sure what other country could you like as +well?" + +"I grant you that, Dora; but the truth is, there seems to be a curse +over it; whatever's the raison of it, nothing goes right in it. The +landlords in general care little about the state and condition of their +tenantry. All they trouble themselves about is their rents. Look at my +own case, an' that's but one out of thousands that's happenin' every +day in the country. Grantin' that he didn't sarve me with this notice +to quit, an' supposin' he let me stay in the farm, he'd rise it on me in +sich a way as that I could hardly live in it; an' you know, Dora, that +to be merely strugglin' an' toilin' all one's life is anything but a +comfortable prospect. Then, in consequence of the people depondin upon +nothing but the potato for food, whenever that fails, which, in general, +it does every seventh or eighth year, there's a famine, an' then the +famine is followed by fever an' all kinds of contagious diseases, +in sich a way that the kingdom is turned into one great hospital and +grave-yard. It's these things that's sendin' so many thousands out of +the country; and if we're to go at all, let us go like the rest, while +we're able to go, an' not wait till we become too poor either to go or +stay with comfort." + +"Well, I suppose," replied his sister, "that what you say is true +enough; but for all that I'd rather bear anything in my own dear country +than go to a strange one. Do you think I'd not miss the summer sun +rising behind the Althadawan hills? an' how could I live without seein' +him set behind Mallybeney? An' then to live in a country where I'd not +see these ould hills, the green glens, and mountain rivers about us, +that have all grown into my heart. Oh, Bryan, dear, don't think of +it--don't think of it." + +[Illustration: PAGE 603-- country where I'd not see these ould hills] + +"Dora," replied the other, his fine countenance overshadowed with, deep +emotion as he spoke, "you cannot love these ould hills, as you cull +them, nor these beautiful glens, nor the mountain rivers better than I +do. It will go to my heart to leave them; but leave them I will--ay, and +when I go, you know that I will leave behind me one that's dearer ten +thousand times than them all. Kathleen's message has left me a heavy and +sorrowful heart." + +"I pity her now," replied the kind-hearted girl; "but, still, Bryan, she +sent you a harsh message. Ay, I pity her, for did you observe how the +father looked when he said that she bid him tell you her happiness was +gone, and her heart broken; still, she ought to have seen yourself and +heard your defence." + +"I can neither blame her, nor will; neither can I properly justify my +vote, I grant; it was surely very wrong or she wouldn't feel it as she +does. Indeed. I think I oughtn't to have voted at all." + +"I differ with you there, Bryan," replied Dora, with animation, "I would +rather, ten times over, vote wrongly, than not vote from cowardice. +It's a mane, skulkin', shabby thing, to be afeard to vote when one has a +vote--it's unmanly." + +"I know it is; and it was that very thought that made me vote. I felt +that it would look both mane and cowardly not to vote, and accordingly +I did vote." + +"Ay, and you did right," replied his spirited sister, "and I don't care +who opposes you, I'll support you for it, through thick and thin." + +"And I suppose you may say through right and wrong, too?" + +"Ay, would I," she replied; "eh?--what am I sayin?--throth, I'm a little +madcap, I think. No, I won't support you through right and wrong--it's +only when you're right you may depend on me." + +They had now been more than an hour strolling about the fields, when +Bryan, who did not feel himself quite so strong as he imagined he was, +proposed to return to his father's, where, by the way, he had been +conveyed from the chapel on the Sunday when he had been so severely +maltreated. + +They accordingly did so, for he felt himself weak, and unable to prolong +his walk to any greater distance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI.--Thomas M'Mahon is forced to determine on Emigration. + + +Gerald Cavanaugh felt himself secretly relieved by the discharge of his +message to M'Mahon. + +"It is good," thought he, "to have that affair settled, an' all +expectation of her marriage with him knocked up. I'll be bound a little +time will cool the foolish girl, and put Edward Burke in the way of +succeeding. As for Hycy, I see clearly that whoever is to succeed, he's +not the man--an' the more the pity, for the sorra one of them all so +much the gentleman, nor will live in sich style." + +The gloom which lay upon the heart of Kathleen Cavanagh was neither +moody nor captious, but on the contrary remarkable for a spirit of +extreme gentleness and placidity. From the moment she had come to the +resolution of discarding M'Mahon, she was observed to become more +silent than she had ever been, but at the same time her deportment was +characterized by a tenderness towards the other members of the family +that was sorrowful and affecting to the last degree. Her sister Hanna's +sympathy was deep and full of sorrow. None of them, however, knew her +force of character, nor the inroads which, under guise of this placid +calm, strong grief was secretly making on her health and spirits. The +paleness, for instance, which settled on her cheeks, when the news +of her lover's apostacy, as it was called, and as she considered it, +reached her, never for one moment left it afterwards, and she resembled +some exquisitely chiselled statue moving by machinery, more than +anything else to which we can compare her. + +She was sitting with Hanna when her father returned, after having +delivered her message to M'Mahon. The old man seemed, if one could judge +by his features, to feel rather satisfied, as in fact was the case, and +after having put up his good hat, and laid aside his best coat, he +said, "I have delivered your message, Kathleen, an' dear knows I'm glad +there's an end to that business--it never had my warm heart." + +"It always had mine, then," replied Hanna, "an' I think we ought not to +judge our fellow creatures too severely, knowin' as we do that there's +no such thing as perfection in this world. What the sorra could have +come over him, or tempted him to vote as he did? What did he say, +father, when you brought him the message?" + +"Afther I declared it," replied her father, "he was struck dumb, and +never once opened his lips; but if he didn't spake, his sister Dora +did." + +"An' what did she say--generous and spirited little Dora!--what did she +say, father?" + +He then repeated the message as accurately as he could--for the honest +old man was imbued with too conscientious a love for truth to disguise +or conceal a single syllable that had been intrusted to him on either +side--"Throth," said he, "the same Dora has the use of her tongue when +she pleases; 'ax her,' said she, spakin' of Kathleen, here, 'if it's +either religion or common justice that makes her condemn my brother +without hearin' his defence. Good-bye, now,' says she; 'give my love to +Hanna, and tell her 'she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister.'" + +"Poor Dora!" exclaimed Hanna, whilst the tears came to her eyes, "who +can blame her for defending so good and affectionate a brother? Plague +on it for an election! I wish there was no sich thing in the country." + +"As for me," said Kathleen, "I wouldn't condemn him without a hearing, +if I had any doubt about his conduct, but I have not. He voted for +Vanston--that can't be denied; and proved himself to have less honesty +and scruple than even that profligate Hycy Burke; and if he made a +bargain with Vanston, as is clear he did, an' voted for him because the +other got his fine reduced, why that is worse, because then he did it +knowingly an' with his eyes open, an' contrary to his conscience--ay, +an' to his solemn promise to myself; for I'll tell you now what I never +mentioned before, that I put him on his guard against doing so; and he +knew that if he did, all would and must be over between him and me." + +"Is that true, Kathleen?" said Hanna with surprise; "but why need I ask +you such a question--it's enough that you say it--in that case then I +give him up at last; but who, oh, who could a' believed it?" + +"But that is not all," continued Kathleen, in the same mournful and +resigned tone of voice--"there's the bribe--didn't hundreds hear him +acknowledge publicly in the chapel that he got it? What more is wanting? +How could I ever respect a man that has proved himself to be without +either honesty or principle? and why should it happen, that the man who +has so openly and so knowingly disgraced his religion and his name fall +to my lot? Oh, no--it matters little how I love him, and I grant that in +spite of all that has happened I have a lingering affection for him +even yet; still I don't think that affection will live long--I can now +neither respect or esteem him, an' when that is the case I can't surely +continue long to love him. I know," she proceeded, "that it's not +possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful +conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you +all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may +and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if +I had never known him." + +"Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for +himself?" asked Hanna. + +"No," the other replied; "he heard my message, and was silent. You may +rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would +have said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's +defenceless." + +In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel +surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the +declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of +Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her +relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added +to which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both +families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs--all we say +perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke, +and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not +despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last +said--"If Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to +give him, or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed +of; he may as well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot +love, I can at least respect him." + +These circumstances, together with the period allowed to M'Mahon for +setting himself, if possible, right with Kathleen, in due time reached +his ears. It soon appeared, however, that Kathleen had not all the +pride--if pride it could be called--to herself. M'Mahon, on being made +acquainted with what had occurred, which he had heard from his sister +Dora, simply said--"Since she has not afforded myself any opportunity +of tellin' her the truth, I won't attempt to undeceive her. I will be as +proud as she is. That is all I say." + +"And you are right, Tom," replied Dora, "the name of M'Mahon mustn't be +consarned with anything that's mane or discreditable. The pride of our +old blood must be kept up, Tom; but still when we think of what she's +sufferin' we musn't open our lips against her." + +"Oh, no," he replied; "I know that it's neither harshness nor weakness, +nor useless pride that makes her act as she's doin', but a great mind +and a heart that's full of truth, high thoughts, and such a love for her +religion and its prosperity as I never saw in any one. Still, Dora, I'm +not the person that will ever sneak back to entreat and plead at her +feet like a slave, and by that means make myself look still worse in her +eyes; I know very well that if I did so she'd despise me. God bless her, +at all events, and make her happy! that's the worst I wish her." + +"Amen," replied Dora; "you have said nothing but the truth about her, +and indeed. I see, Tom, that you know her well." + +Thus ended the generous dialogue of Dora and her affectionate brother, +who after all might have been induced by her to remain in his native +country and share whatever fate it might allot him, were it not that in +a few days afterwards, his father found that the only terms on which he +could obtain his farm were such as could scarcely be said to come within +the meaning and spirit of the landlord's adage, "live and let live." +It is true that for the terms on which his farm was offered him he was +indebted to Chevydale himself, who said that as he knew his father had +entertained a high respect for old M'Mahon, he would not suffer him to +be put out. The father besides voted for him, and always had voted for +the family. "Do what you please with the son," he proceeded--"get rid of +him as you like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him +have the farm upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't +you think now it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to +vote for Vanston, although he knew that I had it in my power to send him +about his business?" + +"It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I +witnessed," returned the other. "The wily rascal calculated upon your +forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might +do what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however." + +"Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us, +in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of +Excise." + +"Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves +in the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have +such a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad +example, and calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous +principles among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for +us, rather well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious--and I +have it from the best authority--one of the parties who was cognizant +of his conduct--that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate +compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty +pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself, +being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was +mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already +infamous in the country." + +"What, for receiving a bribe!" exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent +with a significant smile; "and what, pray, is the distinction between +him who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little, +my good Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we +do. A man would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that +you never had bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is +the consciousness of bribery on our own part that prevents us from +attempting to unseat Vanston." + +"That's all very true, I grant you," replied the other; "but in the +mean time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards +M'Mahon, is--not so much whether he is corrupt or not, as whether he has +unseated you; that is the fatal fact against him; and if we allow that +to pass without making him suffer for it, you will find that on the +next election he may have many an imitator, and your chances will not be +worth much--that's all." + +"Very well, Fethertonge," replied the indolent and feeble-minded man, +"I leave him to you; manage him or punish him as you like; but I do beg +that you will let me hear no more about him. Keep his father, however, +on the property; I insist on that; he is an honest man, for he voted for +me; keep him on his farm at reasonable terms too, such,--of course, as +he can live on." + +The reasonable terms proposed by Fethertonge were, however, such as old +Tom M'Mahon could not with any prospect of independence encounter. Even +this, however, was not to him the most depressing consideration. Faith +had been wantonly and deliberately broken with him--the solemn words +of a dying man had been disregarded--and, as Fethertonge had made him +believe, by that son who had always professed to regard and honor his +father's memory. + +"I assure you, M'Mahon," replied the agent, in the last interview he +ever had with him, "I assure you I have done all in my power to bring +matters about; but without avail. It is a painful thing to have to do +with an obstinate man, M'Mahon; with a man who, although he seems quiet +and easy, will and must have everything his own way." + +"Well, sir," replied M'Mahon, "you know what his dying father's words +wor to me." + +"And more than I know them, I can assure you," he whispered, in a very +significant voice, and with a nod of the head that seemed to say, +"your landlord knows them as well as I do. I have done my duty, and +communicated them to him, as I ought." + +M'Mahon shook his head in a melancholy manner, and said,-- + +"Well, sir, at any rate I know the worst. I couldn't now have any +confidence or trust in such a man; I could depend upon neither his word +or his promise; I couldn't look upon him as a friend, for he didn't +prove himself one to my son when he stood in need of one. It's clear +that he doesn't care about the welfare and prosperity of his tenantry; +and for that raison--or rather for all these raisons put together--I'll +join my son, and go to a country where, by all accounts, there's better +prospects for them that's honest and industrious than there is in this +unfortunate one of ours,--where the interest of the people is so much +neglected--neglected! no, but never thought of at all! Good-bye, sir," +he added, taking up his hat, whilst the features of this sterling and +honest man were overcast with a solemn and pathetic spirit, "don't +consider me any longer your tenant. For many a long year has our names +been--but no matther--the time is come at last, and the M'Mahon's of +Carriglass and Ahadarra will be known there no more. It wasn't our +fault; we wor willin' to live--oh! not merely willin' to live, but +anxious to die there; but it can't be. Goodbye, sir." And so they +parted. + +M'Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time +at Carriglass, before him. On entering the house his family, who were +all assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been +deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow. + +"Bryan," said he, "you are right--as indeed you always are. Childre'," +he proceeded, "we must lave the place that we loved so much; where we +have lived for hundreds of years. This counthry isn't one now to prosper +in, as I said not long since--this very day. We must lave the ould +places, an' as I tould Fethertonge, the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and +Carriglass will be the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but +God's will be done! I must look to the intherest of you all, childre'; +but, God help us, that's what I can't do here for the future. Every one +of sense and substance is doin' so, an' why shouldn't we take care of +ourselves as well as the rest? What we want here is encouragement and +fair play; but _fareer gair_, it isn't to be had." + +The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this +was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family +who were immediately moved,--all by sorrow, and some even to tears. +Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his +intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might +change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought +about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears +in her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming: "Oh, father +dear, don't think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it? What +other country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather--here he's +creepin' in, sure he's not the same man within the last few months,--oh, +how could you think of bringin' him, now that he's partly in his grave, +an' he," she added, in a whisper full of compassion, "an' he partly +dotin' with feebleness and age." + +"Hush!" said her father, "we must say nothing of it to him. That must be +kept a secret from him, an' it's likely he won't notice the change." + +Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father's arm, said: +"Father, for the love of God, don't take us from Carriglass and +Ahadarra:--whatever the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let +us bear it here." + +"Father, you won't bring us nor you won't go," added Dora; "sure we +never could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy." + +"Poor Dora!" said Bryan, "what a mistake that is! I feel the contrary; +for the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds +to what I'm sufferin'." + +"Childre'," said the father, "our landlord has broken his own father's +dyin' promise--you all remember how full of delight I came home to you +from Dublin, and how she that's gone"--he paused;--he covered his face +with his open hands, through which the tears were seen to trickle. +This allusion to their beloved mother was too much for them. Arthur +and Michael sat in silence, not knowing exactly upon what grounds their +father had formed a resolution, which, when proposed to him by Bryan, +appeared to be one to which his heart could never lend its sanction. +No sooner was their mother named, however, than they too became deeply +moved, and when Kitty and Dora both rushed with an outcry of sorrow to +their father, exclaiming, "Oh, father dear, think of her that's in the +clay--for her sake, change your mind and don't take us to where we can +never weep a tear over her blessed grave, nor ever kneel over it to +offer a prayer within her hearin' for her soul!" + +"Childre," he exclaimed, wiping away his tears that had indeed flowed +in all the bitterness of grief and undeserved affliction; "childre'," +he replied, "you must be manly now; it's because I love you an' feels +anxious to keep you from beggary and sorrow at a future time, and +destitution and distress, such as we see among so many about us every +day in the week, that I've made up my mind to go. Our landlord wont give +us our farm barrin' at a rent that 'tid bring us down day by day, to +poverty and distress like too many of our neighbors. We have yet some +thrifle o' money left, as much as will, by all accounts, enable us to +take--I mane to purchase a farm in America--an' isn't it betther for us +to go there, and be independent, no matther what it may cost our hearts +to suffer by doin' so, than to stay here until the few hundre' that +I've got together is melted away out of my pocket into the picket of a +landlord that never wanst throubles himself to know how we're gettin' +on, or whether we're doin' well or ill. Then think of his conduct to +Bryan, there; how he neglected him, and would let him go to ruin widout +ever movin' a finger to save him from it. No, childre', undher sich a +man I won't stay. Prepare yourselves, then, to lave this. In biddin' you +to do so, I'm actin' for the best towards you all. I'm doin' my duty by +you, and I expect for that raison, an' as obedient childre'--which I've +ever found you--that you'll do your duty by me, an' give no further +opposition to what I'm proposin' for your sakes. I know you're all +loath--an' you will be loath--to lave this place; but do you think?--do +you?--'that I--I--oh, my God!--do you think, I say, that I'll feel +nothing when we go? Oh! little you know of me if you think so! but, as +I said, we must do our duty. We see our neighbors fallin' away into +poverty, and distress, and destitution day by day, and if we remain in +this unfortunate country, we must only folly in their tracks, an' before +long be as miserable and helpless as they are." + +His family were forced to admit the melancholy truth and strong sense +of all he had uttered, and, although the resolution to which he had come +was one of bitterness and sorrow to them all, yet from a principle of +affection and duty towards him, they felt that any opposition on their +part would have been unjustifiable and wrong. + +"But, sure," the old man proceeded, "there's more than I've mentioned +yet, to send us away. Look at poor Bryan, there, how he was nearly +ruined by the villany of some cowardly scoundrel, or scoundrels, who set +up a still upon his farm; that's a black business, like many other black +business that's a disgrace to the country--an inoffensive young man, +that never made or did anything to make an enemy for himself, durin' his +whole life! An' another thing, bekaise he voted for the man that saved +him from destruction, as he ought to do, an' as I'm proud he did do, +listen now to the blackguard outcry that's against him; ay, and by a +crew of vagabonds that 'ud sell Christ himself, let alone their country, +or their religion, if they were bribed by Protestant goold for it! +Throth I'm sick of the counthry and the people; for instead of gettin' +betther, it's worse they're gettin' every day. Make up your minds then, +childre'; there's a curse on the counthry. Many o' the landlords are +bad enough, too bad, and too neglectful, God knows; but sure the people +themselves is as bad, an' as senseless on the other hand; aren't they +blinded so much by their bad feelin's, and short-sighted passions, that +it is often the best landlords they let out their revenge upon. Prepare +then, childre'; for out of the counthry, or at any rate from among the +people, the poverty and the misery that's in it, wid God's assistance, +we'll go while we're able to do so." + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Mystery Among the Hogans + +--Finigan Defends the Absent. + + +The three Hogans, whom we have lost sight of for some time, were, as our +readers already know, three most unadulterated ruffians, in every +sense of that most respectable term. Yet, singular as it may appear, +notwithstanding their savage brutality, they were each and all possessed +of a genius for mechanical inventions and manual dexterity that was +perfectly astonishing when the low character of their moral, and +intellectual standard is considered. Kate Hogan, who, from her position, +could not possibly be kept out of their secrets, at least for any length +of time, was forced to notice of late that there was a much closer and +more cautious intimacy between Hycy Burke and them than she had ever +observed before. She remarked, besides, that not only was Teddy Phats +excluded from their councils, but she herself was sent out of the way, +whenever Hycy paid them a visit, which uniformly occurred at a late +hour, in the night. + +Another circumstance also occurred about this time which puzzled her not +a little: we mean the unusual absence of Philip for about a fortnight +from home. Now, there certainly nothing more offensive, especially to a +female, than the fact of excluding her from the knowledge of any secret, +a participation in which she may consider as a right. In her case +she felt that it argued want of confidence, and as she had never yet +betrayed any trust or secret reposed in her, she considered their +conduct towards her, not merely as an insult, but such as entitled them +to nothing at her hands but resentment, and a determination to thwart +their plans, whatever they might be, as soon as she should succeed in +making herself acquainted with them. What excited her resentment the +more bitterly was the arrival of a strange man and woman in company with +Philip, as she was able to collect, from the metropolis, to the former +of whom they all seemed to look with much deference as to a superior +spirit of the secret among them this man and his wife were clearly +in possession, as was evident from their whisperings and other +conversations, which they held apart, and uniformly out of her hearing. +It is true the strangers did not reside with the Hogans, but in a small +cabin adjacent to that in which Finigan taught his school. Much of the +same way of thinking was honest Teddy Phats, whom they had now also +abandoned, or rather completely cast off, and, what was still worse, +deprived of the whole apparatus for distillation, which, although +purchased by Hycy Burke's money, they very modestly appropriated to +themselves. Teddy, however, as well as Kate, knew that they were never +cautious without good reason, and as it had pleased them to cut him, as +the phrase goes, so did he, as Kate had done, resolve within himself to +penetrate their secret, if human ingenuity could effect it. + +In this position they were when honest Philip returned, as we have said, +after a fortnight's absence, from some place or places unknown. The +mystery, however, did not end here. Kate observed that, as before, much +of their conversation was held aloof from her, or in such enigmatical +phrases and whisperings, as rendered the substance of it perfectly +inscrutable to her. She observed, besides, that two of them were +frequently absent from the kiln where they lived; but that one always +remained at home to make certain that she should not follow or dog them +to the haunt they frequented. This precaution on their part was uniform. +As it was, however, Kate did not seem to notice it. On the contrary, no +one could exhibit a more finished appearance of stupid indifference than +she assumed upon these occasions, even although she knew by the removal +of the tools, or a portion of them, that her friends were engaged in +some business belonging to their craft. In this manner matters proceeded +for some weeks subsequent to the period of Philip's return. + +Kate also observed, with displeasure, that among all those who joined in +the outcry against Bryan M'Mahon, none made his conduct, such as it was +conceived to have been, a subject of more brutal and bitter triumph than +the Hogans. The only circumstance connected with him which grieved them +to the heart, was the fact that the distillation plot had not ruined him +as they expected it would have done. His disgrace, however, and unjust +ejectment from Ahadarra filled them with that low, ruffianly sense of +exultation, than which, coming from such scoundrels, there is scarcely +anything more detestable in human nature. + +One evening about this time they were sitting about the fire, the three +brothers, Kate, and the young unlicked savages of the family, when +Philip, after helping himself to a glass of quints, said,-- + +"At any rate, there'll be no match between Miss Kathleen and that +vagabond, Bryan M'Mahon. I think we helped to put a nail in his coffin +there, by gob." + +"Ay," said Kate, "an' you may boast of it, you unmanly vagabone; an' yet +you purtind to have a regard for the poor girl, an' a purty way you tuck +to show it--to have her as she is, goin' about wid a pale face an' a +broken heart. Don't you see it's her more than him you're punishin', you +savage of hell?" + +"You had betther keep your tongue off o' me," he replied; "I won't get +into grips wid you any more, you barge o' blazes; but, if you provoke me +wid bad language, I'll give you a clink wid one o' these sotherin'-irons +that'll put a clasp on your tongue." + +"Never attempt that," she replied fiercely, "for, as sure as you do, +I'll have this knife," showing him a large, sharp-pointed one, which, in +accordance with the customs of her class, hung by a black belt of strong +leather from her side--"I'll have this customer here greased in your +puddins, my buck, and, when the win's out o' you, see what you'll be +worth--fit for Captain James's hounds; although I dunno but the very +dogs themselves is too clane to ait you." + +"Come," said Bat, "we'll have no more o' this; do you, Philip, keep +quiet wid your sotherin'-iron, and, as for you, Kate, don't dhraw me +upon you; _na ha nan shin_--it isn't Philip you have. I say I'm right +well plaised that we helped to knock up the match." + +"Don't be too sure," replied Kate, "that it is knocked up; don't now, +mind my words; an' take care that, instead of knockin' it up, you +haven't knocked yourselves down. Chew your cud upon that now." + +"What does she mane?" asked Ned, looking on her with a baleful glance, +in which might be read equal ferocity and alarm. "Why, traichery, of +coorse," replied Philip, in his deep, glowing voice. "Kate," said her +husband, starting into something' like an incipient fit of fury, but +suddenly checking himself--"Kate, my honey, what do you mane by them +words?" + +"What do I mane by them words?" she exclaimed, with an eye which turned +on him with cool defiance; "pick that out o' your larnin', Bat, my pet. +You can all keep your saicrets; an' I'll let you know that I can keep +mine." + +"Be the Holy St. Lucifer," said her husband, "if I wanst thought that +traichery 'ud enter your head, I'd take good care that it's in hell +you'd waken some fine mornin' afore long. So mind yourself, Kate, my +honey." + +"Are you in nobody else's power but mine?" she replied, "ax yourselves +that--an' now do you mind yourself, Bat, my pet, and all o' yez." + +"What is the raison," asked her husband, "that I see you an' Nanny Peety +colloguin' an' huggermuggerin' so often together of late?" + +"Ah," she replied, with a toss of disdain, "what a manly fellow you are +to want to get into women's saicrets! you may save your breath though." + +"Whatever you collogue about, all I say is, that I don't like a bone in +the same Nanny Peety's body. She has an eye in her head that looks as if +it knew one's thoughts." + +"An' maybe it does. One thing I know, and every one knows it, that it's +a very purty eye." + +"Tell her, then, to keep out o' this; we want no spies here." + +"Divil a word of it; she's my niece, an' the king's highway is as free +to her as it is to you or anybody else. She'll be welcome to me any time +she comes, an' let me see who'll dare to mislist her. She feels as she +ought to do, an' as every woman ought to do, ay, an' every man, too, +that is a man, or anything but a brute an' a coward--she feels for that +unfortunate, heart-broken girl 'ithout;' an' it'll be a strange thing +if them that brought her to what she's sufferin' won't suffer +themselves yet; there's a God above still, I hope, glory be to His name! +Traichery!" she exclaimed; "ah, you ill-minded villains, it's yourselves +you're thinkin' of, an' what you desarve. As for myself, it's neither +you nor your villainy that's in my head, but the sorrowful heart that's +in that poor girl 'ithout--ay, an' a broken one; for, indeed, broked it +is; and it's not long she'll be troub'lin' either friend or foe in this +world. The curse o' glory upon you all, you villains, and upon every one +that had a hand in bringing her to this!" + +Having uttered these words, she put her cloak and bonnet upon her, and +left the house, adding as she went out, "if it's any pleasure to you to +know it, I'll tell you. I'm goin' to meet Nancy Peety this minute, +an' you never seen sich colloguin' an' hugger-muggerin' as we'll have, +plaise goodness--ah, you ill-thinkin', skulkin' villains!" + +Kate Hogan, though a tigress when provoked, and a hardened, reckless +creature, scarcely remarkable for any particular virtue that could be +enumerated, and formidable from that savage strength and intrepidity +for which she was so well known, was yet not merely touched by the +sufferings of Kathleen Cavanagh, but absolutely took an interest in +them, at once so deep and full of sympathy, as to affect her temper and +disturb her peace of mind. Notwithstanding her character she was still +a woman; and, in matters involving the happiness of an innocent and +beautiful creature of her own sex, who had been so often personally kind +to herself, and whose family were protectors and benefactors to her and +her kindred, she felt as a woman. Though coarse-minded upon most many +matters, she was yet capable of making the humane distinction which her +brutal relatives could not understand or feel;--we mean the fact that, +in having lent themselves to the base conspiracy planned and concocted +by Hycy Burke, and in having been undoubtedly the cause of M'Mahon's +disgrace, as well as of his projected marriage with Kathleen having been +broken up, they did not perceive that she was equally a sufferer; or, +if they did, they were either too cunning or too hardened to acknowledge +it. For this particular circumstance, Kate, inasmuch as it involved deep +ingratitude on their part, could not at all forgive them. + +At this time, indeed, the melancholy position of Kathleen Cavanagh was +one which excited profound and general sorrow; and just in proportion +as this was sincere, so was the feeling of indignation against him whose +corruption and want of principle were supposed to have involved her +in their consequences. Two months or better of the period allotted by +Kathleen to the vindication of his character, had now elapsed, and yet +nothing had been done to set himself right either with her or the world. +She consequently argued and with apparent reason, that everything in the +shape of justification was out of his power, and this reflection only +deepened her affliction. Yes, it deepened her affliction; but it did +not; on that account succeed in enabling her to obliterate his image +the more easily from her heart. The fact was, that despite the force and +variety of the rumors that were abroad against him--and each succeeding +week brought in some fresh instance of his duplicity and profligacy, +thanks to the ingenious and fertile malignity of Hycy the +accomplished--despite of this, and despite of all, the natural reaction +of her heart had set in--their past endearments, their confidence their +tenderness, their love, now began, after the first vehement expression +of pride and high principle had exhausted the offended mind of its +indignation, to gradually resume their influence over her. A review, +besides, of her own conduct towards her lover was by no means +satisfactory to her. Whilst she could not certainly but condemn him, +she felt as if she had judged him upon a principle at once too cold and +rigorous. Indeed, now that a portion of time had enabled her mind to +cool, she could scarcely understand why it was that she had passed, so +harsh a sentence upon him. She was not, however, capable of analyzing +her own mind and feelings upon the occasion, or she might have known +that her severity towards the man I was the consequence, on her part, of +that innate scorn and indignation which pure and lofty minds naturally +entertain against everything dishonorable and base, and that it is a +very difficult thing to disassociate the crime from the criminal, even +in cases where the latter may have had a strong hold upon the affections +of such a noble nature. Nay, the very fact of finding that one's +affections have been fixed upon a person capable of such dishonor, +produces a double portion of indignation at the discovery of their +profligacy, because it supposes, in the first place, that something like +imposture must have been practised upon us in securing our affections, +or what is still more degrading, that we must have been materially +devoid of common penetration, or we could not have suffered ourselves to +become the dupe of craft and dissimulation. + +Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject +of her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts, +and detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act +inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists +temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach +it. + +Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her +heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by +the shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly +passed away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the +severity of the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to +look back upon her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more +softened medium of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her +slowly but surely, until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess +of her own severity towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally +return, as it were, to a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor, +from an unconscious principle of self-love, to work herself up into that +lofty hatred of dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the +effort was in vain. Every successive review of his guilt was attended +by a consciousness that she had been righteous overmuch, and that the +consequences of his treason, even against their common religion, were +not only rapidly diminishing in her heart, but yielding to something +that very nearly resembled remorse. + +Such was the state of her feelings on the day when Kate Hogan and her +male relatives indulged in the friendly and affectionate dialogue we +have just detailed. Her heart was smitten, in fact, with sorrow for the +harsh part she had taken against her lover, and she only waited for +an opportunity to pour out a full confession of all she felt into the +friendly ear of her sister. + +Gerald Cavanagh's family at this period was darkened by a general spirit +of depression and gloom. Their brother James, from whatever cause it may +have proceeded, seemed to be nearly as much cast down as his sister; and +were it not that Cavanagh himself and his wife sustained themselves by a +hope that Kathleen might ultimately relax so far as to admit, as she had +partly promised to do, the proposals of Edward Burke, it would have +been difficult to find so much suffering apart from death under the same +roof. + +On the day in question, our friend O'Finigan, whose habits of +intemperance had by no means diminished, called at Cavanagh's, as he had +been in the habit of doing. Poor Kathleen was now suffering, besides, +under the consequences of the injunction not to mention M'Mahon's name, +which she had imposed upon her own family--an injunction which they had +ever since faithfully observed. It was quite evident from the unusually +easy fluency of O'Finigan's manner, that he had not confined his +beverages, during the day, to mere water. Hanna, on seeing him enter, +said to Kathleen, in a whisper,-- + +"Hadn't you better come out and take a walk, Kathleen? This O'Finigan is +almost tipsy, and you know he'll be talking about certain subjects you +don't wish to hear." + +"Time enough, dear Hanna," she replied, with a sorrowful look at her +sister, "my heart is so full of suffering and pain that almost anything +will relieve it. You know I was always amused by Finigan's chat." Her +sister, who had not as yet been made acquainted with the change which +had taken place in her heart, on hearing these words looked at her +closely, and smiled sorrowfully, but in such a manner as if she had +at that moment experienced a sensation of pleasure, if not of hope. +Hitherto, whenever a neighbor or stranger came in, Kathleen, fearing +that the forbidden name might become the topic of conversation, always +retired, either to another room or left the house altogether, in order +to relieve her own family from the painful predicament in which their +promise of silence to her had placed them. On this occasion, however, +Hanna perceived with equal surprise and pleasure that she kept her +ground. + +"Sit ye, merry jinteels!" said Finigan, as he entered; "I hope I see +you all in good health and spirits; I hope I do; although I am afraid if +what fame--an' by the way, Mrs. Cavanagh, my classicality tells me, that +the poet Maro blundered like a Hibernian, when he made the same fame a +trumpeter, in which, wid the exception of one point, he was completely +out of keeping. There's not in all litherature another instance of a +female trumpeter; and for sound raisons--if the fair sex were to get +possession of the tuba, God help the world, for it would soon be a noisy +one. However, let me recollect myself--where was I? Oh! ay--I am afraid +that if what fame says--an' by the way, her trumpet must have been a +speaking one--be true, that there's a fair individual here whose spirits +are not of the most exalted character; and indeed, and as I am the +noblest work of God--an honest man--I feel sorry to hear the fact." + +The first portion of this address, we need scarcely say, was the only +part of it which was properly understood, if we except a word or two at +the close. + +"God save you, Misther Finigan." + +"O'Finigan, if you plase, Mrs. Cavanagh." + +"Well, well," she replied, "O'Finigan, since it must be so; but in troth +I can!t always remember it, Misther Finigan, in regard that you didn't +always stand out for it yourself. Is there any news stirrin', you that's +abroad?" + +"Not exactly news, ma'am; but current reports that are now no novelty. +The M'Mahon's--" + +"Oh, never mind them," exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh, glancing at her +daughter, "if you have any 'other news let us hear it--pass over the +M'Mahons--they're not worth our talk, at least some o' them." + +"Pardon me, Mrs. Cavanagh;--if Achilles at the head of his myrmidons was +to inform me to that effect, I'd tell him he had mistaken his customer. +My principle, ma'am--and 'tis one I glory in--is to defend the absent in +gineral, for it is both charitable and ginerous to do so--in gineral, I +say; but when I know that they are unjustly aspersed, I contemplate it +as' an act of duty on my part to vindicate them." + +"Well," replied Mrs. Cavanagh, "that's all very right an' thrue, Mr. +Finigan." + +"It is, Mr. Finig--O'Finigan," observed James Cavanagh, who was present, +"and your words are a credit and an honor to you." + +"Thanks, James, for the compliment; for it is but truth. The scandal I +say (he proceeded without once regarding the hint: thrown out by Mrs. +Cavanagh) which has! been so studiously disseminated against Bryan +M'Mahon--spare your nods and winks, Mrs. Cavanagh, for if you winked at +me with as many eyes as Argus had, and nodded at me wid as many heads as +Hydra, or that baste in the Revelaytions, I'd not suppress a syllable of +truth;--no, ma'am, the _suppressio veri's_ no habit of mine; and I say +and assert--ay, and asseverate--that that honest and high-spirited +young man, named Bryan or Bernard M'Mahon, is the victim of villany +and falsehood--ay, of devilish hatred and ingenious but cowardly +vituperation." + +"Kathleen," whispered her sister, "will you come out, darlin'? this talk +must be painful to you." + +Kathleen gave her a look of much mingled sorrow and entreaty as went to +her heart. Hanna, whose head had been lovingly reclining on her sister's +bosom, pressed her gently but affectionately to her heart, and made no +reply. + +"You wor always a friend of his," replied Mrs. Cavanagh, "an' of course +you spake as a friend." + +"Yes," said Finigan, "I always was a friend of his, because I always +knew his honesty, his love of truth, his hatred of a mane action, ay, +and his generosity and courage. I knew him from the very egg, I may +say--_ab ovo_--Mrs. Cavanagh; it was I instilled his first principles into +him. Oh! I know well! I never had a scholar I was so proud out of. +Hycy Burke was smart, quick, and cunning; but then he was +traicherous--something of a coward when he had his match--strongly +addicted to fiction in most of his narratives, and what was still a +worse point about him, he had the infamous ingenuity, whenever he had a +point to gain--such as belying a boy and taking away his characther--of +making truth discharge all the blackguard duties of falsehoood. Oh! I +know them both well! But who among all I ever enlightened wid +instruction was the boy that always tould the truth, even when it went +against himself?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever defended the +absent?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever and always took the part of the +weak and defenceless against the strong and tyrannical?--why, Bryan +M'Mahon. Who fought for his religion, too, when the young heretics used +to turn it, or try to turn it, into ridicule--ay, and when cowardly and +traicherous Hycy used to sit quietly by, and either put the insult in +his pocket, or curry favor wid the young sneering vagabonds that abused +it? And yet, at the time Hycy was a thousand times a greater little +bigot than Bryan. The one, wid a juvenile rabble at his back, three to +one, was a tyrant over the young schismatics; whilst Bryan, like a brave +youth as he was, ever and always protected them against the disadvantage +of numbers, and insisted on showing them fair play. I am warm, Mrs. +Cavanagh," he continued, "and heat, you know, generates thirst. I know +that a drop o' the right sort used to be somewhere undher this same +roof; but I'm afraid if the _fama clamosa_ be thrue, that the side of +the argument I have taken isn't exactly such as to guarantee me a touch +at the native--that is, taking it for granted that there's any in the +house." + +This request was followed by a short silence. The Cavanagh's all, with +the exception of Kathleen, looked at each other, but every eye was +marked either by indecision or indifference. At length Hanna looked at +her sister, and simply said, "dear Kathleen!" + +"He has done," replied the latter, in a low voice, "what I had not the +generosity to do--he has defended the absent." + +"Darling Kathleen," Hanna whispered, and then pressed her once more to +her heart. "You must have it, Mr. O'Finigan," said she--"you must have +it, and that immediately;" and as she spoke, she proceeded to a cupboard +from which she produced a large black bottle, filled with that peculiar +liquid to which our worthy pedagogue was so devotedly addicted. + +"Ah," said he, on receiving a bumper from the fair hand of Hanna, +"let the M'Mahons alone for the old original--indeed I ought to +say--aboriginal hospitality. Thanks, Miss Hanna; in the meantime I will +enunciate a toast, and although we shall not draw very strongly upon +sentiment for the terms, it shall be plain and pithy; here is 'that the +saddle of infamy may be soon placed upon the right horse,' and maybe +there's an individual not a thousand miles from us, and who is besides +not altogether incognizant of the learned languages, including a +tolerably comprehensive circle of mathematics, who will, to a certain +extent, contribute to the consummation of that most desirable event; +here then, I repate, is the toast--'may the saddle of infamy soon be +placed upon the right horse!'" + +Having drunk off the glass, he turned the mouth of it down upon his +corduroy breeches, as an intimation that he might probably find it +necessary to have recourse to it again. + +Hanna observed, or rather we should say, felt, that as Finigan proceeded +with his reminiscences of M'Mahon's school-boy days and the enumeration +of his virtues, her sister's heart and bosom quivered with deep and +almost irrepressible emotion. There was a good deal of enthusiasm in the +man's manner, because he was in earnest, and it was quite evident that +Kathleen's spirit had caught it as he went along, and that her heart +recognized the truth of the picture which he was drawing. We say she +literally felt the quiverings of her sister's heart against her own, +and to do the admirable girl justice, she rejoiced to recognize these +manifestations of returning affection. + +"It was only yesterday," continued Finigan, resuming the discourse, +"that I met Bryan M'Mahon, and by the way, he has sorrow and distress, +poor fellow, in his face. 'Bryan,' said I, 'is it true that you and +your father's family are preparing to go to that _refugium peccatorum_, +America--that overgrown cupping-glass which is drawing the best blood of +our country out of it?' + +"'The people of Ireland,' he replied, 'have a right to bless God that +there is such a country to fly to, and to resave them from a land +where they're neglected and overlooked. It is true, Mr. O'Finigan,' he +proceeded--!' we have nothing in this country to live for now.' + +"'And so you are preparing?' I asked. + +"'I ought rather say,' he replied, 'that we are prepared; we go in +another month; I only wish we were there already.' + +"'I fear, Bryan,' said I, 'that you have not been well trated of late.' +He looked at me with something like surprise, but said nothing; and in +a quarter, I added, 'that was the last from which you were prepared to +expect justice without mercy.' + +"'I don't understand you,' he replied sharply; 'what do you mean?' + +"'Bryan,' said I, 'I scorn a moral circumbendibus where the direct truth +is necessary; I have heard it said, and I fear it is burthened wid too +much uncomfortable veracity, that Kathleen Cavanagh has donned the black +cap* in doing the judicial upon you, and that she considers her sentence +equal to the laws of the Medes and Persians, unchangeable--or, +like those of our own blessed church--wid reverence be the analogy +made--altogether infallible.' His eye blazed as I spoke; he caught me +where by the collar wid a grip that made me quake--'Another word against +Kathleen Cavanagh,' he replied, 'and I will shake every joint of your +carcass out of its place.' His little sister, Dora, was wid him at the +time; 'Give him a shake or two as it is,' she added, egging him on, 'for +what he has said already;' throth she's a lively little lady that, +an' if it wasn't that she has a pair of dark shining eyes, and sweet +features--ay, and as coaxin' a figure of her own--however, sorra may +care, somehow, I defy any one to, be angry wid her." + + * Alluding to the practice of putting on the black cap when + the Judge condemns a felon to death. + +"Come, Mr. O'Finigan," said James, approaching him, "you must have +another glass." + +"Well no, James," he replied, "I think not." + +"Faith, but I say you will; if it was only to hear what Dora--hem--what +Bryan said. + +"Very well," said the master, allowing him to take the glass which he +received again brimming, "thanks, James." + +"'Well,' said Bryan, lettin' go my collar, 'blame any one you like; +blame me, blame Vanston, blame Chevydale, Fethertonge, anybody, +everybody, the Priest, the Bishop, the Pope,--but don't dare to blame +Kathleen Cavanagh.' + +"'Why,' said I, 'has she been right in her condemnation of you?' + +"'She has,' he replied, with a warmth of enthusiasm which lit up his +whole features; 'she has done nothing but what was right. She just acted +as she ought, and all I can say is, that I know I'm not worthy of her, +and never was. God bless her!' + +"'And don't let me hear,' said Dora, taking up the dialogue, 'that ever +you'll mention her name wid disrespect--mark that, Mr. O'Finigan, or +it'll be worse for you a thrifle.' + +"Her brother looked on her wid complacent affection, and patting her on +the head, said, 'Come, darling, don't beat him now. You see the risk you +run,' he added, as they went away, 'so don't draw down Dora's vengeance +on your head. She might forgive you an offence against herself; but she +won't forgive you one against Kathleen Cavanagh; and, Mister O'Finigan, +neither will I.'" + +"Masther," said James Cavanagh, "you'll stop to-night with us?" + +"No, James, I have an engagement of more importance than you could ever +dhrame of, and about--but I'm not free or at liberty to develop the +plot--for plot it is--at any greater length. Many thanks to you in the +mane time for your hospitable intentions; but before I go, I have a word +to say. Now, what do you think of that young man's ginerosity, who would +rather have himself thought guilty than have her thought wrong; for, +whisper,--I say he's not guilty, and maybe--but, no ruatther, time will +tell, and soon tell, too, plaise God." + +So saying he took up his hat, and politely wished them a pleasant +evening, but firmly refused to taste another drop of liquor, "lest," +he added, "it might denude him of the necessary qualifications for +accomplishing the enterprise on which he was bint." + +When he was gone, Kathleen brought her sister to their own room, and +throwing herself on her bosom, she spoke not, but wept calmly and in +silence for about twenty minutes. + +"Kathleen," said Hanna, "I am glad to see this, and I often wished for +it." + +"Whisht, dear Hanna," she replied; "don't speak to me at present. +I'm not fit to talk on that unfortunate subject yet. 'Forgive us our +trespassess as we--we--forgive them that trespass against us!' Oh! +Hanna darling, how have I prayed?" They then rejoined the family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII.--Harry Clinton's Benevolence Defeated + +--His Uncle's Treachery--The Marriage of Kathleen and Edward Burke +Determined on + + +This partial restoration of M'Mahon to the affections of Kathleen +Cavanagh might have terminated in a full and perfect reconciliation +between them, were it not for circumstances which we are about to +detail. From what our readers know of young Clinton, we need not assure +them that, although wild and fond of pleasure, he was by no means devoid +of either generosity or principle. There were indeed few individuals, +perhaps scarcely any, in the neighborhood, who felt a deeper or +manlier sympathy for the adverse fate and evil repute which had come +so suddenly, and, as he believed in his soul, undeservedly, upon Bryan +M'Mahon. He resolved accordingly to make an effort for the purpose of +setting the unfortunate young man's character right with the public, or +if not with the public, at least in that quarter where such a service +might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald Cavanagh's family. +Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle sat reading the +newspaper, he addressed him as follows:-- + +"By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or +two." + +"Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking +me any question you wish? Why should you not?" + +"This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of +your--your--profession." + +"What is it?--what is it?" + +"You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of +Ahadarra?" + +"I do perfectly well." + +"Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who +furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor +desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?" + +"No, I do not." + +"Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?" + +"Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it +did." + +"Should you wish to know, uncle?" + +"Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that +fortunate event." + +"Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself." + +"I should wish to know, though." + +"Pray have you the letter?" + +"I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't +say which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it +turned up among some other communications of a similar stamp." + +In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his +hands. + +"Now, uncle," he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, "you +admit that this is the letter?" + +"I admit--why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as much?" + +"Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter." + +"I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises +his tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to +make use of them. Go on." + +"The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke." + +"Very likely," replied the cool old Still-Hound; "But I did not think he +would ever place us--" + +"You, sir, if you please." + +"Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation +to him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?" + +His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny +Peety, and the discovery he had made through her of the letter having +been both written and sent by Hycy to the post-office. In order, +besides, to satisfy his relative that the getting up of the still was a +plan concocted by Hycy to ruin M'Mahon, through the, medium of the fine, +he detailed as much of Hycy's former proposal to him as he conveniently +could, without disclosing the part which he himself had undertaken to +perform in this concerted moment. + +"Well, Harry," replied the old fellow after a pause, "he's a d--d +scoundrel, no doubt; but as his scoundrelism is his own, I don't see why +we should hesitate to avail ourselves of it. With respect, however, to +M'Mahon, I can assure you, that I was informed of his intention to set +up a Still a good while before I made the capture, and not by anonymous +information either. Now, what would you say if both I and Fethertonge +knew the whole plot long before it was put in practice?" + +As he spoke, he screwed his hard keen features into a most knavish +expression. + +"Yes," he added; "and I can tell you that both the agent and I forwarned +M'Mahon against suffering himself to engage in anything illegal--which +was our duty as his friends you know--hem!" + +"Is that possible?" said his nephew, blushing for this villianous +admission. + +"Quite possible," replied the other; "however, as I said, I don't see +why we should hesitate to avail ourselves of his villany." + +"That is precisely what I was about to say, sir," replied his nephew, +still musing on what he had heard. + +"Right, Harry; the farm is a good thing, or will be so, at least." + +"The farm, sir! but I did not speak with reference to the farm." + +"Then with reference to what did you speak?" + +"I meant, sir, that we should not hesitate to avail ourselves of his +villany, in setting M'Mahon right with the public as far as we could." + +"With the whole public!--whew! Why, my good young man, I thought the +days of giants and windmills had gone by." + +"Well, sir," continued the nephew, "at all events there is one thing you +must do for me. I wish you to see old Gerald Cavanagh, and as far as +you can to restore his confidence in the honesty and integrity of young +M'Mahon. State to him that you have reason to know that his son has a +bitter enemy in the neighborhood; that great injustice had been done +to him in many ways, and that you would be glad that a reconciliation +should take place between the families." + +"And so I am to set out upon the wild goose chase of reconciling a +wench, and a fellow, without knowing why or wherefore." + +"No, sir--not at all---I will make Cavanough call upon you." + +"I don't understand this," replied the uncle, rubbing behind his ear; "I +don't perceive; but pray what interest have you in the matter?" + +"Upon my honor, uncle, none in life, unless an anxiety to serve poor +M'Mahon. The world is down upon him about that vote which, considering +all the circumstances, was more creditable to him than otherwise. I +know, however, that in consequence of the estrangement between him and +Miss Cavanagh, he is bent on emigrating. It is that fact which presses +upon him most. Now will you oblige me in this, uncle?" + +"Let Cavanagh call upon me," he replied, "and if I can say anything to +soften the old fellow, perhaps I will." + +"Thank you, uncle--thank you--I shall not forget this kindness." + +"Well, then," said his uncle, "I am going down to Fethertonge on a +certain matter of business, you understand, and--let me see--why, if +Cavanagh calls on me tomorrow about eleven, I shall see him at all +events." + +Young Clinton felt surprised and grieved at what his uncle had just +hinted to him; but on the other hand, he felt considerably elated at the +prospect of being able to bring about a reconciliation between these two +families, and with this excellent motive in view he went to Cavanagh, +with whom he had a private conversation. Having been made aware +by M'Mahon himself of Cavanagh's prejudice against him, and the +predilections of himself and his wife for an alliance into Burke's +family, he merely told him that his uncle would be glad to see him the +next day about eleven o'clock, upon which the other promised to attend +to that gentleman. + +Old Clinton, on his way to Fethertonge's, met that worthy individual +riding into Ballymacan. + +"I was going down to you," said he; "but where are you bound for?" + +"Into town," replied the agent; "have you any objection to ride that +way?" + +"None in the world; it is just the same to me. Well, how are matters +proceeding?" + +"Not by any means well," replied the other, "I begin to feel something +like alarm. I wish we had those M'Mahons out of the country. Vanston +has paid that d--d goose Chevydale a visit, and I fear that unless the +Ahadarra man and his father, and the whole crew of them, soon leave the +country, we shall break down in our object." + +"Do you tell me so?" said the gauger, starting; "by Jove, it is well I +know this in time." + +"I don't understand." + +"Why," continued. Clinton, "I was about to take a foolish step to-morrow +morning, for the express purpose, I believe, of keeping him, and +probably the whole family in the country." + +He then detailed the conversation that he had with his nephew, upon +which Fethertonge convinced him that there was more in the wind with +respect to that step, than either he or his nephew, who he assured +him was made a cat's paw of in the business, suspected. "That's a deep +move," said the agent, "but we shall defeat them, notwithstanding. +Everything, however, depends upon their leaving the country before +Chevydale happens to come at the real state of the case; still, it will +go hard or we shall baffle both him and them yet." + +Whether Clinton Was sure that the step urged upon him by his nephew was +the result of a generous regard for M'Mahon, or that the former was made +a mere tool for ultimate purposes, in the hands of the Ahadarra man, as +he called him it is not easy to determine. Be this as it may, when +the hour of eleven came the next morning, he was prepared to set his +nephew's generosity aside, and act upon Fethertonge's theory of doing +everything in his power to get the whole connection out of the country, +"Ha," he exclaimed, "I now understand what Harry meant with respect to +their emigration--'It is that fact which presses upon him most.' Oh ho! +is it so, indeed! Very good, Mr. M'Mahon--we shall act accordingly." + +Gerald Cavanaugh had been made acquainted by his wife on the day before +with the partial revival of his daughter's affection for Bryan M'Mahon, +as well as with the enthusiastic defense of him made by Finigan, two +circumstances which gave him much concern and anxiety. On his return, +however, from Clinton's, his family observed that there was something of +a satisfactory expression mingled up with a good deal of grave thought +in his face. The truth is, if the worthy man thought for a moment that +the ultimate loss of M'Mahon would have seriously injured her peace +of mind, he would have bitterly regretted it, and perhaps encourage +a reconciliation. This was a result, however, that he could scarcely +comprehend. That she might fret and pine for a few months or so was the +worst he could calculate upon, and of course he took it for granted, +that the moment her affection for one was effaced, another might step +in, without any great risk of disappointment. + +"Well, Gerald," said his wife, "what did Ganger Clinton want with you?" + +Gerald looked at his two daughters and sighed unconsciously. "It's not +good news," he proceeded, "in one sense, but it is in another; it's +good news to all my family but that girl sittin' there," pointing to +Kathleen. + +Unfortunately no evil intelligence could have rendered the unhappy +girl's cheek paler than it was; so that, so far as appearances went, it +was impossible to say what effect this startling communication had upon +her. + +"I was down wid Misther Clinton," he proceeded; "he hard a report that +there was about to be a makin' up of the differences between Kathleen +there and Bryan, and he sent for me to say, that, for the girl's +sake--who he said was, as he had heard from all quarthers, a +respectable, genteel girl--he couldn't suffer a young man so full of +thraichery and desate, as he had good raisons to know Bryan M'Mahon +was, to impose himself upon her or her family. He cautioned me," he +proceeded, "and all of us against him; and said that if I allowed a +marriage to take place between him and my daughter, he'd soon bring +disgrace upon her and us, as well as himself. 'You may take my word for +it, Mr. Cavanagh,' says he, 'that is not a thrifle 'ud make me send for +you in sich a business; but, as I happen to know the stuff he is made +of, I couldn't bear to see him take a decent family in so distastefully. +To my own knowledge, Cavanagh,' said he, 'he'd desave a saint, much less +your innocent and unsuspectin' daughter.'" + +"But, father," said Hanna, "you know there's not a word of truth in that +report; and mayn't all that has been said, or at least some of what has +been said against Bryan, be as much a lie as that? Who on earth: could +sich a report come from?" + +"I axed Mr. Clinton the same question," said the father, "and it appears +that it came from Bryan himself." + +"Oh, God forbid!" exclaimed Hanna; "for, if it's a thing that he said +that, he'd say anything." + +"I don't know," returned the father, "I only spake it as I hard it, and, +what is more, I believe it--I believe it after what I hard this day; +everybody knows him now--man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an escape +that innocent girl had of him!" + +Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon +his shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after +looking at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and +calm but concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not +sit down. + +"After all," she exclaimed, "there has been no new crime brought against +him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't +do so again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three +weeks to clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within +that time, take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish--of course +Hycy's out of the question--since you must have it so, for the sooner +I go to my grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it; +but, in the mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear +this long; there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon +it will soon put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow. Oh, +Bryan M'Mahon, can you be what is said of you! and, if you can, oh, why +did we ever meet, or why did I ever see you!" + +Her sister Hanna attempted to console her, but for once she failed. +Kathleen would hear no comfort, for she said she stood in need of none. + +"My mind is all dark," said she, "or rather it is sick of this miserable +work. Why am I fastened upon by such suffering and distraction? Don't +attempt at present to console me, Hanna; I won't, because I can't be +consoled. I wish I knew this man--whether he is honest or not. If he is +the villain they say he is, and that with a false mask upon him, he has +imposed himself on me, and gained my affections by hypocrisy and deceit, +why, Hanna, my darling sister, I could stab him to the heart. To think +that I ever should come to love a villain that could betray his church, +his country, me--and take a bribe; yes, he has done it," she proceeded, +catching fire from the force of her own detestation of what was wrong. +"Here, Hanna, I call back my words--I give him no further warning than +he has got: he knows the time, the greater part of it is past, and has +he ever made a single attempt to clear himself? No, because he cannot. +I despise him; he is unworthy of me, and I fear he ever was. Here, +father," she said with vehemence, "listen to me, my dear father; and +you, my mother, beloved mother, hear me! At the expiration of three +weeks I will marry Edward Burke; he is a modest, and I think an +honest young man, who would not betray his religion nor his country, +nor--nor--any unhappy girl that might happen to love him; oh, no, he +would not--and so, after three weeks--I will marry him. Go now and tell +him so--say I said so; and you may rest assured I will not break my +word, although--I may break--break my heart--my heart! Now, Hanna, come +out and walk, dear--come out, and let us chat of other matters; yes, +of other matters; and you can tell me candidly whether you think Bryan +M'Mahon such a villain." Struck by her own words she paused almost +exhausted, and, bending down, put her face upon her hands, and by a long +persevering effort, at length raised her head, and after a little time +appeared to have regained a good deal of composure; but not without +tears--for she had wept bitterly. + +On that night she told her sister that the last resolution she had come +to was that by which she was determined to abide. + +"You would not have me like a mere girl," she said, "without the power +of knowing my own mind--no; let what may come I will send no messages +after him--and as sure as I have life I will marry Edward Burke after +the expiration of three weeks, if Bryan doesn't--but it's idle to talk +of it--if he could he would have done it before now. Good-night, dear +Hanna--good-night," and after many a long and heavy sigh she sank to an +uneasy and troubled slumber. + +The next morning Gerald Cavanagh, who laid great stress upon the +distracted language of his daughter on the preceding night paid an early +visit to his friend, Jemmy Burke. He found the whole family assembled +at breakfast, and after the usual salutations, was asked to join them, +which invitation, however, having already breakfasted, he declined. Hycy +had of late been very much abroad--that is to say he was out very much +at night, and dined very frequently in the head-inn of Ballymacan, +when one would suppose he ought to have dined at home. On the present +occasion he saluted honest Gerald with a politeness peculiarly ironical. + +"Mr. Cavanagh," said he, "I hope I see you in good health, sir. How +are all the ladies?--Hannah, the neat, and Kathleen--ah, Kathleen, the +divine!" + +"Troth, they're all very well, I thank you, Hycy; and how is yourself?" + +"Free from care, Mr. Cavanagh--a chartered libertine." + +"A libertine!" exclaimed the honest farmer; "troth I've occasionally +heard as much; but until I heard it from your own lips divil a word of +it I believed." + +"He is only jesting, Mr. Cavanagh," said his brother; "he doesn't mean +exactly, nor indeed at all, what you suppose he does." + +"Does he mean anything at all, Ned?" said his father, dryly, "for of +late it's no aisy matther to understand him." + +"Well said, Mr. Burke," replied Hycy; "I am like yourself, becoming +exceedingly oracular of late--but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this exquisite +union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed--does +it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt +clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?" + +"Gerald," said the father, "as there's none here so handy at the +nonsense as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer +himself." + +"Begad, Jemmy," said Cavanagh, "to tell you the truth, I haven't +nonsense enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he +takes to speakin' common-sense I won't undhertake to hould any further +discourse wid him." + +"Why will you continue," said his brother in a low voice, "to render +yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?" + +"Well said, most vituline--_Solomon secundus_, well said." + +"Hycy," said his mother, "you ought to remimber that every one didn't +get the edi cation you did--an' that ignorant people like your father and +Gerald Kavanagh there can't undhercomestand one-half o' what you say. +Sure they know nothing o' book-lamin', and why do you give it them?" + +"Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke. They are two of the most +notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don't possess +your powers of ratiocination, madam?" + +"No," replied his father; "nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, +Hycy." + +Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, "One would think that joke +is pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke. Couldn't you strike out +something original now?" + +"All I can say is," replied the father, "that the joke has betther +bottom than the garran it was made upon." + +Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty +ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and +rode towards Ballymacan. + +It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, +unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them +Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward. +It is sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was +absolutely made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the +exception of the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at +their next meeting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV.--Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen + +--Dora and Her Lover. + + +The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full +of gloom and depression. Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our +independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our +great seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the +case for many a season previously. That something was wrong, and that +something is wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the +myriad's who, whilst they have the means in their hands, are anxious to +get out of it as fast as they can. And yet there is not a country in the +world, a population so affectionately attached to the soil--to the place +of their birth--as the Irish. In fact, the love of their native fields, +their green meadows, the dark mountains, and the glorious torrents that +gush from them, is a passion of which they have in foreign lands +been often known to die. It is called Home Sickness, and we are aware +ourselves of more than one or two cases in which individuals, in a +comparatively early stage of life, have pined away in secret after their +native hills, until the malady becoming known, unfortunately too late, +they sought once more the green fields and valleys among which they had +spent their youth, just in time to lay down their pale cheeks and rest +in their native clay for ever those hearts which absence and separation +from the very soil had broken. + +Now, nothing can be a greater proof of the pressure, the neglect, the +hopelessness of independence or comfort, which the condition of the +people, and the circumstances which occasioned it, have produced, than +the fact that the strong and sacred attachment which we have described +is utterly incapable of attaching them as residents in a country so +indescribably dear to their best affections. People may ask, and do ask, +and will ask, why Ireland is in such a peculiarly distressed state--why +there is always upon its surface a floating mass of pauperism without +parallel in Europe, or perhaps in the world? To this we reply simply +because the duties of property have uniformly been neglected. And in +what, may it be asked, do the duties of property consist? To this we +reply again, in an earnest fixed resolution to promote, in the first +place, the best social and domestic interests of the people, to improve +their condition, to stock their minds with, useful and appropriate +knowledge, to see that they shall be taught what a sense of decent +comfort means, that they shall not rest satisfied with a wad of straw +for a bed, and a meal of potatoes for food, and that they shall, +besides, come to understand the importance of their own position as +members of civil society. Had the landlords of Ireland paid attention +to these and other matters that directly involve their own welfare and +independence, as well as those of their neglected tenantry, they would +not be, as they now are, a class of men, some absolutely bankrupt, and +more on the very eve of it; and all this, to use a commercial phrase +painfully appropriate,--because they neglect their business. + +Who, until lately, ever heard of an Irish landlord having made the +subject of property, or the principles upon which it ought to be +administered, his study? By this we do not mean to say that they did not +occasionally bestow a thought upon their own interests; but, in doing +so, they were guided by erroneous principles that led them to place +these interests in antagonism with those of the people. They forgot +that poverty is the most fertile source of population, and that in every +neglected and ill-regulated state of society, they invariably reproduce +each other; but the landlords kept the people poor, and now they +are surprised, forsooth, at their poverty and the existence of a +superabundant population. + +"We know," said they, "that the people are poor; but we know also that, +by subsisting merely upon the potato, and excluding better food and a +higher state of comfort, of course the more is left for the landlord." +This in general was their principle--and its consequences are now upon +themselves. + +This, however, is a subject on which it is not our intention to +expatiate here. What we say is, that, in all the relations of civil +life, Her people were shamefully and criminally neglected. They were +left without education, permitted to remain ignorant of the arts of +life, and of that industrial knowledge on which, or rather on the +application of which, all public prosperity is based. + +And yet, although the people have great errors, without which no people +so long neglected can ever be found, and, although they have been for +centuries familiarized with suffering, yet it is absolute dread of +poverty that drives them from their native soil; They understand, +in fact, the progress of pauperism too well, and are willing to seek +fortune in any clime, rather than abide its approach to themselves--an +approach which they know is in their case inevitable and certain. For +instance, the very class of our countrymen that constitutes the great +bulk of our emigrants is to be found among those independent small +farmers who appear to understand something like comfort. One of these +men holding, say sixteen or eighteen acres, has a family we will suppose +of four sons and three daughters. This family grows up, the eldest son +marries, and the father, having no other way to provide for him, sets +apart three or four acres of his farm, on which he and his wife settle. +The second comes also to marry, and hopes his father won't treat him +worse than he treated his brother. He accordingly gets four acres more, +and settles down as his brother did. In this manner the holding is +frittered away and subdivided among them. For the first few years--that +is, before their children rise--they may struggle tolerably well; but, +at the expiration of twenty or twenty-five years, each brother finds +himself with such a family as his little strip of land cannot adequately +support, setting aside the claims of the landlord altogether; for rent +in these cases is almost out of the question. + +What, then, is the consequence? Why, that here is to be found a +population of paupers squatted upon patches of land quite incapable of +their support; and in seasons of famine and sickness, especially in a +country where labor is below its value, and employment inadequate to the +demand that is for it, this same population becomes a helpless burthen +upon it--a miserable addition to the mass of poverty and destitution +under which it groans. + +Such is the history of one class of emigrants in this unhappy land, +of ours; and what small farmer, with such a destiny as that we have +detailed staring him and his in the face, would not strain every nerve +that he might fly to any country--rather than remain to encounter the +frightful state of suffering which awaits him in this. + +Such, then, is an illustration of the motives which prompt one class +of emigrants to seek their fortune in other climes, while it is yet in +their power to do so. There is still a higher class, however, consisting +of strong farmers possessed of some property and wealth, who, on looking +around them, find that the mass of destitution which is so rapidly +increasing in every direction must necessarily press upon them in time, +and ultimately drag them down to its own level. But even if the naked +evils which pervade society among us were not capable of driving these +independent yeomen to other lands, we can assure our legislators +that what these circumstances, appalling as they are, may fail in +accomplishing, the recent act for the extra relief of able-bodied +paupers will complete--an act which, instead of being termed a Relief +Act, ought to be called an act for the ruin of the country, and the +confiscation of its property, both of which, if not repealed, it will +ultimately accomplish. We need not mention here cases of individual +neglect or injustice upon the part of landlords and agents, inasmuch as +we have partially founded our narrative upon a fact of this description. + +It has been said, we know, and in many instances with truth, that the +Irish are a negligent and careless people--without that perseverance and +enterprise for which their neighbors on the other side of the channel +are so remarkable. We are not, in point of fact, about to dispute the +justice of this charge; but, if it be true of the people, it is only so +indirectly. It is true of their condition and social circumstances in +this country, rather than of any constitutional deficiency in either +energy or industry that is inherent in their character. In their own +country they have not adequate motive for action--no guarantee that +industry shall secure them independence, or that the fruits of their +labor may not pass, at the will of; their landlords, into other hands. +Many, therefore, of the general imputations that are brought against +them in these respects, ought to be transferred rather to the depressing +circumstances in which they are placed than to the people themselves. +As a proof of; this, we have only to reflect upon their industry, +enterprise, and success, when relieved from the pressure of these +circumstances in other countries--especially in America, where exertion +and industry never, or at least seldom, fail to arrive at comfort and +independence. Make, then, the position of the Irishman reasonable--such, +for instance, as it is in any other country but his own--and he can +stand the test of comparison with any man. + +Not only, however, are the Irish flying from the evils that are to come, +but they feel a most affectionate anxiety to enable all those who are +bound to them by the ties of kindred and domestic affection to imitate +their example. There is not probably to be found in records of human +attachment such a beautiful history of unforgotten affection, as that +presented by the heroic devotion of Irish emigrants to those of their +kindred who remain here from inability to accompany them.* + + *The following extract, from a very sensible pamphlet by + Mr. Murray, is so appropriate to this subject, that we cannot + deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it here:-- + + "You have been accustomed to grapple with and master + figures, whether as representing the produce of former + tariffs, or in constructing new ones, or in showing the + income and expenditure of the greatest nation on the earth. + Those now about to be presented to you, as an appendix to + this communication, are small, very small, in their separate + amounts, and not by any means in the aggregate of the + magnitude of the sums you have been accustomed to deal with; + but they are large separately, and heaving large in the + aggregate, in all that is connected with the higher and + nobler parts of our nature--in all that relates to and + evinces the feelings of the heart towards those who are of + our kindred, no matter by what waters placed asunder or by + what distance separated. They are large, powerfully large, + in reading lessons of instruction to the statesman and + philanthropist, in dealing with a warm-hearted people for + their good, and placing them in a position of comparative + comfort to that in which they now are. The figures represent + the particulars of 7,917 separate Bills of Exchange, varying + in amount from 1 to 10 each--a few exceeding the latter + sum; so many separate offerings from the natives of Ireland + who have heretofore emigrated from its shores, sent to their + relations and friends in Ireland, drawn and paid between the + 1st of January and the 15th of December, 1846--not quite one + year; and amount in all to 41,261 9s. 11d. But this list, + long though it be, does not measure the number and amount of + such interesting offerings. It contains only about one-third + part of the whole number and value of such remittances that + have crossed the Atlantic to Ireland during the 349 days of + 1846. The data from which this list is complied enable the + writer to estimate with confidence the number and amount + drawn otherwise; and he calculates that the entire number, + for not quite one year, of such Bills, is 24,000, and the + amount 125,000, or, on an average, 5 4s. 3d. each. They + are sent from husband to wife, from father to child, from + child to father, mother, and grand-parents, from sister to + brother, and the reverse; and from and to those united by + all the ties of blood and friendship that bind us together + on earth. + + In the list, you will observe that these offerings of + affection are classed according to the parts of Ireland they + are drawn upon, and you will find that they are not confined + to one spot of it, but are general as regards the whole + country."--_Ireland. its Present Condition and Future + Prospects, In n letter addressed to the Right Honorable Sir + Robert Peel, Baronet, by Robert Murray. Esq. Dublin, James + M'Olashan, 21 D'Olier Street, 1847_. + +Let it not be said, then, that the Irishman is deficient in any of the +moral elements or natural qualities which go to the formation of such +a character as might be made honorable to himself and beneficial to the +country. By the success of his exertions in a foreign land, it is clear +that he is not without industry, enterprise, and perseverance; and we +have no hesitation in saying that, if he were supplied at home with due +encouragement and adequate motive, his good qualities could be developed +with as much zeal, energy, and success as ever characterized them in a +foreign country. + +We trust the reader may understand what the condition of the country, at +the period of our narrative to which we refer, must have been, when such +multitudes as we have described rushed to our great seaports in order to +emigrate; the worst feature in this annual movement being that, whilst +the decent, the industrious, and the moral, all influenced by creditable +motives, went to seek independence in a distant land, the idle, the +ignorant, and the destitute necessarily remain at home--all as a +burthen, and too many of them as a disgrace to the country. + +Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and +painful, were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration +which, under the circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among +the people. It was, however, on their part a distressing and mournful +resolve. From the, moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the +whole family. Nothing a few months before had been farther from their +thoughts; but now there existed such a combination of arguments for +their departure, as influenced Bryan and his father, in spite of their +hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and Carriglass. Between them and the +Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan, +there was scarcely any intercourse. Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an +opportunity of exchanging a few words occasionally, but although the +former felt much anxiety for a somewhat lengthened and if possible +confidential conversation with her sparkling little friend, yet the +latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one particular subject, +feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on her part was +humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to compromise +the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora, +notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own +sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who +felt disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could. So indeed +would every one of the family, had they known them, for we need scarcely +say that the warm and generous girl was the centre in which all their +affections met. And this indeed was only justice to her, inasmuch as she +was willing on any occasion to sacrifice her interests, her wishes, or +anything connected with her own welfare, to their individual or general +happiness. We have said, however, that she had her own sorrows, and +this was true. From the moment she felt assured that their emigration +to America was certain, she manifested a depression so profound and +melancholy, that the heart of her brother Bryan, who alone knew its +cause, bled for her. This by the rest of the family was imputed to the +natural regret she felt, in common with themselves, at leaving the old +places for ever, with this difference to be sure--they imagined that she +felt the separation more acutely than they did. Still, as the period +for their departure approached, there was not one of the family, +notwithstanding what she felt herself, who labored so incessantly to +soothe and sustain the spirits of her father, who was fast sinking under +the prospect of being "forever removed," as he said, "from the places +his heart had grown into." She was in fact the general consoler of the +family, and yet her eye scarcely ever met that of her brother that a +tear did not tremble in it, and she felt disposed to burst out into an +agony of unrestrained grief. + +It was one evening in the week previous to their departure, that she +was on her return from Ballymacan, when on passing a bend of the road +between Carriglass and Fenton's farm, she met the cause of the sorrow +which oppressed her, in the handsome person of James Cavanaugh, to +whom she had been for more than a year and a half deeply and devotedly +attached, but without the knowledge of any individual living, save her +lover himself and her brother Bryan. + +On seeing him she naturally started, but it was a start of pleasure, and +she felt her cheek flush and again get pale, and her heart palpitated, +then was still a moment, and again resumed its tumultuous pulsations. + +"Blessed be God, my darlin' Dora, that I've met you at last," said +James; "in heaven's name how did it happen that we haven't met for such +a length of time?" + +"I'm sure that's more than I can tell," replied Dora, "or rather it's +what both, you and I know the cause of too well." + +"Ah, poor Dora," he exclaimed, "for your sake I don't wish to spake +about it at all; it left me many a sore heart when I thought of you." + +Dora's natural pale cheek mantled, and her eyes deepened with a +beautiful severity, as she hastily turned them on him and said, "what do +you mane, James?" + +"About poor Bryan's conduct at the election," he replied, "and that +fifty-pound note; and may hell consume it and him that tempted him with +it!" + +"Do you forget," she said, "that you're spaking to his sister that knows +the falsehood of it all; an' how dare you in my presence attempt to say +or think that Bryan M'Mahon would or could do a mane or dishonest act? +I'm afeard, James, there's a kind of low suspicion in your family that's +not right, and I have my reasons for thinking so. I fear there's a want +of true generosity among you; and if I could be sure of it, I tell you +now, that whatever it might cost me, I'd never--but what am I sayin'? +that's past." + +"Past! oh, why do you spake that way, Dora dear?" + +"It's no matter what I may suffer myself," she replied; "no matter at +all about that; but wanst and for all, I tell you that let what may +happen, I'm not the girl to go into a family that have treated my dear +brother as yours has done. Your sister's conduct has been very harsh and +cruel to the man she was to be married to." + +"My sister, Dora, never did anything but what was right." + +"Well, then, let her go and marry the Pope, with reverence be it spoken, +for I don't know any other husband that's fit for her. I'd like to see +the girl that never did anything wrong; it's a sight I never saw yet, I +know." + +"Dora, dear," replied her lover, "I don't blame you for being angry. I +know that such a load of disgrace upon any family is enough to put one +past their temper. I don't care about that, however," he proceeded; "if +he had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five +hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you +my wife." + +Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language +of Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was +cool and cuttingly ironical. + +"Wouldn't you, indeed?" she replied; "dear me! I have a right to be +proud of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family +blackened by disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James." + +"But you have done nothing wrong, Dora," he replied; "'you're free from +any blame of that kind." + +"I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?" she returned. "Ay, a thousand +things--for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't I +supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had +been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me +now?" + +"Why, that every word you say, and every lively look--ay, or angry if +you like--that you give--makes me love you more and more. An' plase God, +my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife." + +"That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it. +Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my +brother." + +"'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora." + +"Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my +body." + +"Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?" + +"Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would +pay attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to +send for him face to face, and to say--'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you +or one of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful +act'--and here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and +hereditary pride which are more precious relics in a family than +the costliest jewels that ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her +eyes--'and now, Bryan M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own--I ax no +other evidence but your own--I put it to your conscience--to that honor +that has never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it +to yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you--and answer +me as you are in the presence of God--did you do what they charge you +with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own +conscience?" + +The animated sparkle of her face was so delightful and fascinating that +her lover attempted to press her to his bosom; but she would not suffer +it. + +"Behave now," she said firmly; "sorra bit--no," she proceeded; "and +whilst all the world was against him, runnin' him down and blackenin' +him--was she ever the girl to stand up behind his back and defend him +like a--hem--defend him, I say, as a girl that loved him ought, and a +generous-girl would?" + +"But how could she when she believed, him to be wrong?" + +"Why did she believe him to be wrong upon mere hearsay? and granting +that he was wrong! do you think now if you had done what they say he did +(and they lie that say it), an' that I heard the world down on you for +your first slip, do you think, I say, that I'd not defend you out of +clane contrariness,--and to vex them--ay, would I." + +"I know, darlin', that you'd do everything that's generous an' right; +but settin' that affair aside, my dear Dora, what are you and I to do?" + +"I don't know what we're to do," she replied; "it's useless for you to +ax me from my father now; for he wouldn't give me to you,--sorra bit." + +"But you'll give me yourself, Dora, darling." + +"Not without his consent, no nor with it,--as the families stand this +moment; for I tell you again that the sorra ring ever I'll put on you +till your sister sends for my brother, axes his pardon, and makes up +with him, as she ought to do. Oh why, James dear, should she be so harsh +upon him," she said, softening at once; "she that is so good an' so +faultless afther all? but I suppose that's the raison of it--she doesn't +know what it is to do anything that's not right." + +"Dora," said her lover, "don't be harsh on Kathleen; you don't know what +she's sufferin'. Dora, her heart's broke--broke." + +The tears were already upon Dora's cheeks, and her lover, too, was +silent for a moment. + +"She has," resumed the warm-hearted girl, "neither brother nor sister +that loves her, or can love her, better than I do, afther all." + +"But in our case, darling, what's to be done?" he asked, drawing her +gently towards him. + +"I'll tell you then what I'd recommend you to do," she replied; "spake +to my brother Bryan, and be guided by him. I must go now, it's quite +dusk." + +There was a moment's pause, then a gentle remonstrance on the part of +Dora, followed, however, by that soft sound which proceeds from the +pressure of youthful lips--after which she bade her lover a hasty +good-night and hurried home. + + +[Illustration: PAGE 623-- I must leave you--I must go] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV.--The Old Places--Death of a Patriarch. + + +As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, +etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing +distress settled upon the whole family. It had not been their purpose to +apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, +and neither indeed had they done so. The fact, however, reached him from +the neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his +family to conceal the circumstance from him--at least as long as they +could--entered into conversation with him upon it, and by this means +he became acquainted with their determination. Age, within the last +few months--for he was now past ninety--had made sad work with both his +frame and intellect. Indeed, for some time past, he might be said +to hover between reason and dotage. Decrepitude had set in with such +ravages on his constitution that it could almost be marked by daily +stages. Sometimes he talked with singular good sense and feeling; but +on other occasions he either babbled quite heedlessly, or his intellect +would wander back to scenes and incidents of earlier life, many of which +he detailed with a pathos that was created and made touching by the +unconsciousness of his own state while relating them. They also observed +that of late he began to manifest a child-like cunning in many things +connected with himself and family, which, though amusing from its very +simplicity, afforded at the same time a certain indication that the +good old grandfather whom they all loved so well, and whose benignant +character had been only mellowed by age into a more plastic affection +for them all, was soon to be removed from before their eyes, never again +to diffuse among them that charm of domestic truth and love, and the +holy influences of all those fine old virtues which ancestral integrity +sheds over the heart, and transmits pure and untarnished from generation +to generation. + +On the day he made the discovery of their intention, he had been sitting +on a bench in the garden, a favorite seat of his for many a long year +previously; "And so," said he to the neighbor with whom he had been +speaking, "you tell me that all our family is goin' to America?" + +"Why, dear me," replied his acquaintance, "is it possible you didn't +know it?" + +"Ha!" he exclaimed, "I undherstand now why they used to be whisperin' +together so often, and lookin' at me; but indeed they might spake loud +enough now, for I'm so deaf that I can hardly hear anything. Howaniver, +Ned, listen--they all intend to go, you say; now listen, I say--I know +one that won't go; now, do you hear that? You needn't say anything about +it, but this I tell you--listen to me, what's your name? Barney, is it?" + +"Why, is it possible, you don't know Ned Gormley?" + +"Ay, Ned Gormley--och, so it is. Well listen, Ned--there's one they +won't bring; I can tell you that--the sorra foot I'll go to--to--where's +this you say they're goin' to, Jemmy?" + +Gormley shook his head. "Poor Bryan," said he, "it's nearly all over wid +you, at any rate. To America, Bryan," he repeated, in a loud voice. + +"Ay, to America. Well, the sorra foot ever I'll go to America--that one +thing I can tell them. I'm goin' in. Oh! never mind," he exclaimed, +on Gormley offering him assistance, "I'm stout enough still; stout an' +active still; as soople as a two-year ould, thank God. Don't I bear up +wonderfully?" + +"Well, indeed you do, Bryan; it is wonderful, sure enough." + +In a few minutes they arrived at the door; and the old man, recovering +as it were a portion of his former intellect, said, "lavin' this +place--these houses--an' goin' away--far, far away--to a strange +country--to strange people! an' to bring me, the ould white-haired +grandfather, away from all! that would be cruel; but my son Tom will +never do it." + +"Well, at any rate, Bryan," said his neighbor, "whether you go or stay, +God be wid you. It's a pity, God knows, that the like of you and your +family should leave the country; and sure if the landlord, as they say, +is angry about it, why doesn't he do what he ought to do? an' why does +he allow that smooth-tongued rap to lead him by the nose as he does? +Howandiver, as I said, whether you go or stay, Bryan, God be wid you!" + +During all that morning Thomas M'Mahon had been evidently suffering very +deeply from a contemplation of the change that was about to take place +by the departure of himself and his family from Carriglass. He had been +silent the greater part of the morning, and not unfrequently forced to +give away to tears, in which he was joined by his daughters, with the +exception of Dora, who, having assumed the office of comforter, felt +herself bound to maintain the appearance of a firmness which she did +not feel. In this mood he was when "grandfather," as they called him, +entered the house, after having been made acquainted with their secret. +"Tom," said he, approaching his son, "sure you wouldn't go to bring an +ould man away?" + +"Where to, father?" asked the other, a good deal alarmed. + +"Why, to America, where you're all goin' to. Oh! surely you wouldn't +bring the old man away from the green fields of Carriglass? Would you +lay my white head in a strange land, an' among a strange people? Would +you take poor ould grandfather away from them that expects him down, at +Carndhu where they sleep? Carndhu's a holy churchyard. Sure there never +was a Protestant buried in it but one, an' the next mornin' there was a +boortree bush growin' out o' the grave, an' it's there yet to prove the +maricle. Oh! ay, Carndhu's holy ground, an' that's where I must sleep." + +These words were uttered with a tone of such earnest and childlike +entreaty as rendered them affecting in a most extraordinary degree, and +doubly so to those who heard him. Thomas's eyes, despite of every effort +to the contrary, filled with tears. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "he has found it +out at last; but how can I give him consolation, an' I stands in need of +it so much myself?" + +"Father," said he, rising and placing the old man in the arm-chair, +which for the last half century had been his accustomed seat, "father, +we will go together--we will all be wid you. You'll not be among +strangers--you'll have your own about you still." + +"But what's takin' you all away?" + +"Neglect and injustice, an' the evil tongues of them that ought to know +us betther. The landlord didn't turn out to be what he ought to be. May +God forgive him! But at any rate I'm sure he has been misled." + +"Ould Chevydale," said his father, "never was a bad landlord, an' he'd +not become a bad one now. That's not it." + +"But the ould man's dead, father, an' its his son we're spakin' of." + +"And the son of ould Chevydale must have something good about him. The +heart was always right wid his father, and every one knows there's a +great deal in true blood. Sooner or later it'll tell for itself--but +what is this? There was something troublin' me this minute. Oh! ay, +you're goin' away, then, to America; but, mark my words:--I won't go. +You may, but I'll stay here. I won't lave the green fields of Carriglass +for any one. It's not much I'll be among them now, an' it isn't worth +your while to take me from them. Here's where I was born--here's where +the limbs that's now stiff an' feeble was wanst young and active--here's +where the hair that's white as snow was fair an' curlin' like +goold--here's where I was young--here's where I grew ould--among these +dark hills and green fields--here you all know is where I was born; and, +in spite o' you all, here's where I'll die." + +The old man was much moved by all these recollections; for, as he +proceeded, the tears fell fast from his aged eyes, and his voice became +tremulous and full of 'sorrow. + +"Wasn't it here, too," he proceeded, "that Peggy Slevin, she that was +famed far an' near for her beauty, and that the sweet song was made +upon--'Peggy Na Laveen'---ay--ay, you may think yourselves fine an' +handsome; but, where was there sich a couple as grandfather and Peggy Na +Laveen was then?" + +As he uttered these words, his features that had been impressed by +grief, were lit up by a smile of that simple and harmless vanity which +often attends us to the very grave; after which he proceeded:-- + +"There, on the side of that hill is the roofless house where she was +born; an' there's not a field or hill about the place that her feet +didn't make holy to me. I remember her well. I see her, an' I think I +hear her voice on the top of Lisbane, ringin' sweetly across the valley +of the Mountain Wather, as I often did. An' is it to take me away now +from all this? Oh! no, childre', the white-haired grandfather couldn't +go. He couldn't lave the ould places--the ould places. If he did, he'd +die--he'd die. Oh, don't, for God's sake, Tom, as you love me!" + +There was a spirit of helpless entreaty in these last words that touched +his son, and indeed all who heard him, to the quick. + +"Grandfather dear, be quiet," he replied; "God will direct all things +for the best. Don't cry," he added, for the old man was crying like an +infant; "don't cry, but be quiet, and everything will be well in time. +It's a great trial, I know; but any change is better than to remain +here till we come, like so many others, to beggary. God will support us, +father." + +The old man wiped his eyes, and seemed as if he had taken comfort +from the words of his son; whereas, the fact was, that his mind had +altogether passed from the subject; but not without that unconscious +feeling of pain which frequently remains after the recollection of that +which has occasioned it has passed away. + +It was evident, from the manner of the old man, that the knowledge +of their intended emigration had alarmed into action all the dormant +instincts of his nature; but this was clearly more than they were +competent to sustain for any length of time. Neither the tottering +frame, nor the feeble mind was strong enough to meet the shock +which came so unexpectedly upon them. The consequence may be easily +anticipated. On the following day he was able to be up only for an hour; +yet he was not sick, nor did he complain of any particular pain. His +only malady appeared to consist in that last and general prostration of +bodily and intellectual strength, by which persons of extreme old age, +who have enjoyed uninterrupted health, are affected at, or immediately +preceding their dissolution. His mind, however, though wandering and +unsteady, was vigorous in such manifestations as it made. For instance, +it seemed to be impressed by a twofold influence,--the memory of his +early life,--mingled with a vague perception of present anxiety, the +cause of which he occasionally was able to remember, but as often tried +to recollect in vain. + +On the second day after his discovery he was unable to rise at all; but, +as before, he complained of nothing, neither were his spirits depressed. +On the contrary they were rather agitated--sometimes into cheerfulness, +but more frequently into an expression of sorrow and lamentation, which +were, however, blended with old by-gone memories that were peculiarly +reflecting to those who heard them. In this way he went on, sinking +gradually until the day previous to the auction. On that morning, to +their surprise, he appeared to have absolutely regained new strength, +and to have been gifted with something like renovated power of speech. + +"I want to get up," said he, "and it's only Tom an' Dora that I'll allow +to help me. You're all good, an' wor always good to grandfather, but Tom +was my best son, and signs on it--everything thruv wid him, an' God will +prosper an' bless him. Where's Dora?" + +"Here, grandfather." + +"Ay, that's the voice above all o' them that went like music to my +heart; but well I know, and always did, who you have that voice from; +ay, an' I know whose eyes--an' it's them that's the lovely eyes--Dora +has. Isn't the day fine, Dora?" + +"It is, grandfather, a beautiful day." + +"Ay, thank God. Well then I want to go out till I look--take one look at +the ould places; for somehow I think my heart was never so much in them +as now." + +It is impossible to say how or why the feeling prevailed, but the fact +was, that the whole family were impressed with a conviction that this +partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed +the lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he +spoke occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous +patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he +called Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with +streaming eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After +having reached a little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of +the rich country beneath and around them, he called for his chair; "an', +Bryan," said he, "the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me. +A blessin' will follow you, Bryan--a blessin' will follow my manly +grandson, that I often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan," he +proceeded, when the latter had returned with the chair and placed him +in it, "listen, Bryan--when you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married--but I +needn't say it--where was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing +in that respect?--but when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your +own father was to her that's gone--ever and always kind and lovin', +an' what your grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last +time, was to her that's long, long an angel in heaven--my own Peggy +Slevin--but it's the Irish sound of it I like--Peggy Na Laveen. Bring +them all out here--but what is this?--why are you all cryin'? Sure; +there's nothing wrong--an' why do you cry?" + +The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and +the good old man proceeded:-- + +"Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me." The latter, with uncovered head, did +so; and his father resumed:--"Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' son +I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to +you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;--that is, that I +have any right to lave you--I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may +God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to +give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant +you health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you." + +"Oh! little you know, grandfather dear," replied Shibby, "that we've +done wid both of them for ever." + +"Shibby, God bless you, achora," he returned; "but the ould man's lips +can spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin' +from the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words." He +then paused for a few minutes, but appeared to take a comprehensive view +of the surrounding country. + +"But, grandfather," proceeded simple-hearted Shibby, "sure the match +between Bryan and Kathleen Cavanagh is broken up, an' they're not to be +married at all." + +"Don't I say, darlin', that they will be married, an' be happy--ay, +an' may God make them happy! as He will, blessed be His holy name! God, +acushla, can bring about everything in His own good way." + +After another pause of some minutes he murmured to himself--"Peggy Na +Laveen--Peggy Na Laveen--how far that name has gone! Turn me round a +little. What brought us here, childre'? Oh! ay--I wanted to see the ould +places--there's Claghleim, where the walls of the house she was born +in, and the green garden, is both to the fore; yet I hope they won't be +disturbed, if it was only for the sake of them that's gone; an' there's +the rock on the top of Lisbane,where, in the summer evening, long, long +ago, I used to sit an' listen to Peggy Na Laveen singin' over our holy +songs--the darlin' ould songs of the counthry. Oh! clear an' sweet they +used to ring across the glen of the Mountain Wather. An' there's the +hills an' the fields where she an' I so often sported when we wor both +young; there they are, an' many a happy day we had on them; but sure God +was good to us, blessed be His name, as He ever will be to them that's +obadient to His holy will!" + +As he uttered the last words he clasped his two hands together, and, +having closed his eyes, he muttered something internally which they +could not understand. "Now," said he, "bring me in again; I have got my +last look at them all--the ould places, the brave ould places! oh, who +would lave them for any other country? But at any rate, Tom, achora, +don't take me away from them; sure you wouldn't part me from the green +fields of Carriglass? Sure you'd not take me from the blessed graveyard +of Carndhu, where we all sleep. I couldn't rest in a sthrange grave, +nor among strange people; I couldn't rest, barrin' I'm wid her, Peggy Na +Laveen." These words he uttered after his return into the house. + +"Grandfather," said Bryan, "make your mind aisy; we won't take you +from the brave ould places, and you will sleep in Carndhu with Peggy Na +Laveen; make your heart and mind easy, then, for you won't be parted." + +He turned his eyes upon the speaker, and a gleam of exultation and +delight settled upon his worn but venerable features; nor did it wholly +pass away, for, although his chin sank upon his breast, yet the placid +expression remained. On raising his head they perceived that this fine +and patriarchal representative of the truthful integrity and simple +manners of a bygone class had passed into a life where neither age +nor care can oppress the spirit, and from whose enjoyment no fear of +separation can ever disturb it. + +It is unnecessary to describe the sorrow which they felt. It must be +sufficient to say that seldom has grief for one so far advanced in +years been so sincere and deep. Age, joined to the knowledge of his +affectionate heart and many virtues, had encircled him with a halo of +love and pious veneration which caused his disappearance from among them +to be felt, as if a lamb of simple piety and unsullied truth had been +removed from their path for ever. + +That, indeed, was a busy and a melancholy day with the M'Mahons; for, +in addition to the death of the old grandfather, they were obliged to +receive farewell visits to no end from their relations, neighbors, and +acquaintances. Indeed it would be difficult to find a family in a state +of greater distress and sorrow. The auction, of course, was postponed +for a week--that is, until after the old man's funeral--and the +consequence was that circumstances, affecting the fate of our _dramatis +personae_ had time to be developed, which would otherwise have occurred +too late to be available for the purposes of our narrative. This renders +it necessary that we should return to a period in it somewhat anterior +to that at which we have now arrived. + + + + +CHAPTEE XXVI.--Containing a Variety of Matters. + +Our readers cannot have forgotten the angry dialogue which Kate Hogan +and her male relations indulged in upon the misunderstanding that had +occurred between the Cavanaghs and M'Mahons, and its imputed cause. +We stated at the time that Hycy Burke and the Hogans, together with a +strange man and woman, were embarked in some mysterious proceedings from +which both Kate Hogan and Teddy Phats had been excluded. For some time, +both before and after that night, there had been, on the other hand, +a good, deal of mysterious communication between several of our other +characters. For instance Kate Hogan and Nanny Peety had had frequent +interviews, to which, in the course of time, old Peety, Teddy Phats, +and, after him, our friend the schoolmaster had been admitted. Nanny +Peety had also called on Father Magowan, and, after him, upon young +Clinton; and it was evident, from the result of her disclosures to the +two latter, that they also took a warm interest, and were admitted to a +participation in, the councils we mention. To these proceedings Clinton +had not been long privy when he began to communicate with Vanston, who, +on his part, extended the mystery to Chevydale, between whom and himself +several confidential interviews had already taken place. Having thrown +out these hints to our readers, we beg them to accompany us once more to +the parlor of Clinton the gauger and his nephew. + +"So, uncle, now that you have been promoted to the Supervisorship, you +abandon the farm; you abandon Ahadarra?" + +"Why, won't I be out of the district, you blockhead? and you persist in +refusing it besides." + +"Most positively; but I always suspected that Fethertonge was a +scoundrel, as his conduct in that very business with you was a +proo--hem, ahem." + +"Go on," said the uncle, coolly, "don't be ashamed, Harry; I was nearly +as great a scoundrel in that business as he was. I told you before that +I look upon the world as one great pigeon, which every man who can, +without exposing, himself, is obliged to pluck. Now, in the matter of +the farm, I only was about to pluck out a feather or two to put in my +own nest--or yours, if you had stood it." + +"At any rate, uncle, I must admit that you are exceedingly candid." + +"No such thing, you fool; there is scarcely an atom of candor in my +whole composition--I mean to the world, whatever I may be to you. +Candor, Harry, my boy, is a virtue which very few in this life, as it +goes, can afford to practice--at least I never could." + +"Well but, uncle, is it not a pity to see that honest family ruined and +driven out of the country by the villany of Burke on the one hand, +and the deliberate fraud and corruption of Fethertonge, on the +other. However, now that you are resolved to unmask Fethertonge, I am +satisfied. It's a proof that you don't wish to see an honest family +oppressed and turned, without reasonable compensation, out of their +property." + +"It's a proof of no such thing, I tell you. I don't care the devil had +the M'Mahons; but I am bound to this ninnyhammer of a landlord, who has +got me promoted, and who promises, besides, to get an appointment for +you. I cannot see him, I say, fleeced and plucked by this knavish agent, +who winds him about his finger like a thread; and, as to those poor +honest devils of M'Mahons, stop just a moment and I will show you a +document that may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in +order to enhance the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come +nearer the truth, the value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a +document, which I will immediately show you, in my hands." + +He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned +and handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and +Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a +certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings. + +"Now," he proceeded, "there's a document which proves Fethertonge, +notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have +reduced it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to +his account, he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old +Chevydale, it appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove, +the day before he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to +writing, which he did, and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons, +to whom, of course, it was never given." + +"But what claim had you to it, uncle?" + +"Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I +might let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward +methods of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow +Burke has thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those +other mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is +all about and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or +transportation among them." + +"Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession +of them:--There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty +girl--" + +"Ay, ay--no fear but there must be that in it; go along." + +"A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's, +Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the +various stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this +girl, but without success. Her virtue was incorruptible." + +"Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over." + +"Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I +should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you +there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length--that is about a +week ago--was obliged to disclose to her father the endless persecution +which she had to endure at the hands of Hycy Burke; and in addition to +that disclosure, came another, to the effect that she had been for +a considerable period aware of a robbery which took place in old +Burke's--you may remember the stir it made--and which robbery was +perpetrated by Bat Hogan, one of these infamous tinkers that live in +Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, and under the protection of his family. The +girl's father--who, by the way, is no other than the little black +visaged mendicant who goes about the country--" + +"I know him--proceed." + +"Her father, I say, on hearing these circumstances, naturally indignant +at Hycy Burke for his attempts to corrupt the principles of his +daughter, brought the latter with him to Father Magowan, in whose +presence she stated all she knew; adding, that she had secured Bat +Hogan's hat and shoes, which, in his hurry, he had forgotten on the +night of the robbery. She also requested the priest to call upon me, +'as she felt certain,' she said, 'in consequence of a letter of Burke's +which I happened to see as she carried it to the post-office, that I +could throw some light upon his villany. He did so.' It was on that +affair the priest called here the other day, and I very candidly +disclosed to him the history of that letter, and its effect in causing +the seizure of the distillery apparatus--the fact being that everything +was got up by Hycy himself--I mean at his cost, with a view to ruin +M'Mahon. And this I did the more readily, as the scoundrel has gone far +to involve me in the conduct imputed to M'Mahon, as his secret abbettor +and enemy." + +"Well," observed his uncle, "all that's a very pretty affair as it +stands; but what are you to do next?" + +"There is worse behind, I can assure you," continued his nephew. "Hycy +Burke, who is proverbially extravagant, having at last, in an indirect +way, ruined young M'Mahon, from the double motive of ill-will and a wish +to raise money by running illicit spirits--" + +"The d--d scoundrel!" exclaimed the gauger, seized with a virtuous +fit of (professional) indignation, "that fellow would scruple at +nothing--proceed." + +"By the way," observed the other, rather maliciously, "he made a +complete tool of you in M'Mahon's affair." + +"He did, the scoundrel," replied his uncle, wincing a good deal; +"but, as the matter was likely to turn up, he was only working out my +purposes." + +"He is in a bad mess now, however," continued his nephew. + +"Why, is there worse to come?" + +"This same Nanny Peety, you must know, is a relative, it seems, to Bat +Hogan's wife. For some time past there has come a strange man named +Vincent, and his wife, to reside in the neighborhood, and this fellow in +conjunction with the Hogans, was managing some secret proceedings which +no one can penetrate. Now, it appears that Hogan's wife, who has been +kept out of this secret, got Nanny Peety to set her father to work in +order to discover it. Peety, by the advice of Hogan's wife, called in +Teddy Phat's--" + +"What's that? Teddy Phats? Now, by the way, Harry, don't abuse poor +Teddy. You will be surprised, Hal, when I tell you that he and I have +played into each other's hands for years. Yes, my boy, and I can assure +you that, owing to him, both Fethertonge and I were aware of Hycy's +Burke's plot against M'Mahon long before he set it a-going. The fellow, +however, will certainly be hanged yet." + +"Faith, sir," replied Harry, "instead of being hanged himself, he's +likely to hang others. In consequence of an accidental conversation +which Teddy Phats, and Finigan the tippling schoolmaster had, concerning +Vincent, the stranger I spoke of, who, it appears, lives next to +Finigan's school-house, Teddy discovered, through the pedagogue, who, by +the way, is abroad at all hours, that the aforesaid Vincent was in +the habit of going up every night to the most solitary part of the +mountains, but for what purpose, except upon another distillation +affair, he could not say." + +The old gauger or supervisor, as he now considered himself, became +here so comically excited--or, we should rather say, so seriously +excited--that it was with difficulty the nephew could restrain his +laughter. He moved as if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, +his eyes brightened, and his naturally keen and knavish-looking features +were sharpened, as it were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that +he resembled a staunch old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh +slot of a hare. + +"Well," said he, rubbing his hands--"well, go on--what happened? Do you +hear, Harry? What happened? Of course they're at the distillation again. +Don't you hear me, I say? What was the upshot?" + +"Why, the upshot was," replied the other, "that nothing of sufficient +importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that +they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in +that of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy +Burke, or Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself." + +"Tut, tut!" exclaimed Clinton, disappointed--"so after all, there has +been nothing done?" + +"Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these +matters have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three +interviews with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young +M'Mahon from the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds +such a position now with his employer that an infant's breath would +almost blow him out of his good opinion." + +"I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you +to punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge +should escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it +should not, we will give him a breeze." + +"I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an +investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous +letter with me--it may serve an honest man and help to punish a rogue. +What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?" + +"Well," replied the uncle, "for the novelty of the thing I don't care if +I do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is +not prepared for it." + +After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with +Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which +the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his +son. They found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would +have expected; but, in reality, the state of the country was such as +forced them to open their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere +political resentments or senseless party prejudices against each other, +but to the absolute necessity that existed for looking closely into the +state of their property, and the deplorable condition to which, if +they did not take judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be +reduced. They now began to discover a fact which they ought, long since, +to have known--viz.:--that the condition of the people and that of their +property was one and the same--perfectly identical in all things; and +that a poor tenantry never yet existed upon a thriving or independent +estate, or one that was beneficial to the landlord. + +Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival +of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps, +be without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of +it. + +"So," says Vanston, "you are beginning to feel that there is something +wrong on your property, and that your agent is not doing you justice?" + +"I have reason to suspect," replied Chevydale, "that he is neither more +nor less than feathering his own nest at the expense of myself and my +tenantry. I cannot understand why he is so anxious to get the M'Mahons +off the estate; a family unquestionably of great honesty, truth, and +integrity, and who, I believe, have been on the property before it +came into our possession at all. I feel--excuse me, Vanston, for the +admission, but upon my honor it is truth--I feel, I say, that, in the +matter of the election--that is, so far as M'Mahon was concerned, he--my +agent--made a cat's paw of me. He prevented me from supporting young +M'Mahon's memorial; he--he--prejudiced me against the family in several +ways, and now, that I am acquainted with the circumstances of strong and +just indignation against me under which M'Mahon voted, I can't at all +blame him. I would have done the same thing myself." + +"There is d----d villany somewhere at work," replied Vanston. "They talk +of a fifty-pound note that I am said to have sent to him by post. Now, I +pledge my honor as an honest man and a gentleman, that I have sifted and +examined all my agents, and am satisfied that he never received a penny +from me. Young Burke did certainly promise to secure me his vote; but I +have discovered Burke to be a most unprincipled profligate, corrupt and +dishonest. For, you may think it strange that, although he engaged to +procure me M'Mahon's vote, M'Mahon himself, whom I believe, assured me +that he never even asked him for it, until after he had overheard, in +the head inn, a conversation concerning himself that filled him with +bitter resentment against you and your agent." + +"I remember it," replied Chevydale, "and; yet my agents told me that +Burke did everything in his power to prevent M'Mahon from voting for +you." + +"That," replied the other, "was to preserve his own character from the +charge of inconsistency; for, I again assure you that he had promised us +M'Mahon's vote, and that he urged him privately to vote against you. But +d--n the scoundrel, he is not worth the conversation we had about him. +Father Magowan, in consequence of whose note to me I wrote to ask you +here, states in the communication I had from him, that the parties will +be here about twelve o'clock--Burke himself, he thinks, and M'Mahon +along with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out +of the parish--a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we +shall soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking +of the country, what is to be done?" + +"Simply," replied Chevydale, "that we, the landed proprietors of +Ireland, should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile +causes of division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited +us, but set us together by the ears, we should take counsel among +ourselves, and after due and serious deliberation, come to the +determination that it is our duty to prevent Irish interests from being +made subservient to English interests, and from being legislated for +upon English principles." + +"I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer." + +"No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture. +Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation. +When we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British +Parliament--I allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal +members--what hope can we entertain of honesty and love of country from +such men? When we look, too, at many of our Corporations and strike an +average of their honesty and intellect, have we not a right to thank God +that the interests of our country are not confided to the management of +such an arrogant, corrupt, and vulgar crew as in general compose them. +The truth is, Vanston, we must become national in our own defense, and +whilst we repudiate, with a firm conviction of the folly on the one +hand, and the dishonesty on the other, of those who talk about Repeal, +we shall find it our best policy to forget the interests of any +particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down into one great +principle of national love and good-will toward each other. Let us only +become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when we were +unanimous upon other occasions." + +"I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say," +replied Vanston, "and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must +identify ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably +are ours." + +"As to myself," continued Chevydale, "I fear I have much to repair in +my conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy--in +fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil, +according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until +now, I did not suspect." + +"The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others," +replied Vanston; "but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity +of management in Irish property--such indifference and neglect upon our +part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in +most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under +show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently, +much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances." + +The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his +nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they +brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we +should detail there conversation at full length. + +"I must confess," said Clinton, "that I would have some reason to feel +ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it +not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the +commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to +excite any feeling one way or the other." + +"But you must have known, Clinton," said Chevydale, "that it was a most +iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest +agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man." + +"What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?" + +"But had you not in your own possession my father's written +promise--written, too, on his death-bed--to these honest men, that they +should have their leases renewed?" + +"Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not +mine." + +"As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle +you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the +transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say +there is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here." + +"Faith, to tell you the truth," replied Clinton, "as I said to Harry +here, because _I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not +prepared for it_." + +"Well," said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, "I am myself +very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say +that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been +made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take +care that it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can +deliberately avow his participation in such shameless profligacy would +be to identify myself with it. You have been doubly treacherous, Mr. +Clinton; first to me, whom you know to be your friend, and, in the next +place, to the unfortunate partner in your villany, and at my expense; +for d----d if I can call it less. What noise is that?" + +Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two +voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with +each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend +O'Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in +the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not +allow the great O to be suppressed. + +"Behave, and keep quiet, now," said his Reverence, "you unfortunate +pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated." + +"Pardon me, your Reverence," replied O'Finigan; "_non ebrius sed vino +gravatus_, devil a thing more." + +"Get out, you profligate," replied the priest, "don't you know that +either, at this time o' day, is too bad?" + +"_Nego, dominie--nego, Dominie revendre_--denial is my principle, I say. +Do you assert that there's no difference between _ebrius_ and _gravatus +vino_?" + +"In your case, you reprobate, I do. Where would you get the vino? +However," he proceeded, "as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is +possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular +subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and +it's likely we may get more truth out of you." + +"Ay," said the schoolmaster, "upon the principle that _in vino veritas_; +but you know that _gravatus vino_ and _ebrius_ are two different +things--_gravatus vino_, the juice o' the grape--och, och, as every one +knows, could and stupid; but _ebrius_ from blessed poteen, that warms +and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart." + +The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance +and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room. + +"Gentlemen," said the priest, "I trust you will excuse me for the +society in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that +this Finigan--" + +"Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn +of--" + +"Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really +inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence +can be of any advantage to us." + +"He says," replied the master, "that I am _ebrius_, whereas I replied +that I was only _vino gravatus_, by which I only meant _quasi vino +gravatus_; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober +until I'm half seas over--for it is then that I have all my wits +properly about me." + +"In fact, gentleman," proceeded the priest, "in consequence of certain +disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I +deemed it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here. She +is accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who +refuses to be separated from her--and insists, consequently, on coming +along with her. I don't exactly know what her motive may be in this; but +I am certain she has a motive. It is a gratification to me, however, to +find, gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion. +I sent word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M'Mahon; for I thought it only +fair that Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any +charge may be brought against him. I expect M'Mahon, too." + +"Let us remove, then, to my office," said, Chevydale--"it is now a few +minutes past twelve, and I dare say they will soon be here." + +They accordingly did so; and, as he had said, the parties almost +immediately made their appearance. + +"Now, gentlemen," said Father Magowan, "I am of opinion that the best +way is for this girl to state what she knows concerning these Hogans; +but I think I can now persave the raison why Kate Hogan has made it a +point to come with her. It is quite evident from her manner that she +wishes to intimidate this girl, and to prevent her from stating fully +and truly what she knows." + +"No," replied Kate, "it is no such thing--she must either state the +whole truth or nothing; that's what I want, an' what she must do--put +the saddle on the right horse, Nanny--since you will spake." + +"It is a good proverbial illustration," observed Finigan, "but I will +improve it--put the saddle of infamy, I say, upon the right horse, +Nanny. You see, gintlemen," he added, turning to the magistrates, "my +improvement elevates the metaphor--proceed, girsha." + + +"Gentlemen," said Hycy, "I received a note from Father Magowan informing +me that it was probable certain charges might be brought against me--or +at least some complaints made," he added, softening the expression--"and +I should be glad to know what they are all about, before this girl +commences formally to state them; I say so in order that I may not be +taken by surprise." + +"You know," replied the priest, "that you cannot be taken by surprise; +because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that +are against you." + +Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston--and we +may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale. + +"By the way," asked the former of these gentlemen, "does this +investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?" + +"Not, sir, so far as I am aware of--I come here because Father Magowan +wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country +now," he added in a tone of deep melancholy, "there's an end to that for +ever." + +"Now, my good girl," said Chevydale, "you will state all you know +connected with these Hogans fully and truly--that is, neither more nor +less than the truth." + +"All the truth, Nanny," said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly +condensed power; "Hycy Burke," she proceeded, "you ruined Bryan +M'Mahon here--and, by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's +heart--she's gone--no docthor could save her now; and for this you'll +soon know what Kate Hogan can do. Go on, Nanny." + +"Well, gintlemon," Nanny began, "in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here +that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by +the fine." + +Hycy laughed. "Excellent!" said he; "Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did +not imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn +out to be enacted exactly in your office." + +"Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate," said the schoolmaster; +"but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become +a tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed, +girsha." + +"How do you know," asked Chevydale, "that this charge is true?" + +"If I don't know it," she replied, "my aunt here does,--and I think so +does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others." + +"Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?" asked Chevydale, +addressing Kate. + +"Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make +the Still, set it up--and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he +didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all +knew it was--'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above, +where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra." + +"I assure you, gentlemen," said Hycy, "that the respectability of the +witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments +and sense of justice;--a common vagabond and notorious thief on the one +hand, and a beggarman's brat on the other. However, proceed--I perceive +that I shall be obliged to sink under the force of such testimony--ha! +ha! ha!" + +At this moment old Jemmy Burke, having accidentally heard that morning +that such an investigation was to take place, and likely to bear upon +the conduct of his eldest son, resolved to be present at it, and he +accordingly presented himself as Hycy had concluded his observations. + +The high integrity of his character was at once recognized--he was +addressed in terms exceedingly respectful, if not deferential, by +the two magistrates--Chevydale having at once ordered the servant in +attendance to hand him a chair. He thanked him, however, but declined it +gratefully, and stood like the rest. + +In the meantime the investigation proceeded. "Mr. Burke," said +Chevydale, addressing himself to the old man, whose features, by the +way, were full of sorrow and distress--"it may be as well to state to +you that we are not sitting now formally in our magisterial capacity, to +investigate any charges that may be brought against your son, but simply +making some preliminary inquiries with respect to other charges, which +we have been given to understand are about to be brought against the +notorious Hogans." + +"Don't lay the blame upon the Hogans," replied Kate, fiercely--"the +Hogans, bad as people say they are, only acted under Hycy Burke. It was +Hycy Burke." + +"But," said Chevydale, probably out of compassion for the old man, "you +must know we are not now investigating Mr. Burke's conduct." + +"Proceed, gintlemen," said his father, firmly but sorrowfully; "I have +heard it said too often that he was at the bottom of the plot that +ruined Bryan M'Mahon, or that wint near to ruin him; I wish to have that +well sifted, gintlemen, and to know the truth." + +"I can swear," continued Kate, "that it was him got up the whole plan, +and gave them the money for it. I seen him in our house--or, to come +nearer the truth, in Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where we live--givin' them +the money." + +"As you are upon that subject, gentlemen," observed Harry Clinton, "I +think it due to the character of Bryan M'Mahon to state that I am in a +capacity to prove that Hycy Burke was unquestionably at the bottom--or, +in point of fact, the originator--of his calamities with reference to +the act of illicit distillation, and the fine which he would have been +called on to pay, were it not that the Commissioners of Excise remitted +it." + +"Thank you, Mr. Clinton," replied Hycy; "I find I am not mistaken in +you--I think you are worthy of your accomplices"--and he pointed to Kate +and Nanny as he spoke--"proceed." + +"We are passing," observed Vanston, "from one to another rather +irregularly, I fear; don't you think we had better hear this girl fully +in the first place; but, my good girl," he added, "you are to understand +that we are not here to investigate any charges against Mr. Hycy Burke, +but against the Hogans. You will please then to confine your charges to +them." + +"But," replied Nanny, "that's what I can't do, plase your honor, widout +bringin' in Hycy Burke too, bekaise himself an' the Hogans was joined in +everything." + +"I think, gintlemen," said the priest, "the best plan is to let her tell +her story in her own way." + +"Perhaps so," said Chevydale; "proceed, young woman, and state fully and +truly whatever you have got to say." + +"Well, then," she proceeded, "there's one thing I know--I know who +robbed Mr. Burke here;" and she pointed to the old man, who started. + +The magistrates also looked surprised. "How," said Vanston, turning his +eyes keenly upon her, "you know of the robbery; and pray, how long have +you known it?'" + +"Ever since the night it was committed, plaise your honor." + +"What a probable story!" exclaimed Hycy; "and you kept it to yourself, +like an honest girl as you are, until now!" + +"Why, Mr. Burke," said Vanston, quickly and rather sharply, "surely you +can have no motive in impugning her evidence upon that subject?" + +Hycy bit his lip, for he instantly felt that he had overshot himself by +almost anticipating the charge, as if it were about to be made against +himself;--"What I think improbable in it," said Hycy, "is that she +should, if in possession of the facts, keep them concealed so long." + +"Oh, never fear, Mr. Hycy, I'll soon make that plain enough," she +replied. + +"But in the mean time," said Chevydale, "will you state the names of +those who did commit the robbery?" + +"I will," she replied. + +"The whole truth, Nanny," exclaimed Kate. + +"It was Bat Hogan, then, that robbed Mr. Burke," she replied; +"and--and--" + +"Out wid it," said Kate. + +"And who besides, my good girl?" inquired Vanston. + +The young woman looked round with compassion upon Jemmy Burke, and the +tears started to her eyes. "I pity him!" she exclaimed, "I pity him--that +good old man;" and, as she uttered the words, she wept aloud. + +"This, I fear, is getting rather a serious affair," said Vanston, in a +low voice to Chevydale--"I see how the tide is likely to turn." + +Chevydale merely nodded, as if he also comprehended it. "You were about +to add some other name?" said he; "in the mean time compose yourself and +proceed." + +Hycy Burke's face at this moment had become white as a sheet; in fact, +to any one of common penetration, guilt and a dread of the coming +disclosure were legible in every lineament of it. + +"Who was the other person you were about to mention?" asked Vanston. + +"His own son, sir, Mr. Hycy Burke, there." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Chevydale; "Mr. Hycy Burke, do you say? Mr. Burke," +he added, addressing that gentleman, "how is this? Here is a grave and +serious charge against you. What have you to say to it?" + +"That it would be both grave and serious," replied Hycy, "if it +possessed but one simple element, without which all evidence is +valueless--I mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well +name either of yourselves, gentlemen, as me." + +"How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?" asked Hycy. + +"Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs." + +"How did you see him?" asked Vanston. + +"Through a hole in the partition," she replied, "where a knot of the +deal boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet +off o' the room the money was in." + +"Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?" asked Vanston of the old +man. + +"It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue." + +"Well, proceed," said Chevydale. + +"I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it +creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the +chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he +had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I +folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of +the room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the +mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full--but in the teeth. I was +above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she +stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout +bein' seen myself. Well, when the mistress met him she was goin' to bawl +out wid terror, an' would, too, only that Masther Hycy flew to her, put +his hand on her mouth, an' whispered something in her ear. He then went +over to Bat, and got a large shafe of bank-notes from him, an' motioned +him to be off wid himself, an' that he'd see him to-morrow. Bat went +down in the dark, an' Hycy an' his mother had some conversation in a +low voice on the lobby. She seemed angry, an' he was speakin' soft an' +strivin' to put her into good humor again. I then dipt back to bed, but +the never a wink could I get till mornin'; an' when I went down, the +first thing I saw was Bat Hogan's shoes. It was hardly light at the +time; but at any rate I hid them where they couldn't be got, an' it was +well I did, for the first thing I saw was Bat himself peering about the +street and yard, like a man that was looking for something that he had +lost." + +"But how did you know that the shoes were Hogan's?" asked Vanston. + +"Why, your honor, any one that ever seen the man might know that. One +of his heels is a trifle shorter than the other, which makes him halt a +little, an' he has a bunion as big as an egg on the other foot." + +"Ay, Nanny," said Kate, "that's the truth; but I can tell you more, +gentlemen. On the evenin' before, when Mr. Hycy came home, he made up +the plan to rob his father wid Phil Hogan; but Phil got drunk that night +an' Bat had to go in his place. Mr. Hycy promised to see the Hogans that +mornin' at his father's, about ten o'clock; but when they went he had +gone off to Ballymacan; an' as they expected him every minute, they +stayed about the place in spite o' the family, an' mended everything +they could lay their hands on. Bat an' Mr. Hycy met that night in Teddy +Phat's still-house, in Glendearg, an' went home together across the +mountains aftherward." + +"Well, Mr. Burke, what have you to say to this?" asked Chevydale. + +"Why," replied Hycy, "that it's a very respectable conspiracy as it +stands, supported by the thief and vagabond, and the beggar's brat." + +"Was there any investigation at the time of its occurrence?" asked +Vanston. + +"There was, your honor," replied Nanny; "it was proved, clearly enough +that Phil and Ned Hogan were both dead drunk that night an' couldn't +commit a robbery; an' Masther Hycy himself said that he knew how Bat +spent the night, an' that of course he couldn't do it; an' you know, +your honors, there was no gettin' over that. I have, or rather my father +has, Bat Hogan's shoes still." + +"This, I repeat, seems a very serious charge, Mr. Burke," said Chevydale +again. + +"Which, as I said before, contains not one particle of truth," replied +Hycy. "If I had resolved to break open my father's chest to get cash out +of it, it is not likely that I would call in the aid of such a man +as Bat Hogan. As a proof that I had nothing to do with the robbery in +question, I can satisfy you that my mother, not many days after the +occurrence of it, was obliged to get her car and drive some three or +four miles' distance to borrow a hundred pounds for me from a friend of +hers, upon her own responsibility, which, had I committed the outrage in +question, I would not have required at all." + +Old Burke's face would, at this period of the proceedings, have extorted +compassion from any heart. Sorrow, distress, agony of spirit, and shame, +were all so legible in his pale features--that those who were present +kept their eyes averted, from respect to the man, and from sympathy with +his sufferings. + +At length he himself came forward, and, after wiping away a few bitter +tears from his cheeks, he said--"Gentlemen, I care little about the +money I lost, nor about who took it--let it go--as for me, I won't miss +it; but there is one thing that cuts me to the heart--I'm spakin' about +the misfortune that was brought, or near bein' brought, upon this honest +an' generous-hearted young man, Bryan M'Mahon, through manes of a black +plot that was got up against him--I'm spakin' of the Still that was +found on his farm of Ahadarra. That, if my son had act or part in it, is +a thousand times worse than the other; as for the takin' of the money, +I don't care about it, as I said--nor I won't prosecute any one for it; +but I must have my mind satisfied about the other affair." + +It is not our intention to dwell at any length upon the clear proofs of +his treachery and deceit, which were established against him by Harry +Clinton, who produced the anonymous letter to his uncle--brought home to +him as it was by his own evidence and that of Nanny Peety. + +"There is, however," said Vanston, "another circumstance affecting the +reputation and honesty of Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, which in your presence, +Mr. M'Gowan, I am anxious to set at rest. I have already contradicted it +with indignation wherever I have heard it, and I am the more anxious +to do so, now, whilst M'Mahon and Burke are present, and because I have +been given to understand that you denounced him--M'Mahon--with such +hostility from the altar, as almost occasioned him to be put to death in +the house of God." + +"You are undher a mistake there, Major Vanston, with great respect," +replied the priest. "It wasn't I but my senior curate, Father M'Pepper; +and he has already been reprimanded by his Bishop." + +"Well," replied the other, "I am glad to hear it. However, I, now +solemnly declare, as an honest man and an Irish, gentleman, that neither +I, nor any one for me, with my knowledge, ever gave or sent any money to +Bryan M'Mahon; but perhaps we may ascertain who did. M'Mahon, have you +got the letter about you?" + +"I have, sir," replied Bryan, "and the bank-note, too." + +"You will find the frank and address both in your own handwriting," said +Hycy. "It was I brought him the letter from the post-office." + +"Show me the letter, if you plaise," said Nanny, who, after looking +first at it and then at Hycy, added, "and it was I gave it this little +tear near the corner, and dhrew three scrapes of a pin across the paper, +an' there they are yet; an' now I can take my oath that it was Mr. Hycy +that sent that letther to Bryan M'Mahon--an' your Reverence is the very +man I showed it to, and that tould me who it was goin' to, in the street +of Ballymacan."' + +On a close inspection of the letter it was clearly obvious that, +although there appeared at a cursory glance a strong resemblance between +the frank and the address, yet the difference was too plain to be +mistaken. + +"If there is further evidence necessary," said Vanston, looking at Hycy +significantly, "my agent can produce it--and he is now in the house." + +"I think you would not venture on that," replied Hycy. + +"Don't be too sure of that," said the other, determinedly. + +"Sir," replied Father Magowan, "there is nothing further on that point +necessary--the proof is plain and clear; and now, Bryan M'Mahon, give +me your hand, for it is that of an honest man--I am proud to see that +you stand pure and unsullied again; and it shall be my duty to see that +justice shall be rendered! you, and ample compensation made for all that +you have suffered." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Bryan, with an air of deep dejection, "but I +am sorry to say it is now too late--I am done with the country, and with +those that misrepresented me, for ever." + +Chevydale looked at him with deep attention for a moment, then whispered +something to Vanston, who smiled, and nodded his head approvingly. + +Jemmy Burke now prepared to go. "Good mornin', gintlemen," he said, "I +am glad to see the honest name cleared and set right, as it ought to be; +but as for myself, I lave you wid a heavy--wid a breakin' heart." + +As he disappeared at the door, Hycy rushed after him, exclaiming, +"Father, listen to me--don't go yet till you hear my defence. I will go +and fetch him back," he exclaimed--"he must hear what I have to say for +myself." + +He overtook his father at the bottom of the hall steps. "Give me a +hundred pounds," said he, "and you will never see my face again." + +"There is two hundre'," said his father; "I expected this. Your mother +confessed all to me this mornin', bekaise she knew it would come out +here, I suppose. Go now, for undher my roof you'll never come again. If +you can--reform your life--an' live at all events, as if there was a God +above you. Before you go answer me;--what made you bring in Bat Hogan +to rob me?" + +"Simply," replied his son, "because I wished to make him and them feel +that I had them in my power--and now you have it." + +[Illustration: PAGE 635-- Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse] + +Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in +a moment--"Ah!" exclaimed the old man, with bitterness of soul, "what +mightn't he be if his weak and foolish mother hadn't taken it into her +head to make a gentleman of him! But now she reaps as she sowed. She's +punished--an' that's enough."--And thus does Hycy the accomplished make +his exit from our humble stage. + +"Gintlemen," said Finigan, "now that the accomplished Mr. Hycy is +disposed of, I beg to state, that it will be productive of much public +good to the country to expatriate these three virtuous worthies, _qui +nomine gaudent_ Hogan--and the more so as it can be done on clear legal +grounds. They are a principal means of driving this respectable young +man, Bryan M'Mahon, and his father's family, out of the land of their +birth; and there will be something extremely appropriate--and indicative +besides of condign and retributive punishment--in sending them on their +travels at his Majesty's expense. I am here, in connection with others, +to furnish you with the necessary proof against them; and I am of +opinion that the sooner they are sent upon a voyage of discovery it will +be so much the better for the rejoicing neighborhood they will leave +behind them." + +The hint was immediately taken with respect to them and Vincent, all +of whom had been engaged in coming under Hycy's auspices--they were +apprehended and imprisoned, the chief evidence against them being Teddy +Phats, Peety Dhu, and Finigan, who for once became a stag, as he called +it. They were indicted for a capital felony; but the prosecution having +been postponed for want of sufficient evidence, they were kept in +durance until next assizes;--having found it impossible to procure bail. +In the meantime new charges of uttering base coin came thick and strong +against them; and as the Crown lawyers found that they could not succeed +on the capital indictment--nor indeed did they wish to do so--they +tried them on the lighter one, and succeeded in getting sentence of +transportation passed against every one of them, with the exception of +Kate Hogan alone.--So that, as Finigan afterwards said, "instead of Bryan +M'Mahon, it was they themselves that became 'the Emigrants of Ahadarra,' +at the king's expense--and Mr. Hycy at his own." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII.--Conclusion. + + +How Kathleen Cavanagh spent the time that elapsed between the period +at which she last appeared to our readers and the present may be easily +gathered from what we are about to write. We have said already that her +father, upon the strength of some expressions uttered in a spirit of +distraction and agony, assured Jemmy Burke that she had consented to +marry his son Edward, after a given period. Honest Jemmy, however, never +for a moment suspected the nature of the basis upon which his worthy +neighbor had erected the superstructure of his narrative; but at +the same time he felt sadly puzzled by the melancholy and declining +appearance of her whom he looked upon as his future daughter-in-law. The +truth was that scarcely any of her acquaintances could recognize her as +the same majestic, tall, and beautiful girl whom they had known before +this heavy disappointment had come on her. Her exquisite figure had lost +most of its roundness, her eye no longer flashed--with its dark mellow +lustre, and her cheek--her damask cheek--distress and despair had fed +upon it, until little remained there but the hue of death itself. Her +health in fact was evidently beginning to go. Her appetite had abandoned +her; she slept little, and that little was restless and unrefreshing. +All her family, with the exception of her father and mother, who +sustained themselves with the silly ambition of their daughter being +able to keep her jaunting-car--for her father had made that point a +_sine qua non_--all, we say, with the above exceptions, became seriously +alarmed at the state of her mind and health. + +"Kathleen, dear," said her affectionate sister, "I think you have +carried your feelings against Bryan far enough." + +"My feelings against Bryan!" she exclamed. + +"Yes," proceeded her sister, "I think you ought to forgive him." + +"Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have +long since forgiven him, Hanna." + +"Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?" + +"I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can +nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when +brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal--the man that +would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of +corruption--he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and he +must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling +principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is +because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that +I am as you see me." + +"Then you do intend to marry?" asked Hanna, with a smile. + +"Why do you ask that, Hanna?" + +"Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man +your husband is to be." + +"Hanna," she replied, solemnly, "look at my cheek, look at my eye, look +at my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can. +Don't you see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it." + +Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst +into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief. + +"Oh, you are changed, most woefully, Kathleen, darlin'," she exclaimed, +kissing her tenderly; "but if you could only bear up now, time would set +everything right, and bring you about right, as it will still, I hope." + +Her sister mused for some time, and then added--"I think I could bear +up yet if he was to stay in the country; but when I recollect that he's +going to another land--forever--I feel that my heart is broken: as it +is, his disgrace and that thought are both killin' me. To-morrow the +auction comes on, and then he goes--after that I will never see him. I'm +afraid, Hanna, that I'll have to go to bed; I feel that I'm hardly able +to sit up." + +Hanna once more pressed her to her heart and wept. + +"Don't cry, Hanna dear--don't cry for me; the bitterest part of my fate +will be partin' from you." + +Hanna here pressed her again and wept aloud, whilst her spotless and +great-minded sister consoled her as well as she could. "Oh, what would +become of me!" exclaimed Hanna, sobbing; "if anything was to happen you, +or take you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die." + +"Hanna," said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on +that distressing subject; "on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan +to clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that +you'll do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing +me about Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him +your husband yet, and I think he's worthy of you--that's saying a great +deal, I know. You love him, Hanna--I know it, and he loves you, Hanna, +for he told me so the last day but one he was here;--you remember they +all went out, and left us together, and then he told me all." + +Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when +a rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this +dialogue took place in the parlor--exclaiming, "God save all here! How +do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?" + +"Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl +that's a little low spirited for some time past." + +"Ay, ay, I know the cause of that--it's no secret--where is she now? If +she's in the house let me see her." + +The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features, +immediately made their appearance. + +"God be good to us!" he exclaimed, "here's a change! Why, may I never +sin, if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard +us! look at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?" + +"Nothing on airth," she replied; "her complaint's upon the spirits, an' +we didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her." + +"Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your +sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he +ever was--an honest an' upright young man." + +Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without +seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and +was about to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with +alarm--"Kathleen, what ails you, dear? Where are you going?" + +"Going," she replied; "I was going to--where?--why?--what--what has +happened?" + +"The news came upon her too much by surprise," said Hanna, looking +towards the priest. + +"Kathleen, darlin'," exclaimed her mother, "try and compose yourself. +Lord guard us, what can ail her?" + +"Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father +Magowan stay where you are." + +They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she +recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which +the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated. +Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom +and indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had +recovered a little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the +circumstances connected with the changes that had affected her lover's +character so deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the +following determination--a determination, by the way, which we earnestly +recommend to all politicians of his profession. + +"As for my part," said he, "it has opened my eyes to one thing that +I won't forget:--a single word of politics I shall never suffer to +be preached from the altar while I live; neither shall I allow +denouncements for political offences. The altar, as the bishop told +me--and a hard rap he gave Mr. M'Pepper across the knuckles for Bryan's +affair--'the altar,' said he, 'isn't the place for politics, but for +religion; an' I hope I may never hear of its being desecrated with +politics again,' said his lordship, an' neither I will, I assure you." + +The intelligence of the unexpected change that had taken place in favor +of the M'Mahon's, did not reach them on that day, which was the same, +as we have stated, on which their grandfather departed this life. The +relief felt by Thomas M'Mahon and his family at this old man's death, +took nothing from the sorrow which weighed them down so heavily in +consequence of their separation from the abode of their forefathers +and the place of their birth. They knew, or at least they took it for +granted that their grandfather would never have borne the long voyage +across the Atlantic, a circumstance which distressed them very much. His +death, however, exhibiting, as it did, the undying attachment to home +which nothing else could extinguish, only kindled the same affection +more strongly and tenderly in their hearts. The account of it had gone +abroad through the neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the +auction would be postponed until that day week. And now that he was +gone, all their hearts turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and +almost agonizing' struggles which their coming departure caused their +father to contend with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained +them all, absolutely feared that his courage would fail him, or that his +very health would break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister, +Dora, who, although too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings, +did not endure the less on that account. + +"My dear Dora," said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, "I +know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between +the Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had +intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God +knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in +denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel." + +"Don't fret for me, Bryan," she replied; "I'm willin' to bear my share +of the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything +mane or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and +lave him for ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must +submit to it. May God strengthen and enable me! and that's my earnest +prayer. I also often prayed that you an' Kathleen might be reconciled; +but I wasn't heard, it seems. I sometimes think that you ought to go to +her; but then on second thoughts I can hardly advise you to do so." + +"No, Dora, I never will, dear; she ought to have heard me as you said +face to face; instead o' that she condemned me without a hearin'. An' +yet, Dora," he added, "little she knows--little she drames, what I'm +sufferin on her account, and how I love her--more now than ever, I +think; she's so changed, they say, that you could scarcely know her." As +he spoke, a single tear fell upon Dora's hand which he held in his. + +"Come. Bryan," she said, assuming a cheerfulness which she did not feel, +"don't have it to say that little Dora, who ought and does look up to +you for support, must begin to support you herself; to-morrow's the +last day--who knows but she may relent yet?" Bryan smiled faintly, then +patted her head, and said, "darling little Dora, the wealth of nations +couldn't purchase you." + +"Not to do any thing mane or wrong, at any rate," she replied; after +which she went in to attend to the affairs of the family, for this +conversation took place in the garden. + +As evening approached, a deep gloom, the consequence of strong inward +suffering, overspread the features and bearing of Thomas M'Mahon. For +some time past, he had almost given himself over to the influence of +what he experienced--a fact that was observable in many ways, all more +or less tending to revive the affection which he felt for his departed +wife. For instance, ever since their minds had been made up to emigrate, +he had watched, and tended, and fed Bracky, her favorite cow, with his +own hands; nor would he suffer any one else in the family to go near +her, with the exception of Dora, by whom she had been milked ever since +her mother's death, and to whom the poor animal had now transferred her +affection. He also cleaned and oiled her spinning-wheel, examined her +clothes, and kept himself perpetually engaged in looking at every object +that was calculated to bring her once more before his imagination. + +About a couple of hours before sunset, without saying where he was +going, he sauntered down to the graveyard of Gamdhu where she lay, and +having first uncovered his head and offered up a prayer for the repose +of her soul, he wept bitterly. + +"Bridget," said he, in that strong figurative language so frequently +used by the Irish, when under the influence of deep, emotion; "Bridget, +wife of my heart, you are removed from the thrials and throubles of this +world--from the thrials and throubles that have come upon us. I'm come, +now--your own husband--him that loved you beyant everything on this +earth, to tell you why the last wish o' my heart, which was to sleep +where I ought to sleep, by your side, can't be granted to me, and to +explain to you why it is, in case you'd miss me from my place beside +you. This unfortunate counthry, Bridget, has changed, an' is changin' +fast for the worse. The landlord hasn't proved himself to be towards us +what he ought to be, and what we expected he would; an' so, rather than +remain at the terms he axes from us, it's better for us to thry our +fortune in America; bekaise, if we stay here, we must only come to +poverty an' destitution, an' sorrow; an' you know how it 'ud break my +heart to see our childre' brought to that, in the very place where they +wor always respected. They're all good to me, as they ever wor to' us +both, acushla machree; but poor Bryan, that you loved so much--your +favorite and your pride--has had much to suffer, darlin', since you left +us; but blessed be God, he bears it manfully and patiently, although +I can see by the sorrow on my boy's brow that the heart widin him is +breakin'. He's not, afther all, to be married, as you hoped and wished +he would, to Kathleen Cavanagh. Her mind has been poisoned against him; +but little she knows him, or she'd not turn from him as she did. An' +now, Bridget, asthore machree, is it come to this wid me? I must lave +you for ever. I must lave--as my father said, that went this day to +heaven as you know, now--I must lave, as he said, the ould places. I +must go to a strange country, and sleep among a strange people; but +it's for the sake of our childre' I do so, lavin' you alone there where +you're sleepin'? I wouldn't lave you if I could help it; but we'll +meet yet in heaven, my blessed wife, where there won't be distress, or +injustice, or sorrow to part us. Achora machree, I'm come, then, to take +my last farewell of you. Farewell, then, my darlin' wife, till we meet +for evermore in heaven!" + +He departed from the grave slowly, and returned in deep sorrow to his +own house. + +About twelve o'clock the next morning, the family and those neighbors +who were assembled as usual at the wake-house, from respect to the dead, +were a good deal surprised by the appearance of Mr. Vanston and their +landlord, both of whom entered the house. + +"Gentlemen, you're welcome," said old M'Mahon; "but I'm sorry to say +that it's to a house of grief and throuble I must welcome you--death's +here, gentlemen, and more than death; but God's will be done, we must be +obaidient." + +"M'Mahon," said Chevydale, "give me your hand. I am sorry that either +you or your son have suffered anything on my account. I am come now to +render you an act of justice--to compensate both you and him, as far +as I can, for the anxiety you have endured. Consider yourselves +both, therefore, as restored to your farms at the terms you proposed +originally. I shall have leases prepared--give up the notion of +emigration--the country cannot spare such men as you and your admirable +son. I shall have leases I say prepared, and you will be under no +necessity of leaving either Carriglass or Ahadarra." + +Need we describe the effect which such a communication had upon this +sterling-hearted family? Need we assure our readers that the weight +was removed from all their hearts, and the cloud from every brow? Is it +necessary to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his high-minded Kathleen were +married? that Dora and James followed their example, and that Edward +Burke, in due time, bestowed his hand upon sweet and affectionate Hanna +Cavanagh? + +We have little now to add. Young Clinton, in the course of a few +months, became agent to Chevydale, whose property soon gave proofs that +kindness, good judgment, and upright principle were best calculated not +only to improve it, but to place a landlord and his tenantry on that +footing of mutual good-will and reciprocal interest upon which they +should ever stand towards each other. + +We need scarcely say that the sympathy felt for honest Jemmy Burke, in +consequence of the disgraceful conduct of his son, was deep and general. +He himself did not recover it for a long period, and it was observed +that, in future, not one of his friends ever uttered Hycy's name in his +presence. + +With respect to that young gentleman's fate and that of Teddy Phats, +we have to record a rather remarkable coincidence. In about three years +after his escape, his father received an account of his death from +Montreal, where it appears he expired under circumstances of great +wretchedness and destitution, after having led, during his residence +there, a most profligate and disgraceful life. Early the same day +on which the intelligence of his death reached his family, they also +received an account through the M'Mahons to the effect that Teddy Phats +had, on the preceding night, fallen from one of the cliffs of Althadawan +and broken his neck; a fate which occasioned neither surprise nor +sorrow. + +We have only to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his wife took Nanny Peety +into their service; and that Kate Hogan and Mr. O'Finigan had always a +comfortable seat at their hospitable hearth; and the latter a warm glass +of punch occasionally, for the purpose, as he said himself, of keeping +him properly sober. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + +***** This file should be named 16011-8.txt or 16011-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16011/ + +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. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/16011-8.zip b/16011-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc23200 --- /dev/null +++ b/16011-8.zip diff --git a/16011-h.zip b/16011-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c809b34 --- /dev/null +++ b/16011-h.zip diff --git a/16011-h/16011-h.htm b/16011-h/16011-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4156248 --- /dev/null +++ b/16011-h/16011-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,17275 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + The Emigrants of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, 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: The Emigrants Of Ahadarra + The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16011] +Last Updated: March 2, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <h1> + THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA. + </h1> + <h2> + By William Carleton + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate603.jpg" alt="Frontispiece " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/tilepage2.jpg" alt="Titlepage " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CONTENTS + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I.</a> A strong Farmer's + Establishment and Family.<br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II.</a> Gerald + Cavanagh and his Family <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III.</a> Jemmy + Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0004"> + CHAPTER IV.</a> A Poteen Still-House at Midnight—Its + Inmates. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V.</a> Who + Robbed Jemmy Burke? <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> CHAPTEE VI.</a> Nanny + Peety looks mysterious <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VII.</a> The + Spinster's Kemp. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VIII.</a> Anonymous + Letter with a Name to It <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER IX.</a> A + Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER X.</a> More of the Hycy + Correspondence <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> CHAPTEE XI.</a> Death + of a Virtuous Mother. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER XII.</a> Hycy + Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> + CHAPTER XIII.</a> Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XIV.</a> Mysterious Letter + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XV.</a> State of + the Country <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XVI.</a> A + Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> + CHAPTER XVII.</a> Interview between Hycy and Finigan <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVIII.</a> A Family Dialogue + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XIX.</a> Bryan + Bribed—is Rejected by Kathleen. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0018"> + CHAPTER XX.</a> M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XXI.</a> Thomas M'Mahon is + forced to determine on Emigration. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> + CHAPTER XII.</a> Mystery Among the Hogans <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXIII.</a> Harry Clinton's + Benevolence Defeated <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXIV.</a> Thoughts + on Our Country and Our Countrymen <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0023"> + CHAPTER XXV.</a> The Old Places—Death of a Patriarch. + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> CHAPTEE XXVI.</a> Containing + a Variety of Matters. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXVII.</a> Conclusion. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + List of Illustrations + </h2> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0001"> Frontispiece </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Titlepage </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkplate403"> Page 403—Peety Dhu Turned Towards the House + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0003"> Page 603— Country Where I'd Not See These + Ould Hills </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0004"> Page 623— I Must Leave You—I Must + Go </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0005"> Page 635— Hycy Received the Money, Set + Spurs to his Horse </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I.—A strong Farmer's Establishment and Family. + </h2> + <p> + It was one summer morning, about nine o'clock, when a little man, in the + garb and trim of a mendicant, accompanied by a slender but rather handsome + looking girl about sixteen, or it may be a year more, were upon their way + to the house of a man, who, from his position in life, might be considered + a wealthy agriculturist, and only a step or two beneath the condition of a + gentleman farmer, although much more plain and rustic in his manners. The + house and place had about them that characteristic appearance of abundance + and slovenly neglect which is, unfortunately, almost peculiar to our + country. The house was a long slated one, and stood upon a little + eminence, about three or four hundred yards from the highway. It was + approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue, as it might be + called, that was in very good keeping with the premises to which it led. + As you entered it from the road, you had to pass through an iron gate, + which it was a task to open, and which, when opened, it was another task + to shut. In consequence of this difficulty, foot passengers had made + themselves a way upon each side of it, through which they went to and came + from the house; and in this they were sanctioned by the example of the + family themselves, who, so long as these side paths were passable, + manifested as much reluctance to open or close the gate as any one else. + </p> + <p> + The month was May; and nothing could be more delightful and exhilarating + than the breeze which played over the green fields that were now radiant + with the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun. + Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labor from + which the hopes of ample and abundant harvests always spring. Here, fixed + in the ground, stood the spades of a boon* of laborers, who, as was + evident from that circumstance, were then at breakfast; in another place + might be seen the plough and a portion of the tackle lying beside it, + being expressive of the same fact. Around them, on every side, in hedges, + ditches, green fields, and meadows, the birds seemed animated into joyous + activity or incessant battle, by the business of nest-building or love. + Whilst all around, from earth and air, streamed the ceaseless voice of + universal melody and song. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A considerable number of men working together. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="linkplate403" id="linkplate403"></a><br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="plate403 (146K)" src="images/plate403.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + On reaching the gate, Peety Dhu and his pretty daughter turned up towards + the house we have alluded to—which was the residence of a man named + Burke. On reaching it they were observed by a couple of large dogs, who, + partaking of the hospitable but neglected habits of the family, first + approached and looked at them for a moment, then wagged their tails by way + of welcome, and immediately scampered off into the kitchen to forage for + themselves. + </p> + <p> + Burke's house and farmyard, though strongly indicative of wealth and + abundance in the owner, were, notwithstanding, evidently the property of a + man whose mind was far back in a knowledge of agriculture, and the + industrial pursuits that depend upon it. His haggard was slovenly in the + extreme, and his farmyard exceedingly offensive to most of the senses; + everything lay about in a careless and neglected manner;—wheelbarrows + without their trundles—sacks for days under the rain that fell from + the eaves of the houses—other implements embedded in mud—car-houses + tumbling down—the pump without a handle—the garden-gate open, + and the pigs hard at work destroying the vegetables, and rooting up the + garden in all directions. In fact, the very animals about the house were + conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly. If one of + the dogs, for instance, was hunted at the pigs, he ran in an apparent fury + towards that which happened to be nearest him, which merely lifted its + head and listened for a time—the dog, with loud and boisterous + barking, seizing its ear, led it along for three or four yards in that + position, after which, upon the pig demurring to proceed any further, he + very quietly dropped it and trotted in again, leaving the destructive + animal to resume its depredations. + </p> + <p> + The house inside bore the same character. Winter and summer the hall-door, + which had long lost the knocker, lay hospitably open. The parlor had a + very equivocal appearance; for the furniture, though originally good and + of excellent materials, was stained and dinged and hacked in a manner that + denoted but little sense of care or cleanliness. Many of the chairs, + although not worn by age, wanted legs or backs, evidently from ill-usage + alone—the grate was without fire-irons—a mahogany bookcase + that stood in a recess to the right of the fireplace, with glass doors and + green silk blinds, had the glass all broken and the silk stained almost + out of its original color; whilst inside of it, instead of books, lay a + heterogeneous collection of garden seeds in brown paper—an almanac + of twenty years' standing, a dry ink-bottle, some broken delf, and a large + collection of blue-moulded shoes and boots, together with an old blister + of French flies, the lease of their farm, and a great number of their + receipts for rent. To crown all, the clock in the other recess stood + cobwebbed about the top, deprived of the minute hand, and seeming to + intimate by its silence that it had given note of time's progress to this + idle and negligent family to no purpose. + </p> + <p> + On the drawing-room stairs there lay what had once been a carpet, but so + inseparable had been their connection that the stairs were now worn + through it, and it required a sharp eye to distinguish such fragments of + it as remained from the color of the dirty boards it covered and the dust + that lay on both. + </p> + <p> + On entering the kitchen, Peety and his little girl found thirteen or + fourteen, in family laborers and servants of both sexes, seated at a long + deal table, each with a large wooden noggin of buttermilk and a spoon of + suitable dimensions, digging as if for a wager into one or other of two + immense wooden bowls of stirabout, so thick and firm in consistency that, + as the phrase goes, a man might dance on it. This, however, was not the + only picture of such enjoyment that the kitchen afforded. Over beside the + dresser was turned upon one side the huge pot in which the morning meal + had been made, and at the bottom of which, inside of course, a spirit of + rivalry equally vigorous and animated, but by no means so harmonious, was + kept up by two dogs and a couple of pigs, which were squabbling and + whining and snarling among each other, whilst they tugged away at the + scrapings, or residuum, that was left behind after the stirabout had been + emptied out of it. The whole kitchen, in fact, had a strong and healthy + smell of food—the dresser, a huge one, was covered with an immense + quantity of pewter, wood, and delf; and it was only necessary to cast + one's eye towards the chimney to perceive, by the weighty masses of black + hung beef and the huge sides and flitches of deep yellow bacon which lined + it, that plenty and abundance, even to overflowing, predominated in the + family. + </p> + <p> + The “chimney-brace” projected far out over the fire-place towards the + floor, and under it on each side stretched two long hobs or chimney corner + seats, on which nearly a dozen persons could sit of a winter evening. Mrs. + Burke, a smart, good-looking little woman, though somewhat advanced in + years, kept passing in a kind of perpetual motion from one part of the + house to the other, with a large bunch of bright keys jingling at one + side, and a huge house-wife pocket, with a round pin-cushion dangling + beside it, at the other. Jemmy Burke himself, a placid though solemn-faced + man, was sitting on the hob in question complacently smoking his pipe, + whilst over the glowing remnants of an immense turf fire hung a singing + kettle, and beside it on three crushed coals was the teapot, “waitin',” as + the servants were in the habit of expressing it, “for the masther and + misthress's breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + Peety, who was well known and a great favorite on his rounds, received a + warm and hospitable welcome from Jemmy Burke, who made him and the girl + sit upon the hob, and immediately ordered them breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Nancy Devlin, get Peety and the girsha their skinfuls of stirabout + an' milk. Sit over to the fire, alanna, an' warm yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “Warm, inagh!” replied Peety; “why, sure it's not a fire sich a blessed + mornin' as this she'd want—an' a blessed mornin' it is, glory be to + God!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, an' you're right, sure enough, Peety,” replied the good-natured + farmer; “a blessed saison it is for gettin' down the crops. Go over there, + now, you an' the girsha, to that other table, an'—whish!—kick + them pigs an' dogs out o' the house, an' be d—d to them! One can't + hear their ears for them—you an' the girsha, an' let us see what you + can do. Nancy, achora, jist dash a gawliogue o' sweet milk into their + noggins—they're not like us that's well fed every day—. it's + but seldom they get the likes, the creatures—so dash in a brave + gawliogue o' the sweet milk for them. Take your time, Peety,—aisy, + alanna, 'till you get what I'm sayin; it'll nourish an put strinth in + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Misther Burke,” replied Peety, in a tone of gratitude peculiar to his + class, “you're the ould* man still—ever an' always the large heart + an' lavish hand—an' so sign's on it—full an' plinty upon an' + about you—an' may it ever be so wid you an' yours, a chierna, I + pray. An how is the misthress, sir?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * That is to say, the same man still. +</pre> + <p> + “Throth, she's very well, Peety—has no raison to complain, thank + God!” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, indeed! and betther may she be, is my worst wish to her—an' + Masther Hycy, sir?—but I needn't ax how he is. Isn't the whole + country ringin' wid his praises;—the blessin' o' God an you, + acushla”—this was to Nancy Devlin, on handing them the new milk—“draw + over, darlin', nearer to the table—there now”—this to his + daughter, whom he settled affectionately to her food. “Ay, indeed,” he + proceeded, “sure there's only the one word of it over the whole Barony + we're sittin' in—that there's neither fetch nor fellow for him + through the whole parish. Some people, indeed, say that Bryan M'Mahon + comes near him; but only some, for it's given up to Masther Hycy all to + pieces.” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, an' I for one, although I'm his father—amn't I, Rosha?” he + added, good-humoredly addressing his wife, who had just come into the + kitchen from above stairs. + </p> + <p> + “Throth,” said the wife, who never replied with good humor unless when + addressed as Mrs. Burke, “you're ill off for something to speak about. How + are you, Peety? an' how is your little girl?” + </p> + <p> + “In good health, ma'am, thank God an' you; an' very well employed at the + present time, thanks to you still!” + </p> + <p> + To this Mrs. Burke made no reply; for it may be necessary to state here, + that although she was not actually penurious or altogether without + hospitality, and something that might occasionally be termed charity, + still it is due to honest Jemmy to inform the reader in the outset, that, + as Peety Dhu said, “the large heart and the lavish hand” were especially + his own. Mrs. Burke was considered to have been handsome—indeed, a + kind of rustic beauty in her day—and, like many of that class, she + had not been without a due share of vanity, or perhaps we might say + coquetry, if we were to speak the truth. Her teeth were good, and she had + a very pretty dimple in one of her cheeks when she smiled, two + circumstances which contributed strongly to sustain her good humor, and an + unaccountable tendency to laughter, when the poverty of the jest was out + of all proportion to the mirth that followed it. Notwithstanding this + apparently light and agreeable spirit, she was both vulgar and arrogant, + and labored under the weak and ridiculous ambition of being considered a + woman of high pretensions, who had been most unfortunately thrown away, if + not altogether lost, upon a husband whom she considered as every way + unworthy of her. Her father had risen into the possession of some + unexpected property when it was too late to bestow upon her a suitable + education, and the consequence was that, in addition to natural vanity, on + the score of beauty, she was a good deal troubled with purse-pride, which, + with a foolish susceptibility of flattery, was a leading feature in her + disposition. In addition to this, she was an inveterate and incurable + slattern, though a gay and lively one; and we need scarcely say that + whatever she did in the shape of benevolence or charity, in most instances + owed its origin to the influences of the weaknesses she was known to + possess. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast, at length, was over, and the laborers, with an odd hiccup here + and there among them, from sheer repletion, got their hats and began to + proceed towards the farm. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys,” said Jemmy, after dropping a spittle into his pipe, pressing + it down with his little finger, and putting it into his waistcoat pocket, + “see an' get them praties down as soon as you can, an' don't work as if + you intended to keep your Christmas there; an' Paddy the Bounce, I'll + thank you to keep your jokes an' your stories to yourself, an' not to be + idlin' the rest till afther your work's done. Throth it was an unlucky day + I had anything to do wid you, you divartin' vagabone—ha! ha! ha! + When I hired him in the Micklemas fair,” proceeded Jemmy, without + addressing himself to any particular individual, “he killed me wid + laughin' to such a degree, that I couldn't refuse the mehony whatsomever + wages he axed; an' now he has the men, insteed o' mindin' their work, + dancin' through the field, an' likely to split at the fun he tells them, + ha! ha! ha! Be off, now, boys. Pettier Murphy, you randletree, let,the + girl alone. That's it Peggy, lay on him; ha! devil's cure to you! take + what you've got any way—you desarve it.” + </p> + <p> + These latter observations were occasioned by a romping match that took + place between a young laborer and a good-looking girl who was employed to + drop potatoes for the men. + </p> + <p> + At length those who were engaged in the labor of the field departed in a + cheerful group, and in a few minutes the noise of a horse's feet, + evidently proceeding at a rapid trot, was heard coming up the boreen or + avenue towards the house. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” exclaimed Burke, with a sigh, “there comes Hycy at a trot, an' the + wondher is it's not a gallop. That's the way he'll get through life, I + fear; an' if God doesn't change him he's more likely to gallop himself to + the Staff an' Bag (* Beggary.) than to anything else I know. I can't nor I + won't stand his extravagance—but it's his mother's fault, an' she'll + see what it'll come to in the long run.” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely concluded when his son entered the kitchen, alternately + singing and whistling the Foxhunter's jig in a manner that betokened + exuberant if not boisterous spirits. He was dressed in top boots, a green + riding-coat, yellow waistcoat, and drab cassimere small clothes—quite + in jockey trim, in fact. + </p> + <p> + Hycy rather resembled his father in the lineaments of his face, and was, + consequently, considered handsome. He was about the middle size, and + remarkably well proportioned. In fact, it would be exceedingly difficult + to find a young fellow of manlier bearing or more striking personal + attractions. His features were regular, and his complexion fresh and + youthful looking, and altogether there was in his countenance and whole + appearance a cheerful, easy, generous, unreflecting dash of character that + not only made him a favorite on first acquaintance, but won confidence by + an openness of manner that completely disarmed suspicion. It might have + been observed, however, that his laugh, like his mother's, never, or at + least seldom, came directly from the heart, and that there was a hard + expression about his otherwise well-formed mouth, such as rarely indicated + generosity of feeling, or any acquaintance with the kinder impulses of our + nature. He was his mother's pet and favorite, and her principal wish was + that he should be looked upon and addressed as a gentleman, and for that + purpose she encouraged him to associate with those only whose rank and + position in life rendered any assumption of equality on his part equally + arrogant and obtrusive. In his own family his bearing towards his parents + was, in point of fact, the reverse of what it ought to have been. He not + only treated his father with something bordering on contempt, but joined + his mother in all that ignorant pride which kept her perpetually bewailing + the fate by which she was doomed to become his wife. Nor did she herself + come off better at his hands. Whilst he flattered her vanity, and turned + her foibles to his own advantage, under the guise of a very dutiful + affection, his deportment towards her was marked by an ironical respect, + which was the more indefensible and unmanly because she could not see + through it. The poor woman had taken up the opinion, that difficult and + unintelligible language was one test of a gentleman; and her son by the + use of such language, let no opportunity pass of confirming her in this + opinion, and establishing his own claims to the character. + </p> + <p> + “Where did you ride to this mornin' Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Down to take a look at Tom Burton's mare, Crazy Jane, ma'am:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Away, my boys, to horse away, + The Chase admits of no delay—'” + </pre> + <p> + “Tom Burton!” re-echoed the father with a groan; “an so you're in Tom + Burton's hands! A swindlin', horse-dalin' scoundrel that would chate St. + Pether. Hycy, my man, if you go to look for wool to Tom you'll come home + shorn.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule + Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl, + That there's wrath and despair—” + </pre> + <p> + Thank you, father—much obliged; you entertain a good opinion of me.” + </p> + <p> + “Do I, faith? Don't be too sure of that.” + </p> + <p> + “I've bought her at any rate,” said Hycy—“thirty-five's the figure; + but she's a dead bargain at fifty.” + </p> + <p> + “Bought her!” exclaimed the father; “an' how, in God's name, do you expect + to pay for her?” + </p> + <p> + “By an order on a very excellent, worthy man and gentleman-farmer—ycleped + James Burke, Esquire—who has the honor of being father to that + ornament of the barony, Hycy Burke, the accomplished. My worthy sire will + fork out.” + </p> + <p> + “If I do, that I may—” + </p> + <p> + “Silence, poor creature!” said his wife, clapping her hand upon his mouth—“make + no rash or vulgar oaths. Surely, Misther Burke—” + </p> + <p> + “How often did I bid you not to misther me? Holy scrapers, am I to be + misthered and pesthered this way, an' my name plane Jemmy Burke!” + </p> + <p> + “You see, Hycy, the vulgarian will come out,” said his mother. “I say, + Misther Burke, are you to see your son worse mounted at the Herringstown + Hunt than any other gentleman among them? Have you no pride? + </p> + <p> + “No, thank God! barin' that I'm an honest man an' no gentleman; an', as + for Hycy, Rosha—” + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Burke, father, if you please,” interposed Hycy; “remember who your + wife is at all events.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Hycy, she'll come better off if I forget that same; but I tell you + that instead of bein' the laughin'-stock of the same Hunt, it's betune the + stilts of a plough you ought to be, or out in the fields keepin' the men + to their business.” + </p> + <p> + “I paid three guineas earnest money, at all events,” said the son; “but + 'it matters not,' as the preacher says— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'When I was at home I was merry and frisky, + My dad kept a pig and my mother sold whiskey'— +</pre> + <p> + Beg pardon, mother, no allusion—my word and honor none—to you + I mean— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'My uncle was rich, but would never be aisy + Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.' +</pre> + <p> + Fine times in the army, Mr. Burke, with every prospect of a speedy + promotion. Mother, my stomach craves its matutinal supply—I'm in + excellent condition for breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + “It's ready. Jemmy, you'll—Misther Burke, I mane—you'll pay + for Misther Hycy's mare.” + </p> + <p> + “If I do—you'll live to see it, that's all. Give the boy his + breakwhist.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, worthy father—much obliged for your generosity— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Oh, love is the soul of a nate Irishman + He loves all that's lovely, loves all that he can, + With his sprig of—' +</pre> + <p> + Ah, Peety Dhu, how are you, my worthy peripatetic? Why, this daughter of + yours is getting quite a Hebe on our hands. Mrs. Burke, breakfast—breakfast, + madam, as you love Hycy, the accomplished.” So saying, Hycy the + accomplished proceeded to the parlor we have described, followed by his + maternal relative, as he often called his mother. + </p> + <p> + “Well, upon my word and honor, mother,” said the aforesaid Hycy, who knew + and played upon his mother's weak points, “it is a sad thing to see such a + woman as you are, married to a man who has neither the spirit nor feelings + of a gentleman—my word and honor it is.” + </p> + <p> + “I feel that, Hycy, but there's no help for spilt milk; we must only make + the best of a bad bargain. Are you coming to your breakfast,” she shouted, + calling to honest Jemmy, who still sat on the hob ruminating with a kind + of placid vexation over his son's extravagance—“your tay's filled + out!” + </p> + <p> + “There let it,” he replied, “I'll have none of your plash to-day; I tuck + my skinful of good stiff stirabout that's worth a shipload of it. Drink it + yourselves—I'm no gintleman.” + </p> + <p> + “Arrah, when did you find that out, Misther Burke?” she shouted back + again. + </p> + <p> + “To his friends and acquaintances it is anything but a recent disco very,” + added Hycy; and each complimented the observation of the other with a + hearty laugh, during which the object of it went out to the fields to join + the men. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid it's no go, mother,” proceeded the son, when breakfast was + finished—“he won't stand it. Ah, if both my parents were of the same + geometrical proportion, there would be little difficulty in this business; + but upon my honor and reputation, my dear mother, I think between you and + me that my father's a gross abstraction—a most substantial and + ponderous apparition.” + </p> + <p> + “An' didn't I know that an' say that too all along?” replied his mother, + catching as much of the high English from him as she could manage: + “however, lave the enumeration of the mare to me. It'll go hard or I'll + get it out of him.” + </p> + <p> + “It is done,” he replied; “your stratagetic powers are great, my dear + mother, consequently it is left in your hands.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, whilst in the kitchen, cast his eye several times upon the handsome + young daughter of Peety Dhu, a circumstance to which we owe the instance + of benevolent patronage now about to be recorded. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” he proceeds, “I think it would be a charity to rescue that + interesting little girl of Peety Dhu's from a life of mendicancy.” + </p> + <p> + “From a what?” she asked, staring at him. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” he replied, now really anxious to make himself understood—“from + the disgraceful line of life he's bringin' her up to. You should take her + in and provide for her.” + </p> + <p> + “When I do, Hycy,” replied his mother, bridling, “it won't be a beggar's + daughter nor a niece of Philip Hogan's—sorrow bit.” + </p> + <p> + “As for her being a niece of Hogan's, you know it is by his mother's side; + but wouldn't it be a feather in her cap to get under the protection of a + highly respectable woman, though? The patronage of a person like you, Mrs. + Burke, would be the making of her—my word and honor it would.” + </p> + <p> + “Hem!—ahem!—do you think so, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, mother—that indeed!—can there be a doubt about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, in that case, I think she may stay—that is, if the + father will consent to it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, mother, for that example of protection and benevolence. I feel + that all my virtues certainly proceed from your side of the house and are + derived from yourself—there can be no doubt of that.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I think so myself, Hycy, for where else would you get them? You + have the M'Swiggin nose; an' it can't be from any one else you take your + high notions. All you show of the gentleman, Hycy, it's not hard to name + them you have it from, I believe.” + </p> + <p> + “Spoken like a Sybil. Mother, within the whole range of my female + acquaintances I don't know a woman that has in her so much of the + gentleman as yourself—my word and honor, mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Behave, Hycy—behave now,” she replied, simpering; “however truth's + truth, at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + We need scarcely say that the poor mendicant was delighted at the notion + of having his daughter placed in the family of so warm and independent a + man as Jemmy Burke. Yet the poor little fellow did not separate from the + girl without a strong manifestation of the affection he bore her. She was + his only child—the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for him + upon the desert of life. + </p> + <p> + “I lave her wid you,” he said, addressing Mrs. Burke with tears in his + eyes, “as the only treasure an' happiness I have in this world. She is the + poor man's lamb, as I have hard read out of Scripture wanst; an' in lavin' + her undher your care, I lave all my little hopes in this world wid her. I + trust, ma'am, you'll guard her an' look afther her as if she was one of + your own.” + </p> + <p> + This unlucky allusion might have broken up the whole contemplated + arrangement, had not Hycy stepped in to avert from Peety the offended + pride of the patroness. + </p> + <p> + “I hope, Peety,” he said, “that you are fully sensible of the honor Mrs. + Burke does you and your daughter by taking the girl under her protection + and patronage?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, God knows.” + </p> + <p> + “And of the advantage it is to get her near so respectable a woman—so + highly respectable a woman?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, in troth.” + </p> + <p> + “And that it may be the making of your daughter's fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “It may, indeed, Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “And that there's no other woman of high respectability in the parish + capable of elevating her to the true principles of double and simple + proportion?” + </p> + <p> + “No, in throth, sir, I don't think there is.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor that can teach her the newest theories in dogmatic theology and + metaphysics, together with the whole system of Algebraic Equations if the + girl should require them?” + </p> + <p> + “Divil another woman in the barony can match her at them by all accounts,” + replied Peety, catching the earnest enthusiasm of Hycy's manner. + </p> + <p> + “That will do, Peety; you see yourself, mother,” he added, taking her + aside and speaking in a low voice, “that the little fellow knows right + well the advantages of having her under your care and protection; and it's + very much to his credit, and speaks very highly for his metempsychosis + that he does so—hem!” + </p> + <p> + “He was always a daicent, sinsible, poor creature of his kind,” replied + his mother “besides, Hycy, between you and me, she'll be more than worth + her bit.” + </p> + <p> + “There now, Peety,” said her son, turning towards the mendicant; “it's all + settled—wait now for a minute till I write a couple of notes, which + you must deliver for me.” + </p> + <p> + Peety sat accordingly, and commenced to lay down for his daughter's + guidance and conduct such instructions as he deemed suitable to the + situation she was about to enter and the new duties that necessarily + devolved upon her. + </p> + <p> + In due time Hycy appeared, and placing two letters in Peety's hands, said—“Go, + Peety, to Gerald Cavanagh's, of Fenton's Farm, and if you can get an + opportunity, slip that note into Kathleen's hands—this, mark, with + the corner turned down—you won't forget that?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well—you're then to proceed to Tom M'Mahon's, and if you find + Bryan, his son, there, give him this; and if he's at the mountain farm of + Ahadarra, go to him. I don't expect an answer from Kathleen Cavanagh, but + I do from Bryan M'Mahon; and mark me, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure you do?” + </p> + <p> + “Sartin, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Silent as the grave then is the word in both cases—but if I ever + hear—” + </p> + <p> + “That's enough, Masther Hycy; when the grave spakes about it so will I.” + </p> + <p> + Peety took the letters and disappeared with an air rendered important by + the trust reposed in him; whilst Mrs. Burke looked inquiringly at her son, + as if her curiosity were a good deal excited. + </p> + <p> + “One of them is to Kate or Kathleen Cavanagh, as they call her,” said + Hycy, in reply to her looks; “and the other for Bryan M'Mahon, who is soft + and generous—<i>probatum est</i>. I want to know if he'll stand for + thirty-five—and as for Kate, I'm making love to her, you must know.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen Cavanagh,” replied his mother; “I'll never lend my privileges to + sich match.” + </p> + <p> + “Match!” exclaimed Hycy, coolly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she replied warmly; “match or marriage will never—” + </p> + <p> + “Marriage!” he repeated, “why, my most amiable maternal relative, do you + mean to insinuate to Hycy the accomplished, that he is obliged to propose + either match or marriage to every girl he makes love to? What a prosaic + world you'd have of it, my dear Mrs. Burke. This, ma'am, is only an + agreeable flirtation—not but that it's possible there may be + something in the shape of a noose matrimonial dangling in the background. + She combines, no doubt, in her unrivalled person, the qualities of Hebe, + Venus, and Diana—Hebe in youth, Venus in beauty, and Diana in + wisdom; so it's said, but I trust incorrectly, as respects one of them—good-bye, + mother—try your influence as touching Crazy Jane, and report + favorably— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Friend of my soul, this goblet sip, + 'Twill chase the pensive tear. &c.'” + </pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II.—Gerald Cavanagh and his Family + </h2> + <h3> + —Tom M'Mahon's return from Dublin. + </h3> + <p> + The house of Gerald Cavanagh, though not so large as that of our + kind-hearted friend, Jemmy Burke, was a good specimen of what an Irish + farmer's residence ought to be. It was distant from Burke's somewhat + better than two miles, and stood almost, immediately inside the highway, + upon a sloping green that was vernal through the year. It was in the + cottage style, in the form of a cross, with a roof ornamentally thatched, + and was flanked at a little distance by the office-houses. The grass was + always so close on this green, as to have rather the appearance of a well + kept lawn. The thorn-trees stood in front of it, clipped in the shape of + round tables, on one of which, exposed to all weathers, might be seen a + pair of large churn-staves, bleached into a white, fresh color, that + caused a person to long for the butter they made. On the other stood a + large cage, in which was imprisoned a blackbird, whose extraordinary + melody had become proverbial in the neighborhood. Down a little to the + right of the hall-door, a pretty winding gravelled pathway led to a clear + spring well that was overshadowed by a spreading white-thorn; and at each + gable stood a graceful elder or mountain-ash, whose red berries during the + autumn had a fine effect, and contrasted well with the mass of darker and + larger trees, by which the back portion of the house and the offices was + almost concealed. Both the house and green were in an elevated position, + and commanded a delightful expanse of rich meadows to the extent of nearly + one hundred acres, through which a placid river wound its easy way, like + some contented spirit that glides calmly and happily through the gentle + vicissitudes of an untroubled life. + </p> + <p> + As Peety Dhu, whilst passing from the residence of our friend Jemmy Burke + to that of Gerald Cavanagh, considered himself in his vocation, the reader + will not be surprised to hear that it was considerably past noon! when he + arrived at Fenton's Farm; for by this name the property was known on a + portion of which the Cavanaghs lived. It might be about the hours of two + or three o'clock, when Peety, on arriving at the gate which led into + Cavanagh's house, very fortunately saw his daughter Kathleen, in the act + of feeding the blackbird aforementioned; and prudently deeming this the + best opportunity of accomplishing his mission, he beckoned her to approach + him. The good-natured girl did so: saying at the same time—“What is + the matter, Peety?—do you want me? Won't you come into the kitchen?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, avourneen, but I can't; I did want you, but it was only to + give you this letther. I suppose it will tell you all. Oh, thin, is it any + wondher that you should get it, an' that half the parish should be dyin' + in love wid you? for, in troth, it's enough to make an ould man feel young + agin even to look at you. I was afraid they might see me givin' you the + letther from the windy, and that's what made me sign to you to come to me + here. Good-bye <i>a colleen dhas</i> (* Pretty girl.)—an' it's you + that's that sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + The features, neck, and bosom of the girl, on receiving this + communication, were overspread with one general blush, and she stood, for + a few moments, irresolute and confused. In the mean time Peety had passed + on, and after a pause of a few minutes, she looked at the letter more + attentively, and slowly broke it open. It was probably the first epistle + she had ever received, and we need scarcely say that, as a natural + consequence, she was by no means quick in deciphering written hand. Be + this as it may, after having perused a few lines she started, looked at + the bottom for the name, then at the letter again; and as her sister Hanna + joined her, that brow on which a frown had been seldom ever seen to sit, + was now crimson with indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Why, gracious goodness!” exclaims Hanna, “what is this, Kathleen? + Something has vexed you!—ha! a love-letter, too! In airnest, what + ails you? an' who is the letter from, if it's fair to ax?” + </p> + <p> + “The letter is not for me,” replied Kathleen, putting it into her sister's + hand, “but when you read it you won't wonder that I'm angry.” + </p> + <p> + As Hanna began to go slowly through it, she first laughed, but on + proceeding a little further her brow also reddened, and her whole features + expressed deep and unequivocal resentment. Having concluded the perusal of + this mysterious document, she, looked at her sister, who, in return, gazed + upon her. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen, after all,” said Hanna, “it's not worth while losing + one's temper about it. Never think of it again; only to punish him, I'd + advise you, the next time you see Peety, to send it back.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't suppose, Hanna, that I intended to keep it; but indeed,” she + added, with a smile; “it is not worth while bein' angry about.” + </p> + <p> + As the sisters stood beside each other, holding this short conversation, + it would be difficult to find any two females more strikingly dissimilar + both in figure, features, and complexion. Hanna was plain, but not + disagreeable, especially when her face became animated with good humor. + Her complexion, though not at all of a sickly hue, was of that middle tint + which is neither pale nor sallow, but holds an equivocal position between + both. Her hair was black, but dull, and without that peculiar gloss which + accompanies either the very snowy skin of a fair beauty, or, at least, the + rich brown hue of a brunette. Her figure was in no way remarkable, and she + was rather under the middle size. + </p> + <p> + Her sister, however, was a girl who deserves at our hands a more accurate + and lengthened description. Kathleen Cavanagh was considerably above the + middle size, her figure, in fact, being of the tallest; but no earthly + form could surpass it in symmetry, and that voluptuous fulness of outline, + which, when associated with a modest and youthful style of beauty, is, of + all others, the most fascinating and irresistible. The whiteness of her + unrivalled skin, and the gloss of health which shone from it were almost + dazzling. Her full bust, which literally glowed with light and warmth, was + moulded with inimitable proportion, and the masses of rich brown hair that + shaded her white and expansive forehead, added incredible attractions to a + face that was remarkable not only for simple beauty in its finest sense, + but that divine charm of ever-varying expression which draws its lights + and shadows, and the thousand graces with which it is accompanied, + directly from the heart. Her dark eyes were large and flashing, and + reflected by the vivacity or melancholy which increased or over-shadowed + their lustre, all those joys or sorrows, and various shades of feeling by + which she was moved, whilst her mouth gave indication of extraordinary and + entrancing sweetness, especially when she smiled. + </p> + <p> + Such was Kathleen Cavanagh, the qualities of whose mind were still + superior to the advantages of her person. And yet she shone not forth at + the first view, nor immediately dazzled the beholder by the brilliancy of + her charms. She was unquestionably a tall, fine looking country girl, + tastefully and appropriately dressed; but it was necessary to see her more + than once, and to have an opportunity of examining her, time after time, + to be able fully to appreciate the surprising character of her beauty, and + the incredible variety of those changes which sustain its power and give + it perpetual novelty to the heart and eye. It was, in fact, of that + dangerous description which improves on inspection, and gradually develops + itself upon the beholder, until he feels the full extent of its influence, + and is sensible, perhaps, when too late, that he is its helpless and + unresisting victim. + </p> + <p> + Around the two thorn-trees we have alluded to were built circular seats of + the grassy turf, on which the two sisters, each engaged in knitting, now + sat chatting and laughing with that unrestrained good humor and + familiarity which gave unquestionable proof of the mutual confidence and + affection that subsisted between them. Their natural tempers and + dispositions were as dissimilar as their persons. Hanna was lively and + mirthful, somewhat hasty, but placable, quick in her feelings of either + joy or sorrow, and apparently not susceptible of deep or permanent + impressions; whilst Kathleen, on the other hand, was serious, quiet, and + placid—difficult to be provoked, of great sweetness of temper, with + a tinge of melancholy that occasionally gave an irresistible charm to her + voice and features, when conversing upon any subject that was calculated + to touch the heart, or in which she felt deeply. Unlike her sister, she + was resolute, firm, and almost immutable in her resolutions; but that was + because her resolutions were seldom hasty or unadvised, but the result of + a strong feeling of rectitude and great good sense. It is true she + possessed high feelings of self-respect, together with an enthusiastic + love for her religion, and a most earnest zeal for its advancement; + indeed, so strongly did these predominate in her mind, that any act + involving a personal slight towards herself, or indifference to her creed + and its propagation, were looked upon by Kathleen as crimes for which + there was no forgiveness. If she had any fellings, it was in these two + points they lay. But at the same time, we are bound to say, that the + courage and enthusiasm of Joan of Arc had been demanded of her by the + state and condition of her country and her creed, she would have + unquestionably sacrificed her life, if the sacrifice secured the + prosperity of either. + </p> + <p> + Something of their difference of temperament might have been observed + during their conversation, while sitting under the white thorn. Every now + and then, for instance, Hanna would start up and commence a series of + little flirtations with the blackbird, which she called her sweetheart, + and again resume her chat and seat as before; or she would attempt to + catch a butterfly as it fluttered about her, or sometimes give it pursuit + over half the green, whilst Kathleen sat with laughing and delighted eyes, + and a smile of unutterable sweetness on her lips, watching the success of + this innocent frolic. In this situation we must now leave them, to follow + Peety, who is on his way to deliver the other letter to Bryan M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + Our little black Mercury was not long in arriving at the house of Tom + M'Mahon, which he reached in company with that worthy man himself, whom he + happened to overtake near Carriglass where he lived. M'Mahon seemed + fatigued and travel-worn, and consequently was proceeding at a slow pace + when Peety overtook him. The latter observed this. + </p> + <p> + “Why, thin, Tom,” said he, after the first salutations had passed, “you + look like a man that had jist put a tough journey over him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' so I ought, Peety,” he replied, “for I have put a tough journey over + me.” + </p> + <p> + “Musha where were you, thin, if it's fair to ax?” inquired Peety; “for as + for me that hears everything almost, the never a word I heard o' this.” + </p> + <p> + “I was in Dublin, thin, all the way,” replied the farmer, “strivin' to get + a renewal o' my laise from ould Squire Chevydale, the landlord; an' upon + my snuggins, Peety, you may call a journey to Dublin an' home agin a tough + one—devil a doubt of it. However, thank God, here we are at home; + an' blessed be His name that we have a home to come to; for, afther all, + what place is like it? Throth, Peety, my heart longed for these brave + fields of ours—for the lough there below, and the wild hills above + us; for it wasn't until I was away from them that I felt how strong the + love of them was in my heart.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was an old but hale man, with a figure and aspect that were much + above the common order even of the better class of peasants. There could + be no mistaking the decent and composed spirit of integrity which was + evident in his very manner; and there was something in his long flowing + locks, now tinged with gray, as they rested upon his shoulders, that gave + an air of singular respect to his whole appearance. + </p> + <p> + On uttering the last words he stood, and looking around him became so much + affected that his eyes filled with tears. “Ay,” said he, “thank God that + we have our place to come to, an' that we will still have it to come to, + and blessed be His name for all things! Come, Peety,” he added, after a + pause, “let us see how they all are inside; I'm longin' to see them, + especially poor, dear Dora; an'—God bless me! here she is!—no, + she ran back to tell them—but ay—oh, ay! here she is again, my + darlin' girl, comin' to meet me.” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely uttered the words when an interesting, slender girl, about + eighteen, blushing, and laughing, and crying, all at once, came flying + towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, fell upon his + bosom, kissed him, and wept with delight at his return. + </p> + <p> + “An' so, father dear, you're back to us! My gracious, we thought you'd + never come home! Sure you worn't sick? We thought maybe that you took ill, + or that—that—something happened you; and we wanted to send + Bryan after you—but nothing happened you?—nor you worn't + sick?” + </p> + <p> + “You affectionate, foolish darlin', no, I wasn't sick; nor nothing ill + happened me, Dora.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, thank God! Look at them,” she proceeded, directing his attention to + the house, “look at them all crowdin' to the door—and here's Shibby, + too, and Bryan himself—an' see my mother ready to lep out of herself + wid pure joy—the Lord be praised that you're safe back!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment his second daughter ran to him, and a repetition of welcome + similar to that which he received from Dora took place. His son Bryan + grasped his hand, and said, whilst a tear stood even in his eye, that he + was glad to see him safe home. The old man, in return, grasped his hand + with an expression of deep feeling, and after having inquired if they had + been all well in his absence, he proceeded with them to the house. Here + the scene was still more interesting. Mrs. M'Mahon stood smiling at the + door, but as he came near, she was obliged once or twice to wipe away the + tears with the corner of her handkerchief. We have often observed how much + fervid piety is mingled with the affections of the Irish people when in a + state of excitement; and this meeting between the old man and his wife + presented an additional proof of it. + </p> + <p> + “Blessed be God!” exclaimed his wife, tenderly embracing* him, “blessed be + God, Tom darlin', that you're safe back to us! An' how are you, avourueen? + an' wor you well ever since? an' there was nothin—musha, go out o' + this, Ranger, you thief—oh, God forgive me! what am I sayin'? sure + the poor dog is as glad as the best of us—arrah, thin, look at the + affectionate crathur, a'most beside himself! Dora, avillish, give him the + could stirabout that's in the skillet, jist for his affection, the + crathur. Here, Ranger—Ranger, I say—oh no, sorra one's in the + house now but yourself, Tom. Well, an' there was nothing wrong wid you?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin', Nancy, thanks be to the Almighty—down, poor fellow—there + now, Ranger—och, behave, you foolish dog—musha, see this!” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, Tom,” continued his loving wife, “let what will happen, it's the + last journey ever we'll let you take from us. Ever an' ever, there we wor + thinkin' an' thinkin' a thousand things about you. At one time that + something happened you; then that you fell sick an' had none but strangers + about you. Throth we won't; let what will happen, you must stay wid vis.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed an' I never knew how I loved the place, an' you all, till I went; + but, thank God, I hope it's the last journey ever I'll have to take from + either you or it.” + </p> + <p> + “Shibby, run down to—or do you, Dora, go, you're the souplest—to + Paddy Mullen's and Jemmy Kelly's, and the rest of the neighbors, an' tell + them to come up, that your father's home. Run now, acushla, an' if you + fall don't wait to rise; an' Shibby, darlin', do you whang down a lot o' + that bacon into rashers, 'your father must be at death's door wid hunger; + but wasn't it well that I thought of having the whiskey in, for you see + afther Thursday last we didn't know what minute you'd dhrop in on us, Tom, + an' I said it was best to be prepared. Give Peety a chair, the crature; + come forrid, Peety, an' take a sate; an' how are you? an' how is the + girsha wid you, an' where is she?” + </p> + <p> + To these questions, thus rapidly put, Peety returned suitable answers; but + indeed Mrs. M'Mahon did not wait to listen to them, having gone to another + room to produce the whisky she had provided for the occasion. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” she said, reappearing with a huge bottle in one hand and a glass + in the other, “a sip o' the right sort will help you afther your long + journey; you must be tired, be coorse, so take this.” + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, Bridget,” exclaimed her husband, “don't fill it; you'll make me + hearty.” (* tipsy) + </p> + <p> + “Throth an' I will fill it,” she replied, “ay, an' put a heap on it. There + now, finish that bumper.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, with a smiling and happy face, received the glass, and taking + his wife's hand in his, looked at her, and then upon them all, with an + expression of deep emotion. “Bridget, your health; childre', all your + healths; and here's to Carriglasa, an' may we long live happy in it, as we + will, plase God! Peety, not forgettin' you!” + </p> + <p> + We need hardly say that the glass went round, nor that Peety was not + omitted in the hospitality any more than in the toast. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Bryan,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “lay that bottle on the dresser, it's + not worth while puttin' it past till the neighbors comes up; an' it's they + that'll be the glad neighbors to see you safe back agin, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + In this she spoke truth. Honest and hearty was the welcome he received + from them, as with sparkling eyes and a warm grasp they greeted him on his + return. Not only had Paddy Mullin and Jemmy Kelly run up in haste—the + latter, who had been digging in his garden, without waiting to put on his + hat or coat—but other families in the neighborhood, young and old, + crowded in to welcome him home—-from Dublin—for in that lay + the principal charm. The bottle was again produced, and a holiday spirit + now prevailed among them. Questions upon questions were put to him with + reference to the wonders they had heard of the great metropolis—of + the murders and robberies committed upon travellers—the kidnapping + of strangers from the country—the Lord Lieutenant's Castle, with + three hundred and sixty-four windows in it, and all the extraordinary + sights and prodigies which it is supposed to contain. In a few minutes + after this friendly accession to their numbers had taken place, a youth + entered about nineteen years of age—handsome, tall, and well-made—in + fact, such a stripling as gave undeniable promise of becoming a fine, + powerful young man. On being handed a glass of whiskey he shook hands with + M'Mahon, welcomed him home, and then drank all their healths by name until + he came to that of Dora, when he paused, and, coloring, merely nodded + towards her. We cannot undertake to account for this omission, nor do more + than record what actually happened. Neither do we know why Dora blushed so + deeply as she did, nor why the sparkling and rapid glance which she gave + him in return occasioned him to look down with an appearance of confusion + and pain. That some understanding subsisted between young Cavanagh—for + he was Gerald's son—and Dora might have been evident to a close + observer; but in truth there was at that moment no such thing as a close + observer among them, every eye being fixed with impatience and curiosity + upon Tom M'Mahon, who had now most of the conversation to himself, little + else being left to the share of his auditors than the interjectional + phrases and exclamations of wonder at his extraordinary account of Dublin. + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Bryan, “about the business that brought you there? Did + you get the Renewal?” + </p> + <p> + “I got as good,” replied the simple-hearted old man, “an' that was the, + word of a gintleman—an' sure they say that that's the best security + in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but how was it?” they exclaimed, “an' how did it happen that you + didn't get the Lease itself?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you see,” he proceeded in reply, “the poor gintleman was near his + end—an' it was owin' to Pat Corrigan that I seen him at all—for + Pat, you know, is his own man. When I went in to where he sat I found Mr. + Fethertonge the agent wid him: he had a night-cap on, an' was sittin' in a + big armchair, wid one of his feet an' a leg swaythed wid flannel. I + thought he was goin' to write or sign papers. 'Well, M'Mahon,' says he—for + he was always as keen as a briar, an' knew me at once—'what do you + want? an' what has brought you from the country?' I then spoke to him + about the new lease; an' he said to Fethertonge, 'prepare M'Mahon's lease, + Fothertonge;—you shall have a new lease, M'Mahon. You are an honest + man, and your family have been so for many a long year upon our property. + As my health is unsartin,' he said, turning to Mr. Fethertonge, 'I take + Mr. Fethertonge here to witness, that in case anything should happen me I + give you my promise for a renewal—an' not only in my name alone, but + in my son's; an' I now lave it upon him to fulfil my intentions an' my + words, if I should not live to see it done myself. Mr. Fethertonge here + has brought me papers to sign, but I am not able to hould a pen, or if I + was I'd give you a written promise; but you have my solemn word, I fear my + dyin' word, in Mr. Fethertonge's presence—that you shall have a + lease of your farm at the ould rint. It is such tenants as you we want, + M'Mahon, an' that we ought to encourage on our property. Fethertonge, do + you in the mane time see that a lease is prepared for M'Mahon; an' see, at + all events, that my wishes shall be carried into effect.' Sich was his + last words to me, but he was a corpse on the next day but one afterwards.” + </p> + <p> + “It's jist as good,” they exclaimed with one voice; “for what is betther, + or what can be betther than <i>the word of an Irish gentleman?</i>” + </p> + <p> + “What ought to be betther, at all events?” said Bryan. “Well, father, so + far everything is right, for there is no doubt but his son will fulfil his + words—Mr. Fethertonge himself isn't the thing; but I don't see why + he should be our enemy. We always stood well with the ould man, an' I hope + will with the son. Come, mother, move the bottle again—there's + another round in it still; an' as everything looks so well and our mind is + aisy, we'll see it to the bottom.” + </p> + <p> + The conversation was again resumed, questions were once more asked + concerning the sights and sounds of Dublin, of which one would imagine + they could scarcely ever hear enough, until the evening was tolerably far + advanced, when the neighbors withdrew to their respective homes, and left + M'Mahon and his family altogether to themselves. + </p> + <p> + Peety, now that the joy and gratulation for the return of their father had + somewhat subsided, lost no time in delivering Hycy Burke's communication + into the hands of Bryan. The latter, on opening it, started with surprise + not inferior to that with which Kathleen Cavanagh had perused the missive + addressed to her. Nor was this all. The letter received by Bryan, as if + the matter had been actually designed by the writer, produced the selfsame + symptoms of deep resentment upon him that the mild and gentle Kathleen + Cavanagh experienced on the perusal of her own. His face became flushed + and his eye blazed with indignation as he went through its contents; after + which he once more looked at the superscription, and notwithstanding the + vehement passion into which it had thrown him, he was ultimately obliged + to laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Peety,” said he, resuming his gravity, “you carried a letter from Hycy + Burke to Kathleen Cavanagh to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Who says that?” replied Peety, who could not but remember the solemnity + of his promise to that accomplished gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “I do, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I can't help you, Bryan, nor prevent you from thinking so, sure—stick + to that.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I know you did, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, acushla, an' if you do, your only so much the wiser.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I understand,” continued Bryan, “it's a private affair, or intended + to be so—an' Mr. Hycy has made you promise not to spake of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Sure you know all about it, Bryan; an' isn't that enough for you? Only + what answer am I to give him?” + </p> + <p> + “None at present, Peety; but say I'll see himself in a day or two.” + </p> + <p> + “That's your answer, then?” + </p> + <p> + “That's all the answer I can give till I see himself, as I said.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-bye, Bryan, an' God be wid you!” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Peety!” and thus they parted. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III.—Jemmy Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy and a Confidant + </h3> + <p> + Hycy Burke was one of those persons who, under the appearance of a + somewhat ardent temperament, are capable of abiding the issue of an event + with more than ordinary patience. Having not the slightest suspicion of + the circumstance which occasioned Bryan M'Mahon's resentment, he waited + for a day of two under the expectation that his friend was providing the + sum necessary to accommodate him. The third and fourth days passed, + however, without his having received any reply whatsoever; and Hycy, who + had set his heart upon Crazy Jane, on finding that his father—who + possessed as much firmness as he did of generosity—absolutely + refused to pay for her, resolved to lose no more time in putting Bryan's + friendship to the test. To this, indeed, he was urged by Burton, a wealthy + but knavish country horse-dealer, as we said, who wrote to him that unless + he paid for her within a given period, he must be under the necessity of + closing with a person who had offered him a higher price. This message was + very offensive to Hycy, whose great foible, as the reader knows, was to be + considered a gentleman, not merely in appearance, but in means and + circumstances. He consequently had come to the determination of writing + again to M'Mahon upon the same subject, when chance brought them together + in the market of Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the + matter:— + </p> + <p> + “I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane,” said + he, “and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty deeply in + your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but, as you + like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no money.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a + minute, and said in quite a different tone— + </p> + <p> + “What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?” + </p> + <p> + “Not knowingly—but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say + about it.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not aware of it,” replied the other—-“my word and honor I'm + not.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not + openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the + grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and + Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection, + would have been an act of great presumption on his part. + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Hycy,” said he; “I have tould you my mind, and now I've done + with it.” + </p> + <p> + “With all my heart!” said the other—“that's a matter of taste on + your part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in + your pocket. It's all right, I suppose—but you know best. Good-bye + to you, at all events,” he added; “be a good boy and take care of + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not. + </p> + <p> + “By all that deserves an oath,” exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after + him, “if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you your + insulting conduct this day—and that I'll soon make you feel to your + cost!” + </p> + <p> + This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much + mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through + the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could + judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked + with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their + loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other parts + of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At length he + seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say which, and + stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes quite + unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success with + which he did it—when, on looking down the street, he observed a + little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with + freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the + saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately + between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In + addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow + legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with his + whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was nevertheless + indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore neither stockings + nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong clouted brogues upon his + feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs and a breast that were + covered over with a fell of red close hair that might have been long and + strong enough for a badger. He carried in his hand a short whip, + resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such a description as no + man that had any regard for his health would wish to come in contact with, + especially from the hand of such a double-jointed but misshapen Hercules + as bore it. + </p> + <p> + “Ted, how goes it, my man?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?</i>” replied Ted, surveying him with + a stare. + </p> + <p> + “D—n you!” was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived + that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The + latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:—“I was about to abuse + you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me,” he said, “until I saw + Jennings, and then I <i>had</i> you.” + </p> + <p> + “Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the <i>Bairlha</i> (* English + tongue)—'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you + 'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n your Gaelic!” replied Hycy—“no, I won't—I don't + speak it.” + </p> + <p> + “The Laud forget you for that!” replied Ted, with a grin; “my ould + grandmudher might larn it from you—hach, ach, ha!” + </p> + <p> + “None of your d—d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat would her be?” asked Ted, with a face in which there might be read + such a compound of cunning, vacuity, and ferocity as could rarely be + witnessed in the same countenance. + </p> + <p> + “Can you come down to me to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “No; I'll be busy.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are you at work now?” + </p> + <p> + “In Glendearg, above.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if you can't come to me, I must only go to you. Will you be + there tonight? I wish to speak to you on very particular business.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss; you <i>will</i>, dhin, wanst more?” asked the other, + significantly. + </p> + <p> + “I think so.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—ay—vary good. Fwen will she come?” + </p> + <p> + “About eleven or twelve; so don't be from about the place anywhere.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—-dhin—vary good. Is dhat all?” + </p> + <p> + “That's all now. Are your turf <i>dry</i> or <i>wet</i>* to-day?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * One method of selling Poteen is by bringing in kishes of + turf to the neighboring markets, when those who are up to + the secret purchase the turf, or pretend to do so; and while + in the act of discharging the load, the Keg of Poteen is + quickly passed into the house of him who purchases the + turf.—Are your turf wet or dry? was, consequently, a pass- + word. +</pre> + <p> + “Not vary dhry,” replied Ted, with a grin so wide that, as was humorously + said by a neighbor of his, “it would take a telescope to enable a man to + see from the one end of it to the other.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy nodded and laughed, and Ted, cracking his whip, proceeded up the town + to sell his turf. + </p> + <p> + Hycy now sauntered about through the market, chatting here and there among + acquaintances, with the air of a man to whom neither life nor anything + connected with it could occasion any earthly trouble. Indeed, it mattered + little what he felt, his easiness of manner was such that not one of his + acquaintances could for a moment impute to him the possibility of ever + being weighed down by trouble or care of any kind; and lest his natural + elasticity of spirits might fail to sustain this perpetual buoyancy, he by + no means neglected to fortify himself with artificial support. Meet him + when or where you might, be it at six in the morning or twelve at night, + you were certain to catch from his breath the smell of liquor, either in + its naked simplicity or disguised and modified in some shape. + </p> + <p> + His ride home, though a rapid, was by no means a pleasing one. M'Mahon had + not only refused to lend him the money he stood in need of, but actually + quarrelled with him, as far as he could judge, for no other purpose but + that he might make the quarrel a plea for refusing him. This + disappointment, to a person of Hycy's disposition, was, we have seen, + bitterly vexatious, and it may be presumed that he reached home in + anything but an agreeable humor. Having dismounted, he was about to enter + the hall-door, when his attention was directed towards that of the kitchen + by a rather loud hammering, and on turning his eyes to the spot he found + two or three tinkers very busily engaged in soldering, clasping, and + otherwise repairing certain vessels belonging to that warm and spacious + establishment. The leader of these vagrants was a man named Philip Hogan, + a fellow of surprising strength and desperate character, whose feats of + hardihood and daring had given him a fearful notoriety over a large + district of the country. Hogan was a man whom almost every one feared, + being, from confidence, we presume, in his great strength, as well as by + nature, both insolent, overbearing, and ruffianly in the extreme. His + inseparable and appropriate companion was a fierce and powerful bull-dog + of the old Irish breed, which he had so admirably trained that it was only + necessary to give him a sign, and he would seize by the throat either man + or beast, merely in compliance with the will of his master. On this + occasion he was accompanied by two of his brothers, who were, in fact, + nearly as impudent and offensive ruffians as himself. Hycy paused for a + moment, seemed thoughtful, and tapped his boot with the point of his whip + as he looked at them. On entering the parlor he found dinner over, and his + father, as was usual, waiting to get his tumbler of punch. + </p> + <p> + “Where's my mother?” he asked—“where's Mrs. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + On uttering the last words he raised his voice so as she might distinctly + hear him. + </p> + <p> + “She's above stairs gettin' the whiskey,” replied his father, “and God + knows she's long enough about it.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy ran up, and meeting her on the lobby, said, in a low, anxious voice— + </p> + <p> + “Well, what news? Will he stand it?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she replied, “you may give up the notion—he won't do it, an' + there's no use in axin' him any more.” + </p> + <p> + “He won't do it!” repeated the son; “are you certain now?” + </p> + <p> + “Sure an' sartin. I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' worse + he got.” + </p> + <p> + Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are not + in possession at present; he immediately added:— + </p> + <p> + “Well, never mind. Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am—to be united to + such a d—d—hem!—to such a—a—such a—gentleman!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to + indulge in any compassion of the kind. + </p> + <p> + “The thing's now past cure,” she said; “I'm a marthyr, an' that's all + that's about it. Come down till I get you your dinner.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the “Bay of + Biscay:”— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, + The rain a deluge pours; + The clouds were rent asunder + By light'ning's vivid—' +</pre> + <p> + By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing at + the kitchen door there?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, whatever they like,” she replied. “I tould that vagabond, Philip, + that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best judge of + that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, an' takes + everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat a mendin' an' + sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' 'by your lave.'” + </p> + <p> + “It's perfectly well known that they're robbers,” said Hycy, “and the + general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who are + in this part of the country at present. However, I'll speak to the + ruffians about such conduct.” + </p> + <p> + He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal to + one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood. During + a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, but of what + character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the distance at which + they stood rendered it impossible for any one to ascertain. Hycy then + returned to dinner, whilst his father in the meantime sat smoking his + pipe, and sipping from time to time at his tumbler of punch. Mrs. Burke, + herself, occupied an arm-chair to the left of the fire, engaged at a + stocking which was one of a pair that she contrived to knit for her + husband during every twelve months; and on the score of which she pleaded + strong claims to a character of most exemplary and indefatigable industry. + </p> + <p> + “Any news from the market, Hycy?” said his father. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Hycy, in that dry ironical tone which he always used to his + parents—“rather interesting—Ballymacan is in the old place.” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise,” replied his father, with more quickness than might be expected, + as he whiffed away the smoke with a face of very sarcastic humor; “I hard + it had gone up a bit towards the mountains—but I knew you wor the + boy could tell me whether it had or not—ha!—ha!—ha!” + </p> + <p> + This rejoinder, in addition to the intelligence Hycy had just received + from his mother, was not calculated to improve his temper. “You may + laugh,” he replied; “but if your respectable father had treated you in a + spirit so stingy and beggarly as that which I experience at your hands, I + don't know how you might have borne it.” + </p> + <p> + “My father!” replied Burke; “take your time, Hycy—my hand to you, he + had a different son to manage from what I have.” + </p> + <p> + “God sees that's truth,” exclaimed his wife, turning the expression to her + son's account. + </p> + <p> + “I was no gentleman, Hycy,” Burke proceeded. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, is it possible?” said the son, with a sneer. “Are you sure of that, + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Nor no spendthrift, Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the wife, “you never had the spirit; you were ever and always a + <i>molshy</i>.” (* A womanly, contemptible fellow) + </p> + <p> + “An' yet <i>molshy</i> as I was,” he replied, “you wor glad to catch me. + But Hycy, my good boy, I didn't cost my father at the rate of from a + hundre'-an'-fifty to two-hundre'-a-year, an' get myself laughed at and + snubbed by my superiors, for forcin' myself into their company.” + </p> + <p> + “Can't you let the boy ait his dinner in peace, at any rate?” said his + mother. “Upon my credit I wouldn't be surprised if you drove him away from + us altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “I only want to drive him into common sense, and the respectful feeling he + ought to show to both you an' me, Rosha,” said Burke; “if he expects to + have either luck or grace, or the blessing of God upon him, he'll change + his coorses, an' not keep breakin' my heart as he's doin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you pay for the mare I bought, father?” asked Hycy, very seriously. + “I have already told you, that I paid three guineas earnest; I hope you + will regard your name and family so far as to prevent me from breaking my + word—besides leading the world to suppose that you are a poor man.” + </p> + <p> + “Regard my name and family!” returned the father, with a look of + bitterness and sorrow; “who is bringin' them into disgrace, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “In the meantime,” replied the son, “I have asked a plain question, Mr. + Burke, and I expect a plain answer; will you pay for the mare?” + </p> + <p> + “An' supposin' I don't?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Mr. Burke, if you don't you won't, that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “I must stop some time,” replied his father, “an' that is now. I wont pay + for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, sir, I shall feel obliged, as your respectable wife has just + said, if you will allow me to eat, and if possible, live in peace.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm speakin' only for your—” + </p> + <p> + “That will do now—hush—silence if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy dear,” said the mother; “why would you ax him another question about + it? Drop the thing altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “I will, mother, but I pity you; in the meantime, I thank you, ma'am, of + your advice.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” she continued, with a view of changing the conversation; “did you + hear that Tom M'Bride's dead?” + </p> + <p> + “No ma'am, but I expected it; when did he die?” + </p> + <p> + Before his father could reply, a fumbling was heard at the hall-door; and, + the next moment, Hogan, thrust in his huge head and shoulders began to + examine the lock by attempting to turn the key in it. + </p> + <p> + “Hogan, what are you about?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon,” replied the ruffian; “I only wished to know if the + lock wanted mendin'—that was all, Misther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone, sirra,” said the other; “how dare you have the presumption to + take such a liberty? you impudent scoundrel! Mother, you had better pay + them,” he added; “give the vagabonds anything they ask, to get rid of + them.” + </p> + <p> + Having dined, her worthy son mixed a tumbler of punch, and while drinking + it, he amused himself, as was his custom, by singing snatches of various + songs, and drumming with his fingers upon the table; whilst every now and + then he could hear the tones of his mother's voice in high altercation + with Hogan and his brothers. This, however, after a time, ceased, and she + returned to the parlor a good deal chafed by the dispute. + </p> + <p> + “There's one thing I wonder at,” she observed, “that of all men in the + neighborhood, Gerald Cavanagh would allow sich vagabonds as they an Kate + Hogan is, to put in his kiln. Troth, Hycy,” she added, speaking to him in + a warning and significant tone of voice, “if there wasn't something low + an' mane in him, he wouldn't do it.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Tis when the cup is smiling before us. + And we pledge unto our hearts—' +</pre> + <p> + “Your health, mother. Mr. Burke, here's to you! Why I dare say you are + right, Mrs. Burke. The Cavanagh family is but an upstart one at best; it + wants antiquity, ma'am—a mere affair of yesterday, so what after all + could you expect from it?” + </p> + <p> + Honest Jemmy looked at him and then groaned. “An upstart family!—that'll + do—oh, murdher—well, 'tis respectable at all events; however, + as to havin' the Hogans about them—they wor always about them; it + was the same in their father's time. I remember ould Laghlin Hogan, an' + his whole clanjamfrey, men an' women, young an' old, wor near six months + out o' the year about ould Gerald Cavanagh's—the present man's + father; and another thing you may build upon—that whoever ud chance + to speak a hard word against one o' the Cavanagh family, before Philip + Hogan or any of his brothers, would stand a strong chance of a shirtful o' + sore bones. Besides, we all know how Philip's father saved Mrs. Cavanagh's + life about nine or ten months after her marriage. At any rate, whatever + bad qualities the vagabonds have, want of gratitude isn't among them.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'———That are true, boys, true, + The sky of this life opens o'er us, + And heaven—' +</pre> + <p> + M'Bride, ma'am, will be a severe loss to his family.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth he will, and a sarious loss—for among ourselves, there was + none o' them like him.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Gives a glance of its blue—' +</pre> + <p> + “I think I ought to go to the wake to-night. I know it's a bit of a + descent on my part, but still it is scarcely more than is due to a decent + neighbor. Yes, I shall go; it is determined on.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'I ga'ed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate I fear I'll dearly rue; + I gat my death frae twa sweet een, + Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.' +</pre> + <p> + “Mine are brown, Mrs. Burke—the eyes you wot of; but alas! the + family is an upstart one, and that is strongly against the Protestant + interest in the case. Heigho!” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke, having finished his after-dinner pipe and his daily tumbler + both together, went out to his men; and Hycy, with whom he had left the + drinking materials, after having taken a tumbler or two, put on a strong + pair of boots, and changed the rest of his dress for a coarser 'suit, bade + his mother a polite good-bye, and informed her, that as he intended to be + present at M'Bride's wake he would most probably not return until near + morning. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV.—A Poteen Still-House at Midnight—Its Inmates. + </h2> + <p> + About three miles in a south-western direction from Burke's residence, the + country was bounded by a range of high hills and mountains of a very + rugged and wild, but picturesque description. Although a portion of the + same landscape, yet nothing could be more strikingly distinct in character + than the position of the brown wild hills, as contrasted with that of the + mountains from which they abutted. The latter ran in long and lofty ranges + that were marked by a majestic and sublime simplicity, whilst the hills + were of all shapes and sizes, and seemed as if cast about at random. As a + matter of course the glens and valleys that divided them ran in every + possible direction, sometimes crossing and intersecting each other at + right angles, and sometimes running parallel, or twisting away in opposite + directions. In one of those glens that lay nearest the mountains, or + rather indeed among them, was a spot which from its peculiar position + would appear to have been designed from the very beginning as a perfect + paradise for the illicit distiller. It was a kind of back chamber in the + mountains, that might, in fact, have escaped observation altogether, as it + often did. The approach to it was by a long precipitous glen, that could + be entered only at its lower end, and seemed to terminate against the + abrupt side of the mountain, like a cul de sac. At the very extremity, + however, of this termination, and a little on the right-hand side, there + was a steep, narrow pass leading into a recess which was completely + encompassed by precipices. From this there was only one means of escape + independently of the gut through which it was entered. The moors on the + side most approachable were level, and on a line to the eye with that + portion of the mountains which bounded it on the opposite side, so that as + one looked forward the space appeared to be perfectly continuous, and + consequently no person could suspect that there lay so deep and + precipitous a glen between them. + </p> + <p> + In the northern corner of this remarkable locality, a deep cave, having + every necessary property as a place for private distillation, ran under + the rocks, which met over it in a kind of gothic arch. A stream of water + just sufficient for the requisite purposes, fell in through a fissure from + above, forming such a little subterraneous cascade in the cavern as human + design itself could scarcely have surpassed in felicity of adaptation to + the objects of an illicit distiller. + </p> + <p> + To this cave, then, we must take the liberty of transporting our readers, + in order to give them an opportunity of getting a peep at the inside of a + Poteen Still-house, and of hearing a portion of conversation, which, + although not remarkable for either elegance or edification, we are, + nevertheless, obliged to detail, as being in some degree necessary to the + elucidation of our narrative. Up in that end which constituted the + termination of the cave, and fixed upon a large turf fire which burned + within a circle of stones that supported it, was a tolerably-sized Still, + made of block-tin. The mouth of this Still was closed by an air-tight + cover, also of tin, called the Head, from which a tube of the same metal + projected into a large keeve, or condenser, that was kept always filled + with cool water by an incessant stream from the cascade we have described, + which always ran into and overflowed it. The arm of this head was fitted + and made air-tight, also, into a spiral tube of copper, called the Worm, + which rested in the water of the cooler; and as it consisted of several + convolutions, like a cork-screw, its office was to condense the hot vapor + which was transmitted to it from the glowing Still into that description + of spirits known as poteen. At the bottom of this cooler, the Worm + terminated in a small cock or spigot, from which the spirits projected in + a slender stream, about the thickness of a quill, into a vessel placed for + its reception. Such was the position of the Still, Head, and Worm, when in + full operation. Fixed about the cave, upon rude stone stillions, were the + usual vessels requisite for the various processes through which it was + necessary to put the malt, before the wort, which is its first liquid + shape, was fermented, cleared off, and thrown into the Still to be + singled; for our readers must know that distillation is a double process, + the first product being called singlings, and the second or last, + doublings—which is the perfect liquor. Sacks of malt, empty vessels, + piles of turf, heaps of grains, tubs of wash, and kegs of whiskey, were + lying about in all directions, together with pots, pans, wooden trenchers, + and dishes, for culinary uses. The seats were round stones and black + bosses which were made of a light hard moss found in the mountains and + bogs, and frequently used as seats in rustic chimney corners. On entering, + your nose was assailed by such a mingled stench of warm grains, sour barm, + putrid potato skins, and strong whiskey, as required considerable + fortitude to bear without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. + </p> + <p> + The persons assembled were in every way worthy of the place and its + dependencies. Seated fronting the fire was our friend Teddy Phats, which + was the only name he was ever known by, his wild, beetle brows lit into a + red, frightful glare of savage mirth that seemed incapable, in its highest + glee, to disengage itself entirely from an expression of the man's + unquenchable ferocity. Opposite to him sat a tall, smut-faced, + truculent-looking young fellow, with two piercing eyes and a pair of grim + brows, which, when taken into conjunction with a hard, unfeeling mouth, + from the corners of which two right lines ran down his chin, giving that + part of his face a most dismal expression, constituted a countenance that + matched exceedingly well with the visage of Teddy Phats. This worthy + gentleman was a tinker, and one of Hogan's brothers, whom we have already + introduced to our readers. Scattered about the fire and through the cavern + were a party of countrymen who came to purchase whiskey for a wedding, and + three or four publicans and shebeenmen who had come on professional + business. Some were drinking, some indulging in song, and some were + already lying drunk or asleep in different parts of this subterraneous + pandemonium. Exalted in what was considered the position of honor sat a + country hedge-schoolmaster, his mellow eye beaming with something between + natural humor, a sense of his own importance, and the influence of pure + whiskey, fresh it is called, from the Still-eye. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Teddy,” said one of the countrymen, “will you fill the bottle + again.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Teddy, who though as cunning as the devil himself, could + seldom be got to speak anything better than broken English, and that of + such a character that it was often scarcely intelligible. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he replied; “I gav'd you wan bottle 'idout payment fwhor her, an' by + shapers I won't give none oder.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you burning beauty, aren't we takin' ten gallons, an' will you + begrudge us a second bottle?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—devil purshue de bottle more ye'll drunk here 'idout de <i>airigad</i>, + (* Money) dat's fwhat you will.” + </p> + <p> + “Teddy,” said the schoolmaster, “I drink propitiation to you as a + profissional gintle-man! No man uses more indepindent language than you + do. You are under no earthly obligation to Messrs. Syntax and Prosody. + Grammar, my worthy friend, is banished as an intruder from your elocution, + just as you would exclude a gauger from your Still-house.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat about de gagur!” exclaimed Teddy, starting; “d—n him an' + shun-tax an' every oder tax, rint an' all—hee! hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + We may as well let our readers know, before we proceed farther, that in + the opinion of many, Teddy Phats understood and could speak English as + well as any man of his station in the country. In fairs or markets, or + other public places, he spoke, it is true, nothing but Irish unless in a + private way, and only to persons in whom he thought he could place every + confidence. It was often observed, however, that in such conversations he + occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English to + him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have possessed a + greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We believe the + fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller, had found it, on + some peculiar occasions connected with his profession, rather an + inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some evidence in + his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on behalf of his + friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to believe, that the + Irish language, when properly enunciated through the medium of an + interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially when resorted to + within the precincts of the country court-house and in hearing of the + judge. + </p> + <p> + “You're a fool, Teddy,” said Hogan; “let them drink themselves; blind—this + liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way, why, blazes + to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for another cargo.” + </p> + <p> + Teddy immediately took the hint. + </p> + <p> + “Barney Brogan,” he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub, half + knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted as + messenger, spy, and vidette; “listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere dat + bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em—ha, ha, + ha!” + </p> + <p> + “More power to you, Vaynus,” exclaimed Keenan; “you're worth a thousand + pounds, quarry weight.” + </p> + <p> + “I am inclined to think, Mr. Keenan,” said the schoolmaster, “that you are + in the habit occasionally of taking slight liberties wid the haythen + mythology. Little, I'll be bound, the divine goddess of beauty ever dreamt + she'd find a representative in Teddy Phats.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo! masther,” replied Keenan, “you're the boy can do—only that + English is too tall for me. At any rate,” he added, approaching the worthy + preceptor, “take a spell o' this—it's a language we can all + understand.” + </p> + <p> + “You mane to say, Darby,” returned the other, “that it's a kind of + universal spelling-book amongst us, and so it is—an alphabet aisily + larned. Your health, now and under all circumstances! Teddy, or Thaddeus, + I drink to your symmetry and inexplicable proportions; and I say for your + comfort, my worthy distillator, that if you are not so refulgent in beauty + as Venus, you are a purer haythen.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat a bloody fwhine <i>Bairlha</i> man the meeisther is,” said Teddy, + with a grin. “Fwhaicks, meeisthur, your de posey of Tullyticklem, + spishilly wid Captain Fwhiskey at your back. You spake de Bairlha up den + jist all as one as nobody could understand her—ha, ha, ha!” + </p> + <p> + The master, whose name was Finigan, or, as he wished to be called, + O'Finigan, looked upon Teddy and shook his head very significantly. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid, my worthy distallator,” he proceeded, “that the proverb which + says '<i>latet anguis in herba</i>,' is not inapplicable in your case. I + think I can occasionally detect in these ferret-like orbs that constitute + such an attractive portion of your beauty, a passing scintillation of + intelligence which you wish to keep <i>a secretis</i>, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Finigan,” said Keenan, who had now returned to his friends, “if you + wouldn't be betther employed to-morrow, you'd be welcome to the weddin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Mr. Keenan,” replied Finigan; “I accept your hospitable + offer wid genuine cordiality. To-morrow will be a day worthy of a white + mark to all parties concerned. Horace calls it chalk, which is probably + the most appropriate substance with which the records of matrimonial + felicity could be registered, <i>crede experto</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, Misther Finigan, give the boys a holiday to-morrow, and be + down wid us airly.” + </p> + <p> + “There is not,” replied Finigan, who was now pretty well advanced, “I + believe widin the compass of written or spoken language—and I might + on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good + authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves + the beauty of elocution—I say, then, there is not widin the compass + of spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable + to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a <i>Plantation + Seminary</i>; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you + that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly + pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock.” + </p> + <p> + Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such + complacent volubility—a volubility that was deeply indebted to the + liquor he had taken—the following dialogue took place in a cautious + under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy. + </p> + <p> + “So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss.” + </p> + <p> + “B—t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I won't,” replied the other, angrily; “I'll spake as I likes.” + </p> + <p> + “What brings him up, do you know?” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon <i>her</i> here,” he + replied, pointing to the still. “<i>You'll</i> have a good job of her, + fwhedher or no.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, will he want a new one, do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, to be sure—would ye tink I'd begin to <i>run</i> (* A slang + phrase for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token + moreover, dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets—hee! + hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, all that's right—don't work for him widout a new one + complate, Teddy—Still, Head, and Worm.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't—he thried her afore, though.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!—no he didn't.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, ha! ay dhin—an' she milked well too—a good cow—a + brave <i>cheehony</i> she was for him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' why did he give it up?” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhy—fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he + couldn't hunt wid de <i>dinnaousais</i>—wid de gentlemans.” + </p> + <p> + “An' what if he's discovered now?” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat?—fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now + an' den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he + carries.” + </p> + <p> + “If I don't mistake,” proceeded Hogan, “either himself or his family, + anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, Batt?” asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside + him during this dialogue—“how is dhat now?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't rightly know—I can't say,” replied Hogan, with a smile + murderously grim but knowing—“I'm not up; but the sportheen's a made + boy, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Dher cheerna!</i> you <i>are</i> up,” said Teddy, giving him a furious + glance as he spoke; “there must be no saycrits, I say.” + </p> + <p> + “You're a blasted liar, I tell you—I am not, but I suspect—that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + “What brought you up dhis night?” asked Teddy, suspiciously. + </p> + <p> + “Because I hard he was to come,” replied his companion; “but whether or + not I'd be here.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Tha sha maigh</i>—it's right—may be so—shiss, it's + all right, may be so—well?” + </p> + <p> + Teddy, although he said it was all right, did not seem however to think + so. The furtive and suspicious glance which he gave Hogan from under his + red beetle brows should be seen in order to be understood. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Hogan, re-echoing him—“it is well; an' what is more, my + Kate is to be up here wid a pair o' geese to roast for us, for we must + make him comfortable. She wint to thry her hand upon somebody's roost, an' + it'll go hard if she fails!” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhail!” exclaimed Teddy, with a grin—“ah, the dioual a fwhail!” + </p> + <p> + “An' another thing—he's comin' about Kathleen Cavanagh—Hycy + is. He wants to gain our intherest about her!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, an' what harm?” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe there is, though, it's whispered that he—hut! doesn't he say + himself that there isn't a girl of his own religion in the parish he'd + marry—now I'd like to see them married, Teddy, but as for anything + else—” + </p> + <p> + “Hee! hee! hee!—well,” exclaimed Teddy, with a horrible grimace that + gave his whole countenance a facequake, “an' maybe he's right. Maybe it + 'udn't be aisy to get a colleen of his religion—I tink his religion + is fwhere Phiddher Fwhite's estate is—beyant the beyands, Avhere the + mare foaled the fwhiddler—hee! hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + “He had better thry none of his sckames wid any of the Cavanaghs,” said + Bat, “for fraid he might be brought to bed of a mistake some fine day—that's + all I say; an' there's more eyes than mine upon him.” + </p> + <p> + This dialogue was nearly lost in the loudness of a debate which had + originated with Keenan and certain of his friends in the lower part of the + still-house. Some misunderstanding relative to the families of the parties + about to be united had arisen, and was rising rapidly into a comparative + estimate of the prowess and strength of their respective factions, and + consequently assuming a very belligerent aspect, when a tall, lank, but + powerful female, made her appearance, carrying a large bundle in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “More power, Kate!” exclaimed Hogan. “I knew she would,” he added, digging + Teddy's ribs with his elbow. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, man!” said his companion; “if you love me, say so, but don't hint + it dat way.” + </p> + <p> + “Show forth, Kate!” proceeded her husband; “let us see the prog—hillo!—oh, + holy Moses! what a pair o' beauties!” + </p> + <p> + He then whipped up a horn measure, that contained certainly more than a + naggin, and putting it under the warm spirits that came out of the + still-eye, handed it to her. She took it, and coming up towards the fire, + which threw out a strong light, nodded to them, and, without saying a + word, literally pitched it down her throat, whilst at the same time one of + her eyes presented undeniable proofs of a recent conflict. We have said + that there were several persons singing and dancing, and some asleep, in + the remoter part of the cave; and this was true, although we refrained + from mingling up either their mirth or melody with the conversation of the + principal personages. All at once, however, a series of noises, equally + loud and unexpected, startled melodists, conversationalists, and sleepers + all to their legs. These were no other than the piercing cackles of two + alarmed geese which Hogan's wife had secured from some neighboring farmer, + in order to provide a supper for our friend Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Ted,” said the female, “I lost my knife since I came out, or they'd be + quiet enough before this; lend me one a minute, you blissed babe.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, to be sure, Kate,” he replied, handing her a large clasp knife + with a frightful blade; “an', Kate, whisper, woman alive—you're + bought up, I see.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that, you red rascal?” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise, don't I see dat de purchaser has set his mark upon ye?—hee! + hee! hee!” and he pointed to her eye* as he spoke. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A black eye is said to be the devil's mark. +</pre> + <p> + “No,” she replied, nodding towards her husband, “that's his handy work; + an' ye divil's clip!” she added, turning to Teddy, “who has a betther + right?” + </p> + <p> + She then bled the geese, and, looking about her, asked— + </p> + <p> + “Have you any wet hay or straw in the place?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, plenty of bote,” replied Teddy; “an' here's de greeshavigh ready.” + </p> + <p> + She then wrapped the geese, feathers and all, separately in a covering of + wet hay, which she bound round them with thumb-ropes of the same material, + and clearing away a space among the burning ashes, placed each of them in + it, and covered them up closely. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said she, “put down a pot o' praities, and we won't go to bed + fastin'.” + </p> + <p> + The different groups had now melted into one party, much upon the same + principle that the various little streamlets on the mountains around them + all run, when swollen by a sudden storm, into some larger torrent equally + precipitous and turbulent. Keenan, who was one of those pertinacious + fellows that are equally quarrelsome and hospitable when in liquor, now + resumed the debate with a characteristic impression of the pugilistic + superiority of his family:— + </p> + <p> + “I am right, I say: I remember it well, for although I wasn't there + myself, my father was, an' I often h'ard him say—God rest his sowl!”—here + he reverently took off his hat and looked upwards—“I often h'ard him + say that Paddy Keenan gave Mullin the first knock-down blow, an' Pether—I + mane no disrespect, but far from it—give us your hand, man alive—you're + going to be married upon my shisther to-morrow, plaise God!—masther, + you'll come, remimber? you'll be as welcome as the flowers o' May, masther—so, + Pether, as I was sayin'—I mane no offince nor disrespect to you or + yours, for you are, an' ever was, a daisent family, an' well able to fight + your corner when it came upon you—but still, Pether—an' for + all that—I say it—an' I'll stand to it—I'll stand it—that's + the chat!—that, man for man, there never was one o' your seed, + breed, or generation able to fight a Keenan—that's the chat!—here's + luck! + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Oh, 'twas in the month of May, + When the lambkins sport and play, + As I walked out to gain raycrayation, + I espied a comely maid. + Sequestrin' in the shade— + On her beauty I gazed wid admiraytion,' +</pre> + <p> + No, Pether, you never could; the Mullins is good men—right good men, + but they couldn't do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Barney,” said the brother of the bridegroom, “you may thank God that + Pether is going to be married to your sisther to-morrow as you say, or + we'd larn you another lesson—eh, masther? That's the chat too—ha! + ha! ha! To the divil wid sich impedence!” + </p> + <p> + “Gintlemen,” said Finigan, now staggering down towards the parties, “I am + a man of pacific principles, acquainted wid the larned languages, wid + mathematics, wid philosophy, the science of morality according to Fluxions—I + grant you, I'm not college-bred; but, gintlemen, I never invied the + oysther in its shell—for, gintlemen, I'm not ashamed of it, but I + acquired—I absorbed my laming, I may say, upon locomotive + principles.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, masther!” said Keenan; “that's what some o' them couldn't say—” + </p> + <p> + “Upon locomotive principles. I admit Munster, gintlemen—glorious + Kerry!—yes, and I say I am not ashamed of it. I do plead guilty to + the peripatetic system: like a comet I travelled during my juvenile days—as + I may truly assert wid a slight modicum of latitude” (here he lurched + considerably to the one side)—“from star to star, until I was able + to exhibit all their brilliancy united simply, I can safely assert, in my + own humble person. Gintlemen, I have the honor of being able to write + 'Philomath' after my name—which is O'Finigan, not Finigan, by any + means—and where is the oyster in his shell could do that? Yes, and + although they refused me a sizarship in Trinity College—for what + will not fear and envy do? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Tantaene animis celesiibus irae' +</pre> + <p> + Yet I have the consolation to know that my name is seldom mentioned among + the literati of classical Kerry—<i>nudis cruribus</i> as they are—except + as the Great O'Finigan! In the mane time—” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, Masther!” exclaimed Keenan, interrupting him. “Here, Ted! another + bottle, till the Great O'Finigan gets a glass of whiskey.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, gintlemen,” proceeded O'Finigan, “the alcohol shall be accepted, <i>puris + naturalibus</i>—which means, in its native—or more properly—but + which comes to the same thing—in its naked state; and, in the mane + time, I propose the health of one of my best benefactors—Gerald + Cavanagh, whose hospitable roof is a home—a domicilium to erudition + and respectability, when they happen, as they ought, to be legitimately + concatenated in the same person—as they are in your humble servant; + and I also beg leave to add the pride of the barony, his fair and virtuous + daughter, Kathleen, in conjunction wid the I accomplished son of another + benefactor of mine—honest James Burke—in conjunction, I say, + wid his son, Mr. Hyacinth. Ah, gintlemen—Billy Clinton, you thievin' + villain! you don't pay attention; I say, gintlemen, if I myself could + deduct a score of years from the period of my life, I should endeavor to + run through the conjugations of <i>amo</i> in society wid that pearl of + beauty. In the mane time—” + </p> + <p> + “Here's her health, masther,” returned Keenan, “an' her father's too, an' + Hycy Burke's into the bargain—is there any more o' them? Well, no + matter.” Then turning to his antagonist, he added, “I say agin, thin, that + a Mullin's not a match for a Keenan, nor never was—no, nor never + will be! That's the chat! and who's afeard to say it? eh, masther?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a lie!” shouted one of the opposite party; “I'm able to lick e'er a + Keenan that ever went on nate's leather—an' that's my chat.” + </p> + <p> + A blow from Keenan in reply was like a spark to gunpowder. In a moment the + cavern presented a scene singularly tragic-comic; the whole party was one + busy mass of battle, with the exception of Ted and Batt, and the wife of + the latter, who, having first hastily put aside everything that might be + injured, stood enjoying the conflict with most ferocious glee, the + schoolmaster having already withdrawn himself to his chair. Even Barney + Broghan, the fool, could not keep quiet, but on the contrary, thrust + himself into the quarrel, and began to strike indiscriminately at all who + came in his way, until an unlucky blow on the nose happening, to draw his + claret very copiously, he made a bound up behind the sill, uttering a + series of howlings, as from time to time he looked at his own blood, that + were amusing in the extreme. As it happened, however, the influence of + liquor was too strong upon both parties to enable them to inflict on each + other any serious injury. Such, however, was the midnight pastime of the + still-house when our friend Hycy entered. + </p> + <p> + “What in the devil's name—or the guager's—which is worse—” + he asked, addressing himself to Batt and Teddy, “is the meaning of all + this?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, you know a'most as much about it,” replied Hogan, laughing, “as we + do; they got drunk, an' that accounts for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said Finigan, who was now quite tipsy; “I am delighted to be + able to—to—yes, it is he,” he added, speaking to himself—“to + see you well.” + </p> + <p> + “I have my doubts as to that, Mr. Finigan,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Fame, Mr. Burke,” continued the other, “has not been silent with regard + to your exploits. Your horsemanship, sir, and the trepid pertinacity with + which you fasten upon the reluctant society of men of rank, have given you + a notorious celebrity, of which your worthy father, honest Jemmy, as he is + called, ought to be justly proud. And you shine, Mr. Burke, in the loves + as well as in the—<i>tam veneri quam</i>—I was about to add <i>Marti</i>, + but it would be inappropriate, or might only remind you of poor Biddy + Martin. It is well known you are a most accomplished gintleman, Mr. Burke—<i>homo + fadus ad unguem—ad unguem</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy would have interrupted the schoolmaster, but that he felt puzzled as + to whether he spoke seriously or ironically; his attention besides was + divided between him and the party in conflict. + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said he, addressing Hogan and Teddy, “put an end to this work, and + why did you, you misbegotten vagabond,” he added, turning to the latter, + “suffer these fellows to remain here when you knew I was to come up?” + </p> + <p> + “I must shell my fwisky,” replied Teddy, sullenly, “fwhedher you come or + stay.” + </p> + <p> + “If you don't clear the place of them instantly,” replied Hycy, “I shall + return home again.” + </p> + <p> + Hogan seemed a good deal alarmed at this intimation, and said—“Ay, + indeed, Terry, we had better put them out o' this.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhor fwhat?” asked Teddy, “dere my best customers shure—an' fwlay + would I quarrel wid 'em all fwor wan man?” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, then, you misshapen ruffian,” said Burke, about to go. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, Mr. Burke,” said. Hogan; “well soon make short work wid them. Here, + Ted, you devil's catch-penny, come an' help me! Hillo, here!” he shouted, + “what are you at, you gallows crew? Do you want to go to the stone jug, I + say? Be off out o' this—here's the guager, blast him, an' the + sogers! Clear out, I tell you, or every mother's son of you will sleep + undher the skull and cross-bones to-night.” (* Meaning the County Prison) + </p> + <p> + “Here you, Barney,” whispered Teddy, who certainly did not wish that Burke + should return as he came; “here, you great big fwhool you, give past your + yowlin' dere—and lookin' at your blood—run out dere, come in + an' shout the gauger an' de sogers.” + </p> + <p> + Barney, who naturally imagined that the intelligence was true, complied + with the order he had received in a spirit of such alarming and dreadful + earnestness, that a few minutes found the still-house completely cleared + of the two parties, not excepting Hogan himself, who, having heard nothing + of Teddy's directions to the fool, took it now for granted that that alarm + was a real one, and ran along with the rest. The schoolmaster had fallen + asleep, Kate Hogan was engaged in making preparations for supper at the + lower end of the casern, and the fool had been dispatched to fetch Hogan + himself back, so that Hycy now saw there was a good opportunity for + stating at more length than he could in the market the purpose of his + visit. + </p> + <p> + “Teddy,” said he, “now that the coast's clear, let us lose no time in + coming to the point. You are aware that Bryan M'Mahon has come into the + mountain farm of Ahadarra by the death of his uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss; dese three years.” + </p> + <p> + “You will stick to your cursed brogue,” said the other; “however, that's + your own affair. You are aware of this?” + </p> + <p> + “I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have made my mind up to take another turn at this,” and he tapped + the side of the still with his stick; “and I'll try it there. I don't know + a better place, and it is much more convenient than this.” + </p> + <p> + Teddy looked at him from under his brows, but seemed rather at a loss to + comprehend his meaning. + </p> + <p> + “Fwor fhy 'ud you go to Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “It's more convenient, and quite as well adapted for it as this place, or + nearly.” + </p> + <p> + “Well! Shiss, well?” + </p> + <p> + “Well; why that's all I have to say about it, except that I'm not to be + seen or known in the business at all—mark that.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—well? De Hogans must know it?” + </p> + <p> + “I am aware of that; we couldn't go on without them. This running of + your's will soon be over; very well. You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow and + pitch upon a proper situation for a house. These implements will do.” + </p> + <p> + “No, dey won't; I wouldn't tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet. You + must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an' dat will be + money down.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well; I'll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or + two.” + </p> + <p> + “Dat Ahadarra isn't so safe,” said Teddy. “Fwhy wouldn't you carry it on + here?” and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” replied Hycy, “I have been seen here too often already, and my + name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings. This place, + besides, is now too much known. It's best and safest to change our bob, + Ted.” + </p> + <p> + “Dere's trewt in dhat, anyhow,” said the other, now evidently more + satisfied as to Hycy's motive in changing. “But,” he added, “as you is now + to schange, it 'ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I know of none better or safer,” said Burke. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, fifty,” returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; “but + no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself—'tis all the shame + to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ahadarra it must be then,” said the other, “and that ends it.” + </p> + <p> + “Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be,” said Ted, and the conversation on + this subject dropped. + </p> + <p> + The smuggler's supper now made it's appearance. The geese were beautifully + done, and as Hycy's appetite had got a keen stimulus by his mountain walk, + he rendered them ample justice. + </p> + <p> + “Trot,” said Teddy, “sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough + to sharpen anybody's appetite.” + </p> + <p> + Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for + that express purpose. Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for a + long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water. It was + not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh that + he consented to taste punch. Between the two, however, Burke's vanity was + admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by hinting that Hycy, + no matter how appearances might go, was by no means indifferent to the + interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his + leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very + pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of home, + across the mountains. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, + observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that hour + of the night, to cross the mountains by himself. He accordingly whispered + a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as he said, to + see Mr. Hycy safe home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V.—Who Robbed Jemmy Burke? + </h2> + <p> + On the second morning after the night described in the last chapter, Bryan + M'Mahon had just returned to his father's house from his farm in Ahadarra, + for the purpose of accompanying him to an Emigration auction in the + neighborhood. The two farms of Carriglass and Ahadarra had been in the + family of the M'Mahon's for generations, and were the property of the same + landlord. About three years previous to the period of our narrative, Toal + M'Mahon, Bryan's uncle, died of an inflammatory attack, leaving to his + eldest nephew and favorite the stock farm of Ahadarra. Toal had been a + bachelor who lived wildly and extravagantly, and when he died Bryan + suceeeded to the farm, then as wild, by the way, and as much neglected as + its owner had been, with an arrear of two years' rent upon it. In fact the + house and offices had gone nearly to wreck, and when Bryan entered into + occupation he found that a large sum of money should be expended in + necessary improvements ere the place could assume anything like a decent + appearance. As a holding, however, it was reasonable; and we may safely + assert that if Toal M'Mahon had been either industrious or careful he + might have lived and died a wealthy man upon it. As Ahadarra lay in the + mountain district, it necessarily covered a large space; in fact it + constituted a townland in itself. The greater portion of it, no doubt, was + barren mountain, but then there were about three hundred acres of strong + rough land that was either reclaimed or capable of being so. Bryan, who + had not only energy and activity, but capital to support both, felt, on + becoming master of a separate farm, that peculiar degree of pride which + was only natural to a young and enterprising man. He had now a fair + opportunity, he thought, of letting his friends see what skill and + persevering exertion could do. Accordingly he commenced his improvements + in a spirit which at least deserved success. He proceeded upon the best + system then known to intelligent agriculturalists, and nothing was left + undone that he deemed necessary to work out his purposes. He drained, + reclaimed, made fences, roads, and enclosures. Nor did he stop here. We + said that the house and offices were in a ruinous state when they came + into his possession, and the consequence was that he found it necessary to + build a new dwelling house and suitable offices, which he did on a more + commodious and eligible site. Altogether his expenditure on the farm could + not have been less than eight hundred pounds at the period of the + landlord's death, which, as the reader knows is that at which we have + commenced our narrative. + </p> + <p> + Thomas M'Mahon's family consisted of—first, his father, a + grey-haired patriarch, who, though a very old man, was healthy and in the + full possession of all his faculties; next, himself; then his wife; Bryan, + the proprietor of Ahadarra; two other sons, both younger, and two + daughters, the eldest twenty, and the youngest about eighteen. The name of + the latter was Dora, a sweet and gentle girl, with beautiful auburn hair, + dark, brilliant eyes, full of intellect and feeling, an exquisite mouth, + and a figure which was remarkable for natural grace and great symmetry. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Bryan,” said the father, “what news from Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing particular from Ahadarra,” replied the son, “but our good-natured + friend, Jemmy Burke, had his house broken open and robbed the night before + last.” + </p> + <p> + “Wurrah deheelish” exclaimed his mother, “no, he hadn't!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, mother,” replied Bryan, laughing, “maybe not. I'm afeard it's too + true though.” + </p> + <p> + “An' how much did he lose?” asked his father. + </p> + <p> + “Between seventy and eighty pounds,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “It's too much,” observed the other; “still I'm glad it's no more; an' + since the villains did take it, it's well they tuck it from a man that can + afford to lose it.” + </p> + <p> + “By all accounts,” said Arthur, or, as he was called, Art, “Hycy, the + sportheen, has pulled him down a bit. He's not so rich now, they say, as + he was three or four years ago.” + </p> + <p> + “He's rich enough still,” observed his father; “but at any rate, upon my + sowl I'm sorry for him; he's the crame of an honest, kind-hearted + neighbor; an' I believe in my conscience if there's a man alive that + hasn't an ill-wisher, he is.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it known who robbed him?” asked the grandfather, “or does he suspect + anybody?” + </p> + <p> + “It's not known, of course, grandfather,” replied Bryan, “or I suppose + they would be in limbo before now; but there's quare talk about it. The + Hogans is suspected, it seems. Philip was caught examinin' the hall-door + the night before; an' that does look suspicious.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the old man, “an' very likely they're the men. I remember them + this many a long day; it's forty years since Andy Hogan—he was lame—Andy + Boccah they called him—was hanged for the murdher of your + great-granduncle, Billy Shevlin, of Frughmore, so that they don't like a + bone in our bodies. That was the only murdher I remember of them, but many + a robbery was laid to their charge; an' every now and then there was + always sure to be an odd one transported for thievin', an' house-breakin', + and sich villainy.” + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't be surprised,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “but it was some o' them + tuck our two brave geese the night before last.” + </p> + <p> + “Very likely, in throth, Bridget,” said her husband; “however, as the ould + proverb has it, 'honesty's the best policy.' Let them see which of us I'll + be the best off at the end of the year.” + </p> + <p> + “There's an odd whisper here an' there about another robber,” continued + Bryan; “but I don't believe a word about it. No, no;—he's wild, and + not scrupulous in many things, but I always thought him generous, an' + indeed rather careless about money.” + </p> + <p> + “You mane the sportheen?” said his brother Art. + </p> + <p> + “The Hogans,” said the old man, recurring to the subject, as associated + with them, “would rob anybody barrin' the Cavanaghs; but I won't listen to + it, Bryan, that Hycy Burke, or the son of any honest man that ever had an + opportunity of hearin' the Word o' God, or livin' in a Christian counthry, + could ever think of robbin' his own father—his own father! I won't + listen to that.” + </p> + <p> + “No, nor I, grandfather,” said Bryan, “putting everything else out of the + question, its too unnatural an act. What makes you shake your head, Art?” + </p> + <p> + “I never liked a bone in his body, somehow,” replied Art. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but my goodness, Art,” said Dora, “sure nobody would think of robbin' + their own father?” + </p> + <p> + “He has been doin' little else these three years, Dora, by all accounts,” + replied Art. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but his father,” continued the innocent girl; “to break into the + house at night an' rob him like a robber!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I say, it's reported that he has been robbin' him these three years + in one shape or other,” continued Art; “but here's Shibby, let's hear what + she'll say. What do you think, shibby?” + </p> + <p> + “About what, Art?” + </p> + <p> + “That Hycy Burke would rob his father!” + </p> + <p> + “Hut, tut! Art, what puts that into your head? Oh, no, Art—not at + all—to rob his father, an' him has been so indulgent to him!” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I agree with you, Shibby,” said Bryan; “for although my opinion + of Hycy is changed very much for the worse of late, still I can't and + won't give in to that.” + </p> + <p> + “An what has changed it for the worse?” asked his mother. “You an' he wor + very thick together always—eh? What has changed it, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan began to rub his hand down the sleeve of his coat, as if freeing it + from dust, or perhaps admiring its fabric, but made no reply. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, Bryan,” she continued, “what has changed your opinion of him?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, nothing of much consequence, mother,” replied her son; “but sometimes + a feather will toll one how the wind blows.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the + family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly + allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving that + none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of + understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that the + sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. Dora, + his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking his hand in + hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish laugh, that spoke a + full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but beautiful features + into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes which, in one of her + years, gives a look of almost angelic purity and grace. After about a + minute or two, during which she paused, and laughed, and blushed, and + commenced to whisper, and again stopped, she at last put her lips to his + ear and whispered:—“Bryan, I know the reason you don't like Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “You do?” he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his turn;—“well—an'—ha!—ha!—no, + you fool, you don't.” + </p> + <p> + “May I never stir if I don't!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, an' what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh—now!” + </p> + <p> + “An' what do I care about that?” said her brother. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you thief!” she replied; “don't think you can play upon me. I know + your saycret.” + </p> + <p> + “An' maybe, Dora,” he replied, “I have my saycrets. Do you know who was + inquirin' for you to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she returned, “nor I don't care either—sorra bit.” + </p> + <p> + “I met James Cavanagh there below”—he proceeded, still in a whisper, + and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, + however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned her + whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to become + expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned upon him + with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with her mouth + near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up quickly, shook + back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and silken curls about her + blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: “No—no. Let me alone Bryan;” and on + uttering these words she hurried into another room.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way,” observed her sister. “What did you + say to her?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail,” he replied, laughing; “however, as + to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you no + lies.” + </p> + <p> + “Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry,” continued Shibby, + “an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you're fishin' now, Shibby,” he replied, “and many thanks for your + good intentions. It's a saycret, an' that's all you're going to know about + it. But it's as much as 'll keep you on the look out this month to come; + and now you're punished for your curiosity—ha!—ha!—ha! + Come, father, if we're to go to Sam Wallace's auction it's time we should + think of movin'. Art, go an' help Tom Droogan to bring out the horses. + Rise your foot here, father, an' I'll put on your spur for you. We may as + well spake to Mr. Fethertonge, the agent, about the leases. I promised + we'd call on Gerald Cavanagh, to—an' he'll be waitin' for us—hem!” + </p> + <p> + His eye here glanced about, but Dora was not visible, and he accordingly + seemed to be more at his ease. “I think, father,” he added, “I must trate + you to a pair of spurs some of these days. This one, it's clear, has been + a long time in the family.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, an' on that account,” replied M'Mahon, “I'm not goin' to part wid + it for the best pair that ever were made. No, no, Bryan; I like everything + that I've known long. When my heart gets accustomed to anything or to + anybody”—here he glanced affectionately at his wife—“I can't + bear to part wid them, or to think of partin' wid them.” + </p> + <p> + The horses were now ready, and in a brief space he and his son were + decently mounted, the latter smartly but not inappropriately dressed; and + M'Mahon himself, with his right spur, in a sober but comfortable suit, + over which was a huge Jock, his inseparable companion in every fair, + market, and other public place, during the whole year. Indeed, it would + not be easy to find two better representatives of that respectable and + independent class of Irish yeomanry of which our unfortunate country + stands so much in need, as was this man of high integrity and his + excellent son. + </p> + <p> + On arriving at Gerald Cavanagh's, which was on their way to the auction, + it appeared that in order to have his company it was necessary they should + wait for a little, as he was not yet ready. That worthy man they found in + the act of shaving himself, seated very upright upon a chair in the + kitchen, his eyes fixed with great steadiness upon the opposite wall, + whilst lying between his legs upon the ground was a wooden dish half + filled with water, and on a chair beside him a small looking-glass, with + its backup, which, after feeling his face from time to time in an + experimental manner, he occasionally peeped into, and again laid down to + resume the operation. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Mrs. Cavanagh set forward a chair for Tom M'Mahon, and + desired her daughter Hannah to place one for Bryan, which she did. The two + girls were spinning, and it might have been observed that Kathleen + appeared to apply herself to that becoming and feminine employment with + double industry after the appearance of the M'Mahons. Kate Hogan was + sitting in the chimney corner, smoking a pipe, and as she took it out of + her mouth to whiff away the smoke from time to time, she turned her black + piercing eyes alternately from Bryan M'Mahon to Kathleen with a peculiar + keenness of scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + “An' how are you all up at Carriglass?” asked Mrs. Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we can't complain, thank God, as the times goes,” replied M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “An' the ould grandfather?—musha, but I was glad to see him look so + well on Sunday last!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth he's as stout as e'er a one of us.” + </p> + <p> + “The Lord continue it to him! I suppose you hard o' this robbery that was + done at honest Jemmy Burke's?” + </p> + <p> + “I did, indeed, an' I was sorry to hear it.” + </p> + <p> + “A hundre' an' fifty pounds is a terrible loss to anybody in such times.” + </p> + <p> + “A hundre' an' fifty!” exclaimed M'Mahon—“hut, tut!—no; I + thought it was only seventy or eighty. He did not lose so much, did he?” + </p> + <p> + “So I'm tould.” + </p> + <p> + “It was two—um—it was two—urn—urn—it was—um—um—it + was two hundre' itself,” observed Cavanagh, after he had finished a + portion of the operation, and given himself an opportunity of speaking—“it + war two hundre' itself, I'm tould, an' that's too much, by a hundre' and + ninety-nine pounds nineteen shillings an' eleven pence three fardens, to + be robbed of.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth it is, Gerald,” replied M'Mahon; “but any way there's nothin' but + thievin' and robbin' goin'. You didn't hear that we came in for a visit?” + </p> + <p> + “You!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh—“is it robbed? My goodness, no!” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” he proceeded, “we'll be able to get over it afore we die, I hope. + On ere last night we had two of our fattest geese stolen.” + </p> + <p> + “Two!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh—“an' at this saison of the! year, + too. Well, that same's a loss.” + </p> + <p> + “Honest woman,” said M'Mahon, addressing Kate Hogan, “maybe you'd give me + a draw o' the pipe?” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe so,” she replied; “an' why wouldn't I? Shough! that is here!” + </p> + <p> + “Long life to you, Katy. Well,” proceeded the worthy man, “if it was a + poor person that wanted them an' that took them from hardship, why God + forgive them as heartily as I do: but if they wor stole by a thief, for + thievin's sake, I hope I'll always be able to afford the loss of a pair + betther than the thief will to do without them; although God mend his or + her heart, whichever it was, in the mane time.” + </p> + <p> + During this chat Bryan and Hanna Cavanagh were engaged in that + good-humored badinage that is common to persons of their age and position. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't see you at Mass last Sunday, Bryan?” said she, laughing; “an' + that's the way you attend to your devotions. Upon my word you promise + well!” + </p> + <p> + “I seen you, then,” replied Bryan, “so it seems if I haven't betther eyes + I have betther eyesight.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I suppose,” she replied, “you see everything but what you go to + see.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” he replied, with an involuntary glance at + Kathleen, who seemed to enjoy her sister's liveliness, as was evident from + the sweet and complacent smile which beamed upon her features. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I suppose you're right,” she replied; “I suppose you go to say + everything but your prayers.” + </p> + <p> + “An' is it in conversation with Jemmy Kelly,” asked Bryan, jocularly, + alluding to her supposed admirer, “that you perform your own devotions, + Miss Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, achora,” said the father, “I think you're playin' the second + fiddle there—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + The laugh was now general against Hanna, who laughed as loudly, however, + as any of them. + </p> + <p> + “Throth, Kathleen,” she exclaimed, “you're not worth knot's o' straws or + you'd help me against this fellow here; have you nothing,” she proceeded, + addressing Bryan, and nodding towards her sister, “to say to her? Is + everything to fall on my poor shoulders? Come, now,” with another nod in + the same direction, “she desarves it for not assistin' me. Who does she + say her devotions with?” + </p> + <p> + “Hem—a—is it Kathleen you mane?” he inquired, with rather an + embarrassed look. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” she replied ironically, “but my mother there—ha! ha! + ha! Come, now, we're waitin' for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, now?” he repeated, purposely misunderstanding her—“oh, begad, + that's a fair challenge;” and he accordingly rose to approach her with the + felonious intent of getting a kiss; but Hanna started from her wheel and + ran out of the house to avoid him. + </p> + <p> + “Throth, you're a madcap, Hanna,” exclaimed her mother, placidly—“an + antick crather, dear knows—her heart's in her mouth every minute of + the day; an' if she gets through the world wid it always as light, poor + girl, it'll be well for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, will you get me a towel or praskeen of some sort to wipe my + face wid,” said her father, looking about for the article he wanted. + </p> + <p> + “I left one,” she replied, “on the back of your chair—an' there it + is, sure.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, achora, it's you that laves nothing undone that ought to be done; an' + so it is here, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Gerald,” asked Tom M'Mahon, “in the name o' wonder what makes + you stick to the meal instead o' the soap when you're washin' yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, an' I ever will, Tom, an' for a good raison—becaise it's + best for the complexion.” + </p> + <p> + The unconscious simplicity with which Cavanagh uttered this occasioned + loud laughter, from which Kathleen herself was unable to refrain. + </p> + <p> + “By the piper, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, “that's the best thing I h'ard this + month o' Sundays. Why, it would be enough for one o' your daughters to + talk about complexion. Maybe you paint too—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + Hanna now put in her head, and asked “what is the fun?” but immediately + added, “Kathleen, here's a message for you.” + </p> + <p> + “For me!” said Kathleen; “what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Here's Peety Dhu's daughter, an' she says she has something to say to + you.” + </p> + <p> + “An' so Rosha Burke,” said Mrs. Cavanagh, “has taken her to live wid them; + I hope it'll turn out well for the poor thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you come out, Kathleen,” said Hanna, again peeping in; “she mustn't + tell it to anyone but yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “If she doesn't she may keep it, then,” replied Kathleen. “Tell her I have + no secrets,” she added, “nor I won't have any of her keeping.” + </p> + <p> + “You must go in,” said Hanna, turning aside and addressing the girl—“you + must go in an' spake to her in the house.” + </p> + <p> + “She can tell us all about the robbery, anyway,” observed Mr. Cavanagh. + “Come in, a-colleen—what are you afeard of?” + </p> + <p> + “I have a word to say to her,” said the girl—“a message to deliver; + but it must be to nobody but herself. Whisper,” she proceeded, approaching + Kathleen, and about to address her. + </p> + <p> + Kathleen immediately rose, and, looking on the messenger, said, “Who is it + from, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I mustn't let <i>them</i> know,” replied the girl, looking at the rest. + </p> + <p> + “Whatever it is, Or whoever it's from, you must spake it out then, Nanny,” + continued Kathleen. + </p> + <p> + “It's from Hycy Burke, then,” replied the girl; “he wants to know if you + have any answer for him?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell Hycy Burke,” replied Kathleen, “that I have no answer for him; an' + that I'll thank him to send me no more messages.” + </p> + <p> + “Hut tut! you foolish girl,” exclaimed her mother, rising up and + approaching her daughter; “are you mad, Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “What's come over you,” said the father, equally alarmed; “are you beside + yourself, sure enough, to send Hycy Burke sich a message as that? Sit + down, ma colleen, sit down, an' never mind her—don't think of + bringin' him back sich a message. Why, then,” he added, “in the name o' + mercy, Kathleen, what has come over you, to trate a respectable young man + like. Hycy Burke in that style?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, father, because I don't wish to receive any messages at all from + him.” + </p> + <p> + “But your mother an' I is of a different opinion, Kathleen. We wish you to + resave messages from him; an' you know you're bound both by the laws of + God an' man to obey us an' be guided by us.” + </p> + <p> + “I know I am, father,” she replied; “an' I hope I haven't been an + undutiful child to either of you for so far.” + </p> + <p> + “That's true, Kathleen—God sees it's truth itself.” + </p> + <p> + “What message do you expect to bring back, Nanny?” said the mother, + addressing the girl. + </p> + <p> + “An answer,” replied the girl, seeing that everything must be and was + above board—“an answer to the letther he sent her.” + </p> + <p> + “Did he send you a letther?” asked her father, seriously; “an' you never + let us know a word about it?—did he send you a letther?” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen paused a moment and seemed to consult Hanna's looks, who had now + joined them. At length she replied, slowly, and as if in doubt whether she + ought to speak in the affirmative or not—“no, he sent me no letter.” + </p> + <p> + “Well now, take care, Kathleen,” said her mother; “I seen a letther in + your hands this very mornin'.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen blushed deeply; but as if anxious to give the conversation + another turn, and so to relieve herself, she replied, “I can't prevent + you, mother, or my father either, from sending back whatever answer you + wish; but this I say that, except the one I gave already, Hycy Burke will + never receive any message or any answer to a message from me; an' now for + the present let us drop it.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said her mother; “in the mane time, my good girsha, sit down. + Is it thrue that Jemmy Burke's house was robbed a couple o' nights ago?” + </p> + <p> + “True enough,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + “And how much did he lose?” asked M'Mahon; “for there's disputes about it—some + say more and some say less.” + </p> + <p> + “Between seventy and eighty pounds,” replied Nanny; “the masther isn't + sure to a pound or so; but he knows it was near eighty, any way.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just like him,” said Cavanagh; “his careless way of managin'. Many + a time I wondher at him;—he slobbers everything about that you'd + think he'd beggar himself, an' yet the luck and prosperity flows to him. I + declare to my goodness I think the very dirt under his feet turns to + money. Well, girsha, an' have they any suspicion of the robbers?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the girl, “they talk about”—she paused, and it was quite + evident from her manner that she felt not only embarrassed, but distressed + by the question. Indeed this was no matter of surprise; for ever since the + subject was alluded to, Kate Hogan's black piercing eyes had not once been + removed from hers, nor did the girl utter a single word in reply to the + questions asked of her without first, as it were, consulting Kate's looks. + </p> + <p> + A moment's reflection made Cavanagh feel that the question must be a + painful one to the girl, not only on her own account, but on that of Kate + herself; for even then it was pretty well known that Burke's family + entertained the strongest suspicion that the burglary had been committed + by these notorious vagabonds. + </p> + <p> + “Well, ahagur,” said Cavanagh, “no matter now—it's all over unless + they catch the robbers. Come now,” he added, addressing M'Mahon and his + son, “if you're for the road I'm ready.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it true, Mrs. Burke,” asked Bryan, “that you're goin' to have a Kemp + in your barn some o' these days?” + </p> + <p> + “True enough, indeed,” replied the good woman, “an' that's true, too, tell + the girls, Bryan, and that they must come.” + </p> + <p> + “Not I,” said the other, laughing; “if the girls here—wishes them to + come, let them go up and ask them.” + </p> + <p> + “So we will, then,” replied Hanna, “an' little thanks to you for your + civility.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish I knew the evenin',” said Bryan, “that I might be at Carriglass.” + </p> + <p> + “When will we go, Kathleen,” asked her sister, turning slyly to her. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're sich a light-brained cracked creature,” replied Kathleen, + “that I can't tell whether you're joking or not.” + </p> + <p> + “The sorra joke I'm jokin',” she replied, striving suddenly to form her + features into a serious expression. “Well, then, I have it,” she + proceeded. “Some Thursday, Bryan, in the middle o' next week—now you + know I'm not jokin', Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you come, Kathleen?” inquired Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Why, if Hanna goes, I suppose I must,” she replied, but without looking + up. + </p> + <p> + “Well then I'll have a sharp look-out on Thursday.” + </p> + <p> + “Come now,” said Gerald, “let us move. Give the girsha something to ate + among you, for the credit of the house, before she goes back,” he added. + “Paddy Toole, girth that horse tighter, I tell you; I never can get you to + girth him as he ought to be girthed.” + </p> + <p> + On bidding the women good-bye, Bryan looked towards Kathleen for a moment, + and her eye in return glanced on him as he was about to go. But that + simple glance, how significant was its import, and how clearly did it + convey the whole history of as pure a heart as ever beat within a female + bosom! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE VI.—Nanny Peety looks mysterious + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy proves himself a good Judge of Horse-Flesh. + </h3> + <p> + The day was all light, and life, and animation. The crops were going down + fast in every direction, and the fields were alive and cheerful with the + voice of mirth and labor. As they got into the vicinity of Wallace's house + they overtook or were over-taken by several of their neighbors, among whom + was seen our old friend, Jemmy, or as I his acquaintances generally called + him, honest Jemmy Burke, mounted upon a brood mare with a foal at her + heels, all his other horses having been engaged in the labor of the + season. + </p> + <p> + After having sympathized with him upon the loss he had sustained, they + soon allowed the subject to drop; for it was quite clear from the + expression of care, if not of sorrow, that was legible in his face, that + the very mention of it only caused him to feel additional anxiety. + </p> + <p> + At length they reached Wallace's house, where they found a tolerably large + crowd of people waiting for the auction, which was not to commence until + the hour of one o'clock. + </p> + <p> + Sam Wallace was a respectable Protestant farmer, who finding, as he said, + that there was no proper encouragement given to men who were anxious and + disposed to improve their property, had deemed it a wiser step to dispose + of his stock and furniture than to remain as he was—not merely with + no certain prospect of being able to maintain even his present position, + but with the chances against him of becoming every day a poorer and more + embarrassed man. His brother, who like himself, after having been on the + decline for a considerable period, had emigrated to America, where he was + prospering, now urged him to follow his example and leave a country in + which he said, in language that has become a proverb, “everything was + going to the bad.” Feeling that his brother's words were unfortunately too + true, Wallace, at all events, came to the determination of following his + example. + </p> + <p> + The scene at which our friends arrived was indeed a striking and + impressive one. The majority of the crowd consisted of those who belonged + either to the Protestant or Presbyterian forms of worship; and it might be + with truth asserted, that nothing could surpass the clear unquestionable + character of independent intelligence which prevailed among them. Along + with this, however, there was an obvious spirit of dissatisfaction, + partial, it is true, as to numbers, but yet sufficiently marked as to + satisfy an observer that such a people, if united upon any particular + subject or occasion, were not for a moment to be trifled with or cajoled. + Their feelings upon the day in question were stirred into more than usual + warmth. A friend, a neighbor, a man of an old and respectable family, + frugal, industrious, and loyal, as they said, both to king and country, + was now forced from want of due encouragement from his landlord, to + disturb all his old associations of friendship and kindred, and at rather + an advanced state of life to encounter the perils of a long voyage, and + subject himself and his family to the changes and chances which he must + encounter in a new world, and in a different state of society. Indeed, the + feeling which prompted the expression of these sentiments might be easily + gathered from the character that pervaded the crowd. Not to such an + extent, however, with respect to Wallace himself or any portion of his + family, There might be observed upon him and them a quiet but resolute + spirit, firm, collected, and cheerful; but still, while there were visible + no traces of dejection or grief, it was easy to perceive that under this + decent composure there existed a calm consciousness of strong stern + feeling, whose dignity, if not so touching, was quite as impressive as the + exhibition of louder and more clamorous grief. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said M'Mahon to his son, as the auction was proceeding, “I'll + slip up to the agent's, and do you see if them sheep goes for a fair value—if + they do, give a bid or two any how. I'm speakin' of that lot we wor + lookin' at, next the wall there.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll pay attention to it,” said Bryan; “I know you'll find the agent at + home now, for I seen him goin' in a while ago; so hurry up, an' ax him if + he can say how soon we may expect the leases.” + </p> + <p> + “Never fear, I will.” + </p> + <p> + On entering Fethertonge's Hall, M'Mahon was treated with very marked + respect by the servant, who told him to walk into the parlor, and he would + let his master know. + </p> + <p> + “He entertains a high opinion of you, Mister M'Mahon,” said he; “and I + heard him speak strongly about you the other day to some gentlemen that + dined with us—friends of the landlord's. Walk into the parlor.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes M'Mahon was shown into Fethertonge's office, the walls of + which were, to a considerable height, lined with tin boxes, labelled with + the names of those whose title-deeds and other valuable papers they + contained. + </p> + <p> + Fethertonge was a tall, pale, placid looking man, with rather a benevolent + cast of countenance, and eyes that were mild, but very small in proportion + to the other features of his face. His voice was exceedingly low, and + still more musical and sweet than low; in fact it was such a voice as, one + would imagine, ought to have seldom been otherwise employed than in + breathing hope and, consolation to despairing sinners on their bed of + death. Yet he had nothing of either the parson or the preacher in his + appearance. So far from that he was seldom known to wear a black coat, + unless when dressed for dinner, and not very frequently even then, for he + mostly wore blue. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said he, “take a seat. I am glad to see you. How are your + family?” + </p> + <p> + “Both I an' they is well, I'm thankful to you, sir,” replied the farmer. + </p> + <p> + “I hope you got safe home from the metropolis. How did you travel?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, I walked it, sir, every inch of the way, an' a long stretch it is. + I got safe, sir, an' many thanks to you.” + </p> + <p> + “That was a sudden call poor Mr. Chevydale got, but not more so than + might, at his time of life, have been expected; at all events I hope he + was prepared for it, and indeed I have reason to think he was.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust in God he was, sir,” replied M'Mahon; “so far as I and mine is + consarned, we have raison to wish it; he didn't forget us, Mr. + Fethertonge.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the other, after some pause, “he did not indeed forget you, + M'Mahon.” + </p> + <p> + “I tuck the liberty of callin' down, sir,” proceeded M'Mahon, “about the + leases he spoke of, an' to know how soon we may expect to have them + filled.” + </p> + <p> + “That is for your son Bryan and yourself. How is Bryan proceeding with + Ahadarra, by the way? I spoke to him some time ago about his system of + cropping that farm, and some other matters of the kind; I must ride up one + of these days to see how he is doing. As to the leases, there is no + difficulty in the way, M'Mahon, except to get our young landlord to sign + them. That we will easily do, of course; in the meantime, do you go on, + improve your land, and strive to do something for your children, M'Mahon; + for, in this world, he that won't assist himself will find very few that + will. The leases are in Dublin; if you wish, I'll send for them, and have + them ready for the landlord's signature whenever he comes down here; or + I'll leave them in town, where I shall be more likely to see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “I lave it all in your own hands, for I + know that if you won't be my friend, you won't be my enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well—certainly—I hope not. Will you take anything? Here, + James, bring in some brandy.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's protest against the brandy was anything but invincible. + Fethertonge's manner was so kind, so familiar, and his interest in the + success of himself and his family so unaffectedly warm and sincere, that, + after drinking his health, he took his leave with a light and. happy + heart. + </p> + <p> + Their journey home was a little more lively than the depression of Jemmy + Burke's mind had allowed it to be on their way to the auction. Yet each + had his own peculiar feelings, independently of those which were elicited + by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of Wallace's liquor, + as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did, was consequently in + a better and more loquacious humor than he had been during the day. On + this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for it was the opinion + of every one there, that he had got the best bargain disposed of during + the day—a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime condition. Gerald + Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as closely as possible to + his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of adhesion, with which our + readers are already acquainted; and Bryan, who saw and understood his + motives, felt by no means comfortable at witnessing such strong symptoms + of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon did not speak much, for, in truth, he + could not overcome the depressing effects of the scene he had witnessed, + nor of the words uttered by Wallace, as they bade each other farewell. + </p> + <p> + Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between whom + a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a + public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop + together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses in + token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption occurred, + that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their dialogue, + which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the mare whenever + her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and abrupt manner + in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to return and look + for it. + </p> + <p> + On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot, but + with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the Hogans, + who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip and one of + his brothers slept in their usual residence—Cavanagh's corn-kiln—on + that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his wife Kate were + both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion might, indeed, + very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence of Hycy himself, + who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from any suspicion, as + he knew both how and where they had passed the night in question. So far, + therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were unquestionably reputed to + be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all suspicion. + </p> + <p> + The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned + by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be + at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with + them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined, yet + it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a suspicion that + Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance of the money. In + about three or four days he happened to see her thrust something into her + father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he could not avoid + remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was furtive and + hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not right. He + resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he felt, and + accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his departure, he + brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to concoct a reply, he + asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such a hurried manner into + his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after pausing a moment, replied, + “Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes.” + </p> + <p> + “Was that all?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “That was all, sir,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were far + from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the avenue, + and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance. + </p> + <p> + “Peety,” said he, “what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a + while ago? I wish to know?” + </p> + <p> + “Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy,” replied the + mendicant; “but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues, + and here they are,” he added, “if you wish to see them.” + </p> + <p> + He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out, + when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being + detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned + instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the + unfortunate mendicant and his bags. + </p> + <p> + As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the + kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at him, + some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into further + conversation with her. It struck him that she had been watching his + interview with her father, and could not avoid yielding to the impression + which had returned so strongly upon him. + </p> + <p> + “I saw your father, Nanny,” he said, in as significant and dry a tone as + possible. + </p> + <p> + “Did you, sir?” said she; and he remarked that while uttering the words, + she again colored deeply and did not raise her eyes to his face. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he replied; “but he did not bear out what you said—he had no + pair of shoes in his bag.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you see what he had in it, Master Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said he, “a—hem—a—a—I didn't look—but + I'll tell you what, Nanny, I think you look as if you were in possession + of some secret. I say so, and don't imagine you can for a moment impose + upon me. I know what your father had in his bag.” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, if you do, sir,” she replied, “you know the saycrit.” + </p> + <p> + “So there is a secret, then?” + </p> + <p> + “So you say, Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” he proceeded, “it occurs to me now that you never underwent a + formal examination about this robbery that took place in our house.” + </p> + <p> + “That wasn't my fault,” she replied; “I mostly happened to be out.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but do you know anything about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a thing—no more than yourself, Mr. Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + Her interrogator turned upon her a hard scrutinizing glance, in which it + was easy to see that she read a spirit of strong and dissatisfied + suspicion. She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing + upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion. + </p> + <p> + “Because, Nanny,” he proceeded, “if you knew anything about it, and didn't + mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one of the + robbers.” + </p> + <p> + “An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?” she replied; “surely the + first thing I'd do would be to tell.” + </p> + <p> + “It's very strange,” observed Hycy, “that such a robbery could be + committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue + whatsoever to a discovery.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy—if what your father + and mother an' all o' them say is true—that it wasn't often the + hall-door was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was + fastened on that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to + prevent any one from comin' in.” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Nanny,” he replied, “very true; and we have paid severely for + our negligence.” + </p> + <p> + This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever + source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions as + connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however, to watch + her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the impression + that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few days after + the robbery. + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent character, + was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, “always keep an eye + to the main chance.” He was by no means over-tidy either in his dress or + farming; but it mattered little in what light you contemplated him, you + were always certain to find him a man not affected by trifles, nor rigidly + systematic in anything; but at the same time you could not help observing + that he was a man of strong points, whose life was marked by a course of + high prosperity, that seemed to flow in upon him, as it were, by some + peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, however, was little less than the + natural result of shrewd mother-wit, happily applied to the: ordinary + transactions of life, and assuming the appearance of good fortune rather + than of sound judgment, in consequence of the simplicity of character + under which it acted. Ever since the night of the robbery, he had devoted + himself more to the pipe than he had ever been known to do before; he + spoke little, too; but what he did say was: ironical, though not by any + means without a tinge of quiet but caustic humor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking + as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed + in more than her usual finery. + </p> + <p> + “What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?” she inquired. “Hycy, do you see any + appearance of him?” + </p> + <p> + “No, ma'am,” replied the son; “I didn't know you wanted him.” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing away + the smoke, asked—“And well, Rosha—begs pardon—Mrs. Burke—is + it a fair question to ax where you are bound for?” + </p> + <p> + “Fair enough, Mr. Burke,” she replied; “but I'm not goin' to answer it.” + </p> + <p> + “You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm bound for a journey, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; “I'm afraid + it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh it doesn't signify,” he replied, dryly; “it's no novelty, I believe, + to hear a man—a married man—groan in this world; only if you + wor for a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my + power.” + </p> + <p> + “You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?” she exclaimed—“wishin' me + to go my long journey!” + </p> + <p> + “Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?” asked the worthy son. + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” replied Jemmy. “There's gintlemen enough o' the name—I'm + afraid one too many.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception + of the look of a martyr as possible, “I'm sufferin' at all events; but I + know my crown's before me.” + </p> + <p> + “Sich as it is,” replied her husband, “I dare say it is.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'—but here's the car. + Come fardher up, Patsy.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. “Of + course, he'll discover it all,” said he, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “I know he will,” she replied; “but when it's over, it's over, and that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy now met his son at the hall-door, and asked him if he knew where his + mother had gone. + </p> + <p> + “I really cannot undertake to say,” replied the other. “Mrs. Burke, + father, is a competent judge of her own notions; but I presume to think + that she may take a drive upon her own car, without being so severely, if + not ungenerously catechised about it. I presume to think so, sir; but I + daresay I am wrong, and that even that is a crime on my part.” + </p> + <p> + His father made no reply, but proceeded at an easy and thoughtful pace to + join his men in the field where they were at labor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, after his mother's return that evening, seemed rather in low + spirits, if one could form any correct estimate of his character by + appearances. He was very silent, and somewhat less given to those broken + snatches of melody than was his wont; and yet a close observer might have + read in his deportment, and especially in the peculiar expression of his + eye, that which seemed to indicate anything rather than depression or + gloom. His silence, to such an observer, might have appeared rather the + silence of satisfaction and triumph, than of disappointment or vexation. + </p> + <p> + His father, indeed, saw little of him that night, in consequence of the + honest man having preferred the hob of his wealthy and spacious kitchen to + the society of his wife and son in the parlor. The next morning, however, + they met at breakfast, as usual, when Hycy, after some ironical + compliments to his father's good taste, asked him, “if he would do him the + favor to step towards the stable and see his purchase.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't mane Crazy Jane?” said the other, coolly. + </p> + <p> + “I do,” replied Hycy; “and as I set a high value on your opinion, perhaps + you would be kind enough to say what you think of her.” + </p> + <p> + Now, Hycy never for a moment dreamt that his father would have taken him + at his word, and we need hardly say that he was a good deal disconcerted + at the cool manner in which the other expressed his readiness to do so. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke,” he proceeded, when they had reached the stable, “there + she is. Pray what do you think of her?” + </p> + <p> + The old man looked at her from various points, passed his hand down her + limbs, clapped her on the back, felt her in different places, then looked + at her again. “She's a beauty,” said he, “a born beauty like Billy + Neelin's foal; what's this you say you paid for her?” + </p> + <p> + “Thirty-five pounds.” + </p> + <p> + “Tare-an-ounty, Hycy, she's dog chape—thirty-five!—why she's + value for double the sum.” + </p> + <p> + “Nearly,” replied Hycy, quite elevated and; getting into good humor; “is + she not really now, father, a precious bit of flesh?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! you may swear that, Hycy; I tell you you won't act the honest man, if + you don't give him fifteen or twenty pounds over an' above what you paid + him. Tom Burton I see's too simple for you. Go and do what I bid you; + don't defraud the poor man; you have got a treasure, I tell you—a + beauty bright—an extraordinary baste—a wonderful animal—oh, + dear me! what a great purchase! Good-bye, Hycy. Bless my sowl! what a + judge of horseflesh you are!” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words in a tone of grave and caustic irony, he left + his worthy son in a state of chagrin almost bordering on resentment, at + the strong contempt for Crazy-Jane, implied by the excessive eulogium he + had passed upon her. This feeling, however, was on reflection considerably + checked by his satisfaction on finding that the matter was taken by his + father so coolly. He had calculated on receiving a very stormy lecture + from him the moment he should become aware of his having the animal in his + possession; and he now felt rather relieved that he should have escaped so + easily. Be this as it may, Hycy was now in excellent spirits. Not only had + Crazy Jane been secured, but there were strong symptoms of his being in + cash. In a few days after the incident of the stable, he contrived to see + Philip Hogan, with whom he appointed a final meeting in Cavanagh's kiln on + the night of the Kemp; at which meeting, Teddy Phats and the other two + Hogans were also to be present, in order to determine upon the steps which + he ultimately proposed to take, with a view to work out his purposes, + whatever those purposes may have been. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII.—The Spinster's Kemp. + </h2> + <p> + A kemp, or camp, is a contest of industrial skill, or a competition for + priority in a display of rustic labor. Among men it is principally + resorted to in planting potatoes or reaping of corn, and generally only on + the day which closes the labor at each for the season; but in the sense in + which it is most usually practised and contested, it means a trial of + female skill at the spinning of linen yarn. It is, indeed, a very cheerful + assemblage of the fair sex; and, although strong and desperate rivalry is + the order of the day, yet it is conducted in a spirit so light-hearted and + amicable that we scarcely know a more laudable or delightful recreation in + country life. Its object is always good, and its associations + praiseworthy, inasmuch as they promote industry, a spirit of becoming + emulation, and principles of good will and kindness to our neighbor. + </p> + <p> + When a kemp is about to be held, the matter soon becomes generally known + in the neighborhood. Sometimes the young women are asked, but in most + instances, so eager are they to attend it that invitations are + unnecessary. In the whiter months, and in mountain districts, it is often + as picturesque as it is pleasant. The young women usually begin to + assemble about four o'clock in the morning; and, as they always go in + groups, accompanied besides by their sweethearts or some male relatives, + each of the latter bearing a large torch of well-dried bogfir, their + voices, and songs, and loud laughter break upon the stillness of night + with a holiday feeling, made ten times more delightful by the surrounding + darkness and the hour. When they have not the torches the spinning-wheels + are carried by the males, amidst an agreeable din of fun, banter, + repartee, and jest, such as scarcely any other rustic amusement with which + we are acquainted ever occasions. On arriving at the house where the kemp + is to be held, they are placed in the barn or some clean outhouse; but + indeed the numbers are usually such as to crowd every available place that + can be procured for their accommodation. From the moment they arrive the + lively din is incessant. Nothing is heard but laughter, conversation, + songs, and anecdotes, all rising in a loud key, among the louder humming + of the spinning-wheels and the stridulous noise of the reeds, as they + incessantly crack the cuts in the hands of the reelers, who are + perpetually turning them from morning to night, in order to ascertain the + quantity which every competitor has spun; and she, of course, who has spun + most wins the kemp, and is the queen for the night. + </p> + <p> + A kemp invariably closes with a dance—and a dance too upon an + unusually extensive scale. Indeed, during the whole day the fair + competitors are regaled from time to time with the enlivening strains of + the fiddle or bagpipes, and very often with the united melody of both + together. + </p> + <p> + On that morning the dwelling-house and mostly all the out-offices of + Gerald Cavanagh bore, in stir and bustle, a stronger resemblance to the + activity of so many bee-hives about to swarm than to anything else to + which we can think of comparing them. Mirth in all its shapes, of + laughter, glee, and song, rang out in every direction. The booming of + wheels and the creaking of reels, the loud banter, the peals of laughter, + the sweet Irish songs that filled up the pauses of the louder mirth, and + the strains of the fiddle that ever and anon added to the enlivening + spirit of the scene, all constituted such a full and general chorus of + hilarity as could seldom be witnessed. + </p> + <p> + There were many girls present who took no part in the competition, but + who, as friends and acquaintances of Kathleen and Hanna, came to enjoy the + festive spirit of the day. Hanna herself, however, who had earned some + celebrity as a spinster, started for the honor of winning, as did Dora + M'Mahon, whose small and beautiful fingers seemed admirably adapted for + this graceful and peculiarly feminine process of Minerva. Towards evening + the neighbors assembled in considerable numbers, each interested in the + success of some peculiar favorite, whose former feats had induced her + friends to entertain on her behalf strong, if not certain, hopes of + victory. Kathleen, from a principle of generosity, patronized her young + friend, Dora M'Mahon; and Shibby M'Mahon, on the other hand, took Hanna + Cavanagh under her protection. As the evening advanced, and the spectators + and friends of the parties began to call, in order to be present at the + moment of victory, it would be difficult to witness any assemblage of + young women placed under circumstances of such striking interest. The + mirth and song and general murmur diminished by degrees, until they + altogether ceased, and. nothing was to be heard but the perpetual cracking + of the reels, the hum of the rapid wheels, and the voices of the reelers, + as they proclaimed the state of this enlivening pool of industry. As for + the fair competitors themselves, it might have been observed that even + those among them who had no, or at least but slight pretensions to beauty, + became actually interesting from the excitement which prevailed. Their + eyes lit by the active spirit of rivalry within them, sparkled with + peculiar brilliancy, their cheeks became flushed or got pale as they felt + themselves elevated or depressed by the prospect or loss of victory. Nor + were there wanting on this occasion some vivid glances that were + burthened, as they passed aslant, their fair faces, with pithier feelings + than those that originated from a simple desire of victory. If truth must + be told, baleful flashes, unmeasured both in number and expression, were + exchanged in a spirit of true defiance between the interested and + contending parties, as the close of the contest approached. At length, by + the proclamation of the reelers, the great body of the competitors were + thrown out, and they consequently gave up the contest. It was now six + o'clock, and the first sound of seven o'clock by Captain Millar's bell was + to close the proceedings, and enable the reelers to proclaim the victor. + Only four names now remained to battle it out to the last; to wit, a + country farmer's daughter, named Betty Aikins, Dora M'Mahon, Hanna + Cavanagh, and a servant-girl belonging to another neighbor, named Peggy + Bailly. This ruck, as they say on the turf, was pretty well up together, + but all the rest nowhere. And now, to continue the metaphor, as is the + case at Goodwood or the Curragh, the whole interest was centered upon + these four. At the commencement of the last hour the state of the case was + proclaimed as follows: Betty Aikins, three dozen and eight cuts; Dora + M'Mahon, three dozen and seven cuts; Hanna Cavanagh, three dozen and five + cuts; and Peggy Bailly, three dozen and four cuts. Every individual had + now her own party anxious for her success, and amidst this hour of + interest how many hearts beat with all hopes and fears that are incident + even to the most circumscribed contest of human life. Opposite Dora stood + the youth whom we have already noticed, James Cavanagh, whose salvation + seemed but a very trifling thing when compared or put into opposition with + her success. Be this as it may, the moment was a most exciting one even to + those who felt no other interest than that which naturally arises from + human competition. And it was unquestionably a beautiful thing to witness + this particular contest between, four youthful and industrious young + women. Dora's otherwise pale and placid features were now mantling, and + her beautiful dark eyes flashing, under the proud and ardent spirit of + ambition, for such in fact was the principle which now urged and animated + the contest. When nearly half an hour had passed, Kathleen came behind + her, and stooping down, whispered, “Dora, don't turn your wheel so + quickly: you move the, foot-board too fast—don't twist the thread + too much, and you'll let down more.” + </p> + <p> + Dora smiled and looked up to her with a grateful and flashing eye. “Thank + you, Kathleen,” she replied, nodding, “I'll take your advice.” The state + of the contest was then proclaimed:—Betty Aikins—three dozen + and ten cuts; Dora M'Mahon—three dozen and ten cuts; Hanna Cavanagh + —three dozen, six cuts and a half; Peggy Bailly—three dozen, + five and a half. + </p> + <p> + On hearing this, Betty Aikin's cheek became scarlet, and as it is useless + to disguise the fact, several flashing glances that partook more of a + Penthesilean fire than the fearful spirit which usually characterizes the + industrious pursuits of Minerva, were shot at generous Dora, who sustained + her portion of the contest with singular spirit and temper. + </p> + <p> + “You may as well give it up, Dora M'Mahon,” exclaimed Betty; “there never + was one of your blood could open against an Aikins—the stuff is not + in you to beat me.” + </p> + <p> + “A very little time will soon tell that,” replied Dora; “but indeed, + Betty, if I am doin' my best to win the kemp, I hope it's not in a bad or + unfriendly spirit, but in one of fair play and good humor.” + </p> + <p> + The contest now went on for about fifteen minutes, with surpassing + interest and animation, at the expiration of which period, the seven + o'clock bell already alluded to, rang the hour for closing their labors + and determining the victory. Thus stood their relative position—Dora + M'Mahon, four hanks and three cuts; Betty Aikins, four hanks; Hanna + Cavanagh, three hanks and nine cuts; Peggy Bailly, three hanks and eight + cuts. + </p> + <p> + When this result was made known, Betty Aikins burst into a loud fit of + grief, in which she sobbed as if her very heart would break, and Kathleen + stooping down, congratulated the beautiful girl upon her victory, kissing + her at the same time as she spoke—an act of love and kindness in + which she would have joyfully been followed by several of her male + friends, if they had dared to take that delicious liberty. + </p> + <p> + The moment of victory, we believe, is that which may be relied upon as the + test of true greatness. Dora M'Mahon felt the pride of that moment in its + fullest extent, but she felt it only to influence her better and nobler + principles. After casting her eyes around to gather in, as it were, that + honest approbation which is so natural, and exchanging some rapid glances + with the youth we have alluded to, she went over to her defeated + competitor, and taking her hand said, “Don't cry, Betty, you have no right + to be ashamed; sure, as you say, it's the first time you wor ever beaten; + we couldn't all win; an' indeed if I feel proud now, everyone knows an' + says I have a right to be so; for where was there—ay, or where is + there—such a spinner as you are? + </p> + <p> + “Shake hands now an' there's a kiss for you. If I won this kemp, it was + won more by chance than by anything else.” + </p> + <p> + These generous expressions were not lost on Betty; on the contrary, they + soothed her so much that she gave her hand cordially to her young and + interesting conqueress, after which they all repaired to a supper of new + milk and flummery, than which there is nothing more delicious within the + wide range of luxury. This agreeable meal being over, they repaired to the + large barn where Mickey M'Grory the fiddler, was installed in his own + peculiar orchestra, consisting of an arm-chair of old Irish oak, brought + out from Gerald Cavanagh's parlor. + </p> + <p> + It would indeed be difficult to find together such a group of happy faces. + Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, Tom M'Mahon and his better half, and several + of the neighbors, of every age and creed, were all assembled; and, in this + instance, neither gray hairs nor length of years were looked upon as + privileged from a participation in the festivities of the evening. Among + the rest, gaunt and grim, were the three Hogans, looking through the + light-hearted assemblage with the dark and sinister visages of thorough + ruffians, who were altogether incapable of joining in the cheerful and + inoffensive amusements that went forward around them. Kate Hogan sat in an + obscure corner behind the fiddler, where she was scarcely visible, but + from which she enjoyed a full view of everything that occurred in the + house. + </p> + <p> + A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader has + already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the stable, + where he disposed of it <i>sub silentio</i>, by which we mean without the + knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such person + about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him. Among the + rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O'Finigan the Philomath + made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably advanced in + liquor. The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen of the kemp, as + he styled her, was told that he might know her by the flowers in her hair. + “There she is, masther,” said one of them, “wid the roses on her head.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said O'Finigan, looking about him with surprise, “I have, before + now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed of + that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess that + this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been + quadrupled. Instead of one queen, wid Flora's fragrant favors in her lock, + I think I see four.” + </p> + <p> + Finigan indeed was right. Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet + of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity + generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every + brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and + anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in + its honors. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, + nor of the good humor which prevailed among them. It is enough to say that + the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young folks, + jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon doors, by + rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and amusement were + indulged in on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + We have said that Tom M'Mahon and his family were there, but we should + have added, with one exception. Bryan did not arrive until the evening was + far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected with + his farm. On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of + welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him. Up until then there + were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and we must + ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion. Its was clear that + during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, if not actually + depressed, although a general observer would have seen nothing in her + beyond the natural sedateness of her manner. The two in question were Kate + Hogan and Dora M'Mahon. On Bryan's arrival, however, the color of her + cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more sparkling, and a + much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth. Such, however, we + are, and such is the mystery of our nature. It might have been remarked + that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his appearance, with glances + expressive of anything but good feeling. It was not, however, when he + first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that these boding glances + were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his performing a reel with + Kathleen. It might have been noticed that they looked at him, and + afterwards at each other, in a manner that could admit of but little + misapprehension. + </p> + <p> + “Philip,” observed Finigan, addressing the elder Hogan,—“Philip, the + Macedonian—monarch of Macedon, I say, is not that performance a + beautiful specimen of the saltatory art? There is manly beauty, O Philip! + and modest carriage. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'With aquil beauty formed, and aquil grace, + Hers the soft blushes of the opening morn, + And his the radiance of the risen day.'” + </pre> + <p> + “It's night now, misther, if you plaise,” returned Hogan, gruffly; “but we + don't want your opinion here—stick to your pothooks and hangers—keep + to your trade.” + </p> + <p> + “The <i>pot-hooks</i> and <i>hangers</i> are more <i>tui generis</i>, you + misbegotten satyr,” replied the schoolmaster; “that is, more appropriately + concatenated with your own trade than wid mine. I have no trade, sirra, + but a profession, and neither have you. You stand in the same degraded + ratio to a tradesman that a rascally quack does to a regular surgeon.” + </p> + <p> + “You had better keep a civil tongue in jour head,” replied Hogan, nettled + at the laughter which the schoolmaster raised at his expense. + </p> + <p> + “What! a civil tongue for you! Polite language for a rascally sotherer of + ould skillets and other anonymous utensils. Why, what are you?—firstly, + a general violation of the ten commandments; and, secondly, a misshapen + but faithful impersonation of the seven deadly sins. Take my word for it, + my worthy Macedonian, you will die any death but a horizontal one—it's + veracity I'm telling you. Yet there is some comfort for you too—some + comfort, I say again; for you who never lived one upright hour will die an + upright death. A certain official will erect a perpendicular with you; but + for that touck of Mathematics you must go to the hangman, at whose hands + you will have to receive the rites of your church, you monstrous + bog-trotting Gorgon. Mine a trade! Shades of Academus, am I to bear this!” + </p> + <p> + Finigan was, like most of his class, a privileged man; but on this + occasion the loudness of the mirth prevented Hogan's reply from being + heard. As to violence, nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever + dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the + consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when + provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon. When he + first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as scarcely to + be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of the crowded + house by no means improved him. + </p> + <p> + In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the + good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke among + them—not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that set + off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In fact, Hycy was + a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full of liveliness and + apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly perfect. He addressed + the persons present with an air of easy condescension, and went over + immediately and shook hands, in a very cordial manner, with Gerald + Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned round and bowed to the + daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom Kathleen was sitting. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “there will be mistakes in the best of families. I hate + enmity. How, do you do?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan nodded, and replied, “Pretty well, Hycy—how are you?” + </p> + <p> + Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the good + man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him every + conceivable mark of attention. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Cavanagh,” said he, after some chat, “may I be permitted to indulge + in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “Which of them?” asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a + reply—“to be sure you may.” + </p> + <p> + “The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it was + not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius Finigan—ah, + no; the early indoctrinations will tell;—that is clear.” + </p> + <p> + “I mean Miss Kathleen,” replied Hycy, without paying any attention to + Finigan's observations. + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” exclaimed both; “of course you will—go over and bring her + out.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner, + “Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel with + you?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke,” she replied gravely; “I have just danced + a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any more + to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “A simple reel?” said Hycy; “perhaps you will so far favor me? I shall + consider it as a favor, I assure you.” + </p> + <p> + “Excuse me, Mr. Burke, but I won't dance any more to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “That's hard,” he replied, “especially as I came all the way to have that + pleasure. Perhaps you will change your mind, Miss Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not in the habit of changing my mind, Mr. Burke,” she replied, “and I + don't see any reason why I should do so now. I say once for all that I + won't dance any more to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it,” asked the mother, on perceiving her hesitation; “won't she + dance wid you? Hut, tut, Kathleen, what nonsense is this? To be sure you + must dance wid Mr. Burke; don't take any refusal, Mr. Burke—is that + all you know about girls.—sure nineteen refusals is aquil to one + consent. Go over, Gerald, and make her dance wid him,” she added, turning + to her husband. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Kathleen, that you won't dance wid Mr. Hycy?” asked + the good man. + </p> + <p> + “Because I have danced all I will dance to-night, father.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, nonsense, you foolish girl—it's proud you ought to be that + he'd ax you. Get up and dance a reel wid him.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, who knew her sister's resolution when once formed, immediately came + to her rescue. “Don't ask her, father,” she said; “the truth is, that I + believe she has a headache—however, I'll take her place—have + you any objection to me, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + None in the world—he would be very happy—only he regretted + that he could not have that pleasure also with his sister. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Hycy—which is properly Hyacinthus,” said Finigan; “I am + able to perceive that Cupid declines to be propitious in that quarter, or + perhaps it's the <i>irae amantium</i>,—-which is, on being rendered + into vernacularity, a falling out of lovers; and if so, do not despair; + for as certain as it is, it will be followed by that most delectable of + processes, the <i>redintegratio amoris</i>, or the renewing of love. In + fact, he is a little better than a tyro—an ignoramus, who doesn't + quarrel at least once a week, wid the fair object of his amorous + inclinations, an' that for the sake of the reconciliaitons.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy and Hanna were now about to dance, when Philip Hogan came forward, + and, with an oath, declared that Kathleen must dance—“He wouldn't + see Mr. Burke insulted that way by any such airs—and by—she + must dance. Come,” said he, “what stuff is this—we'll see whether + you or I is strongest;” and as he spoke he seized her rudely by the arm, + and was about to pull her out on the floor. + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon sprung to his feet. “Let her go, you ruffian,” he exclaimed; + “let her go this instant.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I won't,” replied the savage; “an' not for you, at any rate. Come, + Miss Kathleen, out you'll go:—for you indeed,” he added, in a + ferocious parenthesis, looking at Bryan; “it's you that's the cause of all + this. Come, miss, dance you must.” + </p> + <p> + The words were scarcely uttered when M'Mahon, by a single blow on the + neck, felled him like an ox, and in an instant the whole place was a scene + of wild commotion. The Hogans, however, at all times unpopular, had no + chance in an open affray on such an occasion as this. The feeling that + predominated was, that the ruffianly interference of Philip had been + justly punished; and ere many minutes the usual harmony, with the + exception of some threatening looks and ferocious under growls from the + Hogans, was restored. Hycy and Hanna then went on with their dance, and + when it was over, the schoolmaster rose to depart. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said he, “you are and have the reputation of being a perfect + gentleman <i>homo factus ad unguem</i>—as has been said by the + learned little Roman, who, between you and me, was not overburthened with + an excess of morality. I take the liberty, jinteels, of wishing you a + good-night—<i>precor vobia prosperam noctem!</i> Ah, I can do it + yet; but it wasn't for nothing that I practised the peripatetics in larned + Kerry, where the great O'Finigan is not yet forgotten. I shall now seek a + contiguous place of repose, until the consequences of some slight + bacchanalin libations on my part shall have dispersed themselves into thin + air.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly departed, but from the unsteadiness of his step it was + clear that, as he said, the place of his repose must be contiguous indeed. + Had he been conscious of his own motions it is not likely he would have + sought for repose in Cavanagh's kiln, then the habitation of the Hogans. + It was probably the fact of the door having been left open, which was + generally the case in summer, that induced him to enter—for enter he + did—ignorant, it is to be presumed, that the dwelling he was about + to enter was then inhabited by the Hogans, whom he very much disrelished. + </p> + <p> + The place was nearly waste, and had a very desolate look. Scattered + around, and littered upon shake-down beds of straw, some half dozen young + besmutted savages, male and female, lay stretched in all positions, some + north, others south, without order or decency, but all seeming in that + barbarous luxury which denotes strong animal health and an utter disregard + of cleanliness and bodily comfort. Over in one of the corners lay three or + four budgets, old iron skillets, hammers, lumps of melted lead, broken + pots, a quantity of cows' horns for spoons, wooden dishes that required + clasping, old kettles that wanted repair, a couple of cast off Poteen + Stills, and a new one half made—all of which were visible by the + light of a large log of bog-fir which lay burning in the fire-place. On + looking around him, he descended a flight of stone steps that led to the + fireplace or the kiln or opening in which the fuel used to dry the grain + was always burned. This corner, which was eight or ten feet below the + other portion of the floor, being, in general, during the summer months + filled with straw, received the drowsy pedagogue, who, in a few minutes, + was as sound asleep as any of them about him. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, who was conscious of his good figure, danced two or three times + afterwards. + </p> + <p> + Dora M'Mahon had the honor of being his partner, as had one or two of the + best looking girls present. At the close of the last dance he looked + significantly at the Hogans, and nodded towards the door; after which it + might have been observed, that they slunk out one at a time, followed in a + few minutes by Kate Hycy, after some further chat with Gerald Cavanagh and + his wife, threw half a crown to Mickey M'Grory, and in his usual courteous + phraseology, through which there always ran, by the way, a vein of strong + irony, he politely wished them all a good night. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII.—Anonymous Letter with a Name to It + </h2> + <h3> + —Finigan's Dialogue with Hycy + </h3> + <p> + The severest tax upon Hycy's powers of invention was, in consequence of + his habits of idleness, to find means of occupying his time. Sometimes, it + is true, he condescended to oversee the men while at work, but there it + was generally found that so far from keeping them to their employment, he + was a considerable drawback upon their industry. The ordinary business of + his life, however, was riding about the country, and especially into the + town of Ballymacan and home again. He was also a regular attendant in all + the neighboring fairs; and we may safely assert that no race in the + province ever came off without him. + </p> + <p> + On the second day after his interview with Teddy Phats and the Hogans, he + was riding past the post-office, when he heard the window tapped, and, on + approaching, a letter was handed out to him, which on opening he found to + contain the following communication:— + </p> + <p> + “Worthy Mr. Hyacinthus— + </p> + <p> + “A friend unknown to you, but not altogether so to fame, and one. whom no + display of the subtlest ingenuity on behalf of your acute and sagacious + intellect could ever decypher through the medium of this epistle, begs to + convey to you a valuable portion of anonymous information. When he says + that he is not unknown to fame, the assertion, as far as it goes, is + pregnant wid veracity. Mark that I say, as far as it goes, by which is + meant the assertion as well as the fame of your friend, the inditer of + this significant epistle. Forty-eight square miles of good sound fame your + not inerudite correspondent can conscientiously lay claim to; and although + there is, with regret I admit it, a considerable portion of the square + superficies alluded to, waste and uncultivated moor, yet I can say, wid + that racy touch of genial and expressive pride which distinguishes men of + letters in general, that the other portions of this fine district are + inhabited by a multitudinity of population in the highest degree + creditable to the prolific powers of the climate. 'Tisn't all as one, + then, as that thistle-browsing quadruped. Barney Heffeman, who presumes, + in imitation of his betters, to write Philomath after his name, and whose + whole extent of literary reputation is not more than two or three beggarly + townlands, whom, by the way, he is inoculating successfully wid his own + ripe and flourishing ignorance. No, sir; nor like Gusty Gibberish, or (as + he has been most facetiously christened by his Reverence, Father + O'Flaherty) Demosthenes M'Gosther, inasmuch as he is distinguished for an + aisy and prodigal superfluity of mere words, unsustained by + intelligibility or meaning, but who cannot claim in his own person a mile + and a half of dacent reputation. However, <i>quid multis</i> Mr. + Hyacinthus; 'tis no indoctrinated or obscure scribe who now addresses you, + and who does so from causes that may be salutary to your own health and + very gentlemanly fame, according as you resave the same, not pretermitting + interests involving, probably, on your part, an abundant portion of + pecuniarity. + </p> + <p> + “In short, then, it has reached these ears, Mr. Hyacinthus, and between + you and me, they are not such a pair as, in consequence of their + longitudinity, can be copiously shaken, or which rise and fall according + to the will of the wearer; like those of the thistle-browser already + alluded to; it has reached them that you are about to substantiate a a + disreputable—excuse the phrase—co-partnership wid four of the + most ornamental villains on Hibernian earth, by which you must understand + me to mane that the villains aforesaid are not merely accomplished in all + the plain principles and practices of villainy, but finished off even to + its natest and most inganious decorations. Their whole life has been most + assiduously and successfully devoted to a general violation of the ten + commandments, as well as to the perpetual commission of the seven deadly + sins. Nay, the 'reserved cases' themselves can't escape them, and it is + well known that they wont rest satisfied wid the wide catalogue of + ordinary and general iniquity, but they must, by way of luxury, have a + lick at blasphemy, and some of the rarer vices, as often as they can, for + the villains are so fastidious that they won't put up wid common + wickedness like other people. I cannot, however, wid anything + approximating to a safe conscience, rest here. What I have said has + reference to the laws of God, but what I am about to enumerate relates to + the laws of man—to the laws of the land Wid respect, then, to them, + I do assure you, that although I myself look upon the violation of a great + number of the latter wid a very vanial squint, still, I say, I do assure + you that they have not left a single law made by Parliament unfractured. + They have gone over the whole statute-book several times, and I believe + are absolutely of opinion that the Parliament is doing nothing. The most + lynx-eyed investigator of old enactments could not find one which has + escaped them, for the villains are perfectly black letter in that respect; + and what is in proper keeping wid this, whenever they hear of a new Act of + Parliament they cannot rest either night or day until they break it. And + now for the inference: be on your guard against this pandemonial squad. + Whatever your object may be in cultivating and keeping society wid them, + theirs is to ruin you—fleece was the word used—an I then to + cut and run, leaving Mr. Hycy—the acute, the penetrating, the + accomplished—completely in the lurch. Be influenced, then, by the + amicitial admonitions of the inditer of this correspondence. Become not a + smuggler—forswear poteen. The Lord forgive me, Mr. Hycy—no, I + only wished to say forswear—not the poteen—but any connection + wid the illegal alembic from which it is distillated, otherwise they will + walk off wid the 'doublings,' or strong liquor, leaving you nothing but + the residuum or feints. Take a friend's advice, therefore, and retrograde + out of all society and connection wid the villains I have described; or if + you superciliously overlook this warning, book it down as a fact that + admits of no negation, that you will be denuded of reputation, of honesty, + and of any pecuniary contingencies that you may happen to possess. This is + a sincere advice from + </p> + <p> + “Your Anonymous Friend, + </p> + <p> + “Patricius O'Finigan, Philomath.” + </p> + <p> + After perusing this characteristic production, Hycy paused for a little, + and felt it very probable that there might be some reasonable grounds for + its production, although he could scarcely understand upon what motive + these fellows should proceed to practice treachery towards him. That they + were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied; but he knew + it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters connected with + their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's blunder—for + such it evidently was—in signing his name to a document that he + intended to be anonymous. + </p> + <p> + “At all events,” thought he, “I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he + calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me + such a warning.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin + that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little + bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating from a + different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of common, + where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour Mr. O'Finigan + went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The little village + of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood, was composed of a + couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small grocer's and publican's, + together with a Pound at the entrance, through which ran a little stream + necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to drink. + </p> + <p> + On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his own + name repeated by at least two dozen voices. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a gintleman, masther”—“It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir “—“It + is, bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen—” + </p> + <p> + “Him that rides the race, masther”—“Ay, an' he has on top-boots and + buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman—” + </p> + <p> + “Silence!” said Finigan, “silence! I say; is this proper scholastic + decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you + reptiles, or castigation shall result. Here, Paddy Sparable,” he added, + rising up—“here, you nailroad, assume my office, and rule the + establishment till I return; and, mark me, as the son of a nailer, sirra, + I expect that you will rule them with a rod of iron—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but Paddy Pancake's here to-day, sir, an' he's able to welt me; so + that's it's only leathered I'd get, sir, i' you plase.” + </p> + <p> + “But have you no officers? Call in aid, I ordher you. Can't you make Sam + Scaddhan and Phiddher Mackleswig there two policeman get Pancake down—flatten + him—if he prove contumacious during my absence. Pancake, mark me, + obedience is your cue, or, if not, the castigator here is your + alternative; there it is, freshly cut—ripe and ready—and you + are not to be told, at this time o' day, what portion of your corpus will + catch it. Whish-h-h!—silence! I say. How do you do, Mr. Burke? I am + proud of a visit from you, sir; perhaps you would light down and examine a + class. My Greeks are all absent to-day; but I have a beautiful class o' + Romans in the Fourth Book of Virgil—immortal Maro. Do try them, Mr. + Hycy; if they don't do Dido's death in a truly congenial spirit I am no + classic. Of one thing I can assure you, that they ought; for I pledge my + reputation it is not the first time I've made them practice the Irish cry + over it. This, however, was but natural; for it is now well known to the + learned that, if Dido herself was not a fair Hibernian, she at least spoke + excellent Irish. Ah, Mr. Hycy,” he added, with a grin, “the birch is the + only pathetic switch growing! Will you come in, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, Mr. Finigan; but perhaps you would have the goodness to + come out for a little;” and, as he spoke, he nodded towards the + public-house. “I know the boys will be quiet until you return.” + </p> + <p> + “If they don't,” replied Finigan, “the alternative is in no shape + enigmatical. Mark what I've already said, gintlemen. Sparable, do you keep + a faithful journal of the delinquents; and observe that there are offices + of importance in this world besides flagellating erudition into reptiles + like you.” + </p> + <p> + He then looked about him with an air of vast importance, and joined Hycy + on his way to the public-house. Having ordered in the worthy pedagogue's + favorite beverage, not forgetting something of the same kind for himself, + he addressed Finigan as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Finigan, I received a devilish queer letter from you to-day—take + your liquor in the mean time—what did you mean by it?” + </p> + <p> + “From me, Mr. Hycy—<i>nego</i>, I say—<i>pugnis et calc bu + nego</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, you know you wrote me an anonymous letter, referring to some + ridiculous copartnership or other that I can neither make head nor tail + of. Tell me candidly what you meant.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Mr. Burke; but sure I know of old that jocularity was always + your forte—even when laying in under my own instruction that sound + classical substratum on which the superstructure of your subsequent + knowledge was erected, you were always addicted to the facetious and the + fabulous—both of which you contrived to blend together with an ease + and volubility of language that could not be surpassed.” + </p> + <p> + “That is all very well; but you need not deny that you wrote me the + letter. Let me ask you seriously, what was it you warned me against?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Propino tibi salulem</i>—here's to you. No, but let me ask you + what you are at, Mr. Hycy? You may have resaved an anonymous letter, but I + am ignorant why you should paternize it upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because it has all the marks and tokens of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh?—to what does that amount? Surely you know my handwriting?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly; but this is disguised evidently.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith,” said the other, laughing, “maybe the inditer of it was disguised + when he wrote it.” + </p> + <p> + “It might be,” replied Hycy; “however, take your liquor, and in the mean + time I shall feel exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Finigan, if you will + tell me the truth at once—whether you wrote it or whether you did + not?” + </p> + <p> + “My response again is in the negative,” replied Finigan—“I disclaim + it altogether. I am not the scribe, you may rest assured of it, nor can I + say who is.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Hycy, “I find I must convict you yourself of the + fabulous at least; read that,” said he, placing the letter in his own + hands. “Like a true Irishman you signed your name unconsciously; and now + what have you to say for yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied the other, “that some knave, of most fictitious + imagination, has forged my name to it. No man can say that that is my + manuscription, Mr. Hycy.” These words he uttered with great coolness; and + Hycy, who was in many things a shrewd young fellow, deemed it better to + wait until the liquor, which was fast disappearing, should begin to + operate. At length, when about three-quarters of an hour had passed, he + resolved to attack his vanity. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Finigan, as regards this letter, I must say I feel a good + deal disappointed.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so, Mr. Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because I did not think there was any other man in the country who + could have written it.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh? how is that now?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, it's very simple; the letter is written with surprising ability—the + language is beautiful—and the style, like the land of Canaan, + flowing with milk and honey. It is certainly a most uncommon production.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, seriously, do you think so? At all events, Mr. Hycy, it was written + by a friend of yours—that's a clear case.” + </p> + <p> + “I think so; but what strikes me is its surprising ability; no wonder the + writer should say that he is not unknown to fame—he could not + possibly remain in obscurity.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Hycy, your health—I remember when you were wid me you certainly + were <i>facile princeps</i> for a ripe judgment, even in your rudiments; + so then, you are of opinion that the epistle in question has janius? I + think myself it is no everyday production; not I believe such as the + thistle-browser Heffernan, or Misther Demosthenes M'Gosther could achieve—the + one wid his mile and a half, and the other wid his three townlands of + reputation. No, sir, to the divil I pitch them both; they could never + indite such a document. Your health, Mr. Hycy—<i>propino tibi</i>, I + say; and you are right, <i>ille ego</i>—it's a a fact; I am the man, + sir—I acknowledge the charge.” + </p> + <p> + This admission having been made, we need scarcely add that an explanation + was at at once given by Finigan of the motive which had induced him to + write the letter. + </p> + <p> + “On laving the kemp,” said he, “and getting into the open air—<i>sub + diu</i>, Mr. Hycy—I felt a general liquidation of my whole bodily + strength, with a strong disposition to make short excursions to the right + or to the left rather than hold my way straight a-head, with, I must + confess, an equal tendency to deposit my body on my mother earth and enact + the soporiferous. On passing Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where the Hogans + kennel, I entered, and was greeted wid such a chorus of sternutation as + you might expect from a pigsty in midsummer, and made me envy the unlicked + young savages who indulged in it. At the period spoken of neither you nor + they had come in from the kemp. Even this is but a dim recollection, and I + remember nothing more until I overheard your voice and theirs in dialogue + as you were about to depart. After you went, I heard the dialogue which I + hinted at in the letter, between Teddy Phats and them; and knowing my + position and the misbegotten satyrs by whom I was surrounded, I patiently + waited until they were asleep, when I quietly took my departure.” + </p> + <p> + Burke could not help inferring from Finigan's manner, that he had + overheard a greater portion of their conversation on the occasion alluded + to than he seemed disposed to acknowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Finigan,” he said, “I feel disposed to place every confidence in + you. Will you answer candidly the question I am about to propose to you? + Did you hear Bryan M'Mahon's name mentioned?” + </p> + <p> + “You say, Mr. Hycy,” replied Finigan, emptying his glass, “that you would + enthertain no apprehension in placing confidence in me?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the slightest,” replied Hycy; “I believe you to be the very soul of + honor; and, besides, are you not my old master? As you say yourself, did I + not break grammatical ground, under you?” + </p> + <p> + “The soul of honor,” replied the pedagogue, complacently—“that is + excellently said. Well, then, Mr. Burke, I shall not deal out my + confidence by beggarly instalments—I did hear Bryan M'Mahon's name + mentioned; and I heard a plan alluded to between you and them for reducing + him to—” + </p> + <p> + “That was all humbug, Finigan, so far as I am concerned; but for the + present I am obliged to let them suppose what you allude to, in order to + keep them honest to myself if I can. You know they have a kind of + hereditary hatred against the M'Mahons; and if I did not allow them to + take their own way in this, I don't think I could depend on them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, there is raison in that too,” replied Finigan. + </p> + <p> + “I am sure, Finigan,” proceeded Hycy, “that you are too honorable a man to + breathe either to Bryan M'Mahon or any one else, a single syllable of the + conversation which you overheard merely by accident. I say I am certain + you will never let it transpire, either by word of mouth or writing. In me + you may always calculate on finding a sincere friend; and of this let me + assure you, that your drink, if everything goes right with us, won't cost + you much—much! not a penny; if you had two throats instead of one—as + many necks as Hydra, we should supply them all.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me your hand, Mr. Hycy—you are a gintleman, and I always said + would be one—I did, sir—I prognosticated as much years ago; + and sincerely felicitous am I that my prognostications have been verified + for so far. I said you would rise—that exaltation was before you—and + that your friends might not feel at all surprised at the elevated position + in which you will die. <i>Propino tibi</i>, again—and do not fear + that ever revelation of mine shall facilitate any catastrophe that may + await you.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy looked keenly into the schoolmaster's face as he uttered the last + observation; but in the maudlin and collapsed features then before him he + could read nothing that intimated the sagacity of a double meaning. This + satisfied him; and after once more exacting from Finigan a pledge of what + he termed honorable confidence, he took his departure. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX.—A Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery + </h2> + <p> + This communication determined Hycy to forego his intention for the + present, and he consequently allowed the summer and autumn to pass without + keeping up much intercourse with either Teddy Phats or the Hogans. The + truth is, that Burke, although apparently frank and candid, was + constitutionally cautious, and inclined a good deal to suspicion. He + feared that no project, the knowledge of which was held in common with + Finigan, could be long kept a secret; and for that reason he make up his + mind to postpone the matter, and allow it to die away out of the + schoolmaster's mind ere he bestowed any further attention upon it. In the + meantime, the state of the country was gradually assuming a worse and more + depressing character. The season was unfavorable; and although we do not + assert that many died of immediate famine, yet we know that hundreds—nay, + thousands—died from the consequences of scarcity and destitution—or, + in plainer words, from fever and other diseases induced by bad and + insufficient food, and an absence of the necessary comforts of life. + Indeed, at the period of our narrative, the position of Ireland was very + gloomy; but when, we may ask, has it been otherwise, within the memory of + man, or the records of history? Placed as the country was, emigration went + forward on an extensive scale,—emigration, too, of that peculiar + description which every day enfeebles and impoverishes the country, by + depriving her of all that approaches to anything like a comfortable and + independent yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of depletion which no + country can bear long; and, as it is, at the moment we are writing this, + progressing at a rate beyond all precedent, it will not, we trust, be + altogether uninteresting to inquire into some of the causes that have + occasioned it. Let not our readers apprehend, however, that we are about + to turn our fictitious narrative into a dissertation on political economy. + Of course the principle cause of emigration is the poverty and depressed + state of the country; and it follows naturally, that whatever occasions + our poverty will necessarily occasion emigration. The first cause of our + poverty then, is Absenteeism, which, by drawing six or seven millions out + of the country, deprives our people of employment and means of life to + that amount. The next is the general inattention of Irish landlords to the + state and condition of their own property, and an inexcusable want of + sympathy with their tenantry, which, indeed, is only a corollary from the + former; for it can hardly be expected that those who wilfully neglect + themselves will feel a warm interest in others. The next is the evil of + subletting, by which property becomes overloaded with human beings, who, + for the most part, are bound by no ties whatsoever to the owner of the + soil. He is not their landlord, nor are they his tenants; and so far from + their interests being in any way reciprocal, they are actually + adversative. It is his interest to have them removed, and, as + circumstances unfortunately stand, it is theirs to remain, inasmuch as + their alternative is ruin since they have no place of shelter to receive + them. + </p> + <p> + Political corruption, in the shape of the forty-shilling franchise, was + another cause, and one of the very worst, which led to the prostration of + the country by poverty and moral degradation, and for this the proprietors + of the soil are solely responsible. Nor can the use of the potato, as the + staple food of the laboring classes, in connection with the truck system, + and the consequent absence of money payments, in addition to the necessary + ignorance of domestic and social comforts that resulted from them, be left + out of this wretched catalogue of our grievances. Another cause of + emigration is to be found in the high and exorbitant rents at which land + is held by all classes of farmers—with some exceptions we admit, as + in the case of old leases—but especially by those who hold under + middlemen, or on the principle of subletting generally. By this system a + vast deal of distress and petty but most harrassing oppression is every + day in active operation upon the property of the head landlord, which he + can never know, and for which he is in no other way responsible unless by + having ever permitted the existence of it for any purpose whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + In a country distracted like Ireland, it would be impossible to omit the + existence of political and religious animosity as a strong and prominent + cause of our wretched poverty, and consequently of emigration. The priest, + instead of leaving temporal affairs to temporal men, most improperly + mingles himself in the angry turmoils of politics, to which, by his + interference, he communicates a peculiar and characteristic bitterness. + The landlord, on the other hand, having his own interests to consult, does + not wish to arm a political opponent with such powers as he knows will + most assuredly be turned against himself, and consequently often refuses + to grant a lease unless to those who will pledge themselves to support + him. This state of things, involving, as it does, much that is wrong on + both sides, is, has been, and will be, a present and permanent curse to + the country—a curse, too, which, until there is more of humanity and + justice on the one side, and of education and liberal feeling on the + other, is not likely to disappear from the country. + </p> + <p> + Though last, not least, comes the unaccountable and guilty neglect of our + legislature (if we can call it ours) in everything that pertained to Irish + interests. This, together with its almost necessary consequence of + dishonest agitation on the one hand, and well founded dissatisfaction on + the other, nearly completes the series of the causes which have produced + the poverty of the country, and, as a direct result, the emigration of all + that is most comfortable, independent, and moral among us. + </p> + <p> + This poverty, arising, as it does, from so many causes, has propagated + itself with a rapidity which is startling; for every one knows that + poverty is proverbially prolific. And yet it is a grievous anomaly to + reflect that a country so far steeped in misery and destitution as to have + nearly one-half of its population in a state of most pitiable pauperism, + possesses a soil capable of employing and maintaining three times the + number of its inhabitants. When the causes, however, which we have just + enumerated are seriously looked at and considered, we think its + extraordinary result is, after all, so very natural, that the wonder would + indeed be were the state of Ireland otherwise than it is. As matters stand + at present, and as they are likely to continue, unless parliament shall + interfere by a comprehensive measure of legislation, we must only rest + contented with seeing the industrious, moral, and respectable portion of + our countrymen abandoning the land of their birth and affections, and + nothing but the very dregs—degraded alike by idleness and immorality—remaining + behind to multiply and perpetuate their own wretchedness and degradation. + </p> + <p> + It has been often said, and with great truth, that no man is more + devotedly attached to his native soil than an Irishman; yet it may + reasonably be asked, how this principle of attachment can be reconciled + with the strong tendency to emigration which characterizes our people. We + reply, that the tendency in question is a proof of the love of honest + industry, enterprise, and independence, by which our countrymen, when not + degraded by neglect and poverty, are actuated. It is not of this class, + however so degraded, that we now speak. On the contrary we take the decent + and respectable farmer as the subject of our illustration—the man + who, loving his native fields as if they were of his blood, would almost + as soon part with the one as the other. This man it is, who, with the most + child-like tenderness of affection towards the land on which he and his + have lived for centuries, will, nevertheless, the moment he finds himself + on the decline, and with no cheering hope of prosperity or encouragement + before him or his family, resolutely determine to forget everything but + the noble duties which he owes to himself and them. He sees clearly, from + the unhappy state of the country, and the utter want of sympathy and + attention which he experiences at the hands of those who ought to have his + interests at heart, that if he attempt to hold his position under + circumstances so depressing and unfavorable, he must gradually sink, until + he and his become mingled with the great mass of pauperism which lies lik + a an incubus upon the energies of the country. What, therefore, can + possibly prove more strongly than this that the Irishman who is not + dragged into the swamp of degradation, in which hope and energy are + paralyzed, is strongly and heroically characterized by I those virtues of + industry and enterprise that throw their lustre over social life? + </p> + <p> + There are other and still more indefensible causes, however, which too + frequently drive the independent farmer out of the country. In too many + cases it happens that the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, + countenanced or stimulated by the necessities and reckless extravagance of + the landlord, fall, like some unwholesome blight, upon that enterprise and + industry which would ultimately, if properly encouraged, make the country + prosperous and her landed proprietors independent men. We allude to the + nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who have made + improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay for the + improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this crying and + oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those who fill the + responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland, than whom in + general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous, oppressive, arrogant, + and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course there are, and many, but + speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert nothing but what the + condition of property, and of those who live upon it, do at this moment + and have for many a year testified. + </p> + <p> + Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited upon + the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already + described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety + on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This + neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man, who + was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his countrymen + always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a lease, which they + look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely inviolable and sacred, + as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who, although a young man, was + not destitute of either observation or the experience which it bestows, + and who, moreover, had no disposition to place unlimited confidence in + Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague suspicions with reference to + the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not the reputation of being a harsh + man, or particularly unjust in his dealings with the world; on the + contrary, he was rather liked than otherwise; for so soft was the melody + of his voice, and so irresistible the friendship and urbanity of his + manner, that many persons felt as much gratified by the refusal of a favor + from him as they did at its being granted by another. At length, towards + the close of October, Bryan himself told his father that he would, call + upon the agent and urge him to expedite the matter of the leases. “I don't + know how it is,” said he, “but some way or other I don't feel comfortable + about this business: Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is + well spoken of in general; but for all that there's always a man here an' + there that says he's not to be depended on.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth an' he is to be depended on,” said his generous father; “his words + isn't like the words of a desaver, and it isn't till he shows the cloven + foot that I'll ever give in that he's, dishonest.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Bryan, “I'm sure I for one hope you may be right; but, at any + rate, as he's at home now I'll start and see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Do then,” said his father, “bekaise I know you're a favorite of his; for + he tould me so wid his own lips.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the other, laughing, “I hope you're right there too; I'm + sure I have no objection;” and he accordingly set out to see Fethertonge, + but with something of an impression that the object of his visit was not + likely to be accomplished without difficulty, if accomplished at all. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the agent's house he met a thin, tall man, named Clinton, with + a hooked nose and sinister aspect, riding down the avenue, after having + paid Fethertonge a visit. This person was the gauger of the district, a + bachelor and a man of considerable wealth, got together, it is suspected, + by practices that were not well capable of bearing the light. His family + consisted of a niece and a nephew, the latter of whom had recently become + a bosom friend of the accomplished Hycy Burke, who, it was whispered, + began to look upon Miss Clinton with a partial eye. Hycy had got + acquainted with him at the Herringstown races, where he, Hycy, rode and + won a considerable sweepstakes; and as both young gentlemen were pretty + much of the same habits of life, a very warm intimacy had, for some time + past, subsisted between them. Clinton, to whom M'Mahon was known, + addressed him in a friendly manner, and, after some chat, he laid the + point of his whip gently upon Bryan's shoulder, so as to engage his + attention. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said he, “I am glad I have met you, and I trust our meeting + will be for your good. You have had a dispute with Hycy Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir,” replied Bryan, smiling, “if I had it wasn't such as it was + worth his while to talk about.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, M'Mahon, that's generously said on your part—now, listen to + me; don't allow yourself to be drawn into any illegal or illicit + proceedings by any one, friend or foe—if so, you will only put + yourself into the power of your enemies; for enemies you have, I can + assure you.” + </p> + <p> + “They say, sir, there is no one without them,” replied Bryan, smiling; + “but so far as I am consarned, I don't exactly understand what you mane. I + have no connection with anything, either illegal or—or—wrong + in any way, Mr. Clinton, and if any one tould you so, they spoke an + untruth.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” said Clinton, “that may be so, and I hope it is so; but you know + that it could not be expected you would admit it even if it be true. Will + you in the mean time, be guided by a friend? I respect your father and his + family; I respect yourself, M'Mahon; and, consequently, my advice to you + is—keep out of the meshes of the law—avoid violating it—and + remember you have enemies. Now think of these words, and so good-bye, + M'Mahon! Indeed, I am glad for your own sake I met you—good-bye!” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered the last words he dashed on and left Bryan in a state of + perfect amazement at the strange and incomprehensible nature of the + communication he had just received. Indeed, so full was his mind of the + circumstance, that forgetting all his suspicions of Fethertonge, and urged + by the ingenuous impulse of an honest heart, he could not prevent himself + in the surprise and agitation of the moment from detailing the + conversation which he had just had with the gauger. + </p> + <p> + “That is singular enough,” said Fethertonge—“he named Hycy Burke, + then?” + </p> + <p> + “He did, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “It is singular,” proceeded the other, as if speaking to himself; “in + truth, my dear M'Mahon, we were talking about you, discussing, in fact, + the same subject not many minutes ago; and what you tell me now is only an + additional proof that Clinton, who is sometimes harshly spoken of by the + way, is a straightforward, honest man.” + </p> + <p> + “What could he mane, sir?” asked Bryan, “I never had anything to do + contrary to the law—I haven't now, nor do I ever intend to have—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm sure I do not know,” replied the agent: “he made no illusion of + that kind to me, from a generous apprehension, I dare say, lest he might + injure you in my opinion. He only desired me not rashly to listen to + anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who were + laboring to injure you in some way—but how—he either would not + tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for I + shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice.” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you beforehand, sir,” said Bryan, with the conscious warmth of + rectitude, “and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear + anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should say + that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or justice, + you'll hear a falsehood—I don't care who it comes from—and the + man who tells you so is a liar.” + </p> + <p> + “I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve me + to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn into + anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual of your + family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve me—deeply + would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so honest—but no, I + will not, for I cannot suppose it.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could + not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation + which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were + now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of + which he knew nothing. + </p> + <p> + “You take it lightly,” said Fethertonge, with something of a serious + expression; “but remember, my dear Bryan, that I now speak as one + interested in, and, in fact, representing the other members of your + family. Remember, at all events, you are forewarned, and, in the meantime, + I thank Clinton—although I certainly would not have mentioned names. + Bryan, you can have no objection that I should speak to your father on + this subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the slightest, sir,” replied Bryan; “spake to any one you like about + it; but, putting that aside, sir, for the present—about these + leases?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what apprehension have you about them, Byran?” + </p> + <p> + “No apprehension, sir, sartinly; but you know yourself, Mr. Fethertonge, + that to a man like me, that's layin' out and expendin' money every day + upon Adaharra farm, and my father the same way upon Carriglass—I + say, to a man like me, to be layin' out his money, when you know yourself + that if the present landlord should refuse to carry his father's dying + words into effect—or, as you said this minute yourself, sir, if some + enemy should turn you against me, amn't I and my father and the whole + family liable to be put out, notwithstanding all the improvements we've + made, and the money we've spent in makin' them?” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said Fethertonge, after a pause, “every word you say is + unfortunately too true—too true—and such things, are a + disgrace to the country; indeed, I believe, they seldom occur in any + country but this. Will it in the mean time satisfy you when I state that, + if old Mr. Chevydale's intentions are not carried into effect by his son, + I shall forthwith resign my agency?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan's conscience, generous as he was, notwithstanding his suspicions, + smote him deeply on hearing this determination so unequivocally expressed. + Indeed the whole tenor of their dialogue, taken in at one view—especially + Fethertonge's intention of speaking to Tom M'Mahon upon the mysterious + subject of Bryan's suspected delinquencies against the law—so + thoroughly satisfied him of the injustice he had rendered Fethertonge, + that he was for a time silent. + </p> + <p> + At length he replied—“That, sir, is more than we could expect; but + at any rate there's one thing I'm now sartin of—that, if we're + disappointed, you won't be the cause of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but of course you must put disappointment out of the question. The + landlord, will, without any doubt, grant the leases—I am satisfied + of that; indeed, there can be no doubt about it. By the way, I am anxious + to see Ahadarra and to ascertain the extent to which you have carried your + improvements. Clinton and I will probably take a ride up there some day + soon; and in the meantime do you keep improving, M'Mahon, for that's the + secret of all success—leave the rest to me. How is your father?” + </p> + <p> + “Never was better, sir, I'm thankful to you.” + </p> + <p> + “And your grandfather? how does he bear up?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, sir, wonderfully, considering his age.” + </p> + <p> + “He must be very old now?” + </p> + <p> + “He's ninety-four, sir, and that's a long age sure enough; but I'm sorry + to say that my mother's health isn't so well.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what is the matter with her? I'm sorry to hear this.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we can't say; she's very poorly—her appetite is gone—she + has a cough, an' she doesn't get her rest at night.” + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you get medical advice?” + </p> + <p> + “So we did, sir. Dr. Sexton's attendin' her; but I don't think somehow + that he has a good opinion of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Sexton's a skilful man, and I don't think she could be in better hands; + however, Bryan, I shall feel obliged if you will send down occasionally to + let me know how she gets on—once a week or so.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we will, sir, an' I needn't say how much we feel obliged to you + for your kindness and good wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “It must be more than good wishes, Bryan; but I trust that she will get + better. In the meantime leave the other matters to me, and you may expect + Clinton and I up at your farm to look some of these days.” + </p> + <p> + “God forgive me,” thought Bryan, as he left the hall-door, “for the + injustice I did him, by supposin' for one minute that he wasn't disposed + to act fairly towards us. My father was right; an' it was foolish of me to + put my wit against his age an' experience. Oh, no, that man's honest—there + can;t be any mistake about it.” + </p> + <p> + From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way home, + to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity towards + him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy Burke had, + in general, the character of being a generous, dashing young fellow, with + no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a thoughtless inclination + for extravagance; for such were the gentle terms in which habits of + seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in the expenditure of money were + clothed by those who at once fleeced and despised him, but who were + numerous enough to impress those opinions upon a great number of the + people. In turning over matters as they stood between them, he could trace + Burke's enemity to no adequate cause; nor indeed could he believe it + possible that he entertained any such inveterate feeling of hostility + against him. They had of late frequently met, on which occasion Hycy spoke + to him with nearly as much cordiality as ever. Still, however, he could + not altogether free himself from the conviction, that both Clinton and + Fethertonge must have had unquestionable grounds for the hints which they + had in such a friendly way thrown out to him. + </p> + <p> + In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet + behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him + at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, on + seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, “If you are + not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you.” + </p> + <p> + The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, “a word, Bryan! ay, a + hundred—certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have + some conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” proceeded Bryan, “I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow + me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?” + </p> + <p> + “Will you answer me another question?” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “If I can I will,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” replied Hycy, “I will answer you most candidly, Bryan—not + the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling + against me.” + </p> + <p> + “And you wor right, too,” returned Bryan “for I really had.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember,” proceeded Hycy, “that when I asked you to lend me + thirty-five pounds—and by the way that reminds me that I am still + pretty deep in your debt—you would neither lend it nor give any + satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that feeling, + Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my + pocket,” replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which + Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself. “Read that,” said he, + “and I think you'll have no great trouble in understanding why I felt as I + did;—an' indeed, Hycy, to tell you the truth, I never had the same + opinion of you since.” Hycy, to his utter amazement, read as follows: + </p> + <p> + “My Dear Miss Cavanagh:— + </p> + <p> + “Will you permit little Cupid, the god of Love, to enrol the name of Hycy + Burke on the long list of your adorers? And if you could corrupt the + little stone-blind divinity to blot out every name on it but my own, I + should think that a very handsome anticipation of the joys of Paradise + could be realized by that delightful fact. I say anticipation—for my + creed is, that the actual joys of Paradise exist no where, but within the + celestial circle of your ambrosial arms. That is the Paradise which I + propose to win; and you may rest assured that I shall bring the most + flaming zeal, the most fervent devotion, and all the genuine piety of a + true worshipper, to the task of attaining it. I shall carry, for instance, + a little Bible of Love in my pocket—for I am already a divinity + student or a young collegian under little Cupid aforesaid—and I will + have it all dogeared with refreshing texts for my edification. I should + state, however, that I am, as every good Christian is, awfully exclusive + in my creed; and will suffer no one, if I can prevent it, to approach the + Paradise I speak of but myself. In fact I am as jealous as the very Deuce—whoever + that personage may be—quite an Othello in my way—a perfect + raw-head-and-bloody-bones—with a sharp appetite and teeth like a + Walrus, ready to bolt my rivals in dozens. It is said, my divine creature, + or rather it is hinted, that a certain clodhopping boor, from the + congenial wilds of Ahadarra, is favored by some benignant glances from + those lights of yours that do mislead the moon. I hope this is not so—bow + wow!—ho! ho!—I smell the blood of a rival; and be he great or + small, red or black, or of any color in the rainbow, I shall have him for + my. breakfast—ho! ho! You see now, my most divine Kathleen, what a + terrible animal to all rivals and competitors for your affections I shall + be; and that if it were only for their own sakes, and to prevent carnage + and cannibalism, it will be well for you to banish them once and forever, + and be content only with myself. + </p> + <p> + “Seriously, my dear Kathleen, I believe I am half-crazed; and, if so, you + are the sole cause of it. I can think of no other object than your + beautiful self; and I need scarcely say, that I shall have neither peace + nor happiness unless I shall be fortunate enough to gain a place in your + tender bosom. As for the Ahadarra man, I am surprised you should think of + such an ignorant clodhopper—a fellow whose place Providence + especially allotted to between the stilts of a plough, and at the tail of + a pair of horses. Perhaps you would be kind enough to take a walk on + Thursday evening, somewhere near the river—where I hope I shall have + an opportunity of declaring my affection for you in person. At all events + I shall be there with the ardent expectation of meeting you. + </p> + <p> + “Ever your devoted worshipper, + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke. + </p> + <p> + “P.S.—Beware the clodhopper—bow wow!—ho! ho!” + </p> + <p> + On looking at the back of this singular production he was thunderstruck to + perceive that it was addressed to “Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, Ahadarra”—the + fact being that, in the hurry of the moment, he had misdirected the + letters—Bryan M'Mahon having received that which had been intended + for Kathleen, who, on the contrary, was pressingly solicited to lend him + thirty-fine pounds in order to secure “Crazy Jane.” + </p> + <p> + Having perused this precious production, Hycy, in spite of his chagrin, + was not able to control a most irresistible fit of laughter, in which he + indulged for some minutes. The mistake being now discovered in Bryan's + case was necessarily discovered in that of both, a circumstance which to + Hycy, who now fully understood the mature and consequences of his blunder, + was, as we have stated, the subject of extraordinary mirth, in which, to + tell the truth, Bryan could not prevent himself from joining him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, but after all, Bryan,” said he, “what is there in this letter to + make you angry with me? Don't you see it's a piece of humbug from + beginning to end.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, and I did,” replied Bryan; “but at that time I had never spoken + upon the subject of love or marriage to Kathleen Cavanagh, and I had no + authority nor right to take any one to task on her account, but, at the + same time, I couldn't even then either like or respect, much less lend + money to, any man that could humbug her, or treat such a girl with + disrespect—and in that letther you can't deny that you did both.” + </p> + <p> + “I grant,” said Hycy, “that it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not + intended to offend her.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy,” observed Bryan; “an' that if she + had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to your + discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken there + though.” + </p> + <p> + “She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan—very far from it, + indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther + for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter + to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth, Bryan, + I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “As to that,” replied the other, smiling, “we'll keep never minding—but + you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther, an' I'm + thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first question—have + you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to injure me?” + </p> + <p> + “Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill + feeling against you, nor any design to injure you.” + </p> + <p> + “That's enough, Hycy,” replied his companion; “I think I'm bound to + believe your words.” + </p> + <p> + “You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you + that I had—and if so, who was the person?” + </p> + <p> + “It's enough for you to know,” said Bryan, “that whoever told it to me I + don't believe it.” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly have a right to know,” returned Hycy; “but as the matter is + false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it—all I can + say to satisfy you is, what I have said already—that I entertain no + ill will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no + earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at the + present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing.” + </p> + <p> + “You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?” + </p> + <p> + “No: devil a syllable.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy pulled up his horse. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you,” he exclaimed. “Is it right to + have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that there's + something wrong with your upper works.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” replied Bryan, laughing, “I'm satisfied—the thing's a + mistake—so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the + kind against you and it's all right.” + </p> + <p> + “What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?” exclaimed + Hycy.. + </p> + <p> + “There now,” continued Bryan, “that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfied? + Move on, now and overtake your friend—by the way he's a fine + horseman, they say?” + </p> + <p> + “Very few better,” said Hycy; “but some there are—and one I know—ha! + ha! ha! Good-bye, Bryan, and don't be made a fool of for nothing.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan nodded and laughed, and Hycy dashed on to overtake his friend + Clinton. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's way home lay by Gerald Cavanagh's house, near which as he + approached he saw Nanny Peety in close conversation with Kate Hogan. The + circumstance, knowing their relationship as he did, made no impression + whatsoever upon him, nor would he have bestowed a thought upon it, had he + been left to his own will in the matter. The women separated ere he had + come within three hundred yards of them; Kate, who had evidently been + convoying her niece a part of the way, having returned in the direction of + Cavanagh's, leaving Nanny to pursue her journey home, by which she + necessarily met M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny,” said the latter, “how are you?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, very well, I thank you, Bryan; how are all the family in + Carriglass?” + </p> + <p> + “Barring my mother, they're all well, Nanny. I was glad to hear you got so + good a place, an' I'm still betther plaised to see you look so well—for + it's a proof that you feel comfortable in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Why I can't complain,” she replied; “but you know there's no one widout + their throubles.” + </p> + <p> + “Troubles, Nanny,” said Bryan, with surprise; “why surely, Nanny, barrin' + it's love, I don't see what trouble you can have.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, and may be it is,” said the girl, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, in that case,” replied Bryan, “I grant you're to be pitied; poor + thing, you look so ill and pale upon it, too. An' what is it like, Nanny—this + same love that's on you?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix,” she replied, archly, “it's well for you that Miss Kathleen's not + to the fore or you daren't ax any one sich a question as that.” + </p> + <p> + “Well done, Nanny,” he returned; “do you think she knows what it's like?” + </p> + <p> + “It's not me,” she replied again, “you ought to be axin' sich a question + from; if you don't know it I dunna who ought.” + </p> + <p> + “Begad, you're sharp an' ready, Nanny,” replied Bryan, laughing; “well, + and how are you all in honest Jemmy Burke's?” + </p> + <p> + “Some of us good, some of us bad, and some of us indifferent, but, thank + goodness, all in the best o' health.” + </p> + <p> + “Good, bad, and indifferent,” replied Bryan, pausing a little. “Well, now, + Nanny, if one was to ask you who is the good in your family, what would + you say?” + </p> + <p> + “Of coorse myself,” she returned; “an' stay—let me see—ay, the + masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us.” + </p> + <p> + “And who's the indifferent, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “Wait,” she replied; “yes—no doubt of it—if not worse—why + the mistress must come in for that, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “And now for the bad, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + She shook her head before she spoke. “Ah,” she proceeded, “there would be + more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his way.” + </p> + <p> + “If who had his way?” + </p> + <p> + “Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why is he the bad among you?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God I know him now,” she replied, “an' he knows I do; but he + doesn't know how well I know him.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?” asked Bryan, a good deal surprised, and + not a little interested at what he heard, “surely I thought Mr. Hycy a + good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all + events?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, it's little you know him,” she replied; “and I could”—she + looked at him and paused. + </p> + <p> + “You could what?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “I could tell you something, but I daren't.” + </p> + <p> + “Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an' Kathleen + Cavanagh goin' to be married?” + </p> + <p> + “We will be married, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother + doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between + the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if + you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be.” + </p> + <p> + “An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?” + </p> + <p> + “He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of him, + so far from that, I could soon—but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an' + as I said, keep a sharp lookout;” and having uttered these words, she + tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had + said. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X.—More of the Hycy Correspondence + </h2> + <h3> + A Family Debate—Honest Speculations. + </h3> + <p> + Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down upon + her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of whom looked + upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object exceedingly + desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on themselves. + Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of the strictest + integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with hospitality, and + remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections in an extraordinary + degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely weak-minded, and almost + silly, in consequence of an over-weening anxiety to procure “great + matches” for their children. Indeed it may be observed, that natural + affection frequently assumes this shape in the paternal heart, nor is the + vain ambition confined to the Irish peasant alone. On the contrary, it may + be seen as frequently, if not more so, in the middle and higher classes, + where it has ampler scope to work, than in humbler and more virtuous life. + It is this proud and ridiculous principle which consigns youth, and + beauty, and innocence, to the arms of some dissipated profligate of rank, + merely because he happens to inherit a title which he disgraces. There is, + we would wager, scarcely an individual who knows the world, but is + acquainted with some family laboring under this insane anxiety for + connection. Sometimes it is to be found on the paternal side, but, like + most of those senseless inconsistencies which entail little else than + ridicule or ruin, and sometimes both, upon those who are the object of + them, it is, for the most part, a female attribute. + </p> + <p> + Such as it is, however, our friend, Gerald Cavanagh, and his wife—who, + by the way, bore the domestic sceptre in all matters of importance—both + possessed it in all its amplitude and vigor. When the kemp had been broken + up that night, and the family assembled, Mrs. Cavanagh opened the debate + in an oration of great heat and bitterness, but sadly deficient in + moderation and logic. + </p> + <p> + “What on earth could you mane, Kathleen,” she proceeded, “to refuse + dancin' wid such a young man—a gintleman I ought to say—as + Hycy Burke, the son of the wealthiest man in the whole parish, barring the + gentry? Where is the girl that wouldn't bounce at him?—that wouldn't + lave a single card unturned to secure him? Won't he have all his father's + wealth?—won't he have all his land when the ould man dies? and + indeed it's he that will live in jinteel style when he gets everything + into his own hands, as he ought to do, an' not go dhramin' an' dhromin' + about like his ould father, without bein' sartin whether he's alive or + not. He would be something for you, girl, something to turn out wid, an' + that one could feel proud out of; but indeed, Kathleen, as for pride and + decency, you never had as much o' them as you ought, nor do you hold your + head as high as many another girl in your place would do. Deed and throth + I'm vexed at you, and ashamed of you, to go for to hurt his feelins as you + did, widout either rhyme or raison.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth,” said her father, taking up the argument where she left it, “I + dunno how I'll look the respectable young man in the face afther the way + you insulted him. Why on airth wouldn't you dance wid him?” + </p> + <p> + “Because, father, I don't like him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' why don't you like him?” asked her mother. “Where is there his aquil + for either face or figure in the parish, or the barony itself? But I know + the cause of it; you could dance with Bryan M'Mahon. But take this with + you—sorra ring ever Bryan M'Mahon will put on you wid my consent or + your father's, while there's any hope of Hycy Burke at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, during this long harangue, sat smiling and sedate, turning her + beautiful and brilliant eyes sometimes upon one parent, sometimes upon + another, and occasionally glancing with imperturbable sweetness and good + nature at her sister Hanna. At length, on getting an opportunity of + speaking, she replied,— + </p> + <p> + “Don't ask me, mother, to give anything in the way of encouragement to + Hycy Burke; don't ask me, I entrate you, for God's sake—the thing's + impossible, and I couldn't do it. I have no wish for his father's money, + nor any wish for the poor grandeur that you, mother dear, and my father, + seem to set your heart upon. I don't like Hycy Burke—I could never + like him; and rather than marry him, I declare solemnly to God, I would + prefer going into my grave.” + </p> + <p> + As she uttered the last words, which she did with an earnestness that + startled them, her fine features became illuminated, as it were, with a + serene and brilliant solemnity of expression that was strikingly + impressive and beautiful. + </p> + <p> + “Why couldn't you like him, now?” asked her father; “sure, as your mother + says, there's not his aquil for face or figure within many a mile of him?” + </p> + <p> + “But it's neither face nor figure that I look to most, father.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but think of his wealth, and the style he'll live in, I'll go bail, + when he gets married.” + </p> + <p> + “That style maybe won't make his wife happy. No, father, it's neither + face, nor figure, nor style that I look to, but truth, pure affection, and + upright principle; now, I know that Hycy Burke has neither truth, nor + affection, nor principle; an' I wondher, besides, that you could think of + my ever marrying a man that has already destroyed the happiness of two + innocent girls, an' brought desolation, an' sorrow, an' shame upon two + happy families. Do you think that I will ever become the wife of a + profligate? An' is it you, father, an' still more you, mother, that's a + woman, that can urge me to think of joining my fate to that of a man that + has neither shame nor principle? I thought that if you didn't respect + decency an' truth, and a regard for what is right and proper, that, at all + events, you would respect the feelings of your child that was taught their + value.” + </p> + <p> + Both parents felt somewhat abashed by the force of the truth and the + evident superiority of her character; but in a minute or two her worthy + father, from whose dogged obstinacy she inherited the firmness and + resolution for which she had ever been remarkable, again returned to the + subject. + </p> + <p> + “If Hycy Burke was wild, Kathleen, so was many a good man before him; an' + that's no raison but he may turn out well yet, an' a credit to his name, + as I have no doubt he will. All that he did was only folly an' + indiscretion—we can't be too hard or uncharitable upon our + fellow-craytures.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” chimed in her mother, “we can't. Doesn't all the world know that a + reformed rake makes a good husband?—an' besides, didn't them two + huzzies bring it on themselves?—why didn't they keep from him as + they ought? The fault, in such cases, is never all on one side.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen's brow and face and whole neck became crimson, as her mother, in + the worst spirit of a low and degrading ambition, uttered the sentiments + we have just written. Hanna had been all this time sitting beside her, + with one arm on her shoulder; but Kathleen, now turning round, laid her + face on her sister's bosom, and, with a pressure that indicated shame and + bitterness of heart, she wept. Hanna returned this melancholy and + distressing caress in the same mournful spirit, and both wept together in + silence. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh was the first who felt something like shame at the rebuke + conveyed by this tearful embrace of his pure-hearted and ingenuous + daughters, and he said, addressing his wife:— + </p> + <p> + “We're wrong to defend him, or any one, for the evil he has done, bekaise + it can't be defended; but, in the mane time, every day will bring him more + sense an' experience, an' he won't repute this work; besides, a wife would + settle him down.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Hanna, now speaking for the first time, “there's one + thing that strikes me in the business you're talkin' about, an' it's this—how + do you know whether Hycy Burke has any notion, good, bad, or indifferent, + of marrying Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied her mother, “didn't he write to her upon the subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, indeed, mother, it's not an easy thing to answer that question,” + replied Hanna. “She sartinly resaved a letther from him, an' indeed, I + think,” she added, her animated face brightening into a smile, “that as + the boys is gone to bed, we had as good read it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Hanna, darling, don't,” said Kathleen—“I beg you won't read + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but I beg I will,” she replied; “it'll show them, at any rate, what + kind of a reformation is likely to come over him. I have it here in my + pocket—ay, this is it. Now, father,” she proceeded, looking at the + letter, “here is a letter, sent to my sister—'To Miss Cavanagh,' + that's what's on the back of it—and what do you think Hycy, the + sportheen, asks her to do for him?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I suppose,” replied her mother, “to run away wid him?” + </p> + <p> + “Na” + </p> + <p> + “Then to give her consent to marry him?” said her father. + </p> + <p> + “Both out,” replied Hanna; “no, indeed, but to lend him five-and-thirty + pounds to buy a mare, called Crazy Jane, belonging to Tom Burton, of the + Race Road!” + </p> + <p> + “'My Dear Bryan—For heaven's sake, in addition to your other + generosities—for-which I acknowledge myself still in your debt—will + you lend me thirty-five pounds, to secure a beautiful mare belonging to + Tom Burton, of the Race Road? She is a perfect creature, and will, if I am + not quick, certainly slip through my fingers. Jemmy, the gentleman'— + </p> + <p> + “This is what he calls his father, you must know. + </p> + <p> + “'Jemmy, the gentleman, has promised to stand to me some of these days, + and pay off all my transgressions, like a good, kind-hearted, soft-headed + old Trojan as he is; and, for this reason, I don't wish to press him now. + The mare is sold under peculiar circumstances; otherwise I could have no + chance of her at such a price. By the way, when did you see Katsey'— + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Katsey!—think of that, now—doesn't he respect your + daughter very much, father? + </p> + <p> + “'By the way, when did you see Katsey Cavanagh?—'” + </p> + <p> + “What is this you're readin' to me?” asked her father. “You don't mean to + say that this letter is to Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, no; but so much the better—one has an opportunity now of + seein' what he is made of. The letter was intended for Bryan M'Mahon; but + he sent it, by mistake, to Kathleen. Listen—- + </p> + <p> + “'When did you see Katsey Cavanagh? She certainly is not ill-looking, and + will originate you famous mountaineers. Do, like a good fellow, stand by + me at this pinch, and I will drink your health and Kat-sey's, and that you + may—' (what's this?) 'col—colonize Ahadarra with a race of + young Colossusses that the world will wonder at. + </p> + <p> + “'Ever thine, + </p> + <p> + “'H. Burke.' + </p> + <p> + “Here's more, though: listen, mother, to your favorite, that you want to + marry Kathleen to:— + </p> + <p> + “'P.S. I will clear scores with you for all in the course of a few months, + and remember that, at your marriage, I must, with my own hand, give you + away to Katsey, the fair Oolossa.'” + </p> + <p> + The perusal of this document, at least so far as they could understand it, + astonished them not a little. Until they heard it read, both had been of + the opinion that Hycy had actually proposed for Kathleen, or at least felt + exceedingly anxious for the match. + </p> + <p> + “An' does he talk about givin' her away to Bryan M'Mahon?” asked her + mother. Sorrow on his impidence!—Bryan M'Mahon indeed! Throth, it's + not upon his country side of wild mountain that Kathleen will go to live. + An' maybe, too, she has little loss in the same Hycy, for, afther all, + he's but a skite of a fellow, an' a profligate into the bargain.” + </p> + <p> + “Paix an' his father,” said Gerald—“honest Jemmy—tould me that + he'd have it a match whether or not.” + </p> + <p> + “His father did!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; “now, did he say so, Gerald?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, in troth he did—said that he had I set his heart upon it, an' + that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her.” + </p> + <p> + “The Lord direct us for the best!” exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of + the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor of + Hycy. “Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young a man. + However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own good sense + will show her what a match he'd be.” + </p> + <p> + The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen approached + her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each of the good + woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep feeling and + affection:— + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because + you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't make + me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less for Hycy + Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and good-night!—there's + another for you, father; God bless you! and good-night, too. Come, Hanna + darling, come!” + </p> + <p> + In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon + got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can + be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable + time previous to the disclosure. Between them it was arranged that he and + his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents, as + the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this was + done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived once more + to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation with Jemmy + Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way of settling + down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before Hycy himself, + with a wish that a union should take place between them. This interview + with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of M'Mahon. At length, + after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and many interviews with + reference to it, something like a compromise was effected. Kathleen + consented to accept the latter in marriage, but firmly and resolutely + refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor mentioned. Her parents, + however, hoping that their influence over her might ultimately prevail, + requested that she would not engage herself to any one for two years, at + the expiration of which period, if no change in her sentiments should take + place, she was to be at liberty to marry M'Mahon. For the remainder of the + summer and autumn, and up until November, the period at which our + narrative has now arrived, or, in other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met + Nanny Peety, matters had rested precisely in the same position. This + unexpected interview with the mendicant's daughter, joined to the hints he + had already received, once more caused M'Mahon to feel considerably + perplexed with regard to Hycy Burke. The coincidence was very remarkable, + and the identity of the information, however limited, appeared to him to + deserve all the consideration which he could bestow upon it, but above all + things he resolved, if possible, to extract the secret out of Nanny Peety. + </p> + <p> + One cause of Hycy Burke's extravagance was a hospitable habit of dining + and giving dinners in the head inn of Ballymacan. To ask any of his + associates to his father's house was only to expose the ignorance of his + parents, and this his pride would not suffer him to do. As a matter of + course he gave all his dinners, unless upon rare occasions, in Jack + Shepherd's excellent inn; but as young Clinton and he were on terms of the + most confidential intimacy, he had asked him to dine on the day in + question at his father's. + </p> + <p> + “You know, my dear Harry,” he said to his friend, “there is no use in + striving to conceal the honest vulgarity of Jemmy the gentleman from you + who know it already. I may say ditto to madam, who is unquestionably the + most vulgar of the two—for, and I am sorry to say it, in addition to + a superabundant stock of vulgarity, she has still a larger assortment of + the prides; for instance, pride of wealth, of the purse, pride of—I + was going to add, birth—ha! ha! ha!—of person, ay, of beauty, + if you please—of her large possessions—but that comes under + the purse again—and lastly—but that is the only well-founded + principle among them—of her accomplished son, Hycy. This, now, being + all within your cognizance already, my dear Hal, you take a pig's cheek + and a fowl with me to-day. There will be nobody but ourselves, for when I + see company at home I neither admit the gentleman nor the lady to table. + Damn it, you know the thing would be impossible. If you wish it, however, + we shall probably call in the gentleman after dinner to have a quiz with + him; it may relieve us. I can promise you a glass of wine, too, and that's + another reason why we should keep him aloof until the punch comes. The + wine's always a <i>sub silencio</i> affair, and, may heaven pity me, I get + growling enough from old Bruin on other subjects.” + </p> + <p> + “Anything you wish, Hycy, I am your man; but somehow I don't relish the + idea of the quiz you speak of. 'Children, obey your parents,' says Holy + Scripture; and I'd as soon not help a young fellow to laugh at his + father.” + </p> + <p> + “A devilish good subject he is, though—but you must know that I can + draw just distinctions, Hal. For instance, I respect his honesty—” + </p> + <p> + “And copy it, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly—I respect his integrity, too—in fact, I appreciate + all his good qualities, and only laugh at his vulgarity and foibles.” + </p> + <p> + “You intend to marry, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Or, in other words, to call you brother some of these days.” + </p> + <p> + “And to have sons and daughters?” + </p> + <p> + “Please the fates.” + </p> + <p> + “That will do,” replied Clinton, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho!” said Hycy, “I see. Here's a mentor with a vengeance—a + fellow with a budget of morals cut and dry for immediate use—but + hang all morality, say I; like some of my friends that talk on the + subject, I have an idiosyncrasy of constitution against it, but an + abundant temperament for pleasure.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a good definition,” said Clinton; “a master-touch, a very correct + likeness, indeed. I would at once know you from it, and so would most of + your friends.” + </p> + <p> + “This day is Friday,” said Hycy, “more growling.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, when I eat meat on a Friday, the pepper and sauce cost me nothing. + The 'gentlemen' lays on hard, but the lady extenuates, 'in regard to it's + bein' jinteel.'” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but you have certainly no scruple yourself on the subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I have, sir, a very strong one—in favor of the meat—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “D—n me, whoever christened you Hycy the accomplished, hit you off.” + </p> + <p> + “I did myself; because you must know, my worthy Hal, that, along with all + my other accomplishments, I am my own priest.' + </p> + <p> + “And that is the reason why you hate the clergy? eh—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “A hit, a hit, I do confess.” + </p> + <p> + “Harke, Mr. Priest, will you give absolution—to Tom Corbet?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Hal, no more an' thou lovest me—that sore is yet open. Curse + the villain. My word and honor, Hal, the gentleman' was right there. He + told me at the first glance what she was. Here comes a shower, let us move + on, and reach Ballymacan, if possible, before it falls. We shall be home + in fair time for dinner afterwards, and then for my proposal, which, by + the word and honor—” + </p> + <p> + “And morality?” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, Harry; is a man to speak nothing but truth or Scripture in this + world?—No—which I say by the honor of a gentleman, it will be + your interest to consider and accept.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, most accomplished. We shall see, and we shall hear, and then + we shall determine.” + </p> + <p> + A ham and turkey were substituted for the pig's cheek and fowl, and we + need not say that Hycy and his friend accepted of the substitution with + great complacency. Dinner having been discussed, and a bottle of wine + finished, the punch came in, and each, after making himself a stiff + tumbler, acknowledged that he felt comfortable. Hycy, however, anxious + that he should make an impression, or in other words gain his point, + allowed Clinton to grow a little warm with liquor before he opened the + subject to which he had alluded. At length, when he had reached the proper + elevation, he began:— + </p> + <p> + “There's no man, my dear Harry, speaks apparently more nonsense than I do + in ordinary chat and conversation. For instance, to-day I was very + successful in it; but no matter, I hate seriousness, certainly, when there + is no necessity for it. However, as a set-off to that, I pledge you my + honor that no man can be more serious when it is necessary than myself. + For instance, you let out a matter to me the other night that you probably + forget now. You needn't stare—I am serious enough and honorable + enough to keep as an inviolable secret everything of the kind that a man + may happen to disclose in an unguarded moment.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on, Hycy, I don't forget it—I don't, upon my soul.” + </p> + <p> + “I allude to M'Mahon's farm in Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't forget it; but you know, Hycy, my boy, I didn't mention either + M'Mahon or Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “You certainly did not mention them exactly; but, do you think I did not + know at once both the place and the party you allude to? My word and + honor, I saw them at a glance.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, go on with your word and honor;—you are right, I did + mean M'Mahon and Ahadarra—proceed, most accomplished, and most moral—” + </p> + <p> + “Be quiet, Harry. Well, you have your eye upon that farm, and you say you + have a promise of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Something like it; but the d—d landlord, Chevydale, is + impracticable—so my uncle says—and doesn't wish to disturb the + M'Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do so—but + d—n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to their + interests—d—n the fellow, I say.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't curse or swear, most moral. Well, the lease of Ahadarra has + dropped, and of Carriglass too;—with Carriglass, however, we—that + is you—have nothing at all to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed?' + </p> + <p> + “Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have not + been able to get either yes or no out of you.” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me—proceed, + most accomplished. Where do you get your brandy? This is glorious. Well!” + </p> + <p> + “Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent + way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M'Mahon shall be + obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “How will you do it?” + </p> + <p> + “That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my power. + You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my father's + property.” + </p> + <p> + “Come; I shall hold myself neuter—will that satisfy you? You shall + have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is + enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, + besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and + favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out.” + </p> + <p> + “Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!” + </p> + <p> + “Curse them both! Will you promise this—to support me so far?” + </p> + <p> + “Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot + water, and that waited on us at dinner—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You don't + answer?” + </p> + <p> + “But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you—discard you—give + you to the winds?—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold myself + bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a beggar.” + </p> + <p> + “What! as a beggar?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for + succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion.” + </p> + <p> + “Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, he + never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much relish + that, Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be done though in any other way.” + </p> + <p> + “I say—how do you call that girl?—Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, + or what?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the + subject altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “There now—proceed, O Hyacinthus.” + </p> + <p> + “How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is more, + to your own interests?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! my own interests!—well I am alive to them.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it a bargain, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious + Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra—to get possession + of it—and calculate upon my most—let me see—what's the + best word—most strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon + it. I shall support you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me + accountable for my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable + persuasion, she must be left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever + decision she may come to.” + </p> + <p> + “There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more.” + </p> + <p> + After Clinton had gone, Hycy felt considerably puzzled as to the manner in + which he had conducted himself during the whole evening. Sometimes he + imagined he was under the influence of liquor, for he had drunk pretty + freely; and again it struck him that he manifested an indifference to the + proposal made to him, which he only attempted to conceal lest Hycy might + perceive it. He thought, however, that he observed a seriousness in + Clinton, towards the close of their conversation, which could not have + been assumed; and as he gave himself a good deal of credit for + penetration, he felt satisfied that circumstances were in a proper train, + and likely, by a little management, to work out his purposes. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the + parlor, and called Nanny Peety—“Nanny,” said he, “which of the + Hogans did you see to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you give her the message?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did.” + </p> + <p> + “What did you say, now?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first, + that St. Pether was dead.” + </p> + <p> + “And what did she say to that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was.” + </p> + <p> + “And what did she mean by that, do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, then, I dunna—barrin' that you're in the black books wid him, + and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that + didn't know you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” he replied, laughing, “you are certainly a very smart girl, and + indeed a very pretty girl—a very interesting young woman, indeed, + Nanny; but you won't listen to reason.” + </p> + <p> + “To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor + evil in that.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too + much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you know + I won't.” + </p> + <p> + “So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in spakin' + to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my character + to look to.” + </p> + <p> + “And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him, + too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this + family?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” sir; “but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going + out of it.” + </p> + <p> + “It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed, + impracticable girls here.” + </p> + <p> + “You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr. + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out + to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must + not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, how can I help it? It's very + natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl.” + </p> + <p> + “But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others before + now—I needn't name them—widout name, or fame, or hope, or + happiness in this world.” + </p> + <p> + “I won't be in until late, Nanny,” he replied, coolly. “Sit up for me. + You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;” and, having nodded + to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said she, after he had gone; “little you know, you hardened and + heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know + that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now + gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that + can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know + besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE XI.—Death of a Virtuous Mother. + </h2> + <p> + It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from + Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had, in + his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's + illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions + that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found + that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account. + Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed jest. + After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed—“What is the + matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears—“We + are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that we + all love—as every one did that knew her.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, darling,” said Kathleen, “this won't do. Poor girl! you are likely + to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real danger. + Your mother, Bryan,” she proceeded, “is much worse than she has been. The + priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't follow that + there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, my God!” exclaimed Bryan, “is it so? My mother—and such a + mother! Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must + leave you—I must go.” + </p> + <p> + “We will go up with you,” said Kathleen. “Hanna, we will go up; for, if + she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman before + she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and that it's only a + sudden attack that will pass away.” + </p> + <p> + “Do so, Kathleen,” said her mother; “and you can fetch us word how she is. + May the Lord bring her safe over it at any rate; for surely the family + will break their hearts afther her, an' no wondher, for where was her + fellow?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan was not capable of hearing these praises, which he knew to be so + well and so justly her due, with firmness; nor could he prevent his tears, + unless by a great effort, from bearing testimony to the depth of his + grief. Kathleen's gaze, however, was turned on him with an expression + which gave him strength; for indeed there was something noble and. + sustaining in the earnest and consoling sympathy which he read in her dark + and glorious eye. On their way to Carriglass there was little spoken. + Bryan's eye every now and then sought that of Kathleen; and he learned, + for the first time, that it is only in affliction that the exquisite + tenderness of true and disinterested love can be properly appreciated and + felt. Indeed he wondered at his own sensations; for in proportion as his + heart became alarmed at the contemplation of his mother's loss, he felt, + whenever he looked upon Kathleen, that it also burned towards her with + greater tenderness and power—so true is it that sorrow and suffering + purify and exalt all our nobler and better emotions. + </p> + <p> + Bryan and his companions, ere they had time to reach the house, were seen + and. recognized by the family, who, from the restlessness and uncertainty + which illness usually occasions, kept moving about and running out from + time to time to watch the arrival of the priest or doctor. On this + occasion Dora came to meet them; but, alas! with what a different spirit + from that which animated her on the return of her father from the + metropolis. Her gait was now slow, her step languid; and they could + perceive that, as she approached them, she wiped away the tears. Indeed + her whole appearance was indicative of the state of her mother; when they + met her, her bitter sobbing and the sorrowful earnestness of manner with + which she embraced the sisters, wore melancholy assurances that the + condition of the sufferer was not improved. Hanna joined her tears with + hers; but Kathleen, whose sweet voice in attempting to give the + affectionate girl consolation, was more than once almost shaken out of its + firmness, did all she could to soothe and relieve her. + </p> + <p> + On entering the house, they found a number of the neighboring females + assembled, and indeed the whole family, in consequence of the alarm and + agitation visible them, might not inaptly be compared to a brood of + domestic fowl when a hawk, bent on destruction, is seen hovering over + their heads. + </p> + <p> + As is usual with Catholic families in their state of life, there were + several of those assembled, and also some of themselves, at joint prayer + in different parts of the house; and seated by her bedside was her + youngest son, Art, engaged, with sobbing voice and eyes every now and then + blinded with tears, in the perusal, for her comfort, of Prayers for the + Sick. Tom M'Mahon himself went about every now and then clasping his + hands, and turning up his eyes to heaven in a distracted manner, + exclaiming—“Oh! Bridget, Bridget, is it come to this at last! And + you're lavin' me—you're lavin' me! Oh, my God! what will I do—how + will I live, an' what will become of me!” + </p> + <p> + On seeing Bryan, he ran to him and said,—“Oh! Bryan, to what point + will I turn?—where will I get consolation?—how will I bear it? + Sure, she was like a blessin' from heaven among us; ever full of peace, + and charity, and goodness—the kind word an' the sweet smile to all; + but to me—to me—oh! Bridget, Bridget, I'd rather die than live + afther you!” + </p> + <p> + “Father, dear, your takin' it too much to heart,” replied Bryan; “who + knows but God may spare her to us still? But you know that even if it's + His will to remove her from amongst us”—his voice here failed him + for a moment—“hem—to remove her from amongst us, it's our duty + to submit to it; but I hope in God she may recover still. Don't give way + to sich grief till we hear what the docthor will say, at all events. How + did she complain or get ill; for I think she wasn't worse when I left + home?” + </p> + <p> + “It's all in her stomach,” replied his father. “She was seized wid cramps + in her stomach, an' she complains very much of her head; but her whole + strength is gone, she can hardly spake, and she has death in her face.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment his brother Michael came to them, and said—“Bryan—Bryan”—but + he could proceed no farther. + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, Michael,” said the other; “this is a shame; instead of supportin' + and cheer-in' my father, you're only doing him harm. I tell you all that + you'll find there's no raison for this great grief. Be a man, Michael—” + </p> + <p> + “She has heard your voice,” proceeded his brother, “and wishes to see + you.” + </p> + <p> + This proof of her affection for him, at the very moment when he was + attempting to console others, was almost more than he could bear. Bryan + knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart + overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate + domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a favorite. + There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality, which rarely + made its appearance unless in some slight and inconsiderable + circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was valuable in proportion + to its delicacy and the caution with which it was guarded. Always indeed + in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the partiality she bore him + observable; and sometimes it consisted in a postponement of his wishes or + comforts to those of her other children, because she felt that she might + do with him that which she could not with the others—thus + calculating as it were upon his greater affection. But it is wonderful to + reflect in how many ways, and through what ingenious devices the human + heart can exhibit its tenderness. + </p> + <p> + Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been reading + for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On + approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, + which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving + home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not further + diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally occasion. + But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk into half + its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, stamped with + the unequivocal impress of death. + </p> + <p> + Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult to + conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, now so + full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, he + stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible + sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, dear,” she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat + subsided, “why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed my + dependence—I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for + weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow—I + sent for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God + to take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' + especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the + pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I know he'll + suffer when I'm gone. May the Lord pity and give him strength!—for I + can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I ever seen his face + until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind look, an' that you + all know.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh how could he, mother dear? how could any one give you that? Who was it + that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and + affection?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my childre', + and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not frightened at death. + An', Bryan, listen to the words of your dyin' mother—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, don't say that yet, mother,” replied her son, sobbing; “don't say so + yet; who knows but God will spare your life, an' that you may be many + years with us still; they're all alarmed too much, I hope; but it's no + wondher we should, mother dear, when there's any appearance at all of + danger about you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, whether or not, Bryan, the advice I'm goin' to give you is never + out o' saison. Live always with the fear of God in your heart; do nothing + that you think will displease Him; love your fellow-creatures—serve + them and relieve their wants an' distresses as far as you're able; be like + your own father—kind and good to all about you, not neglectin' your + religious duties. Do this, Bryan, an' then when the hour o' death comes, + you'll feel a comfort an' happiness in your heart that neither the world + nor anything in it can give you. You'll feel the peace of God there, an' + you will die happy—happy.” + </p> + <p> + Her spirit, animated by the purity and religious truth of this simple but + beautiful morality, kindled into pious fervor as she proceeded, so much so + indeed, that on turning her eyes towards heaven, whilst she uttered the + last words, they sparkled with the mild and serene light of that simple + but unconscious enthusiasm on behalf of all goodness which had + characterized her whole life, and which indeed is a living principle among + thousands of her humble countrywomen. + </p> + <p> + “This, dear Bryan, is the advice I gave to them all; it an' my love is the + only legacy I have to lave them. An' my darlin' Dora, Bryan—oh, if + you be kind and tendher to any one o' them beyant another, be so to her. + My darlin'Dora! Oh! her heart's all affection, an' kindness, an' + generosity. But indeed, as I said, Bryan, the task must fall to you to + strengthen and console every one o' them. Ay!—an' you must begin + now. You wor ever, ever, a good son; an' may God keep you in the right + faith, an' may my blessin' an' His be wid you for ever! Amin.” + </p> + <p> + There was a solemn and sustaining spirit in her words which strengthened + Bryan, who, besides, felt anxious to accomplish to the utmost extent the + affectionate purpose which had caused her to send for him. + </p> + <p> + “It's a hard task, mother darlin,” he replied; “but I'll endeavor, with + God's help, to let them see that I haven't been your son for nothing; but + you don't know, mother, that Kathleen's here, an' Hanna. They wish to see + you, an' to get your blessin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring them in,” she replied, “an' let Dora come wid them, an' stay + yourself, Bryan, becaise I'm but weak, an' I don't wish that they should + stay too long. God sees its not for want of love for the other girls that + I don't bid you bring them in, but that I don't wish to see them sufferin' + too much sorrow; but my darlin' Dora will expect to be where Kathleen is, + an' my own eyes likes to look upon her, an' upon Kathleen, too, Bryan, for + I feel my heart bound to her as if she was one of ourselves, as I hope she + will be.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, bless her! bless her! mother,” he said, with difficulty, “an' tell + her them words—say them to herself. I'll go now and bring them in.” + </p> + <p> + He paused, however, for a minute or two, in order to compose his voice and + features, that he might not seem to set them an example of weakness, after + which he left the apartment with an appearance of greater composure than + he really felt. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the four returned: Bryan, with Kathleen's hand locked in + his, and Hanna, with her arm affectionately wreathed about Dora's neck, as + if the good-hearted girl felt anxious to cherish and comfort her under the + heavy calamity to which she was about to be exposed, for Dora wept + bitterly. Mrs. M'Mahon signed to Hanna to approach, who, with her + characteristic ardor of feeling, now burst into tears herself, and + stooping down kissed her and wept aloud, whilst Dora's grief also burst + out afresh. + </p> + <p> + The sick woman looked at Bryan, as if to solicit his interference, and the + look was immediately understood by Kathleen as well as by himself. + </p> + <p> + “This is very wrong of you, Hanna,” said her sister; “out of affection and + pity to them, you ought to endeavor to act otherwise. They have enough, + an' to much, to feel, without your setting them example; and, Dora dear, I + thought you had more courage than you have. All this is only grieving and + disturbing your mother; an' I hope that, for her sake, you'll both avoid + it. I know it's hard to do so, but it's the difficulty and the trial that + calls upon us to have strength, otherwise what are we better than them + that we'd condemn or think little of for their own weakness.” + </p> + <p> + The truth and moral force of the words, and the firmness of manner that + marked Kathleen as she spoke, were immediately successful. The grief of + the two girls was at once hushed; and, after a slight pause, Mrs. M'Mahon + called Kathleen to her. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Kathleen,” she said, “I did hope to see the day when you'd be one of + my own family, but it's not the will of God, it appears, that I should; + however, may His will be done! I hope still that day will come, an' that + your friends won't have any longer an objection to your marriage wid + Bryan. I am his mother, an' no one has a better right to know his heart + an' his temper, an' I can say, upon my dyin' bed, that a better heart an' + a better temper never was in man. I believe, Kathleen, it was never known + that a good son ever made a bad husband. However, if it's God's will to + bring you together, He will, and if it isn't, you must only bear it + patiently.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan was silent, but his eye, from time to time, turned with a long + glance of love and sorrow upon Kathleen, whose complexion became pale and + red by turns. At length Dora, after her mother had concluded, went over to + Kathleen, and putting her arms around her neck, exclaimed, “Oh! mother + dear, something tells me that Kathleen will be my sisther yet, an' if + you'd ask her to promise—” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen looked down upon the beautiful and expressive features of the + affectionate girl, and gently raising her hand she placed it upon Dora's + lips, in order to prevent the completion of the sentence. On doing so she + received a sorrowful glance of deep and imploring entreaty from Bryan, + which she returned with another that seemed to reprove him for doubting + her affection, or supposing that such a promise was even necessary. “No, + Dora dear,” she said, “I could make no promise without the knowledge of my + father and mother, or contrary to their wishes; but did you think, + darling, that such a thing was necessary?” She kissed the sweet girl as + she spoke, and Dora felt a tear on her cheek that was not her own. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. M'Mahon had been looking with a kind of mournful admiration upon + Kathleen during this little incident, and then proceeded. “She says what + is right and true; and it would be wrong, my poor child, to ask her to + give such a promise. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl—oh, do! + an' if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the + best gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here—come to me—let + me put my hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest + upon you for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree.” Hanna + kissed her again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might + not be able to restrain it, took her away. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” proceeded the dying woman, “come to me, you Kathleen, my daughter—sure + you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and stay with me + awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to any one out o' my + own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own child? Because I hope + you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower of + warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing pressure, + that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just expressed. + Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more resuming her + firmness, awaited the expected blessing. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour, I + endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son, + listen to me—love him as you may, and as I know you do.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should I deny it?” said Kathleen, “I do love him.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and + wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you.” + </p> + <p> + She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety + and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that was + clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her to the + rest which she now required so much. + </p> + <p> + The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In the + course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she appeared + somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the worst, and in + confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with dreadful violence, + and in the lapse of two hours after his visit, this pious and virtuous + woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a patience and fortitude that + could not be surpassed, expired in the midst of her afflicted family. + </p> + <p> + It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and + undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by + death, there supervenes upon the sorrow of many, a feeling of awful + sympathy with that individual whose love for the object has been, the + greatest, and whose loss is of course the most irreparable. So was it with + the M'Mahons. Thomas M'Mahon himself could not bear to witness the + sufferings of his wife, nor to hear her moans. He accordingly left the + house, and walked about the garden and farm-yard, in a state little short + of actual distraction. When the last scene was over, and her actual + sufferings closed for ever, the outrage of grief among his children became + almost hushed from a dread of witnessing the sufferings of their father; + and for the time a great portion of their own sorrow was merged in what + they felt for him. Nor was this feeling confined to themselves. His + neighbors and acquaintances, on hearing of Mrs. M'Mahon's death, almost + all exclaimed:— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, what will become of him? they are nothing an will forget her soon, as + is natural, well as they loved her; but poor Tom, oh! what on earth will + become of him?” Every eye, however, now turned toward Bryan, who was the + only one of the family possessed of courage enough to undertake the task + of breaking the heart-rending intelligence to their bereaved father. + </p> + <p> + “It must be done,” he said, “and the sooner it's done the better; what + would I give to have my darlin' Kathleen here. Her eye and her advice + would give me the strength that I stand so much in need of. My God, how + will I meet him, or break the sorrowful tidings to him at all! The Lord + support me!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but Bryan,” said they, “you know he looks up to whatever you say, and + how much he is advised by you, if there happens to be a doubt about + anything. Except her that's gone, there was no one—” + </p> + <p> + Bryan raised his hand with an expression of resolution and something like + despair, in order as well as he could to intimate to them, that he wished + to hear no allusion made to her whom they had lost, or that he must become + incapacitated to perform the task he had to encounter, and taking his hat + he proceeded to find his father, whom he met behind the garden. + </p> + <p> + It may be observed of deep grief, that whenever it is excited by the loss + of what is good and virtuous, it is never a solitary passion, we mean + within the circle of domestic life. So far from that, there is not a + kindred affection under the influence of a virtuous heart, that is not + stimulated, and strengthened by its emotions. How often, for instance, + have two members of the same family rushed into each other's arms, when + struck by a common sense of the loss of some individual that was dear to + both, because it was felt that the very fact of loving the same object had + now made them dear to each other. + </p> + <p> + The father, on seeing Bryan approach, stood for a few moments and looked + at him eagerly; he then approached him with a hasty and unsettled step, + and said, “Bryan, Bryan, I see it in your face, she has left us, she has + left us, she has left us all, an' she has left me; an' how am I to live + without her? answer me that; an then give me consolation if you can.” + </p> + <p> + He threw himself on his son's neck, and by a melancholy ingenuity + attempted to seduce him as it were from the firmness which he appeared to + preserve in the discharge of this sorrowful task, with a hope that he + might countenance him in the excess of his grief—“Oh,” he added, + “I've have lost her, Bryan—you and I, the two that she—that—she—Your + word was everything to her, a law to her; and she was so proud out of you—I + an' her eye would rest upon you smilin', as much as to say—there's + my son, haven't I a right to feel proud of him, for he has never once + vexed his mother's heart? nayther did you, Bryan, nayther did you, but now + who will praise you as she did? who will boast of you behind your back, + for she seldom did it to your face; and now that smile of love and + kindness will never be on her blessed lips more. Sure you won't blame me, + Bryan—oh, sure above all men livin', you won't blame me for feelin' + her loss as I do.” + </p> + <p> + The associations excited by the language of his father were such as Bryan + was by no means prepared to meet. Still he concentrated all his moral + power and resolution in order to accomplish the task he had undertaken, + which, indeed, was not so much to announce his mother's death, as to + support his father under it. After a, violent effort, he at length said:— + </p> + <p> + “Are you sorry, father, because God has taken my mother to Himself? Would + you wish to have her here, in pain and suffering? Do you grudge her + heaven? Father, you were always a brave and strong, fearless man, but what + are you now? Is this the example you are settin' to us, who ought to look + up to you for support? Don't you know my mother's in heaven? Why, one + would think you're sorry for it? Come, come, father, set your childre' an + example now when they want it, that they can look up to—be a man, + and don't forget that she's in God's Glory, Come in now, and comfort the + rest.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but when I think of what she was, Bryan; of what she was to me, + Bryan, from the first day I ever called her my wife, ay, and before it, + when she could get better matches, when she struggled, and waited, and + fought for me, against all opposition, till her father an' mother saw her + heart was fixed upon me; hould your tongue, Bryan, I'll have no one' to + stop my grief for her, where is she? where's my wife, I tell you? where's + Bridget M'Mahon?—Bridget, where are you? have you left me, gone from + me, an' must I live here widout you? must I rise in the mornin,' and + neither see you nor hear you? or must I live here by myself an' never have + your opinion nor advice to ask upon anything as I used to do—Bridget + M'Mahon, why did you leave me? where are you from me?” + </p> + <p> + “Here's Dora,” said a sweet but broken voice; “here's Dora M'Mahon—your + own Dora, too—and that you love bekaise I was like her. Oh, come + with me, father, darlin'. For her sake, compose yourself and come with me. + Oh, what are we to feel! wasn't she our mother? Wasn't she?—wasn't + she? What am I sayin'? Ay, but, now—we have no mother, now!” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon still leaned upon his son's neck, but on hearing his favorite + daughter's voice, he put his arm round to where she stood, and clasping + her in, brought her close to him and Bryan, so that the three individuals + formed one sorrowing group together. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” repeated Dora, “come with me for my mother's sake.” + </p> + <p> + He started. “What's that you say, Dora? For your mother's sake? I will, + darlin'—for her sake, I will. Ay, that's the way to manage me—for + her sake. Oh, what wouldn't I do for her sake? Come, then, God bless you, + darlin', for puttin' that into my head. You may make me do anything now, + Dora, jewel—if you just ax it for her sake. Oh, my God! an is it + come to this? An' am I talkin' this way?—but—well, for her + sake, darlin'—for her sake. Come, I'll go in—but—but—oh, + Bryan, how can I?” + </p> + <p> + “You know father,” replied Bryan, who now held his arm, “we must all die, + and it will be well for us if we can die as she died. Didn't father Peter + say that if ever the light of heaven was in a human heart, it was in + hers?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but when I go in an' look upon her, an' call Bridget, she won't + answer me.” + </p> + <p> + “Father dear, you are takin' it too much to heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, it'll be the first time she ever refused to answer me—the + first time that ever her lips will be silent when I spake to her.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said the sweet girl at his side, “think of me. Sure I'll be + your Dora more than ever, now. You know what you promised me this minute. + Oh, for her sake, and for God's sake, then, don't take it so much to + heart. It was my grandfather sent me to you, an' he says he want's to see + you, an' to spake to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” he exclaimed, “My poor father, an' he won't be long afther her. But + this is the way wid all, Bryan—the way o' the world itself. We must + go. I didn't care, now, how soon I followed her. Oh, no, no.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say so, father; think of the family you have; think of how you love + them, and how they love you, father dear. Don't give way so much to this + sorrow. I know it's hard to bid you not to do it; but you know we must + strive to overcome ourselves. I hope there's happy days and years before + us still. We'll have our leases soon, you know, an' then we'll feel firm + and comfortable: an' you know you'll be—we'll all be near where she + sleeps.” + </p> + <p> + “Where she sleeps. Well, there's comfort in that, Bryan—there's + comfort in that.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, though very feeble, on seeing him approach, rose up and met + him. “Tom,” said he, “be a man, and don't shame my white hairs nor your + own. I lost your mother, an' I was as fond of her, an' had as good a + right, too, as ever you were of her that's now an angel in heaven; but if + I lost her, I bore it as a man ought. I never yet bid you do a thing that + you didn't do, but I now bid you stop cryin', an don't fly in the face o' + God as you're doin'. You respect my white hairs, an' God will help you as + he has done!” + </p> + <p> + The venerable appearance of the old man, the melancholy but tremulous + earnestness with which he spoke, and the placid spirit of submission which + touched his whole bearing with the light of an inward piety that no age + could dim or overshadow, all combined to work a salutary influence upon + M'Mahon. He evidently made a great effort at composure, nor without + success. His grief became calm; he paid attention to other matters, and by + the aid of Bryan, and from an anxiety lest he should disturb or offend his + father by any further excess of sorrow, he was enabled to preserve a + greater degree of composure than might have been expected. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII.—Hycy Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. + </h2> + <p> + The Hogans, who seldom missed a Wake, Dance, Cockfight or any other place + of amusement or tumult, were not present, we need scarcely assure our + readers, at the wake-house of Mrs. M'Mahon. On that night they and Teddy + Phats were all sitting in their usual domicile, the kiln, already + mentioned, expecting Hycy, when the following brief dialogue took place, + previous to his appearance: + </p> + <p> + “What keeps this lad, Hycy?” said Bat; “an' a complate lad is in his coat, + when he has it on him. Troth I have my doubts whether this same gentleman + is to be depended on.” + </p> + <p> + “Gentleman, indeed,” exclaimed Philip, “nothing short of that will sarve + him, shure. To be depinded on, Bat! Why, thin, its more than I'd like to + say. Howanever, he's as far in, an' farther than we are.” + </p> + <p> + “There's no use in our quarrelin' wid him,” said Phats, in his natural + manner. “If he's in our power, we're in his; an' you know he could soon + make the counthry too hot to hold us. Along wid all, too, he's as + revengeful as the dioule himself, if not a thrifle more so.” + </p> + <p> + “If he an' Kathleen gets bothered together,” said Philip, “'twould be a + good look up for us, at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + Kate Hogan was the only female present, the truth being that Philip and + Ned were both widowers, owing, it was generally believed, to the brutal + treatment which their unfortunate wives received at their hands. + </p> + <p> + “Don't quarrel wid him,” said she, “if you can, at any rate, till we get + him more in our power, an' that he'll be soon, maybe. If we fall out wid + him, we'd have to lave the place, an' maybe to go farther than we intend, + too. Wherever we went over the province, this you know was our + headquarters. Here's where all belongin' to us—I mane that ever died + a natural death, or drew their last breath in the counthry—rests, + an' I'd not like to go far from it.” + </p> + <p> + “Let what will happen,” said Philip, with an oath, “I'd lose my right arm + before Bryan M'Mahon puts a ring on Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “I can tell you that Hycy has no notion of marry in' her, thin,” said + Kate. + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” asked her husband. + </p> + <p> + “I've a little bird that tells me,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “Gerald Cavanagh an' his wife doesn't think so,” said Philip. “They and + Jemmy Burke has the match nearly made.” + </p> + <p> + “They may make the match,” said Kate, “but it's more than they'll be able + to do to make the marriage. Hycy's at greater game, I tell you; but + whether he is or not, I tell you again that Bryan M'Mahon will have her in + spite of all opposition.” + </p> + <p> + “May be not,” said Phats; “Hycy will take care o' that; he has him set; + he'll work him a charm; he'll take care that Bryan won't be long in a fit + way to offer himself as a match for her.” + </p> + <p> + “More power to him in that,” said Philip; “if he makes a beggarman of him + he may depend on us to the back-bone.” + </p> + <p> + “Have no hand in injurin' Bryan M'Mahon,” said Kate. “Keep him from + marryin' Kathleen if you like, or if you can; but, if you're wise, don't + injure the boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” asked Philip. + </p> + <p> + “That's nothing to you,” she replied; “for a raison I have; and mark me, I + warn you not to do so or it'll be worse for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, who are we afraid of, barrin Hycy himself?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matther; there's them livin' could make you afeard, an' maybe + will, too, if you injure that boy.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd just knock him on the head,” replied the ferocious ruffian, “as soon + as I would a mad dog.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht,” said Phats, “here's Hycy; don't you hear his foot?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy entered in a few moments afterwards, and, after the usual greetings, + sat down by the fire. + </p> + <p> + “De night's could,” said Phats, resuming his brogue; “but here,” he added, + pulling out a bottle of whiskey, “is something to warm de blood in us. + Will you thry it, Meeisther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “By-and-by—not now; but help yourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “When did you see Miss Kathleen, Masther Hycy,” asked Kate. + </p> + <p> + “You mean Miss Kathleen the Proud?” he replied—“my Lady Dignity—I + have a crow to pluck with her.” + </p> + <p> + “What crow have you to pluck wid her?” asked Kate, fiercely. “You'll pluck + no crow wid her, or, if you do, I'll find a bag to hould the fedhers—mind + that.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said Philip; “whatever's to be done, she must come to no harm.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the crow I have to pluck with her, Mrs. Hogan, is—let me see—why—to—to + marry her—to bind her in the bands of holy wedlock; and you know, + when I do, I'm to give you all a house and place free gratis for nothing + during your lives—that's what I pledge myself to do, and not a rope + to hang yourselves, worthy gentlemen, as Finigan would say. I pass over + the fact,” he proceeded, laughing, “of the peculiar intimacy which, on a + certain occasion, was established between Jemmy, the gentleman's old oak + drawers, and your wrenching-irons; however, that is not the matter at + present, and I am somewhat in a hurry.” + </p> + <p> + “You heard,” said Bat, “that Bryan M'Mahon has lost his mother?” + </p> + <p> + “I did,” said the other; “poor orphan lad, I pity him.” + </p> + <p> + “We know you do,” said Bat, with a vindictive but approving sneer. + </p> + <p> + “I assure you,” continued Hycy, “I wish the young man well.” + </p> + <p> + “Durin' der lives,” repeated Phats, who had evidently been pondering over + Hycy's promised gift to the Hogans;—“throth,” he observed with a + grin, “dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan + M'Mahon well,” he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows. + </p> + <p> + “Shiss,” replied Hycy, mimicking him, “her does.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat.” + </p> + <p> + “For alls dats” replied the other. “Dat will do den,” said Phats, + composedly. “Enough of this,” said Hycy. “Now, Phats, have you examined + and pitched upon the place?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, “I have; an' + a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of Cullamore. + But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of Glencuil?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly well,” replied Hycy, “he ruined him.” + </p> + <p> + “But we don't know it,” said Ned; “how was it, Teddy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, he set up a still on his property—an' you know Adam owns the + whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra—an' afther three + or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it + was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger—may + the devil break his neck at any rate!—an' the redcoats—came + and found all right, Still, Head, and Worm.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Bat, “an' how did that ruin him?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, by the present law,” returned Phats, “it's the townland that must + pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine, + however, and now he's a beggar—root an' branch, chick an' child out + of it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still, + because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the <i>sthad</i> + an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two + every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for + your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be done. + Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict account of + this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played on. There's + another thirty-shilling note—or stay, I'll make it two pounds—to + enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels and things + from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?” he said, addressing himself + to Hogan. + </p> + <p> + “All,” replied Philip; “sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in + Europe—ready to be set to work at a minute's notice.” + </p> + <p> + “When,” said Hycy, rising, “will it be necessary that I should see you + again?” + </p> + <p> + “We'll let you know,” replied Phats, “when we want you. Kate here can drop + in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, good-night—stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I + go; and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every + one of you on this occasion?” + </p> + <p> + “We do,” replied Philip; “no doubt of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul of + you ever breathes—I hope, by the way, that these young savages are + all asleep—” + </p> + <p> + “As sound as a top,” said Bat, “everyone o' them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to a + human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the + business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold + you—and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of + you if it went to that.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance, which + was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have something + derisive in it. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable Mrs. + Hogan?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + Kate gave either a feigned or a real start as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Laughed at!” she exclaimed, as if surprised; “throth I wasn't thinkin of + you at all, Mr. Hycy. What wor you sayin'?” + </p> + <p> + “That if my name ever happens to be mentioned in connection with this + business, I'll send the whole kit of you—hammers, budgets, and + sothering-irons—to hell or Connaught; so think of this now, and + goodnight.” + </p> + <p> + “There goes as d——d vagabond,” said Ned, “as ever stretched + hemp; and only that it's our own business to make the most use we can out + of him, I didn't care the devil had him, for I don't like a bone in his + skin.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Philip, “I see what he's at now. Sure enough he'll put the + copin'-stone on Bryan. M'Mahon at any rate—that, an' if we can get + the house and place out of him—an' what need we care?” + </p> + <p> + “Send us to hell or Connaught,” said Kate; “well, that's not bad—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “What are you neigherin' at?” said her husband; “and what set you + a-caoklin' to his face a while ago?” + </p> + <p> + She shook her head carelessly. “No matther,” she replied, “for a raison I + had.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you let me know your raison, if you plaise?” + </p> + <p> + “If I plaise—ay, you did well to put that in, for I don't plaise to + let you know any more about it. I laughed bekaise I liked to laugh; an' I + hope one may do that 'ithout being brought over the coals about it. Go to + bed, an' give me another glass o' whiskey, Ted—it always makes me + sleep.” + </p> + <p> + Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating. + </p> + <p> + “He is a good boy,” said he; “but at any rate our hands is in the lion's + mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had. been in + for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him considerable + satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as possible in + executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself, who was a + thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great relish for + business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old uncle the + gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked upon him as + unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a cheap farm, + such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of idleness and + expense to those of application and industry. Being aware, from common + report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in Ahadarra was + out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but knew not exactly + in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing it if he could, + without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of obloquy besides. + Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners who, without + either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep as good terms + with the world as they can, whilst at the same time they laugh and despise + in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and respect in it. His nephew, + however, had some positive good, and not a little of that light and + reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for heart and spirit. Hycy and + he, though not very long acquainted, were, at the present period of our + narrative, on very intimate terms. They had, it is true, a good many + propensities in common, and these were what constituted the bond between + them. They were companions but not friends; and Clinton saw many things in + Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and scarcely anything more than the + contemptuous manner in which he spoke of and treated his parents. He liked + his society, because he was lively and without any of that high and + honorable moral feeling which is often troublesome to a companion who, + like Clinton, was not possessed of much scruple while engaged in the + pursuit of pleasures. On this account, therefore, we say that he relished + his society, but could neither respect nor esteem him. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning at breakfast, his uncle asked him where he had + dined the day before. + </p> + <p> + “With Hycy Burke, sir,” replied the nephew. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; that is honest Jemmy's son—a very great man in his own + conceit, Harry. You seem to like him very much.” + </p> + <p> + Harry felt a good deal puzzled as to the nature of his reply. He knew very + well that his uncle did not relish Hycy, and he felt that he could not + exactly state his opinion of him without bringing in question his own + penetration and good taste in keeping his society. Then, with respect to + his sister, although he had no earthly intention of seeing her the wife of + such a person, still he resolved to be able to say to Hycy that he had not + broken his word, a consideration which would not have bound Hycy one + moment under the same circumstances. + </p> + <p> + “He's a very pleasant young fellow, sir,” replied the other, “and has been + exceedingly civil and attentive to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!—do you like him—do you esteem him, I mean?” + </p> + <p> + “I dare say I will, sir, when I come to know him better.” + </p> + <p> + “Which is as much as to say that at present you do not. So I thought. You + have a portion of good sense about you, but in a thousand things you're a + jackass, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir,” replied his nephew, laughing heartily; “thank you for + the compliment. I am your nephew, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “You have a parcel of d——d scruples, I say, that are + ridiculous. What the devil need a man care about in this world but + appearances? Mind your own interests, keep up appearances, and you have + done your duty.” + </p> + <p> + “But I should like to do a little more than keep up appearances,” replied + his nephew. + </p> + <p> + “I know you would,” said his uncle, “and it is for that especial reason + that I say you're carrying the ears. I'm now a long time in the world, + Masther Harry—sixty-two years—although I don't look it, nor + anything like it, and in the course of that time—or, at all events, + ever since I was able to form my own opinions, I never met a man that + wasn't a rogue in something, with the exception of—let me see—one—two—three—four—five—I'm + not able to make out the half-dozen.” + </p> + <p> + “And who were the five honorable exceptions?” asked his niece, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “They were the five fools of the parish, Maria—and yet I am wrong, + still—for Bob M'Cann was as thievish as the very devil whenever he + had an opportunity. And now, do you know the conclusion I come to from all + this?” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose,” said his niece, “that no man's honest but a fool.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Maria, Well done—you've hit it. By the way, it's seems + M'Mahon's wife, of Carriglass, is dead.” + </p> + <p> + “Is she?” said Harry; “that is a respectable family, father, by all + accounts.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, they neither rob nor steal, I believe,” replied his uncle. “They are + like most people, I suppose, honest in the eye of the law—honest + because the laws keep them so.” + </p> + <p> + “I did not think your opinion of the world was so bad, uncle,” said Maria; + “I hope it is not so bad as you say it is.” + </p> + <p> + “All I can say, then,” replied the old Cynic, “that if you wait till you + find an honest man for your husband, you'll die an old maid.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but excuse me, uncle, is that safe doctrine to lay down before your + nephew, or myself?” + </p> + <p> + “Pooh, as to you, you silly girl, what have you to do with it? We're + taikin' about men, now—about the world, I say, and life in general.” + </p> + <p> + “And don't you wish Harry to be honest?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, where it is his interest; and ditto to roguery, where it can be done + safely.” + </p> + <p> + “I know you don't feel what you say, uncle,” she observed, “nor believe it + either.” + </p> + <p> + “Not he, Maria,” said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; “but, + uncle, as to Hycy Burke—I don't—hem.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't what?” asked the other, rising and staring at him. + </p> + <p> + His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent. + </p> + <p> + “You don't mean what, man?—always speak out. Here, help me on with + this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as + Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a man I don't like,” said the nephew. “He's too soft and too + sweet, and speaks too low to be honest.” + </p> + <p> + “Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?” replied his uncle. “He's as + good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to the + main point, and—keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;” and + with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was peculiar + to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept, he left + them. + </p> + <p> + When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and + the latter said, “Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in + all he says on this subject?” + </p> + <p> + Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister than her + uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the affirmative, so + much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little for the sake of + common decency. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, Maria; no man relishes honesty more than he does. He only + speaks in this fashion because he thinks that honest men are scarce, and + so they are. But, by-the-way, talking about Hycy Burke, Maria, how do you + like him?” + </p> + <p> + “I can't say I admire him,” she replied, “but you know I have had very + slight opportunities of forming any opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “From what you have seen of him, what do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Let me see,” she replied, pausing; “why, that he'll meet very few who + will think so highly of him as he does of himself.” + </p> + <p> + “He thinks very highly of you, then.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” she asked somewhat quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Maria, from the best authority—because he himself told me + so.” + </p> + <p> + “So, then, I have had the honor of furnishing you with a topic of + conversation?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, and you may prepare yourself for a surprise. He's + attached to you.” + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” she replied calmly. + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Because, if you wish to know the truth, I do not think him capable of + attachment to any one but himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, a very good reason, Maria; but, seriously, if he should introduce + the subject, I trust, at all events, that you will treat him with + respect.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall certainly respect myself, Harry. He need not fear that I shall + read him one of my uncle's lectures upon life and honesty.” + </p> + <p> + “I have promised not to be his enemy in the matter, and I shall keep my + word.” + </p> + <p> + “So you may, Harry, with perfect safety. I am much obliged to him for his + good opinion; but”—she paused. + </p> + <p> + “What do you stop at, Maria?” + </p> + <p> + “I was only about to add,” she replied, “that I wish it was mutual.” + </p> + <p> + “You wish it,” he exclaimed. “What do you mean by that, Maria?” + </p> + <p> + She laughed. “Don't you know it is only a form of speech? a polite way of + saying that he does not rank high in my esteem?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” he replied, “settle that matter between you; perhaps the + devil is not so black as he's painted.” + </p> + <p> + “A very unhappy illustration,” said his sister, “whatever has put it into + your head.' + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and I don't know what put it there. However, all I can say in the + matter I have already said. I am not, nor shall I be, his enemy. I'll + trouble you, as you're near it, to touch the bell till George gets the + horse. I am going up to his father's, now. Shall I tell him that John + Wallace is discarded; that he will be received with smiles, and that—” + </p> + <p> + “How can you be so foolish, Harry?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-bye, at any rate. You are perfectly capable of deciding for + yourself, Maria.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust so,” she replied. “There's George with your horse now.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a blue look-up, Master Hycy,” said Clinton to himself as he took his + way to Burke's. “I think you have but little chance in that quarter, oh, + most accomplished Hycy, and indeed I am not a whit sorry; but should be + very much so were it otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + It is singular enough that whilst Clinton was introducing the subject of + Hycy's attachment to his sister, that worthy young gentleman was + sustaining a much more serious and vehement onset upon a similar subject + at home. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife having once got the notion of a + marriage between Kathleen and Hycy into their heads, were determined not + to rest until that desirable consummation should be brought about. In + accordance with this resolution, we must assure our readers that Gerald + never omitted any opportunity of introducing the matter to Jemmy Burke, + who, as he liked the Cavanaghs, and especially Kathleen herself, who, + indeed, was a general favorite, began to think that, although in point of + circumstances she was by no means a match for him, Hycy might do still + worse. It is true, his wife was outrageous at the bare mention of it; but + Jemmy, along with a good deal of blunt sarcasm, had a resolution of his + own, and not unfrequently took a kind of good-natured and shrewd delight + in opposing her wishes whenever he found them to be unreasonable. For + several months past he could not put his foot out of the door that he was + not haunted by honest Gerald Cavanagh, who had only one idea constantly + before him, that of raising his daughter to the rank and state in which he + knew, or at least calculated that Hycy Burke would keep her. Go where he + might, honest Jemmy was attended by honest Gerald, like his fetch. At + mass, at market, in every fair throughout the country was Cavanagh sure to + bring up the subject of the marriage; and what was the best of it, he and + his neighbor drank each other's healths so repeatedly on the head of it, + that they often separated in a state that might be termed anything but + sober. Nay, what is more, it was a fact that they had more than once or + twice absolutely arranged the whole matter, and even appointed the day for + the wedding, without either of them being able to recollect the + circumstances on the following morning. + </p> + <p> + Whilst at breakfast on the morning in question, Burke, after finishing his + first cup of tea, addressed his worthy son as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Hycy, do you intend to live always this way?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not, Mr. Burke. I expect to dine on something more substantial + than tea.” + </p> + <p> + “You're very stupid, Hycy, not to understand me; but, indeed, you never + were overstocked wid brains, unfortunately, as I know to my cost—but + what I mane is, have you any intention of changing your condition in life? + Do you intend to marry, or to go on spendin' money upon me at this rate!” + </p> + <p> + “The old lecture, Mrs. Burke,” said Hycy, addressing his mother. “Father, + you are sadly deficient in originality. Of late you are perpetually + repeating yourself. Why, I suppose to-morrow or next day, you will become + geometrical on our hands, or treat us to a grammatical praxis. Don't you + think it very likely, Mrs. Burke!” + </p> + <p> + “And if he does,” replied his mother, “it's not the first time he has been + guilty of both; but of late, all the little shame he had, he has lost it.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and if I hadn't got a large stock, I'd a been run out of it this + many a day, in regard of what I had to lose in that way for you, Hycy. + However I'll thank you to listen to me. Have you any intention of marryin' + a wife?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, Mr. Burke. Not a doubt of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I am glad to hear it. The sooner you're married, the sooner you'll + settle down. You'll know, then, my lad, what life is.” + </p> + <p> + Honest Jemmy's sarcasm was likely to carry him too far from his purpose, + which was certainly not to give a malicious account of matrimony, but, on + the contrary, to recommend it to his worthy son. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke,” said Hycy, winking at his mother, “proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “The truth is, Hycy,” he added, “I have a wife in my eye for you.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought as much,” replied the other. “I did imagine it was there you + had her; name—Mr. Burke—name?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, I'm ashamed, Hycy, to name her and yourself on the same day.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, can't you name her to-day, and postpone me until to-morrow?” + </p> + <p> + “It would be almost a pity to have her thrown away upon you. A good and + virtuous wife, however, may do a great deal to reclaim a bad husband, and, + indeed, you wouldn't be the first profligate that was reformed in the same + way.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Mr. Burke; you are quite geological this morning; isn't he, + ma'am?” + </p> + <p> + “When was he ever anything else? God pardon him! However, I know what he's + exterminatin' for; he wants you to marry Kathleen Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay do I, Rosha; and she might make him a respectable man yet,—that + is, if any woman could.” + </p> + <p> + “Geological again, mother; well, really now, Katsey Cavanagh is a splendid + girl, a fine animal, no doubt of it; all her points are good, but, at the + same time, Mr. Burke, a trifle too plebeian for Hycy the accomplished.” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you she's a devilish sight too good for you; and if you don't + marry her, you'll never get such a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth,” answered Mrs. Burke, “I think myself there's something over you, + or you wouldn't spake as you do—a wife for Hycy—one of Gerald + Cavanagh's daughters make a wife for him!—not while I'm alive at any + rate, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + “While you're alive; well, may be not:—but sure if it plases God to + bring it about, on your own plan, I must endaivor to be contented, Rosha; + ay, an' how do you know but I'd dance at their weddin' too! ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, then, it's you that's the bitther pill, Jemmy Burke! but, thank God, + I disregard you at all events. It's little respect you pay to my feelings, + or ever did.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust, my most amiable mother, that you won't suffer the equability of + your temper to be disturbed by anything proceeding from such an + antiphlogistic source. Allow me to say, Mr. Burke, that I have higher game + in view, and that for the present I must beg respectfully to decline the + proposal which you so kindly made, fully sensible as I am of the honor you + intended for me. If you will only exercise a little patience, however, + perhaps I shall have the pleasure ere long of presenting to you a lady of + high accomplishments, amiable manners, and very considerable beauty.” + </p> + <p> + “Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest + Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as possible, + for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine.” + </p> + <p> + “You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?” + </p> + <p> + “For the present I say most assuredly not,” replied the son, in the same + ironical and polite tone. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there + was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, “as poor Gerald was a + good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry her—<i>to + oblige him</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous + sarcasm implied in these words. “Father,” said he, to save trouble, and to + prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I think it + right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl as + Cavanagh's daughter.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” continued his mother, “nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the father; “is that your mind?” + </p> + <p> + “That's my mind, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better + manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother + home from school,—suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,—and + suppose I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a + gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is + something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men.” + </p> + <p> + He took up his hat as he spoke and went out to the fields, leaving both + mother and son in no slight degree startled by an intimation so utterly + unexpected, but which they knew enough of him to believe was one not at + all unlikely to be acted on by a man who so frequently followed up his own + determinations with a spirit amounting almost to obstinacy. + </p> + <p> + “I think, mother,” observed the latter, “we must take in sail a little; + 'the gentleman' won't bear the ironical to such an extent, although he is + master of it in his own way; in other words, Mr. Burke won't bear to be + laughed at.” + </p> + <p> + “Not he,” said his mother, in the tone of one who was half angry at him on + that very account, “he'll bear nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n it, to tell that vulgar bumpkin, Cavanagh, I suppose in a state + of maudlin drunkenness, that he would make me marry his daughter—to + oblige, him!—contempt could go no further; it was making a complete + cipher of me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but I'm disturbed about what he said going out, Hycy. I don't half + like the face he had on him when he said it; and when he comes to discover + other things, too, money matthers—there will be no keepin the house + wid him.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear as much,” said Hycy; “however, we must only play our cards as well + as we can; he is an impracticable man, no doubt of it, and it is a sad + thing that a young fellow of spirit should be depending on such a— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, + How can you bloom so fresh and fair, + How can ye chant, ye little birds, + And I sae weary fu' o' care, &c., &c. +</pre> + <p> + “Well, well—I do not relish that last hint certainly, and if other + projects should fail, why, as touching the fair Katsey, it might not be + impossible that—however, time will develop. She is a fine girl, a + magnificent creature, no doubt of it, still, most maternal relative, as I + said, time will develop—by the way, Mrs. M'Mahon, the clodhopper's + mother, is to be interred to-morrow, and I suppose you and 'the gentleman' + will attend the funeral.” + </p> + <p> + “Sartinly, we must.” + </p> + <p> + “So shall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious + ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself, + meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky + thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, <i>non constat</i>, + as Finigan would say, time will develop.” + </p> + <p> + “You're not gainin' ground with him at all events,” said his mother; “ever + since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards both of + us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and has + something on his mind ever since.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I said + just now, I say time will develop.” + </p> + <p> + He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which + consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as + they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII.—Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. + </h2> + <p> + On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such + cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious to + soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and + Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into + the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood. + Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady, the Roman + Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing, undertook to + direct the religious devotions which are usual on such occasions. In + consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that then existed in our + unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that persons were, from + necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of religious duties, who were + possessed of very little education, if not, as was too often the case, + absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was not absolutely illiterate, + but, in good truth, he was by no means far removed from that uncomfortable + category. Finigan, the schoolmaster, was also present; and as he claimed + acquaintance with the classics, and could understand and read with + something like correctness the Latin offices, which were frequently + repeated on these occasions it would be utterly impossible to describe the + lofty scorn and haughty supercilious contempt with which he contemplated + poor Dennis, who kept muttering away at the <i>Confiteor</i> and <i>De + Profundis</i> with a barbarity of pronunciation that rendered it + impossible for human ears to understand a single word he said. Finigan, + swollen with an indignation which he could no longer suppress, and + stimulated by a glass or two of whiskey, took three or four of the + neighbors over to a corner, where, whilst his eyes rested on Dennis with a + most withering expression of scorn, he exclaimed—“Here, hand me that + manual, and get out o' my way, you illiterate nonentity and most + unsufferable appendage to religion.” + </p> + <p> + He then took the book, and going over to the coffin, read in a loud and + sonorous voice the <i>De Profundis</i> and other prayers for the dead, + casting his eyes from time to time upon the unfortunate clerk with a + contemptuous bitterness and scorn that, for force of expression, could not + be surpassed. When he had concluded, he looked around him with a sense of + lofty triumph that was irresistible in its way. “There,” said he, “is + something like accent and quantity for you—there is something that + may, without derogation to religion, be called respectable perusal—an' + yet to say that a man like me, wid classical accomplishments and + propensities from my very cradle, should be set aside for that illiterate + vulgarian, merely because, like every other janius, I sometimes indulge in + the delectable enjoyment of a copious libation, is too bad.” + </p> + <p> + This in fact was the gist of his resentment against O'Grady. He had been + in the habit for some time of acting as clerk to the priest, who bore with + his “copious libations,” as he called them, until common decency rendered + it impossible to allow him any longer the privilege of taking a part as + clerk in the ceremonies of religion. + </p> + <p> + When this was over, a rustic choir, whom the parish clerk had organized, + and in a great measure taught himself, approached the body and sang a hymn + over it, after which the preparations for its removal began to be made. + </p> + <p> + Ever since the death of his wife, Thomas M'Mahon could not be prevailed + upon to taste a morsel of food. He went about from place to place, marked + by such evidences of utter prostration and despair that it was painful to + look upon him, especially when one considered the truth, purity, and + fervor of the affection that had subsisted between him and the inestimable + woman he had lost. The only two individuals capable of exercising any + influence upon him now were Bryan and his daughter Dora; yet even they + could not prevail upon him to take any sustenance. His face was haggard + and pale as death, his eyes red and bloodshot, and his very body, which + had always been erect and manly, was now stooped and bent from the very + intensity of his affliction. + </p> + <p> + He had been about the garden during the scene just described, and from the + garden he passed round through all the office-houses, into every one of + which he entered, looking at them in the stupid bereavement of grief, as + if he had only noticed them for the first time. On going into the + cow-house where the animals were at their food, he approached one of them—that + which had been his wife's favorite, and which would suffer no hand to milk + her but her own—“Oh, Bracky,” he said, “little you know who's gone + from you—even you miss her already, for you refused for the last + three days to let any one of them milk you, when she was not here to do + it. Ah, Bracky, the kind hand and the kind word that you liked so well + will never be wid you more—that low sweet song that you loved to + listen to, and that made you turn round while she was milkin' you, an' + lick her wid your tongue from pure affection—for what was there that + had life that didn't love her? That low, sweet song, Bracky, you will + never hear again. Well, Bracky, for her sake I'm come to tell you, this + sorrowful mornin', that while I have life an' the means of keepin' you, + from me an' them she loved you will never part.” + </p> + <p> + While he spoke the poor animal, feeling from the habit of instinct that + the hour of! milking had arrived, turned round and uttered once or twice + that affectionate lowing with which she usually called upon the departed + to come and relieve her of her fragrant burthen. This was more than the + heart-broken man could bear, he walked back, and entering the wake-house, + in a burst of vehement sorrow—“Oh, Bridget, my wife, my wife—is + it any wondher we should feel your loss, when your favorite, Bracky, is + callin' for you; but you won't come to her—that voice that so often + charmed her will never charm the poor affectionate creature again.” + </p> + <p> + “Father dear,” said Bryan, “if ever you were called upon to be a man it is + now.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Byran, as God is to judge me,” replied his father, “the cow—her + own cow—is callin' for her in the cow-house widin—its truth—doesn't + everything miss her—even poor Bracky feels as if she was dasarted. + Oh, my God, an' what will we do—what will we do!” + </p> + <p> + This anecdote told by the sorrowing husband was indeed inexpressingly + affecting. Bryan, who had collected all his firmness with a hope of being + able to sustain his father, was so much overpowered by this circumstance + that, after two or three ineffectual attempts to soothe him, he was + himself fairly overcome, and yielded for the moment to bitter tears, + whilst the whole family broke out into one general outburst, of sorrow, + accompanied in many cases by the spectators, who were not proof against + the influence of so natural and touching an incident. + </p> + <p> + Their neighbors and friends, in the meantime, were pouring in fast from + all directions. Jemmy Burke and his wife—the latter ridiculously + over-dressed—drove there upon their jaunting-car, which was + considered a great compliment, followed soon afterwards by Hycy and Harry + Clinton on horse-back. Gerald Cavanagh and his family also came, with the + exception of Kathleen and Hanna, who were, however, every moment expected. + The schoolmaster having finished the <i>De Profundis</i>, was, as is + usual, treated to glass of whiskey—a circumstance which just + advanced him to such a degree of fluency and easy assurance as was + necessary properly to develop the peculiarities of his character. Having + witnessed Bryan's failure at consolation, attended as it was by the + clamorous grief of the family, he deemed it his duty, especially as he had + just taken some part in the devotions, to undertake the task in which + Bryan had been so unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + “Thomas M'Mahon,” said he, “I'm disposed to blush—do you hear me, I + say? I am disposed to blush, I repate, for your want of—he doesn't + hear me:—will you pay attention? I am really disposed to blush”—and + as he uttered the words he stirred M'Mahon by shaking his shoulders two or + three times, in order to gain his attention. + </p> + <p> + “Are you?” replied the other, replying in an absent manner to his words. + “God help you then, and assist you, for it's few can do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Can do what?” + </p> + <p> + “Och, I don't know; whatever you wor sayin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Patience, my good friend, Thomas M'Mahon. I would call you Tom + familiarly, but that you are in affliction, and it is well known that + every one in affliction is, or at least ought to be, treated with respect + and much sympathetical consolation. You are now in deep sorrow; but don't + you knows that death is the end of all things? and believe me there are + many objects in this world which a wise and experienced man would lose wid + much greater regret than he would a mere wife. Think, for instance, how + many men there are—dreary and subdued creatures—who dare not + call their souls, if they have any, or anything else they do possess, + their own; think, I repate, of those who would give nine-tenths of all + they are worth simply to be in your present condition! Wretches who from + the moment they passed under the yoke matrimonial, to which all other + yokes are jokes, have often heard of liberty but never enjoyed it for one + single hour—the Lord help them!” + </p> + <p> + “Amen!” exclaimed M'Mahon, unconsciously. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” proceeded Finigan, “unfortunate devils whose obstinacy has been + streaked by a black mark, or which ought rather to be termed a black and + blue mark, for that is an abler and more significant illustration, Poor + quadrupeds who have lived their whole miserable lives as married men under + an iron dynasty; and who know that the thunderings of Jupiter himself, if + he were now in vogue, would be mere music compared to the fury of a + conjugal tongue when agitated by any one of the thousand causes that set + it a-going so easily. Now, Thomas, I am far from insinuating that ever you + stood in that most pitiable category, but I know many who have—heigho!—and + I know many who do, and some besides who will; for what was before may be + agin, and it will be nothing but ascendancy armed with her iron rod on the + one hand, against patience, submission, and tribulation, wid their groans + and penances on the other. Courage then, my worthy friend; do not be + overwhelmed wid grief, for I can assure you that as matters in general go + on the surface of this terraqueous globe, the death of a wife ought to be + set down as a proof that heaven does not altogether overlook us. 'Tis true + there are tears shed upon such occasions, and for very secret reason's + too, if the truth were known. Joy has its tears as well as grief, I + believe, and it is often rather difficult, under a blessing so completely + disguised as the death of a wi—of one's matrimonial partner, to + restrain them. Come then, be a man. There is Mr. Hycy Burke, a + tender-hearted young gentleman, and if you go on this way you will have + him weeping' for sheer sympathy, not pretermitting Mr. Clinton, his + companion, who is equally inclined to be pathetic, if one can judge from + apparent symptoms.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm obliged to you, Masther,” replied M'Mahon, who had not heard, or + rather paid attention to, a single syllable he had uttered. “Of course + it's thruth you're savin'—-it is—it is, <i>fureer gair</i> it + is; and she that's gone from me is a proof of it. What wondher then that I + should shed tears, and feel as I do?” + </p> + <p> + The unconscious simplicity of this reply to such a singular argument for + consolation as the schoolmaster had advanced, caused many to smile, some + to laugh outright, and others to sympathize still more deeply with + M'Mahon's sorrow. Finigan's allusion to Hycy and his companion was + justified by the contrast which the appearance of each presented. Hycy, + who enjoyed his lecture on the tribulations of matrimonial life very much, + laughed as he advanced in it, whilst Clinton, who was really absorbed in a + contemplation of the profound and solemn spirit which marked the character + of the grief he witnessed, and who felt impressed besides by the touching + emblems of death and bereavement which surrounded him, gradually gave way + to the impressions that gained on him, until he almost felt the tears in + his eyes. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Kathleen and her sister Hanna entered the house, and a + general stir took place among those who were present, which was caused by + her strikingly noble figure and extraordinary beauty—a beauty which, + on the occasion in question, assumed a peculiarly dignified and majestic + character from the deep and earnest sympathy with the surrounding sorrow + that was impressed on it. + </p> + <p> + Hycy and his companion surveyed her for many minutes; and the former began + to think that after all, if Miss Clinton should fail him, Kathleen would + make an admirable and most lovely wife. Her father soon after she entered + came over, and taking her hand said, “Come with me, Kathleen, till you + shake hands wid a great friend of yours—wid Misther Burke. This is + herself, Misther Burke,” he added, significantly, on putting her hand into + that of honest Jemmy, “an' I think no father need be ashamed of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor no father-in-law,” replied Jemmy, shaking her cordially by the hand, + “and whisper, darlin',” said he, putting his mouth close to her ear, and + speaking so as that he might not be heard by others, “I hope to see you my + daughter-in-law yet, if I could only get that boy beyant to make himself + worthy of you.” + </p> + <p> + On speaking he turned his eyes on Hycy, who raised himself up, and + assuming his best looks intimated his consciousness of being the object of + his father's allusion to him. He then stepped over to where she stood, and + extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor said, “I hope + Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father, won't refuse to + honor the son.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply + still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty + that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption. + </p> + <p> + “This, Mr. Hycy,” she replied, “is neither a time nor a place for empty + compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake + hands with him; but not till that time comes.” + </p> + <p> + On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and + for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot both + grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured its unalloyed + sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt mortified, and bit + his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of excessive vanity, the + repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to its publicity. Gerald + Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his wife could not help + exclaiming aloud, “Kathleen! what do you mane? I declare I'm ashamed of + you!” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon + forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the + funeral. + </p> + <p> + This was indeed a trying and heart-rending scene. The faithful wife, the + virtuous mother, the kind friend, and the pious Christian, was now about + to be removed for ever from that domestic scene which her fidelity, her + virtue, her charity, and her piety, had filled with peace, and love, and + happiness. As the coffin, which had been resting upon two chairs, was + about to be removed, the grief of her family became loud and vehement. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Bridget!” exclaimed her husband, “and is it to come to this at last! + And you are lavin' us for evermore! Don't raise the coffin,” he proceeded, + “don't raise it. Oh! let us not part wid her till to-morrow; let us know + that she's undher the same roof wid us until then. An', merciful Father, + when I think where you're goin' to bring her to! Oh! there lies the heart + now widout one motion—dead and cowld—the heart that loved us + all as no other heart ever did! Bridget, my wife, don't you hear me? But + the day was that you'd hear me, an' that your kind an' lovin' eye would + turn on me wid that smile that was never broken. Where is the wife that + was true? Where is the lovin' mother, the charitable heart to the poor and + desolate, and the hand that was ever ready to aid them that was in + distress? Where are they all now? There, dead and cowld forever, in that + coffin. What has become of my wife, I say? What is death at all, to take + all we love from us this way? But sure God forgive me for saying so, for + isn't it the will of God? but oh! it is the heaviest of all thrials to + lose such a woman as she was!” + </p> + <p> + Old grandfather, as he was called, had latterly become very feeble, and + was barely able to be out of bed on that occasion. When the tumult reached + the room where he sat with some of the aged neighbors, he inquired what + had occasioned it, and being told that the coffin was about to be removed + to the hearse, he rose up. + </p> + <p> + “That is Tom's voice I hear,” said he, “and I must put an end to this.” He + accordingly made his appearance rather unexpectedly among them, and + approaching his son, said, putting his hand commandingly upon his + shoulder, and looking in his face with a solemn consciousness of authority + that was irresistible, “I command you, Tom, to stop. It's not many + commands that I'll ever give you—maybe this will be the last—and + it's not many ever I had occasion to give you, but now I command you to + stop and let the funeral go on.” He paused for a short time and looked + upon the features of his son with a full sense of what was due to his + authority. His great age, his white hairs, his venerable looks and + bearing, and the reverence which the tremulous but earnest tones of his + voice were calculated to inspire, filled his son with awe, and he was + silent. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said he, “I will; I'll try and obey you—I will.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless you and comfort you, my dear son,” said the old man. “Keep + silence, now,” he proceeded, addressing the others, “and bring the coffin + to the hearse at wanst. And may God strengthen and support you all, for + it's I that knows your loss; but like a good mother as she was, she has + left none but good and dutiful childre' behind her.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Dora, during the whole morning, had imposed a task upon herself that + was greater than her affectionate and sorrowing heart could bear. She was + very pale and exhausted by the force of what she had felt, and her + excessive weeping; but it was observed that she now appeared to manifest a + greater degree of fortitude than any of the rest. Still, during this + assumed calmness, the dear girl, every now and then, could not help + uttering a short convulsive sob, that indicated at once her physical + debility and extraordinary grief. She was evidently incapable of entering + into conversation, or at least, averse to it, and was consequently very + silent during the whole morning. As they stooped, however, to remove the + coffin, she threw herself upon it, exclaiming, “Mother, its your own Dora—mother—mother—don't, + mother—don't lave me don't—I won't let her go—I won't + let her go! I—I—” Even before she could utter the words she + intended to say, her head sank down, and her pale but beautiful cheek lay + exactly beside the name, Bridget M'Mahon, that was upon it. + </p> + <p> + “The poor child has fainted,” they exclaimed, “bring her to the fresh + air.” + </p> + <p> + Ere any one had time, however, to raise her, James Cavanagh rushed over to + the coffin, and seizing her in his arms, bore her to the street, where he + placed her upon one of the chairs that had been left there to support the + coffin until keened over by the relatives and friends, previous to its + being-placed in the hearse; for such is the custom. There is something + exceedingly alarming in a swoon to a person who witnesses it for the first + time; which was the case with James Cavanagh. Having placed her on the + chair, he looked wildly upon her; then as wildly upon those who were + crowding round him. “What ails her?” he exclaimed—“what ails her?—she + is dead!—she is dead! Dora—Dora dear—Dora dear, can't + you spake or hear me?” + </p> + <p> + Whilst he pronounced the words, a shower of tears gushed rapidly from his + eyes and fell upon her beautiful features, and in the impressive + tenderness of the moment, he caught her to his heart, and with rapturous + distraction and despair kissed her lips and exclaimed, “She is dead!—she + is dead!—an' all that's in the world is nothing to the love I had + for her!” + </p> + <p> + “Stand aside, James,” said his sister Kathleen; “leave this instantly. + Forgive him, Bryan,” she said, looking at her lover with a burning brow, + “he doesn't know what he is doing.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Kathleen,” replied, her brother, with a choking voice, “neither for + you nor for him, nor for a human crature, will I leave her.” + </p> + <p> + “James, I'm ashamed of you,” said Hanna, rapidly and energetically + disengaging his arms from about the insensible girl; “have! you no respect + for Dora? If you love her as you say, you could hardly act as you did.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said he, staring at her, “what did I do?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan took him firmly by the arm, and said, “Come away, you foolish boy; I + don't think you know what you did. Leave her to the girls. There, she is + recoverin'.” + </p> + <p> + She did soon recover; but weak and broken down as she was, no persuasion + nor even authority could prevail upon her to remain at home. Jemmy Burke, + who had intended to offer Kathleen a seat upon his car, which, of course, + she would not have accepted, was now outmanoeuvred by his wife, 'who got + Dora beside herself, after having placed a sister of Tom M'Mahon's beside + him. + </p> + <p> + At length, the coffin was brought out, and the keene raised over it, on + the conclusion of which it was placed in the hearse, and the procession + began to move on. + </p> + <p> + There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly + indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of persons + which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In such a case, + the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which the party has + been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a mile long. All + the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, or half-sirs in + the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect for the virtues of + the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity and upright spirit of the + family that had been deprived of her so unexpectedly. + </p> + <p> + Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, the + schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as to + render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no wish for + it. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Harry,” said his companion, “what do you think of the last scene?” + </p> + <p> + “You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl + that fainted, poor thing!” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I do,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the other, “I think the whole thing was very simple, and + consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in love—there + is no doubt of that—thought she had died; and upon my soul, Hycy, + there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of such a + passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, I can + understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the tenderness by + which he was actuated.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?” asked Hycy, with more of interest + than he had probably ever felt in her before. + </p> + <p> + “What do I think?” said the other, looking at him with a good deal of + surprise. “What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste or + common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her one of + the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! what would + not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a polished and + comprehensive education?” + </p> + <p> + “She is very much of a lady as it is,” added Hycy, “and has great natural + dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has left me + under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little + Dora, which is quite captivating,” observed Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” replied the other, “I make jou a present of the two fair + rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education and + manner do. Maria is a delightful girl.” + </p> + <p> + “She is an amiable and a good girl,” said her brother; “but, in point of + personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been + speaking of.” + </p> + <p> + “Finigan,” said Hycy—“I beg your pardon, O'Finigan—the great + O'Finigan, Philomath—are you a good judge of beauty?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Mr. Hycy,” replied the pedagogue, “I think, above all + subjects, that a thorough understanding of that same comes most natural to + an Irishman. It is a pleasant topic to discuss at all times.” + </p> + <p> + “Much pleasanter than marriage, I think,” said Clinton, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Clinton,” replied the other, with a shrug, “<i>de mortuis nil + nisi bonum</i>; but as touching beauty, in what sense do you ask my + opinion?” + </p> + <p> + “Whether now, for instance, would your learned taste prefer Miss Cavanagh + or Miss Dora M'Mahon? and give your reasons.” + </p> + <p> + “Taste, Mr. Hycy, is never, or at least seldom, guided by reason; the + question, however, is a fair one.” + </p> + <p> + “One at least on a fair subject,” observed Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Very well said, Mr. Clinton,” replied the schoolmaster, with a grin—“there + goes wit for us, no less—and originality besides. See what it is to + have a great janius!—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” pursued Hycy, “but about the ladies? You have not + given us your opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, they are both highly gifted wid beauty, and strongly + calculated to excite the amorous sentiments of refined and elevated + affection.” + </p> + <p> + “Well done, Mr. Plantation,” said Hycy; “you are improving—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Cavanagh, then,” continued Finigan, “I'd say was a goddess, and Miss + M'Mahon her attendant nymph.” + </p> + <p> + “Good again, O'Finigan,” said Clinton; “you are evidently at home in the + mythology.” + </p> + <p> + “Among the goddesses, at any rate,” replied the master, with another grin. + </p> + <p> + “Provided there is no matrimony in the question,” said Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Clinton, don't, if you please. That's a subject you may respect + yet as much as I do; but regarding my opinion of the two beauties in + question, why was it solicited, Mr. Hycy?” he added, turning to that + worthy gentlemen. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, I'm not able to say, most learned Philomath; only, is it true that + Bryan, the clodhopper, has matrimonial designs upon the fair daughter of + the regal Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Sic vult fama</i>, Mr. Hycy, upon condition that a certain + accomplished young gentleman, whose surname commences with the second + letter of the alphabet, won't offer—for in that case, it is + affirmed, that the clodhopper should travel. By the way, Mr. Clinton, I + met your uncle and Mr. Fethertonge riding up towards Ahadarra this + morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” exclaimed both; and as they spoke, each cast a look of inquiry + at the other. + </p> + <p> + “What could bring them to Ahadarra, gentlemen?” asked Finigan, in a tone + of voice which rendered it a nice point to determine whether it was a + simple love of knowledge that induced him to put the question, or some + other motive that might have lain within a kind of ironical gravity that + accompanied it. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I suppose a pair of good horses,” replied Hycy, “and their own + inclination.” + </p> + <p> + “It was not the last, at all events,” said Finigan, “that ever brought a + thief to the gallows—ha! ha! ha! we must be facetious sometimes, Mr. + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “You appear to enjoy that joke, Mr. Finigan,” said Hycy, rather tartly. + </p> + <p> + “Faith,” replied Finigan, “it's a joke that very few do enjoy, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “What is?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the gallows, sir—ha! ha! ha! but don't forget the O if you + plaise—ever and always the big O before Finigan—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Clinton,” said Hycy, “move on a little. D—n that fellow!” he + cried—“he's a sneering scoundrel; and I'm half inclined to think he + has more in him than one would be apt to give him credit for.” + </p> + <p> + “By the way, what could the visit to Ahadarra mean?” asked Clinton. “Do + you know anything about it, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Not about this; but it is very likely that I shall cause them, or one of + them at least, to visit it on some other occasion ere long; and that's all + I can say now. Curse that keening, what a barbarous practice it is!' + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” said the other; “on the contrary, I am of opinion that + there's something strikingly wild and poetical in it something that argues + us Irish to be a people of deep feeling and strong imagination: two of the + highest gifts of intellect.” + </p> + <p> + “All stuff,” replied the accomplished Hycy, who, among his other excellent + qualities, could never afford to speak a good word to his country Or her + people. “All stuff and barbarous howling that we learned from the wolves + when we had them in Ireland. Here we are at the graveyard.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” said his friend, “it never occurred to me to thing of asking what + religion you believe in.” + </p> + <p> + “It is said,” replied Hycy, “that a fool may propose a question which a + wise man can't answer. As to religion, I have not yet made any + determination among the variety that is abroad. A man, however, can be at + no loss; for as every one of them is the best, it matters little which of + them he chooses. I think it likely I shall go to church with your sister, + should we ever do matrimony together. To a man like me who's indifferent, + respectability alone ought to determine.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton made no reply to this; and in a few minutes afterward they entered + the churchyard, the coffin having been taken out of the hearse and borne + on the shoulders of her four nearest relatives,—Tom M'Mahon, in deep + silence and affliction, preceding it as chief mourner. + </p> + <p> + There is a prostrating stupor, or rather a kind of agonizing delirium that + comes over the mind when we are forced to mingle with crowds, and have our + ears filled with the voices of lamentation, the sounds of the death-bell, + or the murmur of many people in conversation. 'Twas thus M'Mahon felt + during the whole procession. Sometimes he thought it was relief, and again + he felt as if it was only the mere alternation of suffering into a sharper + and more dreadful sorrow; for, change as it might, there lay tugging at + his heart the terrible consciousness that she, I the bride of his youthful + love and the companion of his larger and more manly affection—the + blameless wife and the stainless woman—was about to be consigned to + the grave, and that his eyes in this life must; never rest upon her again. + </p> + <p> + When the coffin was about to be lowered down, all the family, one after + another, clasped their arms about it, and kissed it with a passionate + fervor of grief that it was impossible to witness with firmness. At length + her husband, who had been looking on, approached it, and clasping it in + his arms like the rest, he said—“for ever and for ever, and for + ever, Bridget—but, no, gracious God, no; the day will come, Bridget, + when I will be with you here—I don't care now how soon. My happiness + is gone, asthore machree—life is nothing to me now—all's + empty; and there's neither joy, nor ease of mind, nor comfort for me any + more. An' this is our last parting—this is our last farewell, + Bridget dear; but from this out my hope is to be with you here; and if + nothing else on my bed of death was to console me, it would be, and it + will be, that you and I will then sleep together, never to be parted more. + That will be my consolation.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, father dear,” said Bryan, “we didn't attempt to stop or prevent you, + and I hope you'll be something calm and come away for a little.” + </p> + <p> + “Best of sons! but aren't you all good, for how could you be otherwise + with her blood in your veins?—bring me away; come you, Dora darlin'—ay, + that's it—support the: blessed child between you and Hanna, Kathleen + darlin'. Oh, wait, wait till we get out of hearin, or the noise of the + clay fallin' on the coffin will kill me.” + </p> + <p> + They then walked to some distance, where they remained until the “narrow + house” was nearly filled, after which they once more surrounded it until + the last sod was beaten in. This being over, the sorrowing group sought + their way home with breaking hearts, leaving behind them her whom they had + loved so well reposing in the cold and unbroken solitude of the grave. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV.—Mysterious Letter + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy Disclaims Sobriety—Ahadarra's in for it. + </h3> + <p> + One day about a month after Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, Harry Clinton was on + his way to Jemmy Burke's, when he met Nanny Peety going towards + Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny,” he inquired, “where are you bound for, now?” + </p> + <p> + “To the post-office with a letter from Masther Hycy, sir. I wanted him to + tell me who it was for, but he would not. Will you, Mr. Clinton?” and she + held out the letter to him as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + Clinton felt a good deal surprised to see that it was addressed to his + uncle, and also written in a hand which he did not recognize to be that of + Hycy Burke. + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure, Nanny,” he asked, “that this letter was written by Mr. + Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Didn't I see him, sir?” she replied; “he wrote it before my eyes a minute + before he handed it to me. Who is it for, Mr. Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “Why are you so very anxious to know, Nanny?” he inquired. + </p> + <p> + “Sorra thing,” she replied, “but curiosity—a woman's curiosity, you + know.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny, you know, or ought to know, that it would not be right in me + to tell you who the letter is for, when Mr. Hycy did not think proper to + do so.” + </p> + <p> + “True enough, sir,” she replied; “an I beg your pardon, Mr. Clinton, for + asking you; indeed it was wrong in me to tell you who it came from even, + bekaise Mr. Hycy told me not to let any one see it, only jist to slip it + into the post-office unknownst, as I passed it; an' that was what made me + wish to know who it was goin' to, since the thruth must be tould.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton in turn now felt his curiosity stimulated as to the contents of + this mysterious epistle, and he resolved to watch, if possible, what + effect the perusal of it might have on his uncle, otherwise he was never + likely to hear a syllable that was contained in it, that worthy relative + being, from official necessity, a most uncommunicative person in all his + proceedings. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder,” observed Clinton, “that Mr. Hycy would send to any one a + letter so slurred and blotted with ink as that is.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but he blotted it purposely himself,” replied Nanny, “and that too + surprised me, and made me wish to know what he could mane by it.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps it's a love-letter, Nanny,” said Clinton, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “I would like to know who it is to, at any rate,” said the girl; “but + since you won't, tell me, sir, I must try and not lose my rest about it. + Good-bye, Mr. Clinton.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Nanny;” and so they started. + </p> + <p> + Young Clinton, who, though thoughtless and fond of pleasure, was not + without many excellent points of character, began now to perceive, by + every day's successive intimacy, the full extent of Hycy Burke's + profligacy of morals, and utter want of all honorable principle. + Notwithstanding this knowledge, however, he felt it extremely difficult, + nay, almost impossible, to separate himself from Hycy, who was an + extremely pleasant young fellow, and a very agreeable companion when he + pleased. He had in fact gained that personal ascendancy over him, or that + licentious influence which too many of his stamp are notorious for + exercising over better men than themselves; and he found that he could not + readily throw Hyoy off, without being considerably a loser by the act. + </p> + <p> + “I shall have nothing to do with his profligacy,” said he, “or his want of + principle, and I shall let him know, at all events, that I will not abide + by the agreement or compromise entered into between us some time since at + his father's. He shall not injure an honest man for me, nor shall I + promise him even neutrality with respect to his proposal for my sister, + whom I would rather see dead a hundred times than the wife of such a + fellow.” + </p> + <p> + The next morning, about half an hour before breakfast, he told his uncle + that he was stepping into town and would bring him any letters that might + be for him in the post-office. He accordingly did so, and received two + letters, one Hycy's and the other with the crest and frank of the sitting + member for the county, who was no other than young Chevydale. His uncle + was at breakfast when he handed them to him, and we need hardly say that + the M.P. was honored by instant attention. The Still-hound read it over + very complacently. “Very well,” he exclaimed; “very well, indeed, so far. + Harry, we must be on the alert, now the elections are approaching, and + Chevydale will be stoutly opposed, it seems. We must work for him, and + secure as many votes as we can. It is our interest to do so, Harry,—and + he will make it our interest besides.” + </p> + <p> + “Has principle nothing to do with it, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Principle! begad, sir,” retorted the uncle, “there's no such thing as + principle—lay that down as a fact—there's no such thing in + this world as principle.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but consistency, uncle. For instance, you know you always vote on + the Tory side, and Chevydale is a Liberal and an Emancipator.” + </p> + <p> + “Consistency is all d—d stuff, Harry, as principle. What does it + mean? why that if a man's once wrong he's always to be wrong—that is + just the amount of it. There's Chevydale, for instance, he has a brother + who is a rank Tory and a Commissioner of Excise, mark that; Chevydale and + he play into each other's hands, and Chevydale some of these days will + sell the Liberals, that is, if he can get good value for them. If I now + vote on the Tory side against Chevydale, his brother, the Tory + Commissioner, will be my enemy in spite of all his Toryism; but if I vote + and exert myself for Chevydale, the Liberal, I make his Tory of a brother + my friend for life. And now, talk to me about principle, or consistency + either.” + </p> + <p> + His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle + were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly + pursued the subject no further. + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” exclaimed the Still-hound, “what d—d scrawl have we got here? + Ay, ay, why this is better than I expected.” + </p> + <p> + “What is better, uncle?” said the nephew, venturing an experiment. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied the sagacious old rascal, “for you to mind your business, + if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent + inquiries, Master Harry.” With these words he went and. locked up both + letters in his desk. As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his + desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying it + in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers— + </p> + <p> + “To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: + </p> + <p> + “Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you'd find a + Still-Hed an' Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in + Ahadarra. Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung's Orringemen an' a fren to the + axshize.” + </p> + <p> + The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you + have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a Still—hem.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter. Very well. Your father's death + last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for the + present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into practice, + with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?” + </p> + <p> + “Unfortunately, sir, it is too true.” + </p> + <p> + “In the mean time you may leave 'unfortunate' out, and thank God that you + had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, that I + was a bachelor. Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home for you; + but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for yourself; for + I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich. You don't + relish surgery, you say?” + </p> + <p> + “I can't endure it, uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “But you like farming?” + </p> + <p> + “Above every other mode of life.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into + before long.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are + fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands.” + </p> + <p> + “Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my + brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must make + our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I respect + the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would never + work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise, not so + much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if they + could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of + honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both.” + </p> + <p> + “Uncle,” said his nephew, “one word with you before you go.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse me + for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives me + good advice.” + </p> + <p> + “If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better.” + </p> + <p> + “You say you will procure me a farm. Now, uncle, there is one thing I + should wish in connection with that transaction, which is, that you would + have no underhand—hem!—no private understanding of any kind + with Mr. Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Me a private understanding with Hycy Burke! What in the devil's name has + put such a crotchet as that into your head?” + </p> + <p> + “I only speak as I do, because I believe you have received a private + communication from him.” + </p> + <p> + “Have I, faith! If so I am obliged to you—but I am simply ignorant + of the fact you mention; for, with my own knowledge', I never received a + line from him in my life.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must be wrong,” replied Harry; “that is all.” + </p> + <p> + “Wrong! Certainly you are wrong. Hycy Burke, I am told, is a compound of + great knave and gross fool, the knavery rather prevailing. But how is + this? Are not you and he inseparable?” + </p> + <p> + “He is a companion, uncle, but not a friend in the true sense—nor, + indeed, in any sense of that word. I spoke now, however, with reference to + a particular transaction, and not to his general character.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I have no underhand dealings with him, as you are pleased to + call them, nor ever had. I never to my knowledge received a line from him + in my life; but I tell you that if he comes in my way, and that I can make + use of him, I will. Perhaps he may serve us in the Elections. Have you + anything else to ask?” + </p> + <p> + “No sir,” replied Harry, laughing. “Only I hope you will excuse me for the + liberty I took.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, with all my heart, and you shall be always welcome to take the + same liberty. Good-bye, again.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton now felt satisfied that Hycy's letter to his uncle was an + anonymous one, and although he could not divine its contents, he still + felt assured that it was in some way connected with the farm transaction, + or at all events detrimental to Bryan M'Mahon. He consequently resolved to + see Hycy, against whom, or rather against whose principles he was + beginning to entertain a strong repugnance, and without any hesitation to + repudiate the engagement he had entered into with him. + </p> + <p> + He found Hycy at home, or rather he found him in conversation with Bat + Hogan behind his father's garden. + </p> + <p> + “What was that ruffian wanting with you, Hycy, if it's a fair question?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly,” said Hycy, “from you; but not in sooth from your worthy + uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, he wants to know if I'd buy a keg of Poteen which, it seems, he + has to sell. I declined because I have a sufficiently ample stock of it on + hands.” + </p> + <p> + “My uncle,” said Clinton, prefers it to any other spirits; indeed, at home + he never drinks any other, and whenever he dines, thanks those who give it + the preference.” + </p> + <p> + “Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time,” said + Hycy, “for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous relish + for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best.” + </p> + <p> + Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on. + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” proceeded his companion, “with respect to that foolish arrangement + or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything to say or do in + it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my account. I was half + drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have listened to such a + proposal.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and a + pause of some time, “I don't understand you.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with + reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most + amiable (d—n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the + other?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be tipsy, + though.” + </p> + <p> + “I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d—dest, hypocritical + rascal in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get + drunk in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. + However, in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” replied his friend, “it was a disgraceful affair on both sides, + and the less that's said of it the better.” + </p> + <p> + By some good deal of persuasion, however, and an additional glass of grog, + he prevailed on Clinton to repeat the substance of the stipulation; on + hearing which, as if for the first time, he laughed very heartily. + </p> + <p> + “This liquor,” he proceeded, “is a strange compound, and puts queer + notions into our head. Why if there's an honest decent fellow in Europe, + whom I would feel anxious to serve beyond another, next to yourself, + Harry, it is Bryan M'Mahon. But why I should have spoken so, I can't + understand at all. In the first place, what means have of injuring the + man? And what is stronger still, what inclination have I, or could have—and + what is still better—should have?” + </p> + <p> + “I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me + sooner about it. Still,” he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion of + it I should not wish to see cancelled—I mean your advocacy with Miss + Clinton.” + </p> + <p> + “To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I + won't promise advocacy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well neutrality?” + </p> + <p> + “The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. I have + reason to think that my sister's objections against you are insuperable.” + </p> + <p> + “On what do they rest?” asked the other. + </p> + <p> + “They are founded upon your want of morals,” replied Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Well, suppose I reform my morals?” + </p> + <p> + “That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the elements + of reformation are rather slight within you.” + </p> + <p> + “Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be + judged of his morals before marriage, but after.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, + right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to be + such.” + </p> + <p> + “But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither have I + the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and over-impulsive + from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off with the new + state. No, no, d—n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe such + prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down and + bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most edifying + attention. Another glass of grog?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no.” + </p> + <p> + “But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making + impressions against me.” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that + quarter.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you allow me to try?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “I have not the slightest objection,” replied the other, “because I know + how it will result.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,—thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, + seriously speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of + lives we ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. + On the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more + highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only the + best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might stop + and dine?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my + dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me a call when in town.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of + ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So + high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of + performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair sex,—all + upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two innocent + country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment for Miss + Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the rich beauty and + magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this contemplation of his + lessened by considering that, with all his gentlemanly manners, and + accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she preferred the clod-hopper, as he + called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself. + </p> + <p> + He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more + especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at for + it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering + conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he imagined, + execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen, and perhaps, + ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed with Miss Clinton; + for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public instances of + contempt with which she had treated him. There was still, however, another + consideration. His father had threatened to bring home his brother Edward, + then destined for the church, and altogether to change his intentions in + that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic manner of the old man + towards him of late, he began to entertain apprehensions upon the subject. + Taking therefore all these circumstances into consideration, he resolved + in any event to temporize a little, and allow the father to suppose that + he might be prevailed upon to marry Kathleen Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he were + together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject himself. + </p> + <p> + “I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something like + a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the + accomplished Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “I did, God forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + “I have been thinking over that subject since.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you, indeed,” said his father; “an' am I to make Ned a priest or a + farmer?” he asked, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination.” + </p> + <p> + “So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my property, along wid a + good wife, to your brother Ned—Neddy I ought to call him, out of + compliment to you—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be facetious.” + </p> + <p> + “To your brother Ned—Neddy—having them, and maybe along wid + them the same, wife too?” + </p> + <p> + “No, not exactly; but out of respect to your wishes. + </p> + <p> + “What's that?” said the old man, staring at him with a kind of comic + gravity—“out of respect to my wishes!” + </p> + <p> + “That's what I've said,” replied the son. “Proceed.” + </p> + <p> + His father looked at' him again, and replied, “Proceed yourself—-it + was you introduced the subject. I'm now jack-indifferent about it.” + </p> + <p> + “All I have to say,” continued Hycy, “is that I withdraw my ultimate + refusal, Mr. Burke. I shall entertain the question, as they say; and it is + not improbable but that I may dignify the fair Katsey with the honorable + title of Mrs. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish you had spoken a little sooner, then,” replied his father, + “bekaise it so happens that Gerald Cavanagh an' I have the match between + her and your brother Ned as good as made.” + </p> + <p> + “My brother Ned! Why, in the name of; all that's incredible, how could + that be encompassed?” + </p> + <p> + “Very aisily,” said his father, “by the girl's waitin' for him. Ned is + rather young! yet, I grant you; he's nineteen, however, and two years + more, you know, will make him one-and-twenty—take him out o' + chancery, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Mr. Burke, very good; in that case I have no more to say.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” pursued the father, in the same dry, half-comic, half-sarcastic + voice, “but what do you intend to do with yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “As to that,” replied Hycy, who felt that the drift of the conversation + was setting in against him, “I shall take due time to consider.” + </p> + <p> + “What height are you?” asked the father, rather abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “I can't see, Mr. Burke, I really can't see what my height has to do with + the question.” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise,” proceeded the other, “I have some notion of putting you into + the army. You spoke of it wanst yourself, remimber; but then there's an + objection even to that.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, what is the objection, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's most likely you'd have to fight—if you took to the + milintary trade.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, upon my word, Mr. Burke, you shine in the sarcastic this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “But, at any rate, you must take your chance for that. You're a fine, + active young fellow, and I suppose if they take to runnin' you won't be + the last of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Good, Mr. Burke—proceed, though.” + </p> + <p> + “An accordingly I have strong notions of buying you a corplar's or a + sargent's commission. A good deal of that, however, depends upon yourself; + but, as you say, I'll think of it.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, who could never bear ridicule, especially from the very man whom he + attempted to ridicule most, bounced up, and after muttering something in + the shape of an oath that was unintelligible, said, assuming all his + polite irony:— + </p> + <p> + “Do so, Mr. Burke; in the mean time I have the pleasure of wishing you a + very good evening, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a good-evening, sir,” replied the old fellow, “and when you come home + from the wars a full non-commissioned officer, you'll be scowerin' up your + halbert every Christmas an' Aisther, I hope; an' telling us long stories—of + all you killed an' ate while you were away from us.” + </p> + <p> + Harry Clinton, now aware that the anonymous letter which his uncle had + received that morning was the production of Hycy, resolved to watch the + gauger's motions very closely. After a great deal of reflection upon + Hycy's want of memory concerning their bargain, and upon a close + comparison between his conduct and whole manner on the night in question, + and his own account of the matter in the course of their last interview, + he could not help feeling that his friend had stated a gross falsehood, + and that the pretended want of recollection was an ingenious + after-thought, adopted for the purpose of screening himself from the + consequences of whatever injury he might inflict upon Bryan M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “Harry,” said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, “I am going upon duty + tonight.” + </p> + <p> + “In what direction, sir? may I ask.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however, + there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our + gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am bound + for Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “For Ahadarra—you say for Ahadarra, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “I do, nephew.” + </p> + <p> + “By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel alive,” + exclaimed Harry; “I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you would—would—-I + don't know what to say.” + </p> + <p> + “That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the + soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my + duty, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning, sir, + that you are now acting”?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the + premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon + anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in my + time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it.” + </p> + <p> + He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse, that + was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a case + of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and two + daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence. + </p> + <p> + Their path lay directly to the south for about two miles. Having traversed + this distance they reached cross-roads, one of which branched towards the + left and was soon lost in a rough brown upland, into which it branched by + several little pathways that terminated in little villages or solitary + farmer's houses. For about two miles more they were obliged to cross a + dark reach of waste moor, where the soil was strong and well capable of + cultivation. Having avoided the villages and more public thoroughfares, + they pushed upward until they came into the black heath itself, where it + was impossible that horses could travel in such darkness as then + prevailed; for it was past ten o'clock, near the close of December. + Clinton consequently left his horse in the care of two soldiers on a bit + of green meadow by the side of Ahadarra Lough—a small tarn or + mountain lake about two hundred yards in diameter. They then pushed up a + long round swelling hill, on the other side of which was a considerable + stretch of cultivated land with Bryan M'Mahon's new and improved houses at + the head of it. This they kept to their right until they came in sight of + the wild but beautiful and picturesque Glen of Althadhawan, which however + was somewhat beyond the distance they had to go. At length, after + breasting another hill which was lost in the base of Cullimore, they + dropped down rapidly into a deep glen through which ran a little streamlet + that took its rise not a quarter of a mile above them, and which supplied + the apparatus for distillation with soft clear water. This they followed + until near the head of the glen, where, in a position which might almost + escape even a gauger's eye, they found the object of their search. + </p> + <p> + Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic rocks + thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or diversion—between + two of which the still-house was built in such a way, that, were it not + for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible to discover it, or at + all events, to suppose that it could be the receptacle of a human being. + </p> + <p> + On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find the + place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such + occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light of + a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in Hycy's + letter—to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the + exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash that + was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides. + </p> + <p> + The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the + Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were in + the process of distillation. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, “I think I understand + this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense—but a sure enough + card in another. The fine is certain, and Ahadarra is most undoubtedly in + for it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV.—State of the Country + </h2> + <p> + —Hycy's Friendship for Bryan M'Mahon—Bryan's Interview with + his Landlord. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's last interview with Fethertonge was of so cheering a nature, and + indicated on the part of that gentleman so much true and sterling kindness + towards the young man and his family, that he felt perfectly satisfied on + leaving him, and after having turned their conversation over in his mind, + that he might place every confidence in the assurance he had given him. + His father, too, who had never for a moment doubted Feathertonge, felt + equally gratified at Bryan's report of their interview, as indeed did the + whole family; they consequently spared neither labor nor expense in the + improvements which they were making on their farms. + </p> + <p> + The situation of the country and neighborhood at this period was indeed + peculiar, and such as we in this unhappy country have experienced both + before and since. I have already stated, that there was a partial failure + of the potato crop that season, a circumstance which uniformly is the + forerunner of famine and sickness. The failure, however, on that occasion + was not caused by a blight in the haulm, or to use plainer words, by a + sudden withering of the stalks, but by large portions of the seed failing + to grow. The partial scarcity, however, occasioned by this, although it + did not constitute what can with propriety be termed famine, cause the + great mass of pauperism which such a season always extends and increases, + to press so heavily upon the struggling farmers, that their patience and + benevolence became alike tired out and exhausted. This perpetually + recurring calamity acts with a most depressing effect upon those persons + in the country who have any claim to be considered independent. It + deprives them of hope, and consequently of energy, and by relaxing the + spirit of industry which has animated them, tends in the course of time to + unite them to the great body of pauperism which oppresses and eats up the + country. But let us not be misunderstood. This evil alone is sufficiently + disastrous to the industrial energies of the class we mention; but when, + in addition to this, the hitherto independent farmer has to contend with + high rents, want of sympathy in his landlord, who probably is ignorant of + his very existence, and has never seen him perhaps in his life; and when + it is considered that he is left to the sharp practice and pettifogging, + but plausible rapacity of a dishonest agent, who feels that he is + irresponsible, and may act the petty tryant and vindictive oppressor if he + wishes, having no restraint over his principles but his interest, which, + so far from restraining, only guides and stimulates them;—when we + reflect upon all this, and feel, besides, that the political principles + upon which the country is governed are those that are calculated to + promote British at the expense of Irish interests—we say, when we + reflect upon and ponder over all this, we need not feel surprised that the + prudent, the industrious, and the respectable, who see nothing but gradual + decline and ultimate pauperism before them—who feel themselves + neglected and overlooked, and know that every sixth or seventh year they + are liable to those oppressive onsets of distress, sickness, and famine—we + need not, we repeat, feel at all surprised that those who constitute this + industrious and respectable class should fly from the evils which surround + them, and abandon, whilst they possess the power of doing so, the country + in which such evils are permitted to exist. + </p> + <p> + It is upon this principle, or rather upon these principles, and for these + reasons, that the industry, the moral feeling, the independence, and the + strength of the country have been passing out of it for years—leaving + it, season after season, weaker, more impoverished, and less capable of + meeting those periodical disasters which, we may almost say, are generated + by the social disorder and political misrule of the country. + </p> + <p> + The fact is, and no reasonable or honest man capable of disencumbering + himself of political prejudices can deny it, that up until a recent period + the great body of the Irish people—the whole people—were + mainly looked upon and used as political instruments in the hands of the + higher classes, but not at all entitled to the possession of separate or + independent interests in their own right. It is true they were allowed the + possession of the forty-shilling franchise; but will any man say that the + existence of that civil right was a benefit to the country? So far from + that, it was a mere engine of corruption, and became, in the hands of the + Irish landlords, one of the most oppressive and demoralizing curses that + ever degraded a people. Perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, were + its fruits, and the only legacy it left to the country was an enormous + mass of pauperism, and a national morality comparatively vitiated and + depraved, in spite of all religious influence and of domestic affections + that are both strong and tender. Indeed it is exceedingly difficult to + determine whether it has been more injurious to the country in a political + than in a moral sense. Be that as it may, it had a powerful effect in + producing the evils that we now suffer, and our strong tendencies to + social disorganization. By it the landlords were induced, for the sake of + multiplying, votes, to encourage the subdivision of small holdings into + those that were actually only nominal or fictitious, and the consequences + were, that in multiplying votes they were multiplying families that had no + fixed means of subsistence—multiplying in fact a pauper population—multiplying + not only perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, but destitution, + misery, disease and death. By the forty-shilling franchise, the landlords + encumbered the soil with a loose and unsettled population that possessed + within itself, as poverty always does, a fearful facility of reproduction—a + population which pressed heavily upon the independent class of farmers and + yeomen, but which had no legal claim upon the territory of the country. + The moment, however, when the system which produced and ended this + wretched class, ceased to exist, they became not only valueless in a + political sense, but a dead weight upon the energies of the country, and + an almost insuperable impediment to its prosperity. This great evil the + landlords could conjure up, but they have not been able to lay it since. + Like Frankenstein in the novel, it pursues them to the present moment, and + must be satisfied or appeased in some way, or it will unquestionably + destroy them. From the abolition of the franchise until now, an incessant + struggle of opposing interests has been going on in the country. The + “forties” and their attendants must be fed; but the soul on which they + live in its present state is not capable of at the same time supporting + them and affording his claims to the landlord; for the food must go to + England to pay the rents and the poor “forties” must starve. They are now + in the way of the landlord—they are now in the way of the farmer—they + are in fact in way of each other, and unless some wholesome and human + principle, either of domestic employment or colonial emigration, or + perhaps both, shall be adopted, they will continue to embarrass the + country, and to drive out of it, always in connection with other causes, + the very class of persons that constitute its remaining strength. + </p> + <p> + At the present period of our narrative the neighborhood of Ballymacan was + in an unsettled and distressful state. The small farmers, and such as held + from six to sixteen acres, at a rent which they could at any period with + difficulty pay, were barely able to support themselves and their families + upon the produce of their holdings, so that the claims of the landlord + were out of the question. Such a position as this to the unhappy class we + speak of, is only another name for ruin. The bailiff, who always lives + upon the property, seeing their condition, and knowing that they are not + able to meet the coming gale, reports accordingly to the agent, who, now + cognizant that there is only one look-up for the rent, seizes the poor + man's corn and cattle, leaving himself and his family within cold walls, + and at an extinguished hearth. In this condition were a vast number in the + neighborhood of the locality laid in our narrative. The extraordinary, but + natural anxiety for holding land, and the equally ardent spirit of + competition which prevails in the country, are always ready arguments in + the mouth of the landlord and agent, when they wish to raise the rent or + eject the tenant. “If you won't pay me such a rent, there are plenty that + will. I have been offered more than you pay, and more than I ask, and you + know I must look to my own interests!” In this case it is very likely that + the landlord speaks nothing but the truth; and as he is pressed on by his + necessities on the one hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a + country so circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition + may be easily conceived. + </p> + <p> + In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting the + neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the tenantry + upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the luxury of a + contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member during two + sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated, an Emancipator + and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not get his seat upon + these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism since his election, + and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought, but an indifferent + chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat before was a sturdy + Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but possessing that rare + and inestimable quality, or rather combination of qualities which + constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man of good property, + and although somewhat deficient in the <i>suaviter in modo</i>, yet in + consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a favorite with the + people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty wherever they find + them in public men. + </p> + <p> + Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and + once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful + to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our + humble individuals who constitute our <i>dramatis personae</i>. + </p> + <p> + The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra, was + in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must + necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At this time + there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit distillation, + but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure similar to the + foregoing had been made, that the people in any particular district became + acquainted with it. By this enactment the offending individual was looked + upon as having no farther violated the laws in that case made and + provided, than those who had never been engaged in such pursuits at all. + In other words, the innocent, were equally punished with the guilty. A + heavy fine was imposed—not on the offender, but on the whole + townland in which he lived; so that the guilt of one individual was not + visited as it ought to have been on the culprit himself, but equally + distributed in all its penalties upon the other inhabitants of the + district in question, who may have had neither act nor part in any + violation of the laws whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed him, + scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally alarmed, and + with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to incredible + lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in question was + enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a kind of legal + confederacy against a system so destructive of industry and morals. The + act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not merely imperative,—but + fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It immediately became the engine of + malice and revenge between individual enemies—often between rival + factions, and not unfrequently between parties instigated against each + other by political rancor and hatred. Indeed, so destructive of the lives + and morals of the people was it found, that in the course of a very few + years it was repealed, but not until it had led to repeated murders and + brought ruin and destruction upon many an unoffending and industrious + family. + </p> + <p> + Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger + and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled, if + possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for his + destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass, where + he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, “Having come + that far on his way,” he said, “to see him, and to ascertain the truth of + the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy responsibility under + which the illicit distillation had placed him.” Bryan was naturally + generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding this, it was + impossible that he should not entertain some slight surmises touching the + sincerity of Burke. + </p> + <p> + “What is this, Bryan?” said the latter. “Can it be possible that you're in + for the Fine, as report goes?” + </p> + <p> + “It's quite possible,” replied Bryan; “on yesterday I got a notice of + proceedings from the Board of Excise.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” pursued his friend, “what devil could have tempted you to have + anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of + it?” + </p> + <p> + “I had no more to do with it,” replied Bryan, “than you had—nor I + don't even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say + it was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that has their hands in everything + that's wicked and disgraceful. They would ruin me if they could,” said + Bryan, “and I suppose it was with the hope of doing so that they set up + the still where they did.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, now,” replied Hycy, with an air of easy and natural generosity, “I + should be sorry to think so: they are d—d scoundrels, or rather + common ruffians, I grant you; but still, Bryan, I don't like to suspect + even such vagabonds without good grounds. Bad as we know them to be, I + have my doubts whether they are capable of setting about such an act for + the diabolical purpose of bringing you to ruin. Perhaps they merely deemed + the place on your farm a convenient one to build a still-house in, and + that they never thought further about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Or what,” replied Bryan, “if there was some one behind their backs who is + worse than themselves? Mightn't sich a thing as that be possible?” + </p> + <p> + “True,” replied Hycy, “true, indeed—that's not improbable. Stay—no—well + it may be—but—no—I can't think it.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it you can't think?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, such a thing might be,” proceeded Hycy, “if you have an enemy; but I + think, Bryan, you are too well liked—and justly so too—if you + will excuse me for saying so to your face—to have any enemy capable + of going such nefarious lengths as that.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan paused and seemed a good deal struck with the truth of Hycy's + observation—“There's raison, sure enough in what you say, Hycy,” he + observed. “I don't know that I have a single enemy—unless the Hogans + themselves—that would feel any satisfaction in drivin' me to + destruction.” + </p> + <p> + “And besides,” continued Hycy, “between you and me now, Bryan, who the + devil with an ounce of sense in his head would trust such scoundrels, or + put himself in their power?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan considered this argument a still more forcible one than the other. + </p> + <p> + “That's stronger still,” Re replied, “and indeed I am inclined to think + that after all, Hycy, it happened as you say. Teddy Phats I think nothing + at all about, for the poor, misshapen vagabone will distil poteen for any + one that employs him.” + </p> + <p> + “True,” replied the other, “I agree with you; but what's to be done, + Bryan? for that's the main point now.” + </p> + <p> + “I scarcely know,” replied Bryan, who now began to feel nothing but + kindness towards Hycy, in consequence of the interest which that young + fellow evidently took in his misfortune, for such, in serious truth, it + must be called. “I am the only proprietor of Ahadarra,” he proceeded, + “and, as a matter of course, the whole fine falls on my shoulders.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that's the devil of it; but at all events, Bryan, there is nothing + got in this world without exertion and energy. Mr. Chevydale, the Member, + is now at home: he has come down to canvass for the coming-election. I + would recommend you to see him at once. You know—but perhaps you + don't though—that his brother is one of the Commissioners of Excise; + so that I don't know any man who can serve you more effectually than + Chevydale, if he wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “But what could he do?” asked Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Why, by backing a memorial from you, stating the particulars, and making + out a strong case, he might get the fine reduced. I shall draw up such a + memorial if you wish.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Hycy—I'm obliged to you—these, I dare say, will be + the proper steps to take—thank you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! but perhaps I may serve you a little in another way. I'm very + intimate with Harry Clinton, and who knows but I may be able to influence + the uncle a little through the nephew.” + </p> + <p> + “It's whispered that you might do more through the niece,” replied Bryan, + laughing; “is that true?” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, I tell you,” replied Hycy, affecting confusion; “for Heaven's + sake, Bryan, say nothing about that; how did it come to your ears?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and that's more than I can tell you,” replied the other; “but I + know I heard it somewhere of late.” + </p> + <p> + “It's not a subject, of course,” continued Hycy, “that I should wish to + become the topic of vulgar comment or conversation, and I'd much rather + you would endeavor to discountenance it whenever you hear it spoken of. At + all events, whether with niece or nephew,” proceeded Hycy, “you may rest + assured, that whatever service I can render you, I shall not fail to do + it. You and I have had a slight misunderstanding, but on an occasion like + this, Bryan, it should be a bitter one indeed that a man—a generous + man at least,—would or ought to remember.” + </p> + <p> + This conversation took place whilst Bryan was proceeding to Fethertonge's, + Hycy being also on his way home. On arriving at the turn of the road which + led to Jemmy Burke's, Hycy caught the hand of his companion, which he + squeezed with an affectionate warmth, so cordial and sincere in its + character that Bryan cast every shadow of suspicion to the winds, + </p> + <p> + “Cheer up, Bryan, all will end better than you think, I hope. I shall draw + up a memorial for you this evening, as strongly and forcibly as possible, + and any other assistance that I can render you in this unhappy difficulty + I will do it. I know I am about ninety pounds in your debt, and instead of + talking to you in this way, or giving you fair words, I ought rather to + pay you your money. The 'gentleman,' however, is impracticable for the + present, but I trust—” + </p> + <p> + “Not a word about it,” said Bryan, “you'll oblige me if you'll drop that + part of the subject; but listen, Hycy,—I think you're generous and a + little extravagant, and both is a good man's case—but that's not + what I'm going to spake about, truth's best at all times; I heard that you + were my enemy, and I was desired to be on my guard against you.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy looked at him with that kind of surprise which is natural to an + innocent man, and simply said, “May I ask by whom, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “I may tell you some other time,” replied Bryan, “but I won't now; all I + can say is, that I don't believe it, and I'm sure that ought to satisfy + you.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall expect you to tell me, Bryan,” said the other, and then after + returning a few steps, he caught M'Mahon's hand again, and shaking it + warmly, once more added, “God bless you, Bryan; you are a generous + high-minded young fellow, and I only wish I was like you.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, after they had separated, felt that Hycy's advice was the very best + possible under the circumstances, and as he had heard for the first time + that Chevydale was in the country, he resolved to go at once and state to + him the peculiar grievance under which he labored. + </p> + <p> + Chevydale's house was somewhat nearer Ahadarra than Fethertonge's, but on + the same line of road, and he accordingly proceeded to the residence of + his landlord. The mansion indeed was a fine one. It stood on the brow of a + gentle eminence, which commanded a glorious prospect of rich and highly + cultivated country. Behind, the landscape rose gradually until it + terminated in a range of mountains that protected the house from the + north. The present structure was modern, having been built by old + Chevydale, previous to his marriage. It was large and simple, but so + majestic in appearance, that nothing could surpass the harmony that + subsisted between its proportions and the magnificent old trees which + studded the glorious lawn that surrounded, it, and rose in thick extensive + masses that stretched far away behind the house. It stood in a park, which + for the beauties of wood and. water was indeed worthy of its fine + simplicity and grandeur—a park in which it was difficult to say + whether the beautiful, the picturesque, or the wild, predominated most. + And yet in this princely residence Mr. Chevydale did not reside more than + a month, or at most two, during the whole year. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the hall-door, M'Mahon inquired from the servant who appeared, + if he could see Mr. Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid not,” said the servant, “but I will see; what's your name?” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, one of his tenants.” + </p> + <p> + The servant returned to him in a few moments, and said, “Yes, he will see + you; follow me.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan entered a library, where he found his landlord and Fethertonge + apparently engaged in business, and as he was in the act of doing so, he + overheard Chevydale saying—“No, no, I shall always see my tenants.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan made his obeisance in his own plain way, and Chevydale said—“Are + you M'Mahon of Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, sir,” replied Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “I thought you were a much older man,” said Chevydale, “there certainly + must be, some mistake here,” he added, looking at Fethertonge. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon of Ahadarra was a middle-aged man several years ago, but this + person is young enough to be his man.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak of his uncle,” replied Fethertonge, “who is dead. This young + man, who now owns his uncle's farm, is son to Thomas M'Mahon of + Carriglass. How is your father, M'Mahon? I hope he bears up well under his + recent loss.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed but poorly, sir,” replied Bryan, “I fear he'll never be the same + man.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale here took to reading a newspaper, and in a minute or two + appeared to be altogether unconscious of Bryan's presence. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afeard, sir,” said Bryan, addressing himself to the agent, who was + the only person likely to hear him, “I'm afeard, sir, that I've got into + trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “Into trouble? how is that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, there was a Still, Head, and Worm found upon Ahadarra, and I'm + going to be fined for it.” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” replied the agent, “I am sorry to hear this, both on your own + account and that of your family. If I don't mistake, you were cautioned + and warned against this; but it was useless; yes, I am sorry for it; and + for you, too.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't properly understand you, sir,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Did I not myself forewarn you against having anything to do in matters + contrary to the law? You must remember I did, and on the very last + occasion, too, when you were in my office.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember it right well, sir,” replied Bryan, “and I say now as I did + then, that I am not the man to break the law, or have act or part in + anything that's contrary to it. I know nothing about this business, except + that three ruffianly looking fellows named Hogan, common tinkers, and + common vagabonds to boot—men that are my enemies—are the + persons by all accounts who set up the still on my property. As for + myself, I had no more to do in it or with it than yourself or Mr. + Chevydale here.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied Fethertonge, “I hope not. I should feel much disappointed + if you had, but you know, Bryan,” he added, good-humoredly, “we could + scarcely expect that you should admit such a piece of folly, not to call + it by a harsher name.” + </p> + <p> + “If I had embarked in it,” replied M'Mahon, “I sartinly would not deny it + to you or Mr. Chevydale, at least; but, as I said before, I know nothing + more about it, than simply it was these ruffians and a fellow named Phats, + a Distiller, that set it a-working,—however, the question is, what + am I to do? If I must pay the fine for the whole townland, it will beggar + me—ruin me. It was that brought me to my landlord here,” he added; + “I believe, sir, you have a brother a Commissioner of Excise?” + </p> + <p> + “Eh? what is that?” asked Chevydaie, looking up suddenly as Bryan asked + the question. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was obliged to repeat all the circumstances once more, as did + Feathertonge the warning he had given him against having any connection + with illegal proceedings. + </p> + <p> + “I am to get a memorial drawn up tomorrow, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “and I + was thinking that by giving the Board of Excise a true statement of the + case, they might reduce the fine; if they don't, I am ruined—that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said his landlord, “that is a very good course to take; + indeed, your only course.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “that as you now know the true + circumstances of the case, you'll be kind, enough to support my petition; + I believe your brother, sir, is one of the Commissioners; you would + sartinly be able to do something with him.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Chevydaie, “I would not ask anything from him; but I shall + support your Petition, and try what I can do with the other Commissioners. + On principle, however, I make it a point never to ask anything from my + brother.” + </p> + <p> + “Will I bring you the Petition, sir?” asked Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Fetch me the Petition.” + </p> + <p> + “And Bryan,” said Fethertonge, raising his finger at him as if by way of + warning—and laughing—“hark ye, let this be the last.” + </p> + <p> + “Fethertonge,” said the landlord, “I see 'Pratt has been found guilty, and + the sentence confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief.” + </p> + <p> + “You will insist on it,” said Bryan, in reply to the agent, “but—” + </p> + <p> + “There now, M'Mahon,” said the latter, “that will do; good day to you.” + </p> + <p> + “I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the + bell?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, sir,” replied the other, ringing as he spoke; “Neville's + testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did + not certainly look like sobriety.” + </p> + <p> + “I had one other word to say, gentlemen,” added M'Mahon, “if you'll allow + me, now that I'm here.” + </p> + <p> + Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful but + friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed the + subject. “I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some other + time, Bryan.” + </p> + <p> + “But you know the proverb, sir,” said Bryan, smiling, “that there's no + time like the present; besides it's only a word.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked the landlord. + </p> + <p> + “About the leases, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “to know when it would be + convanient for you to sign them.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to + Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant. At + this moment a servant entered, saying, “The horses are at the door, + gentlemen.” + </p> + <p> + “Come some other day, M'Mahon,” said Fethertonge; “do you not see that we + are going out to ride now—going on our canvass? Come to my office + some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the + country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, come some other day, Mr.—Mr.—ay—M'Mahon; if there + are leases to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do + my duty as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. + You know I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, + unless when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any + necessary paper.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of + remonstrance, which seemed to say, “Why will you thus persist, when you + see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not your + friend?” Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the result + of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over him, and + in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that which he had + placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most assuredly not + becoming stronger. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI.—A Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan + </h2> + <p> + —Bryan M'Mahon is Cautioned against Political Temptation—He + Seeks Major Vanston's Interest with the Board of Excise. + </p> + <p> + The consequences of the calamity which was hanging over Bryan M'Mahon's + head, had become now pretty well understood, and occasioned a very general + and profound sympathy for the ruin in which it was likely to involve him. + Indeed, almost every one appeared to feel it more than he himself did, and + many, who on meeting him, were at first disposed to offer him consolation, + changed their purpose on witnessing his cheerful and manly bearing under + it. Throughout the whole country there was but one family, with another + exception, that felt gratified at the blow which had fallen on him. The + exception we speak of was no other than Mr, Hycy Burke, and the family was + that of the Hogans. As for Teddy Phats, he was not the man to trouble + himself by the loss of a moment's indifference upon any earthly or other + subject, saving and excepting always that it involved the death, + mutilation, or destruction in some shape, of his great and relentless foe, + the Gauger, whom he looked upon as the impersonation of all that is + hateful and villainous in life, and only sent into this world to war with + human happiness at large. That great professional instinct, as the French + say, and a strong unaccountable disrelish of Hycy Burke, were the only two + feelings that disturbed the hardened indifference of his nature. + </p> + <p> + One night, shortly after Bryan's visit to his landlord, the Hogans and + Phats were assembled in the kiln between the hours of twelve and one + o'clock, after having drunk nearly three quarts of whiskey among them. The + young savages, as usual, after the vagabond depredations or mischievous + exercises of the day, were snoring as we have described them before; when + Teddy, whom no quantity of liquor could affect beyond a mere inveterate + hardness of brogue and an indescribable effort at mirth and melody, + exclaimed—“Fwhy, dhen, dat's the stuff; and here's bad luck to him + that paid fwor it.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll not drink it, you ugly <i>keout</i>,” exclaimed Philip, in his deep + and ruffianly voice; “but come—all o' yez fill up and drink my + toast. Come, Kate, you crame of hell's delights, fill till I give it. No,” + he added abruptly, “I won't drink that, you leprechaun; the man that ped + for it is Hycy Burke, and I like Hycy Burke for one thing, an' I'll not + dhrink bad luck to him. Come, are yez ready?” + </p> + <p> + “Give it out, you hulk,” said Kate, “an' don't keep us here all night over + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, then,” exclaimed the savage, with a grin of ferocious mirth, + distorting his grim colossal features into a smile that was frightful and + inhuman—“Here's may Bryan M'Mahon be soon a beggar, an' all his + breed the same! Drink it now, all o' yez, or, by the mortal counthryman, + I'll brain the first that'll refuse it.” + </p> + <p> + The threat, in this case, was a drunken one, and on that very account the + more dangerous. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Teddy, “I don't like to drink it; but if—” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Honomondiaul!</i> you d——d disciple,” thundered the giant, + “down wid it, or I'll split your skull!” + </p> + <p> + Teddy had it down ere the words were concluded. + </p> + <p> + “What!” exclaimed Hogan, or rather roared again, as he fastened his + blazing eyes on Kate—“what, you yalla mullotty, do you dar to + refuse?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, do dar to refuse!—an' I'd see you fizzin' on the devil's + fryin'-pan, where you'll fiz yet, afore I'd dhrink it. Come, come,” she + replied, her eye blazing now as fiercely as his own, “keep quiet, I bid + you—keep calm; you ought to know me now, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “Drink it,” he shouted, “or I'll brain you.” + </p> + <p> + “Howl him,” said Teddy—“howl him; there's murdher in his eye. My + soul to happiness but he'll kill her.” + </p> + <p> + “Will he, indeed?” said Bat, with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by + Ned—“will he, indeed?” they shouted. “Go on, Kate, you'll get fair + play if you want it—his eye, Teddy! ay, but look at her's, man alive—look + at her altogether! Go on, Kate—more power!” + </p> + <p> + Teddy, on looking at her again, literally retreated a few paces from sheer + terror of the tremendous and intrepid fury who now stood before him. It + was then for the first time that he observed the huge bones and immense + muscular development that stood out into terrible strength by the force of + her rising passion. It was the eye, however, and the features of the face + which filled him with such an accountable dread. The eyes were literally + blazing, and the muscles of the face, now cast into an expression which + seemed at the same time to be laughter and fury, were wrought up and + blended together in such a way as made the very countenance terrible by + the emanation of murder which seemed to break from every feature of it. + “Drink it, I say again,” shouted Philip. Kate made no reply, but, walking + over to where he stood, she looked closely into his eyes, and said, with + grinding teeth—“Not if it was to save you from the gallows, where + you'll swing yet; but listen.” As she spoke her words were hoarse and low, + there was a volume of powerful strength in her voice which stunned one + like the roar of a lioness. “Here,” she exclaimed, her voice now all at + once rising or rather shooting up to a most terrific scream—“here's + a disgraceful death to Hycy Burke! and may all that's good and prosperous + in this world, ay, and in the next, attend Bryan M'Mahon, the honest man! + Now, Philip, my man, see how I drink them both.” And, having concluded, + she swallowed the glass of whiskey, and again drawing her face within an + inch of his she glared right into his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Howl me,” he shouted, “or I'll sthrike, an' we'll have a death in the + house.” + </p> + <p> + She raised one hand and waved it behind her, as an intimation that they + should not interfere. + </p> + <p> + The laughter of the brothers now passed all bounds. “No, Kate, go on—we + won't interfere. You had better seize him.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she replied, “let him begin first, if he dar.” + </p> + <p> + “Howl me,” shouted Philip, “she'll only be killed.” + </p> + <p> + Another peal of laughter was the sole reply given to this by the brothers. + “He's goin',” they exclaimed, “he's gone—the white fedher's in him—it's + all over wid him—he's afeerd of her, an' not for nothing either—ha! + ha! ha! more power, Kate!” + </p> + <p> + Stung by the contemptuous derision contained in this language, Philip was + stepping back in order to give himself proper room for a blow, when, on + the very instant that he moved, Kate, uttering something between a howl + and a yell, dashed her huge hands into his throat—which was, as is + usual with tinkers, without a cravat—and in a moment a desperate and + awful struggle took place between them. Strong as Philip was, he found + himself placed perfectly on the defensive by the terrific grip which this + furious opponent held of his throat. So powerful was it, indeed, that not + a single instant was allowed him for the exercise of any aggressive + violence against her by a blow, all his strength being directed to unclasp + her hands from his throat that he might be permitted to breathe. As they + pulled and tugged, however, it was evident that the struggle was going + against him—a hoarse, alarming howl once or twice broke from him, + that intimated terror and distress on his part. + </p> + <p> + “That's right, Kate,” they shouted, “you have him—press tight—the + windpipe's goin'—bravo! he'll soon stagger an' come down, an' then + you may do as you like.” + </p> + <p> + They tugged on, and dragged, and panted, with the furious vehemence of the + exertion; when at length Philip shouted, in a voice half-stifled by + strangulation, “Let g—o—o—o, I—I sa—y—y; + ah! ah! ah!” + </p> + <p> + Bat now ran over in a spirit of glee and triumph that cannot well be + described, and clapping his wife on the back, shouted—“Well done, + Kate; stick to him for half a minute and he's yours. Bravo! you clip o' + perdition, bravo!” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely uttered the words when the giant carcass of Philip + tottered and fell, dragging Kate along with it, who never for a moment + lost or loosened her hold. Her opponent now began to sprawl and kick out + his feet from a sense of suffocation, and in attempting to call for + assistance, nothing but low, deep gurgling noises could issue from his + lips, now livid with the pressure on his throat and covered with foam. His + face, too, at all times dark and savage, became literally black, and he + uttered such sternutations as, on seeing that they were accompanied by the + diminished struggles which betoken exhaustion, induced Teddy to rush over + for the purpose of rescuing him from her clutches. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy,” said the others; “let them alone—a little thing will do it + now—it's almost over—she has given him his gruel—an' + divil's cure to him—he knew well enough what she could do—but + he would have it.” + </p> + <p> + Faint convulsive movements were all now that could be noticed in the huge + limbs of their brother, and still the savage tigress was at his throat, + when her husband at length said:— + </p> + <p> + “It's time, Ned—it's time—she may carry it too far—he's + quiet enough now. Come away, Kate, it's all right—let him alone—let + go your hoult of him.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, however, as if she had tasted his blood, would listen to no such + language; all the force, and energies, and bloody instincts of the + incarnate fury were aroused within her, and she still stuck to her victim. + </p> + <p> + “Be japers she'll kill him,” shouted Bat, rushing to her; “come, Ned, till + we unclasp her—take care—pull quickly—bloody wars, he's + dead!—Kate, you divil!—you fury of hell! let go—let go, + I say.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, however, heard him not, but still tugged and stuck to the throat of + Philip's quivering carcass, until by a united effort they at length + disentangled her iron clutches from it, upon which she struggled and + howled like a beast of prey, and attempted with a strength that seemed + more akin to the emotion of a devil than that of a woman to get at him + again and again, in order to complete her work. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Kate,” said her husband, “you're a Trojan—by japers you're a + Trojan; you've settled him any way—is there life in him?” he asked, + “if there is, dash wather or something in his face, an' drag him up out o' + that—ha! ha! Well done, Kate; only for you we'd lead a fine life wid + him—ay! an' a fine life that is—a hard life we led until you + did come—there now, more power to you—by the livin' + Counthryman, there's not your aquil in Europe—come now, settle down, + an' don't keep all movin' that way as if you wor at him again—sit + down now, an' here's another glass of whiskey for you.” + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Ned and Teddy Phats succeeded in recovering Philip, whom + they dragged over and placed upon a kind of bench, where in a few minutes + he recovered sufficiently to be able to speak—but ever and anon he + shook his head, and stretched his neck, and drew his breath deeply, + putting his hands up from time to time as if he strove to set his windpipe + more at ease. + </p> + <p> + “Here Phil, my hairo,” said his triumphant brother Bat, “take another + glass, an' may be for all so strong and murdherin' as you are wid others + you now know—an' you knew before what our woman' can do at home wid + you.” + </p> + <p> + “I've—hoch—hoch—I've done wid her—she's no woman; + there's a devil in her, an' if you take my advice, it's to Priest + M'Scaddhan you'd bring her, an' have the same devil prayed out of her—I + that could murdher ere a man in the parist a'most!” + </p> + <p> + “Lave Bryan M'Mahon out,” said Kate. + </p> + <p> + “No I won't,” replied Phil, sullenly, and with a voice still hoarse, “no, + I won't—I that could make smash of ere a man in the parish, to be + throttled into perdition by a blasted woman. She's a devil, I say; for the + last ten minutes I seen nothin' but fire, fire, fire, as red as blazes, + an' I hard somethin' yellin', yellin', in my ears.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” replied Kate, “I know you did—that was the fire of hell you + seen, ready to resave you; an' the noise you hard was the voices of the + devils that wor comin' for your sowl—ay, an' the voices of the two + wives you murdhered—take care then, or I'll send you sooner to hell + than you dhrame of.” + </p> + <p> + The scowl which she had in return for this threat was beyond all + description. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I have done wid you,” he replied; “you're not right, I say—but + never mind, I'll put a pin in M'Mahon's collar for this—ay will I.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't!” she exclaimed, in one fearful monosyllable, and then she added in + a low condensed whisper, “or if you do, mark the consequence.” + </p> + <p> + “Trot, Phil,” said Teddy, “I think you needn't throuble your head about + M'Mahon—he's done fwhor.” + </p> + <p> + “An' mark me,” said Kate, “I'll take care of the man that done for him. I + know him well, betther than he suspects, an' can make him sup sorrow + whenever I like—an' would, too, only for one thing.” + </p> + <p> + “An' fwhat's dhat wan thing?” asked Phats. + </p> + <p> + “You'll know it when you're ouldher, may be,” replied Kate; “but you must + be ouldher first—I can keep my own secrets, thank God, an' will, too—only + mark me all o' yez; you know well what I am—let no injury come to + Bryan M'Mahon. For the sake of one person he must be safe.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” observed Teddy, “let us hear no more about them; it's all settled + that we are to set up in Glen Dearg above again—for this Hycy,—who's + sthrivin' to turn the penny where he can.” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” said Bat; “an', to-morrow night, let us bring the things up—this + election will sarve us at any rate—but who will come in?” (* That + is, be returned.) + </p> + <p> + “The villain of hell!” suddenly exclaimed Kate, as if to herself; “to go + to ruin the young man! That girl's breakin' her heart for what has + happened.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you talkin' about?” asked her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” she replied; “only if you all intend to have any rest to-night, + throw yourselves in the shake-down there, an' go sleep. I'm not to sit up + the whole night here, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + Philip, and Ned, and Teddy tumbled themselves into the straw, and in a few + minutes were in a state of perfect oblivion. + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke is a bad boy, Bat,” she said, as the husband was about to + follow their example; “but he is marked—I've set my mark upon him.” + </p> + <p> + “You appear to know something particular about him,” observed her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Maybe I do, an' maybe I don't,” she replied; “but I tell you, he's marked—that's + all—go to bed now.” + </p> + <p> + He tumbled after the rest, Kate stretched herself in an, opposite corner, + and in a few minutes this savage orchestra was in full chorus. + </p> + <p> + What an insoluble enigma is woman! From the specimen of feminine delicacy + and modest diffidence which we have just presented to the reader, who + would imagine that Kate Hogan was capable of entering into the deep and + rooted sorrow which Kathleen Cavanagh experienced when made acquainted + with the calamity which was about to crush her lover. Yet so it was. In + truth this fierce and furious woman who was at once a thief, a liar, a + drunkard, and an impostor, hardened in wickedness and deceit, had in spite + of all this a heart capable of virtuous aspirations, and of loving what + was excellent and good. It is true she was a hypocrite herself, yet she + detested Hycy Burke for his treachery. She was a thief and a liar, yet she + liked and respected Bryan M'Mahon for his truth and honesty. Her heart, + however, was not all depraved; and, indeed, it is difficult to meet a + woman in whose disposition, however corrupted by evil society, and + degraded by vice, there is not to be found a portion of the angelic + essence still remaining. In the case before us, however, this may be + easily accounted for. Kate Hogan, though a hell-cat and devil, when + provoked, was, amidst all her hardened violence and general disregard of + truth and honesty, a virtuous woman and a faithful wife. Hence her natural + regard for much that was good and pure, and her strong sympathy with the + sorrow which now fell upon Kathleen Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + Kathleen and her sister had been sitting sewing at the parlor window, on + the day Bryan had the interview we have detailed with Chevydale and the + agent, when they heard their father's voice inquiring for Hanna. + </p> + <p> + “He has been at Jemmy Burke's, Kathleen,” said her sister, “and I'll wager + a nosegay, if one could get one, that he has news of this new sweetheart + of yours; he's bent, Kathleen,” she added, “to have you in Jemmy Burke's + family, cost what it may.” + </p> + <p> + “So it seems, Hanna.” + </p> + <p> + “They say Edward Burke is still a finer-looking young fellow than Hycy. + Now, Kathleen,” she added, laughing, “if you should spoil a priest afther + all! Well! un-likelier things have happened.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be,” replied Kathleen, “but this won't happen for all that, + Hanna. Go, there he's calling for you again.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—yes,” she shouted; “throth, among you all, Kathleen, you're + making a regular go-between of me. My father thinks I can turn you round + my finger, and Bryan M'Mahon thinks—yes, I'm goin',” she answered + again. “Well, keep up your spirits; I'll soon have news for you about this + spoiled priest.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Hanna,” thought Kathleen; “where was there ever such a sister? She + does all she can to keep my spirits up; but it can't be. How can I see him + ruined and beggared, that had the high spirit and the true heart?” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, her father, and mother, held a tolerably long discussion together, + in which Kathleen could only hear the tones of their voices occasionally. + It was evident, however, by the emphatic intonations of the old couple, + that they were urging some certain point, which her faithful sister was + deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by seriousness, and at + other times by mirth. At length she returned with a countenance combating + between seriousness and jest; the seriousness, however, predominating. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said she, “you never had a difficulty before you until now. + They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any wish + to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all a trick of + the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now determined to + disappoint them. What will you do?” + </p> + <p> + “What would you recommend me?” asked Kathleen, looking at her with + something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there + was a slight smile upon her lips. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the frank and candid girl, “certainly to run away with Bryan + M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Would it settle my father's heart,” said Kathleen, “and my mother's?—would + it settle my own character?—would it be the step that all the world + would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?—and putting all the world + aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God, my dear + Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, forgive me, darlin',” said her sister, throwing her arms about + her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; “I'm a foolish, flighty + creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't advise you. + Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine.” + </p> + <p> + “If your head makes fifty mistakes,” said her sister, “your heart's an + excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when you're + in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put together. + Come, now.” + </p> + <p> + They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora + M'Mahon who, as she said, “came down to ask them up a while, as the house + was now so lonesome;” and she added, with artless naivete, “I don't know + how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever did before. + Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you as a stranger, + and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to you more and + more.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration + which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding + this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to say + anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw Bryan + at the turn of the road approaching them. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a friend of ours,” she exclaimed; “no less than Bryan M'Mahon + himself. Come, Dora, we can't go' up to Carriglass, but we'll walk back + with you a piece o' the way.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, who was then on his return from Chevydale's, soon joined them, and + they proceeded in the direction of his father's, Dora and Hanna having, + with good-humored consideration, gone forward as an advanced guard, + leaving Bryan and Kathleen to enjoy their tete-a-tete behind them. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Kathleen,” said Bryan, “I was very anxious to see you. You've h'ard + of this unfortunate business that has come upon me?” + </p> + <p> + “I have,” she replied, “and I need not say that I'm sorry for it. Is it, + or will it be as bad as they report?” + </p> + <p> + “Worse, Kathleen. I will have the fine for all Ahadarra to pay myself.” + </p> + <p> + “But can nothing be done. Wouldn't they let you off when they come to hear + that, although the Still was found upon your land, yet it wasn't yours, + nor it wasn't you that was usin' it?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know how that may be. Hycy Burke tells me that they'll be apt to + reduce the fine, if I send them a petition or memorial, or whatever they + call it, an' he's to have one Written for me to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid Hycy's a bad authority for anybody, Bryan.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think you do poor Hycy justice, Kathleen; he's not, in my + opinion, so bad as you think him. I don't know a man, nor I haven't met a + man that's sorrier for what has happened me; he came to see me yesterday, + and to know in what way he could serve me, an' wasn't called upon to do + so.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope you're right, Bryan; for why should I wish Hycy Burke to be a bad + man, or why should I wish him ill? I may be mistaken in him, and I hope I + am.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I think you are, Kathleen; he's wild a good deal, I grant, and + has a spice of mischief in him, and many a worthy young fellow has both.” + </p> + <p> + “That's very true,” she replied; “however, we have h'ard bad enough of + him. There's none of us what we ought to be, Bryan. If you're called upon + to pay this fine, what will, be the consequence?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that I'll have to give up my farm—that I won't be left worth + sixpence.” + </p> + <p> + “Who put the still up in Ahadarra?” she inquired. “Is it true that it was + the Hogan's?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I believe there's no doubt about it,” he replied; “since I left + the landlord's, I have heard what satisfies me that it was them and Teddy + Phats.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen paused and sighed. “They are a vile crew,” she added, after a + little; “but, be they what they may, they're faithful and honest, and + affectionate to our family; an' that, I believe, is the only good about + them. Bryan, I am very sorry for this misfortune that has come upon you. I + am sorry for your own sake.” + </p> + <p> + “And I,” replied Bryan, “am sorry for—I was goin' to say—yours; + but it would be, afther all, for my own. I haven't the same thoughts of + you now, dear Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + She gazed quickly, and with some surprise at him, and asked, “Why so, + Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm changed—I'm a ruined man,” he replied; “I had bright hopes of + comfort and happiness—hopes that I doubt will never come to pass. + However,” he added, recovering himself, and assuming a look of + cheerfulness, “who knows if everything will turnout so badly as we fear?” + </p> + <p> + “That's the spirit you ought to show,” returned Kathleen; “You have before + you the example of a good father; don't be cast down, nor look at the dark + side; but you said you had not the same thoughts of me just now; I don't + understand you.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think,” he replied, with a smile, “that I meant to say my + affection for you was changed? Oh, no, Kathleen; but that my situation is + changed, or soon will be so; and that on that account we can't be the same + thing to one another that we have been.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” she replied, “you may always depend upon this, that so long as + you are true to your God and to yourself, I will be true to you. Depend + upon this once and forever.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, that's like yourself, but I could not think of bringing you to + shame.” He paused, and turning his eyes full upon her, added—“I'm + allowin' myself to sink again. Everything will turn out better than we + think, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope so,” she added, “but whatever happens, Bryan do you always act an + open, honest, manly part, as I know you will do; act always so as that + your conscience can't accuse you, or make you feel that you have done + anything that is wrong, or unworthy, or disgraceful; and then, dear Bryan, + welcome poverty may you say, as I will welcome Bryan M'Mahon with it.” + </p> + <p> + Both had paused for a little on their way, and stood for about a minute + moved by the interest which each felt in what the other uttered. As + Bryan's eye rested on the noble features and commanding figure of + Kathleen, he was somewhat started by the glow of enthusiasm which lit both + her eye and her cheek, although he was too unskilled in the manifestations + of character to know that it was enthusiasm she felt. + </p> + <p> + They then proceeded, and after a short silence Bryan observed—“Dear + Kathleen, I know the value of the advice you are giving me, but will you + let me ask if you ever seen anything in my conduct, or heard anything in + my conversation, that makes you think it so necessary to give it to me?” + </p> + <p> + “If I ever had, Bryan, it's not likely I'd be here at your side this day + to give it to you; but you're now likely to be brought into trials and + difficulties—into temptation—and it is then that you may think + maybe of what I'm sayin' now.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen,” he replied, smiling, “you're determined at all events + that the advice will come before the temptation; but, indeed, my own + dearest girl, my heart this moment is proud when I think that you are so + full of truth, an' feelin', and regard for me, as to give me such advice, + and to be able to give it. But still I hope I won't stand in need of it, + and that if the temptations you spoke of come in my way, I will have your + advice—ay, an' I trust in God the adviser, too—to direct me.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure, Bryan,” and she surveyed him closely as she spoke—“are + you sure that no part of the temptation has come across you already?” + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised as she asked him this singular question. “I am,” said + he; “but, dear Kathleen, I can't rightly understand you. What temptations + do you mane?” + </p> + <p> + “Have you not promised to vote for Mr. Vanston, the Tory candidate, who + never in his life voted for your religion or your liberty?” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mane me, dearest Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “You, certainly; who else could I mean when I ask you the question?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I never promised to vote for Vanston,” he replied; “an' what is more—but + who said I did?” + </p> + <p> + “On the day before yesterday,” she proceeded, “two gentlemen came to our + house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to + vote for them—that is for Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true. I + didn't promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me. Are you + satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?” + </p> + <p> + “I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart is + easy. Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a + beggarly farm?” + </p> + <p> + “But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded. “What signifies poverty, + Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the conscience + clear and without a spot? Nothing—oh, nothing! As God is to judge + me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, as I said + awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate by your + side, if you could prove false to either.” + </p> + <p> + The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire which + animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, and Bryan, + to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with something + like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + He caught her hand and said “My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know + you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a + traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don't, my dear Bryan; for you + may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would + feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to his + religion or his suffering country.” + </p> + <p> + “How could I,” he replied, “with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a + guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me? Well, now that your mind is + aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too. I have no doubt but we'll + be happy yet—at least I trust in God we will. Who knows but + everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they + may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my good + name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII.—Interview between Hycy and Finigan + </h2> + <h3> + —The Former Propones for Miss Clinton—A love Scene + </h3> + <p> + Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he + had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he + ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to + Bryan. The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience he + knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, in + excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy Phats, + was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would inform upon + him. After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came to the conclusion + that the school-master, Finigan, must have been the traitor, and with this + impression he resolved to give that worthy personage a call upon his way + home. He found him as usual at full work, and as usual, also, in that + state which is commonly termed half drunk, a state, by the way, in which + the learned pedagogue generally contrived to keep himself night and day. + Hycy did not enter his establishment, but after having called him once or + twice to no purpose—for such was the din of the school that his + voice could not penetrate it—he at length knocked against the half + open door, which caused him to be both seen and heard more distinctly. On + seeing him, the school-master got to his limbs, and was about to address + him, when Hycy said— + </p> + <p> + “Finigan, I wish to speak a few words to you.” + </p> + <p> + “O'Finigan, sir—O'Finigan, Mr. Burke. It is enough, sir, to be + deprived of our hereditary territories, without being clipped of our + names; they should lave us those at all events unmutilated. O'Finigan, + therefore, Mr. Burke, whenever you address me, if you plaise.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” continued Hycy, “if not inconvenient, I should wish + to speak a few words with you.” + </p> + <p> + “No inconvenience in the world, Mr. Burke; I am always disposed to oblige + my friends whenever I can do so wid propriety. My advice, sir, my + friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to guide + them—my friendship to sustain—and my purse—hem!—ha, + ha, ha—I think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there,” he added, + laughing, “inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers + term a vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen,” he proceeded, addressing the + scholars, “I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a + social cup wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence + of a short interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my <i>locum + tenens</i> until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put + the names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign' is + the word; an' see, Gusty—mairk me well—no bribery—no + bread nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the culprits—otherwise + you shall become their substitute in the castigation, and I shall teach + you to look one way and feel another, my worthy con-disciple.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, Finigan—I beg your pardon—O'Finigan,” said Hycy, when + they were seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with + refreshments before them, “I think I have reason to be seriously + displeased with you.” + </p> + <p> + “Displeased with me!” exclaimed his companion; “and may I take the liberty + to interrogate wherefore, Mr. Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “You misrepresented me to Bryan M'Mahon,” said Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Upon what grounds and authority do you spake, sir?” asked Finigan, whose + dignity was beginning to take offence. + </p> + <p> + “I have good grounds and excellent authority for what I say,” replied + Hycy. “You have acted a very dishonorable part, Mr. Finigan, and the + consequence is that I have ceased to be your friend.” + </p> + <p> + “I act a dishonorable part. Why, sir, I scorn the imputation; but how have + I acted a dishonorable part? that's the point.” + </p> + <p> + “You put Bryan M'Mahon upon his guard against me, and consequently left an + impression on his mind that I was his enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the other, with a good deal of irony, “that is good! Have I, + indeed? And pray, Mr. Burke, who says so?” + </p> + <p> + “I have already stated that my authority for it is good.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must name you authority, sir, no lurking assassin shall be + permitted wid impunity to stab my fair reputation wid the foul dagger of + calumny and scandal. Name your authority, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “I could do so.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, why don't you? Let me hear the name of the illiterate + miscreant, whoever he is, that has dared to tamper with my unblemished + fame.” + </p> + <p> + “All I ask you,” continued Hycy, “is to candidly admit the fact, and state + why you acted as you did.” + </p> + <p> + “Name your authority, sir, and then I shall speak. Perhaps I did, and + perhaps I did not; but when you name your authority I shall then give you + a more satisfactory reply. That's the language—the elevated language—of + a gentleman, Mr. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “My authority then is no other than Bryan M'Mahon himself,” replied Hycy, + “who told me that he was cautioned against me; so that I hope you're now + satisfied.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” replied Finigan, assuming a lofty and impressive manner, “I + have known the M'Mahons for better than forty years; so, in fact, has the + country around them; and until the present moment I never heard that a + deliberate falsehood, or any breach of truth whatsoever, was imputed to + any one of them. Tom M'Mahon's simple word was never doubted, and would + pass aquil to many a man's oath; and it is the same thing wid the whole + family, man and women. They are proverbial, sir, for truth and integrity, + and a most spontaneous effusion of candor under all circumstances. You + will pardon me then, Mr. Hycy, if I avow a trifle of heresy in this + matter. You are yourself, wid great respect be it spoken, sometimes said + to sport your imagination occasionally, and to try your hand wid + considerable success at a <i>lapsus veritatis</i>. Pardon me, then, if I + think it somewhat more probable that you have just now stated what an ould + instructor of mine used to call a moral thumper; excuse me, I say; and at + all events I have the pleasure of drinking your health; and if my + conjecture be appropriate, here's also a somewhat closer adhesion to the + <i>veritas</i> aforesaid to you!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to insinuate that I'm stating what is not true?” said Burke, + assuming an offended look, which, however, he did not feel. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” replied Finigan, retorting his look with one of indignant + scorn, “far be it from me to insinuate any such thing. I broadly, and in + all the latitudinarianism of honest indignation, assert that it is a d—d + lie, begging your pardon, and drinking to your moral improvement a second + time; and ere you respond to what I've said, it would be as well, in order + to have the matter copiously discussed, if you ordhered in a fresh supply + of liquor, and help yourself, for, if the proverb be true—<i>in vino + veritas</i>—there it is again, but truth will be out, you see—who + knows but we may come to a thrifle of it from you yet? Ha! ha! ha! Excuse + the jest, Mr. Hycy. You remember little Horace,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Quid vetat ridentem dicere verum?'” + </pre> + <p> + “Do you mean to say, sirra,” said Hycy, “that I have stated a lie?” + </p> + <p> + “I mean to say that whoever asserts that I misrepresented you in any way + to Bryan M'Mahon, or ever cautioned him against you, states a lie of the + first magnitude—a moral thumper, of gigantic dimensions.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, will you tell me what you did say to him?” + </p> + <p> + “What I did say,” echoed Finigan. “Well,” he added, after a pause, during + which he I surveyed Hycy pretty closely—having now discovered that + he was, in fact, only proceeding upon mere suspicion—“I believe I + must acknowledge a portion of the misrepresentation. I must, on secondary + consideration, plead guilty to that fact.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought as much,” said Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Here then—,” proceeded Finigan, with a broad and provoking grin + upon his coarse but humorous features, “here, Mr. Hycy, is what I did say—says + I, 'Bryan, I have a word to say to you, touching an accomplished young + gentleman, a friend of yours.' + </p> + <p> + “'What is that?' asked the worthy Beit-nardus. + </p> + <p> + “'It is regarding the all-accomplished Mr. Hyacinthus Burke,' I replied, + 'who is a <i>homo-factus ad unguem</i>. Mr. Burke, Bryan,' I proceeded, + 'is a gentleman in the—hem—true sense of that word. He is + generous, candid, faithful, and honest; and in association wid all his + other excellent qualities, he is celebrated, among the select few who know + him best, for an extraordinary attachment to—truth.' Now, if that + wasn't misrepresentation, Mr. Hycy, I don't know what was. Ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “You're half drunk,” replied Hycy, “or I should rather say whole drunk, I + think, and scarcely know what you're saying; or rather, I believe you're a + bit of a knave, Mr. O'Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, sir; many thanks for the prefix. Proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “I have nothing more to add,” replied Hycy, rising up and preparing to go. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Finigan, with another grin, “a bit of a knave, am I? Well, now, + isn't it better to be only a bit of a knave than a knave all out—a + knave in full proportions, from top to toe, from head to heel—like + some accomplished gentlemen that I have the! honor of being acquainted + wid. But in the I meantime, now, don't be in a hurry, man alive, nor look + as if you were fatted on vinegar. Sit down again; ordher in another + libation, and I shall make a disclosure that will be worth your waiting + for.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have the libation, as you call it, at all events,” said Hycy, + resuming his seat, but feeling, at the same time, by no means satisfied + with the lurking grin which occasionally played over Finigan's features. + </p> + <p> + After much chat and banter, and several attempts on the part of Hycy to + insinuate himself into the pedagogue's confidence, he at length rose to + go. His companion was now in that state which strongly borders on + inebriety, and he calculated that if it were possible to worm anything out + of him, he was now in the best condition for it. Every effort, however, + was in vain; whenever he pressed the schoolmaster closely, the vague, + blank expression of intoxication disappeared for a moment, and was + replaced by the broad, humorous ridicule, full of self-possession and + consciousness, which always characterized Finigan, whether drunk or sober. + The man was naturally cunning, and ranked among a certain class of topers + who can be made drunk to a certain extent, and upon some particular + subjects, but who, beyond that, and with these limitations, defy the + influence of liquor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy Burke was one of those men who, with smart and showy qualities and + great plausibility of manner, was yet altogether without purpose or + steadfast principle in the most ordinary affairs of life. He had no fixed + notions upon either morals, religion, or politics; and when we say so, we + may add, that he was equally without motive—that is, without <i>adequate</i> + motive, in almost everything he did. + </p> + <p> + The canvass was now going on with great zeal on the part of Chevydale and + Vanston. Sometimes Hycy was disposed to support the one and sometimes the + other, but as to feeling a firm attachment to the cause or principles of + either, it was not in his nature. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the approach of a general election was at all times calculated to + fill the heart of a thinking man with a strong sense of shame for his + kind, and of sorrow for the unreasoning and brutal tendency to slavery and + degradation which it exhibits. Upon this occasion the canvass, in, + consequence of the desperate struggle that must ensue, owing to the + equality of the opposing forces, was a remarkably early one. Party feeling + and religious animosity, as is usual, ran very high, each having been made + the mere stalking-horse or catchword of the rival candidates, who cared + nothing, or at least very little, about the masses on either side, + provided always that they could turn them to some advantage. + </p> + <p> + It was one morning after the canvass had been going forward with great + activity on both sides for about a week, that Hycy, who now felt himself + rather peculiarly placed, rode down to Clinton's for the purpose of + formally paying his addresses to the gauger's interesting niece, and, if + possible, ascertaining his fate from her own lips. His brother Edward had + now been brought home in accordance with the expressed determination of + his father, with whom he was, unquestionably, a manifest favorite, a + circumstance which caused Hycy to detest him, and also deprived him in a + great degree of his mother's affection. Hycy had now resolved to pay his + devoirs to Kathleen Cavanagh, as a <i>dernier</i> resort, in the event of + his failing with Miss Clinton; for, as regarding affection, he had no + earthly conception what it I meant. With this view he rode down to + Clinton's as we said, and met Harry coming out of the stable. + </p> + <p> + “Harry,” said he, after his horse was put I up, “I am about to ask an + interview with your sister.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think she will grant it,” replied her brother, “you are by no + means a favorite; with her; however, you can try; perhaps she may. You + know the old adage, '<i>varium et imutabile semper</i>.' Who knows but she + may have changed her mind?” + </p> + <p> + “Is your uncle within?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied his nephew, “he's gone to Fethertonge's upon some election + business.” + </p> + <p> + “Could you not contrive,” said Hycy, “to leave her and me together, then, + and allow me to ascertain what I am to expect?” + </p> + <p> + “Come in,” said Harry—“never say it again. If I can I will.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, as we have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of + persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his + really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit which + he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a presentiment of + success that is almost inseparable from persons of his class, who can + scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided rejection by a woman + as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry Clinton himself, though but + a young man, thought, as he afterwards stated to his sister, that he never + saw Hycy have so much the appearance of a puppy as upon that occasion. As + had been proposed, he withdrew, however, and the lover being left in the + drawing-room with Miss Clinton began, with a simper that was rather + coxcombical, to make allusions to the weather, but in such a way as if + there was some deep but delightful meaning veiled under his commonplaces. + At length he came directly to the 'point. + </p> + <p> + “But passing from the weather, Miss Clinton, to a much more agreeable + topic, permit me to ask if you have ever turned your thoughts upon + matrimony?” + </p> + <p> + The hectic of a moment, as Sterne. says, accompanied by a look that + slightly intimated displeasure, or something like it, was the only reply + he received for a quarter of a minute, when she said, after the feeling + probably had passed away—“No, indeed, Mr. Burke, I have not.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, Miss Clinton,” said Hycy, with another smirk, “that won't + pass. Is it not laid down by the philosophers that you think of little + else from the time you are marriageable?” + </p> + <p> + “By what philosophers?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, let me see—by the philosophers in general—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “I was not aware of that,” she replied; “but even if they have so ruled + it, I see no inference we can draw from that, except their ignorance of + the subject.” + </p> + <p> + “It is so ruled, however,” said Hycy, “and philosophy is against you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am willing it should, Mr. Burke, provided we have truth with us.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, indeed, Miss Clinton—that was well said; but, seriously, + have you ever thought of marriage?” + </p> + <p> + “Doesn't philosophy say that we seldom think of anything else?” she + replied, smiling. Ask philosophy, then.” + </p> + <p> + “But this really is a subject in which I feel a particular interest—a + personal interest; but, as for philosophy, I despise it—that is as + it is usually understood. The only philosophy of life is love, and that is + my doctrine.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that your only doctrine?” + </p> + <p> + “Pretty nearly; but it is much the same as that which appears in the world + under the different disguises of religion.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust you do not mean to assert that love and religion are the same + thing, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “I do; the terms are purely convertible. Love is the universal religion of + man, and he is most religious who feels it most; that is your only genuine + piety. For instance, I am myself in a most exalted state of that same + piety this moment, and have been so for a considerable time past.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Clinton felt a good deal embarrassed by the easy profligacy that was + expressed in these sentiments, and she made an effort to change the + subject. + </p> + <p> + “Are you taking part in the canvass which is going on in the country, Mr. + Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Not much,” said he; “I despise politics as much as I cherish the little + rosy god; but really, Miss Clinton, I feel anxious to know your opinions + on marriage, and you have not stated them. Do you not think the nuptial + state the happiest?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a subject I feel no inclination whatsoever to discuss, Mr. Burke; it + is a subject which, personally speaking, has never occupied from me one + moment's thought; and, having said so much, I trust you will have the + goodness to select some other topic for conversation.” + </p> + <p> + “But I am so circumstanced, just now, Miss Clinton, that I cannot really + change it. The truth is, that I have felt very much attached to you for + some time past—upon my word and honor I have: it's a fact, I assure + you, Miss Clinton; and I now beg to make you a tender of myself and—and—of + all I am possessed of. I am a most ardent admirer of yours; and the upmost + extent of my ambition is to become an accepted one. Do then, my dear Miss + Clinton, allow me the charming privilege—pray, do.” + </p> + <p> + “What will be the consequence if I do not?” she replied, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word and honor, I shall go nearly distracted, and get quite + melancholy; my happiness depends upon you, Miss Clinton; you are a very + delightful girl, quite a <i>nonpareil</i>, and I trust you will treat me + with kindness and consideration.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” replied the lady, “I am much obliged for the preference you + express for me; but whether you are serious or in jest, I can only say + that I have no notion of matrimony; that I have never had any notion of + it; and that I can safely say, I have never seen the man whom I should + wish to call my husband. You will oblige me very much, then, if in future + you forbear to introduce this subject. Consider it a forbidden one, so far + as I am concerned, for I feel quite unworthy of so gifted and accomplished + a gentleman as Mr. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not discard me surely, Miss Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “On that subject, unquestionably.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, my dear Miss Clinton, you will not say so; do not be so cruel; + you will distress me greatly, I assure you. I am very much deficient in + firmness, and your cruelty will afflict me and depress my spirits.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust not, Mr. Burke. Your spirits are naturally good, and I have no + doubt but you will ultimately overcome this calamity—at least I + sincerely hope so.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Miss Clinton, you little know the heart I have, nor my capacity for + feeling; my feelings, I assure you, are exceedingly tender, and I get + quite sunk under disappointment. Come, Miss Clinton, you must not deprive + me altogether of hope; it is too cruel. Do not say no forever.” + </p> + <p> + The arch girl shook her head with something of mock solemnity, and + replied, “I must indeed, Mr. Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced, and + in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue to sustain + you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a negative. I would + fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and your well-known sense + of religion, will support you under such a trial.” + </p> + <p> + This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave + it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully + understood. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Miss Clinton,” said he, rising with a countenance in which there + was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a + struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, “I must + only hope that you probably may change your mind.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was designed + to terminate the interview, “there are subjects upon which a girl of + delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I feel obliged + to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's housekeeper,” + she added, taking up a bunch of keys, “and you must permit me to wish you + a good morning,” saying which, with a cool but very polite inclination of + her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who cut anything but a + dignified figure as he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, “is + the report favorable?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “anything but favorable. I fear, Harry, you have not + played me fair in this business.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” asked the other, rather quickly. + </p> + <p> + “I fear you've prejudiced your sister against me, and that instead of + giving me a clear stage, you gave me the 'no favor' portion of the adage + only.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not in the habit of stating a falsehood, Hycy, nor of having any + assertion I make questioned; I have already told you, I think, that I + would not prejudice my sister against you. I now repeat that I have not + done so; but I cannot account for her prejudices against you any more than + I shall attempt to contradict or combat them, so far from that I now tell + you, that if she were unfortunately disposed to many you, I would endeavor + to prevent her.” + </p> + <p> + “And pray why so, Harry, if it is a fair question?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly fair; simply because I should not wish to see my sister married + to a man unburthened with any kind of principle. In fact, without the + slightest intention whatsoever, Hycy, to offer you offence, I must say + that you are not the man to whom I should entrust Maria's peace and + happiness; I am her only brother, and have a right to speak as I do. I + consider it my duty.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” replied Hycy, “if you think so, I cannot blame you; but I see + clearly that you misunderstand my character—that is all.” + </p> + <p> + They separated in a few minutes afterwards, and Hycy in a very serious and + irritable mood rode homewards. In truth his prospects at this peculiar + period were anything but agreeable. Here his love-suit, if it could be + called so, had just been rejected by Miss Clinton, in a manner that + utterly precluded all future hope in that quarter. With Kathleen Cavanagh + he had been equally unsuccessful. His brother Edward was now at home, too, + a favorite with, and inseparable from his father, who of late maintained + any intercourse that took place between himself and Hycy, with a spirit of + cool, easy sarcasm, that was worse than anger itself. His mother, also, in + consequence of her unjustifiable attempts to defend her son's + irregularities, had lost nearly all influence with her husband, and if the + latter should withdraw, as he had threatened to do, the allowance of a + hundred a year with which he supplied him, he scarcely saw on what hand he + could turn. With Kathleen Cavanagh and Miss Clinton he now felt equally + indignant, nor did his friend Harry escape a strong portion of his + ill-will. Hycy, not being overburthened with either a love or practice of + truth himself, could not for a moment yield credence to the assertion of + young Clinton, that he took no stops to prejudice his sister against him. + He took it for granted, therefore, that it was to his interference he owed + the reception he had just got, and he determined in some way or other to + repay him for the ill-services he had rendered him. + </p> + <p> + The feeling of doubt and uncertainty with which Bryan M'Mahon parted from + his landlord and Fethertonge, the agent, after the interview we have + already described, lost none of their strength by time. Hycy's memorial + had been entrusted to Chevydale, who certainly promised to put his case + strongly before the Commissioners of Excise; and Bryan at first had every + reason to suppose that he would do so. Whether in consequence of that + negligence of his promise, for which he was rather remarkable, or from + some sinister influence that may have been exercised over him, it is + difficult to say, but the fact was that Bryan had now only ten days + between him and absolute ruin. He had taken the trouble to write to the + Secretary of Excise to know if his memorial had been laid before them, and + supported by Mr. Chevydale, who, he said, knew the circumstances, and + received a reply, stating that no such memorial had been sent, and that + Mr. Chevydale had taken no steps in the matter whatsoever. We shall not + now enter into a detail of all the visits he had made to his landlord, + whom he could never see a second time, however, notwithstanding repeated + solicitations to that effect. Fethertonge he did see, and always was + assured by him that his case was safe and in good hands. + </p> + <p> + “You are quite mistaken, Bryan,” said he, “if you think that either he or + I have any intention of neglecting your affair. You know yourself, + however, that he has not a moment for anything at the present time but + this confounded election. The contest will be a sharp one, but when it is + over we will take care of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but it will then be too late,” replied Bryan; “I will be then a + ruined man.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear Bryan, will you put no confidence in your friends? I tell + you you will not be ruined. If they follow up the matter so as to injure + you, we shall have the whole affair overhauled, and justice done you; + otherwise we shall bring it before Parliament.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be all very well,” replied Bryan, “but it is rather odd that he + has not taken a single step in it yet.” + </p> + <p> + “The memorial is before the Board,” said the other, “for some time, and we + expect an answer every day.” + </p> + <p> + “But I know to the contrary,” replied Bryan, “for here is a letther from + the Secretary stating that no such memorial ever came before them.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind that,” replied Fethertonge, “he may not have seen it. The + Secretary! Lord bless you, he never reads a tenth of the memorials that go + in. Show me the letter. See there now—he did not write it all; don't + you see his signature is in a different, hand? Why will you not put + confidence in your friends, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “Because,” replied the independent and honest young fellow, “I don't think + they're entitled to it—from me. They have neglected my business very + shamefully, after having led me to think otherwise. I have no notion of + any landlord suffering his tenant to be ruined before his face without + lifting a finger to prevent it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! fie, Bryan, you are now losing your temper. I shall say no more to + you. Still I can make allowances. However, go home, and keep your mind + easy, we shall take care of you, notwithstanding your ill humor. Stay—you + pass Mr. Clinton's—will you be good! enough to call and tell Harry + Clinton I wish to speak to him, and I will feel obliged?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, sir,” replied Bryan, “with pleasure. I wish you good morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Could it be possible,” he added, “that the hint Hycy Burke threw out + about young Clinton has any truth in it—'Harry Clinton will do you + an injury;' but more he would not say. I will now watch him well, for I + certainly cannot drame why he should be my enemy.” + </p> + <p> + He met Clinton on the way, however, to whom he delivered the message. + </p> + <p> + “I am much obliged to you,” said he, “I was already aware of it; but now + that I have met you, M'Mahon, allow me to ask if you have not entrusted a + memorial to the care of Mr. Chevydale, in order that it might be sent up + strongly supported by him to the Board of Excise?” + </p> + <p> + “I have,” said Bryan, “and it has been sent, if I am to believe Mr. + Fethertonge.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen to me, my honest friend—don't believe Fethertonge, nor don't + rely on Chevydale, who will do nothing more nor less than the agent allows + him. If you depend upon either or both, you are a ruined man, and I am + very much afraid you are that already. It has not been sent; but observe + that I mention this in confidence, and with an understanding that, for the + present, you will not name me in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “I sartinly will not,” replied Bryan, who was forcibly struck with the + truth and warmth of interest that were evident in his language and manner; + “and here is a letter that I received this very mornin' from the Secretary + of Excise, stating that no memorial on my behalf has been sent up to them + at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, just so; that is the true state of the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “What, in God's name, am I to do, then?” asked Bryan, in a state of great + and evident perplexity. + </p> + <p> + “I shall tell you; go to an honest man—I don't say, observe, that + Chevydale is not honest; but he is weak and negligent, and altogether the + slave and dupe of his agent. Go to-morrow morning early, about eight + o'clock, fetch another memorial, and wait upon Major Vanston; state your + case to him plainly and simply, and, my life for yours, he will not + neglect you, at all events. Get a fresh memorial drawn up this very day.” + </p> + <p> + “I can easily do that,” said Bryan, “for I have a rough copy of the one I + sent; it was Hycy Burke drew it up.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke,” repeated Clinton, starting with surprise, “do you tell me + so?” + </p> + <p> + “Sartinly,” replied the other, “why do you ask?” + </p> + <p> + Clinton shook his head carelessly. “Well,” he said, “I am glad of it; it + is better late than never. Hycy Burke”—he paused and looked serious + a moment,—“yes,” he added, “I am glad of it. Go now and follow my + advice, and you will have at least a chance of succeeding, and perhaps of + defeating your enemies, that is, if you have any.” + </p> + <p> + The pressure of time rendered energy and activity necessary in the case of + Bryan; and, accordingly, about eight o'clock next morning, he was seeking + permission to speak to the man against whom he and his family had always + conscientiously voted—because he had been opposed to the spirit and + principles of their religion. + </p> + <p> + Major Vanston heard his case with patience, inquired more minutely into + the circumstances, asked where Ahadarra was, the name of his landlord, and + such other circumstance as were calculated to make the case clear. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, who drew up this memorial?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Hycy Burke, sir,” replied Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, indeed,” said he, glancing with a singular meaning at M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “You and Burke are intimate then?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, we are, sir,” replied Bryan, “on very good terms.” + </p> + <p> + “And now—Mr.'Burke has obliged you, I suppose, because you have + obliged him?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't know that he has obliged me much,” said Bryan, “but I know + that I have obliged him a good deal.” + </p> + <p> + Vanston nodded and seemed satisfied. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” he proceeded; “but, with respect to this memorial. I can't + promise you much. Leave it with me, however, and you shall probably hear + from me again. I fear we are late in point of time; indeed, I have but + faint hopes of it altogether, and I would not recommend you to form any + strong expectations from the interference of any one; still, at the same + time,” he added, looking significantly at him, “I don't desire you to + despair altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “He has as much notion,” thought Bryan, “of troubling his head about me or + my memorial, as I have for standin' candidate for the county. D—n + them all! they think of nobody but themselves!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII.—A Family Dialogue + </h2> + <h3> + —Ahadarra not in for it—Bryan's Vote. + </h3> + <p> + Honest Jemmy Burke, we have already said, had brought home his second son, + Edward, from school, for the purpose of training him to agricultural + pursuits, having now abandoned all notions of devoting him to the Church, + as he would have done had Hycy manifested towards him even the ordinary + proofs of affection and respect. + </p> + <p> + “You druv me to it, Rosha,” said he to his wife; “but I'll let you both + know that I'm able to be masther in my own house still. You have made your + pet what he is; but I tell you that if God hasn't said it, you'll curse + one another with bitther hearts yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sure you have your own way,” replied his wife, “but you wor ever + and always self-willed and headstrong. However, it's all the mane blood + that's in you; it breaks your heart to see your son a gintleman; but in + spite of your strong brogues and felt caubeen, a gentleman he is, and a + gentleman he will be, an' that's all I have to say about it. You'll tache + your pet to hate his brother, I'll go bail.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, Rosha,” he replied, “I know my duty to God and my childre' + betther than to turn them against one another; but it's only a proof of + how little you know about Edward and his warm and lovin' heart, when you + spake as you do.” + </p> + <p> + This indeed was true. Edward Burke was but a short time at home when he + saw clearly how matters stood in the family. He was in fact a youth of a + most affectionate and generous disposition, and instead of attempting to + make the breach wider, as Hycy had he been in his place would have done, + he did everything in his power to put the parties into a good state of + feeling with each other, and to preserve peace and harmony in the family. + </p> + <p> + One morning, a few days after Hycy's rejection by Miss Clinton, they were + all at breakfast, “the accomplished” being in one of his musical and + polite moods, his father bland but sarcastic, and Edward in a state of + actual pain on witnessing the wilful disrespect or rather contempt that + was implied by Hycy towards his parents. “Well, Ned,” said his father, + “didn't we spend a pleasant evenin' in Gerald Cavanagh's last night? Isn't + Kathleen a darlin'?” + </p> + <p> + “She is a delightful girl,” replied Edward, “it can't be denied; indeed, I + don't think I ever saw so beautiful a girl, and as for her figure, it is + perfect—perfect.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the father, “and it's she that knows the difference between a + decent sensible boy and a—gintleman—a highflyer. She was both + kind and civil to you, Ned.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know as to the kindness,” replied Edward; “but she was certainly + civil and agreeable, and I don't think it's in her nature to be anything + else.” + </p> + <p> + “Except when she ought,” said his father; “but listen, Ned—dress + yourself up, get a buff waistcoat, a green jockey coat, a riding whip, and + a pair o' shinin' top-boots, titivate yourself up like a dandy, then go to + her wid lavendher water on your pocket-handkerchy, an' you'll see how + she'll settle you. Be my sowl, you'll be the happy boy when you get her; + don't you think so, Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, Mr. Burke, when you speak you shame an Oracle; as for + Master Ned—why— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'I'm owre young,—I'm owre young, + I'm owre young to marry yet, + I'm owre young, 'twould be a sin + To take me from my Daddy yet.' +</pre> + <p> + I think, Master Edward, the Boy-god has already taken occupation; the + vituline affection for the fair Katsey has set in; heigho, what a + delightful period of life is that soft and lickful one of calf love, when + the tongue rolls about the dripping lips, the whites of the eyes are + turned towards the divine, the ox-eyed Katsey, and you are ready to + stagger over and blare out the otherwise unutterable affection.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well described, Hycy, I see you have not forgotten your Homer yet; + but really Kathleen Cavanagh is a perfect Juno, and has the large, liquid, + soft ox-eye in perfection.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me look at you,” said Hycy, turning round and staring at him with a + good deal of surprise; “begad, brother Ned, let me ask where you got your + connoisseurship upon women? eh? Oh, in the dictionary, I suppose, where + the common people say everything is to be found. Observe me, Mr. Burke, + you are taking your worthy son out of his proper vocation, the Church. + Send him to 'Maynewth,' he is too good a connoisseur on beauty to be out + of the Tribunal.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” replied his brother, “these are sentiments that do you no credit, + it is easy to sneer at religion or those who administer it,—much + easier than to praise the one, it would appear, or imitate the virtues of + the other.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +“Beautiful rebuke,” said Hycy, again staring at him; “why, Masther +Edward, you are a prodigy of wonderful sense and unspotted virtue; love + has made you eloquent—“'I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue, + I gat my death frae twa sweet e'en, + Twa lovely e'en o' bonnie blue, &c, &c.'” + </pre> + <p> + “I am not in love yet, Hycy, but as my father wishes to bring about a + marriage between Kathleen and myself, you know,” he added, smiling, “it + will be my duty to fall in love with her as fast as I can.” + </p> + <p> + “Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and + gentlemanly parent,—to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put + forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and + the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why + sittest thou so silent and so sad?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy,” replied his mother, whom Edward's + return had cast into complete dejection, “when I see your father strivin' + to put between his own childre'.” + </p> + <p> + “Me, Rosha!” exclaimed her husband; “God forgive you for that! but when I + see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or + civility—no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma + to try if I can't find affection in his brother.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said she, “that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your + eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among a + family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see my + heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was,” and as she spoke the + words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic—“where is the pride and + dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the mother + of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon the + pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and—give me another cup of tea.” + </p> + <p> + Edward shook his head at him, as if remonstrating against this most + undutiful and contemptuous style of conversation to his mother. “Don't + give way to tears, my dear mother,” he said; “indeed you do my father + injustice; he has neither said nor done anything to turn me against Hycy. + Why should he? So far from that, I know that he loves Hycy at heart, all + that he wishes is that Hycy would speak to him in his natural voice, and + treat him with respect, and the feeling that surely is due to him. And so + Hycy will, father; I am sure he respects and loves you in spite of this + levity and affectation. All we want is for each to give up a little of his + own way—when you become more respectful, Hycy, my father's manner + will change too: let us be at least sincere and natural with each other, + and there is nothing that I can see to prevent us from living very + happily.” + </p> + <p> + “I have some money saved,” said Burke, turning to his wife—“a good + penny—too, more than the world thinks; and I declare to my God I + would give it twice over if I could hear that young man,” pointing to + Hycy, “speak these words with the same heart and feelings of him that + spoke them; but I fear that 'ud be a hopeless wish on my part, an' ever + will.” + </p> + <p> + “No, father,” said Edward, “it will not—Hycy and you will soon + understand one another. Hycy will see what, his duty towards you is, and, + sooner than be the means of grieving your heart, he will change the + foolish and thoughtless habit that offends you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Edward, may God grant it,” exclaimed his father rising up from + breakfast, “and that's all I have to say——God grant it!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Sir Oracle, junior,” said Hycy, after his father had gone out, “or + rather Solomon Secundus, if you are now an unfledged philosopher on our + hand, what will you not be when your opinions are grown?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear brother,” replied Edward, I cannot see what on earth you can + propose to yourself by adopting this ridiculous style of conversation I + cannot really see any object you can have in it. If it be to vex or annoy + my father, can you blame him if he feels both vexed and annoyed at it. + </p> + <p> + “Most sapiently said, Solomon Secundus— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Solomon Lob was a ploughman stout, + And a ranting cavalier; + And, when the civil war broke out, + It quickly did appear + That Solomon Lob was six feet high, + And fit for a grenadier. + So Solomon Lob march'd boldly forth + To sounds of bugle horns + And a weary march had Solomon Lob, + For Solomon Lob had corns. + Row,—ra—ra—row—de—dow.' +</pre> + <p> + “And so I wish you a good morning, most sapient Solomon. I go on business + of importance affecting—the welfare of the nation, or rather of the + empire at large—embracing all these regions, antipodial and + otherwise, on which the sun never sets. Good morning, therefore; and, + maternal relative, wishing the same to thee, with a less copious + exhibition of the hydraulics, a-hem!” + </p> + <p> + “Where is he going, mother, do you know?” asked Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I don't know, Edward,” she replied; “he seldom or never tells us + anything about his motions; but it vexes me to think that his father won't + make any allowance for his lightheartedness and fine spirits. Sure now, + Edward, you know yourself it's not raisonable to have a young man like him + mumpin' and mopin' about, as if there was a wake in the house?” + </p> + <p> + The only reply Edward made to this weak and foolish speech was, “Yes; but + there is reason in everything, my dear mother. I have heard,” he added, + “that he is working for the Tory candidate, Vanston, and hope it is not + true.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said his mother, “what differ does it make?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied the other, “that Vanston votes to keep us slaves, and + Chevydale to give us our political freedom: the one is opposed to our + religion and our liberty, and the other votes for both.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, as to religion,” observed the mother, “the poor boy doesn't + trouble his head much about it—bat it's not aisy for one that goes + into jinteel society to do so—an' that's what makes Hycy ait mate of + a Friday as fast as on any other day.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry to hear that, mother,” replied Edward; “but Hycy is a very + young man still, and will mend all these matters yet.” + </p> + <p> + “And that's what I'm tellin' his father,” she replied; “and if you'd only + see the way he looks at me, and puts a <i>cuir</i> (* a grin—mostly + of contempt) upon him so bitther that it would a'most take the skin off + one.” + </p> + <p> + Edward's observations with respect to Hycy's having taken a part in + forwarding the interests of Major Vanston were not without foundation. He + and Bryan M'Mahon had of late been upon very good terms; and it so + happened that in the course of one of their conversations about Kathleen + Cavanagh, Bryan had mentioned to him the fact of Kathleen's having heard + that he was pledged to vote with Vanston, and repeated the determination + to which she had resolved to come if he should do so. Now, it so happened, + that a portion of this was already well known to Hycy himself, who, in + fact, was the very individual who had assured Major Vanston, and those who + canvassed for him, that he himself had secured Bryan. On hearing now from + Bryan that Kathleen had put the issue of their affection upon his + political truth and consistency he resolved to avail himself of that + circumstance if he could. On hearing, besides, however, that Harry Clinton + had actually sent him (M'Mahon) to Vanston, and on being told, in the + course of conversation, that that gentleman asked who had drawn up the + memorial, he felt that every circumstance was turning in his favor; for he + determined now to saddle Clinton with the odium which, in this treacherous + transaction, was most likely to fall upon himself. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention here to describe the brutal and disgraceful scenes + that occur at an election. It is enough to say that, after a long, bitter, + and tedious struggle, the last day of it arrived. Bryan M'Mahon, having + fully satisfied himself that his landlord had not taken a single step to + promote his interests in the matter of the memorial, resolved from the + beginning not to vote in his favor, and, of course, not to vote at all. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the last day, with the exception of himself alone, a + single voter had not been left unpolled; and the position of the two + candidates was very peculiar, both having polled exactly the same number + of votes, and both being consequently equal. + </p> + <p> + Bryan, having left home early, was at breakfast about eleven o'clock, in a + little recess off the bar of the head-inn, which was divided from one end + of the coffee-room by a thin partition of boards, through which anything + spoken in an ordinary tone of voice in that portion of the room could be + distinctly heard. Our readers may judge of his surprise on hearing the + following short but pithy dialogue of which he himself formed the subject + matter. The speakers, with whom were assembled several of his landlord's + committee, being no other than that worthy gentleman and his agent. + </p> + <p> + “What's to be done?” asked Chevydale; “here is what we call a dead heat. + Can no one prevail on that obstinate scoundrel, the Ahadarra man—what + do ye call, him? M'Master—M'Manus—-M'—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” replied Fethertonge, “I fear not; but, at all events, we must + try him again. Vote or not, however, we shall soon clear him out of + Ahadarra—we shall punish his insolence for daring to withhold his + vote; for, as sure as my name is Fethertonge, out he goes. The fine and + distillation affair, however, will save us a good deal of trouble, and of + course I am very glad you declined to have anything to do with the support + of his petition. The fellow is nothing else than shuffler, as I told you. + Vote or not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he does, I have + a good tenant to put in his place.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore + that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should never + go to the support of such a man. + </p> + <p> + Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle + arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and + inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied the postmaster; “but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him I + have here one for him, from Major Vanston—it's his frank and his + handwriting.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm going directly to him,” said Hycy, “and will bring it to him; so you + had better hand it here.” + </p> + <p> + The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his + way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making. + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in + the stable and entered the parlor, “will you fetch me a candle and some + warm water?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Nanny; “but you must wait till I boil some, for there's + none hot.” + </p> + <p> + “Be quick, then,” said he, “for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door + after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I have + spoken to you about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Becaise it's never done,” she replied; “nobody ever bids me shut it but + yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll thank you,” he said, “to pay more attention to what I say to + you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny; and, + mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall pitch + your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here.” + </p> + <p> + “Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone now and get me the hot water,” he said, with a frown of anger and + vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which the + possession of Vanston's letter had already put him. + </p> + <p> + We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable + manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is enough + to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to peruse the + contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:— + </p> + <p> + Sir,—I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from + the Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much + pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory + result of your memorial. + </p> + <p> + “I am, sir, very sincerely yours, + </p> + <p> + “Egbert Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, + </p> + <p> + “Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + (The enclosed.) + </p> + <p> + “Sir,—I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of + Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial to + the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the + circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character which + memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce the + fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The + Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way + connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his + property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have not + the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law has + given them authority. + </p> + <p> + “I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant, + </p> + <p> + “Francis Fathom. + </p> + <p> + “To Major Vanston, &c, &c.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as + to evade all suspicion of their having been opened. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” thought he, “what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is + possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for I + know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be thrown + by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First and + foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I + establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure Vanston + the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory gentleman + that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into truth, and make + Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it was by Harry + Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift the odium of his + voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose body, by the way, + does not contain a single bone that I like; and, thirdly, having by his + apostacy and treachery, as it will be called, placed an insurmountable + barrier between himself and the divine Katsey, I will change my course + with Jemmy, the gentleman—my sarcastic dad—return and get + reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and by becoming a good + Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt but I shall secure the + 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other morning. This, I think, + will be making the most of the cards, and, as the moment is critical, I + shall seek the clod-hopper and place this seasonable communication in his + hands.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly rode rapidly into town again, where he had not been many + minutes when he met M'Mahon, burning with indignation at the language of + his landlord and the agent. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot have patience, Hycy,” he exclaimed, “under such scoundrelly + language as this; and while I have breath in my body, he never shall have + my vote!” + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Bryan?” he asked; “you seem flushed.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, Hycy, because I am flushed, and not without reason. I tell you that + my landlord, Chevydale, is a scoundrel, and Fethertonge a deceitful + villain.” + </p> + <p> + “Pooh, man, is that by way of information? I thought you had something in + the shape of novelty to tell me. What has happened, however, and why are + you in such a white heat of indignation?” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon immediately detailed the conversation which he had overheard + behind the bar of the inn, and we need scarcely assure our readers that + Hycy did not omit the opportunity of throwing oil upon the fire which + blazed so strongly. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “I know the agent to be a scoundrel, and what is nearer + the case still, I have every reason—but you must not ask me to state + them yet,—I have every reason to suspect that it is Fethertonge, + countenanced by Chevydale, who is at the bottom of the distillation affair + that has ruined you. The fact is, they are anxious to get you out of + Ahadarra, and thought that by secretly ruining you, they could most + plausibly effect it.” + </p> + <p> + “I have now no earthly doubt of it, Hycy,” replied the other. + </p> + <p> + “You need not,” replied Hycy; “and maybe I'm not far astray when I say, + that the hook-nosed old Still-hound, Clinton, is not a thousand miles from + the plot. I could name others connected with some of them—but I + wont, now.” + </p> + <p> + When M'Mahon recollected the conversation which both Clinton and the agent + had held with him, with respect to violating the law, the truth of Hycy's + remark flashed upon him at once, and of course deepened his indignation + almost beyond endurance. + </p> + <p> + “They are two d—d scoundrels,” pursued Hycy, “and I have reasons, + besides, for suspecting that it was their wish, if they could have done it + successfully, to have directed your suspicions against myself.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was, in fact, already convinced of this, and felt satisfied that + he saw through and understood the whole design against him, and was + perfectly aware of those who had brought him to ruin. + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” said Hycy, “let me not forget that I have been looking for + you this hour or two; here is a letter I got for you in! the post-office + this morning. It has Vanston's frank, and I think is in his handwriting.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's face, on perusing the letter, beamed with animation and delight. + “Here, Hycy,” said he, “read that; I'm safe yet, thank God, and not a + ruined man, as the villains thought to make me.” + </p> + <p> + “By my soul and honor, Bryan,” exclaimed the other, “that is noble on the + part of Vanston, especially towards an individual from whom, as well as + from his whole family, he has ever experienced the strongest opposition. + However, if I were in your coat, I certainly would not suffer him to outdo + me in generosity. Good heavens! only contrast such conduct with that of + the other scoundrel, his opponent, and then see the conclusion you must + come to.” + </p> + <p> + “Let Vanston be what he may, he's an honest man,” replied Bryan, “and in + less than ten minutes I'll have him the sittin' member. I would be + ungrateful and ungenerous, as you say, Hycy, not to do so. Come along—come + along, I bid you. I don't care what they say. The man that saved me—who + was his enemy—from ruin, will have my vote.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly proceeded towards the court house, and on their way Hycy + addressed him as follows:—“Now, Bryan, in order to give your conduct + an appearance of greater generosity, I will pretend to dissuade you + against voting for Vanston, or, rather, I will endeavor, as it were, to + get your vote for Chevydale. This will make the act more manly and + determined on your part, and consequently one much more high-minded and + creditable to your reputation. You will show them, besides, that you are + not the cowardly slave of your landlord.” + </p> + <p> + It was accordingly so managed; the enthusiastic gratitude of the young man + overcame all considerations; and in a few minutes Major Vanston was + declared by the sheriff duly elected, by a majority of one vote only. + </p> + <p> + It is no part of our intention to describe the fierce sensation which this + victory created among the greater portion of the people. The tumult + occasioned by their indignation and fury was outrageous and ruffianly as + usual; but as the election had now terminated, it soon ceased, and the + mobs began to disperse to their respective homes. Bryan for some three + hours or so was under the protection of the military, otherwise he would + have been literally torn limb from limb. In the mean time we must follow + Hycy. + </p> + <p> + This worthy and straightforward young gentleman, having now accomplished + his purpose, and been the means of M'Mahon having exposed himself to + popular vengeance, took the first opportunity of withdrawing from him + secretly, and seeking Vanston's agent. Having found him, and retired out + of hearing, he simply said— + </p> + <p> + “I will trouble you for three hundred.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have it,” replied that honest gentleman; “you shall have it. We + fully acknowledge the value of your services in this matter; it is to them + we owe our return.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no doubt in the matter,” replied Hycy; “but you know not my + difficulty, nor the dexterous card I had to play in accomplishing my + point.” + </p> + <p> + “We are sensible of it all,” replied the other; “here,” said he, pulling + out his pocket-book, “are three notes for one hundred each.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me two fifties,” said Hycy, “instead of this third note, and you + will oblige me. By the way, here is the major.” With this the other + immediately complied, without the major having been in any way cognizant + of the transaction. + </p> + <p> + On entering the inner room where they stood, Vanston shook hands most + cordially with Hycy, and thanked him in very warm language for the part he + took, to which he had no hesitation in saying he owed his return. + </p> + <p> + “Look upon me henceforth as a friend, Mr. Burke,” he added, “and a sincere + one, who will not forget the value of your influence with the young man + whose vote has gained me the election. I have already served him + essentially,—in fact saved him from ruin, and I am very glad of it.” + </p> + <p> + “I really feel very much gratified, Major Vanston, that I have had it in + my power,” replied Hycy, “to render you any service of importance; and if + I ever should stand in need of a favor at your hands, I shall not hesitate + to ask it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor I to grant it, Mr. Burke, if it be within the reach of my influence.” + </p> + <p> + “In the mean time,” said Hycy, “will you oblige me with a single franc?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Mr. Burke; with half a dozen of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir, one will be quite sufficient; I require no more.” + </p> + <p> + The major, however, gave him half a dozen of them, and after some further + chat, and many expressions of obligation on the part of the new M.P., Hycy + withdrew. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX.—Bryan Bribed—is Rejected by Kathleen. + </h2> + <p> + In the course of about two or three hours after the transaction already + stated, old Peety Dim was proceeding towards the post-office with a + letter, partly in his closed hand, and partly up the inside of his sleeve, + so as that it might escape observation. The crowds were still tumultuous, + but less so than in the early part of the day; for, as we said, they were + diminishing in numbers, those who had been so long from home feeling a + natural wish to return to their families and the various occupations and + duties of life which they had during this protracted contest been forced + to neglect. Peety had got as far as the market-house—which was about + the centre of the street—on his way, we say, to the post-office, + when he met his daughter Nanny, who, after a few words of inquiry, asked + him where he was going. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, an' that's more than I dare tell you,” he replied. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” she said, “is there a saicret in it, I'm sure you needn't keep it + from me, whatever it is.” + </p> + <p> + This she added in a serious and offended tone, which, however, was not + lost on the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, “considherin' the man he is, an' what you know about him, + I think I may as well tell you. It's a letther I'm bringin' to slip into + the post-office, unknownst.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it from Hycy?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “From Hycy, and no other.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll hould a wager,” she replied, “that that's the very letther I seen + him openin' through the key hole doar this mornin'. Do you know who it's + to?” she inquired. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, the sorra know; he said it was a love-letther, and that he did not + wish to be seen puttin' it in himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait,” said she, “give it to me here for a minute; here's Father M'Gowan + comin' up, and I'll ax him who it's directed to.” + </p> + <p> + She accordingly took the letter out of his hand, and approaching the + priest, asked him the name of the person to whom it was addressed. + </p> + <p> + “Plaise your reverence,” she said, “what name's on the back of this?—I + mane,” said she, “who is goin' to?” + </p> + <p> + The priest looked at it, and at once replied, “It is goin' to Bryan + M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, the traitor, and it comes from Major Vanston, the + enemy to his liberty and religion, that his infamous vote put into + Parliament, to rivet our chains, and continue our degradation. So there, + girl, you have now the bigot from whom it comes, and the apostate to whom + it goes. Who gave it to you?” + </p> + <p> + Nanny, who from some motives of her own, felt reluctant to mention Hycy's + name in the matter, hastily replied, “A person, plaise your reverence, + from Major Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, girl, discharge your duty,” said the priest; “but I tell you + the devil will never sleep well till he has his clutches in the same + Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted.” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two + afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put + it into the post-office. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said she to her father, “the people is scatterin' themselves + homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear—but listen—that + letter is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office + here; Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may + be passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the + post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day, + or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some scheme + afoot.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny.” + </p> + <p> + “Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,—always + does indeed wherever he meets me.” + </p> + <p> + “No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion + of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell + you why I bid you, some day soon.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I say + he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him.” + </p> + <p> + Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man + would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street in the + direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for groceries. + </p> + <p> + Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and the + evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the + post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was a + letter for him. + </p> + <p> + The post-master searched again, and replied, “No; but here's another for + Bryan M'Mahon.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” he exclaimed, “another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive + correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from.” + </p> + <p> + “There's no wonder at all about it,” replied the post-master, “it's from + Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and all.” + </p> + <p> + “Allow me to look,” said Hycy, glancing at it. “Yes, you are quite right, + that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever. I will + not fetch him this letter,” he proceeded, “because I know not when I may + see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him.” + </p> + <p> + Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the + post-office, on seeing Hycy approach, that he might overhear this + conversation without being seen, felt, considerably surprised that Hycy + should seem to have been ignorant that there was a letter for M'Mahon, + seeing that it was he himself who had sent it there. He consequently began + to feel that there was some mystery in the matter; but whatever it might + be, he knew that it was beyond his power to develop. + </p> + <p> + On coming forward from the dark part of the shop, where he had been + standing, he asked the post-master if there was a second letter for + M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied the man, “there is only the one. If you see him, tell him + there's a letter from Major Vanston in the office for him.” + </p> + <p> + We must still trace Hycy's motions. On leaving the post-office, he went + directly to the Head Inn, where he knew Bryan M'Mahon was waiting until + the town should become perfectly calm and quiet. Here he found Bryan, + whose mind was swayed now to one side and now to another, on considering + the principle on which he had voted, and the consequences to which that + act might expose him. + </p> + <p> + “I know I will have much to endure,” he thought, while pacing the room by + himself in every way, “but I little value anything the world at large may + think or say, so that I don't lose the love and good opinion of Kathleen + Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Bryan,” said Hycy, as he entered, “I think you must provide a + secretary some of these days, your correspondence is increasing so + rapidly.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” inquired the other. + </p> + <p> + “Simply that there's another letter in the post-office for you, and if I + don't mistake, from the same hand—that of our friend the Major.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not aware of anything he could have to write to me about now,” + replied Bryan; “I wonder what can it be?” + </p> + <p> + “If you wish I shall fetch you the letter,” said Hycy, “as you have an + objection I suppose to go out until the town is empty.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Hycy, I'll feel obliged to you if you do; and Hycy, by the + way, I am sorry that you and I ever mistook or misunderstood one another; + but sich things happen to the best of friends, and why should we hope to + escape?” + </p> + <p> + “Speak only for yourself, Bryan,” replied Hycy, “the misunderstanding was + altogether on your side, not on mine. I always knew your value and + esteemed you accordingly. I shall fetch your letter immediately.” + </p> + <p> + On returning he placed the document aforesaid in M'Mahon's hands, and + said, in imitation of his friend Teddy Phats—“Come now, read her + up.” Bryan opened the letter, and in the act of doing so a fifty pound + note presented itself, of which, as it had been cut in two, one half fell + to the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo!” exclaimed Hycy, suddenly taking it up, “this looks well—what + have we here? A fifty pound note!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Bryan; “but why cut in two? here however is something + written, too—let me see— + </p> + <p> + “'Accept this as an earnest of better things for important services. The + fine imposed upon you has been reduced to fifty pounds—this will pay + it. + </p> + <p> + “A DEEPLY OBLIGED FRIEND.'” + </p> + <p> + The two young men looked at each other for some time without speaking. At + length M'Mahon's face became crimsoned with indignation! + </p> + <p> + “Who could have dared to do this?” said he, once more looking at the + bank-note and the few lines that accompanied it. “Who durst suppose that a + M'Mahon would sell his vote for a bribe? Did Vanston suppose that money + would sway me? for this I am sure must be his work.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” replied Hycy; “don't be too sure that it's + not some one that wishes you worse than Vanston does. In my opinion, + Bryan, that letter and the note contained in it were sent to you by some + one who wishes to have it whispered abroad that you were bribed. It surely + could not be Vanston's interest to injure your character or your + circumstances in any sense; and I certainly think him too honorable to + deal in an anonymous bribe of that kind.” + </p> + <p> + “Some scoundrel has done it, that's clear; but what would you have me to + do, Hycy? You are up to life and know the world a great deal better than I + do; how ought I to act now?” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you candidly, my dear Bryan, how I think you ought to act, or + at least how I would act myself if I were in your place.” He then paused + for a minute and proceeded:—“You know I may be wrong, Bryan, but I + shall advise you at all events honestly, and to the best of my ability. I + would keep this letter and this note, and by the way, what else can you + do?—I would say nothing whatsoever about it. The secret, you know, + rests with yourself and me, with the exception of the party that sent it. + Now, mark me, I say—if the party that sent this be a friend, there + will be no more about it—it will drop into the grave; but if it came + from an enemy the cry of bribery will be whispered about, and there will + be an attack made on your character. In this case you can be at no loss as + to the source from whence the communication came—Fethertonge will + then most assuredly be the man; or, harkee, who knows but the whole thing + is an electioneering trick resorted to for the purpose of impugning your + vote, and of getting Vanston out on petition and scrutiny. Faith and + honor, Bryan, I think that this last is the true reading.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm inclined to agree with you there,” replied Bryan, “that looks like + the truth; and even then I agree with you still that Fethertonge is at the + bottom of it. Still how am I to act?” + </p> + <p> + “In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said. Keep the letter and the + bank-note; say nothing about it—that is clearly your safest plan; do + not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be + necessary to your own character to show them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy. As you say no one knows the + secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say + nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered + about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me by + any bargain of mine.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as + much as to say—“Exactly so, that is precisely the fact,” and thus + ended the dialogue. + </p> + <p> + We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath + necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most minute + speck will be offensively visible. So it is with human character and + integrity. Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary + reputation—to a family who had generally participated in all the + good and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of + society, his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party + for a very brief period—just as other votes given from the usual + motives—sometimes right and honorable—sometimes wrong and + corrupt—usually do. In his case, however, there was something + calculated to startle and alarm all those who knew and were capable of + appreciating the stainless honor and hereditary integrity of the family. + The M'Mahon's, though inoffensive and liberal in their intercourse with + the world, even upon matters of a polemical nature, were nevertheless + deeply and devotedly attached to their own religion, and to all those who + in any way labored or contributed to relieve it of its disabilities, and + restore those who professed it to that civil liberty which had been so + long denied them. This indeed was very natural on the part of the + M'Mahons, who would sooner have thought of taking to the highway, or + burning their neighbor's premises, than supporting the interests or + strengthening the hands of any public man placed, in a position to use a + hostile influence against them. There was only one other family in the + barony, who in all that the M'Mahon's felt respecting their religion and + civil liberty, Were far in advance of them. These were the Cavanaghs, + between whom and the M'Mahons their existed so many strong points of + resemblance that they only differed from the others in degree—especially + on matters connected with religion and its privileges. In these matters + the Cavanaghs were firm, stern, and inflexible—nay, so heroic was + the enthusiasm and so immovable the attachment of this whole family to + their creed, that we have no hesitation whatever in saying that they would + have laid down their lives in its defence, or for its promotion, had such + a sacrifice been demanded from them. On such a family, then, it is + scarcely necessary to describe the effects of what was termed Bryan + M'Mahon's apostacy. The intelligence came upon them in fact like a + calamity. On the very evening before, Gerald Cavanagh, now a fierce + advocate for Edward Burke, having, in compliance with old Jemmy, + altogether abandoned Hycy, had been urging upon Kathleen the prudence and + propriety of giving Bryan M'Mahon up, and receiving the address of young + Burke, who was to inherit the bulk of his father's wealth and property; + and among other arguments against M'Mahon he stated a whisper then gaining + ground, that it was his intention to vote for Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “But I know to the contrary, father,” said Kathleen, “for I spoke to him + on that very subject, and Bryan M'Mahon is neither treacherous nor + cowardly, an' won't of course abandon his religion or betray it into the + hands of its enemies. Once for all, then,” she added, calmly, and with a + smile full of affection and good humor, “I say you may spare both yourself + and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you that I like + and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he really is what + his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought—a true gentleman—but + that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to conceal it, that Bryan + M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves false to his God, his + religion, and his country, I will never prove false to him nor withdraw my + affections from him.” + </p> + <p> + “For all that,” replied her father, “it's strongly suspected that he's + goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an + enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; “No, father,” said she, “by the + light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston—unless + Vanston becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless + life, but if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a + queen's, I'd stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns + traitor—let me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!” + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by which + she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity and high + moral force of her character awed them, and her father completely subdued, + simply replied:— + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter on + you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, after wiping away her tears, thanked him, and said with a smile, + and in spite of the most boundless confidence in the integrity of her + lover, “never, at any rate, father, until Bryan M'Mahon turns a traitor to + his religion and his country.” + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the next day, or rather late at night, her father + returned from the scene of contest, but very fortunately for Kathleen's + peace of mind during that night, he found on inquiry that she and Hanna + had been for a considerable time in bed. The following morning Hanna, who + always took an active share in the duties of the family, and who would + scarcely permit her sister to do anything, had been up a short time before + her, and heard from her mother's lips the history of Bryan's treachery, as + it was now termed by all. We need scarcely say that she was deeply + affected, and wept bitterly. Kathleen, who rose a few minutes afterwards, + thought she saw her sister endeavoring to conceal her face, but the idea + passed away without leaving anything like a fixed impression upon it. + Hanna, who was engaged in various parts of the house, contrived still to + keep her face from the observation of her sister, until at length the + latter was ultimately struck by the circumstance as well as by Hanna's + unusual silence. Just as her father had entered to breakfast, a sob + reached her ears, and on going over to inquire if anything were wrong, + Hanna, who was now fairly overcome, and could conceal her distress no + longer, ran over, and throwing herself on Kathleen's neck, she exclaimed + in a violent burst of grief, “Kathleen, my darling sister, what will + become of you! It's all true. Bryan has proved false and a traitor; he + voted for Vanston yesterday, and that vote has put the bitter enemy of our + faith into Parliament.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan M'Mahon a traitor!” exclaimed Kathleen; “no, Hanna—no, I say—a + thousand times no. It could not be—the thing is impossible—impossible!” + </p> + <p> + “It is as true as God's in heaven, that he voted yesterday for Vanston,” + said her father; “I both seen him and heard him, an' that vote it was that + gained Vanston the election.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, whose arms were still around her sister's neck, felt her stagger + beneath her on hearing those words from her father. + </p> + <p> + “You say you saw him, father, and h'ard him vote for Vanston. You say you + did?” + </p> + <p> + “I both seen the traitor an' h'ard him,” replied the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, dear, let me sit down,” said Kathleen, and Hanna, encircling her + with one hand, drew a chair over with the other, on which, with a cheek + pale as death, her sister sat, whilst Hanna still wept with her arms about + her. After a long silence, she at last simply said:— + </p> + <p> + “I must bear it; but in this world my happiness is gone.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't take it so much to heart avourneen,” said her mother; “but, any + way, hadn't you betther see himself, an' hear what he has to say for + himself. Maybe, afther all, it's not so bad as it looks. See him, + Kathleen; maybe there's not so much harm in it yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No, mother, see him I will not, in that sense—Bryan M'Mahon a + traitor! Am I a dreamer? I am not asleep, and Bryan M'Mahon is false to + God and his country! I did think that he would give his life for both, if + he was called upon to do so; but not that he would prove false to them as + he has done.” + </p> + <p> + “He has, indeed,” said her father, “and the very person you hate so much, + bad as you think him, did all in his power to prevent him from doin' the + black deed. I seen that, too, and h'ard it. Hycy persuaded him as much as + he could against it; but he wouldn't listen to him, nor pay him any + attention.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said her sister, “the angels in heaven fell, and surely it + isn't wonderful that even a good man should be tempted and fall from the + truth as they did?” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen seemed too much abstracted by her distress to hear this. She + looked around at them all, one after another, and said in a low, composed, + and solemn voice, “All is over now between that young man and me—and + here is one request which I earnestly entreat you—every one of you—to + comply with.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it darling?” said her mother. + </p> + <p> + “It is,” she replied, “never in my hearing to mention his name while I + live. As for myself, I will never name him!” + </p> + <p> + “And think, after all,” observed her father, “of poor Hycy bein' true to + his religion!” + </p> + <p> + It would seem that her heart was struggling to fling the image of M'Mahon + from it, but without effect. It was likely she tried to hate him for his + apostacy, but she could not. Still, her spirit was darkened with scorn and + indignation at the act of dishonor which she felt her lover had committed, + just as the atmosphere is by a tempest. In fact, she detested what she + considered the baseness and treachery of the vote; but could not of a + sudden change a love so strong, so trusting, and so pure as hers, into the + passions of enmity and hatred. No sooner, however, had her father named + Hycy Burke with such approval, than the storm within her directed itself + against him, and she said, “For God's sake, father, name not that + unprincipled wretch to me any more. I hate and detest him more than any + man living he has no good quality to redeem him. Ah! Hanna, Hanna, and is + it come to this? The dream of my happiness has vanished, and I awake to + nothing now but affliction and sorrow. As for happiness, I must think of + that no more, father, after breakfast, do you go up to that young man and + tell him the resolution I have come to, and that it is over for ever + between him and. me.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after this, she once more exacted a promise from them to observe a + strict silence on the unhappy event which had occurred, and by no means + ever to attempt offering her consolation. These promises they religiously + kept, and from this forth neither M'Mahon's name nor his offence were made + the topics of any conversation that occurred between them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX.—M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar + </h2> + <h3> + —Receives his Sentence from Kathleen, and Resolves to Emigrate. + </h3> + <p> + Whatever difficulty Bryan M'Mahon had among his family in defending the + course he had taken at the election, he found that not a soul belonging to + his own party would listen to any defense from him. The indignation, + obloquy, and spirit of revenge with which he was pursued and harassed, + excited in his heart, as they would in that of any generous man conscious + of his own integrity, a principle of contempt and defiance, which, however + they required independence in him, only made matters far worse than they + otherwise would have been. He expressed neither regret nor repentance for + having voted as he did; but on the contrary asserted with a good deal of + warmth, that if the same course lay open to him he would again pursue it. + </p> + <p> + “I will never vote for a scoundrel,” said he, “and I don't think that + there is anything in my religion that makes it a duty on me to do so. If + my religion is to be supported by scoundrels, the sooner it is forced to + depend on itself the better. Major Vanston is a good landlord, and + supports the rights of his tenantry, Catholic as well as Protestant; he + saved me from ruin when my own landlord refused to interfere for me, an' + Major Vanston, if he's conscientiously opposed to my religion, is an + honest man at all events, and an honest man I'll ever support against a + rogue, and let their politics go where they generally do, go to the + devil.” + </p> + <p> + Party is a blind, selfish, infatuated monster, brutal and vehement, that + knows not what is meant by reason, justice, liberty, or truth. M'Mahon, + merely because he gave utterance with proper spirit to sentiments of plain + common sense, was assailed by every description of abuse, until he knew + not where to take refuge from that cowardly and ferocious tyranny which in + a hundred shapes proceeded from the public mob. On the Sunday after the + election, his parish priest, one of those political fire-brands, who + whether under a mitre or a white band, are equally disgraceful and + detrimental to religion and the peaceful interests of mankind—this + man, we say, openly denounced him from the altar, in language which must + have argued but little reverence for the sacred place from which it was + uttered, and which came with a very bad grace from one who affected to be + an advocate for liberty of conscience and a minister of peace. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” he proceeded, standing on the altar, “it is well known to our + disgrace and shame how the election was lost. Oh, well may I say to our + disgrace and shame. Little did I think that any one, bearing the once + respectable name of M'Mahon upon him, should turn from the interests of + his holy church, spurn all truth, violate all principle, and enter into a + league of hell with the devil and the enemies of his church. Yes, you + apostate,” he proceeded, “you have entered into a league with him, and + ever since there is devil within you. You sold yourself to his agent and + representative, Vanston, You got him to interfere for you with the Board + of Excise, and the fine that was justly imposed on you for your smugglin' + and distillin' whiskey—not that I'm runin' down our whiskey, because + it's the best drinkin of that kind we have, and drinks beautiful as + scalhleen, wid a bit of butther and sugar in it—but it's notorious + that you went to Vanston, and offered if he'd get the fine off you, that + you'd give him your vote; an' if that's not sellin' yourself to the devil, + I don't know what is. Judas did the same thing when he betrayed our Savior—the + only difference is—that he got a thirty shilling note—an' God + knows it was a beggarly bargain—when his hand was in he ought to + have done the thing dacent—and you got the fine taken off you; + that's the difference—that's the difference. But there's more to + come—more corruption where that was. Along wid the removal of the + fine you got a better note than Mr. Judas got. Do you happen to know + anything about a fifty pound note cut in two halves? Eh? Am I tickling + you? Do you happen to know anything about that, you traicherous apostate? + If you don't, I do; and plaise God before many hours the public will know + enough of it, too. How dare you, then, polute the house of God, or come in + presence of His Holy altar, wid such a crust of crimes upon your soul? Can + you deny that you entered into a league of hell wid the devil and Major + Vanston, and that you promised him your vote if he'd get the fine + removed?” + </p> + <p> + “I can,” replied Bryan; “there's not one word of truth in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear that, my friends?” exclaimed the priest; “he calls your + priest a liar upon the altar of the livin' God.” + </p> + <p> + Here M'Mahon was assailed by such a storm of groans and hisses as, to say + the least of it, was considerably at variance with the principles of + religion and the worship of God. + </p> + <p> + “Do you deny,” the priest proceeded, “that you received a bribe of fifty + pounds on the very day you voted? Answer me that.” + </p> + <p> + “I did receive a fifty-pound note in a—” + </p> + <p> + Further he could not proceed. It was in vain that he attempted to give a + true account of the letter and its enclosure; the enmity was not confined + to either groans or hisses. He was seized upon in the very chapel, dragged + about in all directions, kicked, punched, and beaten, until the + apprehension of having a murder committed in presence of God's altar + caused the priest to interfere. M'Mahon, however, was ejected from the + chapel; but in such a state that, for some minutes, it could scarcely be + ascertained whether he was alive or dead. After he had somewhat recovered, + his friends assisted him home, where he lay confined to a sick bed for + better than a week. + </p> + <p> + Such is a tolerably exact description of scenes which have too frequently + taken place in the country, to the disgrace of religion and the dishonor + of God. We are bound to say, however, that none among the priesthood + encourage or take a part in them, unless those low and bigoted firebrands + who are alike remarkable for vulgarity and ignorance, and who are + perpetually inflamed by that meddling spirit which tempts them from the + quiet path of duty into scenes of political strife and enmity, in which + they seem to be peculiarly at home. Such scenes are repulsive to the + educated priest, and to all who, from superior minds and information, are + perfectly aware that no earthly or other good, but, on the contrary, much + bitterness, strife, and evil, ever result from them. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh was by no means so deeply affected by M'Mahon's vote as + were his two daughters. He looked upon the circumstance as one calculated + to promote the views which he entertained for Kathleen's happiness. Ever + since the notion of her marriage with Hycy Burke or his brother—it + mattered little to him which—he felt exceedingly dissatisfied with + her attachment to M'Mahon. Of this weakness, which we may say, was the + only one of the family, we have already spoken. He lost little time, + however, in going to communicate his daughter's determination to that + young man. It so happened, however, that, notwithstanding three several + journeys made for the purpose, he could not see him; the fact being that + Bryan always happened to be from home when he went. Then came the + denouncing scene which we have just described, when his illness put it out + of his power, without danger to himself, to undergo anything calculated to + discompose or disturb him. The popular feeling, however, was fearfully + high and indignant against him. The report went that he had called Father + M'Pepper, the senior curate, a liar upon the very altar; and the + commencement of his explanation with respect to the fifty-pound note, was, + not unnaturally—since they would not permit him to speak—construed + into an open admission of his having been bribed. + </p> + <p> + This was severe and trying enough, but it was not all. Chevydale, whom he + unseated by his vote, after having incurred several thousand pounds of + expense, was resolved to make him suffer for the loss of his seat, as well + as for having dared to vote against him—a purpose in which he was + strongly supported, or into which, we should rather say, he was urged by + Fethertonge, who, in point of fact, now that the leases had dropped, was + negotiating a beneficial bargain with the gauger, apart from Chevydale's + knowledge, who was a feeble, weak-minded man, without experience or a + proper knowledge of his duties. In fact, he was one of,those persons who, + having no fixed character of their own, are either good or evil, according + to the principles of those by whom they happen for the time to be managed. + If Chevydale had been under the guidance of a sensible and humane agent, + he would have been a good landlord; but the fact being otherwise, he was, + in Fethertonge's hands, anything but what a landlord ought to be. Be this + as it may, the period of M'Mahon's illness passed away, and, on rising + from his sick bed, he found the charge of bribery one of universal belief, + against which scarcely any person had the courage to raise a voice. Even + Hycy suffered himself, as it were, with great regret and reluctance, to + become at length persuaded of its truth. Kathleen, on hearing that he + himself had been forced to admit it in the chapel, felt that the gloom + which had of late wrapped her in its shadow now became so black and + impervious that she could see nothing distinctly. The two facts—that + is to say, the vote and the bribery—seemed to her like some + frightful hallucination which lay upon her spirits—some formidable + illusion that haunted her night and day, and filled her whole being with + desolation and sorrow. + </p> + <p> + With respect to his own feelings, there was but one thought which gave him + concern, and this was an apprehension that Kathleen might be carried away + by the general prejudice which existed against him. + </p> + <p> + “I know Kathleen, however,” he would say; “I know her truth, her good + sense, and her affection; and, whatever the world may say, she won't + follow its example and condemn me without a hearing. I will see her + tomorrow and explain all to her. Father,” he added, “will you ask Dora if + she will walk with me to the Long-shot Meadow? I think a stroll round it + will do me good. I haven't altogether recovered my strength yet.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I will go with you, Bryan,” said the bright-eyed and + affectionate sister; “to be sure I will; it's on my way to Gerald + Cavanagh's; and I'm going down to see how they are, and to know if + something I heard about them is thrue. I want to satisfy myself; but they + musn't get on their high horse with me, I can tell them.” + </p> + <p> + “You never doubted me, Dora,” said Bryan, as they went along—“you + never supposed for a moment that I could”—he paused. “I know,” he + added, “that it doesn't look well; but you never supposed that I acted + from treachery, or deceit, or want of affection or respect for my + religion? You don't suppose that what all the country is ringin' with—that + I took a bribe or made a bargain with Vanston—is true?” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you ask me such questions?” she replied. “You acted on the spur of + the minute; and I say, afther what you heard from the landlord and agent, + if you had voted for him you'd be a mane, pitiful hound, unworthy of your + name and family. You did well to put him out. If I had been in your place, + 'out you go,' I'd say, 'you're not the man for my money.' Don't let what + the world says fret you, Bryan; sure, while you have Kathleen and me at + your back, you needn't care about them. At any rate, it's well for Father + M'Pepper that I'm not a man, or, priest as he is, I'd make a stout + horsewhip tiche him to mind his religion, and not intermeddle in politics + where he has no business.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're a great little soldier, Dora,” replied Bryan, smiling on her + with affectionate admiration. + </p> + <p> + “I hate anything tyrannical or overbearing,” she replied, “as I do + anything that's mane and ungenerous.” + </p> + <p> + “As to Father M'Pepper, we're not to take him as an example of what his + brother priests in general are or ought to be. The man may think he is + doing only his duty; but, at all events, Dora, he has proved to me, very + much at my own cost, I grant, that he has more zeal than discretion! May + God forgive him; and that's the worst I wish him. When did you see or hear + from Kathleen? I long to give her an explanation of my conduct, because I + know she will listen to raison.” + </p> + <p> + “That's more than I know yet, then,” replied Dora. “She has awful high + notions of our religion, an' thinks we ought to go about huntin' after + martyrdom. Yes, faix, she thinks we ought to lay down our lives for our + religion or our counthry, if we were to be called on to do so. Isn't that + nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them.” + </p> + <p> + “It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought—that is, if our + deaths would serve either the one or the other.” + </p> + <p> + “And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I + would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but I + know one who would.” + </p> + <p> + “I know too—Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her life + for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a sacrifice + could be necessary.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought + to tell it to you or not.” + </p> + <p> + “I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor can + you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy + myself—that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and + that everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to + know whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I + ever did.” + </p> + <p> + “And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks I'm + as bad as I'm reported to be.” + </p> + <p> + “And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask you + the raison of it like a—ha! ha!—I was goin' to say like a man? + Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to + explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back, and, + when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong.” + </p> + <p> + “She'd do nothing at the expense of truth,” replied her brother. + </p> + <p> + “Truth!” exclaimed the lively and generous girl, now catching the warmth + from her own enthusiasm, “truth! who'd regard truth—” + </p> + <p> + “Dora!” exclaimed Bryan, with a seriocomic smile. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! ha! ha!—truth! what was I sayin'? No, I didn't mean to say + anything against truth; oh, no, God forgive me!” she added, immediately + softening, whilst her bright and beautiful eyes filled with tears, “oh, + no, nor against my darlin' Kathleen either; for, Bryan, I'm tould that she + has never smiled since; and that the color that left her cheeks when she + heard of your vote has never come back to it; and that, in short, her + heart is broken. However, I'll soon see her, and maybe I won't plade your + cause; no lawyer could match me. Whisht!” she exclaimed, “isn't that + Gerald himself comin' over to us?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” replied Bryan, “let us meet him;” and, as he spoke, they turned + their steps towards him. As they met, Bryan, forgetting everything that + had occurred, and influenced solely by the habit of former friendship and + good feeling, extended his hand with an intention of clasping that of his + old acquaintance, but the latter withdrew, and refused to meet this usual + exponent of good will. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, smiling, “I see you go with the world too; + but, since you won't shake hands with me, allow me to ask your business.” + </p> + <p> + “To deliver a message to you from my daughter, and she'd not allow me to + deliver it to any one but yourself. I came three times to see you before + your sickness, but I didn't find jou at home.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the message, Gerald?” + </p> + <p> + “The message, Bryan, is—that you are never to spake to her, nor will + she ever more name your name. She will never be your wife; for she says + that the heart that forgets its duty to God, and the hand that has been + soiled by a bribe, can never be anything to her but the cause of shame and + sorrow; and she bids me say that her happiness is gone and her heart + broken. Now, farewell, and think of the girl you have lost by disgracin' + your religion and your name.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan paused for a moment, as if irresolute how to act, and exchanged + glances with his high-minded little sister. + </p> + <p> + “Tell Kathleen, from me,” said the latter, “that if she had a little more + feeling, and a little less pride or religion, I don't know which, she'd be + more of a woman and less of a saint. My brother, tell her, has disgraced + neither his religion nor his name, and that he has too much of the pride + of an injured man to give back any answer to sich a message. That's my + answer, and not his, and you may ask her if it's either religion or common + justice that makes her condemn him she loved without a hearing? Goodbye, + now, Gerald; give my love to Hanna, and tell her she's worth a ship-load + of her stately sister.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that he + was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he was + about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing eyes, and + panting bosom of his heroic little sister. + </p> + <p> + “You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a + message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own + defence.” + </p> + <p> + The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon + him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice to + quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after the + heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and + reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On + hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which the + man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he looked + around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he said, + “Dora, is not this a fine country?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” she replied, looking at him with surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Would you like,” he added, “to lave it?” + </p> + <p> + “To lave it, Bryan!” she replied. “Oh, no, not to lave it;” and as she + spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face. + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora,” he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression of + love and compassion, “I know your saicret, and have done so this long + time; but don't be cast down. You have been a warm and faithful little + friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet.” + </p> + <p> + Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with tears. + “I won't deny what you know, Bryan,” she replied; “and unless he——” + </p> + <p> + “Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come + what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not stay. + Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an expense + of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken out of my + hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket of the + landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house and home + without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and other + improvements that I made on that farm.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a hard and cruel case,” said Dora; “an there can be no doubt but + that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't + you challenge them, an' fight them?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!” replied her brother, smiling; “but + you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely + out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every + tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it. No, + no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country. We will go to + America; but, in the mean time, I'll see what I can do for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, dear,” she said in a voice of entreaty, “don't think of it. Oh, + stay in your own country. Sure what other country could you like as well?” + </p> + <p> + “I grant you that, Dora; but the truth is, there seems to be a curse over + it; whatever's the raison of it, nothing goes right in it. The landlords + in general care little about the state and condition of their tenantry. + All they trouble themselves about is their rents. Look at my own case, an' + that's but one out of thousands that's happenin' every day in the country. + Grantin' that he didn't sarve me with this notice to quit, an' supposin' + he let me stay in the farm, he'd rise it on me in sich a way as that I + could hardly live in it; an' you know, Dora, that to be merely strugglin' + an' toilin' all one's life is anything but a comfortable prospect. Then, + in consequence of the people depondin upon nothing but the potato for + food, whenever that fails, which, in general, it does every seventh or + eighth year, there's a famine, an' then the famine is followed by fever + an' all kinds of contagious diseases, in sich a way that the kingdom is + turned into one great hospital and grave-yard. It's these things that's + sendin' so many thousands out of the country; and if we're to go at all, + let us go like the rest, while we're able to go, an' not wait till we + become too poor either to go or stay with comfort.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I suppose,” replied his sister, “that what you say is true enough; + but for all that I'd rather bear anything in my own dear country than go + to a strange one. Do you think I'd not miss the summer sun rising behind + the Althadawan hills? an' how could I live without seein' him set behind + Mallybeney? An' then to live in a country where I'd not see these ould + hills, the green glens, and mountain rivers about us, that have all grown + into my heart. Oh, Bryan, dear, don't think of it—don't think of + it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate603.jpg" + alt="Page 603-- Country Where I'd Not See These Ould Hills " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + “Dora,” replied the other, his fine countenance overshadowed with, deep + emotion as he spoke, “you cannot love these ould hills, as you cull them, + nor these beautiful glens, nor the mountain rivers better than I do. It + will go to my heart to leave them; but leave them I will—ay, and + when I go, you know that I will leave behind me one that's dearer ten + thousand times than them all. Kathleen's message has left me a heavy and + sorrowful heart.” + </p> + <p> + “I pity her now,” replied the kind-hearted girl; “but, still, Bryan, she + sent you a harsh message. Ay, I pity her, for did you observe how the + father looked when he said that she bid him tell you her happiness was + gone, and her heart broken; still, she ought to have seen yourself and + heard your defence.” + </p> + <p> + “I can neither blame her, nor will; neither can I properly justify my + vote, I grant; it was surely very wrong or she wouldn't feel it as she + does. Indeed. I think I oughtn't to have voted at all.” + </p> + <p> + “I differ with you there, Bryan,” replied Dora, with animation, “I would + rather, ten times over, vote wrongly, than not vote from cowardice. It's a + mane, skulkin', shabby thing, to be afeard to vote when one has a vote—it's + unmanly.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it is; and it was that very thought that made me vote. I felt that + it would look both mane and cowardly not to vote, and accordingly I did + vote.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, and you did right,” replied his spirited sister, “and I don't care + who opposes you, I'll support you for it, through thick and thin.” + </p> + <p> + “And I suppose you may say through right and wrong, too?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, would I,” she replied; “eh?—what am I sayin?—throth, I'm + a little madcap, I think. No, I won't support you through right and wrong—it's + only when you're right you may depend on me.” + </p> + <p> + They had now been more than an hour strolling about the fields, when + Bryan, who did not feel himself quite so strong as he imagined he was, + proposed to return to his father's, where, by the way, he had been + conveyed from the chapel on the Sunday when he had been so severely + maltreated. + </p> + <p> + They accordingly did so, for he felt himself weak, and unable to prolong + his walk to any greater distance. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI.—Thomas M'Mahon is forced to determine on Emigration. + </h2> + <p> + Gerald Cavanaugh felt himself secretly relieved by the discharge of his + message to M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “It is good,” thought he, “to have that affair settled, an' all + expectation of her marriage with him knocked up. I'll be bound a little + time will cool the foolish girl, and put Edward Burke in the way of + succeeding. As for Hycy, I see clearly that whoever is to succeed, he's + not the man—an' the more the pity, for the sorra one of them all so + much the gentleman, nor will live in sich style.” + </p> + <p> + The gloom which lay upon the heart of Kathleen Cavanagh was neither moody + nor captious, but on the contrary remarkable for a spirit of extreme + gentleness and placidity. From the moment she had come to the resolution + of discarding M'Mahon, she was observed to become more silent than she had + ever been, but at the same time her deportment was characterized by a + tenderness towards the other members of the family that was sorrowful and + affecting to the last degree. Her sister Hanna's sympathy was deep and + full of sorrow. None of them, however, knew her force of character, nor + the inroads which, under guise of this placid calm, strong grief was + secretly making on her health and spirits. The paleness, for instance, + which settled on her cheeks, when the news of her lover's apostacy, as it + was called, and as she considered it, reached her, never for one moment + left it afterwards, and she resembled some exquisitely chiselled statue + moving by machinery, more than anything else to which we can compare her. + </p> + <p> + She was sitting with Hanna when her father returned, after having + delivered her message to M'Mahon. The old man seemed, if one could judge + by his features, to feel rather satisfied, as in fact was the case, and + after having put up his good hat, and laid aside his best coat, he said, + “I have delivered your message, Kathleen, an' dear knows I'm glad there's + an end to that business—it never had my warm heart.” + </p> + <p> + “It always had mine, then,” replied Hanna, “an' I think we ought not to + judge our fellow creatures too severely, knowin' as we do that there's no + such thing as perfection in this world. What the sorra could have come + over him, or tempted him to vote as he did? What did he say, father, when + you brought him the message?” + </p> + <p> + “Afther I declared it,” replied her father, “he was struck dumb, and never + once opened his lips; but if he didn't spake, his sister Dora did.” + </p> + <p> + “An' what did she say—generous and spirited little Dora!—what + did she say, father?” + </p> + <p> + He then repeated the message as accurately as he could—for the + honest old man was imbued with too conscientious a love for truth to + disguise or conceal a single syllable that had been intrusted to him on + either side—“Throth,” said he, “the same Dora has the use of her + tongue when she pleases; 'ax her,' said she, spakin' of Kathleen, here, + 'if it's either religion or common justice that makes her condemn my + brother without hearin' his defence. Good-bye, now,' says she; 'give my + love to Hanna, and tell her 'she's worth a ship-load of her stately + sister.'” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora!” exclaimed Hanna, whilst the tears came to her eyes, “who can + blame her for defending so good and affectionate a brother? Plague on it + for an election! I wish there was no sich thing in the country.” + </p> + <p> + “As for me,” said Kathleen, “I wouldn't condemn him without a hearing, if + I had any doubt about his conduct, but I have not. He voted for Vanston—that + can't be denied; and proved himself to have less honesty and scruple than + even that profligate Hycy Burke; and if he made a bargain with Vanston, as + is clear he did, an' voted for him because the other got his fine reduced, + why that is worse, because then he did it knowingly an' with his eyes + open, an' contrary to his conscience—ay, an' to his solemn promise + to myself; for I'll tell you now what I never mentioned before, that I put + him on his guard against doing so; and he knew that if he did, all would + and must be over between him and me.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that true, Kathleen?” said Hanna with surprise; “but why need I ask + you such a question—it's enough that you say it—in that case + then I give him up at last; but who, oh, who could a' believed it?” + </p> + <p> + “But that is not all,” continued Kathleen, in the same mournful and + resigned tone of voice—“there's the bribe—didn't hundreds hear + him acknowledge publicly in the chapel that he got it? What more is + wanting? How could I ever respect a man that has proved himself to be + without either honesty or principle? and why should it happen, that the + man who has so openly and so knowingly disgraced his religion and his name + fall to my lot? Oh, no—it matters little how I love him, and I grant + that in spite of all that has happened I have a lingering affection for + him even yet; still I don't think that affection will live long—I + can now neither respect or esteem him, an' when that is the case I can't + surely continue long to love him. I know,” she proceeded, “that it's not + possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful + conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you + all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may + and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if I + had never known him.” + </p> + <p> + “Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for himself?” + asked Hanna. + </p> + <p> + “No,” the other replied; “he heard my message, and was silent. You may + rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would have + said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's + defenceless.” + </p> + <p> + In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel + surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the + declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of + Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her + relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added to + which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both + families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs—all we + say perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke, + and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not + despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last said—“If + Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to give him, + or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed of; he may as + well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot love, I can at + least respect him.” + </p> + <p> + These circumstances, together with the period allowed to M'Mahon for + setting himself, if possible, right with Kathleen, in due time reached his + ears. It soon appeared, however, that Kathleen had not all the pride—if + pride it could be called—to herself. M'Mahon, on being made + acquainted with what had occurred, which he had heard from his sister + Dora, simply said—“Since she has not afforded myself any opportunity + of tellin' her the truth, I won't attempt to undeceive her. I will be as + proud as she is. That is all I say.” + </p> + <p> + “And you are right, Tom,” replied Dora, “the name of M'Mahon mustn't be + consarned with anything that's mane or discreditable. The pride of our old + blood must be kept up, Tom; but still when we think of what she's + sufferin' we musn't open our lips against her.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” he replied; “I know that it's neither harshness nor weakness, + nor useless pride that makes her act as she's doin', but a great mind and + a heart that's full of truth, high thoughts, and such a love for her + religion and its prosperity as I never saw in any one. Still, Dora, I'm + not the person that will ever sneak back to entreat and plead at her feet + like a slave, and by that means make myself look still worse in her eyes; + I know very well that if I did so she'd despise me. God bless her, at all + events, and make her happy! that's the worst I wish her.” + </p> + <p> + “Amen,” replied Dora; “you have said nothing but the truth about her, and + indeed. I see, Tom, that you know her well.” + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the generous dialogue of Dora and her affectionate brother, who + after all might have been induced by her to remain in his native country + and share whatever fate it might allot him, were it not that in a few days + afterwards, his father found that the only terms on which he could obtain + his farm were such as could scarcely be said to come within the meaning + and spirit of the landlord's adage, “live and let live.” It is true that + for the terms on which his farm was offered him he was indebted to + Chevydale himself, who said that as he knew his father had entertained a + high respect for old M'Mahon, he would not suffer him to be put out. The + father besides voted for him, and always had voted for the family. “Do + what you please with the son,” he proceeded—“get rid of him as you + like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him have the farm + upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't you think now + it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to vote for Vanston, + although he knew that I had it in my power to send him about his + business?” + </p> + <p> + “It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I + witnessed,” returned the other. “The wily rascal calculated upon your + forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might do + what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us, + in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of + Excise.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves in + the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have such + a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad example, and + calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous principles + among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for us, rather + well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious—and I have it + from the best authority—one of the parties who was cognizant of his + conduct—that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate + compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty + pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself, + being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was + mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already + infamous in the country.” + </p> + <p> + “What, for receiving a bribe!” exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent + with a significant smile; “and what, pray, is the distinction between him + who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little, my good + Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we do. A man + would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that you never had + bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is the consciousness + of bribery on our own part that prevents us from attempting to unseat + Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “That's all very true, I grant you,” replied the other; “but in the mean + time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards M'Mahon, + is—not so much whether he is corrupt or not, as whether he has + unseated you; that is the fatal fact against him; and if we allow that to + pass without making him suffer for it, you will find that on the next + election he may have many an imitator, and your chances will not be worth + much—that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Fethertonge,” replied the indolent and feeble-minded man, “I + leave him to you; manage him or punish him as you like; but I do beg that + you will let me hear no more about him. Keep his father, however, on the + property; I insist on that; he is an honest man, for he voted for me; keep + him on his farm at reasonable terms too, such,—of course, as he can + live on.” + </p> + <p> + The reasonable terms proposed by Fethertonge were, however, such as old + Tom M'Mahon could not with any prospect of independence encounter. Even + this, however, was not to him the most depressing consideration. Faith had + been wantonly and deliberately broken with him—the solemn words of a + dying man had been disregarded—and, as Fethertonge had made him + believe, by that son who had always professed to regard and honor his + father's memory. + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, M'Mahon,” replied the agent, in the last interview he ever + had with him, “I assure you I have done all in my power to bring matters + about; but without avail. It is a painful thing to have to do with an + obstinate man, M'Mahon; with a man who, although he seems quiet and easy, + will and must have everything his own way.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “you know what his dying father's words wor + to me.” + </p> + <p> + “And more than I know them, I can assure you,” he whispered, in a very + significant voice, and with a nod of the head that seemed to say, “your + landlord knows them as well as I do. I have done my duty, and communicated + them to him, as I ought.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon shook his head in a melancholy manner, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, at any rate I know the worst. I couldn't now have any + confidence or trust in such a man; I could depend upon neither his word or + his promise; I couldn't look upon him as a friend, for he didn't prove + himself one to my son when he stood in need of one. It's clear that he + doesn't care about the welfare and prosperity of his tenantry; and for + that raison—or rather for all these raisons put together—I'll + join my son, and go to a country where, by all accounts, there's better + prospects for them that's honest and industrious than there is in this + unfortunate one of ours,—where the interest of the people is so much + neglected—neglected! no, but never thought of at all! Good-bye, + sir,” he added, taking up his hat, whilst the features of this sterling + and honest man were overcast with a solemn and pathetic spirit, “don't + consider me any longer your tenant. For many a long year has our names + been—but no matther—the time is come at last, and the + M'Mahon's of Carriglass and Ahadarra will be known there no more. It + wasn't our fault; we wor willin' to live—oh! not merely willin' to + live, but anxious to die there; but it can't be. Goodbye, sir.” And so + they parted. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time + at Carriglass, before him. On entering the house his family, who were all + assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been + deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “you are right—as indeed you always are. + Childre',” he proceeded, “we must lave the place that we loved so much; + where we have lived for hundreds of years. This counthry isn't one now to + prosper in, as I said not long since—this very day. We must lave the + ould places, an' as I tould Fethertonge, the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and + Carriglass will be the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but + God's will be done! I must look to the intherest of you all, childre'; + but, God help us, that's what I can't do here for the future. Every one of + sense and substance is doin' so, an' why shouldn't we take care of + ourselves as well as the rest? What we want here is encouragement and fair + play; but <i>fareer gair</i>, it isn't to be had.” + </p> + <p> + The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this + was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family + who were immediately moved,—all by sorrow, and some even to tears. + Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his + intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might + change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought + about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears in + her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming: “Oh, father dear, + don't think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it? What other + country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather—here he's + creepin' in, sure he's not the same man within the last few months,—oh, + how could you think of bringin' him, now that he's partly in his grave, + an' he,” she added, in a whisper full of compassion, “an' he partly dotin' + with feebleness and age.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said her father, “we must say nothing of it to him. That must be + kept a secret from him, an' it's likely he won't notice the change.” + </p> + <p> + Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father's arm, said: + “Father, for the love of God, don't take us from Carriglass and Ahadarra:—whatever + the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let us bear it here.” + </p> + <p> + “Father, you won't bring us nor you won't go,” added Dora; “sure we never + could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora!” said Bryan, “what a mistake that is! I feel the contrary; for + the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds to + what I'm sufferin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Childre',” said the father, “our landlord has broken his own father's + dyin' promise—you all remember how full of delight I came home to + you from Dublin, and how she that's gone”—he paused;—he + covered his face with his open hands, through which the tears were seen to + trickle. This allusion to their beloved mother was too much for them. + Arthur and Michael sat in silence, not knowing exactly upon what grounds + their father had formed a resolution, which, when proposed to him by + Bryan, appeared to be one to which his heart could never lend its + sanction. No sooner was their mother named, however, than they too became + deeply moved, and when Kitty and Dora both rushed with an outcry of sorrow + to their father, exclaiming, “Oh, father dear, think of her that's in the + clay—for her sake, change your mind and don't take us to where we + can never weep a tear over her blessed grave, nor ever kneel over it to + offer a prayer within her hearin' for her soul!” + </p> + <p> + “Childre,” he exclaimed, wiping away his tears that had indeed flowed in + all the bitterness of grief and undeserved affliction; “childre',” he + replied, “you must be manly now; it's because I love you an' feels anxious + to keep you from beggary and sorrow at a future time, and destitution and + distress, such as we see among so many about us every day in the week, + that I've made up my mind to go. Our landlord wont give us our farm + barrin' at a rent that 'tid bring us down day by day, to poverty and + distress like too many of our neighbors. We have yet some thrifle o' money + left, as much as will, by all accounts, enable us to take—I mane to + purchase a farm in America—an' isn't it betther for us to go there, + and be independent, no matther what it may cost our hearts to suffer by + doin' so, than to stay here until the few hundre' that I've got together + is melted away out of my pocket into the picket of a landlord that never + wanst throubles himself to know how we're gettin' on, or whether we're + doin' well or ill. Then think of his conduct to Bryan, there; how he + neglected him, and would let him go to ruin widout ever movin' a finger to + save him from it. No, childre', undher sich a man I won't stay. Prepare + yourselves, then, to lave this. In biddin' you to do so, I'm actin' for + the best towards you all. I'm doin' my duty by you, and I expect for that + raison, an' as obedient childre'—which I've ever found you—that + you'll do your duty by me, an' give no further opposition to what I'm + proposin' for your sakes. I know you're all loath—an' you will be + loath—to lave this place; but do you think?—do you?—'that + I—I—oh, my God!—do you think, I say, that I'll feel + nothing when we go? Oh! little you know of me if you think so! but, as I + said, we must do our duty. We see our neighbors fallin' away into poverty, + and distress, and destitution day by day, and if we remain in this + unfortunate country, we must only folly in their tracks, an' before long + be as miserable and helpless as they are.” + </p> + <p> + His family were forced to admit the melancholy truth and strong sense of + all he had uttered, and, although the resolution to which he had come was + one of bitterness and sorrow to them all, yet from a principle of + affection and duty towards him, they felt that any opposition on their + part would have been unjustifiable and wrong. + </p> + <p> + “But, sure,” the old man proceeded, “there's more than I've mentioned yet, + to send us away. Look at poor Bryan, there, how he was nearly ruined by + the villany of some cowardly scoundrel, or scoundrels, who set up a still + upon his farm; that's a black business, like many other black business + that's a disgrace to the country—an inoffensive young man, that + never made or did anything to make an enemy for himself, durin' his whole + life! An' another thing, bekaise he voted for the man that saved him from + destruction, as he ought to do, an' as I'm proud he did do, listen now to + the blackguard outcry that's against him; ay, and by a crew of vagabonds + that 'ud sell Christ himself, let alone their country, or their religion, + if they were bribed by Protestant goold for it! Throth I'm sick of the + counthry and the people; for instead of gettin' betther, it's worse + they're gettin' every day. Make up your minds then, childre'; there's a + curse on the counthry. Many o' the landlords are bad enough, too bad, and + too neglectful, God knows; but sure the people themselves is as bad, an' + as senseless on the other hand; aren't they blinded so much by their bad + feelin's, and short-sighted passions, that it is often the best landlords + they let out their revenge upon. Prepare then, childre'; for out of the + counthry, or at any rate from among the people, the poverty and the misery + that's in it, wid God's assistance, we'll go while we're able to do so.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII.—Mystery Among the Hogans + </h2> + <h3> + —Finigan Defends the Absent. + </h3> + <p> + The three Hogans, whom we have lost sight of for some time, were, as our + readers already know, three most unadulterated ruffians, in every sense of + that most respectable term. Yet, singular as it may appear, + notwithstanding their savage brutality, they were each and all possessed + of a genius for mechanical inventions and manual dexterity that was + perfectly astonishing when the low character of their moral, and + intellectual standard is considered. Kate Hogan, who, from her position, + could not possibly be kept out of their secrets, at least for any length + of time, was forced to notice of late that there was a much closer and + more cautious intimacy between Hycy Burke and them than she had ever + observed before. She remarked, besides, that not only was Teddy Phats + excluded from their councils, but she herself was sent out of the way, + whenever Hycy paid them a visit, which uniformly occurred at a late hour, + in the night. + </p> + <p> + Another circumstance also occurred about this time which puzzled her not a + little: we mean the unusual absence of Philip for about a fortnight from + home. Now, there certainly nothing more offensive, especially to a female, + than the fact of excluding her from the knowledge of any secret, a + participation in which she may consider as a right. In her case she felt + that it argued want of confidence, and as she had never yet betrayed any + trust or secret reposed in her, she considered their conduct towards her, + not merely as an insult, but such as entitled them to nothing at her hands + but resentment, and a determination to thwart their plans, whatever they + might be, as soon as she should succeed in making herself acquainted with + them. What excited her resentment the more bitterly was the arrival of a + strange man and woman in company with Philip, as she was able to collect, + from the metropolis, to the former of whom they all seemed to look with + much deference as to a superior spirit of the secret among them this man + and his wife were clearly in possession, as was evident from their + whisperings and other conversations, which they held apart, and uniformly + out of her hearing. It is true the strangers did not reside with the + Hogans, but in a small cabin adjacent to that in which Finigan taught his + school. Much of the same way of thinking was honest Teddy Phats, whom they + had now also abandoned, or rather completely cast off, and, what was still + worse, deprived of the whole apparatus for distillation, which, although + purchased by Hycy Burke's money, they very modestly appropriated to + themselves. Teddy, however, as well as Kate, knew that they were never + cautious without good reason, and as it had pleased them to cut him, as + the phrase goes, so did he, as Kate had done, resolve within himself to + penetrate their secret, if human ingenuity could effect it. + </p> + <p> + In this position they were when honest Philip returned, as we have said, + after a fortnight's absence, from some place or places unknown. The + mystery, however, did not end here. Kate observed that, as before, much of + their conversation was held aloof from her, or in such enigmatical phrases + and whisperings, as rendered the substance of it perfectly inscrutable to + her. She observed, besides, that two of them were frequently absent from + the kiln where they lived; but that one always remained at home to make + certain that she should not follow or dog them to the haunt they + frequented. This precaution on their part was uniform. As it was, however, + Kate did not seem to notice it. On the contrary, no one could exhibit a + more finished appearance of stupid indifference than she assumed upon + these occasions, even although she knew by the removal of the tools, or a + portion of them, that her friends were engaged in some business belonging + to their craft. In this manner matters proceeded for some weeks subsequent + to the period of Philip's return. + </p> + <p> + Kate also observed, with displeasure, that among all those who joined in + the outcry against Bryan M'Mahon, none made his conduct, such as it was + conceived to have been, a subject of more brutal and bitter triumph than + the Hogans. The only circumstance connected with him which grieved them to + the heart, was the fact that the distillation plot had not ruined him as + they expected it would have done. His disgrace, however, and unjust + ejectment from Ahadarra filled them with that low, ruffianly sense of + exultation, than which, coming from such scoundrels, there is scarcely + anything more detestable in human nature. + </p> + <p> + One evening about this time they were sitting about the fire, the three + brothers, Kate, and the young unlicked savages of the family, when Philip, + after helping himself to a glass of quints, said,— + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, there'll be no match between Miss Kathleen and that + vagabond, Bryan M'Mahon. I think we helped to put a nail in his coffin + there, by gob.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Kate, “an' you may boast of it, you unmanly vagabone; an' yet + you purtind to have a regard for the poor girl, an' a purty way you tuck + to show it—to have her as she is, goin' about wid a pale face an' a + broken heart. Don't you see it's her more than him you're punishin', you + savage of hell?” + </p> + <p> + “You had betther keep your tongue off o' me,” he replied; “I won't get + into grips wid you any more, you barge o' blazes; but, if you provoke me + wid bad language, I'll give you a clink wid one o' these sotherin'-irons + that'll put a clasp on your tongue.” + </p> + <p> + “Never attempt that,” she replied fiercely, “for, as sure as you do, I'll + have this knife,” showing him a large, sharp-pointed one, which, in + accordance with the customs of her class, hung by a black belt of strong + leather from her side—“I'll have this customer here greased in your + puddins, my buck, and, when the win's out o' you, see what you'll be worth—fit + for Captain James's hounds; although I dunno but the very dogs themselves + is too clane to ait you.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said Bat, “we'll have no more o' this; do you, Philip, keep quiet + wid your sotherin'-iron, and, as for you, Kate, don't dhraw me upon you; + <i>na ha nan shin</i>—it isn't Philip you have. I say I'm right well + plaised that we helped to knock up the match.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure,” replied Kate, “that it is knocked up; don't now, mind + my words; an' take care that, instead of knockin' it up, you haven't + knocked yourselves down. Chew your cud upon that now.” + </p> + <p> + “What does she mane?” asked Ned, looking on her with a baleful glance, in + which might be read equal ferocity and alarm. “Why, traichery, of coorse,” + replied Philip, in his deep, glowing voice. “Kate,” said her husband, + starting into something' like an incipient fit of fury, but suddenly + checking himself—“Kate, my honey, what do you mane by them words?” + </p> + <p> + “What do I mane by them words?” she exclaimed, with an eye which turned on + him with cool defiance; “pick that out o' your larnin', Bat, my pet. You + can all keep your saicrets; an' I'll let you know that I can keep mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Be the Holy St. Lucifer,” said her husband, “if I wanst thought that + traichery 'ud enter your head, I'd take good care that it's in hell you'd + waken some fine mornin' afore long. So mind yourself, Kate, my honey.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you in nobody else's power but mine?” she replied, “ax yourselves + that—an' now do you mind yourself, Bat, my pet, and all o' yez.” + </p> + <p> + “What is the raison,” asked her husband, “that I see you an' Nanny Peety + colloguin' an' huggermuggerin' so often together of late?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she replied, with a toss of disdain, “what a manly fellow you are to + want to get into women's saicrets! you may save your breath though.” + </p> + <p> + “Whatever you collogue about, all I say is, that I don't like a bone in + the same Nanny Peety's body. She has an eye in her head that looks as if + it knew one's thoughts.” + </p> + <p> + “An' maybe it does. One thing I know, and every one knows it, that it's a + very purty eye.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell her, then, to keep out o' this; we want no spies here.” + </p> + <p> + “Divil a word of it; she's my niece, an' the king's highway is as free to + her as it is to you or anybody else. She'll be welcome to me any time she + comes, an' let me see who'll dare to mislist her. She feels as she ought + to do, an' as every woman ought to do, ay, an' every man, too, that is a + man, or anything but a brute an' a coward—she feels for that + unfortunate, heart-broken girl 'ithout;' an' it'll be a strange thing if + them that brought her to what she's sufferin' won't suffer themselves yet; + there's a God above still, I hope, glory be to His name! Traichery!” she + exclaimed; “ah, you ill-minded villains, it's yourselves you're thinkin' + of, an' what you desarve. As for myself, it's neither you nor your + villainy that's in my head, but the sorrowful heart that's in that poor + girl 'ithout—ay, an' a broken one; for, indeed, broked it is; and + it's not long she'll be troub'lin' either friend or foe in this world. The + curse o' glory upon you all, you villains, and upon every one that had a + hand in bringing her to this!” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words, she put her cloak and bonnet upon her, and + left the house, adding as she went out, “if it's any pleasure to you to + know it, I'll tell you. I'm goin' to meet Nancy Peety this minute, an' you + never seen sich colloguin' an' hugger-muggerin' as we'll have, plaise + goodness—ah, you ill-thinkin', skulkin' villains!” + </p> + <p> + Kate Hogan, though a tigress when provoked, and a hardened, reckless + creature, scarcely remarkable for any particular virtue that could be + enumerated, and formidable from that savage strength and intrepidity for + which she was so well known, was yet not merely touched by the sufferings + of Kathleen Cavanagh, but absolutely took an interest in them, at once so + deep and full of sympathy, as to affect her temper and disturb her peace + of mind. Notwithstanding her character she was still a woman; and, in + matters involving the happiness of an innocent and beautiful creature of + her own sex, who had been so often personally kind to herself, and whose + family were protectors and benefactors to her and her kindred, she felt as + a woman. Though coarse-minded upon most many matters, she was yet capable + of making the humane distinction which her brutal relatives could not + understand or feel;—we mean the fact that, in having lent themselves + to the base conspiracy planned and concocted by Hycy Burke, and in having + been undoubtedly the cause of M'Mahon's disgrace, as well as of his + projected marriage with Kathleen having been broken up, they did not + perceive that she was equally a sufferer; or, if they did, they were + either too cunning or too hardened to acknowledge it. For this particular + circumstance, Kate, inasmuch as it involved deep ingratitude on their + part, could not at all forgive them. + </p> + <p> + At this time, indeed, the melancholy position of Kathleen Cavanagh was one + which excited profound and general sorrow; and just in proportion as this + was sincere, so was the feeling of indignation against him whose + corruption and want of principle were supposed to have involved her in + their consequences. Two months or better of the period allotted by + Kathleen to the vindication of his character, had now elapsed, and yet + nothing had been done to set himself right either with her or the world. + She consequently argued and with apparent reason, that everything in the + shape of justification was out of his power, and this reflection only + deepened her affliction. Yes, it deepened her affliction; but it did not; + on that account succeed in enabling her to obliterate his image the more + easily from her heart. The fact was, that despite the force and variety of + the rumors that were abroad against him—and each succeeding week + brought in some fresh instance of his duplicity and profligacy, thanks to + the ingenious and fertile malignity of Hycy the accomplished—despite + of this, and despite of all, the natural reaction of her heart had set in—their + past endearments, their confidence their tenderness, their love, now + began, after the first vehement expression of pride and high principle had + exhausted the offended mind of its indignation, to gradually resume their + influence over her. A review, besides, of her own conduct towards her + lover was by no means satisfactory to her. Whilst she could not certainly + but condemn him, she felt as if she had judged him upon a principle at + once too cold and rigorous. Indeed, now that a portion of time had enabled + her mind to cool, she could scarcely understand why it was that she had + passed, so harsh a sentence upon him. She was not, however, capable of + analyzing her own mind and feelings upon the occasion, or she might have + known that her severity towards the man I was the consequence, on her + part, of that innate scorn and indignation which pure and lofty minds + naturally entertain against everything dishonorable and base, and that it + is a very difficult thing to disassociate the crime from the criminal, + even in cases where the latter may have had a strong hold upon the + affections of such a noble nature. Nay, the very fact of finding that + one's affections have been fixed upon a person capable of such dishonor, + produces a double portion of indignation at the discovery of their + profligacy, because it supposes, in the first place, that something like + imposture must have been practised upon us in securing our affections, or + what is still more degrading, that we must have been materially devoid of + common penetration, or we could not have suffered ourselves to become the + dupe of craft and dissimulation. + </p> + <p> + Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject of + her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts, and + detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act + inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists + temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach + it. + </p> + <p> + Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her + heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by the + shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly passed + away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the severity of + the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to look back upon + her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more softened medium + of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her slowly but surely, + until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess of her own severity + towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally return, as it were, to + a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor, from an unconscious + principle of self-love, to work herself up into that lofty hatred of + dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the effort was in vain. + Every successive review of his guilt was attended by a consciousness that + she had been righteous overmuch, and that the consequences of his treason, + even against their common religion, were not only rapidly diminishing in + her heart, but yielding to something that very nearly resembled remorse. + </p> + <p> + Such was the state of her feelings on the day when Kate Hogan and her male + relatives indulged in the friendly and affectionate dialogue we have just + detailed. Her heart was smitten, in fact, with sorrow for the harsh part + she had taken against her lover, and she only waited for an opportunity to + pour out a full confession of all she felt into the friendly ear of her + sister. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh's family at this period was darkened by a general spirit + of depression and gloom. Their brother James, from whatever cause it may + have proceeded, seemed to be nearly as much cast down as his sister; and + were it not that Cavanagh himself and his wife sustained themselves by a + hope that Kathleen might ultimately relax so far as to admit, as she had + partly promised to do, the proposals of Edward Burke, it would have been + difficult to find so much suffering apart from death under the same roof. + </p> + <p> + On the day in question, our friend O'Finigan, whose habits of intemperance + had by no means diminished, called at Cavanagh's, as he had been in the + habit of doing. Poor Kathleen was now suffering, besides, under the + consequences of the injunction not to mention M'Mahon's name, which she + had imposed upon her own family—an injunction which they had ever + since faithfully observed. It was quite evident from the unusually easy + fluency of O'Finigan's manner, that he had not confined his beverages, + during the day, to mere water. Hanna, on seeing him enter, said to + Kathleen, in a whisper,— + </p> + <p> + “Hadn't you better come out and take a walk, Kathleen? This O'Finigan is + almost tipsy, and you know he'll be talking about certain subjects you + don't wish to hear.” + </p> + <p> + “Time enough, dear Hanna,” she replied, with a sorrowful look at her + sister, “my heart is so full of suffering and pain that almost anything + will relieve it. You know I was always amused by Finigan's chat.” Her + sister, who had not as yet been made acquainted with the change which had + taken place in her heart, on hearing these words looked at her closely, + and smiled sorrowfully, but in such a manner as if she had at that moment + experienced a sensation of pleasure, if not of hope. Hitherto, whenever a + neighbor or stranger came in, Kathleen, fearing that the forbidden name + might become the topic of conversation, always retired, either to another + room or left the house altogether, in order to relieve her own family from + the painful predicament in which their promise of silence to her had + placed them. On this occasion, however, Hanna perceived with equal + surprise and pleasure that she kept her ground. + </p> + <p> + “Sit ye, merry jinteels!” said Finigan, as he entered; “I hope I see you + all in good health and spirits; I hope I do; although I am afraid if what + fame—an' by the way, Mrs. Cavanagh, my classicality tells me, that + the poet Maro blundered like a Hibernian, when he made the same fame a + trumpeter, in which, wid the exception of one point, he was completely out + of keeping. There's not in all litherature another instance of a female + trumpeter; and for sound raisons—if the fair sex were to get + possession of the tuba, God help the world, for it would soon be a noisy + one. However, let me recollect myself—where was I? Oh! ay—I am + afraid that if what fame says—an' by the way, her trumpet must have + been a speaking one—be true, that there's a fair individual here + whose spirits are not of the most exalted character; and indeed, and as I + am the noblest work of God—an honest man—I feel sorry to hear + the fact.” + </p> + <p> + The first portion of this address, we need scarcely say, was the only part + of it which was properly understood, if we except a word or two at the + close. + </p> + <p> + “God save you, Misther Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “O'Finigan, if you plase, Mrs. Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” she replied, “O'Finigan, since it must be so; but in troth I + can!t always remember it, Misther Finigan, in regard that you didn't + always stand out for it yourself. Is there any news stirrin', you that's + abroad?” + </p> + <p> + “Not exactly news, ma'am; but current reports that are now no novelty. The + M'Mahon's—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, never mind them,” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh, glancing at her daughter, + “if you have any 'other news let us hear it—pass over the M'Mahons—they're + not worth our talk, at least some o' them.” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, Mrs. Cavanagh;—if Achilles at the head of his myrmidons + was to inform me to that effect, I'd tell him he had mistaken his + customer. My principle, ma'am—and 'tis one I glory in—is to + defend the absent in gineral, for it is both charitable and ginerous to do + so—in gineral, I say; but when I know that they are unjustly + aspersed, I contemplate it as' an act of duty on my part to vindicate + them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “that's all very right an' thrue, Mr. + Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “It is, Mr. Finig—O'Finigan,” observed James Cavanagh, who was + present, “and your words are a credit and an honor to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, James, for the compliment; for it is but truth. The scandal I say + (he proceeded without once regarding the hint: thrown out by Mrs. + Cavanagh) which has! been so studiously disseminated against Bryan M'Mahon—spare + your nods and winks, Mrs. Cavanagh, for if you winked at me with as many + eyes as Argus had, and nodded at me wid as many heads as Hydra, or that + baste in the Revelaytions, I'd not suppress a syllable of truth;—no, + ma'am, the <i>suppressio veri's</i> no habit of mine; and I say and assert—ay, + and asseverate—that that honest and high-spirited young man, named + Bryan or Bernard M'Mahon, is the victim of villany and falsehood—ay, + of devilish hatred and ingenious but cowardly vituperation.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” whispered her sister, “will you come out, darlin'? this talk + must be painful to you.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen gave her a look of much mingled sorrow and entreaty as went to + her heart. Hanna, whose head had been lovingly reclining on her sister's + bosom, pressed her gently but affectionately to her heart, and made no + reply. + </p> + <p> + “You wor always a friend of his,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “an' of course + you spake as a friend.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Finigan, “I always was a friend of his, because I always knew + his honesty, his love of truth, his hatred of a mane action, ay, and his + generosity and courage. I knew him from the very egg, I may say—<i>ab + ovo</i>—Mrs. Cavanagh; it was I instilled his first principles into + him. Oh! I know well! I never had a scholar I was so proud out of. Hycy + Burke was smart, quick, and cunning; but then he was traicherous—something + of a coward when he had his match—strongly addicted to fiction in + most of his narratives, and what was still a worse point about him, he had + the infamous ingenuity, whenever he had a point to gain—such as + belying a boy and taking away his characther—of making truth + discharge all the blackguard duties of falsehoood. Oh! I know them both + well! But who among all I ever enlightened wid instruction was the boy + that always tould the truth, even when it went against himself?—why, + Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever defended the absent?—why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who + ever and always took the part of the weak and defenceless against the + strong and tyrannical?—why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who fought for his + religion, too, when the young heretics used to turn it, or try to turn it, + into ridicule—ay, and when cowardly and traicherous Hycy used to sit + quietly by, and either put the insult in his pocket, or curry favor wid + the young sneering vagabonds that abused it? And yet, at the time Hycy was + a thousand times a greater little bigot than Bryan. The one, wid a + juvenile rabble at his back, three to one, was a tyrant over the young + schismatics; whilst Bryan, like a brave youth as he was, ever and always + protected them against the disadvantage of numbers, and insisted on + showing them fair play. I am warm, Mrs. Cavanagh,” he continued, “and + heat, you know, generates thirst. I know that a drop o' the right sort + used to be somewhere undher this same roof; but I'm afraid if the <i>fama + clamosa</i> be thrue, that the side of the argument I have taken isn't + exactly such as to guarantee me a touch at the native—that is, + taking it for granted that there's any in the house.” + </p> + <p> + This request was followed by a short silence. The Cavanagh's all, with the + exception of Kathleen, looked at each other, but every eye was marked + either by indecision or indifference. At length Hanna looked at her + sister, and simply said, “dear Kathleen!” + </p> + <p> + “He has done,” replied the latter, in a low voice, “what I had not the + generosity to do—he has defended the absent.” + </p> + <p> + “Darling Kathleen,” Hanna whispered, and then pressed her once more to her + heart. “You must have it, Mr. O'Finigan,” said she—“you must have + it, and that immediately;” and as she spoke, she proceeded to a cupboard + from which she produced a large black bottle, filled with that peculiar + liquid to which our worthy pedagogue was so devotedly addicted. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said he, on receiving a bumper from the fair hand of Hanna, “let the + M'Mahons alone for the old original—indeed I ought to say—aboriginal + hospitality. Thanks, Miss Hanna; in the meantime I will enunciate a toast, + and although we shall not draw very strongly upon sentiment for the terms, + it shall be plain and pithy; here is 'that the saddle of infamy may be + soon placed upon the right horse,' and maybe there's an individual not a + thousand miles from us, and who is besides not altogether incognizant of + the learned languages, including a tolerably comprehensive circle of + mathematics, who will, to a certain extent, contribute to the consummation + of that most desirable event; here then, I repate, is the toast—'may + the saddle of infamy soon be placed upon the right horse!'” + </p> + <p> + Having drunk off the glass, he turned the mouth of it down upon his + corduroy breeches, as an intimation that he might probably find it + necessary to have recourse to it again. + </p> + <p> + Hanna observed, or rather we should say, felt, that as Finigan proceeded + with his reminiscences of M'Mahon's school-boy days and the enumeration of + his virtues, her sister's heart and bosom quivered with deep and almost + irrepressible emotion. There was a good deal of enthusiasm in the man's + manner, because he was in earnest, and it was quite evident that + Kathleen's spirit had caught it as he went along, and that her heart + recognized the truth of the picture which he was drawing. We say she + literally felt the quiverings of her sister's heart against her own, and + to do the admirable girl justice, she rejoiced to recognize these + manifestations of returning affection. + </p> + <p> + “It was only yesterday,” continued Finigan, resuming the discourse, “that + I met Bryan M'Mahon, and by the way, he has sorrow and distress, poor + fellow, in his face. 'Bryan,' said I, 'is it true that you and your + father's family are preparing to go to that <i>refugium peccatorum</i>, + America—that overgrown cupping-glass which is drawing the best blood + of our country out of it?' + </p> + <p> + “'The people of Ireland,' he replied, 'have a right to bless God that + there is such a country to fly to, and to resave them from a land where + they're neglected and overlooked. It is true, Mr. O'Finigan,' he proceeded—!' + we have nothing in this country to live for now.' + </p> + <p> + “'And so you are preparing?' I asked. + </p> + <p> + “'I ought rather say,' he replied, 'that we are prepared; we go in another + month; I only wish we were there already.' + </p> + <p> + “'I fear, Bryan,' said I, 'that you have not been well trated of late.' He + looked at me with something like surprise, but said nothing; and in a + quarter, I added, 'that was the last from which you were prepared to + expect justice without mercy.' + </p> + <p> + “'I don't understand you,' he replied sharply; 'what do you mean?' + </p> + <p> + “'Bryan,' said I, 'I scorn a moral circumbendibus where the direct truth + is necessary; I have heard it said, and I fear it is burthened wid too + much uncomfortable veracity, that Kathleen Cavanagh has donned the black + cap* in doing the judicial upon you, and that she considers her sentence + equal to the laws of the Medes and Persians, unchangeable—or, like + those of our own blessed church—wid reverence be the analogy made—altogether + infallible.' His eye blazed as I spoke; he caught me where by the collar + wid a grip that made me quake—'Another word against Kathleen + Cavanagh,' he replied, 'and I will shake every joint of your carcass out + of its place.' His little sister, Dora, was wid him at the time; 'Give him + a shake or two as it is,' she added, egging him on, 'for what he has said + already;' throth she's a lively little lady that, an' if it wasn't that + she has a pair of dark shining eyes, and sweet features—ay, and as + coaxin' a figure of her own—however, sorra may care, somehow, I defy + any one to, be angry wid her.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Alluding to the practice of putting on the black cap when + the Judge condemns a felon to death. +</pre> + <p> + “Come, Mr. O'Finigan,” said James, approaching him, “you must have another + glass.” + </p> + <p> + “Well no, James,” he replied, “I think not.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, but I say you will; if it was only to hear what Dora—hem—what + Bryan said. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the master, allowing him to take the glass which he + received again brimming, “thanks, James.” + </p> + <p> + “'Well,' said Bryan, lettin' go my collar, 'blame any one you like; blame + me, blame Vanston, blame Chevydale, Fethertonge, anybody, everybody, the + Priest, the Bishop, the Pope,—but don't dare to blame Kathleen + Cavanagh.' + </p> + <p> + “'Why,' said I, 'has she been right in her condemnation of you?' + </p> + <p> + “'She has,' he replied, with a warmth of enthusiasm which lit up his whole + features; 'she has done nothing but what was right. She just acted as she + ought, and all I can say is, that I know I'm not worthy of her, and never + was. God bless her!' + </p> + <p> + “'And don't let me hear,' said Dora, taking up the dialogue, 'that ever + you'll mention her name wid disrespect—mark that, Mr. O'Finigan, or + it'll be worse for you a thrifle.' + </p> + <p> + “Her brother looked on her wid complacent affection, and patting her on + the head, said, 'Come, darling, don't beat him now. You see the risk you + run,' he added, as they went away, 'so don't draw down Dora's vengeance on + your head. She might forgive you an offence against herself; but she won't + forgive you one against Kathleen Cavanagh; and, Mister O'Finigan, neither + will I.'” + </p> + <p> + “Masther,” said James Cavanagh, “you'll stop to-night with us?” + </p> + <p> + “No, James, I have an engagement of more importance than you could ever + dhrame of, and about—but I'm not free or at liberty to develop the + plot—for plot it is—at any greater length. Many thanks to you + in the mane time for your hospitable intentions; but before I go, I have a + word to say. Now, what do you think of that young man's ginerosity, who + would rather have himself thought guilty than have her thought wrong; for, + whisper,—I say he's not guilty, and maybe—but, no ruatther, + time will tell, and soon tell, too, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + So saying he took up his hat, and politely wished them a pleasant evening, + but firmly refused to taste another drop of liquor, “lest,” he added, “it + might denude him of the necessary qualifications for accomplishing the + enterprise on which he was bint.” + </p> + <p> + When he was gone, Kathleen brought her sister to their own room, and + throwing herself on her bosom, she spoke not, but wept calmly and in + silence for about twenty minutes. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said Hanna, “I am glad to see this, and I often wished for + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, dear Hanna,” she replied; “don't speak to me at present. I'm not + fit to talk on that unfortunate subject yet. 'Forgive us our trespassess + as we—we—forgive them that trespass against us!' Oh! Hanna + darling, how have I prayed?” They then rejoined the family. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII.—Harry Clinton's Benevolence Defeated + </h2> + <p> + —His Uncle's Treachery—The Marriage of Kathleen and Edward + Burke Determined on + </p> + <p> + This partial restoration of M'Mahon to the affections of Kathleen Cavanagh + might have terminated in a full and perfect reconciliation between them, + were it not for circumstances which we are about to detail. From what our + readers know of young Clinton, we need not assure them that, although wild + and fond of pleasure, he was by no means devoid of either generosity or + principle. There were indeed few individuals, perhaps scarcely any, in the + neighborhood, who felt a deeper or manlier sympathy for the adverse fate + and evil repute which had come so suddenly, and, as he believed in his + soul, undeservedly, upon Bryan M'Mahon. He resolved accordingly to make an + effort for the purpose of setting the unfortunate young man's character + right with the public, or if not with the public, at least in that quarter + where such a service might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald + Cavanagh's family. Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle + sat reading the newspaper, he addressed him as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or two.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking me + any question you wish? Why should you not?” + </p> + <p> + “This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of your—your—profession.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?—what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of + Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “I do perfectly well.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who + furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor + desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I do not.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it + did.” + </p> + <p> + “Should you wish to know, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that + fortunate event.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “I should wish to know, though.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray have you the letter?” + </p> + <p> + “I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't say + which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it turned up + among some other communications of a similar stamp.” + </p> + <p> + In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his + hands. + </p> + <p> + “Now, uncle,” he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, “you admit + that this is the letter?” + </p> + <p> + “I admit—why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as + much?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter.” + </p> + <p> + “I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises his + tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to make + use of them. Go on.” + </p> + <p> + “The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Very likely,” replied the cool old Still-Hound; “But I did not think he + would ever place us—” + </p> + <p> + “You, sir, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation to + him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?” + </p> + <p> + His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny Peety, + and the discovery he had made through her of the letter having been both + written and sent by Hycy to the post-office. In order, besides, to satisfy + his relative that the getting up of the still was a plan concocted by Hycy + to ruin M'Mahon, through the, medium of the fine, he detailed as much of + Hycy's former proposal to him as he conveniently could, without disclosing + the part which he himself had undertaken to perform in this concerted + moment. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Harry,” replied the old fellow after a pause, “he's a d—d + scoundrel, no doubt; but as his scoundrelism is his own, I don't see why + we should hesitate to avail ourselves of it. With respect, however, to + M'Mahon, I can assure you, that I was informed of his intention to set up + a Still a good while before I made the capture, and not by anonymous + information either. Now, what would you say if both I and Fethertonge knew + the whole plot long before it was put in practice?” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, he screwed his hard keen features into a most knavish + expression. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he added; “and I can tell you that both the agent and I forwarned + M'Mahon against suffering himself to engage in anything illegal—which + was our duty as his friends you know—hem!” + </p> + <p> + “Is that possible?” said his nephew, blushing for this villianous + admission. + </p> + <p> + “Quite possible,” replied the other; “however, as I said, I don't see why + we should hesitate to avail ourselves of his villany.” + </p> + <p> + “That is precisely what I was about to say, sir,” replied his nephew, + still musing on what he had heard. + </p> + <p> + “Right, Harry; the farm is a good thing, or will be so, at least.” + </p> + <p> + “The farm, sir! but I did not speak with reference to the farm.” + </p> + <p> + “Then with reference to what did you speak?” + </p> + <p> + “I meant, sir, that we should not hesitate to avail ourselves of his + villany, in setting M'Mahon right with the public as far as we could.” + </p> + <p> + “With the whole public!—whew! Why, my good young man, I thought the + days of giants and windmills had gone by.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir,” continued the nephew, “at all events there is one thing you + must do for me. I wish you to see old Gerald Cavanagh, and as far as you + can to restore his confidence in the honesty and integrity of young + M'Mahon. State to him that you have reason to know that his son has a + bitter enemy in the neighborhood; that great injustice had been done to + him in many ways, and that you would be glad that a reconciliation should + take place between the families.” + </p> + <p> + “And so I am to set out upon the wild goose chase of reconciling a wench, + and a fellow, without knowing why or wherefore.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir—not at all—-I will make Cavanough call upon you.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand this,” replied the uncle, rubbing behind his ear; “I + don't perceive; but pray what interest have you in the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Upon my honor, uncle, none in life, unless an anxiety to serve poor + M'Mahon. The world is down upon him about that vote which, considering all + the circumstances, was more creditable to him than otherwise. I know, + however, that in consequence of the estrangement between him and Miss + Cavanagh, he is bent on emigrating. It is that fact which presses upon him + most. Now will you oblige me in this, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Let Cavanagh call upon me,” he replied, “and if I can say anything to + soften the old fellow, perhaps I will.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, uncle—thank you—I shall not forget this kindness.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his uncle, “I am going down to Fethertonge on a certain + matter of business, you understand, and—let me see—why, if + Cavanagh calls on me tomorrow about eleven, I shall see him at all + events.” + </p> + <p> + Young Clinton felt surprised and grieved at what his uncle had just hinted + to him; but on the other hand, he felt considerably elated at the prospect + of being able to bring about a reconciliation between these two families, + and with this excellent motive in view he went to Cavanagh, with whom he + had a private conversation. Having been made aware by M'Mahon himself of + Cavanagh's prejudice against him, and the predilections of himself and his + wife for an alliance into Burke's family, he merely told him that his + uncle would be glad to see him the next day about eleven o'clock, upon + which the other promised to attend to that gentleman. + </p> + <p> + Old Clinton, on his way to Fethertonge's, met that worthy individual + riding into Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + “I was going down to you,” said he; “but where are you bound for?” + </p> + <p> + “Into town,” replied the agent; “have you any objection to ride that way?” + </p> + <p> + “None in the world; it is just the same to me. Well, how are matters + proceeding?” + </p> + <p> + “Not by any means well,” replied the other, “I begin to feel something + like alarm. I wish we had those M'Mahons out of the country. Vanston has + paid that d—d goose Chevydale a visit, and I fear that unless the + Ahadarra man and his father, and the whole crew of them, soon leave the + country, we shall break down in our object.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you tell me so?” said the gauger, starting; “by Jove, it is well I + know this in time.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” continued. Clinton, “I was about to take a foolish step to-morrow + morning, for the express purpose, I believe, of keeping him, and probably + the whole family in the country.” + </p> + <p> + He then detailed the conversation that he had with his nephew, upon which + Fethertonge convinced him that there was more in the wind with respect to + that step, than either he or his nephew, who he assured him was made a + cat's paw of in the business, suspected. “That's a deep move,” said the + agent, “but we shall defeat them, notwithstanding. Everything, however, + depends upon their leaving the country before Chevydale happens to come at + the real state of the case; still, it will go hard or we shall baffle both + him and them yet.” + </p> + <p> + Whether Clinton Was sure that the step urged upon him by his nephew was + the result of a generous regard for M'Mahon, or that the former was made a + mere tool for ultimate purposes, in the hands of the Ahadarra man, as he + called him it is not easy to determine. Be this as it may, when the hour + of eleven came the next morning, he was prepared to set his nephew's + generosity aside, and act upon Fethertonge's theory of doing everything in + his power to get the whole connection out of the country, “Ha,” he + exclaimed, “I now understand what Harry meant with respect to their + emigration—'It is that fact which presses upon him most.' Oh ho! is + it so, indeed! Very good, Mr. M'Mahon—we shall act accordingly.” + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanaugh had been made acquainted by his wife on the day before + with the partial revival of his daughter's affection for Bryan M'Mahon, as + well as with the enthusiastic defense of him made by Finigan, two + circumstances which gave him much concern and anxiety. On his return, + however, from Clinton's, his family observed that there was something of a + satisfactory expression mingled up with a good deal of grave thought in + his face. The truth is, if the worthy man thought for a moment that the + ultimate loss of M'Mahon would have seriously injured her peace of mind, + he would have bitterly regretted it, and perhaps encourage a + reconciliation. This was a result, however, that he could scarcely + comprehend. That she might fret and pine for a few months or so was the + worst he could calculate upon, and of course he took it for granted, that + the moment her affection for one was effaced, another might step in, + without any great risk of disappointment. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Gerald,” said his wife, “what did Ganger Clinton want with you?” + </p> + <p> + Gerald looked at his two daughters and sighed unconsciously. “It's not + good news,” he proceeded, “in one sense, but it is in another; it's good + news to all my family but that girl sittin' there,” pointing to Kathleen. + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately no evil intelligence could have rendered the unhappy girl's + cheek paler than it was; so that, so far as appearances went, it was + impossible to say what effect this startling communication had upon her. + </p> + <p> + “I was down wid Misther Clinton,” he proceeded; “he hard a report that + there was about to be a makin' up of the differences between Kathleen + there and Bryan, and he sent for me to say, that, for the girl's sake—who + he said was, as he had heard from all quarthers, a respectable, genteel + girl—he couldn't suffer a young man so full of thraichery and + desate, as he had good raisons to know Bryan M'Mahon was, to impose + himself upon her or her family. He cautioned me,” he proceeded, “and all + of us against him; and said that if I allowed a marriage to take place + between him and my daughter, he'd soon bring disgrace upon her and us, as + well as himself. 'You may take my word for it, Mr. Cavanagh,' says he, + 'that is not a thrifle 'ud make me send for you in sich a business; but, + as I happen to know the stuff he is made of, I couldn't bear to see him + take a decent family in so distastefully. To my own knowledge, Cavanagh,' + said he, 'he'd desave a saint, much less your innocent and unsuspectin' + daughter.'” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Hanna, “you know there's not a word of truth in that + report; and mayn't all that has been said, or at least some of what has + been said against Bryan, be as much a lie as that? Who on earth: could + sich a report come from?” + </p> + <p> + “I axed Mr. Clinton the same question,” said the father, “and it appears + that it came from Bryan himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, God forbid!” exclaimed Hanna; “for, if it's a thing that he said + that, he'd say anything.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know,” returned the father, “I only spake it as I hard it, and, + what is more, I believe it—I believe it after what I hard this day; + everybody knows him now—man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an + escape that innocent girl had of him!” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon his + shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after looking + at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and calm but + concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not sit down. + </p> + <p> + “After all,” she exclaimed, “there has been no new crime brought against + him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't do so + again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three weeks to + clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within that time, + take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish—of course Hycy's out + of the question—since you must have it so, for the sooner I go to my + grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it; but, in the + mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear this long; + there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon it will soon + put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow. Oh, Bryan M'Mahon, + can you be what is said of you! and, if you can, oh, why did we ever meet, + or why did I ever see you!” + </p> + <p> + Her sister Hanna attempted to console her, but for once she failed. + Kathleen would hear no comfort, for she said she stood in need of none. + </p> + <p> + “My mind is all dark,” said she, “or rather it is sick of this miserable + work. Why am I fastened upon by such suffering and distraction? Don't + attempt at present to console me, Hanna; I won't, because I can't be + consoled. I wish I knew this man—whether he is honest or not. If he + is the villain they say he is, and that with a false mask upon him, he has + imposed himself on me, and gained my affections by hypocrisy and deceit, + why, Hanna, my darling sister, I could stab him to the heart. To think + that I ever should come to love a villain that could betray his church, + his country, me—and take a bribe; yes, he has done it,” she + proceeded, catching fire from the force of her own detestation of what was + wrong. “Here, Hanna, I call back my words—I give him no further + warning than he has got: he knows the time, the greater part of it is + past, and has he ever made a single attempt to clear himself? No, because + he cannot. I despise him; he is unworthy of me, and I fear he ever was. + Here, father,” she said with vehemence, “listen to me, my dear father; and + you, my mother, beloved mother, hear me! At the expiration of three weeks + I will marry Edward Burke; he is a modest, and I think an honest young + man, who would not betray his religion nor his country, nor—nor—any + unhappy girl that might happen to love him; oh, no, he would not—and + so, after three weeks—I will marry him. Go now and tell him so—say + I said so; and you may rest assured I will not break my word, although—I + may break—break my heart—my heart! Now, Hanna, come out and + walk, dear—come out, and let us chat of other matters; yes, of other + matters; and you can tell me candidly whether you think Bryan M'Mahon such + a villain.” Struck by her own words she paused almost exhausted, and, + bending down, put her face upon her hands, and by a long persevering + effort, at length raised her head, and after a little time appeared to + have regained a good deal of composure; but not without tears—for + she had wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + On that night she told her sister that the last resolution she had come to + was that by which she was determined to abide. + </p> + <p> + “You would not have me like a mere girl,” she said, “without the power of + knowing my own mind—no; let what may come I will send no messages + after him—and as sure as I have life I will marry Edward Burke after + the expiration of three weeks, if Bryan doesn't—but it's idle to + talk of it—if he could he would have done it before now. Good-night, + dear Hanna—good-night,” and after many a long and heavy sigh she + sank to an uneasy and troubled slumber. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Gerald Cavanagh, who laid great stress upon the + distracted language of his daughter on the preceding night paid an early + visit to his friend, Jemmy Burke. He found the whole family assembled at + breakfast, and after the usual salutations, was asked to join them, which + invitation, however, having already breakfasted, he declined. Hycy had of + late been very much abroad—that is to say he was out very much at + night, and dined very frequently in the head-inn of Ballymacan, when one + would suppose he ought to have dined at home. On the present occasion he + saluted honest Gerald with a politeness peculiarly ironical. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Cavanagh,” said he, “I hope I see you in good health, sir. How are + all the ladies?—Hannah, the neat, and Kathleen—ah, Kathleen, + the divine!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, they're all very well, I thank you, Hycy; and how is yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Free from care, Mr. Cavanagh—a chartered libertine.” + </p> + <p> + “A libertine!” exclaimed the honest farmer; “troth I've occasionally heard + as much; but until I heard it from your own lips divil a word of it I + believed.” + </p> + <p> + “He is only jesting, Mr. Cavanagh,” said his brother; “he doesn't mean + exactly, nor indeed at all, what you suppose he does.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he mean anything at all, Ned?” said his father, dryly, “for of late + it's no aisy matther to understand him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well said, Mr. Burke,” replied Hycy; “I am like yourself, becoming + exceedingly oracular of late—but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this + exquisite union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed—does + it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt + clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?” + </p> + <p> + “Gerald,” said the father, “as there's none here so handy at the nonsense + as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Begad, Jemmy,” said Cavanagh, “to tell you the truth, I haven't nonsense + enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he takes to + speakin' common-sense I won't undhertake to hould any further discourse + wid him.” + </p> + <p> + “Why will you continue,” said his brother in a low voice, “to render + yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?” + </p> + <p> + “Well said, most vituline—<i>Solomon secundus</i>, well said.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” said his mother, “you ought to remimber that every one didn't get + the edi cation you did—an' that ignorant people like your father and + Gerald Kavanagh there can't undhercomestand one-half o' what you say. Sure + they know nothing o' book-lamin', and why do you give it them?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke. They are two of the most + notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don't possess + your powers of ratiocination, madam?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied his father; “nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, “One would think that joke is + pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke. Couldn't you strike out + something original now?” + </p> + <p> + “All I can say is,” replied the father, “that the joke has betther bottom + than the garran it was made upon.” + </p> + <p> + Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty + ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and + rode towards Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, + unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them + Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward. It is + sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was absolutely + made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the exception of + the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at their next + meeting. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV.—Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen + </h2> + <h3> + —Dora and Her Lover. + </h3> + <p> + The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full of + gloom and depression. Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our + independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our great + seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the case for + many a season previously. That something was wrong, and that something is + wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the myriad's who, whilst + they have the means in their hands, are anxious to get out of it as fast + as they can. And yet there is not a country in the world, a population so + affectionately attached to the soil—to the place of their birth—as + the Irish. In fact, the love of their native fields, their green meadows, + the dark mountains, and the glorious torrents that gush from them, is a + passion of which they have in foreign lands been often known to die. It is + called Home Sickness, and we are aware ourselves of more than one or two + cases in which individuals, in a comparatively early stage of life, have + pined away in secret after their native hills, until the malady becoming + known, unfortunately too late, they sought once more the green fields and + valleys among which they had spent their youth, just in time to lay down + their pale cheeks and rest in their native clay for ever those hearts + which absence and separation from the very soil had broken. + </p> + <p> + Now, nothing can be a greater proof of the pressure, the neglect, the + hopelessness of independence or comfort, which the condition of the + people, and the circumstances which occasioned it, have produced, than the + fact that the strong and sacred attachment which we have described is + utterly incapable of attaching them as residents in a country so + indescribably dear to their best affections. People may ask, and do ask, + and will ask, why Ireland is in such a peculiarly distressed state—why + there is always upon its surface a floating mass of pauperism without + parallel in Europe, or perhaps in the world? To this we reply simply + because the duties of property have uniformly been neglected. And in what, + may it be asked, do the duties of property consist? To this we reply + again, in an earnest fixed resolution to promote, in the first place, the + best social and domestic interests of the people, to improve their + condition, to stock their minds with, useful and appropriate knowledge, to + see that they shall be taught what a sense of decent comfort means, that + they shall not rest satisfied with a wad of straw for a bed, and a meal of + potatoes for food, and that they shall, besides, come to understand the + importance of their own position as members of civil society. Had the + landlords of Ireland paid attention to these and other matters that + directly involve their own welfare and independence, as well as those of + their neglected tenantry, they would not be, as they now are, a class of + men, some absolutely bankrupt, and more on the very eve of it; and all + this, to use a commercial phrase painfully appropriate,—because they + neglect their business. + </p> + <p> + Who, until lately, ever heard of an Irish landlord having made the subject + of property, or the principles upon which it ought to be administered, his + study? By this we do not mean to say that they did not occasionally bestow + a thought upon their own interests; but, in doing so, they were guided by + erroneous principles that led them to place these interests in antagonism + with those of the people. They forgot that poverty is the most fertile + source of population, and that in every neglected and ill-regulated state + of society, they invariably reproduce each other; but the landlords kept + the people poor, and now they are surprised, forsooth, at their poverty + and the existence of a superabundant population. + </p> + <p> + “We know,” said they, “that the people are poor; but we know also that, by + subsisting merely upon the potato, and excluding better food and a higher + state of comfort, of course the more is left for the landlord.” This in + general was their principle—and its consequences are now upon + themselves. + </p> + <p> + This, however, is a subject on which it is not our intention to expatiate + here. What we say is, that, in all the relations of civil life, Her people + were shamefully and criminally neglected. They were left without + education, permitted to remain ignorant of the arts of life, and of that + industrial knowledge on which, or rather on the application of which, all + public prosperity is based. + </p> + <p> + And yet, although the people have great errors, without which no people so + long neglected can ever be found, and, although they have been for + centuries familiarized with suffering, yet it is absolute dread of poverty + that drives them from their native soil; They understand, in fact, the + progress of pauperism too well, and are willing to seek fortune in any + clime, rather than abide its approach to themselves—an approach + which they know is in their case inevitable and certain. For instance, the + very class of our countrymen that constitutes the great bulk of our + emigrants is to be found among those independent small farmers who appear + to understand something like comfort. One of these men holding, say + sixteen or eighteen acres, has a family we will suppose of four sons and + three daughters. This family grows up, the eldest son marries, and the + father, having no other way to provide for him, sets apart three or four + acres of his farm, on which he and his wife settle. The second comes also + to marry, and hopes his father won't treat him worse than he treated his + brother. He accordingly gets four acres more, and settles down as his + brother did. In this manner the holding is frittered away and subdivided + among them. For the first few years—that is, before their children + rise—they may struggle tolerably well; but, at the expiration of + twenty or twenty-five years, each brother finds himself with such a family + as his little strip of land cannot adequately support, setting aside the + claims of the landlord altogether; for rent in these cases is almost out + of the question. + </p> + <p> + What, then, is the consequence? Why, that here is to be found a population + of paupers squatted upon patches of land quite incapable of their support; + and in seasons of famine and sickness, especially in a country where labor + is below its value, and employment inadequate to the demand that is for + it, this same population becomes a helpless burthen upon it—a + miserable addition to the mass of poverty and destitution under which it + groans. + </p> + <p> + Such is the history of one class of emigrants in this unhappy land, of + ours; and what small farmer, with such a destiny as that we have detailed + staring him and his in the face, would not strain every nerve that he + might fly to any country—rather than remain to encounter the + frightful state of suffering which awaits him in this. + </p> + <p> + Such, then, is an illustration of the motives which prompt one class of + emigrants to seek their fortune in other climes, while it is yet in their + power to do so. There is still a higher class, however, consisting of + strong farmers possessed of some property and wealth, who, on looking + around them, find that the mass of destitution which is so rapidly + increasing in every direction must necessarily press upon them in time, + and ultimately drag them down to its own level. But even if the naked + evils which pervade society among us were not capable of driving these + independent yeomen to other lands, we can assure our legislators that what + these circumstances, appalling as they are, may fail in accomplishing, the + recent act for the extra relief of able-bodied paupers will complete—an + act which, instead of being termed a Relief Act, ought to be called an act + for the ruin of the country, and the confiscation of its property, both of + which, if not repealed, it will ultimately accomplish. We need not mention + here cases of individual neglect or injustice upon the part of landlords + and agents, inasmuch as we have partially founded our narrative upon a + fact of this description. + </p> + <p> + It has been said, we know, and in many instances with truth, that the + Irish are a negligent and careless people—without that perseverance + and enterprise for which their neighbors on the other side of the channel + are so remarkable. We are not, in point of fact, about to dispute the + justice of this charge; but, if it be true of the people, it is only so + indirectly. It is true of their condition and social circumstances in this + country, rather than of any constitutional deficiency in either energy or + industry that is inherent in their character. In their own country they + have not adequate motive for action—no guarantee that industry shall + secure them independence, or that the fruits of their labor may not pass, + at the will of; their landlords, into other hands. Many, therefore, of the + general imputations that are brought against them in these respects, ought + to be transferred rather to the depressing circumstances in which they are + placed than to the people themselves. As a proof of; this, we have only to + reflect upon their industry, enterprise, and success, when relieved from + the pressure of these circumstances in other countries—especially in + America, where exertion and industry never, or at least seldom, fail to + arrive at comfort and independence. Make, then, the position of the + Irishman reasonable—such, for instance, as it is in any other + country but his own—and he can stand the test of comparison with any + man. + </p> + <p> + Not only, however, are the Irish flying from the evils that are to come, + but they feel a most affectionate anxiety to enable all those who are + bound to them by the ties of kindred and domestic affection to imitate + their example. There is not probably to be found in records of human + attachment such a beautiful history of unforgotten affection, as that + presented by the heroic devotion of Irish emigrants to those of their + kindred who remain here from inability to accompany them.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + *The following extract, from a very sensible pamphlet by + Mr. Murray, is so appropriate to this subject, that we cannot + deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it here:— + + “You have been accustomed to grapple with and master + figures, whether as representing the produce of former + tariffs, or in constructing new ones, or in showing the + income and expenditure of the greatest nation on the earth. + Those now about to be presented to you, as an appendix to + this communication, are small, very small, in their separate + amounts, and not by any means in the aggregate of the + magnitude of the sums you have been accustomed to deal with; + but they are large separately, and heaving large in the + aggregate, in all that is connected with the higher and + nobler parts of our nature—in all that relates to and + evinces the feelings of the heart towards those who are of + our kindred, no matter by what waters placed asunder or by + what distance separated. They are large, powerfully large, + in reading lessons of instruction to the statesman and + philanthropist, in dealing with a warm-hearted people for + their good, and placing them in a position of comparative + comfort to that in which they now are. The figures represent + the particulars of 7,917 separate Bills of Exchange, varying + in amount from £1 to £10 each—a few exceeding the latter + sum; so many separate offerings from the natives of Ireland + who have heretofore emigrated from its shores, sent to their + relations and friends in Ireland, drawn and paid between the + 1st of January and the 15th of December, 1846—not quite one + year; and amount in all to £41,261 9s. 11d. But this list, + long though it be, does not measure the number and amount of + such interesting offerings. It contains only about one-third + part of the whole number and value of such remittances that + have crossed the Atlantic to Ireland during the 349 days of + 1846. The data from which this list is complied enable the + writer to estimate with confidence the number and amount + drawn otherwise; and he calculates that the entire number, + for not quite one year, of such Bills, is £24,000, and the + amount £125,000, or, on an average, £5 4s. 3d. each. They + are sent from husband to wife, from father to child, from + child to father, mother, and grand-parents, from sister to + brother, and the reverse; and from and to those united by + all the ties of blood and friendship that bind us together + on earth. + + In the list, you will observe that these offerings of + affection are classed according to the parts of Ireland they + are drawn upon, and you will find that they are not confined + to one spot of it, but are general as regards the whole + country.”—<i>Ireland. its Present Condition and Future + Prospects, In n letter addressed to the Right Honorable Sir + Robert Peel, Baronet, by Robert Murray. Esq. Dublin, James + M'Olashan, 21 D'Olier Street, 1847</i>. +</pre> + <p> + Let it not be said, then, that the Irishman is deficient in any of the + moral elements or natural qualities which go to the formation of such a + character as might be made honorable to himself and beneficial to the + country. By the success of his exertions in a foreign land, it is clear + that he is not without industry, enterprise, and perseverance; and we have + no hesitation in saying that, if he were supplied at home with due + encouragement and adequate motive, his good qualities could be developed + with as much zeal, energy, and success as ever characterized them in a + foreign country. + </p> + <p> + We trust the reader may understand what the condition of the country, at + the period of our narrative to which we refer, must have been, when such + multitudes as we have described rushed to our great seaports in order to + emigrate; the worst feature in this annual movement being that, whilst the + decent, the industrious, and the moral, all influenced by creditable + motives, went to seek independence in a distant land, the idle, the + ignorant, and the destitute necessarily remain at home—all as a + burthen, and too many of them as a disgrace to the country. + </p> + <p> + Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and painful, + were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration which, under the + circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among the people. It was, + however, on their part a distressing and mournful resolve. From the, + moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the whole family. Nothing a few + months before had been farther from their thoughts; but now there existed + such a combination of arguments for their departure, as influenced Bryan + and his father, in spite of their hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and + Carriglass. Between them and the Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had + delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan, there was scarcely any intercourse. + Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an opportunity of exchanging a few words + occasionally, but although the former felt much anxiety for a somewhat + lengthened and if possible confidential conversation with her sparkling + little friend, yet the latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one + particular subject, feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on + her part was humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to + compromise the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora, + notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own + sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who felt + disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could. So indeed would every + one of the family, had they known them, for we need scarcely say that the + warm and generous girl was the centre in which all their affections met. + And this indeed was only justice to her, inasmuch as she was willing on + any occasion to sacrifice her interests, her wishes, or anything connected + with her own welfare, to their individual or general happiness. We have + said, however, that she had her own sorrows, and this was true. From the + moment she felt assured that their emigration to America was certain, she + manifested a depression so profound and melancholy, that the heart of her + brother Bryan, who alone knew its cause, bled for her. This by the rest of + the family was imputed to the natural regret she felt, in common with + themselves, at leaving the old places for ever, with this difference to be + sure—they imagined that she felt the separation more acutely than + they did. Still, as the period for their departure approached, there was + not one of the family, notwithstanding what she felt herself, who labored + so incessantly to soothe and sustain the spirits of her father, who was + fast sinking under the prospect of being “forever removed,” as he said, + “from the places his heart had grown into.” She was in fact the general + consoler of the family, and yet her eye scarcely ever met that of her + brother that a tear did not tremble in it, and she felt disposed to burst + out into an agony of unrestrained grief. + </p> + <p> + It was one evening in the week previous to their departure, that she was + on her return from Ballymacan, when on passing a bend of the road between + Carriglass and Fenton's farm, she met the cause of the sorrow which + oppressed her, in the handsome person of James Cavanaugh, to whom she had + been for more than a year and a half deeply and devotedly attached, but + without the knowledge of any individual living, save her lover himself and + her brother Bryan. + </p> + <p> + On seeing him she naturally started, but it was a start of pleasure, and + she felt her cheek flush and again get pale, and her heart palpitated, + then was still a moment, and again resumed its tumultuous pulsations. + </p> + <p> + “Blessed be God, my darlin' Dora, that I've met you at last,” said James; + “in heaven's name how did it happen that we haven't met for such a length + of time?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure that's more than I can tell,” replied Dora, “or rather it's what + both, you and I know the cause of too well.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, poor Dora,” he exclaimed, “for your sake I don't wish to spake about + it at all; it left me many a sore heart when I thought of you.” + </p> + <p> + Dora's natural pale cheek mantled, and her eyes deepened with a beautiful + severity, as she hastily turned them on him and said, “what do you mane, + James?” + </p> + <p> + “About poor Bryan's conduct at the election,” he replied, “and that + fifty-pound note; and may hell consume it and him that tempted him with + it!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you forget,” she said, “that you're spaking to his sister that knows + the falsehood of it all; an' how dare you in my presence attempt to say or + think that Bryan M'Mahon would or could do a mane or dishonest act? I'm + afeard, James, there's a kind of low suspicion in your family that's not + right, and I have my reasons for thinking so. I fear there's a want of + true generosity among you; and if I could be sure of it, I tell you now, + that whatever it might cost me, I'd never—but what am I sayin'? + that's past.” + </p> + <p> + “Past! oh, why do you spake that way, Dora dear?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matter what I may suffer myself,” she replied; “no matter at all + about that; but wanst and for all, I tell you that let what may happen, + I'm not the girl to go into a family that have treated my dear brother as + yours has done. Your sister's conduct has been very harsh and cruel to the + man she was to be married to.” + </p> + <p> + “My sister, Dora, never did anything but what was right.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, let her go and marry the Pope, with reverence be it spoken, + for I don't know any other husband that's fit for her. I'd like to see the + girl that never did anything wrong; it's a sight I never saw yet, I know.” + </p> + <p> + “Dora, dear,” replied her lover, “I don't blame you for being angry. I + know that such a load of disgrace upon any family is enough to put one + past their temper. I don't care about that, however,” he proceeded; “if he + had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five + hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you my + wife.” + </p> + <p> + Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language of + Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was cool + and cuttingly ironical. + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn't you, indeed?” she replied; “dear me! I have a right to be proud + of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family blackened by + disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James.” + </p> + <p> + “But you have done nothing wrong, Dora,” he replied; “'you're free from + any blame of that kind.” + </p> + <p> + “I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?” she returned. “Ay, a thousand + things—for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't + I supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had + been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that every word you say, and every lively look—ay, or angry if + you like—that you give—makes me love you more and more. An' + plase God, my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife.” + </p> + <p> + “That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it. + Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my + brother.” + </p> + <p> + “'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora.” + </p> + <p> + “Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my + body.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?” + </p> + <p> + “Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would pay + attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to send for + him face to face, and to say—'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you or one + of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful act'—and + here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and hereditary pride + which are more precious relics in a family than the costliest jewels that + ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her eyes—'and now, Bryan + M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own—I ax no other evidence but + your own—I put it to your conscience—to that honor that has + never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it to + yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you—and answer + me as you are in the presence of God—did you do what they charge you + with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own + conscience?” + </p> + <p> + The animated sparkle of her face was so delightful and fascinating that + her lover attempted to press her to his bosom; but she would not suffer + it. + </p> + <p> + “Behave now,” she said firmly; “sorra bit—no,” she proceeded; “and + whilst all the world was against him, runnin' him down and blackenin' him—was + she ever the girl to stand up behind his back and defend him like a—hem—defend + him, I say, as a girl that loved him ought, and a generous-girl would?” + </p> + <p> + “But how could she when she believed, him to be wrong?” + </p> + <p> + “Why did she believe him to be wrong upon mere hearsay? and granting that + he was wrong! do you think now if you had done what they say he did (and + they lie that say it), an' that I heard the world down on you for your + first slip, do you think, I say, that I'd not defend you out of clane + contrariness,—and to vex them—ay, would I.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, darlin', that you'd do everything that's generous an' right; but + settin' that affair aside, my dear Dora, what are you and I to do?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know what we're to do,” she replied; “it's useless for you to ax + me from my father now; for he wouldn't give me to you,—sorra bit.” + </p> + <p> + “But you'll give me yourself, Dora, darling.” + </p> + <p> + “Not without his consent, no nor with it,—as the families stand this + moment; for I tell you again that the sorra ring ever I'll put on you till + your sister sends for my brother, axes his pardon, and makes up with him, + as she ought to do. Oh why, James dear, should she be so harsh upon him,” + she said, softening at once; “she that is so good an' so faultless afther + all? but I suppose that's the raison of it—she doesn't know what it + is to do anything that's not right.” + </p> + <p> + “Dora,” said her lover, “don't be harsh on Kathleen; you don't know what + she's sufferin'. Dora, her heart's broke—broke.” + </p> + <p> + The tears were already upon Dora's cheeks, and her lover, too, was silent + for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “She has,” resumed the warm-hearted girl, “neither brother nor sister that + loves her, or can love her, better than I do, afther all.” + </p> + <p> + “But in our case, darling, what's to be done?” he asked, drawing her + gently towards him. + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you then what I'd recommend you to do,” she replied; “spake to + my brother Bryan, and be guided by him. I must go now, it's quite dusk.” + </p> + <p> + There was a moment's pause, then a gentle remonstrance on the part of + Dora, followed, however, by that soft sound which proceeds from the + pressure of youthful lips—after which she bade her lover a hasty + good-night and hurried home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/platechxxv.jpg" + alt="Page 623-- I Must Leave You--i Must Go " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV.—The Old Places—Death of a Patriarch. + </h2> + <p> + As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, + etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing + distress settled upon the whole family. It had not been their purpose to + apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, and + neither indeed had they done so. The fact, however, reached him from the + neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his family to + conceal the circumstance from him—at least as long as they could—entered + into conversation with him upon it, and by this means he became acquainted + with their determination. Age, within the last few months—for he was + now past ninety—had made sad work with both his frame and intellect. + Indeed, for some time past, he might be said to hover between reason and + dotage. Decrepitude had set in with such ravages on his constitution that + it could almost be marked by daily stages. Sometimes he talked with + singular good sense and feeling; but on other occasions he either babbled + quite heedlessly, or his intellect would wander back to scenes and + incidents of earlier life, many of which he detailed with a pathos that + was created and made touching by the unconsciousness of his own state + while relating them. They also observed that of late he began to manifest + a child-like cunning in many things connected with himself and family, + which, though amusing from its very simplicity, afforded at the same time + a certain indication that the good old grandfather whom they all loved so + well, and whose benignant character had been only mellowed by age into a + more plastic affection for them all, was soon to be removed from before + their eyes, never again to diffuse among them that charm of domestic truth + and love, and the holy influences of all those fine old virtues which + ancestral integrity sheds over the heart, and transmits pure and + untarnished from generation to generation. + </p> + <p> + On the day he made the discovery of their intention, he had been sitting + on a bench in the garden, a favorite seat of his for many a long year + previously; “And so,” said he to the neighbor with whom he had been + speaking, “you tell me that all our family is goin' to America?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, dear me,” replied his acquaintance, “is it possible you didn't know + it?” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” he exclaimed, “I undherstand now why they used to be whisperin' + together so often, and lookin' at me; but indeed they might spake loud + enough now, for I'm so deaf that I can hardly hear anything. Howaniver, + Ned, listen—they all intend to go, you say; now listen, I say—I + know one that won't go; now, do you hear that? You needn't say anything + about it, but this I tell you—listen to me, what's your name? + Barney, is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, is it possible, you don't know Ned Gormley?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Ned Gormley—och, so it is. Well listen, Ned—there's one + they won't bring; I can tell you that—the sorra foot I'll go to—to—where's + this you say they're goin' to, Jemmy?” + </p> + <p> + Gormley shook his head. “Poor Bryan,” said he, “it's nearly all over wid + you, at any rate. To America, Bryan,” he repeated, in a loud voice. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, to America. Well, the sorra foot ever I'll go to America—that + one thing I can tell them. I'm goin' in. Oh! never mind,” he exclaimed, on + Gormley offering him assistance, “I'm stout enough still; stout an' active + still; as soople as a two-year ould, thank God. Don't I bear up + wonderfully?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, indeed you do, Bryan; it is wonderful, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes they arrived at the door; and the old man, recovering as + it were a portion of his former intellect, said, “lavin' this place—these + houses—an' goin' away—far, far away—to a strange country—to + strange people! an' to bring me, the ould white-haired grandfather, away + from all! that would be cruel; but my son Tom will never do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, at any rate, Bryan,” said his neighbor, “whether you go or stay, + God be wid you. It's a pity, God knows, that the like of you and your + family should leave the country; and sure if the landlord, as they say, is + angry about it, why doesn't he do what he ought to do? an' why does he + allow that smooth-tongued rap to lead him by the nose as he does? + Howandiver, as I said, whether you go or stay, Bryan, God be wid you!” + </p> + <p> + During all that morning Thomas M'Mahon had been evidently suffering very + deeply from a contemplation of the change that was about to take place by + the departure of himself and his family from Carriglass. He had been + silent the greater part of the morning, and not unfrequently forced to + give away to tears, in which he was joined by his daughters, with the + exception of Dora, who, having assumed the office of comforter, felt + herself bound to maintain the appearance of a firmness which she did not + feel. In this mood he was when “grandfather,” as they called him, entered + the house, after having been made acquainted with their secret. “Tom,” + said he, approaching his son, “sure you wouldn't go to bring an ould man + away?” + </p> + <p> + “Where to, father?” asked the other, a good deal alarmed. + </p> + <p> + “Why, to America, where you're all goin' to. Oh! surely you wouldn't bring + the old man away from the green fields of Carriglass? Would you lay my + white head in a strange land, an' among a strange people? Would you take + poor ould grandfather away from them that expects him down, at Carndhu + where they sleep? Carndhu's a holy churchyard. Sure there never was a + Protestant buried in it but one, an' the next mornin' there was a boortree + bush growin' out o' the grave, an' it's there yet to prove the maricle. + Oh! ay, Carndhu's holy ground, an' that's where I must sleep.” + </p> + <p> + These words were uttered with a tone of such earnest and childlike + entreaty as rendered them affecting in a most extraordinary degree, and + doubly so to those who heard him. Thomas's eyes, despite of every effort + to the contrary, filled with tears. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “he has found it + out at last; but how can I give him consolation, an' I stands in need of + it so much myself?” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said he, rising and placing the old man in the arm-chair, which + for the last half century had been his accustomed seat, “father, we will + go together—we will all be wid you. You'll not be among strangers—you'll + have your own about you still.” + </p> + <p> + “But what's takin' you all away?” + </p> + <p> + “Neglect and injustice, an' the evil tongues of them that ought to know us + betther. The landlord didn't turn out to be what he ought to be. May God + forgive him! But at any rate I'm sure he has been misled.” + </p> + <p> + “Ould Chevydale,” said his father, “never was a bad landlord, an' he'd not + become a bad one now. That's not it.” + </p> + <p> + “But the ould man's dead, father, an' its his son we're spakin' of.” + </p> + <p> + “And the son of ould Chevydale must have something good about him. The + heart was always right wid his father, and every one knows there's a great + deal in true blood. Sooner or later it'll tell for itself—but what + is this? There was something troublin' me this minute. Oh! ay, you're + goin' away, then, to America; but, mark my words:—I won't go. You + may, but I'll stay here. I won't lave the green fields of Carriglass for + any one. It's not much I'll be among them now, an' it isn't worth your + while to take me from them. Here's where I was born—here's where the + limbs that's now stiff an' feeble was wanst young and active—here's + where the hair that's white as snow was fair an' curlin' like goold—here's + where I was young—here's where I grew ould—among these dark + hills and green fields—here you all know is where I was born; and, + in spite o' you all, here's where I'll die.” + </p> + <p> + The old man was much moved by all these recollections; for, as he + proceeded, the tears fell fast from his aged eyes, and his voice became + tremulous and full of 'sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Wasn't it here, too,” he proceeded, “that Peggy Slevin, she that was + famed far an' near for her beauty, and that the sweet song was made upon—'Peggy + Na Laveen'—-ay—ay, you may think yourselves fine an' handsome; + but, where was there sich a couple as grandfather and Peggy Na Laveen was + then?” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered these words, his features that had been impressed by grief, + were lit up by a smile of that simple and harmless vanity which often + attends us to the very grave; after which he proceeded:— + </p> + <p> + “There, on the side of that hill is the roofless house where she was born; + an' there's not a field or hill about the place that her feet didn't make + holy to me. I remember her well. I see her, an' I think I hear her voice + on the top of Lisbane, ringin' sweetly across the valley of the Mountain + Wather, as I often did. An' is it to take me away now from all this? Oh! + no, childre', the white-haired grandfather couldn't go. He couldn't lave + the ould places—the ould places. If he did, he'd die—he'd die. + Oh, don't, for God's sake, Tom, as you love me!” + </p> + <p> + There was a spirit of helpless entreaty in these last words that touched + his son, and indeed all who heard him, to the quick. + </p> + <p> + “Grandfather dear, be quiet,” he replied; “God will direct all things for + the best. Don't cry,” he added, for the old man was crying like an infant; + “don't cry, but be quiet, and everything will be well in time. It's a + great trial, I know; but any change is better than to remain here till we + come, like so many others, to beggary. God will support us, father.” + </p> + <p> + The old man wiped his eyes, and seemed as if he had taken comfort from the + words of his son; whereas, the fact was, that his mind had altogether + passed from the subject; but not without that unconscious feeling of pain + which frequently remains after the recollection of that which has + occasioned it has passed away. + </p> + <p> + It was evident, from the manner of the old man, that the knowledge of + their intended emigration had alarmed into action all the dormant + instincts of his nature; but this was clearly more than they were + competent to sustain for any length of time. Neither the tottering frame, + nor the feeble mind was strong enough to meet the shock which came so + unexpectedly upon them. The consequence may be easily anticipated. On the + following day he was able to be up only for an hour; yet he was not sick, + nor did he complain of any particular pain. His only malady appeared to + consist in that last and general prostration of bodily and intellectual + strength, by which persons of extreme old age, who have enjoyed + uninterrupted health, are affected at, or immediately preceding their + dissolution. His mind, however, though wandering and unsteady, was + vigorous in such manifestations as it made. For instance, it seemed to be + impressed by a twofold influence,—the memory of his early life,—mingled + with a vague perception of present anxiety, the cause of which he + occasionally was able to remember, but as often tried to recollect in + vain. + </p> + <p> + On the second day after his discovery he was unable to rise at all; but, + as before, he complained of nothing, neither were his spirits depressed. + On the contrary they were rather agitated—sometimes into + cheerfulness, but more frequently into an expression of sorrow and + lamentation, which were, however, blended with old by-gone memories that + were peculiarly reflecting to those who heard them. In this way he went + on, sinking gradually until the day previous to the auction. On that + morning, to their surprise, he appeared to have absolutely regained new + strength, and to have been gifted with something like renovated power of + speech. + </p> + <p> + “I want to get up,” said he, “and it's only Tom an' Dora that I'll allow + to help me. You're all good, an' wor always good to grandfather, but Tom + was my best son, and signs on it—everything thruv wid him, an' God + will prosper an' bless him. Where's Dora?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, grandfather.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that's the voice above all o' them that went like music to my heart; + but well I know, and always did, who you have that voice from; ay, an' I + know whose eyes—an' it's them that's the lovely eyes—Dora has. + Isn't the day fine, Dora?” + </p> + <p> + “It is, grandfather, a beautiful day.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, thank God. Well then I want to go out till I look—take one look + at the ould places; for somehow I think my heart was never so much in them + as now.” + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to say how or why the feeling prevailed, but the fact + was, that the whole family were impressed with a conviction that this + partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed the + lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he spoke + occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous + patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he called + Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with streaming + eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After having reached a + little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of the rich country + beneath and around them, he called for his chair; “an', Bryan,” said he, + “the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me. A blessin' will + follow you, Bryan—a blessin' will follow my manly grandson, that I + often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan,” he proceeded, when the latter + had returned with the chair and placed him in it, “listen, Bryan—when + you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married—but I needn't say it—where + was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing in that respect?—but + when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your own father was to her + that's gone—ever and always kind and lovin', an' what your + grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last time, was to her + that's long, long an angel in heaven—my own Peggy Slevin—but + it's the Irish sound of it I like—Peggy Na Laveen. Bring them all + out here—but what is this?—why are you all cryin'? Sure; + there's nothing wrong—an' why do you cry?” + </p> + <p> + The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and the + good old man proceeded:— + </p> + <p> + “Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me.” The latter, with uncovered head, did + so; and his father resumed:—“Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' + son I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to + you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;—that is, that I + have any right to lave you—I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may + God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to + give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant you + health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! little you know, grandfather dear,” replied Shibby, “that we've done + wid both of them for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Shibby, God bless you, achora,” he returned; “but the ould man's lips can + spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin' from + the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words.” He then + paused for a few minutes, but appeared to take a comprehensive view of the + surrounding country. + </p> + <p> + “But, grandfather,” proceeded simple-hearted Shibby, “sure the match + between Bryan and Kathleen Cavanagh is broken up, an' they're not to be + married at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't I say, darlin', that they will be married, an' be happy—ay, + an' may God make them happy! as He will, blessed be His holy name! God, + acushla, can bring about everything in His own good way.” + </p> + <p> + After another pause of some minutes he murmured to himself—“Peggy Na + Laveen—Peggy Na Laveen—how far that name has gone! Turn me + round a little. What brought us here, childre'? Oh! ay—I wanted to + see the ould places—there's Claghleim, where the walls of the house + she was born in, and the green garden, is both to the fore; yet I hope + they won't be disturbed, if it was only for the sake of them that's gone; + an' there's the rock on the top of Lisbane,where, in the summer evening, + long, long ago, I used to sit an' listen to Peggy Na Laveen singin' over + our holy songs—the darlin' ould songs of the counthry. Oh! clear an' + sweet they used to ring across the glen of the Mountain Wather. An' + there's the hills an' the fields where she an' I so often sported when we + wor both young; there they are, an' many a happy day we had on them; but + sure God was good to us, blessed be His name, as He ever will be to them + that's obadient to His holy will!” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered the last words he clasped his two hands together, and, + having closed his eyes, he muttered something internally which they could + not understand. “Now,” said he, “bring me in again; I have got my last + look at them all—the ould places, the brave ould places! oh, who + would lave them for any other country? But at any rate, Tom, achora, don't + take me away from them; sure you wouldn't part me from the green fields of + Carriglass? Sure you'd not take me from the blessed graveyard of Carndhu, + where we all sleep. I couldn't rest in a sthrange grave, nor among strange + people; I couldn't rest, barrin' I'm wid her, Peggy Na Laveen.” These + words he uttered after his return into the house. + </p> + <p> + “Grandfather,” said Bryan, “make your mind aisy; we won't take you from + the brave ould places, and you will sleep in Carndhu with Peggy Na Laveen; + make your heart and mind easy, then, for you won't be parted.” + </p> + <p> + He turned his eyes upon the speaker, and a gleam of exultation and delight + settled upon his worn but venerable features; nor did it wholly pass away, + for, although his chin sank upon his breast, yet the placid expression + remained. On raising his head they perceived that this fine and + patriarchal representative of the truthful integrity and simple manners of + a bygone class had passed into a life where neither age nor care can + oppress the spirit, and from whose enjoyment no fear of separation can + ever disturb it. + </p> + <p> + It is unnecessary to describe the sorrow which they felt. It must be + sufficient to say that seldom has grief for one so far advanced in years + been so sincere and deep. Age, joined to the knowledge of his affectionate + heart and many virtues, had encircled him with a halo of love and pious + veneration which caused his disappearance from among them to be felt, as + if a lamb of simple piety and unsullied truth had been removed from their + path for ever. + </p> + <p> + That, indeed, was a busy and a melancholy day with the M'Mahons; for, in + addition to the death of the old grandfather, they were obliged to receive + farewell visits to no end from their relations, neighbors, and + acquaintances. Indeed it would be difficult to find a family in a state of + greater distress and sorrow. The auction, of course, was postponed for a + week—that is, until after the old man's funeral—and the + consequence was that circumstances, affecting the fate of our <i>dramatis + personae</i> had time to be developed, which would otherwise have occurred + too late to be available for the purposes of our narrative. This renders + it necessary that we should return to a period in it somewhat anterior to + that at which we have now arrived. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE XXVI.—Containing a Variety of Matters. + </h2> + <p> + Our readers cannot have forgotten the angry dialogue which Kate Hogan and + her male relations indulged in upon the misunderstanding that had occurred + between the Cavanaghs and M'Mahons, and its imputed cause. We stated at + the time that Hycy Burke and the Hogans, together with a strange man and + woman, were embarked in some mysterious proceedings from which both Kate + Hogan and Teddy Phats had been excluded. For some time, both before and + after that night, there had been, on the other hand, a good, deal of + mysterious communication between several of our other characters. For + instance Kate Hogan and Nanny Peety had had frequent interviews, to which, + in the course of time, old Peety, Teddy Phats, and, after him, our friend + the schoolmaster had been admitted. Nanny Peety had also called on Father + Magowan, and, after him, upon young Clinton; and it was evident, from the + result of her disclosures to the two latter, that they also took a warm + interest, and were admitted to a participation in, the councils we + mention. To these proceedings Clinton had not been long privy when he + began to communicate with Vanston, who, on his part, extended the mystery + to Chevydale, between whom and himself several confidential interviews had + already taken place. Having thrown out these hints to our readers, we beg + them to accompany us once more to the parlor of Clinton the gauger and his + nephew. + </p> + <p> + “So, uncle, now that you have been promoted to the Supervisorship, you + abandon the farm; you abandon Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, won't I be out of the district, you blockhead? and you persist in + refusing it besides.” + </p> + <p> + “Most positively; but I always suspected that Fethertonge was a scoundrel, + as his conduct in that very business with you was a proo—hem, ahem.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on,” said the uncle, coolly, “don't be ashamed, Harry; I was nearly as + great a scoundrel in that business as he was. I told you before that I + look upon the world as one great pigeon, which every man who can, without + exposing, himself, is obliged to pluck. Now, in the matter of the farm, I + only was about to pluck out a feather or two to put in my own nest—or + yours, if you had stood it.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, uncle, I must admit that you are exceedingly candid.” + </p> + <p> + “No such thing, you fool; there is scarcely an atom of candor in my whole + composition—I mean to the world, whatever I may be to you. Candor, + Harry, my boy, is a virtue which very few in this life, as it goes, can + afford to practice—at least I never could.” + </p> + <p> + “Well but, uncle, is it not a pity to see that honest family ruined and + driven out of the country by the villany of Burke on the one hand, and the + deliberate fraud and corruption of Fethertonge, on the other. However, now + that you are resolved to unmask Fethertonge, I am satisfied. It's a proof + that you don't wish to see an honest family oppressed and turned, without + reasonable compensation, out of their property.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a proof of no such thing, I tell you. I don't care the devil had the + M'Mahons; but I am bound to this ninnyhammer of a landlord, who has got me + promoted, and who promises, besides, to get an appointment for you. I + cannot see him, I say, fleeced and plucked by this knavish agent, who + winds him about his finger like a thread; and, as to those poor honest + devils of M'Mahons, stop just a moment and I will show you a document that + may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in order to enhance + the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come nearer the truth, the + value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a document, which I will + immediately show you, in my hands.” + </p> + <p> + He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned and + handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and + Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a + certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” he proceeded, “there's a document which proves Fethertonge, + notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have reduced + it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to his account, + he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old Chevydale, it + appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove, the day before + he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to writing, which he did, + and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons, to whom, of course, it was + never given.” + </p> + <p> + “But what claim had you to it, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I might + let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward methods + of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow Burke has + thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those other + mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is all about + and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or + transportation among them.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession + of them:—There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty + girl—” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay—no fear but there must be that in it; go along.” + </p> + <p> + “A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's, + Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the various + stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this girl, but + without success. Her virtue was incorruptible.” + </p> + <p> + “Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I + should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you + there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length—that is about + a week ago—was obliged to disclose to her father the endless + persecution which she had to endure at the hands of Hycy Burke; and in + addition to that disclosure, came another, to the effect that she had been + for a considerable period aware of a robbery which took place in old + Burke's—you may remember the stir it made—and which robbery + was perpetrated by Bat Hogan, one of these infamous tinkers that live in + Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, and under the protection of his family. The girl's + father—who, by the way, is no other than the little black visaged + mendicant who goes about the country—” + </p> + <p> + “I know him—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “Her father, I say, on hearing these circumstances, naturally indignant at + Hycy Burke for his attempts to corrupt the principles of his daughter, + brought the latter with him to Father Magowan, in whose presence she + stated all she knew; adding, that she had secured Bat Hogan's hat and + shoes, which, in his hurry, he had forgotten on the night of the robbery. + She also requested the priest to call upon me, 'as she felt certain,' she + said, 'in consequence of a letter of Burke's which I happened to see as + she carried it to the post-office, that I could throw some light upon his + villany. He did so.' It was on that affair the priest called here the + other day, and I very candidly disclosed to him the history of that + letter, and its effect in causing the seizure of the distillery apparatus—the + fact being that everything was got up by Hycy himself—I mean at his + cost, with a view to ruin M'Mahon. And this I did the more readily, as the + scoundrel has gone far to involve me in the conduct imputed to M'Mahon, as + his secret abbettor and enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” observed his uncle, “all that's a very pretty affair as it stands; + but what are you to do next?” + </p> + <p> + “There is worse behind, I can assure you,” continued his nephew. “Hycy + Burke, who is proverbially extravagant, having at last, in an indirect + way, ruined young M'Mahon, from the double motive of ill-will and a wish + to raise money by running illicit spirits—” + </p> + <p> + “The d—d scoundrel!” exclaimed the gauger, seized with a virtuous + fit of (professional) indignation, “that fellow would scruple at nothing—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” observed the other, rather maliciously, “he made a complete + tool of you in M'Mahon's affair.” + </p> + <p> + “He did, the scoundrel,” replied his uncle, wincing a good deal; “but, as + the matter was likely to turn up, he was only working out my purposes.” + </p> + <p> + “He is in a bad mess now, however,” continued his nephew. + </p> + <p> + “Why, is there worse to come?” + </p> + <p> + “This same Nanny Peety, you must know, is a relative, it seems, to Bat + Hogan's wife. For some time past there has come a strange man named + Vincent, and his wife, to reside in the neighborhood, and this fellow in + conjunction with the Hogans, was managing some secret proceedings which no + one can penetrate. Now, it appears that Hogan's wife, who has been kept + out of this secret, got Nanny Peety to set her father to work in order to + discover it. Peety, by the advice of Hogan's wife, called in Teddy Phat's—” + </p> + <p> + “What's that? Teddy Phats? Now, by the way, Harry, don't abuse poor Teddy. + You will be surprised, Hal, when I tell you that he and I have played into + each other's hands for years. Yes, my boy, and I can assure you that, + owing to him, both Fethertonge and I were aware of Hycy's Burke's plot + against M'Mahon long before he set it a-going. The fellow, however, will + certainly be hanged yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, sir,” replied Harry, “instead of being hanged himself, he's likely + to hang others. In consequence of an accidental conversation which Teddy + Phats, and Finigan the tippling schoolmaster had, concerning Vincent, the + stranger I spoke of, who, it appears, lives next to Finigan's + school-house, Teddy discovered, through the pedagogue, who, by the way, is + abroad at all hours, that the aforesaid Vincent was in the habit of going + up every night to the most solitary part of the mountains, but for what + purpose, except upon another distillation affair, he could not say.” + </p> + <p> + The old gauger or supervisor, as he now considered himself, became here so + comically excited—or, we should rather say, so seriously excited—that + it was with difficulty the nephew could restrain his laughter. He moved as + if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, his eyes brightened, and + his naturally keen and knavish-looking features were sharpened, as it + were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that he resembled a staunch + old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh slot of a hare. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, rubbing his hands—“well, go on—what happened? + Do you hear, Harry? What happened? Of course they're at the distillation + again. Don't you hear me, I say? What was the upshot?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the upshot was,” replied the other, “that nothing of sufficient + importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that + they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in that + of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy Burke, or + Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, tut!” exclaimed Clinton, disappointed—“so after all, there has + been nothing done?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these matters + have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three interviews + with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young M'Mahon from + the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds such a position + now with his employer that an infant's breath would almost blow him out of + his good opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you to + punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge should + escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it should not, + we will give him a breeze.” + </p> + <p> + “I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an + investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous + letter with me—it may serve an honest man and help to punish a + rogue. What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the uncle, “for the novelty of the thing I don't care if I + do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not + prepared for it.” + </p> + <p> + After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with Hycy's + anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which the old + squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his son. They + found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would have expected; + but, in reality, the state of the country was such as forced them to open + their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere political resentments + or senseless party prejudices against each other, but to the absolute + necessity that existed for looking closely into the state of their + property, and the deplorable condition to which, if they did not take + judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be reduced. They now + began to discover a fact which they ought, long since, to have known—viz.:—that + the condition of the people and that of their property was one and the + same—perfectly identical in all things; and that a poor tenantry + never yet existed upon a thriving or independent estate, or one that was + beneficial to the landlord. + </p> + <p> + Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival + of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps, be + without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of it. + </p> + <p> + “So,” says Vanston, “you are beginning to feel that there is something + wrong on your property, and that your agent is not doing you justice?” + </p> + <p> + “I have reason to suspect,” replied Chevydale, “that he is neither more + nor less than feathering his own nest at the expense of myself and my + tenantry. I cannot understand why he is so anxious to get the M'Mahons off + the estate; a family unquestionably of great honesty, truth, and + integrity, and who, I believe, have been on the property before it came + into our possession at all. I feel—excuse me, Vanston, for the + admission, but upon my honor it is truth—I feel, I say, that, in the + matter of the election—that is, so far as M'Mahon was concerned, he—my + agent—made a cat's paw of me. He prevented me from supporting young + M'Mahon's memorial; he—he—prejudiced me against the family in + several ways, and now, that I am acquainted with the circumstances of + strong and just indignation against me under which M'Mahon voted, I can't + at all blame him. I would have done the same thing myself.” + </p> + <p> + “There is d——d villany somewhere at work,” replied Vanston. + “They talk of a fifty-pound note that I am said to have sent to him by + post. Now, I pledge my honor as an honest man and a gentleman, that I have + sifted and examined all my agents, and am satisfied that he never received + a penny from me. Young Burke did certainly promise to secure me his vote; + but I have discovered Burke to be a most unprincipled profligate, corrupt + and dishonest. For, you may think it strange that, although he engaged to + procure me M'Mahon's vote, M'Mahon himself, whom I believe, assured me + that he never even asked him for it, until after he had overheard, in the + head inn, a conversation concerning himself that filled him with bitter + resentment against you and your agent.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember it,” replied Chevydale, “and; yet my agents told me that Burke + did everything in his power to prevent M'Mahon from voting for you.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” replied the other, “was to preserve his own character from the + charge of inconsistency; for, I again assure you that he had promised us + M'Mahon's vote, and that he urged him privately to vote against you. But d—n + the scoundrel, he is not worth the conversation we had about him. Father + Magowan, in consequence of whose note to me I wrote to ask you here, + states in the communication I had from him, that the parties will be here + about twelve o'clock—Burke himself, he thinks, and M'Mahon along + with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out of the + parish—a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we shall + soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking of the + country, what is to be done?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied Chevydale, “that we, the landed proprietors of Ireland, + should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile causes of + division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited us, but set + us together by the ears, we should take counsel among ourselves, and after + due and serious deliberation, come to the determination that it is our + duty to prevent Irish interests from being made subservient to English + interests, and from being legislated for upon English principles.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture. + Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation. When + we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British Parliament—I + allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal members—what hope can + we entertain of honesty and love of country from such men? When we look, + too, at many of our Corporations and strike an average of their honesty + and intellect, have we not a right to thank God that the interests of our + country are not confided to the management of such an arrogant, corrupt, + and vulgar crew as in general compose them. The truth is, Vanston, we must + become national in our own defense, and whilst we repudiate, with a firm + conviction of the folly on the one hand, and the dishonesty on the other, + of those who talk about Repeal, we shall find it our best policy to forget + the interests of any particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down + into one great principle of national love and good-will toward each other. + Let us only become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when + we were unanimous upon other occasions.” + </p> + <p> + “I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say,” replied + Vanston, “and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must identify + ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably are ours.” + </p> + <p> + “As to myself,” continued Chevydale, “I fear I have much to repair in my + conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy—in + fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil, + according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until + now, I did not suspect.” + </p> + <p> + “The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others,” + replied Vanston; “but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity of + management in Irish property—such indifference and neglect upon our + part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in + most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under + show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently, + much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances.” + </p> + <p> + The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his + nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they + brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we + should detail there conversation at full length. + </p> + <p> + “I must confess,” said Clinton, “that I would have some reason to feel + ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it + not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the + commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to + excite any feeling one way or the other.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must have known, Clinton,” said Chevydale, “that it was a most + iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest + agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man.” + </p> + <p> + “What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?” + </p> + <p> + “But had you not in your own possession my father's written promise—written, + too, on his death-bed—to these honest men, that they should have + their leases renewed?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not + mine.” + </p> + <p> + “As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle + you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the + transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say there + is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, to tell you the truth,” replied Clinton, “as I said to Harry here, + because <i>I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not + prepared for it</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, “I am myself + very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say + that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been + made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take care that + it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can deliberately + avow his participation in such shameless profligacy would be to identify + myself with it. You have been doubly treacherous, Mr. Clinton; first to + me, whom you know to be your friend, and, in the next place, to the + unfortunate partner in your villany, and at my expense; for d——d + if I can call it less. What noise is that?” + </p> + <p> + Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two + voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with + each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend + O'Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in + the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not + allow the great O to be suppressed. + </p> + <p> + “Behave, and keep quiet, now,” said his Reverence, “you unfortunate + pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated.” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, your Reverence,” replied O'Finigan; “<i>non ebrius sed vino + gravatus</i>, devil a thing more.” + </p> + <p> + “Get out, you profligate,” replied the priest, “don't you know that + either, at this time o' day, is too bad?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Nego, dominie—nego, Dominie revendre</i>—denial is my + principle, I say. Do you assert that there's no difference between <i>ebrius</i> + and <i>gravatus vino</i>?” + </p> + <p> + “In your case, you reprobate, I do. Where would you get the vino? + However,” he proceeded, “as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is + possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular + subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and it's + likely we may get more truth out of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the schoolmaster, “upon the principle that <i>in vino veritas</i>; + but you know that <i>gravatus vino</i> and <i>ebrius</i> are two different + things—<i>gravatus vino</i>, the juice o' the grape—och, och, + as every one knows, could and stupid; but <i>ebrius</i> from blessed + poteen, that warms and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart.” + </p> + <p> + The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance + and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” said the priest, “I trust you will excuse me for the society + in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that this Finigan—” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn of—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really + inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence can + be of any advantage to us.” + </p> + <p> + “He says,” replied the master, “that I am <i>ebrius</i>, whereas I replied + that I was only <i>vino gravatus</i>, by which I only meant <i>quasi vino + gravatus</i>; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober + until I'm half seas over—for it is then that I have all my wits + properly about me.” + </p> + <p> + “In fact, gentleman,” proceeded the priest, “in consequence of certain + disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I deemed + it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here. She is + accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who refuses + to be separated from her—and insists, consequently, on coming along + with her. I don't exactly know what her motive may be in this; but I am + certain she has a motive. It is a gratification to me, however, to find, + gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion. I sent + word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M'Mahon; for I thought it only fair that + Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any charge may + be brought against him. I expect M'Mahon, too.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us remove, then, to my office,” said, Chevydale—“it is now a + few minutes past twelve, and I dare say they will soon be here.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly did so; and, as he had said, the parties almost + immediately made their appearance. + </p> + <p> + “Now, gentlemen,” said Father Magowan, “I am of opinion that the best way + is for this girl to state what she knows concerning these Hogans; but I + think I can now persave the raison why Kate Hogan has made it a point to + come with her. It is quite evident from her manner that she wishes to + intimidate this girl, and to prevent her from stating fully and truly what + she knows.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Kate, “it is no such thing—she must either state the + whole truth or nothing; that's what I want, an' what she must do—put + the saddle on the right horse, Nanny—since you will spake.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a good proverbial illustration,” observed Finigan, “but I will + improve it—put the saddle of infamy, I say, upon the right horse, + Nanny. You see, gintlemen,” he added, turning to the magistrates, “my + improvement elevates the metaphor—proceed, girsha.” + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” said Hycy, “I received a note from Father Magowan informing + me that it was probable certain charges might be brought against me—or + at least some complaints made,” he added, softening the expression—“and + I should be glad to know what they are all about, before this girl + commences formally to state them; I say so in order that I may not be + taken by surprise.” + </p> + <p> + “You know,” replied the priest, “that you cannot be taken by surprise; + because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that are + against you.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston—and + we may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” asked the former of these gentlemen, “does this + investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?” + </p> + <p> + “Not, sir, so far as I am aware of—I come here because Father + Magowan wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country + now,” he added in a tone of deep melancholy, “there's an end to that for + ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, my good girl,” said Chevydale, “you will state all you know + connected with these Hogans fully and truly—that is, neither more + nor less than the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “All the truth, Nanny,” said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly condensed + power; “Hycy Burke,” she proceeded, “you ruined Bryan M'Mahon here—and, + by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's heart—she's gone—no + docthor could save her now; and for this you'll soon know what Kate Hogan + can do. Go on, Nanny.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, gintlemon,” Nanny began, “in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here + that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by + the fine.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy laughed. “Excellent!” said he; “Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did not + imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn out + to be enacted exactly in your office.” + </p> + <p> + “Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate,” said the schoolmaster; + “but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become a + tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed, girsha.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know,” asked Chevydale, “that this charge is true?” + </p> + <p> + “If I don't know it,” she replied, “my aunt here does,—and I think + so does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?” asked Chevydale, + addressing Kate. + </p> + <p> + “Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make the + Still, set it up—and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he + didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all + knew it was—'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above, + where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, gentlemen,” said Hycy, “that the respectability of the + witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments and + sense of justice;—a common vagabond and notorious thief on the one + hand, and a beggarman's brat on the other. However, proceed—I + perceive that I shall be obliged to sink under the force of such testimony—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment old Jemmy Burke, having accidentally heard that morning + that such an investigation was to take place, and likely to bear upon the + conduct of his eldest son, resolved to be present at it, and he + accordingly presented himself as Hycy had concluded his observations. + </p> + <p> + The high integrity of his character was at once recognized—he was + addressed in terms exceedingly respectful, if not deferential, by the two + magistrates—Chevydale having at once ordered the servant in + attendance to hand him a chair. He thanked him, however, but declined it + gratefully, and stood like the rest. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the investigation proceeded. “Mr. Burke,” said Chevydale, + addressing himself to the old man, whose features, by the way, were full + of sorrow and distress—“it may be as well to state to you that we + are not sitting now formally in our magisterial capacity, to investigate + any charges that may be brought against your son, but simply making some + preliminary inquiries with respect to other charges, which we have been + given to understand are about to be brought against the notorious Hogans.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't lay the blame upon the Hogans,” replied Kate, fiercely—“the + Hogans, bad as people say they are, only acted under Hycy Burke. It was + Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Chevydale, probably out of compassion for the old man, “you + must know we are not now investigating Mr. Burke's conduct.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed, gintlemen,” said his father, firmly but sorrowfully; “I have + heard it said too often that he was at the bottom of the plot that ruined + Bryan M'Mahon, or that wint near to ruin him; I wish to have that well + sifted, gintlemen, and to know the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “I can swear,” continued Kate, “that it was him got up the whole plan, and + gave them the money for it. I seen him in our house—or, to come + nearer the truth, in Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where we live—givin' + them the money.” + </p> + <p> + “As you are upon that subject, gentlemen,” observed Harry Clinton, “I + think it due to the character of Bryan M'Mahon to state that I am in a + capacity to prove that Hycy Burke was unquestionably at the bottom—or, + in point of fact, the originator—of his calamities with reference to + the act of illicit distillation, and the fine which he would have been + called on to pay, were it not that the Commissioners of Excise remitted + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Mr. Clinton,” replied Hycy; “I find I am not mistaken in you—I + think you are worthy of your accomplices”—and he pointed to Kate and + Nanny as he spoke—“proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “We are passing,” observed Vanston, “from one to another rather + irregularly, I fear; don't you think we had better hear this girl fully in + the first place; but, my good girl,” he added, “you are to understand that + we are not here to investigate any charges against Mr. Hycy Burke, but + against the Hogans. You will please then to confine your charges to them.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” replied Nanny, “that's what I can't do, plase your honor, widout + bringin' in Hycy Burke too, bekaise himself an' the Hogans was joined in + everything.” + </p> + <p> + “I think, gintlemen,” said the priest, “the best plan is to let her tell + her story in her own way.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps so,” said Chevydale; “proceed, young woman, and state fully and + truly whatever you have got to say.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” she proceeded, “there's one thing I know—I know who + robbed Mr. Burke here;” and she pointed to the old man, who started. + </p> + <p> + The magistrates also looked surprised. “How,” said Vanston, turning his + eyes keenly upon her, “you know of the robbery; and pray, how long have + you known it?'” + </p> + <p> + “Ever since the night it was committed, plaise your honor.” + </p> + <p> + “What a probable story!” exclaimed Hycy; “and you kept it to yourself, + like an honest girl as you are, until now!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr. Burke,” said Vanston, quickly and rather sharply, “surely you + can have no motive in impugning her evidence upon that subject?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy bit his lip, for he instantly felt that he had overshot himself by + almost anticipating the charge, as if it were about to be made against + himself;—“What I think improbable in it,” said Hycy, “is that she + should, if in possession of the facts, keep them concealed so long.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, never fear, Mr. Hycy, I'll soon make that plain enough,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “But in the mean time,” said Chevydale, “will you state the names of those + who did commit the robbery?” + </p> + <p> + “I will,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “The whole truth, Nanny,” exclaimed Kate. + </p> + <p> + “It was Bat Hogan, then, that robbed Mr. Burke,” she replied; “and—and—” + </p> + <p> + “Out wid it,” said Kate. + </p> + <p> + “And who besides, my good girl?” inquired Vanston. + </p> + <p> + The young woman looked round with compassion upon Jemmy Burke, and the + tears started to her eyes. “I pity him!” she exclaimed, “I pity him—that + good old man;” and, as she uttered the words, she wept aloud. + </p> + <p> + “This, I fear, is getting rather a serious affair,” said Vanston, in a low + voice to Chevydale—“I see how the tide is likely to turn.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale merely nodded, as if he also comprehended it. “You were about to + add some other name?” said he; “in the mean time compose yourself and + proceed.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy Burke's face at this moment had become white as a sheet; in fact, to + any one of common penetration, guilt and a dread of the coming disclosure + were legible in every lineament of it. + </p> + <p> + “Who was the other person you were about to mention?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “His own son, sir, Mr. Hycy Burke, there.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” exclaimed Chevydale; “Mr. Hycy Burke, do you say? Mr. Burke,” he + added, addressing that gentleman, “how is this? Here is a grave and + serious charge against you. What have you to say to it?” + </p> + <p> + “That it would be both grave and serious,” replied Hycy, “if it possessed + but one simple element, without which all evidence is valueless—I + mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well name either of + yourselves, gentlemen, as me.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs.” + </p> + <p> + “How did you see him?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “Through a hole in the partition,” she replied, “where a knot of the deal + boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet off o' + the room the money was in.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?” asked Vanston of the old + man. + </p> + <p> + “It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, proceed,” said Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it + creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the + chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he + had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I + folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of the + room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the + mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full—but in the teeth. I + was above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she + stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout bein' + seen myself. Well, when the mistress met him she was goin' to bawl out wid + terror, an' would, too, only that Masther Hycy flew to her, put his hand + on her mouth, an' whispered something in her ear. He then went over to + Bat, and got a large shafe of bank-notes from him, an' motioned him to be + off wid himself, an' that he'd see him to-morrow. Bat went down in the + dark, an' Hycy an' his mother had some conversation in a low voice on the + lobby. She seemed angry, an' he was speakin' soft an' strivin' to put her + into good humor again. I then dipt back to bed, but the never a wink could + I get till mornin'; an' when I went down, the first thing I saw was Bat + Hogan's shoes. It was hardly light at the time; but at any rate I hid them + where they couldn't be got, an' it was well I did, for the first thing I + saw was Bat himself peering about the street and yard, like a man that was + looking for something that he had lost.” + </p> + <p> + “But how did you know that the shoes were Hogan's?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “Why, your honor, any one that ever seen the man might know that. One of + his heels is a trifle shorter than the other, which makes him halt a + little, an' he has a bunion as big as an egg on the other foot.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Nanny,” said Kate, “that's the truth; but I can tell you more, + gentlemen. On the evenin' before, when Mr. Hycy came home, he made up the + plan to rob his father wid Phil Hogan; but Phil got drunk that night an' + Bat had to go in his place. Mr. Hycy promised to see the Hogans that + mornin' at his father's, about ten o'clock; but when they went he had gone + off to Ballymacan; an' as they expected him every minute, they stayed + about the place in spite o' the family, an' mended everything they could + lay their hands on. Bat an' Mr. Hycy met that night in Teddy Phat's + still-house, in Glendearg, an' went home together across the mountains + aftherward.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke, what have you to say to this?” asked Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied Hycy, “that it's a very respectable conspiracy as it + stands, supported by the thief and vagabond, and the beggar's brat.” + </p> + <p> + “Was there any investigation at the time of its occurrence?” asked + Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “There was, your honor,” replied Nanny; “it was proved, clearly enough + that Phil and Ned Hogan were both dead drunk that night an' couldn't + commit a robbery; an' Masther Hycy himself said that he knew how Bat spent + the night, an' that of course he couldn't do it; an' you know, your + honors, there was no gettin' over that. I have, or rather my father has, + Bat Hogan's shoes still.” + </p> + <p> + “This, I repeat, seems a very serious charge, Mr. Burke,” said Chevydale + again. + </p> + <p> + “Which, as I said before, contains not one particle of truth,” replied + Hycy. “If I had resolved to break open my father's chest to get cash out + of it, it is not likely that I would call in the aid of such a man as Bat + Hogan. As a proof that I had nothing to do with the robbery in question, I + can satisfy you that my mother, not many days after the occurrence of it, + was obliged to get her car and drive some three or four miles' distance to + borrow a hundred pounds for me from a friend of hers, upon her own + responsibility, which, had I committed the outrage in question, I would + not have required at all.” + </p> + <p> + Old Burke's face would, at this period of the proceedings, have extorted + compassion from any heart. Sorrow, distress, agony of spirit, and shame, + were all so legible in his pale features—that those who were present + kept their eyes averted, from respect to the man, and from sympathy with + his sufferings. + </p> + <p> + At length he himself came forward, and, after wiping away a few bitter + tears from his cheeks, he said—“Gentlemen, I care little about the + money I lost, nor about who took it—let it go—as for me, I + won't miss it; but there is one thing that cuts me to the heart—I'm + spakin' about the misfortune that was brought, or near bein' brought, upon + this honest an' generous-hearted young man, Bryan M'Mahon, through manes + of a black plot that was got up against him—I'm spakin' of the Still + that was found on his farm of Ahadarra. That, if my son had act or part in + it, is a thousand times worse than the other; as for the takin' of the + money, I don't care about it, as I said—nor I won't prosecute any + one for it; but I must have my mind satisfied about the other affair.” + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention to dwell at any length upon the clear proofs of + his treachery and deceit, which were established against him by Harry + Clinton, who produced the anonymous letter to his uncle—brought home + to him as it was by his own evidence and that of Nanny Peety. + </p> + <p> + “There is, however,” said Vanston, “another circumstance affecting the + reputation and honesty of Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, which in your presence, Mr. + M'Gowan, I am anxious to set at rest. I have already contradicted it with + indignation wherever I have heard it, and I am the more anxious to do so, + now, whilst M'Mahon and Burke are present, and because I have been given + to understand that you denounced him—M'Mahon—with such + hostility from the altar, as almost occasioned him to be put to death in + the house of God.” + </p> + <p> + “You are undher a mistake there, Major Vanston, with great respect,” + replied the priest. “It wasn't I but my senior curate, Father M'Pepper; + and he has already been reprimanded by his Bishop.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the other, “I am glad to hear it. However, I, now solemnly + declare, as an honest man and an Irish, gentleman, that neither I, nor any + one for me, with my knowledge, ever gave or sent any money to Bryan + M'Mahon; but perhaps we may ascertain who did. M'Mahon, have you got the + letter about you?” + </p> + <p> + “I have, sir,” replied Bryan, “and the bank-note, too.” + </p> + <p> + “You will find the frank and address both in your own handwriting,” said + Hycy. “It was I brought him the letter from the post-office.” + </p> + <p> + “Show me the letter, if you plaise,” said Nanny, who, after looking first + at it and then at Hycy, added, “and it was I gave it this little tear near + the corner, and dhrew three scrapes of a pin across the paper, an' there + they are yet; an' now I can take my oath that it was Mr. Hycy that sent + that letther to Bryan M'Mahon—an' your Reverence is the very man I + showed it to, and that tould me who it was goin' to, in the street of + Ballymacan.”' + </p> + <p> + On a close inspection of the letter it was clearly obvious that, although + there appeared at a cursory glance a strong resemblance between the frank + and the address, yet the difference was too plain to be mistaken. + </p> + <p> + “If there is further evidence necessary,” said Vanston, looking at Hycy + significantly, “my agent can produce it—and he is now in the house.” + </p> + <p> + “I think you would not venture on that,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” said the other, determinedly. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” replied Father Magowan, “there is nothing further on that point + necessary—the proof is plain and clear; and now, Bryan M'Mahon, give + me your hand, for it is that of an honest man—I am proud to see that + you stand pure and unsullied again; and it shall be my duty to see that + justice shall be rendered! you, and ample compensation made for all that + you have suffered.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir,” replied Bryan, with an air of deep dejection, “but I am + sorry to say it is now too late—I am done with the country, and with + those that misrepresented me, for ever.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale looked at him with deep attention for a moment, then whispered + something to Vanston, who smiled, and nodded his head approvingly. + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke now prepared to go. “Good mornin', gintlemen,” he said, “I am + glad to see the honest name cleared and set right, as it ought to be; but + as for myself, I lave you wid a heavy—wid a breakin' heart.” + </p> + <p> + As he disappeared at the door, Hycy rushed after him, exclaiming, “Father, + listen to me—don't go yet till you hear my defence. I will go and + fetch him back,” he exclaimed—“he must hear what I have to say for + myself.” + </p> + <p> + He overtook his father at the bottom of the hall steps. “Give me a hundred + pounds,” said he, “and you will never see my face again.” + </p> + <p> + “There is two hundre',” said his father; “I expected this. Your mother + confessed all to me this mornin', bekaise she knew it would come out here, + I suppose. Go now, for undher my roof you'll never come again. If you can—reform + your life—an' live at all events, as if there was a God above you. + Before you go answer me;—what made you bring in Bat Hogan to rob + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied his son, “because I wished to make him and them feel + that I had them in my power—and now you have it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate635.jpg" + alt="Page 635-- Hycy Received the Money, Set Spurs to his Horse " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in a + moment—“Ah!” exclaimed the old man, with bitterness of soul, “what + mightn't he be if his weak and foolish mother hadn't taken it into her + head to make a gentleman of him! But now she reaps as she sowed. She's + punished—an' that's enough.”—And thus does Hycy the + accomplished make his exit from our humble stage. + </p> + <p> + “Gintlemen,” said Finigan, “now that the accomplished Mr. Hycy is disposed + of, I beg to state, that it will be productive of much public good to the + country to expatriate these three virtuous worthies, <i>qui nomine gaudent</i> + Hogan—and the more so as it can be done on clear legal grounds. They + are a principal means of driving this respectable young man, Bryan + M'Mahon, and his father's family, out of the land of their birth; and + there will be something extremely appropriate—and indicative besides + of condign and retributive punishment—in sending them on their + travels at his Majesty's expense. I am here, in connection with others, to + furnish you with the necessary proof against them; and I am of opinion + that the sooner they are sent upon a voyage of discovery it will be so + much the better for the rejoicing neighborhood they will leave behind + them.” + </p> + <p> + The hint was immediately taken with respect to them and Vincent, all of + whom had been engaged in coming under Hycy's auspices—they were + apprehended and imprisoned, the chief evidence against them being Teddy + Phats, Peety Dhu, and Finigan, who for once became a stag, as he called + it. They were indicted for a capital felony; but the prosecution having + been postponed for want of sufficient evidence, they were kept in durance + until next assizes;—having found it impossible to procure bail. In + the meantime new charges of uttering base coin came thick and strong + against them; and as the Crown lawyers found that they could not succeed + on the capital indictment—nor indeed did they wish to do so—they + tried them on the lighter one, and succeeded in getting sentence of + transportation passed against every one of them, with the exception of + Kate Hogan alone.—So that, as Finigan afterwards said, “instead of + Bryan M'Mahon, it was they themselves that became 'the Emigrants of + Ahadarra,' at the king's expense—and Mr. Hycy at his own.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII.—Conclusion. + </h2> + <p> + How Kathleen Cavanagh spent the time that elapsed between the period at + which she last appeared to our readers and the present may be easily + gathered from what we are about to write. We have said already that her + father, upon the strength of some expressions uttered in a spirit of + distraction and agony, assured Jemmy Burke that she had consented to marry + his son Edward, after a given period. Honest Jemmy, however, never for a + moment suspected the nature of the basis upon which his worthy neighbor + had erected the superstructure of his narrative; but at the same time he + felt sadly puzzled by the melancholy and declining appearance of her whom + he looked upon as his future daughter-in-law. The truth was that scarcely + any of her acquaintances could recognize her as the same majestic, tall, + and beautiful girl whom they had known before this heavy disappointment + had come on her. Her exquisite figure had lost most of its roundness, her + eye no longer flashed—with its dark mellow lustre, and her cheek—her + damask cheek—distress and despair had fed upon it, until little + remained there but the hue of death itself. Her health in fact was + evidently beginning to go. Her appetite had abandoned her; she slept + little, and that little was restless and unrefreshing. All her family, + with the exception of her father and mother, who sustained themselves with + the silly ambition of their daughter being able to keep her jaunting-car—for + her father had made that point a <i>sine qua non</i>—all, we say, + with the above exceptions, became seriously alarmed at the state of her + mind and health. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, dear,” said her affectionate sister, “I think you have carried + your feelings against Bryan far enough.” + </p> + <p> + “My feelings against Bryan!” she exclamed. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” proceeded her sister, “I think you ought to forgive him.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have + long since forgiven him, Hanna.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?” + </p> + <p> + “I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can + nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when + brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal—the man that + would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of + corruption—he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and + he must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling + principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is + because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that I + am as you see me.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you do intend to marry?” asked Hanna, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you ask that, Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man + your husband is to be.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna,” she replied, solemnly, “look at my cheek, look at my eye, look at + my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can. Don't you + see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it.” + </p> + <p> + Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst + into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you are changed, most woefully, Kathleen, darlin',” she exclaimed, + kissing her tenderly; “but if you could only bear up now, time would set + everything right, and bring you about right, as it will still, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + Her sister mused for some time, and then added—“I think I could bear + up yet if he was to stay in the country; but when I recollect that he's + going to another land—forever—I feel that my heart is broken: + as it is, his disgrace and that thought are both killin' me. To-morrow the + auction comes on, and then he goes—after that I will never see him. + I'm afraid, Hanna, that I'll have to go to bed; I feel that I'm hardly + able to sit up.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna once more pressed her to her heart and wept. + </p> + <p> + “Don't cry, Hanna dear—don't cry for me; the bitterest part of my + fate will be partin' from you.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna here pressed her again and wept aloud, whilst her spotless and + great-minded sister consoled her as well as she could. “Oh, what would + become of me!” exclaimed Hanna, sobbing; “if anything was to happen you, + or take you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna,” said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on + that distressing subject; “on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan to + clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that you'll + do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing me about + Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him your husband + yet, and I think he's worthy of you—that's saying a great deal, I + know. You love him, Hanna—I know it, and he loves you, Hanna, for he + told me so the last day but one he was here;—you remember they all + went out, and left us together, and then he told me all.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when a + rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this + dialogue took place in the parlor—exclaiming, “God save all here! + How do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl + that's a little low spirited for some time past.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, I know the cause of that—it's no secret—where is she + now? If she's in the house let me see her.” + </p> + <p> + The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features, + immediately made their appearance. + </p> + <p> + “God be good to us!” he exclaimed, “here's a change! Why, may I never sin, + if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard us! look + at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing on airth,” she replied; “her complaint's upon the spirits, an' we + didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your + sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he ever + was—an honest an' upright young man.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without + seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and was about + to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with alarm—“Kathleen, + what ails you, dear? Where are you going?” + </p> + <p> + “Going,” she replied; “I was going to—where?—why?—what—what + has happened?” + </p> + <p> + “The news came upon her too much by surprise,” said Hanna, looking towards + the priest. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, darlin',” exclaimed her mother, “try and compose yourself. Lord + guard us, what can ail her?” + </p> + <p> + “Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father + Magowan stay where you are.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she + recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which + the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated. + Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom and + indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had recovered a + little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the circumstances + connected with the changes that had affected her lover's character so + deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the following + determination—a determination, by the way, which we earnestly + recommend to all politicians of his profession. + </p> + <p> + “As for my part,” said he, “it has opened my eyes to one thing that I + won't forget:—a single word of politics I shall never suffer to be + preached from the altar while I live; neither shall I allow denouncements + for political offences. The altar, as the bishop told me—and a hard + rap he gave Mr. M'Pepper across the knuckles for Bryan's affair—'the + altar,' said he, 'isn't the place for politics, but for religion; an' I + hope I may never hear of its being desecrated with politics again,' said + his lordship, an' neither I will, I assure you.” + </p> + <p> + The intelligence of the unexpected change that had taken place in favor of + the M'Mahon's, did not reach them on that day, which was the same, as we + have stated, on which their grandfather departed this life. The relief + felt by Thomas M'Mahon and his family at this old man's death, took + nothing from the sorrow which weighed them down so heavily in consequence + of their separation from the abode of their forefathers and the place of + their birth. They knew, or at least they took it for granted that their + grandfather would never have borne the long voyage across the Atlantic, a + circumstance which distressed them very much. His death, however, + exhibiting, as it did, the undying attachment to home which nothing else + could extinguish, only kindled the same affection more strongly and + tenderly in their hearts. The account of it had gone abroad through the + neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the auction would be + postponed until that day week. And now that he was gone, all their hearts + turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and almost agonizing' + struggles which their coming departure caused their father to contend + with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained them all, absolutely + feared that his courage would fail him, or that his very health would + break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister, Dora, who, although + too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings, did not endure the + less on that account. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Dora,” said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, “I + know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between the + Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had + intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God + knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in + denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't fret for me, Bryan,” she replied; “I'm willin' to bear my share of + the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything mane + or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and lave him for + ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must submit to it. + May God strengthen and enable me! and that's my earnest prayer. I also + often prayed that you an' Kathleen might be reconciled; but I wasn't + heard, it seems. I sometimes think that you ought to go to her; but then + on second thoughts I can hardly advise you to do so.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Dora, I never will, dear; she ought to have heard me as you said face + to face; instead o' that she condemned me without a hearin'. An' yet, + Dora,” he added, “little she knows—little she drames, what I'm + sufferin on her account, and how I love her—more now than ever, I + think; she's so changed, they say, that you could scarcely know her.” As + he spoke, a single tear fell upon Dora's hand which he held in his. + </p> + <p> + “Come. Bryan,” she said, assuming a cheerfulness which she did not feel, + “don't have it to say that little Dora, who ought and does look up to you + for support, must begin to support you herself; to-morrow's the last day—who + knows but she may relent yet?” Bryan smiled faintly, then patted her head, + and said, “darling little Dora, the wealth of nations couldn't purchase + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Not to do any thing mane or wrong, at any rate,” she replied; after which + she went in to attend to the affairs of the family, for this conversation + took place in the garden. + </p> + <p> + As evening approached, a deep gloom, the consequence of strong inward + suffering, overspread the features and bearing of Thomas M'Mahon. For some + time past, he had almost given himself over to the influence of what he + experienced—a fact that was observable in many ways, all more or + less tending to revive the affection which he felt for his departed wife. + For instance, ever since their minds had been made up to emigrate, he had + watched, and tended, and fed Bracky, her favorite cow, with his own hands; + nor would he suffer any one else in the family to go near her, with the + exception of Dora, by whom she had been milked ever since her mother's + death, and to whom the poor animal had now transferred her affection. He + also cleaned and oiled her spinning-wheel, examined her clothes, and kept + himself perpetually engaged in looking at every object that was calculated + to bring her once more before his imagination. + </p> + <p> + About a couple of hours before sunset, without saying where he was going, + he sauntered down to the graveyard of Gamdhu where she lay, and having + first uncovered his head and offered up a prayer for the repose of her + soul, he wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Bridget,” said he, in that strong figurative language so frequently used + by the Irish, when under the influence of deep, emotion; “Bridget, wife of + my heart, you are removed from the thrials and throubles of this world—from + the thrials and throubles that have come upon us. I'm come, now—your + own husband—him that loved you beyant everything on this earth, to + tell you why the last wish o' my heart, which was to sleep where I ought + to sleep, by your side, can't be granted to me, and to explain to you why + it is, in case you'd miss me from my place beside you. This unfortunate + counthry, Bridget, has changed, an' is changin' fast for the worse. The + landlord hasn't proved himself to be towards us what he ought to be, and + what we expected he would; an' so, rather than remain at the terms he axes + from us, it's better for us to thry our fortune in America; bekaise, if we + stay here, we must only come to poverty an' destitution, an' sorrow; an' + you know how it 'ud break my heart to see our childre' brought to that, in + the very place where they wor always respected. They're all good to me, as + they ever wor to' us both, acushla machree; but poor Bryan, that you loved + so much—your favorite and your pride—has had much to suffer, + darlin', since you left us; but blessed be God, he bears it manfully and + patiently, although I can see by the sorrow on my boy's brow that the + heart widin him is breakin'. He's not, afther all, to be married, as you + hoped and wished he would, to Kathleen Cavanagh. Her mind has been + poisoned against him; but little she knows him, or she'd not turn from him + as she did. An' now, Bridget, asthore machree, is it come to this wid me? + I must lave you for ever. I must lave—as my father said, that went + this day to heaven as you know, now—I must lave, as he said, the + ould places. I must go to a strange country, and sleep among a strange + people; but it's for the sake of our childre' I do so, lavin' you alone + there where you're sleepin'? I wouldn't lave you if I could help it; but + we'll meet yet in heaven, my blessed wife, where there won't be distress, + or injustice, or sorrow to part us. Achora machree, I'm come, then, to + take my last farewell of you. Farewell, then, my darlin' wife, till we + meet for evermore in heaven!” + </p> + <p> + He departed from the grave slowly, and returned in deep sorrow to his own + house. + </p> + <p> + About twelve o'clock the next morning, the family and those neighbors who + were assembled as usual at the wake-house, from respect to the dead, were + a good deal surprised by the appearance of Mr. Vanston and their landlord, + both of whom entered the house. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen, you're welcome,” said old M'Mahon; “but I'm sorry to say that + it's to a house of grief and throuble I must welcome you—death's + here, gentlemen, and more than death; but God's will be done, we must be + obaidient.” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said Chevydale, “give me your hand. I am sorry that either you + or your son have suffered anything on my account. I am come now to render + you an act of justice—to compensate both you and him, as far as I + can, for the anxiety you have endured. Consider yourselves both, + therefore, as restored to your farms at the terms you proposed originally. + I shall have leases prepared—give up the notion of emigration—the + country cannot spare such men as you and your admirable son. I shall have + leases I say prepared, and you will be under no necessity of leaving + either Carriglass or Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + Need we describe the effect which such a communication had upon this + sterling-hearted family? Need we assure our readers that the weight was + removed from all their hearts, and the cloud from every brow? Is it + necessary to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his high-minded Kathleen were + married? that Dora and James followed their example, and that Edward + Burke, in due time, bestowed his hand upon sweet and affectionate Hanna + Cavanagh? + </p> + <p> + We have little now to add. Young Clinton, in the course of a few months, + became agent to Chevydale, whose property soon gave proofs that kindness, + good judgment, and upright principle were best calculated not only to + improve it, but to place a landlord and his tenantry on that footing of + mutual good-will and reciprocal interest upon which they should ever stand + towards each other. + </p> + <p> + We need scarcely say that the sympathy felt for honest Jemmy Burke, in + consequence of the disgraceful conduct of his son, was deep and general. + He himself did not recover it for a long period, and it was observed that, + in future, not one of his friends ever uttered Hycy's name in his + presence. + </p> + <p> + With respect to that young gentleman's fate and that of Teddy Phats, we + have to record a rather remarkable coincidence. In about three years after + his escape, his father received an account of his death from Montreal, + where it appears he expired under circumstances of great wretchedness and + destitution, after having led, during his residence there, a most + profligate and disgraceful life. Early the same day on which the + intelligence of his death reached his family, they also received an + account through the M'Mahons to the effect that Teddy Phats had, on the + preceding night, fallen from one of the cliffs of Althadawan and broken + his neck; a fate which occasioned neither surprise nor sorrow. + </p> + <p> + We have only to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his wife took Nanny Peety into + their service; and that Kate Hogan and Mr. O'Finigan had always a + comfortable seat at their hospitable hearth; and the latter a warm glass + of punch occasionally, for the purpose, as he said himself, of keeping him + properly sober. him properly sober. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + +***** This file should be named 16011-h.htm or 16011-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16011/ + +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. 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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: The Emigrants Of Ahadarra + The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA. + + +By William Carleton + + + + +CHAPTER I.--A strong Farmer's Establishment and Family. + +It was one summer morning, about nine o'clock, when a little man, in +the garb and trim of a mendicant, accompanied by a slender but rather +handsome looking girl about sixteen, or it may be a year more, were upon +their way to the house of a man, who, from his position in life, might +be considered a wealthy agriculturist, and only a step or two beneath +the condition of a gentleman farmer, although much more plain and rustic +in his manners. The house and place had about them that characteristic +appearance of abundance and slovenly neglect which is, unfortunately, +almost peculiar to our country. The house was a long slated one, and +stood upon a little eminence, about three or four hundred yards from the +highway. It was approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue, +as it might be called, that was in very good keeping with the premises +to which it led. As you entered it from the road, you had to pass +through an iron gate, which it was a task to open, and which, when +opened, it was another task to shut. In consequence of this difficulty, +foot passengers had made themselves a way upon each side of it, through +which they went to and came from the house; and in this they were +sanctioned by the example of the family themselves, who, so long as +these side paths were passable, manifested as much reluctance to open or +close the gate as any one else. + +The month was May; and nothing could be more delightful and exhilarating +than the breeze which played over the green fields that were now radiant +with the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun. +Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labor +from which the hopes of ample and abundant harvests always spring. Here, +fixed in the ground, stood the spades of a boon* of laborers, who, as +was evident from that circumstance, were then at breakfast; in another +place might be seen the plough and a portion of the tackle lying beside +it, being expressive of the same fact. Around them, on every side, in +hedges, ditches, green fields, and meadows, the birds seemed +animated into joyous activity or incessant battle, by the business of +nest-building or love. Whilst all around, from earth and air, streamed +the ceaseless voice of universal melody and song. + + * A considerable number of men working together. + +On reaching the gate, Peety Dhu and his pretty daughter turned up +towards the house we have alluded to--which was the residence of a man +named Burke. On reaching it they were observed by a couple of large +dogs, who, partaking of the hospitable but neglected habits of the +family, first approached and looked at them for a moment, then wagged +their tails by way of welcome, and immediately scampered off into the +kitchen to forage for themselves. + +Burke's house and farmyard, though strongly indicative of wealth and +abundance in the owner, were, notwithstanding, evidently the property +of a man whose mind was far back in a knowledge of agriculture, and the +industrial pursuits that depend upon it. His haggard was slovenly in the +extreme, and his farmyard exceedingly offensive to most of the senses; +everything lay about in a careless and neglected manner;--wheelbarrows +without their trundles--sacks for days under the rain that fell from +the eaves of the houses--other implements embedded in mud--car-houses +tumbling down--the pump without a handle--the garden-gate open, and the +pigs hard at work destroying the vegetables, and rooting up the garden +in all directions. In fact, the very animals about the house were +conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly. If one +of the dogs, for instance, was hunted at the pigs, he ran in an apparent +fury towards that which happened to be nearest him, which merely lifted +its head and listened for a time--the dog, with loud and boisterous +barking, seizing its ear, led it along for three or four yards in that +position, after which, upon the pig demurring to proceed any further, +he very quietly dropped it and trotted in again, leaving the destructive +animal to resume its depredations. + +The house inside bore the same character. Winter and summer the +hall-door, which had long lost the knocker, lay hospitably open. The +parlor had a very equivocal appearance; for the furniture, though +originally good and of excellent materials, was stained and dinged and +hacked in a manner that denoted but little sense of care or cleanliness. +Many of the chairs, although not worn by age, wanted legs or backs, +evidently from ill-usage alone--the grate was without fire-irons--a +mahogany bookcase that stood in a recess to the right of the fireplace, +with glass doors and green silk blinds, had the glass all broken and +the silk stained almost out of its original color; whilst inside of +it, instead of books, lay a heterogeneous collection of garden seeds +in brown paper--an almanac of twenty years' standing, a dry ink-bottle, +some broken delf, and a large collection of blue-moulded shoes and +boots, together with an old blister of French flies, the lease of their +farm, and a great number of their receipts for rent. To crown all, the +clock in the other recess stood cobwebbed about the top, deprived of the +minute hand, and seeming to intimate by its silence that it had given +note of time's progress to this idle and negligent family to no purpose. + +On the drawing-room stairs there lay what had once been a carpet, but +so inseparable had been their connection that the stairs were now worn +through it, and it required a sharp eye to distinguish such fragments +of it as remained from the color of the dirty boards it covered and the +dust that lay on both. + +On entering the kitchen, Peety and his little girl found thirteen or +fourteen, in family laborers and servants of both sexes, seated at a +long deal table, each with a large wooden noggin of buttermilk and a +spoon of suitable dimensions, digging as if for a wager into one or +other of two immense wooden bowls of stirabout, so thick and firm in +consistency that, as the phrase goes, a man might dance on it. This, +however, was not the only picture of such enjoyment that the kitchen +afforded. Over beside the dresser was turned upon one side the huge pot +in which the morning meal had been made, and at the bottom of which, +inside of course, a spirit of rivalry equally vigorous and animated, but +by no means so harmonious, was kept up by two dogs and a couple of pigs, +which were squabbling and whining and snarling among each other, whilst +they tugged away at the scrapings, or residuum, that was left behind +after the stirabout had been emptied out of it. The whole kitchen, in +fact, had a strong and healthy smell of food--the dresser, a huge one, +was covered with an immense quantity of pewter, wood, and delf; and it +was only necessary to cast one's eye towards the chimney to perceive, by +the weighty masses of black hung beef and the huge sides and flitches +of deep yellow bacon which lined it, that plenty and abundance, even to +overflowing, predominated in the family. + +The "chimney-brace" projected far out over the fire-place towards the +floor, and under it on each side stretched two long hobs or chimney +corner seats, on which nearly a dozen persons could sit of a winter +evening. Mrs. Burke, a smart, good-looking little woman, though somewhat +advanced in years, kept passing in a kind of perpetual motion from +one part of the house to the other, with a large bunch of bright +keys jingling at one side, and a huge house-wife pocket, with a round +pin-cushion dangling beside it, at the other. Jemmy Burke himself, +a placid though solemn-faced man, was sitting on the hob in question +complacently smoking his pipe, whilst over the glowing remnants of an +immense turf fire hung a singing kettle, and beside it on three crushed +coals was the teapot, "waitin'," as the servants were in the habit of +expressing it, "for the masther and misthress's breakfast." + +Peety, who was well known and a great favorite on his rounds, received a +warm and hospitable welcome from Jemmy Burke, who made him and the girl +sit upon the hob, and immediately ordered them breakfast. + +"Here, Nancy Devlin, get Peety and the girsha their skinfuls of +stirabout an' milk. Sit over to the fire, alanna, an' warm yourself." + +"Warm, inagh!" replied Peety; "why, sure it's not a fire sich a blessed +mornin' as this she'd want--an' a blessed mornin' it is, glory be to +God!" + +"Troth, an' you're right, sure enough, Peety," replied the good-natured +farmer; "a blessed saison it is for gettin' down the crops. Go over +there, now, you an' the girsha, to that other table, an'--whish!--kick +them pigs an' dogs out o' the house, an' be d--d to them! One can't hear +their ears for them--you an' the girsha, an' let us see what you can +do. Nancy, achora, jist dash a gawliogue o' sweet milk into their +noggins--they're not like us that's well fed every day--. it's but +seldom they get the likes, the creatures--so dash in a brave gawliogue +o' the sweet milk for them. Take your time, Peety,--aisy, alanna, 'till +you get what I'm sayin; it'll nourish an put strinth in you." + +"Ah, Misther Burke," replied Peety, in a tone of gratitude peculiar to +his class, "you're the ould* man still--ever an' always the large heart +an' lavish hand--an' so sign's on it--full an' plinty upon an' about +you--an' may it ever be so wid you an' yours, a chierna, I pray. An how +is the misthress, sir?" + + * That is to say, the same man still. + +"Throth, she's very well, Peety--has no raison to complain, thank God!" + +"Thank God, indeed! and betther may she be, is my worst wish to her--an' +Masther Hycy, sir?--but I needn't ax how he is. Isn't the whole country +ringin' wid his praises;--the blessin' o' God an you, acushla"--this +was to Nancy Devlin, on handing them the new milk--"draw over, darlin', +nearer to the table--there now"--this to his daughter, whom he settled +affectionately to her food. "Ay, indeed," he proceeded, "sure there's +only the one word of it over the whole Barony we're sittin' in--that +there's neither fetch nor fellow for him through the whole parish. Some +people, indeed, say that Bryan M'Mahon comes near him; but only some, +for it's given up to Masther Hycy all to pieces." + +"Faix, an' I for one, although I'm his father--amn't I, Rosha?" he +added, good-humoredly addressing his wife, who had just come into the +kitchen from above stairs. + +"Throth," said the wife, who never replied with good humor unless when +addressed as Mrs. Burke, "you're ill off for something to speak about. +How are you, Peety? an' how is your little girl?" + +"In good health, ma'am, thank God an' you; an' very well employed at the +present time, thanks to you still!" + +To this Mrs. Burke made no reply; for it may be necessary to state +here, that although she was not actually penurious or altogether without +hospitality, and something that might occasionally be termed charity, +still it is due to honest Jemmy to inform the reader in the outset, +that, as Peety Dhu said, "the large heart and the lavish hand" +were especially his own. Mrs. Burke was considered to have been +handsome--indeed, a kind of rustic beauty in her day--and, like many of +that class, she had not been without a due share of vanity, or perhaps +we might say coquetry, if we were to speak the truth. Her teeth were +good, and she had a very pretty dimple in one of her cheeks when she +smiled, two circumstances which contributed strongly to sustain her good +humor, and an unaccountable tendency to laughter, when the poverty +of the jest was out of all proportion to the mirth that followed it. +Notwithstanding this apparently light and agreeable spirit, she was both +vulgar and arrogant, and labored under the weak and ridiculous ambition +of being considered a woman of high pretensions, who had been most +unfortunately thrown away, if not altogether lost, upon a husband whom +she considered as every way unworthy of her. Her father had risen into +the possession of some unexpected property when it was too late to +bestow upon her a suitable education, and the consequence was that, in +addition to natural vanity, on the score of beauty, she was a good +deal troubled with purse-pride, which, with a foolish susceptibility of +flattery, was a leading feature in her disposition. In addition to this, +she was an inveterate and incurable slattern, though a gay and lively +one; and we need scarcely say that whatever she did in the shape +of benevolence or charity, in most instances owed its origin to the +influences of the weaknesses she was known to possess. + +Breakfast, at length, was over, and the laborers, with an odd hiccup +here and there among them, from sheer repletion, got their hats and +began to proceed towards the farm. + +"Now, boys," said Jemmy, after dropping a spittle into his pipe, +pressing it down with his little finger, and putting it into his +waistcoat pocket, "see an' get them praties down as soon as you can, an' +don't work as if you intended to keep your Christmas there; an' Paddy +the Bounce, I'll thank you to keep your jokes an' your stories to +yourself, an' not to be idlin' the rest till afther your work's done. +Throth it was an unlucky day I had anything to do wid you, you divartin' +vagabone--ha! ha! ha! When I hired him in the Micklemas fair," proceeded +Jemmy, without addressing himself to any particular individual, "he +killed me wid laughin' to such a degree, that I couldn't refuse the +mehony whatsomever wages he axed; an' now he has the men, insteed o' +mindin' their work, dancin' through the field, an' likely to split at +the fun he tells them, ha! ha! ha! Be off, now, boys. Pettier Murphy, +you randletree, let,the girl alone. That's it Peggy, lay on him; ha! +devil's cure to you! take what you've got any way--you desarve it." + +These latter observations were occasioned by a romping match that took +place between a young laborer and a good-looking girl who was employed +to drop potatoes for the men. + +At length those who were engaged in the labor of the field departed in +a cheerful group, and in a few minutes the noise of a horse's feet, +evidently proceeding at a rapid trot, was heard coming up the boreen or +avenue towards the house. + +"Ay," exclaimed Burke, with a sigh, "there comes Hycy at a trot, an' the +wondher is it's not a gallop. That's the way he'll get through life, I +fear; an' if God doesn't change him he's more likely to gallop himself +to the Staff an' Bag (* Beggary.) than to anything else I know. I can't +nor I won't stand his extravagance--but it's his mother's fault, an' +she'll see what it'll come to in the long run." + +He had scarcely concluded when his son entered the kitchen, alternately +singing and whistling the Foxhunter's jig in a manner that betokened +exuberant if not boisterous spirits. He was dressed in top boots, +a green riding-coat, yellow waistcoat, and drab cassimere small +clothes--quite in jockey trim, in fact. + +Hycy rather resembled his father in the lineaments of his face, and was, +consequently, considered handsome. He was about the middle size, and +remarkably well proportioned. In fact, it would be exceedingly difficult +to find a young fellow of manlier bearing or more striking personal +attractions. His features were regular, and his complexion fresh and +youthful looking, and altogether there was in his countenance and whole +appearance a cheerful, easy, generous, unreflecting dash of character +that not only made him a favorite on first acquaintance, but won +confidence by an openness of manner that completely disarmed suspicion. +It might have been observed, however, that his laugh, like his mother's, +never, or at least seldom, came directly from the heart, and that there +was a hard expression about his otherwise well-formed mouth, such as +rarely indicated generosity of feeling, or any acquaintance with the +kinder impulses of our nature. He was his mother's pet and favorite, and +her principal wish was that he should be looked upon and addressed as +a gentleman, and for that purpose she encouraged him to associate with +those only whose rank and position in life rendered any assumption of +equality on his part equally arrogant and obtrusive. In his own family +his bearing towards his parents was, in point of fact, the reverse +of what it ought to have been. He not only treated his father with +something bordering on contempt, but joined his mother in all that +ignorant pride which kept her perpetually bewailing the fate by which +she was doomed to become his wife. Nor did she herself come off better +at his hands. Whilst he flattered her vanity, and turned her foibles +to his own advantage, under the guise of a very dutiful affection, his +deportment towards her was marked by an ironical respect, which was the +more indefensible and unmanly because she could not see through it. The +poor woman had taken up the opinion, that difficult and unintelligible +language was one test of a gentleman; and her son by the use of such +language, let no opportunity pass of confirming her in this opinion, and +establishing his own claims to the character. + +"Where did you ride to this mornin' Misther Hycy?" + +"Down to take a look at Tom Burton's mare, Crazy Jane, ma'am:-- + + "'Away, my boys, to horse away, + The Chase admits of no delay--'" + +"Tom Burton!" re-echoed the father with a groan; "an so you're in Tom +Burton's hands! A swindlin', horse-dalin' scoundrel that would chate St. +Pether. Hycy, my man, if you go to look for wool to Tom you'll come home +shorn." + + "'Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule + Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl, + That there's wrath and despair--" + +Thank you, father--much obliged; you entertain a good opinion of me." + +"Do I, faith? Don't be too sure of that." + +"I've bought her at any rate," said Hycy--"thirty-five's the figure; but +she's a dead bargain at fifty." + +"Bought her!" exclaimed the father; "an' how, in God's name, do you +expect to pay for her?" + +"By an order on a very excellent, worthy man and +gentleman-farmer--ycleped James Burke, Esquire--who has the honor +of being father to that ornament of the barony, Hycy Burke, the +accomplished. My worthy sire will fork out." + +"If I do, that I may--" + +"Silence, poor creature!" said his wife, clapping her hand upon his +mouth--"make no rash or vulgar oaths. Surely, Misther Burke--" + +"How often did I bid you not to misther me? Holy scrapers, am I to be +misthered and pesthered this way, an' my name plane Jemmy Burke!" + +"You see, Hycy, the vulgarian will come out," said his mother. "I say, +Misther Burke, are you to see your son worse mounted at the Herringstown +Hunt than any other gentleman among them? Have you no pride? + +"No, thank God! barin' that I'm an honest man an' no gentleman; an', as +for Hycy, Rosha--" + +"Mrs. Burke, father, if you please," interposed Hycy; "remember who your +wife is at all events." + +"Faith, Hycy, she'll come better off if I forget that same; but I tell +you that instead of bein' the laughin'-stock of the same Hunt, it's +betune the stilts of a plough you ought to be, or out in the fields +keepin' the men to their business." + +"I paid three guineas earnest money, at all events," said the son; "but +'it matters not,' as the preacher says-- + + "'When I was at home I was merry and frisky, + My dad kept a pig and my mother sold whiskey'-- + +Beg pardon, mother, no allusion--my word and honor none--to you I mean-- + + "'My uncle was rich, but would never be aisy + Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.' + +Fine times in the army, Mr. Burke, with every prospect of a speedy +promotion. Mother, my stomach craves its matutinal supply--I'm in +excellent condition for breakfast." + +"It's ready. Jemmy, you'll--Misther Burke, I mane--you'll pay for +Misther Hycy's mare." + +"If I do--you'll live to see it, that's all. Give the boy his +breakwhist." + +"Thank you, worthy father--much obliged for your generosity-- + + "'Oh, love is the soul of a nate Irishman + He loves all that's lovely, loves all that he can, + With his sprig of--' + +Ah, Peety Dhu, how are you, my worthy peripatetic? Why, this daughter +of yours is getting quite a Hebe on our hands. Mrs. Burke, +breakfast--breakfast, madam, as you love Hycy, the accomplished." So +saying, Hycy the accomplished proceeded to the parlor we have described, +followed by his maternal relative, as he often called his mother. + +"Well, upon my word and honor, mother," said the aforesaid Hycy, who +knew and played upon his mother's weak points, "it is a sad thing to see +such a woman as you are, married to a man who has neither the spirit nor +feelings of a gentleman--my word and honor it is." + +"I feel that, Hycy, but there's no help for spilt milk; we must only +make the best of a bad bargain. Are you coming to your breakfast," she +shouted, calling to honest Jemmy, who still sat on the hob ruminating +with a kind of placid vexation over his son's extravagance--"your tay's +filled out!" + +"There let it," he replied, "I'll have none of your plash to-day; I tuck +my skinful of good stiff stirabout that's worth a shipload of it. Drink +it yourselves--I'm no gintleman." + +"Arrah, when did you find that out, Misther Burke?" she shouted back +again. + +"To his friends and acquaintances it is anything but a recent disco +very," added Hycy; and each complimented the observation of the other +with a hearty laugh, during which the object of it went out to the +fields to join the men. + +"I'm afraid it's no go, mother," proceeded the son, when breakfast was +finished--"he won't stand it. Ah, if both my parents were of the +same geometrical proportion, there would be little difficulty in this +business; but upon my honor and reputation, my dear mother, I think +between you and me that my father's a gross abstraction--a most +substantial and ponderous apparition." + +"An' didn't I know that an' say that too all along?" replied his mother, +catching as much of the high English from him as she could manage: +"however, lave the enumeration of the mare to me. It'll go hard or I'll +get it out of him." + +"It is done," he replied; "your stratagetic powers are great, my dear +mother, consequently it is left in your hands." + +Hycy, whilst in the kitchen, cast his eye several times upon the +handsome young daughter of Peety Dhu, a circumstance to which we owe the +instance of benevolent patronage now about to be recorded. + +"Mother," he proceeds, "I think it would be a charity to rescue that +interesting little girl of Peety Dhu's from a life of mendicancy." + +"From a what?" she asked, staring at him. + +"Why," he replied, now really anxious to make himself understood--"from +the disgraceful line of life he's bringin' her up to. You should take +her in and provide for her." + +"When I do, Hycy," replied his mother, bridling, "it won't be a beggar's +daughter nor a niece of Philip Hogan's--sorrow bit." + +"As for her being a niece of Hogan's, you know it is by his mother's +side; but wouldn't it be a feather in her cap to get under the +protection of a highly respectable woman, though? The patronage of a +person like you, Mrs. Burke, would be the making of her--my word and +honor it would." + +"Hem!--ahem!--do you think so, Hycy?" + +"Tut, mother--that indeed!--can there be a doubt about it?" + +"Well then, in that case, I think she may stay--that is, if the father +will consent to it." + +"Thank you, mother, for that example of protection and benevolence. I +feel that all my virtues certainly proceed from your side of the house +and are derived from yourself--there can be no doubt of that." + +"Indeed I think so myself, Hycy, for where else would you get them? You +have the M'Swiggin nose; an' it can't be from any one else you take your +high notions. All you show of the gentleman, Hycy, it's not hard to name +them you have it from, I believe." + +"Spoken like a Sybil. Mother, within the whole range of my female +acquaintances I don't know a woman that has in her so much of the +gentleman as yourself--my word and honor, mother." + +"Behave, Hycy--behave now," she replied, simpering; "however truth's +truth, at any rate." + +We need scarcely say that the poor mendicant was delighted at the notion +of having his daughter placed in the family of so warm and independent a +man as Jemmy Burke. Yet the poor little fellow did not separate from the +girl without a strong manifestation of the affection he bore her. She +was his only child--the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for +him upon the desert of life. + +"I lave her wid you," he said, addressing Mrs. Burke with tears in his +eyes, "as the only treasure an' happiness I have in this world. She is +the poor man's lamb, as I have hard read out of Scripture wanst; an' in +lavin' her undher your care, I lave all my little hopes in this world +wid her. I trust, ma'am, you'll guard her an' look afther her as if she +was one of your own." + +This unlucky allusion might have broken up the whole contemplated +arrangement, had not Hycy stepped in to avert from Peety the offended +pride of the patroness. + +"I hope, Peety," he said, "that you are fully sensible of the honor Mrs. +Burke does you and your daughter by taking the girl under her protection +and patronage?" + +"I am, God knows." + +"And of the advantage it is to get her near so respectable a woman--so +highly respectable a woman?" + +"I am, in troth." + +"And that it may be the making of your daughter's fortune?" + +"It may, indeed, Masther Hycy." + +"And that there's no other woman of high respectability in the parish +capable of elevating her to the true principles of double and simple +proportion?" + +"No, in throth, sir, I don't think there is." + +"Nor that can teach her the newest theories in dogmatic theology and +metaphysics, together with the whole system of Algebraic Equations if +the girl should require them?" + +"Divil another woman in the barony can match her at them by all +accounts," replied Peety, catching the earnest enthusiasm of Hycy's +manner. + +"That will do, Peety; you see yourself, mother," he added, taking her +aside and speaking in a low voice, "that the little fellow knows right +well the advantages of having her under your care and protection; +and it's very much to his credit, and speaks very highly for his +metempsychosis that he does so--hem!" + +"He was always a daicent, sinsible, poor creature of his kind," replied +his mother "besides, Hycy, between you and me, she'll be more than worth +her bit." + +"There now, Peety," said her son, turning towards the mendicant; "it's +all settled--wait now for a minute till I write a couple of notes, which +you must deliver for me." + +Peety sat accordingly, and commenced to lay down for his daughter's +guidance and conduct such instructions as he deemed suitable to the +situation she was about to enter and the new duties that necessarily +devolved upon her. + +In due time Hycy appeared, and placing two letters in Peety's hands, +said--"Go, Peety, to Gerald Cavanagh's, of Fenton's Farm, and if you +can get an opportunity, slip that note into Kathleen's hands--this, mark, +with the corner turned down--you won't forget that?" + +"No, sir." + +"Very well--you're then to proceed to Tom M'Mahon's, and if you find +Bryan, his son, there, give him this; and if he's at the mountain farm +of Ahadarra, go to him. I don't expect an answer from Kathleen Cavanagh, +but I do from Bryan M'Mahon; and mark me, Peety." + +"I do, sir." + +"Are you sure you do?" + +"Sartin, sir." + +"Silent as the grave then is the word in both cases--but if I ever +hear--" + +"That's enough, Masther Hycy; when the grave spakes about it so will I." + +Peety took the letters and disappeared with an air rendered important +by the trust reposed in him; whilst Mrs. Burke looked inquiringly at her +son, as if her curiosity were a good deal excited. + +"One of them is to Kate or Kathleen Cavanagh, as they call her," said +Hycy, in reply to her looks; "and the other for Bryan M'Mahon, who is +soft and generous--_probatum est_. I want to know if he'll stand for +thirty-five--and as for Kate, I'm making love to her, you must know." + +"Kathleen Cavanagh," replied his mother; "I'll never lend my privileges +to sich match." + +"Match!" exclaimed Hycy, coolly. + +"Ah," she replied warmly; "match or marriage will never--" + +"Marriage!" he repeated, "why, my most amiable maternal relative, do +you mean to insinuate to Hycy the accomplished, that he is obliged to +propose either match or marriage to every girl he makes love to? What a +prosaic world you'd have of it, my dear Mrs. Burke. This, ma'am, is +only an agreeable flirtation--not but that it's possible there may +be something in the shape of a noose matrimonial dangling in the +background. She combines, no doubt, in her unrivalled person, the +qualities of Hebe, Venus, and Diana--Hebe in youth, Venus in beauty, and +Diana in wisdom; so it's said, but I trust incorrectly, as respects one +of them--good-bye, mother--try your influence as touching Crazy Jane, +and report favorably-- + + "'Friend of my soul, this goblet sip, + 'Twill chase the pensive tear. &c.'" + + + + +CHAPTER II.--Gerald Cavanagh and his Family + +--Tom M'Mahon's return from Dublin. + + +The house of Gerald Cavanagh, though not so large as that of our +kind-hearted friend, Jemmy Burke, was a good specimen of what an Irish +farmer's residence ought to be. It was distant from Burke's somewhat +better than two miles, and stood almost, immediately inside the highway, +upon a sloping green that was vernal through the year. It was in +the cottage style, in the form of a cross, with a roof ornamentally +thatched, and was flanked at a little distance by the office-houses. +The grass was always so close on this green, as to have rather the +appearance of a well kept lawn. The thorn-trees stood in front of it, +clipped in the shape of round tables, on one of which, exposed to all +weathers, might be seen a pair of large churn-staves, bleached into a +white, fresh color, that caused a person to long for the butter they +made. On the other stood a large cage, in which was imprisoned a +blackbird, whose extraordinary melody had become proverbial in the +neighborhood. Down a little to the right of the hall-door, a pretty +winding gravelled pathway led to a clear spring well that was +overshadowed by a spreading white-thorn; and at each gable stood a +graceful elder or mountain-ash, whose red berries during the autumn had +a fine effect, and contrasted well with the mass of darker and larger +trees, by which the back portion of the house and the offices was almost +concealed. Both the house and green were in an elevated position, and +commanded a delightful expanse of rich meadows to the extent of nearly +one hundred acres, through which a placid river wound its easy way, like +some contented spirit that glides calmly and happily through the gentle +vicissitudes of an untroubled life. + +As Peety Dhu, whilst passing from the residence of our friend Jemmy +Burke to that of Gerald Cavanagh, considered himself in his vocation, +the reader will not be surprised to hear that it was considerably past +noon! when he arrived at Fenton's Farm; for by this name the property +was known on a portion of which the Cavanaghs lived. It might be about +the hours of two or three o'clock, when Peety, on arriving at the gate +which led into Cavanagh's house, very fortunately saw his daughter +Kathleen, in the act of feeding the blackbird aforementioned; and +prudently deeming this the best opportunity of accomplishing his +mission, he beckoned her to approach him. The good-natured girl did so: +saying at the same time--"What is the matter, Peety?--do you want me? +Won't you come into the kitchen?" + +"Thank you, avourneen, but I can't; I did want you, but it was only to +give you this letther. I suppose it will tell you all. Oh, thin, is it +any wondher that you should get it, an' that half the parish should be +dyin' in love wid you? for, in troth, it's enough to make an ould man +feel young agin even to look at you. I was afraid they might see me +givin' you the letther from the windy, and that's what made me sign to +you to come to me here. Good-bye _a colleen dhas_ (* Pretty girl.)--an' +it's you that's that sure enough." + +The features, neck, and bosom of the girl, on receiving this +communication, were overspread with one general blush, and she stood, +for a few moments, irresolute and confused. In the mean time Peety had +passed on, and after a pause of a few minutes, she looked at the letter +more attentively, and slowly broke it open. It was probably the first +epistle she had ever received, and we need scarcely say that, as a +natural consequence, she was by no means quick in deciphering written +hand. Be this as it may, after having perused a few lines she started, +looked at the bottom for the name, then at the letter again; and as her +sister Hanna joined her, that brow on which a frown had been seldom ever +seen to sit, was now crimson with indignation. + +"Why, gracious goodness!" exclaims Hanna, "what is this, Kathleen? +Something has vexed you!--ha! a love-letter, too! In airnest, what ails +you? an' who is the letter from, if it's fair to ax?" + +"The letter is not for me," replied Kathleen, putting it into her +sister's hand, "but when you read it you won't wonder that I'm angry." + +As Hanna began to go slowly through it, she first laughed, but on +proceeding a little further her brow also reddened, and her whole +features expressed deep and unequivocal resentment. Having concluded the +perusal of this mysterious document, she, looked at her sister, who, in +return, gazed upon her. + +"Well, Kathleen, after all," said Hanna, "it's not worth while losing +one's temper about it. Never think of it again; only to punish him, I'd +advise you, the next time you see Peety, to send it back." + +"You don't suppose, Hanna, that I intended to keep it; but indeed," she +added, with a smile; "it is not worth while bein' angry about." + +As the sisters stood beside each other, holding this short conversation, +it would be difficult to find any two females more strikingly dissimilar +both in figure, features, and complexion. Hanna was plain, but not +disagreeable, especially when her face became animated with good humor. +Her complexion, though not at all of a sickly hue, was of that middle +tint which is neither pale nor sallow, but holds an equivocal position +between both. Her hair was black, but dull, and without that peculiar +gloss which accompanies either the very snowy skin of a fair beauty, +or, at least, the rich brown hue of a brunette. Her figure was in no way +remarkable, and she was rather under the middle size. + +Her sister, however, was a girl who deserves at our hands a more +accurate and lengthened description. Kathleen Cavanagh was considerably +above the middle size, her figure, in fact, being of the tallest; but no +earthly form could surpass it in symmetry, and that voluptuous fulness +of outline, which, when associated with a modest and youthful style of +beauty, is, of all others, the most fascinating and irresistible. The +whiteness of her unrivalled skin, and the gloss of health which shone +from it were almost dazzling. Her full bust, which literally glowed with +light and warmth, was moulded with inimitable proportion, and the masses +of rich brown hair that shaded her white and expansive forehead, added +incredible attractions to a face that was remarkable not only for +simple beauty in its finest sense, but that divine charm of ever-varying +expression which draws its lights and shadows, and the thousand graces +with which it is accompanied, directly from the heart. Her dark eyes +were large and flashing, and reflected by the vivacity or melancholy +which increased or over-shadowed their lustre, all those joys or +sorrows, and various shades of feeling by which she was moved, whilst +her mouth gave indication of extraordinary and entrancing sweetness, +especially when she smiled. + +Such was Kathleen Cavanagh, the qualities of whose mind were still +superior to the advantages of her person. And yet she shone not forth at +the first view, nor immediately dazzled the beholder by the brilliancy +of her charms. She was unquestionably a tall, fine looking country girl, +tastefully and appropriately dressed; but it was necessary to see her +more than once, and to have an opportunity of examining her, time after +time, to be able fully to appreciate the surprising character of her +beauty, and the incredible variety of those changes which sustain its +power and give it perpetual novelty to the heart and eye. It was, in +fact, of that dangerous description which improves on inspection, and +gradually develops itself upon the beholder, until he feels the full +extent of its influence, and is sensible, perhaps, when too late, that +he is its helpless and unresisting victim. + +Around the two thorn-trees we have alluded to were built circular seats +of the grassy turf, on which the two sisters, each engaged in knitting, +now sat chatting and laughing with that unrestrained good humor and +familiarity which gave unquestionable proof of the mutual confidence +and affection that subsisted between them. Their natural tempers and +dispositions were as dissimilar as their persons. Hanna was lively and +mirthful, somewhat hasty, but placable, quick in her feelings of either +joy or sorrow, and apparently not susceptible of deep or permanent +impressions; whilst Kathleen, on the other hand, was serious, quiet, and +placid--difficult to be provoked, of great sweetness of temper, with a +tinge of melancholy that occasionally gave an irresistible charm to her +voice and features, when conversing upon any subject that was calculated +to touch the heart, or in which she felt deeply. Unlike her sister, she +was resolute, firm, and almost immutable in her resolutions; but that +was because her resolutions were seldom hasty or unadvised, but the +result of a strong feeling of rectitude and great good sense. It is +true she possessed high feelings of self-respect, together with an +enthusiastic love for her religion, and a most earnest zeal for its +advancement; indeed, so strongly did these predominate in her mind, that +any act involving a personal slight towards herself, or indifference to +her creed and its propagation, were looked upon by Kathleen as crimes +for which there was no forgiveness. If she had any fellings, it was in +these two points they lay. But at the same time, we are bound to say, +that the courage and enthusiasm of Joan of Arc had been demanded of her +by the state and condition of her country and her creed, she would +have unquestionably sacrificed her life, if the sacrifice secured the +prosperity of either. + +Something of their difference of temperament might have been observed +during their conversation, while sitting under the white thorn. Every +now and then, for instance, Hanna would start up and commence a +series of little flirtations with the blackbird, which she called her +sweetheart, and again resume her chat and seat as before; or she would +attempt to catch a butterfly as it fluttered about her, or sometimes +give it pursuit over half the green, whilst Kathleen sat with laughing +and delighted eyes, and a smile of unutterable sweetness on her lips, +watching the success of this innocent frolic. In this situation we must +now leave them, to follow Peety, who is on his way to deliver the other +letter to Bryan M'Mahon. + +Our little black Mercury was not long in arriving at the house of Tom +M'Mahon, which he reached in company with that worthy man himself, whom +he happened to overtake near Carriglass where he lived. M'Mahon seemed +fatigued and travel-worn, and consequently was proceeding at a slow pace +when Peety overtook him. The latter observed this. + +"Why, thin, Tom," said he, after the first salutations had passed, "you +look like a man that had jist put a tough journey over him." + +"An' so I ought, Peety," he replied, "for I have put a tough journey +over me." + +"Musha where were you, thin, if it's fair to ax?" inquired Peety; "for +as for me that hears everything almost, the never a word I heard o' +this." + +"I was in Dublin, thin, all the way," replied the farmer, "strivin' to +get a renewal o' my laise from ould Squire Chevydale, the landlord; an' +upon my snuggins, Peety, you may call a journey to Dublin an' home agin +a tough one--devil a doubt of it. However, thank God, here we are at +home; an' blessed be His name that we have a home to come to; for, +afther all, what place is like it? Throth, Peety, my heart longed for +these brave fields of ours--for the lough there below, and the wild +hills above us; for it wasn't until I was away from them that I felt how +strong the love of them was in my heart." + +M'Mahon was an old but hale man, with a figure and aspect that were much +above the common order even of the better class of peasants. There could +be no mistaking the decent and composed spirit of integrity which was +evident in his very manner; and there was something in his long flowing +locks, now tinged with gray, as they rested upon his shoulders, that +gave an air of singular respect to his whole appearance. + +On uttering the last words he stood, and looking around him became so +much affected that his eyes filled with tears. "Ay," said he, "thank +God that we have our place to come to, an' that we will still have it to +come to, and blessed be His name for all things! Come, Peety," he added, +after a pause, "let us see how they all are inside; I'm longin' to see +them, especially poor, dear Dora; an'--God bless me! here she is!--no, +she ran back to tell them--but ay--oh, ay! here she is again, my darlin' +girl, comin' to meet me." + +He had scarcely uttered the words when an interesting, slender girl, +about eighteen, blushing, and laughing, and crying, all at once, came +flying towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, fell +upon his bosom, kissed him, and wept with delight at his return. + +"An' so, father dear, you're back to us! My gracious, we thought you'd +never come home! Sure you worn't sick? We thought maybe that you took +ill, or that--that--something happened you; and we wanted to send Bryan +after you--but nothing happened you?--nor you worn't sick?" + +"You affectionate, foolish darlin', no, I wasn't sick; nor nothing ill +happened me, Dora." + +"Oh, thank God! Look at them," she proceeded, directing his attention +to the house, "look at them all crowdin' to the door--and here's Shibby, +too, and Bryan himself--an' see my mother ready to lep out of herself +wid pure joy--the Lord be praised that you're safe back!" + +At this moment his second daughter ran to him, and a repetition of +welcome similar to that which he received from Dora took place. His son +Bryan grasped his hand, and said, whilst a tear stood even in his eye, +that he was glad to see him safe home. The old man, in return, grasped +his hand with an expression of deep feeling, and after having inquired +if they had been all well in his absence, he proceeded with them to the +house. Here the scene was still more interesting. Mrs. M'Mahon stood +smiling at the door, but as he came near, she was obliged once or twice +to wipe away the tears with the corner of her handkerchief. We have +often observed how much fervid piety is mingled with the affections of +the Irish people when in a state of excitement; and this meeting between +the old man and his wife presented an additional proof of it. + +"Blessed be God!" exclaimed his wife, tenderly embracing* him, "blessed +be God, Tom darlin', that you're safe back to us! An' how are you, +avourueen? an' wor you well ever since? an' there was nothin--musha, go +out o' this, Ranger, you thief--oh, God forgive me! what am I sayin'? +sure the poor dog is as glad as the best of us--arrah, thin, look at the +affectionate crathur, a'most beside himself! Dora, avillish, give him +the could stirabout that's in the skillet, jist for his affection, the +crathur. Here, Ranger--Ranger, I say--oh no, sorra one's in the house +now but yourself, Tom. Well, an' there was nothing wrong wid you?" + +"Nothin', Nancy, thanks be to the Almighty--down, poor fellow--there +now, Ranger--och, behave, you foolish dog--musha, see this!" + +"Throth, Tom," continued his loving wife, "let what will happen, it's +the last journey ever we'll let you take from us. Ever an' ever, there +we wor thinkin' an' thinkin' a thousand things about you. At one time +that something happened you; then that you fell sick an' had none but +strangers about you. Throth we won't; let what will happen, you must +stay wid vis." + +"Indeed an' I never knew how I loved the place, an' you all, till I +went; but, thank God, I hope it's the last journey ever I'll have to +take from either you or it." + +"Shibby, run down to--or do you, Dora, go, you're the souplest--to Paddy +Mullen's and Jemmy Kelly's, and the rest of the neighbors, an' tell them +to come up, that your father's home. Run now, acushla, an' if you fall +don't wait to rise; an' Shibby, darlin', do you whang down a lot o' that +bacon into rashers, 'your father must be at death's door wid hunger; +but wasn't it well that I thought of having the whiskey in, for you see +afther Thursday last we didn't know what minute you'd dhrop in on us, +Tom, an' I said it was best to be prepared. Give Peety a chair, the +crature; come forrid, Peety, an' take a sate; an' how are you? an' how +is the girsha wid you, an' where is she?" + +To these questions, thus rapidly put, Peety returned suitable answers; +but indeed Mrs. M'Mahon did not wait to listen to them, having gone to +another room to produce the whisky she had provided for the occasion. + +"Here," she said, reappearing with a huge bottle in one hand and a glass +in the other, "a sip o' the right sort will help you afther your long +journey; you must be tired, be coorse, so take this." + +"Aisy, Bridget," exclaimed her husband, "don't fill it; you'll make me +hearty." (* tipsy) + +"Throth an' I will fill it," she replied, "ay, an' put a heap on it. +There now, finish that bumper." + +The old man, with a smiling and happy face, received the glass, and +taking his wife's hand in his, looked at her, and then upon them all, +with an expression of deep emotion. "Bridget, your health; childre', all +your healths; and here's to Carriglasa, an' may we long live happy in +it, as we will, plase God! Peety, not forgettin' you!" + +We need hardly say that the glass went round, nor that Peety was not +omitted in the hospitality any more than in the toast. + +"Here, Bryan," said Mrs. M'Mahon, "lay that bottle on the dresser, it's +not worth while puttin' it past till the neighbors comes up; an' it's +they that'll be the glad neighbors to see you safe back agin, Tom." + +In this she spoke truth. Honest and hearty was the welcome he received +from them, as with sparkling eyes and a warm grasp they greeted him +on his return. Not only had Paddy Mullin and Jemmy Kelly run up in +haste--the latter, who had been digging in his garden, without waiting +to put on his hat or coat--but other families in the neighborhood, young +and old, crowded in to welcome him home---from Dublin--for in that lay +the principal charm. The bottle was again produced, and a holiday spirit +now prevailed among them. Questions upon questions were put to him with +reference to the wonders they had heard of the great metropolis--of +the murders and robberies committed upon travellers--the kidnapping of +strangers from the country--the Lord Lieutenant's Castle, with three +hundred and sixty-four windows in it, and all the extraordinary sights +and prodigies which it is supposed to contain. In a few minutes after +this friendly accession to their numbers had taken place, a youth +entered about nineteen years of age--handsome, tall, and well-made--in +fact, such a stripling as gave undeniable promise of becoming a fine, +powerful young man. On being handed a glass of whiskey he shook hands +with M'Mahon, welcomed him home, and then drank all their healths by +name until he came to that of Dora, when he paused, and, coloring, +merely nodded towards her. We cannot undertake to account for this +omission, nor do more than record what actually happened. Neither do we +know why Dora blushed so deeply as she did, nor why the sparkling and +rapid glance which she gave him in return occasioned him to look down +with an appearance of confusion and pain. That some understanding +subsisted between young Cavanagh--for he was Gerald's son--and Dora +might have been evident to a close observer; but in truth there was +at that moment no such thing as a close observer among them, every eye +being fixed with impatience and curiosity upon Tom M'Mahon, who had now +most of the conversation to himself, little else being left to the share +of his auditors than the interjectional phrases and exclamations of +wonder at his extraordinary account of Dublin. + +"But, father," said Bryan, "about the business that brought you there? +Did you get the Renewal?" + +"I got as good," replied the simple-hearted old man, "an' that was the, +word of a gintleman--an' sure they say that that's the best security in +the world." + +"Well, but how was it?" they exclaimed, "an' how did it happen that you +didn't get the Lease itself?" + +"Why, you see," he proceeded in reply, "the poor gintleman was near his +end--an' it was owin' to Pat Corrigan that I seen him at all--for Pat, +you know, is his own man. When I went in to where he sat I found Mr. +Fethertonge the agent wid him: he had a night-cap on, an' was sittin' +in a big armchair, wid one of his feet an' a leg swaythed wid flannel. I +thought he was goin' to write or sign papers. 'Well, M'Mahon,' says +he--for he was always as keen as a briar, an' knew me at once--'what do +you want? an' what has brought you from the country?' I then spoke to him +about the new lease; an' he said to Fethertonge, 'prepare M'Mahon's +lease, Fothertonge;--you shall have a new lease, M'Mahon. You are an +honest man, and your family have been so for many a long year upon +our property. As my health is unsartin,' he said, turning to Mr. +Fethertonge, 'I take Mr. Fethertonge here to witness, that in case +anything should happen me I give you my promise for a renewal--an' not +only in my name alone, but in my son's; an' I now lave it upon him to +fulfil my intentions an' my words, if I should not live to see it done +myself. Mr. Fethertonge here has brought me papers to sign, but I am not +able to hould a pen, or if I was I'd give you a written promise; but +you have my solemn word, I fear my dyin' word, in Mr. Fethertonge's +presence--that you shall have a lease of your farm at the ould rint. It +is such tenants as you we want, M'Mahon, an' that we ought to encourage +on our property. Fethertonge, do you in the mane time see that a lease +is prepared for M'Mahon; an' see, at all events, that my wishes shall be +carried into effect.' Sich was his last words to me, but he was a corpse +on the next day but one afterwards." + +"It's jist as good," they exclaimed with one voice; "for what is +betther, or what can be betther than _the word of an Irish gentleman?_" + +"What ought to be betther, at all events?" said Bryan. "Well, father, so +far everything is right, for there is no doubt but his son will fulfil +his words--Mr. Fethertonge himself isn't the thing; but I don't see why +he should be our enemy. We always stood well with the ould man, an' I +hope will with the son. Come, mother, move the bottle again--there's +another round in it still; an' as everything looks so well and our mind +is aisy, we'll see it to the bottom." + +The conversation was again resumed, questions were once more asked +concerning the sights and sounds of Dublin, of which one would imagine +they could scarcely ever hear enough, until the evening was tolerably +far advanced, when the neighbors withdrew to their respective homes, and +left M'Mahon and his family altogether to themselves. + +Peety, now that the joy and gratulation for the return of their +father had somewhat subsided, lost no time in delivering Hycy Burke's +communication into the hands of Bryan. The latter, on opening it, +started with surprise not inferior to that with which Kathleen Cavanagh +had perused the missive addressed to her. Nor was this all. The letter +received by Bryan, as if the matter had been actually designed by the +writer, produced the selfsame symptoms of deep resentment upon him that +the mild and gentle Kathleen Cavanagh experienced on the perusal of her +own. His face became flushed and his eye blazed with indignation as +he went through its contents; after which he once more looked at the +superscription, and notwithstanding the vehement passion into which it +had thrown him, he was ultimately obliged to laugh. + +"Peety," said he, resuming his gravity, "you carried a letter from Hycy +Burke to Kathleen Cavanagh to-day?" + +"Who says that?" replied Peety, who could not but remember the solemnity +of his promise to that accomplished gentleman. + +"I do, Peety." + +"Well, I can't help you, Bryan, nor prevent you from thinking so, +sure--stick to that." + +"Why, I know you did, Peety." + +"Well, acushla, an' if you do, your only so much the wiser." + +"Oh, I understand," continued Bryan, "it's a private affair, or intended +to be so--an' Mr. Hycy has made you promise not to spake of it." + +"Sure you know all about it, Bryan; an' isn't that enough for you? Only +what answer am I to give him?" + +"None at present, Peety; but say I'll see himself in a day or two." + +"That's your answer, then?" + +"That's all the answer I can give till I see himself, as I said." + +"Well, good-bye, Bryan, an' God be wid you!" + +"Good-bye, Peety!" and thus they parted. + + + + +CHAPTER III.--Jemmy Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of + +--Hycy and a Confidant + + +Hycy Burke was one of those persons who, under the appearance of a +somewhat ardent temperament, are capable of abiding the issue of +an event with more than ordinary patience. Having not the slightest +suspicion of the circumstance which occasioned Bryan M'Mahon's +resentment, he waited for a day of two under the expectation that his +friend was providing the sum necessary to accommodate him. The third +and fourth days passed, however, without his having received any reply +whatsoever; and Hycy, who had set his heart upon Crazy Jane, on +finding that his father--who possessed as much firmness as he did of +generosity--absolutely refused to pay for her, resolved to lose no more +time in putting Bryan's friendship to the test. To this, indeed, he was +urged by Burton, a wealthy but knavish country horse-dealer, as we said, +who wrote to him that unless he paid for her within a given period, he +must be under the necessity of closing with a person who had offered +him a higher price. This message was very offensive to Hycy, whose +great foible, as the reader knows, was to be considered a gentleman, not +merely in appearance, but in means and circumstances. He consequently +had come to the determination of writing again to M'Mahon upon the same +subject, when chance brought them together in the market of Ballymacan. + +After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the +matter:-- + +"I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane," +said he, "and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty +deeply in your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe." + +"I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but, +as you like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no +money." + +Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a +minute, and said in quite a different tone-- + +"What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?" + +"Not knowingly--but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say about +it." + +"I'm not aware of it," replied the other---"my word and honor I'm not." + +Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not +openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the +grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and +Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection, +would have been an act of great presumption on his part. + +"Good-bye, Hycy," said he; "I have tould you my mind, and now I've done +with it." + +"With all my heart!" said the other--"that's a matter of taste on your +part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in +your pocket. It's all right, I suppose--but you know best. Good-bye +to you, at all events," he added; "be a good boy and take care of +yourself." + +M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not. + +"By all that deserves an oath," exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after +him, "if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you +your insulting conduct this day--and that I'll soon make you feel to +your cost!" + +This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much +mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through +the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could +judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked +with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their +loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other +parts of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At +length he seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say +which, and stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes +quite unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success +with which he did it--when, on looking down the street, he observed a +little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with +freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the +saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately +between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In +addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow +legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with +his whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was +nevertheless indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore +neither stockings nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong +clouted brogues upon his feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs +and a breast that were covered over with a fell of red close hair that +might have been long and strong enough for a badger. He carried in his +hand a short whip, resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such +a description as no man that had any regard for his health would wish to +come in contact with, especially from the hand of such a double-jointed +but misshapen Hercules as bore it. + +"Ted, how goes it, my man?" + +"_Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?_" replied Ted, surveying him with a +stare. + +"D--n you!" was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived +that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The +latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:--"I was about to abuse +you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me," he said, "until I saw +Jennings, and then I _had_ you." + +"Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the _Bairlha_ (* English +tongue)--'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you +'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy." + +"D--n your Gaelic!" replied Hycy--"no, I won't--I don't speak it." + +"The Laud forget you for that!" replied Ted, with a grin; "my ould +grandmudher might larn it from you--hach, ach, ha!" + +"None of your d--d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you." + +"Fwhat would her be?" asked Ted, with a face in which there might be +read such a compound of cunning, vacuity, and ferocity as could rarely +be witnessed in the same countenance. + +"Can you come down to me to-night?" + +"No; I'll be busy." + +"Where are you at work now?" + +"In Glendearg, above." + +"Well, then, if you can't come to me, I must only go to you. Will you be +there tonight? I wish to speak to you on very particular business." + +"Shiss; you _will_, dhin, wanst more?" asked the other, significantly. + +"I think so." + +"Shiss--ay--vary good. Fwen will she come?" + +"About eleven or twelve; so don't be from about the place anywhere." + +"Shiss---dhin--vary good. Is dhat all?" + +"That's all now. Are your turf _dry_ or _wet_* to-day?" + + * One method of selling Poteen is by bringing in kishes of + turf to the neighboring markets, when those who are up to + the secret purchase the turf, or pretend to do so; and while + in the act of discharging the load, the Keg of Poteen is + quickly passed into the house of him who purchases the + turf.--Are your turf wet or dry? was, consequently, a pass- + word. + +"Not vary dhry," replied Ted, with a grin so wide that, as was +humorously said by a neighbor of his, "it would take a telescope to +enable a man to see from the one end of it to the other." + +Hycy nodded and laughed, and Ted, cracking his whip, proceeded up the +town to sell his turf. + +Hycy now sauntered about through the market, chatting here and there +among acquaintances, with the air of a man to whom neither life nor +anything connected with it could occasion any earthly trouble. Indeed, +it mattered little what he felt, his easiness of manner was such that +not one of his acquaintances could for a moment impute to him the +possibility of ever being weighed down by trouble or care of any kind; +and lest his natural elasticity of spirits might fail to sustain this +perpetual buoyancy, he by no means neglected to fortify himself with +artificial support. Meet him when or where you might, be it at six +in the morning or twelve at night, you were certain to catch from his +breath the smell of liquor, either in its naked simplicity or disguised +and modified in some shape. + +His ride home, though a rapid, was by no means a pleasing one. M'Mahon +had not only refused to lend him the money he stood in need of, but +actually quarrelled with him, as far as he could judge, for no other +purpose but that he might make the quarrel a plea for refusing him. This +disappointment, to a person of Hycy's disposition, was, we have seen, +bitterly vexatious, and it may be presumed that he reached home in +anything but an agreeable humor. Having dismounted, he was about to +enter the hall-door, when his attention was directed towards that of the +kitchen by a rather loud hammering, and on turning his eyes to the +spot he found two or three tinkers very busily engaged in soldering, +clasping, and otherwise repairing certain vessels belonging to that warm +and spacious establishment. The leader of these vagrants was a man named +Philip Hogan, a fellow of surprising strength and desperate character, +whose feats of hardihood and daring had given him a fearful notoriety +over a large district of the country. Hogan was a man whom almost every +one feared, being, from confidence, we presume, in his great strength, +as well as by nature, both insolent, overbearing, and ruffianly in the +extreme. His inseparable and appropriate companion was a fierce and +powerful bull-dog of the old Irish breed, which he had so admirably +trained that it was only necessary to give him a sign, and he would +seize by the throat either man or beast, merely in compliance with the +will of his master. On this occasion he was accompanied by two of his +brothers, who were, in fact, nearly as impudent and offensive ruffians +as himself. Hycy paused for a moment, seemed thoughtful, and tapped his +boot with the point of his whip as he looked at them. On entering the +parlor he found dinner over, and his father, as was usual, waiting to +get his tumbler of punch. + +"Where's my mother?" he asked--"where's Mrs. Burke?" + +On uttering the last words he raised his voice so as she might +distinctly hear him. + +"She's above stairs gettin' the whiskey," replied his father, "and God +knows she's long enough about it." + +Hycy ran up, and meeting her on the lobby, said, in a low, anxious +voice-- + +"Well, what news? Will he stand it?" + +"No," she replied, "you may give up the notion--he won't do it, an' +there's no use in axin' him any more." + +"He won't do it!" repeated the son; "are you certain now?" + +"Sure an' sartin. I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' +worse he got." + +Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are +not in possession at present; he immediately added:-- + +"Well, never mind. Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am--to be united to such +a d--d--hem!--to such a--a--such a--gentleman!" + +Mrs. Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to +indulge in any compassion of the kind. + +"The thing's now past cure," she said; "I'm a marthyr, an' that's all +that's about it. Come down till I get you your dinner." + +Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the "Bay +of Biscay:"-- + + "'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, + The rain a deluge pours; + The clouds were rent asunder + By light'ning's vivid--' + +By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing +at the kitchen door there?" + +"Troth, whatever they like," she replied. "I tould that vagabond, +Philip, that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best +judge of that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, +an' takes everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat +a mendin' an' sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' +'by your lave.'" + +"It's perfectly well known that they're robbers," said Hycy, "and the +general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who +are in this part of the country at present. However, I'll speak to the +ruffians about such conduct." + +He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal +to one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood. +During a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, +but of what character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the +distance at which they stood rendered it impossible for any one to +ascertain. Hycy then returned to dinner, whilst his father in the +meantime sat smoking his pipe, and sipping from time to time at his +tumbler of punch. Mrs. Burke, herself, occupied an arm-chair to the +left of the fire, engaged at a stocking which was one of a pair that she +contrived to knit for her husband during every twelve months; and on +the score of which she pleaded strong claims to a character of most +exemplary and indefatigable industry. + +"Any news from the market, Hycy?" said his father. + +"Yes," replied Hycy, in that dry ironical tone which he always used to +his parents--"rather interesting--Ballymacan is in the old place." + +"Bekaise," replied his father, with more quickness than might be +expected, as he whiffed away the smoke with a face of very sarcastic +humor; "I hard it had gone up a bit towards the mountains--but I knew +you wor the boy could tell me whether it had or not--ha!--ha!--ha!" + +This rejoinder, in addition to the intelligence Hycy had just received +from his mother, was not calculated to improve his temper. "You may +laugh," he replied; "but if your respectable father had treated you in a +spirit so stingy and beggarly as that which I experience at your hands, +I don't know how you might have borne it." + +"My father!" replied Burke; "take your time, Hycy--my hand to you, he +had a different son to manage from what I have." + +"God sees that's truth," exclaimed his wife, turning the expression to +her son's account. + +"I was no gentleman, Hycy," Burke proceeded. + +"Ah, is it possible?" said the son, with a sneer. "Are you sure of that, +now?" + +"Nor no spendthrift, Hycy." + +"No," said the wife, "you never had the spirit; you were ever and always +a _molshy_." (* A womanly, contemptible fellow) + +"An' yet _molshy_ as I was," he replied, "you wor glad to catch me. +But Hycy, my good boy, I didn't cost my father at the rate of from a +hundre'-an'-fifty to two-hundre'-a-year, an' get myself laughed at and +snubbed by my superiors, for forcin' myself into their company." + +"Can't you let the boy ait his dinner in peace, at any rate?" said his +mother. "Upon my credit I wouldn't be surprised if you drove him away +from us altogether." + +"I only want to drive him into common sense, and the respectful feeling +he ought to show to both you an' me, Rosha," said Burke; "if he expects +to have either luck or grace, or the blessing of God upon him, he'll +change his coorses, an' not keep breakin' my heart as he's doin'." + +"Will you pay for the mare I bought, father?" asked Hycy, very +seriously. "I have already told you, that I paid three guineas earnest; +I hope you will regard your name and family so far as to prevent me from +breaking my word--besides leading the world to suppose that you are a +poor man." + +"Regard my name and family!" returned the father, with a look of +bitterness and sorrow; "who is bringin' them into disgrace, Hycy?" + +"In the meantime," replied the son, "I have asked a plain question, Mr. +Burke, and I expect a plain answer; will you pay for the mare?" + +"An' supposin' I don't?" + +"Why, then, Mr. Burke, if you don't you won't, that's all." + +"I must stop some time," replied his father, "an' that is now. I wont +pay for her." + +"Well then, sir, I shall feel obliged, as your respectable wife has just +said, if you will allow me to eat, and if possible, live in peace." + +"I'm speakin' only for your--" + +"That will do now--hush--silence if you please." + +"Hycy dear," said the mother; "why would you ax him another question +about it? Drop the thing altogether." + +"I will, mother, but I pity you; in the meantime, I thank you, ma'am, of +your advice." + +"Hycy," she continued, with a view of changing the conversation; "did +you hear that Tom M'Bride's dead?" + +"No ma'am, but I expected it; when did he die?" + +Before his father could reply, a fumbling was heard at the hall-door; +and, the next moment, Hogan, thrust in his huge head and shoulders began +to examine the lock by attempting to turn the key in it. + +"Hogan, what are you about?" asked Hycy. + +"I beg your pardon," replied the ruffian; "I only wished to know if the +lock wanted mendin'--that was all, Misther Hycy." + +"Begone, sirra," said the other; "how dare you have the presumption to +take such a liberty? you impudent scoundrel! Mother, you had better pay +them," he added; "give the vagabonds anything they ask, to get rid of +them." + +Having dined, her worthy son mixed a tumbler of punch, and while +drinking it, he amused himself, as was his custom, by singing snatches +of various songs, and drumming with his fingers upon the table; whilst +every now and then he could hear the tones of his mother's voice in high +altercation with Hogan and his brothers. This, however, after a time, +ceased, and she returned to the parlor a good deal chafed by the +dispute. + +"There's one thing I wonder at," she observed, "that of all men in the +neighborhood, Gerald Cavanagh would allow sich vagabonds as they an Kate +Hogan is, to put in his kiln. Troth, Hycy," she added, speaking to him +in a warning and significant tone of voice, "if there wasn't something +low an' mane in him, he wouldn't do it." + + "'Tis when the cup is smiling before us. + And we pledge unto our hearts--' + +"Your health, mother. Mr. Burke, here's to you! Why I dare say you are +right, Mrs. Burke. The Cavanagh family is but an upstart one at best; +it wants antiquity, ma'am--a mere affair of yesterday, so what after all +could you expect from it?" + +Honest Jemmy looked at him and then groaned. "An upstart +family!--that'll do--oh, murdher--well, 'tis respectable at all events; +however, as to havin' the Hogans about them--they wor always about them; +it was the same in their father's time. I remember ould Laghlin Hogan, +an' his whole clanjamfrey, men an' women, young an' old, wor near six +months out o' the year about ould Gerald Cavanagh's--the present man's +father; and another thing you may build upon--that whoever ud chance +to speak a hard word against one o' the Cavanagh family, before Philip +Hogan or any of his brothers, would stand a strong chance of a shirtful +o' sore bones. Besides, we all know how Philip's father saved Mrs. +Cavanagh's life about nine or ten months after her marriage. At any +rate, whatever bad qualities the vagabonds have, want of gratitude isn't +among them." + + "'------That are true, boys, true, + The sky of this life opens o'er us, + And heaven--' + +M'Bride, ma'am, will be a severe loss to his family." + +"Throth he will, and a sarious loss--for among ourselves, there was none +o' them like him." + + "'Gives a glance of its blue--' + +"I think I ought to go to the wake to-night. I know it's a bit of a +descent on my part, but still it is scarcely more than is due to a +decent neighbor. Yes, I shall go; it is determined on." + + "'I ga'ed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate I fear I'll dearly rue; + I gat my death frae twa sweet een, + Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.' + +"Mine are brown, Mrs. Burke--the eyes you wot of; but alas! the family is +an upstart one, and that is strongly against the Protestant interest in +the case. Heigho!" + +Jemmy Burke, having finished his after-dinner pipe and his daily tumbler +both together, went out to his men; and Hycy, with whom he had left the +drinking materials, after having taken a tumbler or two, put on a strong +pair of boots, and changed the rest of his dress for a coarser 'suit, +bade his mother a polite good-bye, and informed her, that as he intended +to be present at M'Bride's wake he would most probably not return until +near morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IV.--A Poteen Still-House at Midnight--Its Inmates. + +About three miles in a south-western direction from Burke's residence, +the country was bounded by a range of high hills and mountains of a very +rugged and wild, but picturesque description. Although a portion of +the same landscape, yet nothing could be more strikingly distinct in +character than the position of the brown wild hills, as contrasted with +that of the mountains from which they abutted. The latter ran in long +and lofty ranges that were marked by a majestic and sublime simplicity, +whilst the hills were of all shapes and sizes, and seemed as if cast +about at random. As a matter of course the glens and valleys that +divided them ran in every possible direction, sometimes crossing and +intersecting each other at right angles, and sometimes running parallel, +or twisting away in opposite directions. In one of those glens that lay +nearest the mountains, or rather indeed among them, was a spot which +from its peculiar position would appear to have been designed from the +very beginning as a perfect paradise for the illicit distiller. It was a +kind of back chamber in the mountains, that might, in fact, have escaped +observation altogether, as it often did. The approach to it was by a +long precipitous glen, that could be entered only at its lower end, and +seemed to terminate against the abrupt side of the mountain, like a +cul de sac. At the very extremity, however, of this termination, and a +little on the right-hand side, there was a steep, narrow pass leading +into a recess which was completely encompassed by precipices. From this +there was only one means of escape independently of the gut through +which it was entered. The moors on the side most approachable were +level, and on a line to the eye with that portion of the mountains which +bounded it on the opposite side, so that as one looked forward the space +appeared to be perfectly continuous, and consequently no person could +suspect that there lay so deep and precipitous a glen between them. + +In the northern corner of this remarkable locality, a deep cave, having +every necessary property as a place for private distillation, ran under +the rocks, which met over it in a kind of gothic arch. A stream of water +just sufficient for the requisite purposes, fell in through a fissure +from above, forming such a little subterraneous cascade in the cavern +as human design itself could scarcely have surpassed in felicity of +adaptation to the objects of an illicit distiller. + +To this cave, then, we must take the liberty of transporting our +readers, in order to give them an opportunity of getting a peep at +the inside of a Poteen Still-house, and of hearing a portion of +conversation, which, although not remarkable for either elegance or +edification, we are, nevertheless, obliged to detail, as being in some +degree necessary to the elucidation of our narrative. Up in that end +which constituted the termination of the cave, and fixed upon a large +turf fire which burned within a circle of stones that supported it, was +a tolerably-sized Still, made of block-tin. The mouth of this Still was +closed by an air-tight cover, also of tin, called the Head, from which a +tube of the same metal projected into a large keeve, or condenser, that +was kept always filled with cool water by an incessant stream from the +cascade we have described, which always ran into and overflowed it. The +arm of this head was fitted and made air-tight, also, into a spiral tube +of copper, called the Worm, which rested in the water of the cooler; and +as it consisted of several convolutions, like a cork-screw, its office +was to condense the hot vapor which was transmitted to it from the +glowing Still into that description of spirits known as poteen. At the +bottom of this cooler, the Worm terminated in a small cock or spigot, +from which the spirits projected in a slender stream, about the +thickness of a quill, into a vessel placed for its reception. Such was +the position of the Still, Head, and Worm, when in full operation. +Fixed about the cave, upon rude stone stillions, were the usual vessels +requisite for the various processes through which it was necessary to +put the malt, before the wort, which is its first liquid shape, was +fermented, cleared off, and thrown into the Still to be singled; for +our readers must know that distillation is a double process, the first +product being called singlings, and the second or last, doublings--which +is the perfect liquor. Sacks of malt, empty vessels, piles of turf, +heaps of grains, tubs of wash, and kegs of whiskey, were lying about in +all directions, together with pots, pans, wooden trenchers, and dishes, +for culinary uses. The seats were round stones and black bosses which +were made of a light hard moss found in the mountains and bogs, and +frequently used as seats in rustic chimney corners. On entering, your +nose was assailed by such a mingled stench of warm grains, sour barm, +putrid potato skins, and strong whiskey, as required considerable +fortitude to bear without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. + +The persons assembled were in every way worthy of the place and its +dependencies. Seated fronting the fire was our friend Teddy Phats, which +was the only name he was ever known by, his wild, beetle brows lit into +a red, frightful glare of savage mirth that seemed incapable, in its +highest glee, to disengage itself entirely from an expression of the +man's unquenchable ferocity. Opposite to him sat a tall, smut-faced, +truculent-looking young fellow, with two piercing eyes and a pair of +grim brows, which, when taken into conjunction with a hard, unfeeling +mouth, from the corners of which two right lines ran down his chin, +giving that part of his face a most dismal expression, constituted +a countenance that matched exceedingly well with the visage of Teddy +Phats. This worthy gentleman was a tinker, and one of Hogan's brothers, +whom we have already introduced to our readers. Scattered about the fire +and through the cavern were a party of countrymen who came to purchase +whiskey for a wedding, and three or four publicans and shebeenmen who +had come on professional business. Some were drinking, some indulging in +song, and some were already lying drunk or asleep in different parts +of this subterraneous pandemonium. Exalted in what was considered the +position of honor sat a country hedge-schoolmaster, his mellow eye +beaming with something between natural humor, a sense of his own +importance, and the influence of pure whiskey, fresh it is called, from +the Still-eye. + +"Here, Teddy," said one of the countrymen, "will you fill the bottle +again." + +"No," replied Teddy, who though as cunning as the devil himself, could +seldom be got to speak anything better than broken English, and that of +such a character that it was often scarcely intelligible. + +"No," he replied; "I gav'd you wan bottle 'idout payment fwhor her, an' +by shapers I won't give none oder." + +"Why, you burning beauty, aren't we takin' ten gallons, an' will you +begrudge us a second bottle?" + +"Shiss--devil purshue de bottle more ye'll drunk here 'idout de +_airigad_, (* Money) dat's fwhat you will." + +"Teddy," said the schoolmaster, "I drink propitiation to you as a +profissional gintle-man! No man uses more indepindent language than you +do. You are under no earthly obligation to Messrs. Syntax and Prosody. +Grammar, my worthy friend, is banished as an intruder from your +elocution, just as you would exclude a gauger from your Still-house." + +"Fwhat about de gagur!" exclaimed Teddy, starting; "d--n him an' +shun-tax an' every oder tax, rint an' all--hee! hee! hee!" + +We may as well let our readers know, before we proceed farther, that in +the opinion of many, Teddy Phats understood and could speak English as +well as any man of his station in the country. In fairs or markets, or +other public places, he spoke, it is true, nothing but Irish unless in a +private way, and only to persons in whom he thought he could place every +confidence. It was often observed, however, that in such conversations +he occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English +to him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have +possessed a greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We +believe the fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller, +had found it, on some peculiar occasions connected with his profession, +rather an inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some +evidence in his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on +behalf of his friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to +believe, that the Irish language, when properly enunciated through the +medium of an interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially +when resorted to within the precincts of the country court-house and in +hearing of the judge. + +"You're a fool, Teddy," said Hogan; "let them drink themselves; +blind--this liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way, +why, blazes to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for +another cargo." + +Teddy immediately took the hint. + +"Barney Brogan," he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub, +half knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted +as messenger, spy, and vidette; "listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere +dat bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em--ha, ha, +ha!" + +"More power to you, Vaynus," exclaimed Keenan; "you're worth a thousand +pounds, quarry weight." + +"I am inclined to think, Mr. Keenan," said the schoolmaster, "that you +are in the habit occasionally of taking slight liberties wid the haythen +mythology. Little, I'll be bound, the divine goddess of beauty ever +dreamt she'd find a representative in Teddy Phats." + +"Bravo! masther," replied Keenan, "you're the boy can do--only that +English is too tall for me. At any rate," he added, approaching the +worthy preceptor, "take a spell o' this--it's a language we can all +understand." + +"You mane to say, Darby," returned the other, "that it's a kind of +universal spelling-book amongst us, and so it is--an alphabet aisily +larned. Your health, now and under all circumstances! Teddy, or +Thaddeus, I drink to your symmetry and inexplicable proportions; and +I say for your comfort, my worthy distillator, that if you are not so +refulgent in beauty as Venus, you are a purer haythen." + +"Fwhat a bloody fwhine _Bairlha_ man the meeisther is," said Teddy, with +a grin. "Fwhaicks, meeisthur, your de posey of Tullyticklem, spishilly +wid Captain Fwhiskey at your back. You spake de Bairlha up den jist all +as one as nobody could understand her--ha, ha, ha!" + +The master, whose name was Finigan, or, as he wished to be called, +O'Finigan, looked upon Teddy and shook his head very significantly. + +"I'm afraid, my worthy distallator," he proceeded, "that the proverb +which says '_latet anguis in herba_,' is not inapplicable in your +case. I think I can occasionally detect in these ferret-like orbs +that constitute such an attractive portion of your beauty, a passing +scintillation of intelligence which you wish to keep _a secretis_, as +they say." + +"Mr. Finigan," said Keenan, who had now returned to his friends, "if +you wouldn't be betther employed to-morrow, you'd be welcome to the +weddin'." + +"Many thanks, Mr. Keenan," replied Finigan; "I accept your hospitable +offer wid genuine cordiality. To-morrow will be a day worthy of a white +mark to all parties concerned. Horace calls it chalk, which is probably +the most appropriate substance with which the records of matrimonial +felicity could be registered, _crede experto_." + +"At any rate, Misther Finigan, give the boys a holiday to-morrow, and be +down wid us airly." + +"There is not," replied Finigan, who was now pretty well advanced, "I +believe widin the compass of written or spoken language--and I might +on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good +authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves +the beauty of elocution--I say, then, there is not widin the compass of +spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable +to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a _Plantation +Seminary_; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you +that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly +pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock." + +Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such +complacent volubility--a volubility that was deeply indebted to the +liquor he had taken--the following dialogue took place in a cautious +under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy. + +"So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?" + +"Shiss." + +"B--t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?" + +"No, I won't," replied the other, angrily; "I'll spake as I likes." + +"What brings him up, do you know?" + +"Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon _her_ here," he replied, +pointing to the still. "_You'll_ have a good job of her, fwhedher or +no." + +"Why, will he want a new one, do you think?" + +"Shiss, to be sure--would ye tink I'd begin to _run_ (* A slang phrase +for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token moreover, +dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets--hee! hee! hee!" + +"Well, all that's right--don't work for him widout a new one complate, +Teddy--Still, Head, and Worm." + +"Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't--he thried her afore, though." + +"Nonsense!--no he didn't." + +"Ah, ha! ay dhin--an' she milked well too--a good cow--a brave +_cheehony_ she was for him." + +"An' why did he give it up?" + +"Fwhy--fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he +couldn't hunt wid de _dinnaousais_--wid de gentlemans." + +"An' what if he's discovered now?" + +"Fwhat?--fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now an' +den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he +carries." + +"If I don't mistake," proceeded Hogan, "either himself or his family, +anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow." + +"Eh, Batt?" asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside +him during this dialogue--"how is dhat now?" + +"I don't rightly know--I can't say," replied Hogan, with a smile +murderously grim but knowing--"I'm not up; but the sportheen's a made +boy, I think." + +"_Dher cheerna!_ you _are_ up," said Teddy, giving him a furious glance +as he spoke; "there must be no saycrits, I say." + +"You're a blasted liar, I tell you--I am not, but I suspect--that's +all." + +"What brought you up dhis night?" asked Teddy, suspiciously. + +"Because I hard he was to come," replied his companion; "but whether or +not I'd be here." + +"_Tha sha maigh_--it's right--may be so--shiss, it's all right, may be +so--well?" + +Teddy, although he said it was all right, did not seem however to think +so. The furtive and suspicious glance which he gave Hogan from under his +red beetle brows should be seen in order to be understood. + +"Well?" said Hogan, re-echoing him--"it is well; an' what is more, my +Kate is to be up here wid a pair o' geese to roast for us, for we must +make him comfortable. She wint to thry her hand upon somebody's roost, +an' it'll go hard if she fails!" + +"Fwhail!" exclaimed Teddy, with a grin--"ah, the dioual a fwhail!" + +"An' another thing--he's comin' about Kathleen Cavanagh--Hycy is. He +wants to gain our intherest about her!" + +"Well, an' what harm?" + +"Maybe there is, though, it's whispered that he--hut! doesn't he say +himself that there isn't a girl of his own religion in the parish he'd +marry--now I'd like to see them married, Teddy, but as for anything +else--" + +"Hee! hee! hee!--well," exclaimed Teddy, with a horrible grimace that +gave his whole countenance a facequake, "an' maybe he's right. Maybe it +'udn't be aisy to get a colleen of his religion--I tink his religion is +fwhere Phiddher Fwhite's estate is--beyant the beyands, Avhere the mare +foaled the fwhiddler--hee! hee! hee!" + +"He had better thry none of his sckames wid any of the Cavanaghs," +said Bat, "for fraid he might be brought to bed of a mistake some fine +day--that's all I say; an' there's more eyes than mine upon him." + +This dialogue was nearly lost in the loudness of a debate which had +originated with Keenan and certain of his friends in the lower part of +the still-house. Some misunderstanding relative to the families of the +parties about to be united had arisen, and was rising rapidly into a +comparative estimate of the prowess and strength of their respective +factions, and consequently assuming a very belligerent aspect, when a +tall, lank, but powerful female, made her appearance, carrying a large +bundle in her hand. + +"More power, Kate!" exclaimed Hogan. "I knew she would," he added, +digging Teddy's ribs with his elbow. + +"Aisy, man!" said his companion; "if you love me, say so, but don't hint +it dat way." + +"Show forth, Kate!" proceeded her husband; "let us see the +prog--hillo!--oh, holy Moses! what a pair o' beauties!" + +He then whipped up a horn measure, that contained certainly more than +a naggin, and putting it under the warm spirits that came out of the +still-eye, handed it to her. She took it, and coming up towards the +fire, which threw out a strong light, nodded to them, and, without +saying a word, literally pitched it down her throat, whilst at the same +time one of her eyes presented undeniable proofs of a recent conflict. +We have said that there were several persons singing and dancing, +and some asleep, in the remoter part of the cave; and this was true, +although we refrained from mingling up either their mirth or melody with +the conversation of the principal personages. All at once, however, +a series of noises, equally loud and unexpected, startled melodists, +conversationalists, and sleepers all to their legs. These were no other +than the piercing cackles of two alarmed geese which Hogan's wife had +secured from some neighboring farmer, in order to provide a supper for +our friend Hycy. + +"Ted," said the female, "I lost my knife since I came out, or they'd be +quiet enough before this; lend me one a minute, you blissed babe." + +"Shiss, to be sure, Kate," he replied, handing her a large clasp knife +with a frightful blade; "an', Kate, whisper, woman alive--you're bought +up, I see." + +"How is that, you red rascal?" + +"Bekaise, don't I see dat de purchaser has set his mark upon ye?--hee! +hee! hee!" and he pointed to her eye* as he spoke. + + * A black eye is said to be the devil's mark. + +"No," she replied, nodding towards her husband, "that's his handy work; +an' ye divil's clip!" she added, turning to Teddy, "who has a betther +right?" + +She then bled the geese, and, looking about her, asked-- + +"Have you any wet hay or straw in the place?" + +"Ay, plenty of bote," replied Teddy; "an' here's de greeshavigh ready." + +She then wrapped the geese, feathers and all, separately in a covering +of wet hay, which she bound round them with thumb-ropes of the same +material, and clearing away a space among the burning ashes, placed each +of them in it, and covered them up closely. + +"Now," said she, "put down a pot o' praities, and we won't go to bed +fastin'." + +The different groups had now melted into one party, much upon the same +principle that the various little streamlets on the mountains around +them all run, when swollen by a sudden storm, into some larger torrent +equally precipitous and turbulent. Keenan, who was one of those +pertinacious fellows that are equally quarrelsome and hospitable when in +liquor, now resumed the debate with a characteristic impression of the +pugilistic superiority of his family:-- + +"I am right, I say: I remember it well, for although I wasn't there +myself, my father was, an' I often h'ard him say--God rest his +sowl!"--here he reverently took off his hat and looked upwards--"I often +h'ard him say that Paddy Keenan gave Mullin the first knock-down blow, +an' Pether--I mane no disrespect, but far from it--give us your hand, +man alive--you're going to be married upon my shisther to-morrow, +plaise God!--masther, you'll come, remimber? you'll be as welcome as the +flowers o' May, masther--so, Pether, as I was sayin'--I mane no offince +nor disrespect to you or yours, for you are, an' ever was, a daisent +family, an' well able to fight your corner when it came upon you--but +still, Pether--an' for all that--I say it--an' I'll stand to it--I'll +stand it--that's the chat!--that, man for man, there never was one +o' your seed, breed, or generation able to fight a Keenan--that's the +chat!--here's luck! + + "'Oh, 'twas in the month of May, + When the lambkins sport and play, + As I walked out to gain raycrayation, + I espied a comely maid. + Sequestrin' in the shade-- + On her beauty I gazed wid admiraytion,' + +No, Pether, you never could; the Mullins is good men--right good men, +but they couldn't do it." + +"Barney," said the brother of the bridegroom, "you may thank God that +Pether is going to be married to your sisther to-morrow as you say, or +we'd larn you another lesson--eh, masther? That's the chat too--ha! ha! +ha! To the divil wid sich impedence!" + +"Gintlemen," said Finigan, now staggering down towards the parties, "I +am a man of pacific principles, acquainted wid the larned languages, +wid mathematics, wid philosophy, the science of morality according to +Fluxions--I grant you, I'm not college-bred; but, gintlemen, I never +invied the oysther in its shell--for, gintlemen, I'm not ashamed of +it, but I acquired--I absorbed my laming, I may say, upon locomotive +principles." + +"Bravo, masther!" said Keenan; "that's what some o' them couldn't say--" + +"Upon locomotive principles. I admit Munster, gintlemen--glorious +Kerry!--yes, and I say I am not ashamed of it. I do plead guilty to the +peripatetic system: like a comet I travelled during my juvenile days--as +I may truly assert wid a slight modicum of latitude" (here he lurched +considerably to the one side)--"from star to star, until I was able to +exhibit all their brilliancy united simply, I can safely assert, in my +own humble person. Gintlemen, I have the honor of being able to write +'Philomath' after my name--which is O'Finigan, not Finigan, by any +means--and where is the oyster in his shell could do that? Yes, and +although they refused me a sizarship in Trinity College--for what will +not fear and envy do? + + "'Tantaene animis celesiibus irae' + +Yet I have the consolation to know that my name is seldom mentioned +among the literati of classical Kerry--_nudis cruribus_ as they +are--except as the Great O'Finigan! In the mane time--" + +"Bravo, Masther!" exclaimed Keenan, interrupting him. "Here, Ted! +another bottle, till the Great O'Finigan gets a glass of whiskey." + +"Yes, gintlemen," proceeded O'Finigan, "the alcohol shall be accepted, +_puris naturalibus_--which means, in its native--or more properly--but +which comes to the same thing--in its naked state; and, in the mane +time, I propose the health of one of my best benefactors--Gerald +Cavanagh, whose hospitable roof is a home--a domicilium to erudition +and respectability, when they happen, as they ought, to be legitimately +concatenated in the same person--as they are in your humble servant; and +I also beg leave to add the pride of the barony, his fair and virtuous +daughter, Kathleen, in conjunction wid the I accomplished son of another +benefactor of mine--honest James Burke--in conjunction, I say, wid his +son, Mr. Hyacinth. Ah, gintlemen--Billy Clinton, you thievin' villain! +you don't pay attention; I say, gintlemen, if I myself could deduct +a score of years from the period of my life, I should endeavor to run +through the conjugations of _amo_ in society wid that pearl of beauty. +In the mane time--" + +"Here's her health, masther," returned Keenan, "an' her father's too, +an' Hycy Burke's into the bargain--is there any more o' them? Well, no +matter." Then turning to his antagonist, he added, "I say agin, thin, +that a Mullin's not a match for a Keenan, nor never was--no, nor never +will be! That's the chat! and who's afeard to say it? eh, masther?" + +"It's a lie!" shouted one of the opposite party; "I'm able to lick e'er +a Keenan that ever went on nate's leather--an' that's my chat." + +A blow from Keenan in reply was like a spark to gunpowder. In a moment +the cavern presented a scene singularly tragic-comic; the whole party +was one busy mass of battle, with the exception of Ted and Batt, and the +wife of the latter, who, having first hastily put aside everything that +might be injured, stood enjoying the conflict with most ferocious glee, +the schoolmaster having already withdrawn himself to his chair. Even +Barney Broghan, the fool, could not keep quiet, but on the contrary, +thrust himself into the quarrel, and began to strike indiscriminately at +all who came in his way, until an unlucky blow on the nose happening, +to draw his claret very copiously, he made a bound up behind the sill, +uttering a series of howlings, as from time to time he looked at his own +blood, that were amusing in the extreme. As it happened, however, the +influence of liquor was too strong upon both parties to enable them +to inflict on each other any serious injury. Such, however, was the +midnight pastime of the still-house when our friend Hycy entered. + +"What in the devil's name--or the guager's--which is worse--" he asked, +addressing himself to Batt and Teddy, "is the meaning of all this?" + +"Faith, you know a'most as much about it," replied Hogan, laughing, "as +we do; they got drunk, an' that accounts for it." + +"Mr. Burke," said Finigan, who was now quite tipsy; "I am delighted to +be able to--to--yes, it is he," he added, speaking to himself--"to see +you well." + +"I have my doubts as to that, Mr. Finigan," replied Hycy. + +"Fame, Mr. Burke," continued the other, "has not been silent with regard +to your exploits. Your horsemanship, sir, and the trepid pertinacity +with which you fasten upon the reluctant society of men of rank, have +given you a notorious celebrity, of which your worthy father, honest +Jemmy, as he is called, ought to be justly proud. And you shine, Mr. +Burke, in the loves as well as in the--_tam veneri quam_--I was about to +add _Marti_, but it would be inappropriate, or might only remind you +of poor Biddy Martin. It is well known you are a most accomplished +gintleman, Mr. Burke--_homo fadus ad unguem--ad unguem_." + +Hycy would have interrupted the schoolmaster, but that he felt puzzled +as to whether he spoke seriously or ironically; his attention besides +was divided between him and the party in conflict. + +"Come," said he, addressing Hogan and Teddy, "put an end to this work, +and why did you, you misbegotten vagabond," he added, turning to the +latter, "suffer these fellows to remain here when you knew I was to come +up?" + +"I must shell my fwisky," replied Teddy, sullenly, "fwhedher you come or +stay." + +"If you don't clear the place of them instantly," replied Hycy, "I shall +return home again." + +Hogan seemed a good deal alarmed at this intimation, and said--"Ay, +indeed, Terry, we had better put them out o' this." + +"Fwhor fwhat?" asked Teddy, "dere my best customers shure--an' fwlay +would I quarrel wid 'em all fwor wan man?" + +"Good-night, then, you misshapen ruffian," said Burke, about to go. + +"Aisy, Mr. Burke," said. Hogan; "well soon make short work wid them. +Here, Ted, you devil's catch-penny, come an' help me! Hillo, here!" he +shouted, "what are you at, you gallows crew? Do you want to go to the +stone jug, I say? Be off out o' this--here's the guager, blast him, an' +the sogers! Clear out, I tell you, or every mother's son of you will +sleep undher the skull and cross-bones to-night." (* Meaning the County +Prison) + +"Here you, Barney," whispered Teddy, who certainly did not wish that +Burke should return as he came; "here, you great big fwhool you, give +past your yowlin' dere--and lookin' at your blood--run out dere, come in +an' shout the gauger an' de sogers." + +Barney, who naturally imagined that the intelligence was true, complied +with the order he had received in a spirit of such alarming and dreadful +earnestness, that a few minutes found the still-house completely cleared +of the two parties, not excepting Hogan himself, who, having heard +nothing of Teddy's directions to the fool, took it now for granted that +that alarm was a real one, and ran along with the rest. The schoolmaster +had fallen asleep, Kate Hogan was engaged in making preparations for +supper at the lower end of the casern, and the fool had been dispatched +to fetch Hogan himself back, so that Hycy now saw there was a good +opportunity for stating at more length than he could in the market the +purpose of his visit. + +"Teddy," said he, "now that the coast's clear, let us lose no time in +coming to the point. You are aware that Bryan M'Mahon has come into the +mountain farm of Ahadarra by the death of his uncle." + +"Shiss; dese three years." + +"You will stick to your cursed brogue," said the other; "however, that's +your own affair. You are aware of this?" + +"I am." + +"Well, I have made my mind up to take another turn at this," and he +tapped the side of the still with his stick; "and I'll try it there. I +don't know a better place, and it is much more convenient than this." + +Teddy looked at him from under his brows, but seemed rather at a loss to +comprehend his meaning. + +"Fwor fhy 'ud you go to Ahadarra?" + +"It's more convenient, and quite as well adapted for it as this place, +or nearly." + +"Well! Shiss, well?" + +"Well; why that's all I have to say about it, except that I'm not to be +seen or known in the business at all--mark that." + +"Shiss--well? De Hogans must know it?" + +"I am aware of that; we couldn't go on without them. This running of +your's will soon be over; very well. You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow +and pitch upon a proper situation for a house. These implements will +do." + +"No, dey won't; I wouldn't tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet. +You must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an' dat will +be money down." + +"Very well; I'll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or +two." + +"Dat Ahadarra isn't so safe," said Teddy. "Fwhy wouldn't you carry it on +here?" and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke. + +"Because," replied Hycy, "I have been seen here too often already, and +my name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings. This +place, besides, is now too much known. It's best and safest to change +our bob, Ted." + +"Dere's trewt in dhat, anyhow," said the other, now evidently more +satisfied as to Hycy's motive in changing. "But," he added, "as you +is now to schange, it 'ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor +Ahadarra." + +"I know of none better or safer," said Burke. + +"Ay, fifty," returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; "but +no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself--'tis all the shame to +me." + +"Ahadarra it must be then," said the other, "and that ends it." + +"Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be," said Ted, and the conversation on +this subject dropped. + +The smuggler's supper now made it's appearance. The geese were +beautifully done, and as Hycy's appetite had got a keen stimulus by his +mountain walk, he rendered them ample justice. + +"Trot," said Teddy, "sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough +to sharpen anybody's appetite." + +Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for +that express purpose. Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for +a long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water. It +was not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh +that he consented to taste punch. Between the two, however, Burke's +vanity was admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by +hinting that Hycy, no matter how appearances might go, was by no means +indifferent to the interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh. + +At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his +leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very +pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of +home, across the mountains. + +He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, +observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that +hour of the night, to cross the mountains by himself. He accordingly +whispered a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as +he said, to see Mr. Hycy safe home. + + + + +CHAPTER V.--Who Robbed Jemmy Burke? + + +On the second morning after the night described in the last chapter, +Bryan M'Mahon had just returned to his father's house from his farm in +Ahadarra, for the purpose of accompanying him to an Emigration auction +in the neighborhood. The two farms of Carriglass and Ahadarra had been +in the family of the M'Mahon's for generations, and were the property +of the same landlord. About three years previous to the period of our +narrative, Toal M'Mahon, Bryan's uncle, died of an inflammatory attack, +leaving to his eldest nephew and favorite the stock farm of Ahadarra. +Toal had been a bachelor who lived wildly and extravagantly, and when he +died Bryan suceeeded to the farm, then as wild, by the way, and as much +neglected as its owner had been, with an arrear of two years' rent upon +it. In fact the house and offices had gone nearly to wreck, and when +Bryan entered into occupation he found that a large sum of money +should be expended in necessary improvements ere the place could +assume anything like a decent appearance. As a holding, however, it +was reasonable; and we may safely assert that if Toal M'Mahon had been +either industrious or careful he might have lived and died a wealthy +man upon it. As Ahadarra lay in the mountain district, it necessarily +covered a large space; in fact it constituted a townland in itself. The +greater portion of it, no doubt, was barren mountain, but then there +were about three hundred acres of strong rough land that was either +reclaimed or capable of being so. Bryan, who had not only energy and +activity, but capital to support both, felt, on becoming master of a +separate farm, that peculiar degree of pride which was only natural to +a young and enterprising man. He had now a fair opportunity, he thought, +of letting his friends see what skill and persevering exertion could +do. Accordingly he commenced his improvements in a spirit which at +least deserved success. He proceeded upon the best system then known to +intelligent agriculturalists, and nothing was left undone that he deemed +necessary to work out his purposes. He drained, reclaimed, made fences, +roads, and enclosures. Nor did he stop here. We said that the house and +offices were in a ruinous state when they came into his possession, and +the consequence was that he found it necessary to build a new dwelling +house and suitable offices, which he did on a more commodious and +eligible site. Altogether his expenditure on the farm could not have +been less than eight hundred pounds at the period of the landlord's +death, which, as the reader knows is that at which we have commenced our +narrative. + +Thomas M'Mahon's family consisted of--first, his father, a grey-haired +patriarch, who, though a very old man, was healthy and in the full +possession of all his faculties; next, himself; then his wife; Bryan, +the proprietor of Ahadarra; two other sons, both younger, and two +daughters, the eldest twenty, and the youngest about eighteen. The name +of the latter was Dora, a sweet and gentle girl, with beautiful auburn +hair, dark, brilliant eyes, full of intellect and feeling, an exquisite +mouth, and a figure which was remarkable for natural grace and great +symmetry. + +"Well, Bryan," said the father, "what news from Ahadarra?" + +"Nothing particular from Ahadarra," replied the son, "but our +good-natured friend, Jemmy Burke, had his house broken open and robbed +the night before last." + +"Wurrah deheelish" exclaimed his mother, "no, he hadn't!" + +"Well, mother," replied Bryan, laughing, "maybe not. I'm afeard it's too +true though." + +"An' how much did he lose?" asked his father. + +"Between seventy and eighty pounds," said Bryan. + +"It's too much," observed the other; "still I'm glad it's no more; an' +since the villains did take it, it's well they tuck it from a man that +can afford to lose it." + +"By all accounts," said Arthur, or, as he was called, Art, "Hycy, the +sportheen, has pulled him down a bit. He's not so rich now, they say, as +he was three or four years ago." + +"He's rich enough still," observed his father; "but at any rate, upon +my sowl I'm sorry for him; he's the crame of an honest, kind-hearted +neighbor; an' I believe in my conscience if there's a man alive that +hasn't an ill-wisher, he is." + +"Is it known who robbed him?" asked the grandfather, "or does he suspect +anybody?" + +"It's not known, of course, grandfather," replied Bryan, "or I suppose +they would be in limbo before now; but there's quare talk about it. The +Hogans is suspected, it seems. Philip was caught examinin' the hall-door +the night before; an' that does look suspicious." + +"Ay," said the old man, "an' very likely they're the men. I remember +them this many a long day; it's forty years since Andy Hogan--he was +lame--Andy Boccah they called him--was hanged for the murdher of your +great-granduncle, Billy Shevlin, of Frughmore, so that they don't like +a bone in our bodies. That was the only murdher I remember of them, but +many a robbery was laid to their charge; an' every now and then +there was always sure to be an odd one transported for thievin', an' +house-breakin', and sich villainy." + +"I wouldn't be surprised," said Mrs. M'Mahon, "but it was some o' them +tuck our two brave geese the night before last." + +"Very likely, in throth, Bridget," said her husband; "however, as the +ould proverb has it, 'honesty's the best policy.' Let them see which of +us I'll be the best off at the end of the year." + +"There's an odd whisper here an' there about another robber," continued +Bryan; "but I don't believe a word about it. No, no;--he's wild, and not +scrupulous in many things, but I always thought him generous, an' indeed +rather careless about money." + +"You mane the sportheen?" said his brother Art. + +"The Hogans," said the old man, recurring to the subject, as associated +with them, "would rob anybody barrin' the Cavanaghs; but I won't listen +to it, Bryan, that Hycy Burke, or the son of any honest man that ever +had an opportunity of hearin' the Word o' God, or livin' in a Christian +counthry, could ever think of robbin' his own father--his own father! I +won't listen to that." + +"No, nor I, grandfather," said Bryan, "putting everything else out of +the question, its too unnatural an act. What makes you shake your head, +Art?" + +"I never liked a bone in his body, somehow," replied Art. + +"Ay, but my goodness, Art," said Dora, "sure nobody would think of +robbin' their own father?" + +"He has been doin' little else these three years, Dora, by all +accounts," replied Art. + +"Ay, but his father," continued the innocent girl; "to break into the +house at night an' rob him like a robber!" + +"Well, I say, it's reported that he has been robbin' him these three +years in one shape or other," continued Art; "but here's Shibby, let's +hear what she'll say. What do you think, shibby?" + +"About what, Art?" + +"That Hycy Burke would rob his father!" + +"Hut, tut! Art, what puts that into your head? Oh, no, Art--not at +all--to rob his father, an' him has been so indulgent to him!" + +"Indeed, I agree with you, Shibby," said Bryan; "for although my opinion +of Hycy is changed very much for the worse of late, still I can't and +won't give in to that." + +"An what has changed it for the worse?" asked his mother. "You an' he +wor very thick together always--eh? What has changed it, Bryan?" + +Bryan began to rub his hand down the sleeve of his coat, as if freeing +it from dust, or perhaps admiring its fabric, but made no reply. + +"Eh, Bryan," she continued, "what has changed your opinion of him?" + +"Oh, nothing of much consequence, mother," replied her son; "but +sometimes a feather will toll one how the wind blows." + +As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the +family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly +allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving +that none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of +understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that +the sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. +Dora, his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking +his hand in hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish +laugh, that spoke a full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but +beautiful features into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes +which, in one of her years, gives a look of almost angelic purity +and grace. After about a minute or two, during which she paused, and +laughed, and blushed, and commenced to whisper, and again stopped, +she at last put her lips to his ear and whispered:--"Bryan, I know the +reason you don't like Hycy." + +"You do?" he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his +turn;--"well--an'--ha!--ha!--no, you fool, you don't." + +"May I never stir if I don't!" + +"Well, an' what is it?" + +"Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh--now!" + +"An' what do I care about that?" said her brother. + +"Oh, you thief!" she replied; "don't think you can play upon me. I know +your saycret." + +"An' maybe, Dora," he replied, "I have my saycrets. Do you know who was +inquirin' for you to-day?" + +"No," she returned, "nor I don't care either--sorra bit." + +"I met James Cavanagh there below"--he proceeded, still in a whisper, +and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, +however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned +her whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to +become expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned +upon him with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with +her mouth near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up +quickly, shook back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and +silken curls about her blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: "No--no. Let +me alone Bryan;" and on uttering these words she hurried into another +room." + +"Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way," observed her sister. "What did you +say to her?" + +"Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail," he replied, laughing; "however, +as to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you +no lies." + +"Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry," continued Shibby, +"an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her." + +"Ah, you're fishin' now, Shibby," he replied, "and many thanks for your +good intentions. It's a saycret, an' that's all you're going to know +about it. But it's as much as 'll keep you on the look out this month +to come; and now you're punished for your curiosity--ha!--ha!--ha! Come, +father, if we're to go to Sam Wallace's auction it's time we should +think of movin'. Art, go an' help Tom Droogan to bring out the horses. +Rise your foot here, father, an' I'll put on your spur for you. We +may as well spake to Mr. Fethertonge, the agent, about the leases. I +promised we'd call on Gerald Cavanagh, to--an' he'll be waitin' for +us--hem!" + +His eye here glanced about, but Dora was not visible, and he accordingly +seemed to be more at his ease. "I think, father," he added, "I must +trate you to a pair of spurs some of these days. This one, it's clear, +has been a long time in the family." + +"Throth, an' on that account," replied M'Mahon, "I'm not goin' to part +wid it for the best pair that ever were made. No, no, Bryan; I like +everything that I've known long. When my heart gets accustomed to +anything or to anybody"--here he glanced affectionately at his wife--"I +can't bear to part wid them, or to think of partin' wid them." + +The horses were now ready, and in a brief space he and his son were +decently mounted, the latter smartly but not inappropriately dressed; +and M'Mahon himself, with his right spur, in a sober but comfortable +suit, over which was a huge Jock, his inseparable companion in every +fair, market, and other public place, during the whole year. Indeed, it +would not be easy to find two better representatives of that respectable +and independent class of Irish yeomanry of which our unfortunate country +stands so much in need, as was this man of high integrity and his +excellent son. + +On arriving at Gerald Cavanagh's, which was on their way to the auction, +it appeared that in order to have his company it was necessary they +should wait for a little, as he was not yet ready. That worthy man they +found in the act of shaving himself, seated very upright upon a chair +in the kitchen, his eyes fixed with great steadiness upon the opposite +wall, whilst lying between his legs upon the ground was a wooden dish +half filled with water, and on a chair beside him a small looking-glass, +with its backup, which, after feeling his face from time to time in an +experimental manner, he occasionally peeped into, and again laid down to +resume the operation. + +In the mean time, Mrs. Cavanagh set forward a chair for Tom M'Mahon, and +desired her daughter Hannah to place one for Bryan, which she did. The +two girls were spinning, and it might have been observed that Kathleen +appeared to apply herself to that becoming and feminine employment with +double industry after the appearance of the M'Mahons. Kate Hogan was +sitting in the chimney corner, smoking a pipe, and as she took it out +of her mouth to whiff away the smoke from time to time, she turned her +black piercing eyes alternately from Bryan M'Mahon to Kathleen with a +peculiar keenness of scrutiny. + +"An' how are you all up at Carriglass?" asked Mrs. Cavanagh. + +"Indeed we can't complain, thank God, as the times goes," replied +M'Mahon. + +"An' the ould grandfather?--musha, but I was glad to see him look so +well on Sunday last!" + +"Troth he's as stout as e'er a one of us." + +"The Lord continue it to him! I suppose you hard o' this robbery that +was done at honest Jemmy Burke's?" + +"I did, indeed, an' I was sorry to hear it." + +"A hundre' an' fifty pounds is a terrible loss to anybody in such +times." + +"A hundre' an' fifty!" exclaimed M'Mahon--"hut, tut!--no; I thought it +was only seventy or eighty. He did not lose so much, did he?" + +"So I'm tould." + +"It was two--um--it was two--urn--urn--it was--um--um--it was two +hundre' itself," observed Cavanagh, after he had finished a portion of +the operation, and given himself an opportunity of speaking--"it war +two hundre' itself, I'm tould, an' that's too much, by a hundre' and +ninety-nine pounds nineteen shillings an' eleven pence three fardens, to +be robbed of." + +"Troth it is, Gerald," replied M'Mahon; "but any way there's nothin' +but thievin' and robbin' goin'. You didn't hear that we came in for a +visit?" + +"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--"is it robbed? My goodness, no!" + +"Why," he proceeded, "we'll be able to get over it afore we die, I hope. +On ere last night we had two of our fattest geese stolen." + +"Two!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh--"an' at this saison of the! year, too. +Well, that same's a loss." + +"Honest woman," said M'Mahon, addressing Kate Hogan, "maybe you'd give +me a draw o' the pipe?" + +"Maybe so," she replied; "an' why wouldn't I? Shough! that is here!" + +"Long life to you, Katy. Well," proceeded the worthy man, "if it was a +poor person that wanted them an' that took them from hardship, why God +forgive them as heartily as I do: but if they wor stole by a thief, for +thievin's sake, I hope I'll always be able to afford the loss of a pair +betther than the thief will to do without them; although God mend his or +her heart, whichever it was, in the mane time." + +During this chat Bryan and Hanna Cavanagh were engaged in that +good-humored badinage that is common to persons of their age and +position. + +"I didn't see you at Mass last Sunday, Bryan?" said she, laughing; "an' +that's the way you attend to your devotions. Upon my word you promise +well!" + +"I seen you, then," replied Bryan, "so it seems if I haven't betther +eyes I have betther eyesight." + +"Indeed I suppose," she replied, "you see everything but what you go to +see." + +"Don't be too sure of that," he replied, with an involuntary glance at +Kathleen, who seemed to enjoy her sister's liveliness, as was evident +from the sweet and complacent smile which beamed upon her features. + +"Indeed I suppose you're right," she replied; "I suppose you go to say +everything but your prayers." + +"An' is it in conversation with Jemmy Kelly," asked Bryan, jocularly, +alluding to her supposed admirer, "that you perform your own devotions, +Miss Hanna?" + +"Hanna, achora," said the father, "I think you're playin' the second +fiddle there--ha! ha! ha!" + +The laugh was now general against Hanna, who laughed as loudly, however, +as any of them. + +"Throth, Kathleen," she exclaimed, "you're not worth knot's o' straws +or you'd help me against this fellow here; have you nothing," she +proceeded, addressing Bryan, and nodding towards her sister, "to say +to her? Is everything to fall on my poor shoulders? Come, now," with +another nod in the same direction, "she desarves it for not assistin' +me. Who does she say her devotions with?" + +"Hem--a--is it Kathleen you mane?" he inquired, with rather an +embarrassed look. + +"Not at all," she replied ironically, "but my mother there--ha! ha! ha! +Come, now, we're waitin' for you." + +"Come, now?" he repeated, purposely misunderstanding her--"oh, begad, +that's a fair challenge;" and he accordingly rose to approach her with +the felonious intent of getting a kiss; but Hanna started from her wheel +and ran out of the house to avoid him. + +"Throth, you're a madcap, Hanna," exclaimed her mother, placidly--"an +antick crather, dear knows--her heart's in her mouth every minute of +the day; an' if she gets through the world wid it always as light, poor +girl, it'll be well for her." + +"Kathleen, will you get me a towel or praskeen of some sort to wipe my +face wid," said her father, looking about for the article he wanted. + +"I left one," she replied, "on the back of your chair--an' there it is, +sure." + +"Ay, achora, it's you that laves nothing undone that ought to be done; +an' so it is here, sure enough." + +"Why, then, Gerald," asked Tom M'Mahon, "in the name o' wonder what +makes you stick to the meal instead o' the soap when you're washin' +yourself?" + +"Throth, an' I ever will, Tom, an' for a good raison--becaise it's best +for the complexion." + +The unconscious simplicity with which Cavanagh uttered this occasioned +loud laughter, from which Kathleen herself was unable to refrain. + +"By the piper, Gerald," said M'Mahon, "that's the best thing I h'ard +this month o' Sundays. Why, it would be enough for one o' your daughters +to talk about complexion. Maybe you paint too--ha! ha! ha!" + +Hanna now put in her head, and asked "what is the fun?" but immediately +added, "Kathleen, here's a message for you." + +"For me!" said Kathleen; "what is it?" + +"Here's Peety Dhu's daughter, an' she says she has something to say to +you." + +"An' so Rosha Burke," said Mrs. Cavanagh, "has taken her to live wid +them; I hope it'll turn out well for the poor thing." + +"Will you come out, Kathleen," said Hanna, again peeping in; "she +mustn't tell it to anyone but yourself." + +"If she doesn't she may keep it, then," replied Kathleen. "Tell her I +have no secrets," she added, "nor I won't have any of her keeping." + +"You must go in," said Hanna, turning aside and addressing the +girl--"you must go in an' spake to her in the house." + +"She can tell us all about the robbery, anyway," observed Mr. Cavanagh. +"Come in, a-colleen--what are you afeard of?" + +"I have a word to say to her," said the girl--"a message to deliver; but +it must be to nobody but herself. Whisper," she proceeded, approaching +Kathleen, and about to address her. + +Kathleen immediately rose, and, looking on the messenger, said, "Who is +it from, Nanny?" + +"I mustn't let _them_ know," replied the girl, looking at the rest. + +"Whatever it is, Or whoever it's from, you must spake it out then, +Nanny," continued Kathleen. + +"It's from Hycy Burke, then," replied the girl; "he wants to know if you +have any answer for him?" + +"Tell Hycy Burke," replied Kathleen, "that I have no answer for him; an' +that I'll thank him to send me no more messages." + +"Hut tut! you foolish girl," exclaimed her mother, rising up and +approaching her daughter; "are you mad, Kathleen?" + +"What's come over you," said the father, equally alarmed; "are you +beside yourself, sure enough, to send Hycy Burke sich a message as +that? Sit down, ma colleen, sit down, an' never mind her--don't think of +bringin' him back sich a message. Why, then," he added, "in the name o' +mercy, Kathleen, what has come over you, to trate a respectable young +man like. Hycy Burke in that style?" + +"Simply, father, because I don't wish to receive any messages at all +from him." + +"But your mother an' I is of a different opinion, Kathleen. We wish you +to resave messages from him; an' you know you're bound both by the laws +of God an' man to obey us an' be guided by us." + +"I know I am, father," she replied; "an' I hope I haven't been an +undutiful child to either of you for so far." + +"That's true, Kathleen--God sees it's truth itself." + +"What message do you expect to bring back, Nanny?" said the mother, +addressing the girl. + +"An answer," replied the girl, seeing that everything must be and was +above board--"an answer to the letther he sent her." + +"Did he send you a letther?" asked her father, seriously; "an' you never +let us know a word about it?--did he send you a letther?" + +Kathleen paused a moment and seemed to consult Hanna's looks, who had +now joined them. At length she replied, slowly, and as if in doubt +whether she ought to speak in the affirmative or not--"no, he sent me no +letter." + +"Well now, take care, Kathleen," said her mother; "I seen a letther in +your hands this very mornin'." + +Kathleen blushed deeply; but as if anxious to give the conversation +another turn, and so to relieve herself, she replied, "I can't prevent +you, mother, or my father either, from sending back whatever answer you +wish; but this I say that, except the one I gave already, Hycy Burke +will never receive any message or any answer to a message from me; an' +now for the present let us drop it." + +"Very well," said her mother; "in the mane time, my good girsha, sit +down. Is it thrue that Jemmy Burke's house was robbed a couple o' nights +ago?" + +"True enough," said the girl. + +"And how much did he lose?" asked M'Mahon; "for there's disputes about +it--some say more and some say less." + +"Between seventy and eighty pounds," replied Nanny; "the masther isn't +sure to a pound or so; but he knows it was near eighty, any way." + +"That's just like him," said Cavanagh; "his careless way of managin'. +Many a time I wondher at him;--he slobbers everything about that you'd +think he'd beggar himself, an' yet the luck and prosperity flows to him. +I declare to my goodness I think the very dirt under his feet turns to +money. Well, girsha, an' have they any suspicion of the robbers?" + +"Why," said the girl, "they talk about"--she paused, and it was +quite evident from her manner that she felt not only embarrassed, but +distressed by the question. Indeed this was no matter of surprise; for +ever since the subject was alluded to, Kate Hogan's black piercing eyes +had not once been removed from hers, nor did the girl utter a single +word in reply to the questions asked of her without first, as it were, +consulting Kate's looks. + +A moment's reflection made Cavanagh feel that the question must be a +painful one to the girl, not only on her own account, but on that of +Kate herself; for even then it was pretty well known that Burke's family +entertained the strongest suspicion that the burglary had been committed +by these notorious vagabonds. + +"Well, ahagur," said Cavanagh, "no matter now--it's all over unless they +catch the robbers. Come now," he added, addressing M'Mahon and his son, +"if you're for the road I'm ready." + +"Is it true, Mrs. Burke," asked Bryan, "that you're goin' to have a Kemp +in your barn some o' these days?" + +"True enough, indeed," replied the good woman, "an' that's true, too, +tell the girls, Bryan, and that they must come." + +"Not I," said the other, laughing; "if the girls here--wishes them to +come, let them go up and ask them." + +"So we will, then," replied Hanna, "an' little thanks to you for your +civility." + +"I wish I knew the evenin'," said Bryan, "that I might be at +Carriglass." + +"When will we go, Kathleen," asked her sister, turning slyly to her. + +"Why, you're sich a light-brained cracked creature," replied Kathleen, +"that I can't tell whether you're joking or not." + +"The sorra joke I'm jokin'," she replied, striving suddenly to form +her features into a serious expression. "Well, then, I have it," she +proceeded. "Some Thursday, Bryan, in the middle o' next week--now you +know I'm not jokin', Kathleen." + +"Will you come, Kathleen?" inquired Bryan. + +"Why, if Hanna goes, I suppose I must," she replied, but without looking +up. + +"Well then I'll have a sharp look-out on Thursday." + +"Come now," said Gerald, "let us move. Give the girsha something to ate +among you, for the credit of the house, before she goes back," he added. +"Paddy Toole, girth that horse tighter, I tell you; I never can get you +to girth him as he ought to be girthed." + +On bidding the women good-bye, Bryan looked towards Kathleen for a +moment, and her eye in return glanced on him as he was about to go. But +that simple glance, how significant was its import, and how clearly did +it convey the whole history of as pure a heart as ever beat within a +female bosom! + + + + +CHAPTEE VI.--Nanny Peety looks mysterious + +--Hycy proves himself a good Judge of Horse-Flesh. + + +The day was all light, and life, and animation. The crops were going +down fast in every direction, and the fields were alive and cheerful +with the voice of mirth and labor. As they got into the vicinity of +Wallace's house they overtook or were over-taken by several of their +neighbors, among whom was seen our old friend, Jemmy, or as I his +acquaintances generally called him, honest Jemmy Burke, mounted upon a +brood mare with a foal at her heels, all his other horses having been +engaged in the labor of the season. + +After having sympathized with him upon the loss he had sustained, +they soon allowed the subject to drop; for it was quite clear from the +expression of care, if not of sorrow, that was legible in his face, that +the very mention of it only caused him to feel additional anxiety. + +At length they reached Wallace's house, where they found a tolerably +large crowd of people waiting for the auction, which was not to commence +until the hour of one o'clock. + +Sam Wallace was a respectable Protestant farmer, who finding, as he +said, that there was no proper encouragement given to men who were +anxious and disposed to improve their property, had deemed it a wiser +step to dispose of his stock and furniture than to remain as he was--not +merely with no certain prospect of being able to maintain even his +present position, but with the chances against him of becoming every day +a poorer and more embarrassed man. His brother, who like himself, after +having been on the decline for a considerable period, had emigrated to +America, where he was prospering, now urged him to follow his example +and leave a country in which he said, in language that has become a +proverb, "everything was going to the bad." Feeling that his brother's +words were unfortunately too true, Wallace, at all events, came to the +determination of following his example. + +The scene at which our friends arrived was indeed a striking and +impressive one. The majority of the crowd consisted of those who +belonged either to the Protestant or Presbyterian forms of worship; and +it might be with truth asserted, that nothing could surpass the clear +unquestionable character of independent intelligence which prevailed +among them. Along with this, however, there was an obvious spirit +of dissatisfaction, partial, it is true, as to numbers, but yet +sufficiently marked as to satisfy an observer that such a people, if +united upon any particular subject or occasion, were not for a moment to +be trifled with or cajoled. Their feelings upon the day in question were +stirred into more than usual warmth. A friend, a neighbor, a man of +an old and respectable family, frugal, industrious, and loyal, as +they said, both to king and country, was now forced from want of due +encouragement from his landlord, to disturb all his old associations +of friendship and kindred, and at rather an advanced state of life +to encounter the perils of a long voyage, and subject himself and his +family to the changes and chances which he must encounter in a new +world, and in a different state of society. Indeed, the feeling which +prompted the expression of these sentiments might be easily gathered +from the character that pervaded the crowd. Not to such an extent, +however, with respect to Wallace himself or any portion of his family, +There might be observed upon him and them a quiet but resolute spirit, +firm, collected, and cheerful; but still, while there were visible no +traces of dejection or grief, it was easy to perceive that under this +decent composure there existed a calm consciousness of strong stern +feeling, whose dignity, if not so touching, was quite as impressive as +the exhibition of louder and more clamorous grief. + +"Bryan," said M'Mahon to his son, as the auction was proceeding, "I'll +slip up to the agent's, and do you see if them sheep goes for a fair +value--if they do, give a bid or two any how. I'm speakin' of that lot +we wor lookin' at, next the wall there." + +"I'll pay attention to it," said Bryan; "I know you'll find the agent at +home now, for I seen him goin' in a while ago; so hurry up, an' ax him +if he can say how soon we may expect the leases." + +"Never fear, I will." + +On entering Fethertonge's Hall, M'Mahon was treated with very marked +respect by the servant, who told him to walk into the parlor, and he +would let his master know. + +"He entertains a high opinion of you, Mister M'Mahon," said he; "and I +heard him speak strongly about you the other day to some gentlemen that +dined with us--friends of the landlord's. Walk into the parlor." + +In a few minutes M'Mahon was shown into Fethertonge's office, the walls +of which were, to a considerable height, lined with tin boxes, labelled +with the names of those whose title-deeds and other valuable papers they +contained. + +Fethertonge was a tall, pale, placid looking man, with rather a +benevolent cast of countenance, and eyes that were mild, but very +small in proportion to the other features of his face. His voice was +exceedingly low, and still more musical and sweet than low; in fact +it was such a voice as, one would imagine, ought to have seldom been +otherwise employed than in breathing hope and, consolation to despairing +sinners on their bed of death. Yet he had nothing of either the parson +or the preacher in his appearance. So far from that he was seldom known +to wear a black coat, unless when dressed for dinner, and not very +frequently even then, for he mostly wore blue. + +"M'Mahon," said he, "take a seat. I am glad to see you. How are your +family?" + +"Both I an' they is well, I'm thankful to you, sir," replied the farmer. + +"I hope you got safe home from the metropolis. How did you travel?" + +"Troth, I walked it, sir, every inch of the way, an' a long stretch it +is. I got safe, sir, an' many thanks to you." + +"That was a sudden call poor Mr. Chevydale got, but not more so than +might, at his time of life, have been expected; at all events I hope he +was prepared for it, and indeed I have reason to think he was." + +"I trust in God he was, sir," replied M'Mahon; "so far as I and mine +is consarned, we have raison to wish it; he didn't forget us, Mr. +Fethertonge." + +"No," said the other, after some pause, "he did not indeed forget you, +M'Mahon." + +"I tuck the liberty of callin' down, sir," proceeded M'Mahon, "about +the leases he spoke of, an' to know how soon we may expect to have them +filled." + +"That is for your son Bryan and yourself. How is Bryan proceeding with +Ahadarra, by the way? I spoke to him some time ago about his system of +cropping that farm, and some other matters of the kind; I must ride up +one of these days to see how he is doing. As to the leases, there is no +difficulty in the way, M'Mahon, except to get our young landlord to sign +them. That we will easily do, of course; in the meantime, do you go +on, improve your land, and strive to do something for your children, +M'Mahon; for, in this world, he that won't assist himself will find +very few that will. The leases are in Dublin; if you wish, I'll send for +them, and have them ready for the landlord's signature whenever he comes +down here; or I'll leave them in town, where I shall be more likely to +see him." + +"Very well, sir," replied M'Mahon, "I lave it all in your own hands, for +I know that if you won't be my friend, you won't be my enemy." + +"Well--certainly--I hope not. Will you take anything? Here, James, bring +in some brandy." + +M'Mahon's protest against the brandy was anything but invincible. +Fethertonge's manner was so kind, so familiar, and his interest in the +success of himself and his family so unaffectedly warm and sincere, +that, after drinking his health, he took his leave with a light and. +happy heart. + +Their journey home was a little more lively than the depression of Jemmy +Burke's mind had allowed it to be on their way to the auction. Yet +each had his own peculiar feelings, independently of those which were +elicited by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of +Wallace's liquor, as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did, +was consequently in a better and more loquacious humor than he had been +during the day. On this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for +it was the opinion of every one there, that he had got the best bargain +disposed of during the day--a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime +condition. Gerald Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as +closely as possible to his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of +adhesion, with which our readers are already acquainted; and Bryan, +who saw and understood his motives, felt by no means comfortable at +witnessing such strong symptoms of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon +did not speak much, for, in truth, he could not overcome the depressing +effects of the scene he had witnessed, nor of the words uttered by +Wallace, as they bade each other farewell. + +Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between +whom a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a +public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop +together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses +in token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption +occurred, that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their +dialogue, which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the +mare whenever her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and +abrupt manner in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to +return and look for it. + +On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot, +but with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the +Hogans, who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip +and one of his brothers slept in their usual residence--Cavanagh's +corn-kiln--on that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his +wife Kate were both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion +might, indeed, very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence +of Hycy himself, who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from +any suspicion, as he knew both how and where they had passed the night +in question. So far, therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were +unquestionably reputed to be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all +suspicion. + +The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned +by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be +at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with +them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined, +yet it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a +suspicion that Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance +of the money. In about three or four days he happened to see her thrust +something into her father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he +could not avoid remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was +furtive and hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not +right. He resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he +felt, and accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his +departure, he brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to +concoct a reply, he asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such +a hurried manner into his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after +pausing a moment, replied, "Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes." + +"Was that all?" he asked. + +"That was all, sir," she replied. + +The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were +far from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the +avenue, and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance. + +"Peety," said he, "what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a +while ago? I wish to know?" + +"Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy," replied the +mendicant; "but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues, +and here they are," he added, "if you wish to see them." + +He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out, +when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being +detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned +instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the +unfortunate mendicant and his bags. + +As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the +kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at +him, some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into +further conversation with her. It struck him that she had been watching +his interview with her father, and could not avoid yielding to the +impression which had returned so strongly upon him. + +"I saw your father, Nanny," he said, in as significant and dry a tone as +possible. + +"Did you, sir?" said she; and he remarked that while uttering the words, +she again colored deeply and did not raise her eyes to his face. + +"Yes," he replied; "but he did not bear out what you said--he had no +pair of shoes in his bag." + +"Did you see what he had in it, Master Hycy?" + +"Why," said he, "a--hem--a--a--I didn't look--but I'll tell you what, +Nanny, I think you look as if you were in possession of some secret. I +say so, and don't imagine you can for a moment impose upon me. I know +what your father had in his bag." + +"Well then, if you do, sir," she replied, "you know the saycrit." + +"So there is a secret, then?" + +"So you say, Masther Hycy." + +"Nanny," he proceeded, "it occurs to me now that you never underwent a +formal examination about this robbery that took place in our house." + +"That wasn't my fault," she replied; "I mostly happened to be out." + +"Well, but do you know anything about it?" + +"Not a thing--no more than yourself, Mr. Hycy." + +Her interrogator turned upon her a hard scrutinizing glance, in which +it was easy to see that she read a spirit of strong and dissatisfied +suspicion. She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing +upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion. + +"Because, Nanny," he proceeded, "if you knew anything about it, and +didn't mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one +of the robbers." + +"An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?" she replied; "surely the +first thing I'd do would be to tell." + +"It's very strange," observed Hycy, "that such a robbery could be +committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue +whatsoever to a discovery." + +"Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy--if what your father and +mother an' all o' them say is true--that it wasn't often the hall-door +was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was fastened on +that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to prevent any +one from comin' in." + +"Very true, Nanny," he replied, "very true; and we have paid severely +for our negligence." + +This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever +source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions +as connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however, +to watch her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the +impression that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few +days after the robbery. + +Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent +character, was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, +"always keep an eye to the main chance." He was by no means over-tidy +either in his dress or farming; but it mattered little in what light you +contemplated him, you were always certain to find him a man not affected +by trifles, nor rigidly systematic in anything; but at the same time you +could not help observing that he was a man of strong points, whose life +was marked by a course of high prosperity, that seemed to flow in +upon him, as it were, by some peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, +however, was little less than the natural result of shrewd mother-wit, +happily applied to the: ordinary transactions of life, and assuming the +appearance of good fortune rather than of sound judgment, in consequence +of the simplicity of character under which it acted. Ever since the +night of the robbery, he had devoted himself more to the pipe than he +had ever been known to do before; he spoke little, too; but what he did +say was: ironical, though not by any means without a tinge of quiet but +caustic humor. + +Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking +as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed +in more than her usual finery. + +"What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?" she inquired. "Hycy, do you see +any appearance of him?" + +"No, ma'am," replied the son; "I didn't know you wanted him." + +Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing +away the smoke, asked--"And well, Rosha--begs pardon--Mrs. Burke--is it +a fair question to ax where you are bound for?" + +"Fair enough, Mr. Burke," she replied; "but I'm not goin' to answer it." + +"You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?" + +"I'm bound for a journey, sir." + +"Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?" + +"No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke." + +"Ah!" replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; "I'm +afraid it is." + +"Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?" + +"Oh it doesn't signify," he replied, dryly; "it's no novelty, I believe, +to hear a man--a married man--groan in this world; only if you wor for +a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my power." + +"You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?" she exclaimed--"wishin' me to +go my long journey!" + +"Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?" asked the worthy son. + +"I think not," replied Jemmy. "There's gintlemen enough o' the name--I'm +afraid one too many." + +"Well," exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception +of the look of a martyr as possible, "I'm sufferin' at all events; but +I know my crown's before me." + +"Sich as it is," replied her husband, "I dare say it is." + +"I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'--but here's the car. Come +fardher up, Patsy." + +Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. "Of +course, he'll discover it all," said he, laughing. + +"I know he will," she replied; "but when it's over, it's over, and +that's all." + +Jemmy now met his son at the hall-door, and asked him if he knew where +his mother had gone. + +"I really cannot undertake to say," replied the other. "Mrs. Burke, +father, is a competent judge of her own notions; but I presume to think +that she may take a drive upon her own car, without being so severely, +if not ungenerously catechised about it. I presume to think so, sir; but +I daresay I am wrong, and that even that is a crime on my part." + +His father made no reply, but proceeded at an easy and thoughtful pace +to join his men in the field where they were at labor. + +Hycy, after his mother's return that evening, seemed rather in low +spirits, if one could form any correct estimate of his character by +appearances. He was very silent, and somewhat less given to those broken +snatches of melody than was his wont; and yet a close observer might +have read in his deportment, and especially in the peculiar expression +of his eye, that which seemed to indicate anything rather than +depression or gloom. His silence, to such an observer, might have +appeared rather the silence of satisfaction and triumph, than of +disappointment or vexation. + +His father, indeed, saw little of him that night, in consequence of the +honest man having preferred the hob of his wealthy and spacious kitchen +to the society of his wife and son in the parlor. The next morning, +however, they met at breakfast, as usual, when Hycy, after some ironical +compliments to his father's good taste, asked him, "if he would do him +the favor to step towards the stable and see his purchase." + +"You don't mane Crazy Jane?" said the other, coolly. + +"I do," replied Hycy; "and as I set a high value on your opinion, +perhaps you would be kind enough to say what you think of her." + +Now, Hycy never for a moment dreamt that his father would have taken him +at his word, and we need hardly say that he was a good deal disconcerted +at the cool manner in which the other expressed his readiness to do so. + +"Well, Mr. Burke," he proceeded, when they had reached the stable, +"there she is. Pray what do you think of her?" + +The old man looked at her from various points, passed his hand down +her limbs, clapped her on the back, felt her in different places, then +looked at her again. "She's a beauty," said he, "a born beauty like +Billy Neelin's foal; what's this you say you paid for her?" + +"Thirty-five pounds." + +"Tare-an-ounty, Hycy, she's dog chape--thirty-five!--why she's value for +double the sum." + +"Nearly," replied Hycy, quite elevated and; getting into good humor; "is +she not really now, father, a precious bit of flesh?" + +"Ah! you may swear that, Hycy; I tell you you won't act the honest man, +if you don't give him fifteen or twenty pounds over an' above what you +paid him. Tom Burton I see's too simple for you. Go and do what I bid +you; don't defraud the poor man; you have got a treasure, I tell you--a +beauty bright--an extraordinary baste--a wonderful animal--oh, dear me! +what a great purchase! Good-bye, Hycy. Bless my sowl! what a judge of +horseflesh you are!" + +Having uttered these words in a tone of grave and caustic irony, he left +his worthy son in a state of chagrin almost bordering on resentment, at +the strong contempt for Crazy-Jane, implied by the excessive eulogium +he had passed upon her. This feeling, however, was on reflection +considerably checked by his satisfaction on finding that the matter was +taken by his father so coolly. He had calculated on receiving a very +stormy lecture from him the moment he should become aware of his having +the animal in his possession; and he now felt rather relieved that +he should have escaped so easily. Be this as it may, Hycy was now in +excellent spirits. Not only had Crazy Jane been secured, but there were +strong symptoms of his being in cash. In a few days after the incident +of the stable, he contrived to see Philip Hogan, with whom he appointed +a final meeting in Cavanagh's kiln on the night of the Kemp; at which +meeting, Teddy Phats and the other two Hogans were also to be present, +in order to determine upon the steps which he ultimately proposed to +take, with a view to work out his purposes, whatever those purposes may +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER VII.--The Spinster's Kemp. + + +A kemp, or camp, is a contest of industrial skill, or a competition +for priority in a display of rustic labor. Among men it is principally +resorted to in planting potatoes or reaping of corn, and generally only +on the day which closes the labor at each for the season; but in the +sense in which it is most usually practised and contested, it means a +trial of female skill at the spinning of linen yarn. It is, indeed, +a very cheerful assemblage of the fair sex; and, although strong and +desperate rivalry is the order of the day, yet it is conducted in +a spirit so light-hearted and amicable that we scarcely know a more +laudable or delightful recreation in country life. Its object is always +good, and its associations praiseworthy, inasmuch as they promote +industry, a spirit of becoming emulation, and principles of good will +and kindness to our neighbor. + +When a kemp is about to be held, the matter soon becomes generally known +in the neighborhood. Sometimes the young women are asked, but in +most instances, so eager are they to attend it that invitations are +unnecessary. In the whiter months, and in mountain districts, it is +often as picturesque as it is pleasant. The young women usually begin +to assemble about four o'clock in the morning; and, as they always go in +groups, accompanied besides by their sweethearts or some male relatives, +each of the latter bearing a large torch of well-dried bogfir, their +voices, and songs, and loud laughter break upon the stillness of +night with a holiday feeling, made ten times more delightful by the +surrounding darkness and the hour. When they have not the torches the +spinning-wheels are carried by the males, amidst an agreeable din of +fun, banter, repartee, and jest, such as scarcely any other rustic +amusement with which we are acquainted ever occasions. On arriving at +the house where the kemp is to be held, they are placed in the barn or +some clean outhouse; but indeed the numbers are usually such as to crowd +every available place that can be procured for their accommodation. From +the moment they arrive the lively din is incessant. Nothing is heard but +laughter, conversation, songs, and anecdotes, all rising in a loud key, +among the louder humming of the spinning-wheels and the stridulous noise +of the reeds, as they incessantly crack the cuts in the hands of the +reelers, who are perpetually turning them from morning to night, in +order to ascertain the quantity which every competitor has spun; and +she, of course, who has spun most wins the kemp, and is the queen for +the night. + +A kemp invariably closes with a dance--and a dance too upon an unusually +extensive scale. Indeed, during the whole day the fair competitors are +regaled from time to time with the enlivening strains of the fiddle or +bagpipes, and very often with the united melody of both together. + +On that morning the dwelling-house and mostly all the out-offices of +Gerald Cavanagh bore, in stir and bustle, a stronger resemblance to the +activity of so many bee-hives about to swarm than to anything else +to which we can think of comparing them. Mirth in all its shapes, of +laughter, glee, and song, rang out in every direction. The booming +of wheels and the creaking of reels, the loud banter, the peals of +laughter, the sweet Irish songs that filled up the pauses of the louder +mirth, and the strains of the fiddle that ever and anon added to the +enlivening spirit of the scene, all constituted such a full and general +chorus of hilarity as could seldom be witnessed. + +There were many girls present who took no part in the competition, but +who, as friends and acquaintances of Kathleen and Hanna, came to enjoy +the festive spirit of the day. Hanna herself, however, who had earned +some celebrity as a spinster, started for the honor of winning, as did +Dora M'Mahon, whose small and beautiful fingers seemed admirably adapted +for this graceful and peculiarly feminine process of Minerva. Towards +evening the neighbors assembled in considerable numbers, each interested +in the success of some peculiar favorite, whose former feats had induced +her friends to entertain on her behalf strong, if not certain, hopes of +victory. Kathleen, from a principle of generosity, patronized her young +friend, Dora M'Mahon; and Shibby M'Mahon, on the other hand, took +Hanna Cavanagh under her protection. As the evening advanced, and the +spectators and friends of the parties began to call, in order to be +present at the moment of victory, it would be difficult to witness any +assemblage of young women placed under circumstances of such striking +interest. The mirth and song and general murmur diminished by degrees, +until they altogether ceased, and. nothing was to be heard but the +perpetual cracking of the reels, the hum of the rapid wheels, and the +voices of the reelers, as they proclaimed the state of this enlivening +pool of industry. As for the fair competitors themselves, it might have +been observed that even those among them who had no, or at least but +slight pretensions to beauty, became actually interesting from the +excitement which prevailed. Their eyes lit by the active spirit of +rivalry within them, sparkled with peculiar brilliancy, their cheeks +became flushed or got pale as they felt themselves elevated or depressed +by the prospect or loss of victory. Nor were there wanting on this +occasion some vivid glances that were burthened, as they passed aslant, +their fair faces, with pithier feelings than those that originated from +a simple desire of victory. If truth must be told, baleful flashes, +unmeasured both in number and expression, were exchanged in a spirit +of true defiance between the interested and contending parties, as the +close of the contest approached. At length, by the proclamation of the +reelers, the great body of the competitors were thrown out, and they +consequently gave up the contest. It was now six o'clock, and the +first sound of seven o'clock by Captain Millar's bell was to close the +proceedings, and enable the reelers to proclaim the victor. Only four +names now remained to battle it out to the last; to wit, a country +farmer's daughter, named Betty Aikins, Dora M'Mahon, Hanna Cavanagh, and +a servant-girl belonging to another neighbor, named Peggy Bailly. This +ruck, as they say on the turf, was pretty well up together, but all +the rest nowhere. And now, to continue the metaphor, as is the case +at Goodwood or the Curragh, the whole interest was centered upon these +four. At the commencement of the last hour the state of the case was +proclaimed as follows: Betty Aikins, three dozen and eight cuts; Dora +M'Mahon, three dozen and seven cuts; Hanna Cavanagh, three dozen and +five cuts; and Peggy Bailly, three dozen and four cuts. Every individual +had now her own party anxious for her success, and amidst this hour of +interest how many hearts beat with all hopes and fears that are incident +even to the most circumscribed contest of human life. Opposite Dora +stood the youth whom we have already noticed, James Cavanagh, whose +salvation seemed but a very trifling thing when compared or put into +opposition with her success. Be this as it may, the moment was a most +exciting one even to those who felt no other interest than that which +naturally arises from human competition. And it was unquestionably +a beautiful thing to witness this particular contest between, four +youthful and industrious young women. Dora's otherwise pale and placid +features were now mantling, and her beautiful dark eyes flashing, +under the proud and ardent spirit of ambition, for such in fact was the +principle which now urged and animated the contest. When nearly half an +hour had passed, Kathleen came behind her, and stooping down, whispered, +"Dora, don't turn your wheel so quickly: you move the, foot-board too +fast--don't twist the thread too much, and you'll let down more." + +Dora smiled and looked up to her with a grateful and flashing eye. +"Thank you, Kathleen," she replied, nodding, "I'll take your advice." +The state of the contest was then proclaimed:--Betty Aikins--three dozen +and ten cuts; Dora M'Mahon--three dozen and ten cuts; Hanna Cavanagh +--three dozen, six cuts and a half; Peggy Bailly--three dozen, five and +a half. + +On hearing this, Betty Aikin's cheek became scarlet, and as it is +useless to disguise the fact, several flashing glances that partook +more of a Penthesilean fire than the fearful spirit which usually +characterizes the industrious pursuits of Minerva, were shot at generous +Dora, who sustained her portion of the contest with singular spirit and +temper. + +"You may as well give it up, Dora M'Mahon," exclaimed Betty; "there +never was one of your blood could open against an Aikins--the stuff is +not in you to beat me." + +"A very little time will soon tell that," replied Dora; "but indeed, +Betty, if I am doin' my best to win the kemp, I hope it's not in a bad +or unfriendly spirit, but in one of fair play and good humor." + +The contest now went on for about fifteen minutes, with surpassing +interest and animation, at the expiration of which period, the seven +o'clock bell already alluded to, rang the hour for closing their labors +and determining the victory. Thus stood their relative position--Dora +M'Mahon, four hanks and three cuts; Betty Aikins, four hanks; Hanna +Cavanagh, three hanks and nine cuts; Peggy Bailly, three hanks and eight +cuts. + +When this result was made known, Betty Aikins burst into a loud fit +of grief, in which she sobbed as if her very heart would break, and +Kathleen stooping down, congratulated the beautiful girl upon her +victory, kissing her at the same time as she spoke--an act of love and +kindness in which she would have joyfully been followed by several of +her male friends, if they had dared to take that delicious liberty. + +The moment of victory, we believe, is that which may be relied upon as +the test of true greatness. Dora M'Mahon felt the pride of that moment +in its fullest extent, but she felt it only to influence her better and +nobler principles. After casting her eyes around to gather in, as it +were, that honest approbation which is so natural, and exchanging some +rapid glances with the youth we have alluded to, she went over to her +defeated competitor, and taking her hand said, "Don't cry, Betty, you +have no right to be ashamed; sure, as you say, it's the first time you +wor ever beaten; we couldn't all win; an' indeed if I feel proud +now, everyone knows an' says I have a right to be so; for where was +there--ay, or where is there--such a spinner as you are? + +"Shake hands now an' there's a kiss for you. If I won this kemp, it was +won more by chance than by anything else." + +These generous expressions were not lost on Betty; on the contrary, they +soothed her so much that she gave her hand cordially to her young and +interesting conqueress, after which they all repaired to a supper of new +milk and flummery, than which there is nothing more delicious within the +wide range of luxury. This agreeable meal being over, they repaired to +the large barn where Mickey M'Grory the fiddler, was installed in his +own peculiar orchestra, consisting of an arm-chair of old Irish oak, +brought out from Gerald Cavanagh's parlor. + +It would indeed be difficult to find together such a group of happy +faces. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, Tom M'Mahon and his better +half, and several of the neighbors, of every age and creed, were all +assembled; and, in this instance, neither gray hairs nor length of years +were looked upon as privileged from a participation in the festivities +of the evening. Among the rest, gaunt and grim, were the three Hogans, +looking through the light-hearted assemblage with the dark and sinister +visages of thorough ruffians, who were altogether incapable of joining +in the cheerful and inoffensive amusements that went forward around +them. Kate Hogan sat in an obscure corner behind the fiddler, where +she was scarcely visible, but from which she enjoyed a full view of +everything that occurred in the house. + +A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader +has already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the +stable, where he disposed of it _sub silentio_, by which we mean without +the knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such +person about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him. +Among the rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O'Finigan the +Philomath made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably +advanced in liquor. The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen +of the kemp, as he styled her, was told that he might know her by the +flowers in her hair. "There she is, masther," said one of them, "wid the +roses on her head." + +"Well," said O'Finigan, looking about him with surprise, "I have, before +now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed +of that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess +that this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been +quadrupled. Instead of one queen, wid Flora's fragrant favors in her +lock, I think I see four." + +Finigan indeed was right. Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet +of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity +generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every +brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and +anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in +its honors. + +It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, +nor of the good humor which prevailed among them. It is enough to say +that the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young +folks, jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon +doors, by rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and +amusement were indulged in on the occasion. + +We have said that Tom M'Mahon and his family were there, but we should +have added, with one exception. Bryan did not arrive until the evening +was far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected +with his farm. On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of +welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him. Up until then +there were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and +we must ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion. Its was +clear that during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, +if not actually depressed, although a general observer would have seen +nothing in her beyond the natural sedateness of her manner. The two in +question were Kate Hogan and Dora M'Mahon. On Bryan's arrival, however, +the color of her cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more +sparkling, and a much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth. +Such, however, we are, and such is the mystery of our nature. It might +have been remarked that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his +appearance, with glances expressive of anything but good feeling. It was +not, however, when he first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that +these boding glances were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his +performing a reel with Kathleen. It might have been noticed that they +looked at him, and afterwards at each other, in a manner that could +admit of but little misapprehension. + +"Philip," observed Finigan, addressing the elder Hogan,--"Philip, +the Macedonian--monarch of Macedon, I say, is not that performance +a beautiful specimen of the saltatory art? There is manly beauty, O +Philip! and modest carriage. + + "'With aquil beauty formed, and aquil grace, + Hers the soft blushes of the opening morn, + And his the radiance of the risen day.'" + +"It's night now, misther, if you plaise," returned Hogan, gruffly; +"but we don't want your opinion here--stick to your pothooks and +hangers--keep to your trade." + +"The _pot-hooks_ and _hangers_ are more _tui generis_, you misbegotten +satyr," replied the schoolmaster; "that is, more appropriately +concatenated with your own trade than wid mine. I have no trade, sirra, +but a profession, and neither have you. You stand in the same degraded +ratio to a tradesman that a rascally quack does to a regular surgeon." + +"You had better keep a civil tongue in jour head," replied Hogan, +nettled at the laughter which the schoolmaster raised at his expense. + +"What! a civil tongue for you! Polite language for a rascally +sotherer of ould skillets and other anonymous utensils. Why, what +are you?--firstly, a general violation of the ten commandments; and, +secondly, a misshapen but faithful impersonation of the seven deadly +sins. Take my word for it, my worthy Macedonian, you will die any death +but a horizontal one--it's veracity I'm telling you. Yet there is some +comfort for you too--some comfort, I say again; for you who never lived +one upright hour will die an upright death. A certain official will +erect a perpendicular with you; but for that touck of Mathematics you +must go to the hangman, at whose hands you will have to receive the +rites of your church, you monstrous bog-trotting Gorgon. Mine a trade! +Shades of Academus, am I to bear this!" + +Finigan was, like most of his class, a privileged man; but on this +occasion the loudness of the mirth prevented Hogan's reply from being +heard. As to violence, nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever +dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the +consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when +provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon. +When he first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as +scarcely to be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of +the crowded house by no means improved him. + +In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the +good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke +among them--not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that +set off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In +fact, Hycy was a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full +of liveliness and apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly +perfect. He addressed the persons present with an air of easy +condescension, and went over immediately and shook hands, in a very +cordial manner, with Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned +round and bowed to the daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom +Kathleen was sitting. + +"Bryan," said he, "there will be mistakes in the best of families. I +hate enmity. How, do you do?" + +Bryan nodded, and replied, "Pretty well, Hycy--how are you?" + +Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the +good man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him +every conceivable mark of attention. + +"Mrs. Cavanagh," said he, after some chat, "may I be permitted to +indulge in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?" + +"Which of them?" asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a +reply--"to be sure you may." + +"The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it +was not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius +Finigan--ah, no; the early indoctrinations will tell;--that is clear." + +"I mean Miss Kathleen," replied Hycy, without paying any attention to +Finigan's observations. + +"Why not?" exclaimed both; "of course you will--go over and bring her +out." + +Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner, +"Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel +with you?" + +"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke," she replied gravely; "I have just +danced a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any +more to-night." + +"A simple reel?" said Hycy; "perhaps you will so far favor me? I shall +consider it as a favor, I assure you." + +"Excuse me, Mr. Burke, but I won't dance any more to-night." + +"That's hard," he replied, "especially as I came all the way to have +that pleasure. Perhaps you will change your mind, Miss Cavanagh?" + +"I'm not in the habit of changing my mind, Mr. Burke," she replied, "and +I don't see any reason why I should do so now. I say once for all that I +won't dance any more to-night." + +"What is it," asked the mother, on perceiving her hesitation; "won't she +dance wid you? Hut, tut, Kathleen, what nonsense is this? To be sure you +must dance wid Mr. Burke; don't take any refusal, Mr. Burke--is that all +you know about girls.--sure nineteen refusals is aquil to one consent. +Go over, Gerald, and make her dance wid him," she added, turning to her +husband. + +"What's the matter, Kathleen, that you won't dance wid Mr. Hycy?" asked +the good man. + +"Because I have danced all I will dance to-night, father." + +"Tut, nonsense, you foolish girl--it's proud you ought to be that he'd +ax you. Get up and dance a reel wid him." + +Hanna, who knew her sister's resolution when once formed, immediately +came to her rescue. "Don't ask her, father," she said; "the truth is, +that I believe she has a headache--however, I'll take her place--have +you any objection to me, Mr. Burke?" + +None in the world--he would be very happy--only he regretted that he +could not have that pleasure also with his sister. + +"Ah, Mr. Hycy--which is properly Hyacinthus," said Finigan; "I am able +to perceive that Cupid declines to be propitious in that quarter, or +perhaps it's the _irae amantium_,---which is, on being rendered into +vernacularity, a falling out of lovers; and if so, do not despair; for +as certain as it is, it will be followed by that most delectable of +processes, the _redintegratio amoris_, or the renewing of love. In fact, +he is a little better than a tyro--an ignoramus, who doesn't quarrel at +least once a week, wid the fair object of his amorous inclinations, an' +that for the sake of the reconciliaitons." + +Hycy and Hanna were now about to dance, when Philip Hogan came forward, +and, with an oath, declared that Kathleen must dance--"He wouldn't see +Mr. Burke insulted that way by any such airs--and by--she must dance. +Come," said he, "what stuff is this--we'll see whether you or I is +strongest;" and as he spoke he seized her rudely by the arm, and was +about to pull her out on the floor. + +Bryan M'Mahon sprung to his feet. "Let her go, you ruffian," he +exclaimed; "let her go this instant." + +"No, I won't," replied the savage; "an' not for you, at any rate. Come, +Miss Kathleen, out you'll go:--for you indeed," he added, in a ferocious +parenthesis, looking at Bryan; "it's you that's the cause of all this. +Come, miss, dance you must." + +The words were scarcely uttered when M'Mahon, by a single blow on the +neck, felled him like an ox, and in an instant the whole place was a +scene of wild commotion. The Hogans, however, at all times unpopular, +had no chance in an open affray on such an occasion as this. The feeling +that predominated was, that the ruffianly interference of Philip had +been justly punished; and ere many minutes the usual harmony, with the +exception of some threatening looks and ferocious under growls from the +Hogans, was restored. Hycy and Hanna then went on with their dance, and +when it was over, the schoolmaster rose to depart. + +"Mr. Burke," said he, "you are and have the reputation of being a +perfect gentleman _homo factus ad unguem_--as has been said by the +learned little Roman, who, between you and me, was not overburthened +with an excess of morality. I take the liberty, jinteels, of wishing you +a good-night--_precor vobia prosperam noctem!_ Ah, I can do it yet; but +it wasn't for nothing that I practised the peripatetics in larned Kerry, +where the great O'Finigan is not yet forgotten. I shall now seek a +contiguous place of repose, until the consequences of some slight +bacchanalin libations on my part shall have dispersed themselves into +thin air." + +He accordingly departed, but from the unsteadiness of his step it was +clear that, as he said, the place of his repose must be contiguous +indeed. Had he been conscious of his own motions it is not likely he +would have sought for repose in Cavanagh's kiln, then the habitation of +the Hogans. It was probably the fact of the door having been left open, +which was generally the case in summer, that induced him to enter--for +enter he did--ignorant, it is to be presumed, that the dwelling he +was about to enter was then inhabited by the Hogans, whom he very much +disrelished. + +The place was nearly waste, and had a very desolate look. Scattered +around, and littered upon shake-down beds of straw, some half dozen +young besmutted savages, male and female, lay stretched in all +positions, some north, others south, without order or decency, but all +seeming in that barbarous luxury which denotes strong animal health and +an utter disregard of cleanliness and bodily comfort. Over in one of the +corners lay three or four budgets, old iron skillets, hammers, lumps of +melted lead, broken pots, a quantity of cows' horns for spoons, wooden +dishes that required clasping, old kettles that wanted repair, a couple +of cast off Poteen Stills, and a new one half made--all of which were +visible by the light of a large log of bog-fir which lay burning in the +fire-place. On looking around him, he descended a flight of stone steps +that led to the fireplace or the kiln or opening in which the fuel used +to dry the grain was always burned. This corner, which was eight or ten +feet below the other portion of the floor, being, in general, during the +summer months filled with straw, received the drowsy pedagogue, who, in +a few minutes, was as sound asleep as any of them about him. + +Hycy, who was conscious of his good figure, danced two or three times +afterwards. + +Dora M'Mahon had the honor of being his partner, as had one or two of +the best looking girls present. At the close of the last dance he looked +significantly at the Hogans, and nodded towards the door; after which it +might have been observed, that they slunk out one at a time, followed in +a few minutes by Kate Hycy, after some further chat with Gerald Cavanagh +and his wife, threw half a crown to Mickey M'Grory, and in his usual +courteous phraseology, through which there always ran, by the way, a vein +of strong irony, he politely wished them all a good night. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII.--Anonymous Letter with a Name to It + +--Finigan's Dialogue with Hycy + + +The severest tax upon Hycy's powers of invention was, in consequence of +his habits of idleness, to find means of occupying his time. Sometimes, +it is true, he condescended to oversee the men while at work, but +there it was generally found that so far from keeping them to their +employment, he was a considerable drawback upon their industry. The +ordinary business of his life, however, was riding about the country, +and especially into the town of Ballymacan and home again. He was also a +regular attendant in all the neighboring fairs; and we may safely assert +that no race in the province ever came off without him. + +On the second day after his interview with Teddy Phats and the Hogans, +he was riding past the post-office, when he heard the window tapped, +and, on approaching, a letter was handed out to him, which on opening he +found to contain the following communication:-- + +"Worthy Mr. Hyacinthus-- + +"A friend unknown to you, but not altogether so to fame, and one. +whom no display of the subtlest ingenuity on behalf of your acute and +sagacious intellect could ever decypher through the medium of this +epistle, begs to convey to you a valuable portion of anonymous +information. When he says that he is not unknown to fame, the assertion, +as far as it goes, is pregnant wid veracity. Mark that I say, as far +as it goes, by which is meant the assertion as well as the fame of your +friend, the inditer of this significant epistle. Forty-eight square +miles of good sound fame your not inerudite correspondent can +conscientiously lay claim to; and although there is, with regret I admit +it, a considerable portion of the square superficies alluded to, waste +and uncultivated moor, yet I can say, wid that racy touch of genial and +expressive pride which distinguishes men of letters in general, that the +other portions of this fine district are inhabited by a multitudinity +of population in the highest degree creditable to the prolific powers +of the climate. 'Tisn't all as one, then, as that thistle-browsing +quadruped. Barney Heffeman, who presumes, in imitation of his betters, +to write Philomath after his name, and whose whole extent of literary +reputation is not more than two or three beggarly townlands, whom, by +the way, he is inoculating successfully wid his own ripe and flourishing +ignorance. No, sir; nor like Gusty Gibberish, or (as he has been most +facetiously christened by his Reverence, Father O'Flaherty) Demosthenes +M'Gosther, inasmuch as he is distinguished for an aisy and prodigal +superfluity of mere words, unsustained by intelligibility or meaning, +but who cannot claim in his own person a mile and a half of dacent +reputation. However, _quid multis_ Mr. Hyacinthus; 'tis no indoctrinated +or obscure scribe who now addresses you, and who does so from causes +that may be salutary to your own health and very gentlemanly fame, +according as you resave the same, not pretermitting interests involving, +probably, on your part, an abundant portion of pecuniarity. + +"In short, then, it has reached these ears, Mr. Hyacinthus, and between +you and me, they are not such a pair as, in consequence of their +longitudinity, can be copiously shaken, or which rise and fall according +to the will of the wearer; like those of the thistle-browser already +alluded to; it has reached them that you are about to substantiate a +a disreputable--excuse the phrase--co-partnership wid four of the most +ornamental villains on Hibernian earth, by which you must understand me +to mane that the villains aforesaid are not merely accomplished in all +the plain principles and practices of villainy, but finished off even +to its natest and most inganious decorations. Their whole life has been +most assiduously and successfully devoted to a general violation of the +ten commandments, as well as to the perpetual commission of the seven +deadly sins. Nay, the 'reserved cases' themselves can't escape them, and +it is well known that they wont rest satisfied wid the wide catalogue of +ordinary and general iniquity, but they must, by way of luxury, have a +lick at blasphemy, and some of the rarer vices, as often as they can, +for the villains are so fastidious that they won't put up wid +common wickedness like other people. I cannot, however, wid anything +approximating to a safe conscience, rest here. What I have said has +reference to the laws of God, but what I am about to enumerate relates +to the laws of man--to the laws of the land Wid respect, then, to them, +I do assure you, that although I myself look upon the violation of a +great number of the latter wid a very vanial squint, still, I say, I +do assure you that they have not left a single law made by Parliament +unfractured. They have gone over the whole statute-book several times, +and I believe are absolutely of opinion that the Parliament is doing +nothing. The most lynx-eyed investigator of old enactments could not +find one which has escaped them, for the villains are perfectly black +letter in that respect; and what is in proper keeping wid this, whenever +they hear of a new Act of Parliament they cannot rest either night or +day until they break it. And now for the inference: be on your +guard against this pandemonial squad. Whatever your object may be in +cultivating and keeping society wid them, theirs is to ruin you--fleece +was the word used--an I then to cut and run, leaving Mr. Hycy--the +acute, the penetrating, the accomplished--completely in the lurch. Be +influenced, then, by the amicitial admonitions of the inditer of this +correspondence. Become not a smuggler--forswear poteen. The Lord forgive +me, Mr. Hycy--no, I only wished to say forswear--not the poteen--but +any connection wid the illegal alembic from which it is distillated, +otherwise they will walk off wid the 'doublings,' or strong liquor, +leaving you nothing but the residuum or feints. Take a friend's advice, +therefore, and retrograde out of all society and connection wid the +villains I have described; or if you superciliously overlook this +warning, book it down as a fact that admits of no negation, that +you will be denuded of reputation, of honesty, and of any pecuniary +contingencies that you may happen to possess. This is a sincere advice +from + +"Your Anonymous Friend, + +"Patricius O'Finigan, Philomath." + + +After perusing this characteristic production, Hycy paused for a little, +and felt it very probable that there might be some reasonable grounds +for its production, although he could scarcely understand upon what +motive these fellows should proceed to practice treachery towards him. +That they were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied; +but he knew it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters +connected with their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's +blunder--for such it evidently was--in signing his name to a document +that he intended to be anonymous. + +"At all events," thought he, "I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he +calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me +such a warning." + +He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin +that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little +bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating +from a different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of +common, where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour +Mr. O'Finigan went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The +little village of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood, +was composed of a couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small +grocer's and publican's, together with a Pound at the entrance, through +which ran a little stream necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to +drink. + +On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his +own name repeated by at least two dozen voices. + +"Here's a gintleman, masther"--"It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir "--"It is, +bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen--" + +"Him that rides the race, masther"--"Ay, an' he has on top-boots and +buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman--" + +"Silence!" said Finigan, "silence! I say; is this proper scholastic +decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you +reptiles, or castigation shall result. Here, Paddy Sparable," he +added, rising up--"here, you nailroad, assume my office, and rule +the establishment till I return; and, mark me, as the son of a nailer, +sirra, I expect that you will rule them with a rod of iron--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Ay, but Paddy Pancake's here to-day, sir, an' he's able to welt me; so +that's it's only leathered I'd get, sir, i' you plase." + +"But have you no officers? Call in aid, I ordher you. Can't you make +Sam Scaddhan and Phiddher Mackleswig there two policeman get Pancake +down--flatten him--if he prove contumacious during my absence. Pancake, +mark me, obedience is your cue, or, if not, the castigator here is your +alternative; there it is, freshly cut--ripe and ready--and you are not +to be told, at this time o' day, what portion of your corpus will catch +it. Whish-h-h!--silence! I say. How do you do, Mr. Burke? I am proud of +a visit from you, sir; perhaps you would light down and examine a class. +My Greeks are all absent to-day; but I have a beautiful class o' Romans +in the Fourth Book of Virgil--immortal Maro. Do try them, Mr. Hycy; if +they don't do Dido's death in a truly congenial spirit I am no classic. +Of one thing I can assure you, that they ought; for I pledge my +reputation it is not the first time I've made them practice the Irish +cry over it. This, however, was but natural; for it is now well known to +the learned that, if Dido herself was not a fair Hibernian, she at least +spoke excellent Irish. Ah, Mr. Hycy," he added, with a grin, "the birch +is the only pathetic switch growing! Will you come in, sir?" + +"No, thank you, Mr. Finigan; but perhaps you would have the goodness +to come out for a little;" and, as he spoke, he nodded towards the +public-house. "I know the boys will be quiet until you return." + +"If they don't," replied Finigan, "the alternative is in no shape +enigmatical. Mark what I've already said, gintlemen. Sparable, do you +keep a faithful journal of the delinquents; and observe that there are +offices of importance in this world besides flagellating erudition into +reptiles like you." + +He then looked about him with an air of vast importance, and joined Hycy +on his way to the public-house. Having ordered in the worthy pedagogue's +favorite beverage, not forgetting something of the same kind for +himself, he addressed Finigan as follows:-- + +"Finigan, I received a devilish queer letter from you to-day--take your +liquor in the mean time--what did you mean by it?" + +"From me, Mr. Hycy--_nego_, I say--_pugnis et calc bu nego_." + +"Come, come, you know you wrote me an anonymous letter, referring to +some ridiculous copartnership or other that I can neither make head nor +tail of. Tell me candidly what you meant." + +"Very good, Mr. Burke; but sure I know of old that jocularity was always +your forte--even when laying in under my own instruction that sound +classical substratum on which the superstructure of your subsequent +knowledge was erected, you were always addicted to the facetious and the +fabulous--both of which you contrived to blend together with an ease and +volubility of language that could not be surpassed." + +"That is all very well; but you need not deny that you wrote me the +letter. Let me ask you seriously, what was it you warned me against?" + +"_Propino tibi salulem_--here's to you. No, but let me ask you what you +are at, Mr. Hycy? You may have resaved an anonymous letter, but I am +ignorant why you should paternize it upon me." + +"Why, because it has all the marks and tokens of you." + +"Eh?--to what does that amount? Surely you know my handwriting?" + +"Perfectly; but this is disguised evidently." + +"Faith," said the other, laughing, "maybe the inditer of it was +disguised when he wrote it." + +"It might be," replied Hycy; "however, take your liquor, and in the mean +time I shall feel exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Finigan, if you will +tell me the truth at once--whether you wrote it or whether you did +not?" + +"My response again is in the negative," replied Finigan--"I disclaim it +altogether. I am not the scribe, you may rest assured of it, nor can I +say who is." + +"Well, then," said Hycy, "I find I must convict you yourself of the +fabulous at least; read that," said he, placing the letter in his own +hands. "Like a true Irishman you signed your name unconsciously; and now +what have you to say for yourself?" + +"Simply," replied the other, "that some knave, of most fictitious +imagination, has forged my name to it. No man can say that that is my +manuscription, Mr. Hycy." These words he uttered with great coolness; +and Hycy, who was in many things a shrewd young fellow, deemed it better +to wait until the liquor, which was fast disappearing, should begin to +operate. At length, when about three-quarters of an hour had passed, he +resolved to attack his vanity. + +"Well, well, Finigan, as regards this letter, I must say I feel a good +deal disappointed." + +"Why so, Mr. Hycy?" + +"Why, because I did not think there was any other man in the country who +could have written it." + +"Eh? how is that now?" + +"Faith, it's very simple; the letter is written with surprising +ability--the language is beautiful--and the style, like the land of +Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. It is certainly a most uncommon +production." + +"Now, seriously, do you think so? At all events, Mr. Hycy, it was +written by a friend of yours--that's a clear case." + +"I think so; but what strikes me is its surprising ability; no wonder +the writer should say that he is not unknown to fame--he could not +possibly remain in obscurity." + +"Mr. Hycy, your health--I remember when you were wid me you certainly +were _facile princeps_ for a ripe judgment, even in your rudiments; +so then, you are of opinion that the epistle in question has janius? +I think myself it is no everyday production; not I believe such as +the thistle-browser Heffernan, or Misther Demosthenes M'Gosther could +achieve--the one wid his mile and a half, and the other wid his three +townlands of reputation. No, sir, to the divil I pitch them both; they +could never indite such a document. Your health, Mr. Hycy--_propino +tibi_, I say; and you are right, _ille ego_--it's a a fact; I am the +man, sir--I acknowledge the charge." + +This admission having been made, we need scarcely add that an +explanation was at at once given by Finigan of the motive which had +induced him to write the letter. + +"On laving the kemp," said he, "and getting into the open air--_sub +diu_, Mr. Hycy--I felt a general liquidation of my whole bodily +strength, with a strong disposition to make short excursions to the +right or to the left rather than hold my way straight a-head, with, I +must confess, an equal tendency to deposit my body on my mother earth +and enact the soporiferous. On passing Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where +the Hogans kennel, I entered, and was greeted wid such a chorus of +sternutation as you might expect from a pigsty in midsummer, and made me +envy the unlicked young savages who indulged in it. At the period spoken +of neither you nor they had come in from the kemp. Even this is but a +dim recollection, and I remember nothing more until I overheard your +voice and theirs in dialogue as you were about to depart. After you +went, I heard the dialogue which I hinted at in the letter, between +Teddy Phats and them; and knowing my position and the misbegotten satyrs +by whom I was surrounded, I patiently waited until they were asleep, +when I quietly took my departure." + +Burke could not help inferring from Finigan's manner, that he had +overheard a greater portion of their conversation on the occasion +alluded to than he seemed disposed to acknowledge. + +"Now, Finigan," he said, "I feel disposed to place every confidence in +you. Will you answer candidly the question I am about to propose to you? +Did you hear Bryan M'Mahon's name mentioned?" + +"You say, Mr. Hycy," replied Finigan, emptying his glass, "that you +would enthertain no apprehension in placing confidence in me?" + +"Not the slightest," replied Hycy; "I believe you to be the very soul of +honor; and, besides, are you not my old master? As you say yourself, did +I not break grammatical ground, under you?" + +"The soul of honor," replied the pedagogue, complacently--"that is +excellently said. Well, then, Mr. Burke, I shall not deal out my +confidence by beggarly instalments--I did hear Bryan M'Mahon's name +mentioned; and I heard a plan alluded to between you and them for +reducing him to--" + +"That was all humbug, Finigan, so far as I am concerned; but for the +present I am obliged to let them suppose what you allude to, in order +to keep them honest to myself if I can. You know they have a kind of +hereditary hatred against the M'Mahons; and if I did not allow them to +take their own way in this, I don't think I could depend on them." + +"Well, there is raison in that too," replied Finigan. + +"I am sure, Finigan," proceeded Hycy, "that you are too honorable a man +to breathe either to Bryan M'Mahon or any one else, a single syllable +of the conversation which you overheard merely by accident. I say I +am certain you will never let it transpire, either by word of mouth or +writing. In me you may always calculate on finding a sincere friend; +and of this let me assure you, that your drink, if everything goes right +with us, won't cost you much--much! not a penny; if you had two throats +instead of one--as many necks as Hydra, we should supply them all." + +"Give me your hand, Mr. Hycy--you are a gintleman, and I always said +would be one--I did, sir--I prognosticated as much years ago; and +sincerely felicitous am I that my prognostications have been verified +for so far. I said you would rise--that exaltation was before you--and +that your friends might not feel at all surprised at the elevated +position in which you will die. _Propino tibi_, again--and do not fear +that ever revelation of mine shall facilitate any catastrophe that may +await you." + +Hycy looked keenly into the schoolmaster's face as he uttered the last +observation; but in the maudlin and collapsed features then before him +he could read nothing that intimated the sagacity of a double meaning. +This satisfied him; and after once more exacting from Finigan a pledge +of what he termed honorable confidence, he took his departure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX.--A Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery + + +This communication determined Hycy to forego his intention for the +present, and he consequently allowed the summer and autumn to pass +without keeping up much intercourse with either Teddy Phats or the +Hogans. The truth is, that Burke, although apparently frank and candid, +was constitutionally cautious, and inclined a good deal to suspicion. +He feared that no project, the knowledge of which was held in common +with Finigan, could be long kept a secret; and for that reason he make +up his mind to postpone the matter, and allow it to die away out of the +schoolmaster's mind ere he bestowed any further attention upon it. In +the meantime, the state of the country was gradually assuming a worse +and more depressing character. The season was unfavorable; and although +we do not assert that many died of immediate famine, yet we know that +hundreds--nay, thousands--died from the consequences of scarcity and +destitution--or, in plainer words, from fever and other diseases induced +by bad and insufficient food, and an absence of the necessary comforts +of life. Indeed, at the period of our narrative, the position of Ireland +was very gloomy; but when, we may ask, has it been otherwise, within +the memory of man, or the records of history? Placed as the country was, +emigration went forward on an extensive scale,--emigration, too, of +that peculiar description which every day enfeebles and impoverishes +the country, by depriving her of all that approaches to anything like +a comfortable and independent yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of +depletion which no country can bear long; and, as it is, at the moment +we are writing this, progressing at a rate beyond all precedent, it will +not, we trust, be altogether uninteresting to inquire into some of the +causes that have occasioned it. Let not our readers apprehend, however, +that we are about to turn our fictitious narrative into a dissertation +on political economy. Of course the principle cause of emigration is the +poverty and depressed state of the country; and it follows naturally, +that whatever occasions our poverty will necessarily occasion +emigration. The first cause of our poverty then, is Absenteeism, which, +by drawing six or seven millions out of the country, deprives our people +of employment and means of life to that amount. The next is the general +inattention of Irish landlords to the state and condition of their +own property, and an inexcusable want of sympathy with their tenantry, +which, indeed, is only a corollary from the former; for it can hardly +be expected that those who wilfully neglect themselves will feel a +warm interest in others. The next is the evil of subletting, by which +property becomes overloaded with human beings, who, for the most part, +are bound by no ties whatsoever to the owner of the soil. He is +not their landlord, nor are they his tenants; and so far from their +interests being in any way reciprocal, they are actually adversative. +It is his interest to have them removed, and, as circumstances +unfortunately stand, it is theirs to remain, inasmuch as their +alternative is ruin since they have no place of shelter to receive them. + +Political corruption, in the shape of the forty-shilling franchise, was +another cause, and one of the very worst, which led to the prostration +of the country by poverty and moral degradation, and for this the +proprietors of the soil are solely responsible. Nor can the use of the +potato, as the staple food of the laboring classes, in connection with +the truck system, and the consequent absence of money payments, in +addition to the necessary ignorance of domestic and social comforts +that resulted from them, be left out of this wretched catalogue of our +grievances. Another cause of emigration is to be found in the high and +exorbitant rents at which land is held by all classes of farmers--with +some exceptions we admit, as in the case of old leases--but especially +by those who hold under middlemen, or on the principle of subletting +generally. By this system a vast deal of distress and petty but most +harrassing oppression is every day in active operation upon the property +of the head landlord, which he can never know, and for which he is in no +other way responsible unless by having ever permitted the existence of +it for any purpose whatsoever. + +In a country distracted like Ireland, it would be impossible to omit the +existence of political and religious animosity as a strong and prominent +cause of our wretched poverty, and consequently of emigration. The +priest, instead of leaving temporal affairs to temporal men, most +improperly mingles himself in the angry turmoils of politics, to which, +by his interference, he communicates a peculiar and characteristic +bitterness. The landlord, on the other hand, having his own interests to +consult, does not wish to arm a political opponent with such powers as +he knows will most assuredly be turned against himself, and consequently +often refuses to grant a lease unless to those who will pledge +themselves to support him. This state of things, involving, as it does, +much that is wrong on both sides, is, has been, and will be, a present +and permanent curse to the country--a curse, too, which, until there +is more of humanity and justice on the one side, and of education +and liberal feeling on the other, is not likely to disappear from the +country. + +Though last, not least, comes the unaccountable and guilty neglect of +our legislature (if we can call it ours) in everything that pertained to +Irish interests. This, together with its almost necessary consequence of +dishonest agitation on the one hand, and well founded dissatisfaction on +the other, nearly completes the series of the causes which have produced +the poverty of the country, and, as a direct result, the emigration of +all that is most comfortable, independent, and moral among us. + +This poverty, arising, as it does, from so many causes, has propagated +itself with a rapidity which is startling; for every one knows that +poverty is proverbially prolific. And yet it is a grievous anomaly to +reflect that a country so far steeped in misery and destitution as +to have nearly one-half of its population in a state of most pitiable +pauperism, possesses a soil capable of employing and maintaining three +times the number of its inhabitants. When the causes, however, which we +have just enumerated are seriously looked at and considered, we think +its extraordinary result is, after all, so very natural, that the wonder +would indeed be were the state of Ireland otherwise than it is. As +matters stand at present, and as they are likely to continue, unless +parliament shall interfere by a comprehensive measure of legislation, +we must only rest contented with seeing the industrious, moral, and +respectable portion of our countrymen abandoning the land of their +birth and affections, and nothing but the very dregs--degraded alike +by idleness and immorality--remaining behind to multiply and perpetuate +their own wretchedness and degradation. + +It has been often said, and with great truth, that no man is more +devotedly attached to his native soil than an Irishman; yet it may +reasonably be asked, how this principle of attachment can be reconciled +with the strong tendency to emigration which characterizes our people. +We reply, that the tendency in question is a proof of the love of honest +industry, enterprise, and independence, by which our countrymen, when +not degraded by neglect and poverty, are actuated. It is not of this +class, however so degraded, that we now speak. On the contrary we +take the decent and respectable farmer as the subject of our +illustration--the man who, loving his native fields as if they were of +his blood, would almost as soon part with the one as the other. This man +it is, who, with the most child-like tenderness of affection towards the +land on which he and his have lived for centuries, will, nevertheless, +the moment he finds himself on the decline, and with no cheering hope +of prosperity or encouragement before him or his family, resolutely +determine to forget everything but the noble duties which he owes +to himself and them. He sees clearly, from the unhappy state of +the country, and the utter want of sympathy and attention which he +experiences at the hands of those who ought to have his interests at +heart, that if he attempt to hold his position under circumstances so +depressing and unfavorable, he must gradually sink, until he and his +become mingled with the great mass of pauperism which lies lik a an +incubus upon the energies of the country. What, therefore, can possibly +prove more strongly than this that the Irishman who is not dragged into +the swamp of degradation, in which hope and energy are paralyzed, is +strongly and heroically characterized by I those virtues of industry and +enterprise that throw their lustre over social life? + +There are other and still more indefensible causes, however, which too +frequently drive the independent farmer out of the country. In too +many cases it happens that the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, +countenanced or stimulated by the necessities and reckless extravagance +of the landlord, fall, like some unwholesome blight, upon that +enterprise and industry which would ultimately, if properly encouraged, +make the country prosperous and her landed proprietors independent men. +We allude to the nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who +have made improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay +for the improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this +crying and oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those +who fill the responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland, +than whom in general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous, +oppressive, arrogant, and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course +there are, and many, but speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert +nothing but what the condition of property, and of those who live upon +it, do at this moment and have for many a year testified. + +Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited +upon the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already +described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety +on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This +neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man, +who was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his +countrymen always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a +lease, which they look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely +inviolable and sacred, as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who, +although a young man, was not destitute of either observation or the +experience which it bestows, and who, moreover, had no disposition to +place unlimited confidence in Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague +suspicions with reference to the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not +the reputation of being a harsh man, or particularly unjust in his +dealings with the world; on the contrary, he was rather liked than +otherwise; for so soft was the melody of his voice, and so irresistible +the friendship and urbanity of his manner, that many persons felt as +much gratified by the refusal of a favor from him as they did at its +being granted by another. At length, towards the close of October, Bryan +himself told his father that he would, call upon the agent and urge him +to expedite the matter of the leases. "I don't know how it is," said +he, "but some way or other I don't feel comfortable about this business: +Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is well spoken of in +general; but for all that there's always a man here an' there that says +he's not to be depended on." + +"Troth an' he is to be depended on," said his generous father; "his +words isn't like the words of a desaver, and it isn't till he shows the +cloven foot that I'll ever give in that he's, dishonest." + +"Well," said Bryan, "I'm sure I for one hope you may be right; but, at +any rate, as he's at home now I'll start and see him." + +"Do then," said his father, "bekaise I know you're a favorite of his; +for he tould me so wid his own lips." + +"Well," replied the other, laughing, "I hope you're right there too; +I'm sure I have no objection;" and he accordingly set out to see +Fethertonge, but with something of an impression that the object of +his visit was not likely to be accomplished without difficulty, if +accomplished at all. + +On reaching the agent's house he met a thin, tall man, named Clinton, +with a hooked nose and sinister aspect, riding down the avenue, after +having paid Fethertonge a visit. This person was the gauger of the +district, a bachelor and a man of considerable wealth, got together, +it is suspected, by practices that were not well capable of bearing the +light. His family consisted of a niece and a nephew, the latter of whom +had recently become a bosom friend of the accomplished Hycy Burke, who, +it was whispered, began to look upon Miss Clinton with a partial eye. +Hycy had got acquainted with him at the Herringstown races, where +he, Hycy, rode and won a considerable sweepstakes; and as both young +gentlemen were pretty much of the same habits of life, a very warm +intimacy had, for some time past, subsisted between them. Clinton, to +whom M'Mahon was known, addressed him in a friendly manner, and, after +some chat, he laid the point of his whip gently upon Bryan's shoulder, +so as to engage his attention. + +"M'Mahon," said he, "I am glad I have met you, and I trust our meeting +will be for your good. You have had a dispute with Hycy Burke?" + +"Why, sir," replied Bryan, smiling, "if I had it wasn't such as it was +worth his while to talk about." + +"Well, M'Mahon, that's generously said on your part--now, listen to me; +don't allow yourself to be drawn into any illegal or illicit proceedings +by any one, friend or foe--if so, you will only put yourself into the +power of your enemies; for enemies you have, I can assure you." + +"They say, sir, there is no one without them," replied Bryan, smiling; +"but so far as I am consarned, I don't exactly understand what you mane. +I have no connection with anything, either illegal or--or--wrong in any +way, Mr. Clinton, and if any one tould you so, they spoke an untruth." + +"Ay, ay," said Clinton, "that may be so, and I hope it is so; but you +know that it could not be expected you would admit it even if it be +true. Will you in the mean time, be guided by a friend? I respect your +father and his family; I respect yourself, M'Mahon; and, consequently, +my advice to you is--keep out of the meshes of the law--avoid violating +it--and remember you have enemies. Now think of these words, and so +good-bye, M'Mahon! Indeed, I am glad for your own sake I met +you--good-bye!" + +As he uttered the last words he dashed on and left Bryan in a state +of perfect amazement at the strange and incomprehensible nature of the +communication he had just received. Indeed, so full was his mind of the +circumstance, that forgetting all his suspicions of Fethertonge, and +urged by the ingenuous impulse of an honest heart, he could not prevent +himself in the surprise and agitation of the moment from detailing the +conversation which he had just had with the gauger. + +"That is singular enough," said Fethertonge--"he named Hycy Burke, +then?" + +"He did, sir." + +"It is singular," proceeded the other, as if speaking to himself; "in +truth, my dear M'Mahon, we were talking about you, discussing, in fact, +the same subject not many minutes ago; and what you tell me now is only +an additional proof that Clinton, who is sometimes harshly spoken of by +the way, is a straightforward, honest man." + +"What could he mane, sir?" asked Bryan, "I never had anything to do +contrary to the law--I haven't now, nor do I ever intend to have--" + +"Well, I'm sure I do not know," replied the agent: "he made no illusion +of that kind to me, from a generous apprehension, I dare say, lest he +might injure you in my opinion. He only desired me not rashly to listen +to anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who +were laboring to injure you in some way--but how--he either would not +tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for +I shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice." + +"I tell you beforehand, sir," said Bryan, with the conscious warmth +of rectitude, "and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear +anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should +say that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or +justice, you'll hear a falsehood--I don't care who it comes from--and +the man who tells you so is a liar." + +"I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve +me to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn +into anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual +of your family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve +me--deeply would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so +honest--but no, I will not, for I cannot suppose it." + +Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could +not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation +which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were +now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of +which he knew nothing. + +"You take it lightly," said Fethertonge, with something of a serious +expression; "but remember, my dear Bryan, that I now speak as one +interested in, and, in fact, representing the other members of your +family. Remember, at all events, you are forewarned, and, in the +meantime, I thank Clinton--although I certainly would not have mentioned +names. Bryan, you can have no objection that I should speak to your +father on this subject?" + +"Not the slightest, sir," replied Bryan; "spake to any one you like +about it; but, putting that aside, sir, for the present--about these +leases?" + +"Why, what apprehension have you about them, Byran?" + +"No apprehension, sir, sartinly; but you know yourself, Mr. Fethertonge, +that to a man like me, that's layin' out and expendin' money every day +upon Adaharra farm, and my father the same way upon Carriglass--I say, +to a man like me, to be layin' out his money, when you know yourself +that if the present landlord should refuse to carry his father's dying +words into effect--or, as you said this minute yourself, sir, if some +enemy should turn you against me, amn't I and my father and the whole +family liable to be put out, notwithstanding all the improvements we've +made, and the money we've spent in makin' them?" + +"Bryan," said Fethertonge, after a pause, "every word you say is +unfortunately too true--too true--and such things, are a disgrace to the +country; indeed, I believe, they seldom occur in any country but this. +Will it in the mean time satisfy you when I state that, if old Mr. +Chevydale's intentions are not carried into effect by his son, I shall +forthwith resign my agency?" + +Bryan's conscience, generous as he was, notwithstanding his suspicions, +smote him deeply on hearing this determination so unequivocally +expressed. Indeed the whole tenor of their dialogue, taken in at one +view--especially Fethertonge's intention of speaking to Tom M'Mahon upon +the mysterious subject of Bryan's suspected delinquencies against +the law--so thoroughly satisfied him of the injustice he had rendered +Fethertonge, that he was for a time silent. + +At length he replied--"That, sir, is more than we could expect; but +at any rate there's one thing I'm now sartin of--that, if we're +disappointed, you won't be the cause of it." + +"Yes; but of course you must put disappointment out of the question. The +landlord, will, without any doubt, grant the leases--I am satisfied of +that; indeed, there can be no doubt about it. By the way, I am anxious +to see Ahadarra and to ascertain the extent to which you have carried +your improvements. Clinton and I will probably take a ride up there some +day soon; and in the meantime do you keep improving, M'Mahon, for that's +the secret of all success--leave the rest to me. How is your father?" + +"Never was better, sir, I'm thankful to you." + +"And your grandfather? how does he bear up?" + +"Faith, sir, wonderfully, considering his age." + +"He must be very old now?" + +"He's ninety-four, sir, and that's a long age sure enough; but I'm sorry +to say that my mother's health isn't so well." + +"Why, what is the matter with her? I'm sorry to hear this." + +"Indeed we can't say; she's very poorly--her appetite is gone--she has a +cough, an' she doesn't get her rest at night." + +"Why don't you get medical advice?" + +"So we did, sir. Dr. Sexton's attendin' her; but I don't think somehow +that he has a good opinion of her." + +"Sexton's a skilful man, and I don't think she could be in better hands; +however, Bryan, I shall feel obliged if you will send down occasionally +to let me know how she gets on--once a week or so." + +"Indeed we will, sir, an' I needn't say how much we feel obliged to you +for your kindness and good wishes." + +"It must be more than good wishes, Bryan; but I trust that she will +get better. In the meantime leave the other matters to me, and you may +expect Clinton and I up at your farm to look some of these days." + +"God forgive me," thought Bryan, as he left the hall-door, "for the +injustice I did him, by supposin' for one minute that he wasn't disposed +to act fairly towards us. My father was right; an' it was foolish of +me to put my wit against his age an' experience. Oh, no, that man's +honest--there can;t be any mistake about it." + +From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way +home, to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity +towards him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy +Burke had, in general, the character of being a generous, dashing +young fellow, with no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a +thoughtless inclination for extravagance; for such were the gentle +terms in which habits of seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in +the expenditure of money were clothed by those who at once fleeced and +despised him, but who were numerous enough to impress those opinions +upon a great number of the people. In turning over matters as they stood +between them, he could trace Burke's enemity to no adequate cause; +nor indeed could he believe it possible that he entertained any such +inveterate feeling of hostility against him. They had of late frequently +met, on which occasion Hycy spoke to him with nearly as much cordiality +as ever. Still, however, he could not altogether free himself from +the conviction, that both Clinton and Fethertonge must have had +unquestionable grounds for the hints which they had in such a friendly +way thrown out to him. + +In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet +behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him +at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, +on seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, "If you +are not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you." + +The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, "a word, Bryan! ay, a +hundred--certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have some +conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?" + +"Hycy," proceeded Bryan, "I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow +me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?" + +"Will you answer me another question?" replied Hycy. + +"If I can I will," said Bryan. + +"Well, then,"'replied Hycy, "I will answer you most candidly, Bryan--not +the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling +against me." + +"And you wor right, too," returned Bryan "for I really had." + +"I remember," proceeded Hycy, "that when I asked you to lend me +thirty-five pounds--and by the way that reminds me that I am still +pretty deep in your debt--you would neither lend it nor give any +satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that +feeling, Bryan?" + +"It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my +pocket," replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which +Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself. "Read that," said he, +"and I think you'll have no great trouble in understanding why I felt +as I did;--an' indeed, Hycy, to tell you the truth, I never had the same +opinion of you since." Hycy, to his utter amazement, read as follows: + +"My Dear Miss Cavanagh:-- + +"Will you permit little Cupid, the god of Love, to enrol the name of +Hycy Burke on the long list of your adorers? And if you could corrupt +the little stone-blind divinity to blot out every name on it but my own, +I should think that a very handsome anticipation of the joys of Paradise +could be realized by that delightful fact. I say anticipation--for my +creed is, that the actual joys of Paradise exist no where, but within +the celestial circle of your ambrosial arms. That is the Paradise which +I propose to win; and you may rest assured that I shall bring the most +flaming zeal, the most fervent devotion, and all the genuine piety of +a true worshipper, to the task of attaining it. I shall carry, for +instance, a little Bible of Love in my pocket--for I am already a +divinity student or a young collegian under little Cupid aforesaid--and +I will have it all dogeared with refreshing texts for my edification. +I should state, however, that I am, as every good Christian is, awfully +exclusive in my creed; and will suffer no one, if I can prevent it, to +approach the Paradise I speak of but myself. In fact I am as jealous as +the very Deuce--whoever that personage may be--quite an Othello in my +way--a perfect raw-head-and-bloody-bones--with a sharp appetite and +teeth like a Walrus, ready to bolt my rivals in dozens. It is said, +my divine creature, or rather it is hinted, that a certain clodhopping +boor, from the congenial wilds of Ahadarra, is favored by some benignant +glances from those lights of yours that do mislead the moon. I hope this +is not so--bow wow!--ho! ho!--I smell the blood of a rival; and be he +great or small, red or black, or of any color in the rainbow, I +shall have him for my. breakfast--ho! ho! You see now, my most divine +Kathleen, what a terrible animal to all rivals and competitors for your +affections I shall be; and that if it were only for their own sakes, and +to prevent carnage and cannibalism, it will be well for you to banish +them once and forever, and be content only with myself. + +"Seriously, my dear Kathleen, I believe I am half-crazed; and, if so, +you are the sole cause of it. I can think of no other object than your +beautiful self; and I need scarcely say, that I shall have neither peace +nor happiness unless I shall be fortunate enough to gain a place in your +tender bosom. As for the Ahadarra man, I am surprised you should think of +such an ignorant clodhopper--a fellow whose place Providence especially +allotted to between the stilts of a plough, and at the tail of a pair +of horses. Perhaps you would be kind enough to take a walk on Thursday +evening, somewhere near the river--where I hope I shall have an +opportunity of declaring my affection for you in person. At all events I +shall be there with the ardent expectation of meeting you. + +"Ever your devoted worshipper, + +"Hycy Burke. + +"P.S.--Beware the clodhopper--bow wow!--ho! ho!" + + +On looking at the back of this singular production he was thunderstruck +to perceive that it was addressed to "Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, Ahadarra"--the +fact being that, in the hurry of the moment, he had misdirected the +letters--Bryan M'Mahon having received that which had been intended for +Kathleen, who, on the contrary, was pressingly solicited to lend him +thirty-fine pounds in order to secure "Crazy Jane." + +Having perused this precious production, Hycy, in spite of his chagrin, +was not able to control a most irresistible fit of laughter, in which he +indulged for some minutes. The mistake being now discovered in Bryan's +case was necessarily discovered in that of both, a circumstance which +to Hycy, who now fully understood the mature and consequences of his +blunder, was, as we have stated, the subject of extraordinary mirth, in +which, to tell the truth, Bryan could not prevent himself from joining +him. + +"Well, but after all, Bryan," said he, "what is there in this letter +to make you angry with me? Don't you see it's a piece of humbug from +beginning to end." + +"I do, and I did," replied Bryan; "but at that time I had never spoken +upon the subject of love or marriage to Kathleen Cavanagh, and I had no +authority nor right to take any one to task on her account, but, at the +same time, I couldn't even then either like or respect, much less lend +money to, any man that could humbug her, or treat such a girl with +disrespect--and in that letther you can't deny that you did both." + +"I grant," said Hycy, "that it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not +intended to offend her." + +"I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy," observed Bryan; "an' that if +she had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to +your discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken +there though." + +"She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan--very far from it, +indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther +for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter +to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth, +Bryan, I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife." + +"As to that," replied the other, smiling, "we'll keep never minding--but +you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther, +an' I'm thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first +question--have you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to +injure me?" + +"Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill +feeling against you, nor any design to injure you." + +"That's enough, Hycy," replied his companion; "I think I'm bound to +believe your words." + +"You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you +that I had--and if so, who was the person?" + +"It's enough for you to know," said Bryan, "that whoever told it to me I +don't believe it." + +"I certainly have a right to know," returned Hycy; "but as the matter +is false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it--all I can +say to satisfy you is, what I have said already--that I entertain no ill +will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no +earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at +the present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing." + +"You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?" + +"No: devil a syllable." + +"Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?" + +Hycy pulled up his horse. + +"Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you," he exclaimed. "Is it right +to have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that +there's something wrong with your upper works." + +"Never mind," replied Bryan, laughing, "I'm satisfied--the thing's a +mistake--so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the kind +against you and it's all right." + +"What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?" +exclaimed Hycy.. + +"There now," continued Bryan, "that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfied? +Move on, now and overtake your friend--by the way he's a fine horseman, +they say?" + +"Very few better," said Hycy; "but some there are--and one I know--ha! +ha! ha! Good-bye, Bryan, and don't be made a fool of for nothing." + +Bryan nodded and laughed, and Hycy dashed on to overtake his friend +Clinton. + +M'Mahon's way home lay by Gerald Cavanagh's house, near which as he +approached he saw Nanny Peety in close conversation with Kate Hogan. The +circumstance, knowing their relationship as he did, made no impression +whatsoever upon him, nor would he have bestowed a thought upon it, had +he been left to his own will in the matter. The women separated ere he +had come within three hundred yards of them; Kate, who had evidently +been convoying her niece a part of the way, having returned in the +direction of Cavanagh's, leaving Nanny to pursue her journey home, by +which she necessarily met M'Mahon. + +"Well, Nanny," said the latter, "how are you?" + +"Faix, very well, I thank you, Bryan; how are all the family in +Carriglass?" + +"Barring my mother, they're all well, Nanny. I was glad to hear you +got so good a place, an' I'm still betther plaised to see you look so +well--for it's a proof that you feel comfortable in it." + +"Why I can't complain," she replied; "but you know there's no one widout +their throubles." + +"Troubles, Nanny," said Bryan, with surprise; "why surely, Nanny, +barrin' it's love, I don't see what trouble you can have." + +"Well, and may be it is," said the girl, smiling. + +"Oh, in that case," replied Bryan, "I grant you're to be pitied; poor +thing, you look so ill and pale upon it, too. An' what is it like, +Nanny--this same love that's on you?" + +"Faix," she replied, archly, "it's well for you that Miss Kathleen's not +to the fore or you daren't ax any one sich a question as that." + +"Well done, Nanny," he returned; "do you think she knows what it's +like?" + +"It's not me," she replied again, "you ought to be axin' sich a question +from; if you don't know it I dunna who ought." + +"Begad, you're sharp an' ready, Nanny," replied Bryan, laughing; "well, +and how are you all in honest Jemmy Burke's?" + +"Some of us good, some of us bad, and some of us indifferent, but, thank +goodness, all in the best o' health." + +"Good, bad, and indifferent," replied Bryan, pausing a little. "Well, +now, Nanny, if one was to ask you who is the good in your family, what +would you say?" + +"Of coorse myself," she returned; "an' stay--let me see--ay, the +masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us." + +"And who's the indifferent, Nanny?" + +"Wait," she replied; "yes--no doubt of it--if not worse--why the +mistress must come in for that, I think." + +"And now for the bad, Nanny?" + +She shook her head before she spoke. "Ah," she proceeded, "there would +be more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his +way." + +"If who had his way?" + +"Masther Hycy." + +"Why is he the bad among you?" + +"Thank God I know him now," she replied, "an' he knows I do; but he +doesn't know how well I know him." + +"Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?" asked Bryan, a good deal surprised, +and not a little interested at what he heard, "surely I thought Mr. Hycy +a good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all +events?" + +"Ah, it's little you know him," she replied; "and I could"--she looked +at him and paused. + +"You could what?" he asked. + +"I could tell you something, but I daren't." + +"Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?" + +"It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an' +Kathleen Cavanagh goin' to be married?" + +"We will be married, I hope." + +"Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother +doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between +the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if +you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be." + +"An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?" + +"He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of +him, so far from that, I could soon--but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an' +as I said, keep a sharp lookout;" and having uttered these words, she +tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had +said. + + + + +CHAPTER X.--More of the Hycy Correspondence + +A Family Debate--Honest Speculations. + + +Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down +upon her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of +whom looked upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object +exceedingly desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on +themselves. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of +the strictest integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with +hospitality, and remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections +in an extraordinary degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely +weak-minded, and almost silly, in consequence of an over-weening +anxiety to procure "great matches" for their children. Indeed it may be +observed, that natural affection frequently assumes this shape in the +paternal heart, nor is the vain ambition confined to the Irish peasant +alone. On the contrary, it may be seen as frequently, if not more so, in +the middle and higher classes, where it has ampler scope to work, than +in humbler and more virtuous life. It is this proud and ridiculous +principle which consigns youth, and beauty, and innocence, to the arms +of some dissipated profligate of rank, merely because he happens to +inherit a title which he disgraces. There is, we would wager, scarcely +an individual who knows the world, but is acquainted with some family +laboring under this insane anxiety for connection. Sometimes it is to +be found on the paternal side, but, like most of those senseless +inconsistencies which entail little else than ridicule or ruin, and +sometimes both, upon those who are the object of them, it is, for the +most part, a female attribute. + +Such as it is, however, our friend, Gerald Cavanagh, and his wife--who, +by the way, bore the domestic sceptre in all matters of importance--both +possessed it in all its amplitude and vigor. When the kemp had been +broken up that night, and the family assembled, Mrs. Cavanagh opened the +debate in an oration of great heat and bitterness, but sadly deficient +in moderation and logic. + +"What on earth could you mane, Kathleen," she proceeded, "to refuse +dancin' wid such a young man--a gintleman I ought to say--as Hycy Burke, +the son of the wealthiest man in the whole parish, barring the gentry? +Where is the girl that wouldn't bounce at him?--that wouldn't lave +a single card unturned to secure him? Won't he have all his father's +wealth?--won't he have all his land when the ould man dies? and indeed +it's he that will live in jinteel style when he gets everything into +his own hands, as he ought to do, an' not go dhramin' an' dhromin' about +like his ould father, without bein' sartin whether he's alive or not. +He would be something for you, girl, something to turn out wid, an' +that one could feel proud out of; but indeed, Kathleen, as for pride +and decency, you never had as much o' them as you ought, nor do you hold +your head as high as many another girl in your place would do. Deed +and throth I'm vexed at you, and ashamed of you, to go for to hurt his +feelins as you did, widout either rhyme or raison." + +"Troth," said her father, taking up the argument where she left it, "I +dunno how I'll look the respectable young man in the face afther the way +you insulted him. Why on airth wouldn't you dance wid him?" + +"Because, father, I don't like him." + +"An' why don't you like him?" asked her mother. "Where is there his +aquil for either face or figure in the parish, or the barony itself? +But I know the cause of it; you could dance with Bryan M'Mahon. But +take this with you--sorra ring ever Bryan M'Mahon will put on you wid +my consent or your father's, while there's any hope of Hycy Burke at any +rate." + +Kathleen, during this long harangue, sat smiling and sedate, turning her +beautiful and brilliant eyes sometimes upon one parent, sometimes upon +another, and occasionally glancing with imperturbable sweetness and +good nature at her sister Hanna. At length, on getting an opportunity of +speaking, she replied,-- + +"Don't ask me, mother, to give anything in the way of encouragement to +Hycy Burke; don't ask me, I entrate you, for God's sake--the thing's +impossible, and I couldn't do it. I have no wish for his father's money, +nor any wish for the poor grandeur that you, mother dear, and my father, +seem to set your heart upon. I don't like Hycy Burke--I could never +like him; and rather than marry him, I declare solemnly to God, I would +prefer going into my grave." + +As she uttered the last words, which she did with an earnestness that +startled them, her fine features became illuminated, as it were, with +a serene and brilliant solemnity of expression that was strikingly +impressive and beautiful. + +"Why couldn't you like him, now?" asked her father; "sure, as your +mother says, there's not his aquil for face or figure within many a mile +of him?" + +"But it's neither face nor figure that I look to most, father." + +"Well, but think of his wealth, and the style he'll live in, I'll go +bail, when he gets married." + +"That style maybe won't make his wife happy. No, father, it's neither +face, nor figure, nor style that I look to, but truth, pure affection, +and upright principle; now, I know that Hycy Burke has neither truth, +nor affection, nor principle; an' I wondher, besides, that you could +think of my ever marrying a man that has already destroyed the happiness +of two innocent girls, an' brought desolation, an' sorrow, an' shame +upon two happy families. Do you think that I will ever become the wife +of a profligate? An' is it you, father, an' still more you, mother, +that's a woman, that can urge me to think of joining my fate to that of +a man that has neither shame nor principle? I thought that if you didn't +respect decency an' truth, and a regard for what is right and proper, +that, at all events, you would respect the feelings of your child that +was taught their value." + +Both parents felt somewhat abashed by the force of the truth and the +evident superiority of her character; but in a minute or two her worthy +father, from whose dogged obstinacy she inherited the firmness and +resolution for which she had ever been remarkable, again returned to the +subject. + +"If Hycy Burke was wild, Kathleen, so was many a good man before him; +an' that's no raison but he may turn out well yet, an' a credit to his +name, as I have no doubt he will. All that he did was only folly +an' indiscretion--we can't be too hard or uncharitable upon our +fellow-craytures." + +"No," chimed in her mother, "we can't. Doesn't all the world know that +a reformed rake makes a good husband?--an' besides, didn't them two +huzzies bring it on themselves?--why didn't they keep from him as they +ought? The fault, in such cases, is never all on one side." + +Kathleen's brow and face and whole neck became crimson, as her mother, +in the worst spirit of a low and degrading ambition, uttered the +sentiments we have just written. Hanna had been all this time sitting +beside her, with one arm on her shoulder; but Kathleen, now turning +round, laid her face on her sister's bosom, and, with a pressure that +indicated shame and bitterness of heart, she wept. Hanna returned this +melancholy and distressing caress in the same mournful spirit, and both +wept together in silence. + +Gerald Cavanagh was the first who felt something like shame at the +rebuke conveyed by this tearful embrace of his pure-hearted and +ingenuous daughters, and he said, addressing his wife:-- + +"We're wrong to defend him, or any one, for the evil he has done, +bekaise it can't be defended; but, in the mane time, every day will +bring him more sense an' experience, an' he won't repute this work; +besides, a wife would settle him down." + +"But, father," said Hanna, now speaking for the first time, "there's +one thing that strikes me in the business you're talkin' about, an' it's +this--how do you know whether Hycy Burke has any notion, good, bad, or +indifferent, of marrying Kathleen?" + +"Why," replied her mother, "didn't he write to her upon the subject?" + +"Why, indeed, mother, it's not an easy thing to answer that question," +replied Hanna. "She sartinly resaved a letther from him, an' indeed, I +think," she added, her animated face brightening into a smile, "that as +the boys is gone to bed, we had as good read it." + +"No, Hanna, darling, don't," said Kathleen--"I beg you won't read it." + +"Well, but I beg I will," she replied; "it'll show them, at any rate, +what kind of a reformation is likely to come over him. I have it here in +my pocket--ay, this is it. Now, father," she proceeded, looking at the +letter, "here is a letter, sent to my sister--'To Miss Cavanagh,' that's +what's on the back of it--and what do you think Hycy, the sportheen, +asks her to do for him?" + +"Why, I suppose," replied her mother, "to run away wid him?" + +"Na" + +"Then to give her consent to marry him?" said her father. + +"Both out," replied Hanna; "no, indeed, but to lend him five-and-thirty +pounds to buy a mare, called Crazy Jane, belonging to Tom Burton, of the +Race Road!" + +"'My Dear Bryan--For heaven's sake, in addition to your other +generosities--for-which I acknowledge myself still in your debt--will +you lend me thirty-five pounds, to secure a beautiful mare belonging to +Tom Burton, of the Race Road? She is a perfect creature, and will, if I +am not quick, certainly slip through my fingers. Jemmy, the gentleman'-- + +"This is what he calls his father, you must know. + +"'Jemmy, the gentleman, has promised to stand to me some of these +days, and pay off all my transgressions, like a good, kind-hearted, +soft-headed old Trojan as he is; and, for this reason, I don't wish to +press him now. The mare is sold under peculiar circumstances; otherwise +I could have no chance of her at such a price. By the way, when did you +see Katsey'-- + +"Ay, Katsey!--think of that, now--doesn't he respect your daughter +very much, father? + +"'By the way, when did you see Katsey Cavanagh?--'" + +"What is this you're readin' to me?" asked her father. "You don't mean +to say that this letter is to Kathleen?" + +"Why, no; but so much the better--one has an opportunity now of seein' +what he is made of. The letter was intended for Bryan M'Mahon; but he +sent it, by mistake, to Kathleen. Listen--- + +"'When did you see Katsey Cavanagh? She certainly is not ill-looking, +and will originate you famous mountaineers. Do, like a good fellow, +stand by me at this pinch, and I will drink your health and Kat-sey's, +and that you may--' (what's this?) 'col--colonize Ahadarra with a race +of young Colossusses that the world will wonder at. + +"'Ever thine, + +"'H. Burke.' + +"Here's more, though: listen, mother, to your favorite, that you want to +marry Kathleen to:-- + +"'P.S. I will clear scores with you for all in the course of a few +months, and remember that, at your marriage, I must, with my own hand, +give you away to Katsey, the fair Oolossa.'" + + +The perusal of this document, at least so far as they could understand +it, astonished them not a little. Until they heard it read, both had +been of the opinion that Hycy had actually proposed for Kathleen, or at +least felt exceedingly anxious for the match. + +"An' does he talk about givin' her away to Bryan M'Mahon?" asked her +mother. Sorrow on his impidence!--Bryan M'Mahon indeed! Throth, it's not +upon his country side of wild mountain that Kathleen will go to live. +An' maybe, too, she has little loss in the same Hycy, for, afther all, +he's but a skite of a fellow, an' a profligate into the bargain." + +"Paix an' his father," said Gerald--"honest Jemmy--tould me that he'd +have it a match whether or not." + +"His father did!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; "now, did he say so, Gerald?" + +"Well, in troth he did--said that he had I set his heart upon it, an' +that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her." + +"The Lord direct us for the best!" exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of +the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor +of Hycy. "Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young +a man. However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own +good sense will show her what a match he'd be." + +The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen +approached her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each +of the good woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep +feeling and affection:-- + +"Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because +you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't +make me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less +for Hycy Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and +good-night!--there's another for you, father; God bless you! and +good-night, too. Come, Hanna darling, come!" + +In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon +got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can +be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable +time previous to the disclosure. Between them it was arranged that he +and his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents, +as the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this +was done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived +once more to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation +with Jemmy Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way +of settling down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before +Hycy himself, with a wish that a union should take place between them. +This interview with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of +M'Mahon. At length, after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and +many interviews with reference to it, something like a compromise was +effected. Kathleen consented to accept the latter in marriage, but +firmly and resolutely refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor +mentioned. Her parents, however, hoping that their influence over her +might ultimately prevail, requested that she would not engage herself to +any one for two years, at the expiration of which period, if no change +in her sentiments should take place, she was to be at liberty to marry +M'Mahon. For the remainder of the summer and autumn, and up until +November, the period at which our narrative has now arrived, or, in +other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met Nanny Peety, matters had rested +precisely in the same position. This unexpected interview with the +mendicant's daughter, joined to the hints he had already received, once +more caused M'Mahon to feel considerably perplexed with regard to Hycy +Burke. The coincidence was very remarkable, and the identity of the +information, however limited, appeared to him to deserve all the +consideration which he could bestow upon it, but above all things he +resolved, if possible, to extract the secret out of Nanny Peety. + +One cause of Hycy Burke's extravagance was a hospitable habit of dining +and giving dinners in the head inn of Ballymacan. To ask any of his +associates to his father's house was only to expose the ignorance of his +parents, and this his pride would not suffer him to do. As a matter +of course he gave all his dinners, unless upon rare occasions, in Jack +Shepherd's excellent inn; but as young Clinton and he were on terms of +the most confidential intimacy, he had asked him to dine on the day in +question at his father's. + +"You know, my dear Harry," he said to his friend, "there is no use in +striving to conceal the honest vulgarity of Jemmy the gentleman from you +who know it already. I may say ditto to madam, who is unquestionably the +most vulgar of the two--for, and I am sorry to say it, in addition to a +superabundant stock of vulgarity, she has still a larger assortment of +the prides; for instance, pride of wealth, of the purse, pride of--I +was going to add, birth--ha! ha! ha!--of person, ay, of beauty, if +you please--of her large possessions--but that comes under the purse +again--and lastly--but that is the only well-founded principle among +them--of her accomplished son, Hycy. This, now, being all within your +cognizance already, my dear Hal, you take a pig's cheek and a fowl with +me to-day. There will be nobody but ourselves, for when I see company at +home I neither admit the gentleman nor the lady to table. Damn it, you +know the thing would be impossible. If you wish it, however, we shall +probably call in the gentleman after dinner to have a quiz with him; +it may relieve us. I can promise you a glass of wine, too, and that's +another reason why we should keep him aloof until the punch comes. The +wine's always a _sub silencio_ affair, and, may heaven pity me, I get +growling enough from old Bruin on other subjects." + +"Anything you wish, Hycy, I am your man; but somehow I don't relish the +idea of the quiz you speak of. 'Children, obey your parents,' says +Holy Scripture; and I'd as soon not help a young fellow to laugh at his +father." + +"A devilish good subject he is, though--but you must know that I can +draw just distinctions, Hal. For instance, I respect his honesty--" + +"And copy it, eh?" + +"Certainly--I respect his integrity, too--in fact, I appreciate all his +good qualities, and only laugh at his vulgarity and foibles." + +"You intend to marry, Hycy?" + +"Or, in other words, to call you brother some of these days." + +"And to have sons and daughters?" + +"Please the fates." + +"That will do," replied Clinton, dryly. + +"Ho! ho!" said Hycy, "I see. Here's a mentor with a vengeance--a fellow +with a budget of morals cut and dry for immediate use--but hang all +morality, say I; like some of my friends that talk on the subject, +I have an idiosyncrasy of constitution against it, but an abundant +temperament for pleasure." + +"That's a good definition," said Clinton; "a master-touch, a very +correct likeness, indeed. I would at once know you from it, and so would +most of your friends." + +"This day is Friday," said Hycy, "more growling." + +"Why so?" + +"Why, when I eat meat on a Friday, the pepper and sauce cost me nothing. +The 'gentlemen' lays on hard, but the lady extenuates, 'in regard to +it's bein' jinteel.'" + +"Well, but you have certainly no scruple yourself on the subject?" + +"Yes, I have, sir, a very strong one--in favor of the meat--ha! ha! ha!" + +"D--n me, whoever christened you Hycy the accomplished, hit you off." + +"I did myself; because you must know, my worthy Hal, that, along with +all my other accomplishments, I am my own priest.' + +"And that is the reason why you hate the clergy? eh--ha! ha! ha!" + +"A hit, a hit, I do confess." + +"Harke, Mr. Priest, will you give absolution--to Tom Corbet?" + +"Ah! Hal, no more an' thou lovest me--that sore is yet open. Curse the +villain. My word and honor, Hal, the gentleman' was right there. He +told me at the first glance what she was. Here comes a shower, let us +move on, and reach Ballymacan, if possible, before it falls. We shall be +home in fair time for dinner afterwards, and then for my proposal, +which, by the word and honor--" + +"And morality?" + +"Nonsense, Harry; is a man to speak nothing but truth or Scripture in +this world?--No--which I say by the honor of a gentleman, it will be +your interest to consider and accept." + +"Very well, most accomplished. We shall see, and we shall hear, and then +we shall determine." + +A ham and turkey were substituted for the pig's cheek and fowl, and we +need not say that Hycy and his friend accepted of the substitution with +great complacency. Dinner having been discussed, and a bottle of wine +finished, the punch came in, and each, after making himself a stiff +tumbler, acknowledged that he felt comfortable. Hycy, however, anxious +that he should make an impression, or in other words gain his point, +allowed Clinton to grow a little warm with liquor before he opened the +subject to which he had alluded. At length, when he had reached the +proper elevation, he began:-- + +"There's no man, my dear Harry, speaks apparently more nonsense than I +do in ordinary chat and conversation. For instance, to-day I was very +successful in it; but no matter, I hate seriousness, certainly, when +there is no necessity for it. However, as a set-off to that, I pledge +you my honor that no man can be more serious when it is necessary than +myself. For instance, you let out a matter to me the other night that +you probably forget now. You needn't stare--I am serious enough and +honorable enough to keep as an inviolable secret everything of the kind +that a man may happen to disclose in an unguarded moment." + +"Go on, Hycy, I don't forget it--I don't, upon my soul." + +"I allude to M'Mahon's farm in Ahadarra." + +"I don't forget it; but you know, Hycy, my boy, I didn't mention either +M'Mahon or Ahadarra." + +"You certainly did not mention them exactly; but, do you think I did +not know at once both the place and the party you allude to? My word and +honor, I saw them at a glance." + +"Very well, go on with your word and honor;--you are right, I did mean +M'Mahon and Ahadarra--proceed, most accomplished, and most moral--" + +"Be quiet, Harry. Well, you have your eye upon that farm, and you say +you have a promise of it." + +"Something like it; but the d--d landlord, Chevydale, is +impracticable--so my uncle says--and doesn't wish to disturb the +M'Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do +so--but d--n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to +their interests--d--n the fellow, I say." + +"Don't curse or swear, most moral. Well, the lease of Ahadarra has +dropped, and of Carriglass too;--with Carriglass, however, we--that is +you--have nothing at all to do." + +"Proceed?' + +"Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have +not been able to get either yes or no out of you." + +"No." + +"What do you mean?" + +"That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me--proceed, most +accomplished. Where do you get your brandy? This is glorious. Well!" + +"Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent +way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M'Mahon shall +be obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss +Clinton?" + +"How will you do it?" + +"That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my +power. You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my +father's property." + +"Come; I shall hold myself neuter--will that satisfy you? You shall +have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is +enough." + +"Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, +besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and +favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out." + +"Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!" + +"Curse them both! Will you promise this--to support me so far?" + +"Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot +water, and that waited on us at dinner--eh?" + +"Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You +don't answer?" + +"But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you--discard you--give +you to the winds?--eh?" + +"Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold +myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a +beggar." + +"What! as a beggar?" + +"Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for +succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion." + +"Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, +he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much +relish that, Hycy." + +"It cannot be done though in any other way." + +"I say--how do you call that girl?--Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what?" + +"I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the +subject altogether." + +"There now--proceed, O Hyacinthus." + +"How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is +more, to your own interests?" + +"Oh! my own interests!--well I am alive to them." + +"Is it a bargain, then?" + +"It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious +Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra--to get possession of +it--and calculate upon my most--let me see--what's the best word--most +strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon it. I shall support +you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me accountable for +my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable persuasion, she must be +left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever decision she may come +to." + +"There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more." + +After Clinton had gone, Hycy felt considerably puzzled as to the manner +in which he had conducted himself during the whole evening. Sometimes he +imagined he was under the influence of liquor, for he had drunk pretty +freely; and again it struck him that he manifested an indifference to +the proposal made to him, which he only attempted to conceal lest Hycy +might perceive it. He thought, however, that he observed a seriousness +in Clinton, towards the close of their conversation, which could not +have been assumed; and as he gave himself a good deal of credit for +penetration, he felt satisfied that circumstances were in a proper +train, and likely, by a little management, to work out his purposes. + +Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the +parlor, and called Nanny Peety--"Nanny," said he, "which of the Hogans +did you see to-day?" + +"None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out." + +"Did you give her the message?" + +"Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did." + +"What did you say, now?" + +"Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first, +that St. Pether was dead." + +"And what did she say to that?" + +"Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was." + +"And what did she mean by that, do you think?" + +"Faix, then, I dunna--barrin' that you're in the black books wid him, +and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that +didn't know you." + +"Nanny," he replied, laughing, "you are certainly a very smart girl, +and indeed a very pretty girl--a very interesting young woman, indeed, +Nanny; but you won't listen to reason." + +"To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil." + +"Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor +evil in that." + +"I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too +much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you +know I won't." + +"So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?" + +"I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in +spakin' to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my +character to look to." + +"And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?" + +"I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him, +too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do." + +"Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands." + +"I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough." + +"Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit." + +"No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it." + +"Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this +family?" + +"No," sir; "but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going +out of it." + +"It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed, +impracticable girls here." + +"You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr. +Hycy." + +"Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out +to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must +not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, how can I help it? It's very +natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl." + +"But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others +before now--I needn't name them--widout name, or fame, or hope, or +happiness in this world." + +"I won't be in until late, Nanny," he replied, coolly. "Sit up for me. +You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;" and, having +nodded to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out. + +"Ay," said she, after he had gone; "little you know, you hardened and +heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know +that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now +gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that +can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know +besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't." + + + + +CHAPTEE XI.--Death of a Virtuous Mother. + +It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from +Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had, +in his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's +illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions +that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found +that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account. +Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed +jest. After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed--"What is the +matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow." + +Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears--"We +are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that +we all love--as every one did that knew her." + +"Hanna, darling," said Kathleen, "this won't do. Poor girl! you are +likely to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real +danger. Your mother, Bryan," she proceeded, "is much worse than she has +been. The priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't +follow that there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless." + +"Oh, my God!" exclaimed Bryan, "is it so? My mother--and such a mother! +Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must leave +you--I must go." + +"We will go up with you," said Kathleen. "Hanna, we will go up; for, +if she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman +before she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and that it's +only a sudden attack that will pass away." + +"Do so, Kathleen," said her mother; "and you can fetch us word how she +is. May the Lord bring her safe over it at any rate; for surely the +family will break their hearts afther her, an' no wondher, for where was +her fellow?" + +Bryan was not capable of hearing these praises, which he knew to be +so well and so justly her due, with firmness; nor could he prevent his +tears, unless by a great effort, from bearing testimony to the depth +of his grief. Kathleen's gaze, however, was turned on him with an +expression which gave him strength; for indeed there was something noble +and. sustaining in the earnest and consoling sympathy which he read in +her dark and glorious eye. On their way to Carriglass there was little +spoken. Bryan's eye every now and then sought that of Kathleen; and +he learned, for the first time, that it is only in affliction that the +exquisite tenderness of true and disinterested love can be properly +appreciated and felt. Indeed he wondered at his own sensations; for +in proportion as his heart became alarmed at the contemplation of his +mother's loss, he felt, whenever he looked upon Kathleen, that it also +burned towards her with greater tenderness and power--so true is it +that sorrow and suffering purify and exalt all our nobler and better +emotions. + +Bryan and his companions, ere they had time to reach the house, were +seen and. recognized by the family, who, from the restlessness and +uncertainty which illness usually occasions, kept moving about and +running out from time to time to watch the arrival of the priest or +doctor. On this occasion Dora came to meet them; but, alas! with what +a different spirit from that which animated her on the return of her +father from the metropolis. Her gait was now slow, her step languid; +and they could perceive that, as she approached them, she wiped away the +tears. Indeed her whole appearance was indicative of the state of +her mother; when they met her, her bitter sobbing and the sorrowful +earnestness of manner with which she embraced the sisters, wore +melancholy assurances that the condition of the sufferer was not +improved. Hanna joined her tears with hers; but Kathleen, whose sweet +voice in attempting to give the affectionate girl consolation, was more +than once almost shaken out of its firmness, did all she could to soothe +and relieve her. + +On entering the house, they found a number of the neighboring females +assembled, and indeed the whole family, in consequence of the alarm +and agitation visible them, might not inaptly be compared to a brood of +domestic fowl when a hawk, bent on destruction, is seen hovering over +their heads. + +As is usual with Catholic families in their state of life, there were +several of those assembled, and also some of themselves, at joint prayer +in different parts of the house; and seated by her bedside was her +youngest son, Art, engaged, with sobbing voice and eyes every now and +then blinded with tears, in the perusal, for her comfort, of Prayers for +the Sick. Tom M'Mahon himself went about every now and then clasping +his hands, and turning up his eyes to heaven in a distracted manner, +exclaiming--"Oh! Bridget, Bridget, is it come to this at last! And +you're lavin' me--you're lavin' me! Oh, my God! what will I do--how will +I live, an' what will become of me!" + +On seeing Bryan, he ran to him and said,--"Oh! Bryan, to what point will +I turn?--where will I get consolation?--how will I bear it? Sure, +she was like a blessin' from heaven among us; ever full of peace, and +charity, and goodness--the kind word an' the sweet smile to all; but to +me--to me--oh! Bridget, Bridget, I'd rather die than live afther you!" + +"Father, dear, your takin' it too much to heart," replied Bryan; "who +knows but God may spare her to us still? But you know that even if it's +His will to remove her from amongst us"--his voice here failed him for a +moment--"hem--to remove her from amongst us, it's our duty to submit +to it; but I hope in God she may recover still. Don't give way to sich +grief till we hear what the docthor will say, at all events. How did she +complain or get ill; for I think she wasn't worse when I left home?" + +"It's all in her stomach," replied his father. "She was seized wid +cramps in her stomach, an' she complains very much of her head; but her +whole strength is gone, she can hardly spake, and she has death in her +face." + +At this moment his brother Michael came to them, and +said--"Bryan--Bryan"--but he could proceed no farther. + +"Whisht, Michael," said the other; "this is a shame; instead of +supportin' and cheer-in' my father, you're only doing him harm. I tell +you all that you'll find there's no raison for this great grief. Be a +man, Michael--" + +"She has heard your voice," proceeded his brother, "and wishes to see +you." + +This proof of her affection for him, at the very moment when he was +attempting to console others, was almost more than he could bear. +Bryan knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart +overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate +domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a +favorite. There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality, +which rarely made its appearance unless in some slight and +inconsiderable circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was +valuable in proportion to its delicacy and the caution with which it +was guarded. Always indeed in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the +partiality she bore him observable; and sometimes it consisted in a +postponement of his wishes or comforts to those of her other children, +because she felt that she might do with him that which she could not +with the others--thus calculating as it were upon his greater affection. +But it is wonderful to reflect in how many ways, and through what +ingenious devices the human heart can exhibit its tenderness. + +Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been +reading for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On +approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, +which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving +home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not +further diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally +occasion. But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk +into half its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, +stamped with the unequivocal impress of death. + +Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult +to conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, +now so full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, +he stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible +sorrow. + +"Bryan, dear," she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat +subsided, "why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed +my dependence--I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for +weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow--I sent +for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God to +take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' +especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the +pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I +know he'll suffer when I'm gone. May the Lord pity and give him +strength!--for I can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I +ever seen his face until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind +look, an' that you all know." + +"Oh how could he, mother dear? how could any one give you that? Who +was it that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and +affection?" + +"I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my +childre', and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not +frightened at death. An', Bryan, listen to the words of your dyin' +mother--" + +"Oh, don't say that yet, mother," replied her son, sobbing; "don't say +so yet; who knows but God will spare your life, an' that you may be many +years with us still; they're all alarmed too much, I hope; but it's no +wondher we should, mother dear, when there's any appearance at all of +danger about you." + +"Well, whether or not, Bryan, the advice I'm goin' to give you is +never out o' saison. Live always with the fear of God in your heart; +do nothing that you think will displease Him; love your +fellow-creatures--serve them and relieve their wants an' distresses as +far as you're able; be like your own father--kind and good to all about +you, not neglectin' your religious duties. Do this, Bryan, an' then when +the hour o' death comes, you'll feel a comfort an' happiness in your +heart that neither the world nor anything in it can give you. You'll +feel the peace of God there, an' you will die happy--happy." + +Her spirit, animated by the purity and religious truth of this simple +but beautiful morality, kindled into pious fervor as she proceeded, +so much so indeed, that on turning her eyes towards heaven, whilst she +uttered the last words, they sparkled with the mild and serene light of +that simple but unconscious enthusiasm on behalf of all goodness which +had characterized her whole life, and which indeed is a living principle +among thousands of her humble countrywomen. + +"This, dear Bryan, is the advice I gave to them all; it an' my love is +the only legacy I have to lave them. An' my darlin' Dora, Bryan--oh, if +you be kind and tendher to any one o' them beyant another, be so to +her. My darlin'Dora! Oh! her heart's all affection, an' kindness, an' +generosity. But indeed, as I said, Bryan, the task must fall to you to +strengthen and console every one o' them. Ay!--an' you must begin now. +You wor ever, ever, a good son; an' may God keep you in the right faith, +an' may my blessin' an' His be wid you for ever! Amin." + +There was a solemn and sustaining spirit in her words which strengthened +Bryan, who, besides, felt anxious to accomplish to the utmost extent the +affectionate purpose which had caused her to send for him. + +"It's a hard task, mother darlin," he replied; "but I'll endeavor, with +God's help, to let them see that I haven't been your son for nothing; +but you don't know, mother, that Kathleen's here, an' Hanna. They wish +to see you, an' to get your blessin'." + +"Bring them in," she replied, "an' let Dora come wid them, an' stay +yourself, Bryan, becaise I'm but weak, an' I don't wish that they should +stay too long. God sees its not for want of love for the other girls +that I don't bid you bring them in, but that I don't wish to see them +sufferin' too much sorrow; but my darlin' Dora will expect to be where +Kathleen is, an' my own eyes likes to look upon her, an' upon Kathleen, +too, Bryan, for I feel my heart bound to her as if she was one of +ourselves, as I hope she will be." + +"Oh, bless her! bless her! mother," he said, with difficulty, "an' tell +her them words--say them to herself. I'll go now and bring them in." + +He paused, however, for a minute or two, in order to compose his voice +and features, that he might not seem to set them an example of weakness, +after which he left the apartment with an appearance of greater +composure than he really felt. + +In a few minutes the four returned: Bryan, with Kathleen's hand locked +in his, and Hanna, with her arm affectionately wreathed about Dora's +neck, as if the good-hearted girl felt anxious to cherish and comfort +her under the heavy calamity to which she was about to be exposed, for +Dora wept bitterly. Mrs. M'Mahon signed to Hanna to approach, who, with +her characteristic ardor of feeling, now burst into tears herself, and +stooping down kissed her and wept aloud, whilst Dora's grief also burst +out afresh. + +The sick woman looked at Bryan, as if to solicit his interference, and +the look was immediately understood by Kathleen as well as by himself. + +"This is very wrong of you, Hanna," said her sister; "out of affection +and pity to them, you ought to endeavor to act otherwise. They have +enough, an' to much, to feel, without your setting them example; and, +Dora dear, I thought you had more courage than you have. All this is +only grieving and disturbing your mother; an' I hope that, for her sake, +you'll both avoid it. I know it's hard to do so, but it's the difficulty +and the trial that calls upon us to have strength, otherwise what are +we better than them that we'd condemn or think little of for their own +weakness." + +The truth and moral force of the words, and the firmness of manner that +marked Kathleen as she spoke, were immediately successful. The grief +of the two girls was at once hushed; and, after a slight pause, Mrs. +M'Mahon called Kathleen to her. + +"Dear Kathleen," she said, "I did hope to see the day when you'd be +one of my own family, but it's not the will of God, it appears, that I +should; however, may His will be done! I hope still that day will +come, an' that your friends won't have any longer an objection to your +marriage wid Bryan. I am his mother, an' no one has a better right to +know his heart an' his temper, an' I can say, upon my dyin' bed, that a +better heart an' a better temper never was in man. I believe, Kathleen, +it was never known that a good son ever made a bad husband. However, +if it's God's will to bring you together, He will, and if it isn't, you +must only bear it patiently." + +Bryan was silent, but his eye, from time to time, turned with a long +glance of love and sorrow upon Kathleen, whose complexion became pale +and red by turns. At length Dora, after her mother had concluded, went +over to Kathleen, and putting her arms around her neck, exclaimed, "Oh! +mother dear, something tells me that Kathleen will be my sisther yet, +an' if you'd ask her to promise--" + +Kathleen looked down upon the beautiful and expressive features of the +affectionate girl, and gently raising her hand she placed it upon Dora's +lips, in order to prevent the completion of the sentence. On doing so +she received a sorrowful glance of deep and imploring entreaty from +Bryan, which she returned with another that seemed to reprove him for +doubting her affection, or supposing that such a promise was even +necessary. "No, Dora dear," she said, "I could make no promise without +the knowledge of my father and mother, or contrary to their wishes; but +did you think, darling, that such a thing was necessary?" She kissed the +sweet girl as she spoke, and Dora felt a tear on her cheek that was not +her own. + +Mrs. M'Mahon had been looking with a kind of mournful admiration upon +Kathleen during this little incident, and then proceeded. "She says what +is right and true; and it would be wrong, my poor child, to ask her to +give such a promise. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl--oh, do! an' +if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the best +gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here--come to me--let me put my +hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest upon you +for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree." Hanna kissed her +again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might not be able +to restrain it, took her away. + +"Now," proceeded the dying woman, "come to me, you Kathleen, my +daughter--sure you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and +stay with me awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to +any one out o' my own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own +child? Because I hope you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree." + +Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower +of warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing +pressure, that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just +expressed. Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more +resuming her firmness, awaited the expected blessing. + +"Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour, +I endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son, +listen to me--love him as you may, and as I know you do." + +"Why should I deny it?" said Kathleen, "I do love him." + +"I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and +wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you." + +She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety +and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that +was clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her +to the rest which she now required so much. + +The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In +the course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she +appeared somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the +worst, and in confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with +dreadful violence, and in the lapse of two hours after his visit, +this pious and virtuous woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a +patience and fortitude that could not be surpassed, expired in the midst +of her afflicted family. + +It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and +undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by +death, there supervenes upon the sorrow of many, a feeling of awful +sympathy with that individual whose love for the object has been, the +greatest, and whose loss is of course the most irreparable. So was it +with the M'Mahons. Thomas M'Mahon himself could not bear to witness the +sufferings of his wife, nor to hear her moans. He accordingly left the +house, and walked about the garden and farm-yard, in a state little +short of actual distraction. When the last scene was over, and her +actual sufferings closed for ever, the outrage of grief among his +children became almost hushed from a dread of witnessing the sufferings +of their father; and for the time a great portion of their own sorrow +was merged in what they felt for him. Nor was this feeling confined +to themselves. His neighbors and acquaintances, on hearing of Mrs. +M'Mahon's death, almost all exclaimed:-- + +"Oh, what will become of him? they are nothing an will forget her soon, +as is natural, well as they loved her; but poor Tom, oh! what on earth +will become of him?" Every eye, however, now turned toward Bryan, who +was the only one of the family possessed of courage enough to undertake +the task of breaking the heart-rending intelligence to their bereaved +father. + +"It must be done," he said, "and the sooner it's done the better; what +would I give to have my darlin' Kathleen here. Her eye and her advice +would give me the strength that I stand so much in need of. My God, how +will I meet him, or break the sorrowful tidings to him at all! The Lord +support me!" + +"Ah, but Bryan," said they, "you know he looks up to whatever you say, +and how much he is advised by you, if there happens to be a doubt about +anything. Except her that's gone, there was no one--" + +Bryan raised his hand with an expression of resolution and something +like despair, in order as well as he could to intimate to them, that he +wished to hear no allusion made to her whom they had lost, or that he +must become incapacitated to perform the task he had to encounter, and +taking his hat he proceeded to find his father, whom he met behind the +garden. + +It may be observed of deep grief, that whenever it is excited by the +loss of what is good and virtuous, it is never a solitary passion, we +mean within the circle of domestic life. So far from that, there is not +a kindred affection under the influence of a virtuous heart, that is not +stimulated, and strengthened by its emotions. How often, for instance, +have two members of the same family rushed into each other's arms, when +struck by a common sense of the loss of some individual that was dear to +both, because it was felt that the very fact of loving the same object +had now made them dear to each other. + +The father, on seeing Bryan approach, stood for a few moments and looked +at him eagerly; he then approached him with a hasty and unsettled step, +and said, "Bryan, Bryan, I see it in your face, she has left us, she has +left us, she has left us all, an' she has left me; an' how am I to live +without her? answer me that; an then give me consolation if you can." + +He threw himself on his son's neck, and by a melancholy ingenuity +attempted to seduce him as it were from the firmness which he appeared +to preserve in the discharge of this sorrowful task, with a hope that he +might countenance him in the excess of his grief--"Oh," he added, "I've +have lost her, Bryan--you and I, the two that she--that--she--Your word +was everything to her, a law to her; and she was so proud out of you--I +an' her eye would rest upon you smilin', as much as to say--there's my +son, haven't I a right to feel proud of him, for he has never once vexed +his mother's heart? nayther did you, Bryan, nayther did you, but now who +will praise you as she did? who will boast of you behind your back, for +she seldom did it to your face; and now that smile of love and kindness +will never be on her blessed lips more. Sure you won't blame me, +Bryan--oh, sure above all men livin', you won't blame me for feelin' her +loss as I do." + +The associations excited by the language of his father were such as +Bryan was by no means prepared to meet. Still he concentrated all +his moral power and resolution in order to accomplish the task he had +undertaken, which, indeed, was not so much to announce his mother's +death, as to support his father under it. After a, violent effort, he at +length said:-- + +"Are you sorry, father, because God has taken my mother to Himself? +Would you wish to have her here, in pain and suffering? Do you grudge +her heaven? Father, you were always a brave and strong, fearless man, +but what are you now? Is this the example you are settin' to us, who +ought to look up to you for support? Don't you know my mother's in +heaven? Why, one would think you're sorry for it? Come, come, father, +set your childre' an example now when they want it, that they can look +up to--be a man, and don't forget that she's in God's Glory, Come in +now, and comfort the rest." + +"Ay, but when I think of what she was, Bryan; of what she was to me, +Bryan, from the first day I ever called her my wife, ay, and before it, +when she could get better matches, when she struggled, and waited, and +fought for me, against all opposition, till her father an' mother saw +her heart was fixed upon me; hould your tongue, Bryan, I'll have no one' +to stop my grief for her, where is she? where's my wife, I tell you? +where's Bridget M'Mahon?--Bridget, where are you? have you left me, gone +from me, an' must I live here widout you? must I rise in the mornin,' +and neither see you nor hear you? or must I live here by myself an' +never have your opinion nor advice to ask upon anything as I used to +do--Bridget M'Mahon, why did you leave me? where are you from me?" + +"Here's Dora," said a sweet but broken voice; "here's Dora M'Mahon--your +own Dora, too--and that you love bekaise I was like her. Oh, come with +me, father, darlin'. For her sake, compose yourself and come with me. +Oh, what are we to feel! wasn't she our mother? Wasn't she?--wasn't she? +What am I sayin'? Ay, but, now--we have no mother, now!" + +M'Mahon still leaned upon his son's neck, but on hearing his favorite +daughter's voice, he put his arm round to where she stood, and +clasping her in, brought her close to him and Bryan, so that the three +individuals formed one sorrowing group together. + +"Father," repeated Dora, "come with me for my mother's sake." + +He started. "What's that you say, Dora? For your mother's sake? I will, +darlin'--for her sake, I will. Ay, that's the way to manage me--for her +sake. Oh, what wouldn't I do for her sake? Come, then, God bless you, +darlin', for puttin' that into my head. You may make me do anything now, +Dora, jewel--if you just ax it for her sake. Oh, my God! an is it +come to this? An' am I talkin' this way?--but--well, for her sake, +darlin'--for her sake. Come, I'll go in--but--but--oh, Bryan, how can +I?" + +"You know father," replied Bryan, who now held his arm, "we must all +die, and it will be well for us if we can die as she died. Didn't father +Peter say that if ever the light of heaven was in a human heart, it was +in hers?" + +"Ay, but when I go in an' look upon her, an' call Bridget, she won't +answer me." + +"Father dear, you are takin' it too much to heart." + +"Well, it'll be the first time she ever refused to answer me--the first +time that ever her lips will be silent when I spake to her." + +"But, father," said the sweet girl at his side, "think of me. Sure I'll +be your Dora more than ever, now. You know what you promised me this +minute. Oh, for her sake, and for God's sake, then, don't take it so +much to heart. It was my grandfather sent me to you, an' he says he +want's to see you, an' to spake to you." + +"Oh!" he exclaimed, "My poor father, an' he won't be long afther her. +But this is the way wid all, Bryan--the way o' the world itself. We must +go. I didn't care, now, how soon I followed her. Oh, no, no." + +"Don't say so, father; think of the family you have; think of how you +love them, and how they love you, father dear. Don't give way so much to +this sorrow. I know it's hard to bid you not to do it; but you know we +must strive to overcome ourselves. I hope there's happy days and years +before us still. We'll have our leases soon, you know, an' then we'll +feel firm and comfortable: an' you know you'll be--we'll all be near +where she sleeps." + +"Where she sleeps. Well, there's comfort in that, Bryan--there's comfort +in that." + +The old man, though very feeble, on seeing him approach, rose up and met +him. "Tom," said he, "be a man, and don't shame my white hairs nor your +own. I lost your mother, an' I was as fond of her, an' had as good a +right, too, as ever you were of her that's now an angel in heaven; but +if I lost her, I bore it as a man ought. I never yet bid you do a thing +that you didn't do, but I now bid you stop cryin', an don't fly in the +face o' God as you're doin'. You respect my white hairs, an' God will +help you as he has done!" + +The venerable appearance of the old man, the melancholy but tremulous +earnestness with which he spoke, and the placid spirit of submission +which touched his whole bearing with the light of an inward piety +that no age could dim or overshadow, all combined to work a salutary +influence upon M'Mahon. He evidently made a great effort at composure, +nor without success. His grief became calm; he paid attention to other +matters, and by the aid of Bryan, and from an anxiety lest he should +disturb or offend his father by any further excess of sorrow, he was +enabled to preserve a greater degree of composure than might have been +expected. + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Hycy Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. + +The Hogans, who seldom missed a Wake, Dance, Cockfight or any other +place of amusement or tumult, were not present, we need scarcely assure +our readers, at the wake-house of Mrs. M'Mahon. On that night they and +Teddy Phats were all sitting in their usual domicile, the kiln, already +mentioned, expecting Hycy, when the following brief dialogue took place, +previous to his appearance: + +"What keeps this lad, Hycy?" said Bat; "an' a complate lad is in his +coat, when he has it on him. Troth I have my doubts whether this same +gentleman is to be depended on." + +"Gentleman, indeed," exclaimed Philip, "nothing short of that will sarve +him, shure. To be depinded on, Bat! Why, thin, its more than I'd like to +say. Howanever, he's as far in, an' farther than we are." + +"There's no use in our quarrelin' wid him," said Phats, in his natural +manner. "If he's in our power, we're in his; an' you know he could +soon make the counthry too hot to hold us. Along wid all, too, he's as +revengeful as the dioule himself, if not a thrifle more so." + +"If he an' Kathleen gets bothered together," said Philip, "'twould be a +good look up for us, at any rate." + +Kate Hogan was the only female present, the truth being that Philip and +Ned were both widowers, owing, it was generally believed, to the brutal +treatment which their unfortunate wives received at their hands. + +"Don't quarrel wid him," said she, "if you can, at any rate, till we get +him more in our power, an' that he'll be soon, maybe. If we fall out +wid him, we'd have to lave the place, an' maybe to go farther than we +intend, too. Wherever we went over the province, this you know was our +headquarters. Here's where all belongin' to us--I mane that ever died a +natural death, or drew their last breath in the counthry--rests, an' I'd +not like to go far from it." + +"Let what will happen," said Philip, with an oath, "I'd lose my right +arm before Bryan M'Mahon puts a ring on Kathleen." + +"I can tell you that Hycy has no notion of marry in' her, thin," said +Kate. + +"How do you know that?" asked her husband. + +"I've a little bird that tells me," she replied. + +"Gerald Cavanagh an' his wife doesn't think so," said Philip. "They and +Jemmy Burke has the match nearly made." + +"They may make the match," said Kate, "but it's more than they'll be +able to do to make the marriage. Hycy's at greater game, I tell you; but +whether he is or not, I tell you again that Bryan M'Mahon will have her +in spite of all opposition." + +"May be not," said Phats; "Hycy will take care o' that; he has him set; +he'll work him a charm; he'll take care that Bryan won't be long in a +fit way to offer himself as a match for her." + +"More power to him in that," said Philip; "if he makes a beggarman of +him he may depend on us to the back-bone." + +"Have no hand in injurin' Bryan M'Mahon," said Kate. "Keep him from +marryin' Kathleen if you like, or if you can; but, if you're wise, don't +injure the boy." + +"Why so?" asked Philip. + +"That's nothing to you," she replied; "for a raison I have; and mark me, +I warn you not to do so or it'll be worse for you." + +"Why, who are we afraid of, barrin Hycy himself?" + +"It's no matther; there's them livin' could make you afeard, an' maybe +will, too, if you injure that boy." + +"I'd just knock him on the head," replied the ferocious ruffian, "as +soon as I would a mad dog." + +"Whisht," said Phats, "here's Hycy; don't you hear his foot?" + +Hycy entered in a few moments afterwards, and, after the usual +greetings, sat down by the fire. + +"De night's could," said Phats, resuming his brogue; "but here," he +added, pulling out a bottle of whiskey, "is something to warm de blood +in us. Will you thry it, Meeisther Hycy?" + +"By-and-by--not now; but help yourselves." + +"When did you see Miss Kathleen, Masther Hycy," asked Kate. + +"You mean Miss Kathleen the Proud?" he replied--"my Lady Dignity--I have +a crow to pluck with her." + +"What crow have you to pluck wid her?" asked Kate, fiercely. "You'll +pluck no crow wid her, or, if you do, I'll find a bag to hould the +fedhers--mind that." + +"No, no," said Philip; "whatever's to be done, she must come to no +harm." + +"Why, the crow I have to pluck with her, Mrs. Hogan, is--let me +see--why--to--to marry her--to bind her in the bands of holy wedlock; +and you know, when I do, I'm to give you all a house and place free +gratis for nothing during your lives--that's what I pledge myself to do, +and not a rope to hang yourselves, worthy gentlemen, as Finigan would +say. I pass over the fact," he proceeded, laughing, "of the peculiar +intimacy which, on a certain occasion, was established between Jemmy, +the gentleman's old oak drawers, and your wrenching-irons; however, that +is not the matter at present, and I am somewhat in a hurry." + +"You heard," said Bat, "that Bryan M'Mahon has lost his mother?" + +"I did," said the other; "poor orphan lad, I pity him." + +"We know you do," said Bat, with a vindictive but approving sneer. + +"I assure you," continued Hycy, "I wish the young man well." + +"Durin' der lives," repeated Phats, who had evidently been pondering +over Hycy's promised gift to the Hogans;--"throth," he observed with +a grin, "dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan +M'Mahon well," he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows. + +"Shiss," replied Hycy, mimicking him, "her does." + +"But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat." + +"For alls dats" replied the other. "Dat will do den," said Phats, +composedly. "Enough of this," said Hycy. "Now, Phats, have you examined +and pitched upon the place?" + +"Well, then," replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, "I have; +an' a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of +Cullamore. But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of +Glencuil?" + +"Perfectly well," replied Hycy, "he ruined him." + +"But we don't know it," said Ned; "how was it, Teddy?" + +"Why, he set up a still on his property--an' you know Adam owns the +whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra--an' afther three +or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it +was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger--may the +devil break his neck at any rate!--an' the redcoats--came and found all +right, Still, Head, and Worm." + +"Well," said Bat, "an' how did that ruin him?" + +"Why, by the present law," returned Phats, "it's the townland that must +pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine, +however, and now he's a beggar--root an' branch, chick an' child out of +it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still, +because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the _sthad_ +an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two +every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for +your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be +done. Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict +account of this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played +on. There's another thirty-shilling note--or stay, I'll make it two +pounds--to enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels +and things from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?" he said, +addressing himself to Hogan. + +"All," replied Philip; "sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in +Europe--ready to be set to work at a minute's notice." + +"When," said Hycy, rising, "will it be necessary that I should see you +again?" + +"We'll let you know," replied Phats, "when we want you. Kate here can +drop in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word." + +"Well, then, good-night--stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I go; +and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every +one of you on this occasion?" + +"We do," replied Philip; "no doubt of it." + +"Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul +of you ever breathes--I hope, by the way, that these young savages are +all asleep--" + +"As sound as a top," said Bat, "everyone o' them." + +"Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to +a human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the +business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold +you--and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of you +if it went to that." + +Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance, +which was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have +something derisive in it. + +"Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable +Mrs. Hogan?" he asked. + +Kate gave either a feigned or a real start as he spoke. + +"Laughed at!" she exclaimed, as if surprised; "throth I wasn't thinkin +of you at all, Mr. Hycy. What wor you sayin'?" + +"That if my name ever happens to be mentioned in connection with +this business, I'll send the whole kit of you--hammers, budgets, +and sothering-irons--to hell or Connaught; so think of this now, and +goodnight." + +"There goes as d----d vagabond," said Ned, "as ever stretched hemp; and +only that it's our own business to make the most use we can out of him, +I didn't care the devil had him, for I don't like a bone in his skin." + +"Why," said Philip, "I see what he's at now. Sure enough he'll put the +copin'-stone on Bryan. M'Mahon at any rate--that, an' if we can get the +house and place out of him--an' what need we care?" + +"Send us to hell or Connaught," said Kate; "well, that's not bad--ha! +ha! ha!" + +"What are you neigherin' at?" said her husband; "and what set you +a-caoklin' to his face a while ago?" + +She shook her head carelessly. "No matther," she replied, "for a raison +I had." + +"Would you let me know your raison, if you plaise?" + +"If I plaise--ay, you did well to put that in, for I don't plaise to let +you know any more about it. I laughed bekaise I liked to laugh; an' I +hope one may do that 'ithout being brought over the coals about it. Go +to bed, an' give me another glass o' whiskey, Ted--it always makes me +sleep." + +Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating. + +"He is a good boy," said he; "but at any rate our hands is in the lion's +mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him." + +Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had. +been in for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him +considerable satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as +possible in executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself, +who was a thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great +relish for business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old +uncle the gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked +upon him as unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a +cheap farm, such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of +idleness and expense to those of application and industry. Being aware, +from common report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in +Ahadarra was out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but +knew not exactly in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing +it if he could, without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of +obloquy besides. Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners +who, without either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep +as good terms with the world as they can, whilst at the same time +they laugh and despise in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and +respect in it. His nephew, however, had some positive good, and not a +little of that light and reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for +heart and spirit. Hycy and he, though not very long acquainted, were, at +the present period of our narrative, on very intimate terms. They had, +it is true, a good many propensities in common, and these were what +constituted the bond between them. They were companions but not friends; +and Clinton saw many things in Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and +scarcely anything more than the contemptuous manner in which he spoke of +and treated his parents. He liked his society, because he was lively +and without any of that high and honorable moral feeling which is often +troublesome to a companion who, like Clinton, was not possessed of much +scruple while engaged in the pursuit of pleasures. On this account, +therefore, we say that he relished his society, but could neither +respect nor esteem him. + +On the following morning at breakfast, his uncle asked him where he had +dined the day before. + +"With Hycy Burke, sir," replied the nephew. + +"Yes; that is honest Jemmy's son--a very great man in his own conceit, +Harry. You seem to like him very much." + +Harry felt a good deal puzzled as to the nature of his reply. He knew +very well that his uncle did not relish Hycy, and he felt that he could +not exactly state his opinion of him without bringing in question +his own penetration and good taste in keeping his society. Then, with +respect to his sister, although he had no earthly intention of seeing +her the wife of such a person, still he resolved to be able to say to +Hycy that he had not broken his word, a consideration which would not +have bound Hycy one moment under the same circumstances. + +"He's a very pleasant young fellow, sir," replied the other, "and has +been exceedingly civil and attentive to me." + +"Ay!--do you like him--do you esteem him, I mean?" + +"I dare say I will, sir, when I come to know him better." + +"Which is as much as to say that at present you do not. So I thought. +You have a portion of good sense about you, but in a thousand things +you're a jackass, Harry." + +"Thank you, sir," replied his nephew, laughing heartily; "thank you for +the compliment. I am your nephew, you know." + +"You have a parcel of d----d scruples, I say, that are ridiculous. What +the devil need a man care about in this world but appearances? Mind your +own interests, keep up appearances, and you have done your duty." + +"But I should like to do a little more than keep up appearances," +replied his nephew. + +"I know you would," said his uncle, "and it is for that especial reason +that I say you're carrying the ears. I'm now a long time in the world, +Masther Harry--sixty-two years--although I don't look it, nor anything +like it, and in the course of that time--or, at all events, ever +since I was able to form my own opinions, I never met a man that +wasn't a rogue in something, with the exception of--let me +see--one--two--three--four--five--I'm not able to make out the +half-dozen." + +"And who were the five honorable exceptions?" asked his niece, smiling. + +"They were the five fools of the parish, Maria--and yet I am wrong, +still--for Bob M'Cann was as thievish as the very devil whenever he had +an opportunity. And now, do you know the conclusion I come to from all +this?" + +"I suppose," said his niece, "that no man's honest but a fool." + +"Thank you, Maria, Well done--you've hit it. By the way, it's seems +M'Mahon's wife, of Carriglass, is dead." + +"Is she?" said Harry; "that is a respectable family, father, by all +accounts." + +"Why, they neither rob nor steal, I believe," replied his uncle. "They +are like most people, I suppose, honest in the eye of the law--honest +because the laws keep them so." + +"I did not think your opinion of the world was so bad, uncle," said +Maria; "I hope it is not so bad as you say it is." + +"All I can say, then," replied the old Cynic, "that if you wait till you +find an honest man for your husband, you'll die an old maid." + +"Well, but excuse me, uncle, is that safe doctrine to lay down before +your nephew, or myself?" + +"Pooh, as to you, you silly girl, what have you to do with it? We're +taikin' about men, now--about the world, I say, and life in general." + +"And don't you wish Harry to be honest?" + +"Yes, where it is his interest; and ditto to roguery, where it can be +done safely." + +"I know you don't feel what you say, uncle," she observed, "nor believe +it either." + +"Not he, Maria," said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; "but, +uncle, as to Hycy Burke--I don't--hem." + +"You don't what?" asked the other, rising and staring at him. + +His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent. + +"You don't mean what, man?--always speak out. Here, help me on with +this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as +Ahadarra." + +"That's a man I don't like," said the nephew. "He's too soft and too +sweet, and speaks too low to be honest." + +"Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?" replied his uncle. "He's +as good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to +the main point, and--keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;" +and with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was +peculiar to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept, +he left them. + +When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and +the latter said, "Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in +all he says on this subject?" + +Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister +than her uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the +affirmative, so much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little +for the sake of common decency. + +"Not at all, Maria; no man relishes honesty more than he does. He only +speaks in this fashion because he thinks that honest men are scarce, and +so they are. But, by-the-way, talking about Hycy Burke, Maria, how do +you like him?" + +"I can't say I admire him," she replied, "but you know I have had very +slight opportunities of forming any opinion." + +"From what you have seen of him, what do you think?" + +"Let me see," she replied, pausing; "why, that he'll meet very few who +will think so highly of him as he does of himself." + +"He thinks very highly of you, then." + +"How do you know that?" she asked somewhat quickly. + +"Faith, Maria, from the best authority--because he himself told me so." + +"So, then, I have had the honor of furnishing you with a topic of +conversation?" + +"Unquestionably, and you may prepare yourself for a surprise. He's +attached to you." + +"I think not," she replied calmly. + +"Why so?" he asked. + +"Because, if you wish to know the truth, I do not think him capable of +attachment to any one but himself." + +"Faith, a very good reason, Maria; but, seriously, if he should +introduce the subject, I trust, at all events, that you will treat him +with respect." + +"I shall certainly respect myself, Harry. He need not fear that I shall +read him one of my uncle's lectures upon life and honesty." + +"I have promised not to be his enemy in the matter, and I shall keep my +word." + +"So you may, Harry, with perfect safety. I am much obliged to him for +his good opinion; but"--she paused. + +"What do you stop at, Maria?" + +"I was only about to add," she replied, "that I wish it was mutual." + +"You wish it," he exclaimed. "What do you mean by that, Maria?" + +She laughed. "Don't you know it is only a form of speech? a polite way +of saying that he does not rank high in my esteem?" + +"Well, well," he replied, "settle that matter between you; perhaps the +devil is not so black as he's painted." + +"A very unhappy illustration," said his sister, "whatever has put it +into your head.' + +"Faith, and I don't know what put it there. However, all I can say in +the matter I have already said. I am not, nor shall I be, his enemy. +I'll trouble you, as you're near it, to touch the bell till George gets +the horse. I am going up to his father's, now. Shall I tell him that +John Wallace is discarded; that he will be received with smiles, and +that--" + +"How can you be so foolish, Harry?" + +"Well, good-bye, at any rate. You are perfectly capable of deciding for +yourself, Maria." + +"I trust so," she replied. "There's George with your horse now." + +"It's a blue look-up, Master Hycy," said Clinton to himself as he took +his way to Burke's. "I think you have but little chance in that quarter, +oh, most accomplished Hycy, and indeed I am not a whit sorry; but should +be very much so were it otherwise." + +It is singular enough that whilst Clinton was introducing the subject +of Hycy's attachment to his sister, that worthy young gentleman was +sustaining a much more serious and vehement onset upon a similar subject +at home. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife having once got the notion of a +marriage between Kathleen and Hycy into their heads, were determined not +to rest until that desirable consummation should be brought about. In +accordance with this resolution, we must assure our readers that Gerald +never omitted any opportunity of introducing the matter to Jemmy Burke, +who, as he liked the Cavanaghs, and especially Kathleen herself, who, +indeed, was a general favorite, began to think that, although in point +of circumstances she was by no means a match for him, Hycy might do +still worse. It is true, his wife was outrageous at the bare mention of +it; but Jemmy, along with a good deal of blunt sarcasm, had a resolution +of his own, and not unfrequently took a kind of good-natured and +shrewd delight in opposing her wishes whenever he found them to be +unreasonable. For several months past he could not put his foot out of +the door that he was not haunted by honest Gerald Cavanagh, who had only +one idea constantly before him, that of raising his daughter to the rank +and state in which he knew, or at least calculated that Hycy Burke would +keep her. Go where he might, honest Jemmy was attended by honest Gerald, +like his fetch. At mass, at market, in every fair throughout the country +was Cavanagh sure to bring up the subject of the marriage; and what +was the best of it, he and his neighbor drank each other's healths so +repeatedly on the head of it, that they often separated in a state that +might be termed anything but sober. Nay, what is more, it was a fact +that they had more than once or twice absolutely arranged the whole +matter, and even appointed the day for the wedding, without either of +them being able to recollect the circumstances on the following morning. + +Whilst at breakfast on the morning in question, Burke, after finishing +his first cup of tea, addressed his worthy son as follows:-- + +"Hycy, do you intend to live always this way?" + +"Certainly not, Mr. Burke. I expect to dine on something more +substantial than tea." + +"You're very stupid, Hycy, not to understand me; but, indeed, you never +were overstocked wid brains, unfortunately, as I know to my cost--but +what I mane is, have you any intention of changing your condition in +life? Do you intend to marry, or to go on spendin' money upon me at this +rate!" + +"The old lecture, Mrs. Burke," said Hycy, addressing his mother. +"Father, you are sadly deficient in originality. Of late you are +perpetually repeating yourself. Why, I suppose to-morrow or next day, +you will become geometrical on our hands, or treat us to a grammatical +praxis. Don't you think it very likely, Mrs. Burke!" + +"And if he does," replied his mother, "it's not the first time he has +been guilty of both; but of late, all the little shame he had, he has +lost it." + +"Faith, and if I hadn't got a large stock, I'd a been run out of it this +many a day, in regard of what I had to lose in that way for you, Hycy. +However I'll thank you to listen to me. Have you any intention of +marryin' a wife?" + +"Unquestionably, Mr. Burke. Not a doubt of it." + +"Well, I am glad to hear it. The sooner you're married, the sooner +you'll settle down. You'll know, then, my lad, what life is." + +Honest Jemmy's sarcasm was likely to carry him too far from his purpose, +which was certainly not to give a malicious account of matrimony, but, +on the contrary, to recommend it to his worthy son. + +"Well, Mr. Burke," said Hycy, winking at his mother, "proceed." + +"The truth is, Hycy," he added, "I have a wife in my eye for you." + +"I thought as much," replied the other. "I did imagine it was there you +had her; name--Mr. Burke--name?" + +"Troth, I'm ashamed, Hycy, to name her and yourself on the same day." + +"Well, can't you name her to-day, and postpone me until to-morrow?" + +"It would be almost a pity to have her thrown away upon you. A good and +virtuous wife, however, may do a great deal to reclaim a bad husband, +and, indeed, you wouldn't be the first profligate that was reformed in +the same way." + +"Many thanks, Mr. Burke; you are quite geological this morning; isn't +he, ma'am?" + +"When was he ever anything else? God pardon him! However, I know what +he's exterminatin' for; he wants you to marry Kathleen Cavanagh." + +"Ay do I, Rosha; and she might make him a respectable man yet,--that is, +if any woman could." + +"Geological again, mother; well, really now, Katsey Cavanagh is a +splendid girl, a fine animal, no doubt of it; all her points are good, +but, at the same time, Mr. Burke, a trifle too plebeian for Hycy the +accomplished." + +"I tell you she's a devilish sight too good for you; and if you don't +marry her, you'll never get such a wife." + +"Troth," answered Mrs. Burke, "I think myself there's something over +you, or you wouldn't spake as you do--a wife for Hycy--one of Gerald +Cavanagh's daughters make a wife for him!--not while I'm alive at any +rate, plaise God." + +"While you're alive; well, may be not:--but sure if it plases God to +bring it about, on your own plan, I must endaivor to be contented, +Rosha; ay, an' how do you know but I'd dance at their weddin' too! +ha! ha! ha!" + +"Oh, then, it's you that's the bitther pill, Jemmy Burke! but, thank +God, I disregard you at all events. It's little respect you pay to my +feelings, or ever did." + +"I trust, my most amiable mother, that you won't suffer the equability +of your temper to be disturbed by anything proceeding from such an +antiphlogistic source. Allow me to say, Mr. Burke, that I have higher +game in view, and that for the present I must beg respectfully to +decline the proposal which you so kindly made, fully sensible as I am +of the honor you intended for me. If you will only exercise a little +patience, however, perhaps I shall have the pleasure ere long of +presenting to you a lady of high accomplishments, amiable manners, and +very considerable beauty." + +"Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?" + +"Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest +Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as +possible, for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine." + +"You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?" + +"For the present I say most assuredly not," replied the son, in the same +ironical and polite tone. + +"Because," continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there +was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, "as poor Gerald was +a good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry +her--_to oblige him_." + +Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous +sarcasm implied in these words. "Father," said he, to save trouble, and +to prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I +think it right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl +as Cavanagh's daughter." + +"No," continued his mother, "nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it." + +"Very well," said the father; "is that your mind?" + +"That's my mind, sir." + +"Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better +manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother +home from school,--suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,--and suppose +I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a +gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is +something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men." + +He took up his hat as he spoke and went out to the fields, leaving both +mother and son in no slight degree startled by an intimation so utterly +unexpected, but which they knew enough of him to believe was one not at +all unlikely to be acted on by a man who so frequently followed up his +own determinations with a spirit amounting almost to obstinacy. + +"I think, mother," observed the latter, "we must take in sail a little; +'the gentleman' won't bear the ironical to such an extent, although he +is master of it in his own way; in other words, Mr. Burke won't bear to +be laughed at." + +"Not he," said his mother, in the tone of one who was half angry at him +on that very account, "he'll bear nothing." + +"D--n it, to tell that vulgar bumpkin, Cavanagh, I suppose in a state +of maudlin drunkenness, that he would make me marry his daughter--to +oblige, him!--contempt could go no further; it was making a complete +cipher of me." + +"Ay, but I'm disturbed about what he said going out, Hycy. I don't +half like the face he had on him when he said it; and when he comes to +discover other things, too, money matthers--there will be no keepin the +house wid him." + +"I fear as much," said Hycy; "however, we must only play our cards as +well as we can; he is an impracticable man, no doubt of it, and it is a +sad thing that a young fellow of spirit should be depending on such a-- + + "'Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, + How can you bloom so fresh and fair, + How can ye chant, ye little birds, + And I sae weary fu' o' care, &c., &c. + +"Well, well--I do not relish that last hint certainly, and if other +projects should fail, why, as touching the fair Katsey, it might not +be impossible that--however, time will develop. She is a fine girl, a +magnificent creature, no doubt of it, still, most maternal relative, as +I said, time will develop--by the way, Mrs. M'Mahon, the clodhopper's +mother, is to be interred to-morrow, and I suppose you and 'the +gentleman' will attend the funeral." + +"Sartinly, we must." + +"So shall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious +ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself, +meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky +thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, _non constat_, +as Finigan would say, time will develop." + +"You're not gainin' ground with him at all events," said his mother; +"ever since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards +both of us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and +has something on his mind ever since." + +"I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I +said just now, I say time will develop." + +He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which +consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as +they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII.--Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. + + +On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such +cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious +to soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and +Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into +the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood. +Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady, +the Roman Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing, +undertook to direct the religious devotions which are usual on such +occasions. In consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that +then existed in our unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that +persons were, from necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of +religious duties, who were possessed of very little education, if not, +as was too often the case, absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was +not absolutely illiterate, but, in good truth, he was by no means far +removed from that uncomfortable category. Finigan, the schoolmaster, +was also present; and as he claimed acquaintance with the classics, +and could understand and read with something like correctness the Latin +offices, which were frequently repeated on these occasions it would be +utterly impossible to describe the lofty scorn and haughty supercilious +contempt with which he contemplated poor Dennis, who kept muttering away +at the _Confiteor_ and _De Profundis_ with a barbarity of pronunciation +that rendered it impossible for human ears to understand a single word +he said. Finigan, swollen with an indignation which he could no longer +suppress, and stimulated by a glass or two of whiskey, took three or +four of the neighbors over to a corner, where, whilst his eyes rested on +Dennis with a most withering expression of scorn, he exclaimed--"Here, +hand me that manual, and get out o' my way, you illiterate nonentity and +most unsufferable appendage to religion." + +He then took the book, and going over to the coffin, read in a loud +and sonorous voice the _De Profundis_ and other prayers for the dead, +casting his eyes from time to time upon the unfortunate clerk with a +contemptuous bitterness and scorn that, for force of expression, could +not be surpassed. When he had concluded, he looked around him with a +sense of lofty triumph that was irresistible in its way. "There," said +he, "is something like accent and quantity for you--there is something +that may, without derogation to religion, be called respectable +perusal--an' yet to say that a man like me, wid classical +accomplishments and propensities from my very cradle, should be set +aside for that illiterate vulgarian, merely because, like every other +janius, I sometimes indulge in the delectable enjoyment of a copious +libation, is too bad." + +This in fact was the gist of his resentment against O'Grady. He had been +in the habit for some time of acting as clerk to the priest, who bore +with his "copious libations," as he called them, until common decency +rendered it impossible to allow him any longer the privilege of taking a +part as clerk in the ceremonies of religion. + +When this was over, a rustic choir, whom the parish clerk had organized, +and in a great measure taught himself, approached the body and sang a +hymn over it, after which the preparations for its removal began to be +made. + +Ever since the death of his wife, Thomas M'Mahon could not be prevailed +upon to taste a morsel of food. He went about from place to place, +marked by such evidences of utter prostration and despair that it was +painful to look upon him, especially when one considered the truth, +purity, and fervor of the affection that had subsisted between him and +the inestimable woman he had lost. The only two individuals capable of +exercising any influence upon him now were Bryan and his daughter Dora; +yet even they could not prevail upon him to take any sustenance. His +face was haggard and pale as death, his eyes red and bloodshot, and his +very body, which had always been erect and manly, was now stooped and +bent from the very intensity of his affliction. + +He had been about the garden during the scene just described, and from +the garden he passed round through all the office-houses, into every one +of which he entered, looking at them in the stupid bereavement of grief, +as if he had only noticed them for the first time. On going into the +cow-house where the animals were at their food, he approached one of +them--that which had been his wife's favorite, and which would suffer +no hand to milk her but her own--"Oh, Bracky," he said, "little you know +who's gone from you--even you miss her already, for you refused for the +last three days to let any one of them milk you, when she was not here +to do it. Ah, Bracky, the kind hand and the kind word that you liked so +well will never be wid you more--that low sweet song that you loved to +listen to, and that made you turn round while she was milkin' you, an' +lick her wid your tongue from pure affection--for what was there that +had life that didn't love her? That low, sweet song, Bracky, you will +never hear again. Well, Bracky, for her sake I'm come to tell you, this +sorrowful mornin', that while I have life an' the means of keepin' you, +from me an' them she loved you will never part." + +While he spoke the poor animal, feeling from the habit of instinct that +the hour of! milking had arrived, turned round and uttered once or twice +that affectionate lowing with which she usually called upon the departed +to come and relieve her of her fragrant burthen. This was more than +the heart-broken man could bear, he walked back, and entering the +wake-house, in a burst of vehement sorrow--"Oh, Bridget, my wife, my +wife--is it any wondher we should feel your loss, when your favorite, +Bracky, is callin' for you; but you won't come to her--that voice that +so often charmed her will never charm the poor affectionate creature +again." + +"Father dear," said Bryan, "if ever you were called upon to be a man it +is now." + +"But, Byran, as God is to judge me," replied his father, "the cow--her +own cow--is callin' for her in the cow-house widin--its truth--doesn't +everything miss her--even poor Bracky feels as if she was dasarted. Oh, +my God, an' what will we do--what will we do!" + +This anecdote told by the sorrowing husband was indeed inexpressingly +affecting. Bryan, who had collected all his firmness with a hope of +being able to sustain his father, was so much overpowered by this +circumstance that, after two or three ineffectual attempts to soothe +him, he was himself fairly overcome, and yielded for the moment to +bitter tears, whilst the whole family broke out into one general +outburst, of sorrow, accompanied in many cases by the spectators, who +were not proof against the influence of so natural and touching an +incident. + +Their neighbors and friends, in the meantime, were pouring in fast +from all directions. Jemmy Burke and his wife--the latter ridiculously +over-dressed--drove there upon their jaunting-car, which was considered +a great compliment, followed soon afterwards by Hycy and Harry Clinton +on horse-back. Gerald Cavanagh and his family also came, with the +exception of Kathleen and Hanna, who were, however, every moment +expected. The schoolmaster having finished the _De Profundis_, was, +as is usual, treated to glass of whiskey--a circumstance which just +advanced him to such a degree of fluency and easy assurance as was +necessary properly to develop the peculiarities of his character. Having +witnessed Bryan's failure at consolation, attended as it was by the +clamorous grief of the family, he deemed it his duty, especially as +he had just taken some part in the devotions, to undertake the task in +which Bryan had been so unsuccessful. + +"Thomas M'Mahon," said he, "I'm disposed to blush--do you hear me, I +say? I am disposed to blush, I repate, for your want of--he doesn't hear +me:--will you pay attention? I am really disposed to blush"--and as he +uttered the words he stirred M'Mahon by shaking his shoulders two or +three times, in order to gain his attention. + +"Are you?" replied the other, replying in an absent manner to his words. +"God help you then, and assist you, for it's few can do it." + +"Can do what?" + +"Och, I don't know; whatever you wor sayin'." + +"Patience, my good friend, Thomas M'Mahon. I would call you Tom +familiarly, but that you are in affliction, and it is well known that +every one in affliction is, or at least ought to be, treated with +respect and much sympathetical consolation. You are now in deep sorrow; +but don't you knows that death is the end of all things? and believe me +there are many objects in this world which a wise and experienced man +would lose wid much greater regret than he would a mere wife. Think, for +instance, how many men there are--dreary and subdued creatures--who +dare not call their souls, if they have any, or anything else they do +possess, their own; think, I repate, of those who would give nine-tenths +of all they are worth simply to be in your present condition! Wretches +who from the moment they passed under the yoke matrimonial, to which all +other yokes are jokes, have often heard of liberty but never enjoyed it +for one single hour--the Lord help them!" + +"Amen!" exclaimed M'Mahon, unconsciously. + +"Yes," proceeded Finigan, "unfortunate devils whose obstinacy has been +streaked by a black mark, or which ought rather to be termed a black and +blue mark, for that is an abler and more significant illustration, Poor +quadrupeds who have lived their whole miserable lives as married men +under an iron dynasty; and who know that the thunderings of Jupiter +himself, if he were now in vogue, would be mere music compared to the +fury of a conjugal tongue when agitated by any one of the thousand +causes that set it a-going so easily. Now, Thomas, I am far from +insinuating that ever you stood in that most pitiable category, but I +know many who have--heigho!--and I know many who do, and some besides +who will; for what was before may be agin, and it will be nothing but +ascendancy armed with her iron rod on the one hand, against patience, +submission, and tribulation, wid their groans and penances on the other. +Courage then, my worthy friend; do not be overwhelmed wid grief, for +I can assure you that as matters in general go on the surface of this +terraqueous globe, the death of a wife ought to be set down as a proof +that heaven does not altogether overlook us. 'Tis true there are tears +shed upon such occasions, and for very secret reason's too, if the truth +were known. Joy has its tears as well as grief, I believe, and it is +often rather difficult, under a blessing so completely disguised as the +death of a wi--of one's matrimonial partner, to restrain them. +Come then, be a man. There is Mr. Hycy Burke, a tender-hearted young +gentleman, and if you go on this way you will have him weeping' for +sheer sympathy, not pretermitting Mr. Clinton, his companion, who +is equally inclined to be pathetic, if one can judge from apparent +symptoms." + +"I'm obliged to you, Masther," replied M'Mahon, who had not heard, or +rather paid attention to, a single syllable he had uttered. "Of course +it's thruth you're savin'---it is--it is, _fureer gair_ it is; and she +that's gone from me is a proof of it. What wondher then that I should +shed tears, and feel as I do?" + +The unconscious simplicity of this reply to such a singular argument for +consolation as the schoolmaster had advanced, caused many to smile, +some to laugh outright, and others to sympathize still more deeply +with M'Mahon's sorrow. Finigan's allusion to Hycy and his companion was +justified by the contrast which the appearance of each presented. Hycy, +who enjoyed his lecture on the tribulations of matrimonial life very +much, laughed as he advanced in it, whilst Clinton, who was really +absorbed in a contemplation of the profound and solemn spirit which +marked the character of the grief he witnessed, and who felt impressed +besides by the touching emblems of death and bereavement which +surrounded him, gradually gave way to the impressions that gained on +him, until he almost felt the tears in his eyes. + +At this moment Kathleen and her sister Hanna entered the house, and a +general stir took place among those who were present, which was caused +by her strikingly noble figure and extraordinary beauty--a beauty which, +on the occasion in question, assumed a peculiarly dignified and majestic +character from the deep and earnest sympathy with the surrounding sorrow +that was impressed on it. + +Hycy and his companion surveyed her for many minutes; and the former +began to think that after all, if Miss Clinton should fail him, Kathleen +would make an admirable and most lovely wife. Her father soon after she +entered came over, and taking her hand said, "Come with me, Kathleen, +till you shake hands wid a great friend of yours--wid Misther Burke. +This is herself, Misther Burke," he added, significantly, on putting her +hand into that of honest Jemmy, "an' I think no father need be ashamed +of her." + +"Nor no father-in-law," replied Jemmy, shaking her cordially by the +hand, "and whisper, darlin'," said he, putting his mouth close to her +ear, and speaking so as that he might not be heard by others, "I hope to +see you my daughter-in-law yet, if I could only get that boy beyant to +make himself worthy of you." + +On speaking he turned his eyes on Hycy, who raised himself up, and +assuming his best looks intimated his consciousness of being the object +of his father's allusion to him. He then stepped over to where she +stood, and extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor +said, "I hope Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father, +won't refuse to honor the son." + +Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply +still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty +that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption. + +"This, Mr. Hycy," she replied, "is neither a time nor a place for empty +compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake +hands with him; but not till that time comes." + +On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and +for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot +both grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured +its unalloyed sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt +mortified, and bit his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of +excessive vanity, the repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to +its publicity. Gerald Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his +wife could not help exclaiming aloud, "Kathleen! what do you mane? I +declare I'm ashamed of you!" + +Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon +forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the +funeral. + +This was indeed a trying and heart-rending scene. The faithful wife, the +virtuous mother, the kind friend, and the pious Christian, was now about +to be removed for ever from that domestic scene which her fidelity, her +virtue, her charity, and her piety, had filled with peace, and love, and +happiness. As the coffin, which had been resting upon two chairs, was +about to be removed, the grief of her family became loud and vehement. + +"Oh, Bridget!" exclaimed her husband, "and is it to come to this at +last! And you are lavin' us for evermore! Don't raise the coffin," he +proceeded, "don't raise it. Oh! let us not part wid her till to-morrow; +let us know that she's undher the same roof wid us until then. An', +merciful Father, when I think where you're goin' to bring her to! Oh! +there lies the heart now widout one motion--dead and cowld--the heart +that loved us all as no other heart ever did! Bridget, my wife, don't +you hear me? But the day was that you'd hear me, an' that your kind an' +lovin' eye would turn on me wid that smile that was never broken. Where +is the wife that was true? Where is the lovin' mother, the charitable +heart to the poor and desolate, and the hand that was ever ready to aid +them that was in distress? Where are they all now? There, dead and cowld +forever, in that coffin. What has become of my wife, I say? What is +death at all, to take all we love from us this way? But sure God forgive +me for saying so, for isn't it the will of God? but oh! it is the +heaviest of all thrials to lose such a woman as she was!" + +Old grandfather, as he was called, had latterly become very feeble, +and was barely able to be out of bed on that occasion. When the tumult +reached the room where he sat with some of the aged neighbors, he +inquired what had occasioned it, and being told that the coffin was +about to be removed to the hearse, he rose up. + +"That is Tom's voice I hear," said he, "and I must put an end to +this." He accordingly made his appearance rather unexpectedly among them, +and approaching his son, said, putting his hand commandingly upon +his shoulder, and looking in his face with a solemn consciousness of +authority that was irresistible, "I command you, Tom, to stop. It's not +many commands that I'll ever give you--maybe this will be the last--and +it's not many ever I had occasion to give you, but now I command you to +stop and let the funeral go on." He paused for a short time and looked +upon the features of his son with a full sense of what was due to his +authority. His great age, his white hairs, his venerable looks and +bearing, and the reverence which the tremulous but earnest tones of his +voice were calculated to inspire, filled his son with awe, and he was +silent. + +"Father," said he, "I will; I'll try and obey you--I will." + +"God bless you and comfort you, my dear son," said the old man. "Keep +silence, now," he proceeded, addressing the others, "and bring the +coffin to the hearse at wanst. And may God strengthen and support you +all, for it's I that knows your loss; but like a good mother as she was, +she has left none but good and dutiful childre' behind her." + +Poor Dora, during the whole morning, had imposed a task upon herself +that was greater than her affectionate and sorrowing heart could bear. +She was very pale and exhausted by the force of what she had felt, and +her excessive weeping; but it was observed that she now appeared to +manifest a greater degree of fortitude than any of the rest. Still, +during this assumed calmness, the dear girl, every now and then, could +not help uttering a short convulsive sob, that indicated at once her +physical debility and extraordinary grief. She was evidently incapable +of entering into conversation, or at least, averse to it, and was +consequently very silent during the whole morning. As they stooped, +however, to remove the coffin, she threw herself upon it, exclaiming, +"Mother, its your own Dora--mother--mother--don't, mother--don't lave me +don't--I won't let her go--I won't let her go! I--I--" Even before she +could utter the words she intended to say, her head sank down, and her +pale but beautiful cheek lay exactly beside the name, Bridget M'Mahon, +that was upon it. + +"The poor child has fainted," they exclaimed, "bring her to the fresh +air." + +Ere any one had time, however, to raise her, James Cavanagh rushed over +to the coffin, and seizing her in his arms, bore her to the street, +where he placed her upon one of the chairs that had been left there +to support the coffin until keened over by the relatives and friends, +previous to its being-placed in the hearse; for such is the custom. +There is something exceedingly alarming in a swoon to a person who +witnesses it for the first time; which was the case with James Cavanagh. +Having placed her on the chair, he looked wildly upon her; then as +wildly upon those who were crowding round him. "What ails her?" he +exclaimed--"what ails her?--she is dead!--she is dead! Dora--Dora +dear--Dora dear, can't you spake or hear me?" + +Whilst he pronounced the words, a shower of tears gushed rapidly from +his eyes and fell upon her beautiful features, and in the impressive +tenderness of the moment, he caught her to his heart, and with +rapturous distraction and despair kissed her lips and exclaimed, "She is +dead!--she is dead!--an' all that's in the world is nothing to the love +I had for her!" + +"Stand aside, James," said his sister Kathleen; "leave this instantly. +Forgive him, Bryan," she said, looking at her lover with a burning brow, +"he doesn't know what he is doing." + +"No, Kathleen," replied, her brother, with a choking voice, "neither for +you nor for him, nor for a human crature, will I leave her." + +"James, I'm ashamed of you," said Hanna, rapidly and energetically +disengaging his arms from about the insensible girl; "have! you no +respect for Dora? If you love her as you say, you could hardly act as +you did." + +"Why," said he, staring at her, "what did I do?" + +Bryan took him firmly by the arm, and said, "Come away, you foolish boy; +I don't think you know what you did. Leave her to the girls. There, she +is recoverin'." + +She did soon recover; but weak and broken down as she was, no persuasion +nor even authority could prevail upon her to remain at home. Jemmy +Burke, who had intended to offer Kathleen a seat upon his car, which, of +course, she would not have accepted, was now outmanoeuvred by his +wife, 'who got Dora beside herself, after having placed a sister of Tom +M'Mahon's beside him. + +At length, the coffin was brought out, and the keene raised over it, on +the conclusion of which it was placed in the hearse, and the procession +began to move on. + +There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly +indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of +persons which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In +such a case, the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which +the party has been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a +mile long. All the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, +or half-sirs in the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect +for the virtues of the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity +and upright spirit of the family that had been deprived of her so +unexpectedly. + +Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, +the schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as +to render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no +wish for it. + +"Well, Harry," said his companion, "what do you think of the last +scene?" + +"You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl +that fainted, poor thing!" + +"Of course I do," replied Hycy. + +"Why," said the other, "I think the whole thing was very simple, and +consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in +love--there is no doubt of that--thought she had died; and upon my soul, +Hycy, there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of +such a passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, +I can understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the +tenderness by which he was actuated." + +"What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?" asked Hycy, with more of interest +than he had probably ever felt in her before. + +"What do I think?" said the other, looking at him with a good deal of +surprise. "What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste +or common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her +one of the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! +what would not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a +polished and comprehensive education?" + +"She is very much of a lady as it is," added Hycy, "and has great +natural dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has +left me under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her." + +"And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little +Dora, which is quite captivating," observed Clinton. + +"Very well," replied the other, "I make jou a present of the two fair +rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education +and manner do. Maria is a delightful girl." + +"She is an amiable and a good girl," said her brother; "but, in point of +personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been +speaking of." + +"Finigan," said Hycy--"I beg your pardon, O'Finigan--the great +O'Finigan, Philomath--are you a good judge of beauty?" + +"Why, then, Mr. Hycy," replied the pedagogue, "I think, above all +subjects, that a thorough understanding of that same comes most natural +to an Irishman. It is a pleasant topic to discuss at all times." + +"Much pleasanter than marriage, I think," said Clinton, smiling. + +"Ah, Mr. Clinton," replied the other, with a shrug, "_de mortuis +nil nisi bonum_; but as touching beauty, in what sense do you ask my +opinion?" + +"Whether now, for instance, would your learned taste prefer Miss +Cavanagh or Miss Dora M'Mahon? and give your reasons." + +"Taste, Mr. Hycy, is never, or at least seldom, guided by reason; the +question, however, is a fair one." + +"One at least on a fair subject," observed Clinton. + +"Very well said, Mr. Clinton," replied the schoolmaster, with a +grin--"there goes wit for us, no less--and originality besides. See what +it is to have a great janius!--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Well, Mr. O'Finigan," pursued Hycy, "but about the ladies? You have not +given us your opinion." + +"Why, then, they are both highly gifted wid beauty, and strongly +calculated to excite the amorous sentiments of refined and elevated +affection." + +"Well done, Mr. Plantation," said Hycy; "you are improving--proceed." + +"Miss Cavanagh, then," continued Finigan, "I'd say was a goddess, and +Miss M'Mahon her attendant nymph." + +"Good again, O'Finigan," said Clinton; "you are evidently at home in the +mythology." + +"Among the goddesses, at any rate," replied the master, with another +grin. + +"Provided there is no matrimony in the question," said Clinton. + +"Ah, Mr. Clinton, don't, if you please. That's a subject you may respect +yet as much as I do; but regarding my opinion of the two beauties in +question, why was it solicited, Mr. Hycy?" he added, turning to that +worthy gentlemen. + +"Faith, I'm not able to say, most learned Philomath; only, is it true +that Bryan, the clodhopper, has matrimonial designs upon the fair +daughter of the regal Cavanagh?" + +"_Sic vult fama_, Mr. Hycy, upon condition that a certain accomplished +young gentleman, whose surname commences with the second letter of +the alphabet, won't offer--for in that case, it is affirmed, that the +clodhopper should travel. By the way, Mr. Clinton, I met your uncle and +Mr. Fethertonge riding up towards Ahadarra this morning." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed both; and as they spoke, each cast a look of inquiry +at the other. + +"What could bring them to Ahadarra, gentlemen?" asked Finigan, in a tone +of voice which rendered it a nice point to determine whether it was a +simple love of knowledge that induced him to put the question, or some +other motive that might have lain within a kind of ironical gravity that +accompanied it. + +"Why, I suppose a pair of good horses," replied Hycy, "and their own +inclination." + +"It was not the last, at all events," said Finigan, "that ever brought +a thief to the gallows--ha! ha! ha! we must be facetious sometimes, Mr. +Hycy." + +"You appear to enjoy that joke, Mr. Finigan," said Hycy, rather tartly. + +"Faith," replied Finigan, "it's a joke that very few do enjoy, I think." + +"What is?" + +"Why, the gallows, sir--ha! ha! ha! but don't forget the O if you +plaise--ever and always the big O before Finigan--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Come, Clinton," said Hycy, "move on a little. D--n that fellow!" he +cried--"he's a sneering scoundrel; and I'm half inclined to think he has +more in him than one would be apt to give him credit for." + +"By the way, what could the visit to Ahadarra mean?" asked Clinton. "Do +you know anything about it, Hycy?" + +"Not about this; but it is very likely that I shall cause them, or +one of them at least, to visit it on some other occasion ere long; and +that's all I can say now. Curse that keening, what a barbarous practice +it is!' + +"I think not," said the other; "on the contrary, I am of opinion that +there's something strikingly wild and poetical in it something that +argues us Irish to be a people of deep feeling and strong imagination: +two of the highest gifts of intellect." + +"All stuff," replied the accomplished Hycy, who, among his other +excellent qualities, could never afford to speak a good word to his +country Or her people. "All stuff and barbarous howling that we +learned from the wolves when we had them in Ireland. Here we are at the +graveyard." + +"Hycy," said his friend, "it never occurred to me to thing of asking +what religion you believe in." + +"It is said," replied Hycy, "that a fool may propose a question which +a wise man can't answer. As to religion, I have not yet made any +determination among the variety that is abroad. A man, however, can +be at no loss; for as every one of them is the best, it matters little +which of them he chooses. I think it likely I shall go to church with +your sister, should we ever do matrimony together. To a man like me +who's indifferent, respectability alone ought to determine." + +Clinton made no reply to this; and in a few minutes afterward they +entered the churchyard, the coffin having been taken out of the hearse +and borne on the shoulders of her four nearest relatives,--Tom M'Mahon, +in deep silence and affliction, preceding it as chief mourner. + +There is a prostrating stupor, or rather a kind of agonizing delirium +that comes over the mind when we are forced to mingle with crowds, and +have our ears filled with the voices of lamentation, the sounds of the +death-bell, or the murmur of many people in conversation. 'Twas thus +M'Mahon felt during the whole procession. Sometimes he thought it was +relief, and again he felt as if it was only the mere alternation of +suffering into a sharper and more dreadful sorrow; for, change as it +might, there lay tugging at his heart the terrible consciousness that +she, I the bride of his youthful love and the companion of his +larger and more manly affection--the blameless wife and the stainless +woman--was about to be consigned to the grave, and that his eyes in this +life must; never rest upon her again. + +When the coffin was about to be lowered down, all the family, one after +another, clasped their arms about it, and kissed it with a passionate +fervor of grief that it was impossible to witness with firmness. At +length her husband, who had been looking on, approached it, and clasping +it in his arms like the rest, he said--"for ever and for ever, and for +ever, Bridget--but, no, gracious God, no; the day will come, Bridget, +when I will be with you here--I don't care now how soon. My happiness +is gone, asthore machree--life is nothing to me now--all's empty; and +there's neither joy, nor ease of mind, nor comfort for me any more. An' +this is our last parting--this is our last farewell, Bridget dear; but +from this out my hope is to be with you here; and if nothing else on my +bed of death was to console me, it would be, and it will be, that you +and I will then sleep together, never to be parted more. That will be my +consolation." + +"Now, father dear," said Bryan, "we didn't attempt to stop or prevent +you, and I hope you'll be something calm and come away for a little." + +"Best of sons! but aren't you all good, for how could you be +otherwise with her blood in your veins?--bring me away; come you, Dora +darlin'--ay, that's it--support the: blessed child between you and +Hanna, Kathleen darlin'. Oh, wait, wait till we get out of hearin, or +the noise of the clay fallin' on the coffin will kill me." + +They then walked to some distance, where they remained until the "narrow +house" was nearly filled, after which they once more surrounded it until +the last sod was beaten in. This being over, the sorrowing group sought +their way home with breaking hearts, leaving behind them her whom they +had loved so well reposing in the cold and unbroken solitude of the +grave. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV.--Mysterious Letter + +--Hycy Disclaims Sobriety--Ahadarra's in for it. + + +One day about a month after Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, Harry Clinton was +on his way to Jemmy Burke's, when he met Nanny Peety going towards +Ballymacan. + +"Well, Nanny," he inquired, "where are you bound for, now?" + +"To the post-office with a letter from Masther Hycy, sir. I wanted him +to tell me who it was for, but he would not. Will you, Mr. Clinton?" and +she held out the letter to him as she spoke. + +Clinton felt a good deal surprised to see that it was addressed to his +uncle, and also written in a hand which he did not recognize to be that +of Hycy Burke. + +"Are you sure, Nanny," he asked, "that this letter was written by Mr. +Hycy?" + +"Didn't I see him, sir?" she replied; "he wrote it before my eyes a +minute before he handed it to me. Who is it for, Mr. Clinton?" + +"Why are you so very anxious to know, Nanny?" he inquired. + +"Sorra thing," she replied, "but curiosity--a woman's curiosity, you +know." + +"Well, Nanny, you know, or ought to know, that it would not be right in +me to tell you who the letter is for, when Mr. Hycy did not think proper +to do so." + +"True enough, sir," she replied; "an I beg your pardon, Mr. Clinton, for +asking you; indeed it was wrong in me to tell you who it came from even, +bekaise Mr. Hycy told me not to let any one see it, only jist to slip it +into the post-office unknownst, as I passed it; an' that was what made +me wish to know who it was goin' to, since the thruth must be tould." + +Clinton in turn now felt his curiosity stimulated as to the contents +of this mysterious epistle, and he resolved to watch, if possible, what +effect the perusal of it might have on his uncle, otherwise he was never +likely to hear a syllable that was contained in it, that worthy relative +being, from official necessity, a most uncommunicative person in all his +proceedings. + +"I wonder," observed Clinton, "that Mr. Hycy would send to any one a +letter so slurred and blotted with ink as that is." + +"Ay, but he blotted it purposely himself," replied Nanny, "and that too +surprised me, and made me wish to know what he could mane by it." + +"Perhaps it's a love-letter, Nanny," said Clinton, laughing. + +"I would like to know who it is to, at any rate," said the girl; "but +since you won't, tell me, sir, I must try and not lose my rest about it. +Good-bye, Mr. Clinton." + +"Good-bye, Nanny;" and so they started. + +Young Clinton, who, though thoughtless and fond of pleasure, was not +without many excellent points of character, began now to perceive, +by every day's successive intimacy, the full extent of Hycy Burke's +profligacy of morals, and utter want of all honorable principle. +Notwithstanding this knowledge, however, he felt it extremely difficult, +nay, almost impossible, to separate himself from Hycy, who was an +extremely pleasant young fellow, and a very agreeable companion when +he pleased. He had in fact gained that personal ascendancy over him, or +that licentious influence which too many of his stamp are notorious for +exercising over better men than themselves; and he found that he could +not readily throw Hyoy off, without being considerably a loser by the +act. + +"I shall have nothing to do with his profligacy," said he, "or his want +of principle, and I shall let him know, at all events, that I will not +abide by the agreement or compromise entered into between us some time +since at his father's. He shall not injure an honest man for me, nor +shall I promise him even neutrality with respect to his proposal for my +sister, whom I would rather see dead a hundred times than the wife of +such a fellow." + +The next morning, about half an hour before breakfast, he told his uncle +that he was stepping into town and would bring him any letters that +might be for him in the post-office. He accordingly did so, and received +two letters, one Hycy's and the other with the crest and frank of the +sitting member for the county, who was no other than young Chevydale. +His uncle was at breakfast when he handed them to him, and we need +hardly say that the M.P. was honored by instant attention. The +Still-hound read it over very complacently. "Very well," he exclaimed; +"very well, indeed, so far. Harry, we must be on the alert, now the +elections are approaching, and Chevydale will be stoutly opposed, it +seems. We must work for him, and secure as many votes as we can. It +is our interest to do so, Harry,--and he will make it our interest +besides." + +"Has principle nothing to do with it, sir?" + +"Principle! begad, sir," retorted the uncle, "there's no such thing as +principle--lay that down as a fact--there's no such thing in this world +as principle." + +"Well, but consistency, uncle. For instance, you know you always vote on +the Tory side, and Chevydale is a Liberal and an Emancipator." + +"Consistency is all d--d stuff, Harry, as principle. What does it mean? +why that if a man's once wrong he's always to be wrong--that is just the +amount of it. There's Chevydale, for instance, he has a brother who is a +rank Tory and a Commissioner of Excise, mark that; Chevydale and he play +into each other's hands, and Chevydale some of these days will sell the +Liberals, that is, if he can get good value for them. If I now vote on +the Tory side against Chevydale, his brother, the Tory Commissioner, +will be my enemy in spite of all his Toryism; but if I vote and exert +myself for Chevydale, the Liberal, I make his Tory of a brother my +friend for life. And now, talk to me about principle, or consistency +either." + +His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle +were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly +pursued the subject no further. + +"Ay!" exclaimed the Still-hound, "what d--d scrawl have we got here? Ay, +ay, why this is better than I expected." + +"What is better, uncle?" said the nephew, venturing an experiment. + +"Why," replied the sagacious old rascal, "for you to mind your business, +if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent +inquiries, Master Harry." With these words he went and. locked up both +letters in his desk. As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his +desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying +it in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers-- + +"To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: + +"Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you'd find a +Still-Hed an' Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in +Ahadarra. Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung's Orringemen an' a fren to the +axshize." + +The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:-- + +"Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you +have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth." + +"No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a +Still--hem." + +"Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter. Very well. Your father's +death last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for +the present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into +practice, with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?" + +"Unfortunately, sir, it is too true." + +"In the mean time you may leave 'unfortunate' out, and thank God that +you had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, +that I was a bachelor. Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home +for you; but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for +yourself; for I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich. +You don't relish surgery, you say?" + +"I can't endure it, uncle." + +"But you like farming?" + +"Above every other mode of life." + +"Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into +before long." + +"Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are +fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands." + +"Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my +brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must +make our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I +respect the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would +never work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise, +not so much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if +they could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of +honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both." + +"Uncle," said his nephew, "one word with you before you go." + +"What is it?" + +"Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse +me for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?" + +"Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives +me good advice." + +"If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended." + +"Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better." + +"You say you will procure me a farm. Now, uncle, there is one thing +I should wish in connection with that transaction, which is, that you +would have no underhand--hem!--no private understanding of any kind with +Mr. Hycy Burke." + +"Me a private understanding with Hycy Burke! What in the devil's name +has put such a crotchet as that into your head?" + +"I only speak as I do, because I believe you have received a private +communication from him." + +"Have I, faith! If so I am obliged to you--but I am simply ignorant of +the fact you mention; for, with my own knowledge', I never received a +line from him in my life." + +"Then I must be wrong," replied Harry; "that is all." + +"Wrong! Certainly you are wrong. Hycy Burke, I am told, is a compound +of great knave and gross fool, the knavery rather prevailing. But how is +this? Are not you and he inseparable?" + +"He is a companion, uncle, but not a friend in the true sense--nor, +indeed, in any sense of that word. I spoke now, however, with reference +to a particular transaction, and not to his general character." + +"Well, then, I have no underhand dealings with him, as you are pleased +to call them, nor ever had. I never to my knowledge received a line from +him in my life; but I tell you that if he comes in my way, and that I +can make use of him, I will. Perhaps he may serve us in the Elections. +Have you anything else to ask?" + +"No sir," replied Harry, laughing. "Only I hope you will excuse me for +the liberty I took." + +"Certainly, with all my heart, and you shall be always welcome to take +the same liberty. Good-bye, again." + +Clinton now felt satisfied that Hycy's letter to his uncle was an +anonymous one, and although he could not divine its contents, he +still felt assured that it was in some way connected with the farm +transaction, or at all events detrimental to Bryan M'Mahon. He +consequently resolved to see Hycy, against whom, or rather against +whose principles he was beginning to entertain a strong repugnance, and +without any hesitation to repudiate the engagement he had entered into +with him. + +He found Hycy at home, or rather he found him in conversation with Bat +Hogan behind his father's garden. + +"What was that ruffian wanting with you, Hycy, if it's a fair question?" + +"Perfectly," said Hycy, "from you; but not in sooth from your worthy +uncle." + +"How is that?" + +"Simply, he wants to know if I'd buy a keg of Poteen which, it seems, he +has to sell. I declined because I have a sufficiently ample stock of it +on hands." + +"My uncle," said Clinton, prefers it to any other spirits; indeed, at +home he never drinks any other, and whenever he dines, thanks those who +give it the preference." + +"Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time," +said Hycy, "for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous +relish for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best." + +Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on. + +"Hycy," proceeded his companion, "with respect to that foolish +arrangement or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything +to say or do in it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my +account. I was half drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have +listened to such a proposal." + +"What do you mean?" said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and +a pause of some time, "I don't understand you." + +"Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with +reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most +amiable (d--n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the +other?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry." + +"Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be +tipsy, though." + +"I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d--dest, hypocritical rascal +in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get drunk +in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. However, +in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?" + +"No, no," replied his friend, "it was a disgraceful affair on both +sides, and the less that's said of it the better." + +By some good deal of persuasion, however, and an additional glass +of grog, he prevailed on Clinton to repeat the substance of the +stipulation; on hearing which, as if for the first time, he laughed very +heartily. + +"This liquor," he proceeded, "is a strange compound, and puts queer +notions into our head. Why if there's an honest decent fellow in Europe, +whom I would feel anxious to serve beyond another, next to yourself, +Harry, it is Bryan M'Mahon. But why I should have spoken so, I can't +understand at all. In the first place, what means have of injuring +the man? And what is stronger still, what inclination have I, or could +have--and what is still better--should have?" + +"I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion." + +"Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me +sooner about it. Still," he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion +of it I should not wish to see cancelled--I mean your advocacy with Miss +Clinton." + +"To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I +won't promise advocacy." + +"Well neutrality?" + +"The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. +I have reason to think that my sister's objections against you are +insuperable." + +"On what do they rest?" asked the other. + +"They are founded upon your want of morals," replied Clinton. + +"Well, suppose I reform my morals?" + +"That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the +elements of reformation are rather slight within you." + +"Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be +judged of his morals before marriage, but after." + +"Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, +right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to +be such." + +"But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither +have I the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and +over-impulsive from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off +with the new state. No, no, d--n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe +such prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down +and bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most +edifying attention. Another glass of grog?" + +"No, no." + +"But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making +impressions against me." + +"Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that +quarter." + +"Will you allow me to try?" asked Hycy. + +"I have not the slightest objection," replied the other, "because I +know how it will result." + +"Very well,--thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, seriously +speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of lives we +ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. On +the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more +highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only +the best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might +stop and dine?" + +"No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my +dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me a call when in town." + +Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of +ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So +high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of +performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair +sex,--all upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two +innocent country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment +for Miss Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the +rich beauty and magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this +contemplation of his lessened by considering that, with all his +gentlemanly manners, and accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she +preferred the clod-hopper, as he called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself. + +He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more +especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at +for it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering +conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he +imagined, execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen, +and perhaps, ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed +with Miss Clinton; for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public +instances of contempt with which she had treated him. There was still, +however, another consideration. His father had threatened to bring home +his brother Edward, then destined for the church, and altogether to +change his intentions in that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic +manner of the old man towards him of late, he began to entertain +apprehensions upon the subject. Taking therefore all these circumstances +into consideration, he resolved in any event to temporize a little, and +allow the father to suppose that he might be prevailed upon to marry +Kathleen Cavanagh. + +In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he +were together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject +himself. + +"I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something +like a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the +accomplished Hycy." + +"I did, God forgive me." + +"I have been thinking over that subject since." + +"Have you, indeed," said his father; "an' am I to make Ned a priest or a +farmer?" he asked, dryly. + +"The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination." + +"So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my property, along wid +a good wife, to your brother Ned--Neddy I ought to call him, out of +compliment to you--ha! ha! ha!" + +"Proceed, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be facetious." + +"To your brother Ned--Neddy--having them, and maybe along wid them the +same, wife too?" + +"No, not exactly; but out of respect to your wishes. + +"What's that?" said the old man, staring at him with a kind of comic +gravity--"out of respect to my wishes!" + +"That's what I've said," replied the son. "Proceed." + +His father looked at' him again, and replied, "Proceed yourself---it was +you introduced the subject. I'm now jack-indifferent about it." + +"All I have to say," continued Hycy, "is that I withdraw my ultimate +refusal, Mr. Burke. I shall entertain the question, as they say; and +it is not improbable but that I may dignify the fair Katsey with the +honorable title of Mrs. Burke." + +"I wish you had spoken a little sooner, then," replied his father, +"bekaise it so happens that Gerald Cavanagh an' I have the match between +her and your brother Ned as good as made." + +"My brother Ned! Why, in the name of; all that's incredible, how could +that be encompassed?" + +"Very aisily," said his father, "by the girl's waitin' for him. Ned is +rather young! yet, I grant you; he's nineteen, however, and two years +more, you know, will make him one-and-twenty--take him out o' chancery, +as they say." + +"Very good, Mr. Burke, very good; in that case I have no more to say." + +"Well," pursued the father, in the same dry, half-comic, half-sarcastic +voice, "but what do you intend to do with yourself?" + +"As to that," replied Hycy, who felt that the drift of the conversation +was setting in against him, "I shall take due time to consider." + +"What height are you?" asked the father, rather abruptly. + +"I can't see, Mr. Burke, I really can't see what my height has to do +with the question." + +"Bekaise," proceeded the other, "I have some notion of putting you into +the army. You spoke of it wanst yourself, remimber; but then there's an +objection even to that." + +"Pray, what is the objection, Mr. Burke?" + +"Why, it's most likely you'd have to fight--if you took to the milintary +trade." + +"Why, upon my word, Mr. Burke, you shine in the sarcastic this evening." + +"But, at any rate, you must take your chance for that. You're a fine, +active young fellow, and I suppose if they take to runnin' you won't be +the last of them." + +"Good, Mr. Burke--proceed, though." + +"An accordingly I have strong notions of buying you a corplar's or +a sargent's commission. A good deal of that, however, depends upon +yourself; but, as you say, I'll think of it." + +Hycy, who could never bear ridicule, especially from the very man whom +he attempted to ridicule most, bounced up, and after muttering something +in the shape of an oath that was unintelligible, said, assuming all his +polite irony:-- + +"Do so, Mr. Burke; in the mean time I have the pleasure of wishing you a +very good evening, sir." + +"Oh, a good-evening, sir," replied the old fellow, "and when you come +home from the wars a full non-commissioned officer, you'll be scowerin' +up your halbert every Christmas an' Aisther, I hope; an' telling us long +stories--of all you killed an' ate while you were away from us." + +Harry Clinton, now aware that the anonymous letter which his uncle had +received that morning was the production of Hycy, resolved to watch the +gauger's motions very closely. After a great deal of reflection upon +Hycy's want of memory concerning their bargain, and upon a close +comparison between his conduct and whole manner on the night in +question, and his own account of the matter in the course of their last +interview, he could not help feeling that his friend had stated a gross +falsehood, and that the pretended want of recollection was an ingenious +after-thought, adopted for the purpose of screening himself from the +consequences of whatever injury he might inflict upon Bryan M'Mahon. + +"Harry," said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, "I am going upon +duty tonight." + +"In what direction, sir? may I ask." + +"Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however, +there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our +gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am +bound for Ahadarra." + +"For Ahadarra--you say for Ahadarra, uncle?" + +"I do, nephew." + +"By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel +alive," exclaimed Harry; "I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you +would--would---I don't know what to say." + +"That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the +soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my +duty, Harry." + +"Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning, +sir, that you are now acting"?" + +"No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the +premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon +anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in +my time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it." + +He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse, +that was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a +case of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and +two daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence. + +Their path lay directly to the south for about two miles. Having +traversed this distance they reached cross-roads, one of which branched +towards the left and was soon lost in a rough brown upland, into +which it branched by several little pathways that terminated in little +villages or solitary farmer's houses. For about two miles more they were +obliged to cross a dark reach of waste moor, where the soil was strong +and well capable of cultivation. Having avoided the villages and more +public thoroughfares, they pushed upward until they came into the black +heath itself, where it was impossible that horses could travel in such +darkness as then prevailed; for it was past ten o'clock, near the close +of December. Clinton consequently left his horse in the care of two +soldiers on a bit of green meadow by the side of Ahadarra Lough--a small +tarn or mountain lake about two hundred yards in diameter. They then +pushed up a long round swelling hill, on the other side of which was +a considerable stretch of cultivated land with Bryan M'Mahon's new and +improved houses at the head of it. This they kept to their right until +they came in sight of the wild but beautiful and picturesque Glen of +Althadhawan, which however was somewhat beyond the distance they had to +go. At length, after breasting another hill which was lost in the base +of Cullimore, they dropped down rapidly into a deep glen through which +ran a little streamlet that took its rise not a quarter of a mile above +them, and which supplied the apparatus for distillation with soft clear +water. This they followed until near the head of the glen, where, in a +position which might almost escape even a gauger's eye, they found the +object of their search. + +Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic +rocks thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or +diversion--between two of which the still-house was built in such a way, +that, were it not for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible +to discover it, or at all events, to suppose that it could be the +receptacle of a human being. + +On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find +the place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such +occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light +of a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in +Hycy's letter--to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the +exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash +that was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides. + +The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the +Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were +in the process of distillation. + +"Ay," said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, "I think I understand +this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense--but a sure enough card +in another. The fine is certain, and Ahadarra is most undoubtedly in for +it." + + + + +CHAPTER XV.--State of the Country + +--Hycy's Friendship for Bryan M'Mahon--Bryan's Interview with his +Landlord. + + +M'Mahon's last interview with Fethertonge was of so cheering a nature, +and indicated on the part of that gentleman so much true and sterling +kindness towards the young man and his family, that he felt perfectly +satisfied on leaving him, and after having turned their conversation +over in his mind, that he might place every confidence in the assurance +he had given him. His father, too, who had never for a moment doubted +Feathertonge, felt equally gratified at Bryan's report of their +interview, as indeed did the whole family; they consequently spared +neither labor nor expense in the improvements which they were making on +their farms. + +The situation of the country and neighborhood at this period was indeed +peculiar, and such as we in this unhappy country have experienced +both before and since. I have already stated, that there was a partial +failure of the potato crop that season, a circumstance which uniformly +is the forerunner of famine and sickness. The failure, however, on that +occasion was not caused by a blight in the haulm, or to use plainer +words, by a sudden withering of the stalks, but by large portions of the +seed failing to grow. The partial scarcity, however, occasioned by this, +although it did not constitute what can with propriety be termed famine, +cause the great mass of pauperism which such a season always extends and +increases, to press so heavily upon the struggling farmers, that their +patience and benevolence became alike tired out and exhausted. This +perpetually recurring calamity acts with a most depressing effect +upon those persons in the country who have any claim to be considered +independent. It deprives them of hope, and consequently of energy, and +by relaxing the spirit of industry which has animated them, tends in +the course of time to unite them to the great body of pauperism which +oppresses and eats up the country. But let us not be misunderstood. This +evil alone is sufficiently disastrous to the industrial energies of +the class we mention; but when, in addition to this, the hitherto +independent farmer has to contend with high rents, want of sympathy in +his landlord, who probably is ignorant of his very existence, and has +never seen him perhaps in his life; and when it is considered that he is +left to the sharp practice and pettifogging, but plausible rapacity of +a dishonest agent, who feels that he is irresponsible, and may act the +petty tryant and vindictive oppressor if he wishes, having no restraint +over his principles but his interest, which, so far from restraining, +only guides and stimulates them;--when we reflect upon all this, and +feel, besides, that the political principles upon which the country is +governed are those that are calculated to promote British at the expense +of Irish interests--we say, when we reflect upon and ponder over all +this, we need not feel surprised that the prudent, the industrious, +and the respectable, who see nothing but gradual decline and ultimate +pauperism before them--who feel themselves neglected and overlooked, +and know that every sixth or seventh year they are liable to those +oppressive onsets of distress, sickness, and famine--we need not, we +repeat, feel at all surprised that those who constitute this industrious +and respectable class should fly from the evils which surround them, and +abandon, whilst they possess the power of doing so, the country in which +such evils are permitted to exist. + +It is upon this principle, or rather upon these principles, and for +these reasons, that the industry, the moral feeling, the independence, +and the strength of the country have been passing out of it for +years--leaving it, season after season, weaker, more impoverished, and +less capable of meeting those periodical disasters which, we may almost +say, are generated by the social disorder and political misrule of the +country. + +The fact is, and no reasonable or honest man capable of disencumbering +himself of political prejudices can deny it, that up until a recent +period the great body of the Irish people--the whole people--were mainly +looked upon and used as political instruments in the hands of the +higher classes, but not at all entitled to the possession of separate or +independent interests in their own right. It is true they were allowed +the possession of the forty-shilling franchise; but will any man say +that the existence of that civil right was a benefit to the country? So +far from that, it was a mere engine of corruption, and became, in +the hands of the Irish landlords, one of the most oppressive and +demoralizing curses that ever degraded a people. Perjury, fraud, +falsehood, and dishonesty, were its fruits, and the only legacy it +left to the country was an enormous mass of pauperism, and a national +morality comparatively vitiated and depraved, in spite of all religious +influence and of domestic affections that are both strong and tender. +Indeed it is exceedingly difficult to determine whether it has been more +injurious to the country in a political than in a moral sense. Be that +as it may, it had a powerful effect in producing the evils that we now +suffer, and our strong tendencies to social disorganization. By it the +landlords were induced, for the sake of multiplying, votes, to encourage +the subdivision of small holdings into those that were actually only +nominal or fictitious, and the consequences were, that in multiplying +votes they were multiplying families that had no fixed means of +subsistence--multiplying in fact a pauper population--multiplying not +only perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, but destitution, misery, +disease and death. By the forty-shilling franchise, the landlords +encumbered the soil with a loose and unsettled population that +possessed within itself, as poverty always does, a fearful facility of +reproduction--a population which pressed heavily upon the independent +class of farmers and yeomen, but which had no legal claim upon the +territory of the country. The moment, however, when the system which +produced and ended this wretched class, ceased to exist, they became not +only valueless in a political sense, but a dead weight upon the energies +of the country, and an almost insuperable impediment to its prosperity. +This great evil the landlords could conjure up, but they have not been +able to lay it since. Like Frankenstein in the novel, it pursues them to +the present moment, and must be satisfied or appeased in some way, or +it will unquestionably destroy them. From the abolition of the franchise +until now, an incessant struggle of opposing interests has been going on +in the country. The "forties" and their attendants must be fed; but the +soul on which they live in its present state is not capable of at the +same time supporting them and affording his claims to the landlord; for +the food must go to England to pay the rents and the poor "forties" must +starve. They are now in the way of the landlord--they are now in the way +of the farmer--they are in fact in way of each other, and unless some +wholesome and human principle, either of domestic employment or colonial +emigration, or perhaps both, shall be adopted, they will continue to +embarrass the country, and to drive out of it, always in connection with +other causes, the very class of persons that constitute its remaining +strength. + +At the present period of our narrative the neighborhood of Ballymacan +was in an unsettled and distressful state. The small farmers, and such +as held from six to sixteen acres, at a rent which they could at any +period with difficulty pay, were barely able to support themselves and +their families upon the produce of their holdings, so that the claims +of the landlord were out of the question. Such a position as this to the +unhappy class we speak of, is only another name for ruin. The bailiff, +who always lives upon the property, seeing their condition, and knowing +that they are not able to meet the coming gale, reports accordingly +to the agent, who, now cognizant that there is only one look-up for the +rent, seizes the poor man's corn and cattle, leaving himself and +his family within cold walls, and at an extinguished hearth. In this +condition were a vast number in the neighborhood of the locality laid in +our narrative. The extraordinary, but natural anxiety for holding land, +and the equally ardent spirit of competition which prevails in the +country, are always ready arguments in the mouth of the landlord and +agent, when they wish to raise the rent or eject the tenant. "If you +won't pay me such a rent, there are plenty that will. I have been +offered more than you pay, and more than I ask, and you know I must look +to my own interests!" In this case it is very likely that the landlord +speaks nothing but the truth; and as he is pressed on by his necessities +on the one hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a country so +circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition may be +easily conceived. + +In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting +the neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the +tenantry upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the +luxury of a contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member +during two sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated, +an Emancipator and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not +get his seat upon these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism +since his election, and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought, +but an indifferent chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat +before was a sturdy Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but +possessing that rare and inestimable quality, or rather combination of +qualities which constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man +of good property, and although somewhat deficient in the _suaviter in +modo_, yet in consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a +favorite with the people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty +wherever they find them in public men. + +Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and +once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful +to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our +humble individuals who constitute our _dramatis personae_. + +The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra, +was in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must +necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At +this time there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit +distillation, but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure +similar to the foregoing had been made, that the people in any +particular district became acquainted with it. By this enactment the +offending individual was looked upon as having no farther violated +the laws in that case made and provided, than those who had never been +engaged in such pursuits at all. In other words, the innocent, were +equally punished with the guilty. A heavy fine was imposed--not on the +offender, but on the whole townland in which he lived; so that the +guilt of one individual was not visited as it ought to have been on the +culprit himself, but equally distributed in all its penalties upon the +other inhabitants of the district in question, who may have had neither +act nor part in any violation of the laws whatsoever. + +Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed +him, scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally +alarmed, and with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to +incredible lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in +question was enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a +kind of legal confederacy against a system so destructive of industry +and morals. The act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not +merely imperative,--but fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It +immediately became the engine of malice and revenge between individual +enemies--often between rival factions, and not unfrequently between +parties instigated against each other by political rancor and hatred. +Indeed, so destructive of the lives and morals of the people was it +found, that in the course of a very few years it was repealed, but not +until it had led to repeated murders and brought ruin and destruction +upon many an unoffending and industrious family. + +Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger +and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled, +if possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for +his destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass, +where he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, "Having +come that far on his way," he said, "to see him, and to ascertain +the truth of the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy +responsibility under which the illicit distillation had placed him." +Bryan was naturally generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding +this, it was impossible that he should not entertain some slight +surmises touching the sincerity of Burke. + +"What is this, Bryan?" said the latter. "Can it be possible that you're +in for the Fine, as report goes?" + +"It's quite possible," replied Bryan; "on yesterday I got a notice of +proceedings from the Board of Excise." + +"But," pursued his friend, "what devil could have tempted you to have +anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of +it?" + +"I had no more to do with it," replied Bryan, "than you had--nor I don't +even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say it +was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that has their hands in everything +that's wicked and disgraceful. They would ruin me if they could," said +Bryan, "and I suppose it was with the hope of doing so that they set up +the still where they did." + +"Well, now," replied Hycy, with an air of easy and natural generosity, +"I should be sorry to think so: they are d--d scoundrels, or rather +common ruffians, I grant you; but still, Bryan, I don't like to suspect +even such vagabonds without good grounds. Bad as we know them to be, I +have my doubts whether they are capable of setting about such an act +for the diabolical purpose of bringing you to ruin. Perhaps they merely +deemed the place on your farm a convenient one to build a still-house +in, and that they never thought further about it." + +"Or what," replied Bryan, "if there was some one behind their backs who +is worse than themselves? Mightn't sich a thing as that be possible?" + +"True," replied Hycy, "true, indeed--that's not improbable. +Stay--no--well it may be--but--no--I can't think it." + +"What is it you can't think?" + +"Why, such a thing might be," proceeded Hycy, "if you have an enemy; but +I think, Bryan, you are too well liked--and justly so too--if you will +excuse me for saying so to your face--to have any enemy capable of going +such nefarious lengths as that." + +Bryan paused and seemed a good deal struck with the truth of Hycy's +observation--"There's raison, sure enough in what you say, Hycy," he +observed. "I don't know that I have a single enemy--unless the +Hogans themselves--that would feel any satisfaction in drivin' me to +destruction." + +"And besides," continued Hycy, "between you and me now, Bryan, who the +devil with an ounce of sense in his head would trust such scoundrels, or +put himself in their power?" + +Bryan considered this argument a still more forcible one than the other. + +"That's stronger still," Re replied, "and indeed I am inclined to +think that after all, Hycy, it happened as you say. Teddy Phats I think +nothing at all about, for the poor, misshapen vagabone will distil +poteen for any one that employs him." + +"True," replied the other, "I agree with you; but what's to be done, +Bryan? for that's the main point now." + +"I scarcely know," replied Bryan, who now began to feel nothing but +kindness towards Hycy, in consequence of the interest which that young +fellow evidently took in his misfortune, for such, in serious truth, it +must be called. "I am the only proprietor of Ahadarra," he proceeded, +"and, as a matter of course, the whole fine falls on my shoulders." + +"Ay, that's the devil of it; but at all events, Bryan, there is nothing +got in this world without exertion and energy. Mr. Chevydale, +the Member, is now at home: he has come down to canvass for the +coming-election. I would recommend you to see him at once. You know--but +perhaps you don't though--that his brother is one of the Commissioners +of Excise; so that I don't know any man who can serve you more +effectually than Chevydale, if he wishes." + +"But what could he do?" asked Bryan. + +"Why, by backing a memorial from you, stating the particulars, and +making out a strong case, he might get the fine reduced. I shall draw up +such a memorial if you wish." + +"Thank you, Hycy--I'm obliged to you--these, I dare say, will be the +proper steps to take--thank you." + +"Nonsense! but perhaps I may serve you a little in another way. I'm +very intimate with Harry Clinton, and who knows but I may be able to +influence the uncle a little through the nephew." + +"It's whispered that you might do more through the niece," replied +Bryan, laughing; "is that true?" + +"Nonsense, I tell you," replied Hycy, affecting confusion; "for Heaven's +sake, Bryan, say nothing about that; how did it come to your ears?" + +"Faith, and that's more than I can tell you," replied the other; "but I +know I heard it somewhere of late." + +"It's not a subject, of course," continued Hycy, "that I should wish to +become the topic of vulgar comment or conversation, and I'd much rather +you would endeavor to discountenance it whenever you hear it spoken of. +At all events, whether with niece or nephew," proceeded Hycy, "you may +rest assured, that whatever service I can render you, I shall not +fail to do it. You and I have had a slight misunderstanding, but on +an occasion like this, Bryan, it should be a bitter one indeed that a +man--a generous man at least,--would or ought to remember." + +This conversation took place whilst Bryan was proceeding to +Fethertonge's, Hycy being also on his way home. On arriving at the turn +of the road which led to Jemmy Burke's, Hycy caught the hand of his +companion, which he squeezed with an affectionate warmth, so cordial and +sincere in its character that Bryan cast every shadow of suspicion to +the winds, + +"Cheer up, Bryan, all will end better than you think, I hope. I shall +draw up a memorial for you this evening, as strongly and forcibly as +possible, and any other assistance that I can render you in this unhappy +difficulty I will do it. I know I am about ninety pounds in your debt, +and instead of talking to you in this way, or giving you fair words, +I ought rather to pay you your money. The 'gentleman,' however, is +impracticable for the present, but I trust--" + +"Not a word about it," said Bryan, "you'll oblige me if you'll drop that +part of the subject; but listen, Hycy,--I think you're generous and a +little extravagant, and both is a good man's case--but that's not what +I'm going to spake about, truth's best at all times; I heard that you +were my enemy, and I was desired to be on my guard against you." + +Hycy looked at him with that kind of surprise which is natural to an +innocent man, and simply said, "May I ask by whom, Bryan?" + +"I may tell you some other time," replied Bryan, "but I won't now; all I +can say is, that I don't believe it, and I'm sure that ought to satisfy +you." + +"I shall expect you to tell me, Bryan," said the other, and then after +returning a few steps, he caught M'Mahon's hand again, and shaking +it warmly, once more added, "God bless you, Bryan; you are a generous +high-minded young fellow, and I only wish I was like you." + +Bryan, after they had separated, felt that Hycy's advice was the very +best possible under the circumstances, and as he had heard for the first +time that Chevydale was in the country, he resolved to go at once and +state to him the peculiar grievance under which he labored. + +Chevydale's house was somewhat nearer Ahadarra than Fethertonge's, but +on the same line of road, and he accordingly proceeded to the residence +of his landlord. The mansion indeed was a fine one. It stood on the brow +of a gentle eminence, which commanded a glorious prospect of rich and +highly cultivated country. Behind, the landscape rose gradually until +it terminated in a range of mountains that protected the house from +the north. The present structure was modern, having been built by old +Chevydale, previous to his marriage. It was large and simple, but so +majestic in appearance, that nothing could surpass the harmony that +subsisted between its proportions and the magnificent old trees which +studded the glorious lawn that surrounded, it, and rose in thick +extensive masses that stretched far away behind the house. It stood in a +park, which for the beauties of wood and. water was indeed worthy of its +fine simplicity and grandeur--a park in which it was difficult to say +whether the beautiful, the picturesque, or the wild, predominated most. +And yet in this princely residence Mr. Chevydale did not reside more +than a month, or at most two, during the whole year. + +On reaching the hall-door, M'Mahon inquired from the servant who +appeared, if he could see Mr. Chevydale. + +"I'm afraid not," said the servant, "but I will see; what's your name?" + +"Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, one of his tenants." + +The servant returned to him in a few moments, and said, "Yes, he will +see you; follow me." + +Bryan entered a library, where he found his landlord and Fethertonge +apparently engaged in business, and as he was in the act of doing so, he +overheard Chevydale saying--"No, no, I shall always see my tenants." + +Bryan made his obeisance in his own plain way, and Chevydale said--"Are +you M'Mahon of Ahadarra?" + +"I am, sir," replied Bryan. + +"I thought you were a much older man," said Chevydale, "there certainly +must be, some mistake here," he added, looking at Fethertonge. + +"M'Mahon of Ahadarra was a middle-aged man several years ago, but this +person is young enough to be his man." + +"You speak of his uncle," replied Fethertonge, "who is dead. This +young man, who now owns his uncle's farm, is son to Thomas M'Mahon of +Carriglass. How is your father, M'Mahon? I hope he bears up well under +his recent loss." + +"Indeed but poorly, sir," replied Bryan, "I fear he'll never be the same +man." + +Chevydale here took to reading a newspaper, and in a minute or two +appeared to be altogether unconscious of Bryan's presence. + +"I'm afeard, sir," said Bryan, addressing himself to the agent, who was +the only person likely to hear him, "I'm afeard, sir, that I've got into +trouble." + +"Into trouble? how is that?" + +"Why, sir, there was a Still, Head, and Worm found upon Ahadarra, and +I'm going to be fined for it." + +"M'Mahon," replied the agent, "I am sorry to hear this, both on your own +account and that of your family. If I don't mistake, you were cautioned +and warned against this; but it was useless; yes, I am sorry for it; and +for you, too." + +"I don't properly understand you, sir," said Bryan. + +"Did I not myself forewarn you against having anything to do in matters +contrary to the law? You must remember I did, and on the very last +occasion, too, when you were in my office." + +"I remember it right well, sir," replied Bryan, "and I say now as I did +then, that I am not the man to break the law, or have act or part in +anything that's contrary to it. I know nothing about this business, +except that three ruffianly looking fellows named Hogan, common tinkers, +and common vagabonds to boot--men that are my enemies--are the persons +by all accounts who set up the still on my property. As for myself, I +had no more to do in it or with it than yourself or Mr. Chevydale here." + +"Well," replied Fethertonge, "I hope not. I should feel much +disappointed if you had, but you know, Bryan," he added, good-humoredly, +"we could scarcely expect that you should admit such a piece of folly, +not to call it by a harsher name." + +"If I had embarked in it," replied M'Mahon, "I sartinly would not deny +it to you or Mr. Chevydale, at least; but, as I said before, I know +nothing more about it, than simply it was these ruffians and a fellow +named Phats, a Distiller, that set it a-working,--however, the question +is, what am I to do? If I must pay the fine for the whole townland, it +will beggar me--ruin me. It was that brought me to my landlord here," he +added; "I believe, sir, you have a brother a Commissioner of Excise?" + +"Eh? what is that?" asked Chevydaie, looking up suddenly as Bryan asked +the question. + +M'Mahon was obliged to repeat all the circumstances once more, as did +Feathertonge the warning he had given him against having any connection +with illegal proceedings. + +"I am to get a memorial drawn up tomorrow, sir," proceeded Bryan, "and I +was thinking that by giving the Board of Excise a true statement of the +case, they might reduce the fine; if they don't, I am ruined--that's +all." + +"Certainly," said his landlord, "that is a very good course to take; +indeed, your only course." + +"I hope, sir," proceeded Bryan, "that as you now know the true +circumstances of the case, you'll be kind, enough to support my +petition; I believe your brother, sir, is one of the Commissioners; +you would sartinly be able to do something with him." + +"No," replied Chevydaie, "I would not ask anything from him; but I +shall support your Petition, and try what I can do with the other +Commissioners. On principle, however, I make it a point never to ask +anything from my brother." + +"Will I bring you the Petition, sir?" asked Bryan. + +"Fetch me the Petition." + +"And Bryan," said Fethertonge, raising his finger at him as if by way of +warning--and laughing--"hark ye, let this be the last." + +"Fethertonge," said the landlord, "I see 'Pratt has been found guilty, +and the sentence confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief." + +"You will insist on it," said Bryan, in reply to the agent, "but--" + +"There now, M'Mahon," said the latter, "that will do; good day to you." + +"I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the +bell?" + +"I don't know, sir," replied the other, ringing as he spoke; "Neville's +testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did +not certainly look like sobriety." + +"I had one other word to say, gentlemen," added M'Mahon, "if you'll +allow me, now that I'm here." + +Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful +but friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed +the subject. "I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some +other time, Bryan." + +"But you know the proverb, sir," said Bryan, smiling, "that there's no +time like the present; besides it's only a word." + +"What is it?" asked the landlord. + +"About the leases, sir," replied M'Mahon, "to know when it would be +convanient for you to sign them." + +Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to +Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant. +At this moment a servant entered, saying, "The horses are at the door, +gentlemen." + +"Come some other day, M'Mahon," said Fethertonge; "do you not see that +we are going out to ride now--going on our canvass? Come to my office +some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the +country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter." + +"Yes, come some other day, Mr.--Mr.--ay--M'Mahon; if there are leases +to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do my duty +as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. You know +I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, unless +when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any necessary +paper." + +Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of +remonstrance, which seemed to say, "Why will you thus persist, when you +see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not +your friend?" Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the +result of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over +him, and in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that +which he had placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most +assuredly not becoming stronger. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI.---A Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan + +--Bryan M'Mahon is Cautioned against Political Temptation--He Seeks +Major Vanston's Interest with the Board of Excise. + + +The consequences of the calamity which was hanging over Bryan M'Mahon's +head, had become now pretty well understood, and occasioned a very +general and profound sympathy for the ruin in which it was likely to +involve him. Indeed, almost every one appeared to feel it more than he +himself did, and many, who on meeting him, were at first disposed to +offer him consolation, changed their purpose on witnessing his cheerful +and manly bearing under it. Throughout the whole country there was but +one family, with another exception, that felt gratified at the blow +which had fallen on him. The exception we speak of was no other than Mr, +Hycy Burke, and the family was that of the Hogans. As for Teddy +Phats, he was not the man to trouble himself by the loss of a moment's +indifference upon any earthly or other subject, saving and excepting +always that it involved the death, mutilation, or destruction in some +shape, of his great and relentless foe, the Gauger, whom he looked upon +as the impersonation of all that is hateful and villainous in life, and +only sent into this world to war with human happiness at large. +That great professional instinct, as the French say, and a strong +unaccountable disrelish of Hycy Burke, were the only two feelings that +disturbed the hardened indifference of his nature. + +One night, shortly after Bryan's visit to his landlord, the Hogans and +Phats were assembled in the kiln between the hours of twelve and one +o'clock, after having drunk nearly three quarts of whiskey among +them. The young savages, as usual, after the vagabond depredations or +mischievous exercises of the day, were snoring as we have described them +before; when Teddy, whom no quantity of liquor could affect beyond a +mere inveterate hardness of brogue and an indescribable effort at mirth +and melody, exclaimed--"Fwhy, dhen, dat's the stuff; and here's bad luck +to him that paid fwor it." + +"I'll not drink it, you ugly _keout_," exclaimed Philip, in his deep and +ruffianly voice; "but come--all o' yez fill up and drink my toast. Come, +Kate, you crame of hell's delights, fill till I give it. No," he added +abruptly, "I won't drink that, you leprechaun; the man that ped for it +is Hycy Burke, and I like Hycy Burke for one thing, an' I'll not dhrink +bad luck to him. Come, are yez ready?" + +"Give it out, you hulk," said Kate, "an' don't keep us here all night +over it." + +"Here, then," exclaimed the savage, with a grin of ferocious mirth, +distorting his grim colossal features into a smile that was frightful +and inhuman--"Here's may Bryan M'Mahon be soon a beggar, an' all his +breed the same! Drink it now, all o' yez, or, by the mortal counthryman, +I'll brain the first that'll refuse it." + +The threat, in this case, was a drunken one, and on that very account +the more dangerous. + +"Well," said Teddy, "I don't like to drink it; but if--" + +"_Honomondiaul!_ you d----d disciple," thundered the giant, "down wid +it, or I'll split your skull!" + +Teddy had it down ere the words were concluded. + +"What!" exclaimed Hogan, or rather roared again, as he fastened his +blazing eyes on Kate--"what, you yalla mullotty, do you dar to refuse?" + +"Ay, do dar to refuse!--an' I'd see you fizzin' on the devil's +fryin'-pan, where you'll fiz yet, afore I'd dhrink it. Come, come," she +replied, her eye blazing now as fiercely as his own, "keep quiet, I bid +you--keep calm; you ought to know me now, I think." + +"Drink it," he shouted, "or I'll brain you." + +"Howl him," said Teddy--"howl him; there's murdher in his eye. My soul +to happiness but he'll kill her." + +"Will he, indeed?" said Bat, with a loud laugh, in which he was joined +by Ned--"will he, indeed?" they shouted. "Go on, Kate, you'll get +fair play if you want it--his eye, Teddy! ay, but look at her's, man +alive--look at her altogether! Go on, Kate--more power!" + +Teddy, on looking at her again, literally retreated a few paces from +sheer terror of the tremendous and intrepid fury who now stood before +him. It was then for the first time that he observed the huge bones and +immense muscular development that stood out into terrible strength +by the force of her rising passion. It was the eye, however, and the +features of the face which filled him with such an accountable dread. +The eyes were literally blazing, and the muscles of the face, now cast +into an expression which seemed at the same time to be laughter and +fury, were wrought up and blended together in such a way as made the +very countenance terrible by the emanation of murder which seemed to +break from every feature of it. "Drink it, I say again," shouted Philip. +Kate made no reply, but, walking over to where he stood, she looked +closely into his eyes, and said, with grinding teeth--"Not if it was to +save you from the gallows, where you'll swing yet; but listen." As she +spoke her words were hoarse and low, there was a volume of powerful +strength in her voice which stunned one like the roar of a lioness. +"Here," she exclaimed, her voice now all at once rising or rather +shooting up to a most terrific scream--"here's a disgraceful death to +Hycy Burke! and may all that's good and prosperous in this world, ay, +and in the next, attend Bryan M'Mahon, the honest man! Now, Philip, my +man, see how I drink them both." And, having concluded, she swallowed +the glass of whiskey, and again drawing her face within an inch of his +she glared right into his eyes. + +"Howl me," he shouted, "or I'll sthrike, an' we'll have a death in the +house." + +She raised one hand and waved it behind her, as an intimation that they +should not interfere. + +The laughter of the brothers now passed all bounds. "No, Kate, go on--we +won't interfere. You had better seize him." + +"No," she replied, "let him begin first, if he dar." + +"Howl me," shouted Philip, "she'll only be killed." + +Another peal of laughter was the sole reply given to this by the +brothers. "He's goin'," they exclaimed, "he's gone--the white fedher's +in him--it's all over wid him--he's afeerd of her, an' not for nothing +either--ha! ha! ha! more power, Kate!" + +Stung by the contemptuous derision contained in this language, Philip +was stepping back in order to give himself proper room for a blow, when, +on the very instant that he moved, Kate, uttering something between a +howl and a yell, dashed her huge hands into his throat--which was, as +is usual with tinkers, without a cravat--and in a moment a desperate and +awful struggle took place between them. Strong as Philip was, he found +himself placed perfectly on the defensive by the terrific grip which +this furious opponent held of his throat. So powerful was it, indeed, +that not a single instant was allowed him for the exercise of any +aggressive violence against her by a blow, all his strength being +directed to unclasp her hands from his throat that he might be permitted +to breathe. As they pulled and tugged, however, it was evident that the +struggle was going against him--a hoarse, alarming howl once or twice +broke from him, that intimated terror and distress on his part. + +"That's right, Kate," they shouted, "you have him--press tight--the +windpipe's goin'--bravo! he'll soon stagger an' come down, an' then you +may do as you like." + +They tugged on, and dragged, and panted, with the furious vehemence of +the exertion; when at length Philip shouted, in a voice half-stifled by +strangulation, "Let g--o--o--o, I--I sa--y--y; ah! ah! ah!" + +Bat now ran over in a spirit of glee and triumph that cannot well be +described, and clapping his wife on the back, shouted--"Well done, +Kate; stick to him for half a minute and he's yours. Bravo! you clip o' +perdition, bravo!" + +He had scarcely uttered the words when the giant carcass of Philip +tottered and fell, dragging Kate along with it, who never for a moment +lost or loosened her hold. Her opponent now began to sprawl and kick +out his feet from a sense of suffocation, and in attempting to call for +assistance, nothing but low, deep gurgling noises could issue from his +lips, now livid with the pressure on his throat and covered with foam. +His face, too, at all times dark and savage, became literally black, and +he uttered such sternutations as, on seeing that they were accompanied +by the diminished struggles which betoken exhaustion, induced Teddy to +rush over for the purpose of rescuing him from her clutches. + +"Aisy," said the others; "let them alone--a little thing will do it +now--it's almost over--she has given him his gruel--an' divil's cure to +him--he knew well enough what she could do--but he would have it." + +Faint convulsive movements were all now that could be noticed in the +huge limbs of their brother, and still the savage tigress was at his +throat, when her husband at length said:-- + +"It's time, Ned--it's time--she may carry it too far--he's quiet enough +now. Come away, Kate, it's all right--let him alone--let go your hoult +of him." + +Kate, however, as if she had tasted his blood, would listen to no such +language; all the force, and energies, and bloody instincts of the +incarnate fury were aroused within her, and she still stuck to her +victim. + +"Be japers she'll kill him," shouted Bat, rushing to her; "come, +Ned, till we unclasp her--take care--pull quickly--bloody wars, he's +dead!--Kate, you divil!--you fury of hell! let go--let go, I say." + +Kate, however, heard him not, but still tugged and stuck to the throat +of Philip's quivering carcass, until by a united effort they at length +disentangled her iron clutches from it, upon which she struggled and +howled like a beast of prey, and attempted with a strength that seemed +more akin to the emotion of a devil than that of a woman to get at him +again and again, in order to complete her work. + +"Come, Kate," said her husband, "you're a Trojan--by japers you're a +Trojan; you've settled him any way--is there life in him?" he asked, "if +there is, dash wather or something in his face, an' drag him up out o' +that--ha! ha! Well done, Kate; only for you we'd lead a fine life wid +him--ay! an' a fine life that is--a hard life we led until you did +come--there now, more power to you--by the livin' Counthryman, there's +not your aquil in Europe--come now, settle down, an' don't keep all +movin' that way as if you wor at him again--sit down now, an' here's +another glass of whiskey for you." + +In the mean time, Ned and Teddy Phats succeeded in recovering Philip, +whom they dragged over and placed upon a kind of bench, where in a few +minutes he recovered sufficiently to be able to speak--but ever and anon +he shook his head, and stretched his neck, and drew his breath deeply, +putting his hands up from time to time as if he strove to set his +windpipe more at ease. + +"Here Phil, my hairo," said his triumphant brother Bat, "take another +glass, an' may be for all so strong and murdherin' as you are wid others +you now know--an' you knew before what our woman' can do at home wid +you." + +"I've--hoch--hoch--I've done wid her--she's no woman; there's a devil +in her, an' if you take my advice, it's to Priest M'Scaddhan you'd bring +her, an' have the same devil prayed out of her--I that could murdher ere +a man in the parist a'most!" + +"Lave Bryan M'Mahon out," said Kate. + +"No I won't," replied Phil, sullenly, and with a voice still hoarse, +"no, I won't--I that could make smash of ere a man in the parish, to be +throttled into perdition by a blasted woman. She's a devil, I say; for +the last ten minutes I seen nothin' but fire, fire, fire, as red as +blazes, an' I hard somethin' yellin', yellin', in my ears." + +"Ay!" replied Kate, "I know you did--that was the fire of hell you seen, +ready to resave you; an' the noise you hard was the voices of the devils +that wor comin' for your sowl--ay, an' the voices of the two wives you +murdhered--take care then, or I'll send you sooner to hell than you +dhrame of." + +The scowl which she had in return for this threat was beyond all +description. + +"Oh, I have done wid you," he replied; "you're not right, I say--but +never mind, I'll put a pin in M'Mahon's collar for this--ay will I." + +"Don't!" she exclaimed, in one fearful monosyllable, and then she added +in a low condensed whisper, "or if you do, mark the consequence." + +"Trot, Phil," said Teddy, "I think you needn't throuble your head about +M'Mahon--he's done fwhor." + +"An' mark me," said Kate, "I'll take care of the man that done for him. +I know him well, betther than he suspects, an' can make him sup sorrow +whenever I like--an' would, too, only for one thing." + +"An' fwhat's dhat wan thing?" asked Phats. + +"You'll know it when you're ouldher, may be," replied Kate; "but you +must be ouldher first--I can keep my own secrets, thank God, an' will, +too--only mark me all o' yez; you know well what I am--let no injury +come to Bryan M'Mahon. For the sake of one person he must be safe." + +"Well," observed Teddy, "let us hear no more about them; it's all +settled that we are to set up in Glen Dearg above again--for this +Hycy,--who's sthrivin' to turn the penny where he can." + +"It is," said Bat; "an', to-morrow night, let us bring the things +up--this election will sarve us at any rate--but who will come in?" (* +That is, be returned.) + +"The villain of hell!" suddenly exclaimed Kate, as if to herself; "to +go to ruin the young man! That girl's breakin' her heart for what has +happened." + +"What are you talkin' about?" asked her husband. + +"Nothing," she replied; "only if you all intend to have any rest +to-night, throw yourselves in the shake-down there, an' go sleep. I'm +not to sit up the whole night here, I hope?" + +Philip, and Ned, and Teddy tumbled themselves into the straw, and in a +few minutes were in a state of perfect oblivion. + +"Hycy Burke is a bad boy, Bat," she said, as the husband was about to +follow their example; "but he is marked--I've set my mark upon him." + +"You appear to know something particular about him," observed her +husband. + +"Maybe I do, an' maybe I don't," she replied; "but I tell you, he's +marked--that's all--go to bed now." + +He tumbled after the rest, Kate stretched herself in an, opposite +corner, and in a few minutes this savage orchestra was in full chorus. + +What an insoluble enigma is woman! From the specimen of feminine +delicacy and modest diffidence which we have just presented to the +reader, who would imagine that Kate Hogan was capable of entering into +the deep and rooted sorrow which Kathleen Cavanagh experienced when made +acquainted with the calamity which was about to crush her lover. Yet so +it was. In truth this fierce and furious woman who was at once a thief, +a liar, a drunkard, and an impostor, hardened in wickedness and deceit, +had in spite of all this a heart capable of virtuous aspirations, and +of loving what was excellent and good. It is true she was a hypocrite +herself, yet she detested Hycy Burke for his treachery. She was a thief +and a liar, yet she liked and respected Bryan M'Mahon for his truth and +honesty. Her heart, however, was not all depraved; and, indeed, it is +difficult to meet a woman in whose disposition, however corrupted by +evil society, and degraded by vice, there is not to be found a portion +of the angelic essence still remaining. In the case before us, however, +this may be easily accounted for. Kate Hogan, though a hell-cat and +devil, when provoked, was, amidst all her hardened violence and general +disregard of truth and honesty, a virtuous woman and a faithful wife. +Hence her natural regard for much that was good and pure, and her strong +sympathy with the sorrow which now fell upon Kathleen Cavanagh. + +Kathleen and her sister had been sitting sewing at the parlor window, on +the day Bryan had the interview we have detailed with Chevydale and the +agent, when they heard their father's voice inquiring for Hanna. + +"He has been at Jemmy Burke's, Kathleen," said her sister, "and I'll +wager a nosegay, if one could get one, that he has news of this new +sweetheart of yours; he's bent, Kathleen," she added, "to have you in +Jemmy Burke's family, cost what it may." + +"So it seems, Hanna." + +"They say Edward Burke is still a finer-looking young fellow than Hycy. +Now, Kathleen," she added, laughing, "if you should spoil a priest +afther all! Well! un-likelier things have happened." + +"That may be," replied Kathleen, "but this won't happen for all that, +Hanna. Go, there he's calling for you again." + +"Yes--yes," she shouted; "throth, among you all, Kathleen, you're making +a regular go-between of me. My father thinks I can turn you round my +finger, and Bryan M'Mahon thinks--yes, I'm goin'," she answered again. +"Well, keep up your spirits; I'll soon have news for you about this +spoiled priest." + +"Poor Hanna," thought Kathleen; "where was there ever such a sister? She +does all she can to keep my spirits up; but it can't be. How can I see +him ruined and beggared, that had the high spirit and the true heart?" + +Hanna, her father, and mother, held a tolerably long discussion +together, in which Kathleen could only hear the tones of their voices +occasionally. It was evident, however, by the emphatic intonations of +the old couple, that they were urging some certain point, which her +faithful sister was deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by +seriousness, and at other times by mirth. At length she returned with +a countenance combating between seriousness and jest; the seriousness, +however, predominating. + +"Kathleen," said she, "you never had a difficulty before you until now. +They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any +wish to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all +a trick of the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now +determined to disappoint them. What will you do?" + +"What would you recommend me?" asked Kathleen, looking at her with +something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there +was a slight smile upon her lips. + +"Why," said the frank and candid girl, "certainly to run away with Bryan +M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything." + +"Would it settle my father's heart," said Kathleen, "and my +mother's?--would it settle my own character?--would it be the step that +all the world would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?--and putting all the +world aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God, +my dear Hanna?" + +"Kathleen, forgive me, darlin'," said her sister, throwing her arms +about her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; "I'm a foolish, +flighty creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't +advise you. Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine." + +"If your head makes fifty mistakes," said her sister, "your heart's an +excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when +you're in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put +together. Come, now." + +They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora +M'Mahon who, as she said, "came down to ask them up a while, as the +house was now so lonesome;" and she added, with artless naivete, "I +don't know how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever +did before. Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you +as a stranger, and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to +you more and more." + +Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration +which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding +this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to +say anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw +Bryan at the turn of the road approaching them. + +"Here's a friend of ours," she exclaimed; "no less than Bryan M'Mahon +himself. Come, Dora, we can't go' up to Carriglass, but we'll walk back +with you a piece o' the way." + +Bryan, who was then on his return from Chevydale's, soon joined them, +and they proceeded in the direction of his father's, Dora and Hanna +having, with good-humored consideration, gone forward as an advanced +guard, leaving Bryan and Kathleen to enjoy their tete-a-tete behind +them. + +"Dear Kathleen," said Bryan, "I was very anxious to see you. You've +h'ard of this unfortunate business that has come upon me?" + +"I have," she replied, "and I need not say that I'm sorry for it. Is it, +or will it be as bad as they report?" + +"Worse, Kathleen. I will have the fine for all Ahadarra to pay myself." + +"But can nothing be done. Wouldn't they let you off when they come to +hear that, although the Still was found upon your land, yet it wasn't +yours, nor it wasn't you that was usin' it?" + +"I don't know how that may be. Hycy Burke tells me that they'll be apt +to reduce the fine, if I send them a petition or memorial, or whatever +they call it, an' he's to have one Written for me to-morrow." + +"I'm afraid Hycy's a bad authority for anybody, Bryan." + +"I don't think you do poor Hycy justice, Kathleen; he's not, in my +opinion, so bad as you think him. I don't know a man, nor I haven't +met a man that's sorrier for what has happened me; he came to see me +yesterday, and to know in what way he could serve me, an' wasn't called +upon to do so." + +"I hope you're right, Bryan; for why should I wish Hycy Burke to be a +bad man, or why should I wish him ill? I may be mistaken in him, and I +hope I am." + +"Indeed, I think you are, Kathleen; he's wild a good deal, I grant, +and has a spice of mischief in him, and many a worthy young fellow has +both." + +"That's very true," she replied; "however, we have h'ard bad enough of +him. There's none of us what we ought to be, Bryan. If you're called +upon to pay this fine, what will, be the consequence?" + +"Why, that I'll have to give up my farm--that I won't be left worth +sixpence." + +"Who put the still up in Ahadarra?" she inquired. "Is it true that it +was the Hogan's?" + +"Indeed I believe there's no doubt about it," he replied; "since I +left the landlord's, I have heard what satisfies me that it was them and +Teddy Phats." + +Kathleen paused and sighed. "They are a vile crew," she added, after a +little; "but, be they what they may, they're faithful and honest, and +affectionate to our family; an' that, I believe, is the only good about +them. Bryan, I am very sorry for this misfortune that has come upon you. +I am sorry for your own sake." + +"And I," replied Bryan, "am sorry for--I was goin' to say--yours; but +it would be, afther all, for my own. I haven't the same thoughts of you +now, dear Kathleen." + +She gazed quickly, and with some surprise at him, and asked, "Why so, +Bryan?" + +"I'm changed--I'm a ruined man," he replied; "I had bright hopes of +comfort and happiness--hopes that I doubt will never come to pass. +However," he added, recovering himself, and assuming a look of +cheerfulness, "who knows if everything will turnout so badly as we +fear?" + +"That's the spirit you ought to show," returned Kathleen; "You have +before you the example of a good father; don't be cast down, nor look +at the dark side; but you said you had not the same thoughts of me just +now; I don't understand you." + +"Do you think," he replied, with a smile, "that I meant to say my +affection for you was changed? Oh, no, Kathleen; but that my situation +is changed, or soon will be so; and that on that account we can't be the +same thing to one another that we have been." + +"Bryan," she replied, "you may always depend upon this, that so long as +you are true to your God and to yourself, I will be true to you. Depend +upon this once and forever." + +"Kathleen, that's like yourself, but I could not think of bringing you +to shame." He paused, and turning his eyes full upon her, added--"I'm +allowin' myself to sink again. Everything will turn out better than we +think, plaise God." + +"I hope so," she added, "but whatever happens, Bryan do you always act +an open, honest, manly part, as I know you will do; act always so as +that your conscience can't accuse you, or make you feel that you have +done anything that is wrong, or unworthy, or disgraceful; and then, dear +Bryan, welcome poverty may you say, as I will welcome Bryan M'Mahon with +it." + +Both had paused for a little on their way, and stood for about a minute +moved by the interest which each felt in what the other uttered. As +Bryan's eye rested on the noble features and commanding figure of +Kathleen, he was somewhat started by the glow of enthusiasm which +lit both her eye and her cheek, although he was too unskilled in the +manifestations of character to know that it was enthusiasm she felt. + +They then proceeded, and after a short silence Bryan observed--"Dear +Kathleen, I know the value of the advice you are giving me, but will you +let me ask if you ever seen anything in my conduct, or heard anything in +my conversation, that makes you think it so necessary to give it to me?" + +"If I ever had, Bryan, it's not likely I'd be here at your side this day +to give it to you; but you're now likely to be brought into trials and +difficulties--into temptation--and it is then that you may think maybe +of what I'm sayin' now." + +"Well, Kathleen," he replied, smiling, "you're determined at all events +that the advice will come before the temptation; but, indeed, my own +dearest girl, my heart this moment is proud when I think that you are +so full of truth, an' feelin', and regard for me, as to give me such +advice, and to be able to give it. But still I hope I won't stand in +need of it, and that if the temptations you spoke of come in my way, +I will have your advice--ay, an' I trust in God the adviser, too--to +direct me." + +"Are you sure, Bryan," and she surveyed him closely as she spoke--"are +you sure that no part of the temptation has come across you already?" + +He looked surprised as she asked him this singular question. "I am," +said he; "but, dear Kathleen, I can't rightly understand you. What +temptations do you mane?" + +"Have you not promised to vote for Mr. Vanston, the Tory candidate, who +never in his life voted for your religion or your liberty?" + +"Do you mane me, dearest Kathleen?" + +"You, certainly; who else could I mean when I ask you the question?" + +"Why, I never promised to vote for Vanston," he replied; "an' what is +more--but who said I did?" + +"On the day before yesterday," she proceeded, "two gentlemen came to our +house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to +vote for them--that is for Vanston." + +"Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true. +I didn't promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me. Are you +satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?" + +"I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart +is easy. Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a +beggarly farm?" + +"But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm." + +Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded. "What signifies +poverty, Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the +conscience clear and without a spot? Nothing--oh, nothing! As God is to +judge me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, +as I said awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate +by your side, if you could prove false to either." + +The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire +which animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, +and Bryan, to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with +something like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks. + +He caught her hand and said "My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know +you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a +traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!" + +"Don't be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don't, my dear Bryan; for you +may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would +feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to +his religion or his suffering country." + +"How could I," he replied, "with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a +guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me? Well, now that your mind +is aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too. I have no doubt but +we'll be happy yet--at least I trust in God we will. Who knows but +everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they +may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my +good name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII.--Interview between Hycy and Finigan + +--The Former Propones for Miss Clinton--A love Scene + + +Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he +had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he +ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to +Bryan. The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience +he knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, +in excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy +Phats, was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would +inform upon him. After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came +to the conclusion that the school-master, Finigan, must have been +the traitor, and with this impression he resolved to give that worthy +personage a call upon his way home. He found him as usual at full work, +and as usual, also, in that state which is commonly termed half drunk, a +state, by the way, in which the learned pedagogue generally contrived +to keep himself night and day. Hycy did not enter his establishment, but +after having called him once or twice to no purpose--for such was the +din of the school that his voice could not penetrate it--he at length +knocked against the half open door, which caused him to be both seen +and heard more distinctly. On seeing him, the school-master got to his +limbs, and was about to address him, when Hycy said-- + +"Finigan, I wish to speak a few words to you." + +"O'Finigan, sir--O'Finigan, Mr. Burke. It is enough, sir, to be deprived +of our hereditary territories, without being clipped of our names; they +should lave us those at all events unmutilated. O'Finigan, therefore, +Mr. Burke, whenever you address me, if you plaise." + +"Well, Mr. O'Finigan," continued Hycy, "if not inconvenient, I should +wish to speak a few words with you." + +"No inconvenience in the world, Mr. Burke; I am always disposed to +oblige my friends whenever I can do so wid propriety. My advice, sir, +my friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to +guide them--my friendship to sustain--and my purse--hem!--ha, ha, ha--I +think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there," he added, laughing, +"inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers term a +vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen," he proceeded, addressing the scholars, +"I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a social cup +wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence of a short +interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my _locum tenens_ +until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put the +names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign' +is the word; an' see, Gusty--mairk me well--no bribery--no bread +nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the +culprits--otherwise you shall become their substitute in the +castigation, and I shall teach you to look one way and feel another, my +worthy con-disciple." + +"Now, Finigan--I beg your pardon--O'Finigan," said Hycy, when they were +seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with refreshments +before them, "I think I have reason to be seriously displeased with +you." + +"Displeased with me!" exclaimed his companion; "and may I take the +liberty to interrogate wherefore, Mr. Hycy?" + +"You misrepresented me to Bryan M'Mahon," said Hycy. + +"Upon what grounds and authority do you spake, sir?" asked Finigan, +whose dignity was beginning to take offence. + +"I have good grounds and excellent authority for what I say," replied +Hycy. "You have acted a very dishonorable part, Mr. Finigan, and the +consequence is that I have ceased to be your friend." + +"I act a dishonorable part. Why, sir, I scorn the imputation; but how +have I acted a dishonorable part? that's the point." + +"You put Bryan M'Mahon upon his guard against me, and consequently left +an impression on his mind that I was his enemy." + +"Well," said the other, with a good deal of irony, "that is good! Have +I, indeed? And pray, Mr. Burke, who says so?" + +"I have already stated that my authority for it is good." + +"But you must name you authority, sir, no lurking assassin shall be +permitted wid impunity to stab my fair reputation wid the foul dagger of +calumny and scandal. Name your authority, sir?" + +"I could do so." + +"Well, sir, why don't you? Let me hear the name of the illiterate +miscreant, whoever he is, that has dared to tamper with my unblemished +fame." + +"All I ask you," continued Hycy, "is to candidly admit the fact, and +state why you acted as you did." + +"Name your authority, sir, and then I shall speak. Perhaps I did, and +perhaps I did not; but when you name your authority I shall then +give you a more satisfactory reply. That's the language--the elevated +language--of a gentleman, Mr. Burke." + +"My authority then is no other than Bryan M'Mahon himself," replied +Hycy, "who told me that he was cautioned against me; so that I hope +you're now satisfied." + +"Mr. Burke," replied Finigan, assuming a lofty and impressive manner, +"I have known the M'Mahons for better than forty years; so, in fact, has +the country around them; and until the present moment I never heard that +a deliberate falsehood, or any breach of truth whatsoever, was imputed +to any one of them. Tom M'Mahon's simple word was never doubted, and +would pass aquil to many a man's oath; and it is the same thing wid the +whole family, man and women. They are proverbial, sir, for truth +and integrity, and a most spontaneous effusion of candor under all +circumstances. You will pardon me then, Mr. Hycy, if I avow a trifle of +heresy in this matter. You are yourself, wid great respect be it spoken, +sometimes said to sport your imagination occasionally, and to try your +hand wid considerable success at a _lapsus veritatis_. Pardon me, then, +if I think it somewhat more probable that you have just now stated what +an ould instructor of mine used to call a moral thumper; excuse me, I +say; and at all events I have the pleasure of drinking your health; and +if my conjecture be appropriate, here's also a somewhat closer adhesion +to the _veritas_ aforesaid to you!" + +"Do you mean to insinuate that I'm stating what is not true?" said +Burke, assuming an offended look, which, however, he did not feel. + +"No, sir," replied Finigan, retorting his look with one of indignant +scorn, "far be it from me to insinuate any such thing. I broadly, and +in all the latitudinarianism of honest indignation, assert that it is a +d--d lie, begging your pardon, and drinking to your moral improvement a +second time; and ere you respond to what I've said, it would be as well, +in order to have the matter copiously discussed, if you ordhered in +a fresh supply of liquor, and help yourself, for, if the proverb be +true--_in vino veritas_--there it is again, but truth will be out, you +see--who knows but we may come to a thrifle of it from you yet? Ha! ha! +ha! Excuse the jest, Mr. Hycy. You remember little Horace,-- + + "'Quid vetat ridentem dicere verum?'" + +"Do you mean to say, sirra," said Hycy, "that I have stated a lie?" + +"I mean to say that whoever asserts that I misrepresented you in any way +to Bryan M'Mahon, or ever cautioned him against you, states a lie of the +first magnitude--a moral thumper, of gigantic dimensions." + +"Well, will you tell me what you did say to him?" + +"What I did say," echoed Finigan. "Well," he added, after a pause, +during which he I surveyed Hycy pretty closely--having now discovered +that he was, in fact, only proceeding upon mere suspicion--"I believe +I must acknowledge a portion of the misrepresentation. I must, on +secondary consideration, plead guilty to that fact." + +"I thought as much," said Hycy. + +"Here then--," proceeded Finigan, with a broad and provoking grin +upon his coarse but humorous features, "here, Mr. Hycy, is what I +did say--says I, 'Bryan, I have a word to say to you, touching an +accomplished young gentleman, a friend of yours.' + +"'What is that?' asked the worthy Beit-nardus. + +"'It is regarding the all-accomplished Mr. Hyacinthus Burke,' I replied, +'who is a _homo-factus ad unguem_. Mr. Burke, Bryan,' I proceeded, 'is a +gentleman in the--hem--true sense of that word. He is generous, candid, +faithful, and honest; and in association wid all his other excellent +qualities, he is celebrated, among the select few who know him best, +for an extraordinary attachment to--truth.' Now, if that wasn't +misrepresentation, Mr. Hycy, I don't know what was. Ha! ha! ha!" + +"You're half drunk," replied Hycy, "or I should rather say whole drunk, +I think, and scarcely know what you're saying; or rather, I believe +you're a bit of a knave, Mr. O'Finigan." + +"Thanks, sir; many thanks for the prefix. Proceed." + +"I have nothing more to add," replied Hycy, rising up and preparing to +go. + +"Ay," said Finigan, with another grin, "a bit of a knave, am I? Well, +now, isn't it better to be only a bit of a knave than a knave all out--a +knave in full proportions, from top to toe, from head to heel--like some +accomplished gentlemen that I have the! honor of being acquainted wid. +But in the I meantime, now, don't be in a hurry, man alive, nor look +as if you were fatted on vinegar. Sit down again; ordher in another +libation, and I shall make a disclosure that will be worth your waiting +for." + +"You shall have the libation, as you call it, at all events," said Hycy, +resuming his seat, but feeling, at the same time, by no means satisfied +with the lurking grin which occasionally played over Finigan's features. + +After much chat and banter, and several attempts on the part of Hycy to +insinuate himself into the pedagogue's confidence, he at length rose +to go. His companion was now in that state which strongly borders on +inebriety, and he calculated that if it were possible to worm anything +out of him, he was now in the best condition for it. Every effort, +however, was in vain; whenever he pressed the schoolmaster closely, the +vague, blank expression of intoxication disappeared for a moment, and +was replaced by the broad, humorous ridicule, full of self-possession +and consciousness, which always characterized Finigan, whether drunk or +sober. The man was naturally cunning, and ranked among a certain class +of topers who can be made drunk to a certain extent, and upon some +particular subjects, but who, beyond that, and with these limitations, +defy the influence of liquor. + +Hycy Burke was one of those men who, with smart and showy qualities +and great plausibility of manner, was yet altogether without purpose +or steadfast principle in the most ordinary affairs of life. He had no +fixed notions upon either morals, religion, or politics; and when we +say so, we may add, that he was equally without motive--that is, without +_adequate_ motive, in almost everything he did. + +The canvass was now going on with great zeal on the part of Chevydale +and Vanston. Sometimes Hycy was disposed to support the one and +sometimes the other, but as to feeling a firm attachment to the cause or +principles of either, it was not in his nature. + +Indeed, the approach of a general election was at all times calculated +to fill the heart of a thinking man with a strong sense of shame for his +kind, and of sorrow for the unreasoning and brutal tendency to slavery +and degradation which it exhibits. Upon this occasion the canvass, in, +consequence of the desperate struggle that must ensue, owing to the +equality of the opposing forces, was a remarkably early one. Party +feeling and religious animosity, as is usual, ran very high, each having +been made the mere stalking-horse or catchword of the rival candidates, +who cared nothing, or at least very little, about the masses on either +side, provided always that they could turn them to some advantage. + +It was one morning after the canvass had been going forward with great +activity on both sides for about a week, that Hycy, who now felt himself +rather peculiarly placed, rode down to Clinton's for the purpose of +formally paying his addresses to the gauger's interesting niece, and, +if possible, ascertaining his fate from her own lips. His brother Edward +had now been brought home in accordance with the expressed determination +of his father, with whom he was, unquestionably, a manifest favorite, a +circumstance which caused Hycy to detest him, and also deprived him in a +great degree of his mother's affection. Hycy had now resolved to pay his +devoirs to Kathleen Cavanagh, as a _dernier_ resort, in the event of +his failing with Miss Clinton; for, as regarding affection, he had +no earthly conception what it I meant. With this view he rode down to +Clinton's as we said, and met Harry coming out of the stable. + +"Harry," said he, after his horse was put I up, "I am about to ask an +interview with your sister." + +"I don't think she will grant it," replied her brother, "you are by no +means a favorite; with her; however, you can try; perhaps she may. You +know the old adage, '_varium et imutabile semper_.' Who knows but she +may have changed her mind?" + +"Is your uncle within?" asked Hycy. + +"No," replied his nephew, "he's gone to Fethertonge's upon some election +business." + +"Could you not contrive," said Hycy, "to leave her and me together, +then, and allow me to ascertain what I am to expect?" + +"Come in," said Harry--"never say it again. If I can I will." + +Hycy, as we have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of +persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his +really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit +which he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a +presentiment of success that is almost inseparable from persons of his +class, who can scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided +rejection by a woman as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry +Clinton himself, though but a young man, thought, as he afterwards +stated to his sister, that he never saw Hycy have so much the appearance +of a puppy as upon that occasion. As had been proposed, he withdrew, +however, and the lover being left in the drawing-room with Miss Clinton +began, with a simper that was rather coxcombical, to make allusions to +the weather, but in such a way as if there was some deep but delightful +meaning veiled under his commonplaces. At length he came directly to the +'point. + +"But passing from the weather, Miss Clinton, to a much more agreeable +topic, permit me to ask if you have ever turned your thoughts upon +matrimony?" + +The hectic of a moment, as Sterne. says, accompanied by a look that +slightly intimated displeasure, or something like it, was the only reply +he received for a quarter of a minute, when she said, after the feeling +probably had passed away--"No, indeed, Mr. Burke, I have not." + +"Come, come, Miss Clinton," said Hycy, with another smirk, "that won't +pass. Is it not laid down by the philosophers that you think of little +else from the time you are marriageable?" + +"By what philosophers?" + +"Why, let me see--by the philosophers in general--ha! ha! ha!" + +"I was not aware of that," she replied; "but even if they have so ruled +it, I see no inference we can draw from that, except their ignorance of +the subject." + +"It is so ruled, however," said Hycy, "and philosophy is against you." + +"I am willing it should, Mr. Burke, provided we have truth with us." + +"Very good, indeed, Miss Clinton--that was well said; but, seriously, +have you ever thought of marriage?" + +"Doesn't philosophy say that we seldom think of anything else?" she +replied, smiling. Ask philosophy, then." + +"But this really is a subject in which I feel a particular interest--a +personal interest; but, as for philosophy, I despise it--that is as it +is usually understood. The only philosophy of life is love, and that is +my doctrine." + +"Is that your only doctrine?" + +"Pretty nearly; but it is much the same as that which appears in the +world under the different disguises of religion." + +"I trust you do not mean to assert that love and religion are the same +thing, Mr. Burke?" + +"I do; the terms are purely convertible. Love is the universal religion +of man, and he is most religious who feels it most; that is your only +genuine piety. For instance, I am myself in a most exalted state of that +same piety this moment, and have been so for a considerable time past." + +Miss Clinton felt a good deal embarrassed by the easy profligacy that +was expressed in these sentiments, and she made an effort to change the +subject. + +"Are you taking part in the canvass which is going on in the country, +Mr. Burke?" + +"Not much," said he; "I despise politics as much as I cherish the little +rosy god; but really, Miss Clinton, I feel anxious to know your opinions +on marriage, and you have not stated them. Do you not think the nuptial +state the happiest?" + +"It's a subject I feel no inclination whatsoever to discuss, Mr. Burke; +it is a subject which, personally speaking, has never occupied from me +one moment's thought; and, having said so much, I trust you will have +the goodness to select some other topic for conversation." + +"But I am so circumstanced, just now, Miss Clinton, that I cannot really +change it. The truth is, that I have felt very much attached to you for +some time past--upon my word and honor I have: it's a fact, I assure +you, Miss Clinton; and I now beg to make you a tender of myself +and--and--of all I am possessed of. I am a most ardent admirer of yours; +and the upmost extent of my ambition is to become an accepted one. Do +then, my dear Miss Clinton, allow me the charming privilege--pray, do." + +"What will be the consequence if I do not?" she replied, smiling. + +"Upon my word and honor, I shall go nearly distracted, and get quite +melancholy; my happiness depends upon you, Miss Clinton; you are a very +delightful girl, quite a _nonpareil_, and I trust you will treat me with +kindness and consideration." + +"Mr. Burke," replied the lady, "I am much obliged for the preference you +express for me; but whether you are serious or in jest, I can only say +that I have no notion of matrimony; that I have never had any notion of +it; and that I can safely say, I have never seen the man whom I should +wish to call my husband. You will oblige me very much, then, if in +future you forbear to introduce this subject. Consider it a forbidden +one, so far as I am concerned, for I feel quite unworthy of so gifted +and accomplished a gentleman as Mr. Burke." + +"You will not discard me surely, Miss Clinton?" + +"On that subject, unquestionably." + +"No, no, my dear Miss Clinton, you will not say so; do not be so cruel; +you will distress me greatly, I assure you. I am very much deficient in +firmness, and your cruelty will afflict me and depress my spirits." + +"I trust not, Mr. Burke. Your spirits are naturally good, and I have +no doubt but you will ultimately overcome this calamity--at least I +sincerely hope so." + +"Ah, Miss Clinton, you little know the heart I have, nor my capacity for +feeling; my feelings, I assure you, are exceedingly tender, and I +get quite sunk under disappointment. Come, Miss Clinton, you must not +deprive me altogether of hope; it is too cruel. Do not say no forever." + +The arch girl shook her head with something of mock solemnity, and +replied, "I must indeed, Mr. Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced, +and in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue +to sustain you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a +negative. I would fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and +your well-known sense of religion, will support you under such a trial." + +This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave +it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully +understood. + +"Well, Miss Clinton," said he, rising with a countenance in which there +was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a +struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, "I must +only hope that you probably may change your mind." + +"Mr. Burke," said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was +designed to terminate the interview, "there are subjects upon which a +girl of delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I +feel obliged to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's +housekeeper," she added, taking up a bunch of keys, "and you must permit +me to wish you a good morning," saying which, with a cool but very +polite inclination of her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who +cut anything but a dignified figure as he withdrew. + +"Well," said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, "is +the report favorable?" + +"No," replied Hycy, "anything but favorable. I fear, Harry, you have not +played me fair in this business." + +"How is that?" asked the other, rather quickly. + +"I fear you've prejudiced your sister against me, and that instead of +giving me a clear stage, you gave me the 'no favor' portion of the adage +only." + +"I am not in the habit of stating a falsehood, Hycy, nor of having any +assertion I make questioned; I have already told you, I think, that I +would not prejudice my sister against you. I now repeat that I have not +done so; but I cannot account for her prejudices against you any more +than I shall attempt to contradict or combat them, so far from that I +now tell you, that if she were unfortunately disposed to many you, I +would endeavor to prevent her." + +"And pray why so, Harry, if it is a fair question?" + +"Perfectly fair; simply because I should not wish to see my sister +married to a man unburthened with any kind of principle. In fact, +without the slightest intention whatsoever, Hycy, to offer you offence, +I must say that you are not the man to whom I should entrust Maria's +peace and happiness; I am her only brother, and have a right to speak as +I do. I consider it my duty." + +"Certainly," replied Hycy, "if you think so, I cannot blame you; but I +see clearly that you misunderstand my character--that is all." + +They separated in a few minutes afterwards, and Hycy in a very serious +and irritable mood rode homewards. In truth his prospects at this +peculiar period were anything but agreeable. Here his love-suit, if it +could be called so, had just been rejected by Miss Clinton, in a manner +that utterly precluded all future hope in that quarter. With Kathleen +Cavanagh he had been equally unsuccessful. His brother Edward was now at +home, too, a favorite with, and inseparable from his father, who of late +maintained any intercourse that took place between himself and Hycy, +with a spirit of cool, easy sarcasm, that was worse than anger itself. +His mother, also, in consequence of her unjustifiable attempts to +defend her son's irregularities, had lost nearly all influence with her +husband, and if the latter should withdraw, as he had threatened to +do, the allowance of a hundred a year with which he supplied him, he +scarcely saw on what hand he could turn. With Kathleen Cavanagh and Miss +Clinton he now felt equally indignant, nor did his friend Harry escape +a strong portion of his ill-will. Hycy, not being overburthened with +either a love or practice of truth himself, could not for a moment yield +credence to the assertion of young Clinton, that he took no stops to +prejudice his sister against him. He took it for granted, therefore, +that it was to his interference he owed the reception he had just got, +and he determined in some way or other to repay him for the ill-services +he had rendered him. + +The feeling of doubt and uncertainty with which Bryan M'Mahon parted +from his landlord and Fethertonge, the agent, after the interview we +have already described, lost none of their strength by time. Hycy's +memorial had been entrusted to Chevydale, who certainly promised to put +his case strongly before the Commissioners of Excise; and Bryan at first +had every reason to suppose that he would do so. Whether in consequence +of that negligence of his promise, for which he was rather remarkable, +or from some sinister influence that may have been exercised over him, +it is difficult to say, but the fact was that Bryan had now only ten +days between him and absolute ruin. He had taken the trouble to write +to the Secretary of Excise to know if his memorial had been laid +before them, and supported by Mr. Chevydale, who, he said, knew the +circumstances, and received a reply, stating that no such memorial +had been sent, and that Mr. Chevydale had taken no steps in the matter +whatsoever. We shall not now enter into a detail of all the visits +he had made to his landlord, whom he could never see a second time, +however, notwithstanding repeated solicitations to that effect. +Fethertonge he did see, and always was assured by him that his case was +safe and in good hands. + +"You are quite mistaken, Bryan," said he, "if you think that either he +or I have any intention of neglecting your affair. You know yourself, +however, that he has not a moment for anything at the present time but +this confounded election. The contest will be a sharp one, but when it +is over we will take care of you." + +"Yes, but it will then be too late," replied Bryan; "I will be then a +ruined man." + +"But, my dear Bryan, will you put no confidence in your friends? I tell +you you will not be ruined. If they follow up the matter so as to injure +you, we shall have the whole affair overhauled, and justice done you; +otherwise we shall bring it before Parliament." + +"That may be all very well," replied Bryan, "but it is rather odd that +he has not taken a single step in it yet." + +"The memorial is before the Board," said the other, "for some time, and +we expect an answer every day." + +"But I know to the contrary," replied Bryan, "for here is a letther from +the Secretary stating that no such memorial ever came before them." + +"Never mind that," replied Fethertonge, "he may not have seen it. The +Secretary! Lord bless you, he never reads a tenth of the memorials that +go in. Show me the letter. See there now--he did not write it all; don't +you see his signature is in a different, hand? Why will you not put +confidence in your friends, Bryan?" + +"Because," replied the independent and honest young fellow, "I don't +think they're entitled to it--from me. They have neglected my business +very shamefully, after having led me to think otherwise. I have no +notion of any landlord suffering his tenant to be ruined before his face +without lifting a finger to prevent it." + +"Oh! fie, Bryan, you are now losing your temper. I shall say no more to +you. Still I can make allowances. However, go home, and keep your +mind easy, we shall take care of you, notwithstanding your ill humor. +Stay--you pass Mr. Clinton's--will you be good! enough to call and tell +Harry Clinton I wish to speak to him, and I will feel obliged?" + +"Certainly, sir," replied Bryan, "with pleasure. I wish you good +morning." + +"Could it be possible," he added, "that the hint Hycy Burke threw out +about young Clinton has any truth in it--'Harry Clinton will do you an +injury;' but more he would not say. I will now watch him well, for I +certainly cannot drame why he should be my enemy." + +He met Clinton on the way, however, to whom he delivered the message. + +"I am much obliged to you," said he, "I was already aware of it; but now +that I have met you, M'Mahon, allow me to ask if you have not entrusted +a memorial to the care of Mr. Chevydale, in order that it might be sent +up strongly supported by him to the Board of Excise?" + +"I have," said Bryan, "and it has been sent, if I am to believe Mr. +Fethertonge." + +"Listen to me, my honest friend--don't believe Fethertonge, nor don't +rely on Chevydale, who will do nothing more nor less than the agent +allows him. If you depend upon either or both, you are a ruined man, and +I am very much afraid you are that already. It has not been sent; but +observe that I mention this in confidence, and with an understanding +that, for the present, you will not name me in the matter." + +"I sartinly will not," replied Bryan, who was forcibly struck with +the truth and warmth of interest that were evident in his language and +manner; "and here is a letter that I received this very mornin' from the +Secretary of Excise, stating that no memorial on my behalf has been sent +up to them at all." + +"Ay, just so; that is the true state of the matter." + +"What, in God's name, am I to do, then?" asked Bryan, in a state of +great and evident perplexity. + +"I shall tell you; go to an honest man--I don't say, observe, that +Chevydale is not honest; but he is weak and negligent, and altogether +the slave and dupe of his agent. Go to-morrow morning early, about eight +o'clock, fetch another memorial, and wait upon Major Vanston; state +your case to him plainly and simply, and, my life for yours, he will +not neglect you, at all events. Get a fresh memorial drawn up this very +day." + +"I can easily do that," said Bryan, "for I have a rough copy of the one +I sent; it was Hycy Burke drew it up." + +"Hycy Burke," repeated Clinton, starting with surprise, "do you tell me +so?" + +"Sartinly," replied the other, "why do you ask?" + +Clinton shook his head carelessly. "Well," he said, "I am glad of it; it +is better late than never. Hycy Burke"--he paused and looked serious a +moment,--"yes," he added, "I am glad of it. Go now and follow my advice, +and you will have at least a chance of succeeding, and perhaps of +defeating your enemies, that is, if you have any." + +The pressure of time rendered energy and activity necessary in the case +of Bryan; and, accordingly, about eight o'clock next morning, he was +seeking permission to speak to the man against whom he and his family +had always conscientiously voted--because he had been opposed to the +spirit and principles of their religion. + +Major Vanston heard his case with patience, inquired more minutely into +the circumstances, asked where Ahadarra was, the name of his landlord, +and such other circumstance as were calculated to make the case clear. + +"Pray, who drew up this memorial?" he asked. + +"Mr. Hycy Burke, sir," replied Bryan. + +"Ah, indeed," said he, glancing with a singular meaning at M'Mahon. + +"You and Burke are intimate then?" + +"Why, we are, sir," replied Bryan, "on very good terms." + +"And now--Mr.'Burke has obliged you, I suppose, because you have obliged +him?" + +"Well, I don't know that he has obliged me much," said Bryan, "but I +know that I have obliged him a good deal." + +Vanston nodded and seemed satisfied. + +"Very well," he proceeded; "but, with respect to this memorial. I can't +promise you much. Leave it with me, however, and you shall probably hear +from me again. I fear we are late in point of time; indeed, I have but +faint hopes of it altogether, and I would not recommend you to form any +strong expectations from the interference of any one; still, at the same +time," he added, looking significantly at him, "I don't desire you to +despair altogether." + +"He has as much notion," thought Bryan, "of troubling his head about me +or my memorial, as I have for standin' candidate for the county. D--n +them all! they think of nobody but themselves!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII.--A Family Dialogue + +--Ahadarra not in for it--Bryan's Vote. + + +Honest Jemmy Burke, we have already said, had brought home his +second son, Edward, from school, for the purpose of training him to +agricultural pursuits, having now abandoned all notions of devoting him +to the Church, as he would have done had Hycy manifested towards him +even the ordinary proofs of affection and respect. + +"You druv me to it, Rosha," said he to his wife; "but I'll let you both +know that I'm able to be masther in my own house still. You have made +your pet what he is; but I tell you that if God hasn't said it, you'll +curse one another with bitther hearts yet." + +"Well, sure you have your own way," replied his wife, "but you wor ever +and always self-willed and headstrong. However, it's all the mane blood +that's in you; it breaks your heart to see your son a gintleman; but in +spite of your strong brogues and felt caubeen, a gentleman he is, and +a gentleman he will be, an' that's all I have to say about it. You'll +tache your pet to hate his brother, I'll go bail." + +"No, indeed, Rosha," he replied, "I know my duty to God and my childre' +betther than to turn them against one another; but it's only a proof of +how little you know about Edward and his warm and lovin' heart, when you +spake as you do." + +This indeed was true. Edward Burke was but a short time at home when he +saw clearly how matters stood in the family. He was in fact a youth of a +most affectionate and generous disposition, and instead of attempting to +make the breach wider, as Hycy had he been in his place would have done, +he did everything in his power to put the parties into a good state +of feeling with each other, and to preserve peace and harmony in the +family. + +One morning, a few days after Hycy's rejection by Miss Clinton, they +were all at breakfast, "the accomplished" being in one of his musical +and polite moods, his father bland but sarcastic, and Edward in a state +of actual pain on witnessing the wilful disrespect or rather contempt +that was implied by Hycy towards his parents. "Well, Ned," said his +father, "didn't we spend a pleasant evenin' in Gerald Cavanagh's last +night? Isn't Kathleen a darlin'?" + +"She is a delightful girl," replied Edward, "it can't be denied; indeed, +I don't think I ever saw so beautiful a girl, and as for her figure, it +is perfect--perfect." + +"Ay," said the father, "and it's she that knows the difference between a +decent sensible boy and a--gintleman--a highflyer. She was both kind and +civil to you, Ned." + +"I don't know as to the kindness," replied Edward; "but she was +certainly civil and agreeable, and I don't think it's in her nature to +be anything else." + +"Except when she ought," said his father; "but listen, Ned--dress +yourself up, get a buff waistcoat, a green jockey coat, a riding whip, +and a pair o' shinin' top-boots, titivate yourself up like a dandy, then +go to her wid lavendher water on your pocket-handkerchy, an' you'll see +how she'll settle you. Be my sowl, you'll be the happy boy when you get +her; don't you think so, Misther Hycy?" + +"Unquestionably, Mr. Burke, when you speak you shame an Oracle; as for +Master Ned--why-- + + "'I'm owre young,--I'm owre young, + I'm owre young to marry yet, + I'm owre young, 'twould be a sin + To take me from my Daddy yet.' + +I think, Master Edward, the Boy-god has already taken occupation; +the vituline affection for the fair Katsey has set in; heigho, what a +delightful period of life is that soft and lickful one of calf love, +when the tongue rolls about the dripping lips, the whites of the eyes +are turned towards the divine, the ox-eyed Katsey, and you are ready to +stagger over and blare out the otherwise unutterable affection." + +"Very well described, Hycy, I see you have not forgotten your Homer +yet; but really Kathleen Cavanagh is a perfect Juno, and has the large, +liquid, soft ox-eye in perfection." + +"Let me look at you," said Hycy, turning round and staring at him with +a good deal of surprise; "begad, brother Ned, let me ask where you got +your connoisseurship upon women? eh? Oh, in the dictionary, I suppose, +where the common people say everything is to be found. Observe me, Mr. +Burke, you are taking your worthy son out of his proper vocation, the +Church. Send him to 'Maynewth,' he is too good a connoisseur on beauty +to be out of the Tribunal." + +"Hycy," replied his brother, "these are sentiments that do you no +credit, it is easy to sneer at religion or those who administer +it,--much easier than to praise the one, it would appear, or imitate the +virtues of the other." + +"Beautiful rebuke," said Hycy, again staring at him; "why, Masther +Edward, you are a prodigy of wonderful sense and unspotted virtue; love + has made you eloquent--"'I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue, + I gat my death frae twa sweet e'en, + Twa lovely e'en o' bonnie blue, &c, &c.'" + +"I am not in love yet, Hycy, but as my father wishes to bring about a +marriage between Kathleen and myself, you know," he added, smiling, "it +will be my duty to fall in love with her as fast as I can." + +"Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and +gentlemanly parent,--to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put +forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and +the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why +sittest thou so silent and so sad?" + +"Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy," replied his mother, whom +Edward's return had cast into complete dejection, "when I see your +father strivin' to put between his own childre'." + +"Me, Rosha!" exclaimed her husband; "God forgive you for that! but when +I see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or +civility--no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma to +try if I can't find affection in his brother." + +"Ay," said she, "that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your +eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among +a family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see +my heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was," and as she spoke +the words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears. + +"Alas!" said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic--"where is the pride and +dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the +mother of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon +the pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and--give me another cup of +tea." + +Edward shook his head at him, as if remonstrating against this most +undutiful and contemptuous style of conversation to his mother. "Don't +give way to tears, my dear mother," he said; "indeed you do my father +injustice; he has neither said nor done anything to turn me against +Hycy. Why should he? So far from that, I know that he loves Hycy at +heart, all that he wishes is that Hycy would speak to him in his natural +voice, and treat him with respect, and the feeling that surely is due +to him. And so Hycy will, father; I am sure he respects and loves you in +spite of this levity and affectation. All we want is for each to give +up a little of his own way--when you become more respectful, Hycy, my +father's manner will change too: let us be at least sincere and natural +with each other, and there is nothing that I can see to prevent us from +living very happily." + +"I have some money saved," said Burke, turning to his wife--"a good +penny--too, more than the world thinks; and I declare to my God I would +give it twice over if I could hear that young man," pointing to Hycy, +"speak these words with the same heart and feelings of him that spoke +them; but I fear that 'ud be a hopeless wish on my part, an' ever will." + +"No, father," said Edward, "it will not--Hycy and you will soon +understand one another. Hycy will see what, his duty towards you is, +and, sooner than be the means of grieving your heart, he will change the +foolish and thoughtless habit that offends you." + +"Well, Edward, may God grant it," exclaimed his father rising up from +breakfast, "and that's all I have to say----God grant it!" + +"Why, Sir Oracle, junior," said Hycy, after his father had gone out, "or +rather Solomon Secundus, if you are now an unfledged philosopher on our +hand, what will you not be when your opinions are grown?" + +"My dear brother," replied Edward, I cannot see what on earth you can +propose to yourself by adopting this ridiculous style of conversation +I cannot really see any object you can have in it. If it be to vex or +annoy my father, can you blame him if he feels both vexed and annoyed at +it. + +"Most sapiently said, Solomon Secundus-- + + "'Solomon Lob was a ploughman stout, + And a ranting cavalier; + And, when the civil war broke out, + It quickly did appear + That Solomon Lob was six feet high, + And fit for a grenadier. + So Solomon Lob march'd boldly forth + To sounds of bugle horns + And a weary march had Solomon Lob, + For Solomon Lob had corns. + Row,--ra--ra--row--de--dow.' + +"And so I wish you a good morning, most sapient Solomon. I go on +business of importance affecting--the welfare of the nation, or rather +of the empire at large--embracing all these regions, antipodial and +otherwise, on which the sun never sets. Good morning, therefore; +and, maternal relative, wishing the same to thee, with a less copious +exhibition of the hydraulics, a-hem!" + +"Where is he going, mother, do you know?" asked Edward. + +"Indeed I don't know, Edward," she replied; "he seldom or never tells +us anything about his motions; but it vexes me to think that his father +won't make any allowance for his lightheartedness and fine spirits. Sure +now, Edward, you know yourself it's not raisonable to have a young man +like him mumpin' and mopin' about, as if there was a wake in the house?" + +The only reply Edward made to this weak and foolish speech was, "Yes; +but there is reason in everything, my dear mother. I have heard," he +added, "that he is working for the Tory candidate, Vanston, and hope it +is not true." + +"Why," said his mother, "what differ does it make?" + +"Why," replied the other, "that Vanston votes to keep us slaves, and +Chevydale to give us our political freedom: the one is opposed to our +religion and our liberty, and the other votes for both." + +"Troth, as to religion," observed the mother, "the poor boy doesn't +trouble his head much about it--bat it's not aisy for one that goes +into jinteel society to do so--an' that's what makes Hycy ait mate of a +Friday as fast as on any other day." + +"I am sorry to hear that, mother," replied Edward; "but Hycy is a very +young man still, and will mend all these matters yet." + +"And that's what I'm tellin' his father," she replied; "and if you'd +only see the way he looks at me, and puts a _cuir_ (* a grin--mostly +of contempt) upon him so bitther that it would a'most take the skin off +one." + +Edward's observations with respect to Hycy's having taken a part in +forwarding the interests of Major Vanston were not without foundation. +He and Bryan M'Mahon had of late been upon very good terms; and it so +happened that in the course of one of their conversations about Kathleen +Cavanagh, Bryan had mentioned to him the fact of Kathleen's having heard +that he was pledged to vote with Vanston, and repeated the determination +to which she had resolved to come if he should do so. Now, it so +happened, that a portion of this was already well known to Hycy himself, +who, in fact, was the very individual who had assured Major Vanston, +and those who canvassed for him, that he himself had secured Bryan. +On hearing now from Bryan that Kathleen had put the issue of their +affection upon his political truth and consistency he resolved to avail +himself of that circumstance if he could. On hearing, besides, however, +that Harry Clinton had actually sent him (M'Mahon) to Vanston, and on +being told, in the course of conversation, that that gentleman asked who +had drawn up the memorial, he felt that every circumstance was turning +in his favor; for he determined now to saddle Clinton with the odium +which, in this treacherous transaction, was most likely to fall upon +himself. + +It is not our intention here to describe the brutal and disgraceful +scenes that occur at an election. It is enough to say that, after a +long, bitter, and tedious struggle, the last day of it arrived. Bryan +M'Mahon, having fully satisfied himself that his landlord had not taken +a single step to promote his interests in the matter of the memorial, +resolved from the beginning not to vote in his favor, and, of course, +not to vote at all. + +On the morning of the last day, with the exception of himself alone, +a single voter had not been left unpolled; and the position of the two +candidates was very peculiar, both having polled exactly the same number +of votes, and both being consequently equal. + +Bryan, having left home early, was at breakfast about eleven o'clock, in +a little recess off the bar of the head-inn, which was divided from +one end of the coffee-room by a thin partition of boards, through which +anything spoken in an ordinary tone of voice in that portion of the +room could be distinctly heard. Our readers may judge of his surprise +on hearing the following short but pithy dialogue of which he himself +formed the subject matter. The speakers, with whom were assembled +several of his landlord's committee, being no other than that worthy +gentleman and his agent. + +"What's to be done?" asked Chevydale; "here is what we call a dead heat. +Can no one prevail on that obstinate scoundrel, the Ahadarra man--what +do ye call, him? M'Master--M'Manus---M'--eh?" + +"M'Mahon," replied Fethertonge, "I fear not; but, at all events, we +must try him again. Vote or not, however, we shall soon clear him out of +Ahadarra--we shall punish his insolence for daring to withhold his +vote; for, as sure as my name is Fethertonge, out he goes. The fine and +distillation affair, however, will save us a good deal of trouble, and +of course I am very glad you declined to have anything to do with the +support of his petition. The fellow is nothing else than shuffler, as I +told you. Vote or not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he +does, I have a good tenant to put in his place." + +M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore +that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should +never go to the support of such a man. + +Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle +arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and +inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him. + +"No," replied the postmaster; "but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him +I have here one for him, from Major Vanston--it's his frank and his +handwriting." + +"I'm going directly to him," said Hycy, "and will bring it to him; so +you had better hand it here." + +The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his +way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making. + +"Nanny," said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in +the stable and entered the parlor, "will you fetch me a candle and some +warm water?" + +"Yes, sir," said Nanny; "but you must wait till I boil some, for there's +none hot." + +"Be quick, then," said he, "for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door +after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I +have spoken to you about it?" + +"Becaise it's never done," she replied; "nobody ever bids me shut it but +yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it." + +"Well, I'll thank you," he said, "to pay more attention to what I say +to you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny; +and, mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall +pitch your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here." + +"Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy." + +"Begone now and get me the hot water," he said, with a frown of anger +and vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which +the possession of Vanston's letter had already put him. + +We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable +manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is +enough to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to +peruse the contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:-- + +Sir,--I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from the +Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much +pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory +result of your memorial. + +"I am, sir, very sincerely yours, + +"Egbert Vanston. + +"To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, + +"Ahadarra." + +(The enclosed.) + +"Sir,--I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of +Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial +to the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the +circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character +which memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce +the fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The +Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way +connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his +property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have +not the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law +has given them authority. + +"I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant, + +"Francis Fathom. + +"To Major Vanston, &c, &c." + + +Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as +to evade all suspicion of their having been opened. + +"Now," thought he, "what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is +possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for +I know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be +thrown by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First +and foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I +establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure +Vanston the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory +gentleman that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into +truth, and make Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it +was by Harry Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift +the odium of his voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose +body, by the way, does not contain a single bone that I like; and, +thirdly, having by his apostacy and treachery, as it will be called, +placed an insurmountable barrier between himself and the divine +Katsey, I will change my course with Jemmy, the gentleman--my sarcastic +dad--return and get reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and +by becoming a good Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt +but I shall secure the 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other +morning. This, I think, will be making the most of the cards, and, as +the moment is critical, I shall seek the clod-hopper and place this +seasonable communication in his hands." + +He accordingly rode rapidly into town again, where he had not been many +minutes when he met M'Mahon, burning with indignation at the language of +his landlord and the agent. + +"I cannot have patience, Hycy," he exclaimed, "under such scoundrelly +language as this; and while I have breath in my body, he never shall +have my vote!" + +"What's the matter, Bryan?" he asked; "you seem flushed." + +"I do, Hycy, because I am flushed, and not without reason. I tell you +that my landlord, Chevydale, is a scoundrel, and Fethertonge a deceitful +villain." + +"Pooh, man, is that by way of information? I thought you had something +in the shape of novelty to tell me. What has happened, however, and why +are you in such a white heat of indignation?" + +M'Mahon immediately detailed the conversation which he had overheard +behind the bar of the inn, and we need scarcely assure our readers that +Hycy did not omit the opportunity of throwing oil upon the fire which +blazed so strongly. + +"Bryan," said he, "I know the agent to be a scoundrel, and what is +nearer the case still, I have every reason--but you must not ask me to +state them yet,--I have every reason to suspect that it is Fethertonge, +countenanced by Chevydale, who is at the bottom of the distillation +affair that has ruined you. The fact is, they are anxious to get you out +of Ahadarra, and thought that by secretly ruining you, they could most +plausibly effect it." + +"I have now no earthly doubt of it, Hycy," replied the other. + +"You need not," replied Hycy; "and maybe I'm not far astray when I say, +that the hook-nosed old Still-hound, Clinton, is not a thousand miles +from the plot. I could name others connected with some of them--but I +wont, now." + +When M'Mahon recollected the conversation which both Clinton and the +agent had held with him, with respect to violating the law, the truth +of Hycy's remark flashed upon him at once, and of course deepened his +indignation almost beyond endurance. + +"They are two d--d scoundrels," pursued Hycy, "and I have reasons, +besides, for suspecting that it was their wish, if they could have done +it successfully, to have directed your suspicions against myself." + +M'Mahon was, in fact, already convinced of this, and felt satisfied +that he saw through and understood the whole design against him, and was +perfectly aware of those who had brought him to ruin. + +"By the way," said Hycy, "let me not forget that I have been looking for +you this hour or two; here is a letter I got for you in! the +post-office this morning. It has Vanston's frank, and I think is in his +handwriting." + +M'Mahon's face, on perusing the letter, beamed with animation and +delight. "Here, Hycy," said he, "read that; I'm safe yet, thank God, and +not a ruined man, as the villains thought to make me." + +"By my soul and honor, Bryan," exclaimed the other, "that is noble on +the part of Vanston, especially towards an individual from whom, as +well as from his whole family, he has ever experienced the strongest +opposition. However, if I were in your coat, I certainly would not +suffer him to outdo me in generosity. Good heavens! only contrast such +conduct with that of the other scoundrel, his opponent, and then see the +conclusion you must come to." + +"Let Vanston be what he may, he's an honest man," replied Bryan, "and +in less than ten minutes I'll have him the sittin' member. I would be +ungrateful and ungenerous, as you say, Hycy, not to do so. Come +along--come along, I bid you. I don't care what they say. The man that +saved me--who was his enemy--from ruin, will have my vote." + +They accordingly proceeded towards the court house, and on their way +Hycy addressed him as follows:--"Now, Bryan, in order to give your +conduct an appearance of greater generosity, I will pretend to dissuade +you against voting for Vanston, or, rather, I will endeavor, as it were, +to get your vote for Chevydale. This will make the act more manly and +determined on your part, and consequently one much more high-minded and +creditable to your reputation. You will show them, besides, that you are +not the cowardly slave of your landlord." + +It was accordingly so managed; the enthusiastic gratitude of the young +man overcame all considerations; and in a few minutes Major Vanston was +declared by the sheriff duly elected, by a majority of one vote only. + +It is no part of our intention to describe the fierce sensation which +this victory created among the greater portion of the people. The tumult +occasioned by their indignation and fury was outrageous and ruffianly as +usual; but as the election had now terminated, it soon ceased, and the +mobs began to disperse to their respective homes. Bryan for some three +hours or so was under the protection of the military, otherwise he would +have been literally torn limb from limb. In the mean time we must follow +Hycy. + +This worthy and straightforward young gentleman, having now accomplished +his purpose, and been the means of M'Mahon having exposed himself to +popular vengeance, took the first opportunity of withdrawing from him +secretly, and seeking Vanston's agent. Having found him, and retired out +of hearing, he simply said-- + +"I will trouble you for three hundred." + +"You shall have it," replied that honest gentleman; "you shall have it. +We fully acknowledge the value of your services in this matter; it is to +them we owe our return." + +"There is no doubt in the matter," replied Hycy; "but you know not my +difficulty, nor the dexterous card I had to play in accomplishing my +point." + +"We are sensible of it all," replied the other; "here," said he, pulling +out his pocket-book, "are three notes for one hundred each." + +"Give me two fifties," said Hycy, "instead of this third note, and you +will oblige me. By the way, here is the major." With this the other +immediately complied, without the major having been in any way cognizant +of the transaction. + +On entering the inner room where they stood, Vanston shook hands most +cordially with Hycy, and thanked him in very warm language for the part +he took, to which he had no hesitation in saying he owed his return. + +"Look upon me henceforth as a friend, Mr. Burke," he added, "and a +sincere one, who will not forget the value of your influence with the +young man whose vote has gained me the election. I have already served +him essentially,--in fact saved him from ruin, and I am very glad of +it." + +"I really feel very much gratified, Major Vanston, that I have had it in +my power," replied Hycy, "to render you any service of importance; and +if I ever should stand in need of a favor at your hands, I shall not +hesitate to ask it." + +"Nor I to grant it, Mr. Burke, if it be within the reach of my +influence." + +"In the mean time," said Hycy, "will you oblige me with a single franc?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Burke; with half a dozen of them." + +"Thank you, sir, one will be quite sufficient; I require no more." + +The major, however, gave him half a dozen of them, and after some +further chat, and many expressions of obligation on the part of the new +M.P., Hycy withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX.--Bryan Bribed--is Rejected by Kathleen. + + +In the course of about two or three hours after the transaction already +stated, old Peety Dim was proceeding towards the post-office with a +letter, partly in his closed hand, and partly up the inside of his +sleeve, so as that it might escape observation. The crowds were still +tumultuous, but less so than in the early part of the day; for, as we +said, they were diminishing in numbers, those who had been so long from +home feeling a natural wish to return to their families and the various +occupations and duties of life which they had during this protracted +contest been forced to neglect. Peety had got as far as the +market-house--which was about the centre of the street--on his way, we +say, to the post-office, when he met his daughter Nanny, who, after a +few words of inquiry, asked him where he was going. + +"Faith, an' that's more than I dare tell you," he replied. + +"Why," she said, "is there a saicret in it, I'm sure you needn't keep it +from me, whatever it is." + +This she added in a serious and offended tone, which, however, was not +lost on the old man. + +"Well," said he, "considherin' the man he is, an' what you know about +him, I think I may as well tell you. It's a letther I'm bringin' to slip +into the post-office, unknownst." + +"Is it from Hycy?" she asked. + +"From Hycy, and no other." + +"I'll hould a wager," she replied, "that that's the very letther I seen +him openin' through the key hole doar this mornin'. Do you know who it's +to?" she inquired. + +"Oh, the sorra know; he said it was a love-letther, and that he did not +wish to be seen puttin' it in himself." + +"Wait," said she, "give it to me here for a minute; here's Father +M'Gowan comin' up, and I'll ax him who it's directed to." + +She accordingly took the letter out of his hand, and approaching the +priest, asked him the name of the person to whom it was addressed. + +"Plaise your reverence," she said, "what name's on the back of this?--I +mane," said she, "who is goin' to?" + +The priest looked at it, and at once replied, "It is goin' to Bryan +M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, the traitor, and it comes from Major Vanston, +the enemy to his liberty and religion, that his infamous vote put into +Parliament, to rivet our chains, and continue our degradation. So there, +girl, you have now the bigot from whom it comes, and the apostate to +whom it goes. Who gave it to you?" + +Nanny, who from some motives of her own, felt reluctant to mention +Hycy's name in the matter, hastily replied, "A person, plaise your +reverence, from Major Vanston." + +"Very well, girl, discharge your duty," said the priest; "but I tell +you the devil will never sleep well till he has his clutches in the same +Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted." + +Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two +afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put +it into the post-office. + +"Now," said she to her father, "the people is scatterin' themselves +homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear--but listen--that letter +is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office here; +Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may be +passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the +post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day, +or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some +scheme afoot." + +"Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny." + +"Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you." + +"Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,--always +does indeed wherever he meets me." + +"No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion +of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell +you why I bid you, some day soon." + +"Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I +say he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him." + +Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man +would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street +in the direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for +groceries. + +Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and +the evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the +post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was +a letter for him. + +The post-master searched again, and replied, "No; but here's another for +Bryan M'Mahon." + +"What!" he exclaimed, "another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive +correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from." + +"There's no wonder at all about it," replied the post-master, "it's from +Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and +all." + +"Allow me to look," said Hycy, glancing at it. "Yes, you are quite +right, that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever. +I will not fetch him this letter," he proceeded, "because I know not +when I may see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him." + +Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the +post-office, on seeing Hycy approach, that he might overhear this +conversation without being seen, felt, considerably surprised that Hycy +should seem to have been ignorant that there was a letter for M'Mahon, +seeing that it was he himself who had sent it there. He consequently +began to feel that there was some mystery in the matter; but whatever it +might be, he knew that it was beyond his power to develop. + +On coming forward from the dark part of the shop, where he had been +standing, he asked the post-master if there was a second letter for +M'Mahon. + +"No," replied the man, "there is only the one. If you see him, tell him +there's a letter from Major Vanston in the office for him." + +We must still trace Hycy's motions. On leaving the post-office, he went +directly to the Head Inn, where he knew Bryan M'Mahon was waiting until +the town should become perfectly calm and quiet. Here he found Bryan, +whose mind was swayed now to one side and now to another, on considering +the principle on which he had voted, and the consequences to which that +act might expose him. + +"I know I will have much to endure," he thought, while pacing the room +by himself in every way, "but I little value anything the world at large +may think or say, so that I don't lose the love and good opinion of +Kathleen Cavanagh." + +"Why, Bryan," said Hycy, as he entered, "I think you must provide a +secretary some of these days, your correspondence is increasing so +rapidly." + +"How is that?" inquired the other. + +"Simply that there's another letter in the post-office for you, and if I +don't mistake, from the same hand--that of our friend the Major." + +"I'm not aware of anything he could have to write to me about now," +replied Bryan; "I wonder what can it be?" + +"If you wish I shall fetch you the letter," said Hycy, "as you have an +objection I suppose to go out until the town is empty." + +"Thank you, Hycy, I'll feel obliged to you if you do; and Hycy, by +the way, I am sorry that you and I ever mistook or misunderstood one +another; but sich things happen to the best of friends, and why should +we hope to escape?" + +"Speak only for yourself, Bryan," replied Hycy, "the misunderstanding +was altogether on your side, not on mine. I always knew your value and +esteemed you accordingly. I shall fetch your letter immediately." + +On returning he placed the document aforesaid in M'Mahon's hands, +and said, in imitation of his friend Teddy Phats--"Come now, read her +up." Bryan opened the letter, and in the act of doing so a fifty pound +note presented itself, of which, as it had been cut in two, one half +fell to the ground. + +"Hallo!" exclaimed Hycy, suddenly taking it up, "this looks well--what +have we here? A fifty pound note!" + +"Yes," replied Bryan; "but why cut in two? here however is something +written, too--let me see-- + +"'Accept this as an earnest of better things for important services. The +fine imposed upon you has been reduced to fifty pounds--this will pay +it. + +"A DEEPLY OBLIGED FRIEND.'" + + +The two young men looked at each other for some time without speaking. +At length M'Mahon's face became crimsoned with indignation! + +"Who could have dared to do this?" said he, once more looking at the +bank-note and the few lines that accompanied it. "Who durst suppose +that a M'Mahon would sell his vote for a bribe? Did Vanston suppose that +money would sway me? for this I am sure must be his work." + +"Don't be too sure of that," replied Hycy; "don't be too sure that it's +not some one that wishes you worse than Vanston does. In my opinion, +Bryan, that letter and the note contained in it were sent to you by +some one who wishes to have it whispered abroad that you were bribed. It +surely could not be Vanston's interest to injure your character or your +circumstances in any sense; and I certainly think him too honorable to +deal in an anonymous bribe of that kind." + +"Some scoundrel has done it, that's clear; but what would you have me to +do, Hycy? You are up to life and know the world a great deal better than +I do; how ought I to act now?" + +"I'll tell you candidly, my dear Bryan, how I think you ought to act, or +at least how I would act myself if I were in your place." He then paused +for a minute and proceeded:--"You know I may be wrong, Bryan, but I +shall advise you at all events honestly, and to the best of my ability. +I would keep this letter and this note, and by the way, what else can +you do?--I would say nothing whatsoever about it. The secret, you know, +rests with yourself and me, with the exception of the party that sent +it. Now, mark me, I say--if the party that sent this be a friend, there +will be no more about it--it will drop into the grave; but if it came +from an enemy the cry of bribery will be whispered about, and there will +be an attack made on your character. In this case you can be at no loss +as to the source from whence the communication came--Fethertonge will +then most assuredly be the man; or, harkee, who knows but the whole +thing is an electioneering trick resorted to for the purpose of +impugning your vote, and of getting Vanston out on petition and +scrutiny. Faith and honor, Bryan, I think that this last is the true +reading." + +"I'm inclined to agree with you there," replied Bryan, "that looks like +the truth; and even then I agree with you still that Fethertonge is at +the bottom of it. Still how am I to act?" + +"In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said. Keep the letter and the +bank-note; say nothing about it--that is clearly your safest plan; do +not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be +necessary to your own character to show them." + +"Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy. As you say no one knows the +secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say +nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered +about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me +by any bargain of mine." + +Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as +much as to say--"Exactly so, that is precisely the fact," and thus ended +the dialogue. + +We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath +necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most +minute speck will be offensively visible. So it is with human character +and integrity. Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary +reputation--to a family who had generally participated in all the good +and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of society, +his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party for +a very brief period--just as other votes given from the usual +motives--sometimes right and honorable--sometimes wrong and +corrupt--usually do. In his case, however, there was something +calculated to startle and alarm all those who knew and were capable of +appreciating the stainless honor and hereditary integrity of the family. +The M'Mahon's, though inoffensive and liberal in their intercourse with +the world, even upon matters of a polemical nature, were nevertheless +deeply and devotedly attached to their own religion, and to all those +who in any way labored or contributed to relieve it of its disabilities, +and restore those who professed it to that civil liberty which had been +so long denied them. This indeed was very natural on the part of the +M'Mahons, who would sooner have thought of taking to the highway, or +burning their neighbor's premises, than supporting the interests or +strengthening the hands of any public man placed, in a position to use +a hostile influence against them. There was only one other family in the +barony, who in all that the M'Mahon's felt respecting their religion and +civil liberty, Were far in advance of them. These were the Cavanaghs, +between whom and the M'Mahons their existed so many strong points +of resemblance that they only differed from the others in +degree--especially on matters connected with religion and its +privileges. In these matters the Cavanaghs were firm, stern, and +inflexible--nay, so heroic was the enthusiasm and so immovable the +attachment of this whole family to their creed, that we have no +hesitation whatever in saying that they would have laid down their lives +in its defence, or for its promotion, had such a sacrifice been demanded +from them. On such a family, then, it is scarcely necessary to +describe the effects of what was termed Bryan M'Mahon's apostacy. The +intelligence came upon them in fact like a calamity. On the very evening +before, Gerald Cavanagh, now a fierce advocate for Edward Burke, having, +in compliance with old Jemmy, altogether abandoned Hycy, had been urging +upon Kathleen the prudence and propriety of giving Bryan M'Mahon up, and +receiving the address of young Burke, who was to inherit the bulk of his +father's wealth and property; and among other arguments against M'Mahon +he stated a whisper then gaining ground, that it was his intention to +vote for Vanston. + +"But I know to the contrary, father," said Kathleen, "for I spoke to +him on that very subject, and Bryan M'Mahon is neither treacherous nor +cowardly, an' won't of course abandon his religion or betray it into the +hands of its enemies. Once for all, then," she added, calmly, and with +a smile full of affection and good humor, "I say you may spare both +yourself and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you +that I like and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he +really is what his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought--a true +gentleman--but that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to +conceal it, that Bryan M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves +false to his God, his religion, and his country, I will never prove +false to him nor withdraw my affections from him." + +"For all that," replied her father, "it's strongly suspected that he's +goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow." + +Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an +enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; "No, father," said she, "by the +light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston--unless Vanston +becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless life, but +if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a queen's, I'd +stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns traitor--let +me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!" + +As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by +which she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity +and high moral force of her character awed them, and her father +completely subdued, simply replied:-- + +"Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter +on you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke." + +Kathleen, after wiping away her tears, thanked him, and said with a +smile, and in spite of the most boundless confidence in the integrity +of her lover, "never, at any rate, father, until Bryan M'Mahon turns a +traitor to his religion and his country." + +On the evening of the next day, or rather late at night, her father +returned from the scene of contest, but very fortunately for Kathleen's +peace of mind during that night, he found on inquiry that she and Hanna +had been for a considerable time in bed. The following morning Hanna, +who always took an active share in the duties of the family, and who +would scarcely permit her sister to do anything, had been up a short +time before her, and heard from her mother's lips the history of Bryan's +treachery, as it was now termed by all. We need scarcely say that she +was deeply affected, and wept bitterly. Kathleen, who rose a few minutes +afterwards, thought she saw her sister endeavoring to conceal her +face, but the idea passed away without leaving anything like a fixed +impression upon it. Hanna, who was engaged in various parts of the +house, contrived still to keep her face from the observation of +her sister, until at length the latter was ultimately struck by the +circumstance as well as by Hanna's unusual silence. Just as her father +had entered to breakfast, a sob reached her ears, and on going over to +inquire if anything were wrong, Hanna, who was now fairly overcome, and +could conceal her distress no longer, ran over, and throwing herself on +Kathleen's neck, she exclaimed in a violent burst of grief, "Kathleen, +my darling sister, what will become of you! It's all true. Bryan has +proved false and a traitor; he voted for Vanston yesterday, and that +vote has put the bitter enemy of our faith into Parliament." + +"Bryan M'Mahon a traitor!" exclaimed Kathleen; "no, Hanna--no, I +say--a thousand times no. It could not be--the thing is +impossible--impossible!" + +"It is as true as God's in heaven, that he voted yesterday for Vanston," +said her father; "I both seen him and heard him, an' that vote it was +that gained Vanston the election." + +Hanna, whose arms were still around her sister's neck, felt her stagger +beneath her on hearing those words from her father. + +"You say you saw him, father, and h'ard him vote for Vanston. You say +you did?" + +"I both seen the traitor an' h'ard him," replied the old man. + +"Hanna, dear, let me sit down," said Kathleen, and Hanna, encircling her +with one hand, drew a chair over with the other, on which, with a cheek +pale as death, her sister sat, whilst Hanna still wept with her arms +about her. After a long silence, she at last simply said:-- + +"I must bear it; but in this world my happiness is gone." + +"Don't take it so much to heart avourneen," said her mother; "but, any +way, hadn't you betther see himself, an' hear what he has to say for +himself. Maybe, afther all, it's not so bad as it looks. See him, +Kathleen; maybe there's not so much harm in it yet." + +"No, mother, see him I will not, in that sense--Bryan M'Mahon a traitor! +Am I a dreamer? I am not asleep, and Bryan M'Mahon is false to God and +his country! I did think that he would give his life for both, if he was +called upon to do so; but not that he would prove false to them as he +has done." + +"He has, indeed," said her father, "and the very person you hate so +much, bad as you think him, did all in his power to prevent him from +doin' the black deed. I seen that, too, and h'ard it. Hycy persuaded him +as much as he could against it; but he wouldn't listen to him, nor pay +him any attention." + +"Kathleen," said her sister, "the angels in heaven fell, and surely it +isn't wonderful that even a good man should be tempted and fall from the +truth as they did?" + +Kathleen seemed too much abstracted by her distress to hear this. +She looked around at them all, one after another, and said in a low, +composed, and solemn voice, "All is over now between that young man and +me--and here is one request which I earnestly entreat you--every one of +you--to comply with." + +"What is it darling?" said her mother. + +"It is," she replied, "never in my hearing to mention his name while I +live. As for myself, I will never name him!" + +"And think, after all," observed her father, "of poor Hycy bein' true to +his religion!" + +It would seem that her heart was struggling to fling the image of +M'Mahon from it, but without effect. It was likely she tried to hate him +for his apostacy, but she could not. Still, her spirit was darkened with +scorn and indignation at the act of dishonor which she felt her lover +had committed, just as the atmosphere is by a tempest. In fact, she +detested what she considered the baseness and treachery of the vote; but +could not of a sudden change a love so strong, so trusting, and so pure +as hers, into the passions of enmity and hatred. No sooner, however, had +her father named Hycy Burke with such approval, than the storm within +her directed itself against him, and she said, "For God's sake, father, +name not that unprincipled wretch to me any more. I hate and detest +him more than any man living he has no good quality to redeem him. +Ah! Hanna, Hanna, and is it come to this? The dream of my happiness has +vanished, and I awake to nothing now but affliction and sorrow. As for +happiness, I must think of that no more, father, after breakfast, do you +go up to that young man and tell him the resolution I have come to, and +that it is over for ever between him and. me." + +Soon after this, she once more exacted a promise from them to observe a +strict silence on the unhappy event which had occurred, and by no +means ever to attempt offering her consolation. These promises they +religiously kept, and from this forth neither M'Mahon's name nor his +offence were made the topics of any conversation that occurred between +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX.--M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar + +--Receives his Sentence from Kathleen, and Resolves to Emigrate. + + +Whatever difficulty Bryan M'Mahon had among his family in defending the +course he had taken at the election, he found that not a soul belonging +to his own party would listen to any defense from him. The indignation, +obloquy, and spirit of revenge with which he was pursued and harassed, +excited in his heart, as they would in that of any generous man +conscious of his own integrity, a principle of contempt and defiance, +which, however they required independence in him, only made matters far +worse than they otherwise would have been. He expressed neither regret +nor repentance for having voted as he did; but on the contrary asserted +with a good deal of warmth, that if the same course lay open to him he +would again pursue it. + +"I will never vote for a scoundrel," said he, "and I don't think that +there is anything in my religion that makes it a duty on me to do so. If +my religion is to be supported by scoundrels, the sooner it is forced +to depend on itself the better. Major Vanston is a good landlord, and +supports the rights of his tenantry, Catholic as well as Protestant; he +saved me from ruin when my own landlord refused to interfere for me, +an' Major Vanston, if he's conscientiously opposed to my religion, is an +honest man at all events, and an honest man I'll ever support against +a rogue, and let their politics go where they generally do, go to the +devil." + +Party is a blind, selfish, infatuated monster, brutal and vehement, that +knows not what is meant by reason, justice, liberty, or truth. M'Mahon, +merely because he gave utterance with proper spirit to sentiments of +plain common sense, was assailed by every description of abuse, until he +knew not where to take refuge from that cowardly and ferocious tyranny +which in a hundred shapes proceeded from the public mob. On the +Sunday after the election, his parish priest, one of those political +fire-brands, who whether under a mitre or a white band, are equally +disgraceful and detrimental to religion and the peaceful interests +of mankind--this man, we say, openly denounced him from the altar, in +language which must have argued but little reverence for the sacred +place from which it was uttered, and which came with a very bad grace +from one who affected to be an advocate for liberty of conscience and a +minister of peace. + +"Ay," he proceeded, standing on the altar, "it is well known to our +disgrace and shame how the election was lost. Oh, well may I say to our +disgrace and shame. Little did I think that any one, bearing the once +respectable name of M'Mahon upon him, should turn from the interests of +his holy church, spurn all truth, violate all principle, and enter into +a league of hell with the devil and the enemies of his church. Yes, you +apostate," he proceeded, "you have entered into a league with him, and +ever since there is devil within you. You sold yourself to his agent and +representative, Vanston, You got him to interfere for you with the +Board of Excise, and the fine that was justly imposed on you for your +smugglin' and distillin' whiskey--not that I'm runin' down our whiskey, +because it's the best drinkin of that kind we have, and drinks beautiful +as scalhleen, wid a bit of butther and sugar in it--but it's notorious +that you went to Vanston, and offered if he'd get the fine off you, +that you'd give him your vote; an' if that's not sellin' yourself to the +devil, I don't know what is. Judas did the same thing when he betrayed +our Savior--the only difference is--that he got a thirty shilling +note--an' God knows it was a beggarly bargain--when his hand was in he +ought to have done the thing dacent--and you got the fine taken off +you; that's the difference--that's the difference. But there's more to +come--more corruption where that was. Along wid the removal of the fine +you got a better note than Mr. Judas got. Do you happen to know anything +about a fifty pound note cut in two halves? Eh? Am I tickling you? Do +you happen to know anything about that, you traicherous apostate? If +you don't, I do; and plaise God before many hours the public will know +enough of it, too. How dare you, then, polute the house of God, or come +in presence of His Holy altar, wid such a crust of crimes upon your +soul? Can you deny that you entered into a league of hell wid the devil +and Major Vanston, and that you promised him your vote if he'd get the +fine removed?" + +"I can," replied Bryan; "there's not one word of truth in it." + +"Do you hear that, my friends?" exclaimed the priest; "he calls your +priest a liar upon the altar of the livin' God." + +Here M'Mahon was assailed by such a storm of groans and hisses as, to +say the least of it, was considerably at variance with the principles of +religion and the worship of God. + +"Do you deny," the priest proceeded, "that you received a bribe of fifty +pounds on the very day you voted? Answer me that." + +"I did receive a fifty-pound note in a--" + +Further he could not proceed. It was in vain that he attempted to give +a true account of the letter and its enclosure; the enmity was not +confined to either groans or hisses. He was seized upon in the very +chapel, dragged about in all directions, kicked, punched, and beaten, +until the apprehension of having a murder committed in presence of +God's altar caused the priest to interfere. M'Mahon, however, was +ejected from the chapel; but in such a state that, for some minutes, it +could scarcely be ascertained whether he was alive or dead. After he had +somewhat recovered, his friends assisted him home, where he lay confined +to a sick bed for better than a week. + +Such is a tolerably exact description of scenes which have too +frequently taken place in the country, to the disgrace of religion and +the dishonor of God. We are bound to say, however, that none among +the priesthood encourage or take a part in them, unless those low and +bigoted firebrands who are alike remarkable for vulgarity and ignorance, +and who are perpetually inflamed by that meddling spirit which tempts +them from the quiet path of duty into scenes of political strife and +enmity, in which they seem to be peculiarly at home. Such scenes are +repulsive to the educated priest, and to all who, from superior minds +and information, are perfectly aware that no earthly or other good, but, +on the contrary, much bitterness, strife, and evil, ever result from +them. + +Gerald Cavanagh was by no means so deeply affected by M'Mahon's vote +as were his two daughters. He looked upon the circumstance as one +calculated to promote the views which he entertained for Kathleen's +happiness. Ever since the notion of her marriage with Hycy Burke or +his brother--it mattered little to him which--he felt exceedingly +dissatisfied with her attachment to M'Mahon. Of this weakness, which we +may say, was the only one of the family, we have already spoken. He +lost little time, however, in going to communicate his daughter's +determination to that young man. It so happened, however, that, +notwithstanding three several journeys made for the purpose, he could +not see him; the fact being that Bryan always happened to be from +home when he went. Then came the denouncing scene which we have just +described, when his illness put it out of his power, without danger to +himself, to undergo anything calculated to discompose or disturb him. +The popular feeling, however, was fearfully high and indignant against +him. The report went that he had called Father M'Pepper, the senior +curate, a liar upon the very altar; and the commencement of +his explanation with respect to the fifty-pound note, was, not +unnaturally--since they would not permit him to speak--construed into an +open admission of his having been bribed. + +This was severe and trying enough, but it was not all. Chevydale, whom +he unseated by his vote, after having incurred several thousand pounds +of expense, was resolved to make him suffer for the loss of his seat, as +well as for having dared to vote against him--a purpose in which he was +strongly supported, or into which, we should rather say, he was urged by +Fethertonge, who, in point of fact, now that the leases had dropped, was +negotiating a beneficial bargain with the gauger, apart from Chevydale's +knowledge, who was a feeble, weak-minded man, without experience or a +proper knowledge of his duties. In fact, he was one of,those persons +who, having no fixed character of their own, are either good or evil, +according to the principles of those by whom they happen for the time to +be managed. If Chevydale had been under the guidance of a sensible and +humane agent, he would have been a good landlord; but the fact being +otherwise, he was, in Fethertonge's hands, anything but what a landlord +ought to be. Be this as it may, the period of M'Mahon's illness passed +away, and, on rising from his sick bed, he found the charge of bribery +one of universal belief, against which scarcely any person had the +courage to raise a voice. Even Hycy suffered himself, as it were, with +great regret and reluctance, to become at length persuaded of its truth. +Kathleen, on hearing that he himself had been forced to admit it in the +chapel, felt that the gloom which had of late wrapped her in its +shadow now became so black and impervious that she could see +nothing distinctly. The two facts--that is to say, the vote and the +bribery--seemed to her like some frightful hallucination which lay upon +her spirits--some formidable illusion that haunted her night and day, +and filled her whole being with desolation and sorrow. + +With respect to his own feelings, there was but one thought which gave +him concern, and this was an apprehension that Kathleen might be carried +away by the general prejudice which existed against him. + +"I know Kathleen, however," he would say; "I know her truth, her good +sense, and her affection; and, whatever the world may say, she won't +follow its example and condemn me without a hearing. I will see her +tomorrow and explain all to her. Father," he added, "will you ask Dora +if she will walk with me to the Long-shot Meadow? I think a stroll round +it will do me good. I haven't altogether recovered my strength yet." + +"To be sure I will go with you, Bryan," said the bright-eyed and +affectionate sister; "to be sure I will; it's on my way to Gerald +Cavanagh's; and I'm going down to see how they are, and to know if +something I heard about them is thrue. I want to satisfy myself; but +they musn't get on their high horse with me, I can tell them." + +"You never doubted me, Dora," said Bryan, as they went along--"you never +supposed for a moment that I could"--he paused. "I know," he added, +"that it doesn't look well; but you never supposed that I acted from +treachery, or deceit, or want of affection or respect for my religion? +You don't suppose that what all the country is ringin' with--that I took +a bribe or made a bargain with Vanston--is true?" + +"Why do you ask me such questions?" she replied. "You acted on the spur +of the minute; and I say, afther what you heard from the landlord and +agent, if you had voted for him you'd be a mane, pitiful hound, unworthy +of your name and family. You did well to put him out. If I had been in +your place, 'out you go,' I'd say, 'you're not the man for my money.' +Don't let what the world says fret you, Bryan; sure, while you have +Kathleen and me at your back, you needn't care about them. At any rate, +it's well for Father M'Pepper that I'm not a man, or, priest as he +is, I'd make a stout horsewhip tiche him to mind his religion, and not +intermeddle in politics where he has no business." + +"Why, you're a great little soldier, Dora," replied Bryan, smiling on +her with affectionate admiration. + +"I hate anything tyrannical or overbearing," she replied, "as I do +anything that's mane and ungenerous." + +"As to Father M'Pepper, we're not to take him as an example of what his +brother priests in general are or ought to be. The man may think he is +doing only his duty; but, at all events, Dora, he has proved to me, very +much at my own cost, I grant, that he has more zeal than discretion! May +God forgive him; and that's the worst I wish him. When did you see or +hear from Kathleen? I long to give her an explanation of my conduct, +because I know she will listen to raison." + +"That's more than I know yet, then," replied Dora. "She has awful high +notions of our religion, an' thinks we ought to go about huntin' after +martyrdom. Yes, faix, she thinks we ought to lay down our lives for our +religion or our counthry, if we were to be called on to do so. Isn't +that nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them." + +"It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought--that is, if our +deaths would serve either the one or the other." + +"And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I +would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it." + +"I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but +I know one who would." + +"I know too--Kathleen." + +"Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her +life for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a +sacrifice could be necessary." + +"Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought +to tell it to you or not." + +"I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor +can you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit." + +"I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy +myself--that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and that +everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to know +whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I +ever did." + +"And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks +I'm as bad as I'm reported to be." + +"And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask +you the raison of it like a--ha! ha!--I was goin' to say like a man? +Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to +explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back, +and, when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong." + +"She'd do nothing at the expense of truth," replied her brother. + +"Truth!" exclaimed the lively and generous girl, now catching the warmth +from her own enthusiasm, "truth! who'd regard truth--" + +"Dora!" exclaimed Bryan, with a seriocomic smile. + +"Ha! ha! ha!--truth! what was I sayin'? No, I didn't mean to say +anything against truth; oh, no, God forgive me!" she added, immediately +softening, whilst her bright and beautiful eyes filled with tears, "oh, +no, nor against my darlin' Kathleen either; for, Bryan, I'm tould that +she has never smiled since; and that the color that left her cheeks when +she heard of your vote has never come back to it; and that, in short, +her heart is broken. However, I'll soon see her, and maybe I won't plade +your cause; no lawyer could match me. Whisht!" she exclaimed, "isn't +that Gerald himself comin' over to us?" + +"It is," replied Bryan, "let us meet him;" and, as he spoke, they turned +their steps towards him. As they met, Bryan, forgetting everything that +had occurred, and influenced solely by the habit of former friendship +and good feeling, extended his hand with an intention of clasping that +of his old acquaintance, but the latter withdrew, and refused to meet +this usual exponent of good will. + +"Well, Gerald," said M'Mahon, smiling, "I see you go with the world +too; but, since you won't shake hands with me, allow me to ask your +business." + +"To deliver a message to you from my daughter, and she'd not allow me to +deliver it to any one but yourself. I came three times to see you before +your sickness, but I didn't find jou at home." + +"What's the message, Gerald?" + +"The message, Bryan, is--that you are never to spake to her, nor will +she ever more name your name. She will never be your wife; for she says +that the heart that forgets its duty to God, and the hand that has been +soiled by a bribe, can never be anything to her but the cause of shame +and sorrow; and she bids me say that her happiness is gone and her heart +broken. Now, farewell, and think of the girl you have lost by disgracin' +your religion and your name." + +Bryan paused for a moment, as if irresolute how to act, and exchanged +glances with his high-minded little sister. + +"Tell Kathleen, from me," said the latter, "that if she had a little +more feeling, and a little less pride or religion, I don't know which, +she'd be more of a woman and less of a saint. My brother, tell her, has +disgraced neither his religion nor his name, and that he has too much of +the pride of an injured man to give back any answer to sich a message. +That's my answer, and not his, and you may ask her if it's either +religion or common justice that makes her condemn him she loved without +a hearing? Goodbye, now, Gerald; give my love to Hanna, and tell her +she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister." + +Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that +he was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he +was about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing +eyes, and panting bosom of his heroic little sister. + +"You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a +message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own +defence." + +The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon +him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice +to quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after +the heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and +reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On +hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which +the man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he +looked around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he +said, "Dora, is not this a fine country?" + +"It is," she replied, looking at him with surprise. + +"Would you like," he added, "to lave it?" + +"To lave it, Bryan!" she replied. "Oh, no, not to lave it;" and as she +spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face. + +"Poor Dora," he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression +of love and compassion, "I know your saicret, and have done so this long +time; but don't be cast down. You have been a warm and faithful little +friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet." + +Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with +tears. "I won't deny what you know, Bryan," she replied; "and unless +he----" + +"Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come +what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not +stay. Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an +expense of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken +out of my hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket +of the landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house +and home without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and +other improvements that I made on that farm." + +"It's a hard and cruel case," said Dora; "an there can be no doubt but +that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't +you challenge them, an' fight them?" + +"Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!" replied her brother, smiling; "but +you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely +out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every +tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it. +No, no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country. We will +go to America; but, in the mean time, I'll see what I can do for you." + +"Bryan, dear," she said in a voice of entreaty, "don't think of it. +Oh, stay in your own country. Sure what other country could you like as +well?" + +"I grant you that, Dora; but the truth is, there seems to be a curse +over it; whatever's the raison of it, nothing goes right in it. The +landlords in general care little about the state and condition of their +tenantry. All they trouble themselves about is their rents. Look at my +own case, an' that's but one out of thousands that's happenin' every +day in the country. Grantin' that he didn't sarve me with this notice +to quit, an' supposin' he let me stay in the farm, he'd rise it on me in +sich a way as that I could hardly live in it; an' you know, Dora, that +to be merely strugglin' an' toilin' all one's life is anything but a +comfortable prospect. Then, in consequence of the people depondin upon +nothing but the potato for food, whenever that fails, which, in general, +it does every seventh or eighth year, there's a famine, an' then the +famine is followed by fever an' all kinds of contagious diseases, +in sich a way that the kingdom is turned into one great hospital and +grave-yard. It's these things that's sendin' so many thousands out of +the country; and if we're to go at all, let us go like the rest, while +we're able to go, an' not wait till we become too poor either to go or +stay with comfort." + +"Well, I suppose," replied his sister, "that what you say is true +enough; but for all that I'd rather bear anything in my own dear country +than go to a strange one. Do you think I'd not miss the summer sun +rising behind the Althadawan hills? an' how could I live without seein' +him set behind Mallybeney? An' then to live in a country where I'd not +see these ould hills, the green glens, and mountain rivers about us, +that have all grown into my heart. Oh, Bryan, dear, don't think of +it--don't think of it." + +[Illustration: PAGE 603-- country where I'd not see these ould hills] + +"Dora," replied the other, his fine countenance overshadowed with, deep +emotion as he spoke, "you cannot love these ould hills, as you cull +them, nor these beautiful glens, nor the mountain rivers better than I +do. It will go to my heart to leave them; but leave them I will--ay, and +when I go, you know that I will leave behind me one that's dearer ten +thousand times than them all. Kathleen's message has left me a heavy and +sorrowful heart." + +"I pity her now," replied the kind-hearted girl; "but, still, Bryan, she +sent you a harsh message. Ay, I pity her, for did you observe how the +father looked when he said that she bid him tell you her happiness was +gone, and her heart broken; still, she ought to have seen yourself and +heard your defence." + +"I can neither blame her, nor will; neither can I properly justify my +vote, I grant; it was surely very wrong or she wouldn't feel it as she +does. Indeed. I think I oughtn't to have voted at all." + +"I differ with you there, Bryan," replied Dora, with animation, "I would +rather, ten times over, vote wrongly, than not vote from cowardice. +It's a mane, skulkin', shabby thing, to be afeard to vote when one has a +vote--it's unmanly." + +"I know it is; and it was that very thought that made me vote. I felt +that it would look both mane and cowardly not to vote, and accordingly +I did vote." + +"Ay, and you did right," replied his spirited sister, "and I don't care +who opposes you, I'll support you for it, through thick and thin." + +"And I suppose you may say through right and wrong, too?" + +"Ay, would I," she replied; "eh?--what am I sayin?--throth, I'm a little +madcap, I think. No, I won't support you through right and wrong--it's +only when you're right you may depend on me." + +They had now been more than an hour strolling about the fields, when +Bryan, who did not feel himself quite so strong as he imagined he was, +proposed to return to his father's, where, by the way, he had been +conveyed from the chapel on the Sunday when he had been so severely +maltreated. + +They accordingly did so, for he felt himself weak, and unable to prolong +his walk to any greater distance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI.--Thomas M'Mahon is forced to determine on Emigration. + + +Gerald Cavanaugh felt himself secretly relieved by the discharge of his +message to M'Mahon. + +"It is good," thought he, "to have that affair settled, an' all +expectation of her marriage with him knocked up. I'll be bound a little +time will cool the foolish girl, and put Edward Burke in the way of +succeeding. As for Hycy, I see clearly that whoever is to succeed, he's +not the man--an' the more the pity, for the sorra one of them all so +much the gentleman, nor will live in sich style." + +The gloom which lay upon the heart of Kathleen Cavanagh was neither +moody nor captious, but on the contrary remarkable for a spirit of +extreme gentleness and placidity. From the moment she had come to the +resolution of discarding M'Mahon, she was observed to become more +silent than she had ever been, but at the same time her deportment was +characterized by a tenderness towards the other members of the family +that was sorrowful and affecting to the last degree. Her sister Hanna's +sympathy was deep and full of sorrow. None of them, however, knew her +force of character, nor the inroads which, under guise of this placid +calm, strong grief was secretly making on her health and spirits. The +paleness, for instance, which settled on her cheeks, when the news +of her lover's apostacy, as it was called, and as she considered it, +reached her, never for one moment left it afterwards, and she resembled +some exquisitely chiselled statue moving by machinery, more than +anything else to which we can compare her. + +She was sitting with Hanna when her father returned, after having +delivered her message to M'Mahon. The old man seemed, if one could judge +by his features, to feel rather satisfied, as in fact was the case, and +after having put up his good hat, and laid aside his best coat, he +said, "I have delivered your message, Kathleen, an' dear knows I'm glad +there's an end to that business--it never had my warm heart." + +"It always had mine, then," replied Hanna, "an' I think we ought not to +judge our fellow creatures too severely, knowin' as we do that there's +no such thing as perfection in this world. What the sorra could have +come over him, or tempted him to vote as he did? What did he say, +father, when you brought him the message?" + +"Afther I declared it," replied her father, "he was struck dumb, and +never once opened his lips; but if he didn't spake, his sister Dora +did." + +"An' what did she say--generous and spirited little Dora!--what did she +say, father?" + +He then repeated the message as accurately as he could--for the honest +old man was imbued with too conscientious a love for truth to disguise +or conceal a single syllable that had been intrusted to him on either +side--"Throth," said he, "the same Dora has the use of her tongue when +she pleases; 'ax her,' said she, spakin' of Kathleen, here, 'if it's +either religion or common justice that makes her condemn my brother +without hearin' his defence. Good-bye, now,' says she; 'give my love to +Hanna, and tell her 'she's worth a ship-load of her stately sister.'" + +"Poor Dora!" exclaimed Hanna, whilst the tears came to her eyes, "who +can blame her for defending so good and affectionate a brother? Plague +on it for an election! I wish there was no sich thing in the country." + +"As for me," said Kathleen, "I wouldn't condemn him without a hearing, +if I had any doubt about his conduct, but I have not. He voted for +Vanston--that can't be denied; and proved himself to have less honesty +and scruple than even that profligate Hycy Burke; and if he made a +bargain with Vanston, as is clear he did, an' voted for him because the +other got his fine reduced, why that is worse, because then he did it +knowingly an' with his eyes open, an' contrary to his conscience--ay, +an' to his solemn promise to myself; for I'll tell you now what I never +mentioned before, that I put him on his guard against doing so; and he +knew that if he did, all would and must be over between him and me." + +"Is that true, Kathleen?" said Hanna with surprise; "but why need I ask +you such a question--it's enough that you say it--in that case then I +give him up at last; but who, oh, who could a' believed it?" + +"But that is not all," continued Kathleen, in the same mournful and +resigned tone of voice--"there's the bribe--didn't hundreds hear him +acknowledge publicly in the chapel that he got it? What more is wanting? +How could I ever respect a man that has proved himself to be without +either honesty or principle? and why should it happen, that the man who +has so openly and so knowingly disgraced his religion and his name fall +to my lot? Oh, no--it matters little how I love him, and I grant that in +spite of all that has happened I have a lingering affection for him +even yet; still I don't think that affection will live long--I can now +neither respect or esteem him, an' when that is the case I can't surely +continue long to love him. I know," she proceeded, "that it's not +possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful +conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you +all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may +and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if +I had never known him." + +"Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for +himself?" asked Hanna. + +"No," the other replied; "he heard my message, and was silent. You may +rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would +have said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's +defenceless." + +In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel +surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the +declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of +Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her +relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added +to which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both +families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs--all we say +perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke, +and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not +despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last +said--"If Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to +give him, or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed +of; he may as well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot +love, I can at least respect him." + +These circumstances, together with the period allowed to M'Mahon for +setting himself, if possible, right with Kathleen, in due time reached +his ears. It soon appeared, however, that Kathleen had not all the +pride--if pride it could be called--to herself. M'Mahon, on being made +acquainted with what had occurred, which he had heard from his sister +Dora, simply said--"Since she has not afforded myself any opportunity +of tellin' her the truth, I won't attempt to undeceive her. I will be as +proud as she is. That is all I say." + +"And you are right, Tom," replied Dora, "the name of M'Mahon mustn't be +consarned with anything that's mane or discreditable. The pride of our +old blood must be kept up, Tom; but still when we think of what she's +sufferin' we musn't open our lips against her." + +"Oh, no," he replied; "I know that it's neither harshness nor weakness, +nor useless pride that makes her act as she's doin', but a great mind +and a heart that's full of truth, high thoughts, and such a love for her +religion and its prosperity as I never saw in any one. Still, Dora, I'm +not the person that will ever sneak back to entreat and plead at her +feet like a slave, and by that means make myself look still worse in her +eyes; I know very well that if I did so she'd despise me. God bless her, +at all events, and make her happy! that's the worst I wish her." + +"Amen," replied Dora; "you have said nothing but the truth about her, +and indeed. I see, Tom, that you know her well." + +Thus ended the generous dialogue of Dora and her affectionate brother, +who after all might have been induced by her to remain in his native +country and share whatever fate it might allot him, were it not that in +a few days afterwards, his father found that the only terms on which he +could obtain his farm were such as could scarcely be said to come within +the meaning and spirit of the landlord's adage, "live and let live." +It is true that for the terms on which his farm was offered him he was +indebted to Chevydale himself, who said that as he knew his father had +entertained a high respect for old M'Mahon, he would not suffer him to +be put out. The father besides voted for him, and always had voted for +the family. "Do what you please with the son," he proceeded--"get rid of +him as you like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him +have the farm upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't +you think now it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to +vote for Vanston, although he knew that I had it in my power to send him +about his business?" + +"It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I +witnessed," returned the other. "The wily rascal calculated upon your +forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might +do what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however." + +"Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us, +in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of +Excise." + +"Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves +in the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have +such a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad +example, and calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous +principles among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for +us, rather well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious--and I +have it from the best authority--one of the parties who was cognizant +of his conduct--that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate +compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty +pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself, +being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was +mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already +infamous in the country." + +"What, for receiving a bribe!" exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent +with a significant smile; "and what, pray, is the distinction between +him who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little, +my good Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we +do. A man would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that +you never had bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is +the consciousness of bribery on our own part that prevents us from +attempting to unseat Vanston." + +"That's all very true, I grant you," replied the other; "but in the +mean time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards +M'Mahon, is--not so much whether he is corrupt or not, as whether he has +unseated you; that is the fatal fact against him; and if we allow that +to pass without making him suffer for it, you will find that on the +next election he may have many an imitator, and your chances will not be +worth much--that's all." + +"Very well, Fethertonge," replied the indolent and feeble-minded man, +"I leave him to you; manage him or punish him as you like; but I do beg +that you will let me hear no more about him. Keep his father, however, +on the property; I insist on that; he is an honest man, for he voted for +me; keep him on his farm at reasonable terms too, such,--of course, as +he can live on." + +The reasonable terms proposed by Fethertonge were, however, such as old +Tom M'Mahon could not with any prospect of independence encounter. Even +this, however, was not to him the most depressing consideration. Faith +had been wantonly and deliberately broken with him--the solemn words +of a dying man had been disregarded--and, as Fethertonge had made him +believe, by that son who had always professed to regard and honor his +father's memory. + +"I assure you, M'Mahon," replied the agent, in the last interview he +ever had with him, "I assure you I have done all in my power to bring +matters about; but without avail. It is a painful thing to have to do +with an obstinate man, M'Mahon; with a man who, although he seems quiet +and easy, will and must have everything his own way." + +"Well, sir," replied M'Mahon, "you know what his dying father's words +wor to me." + +"And more than I know them, I can assure you," he whispered, in a very +significant voice, and with a nod of the head that seemed to say, +"your landlord knows them as well as I do. I have done my duty, and +communicated them to him, as I ought." + +M'Mahon shook his head in a melancholy manner, and said,-- + +"Well, sir, at any rate I know the worst. I couldn't now have any +confidence or trust in such a man; I could depend upon neither his word +or his promise; I couldn't look upon him as a friend, for he didn't +prove himself one to my son when he stood in need of one. It's clear +that he doesn't care about the welfare and prosperity of his tenantry; +and for that raison--or rather for all these raisons put together--I'll +join my son, and go to a country where, by all accounts, there's better +prospects for them that's honest and industrious than there is in this +unfortunate one of ours,--where the interest of the people is so much +neglected--neglected! no, but never thought of at all! Good-bye, sir," +he added, taking up his hat, whilst the features of this sterling and +honest man were overcast with a solemn and pathetic spirit, "don't +consider me any longer your tenant. For many a long year has our names +been--but no matther--the time is come at last, and the M'Mahon's of +Carriglass and Ahadarra will be known there no more. It wasn't our +fault; we wor willin' to live--oh! not merely willin' to live, but +anxious to die there; but it can't be. Goodbye, sir." And so they +parted. + +M'Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time +at Carriglass, before him. On entering the house his family, who were +all assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been +deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow. + +"Bryan," said he, "you are right--as indeed you always are. Childre'," +he proceeded, "we must lave the place that we loved so much; where we +have lived for hundreds of years. This counthry isn't one now to prosper +in, as I said not long since--this very day. We must lave the ould +places, an' as I tould Fethertonge, the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and +Carriglass will be the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but +God's will be done! I must look to the intherest of you all, childre'; +but, God help us, that's what I can't do here for the future. Every one +of sense and substance is doin' so, an' why shouldn't we take care of +ourselves as well as the rest? What we want here is encouragement and +fair play; but _fareer gair_, it isn't to be had." + +The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this +was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family +who were immediately moved,--all by sorrow, and some even to tears. +Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his +intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might +change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought +about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears +in her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming: "Oh, father +dear, don't think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it? What +other country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather--here he's +creepin' in, sure he's not the same man within the last few months,--oh, +how could you think of bringin' him, now that he's partly in his grave, +an' he," she added, in a whisper full of compassion, "an' he partly +dotin' with feebleness and age." + +"Hush!" said her father, "we must say nothing of it to him. That must be +kept a secret from him, an' it's likely he won't notice the change." + +Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father's arm, said: +"Father, for the love of God, don't take us from Carriglass and +Ahadarra:--whatever the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let +us bear it here." + +"Father, you won't bring us nor you won't go," added Dora; "sure we +never could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy." + +"Poor Dora!" said Bryan, "what a mistake that is! I feel the contrary; +for the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds +to what I'm sufferin'." + +"Childre'," said the father, "our landlord has broken his own father's +dyin' promise--you all remember how full of delight I came home to you +from Dublin, and how she that's gone"--he paused;--he covered his face +with his open hands, through which the tears were seen to trickle. +This allusion to their beloved mother was too much for them. Arthur +and Michael sat in silence, not knowing exactly upon what grounds their +father had formed a resolution, which, when proposed to him by Bryan, +appeared to be one to which his heart could never lend its sanction. +No sooner was their mother named, however, than they too became deeply +moved, and when Kitty and Dora both rushed with an outcry of sorrow to +their father, exclaiming, "Oh, father dear, think of her that's in the +clay--for her sake, change your mind and don't take us to where we can +never weep a tear over her blessed grave, nor ever kneel over it to +offer a prayer within her hearin' for her soul!" + +"Childre," he exclaimed, wiping away his tears that had indeed flowed +in all the bitterness of grief and undeserved affliction; "childre'," +he replied, "you must be manly now; it's because I love you an' feels +anxious to keep you from beggary and sorrow at a future time, and +destitution and distress, such as we see among so many about us every +day in the week, that I've made up my mind to go. Our landlord wont give +us our farm barrin' at a rent that 'tid bring us down day by day, to +poverty and distress like too many of our neighbors. We have yet some +thrifle o' money left, as much as will, by all accounts, enable us to +take--I mane to purchase a farm in America--an' isn't it betther for us +to go there, and be independent, no matther what it may cost our hearts +to suffer by doin' so, than to stay here until the few hundre' that +I've got together is melted away out of my pocket into the picket of a +landlord that never wanst throubles himself to know how we're gettin' +on, or whether we're doin' well or ill. Then think of his conduct to +Bryan, there; how he neglected him, and would let him go to ruin widout +ever movin' a finger to save him from it. No, childre', undher sich a +man I won't stay. Prepare yourselves, then, to lave this. In biddin' you +to do so, I'm actin' for the best towards you all. I'm doin' my duty by +you, and I expect for that raison, an' as obedient childre'--which I've +ever found you--that you'll do your duty by me, an' give no further +opposition to what I'm proposin' for your sakes. I know you're all +loath--an' you will be loath--to lave this place; but do you think?--do +you?--'that I--I--oh, my God!--do you think, I say, that I'll feel +nothing when we go? Oh! little you know of me if you think so! but, as +I said, we must do our duty. We see our neighbors fallin' away into +poverty, and distress, and destitution day by day, and if we remain in +this unfortunate country, we must only folly in their tracks, an' before +long be as miserable and helpless as they are." + +His family were forced to admit the melancholy truth and strong sense +of all he had uttered, and, although the resolution to which he had come +was one of bitterness and sorrow to them all, yet from a principle of +affection and duty towards him, they felt that any opposition on their +part would have been unjustifiable and wrong. + +"But, sure," the old man proceeded, "there's more than I've mentioned +yet, to send us away. Look at poor Bryan, there, how he was nearly +ruined by the villany of some cowardly scoundrel, or scoundrels, who set +up a still upon his farm; that's a black business, like many other black +business that's a disgrace to the country--an inoffensive young man, +that never made or did anything to make an enemy for himself, durin' his +whole life! An' another thing, bekaise he voted for the man that saved +him from destruction, as he ought to do, an' as I'm proud he did do, +listen now to the blackguard outcry that's against him; ay, and by a +crew of vagabonds that 'ud sell Christ himself, let alone their country, +or their religion, if they were bribed by Protestant goold for it! +Throth I'm sick of the counthry and the people; for instead of gettin' +betther, it's worse they're gettin' every day. Make up your minds then, +childre'; there's a curse on the counthry. Many o' the landlords are +bad enough, too bad, and too neglectful, God knows; but sure the people +themselves is as bad, an' as senseless on the other hand; aren't they +blinded so much by their bad feelin's, and short-sighted passions, that +it is often the best landlords they let out their revenge upon. Prepare +then, childre'; for out of the counthry, or at any rate from among the +people, the poverty and the misery that's in it, wid God's assistance, +we'll go while we're able to do so." + + + + +CHAPTER XII.--Mystery Among the Hogans + +--Finigan Defends the Absent. + + +The three Hogans, whom we have lost sight of for some time, were, as our +readers already know, three most unadulterated ruffians, in every +sense of that most respectable term. Yet, singular as it may appear, +notwithstanding their savage brutality, they were each and all possessed +of a genius for mechanical inventions and manual dexterity that was +perfectly astonishing when the low character of their moral, and +intellectual standard is considered. Kate Hogan, who, from her position, +could not possibly be kept out of their secrets, at least for any length +of time, was forced to notice of late that there was a much closer and +more cautious intimacy between Hycy Burke and them than she had ever +observed before. She remarked, besides, that not only was Teddy Phats +excluded from their councils, but she herself was sent out of the way, +whenever Hycy paid them a visit, which uniformly occurred at a late +hour, in the night. + +Another circumstance also occurred about this time which puzzled her not +a little: we mean the unusual absence of Philip for about a fortnight +from home. Now, there certainly nothing more offensive, especially to a +female, than the fact of excluding her from the knowledge of any secret, +a participation in which she may consider as a right. In her case +she felt that it argued want of confidence, and as she had never yet +betrayed any trust or secret reposed in her, she considered their +conduct towards her, not merely as an insult, but such as entitled them +to nothing at her hands but resentment, and a determination to thwart +their plans, whatever they might be, as soon as she should succeed in +making herself acquainted with them. What excited her resentment the +more bitterly was the arrival of a strange man and woman in company with +Philip, as she was able to collect, from the metropolis, to the former +of whom they all seemed to look with much deference as to a superior +spirit of the secret among them this man and his wife were clearly +in possession, as was evident from their whisperings and other +conversations, which they held apart, and uniformly out of her hearing. +It is true the strangers did not reside with the Hogans, but in a small +cabin adjacent to that in which Finigan taught his school. Much of the +same way of thinking was honest Teddy Phats, whom they had now also +abandoned, or rather completely cast off, and, what was still worse, +deprived of the whole apparatus for distillation, which, although +purchased by Hycy Burke's money, they very modestly appropriated to +themselves. Teddy, however, as well as Kate, knew that they were never +cautious without good reason, and as it had pleased them to cut him, as +the phrase goes, so did he, as Kate had done, resolve within himself to +penetrate their secret, if human ingenuity could effect it. + +In this position they were when honest Philip returned, as we have said, +after a fortnight's absence, from some place or places unknown. The +mystery, however, did not end here. Kate observed that, as before, much +of their conversation was held aloof from her, or in such enigmatical +phrases and whisperings, as rendered the substance of it perfectly +inscrutable to her. She observed, besides, that two of them were +frequently absent from the kiln where they lived; but that one always +remained at home to make certain that she should not follow or dog them +to the haunt they frequented. This precaution on their part was uniform. +As it was, however, Kate did not seem to notice it. On the contrary, no +one could exhibit a more finished appearance of stupid indifference than +she assumed upon these occasions, even although she knew by the removal +of the tools, or a portion of them, that her friends were engaged in +some business belonging to their craft. In this manner matters proceeded +for some weeks subsequent to the period of Philip's return. + +Kate also observed, with displeasure, that among all those who joined in +the outcry against Bryan M'Mahon, none made his conduct, such as it was +conceived to have been, a subject of more brutal and bitter triumph than +the Hogans. The only circumstance connected with him which grieved them +to the heart, was the fact that the distillation plot had not ruined him +as they expected it would have done. His disgrace, however, and unjust +ejectment from Ahadarra filled them with that low, ruffianly sense of +exultation, than which, coming from such scoundrels, there is scarcely +anything more detestable in human nature. + +One evening about this time they were sitting about the fire, the three +brothers, Kate, and the young unlicked savages of the family, when +Philip, after helping himself to a glass of quints, said,-- + +"At any rate, there'll be no match between Miss Kathleen and that +vagabond, Bryan M'Mahon. I think we helped to put a nail in his coffin +there, by gob." + +"Ay," said Kate, "an' you may boast of it, you unmanly vagabone; an' yet +you purtind to have a regard for the poor girl, an' a purty way you tuck +to show it--to have her as she is, goin' about wid a pale face an' a +broken heart. Don't you see it's her more than him you're punishin', you +savage of hell?" + +"You had betther keep your tongue off o' me," he replied; "I won't get +into grips wid you any more, you barge o' blazes; but, if you provoke me +wid bad language, I'll give you a clink wid one o' these sotherin'-irons +that'll put a clasp on your tongue." + +"Never attempt that," she replied fiercely, "for, as sure as you do, +I'll have this knife," showing him a large, sharp-pointed one, which, in +accordance with the customs of her class, hung by a black belt of strong +leather from her side--"I'll have this customer here greased in your +puddins, my buck, and, when the win's out o' you, see what you'll be +worth--fit for Captain James's hounds; although I dunno but the very +dogs themselves is too clane to ait you." + +"Come," said Bat, "we'll have no more o' this; do you, Philip, keep +quiet wid your sotherin'-iron, and, as for you, Kate, don't dhraw me +upon you; _na ha nan shin_--it isn't Philip you have. I say I'm right +well plaised that we helped to knock up the match." + +"Don't be too sure," replied Kate, "that it is knocked up; don't now, +mind my words; an' take care that, instead of knockin' it up, you +haven't knocked yourselves down. Chew your cud upon that now." + +"What does she mane?" asked Ned, looking on her with a baleful glance, +in which might be read equal ferocity and alarm. "Why, traichery, of +coorse," replied Philip, in his deep, glowing voice. "Kate," said her +husband, starting into something' like an incipient fit of fury, but +suddenly checking himself--"Kate, my honey, what do you mane by them +words?" + +"What do I mane by them words?" she exclaimed, with an eye which turned +on him with cool defiance; "pick that out o' your larnin', Bat, my pet. +You can all keep your saicrets; an' I'll let you know that I can keep +mine." + +"Be the Holy St. Lucifer," said her husband, "if I wanst thought that +traichery 'ud enter your head, I'd take good care that it's in hell +you'd waken some fine mornin' afore long. So mind yourself, Kate, my +honey." + +"Are you in nobody else's power but mine?" she replied, "ax yourselves +that--an' now do you mind yourself, Bat, my pet, and all o' yez." + +"What is the raison," asked her husband, "that I see you an' Nanny Peety +colloguin' an' huggermuggerin' so often together of late?" + +"Ah," she replied, with a toss of disdain, "what a manly fellow you are +to want to get into women's saicrets! you may save your breath though." + +"Whatever you collogue about, all I say is, that I don't like a bone in +the same Nanny Peety's body. She has an eye in her head that looks as if +it knew one's thoughts." + +"An' maybe it does. One thing I know, and every one knows it, that it's +a very purty eye." + +"Tell her, then, to keep out o' this; we want no spies here." + +"Divil a word of it; she's my niece, an' the king's highway is as free +to her as it is to you or anybody else. She'll be welcome to me any time +she comes, an' let me see who'll dare to mislist her. She feels as she +ought to do, an' as every woman ought to do, ay, an' every man, too, +that is a man, or anything but a brute an' a coward--she feels for that +unfortunate, heart-broken girl 'ithout;' an' it'll be a strange thing +if them that brought her to what she's sufferin' won't suffer +themselves yet; there's a God above still, I hope, glory be to His name! +Traichery!" she exclaimed; "ah, you ill-minded villains, it's yourselves +you're thinkin' of, an' what you desarve. As for myself, it's neither +you nor your villainy that's in my head, but the sorrowful heart that's +in that poor girl 'ithout--ay, an' a broken one; for, indeed, broked it +is; and it's not long she'll be troub'lin' either friend or foe in this +world. The curse o' glory upon you all, you villains, and upon every one +that had a hand in bringing her to this!" + +Having uttered these words, she put her cloak and bonnet upon her, and +left the house, adding as she went out, "if it's any pleasure to you to +know it, I'll tell you. I'm goin' to meet Nancy Peety this minute, +an' you never seen sich colloguin' an' hugger-muggerin' as we'll have, +plaise goodness--ah, you ill-thinkin', skulkin' villains!" + +Kate Hogan, though a tigress when provoked, and a hardened, reckless +creature, scarcely remarkable for any particular virtue that could be +enumerated, and formidable from that savage strength and intrepidity +for which she was so well known, was yet not merely touched by the +sufferings of Kathleen Cavanagh, but absolutely took an interest in +them, at once so deep and full of sympathy, as to affect her temper and +disturb her peace of mind. Notwithstanding her character she was still +a woman; and, in matters involving the happiness of an innocent and +beautiful creature of her own sex, who had been so often personally kind +to herself, and whose family were protectors and benefactors to her and +her kindred, she felt as a woman. Though coarse-minded upon most many +matters, she was yet capable of making the humane distinction which her +brutal relatives could not understand or feel;--we mean the fact that, +in having lent themselves to the base conspiracy planned and concocted +by Hycy Burke, and in having been undoubtedly the cause of M'Mahon's +disgrace, as well as of his projected marriage with Kathleen having been +broken up, they did not perceive that she was equally a sufferer; or, +if they did, they were either too cunning or too hardened to acknowledge +it. For this particular circumstance, Kate, inasmuch as it involved deep +ingratitude on their part, could not at all forgive them. + +At this time, indeed, the melancholy position of Kathleen Cavanagh was +one which excited profound and general sorrow; and just in proportion +as this was sincere, so was the feeling of indignation against him whose +corruption and want of principle were supposed to have involved her +in their consequences. Two months or better of the period allotted by +Kathleen to the vindication of his character, had now elapsed, and yet +nothing had been done to set himself right either with her or the world. +She consequently argued and with apparent reason, that everything in the +shape of justification was out of his power, and this reflection only +deepened her affliction. Yes, it deepened her affliction; but it did +not; on that account succeed in enabling her to obliterate his image +the more easily from her heart. The fact was, that despite the force and +variety of the rumors that were abroad against him--and each succeeding +week brought in some fresh instance of his duplicity and profligacy, +thanks to the ingenious and fertile malignity of Hycy the +accomplished--despite of this, and despite of all, the natural reaction +of her heart had set in--their past endearments, their confidence their +tenderness, their love, now began, after the first vehement expression +of pride and high principle had exhausted the offended mind of its +indignation, to gradually resume their influence over her. A review, +besides, of her own conduct towards her lover was by no means +satisfactory to her. Whilst she could not certainly but condemn him, +she felt as if she had judged him upon a principle at once too cold and +rigorous. Indeed, now that a portion of time had enabled her mind to +cool, she could scarcely understand why it was that she had passed, so +harsh a sentence upon him. She was not, however, capable of analyzing +her own mind and feelings upon the occasion, or she might have known +that her severity towards the man I was the consequence, on her part, of +that innate scorn and indignation which pure and lofty minds naturally +entertain against everything dishonorable and base, and that it is a +very difficult thing to disassociate the crime from the criminal, even +in cases where the latter may have had a strong hold upon the affections +of such a noble nature. Nay, the very fact of finding that one's +affections have been fixed upon a person capable of such dishonor, +produces a double portion of indignation at the discovery of their +profligacy, because it supposes, in the first place, that something like +imposture must have been practised upon us in securing our affections, +or what is still more degrading, that we must have been materially +devoid of common penetration, or we could not have suffered ourselves to +become the dupe of craft and dissimulation. + +Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject +of her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts, +and detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act +inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists +temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach +it. + +Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her +heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by +the shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly +passed away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the +severity of the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to +look back upon her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more +softened medium of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her +slowly but surely, until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess +of her own severity towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally +return, as it were, to a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor, +from an unconscious principle of self-love, to work herself up into that +lofty hatred of dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the +effort was in vain. Every successive review of his guilt was attended +by a consciousness that she had been righteous overmuch, and that the +consequences of his treason, even against their common religion, were +not only rapidly diminishing in her heart, but yielding to something +that very nearly resembled remorse. + +Such was the state of her feelings on the day when Kate Hogan and her +male relatives indulged in the friendly and affectionate dialogue we +have just detailed. Her heart was smitten, in fact, with sorrow for the +harsh part she had taken against her lover, and she only waited for +an opportunity to pour out a full confession of all she felt into the +friendly ear of her sister. + +Gerald Cavanagh's family at this period was darkened by a general spirit +of depression and gloom. Their brother James, from whatever cause it may +have proceeded, seemed to be nearly as much cast down as his sister; and +were it not that Cavanagh himself and his wife sustained themselves by a +hope that Kathleen might ultimately relax so far as to admit, as she had +partly promised to do, the proposals of Edward Burke, it would have +been difficult to find so much suffering apart from death under the same +roof. + +On the day in question, our friend O'Finigan, whose habits of +intemperance had by no means diminished, called at Cavanagh's, as he had +been in the habit of doing. Poor Kathleen was now suffering, besides, +under the consequences of the injunction not to mention M'Mahon's name, +which she had imposed upon her own family--an injunction which they had +ever since faithfully observed. It was quite evident from the unusually +easy fluency of O'Finigan's manner, that he had not confined his +beverages, during the day, to mere water. Hanna, on seeing him enter, +said to Kathleen, in a whisper,-- + +"Hadn't you better come out and take a walk, Kathleen? This O'Finigan is +almost tipsy, and you know he'll be talking about certain subjects you +don't wish to hear." + +"Time enough, dear Hanna," she replied, with a sorrowful look at her +sister, "my heart is so full of suffering and pain that almost anything +will relieve it. You know I was always amused by Finigan's chat." Her +sister, who had not as yet been made acquainted with the change which +had taken place in her heart, on hearing these words looked at her +closely, and smiled sorrowfully, but in such a manner as if she had +at that moment experienced a sensation of pleasure, if not of hope. +Hitherto, whenever a neighbor or stranger came in, Kathleen, fearing +that the forbidden name might become the topic of conversation, always +retired, either to another room or left the house altogether, in order +to relieve her own family from the painful predicament in which their +promise of silence to her had placed them. On this occasion, however, +Hanna perceived with equal surprise and pleasure that she kept her +ground. + +"Sit ye, merry jinteels!" said Finigan, as he entered; "I hope I see +you all in good health and spirits; I hope I do; although I am afraid if +what fame--an' by the way, Mrs. Cavanagh, my classicality tells me, that +the poet Maro blundered like a Hibernian, when he made the same fame a +trumpeter, in which, wid the exception of one point, he was completely +out of keeping. There's not in all litherature another instance of a +female trumpeter; and for sound raisons--if the fair sex were to get +possession of the tuba, God help the world, for it would soon be a noisy +one. However, let me recollect myself--where was I? Oh! ay--I am afraid +that if what fame says--an' by the way, her trumpet must have been a +speaking one--be true, that there's a fair individual here whose spirits +are not of the most exalted character; and indeed, and as I am the +noblest work of God--an honest man--I feel sorry to hear the fact." + +The first portion of this address, we need scarcely say, was the only +part of it which was properly understood, if we except a word or two at +the close. + +"God save you, Misther Finigan." + +"O'Finigan, if you plase, Mrs. Cavanagh." + +"Well, well," she replied, "O'Finigan, since it must be so; but in troth +I can!t always remember it, Misther Finigan, in regard that you didn't +always stand out for it yourself. Is there any news stirrin', you that's +abroad?" + +"Not exactly news, ma'am; but current reports that are now no novelty. +The M'Mahon's--" + +"Oh, never mind them," exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh, glancing at her +daughter, "if you have any 'other news let us hear it--pass over the +M'Mahons--they're not worth our talk, at least some o' them." + +"Pardon me, Mrs. Cavanagh;--if Achilles at the head of his myrmidons was +to inform me to that effect, I'd tell him he had mistaken his customer. +My principle, ma'am--and 'tis one I glory in--is to defend the absent in +gineral, for it is both charitable and ginerous to do so--in gineral, I +say; but when I know that they are unjustly aspersed, I contemplate it +as' an act of duty on my part to vindicate them." + +"Well," replied Mrs. Cavanagh, "that's all very right an' thrue, Mr. +Finigan." + +"It is, Mr. Finig--O'Finigan," observed James Cavanagh, who was present, +"and your words are a credit and an honor to you." + +"Thanks, James, for the compliment; for it is but truth. The scandal I +say (he proceeded without once regarding the hint: thrown out by Mrs. +Cavanagh) which has! been so studiously disseminated against Bryan +M'Mahon--spare your nods and winks, Mrs. Cavanagh, for if you winked at +me with as many eyes as Argus had, and nodded at me wid as many heads as +Hydra, or that baste in the Revelaytions, I'd not suppress a syllable of +truth;--no, ma'am, the _suppressio veri's_ no habit of mine; and I say +and assert--ay, and asseverate--that that honest and high-spirited +young man, named Bryan or Bernard M'Mahon, is the victim of villany +and falsehood--ay, of devilish hatred and ingenious but cowardly +vituperation." + +"Kathleen," whispered her sister, "will you come out, darlin'? this talk +must be painful to you." + +Kathleen gave her a look of much mingled sorrow and entreaty as went to +her heart. Hanna, whose head had been lovingly reclining on her sister's +bosom, pressed her gently but affectionately to her heart, and made no +reply. + +"You wor always a friend of his," replied Mrs. Cavanagh, "an' of course +you spake as a friend." + +"Yes," said Finigan, "I always was a friend of his, because I always +knew his honesty, his love of truth, his hatred of a mane action, ay, +and his generosity and courage. I knew him from the very egg, I may +say--_ab ovo_--Mrs. Cavanagh; it was I instilled his first principles into +him. Oh! I know well! I never had a scholar I was so proud out of. +Hycy Burke was smart, quick, and cunning; but then he was +traicherous--something of a coward when he had his match--strongly +addicted to fiction in most of his narratives, and what was still a +worse point about him, he had the infamous ingenuity, whenever he had a +point to gain--such as belying a boy and taking away his characther--of +making truth discharge all the blackguard duties of falsehoood. Oh! I +know them both well! But who among all I ever enlightened wid +instruction was the boy that always tould the truth, even when it went +against himself?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever defended the +absent?--why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever and always took the part of the +weak and defenceless against the strong and tyrannical?--why, Bryan +M'Mahon. Who fought for his religion, too, when the young heretics used +to turn it, or try to turn it, into ridicule--ay, and when cowardly and +traicherous Hycy used to sit quietly by, and either put the insult in +his pocket, or curry favor wid the young sneering vagabonds that abused +it? And yet, at the time Hycy was a thousand times a greater little +bigot than Bryan. The one, wid a juvenile rabble at his back, three to +one, was a tyrant over the young schismatics; whilst Bryan, like a brave +youth as he was, ever and always protected them against the disadvantage +of numbers, and insisted on showing them fair play. I am warm, Mrs. +Cavanagh," he continued, "and heat, you know, generates thirst. I know +that a drop o' the right sort used to be somewhere undher this same +roof; but I'm afraid if the _fama clamosa_ be thrue, that the side of +the argument I have taken isn't exactly such as to guarantee me a touch +at the native--that is, taking it for granted that there's any in the +house." + +This request was followed by a short silence. The Cavanagh's all, with +the exception of Kathleen, looked at each other, but every eye was +marked either by indecision or indifference. At length Hanna looked at +her sister, and simply said, "dear Kathleen!" + +"He has done," replied the latter, in a low voice, "what I had not the +generosity to do--he has defended the absent." + +"Darling Kathleen," Hanna whispered, and then pressed her once more to +her heart. "You must have it, Mr. O'Finigan," said she--"you must have +it, and that immediately;" and as she spoke, she proceeded to a cupboard +from which she produced a large black bottle, filled with that peculiar +liquid to which our worthy pedagogue was so devotedly addicted. + +"Ah," said he, on receiving a bumper from the fair hand of Hanna, +"let the M'Mahons alone for the old original--indeed I ought to +say--aboriginal hospitality. Thanks, Miss Hanna; in the meantime I will +enunciate a toast, and although we shall not draw very strongly upon +sentiment for the terms, it shall be plain and pithy; here is 'that the +saddle of infamy may be soon placed upon the right horse,' and maybe +there's an individual not a thousand miles from us, and who is besides +not altogether incognizant of the learned languages, including a +tolerably comprehensive circle of mathematics, who will, to a certain +extent, contribute to the consummation of that most desirable event; +here then, I repate, is the toast--'may the saddle of infamy soon be +placed upon the right horse!'" + +Having drunk off the glass, he turned the mouth of it down upon his +corduroy breeches, as an intimation that he might probably find it +necessary to have recourse to it again. + +Hanna observed, or rather we should say, felt, that as Finigan proceeded +with his reminiscences of M'Mahon's school-boy days and the enumeration +of his virtues, her sister's heart and bosom quivered with deep and +almost irrepressible emotion. There was a good deal of enthusiasm in the +man's manner, because he was in earnest, and it was quite evident that +Kathleen's spirit had caught it as he went along, and that her heart +recognized the truth of the picture which he was drawing. We say she +literally felt the quiverings of her sister's heart against her own, +and to do the admirable girl justice, she rejoiced to recognize these +manifestations of returning affection. + +"It was only yesterday," continued Finigan, resuming the discourse, +"that I met Bryan M'Mahon, and by the way, he has sorrow and distress, +poor fellow, in his face. 'Bryan,' said I, 'is it true that you and +your father's family are preparing to go to that _refugium peccatorum_, +America--that overgrown cupping-glass which is drawing the best blood of +our country out of it?' + +"'The people of Ireland,' he replied, 'have a right to bless God that +there is such a country to fly to, and to resave them from a land +where they're neglected and overlooked. It is true, Mr. O'Finigan,' he +proceeded--!' we have nothing in this country to live for now.' + +"'And so you are preparing?' I asked. + +"'I ought rather say,' he replied, 'that we are prepared; we go in +another month; I only wish we were there already.' + +"'I fear, Bryan,' said I, 'that you have not been well trated of late.' +He looked at me with something like surprise, but said nothing; and in +a quarter, I added, 'that was the last from which you were prepared to +expect justice without mercy.' + +"'I don't understand you,' he replied sharply; 'what do you mean?' + +"'Bryan,' said I, 'I scorn a moral circumbendibus where the direct truth +is necessary; I have heard it said, and I fear it is burthened wid too +much uncomfortable veracity, that Kathleen Cavanagh has donned the black +cap* in doing the judicial upon you, and that she considers her sentence +equal to the laws of the Medes and Persians, unchangeable--or, +like those of our own blessed church--wid reverence be the analogy +made--altogether infallible.' His eye blazed as I spoke; he caught me +where by the collar wid a grip that made me quake--'Another word against +Kathleen Cavanagh,' he replied, 'and I will shake every joint of your +carcass out of its place.' His little sister, Dora, was wid him at the +time; 'Give him a shake or two as it is,' she added, egging him on, 'for +what he has said already;' throth she's a lively little lady that, +an' if it wasn't that she has a pair of dark shining eyes, and sweet +features--ay, and as coaxin' a figure of her own--however, sorra may +care, somehow, I defy any one to, be angry wid her." + + * Alluding to the practice of putting on the black cap when + the Judge condemns a felon to death. + +"Come, Mr. O'Finigan," said James, approaching him, "you must have +another glass." + +"Well no, James," he replied, "I think not." + +"Faith, but I say you will; if it was only to hear what Dora--hem--what +Bryan said. + +"Very well," said the master, allowing him to take the glass which he +received again brimming, "thanks, James." + +"'Well,' said Bryan, lettin' go my collar, 'blame any one you like; +blame me, blame Vanston, blame Chevydale, Fethertonge, anybody, +everybody, the Priest, the Bishop, the Pope,--but don't dare to blame +Kathleen Cavanagh.' + +"'Why,' said I, 'has she been right in her condemnation of you?' + +"'She has,' he replied, with a warmth of enthusiasm which lit up his +whole features; 'she has done nothing but what was right. She just acted +as she ought, and all I can say is, that I know I'm not worthy of her, +and never was. God bless her!' + +"'And don't let me hear,' said Dora, taking up the dialogue, 'that ever +you'll mention her name wid disrespect--mark that, Mr. O'Finigan, or +it'll be worse for you a thrifle.' + +"Her brother looked on her wid complacent affection, and patting her on +the head, said, 'Come, darling, don't beat him now. You see the risk you +run,' he added, as they went away, 'so don't draw down Dora's vengeance +on your head. She might forgive you an offence against herself; but she +won't forgive you one against Kathleen Cavanagh; and, Mister O'Finigan, +neither will I.'" + +"Masther," said James Cavanagh, "you'll stop to-night with us?" + +"No, James, I have an engagement of more importance than you could ever +dhrame of, and about--but I'm not free or at liberty to develop the +plot--for plot it is--at any greater length. Many thanks to you in the +mane time for your hospitable intentions; but before I go, I have a word +to say. Now, what do you think of that young man's ginerosity, who would +rather have himself thought guilty than have her thought wrong; for, +whisper,--I say he's not guilty, and maybe--but, no ruatther, time will +tell, and soon tell, too, plaise God." + +So saying he took up his hat, and politely wished them a pleasant +evening, but firmly refused to taste another drop of liquor, "lest," +he added, "it might denude him of the necessary qualifications for +accomplishing the enterprise on which he was bint." + +When he was gone, Kathleen brought her sister to their own room, and +throwing herself on her bosom, she spoke not, but wept calmly and in +silence for about twenty minutes. + +"Kathleen," said Hanna, "I am glad to see this, and I often wished for +it." + +"Whisht, dear Hanna," she replied; "don't speak to me at present. +I'm not fit to talk on that unfortunate subject yet. 'Forgive us our +trespassess as we--we--forgive them that trespass against us!' Oh! +Hanna darling, how have I prayed?" They then rejoined the family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII.--Harry Clinton's Benevolence Defeated + +--His Uncle's Treachery--The Marriage of Kathleen and Edward Burke +Determined on + + +This partial restoration of M'Mahon to the affections of Kathleen +Cavanagh might have terminated in a full and perfect reconciliation +between them, were it not for circumstances which we are about to +detail. From what our readers know of young Clinton, we need not assure +them that, although wild and fond of pleasure, he was by no means devoid +of either generosity or principle. There were indeed few individuals, +perhaps scarcely any, in the neighborhood, who felt a deeper or +manlier sympathy for the adverse fate and evil repute which had come +so suddenly, and, as he believed in his soul, undeservedly, upon Bryan +M'Mahon. He resolved accordingly to make an effort for the purpose of +setting the unfortunate young man's character right with the public, or +if not with the public, at least in that quarter where such a service +might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald Cavanagh's family. +Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle sat reading the +newspaper, he addressed him as follows:-- + +"By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or +two." + +"Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking +me any question you wish? Why should you not?" + +"This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of +your--your--profession." + +"What is it?--what is it?" + +"You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of +Ahadarra?" + +"I do perfectly well." + +"Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who +furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor +desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?" + +"No, I do not." + +"Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?" + +"Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it +did." + +"Should you wish to know, uncle?" + +"Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that +fortunate event." + +"Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself." + +"I should wish to know, though." + +"Pray have you the letter?" + +"I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't +say which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it +turned up among some other communications of a similar stamp." + +In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his +hands. + +"Now, uncle," he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, "you +admit that this is the letter?" + +"I admit--why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as much?" + +"Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter." + +"I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises +his tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to +make use of them. Go on." + +"The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke." + +"Very likely," replied the cool old Still-Hound; "But I did not think he +would ever place us--" + +"You, sir, if you please." + +"Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation +to him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?" + +His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny +Peety, and the discovery he had made through her of the letter having +been both written and sent by Hycy to the post-office. In order, +besides, to satisfy his relative that the getting up of the still was a +plan concocted by Hycy to ruin M'Mahon, through the, medium of the fine, +he detailed as much of Hycy's former proposal to him as he conveniently +could, without disclosing the part which he himself had undertaken to +perform in this concerted moment. + +"Well, Harry," replied the old fellow after a pause, "he's a d--d +scoundrel, no doubt; but as his scoundrelism is his own, I don't see why +we should hesitate to avail ourselves of it. With respect, however, to +M'Mahon, I can assure you, that I was informed of his intention to set +up a Still a good while before I made the capture, and not by anonymous +information either. Now, what would you say if both I and Fethertonge +knew the whole plot long before it was put in practice?" + +As he spoke, he screwed his hard keen features into a most knavish +expression. + +"Yes," he added; "and I can tell you that both the agent and I forwarned +M'Mahon against suffering himself to engage in anything illegal--which +was our duty as his friends you know--hem!" + +"Is that possible?" said his nephew, blushing for this villianous +admission. + +"Quite possible," replied the other; "however, as I said, I don't see +why we should hesitate to avail ourselves of his villany." + +"That is precisely what I was about to say, sir," replied his nephew, +still musing on what he had heard. + +"Right, Harry; the farm is a good thing, or will be so, at least." + +"The farm, sir! but I did not speak with reference to the farm." + +"Then with reference to what did you speak?" + +"I meant, sir, that we should not hesitate to avail ourselves of his +villany, in setting M'Mahon right with the public as far as we could." + +"With the whole public!--whew! Why, my good young man, I thought the +days of giants and windmills had gone by." + +"Well, sir," continued the nephew, "at all events there is one thing you +must do for me. I wish you to see old Gerald Cavanagh, and as far as +you can to restore his confidence in the honesty and integrity of young +M'Mahon. State to him that you have reason to know that his son has a +bitter enemy in the neighborhood; that great injustice had been done +to him in many ways, and that you would be glad that a reconciliation +should take place between the families." + +"And so I am to set out upon the wild goose chase of reconciling a +wench, and a fellow, without knowing why or wherefore." + +"No, sir--not at all---I will make Cavanough call upon you." + +"I don't understand this," replied the uncle, rubbing behind his ear; "I +don't perceive; but pray what interest have you in the matter?" + +"Upon my honor, uncle, none in life, unless an anxiety to serve poor +M'Mahon. The world is down upon him about that vote which, considering +all the circumstances, was more creditable to him than otherwise. I +know, however, that in consequence of the estrangement between him and +Miss Cavanagh, he is bent on emigrating. It is that fact which presses +upon him most. Now will you oblige me in this, uncle?" + +"Let Cavanagh call upon me," he replied, "and if I can say anything to +soften the old fellow, perhaps I will." + +"Thank you, uncle--thank you--I shall not forget this kindness." + +"Well, then," said his uncle, "I am going down to Fethertonge on a +certain matter of business, you understand, and--let me see--why, if +Cavanagh calls on me tomorrow about eleven, I shall see him at all +events." + +Young Clinton felt surprised and grieved at what his uncle had just +hinted to him; but on the other hand, he felt considerably elated at the +prospect of being able to bring about a reconciliation between these two +families, and with this excellent motive in view he went to Cavanagh, +with whom he had a private conversation. Having been made aware +by M'Mahon himself of Cavanagh's prejudice against him, and the +predilections of himself and his wife for an alliance into Burke's +family, he merely told him that his uncle would be glad to see him the +next day about eleven o'clock, upon which the other promised to attend +to that gentleman. + +Old Clinton, on his way to Fethertonge's, met that worthy individual +riding into Ballymacan. + +"I was going down to you," said he; "but where are you bound for?" + +"Into town," replied the agent; "have you any objection to ride that +way?" + +"None in the world; it is just the same to me. Well, how are matters +proceeding?" + +"Not by any means well," replied the other, "I begin to feel something +like alarm. I wish we had those M'Mahons out of the country. Vanston +has paid that d--d goose Chevydale a visit, and I fear that unless the +Ahadarra man and his father, and the whole crew of them, soon leave the +country, we shall break down in our object." + +"Do you tell me so?" said the gauger, starting; "by Jove, it is well I +know this in time." + +"I don't understand." + +"Why," continued. Clinton, "I was about to take a foolish step to-morrow +morning, for the express purpose, I believe, of keeping him, and +probably the whole family in the country." + +He then detailed the conversation that he had with his nephew, upon +which Fethertonge convinced him that there was more in the wind with +respect to that step, than either he or his nephew, who he assured +him was made a cat's paw of in the business, suspected. "That's a deep +move," said the agent, "but we shall defeat them, notwithstanding. +Everything, however, depends upon their leaving the country before +Chevydale happens to come at the real state of the case; still, it will +go hard or we shall baffle both him and them yet." + +Whether Clinton Was sure that the step urged upon him by his nephew was +the result of a generous regard for M'Mahon, or that the former was made +a mere tool for ultimate purposes, in the hands of the Ahadarra man, as +he called him it is not easy to determine. Be this as it may, when +the hour of eleven came the next morning, he was prepared to set his +nephew's generosity aside, and act upon Fethertonge's theory of doing +everything in his power to get the whole connection out of the country, +"Ha," he exclaimed, "I now understand what Harry meant with respect to +their emigration--'It is that fact which presses upon him most.' Oh ho! +is it so, indeed! Very good, Mr. M'Mahon--we shall act accordingly." + +Gerald Cavanaugh had been made acquainted by his wife on the day before +with the partial revival of his daughter's affection for Bryan M'Mahon, +as well as with the enthusiastic defense of him made by Finigan, two +circumstances which gave him much concern and anxiety. On his return, +however, from Clinton's, his family observed that there was something of +a satisfactory expression mingled up with a good deal of grave thought +in his face. The truth is, if the worthy man thought for a moment that +the ultimate loss of M'Mahon would have seriously injured her peace +of mind, he would have bitterly regretted it, and perhaps encourage +a reconciliation. This was a result, however, that he could scarcely +comprehend. That she might fret and pine for a few months or so was the +worst he could calculate upon, and of course he took it for granted, +that the moment her affection for one was effaced, another might step +in, without any great risk of disappointment. + +"Well, Gerald," said his wife, "what did Ganger Clinton want with you?" + +Gerald looked at his two daughters and sighed unconsciously. "It's not +good news," he proceeded, "in one sense, but it is in another; it's +good news to all my family but that girl sittin' there," pointing to +Kathleen. + +Unfortunately no evil intelligence could have rendered the unhappy +girl's cheek paler than it was; so that, so far as appearances went, it +was impossible to say what effect this startling communication had upon +her. + +"I was down wid Misther Clinton," he proceeded; "he hard a report that +there was about to be a makin' up of the differences between Kathleen +there and Bryan, and he sent for me to say, that, for the girl's +sake--who he said was, as he had heard from all quarthers, a +respectable, genteel girl--he couldn't suffer a young man so full of +thraichery and desate, as he had good raisons to know Bryan M'Mahon +was, to impose himself upon her or her family. He cautioned me," he +proceeded, "and all of us against him; and said that if I allowed a +marriage to take place between him and my daughter, he'd soon bring +disgrace upon her and us, as well as himself. 'You may take my word for +it, Mr. Cavanagh,' says he, 'that is not a thrifle 'ud make me send for +you in sich a business; but, as I happen to know the stuff he is made +of, I couldn't bear to see him take a decent family in so distastefully. +To my own knowledge, Cavanagh,' said he, 'he'd desave a saint, much less +your innocent and unsuspectin' daughter.'" + +"But, father," said Hanna, "you know there's not a word of truth in that +report; and mayn't all that has been said, or at least some of what has +been said against Bryan, be as much a lie as that? Who on earth: could +sich a report come from?" + +"I axed Mr. Clinton the same question," said the father, "and it appears +that it came from Bryan himself." + +"Oh, God forbid!" exclaimed Hanna; "for, if it's a thing that he said +that, he'd say anything." + +"I don't know," returned the father, "I only spake it as I hard it, and, +what is more, I believe it--I believe it after what I hard this day; +everybody knows him now--man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an escape +that innocent girl had of him!" + +Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon +his shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after +looking at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and +calm but concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not +sit down. + +"After all," she exclaimed, "there has been no new crime brought against +him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't +do so again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three +weeks to clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within +that time, take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish--of course +Hycy's out of the question--since you must have it so, for the sooner +I go to my grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it; +but, in the mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear +this long; there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon +it will soon put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow. Oh, +Bryan M'Mahon, can you be what is said of you! and, if you can, oh, why +did we ever meet, or why did I ever see you!" + +Her sister Hanna attempted to console her, but for once she failed. +Kathleen would hear no comfort, for she said she stood in need of none. + +"My mind is all dark," said she, "or rather it is sick of this miserable +work. Why am I fastened upon by such suffering and distraction? Don't +attempt at present to console me, Hanna; I won't, because I can't be +consoled. I wish I knew this man--whether he is honest or not. If he is +the villain they say he is, and that with a false mask upon him, he has +imposed himself on me, and gained my affections by hypocrisy and deceit, +why, Hanna, my darling sister, I could stab him to the heart. To think +that I ever should come to love a villain that could betray his church, +his country, me--and take a bribe; yes, he has done it," she proceeded, +catching fire from the force of her own detestation of what was wrong. +"Here, Hanna, I call back my words--I give him no further warning than +he has got: he knows the time, the greater part of it is past, and has +he ever made a single attempt to clear himself? No, because he cannot. +I despise him; he is unworthy of me, and I fear he ever was. Here, +father," she said with vehemence, "listen to me, my dear father; and +you, my mother, beloved mother, hear me! At the expiration of three +weeks I will marry Edward Burke; he is a modest, and I think an +honest young man, who would not betray his religion nor his country, +nor--nor--any unhappy girl that might happen to love him; oh, no, he +would not--and so, after three weeks--I will marry him. Go now and tell +him so--say I said so; and you may rest assured I will not break my +word, although--I may break--break my heart--my heart! Now, Hanna, come +out and walk, dear--come out, and let us chat of other matters; yes, +of other matters; and you can tell me candidly whether you think Bryan +M'Mahon such a villain." Struck by her own words she paused almost +exhausted, and, bending down, put her face upon her hands, and by a long +persevering effort, at length raised her head, and after a little time +appeared to have regained a good deal of composure; but not without +tears--for she had wept bitterly. + +On that night she told her sister that the last resolution she had come +to was that by which she was determined to abide. + +"You would not have me like a mere girl," she said, "without the power +of knowing my own mind--no; let what may come I will send no messages +after him--and as sure as I have life I will marry Edward Burke after +the expiration of three weeks, if Bryan doesn't--but it's idle to talk +of it--if he could he would have done it before now. Good-night, dear +Hanna--good-night," and after many a long and heavy sigh she sank to an +uneasy and troubled slumber. + +The next morning Gerald Cavanagh, who laid great stress upon the +distracted language of his daughter on the preceding night paid an early +visit to his friend, Jemmy Burke. He found the whole family assembled +at breakfast, and after the usual salutations, was asked to join them, +which invitation, however, having already breakfasted, he declined. Hycy +had of late been very much abroad--that is to say he was out very much +at night, and dined very frequently in the head-inn of Ballymacan, +when one would suppose he ought to have dined at home. On the present +occasion he saluted honest Gerald with a politeness peculiarly ironical. + +"Mr. Cavanagh," said he, "I hope I see you in good health, sir. How +are all the ladies?--Hannah, the neat, and Kathleen--ah, Kathleen, the +divine!" + +"Troth, they're all very well, I thank you, Hycy; and how is yourself?" + +"Free from care, Mr. Cavanagh--a chartered libertine." + +"A libertine!" exclaimed the honest farmer; "troth I've occasionally +heard as much; but until I heard it from your own lips divil a word of +it I believed." + +"He is only jesting, Mr. Cavanagh," said his brother; "he doesn't mean +exactly, nor indeed at all, what you suppose he does." + +"Does he mean anything at all, Ned?" said his father, dryly, "for of +late it's no aisy matther to understand him." + +"Well said, Mr. Burke," replied Hycy; "I am like yourself, becoming +exceedingly oracular of late--but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this exquisite +union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed--does +it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt +clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?" + +"Gerald," said the father, "as there's none here so handy at the +nonsense as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer +himself." + +"Begad, Jemmy," said Cavanagh, "to tell you the truth, I haven't +nonsense enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he +takes to speakin' common-sense I won't undhertake to hould any further +discourse wid him." + +"Why will you continue," said his brother in a low voice, "to render +yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?" + +"Well said, most vituline--_Solomon secundus_, well said." + +"Hycy," said his mother, "you ought to remimber that every one didn't +get the edi cation you did--an' that ignorant people like your father and +Gerald Kavanagh there can't undhercomestand one-half o' what you say. +Sure they know nothing o' book-lamin', and why do you give it them?" + +"Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke. They are two of the most +notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don't possess +your powers of ratiocination, madam?" + +"No," replied his father; "nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, +Hycy." + +Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, "One would think that joke +is pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke. Couldn't you strike out +something original now?" + +"All I can say is," replied the father, "that the joke has betther +bottom than the garran it was made upon." + +Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty +ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and +rode towards Ballymacan. + +It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, +unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them +Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward. +It is sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was +absolutely made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the +exception of the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at +their next meeting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV.--Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen + +--Dora and Her Lover. + + +The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full +of gloom and depression. Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our +independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our +great seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the +case for many a season previously. That something was wrong, and that +something is wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the +myriad's who, whilst they have the means in their hands, are anxious to +get out of it as fast as they can. And yet there is not a country in the +world, a population so affectionately attached to the soil--to the place +of their birth--as the Irish. In fact, the love of their native fields, +their green meadows, the dark mountains, and the glorious torrents that +gush from them, is a passion of which they have in foreign lands +been often known to die. It is called Home Sickness, and we are aware +ourselves of more than one or two cases in which individuals, in a +comparatively early stage of life, have pined away in secret after their +native hills, until the malady becoming known, unfortunately too late, +they sought once more the green fields and valleys among which they had +spent their youth, just in time to lay down their pale cheeks and rest +in their native clay for ever those hearts which absence and separation +from the very soil had broken. + +Now, nothing can be a greater proof of the pressure, the neglect, the +hopelessness of independence or comfort, which the condition of the +people, and the circumstances which occasioned it, have produced, than +the fact that the strong and sacred attachment which we have described +is utterly incapable of attaching them as residents in a country so +indescribably dear to their best affections. People may ask, and do ask, +and will ask, why Ireland is in such a peculiarly distressed state--why +there is always upon its surface a floating mass of pauperism without +parallel in Europe, or perhaps in the world? To this we reply simply +because the duties of property have uniformly been neglected. And in +what, may it be asked, do the duties of property consist? To this we +reply again, in an earnest fixed resolution to promote, in the first +place, the best social and domestic interests of the people, to improve +their condition, to stock their minds with, useful and appropriate +knowledge, to see that they shall be taught what a sense of decent +comfort means, that they shall not rest satisfied with a wad of straw +for a bed, and a meal of potatoes for food, and that they shall, +besides, come to understand the importance of their own position as +members of civil society. Had the landlords of Ireland paid attention +to these and other matters that directly involve their own welfare and +independence, as well as those of their neglected tenantry, they would +not be, as they now are, a class of men, some absolutely bankrupt, and +more on the very eve of it; and all this, to use a commercial phrase +painfully appropriate,--because they neglect their business. + +Who, until lately, ever heard of an Irish landlord having made the +subject of property, or the principles upon which it ought to be +administered, his study? By this we do not mean to say that they did not +occasionally bestow a thought upon their own interests; but, in doing +so, they were guided by erroneous principles that led them to place +these interests in antagonism with those of the people. They forgot +that poverty is the most fertile source of population, and that in every +neglected and ill-regulated state of society, they invariably reproduce +each other; but the landlords kept the people poor, and now they +are surprised, forsooth, at their poverty and the existence of a +superabundant population. + +"We know," said they, "that the people are poor; but we know also that, +by subsisting merely upon the potato, and excluding better food and a +higher state of comfort, of course the more is left for the landlord." +This in general was their principle--and its consequences are now upon +themselves. + +This, however, is a subject on which it is not our intention to +expatiate here. What we say is, that, in all the relations of civil +life, Her people were shamefully and criminally neglected. They were +left without education, permitted to remain ignorant of the arts of +life, and of that industrial knowledge on which, or rather on the +application of which, all public prosperity is based. + +And yet, although the people have great errors, without which no people +so long neglected can ever be found, and, although they have been for +centuries familiarized with suffering, yet it is absolute dread of +poverty that drives them from their native soil; They understand, +in fact, the progress of pauperism too well, and are willing to seek +fortune in any clime, rather than abide its approach to themselves--an +approach which they know is in their case inevitable and certain. For +instance, the very class of our countrymen that constitutes the great +bulk of our emigrants is to be found among those independent small +farmers who appear to understand something like comfort. One of these +men holding, say sixteen or eighteen acres, has a family we will suppose +of four sons and three daughters. This family grows up, the eldest son +marries, and the father, having no other way to provide for him, sets +apart three or four acres of his farm, on which he and his wife settle. +The second comes also to marry, and hopes his father won't treat him +worse than he treated his brother. He accordingly gets four acres more, +and settles down as his brother did. In this manner the holding is +frittered away and subdivided among them. For the first few years--that +is, before their children rise--they may struggle tolerably well; but, +at the expiration of twenty or twenty-five years, each brother finds +himself with such a family as his little strip of land cannot adequately +support, setting aside the claims of the landlord altogether; for rent +in these cases is almost out of the question. + +What, then, is the consequence? Why, that here is to be found a +population of paupers squatted upon patches of land quite incapable of +their support; and in seasons of famine and sickness, especially in a +country where labor is below its value, and employment inadequate to the +demand that is for it, this same population becomes a helpless burthen +upon it--a miserable addition to the mass of poverty and destitution +under which it groans. + +Such is the history of one class of emigrants in this unhappy land, +of ours; and what small farmer, with such a destiny as that we have +detailed staring him and his in the face, would not strain every nerve +that he might fly to any country--rather than remain to encounter the +frightful state of suffering which awaits him in this. + +Such, then, is an illustration of the motives which prompt one class +of emigrants to seek their fortune in other climes, while it is yet in +their power to do so. There is still a higher class, however, consisting +of strong farmers possessed of some property and wealth, who, on looking +around them, find that the mass of destitution which is so rapidly +increasing in every direction must necessarily press upon them in time, +and ultimately drag them down to its own level. But even if the naked +evils which pervade society among us were not capable of driving these +independent yeomen to other lands, we can assure our legislators +that what these circumstances, appalling as they are, may fail in +accomplishing, the recent act for the extra relief of able-bodied +paupers will complete--an act which, instead of being termed a Relief +Act, ought to be called an act for the ruin of the country, and the +confiscation of its property, both of which, if not repealed, it will +ultimately accomplish. We need not mention here cases of individual +neglect or injustice upon the part of landlords and agents, inasmuch as +we have partially founded our narrative upon a fact of this description. + +It has been said, we know, and in many instances with truth, that the +Irish are a negligent and careless people--without that perseverance and +enterprise for which their neighbors on the other side of the channel +are so remarkable. We are not, in point of fact, about to dispute the +justice of this charge; but, if it be true of the people, it is only so +indirectly. It is true of their condition and social circumstances in +this country, rather than of any constitutional deficiency in either +energy or industry that is inherent in their character. In their own +country they have not adequate motive for action--no guarantee that +industry shall secure them independence, or that the fruits of their +labor may not pass, at the will of; their landlords, into other hands. +Many, therefore, of the general imputations that are brought against +them in these respects, ought to be transferred rather to the depressing +circumstances in which they are placed than to the people themselves. +As a proof of; this, we have only to reflect upon their industry, +enterprise, and success, when relieved from the pressure of these +circumstances in other countries--especially in America, where exertion +and industry never, or at least seldom, fail to arrive at comfort and +independence. Make, then, the position of the Irishman reasonable--such, +for instance, as it is in any other country but his own--and he can +stand the test of comparison with any man. + +Not only, however, are the Irish flying from the evils that are to come, +but they feel a most affectionate anxiety to enable all those who are +bound to them by the ties of kindred and domestic affection to imitate +their example. There is not probably to be found in records of human +attachment such a beautiful history of unforgotten affection, as that +presented by the heroic devotion of Irish emigrants to those of their +kindred who remain here from inability to accompany them.* + + *The following extract, from a very sensible pamphlet by + Mr. Murray, is so appropriate to this subject, that we cannot + deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it here:-- + + "You have been accustomed to grapple with and master + figures, whether as representing the produce of former + tariffs, or in constructing new ones, or in showing the + income and expenditure of the greatest nation on the earth. + Those now about to be presented to you, as an appendix to + this communication, are small, very small, in their separate + amounts, and not by any means in the aggregate of the + magnitude of the sums you have been accustomed to deal with; + but they are large separately, and heaving large in the + aggregate, in all that is connected with the higher and + nobler parts of our nature--in all that relates to and + evinces the feelings of the heart towards those who are of + our kindred, no matter by what waters placed asunder or by + what distance separated. They are large, powerfully large, + in reading lessons of instruction to the statesman and + philanthropist, in dealing with a warm-hearted people for + their good, and placing them in a position of comparative + comfort to that in which they now are. The figures represent + the particulars of 7,917 separate Bills of Exchange, varying + in amount from L1 to L10 each--a few exceeding the latter + sum; so many separate offerings from the natives of Ireland + who have heretofore emigrated from its shores, sent to their + relations and friends in Ireland, drawn and paid between the + 1st of January and the 15th of December, 1846--not quite one + year; and amount in all to L41,261 9s. 11d. But this list, + long though it be, does not measure the number and amount of + such interesting offerings. It contains only about one-third + part of the whole number and value of such remittances that + have crossed the Atlantic to Ireland during the 349 days of + 1846. The data from which this list is complied enable the + writer to estimate with confidence the number and amount + drawn otherwise; and he calculates that the entire number, + for not quite one year, of such Bills, is L24,000, and the + amount L125,000, or, on an average, L5 4s. 3d. each. They + are sent from husband to wife, from father to child, from + child to father, mother, and grand-parents, from sister to + brother, and the reverse; and from and to those united by + all the ties of blood and friendship that bind us together + on earth. + + In the list, you will observe that these offerings of + affection are classed according to the parts of Ireland they + are drawn upon, and you will find that they are not confined + to one spot of it, but are general as regards the whole + country."--_Ireland. its Present Condition and Future + Prospects, In n letter addressed to the Right Honorable Sir + Robert Peel, Baronet, by Robert Murray. Esq. Dublin, James + M'Olashan, 21 D'Olier Street, 1847_. + +Let it not be said, then, that the Irishman is deficient in any of the +moral elements or natural qualities which go to the formation of such +a character as might be made honorable to himself and beneficial to the +country. By the success of his exertions in a foreign land, it is clear +that he is not without industry, enterprise, and perseverance; and we +have no hesitation in saying that, if he were supplied at home with due +encouragement and adequate motive, his good qualities could be developed +with as much zeal, energy, and success as ever characterized them in a +foreign country. + +We trust the reader may understand what the condition of the country, at +the period of our narrative to which we refer, must have been, when such +multitudes as we have described rushed to our great seaports in order to +emigrate; the worst feature in this annual movement being that, whilst +the decent, the industrious, and the moral, all influenced by creditable +motives, went to seek independence in a distant land, the idle, the +ignorant, and the destitute necessarily remain at home--all as a +burthen, and too many of them as a disgrace to the country. + +Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and +painful, were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration +which, under the circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among +the people. It was, however, on their part a distressing and mournful +resolve. From the, moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the +whole family. Nothing a few months before had been farther from their +thoughts; but now there existed such a combination of arguments for +their departure, as influenced Bryan and his father, in spite of their +hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and Carriglass. Between them and the +Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan, +there was scarcely any intercourse. Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an +opportunity of exchanging a few words occasionally, but although the +former felt much anxiety for a somewhat lengthened and if possible +confidential conversation with her sparkling little friend, yet the +latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one particular subject, +feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on her part was +humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to compromise +the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora, +notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own +sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who +felt disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could. So indeed +would every one of the family, had they known them, for we need scarcely +say that the warm and generous girl was the centre in which all their +affections met. And this indeed was only justice to her, inasmuch as she +was willing on any occasion to sacrifice her interests, her wishes, or +anything connected with her own welfare, to their individual or general +happiness. We have said, however, that she had her own sorrows, and +this was true. From the moment she felt assured that their emigration +to America was certain, she manifested a depression so profound and +melancholy, that the heart of her brother Bryan, who alone knew its +cause, bled for her. This by the rest of the family was imputed to the +natural regret she felt, in common with themselves, at leaving the old +places for ever, with this difference to be sure--they imagined that she +felt the separation more acutely than they did. Still, as the period +for their departure approached, there was not one of the family, +notwithstanding what she felt herself, who labored so incessantly to +soothe and sustain the spirits of her father, who was fast sinking under +the prospect of being "forever removed," as he said, "from the places +his heart had grown into." She was in fact the general consoler of the +family, and yet her eye scarcely ever met that of her brother that a +tear did not tremble in it, and she felt disposed to burst out into an +agony of unrestrained grief. + +It was one evening in the week previous to their departure, that she +was on her return from Ballymacan, when on passing a bend of the road +between Carriglass and Fenton's farm, she met the cause of the sorrow +which oppressed her, in the handsome person of James Cavanaugh, to +whom she had been for more than a year and a half deeply and devotedly +attached, but without the knowledge of any individual living, save her +lover himself and her brother Bryan. + +On seeing him she naturally started, but it was a start of pleasure, and +she felt her cheek flush and again get pale, and her heart palpitated, +then was still a moment, and again resumed its tumultuous pulsations. + +"Blessed be God, my darlin' Dora, that I've met you at last," said +James; "in heaven's name how did it happen that we haven't met for such +a length of time?" + +"I'm sure that's more than I can tell," replied Dora, "or rather it's +what both, you and I know the cause of too well." + +"Ah, poor Dora," he exclaimed, "for your sake I don't wish to spake +about it at all; it left me many a sore heart when I thought of you." + +Dora's natural pale cheek mantled, and her eyes deepened with a +beautiful severity, as she hastily turned them on him and said, "what do +you mane, James?" + +"About poor Bryan's conduct at the election," he replied, "and that +fifty-pound note; and may hell consume it and him that tempted him with +it!" + +"Do you forget," she said, "that you're spaking to his sister that knows +the falsehood of it all; an' how dare you in my presence attempt to say +or think that Bryan M'Mahon would or could do a mane or dishonest act? +I'm afeard, James, there's a kind of low suspicion in your family that's +not right, and I have my reasons for thinking so. I fear there's a want +of true generosity among you; and if I could be sure of it, I tell you +now, that whatever it might cost me, I'd never--but what am I sayin'? +that's past." + +"Past! oh, why do you spake that way, Dora dear?" + +"It's no matter what I may suffer myself," she replied; "no matter at +all about that; but wanst and for all, I tell you that let what may +happen, I'm not the girl to go into a family that have treated my dear +brother as yours has done. Your sister's conduct has been very harsh and +cruel to the man she was to be married to." + +"My sister, Dora, never did anything but what was right." + +"Well, then, let her go and marry the Pope, with reverence be it spoken, +for I don't know any other husband that's fit for her. I'd like to see +the girl that never did anything wrong; it's a sight I never saw yet, I +know." + +"Dora, dear," replied her lover, "I don't blame you for being angry. I +know that such a load of disgrace upon any family is enough to put one +past their temper. I don't care about that, however," he proceeded; "if +he had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five +hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you +my wife." + +Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language +of Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was +cool and cuttingly ironical. + +"Wouldn't you, indeed?" she replied; "dear me! I have a right to be +proud of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family +blackened by disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James." + +"But you have done nothing wrong, Dora," he replied; "'you're free from +any blame of that kind." + +"I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?" she returned. "Ay, a thousand +things--for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't I +supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had +been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me +now?" + +"Why, that every word you say, and every lively look--ay, or angry if +you like--that you give--makes me love you more and more. An' plase God, +my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife." + +"That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it. +Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my +brother." + +"'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora." + +"Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my +body." + +"Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?" + +"Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would +pay attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to +send for him face to face, and to say--'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you +or one of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful +act'--and here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and +hereditary pride which are more precious relics in a family than +the costliest jewels that ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her +eyes--'and now, Bryan M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own--I ax no +other evidence but your own--I put it to your conscience--to that honor +that has never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it +to yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you--and answer +me as you are in the presence of God--did you do what they charge you +with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own +conscience?" + +The animated sparkle of her face was so delightful and fascinating that +her lover attempted to press her to his bosom; but she would not suffer +it. + +"Behave now," she said firmly; "sorra bit--no," she proceeded; "and +whilst all the world was against him, runnin' him down and blackenin' +him--was she ever the girl to stand up behind his back and defend him +like a--hem--defend him, I say, as a girl that loved him ought, and a +generous-girl would?" + +"But how could she when she believed, him to be wrong?" + +"Why did she believe him to be wrong upon mere hearsay? and granting +that he was wrong! do you think now if you had done what they say he did +(and they lie that say it), an' that I heard the world down on you for +your first slip, do you think, I say, that I'd not defend you out of +clane contrariness,--and to vex them--ay, would I." + +"I know, darlin', that you'd do everything that's generous an' right; +but settin' that affair aside, my dear Dora, what are you and I to do?" + +"I don't know what we're to do," she replied; "it's useless for you to +ax me from my father now; for he wouldn't give me to you,--sorra bit." + +"But you'll give me yourself, Dora, darling." + +"Not without his consent, no nor with it,--as the families stand this +moment; for I tell you again that the sorra ring ever I'll put on you +till your sister sends for my brother, axes his pardon, and makes up +with him, as she ought to do. Oh why, James dear, should she be so harsh +upon him," she said, softening at once; "she that is so good an' so +faultless afther all? but I suppose that's the raison of it--she doesn't +know what it is to do anything that's not right." + +"Dora," said her lover, "don't be harsh on Kathleen; you don't know what +she's sufferin'. Dora, her heart's broke--broke." + +The tears were already upon Dora's cheeks, and her lover, too, was +silent for a moment. + +"She has," resumed the warm-hearted girl, "neither brother nor sister +that loves her, or can love her, better than I do, afther all." + +"But in our case, darling, what's to be done?" he asked, drawing her +gently towards him. + +"I'll tell you then what I'd recommend you to do," she replied; "spake +to my brother Bryan, and be guided by him. I must go now, it's quite +dusk." + +There was a moment's pause, then a gentle remonstrance on the part of +Dora, followed, however, by that soft sound which proceeds from the +pressure of youthful lips--after which she bade her lover a hasty +good-night and hurried home. + + +[Illustration: PAGE 623-- I must leave you--I must go] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV.--The Old Places--Death of a Patriarch. + + +As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, +etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing +distress settled upon the whole family. It had not been their purpose to +apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, +and neither indeed had they done so. The fact, however, reached him from +the neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his +family to conceal the circumstance from him--at least as long as they +could--entered into conversation with him upon it, and by this means +he became acquainted with their determination. Age, within the last +few months--for he was now past ninety--had made sad work with both his +frame and intellect. Indeed, for some time past, he might be said +to hover between reason and dotage. Decrepitude had set in with such +ravages on his constitution that it could almost be marked by daily +stages. Sometimes he talked with singular good sense and feeling; but +on other occasions he either babbled quite heedlessly, or his intellect +would wander back to scenes and incidents of earlier life, many of which +he detailed with a pathos that was created and made touching by the +unconsciousness of his own state while relating them. They also observed +that of late he began to manifest a child-like cunning in many things +connected with himself and family, which, though amusing from its very +simplicity, afforded at the same time a certain indication that the +good old grandfather whom they all loved so well, and whose benignant +character had been only mellowed by age into a more plastic affection +for them all, was soon to be removed from before their eyes, never again +to diffuse among them that charm of domestic truth and love, and the +holy influences of all those fine old virtues which ancestral integrity +sheds over the heart, and transmits pure and untarnished from generation +to generation. + +On the day he made the discovery of their intention, he had been sitting +on a bench in the garden, a favorite seat of his for many a long year +previously; "And so," said he to the neighbor with whom he had been +speaking, "you tell me that all our family is goin' to America?" + +"Why, dear me," replied his acquaintance, "is it possible you didn't +know it?" + +"Ha!" he exclaimed, "I undherstand now why they used to be whisperin' +together so often, and lookin' at me; but indeed they might spake loud +enough now, for I'm so deaf that I can hardly hear anything. Howaniver, +Ned, listen--they all intend to go, you say; now listen, I say--I know +one that won't go; now, do you hear that? You needn't say anything about +it, but this I tell you--listen to me, what's your name? Barney, is it?" + +"Why, is it possible, you don't know Ned Gormley?" + +"Ay, Ned Gormley--och, so it is. Well listen, Ned--there's one they +won't bring; I can tell you that--the sorra foot I'll go to--to--where's +this you say they're goin' to, Jemmy?" + +Gormley shook his head. "Poor Bryan," said he, "it's nearly all over wid +you, at any rate. To America, Bryan," he repeated, in a loud voice. + +"Ay, to America. Well, the sorra foot ever I'll go to America--that one +thing I can tell them. I'm goin' in. Oh! never mind," he exclaimed, +on Gormley offering him assistance, "I'm stout enough still; stout an' +active still; as soople as a two-year ould, thank God. Don't I bear up +wonderfully?" + +"Well, indeed you do, Bryan; it is wonderful, sure enough." + +In a few minutes they arrived at the door; and the old man, recovering +as it were a portion of his former intellect, said, "lavin' this +place--these houses--an' goin' away--far, far away--to a strange +country--to strange people! an' to bring me, the ould white-haired +grandfather, away from all! that would be cruel; but my son Tom will +never do it." + +"Well, at any rate, Bryan," said his neighbor, "whether you go or stay, +God be wid you. It's a pity, God knows, that the like of you and your +family should leave the country; and sure if the landlord, as they say, +is angry about it, why doesn't he do what he ought to do? an' why does +he allow that smooth-tongued rap to lead him by the nose as he does? +Howandiver, as I said, whether you go or stay, Bryan, God be wid you!" + +During all that morning Thomas M'Mahon had been evidently suffering very +deeply from a contemplation of the change that was about to take place +by the departure of himself and his family from Carriglass. He had been +silent the greater part of the morning, and not unfrequently forced to +give away to tears, in which he was joined by his daughters, with the +exception of Dora, who, having assumed the office of comforter, felt +herself bound to maintain the appearance of a firmness which she did +not feel. In this mood he was when "grandfather," as they called him, +entered the house, after having been made acquainted with their secret. +"Tom," said he, approaching his son, "sure you wouldn't go to bring an +ould man away?" + +"Where to, father?" asked the other, a good deal alarmed. + +"Why, to America, where you're all goin' to. Oh! surely you wouldn't +bring the old man away from the green fields of Carriglass? Would you +lay my white head in a strange land, an' among a strange people? Would +you take poor ould grandfather away from them that expects him down, at +Carndhu where they sleep? Carndhu's a holy churchyard. Sure there never +was a Protestant buried in it but one, an' the next mornin' there was a +boortree bush growin' out o' the grave, an' it's there yet to prove the +maricle. Oh! ay, Carndhu's holy ground, an' that's where I must sleep." + +These words were uttered with a tone of such earnest and childlike +entreaty as rendered them affecting in a most extraordinary degree, and +doubly so to those who heard him. Thomas's eyes, despite of every effort +to the contrary, filled with tears. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "he has found it +out at last; but how can I give him consolation, an' I stands in need of +it so much myself?" + +"Father," said he, rising and placing the old man in the arm-chair, +which for the last half century had been his accustomed seat, "father, +we will go together--we will all be wid you. You'll not be among +strangers--you'll have your own about you still." + +"But what's takin' you all away?" + +"Neglect and injustice, an' the evil tongues of them that ought to know +us betther. The landlord didn't turn out to be what he ought to be. May +God forgive him! But at any rate I'm sure he has been misled." + +"Ould Chevydale," said his father, "never was a bad landlord, an' he'd +not become a bad one now. That's not it." + +"But the ould man's dead, father, an' its his son we're spakin' of." + +"And the son of ould Chevydale must have something good about him. The +heart was always right wid his father, and every one knows there's a +great deal in true blood. Sooner or later it'll tell for itself--but +what is this? There was something troublin' me this minute. Oh! ay, +you're goin' away, then, to America; but, mark my words:--I won't go. +You may, but I'll stay here. I won't lave the green fields of Carriglass +for any one. It's not much I'll be among them now, an' it isn't worth +your while to take me from them. Here's where I was born--here's where +the limbs that's now stiff an' feeble was wanst young and active--here's +where the hair that's white as snow was fair an' curlin' like +goold--here's where I was young--here's where I grew ould--among these +dark hills and green fields--here you all know is where I was born; and, +in spite o' you all, here's where I'll die." + +The old man was much moved by all these recollections; for, as he +proceeded, the tears fell fast from his aged eyes, and his voice became +tremulous and full of 'sorrow. + +"Wasn't it here, too," he proceeded, "that Peggy Slevin, she that was +famed far an' near for her beauty, and that the sweet song was made +upon--'Peggy Na Laveen'---ay--ay, you may think yourselves fine an' +handsome; but, where was there sich a couple as grandfather and Peggy Na +Laveen was then?" + +As he uttered these words, his features that had been impressed by +grief, were lit up by a smile of that simple and harmless vanity which +often attends us to the very grave; after which he proceeded:-- + +"There, on the side of that hill is the roofless house where she was +born; an' there's not a field or hill about the place that her feet +didn't make holy to me. I remember her well. I see her, an' I think I +hear her voice on the top of Lisbane, ringin' sweetly across the valley +of the Mountain Wather, as I often did. An' is it to take me away now +from all this? Oh! no, childre', the white-haired grandfather couldn't +go. He couldn't lave the ould places--the ould places. If he did, he'd +die--he'd die. Oh, don't, for God's sake, Tom, as you love me!" + +There was a spirit of helpless entreaty in these last words that touched +his son, and indeed all who heard him, to the quick. + +"Grandfather dear, be quiet," he replied; "God will direct all things +for the best. Don't cry," he added, for the old man was crying like an +infant; "don't cry, but be quiet, and everything will be well in time. +It's a great trial, I know; but any change is better than to remain +here till we come, like so many others, to beggary. God will support us, +father." + +The old man wiped his eyes, and seemed as if he had taken comfort +from the words of his son; whereas, the fact was, that his mind had +altogether passed from the subject; but not without that unconscious +feeling of pain which frequently remains after the recollection of that +which has occasioned it has passed away. + +It was evident, from the manner of the old man, that the knowledge +of their intended emigration had alarmed into action all the dormant +instincts of his nature; but this was clearly more than they were +competent to sustain for any length of time. Neither the tottering +frame, nor the feeble mind was strong enough to meet the shock +which came so unexpectedly upon them. The consequence may be easily +anticipated. On the following day he was able to be up only for an hour; +yet he was not sick, nor did he complain of any particular pain. His +only malady appeared to consist in that last and general prostration of +bodily and intellectual strength, by which persons of extreme old age, +who have enjoyed uninterrupted health, are affected at, or immediately +preceding their dissolution. His mind, however, though wandering and +unsteady, was vigorous in such manifestations as it made. For instance, +it seemed to be impressed by a twofold influence,--the memory of his +early life,--mingled with a vague perception of present anxiety, the +cause of which he occasionally was able to remember, but as often tried +to recollect in vain. + +On the second day after his discovery he was unable to rise at all; but, +as before, he complained of nothing, neither were his spirits depressed. +On the contrary they were rather agitated--sometimes into cheerfulness, +but more frequently into an expression of sorrow and lamentation, which +were, however, blended with old by-gone memories that were peculiarly +reflecting to those who heard them. In this way he went on, sinking +gradually until the day previous to the auction. On that morning, to +their surprise, he appeared to have absolutely regained new strength, +and to have been gifted with something like renovated power of speech. + +"I want to get up," said he, "and it's only Tom an' Dora that I'll allow +to help me. You're all good, an' wor always good to grandfather, but Tom +was my best son, and signs on it--everything thruv wid him, an' God will +prosper an' bless him. Where's Dora?" + +"Here, grandfather." + +"Ay, that's the voice above all o' them that went like music to my +heart; but well I know, and always did, who you have that voice from; +ay, an' I know whose eyes--an' it's them that's the lovely eyes--Dora +has. Isn't the day fine, Dora?" + +"It is, grandfather, a beautiful day." + +"Ay, thank God. Well then I want to go out till I look--take one look at +the ould places; for somehow I think my heart was never so much in them +as now." + +It is impossible to say how or why the feeling prevailed, but the fact +was, that the whole family were impressed with a conviction that this +partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed +the lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he +spoke occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous +patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he +called Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with +streaming eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After +having reached a little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of +the rich country beneath and around them, he called for his chair; "an', +Bryan," said he, "the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me. +A blessin' will follow you, Bryan--a blessin' will follow my manly +grandson, that I often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan," he +proceeded, when the latter had returned with the chair and placed him +in it, "listen, Bryan--when you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married--but I +needn't say it--where was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing +in that respect?--but when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your +own father was to her that's gone--ever and always kind and lovin', +an' what your grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last +time, was to her that's long, long an angel in heaven--my own Peggy +Slevin--but it's the Irish sound of it I like--Peggy Na Laveen. Bring +them all out here--but what is this?--why are you all cryin'? Sure; +there's nothing wrong--an' why do you cry?" + +The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and +the good old man proceeded:-- + +"Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me." The latter, with uncovered head, did +so; and his father resumed:--"Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' son +I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to +you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;--that is, that I +have any right to lave you--I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may +God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to +give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant +you health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you." + +"Oh! little you know, grandfather dear," replied Shibby, "that we've +done wid both of them for ever." + +"Shibby, God bless you, achora," he returned; "but the ould man's lips +can spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin' +from the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words." He +then paused for a few minutes, but appeared to take a comprehensive view +of the surrounding country. + +"But, grandfather," proceeded simple-hearted Shibby, "sure the match +between Bryan and Kathleen Cavanagh is broken up, an' they're not to be +married at all." + +"Don't I say, darlin', that they will be married, an' be happy--ay, +an' may God make them happy! as He will, blessed be His holy name! God, +acushla, can bring about everything in His own good way." + +After another pause of some minutes he murmured to himself--"Peggy Na +Laveen--Peggy Na Laveen--how far that name has gone! Turn me round a +little. What brought us here, childre'? Oh! ay--I wanted to see the ould +places--there's Claghleim, where the walls of the house she was born +in, and the green garden, is both to the fore; yet I hope they won't be +disturbed, if it was only for the sake of them that's gone; an' there's +the rock on the top of Lisbane,where, in the summer evening, long, long +ago, I used to sit an' listen to Peggy Na Laveen singin' over our holy +songs--the darlin' ould songs of the counthry. Oh! clear an' sweet they +used to ring across the glen of the Mountain Wather. An' there's the +hills an' the fields where she an' I so often sported when we wor both +young; there they are, an' many a happy day we had on them; but sure God +was good to us, blessed be His name, as He ever will be to them that's +obadient to His holy will!" + +As he uttered the last words he clasped his two hands together, and, +having closed his eyes, he muttered something internally which they +could not understand. "Now," said he, "bring me in again; I have got my +last look at them all--the ould places, the brave ould places! oh, who +would lave them for any other country? But at any rate, Tom, achora, +don't take me away from them; sure you wouldn't part me from the green +fields of Carriglass? Sure you'd not take me from the blessed graveyard +of Carndhu, where we all sleep. I couldn't rest in a sthrange grave, +nor among strange people; I couldn't rest, barrin' I'm wid her, Peggy Na +Laveen." These words he uttered after his return into the house. + +"Grandfather," said Bryan, "make your mind aisy; we won't take you +from the brave ould places, and you will sleep in Carndhu with Peggy Na +Laveen; make your heart and mind easy, then, for you won't be parted." + +He turned his eyes upon the speaker, and a gleam of exultation and +delight settled upon his worn but venerable features; nor did it wholly +pass away, for, although his chin sank upon his breast, yet the placid +expression remained. On raising his head they perceived that this fine +and patriarchal representative of the truthful integrity and simple +manners of a bygone class had passed into a life where neither age +nor care can oppress the spirit, and from whose enjoyment no fear of +separation can ever disturb it. + +It is unnecessary to describe the sorrow which they felt. It must be +sufficient to say that seldom has grief for one so far advanced in +years been so sincere and deep. Age, joined to the knowledge of his +affectionate heart and many virtues, had encircled him with a halo of +love and pious veneration which caused his disappearance from among them +to be felt, as if a lamb of simple piety and unsullied truth had been +removed from their path for ever. + +That, indeed, was a busy and a melancholy day with the M'Mahons; for, +in addition to the death of the old grandfather, they were obliged to +receive farewell visits to no end from their relations, neighbors, and +acquaintances. Indeed it would be difficult to find a family in a state +of greater distress and sorrow. The auction, of course, was postponed +for a week--that is, until after the old man's funeral--and the +consequence was that circumstances, affecting the fate of our _dramatis +personae_ had time to be developed, which would otherwise have occurred +too late to be available for the purposes of our narrative. This renders +it necessary that we should return to a period in it somewhat anterior +to that at which we have now arrived. + + + + +CHAPTEE XXVI.--Containing a Variety of Matters. + +Our readers cannot have forgotten the angry dialogue which Kate Hogan +and her male relations indulged in upon the misunderstanding that had +occurred between the Cavanaghs and M'Mahons, and its imputed cause. +We stated at the time that Hycy Burke and the Hogans, together with a +strange man and woman, were embarked in some mysterious proceedings from +which both Kate Hogan and Teddy Phats had been excluded. For some time, +both before and after that night, there had been, on the other hand, +a good, deal of mysterious communication between several of our other +characters. For instance Kate Hogan and Nanny Peety had had frequent +interviews, to which, in the course of time, old Peety, Teddy Phats, +and, after him, our friend the schoolmaster had been admitted. Nanny +Peety had also called on Father Magowan, and, after him, upon young +Clinton; and it was evident, from the result of her disclosures to the +two latter, that they also took a warm interest, and were admitted to a +participation in, the councils we mention. To these proceedings Clinton +had not been long privy when he began to communicate with Vanston, who, +on his part, extended the mystery to Chevydale, between whom and himself +several confidential interviews had already taken place. Having thrown +out these hints to our readers, we beg them to accompany us once more to +the parlor of Clinton the gauger and his nephew. + +"So, uncle, now that you have been promoted to the Supervisorship, you +abandon the farm; you abandon Ahadarra?" + +"Why, won't I be out of the district, you blockhead? and you persist in +refusing it besides." + +"Most positively; but I always suspected that Fethertonge was a +scoundrel, as his conduct in that very business with you was a +proo--hem, ahem." + +"Go on," said the uncle, coolly, "don't be ashamed, Harry; I was nearly +as great a scoundrel in that business as he was. I told you before that +I look upon the world as one great pigeon, which every man who can, +without exposing, himself, is obliged to pluck. Now, in the matter of +the farm, I only was about to pluck out a feather or two to put in my +own nest--or yours, if you had stood it." + +"At any rate, uncle, I must admit that you are exceedingly candid." + +"No such thing, you fool; there is scarcely an atom of candor in my +whole composition--I mean to the world, whatever I may be to you. +Candor, Harry, my boy, is a virtue which very few in this life, as it +goes, can afford to practice--at least I never could." + +"Well but, uncle, is it not a pity to see that honest family ruined and +driven out of the country by the villany of Burke on the one hand, +and the deliberate fraud and corruption of Fethertonge, on the +other. However, now that you are resolved to unmask Fethertonge, I am +satisfied. It's a proof that you don't wish to see an honest family +oppressed and turned, without reasonable compensation, out of their +property." + +"It's a proof of no such thing, I tell you. I don't care the devil had +the M'Mahons; but I am bound to this ninnyhammer of a landlord, who has +got me promoted, and who promises, besides, to get an appointment for +you. I cannot see him, I say, fleeced and plucked by this knavish agent, +who winds him about his finger like a thread; and, as to those poor +honest devils of M'Mahons, stop just a moment and I will show you a +document that may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in +order to enhance the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come +nearer the truth, the value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a +document, which I will immediately show you, in my hands." + +He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned +and handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and +Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a +certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings. + +"Now," he proceeded, "there's a document which proves Fethertonge, +notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have +reduced it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to +his account, he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old +Chevydale, it appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove, +the day before he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to +writing, which he did, and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons, +to whom, of course, it was never given." + +"But what claim had you to it, uncle?" + +"Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I +might let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward +methods of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow +Burke has thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those +other mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is +all about and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or +transportation among them." + +"Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession +of them:--There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty +girl--" + +"Ay, ay--no fear but there must be that in it; go along." + +"A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's, +Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the +various stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this +girl, but without success. Her virtue was incorruptible." + +"Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over." + +"Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I +should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you +there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length--that is about a +week ago--was obliged to disclose to her father the endless persecution +which she had to endure at the hands of Hycy Burke; and in addition to +that disclosure, came another, to the effect that she had been for +a considerable period aware of a robbery which took place in old +Burke's--you may remember the stir it made--and which robbery was +perpetrated by Bat Hogan, one of these infamous tinkers that live in +Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, and under the protection of his family. The +girl's father--who, by the way, is no other than the little black +visaged mendicant who goes about the country--" + +"I know him--proceed." + +"Her father, I say, on hearing these circumstances, naturally indignant +at Hycy Burke for his attempts to corrupt the principles of his +daughter, brought the latter with him to Father Magowan, in whose +presence she stated all she knew; adding, that she had secured Bat +Hogan's hat and shoes, which, in his hurry, he had forgotten on the +night of the robbery. She also requested the priest to call upon me, +'as she felt certain,' she said, 'in consequence of a letter of Burke's +which I happened to see as she carried it to the post-office, that I +could throw some light upon his villany. He did so.' It was on that +affair the priest called here the other day, and I very candidly +disclosed to him the history of that letter, and its effect in causing +the seizure of the distillery apparatus--the fact being that everything +was got up by Hycy himself--I mean at his cost, with a view to ruin +M'Mahon. And this I did the more readily, as the scoundrel has gone far +to involve me in the conduct imputed to M'Mahon, as his secret abbettor +and enemy." + +"Well," observed his uncle, "all that's a very pretty affair as it +stands; but what are you to do next?" + +"There is worse behind, I can assure you," continued his nephew. "Hycy +Burke, who is proverbially extravagant, having at last, in an indirect +way, ruined young M'Mahon, from the double motive of ill-will and a wish +to raise money by running illicit spirits--" + +"The d--d scoundrel!" exclaimed the gauger, seized with a virtuous +fit of (professional) indignation, "that fellow would scruple at +nothing--proceed." + +"By the way," observed the other, rather maliciously, "he made a +complete tool of you in M'Mahon's affair." + +"He did, the scoundrel," replied his uncle, wincing a good deal; +"but, as the matter was likely to turn up, he was only working out my +purposes." + +"He is in a bad mess now, however," continued his nephew. + +"Why, is there worse to come?" + +"This same Nanny Peety, you must know, is a relative, it seems, to Bat +Hogan's wife. For some time past there has come a strange man named +Vincent, and his wife, to reside in the neighborhood, and this fellow in +conjunction with the Hogans, was managing some secret proceedings which +no one can penetrate. Now, it appears that Hogan's wife, who has been +kept out of this secret, got Nanny Peety to set her father to work in +order to discover it. Peety, by the advice of Hogan's wife, called in +Teddy Phat's--" + +"What's that? Teddy Phats? Now, by the way, Harry, don't abuse poor +Teddy. You will be surprised, Hal, when I tell you that he and I have +played into each other's hands for years. Yes, my boy, and I can assure +you that, owing to him, both Fethertonge and I were aware of Hycy's +Burke's plot against M'Mahon long before he set it a-going. The fellow, +however, will certainly be hanged yet." + +"Faith, sir," replied Harry, "instead of being hanged himself, he's +likely to hang others. In consequence of an accidental conversation +which Teddy Phats, and Finigan the tippling schoolmaster had, concerning +Vincent, the stranger I spoke of, who, it appears, lives next to +Finigan's school-house, Teddy discovered, through the pedagogue, who, by +the way, is abroad at all hours, that the aforesaid Vincent was in +the habit of going up every night to the most solitary part of the +mountains, but for what purpose, except upon another distillation +affair, he could not say." + +The old gauger or supervisor, as he now considered himself, became +here so comically excited--or, we should rather say, so seriously +excited--that it was with difficulty the nephew could restrain his +laughter. He moved as if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, +his eyes brightened, and his naturally keen and knavish-looking features +were sharpened, as it were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that +he resembled a staunch old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh +slot of a hare. + +"Well," said he, rubbing his hands--"well, go on--what happened? Do you +hear, Harry? What happened? Of course they're at the distillation again. +Don't you hear me, I say? What was the upshot?" + +"Why, the upshot was," replied the other, "that nothing of sufficient +importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that +they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in +that of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy +Burke, or Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself." + +"Tut, tut!" exclaimed Clinton, disappointed--"so after all, there has +been nothing done?" + +"Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these +matters have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three +interviews with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young +M'Mahon from the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds +such a position now with his employer that an infant's breath would +almost blow him out of his good opinion." + +"I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you +to punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge +should escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it +should not, we will give him a breeze." + +"I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an +investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous +letter with me--it may serve an honest man and help to punish a rogue. +What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?" + +"Well," replied the uncle, "for the novelty of the thing I don't care if +I do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is +not prepared for it." + +After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with +Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which +the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his +son. They found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would +have expected; but, in reality, the state of the country was such as +forced them to open their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere +political resentments or senseless party prejudices against each other, +but to the absolute necessity that existed for looking closely into the +state of their property, and the deplorable condition to which, if +they did not take judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be +reduced. They now began to discover a fact which they ought, long since, +to have known--viz.:--that the condition of the people and that of their +property was one and the same--perfectly identical in all things; and +that a poor tenantry never yet existed upon a thriving or independent +estate, or one that was beneficial to the landlord. + +Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival +of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps, +be without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of +it. + +"So," says Vanston, "you are beginning to feel that there is something +wrong on your property, and that your agent is not doing you justice?" + +"I have reason to suspect," replied Chevydale, "that he is neither more +nor less than feathering his own nest at the expense of myself and my +tenantry. I cannot understand why he is so anxious to get the M'Mahons +off the estate; a family unquestionably of great honesty, truth, and +integrity, and who, I believe, have been on the property before it +came into our possession at all. I feel--excuse me, Vanston, for the +admission, but upon my honor it is truth--I feel, I say, that, in the +matter of the election--that is, so far as M'Mahon was concerned, he--my +agent--made a cat's paw of me. He prevented me from supporting young +M'Mahon's memorial; he--he--prejudiced me against the family in several +ways, and now, that I am acquainted with the circumstances of strong and +just indignation against me under which M'Mahon voted, I can't at all +blame him. I would have done the same thing myself." + +"There is d----d villany somewhere at work," replied Vanston. "They talk +of a fifty-pound note that I am said to have sent to him by post. Now, I +pledge my honor as an honest man and a gentleman, that I have sifted and +examined all my agents, and am satisfied that he never received a penny +from me. Young Burke did certainly promise to secure me his vote; but I +have discovered Burke to be a most unprincipled profligate, corrupt and +dishonest. For, you may think it strange that, although he engaged to +procure me M'Mahon's vote, M'Mahon himself, whom I believe, assured me +that he never even asked him for it, until after he had overheard, in +the head inn, a conversation concerning himself that filled him with +bitter resentment against you and your agent." + +"I remember it," replied Chevydale, "and; yet my agents told me that +Burke did everything in his power to prevent M'Mahon from voting for +you." + +"That," replied the other, "was to preserve his own character from the +charge of inconsistency; for, I again assure you that he had promised us +M'Mahon's vote, and that he urged him privately to vote against you. But +d--n the scoundrel, he is not worth the conversation we had about him. +Father Magowan, in consequence of whose note to me I wrote to ask you +here, states in the communication I had from him, that the parties will +be here about twelve o'clock--Burke himself, he thinks, and M'Mahon +along with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out +of the parish--a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we +shall soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking +of the country, what is to be done?" + +"Simply," replied Chevydale, "that we, the landed proprietors of +Ireland, should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile +causes of division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited +us, but set us together by the ears, we should take counsel among +ourselves, and after due and serious deliberation, come to the +determination that it is our duty to prevent Irish interests from being +made subservient to English interests, and from being legislated for +upon English principles." + +"I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer." + +"No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture. +Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation. +When we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British +Parliament--I allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal +members--what hope can we entertain of honesty and love of country from +such men? When we look, too, at many of our Corporations and strike an +average of their honesty and intellect, have we not a right to thank God +that the interests of our country are not confided to the management of +such an arrogant, corrupt, and vulgar crew as in general compose them. +The truth is, Vanston, we must become national in our own defense, and +whilst we repudiate, with a firm conviction of the folly on the one +hand, and the dishonesty on the other, of those who talk about Repeal, +we shall find it our best policy to forget the interests of any +particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down into one great +principle of national love and good-will toward each other. Let us only +become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when we were +unanimous upon other occasions." + +"I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say," +replied Vanston, "and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must +identify ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably +are ours." + +"As to myself," continued Chevydale, "I fear I have much to repair in +my conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy--in +fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil, +according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until +now, I did not suspect." + +"The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others," +replied Vanston; "but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity +of management in Irish property--such indifference and neglect upon our +part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in +most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under +show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently, +much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances." + +The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his +nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they +brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we +should detail there conversation at full length. + +"I must confess," said Clinton, "that I would have some reason to feel +ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it +not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the +commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to +excite any feeling one way or the other." + +"But you must have known, Clinton," said Chevydale, "that it was a most +iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest +agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man." + +"What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?" + +"But had you not in your own possession my father's written +promise--written, too, on his death-bed--to these honest men, that they +should have their leases renewed?" + +"Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not +mine." + +"As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle +you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the +transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say +there is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here." + +"Faith, to tell you the truth," replied Clinton, "as I said to Harry +here, because _I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not +prepared for it_." + +"Well," said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, "I am myself +very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say +that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been +made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take +care that it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can +deliberately avow his participation in such shameless profligacy would +be to identify myself with it. You have been doubly treacherous, Mr. +Clinton; first to me, whom you know to be your friend, and, in the next +place, to the unfortunate partner in your villany, and at my expense; +for d----d if I can call it less. What noise is that?" + +Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two +voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with +each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend +O'Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in +the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not +allow the great O to be suppressed. + +"Behave, and keep quiet, now," said his Reverence, "you unfortunate +pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated." + +"Pardon me, your Reverence," replied O'Finigan; "_non ebrius sed vino +gravatus_, devil a thing more." + +"Get out, you profligate," replied the priest, "don't you know that +either, at this time o' day, is too bad?" + +"_Nego, dominie--nego, Dominie revendre_--denial is my principle, I say. +Do you assert that there's no difference between _ebrius_ and _gravatus +vino_?" + +"In your case, you reprobate, I do. Where would you get the vino? +However," he proceeded, "as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is +possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular +subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and +it's likely we may get more truth out of you." + +"Ay," said the schoolmaster, "upon the principle that _in vino veritas_; +but you know that _gravatus vino_ and _ebrius_ are two different +things--_gravatus vino_, the juice o' the grape--och, och, as every one +knows, could and stupid; but _ebrius_ from blessed poteen, that warms +and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart." + +The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance +and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room. + +"Gentlemen," said the priest, "I trust you will excuse me for the +society in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that +this Finigan--" + +"Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn +of--" + +"Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really +inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence +can be of any advantage to us." + +"He says," replied the master, "that I am _ebrius_, whereas I replied +that I was only _vino gravatus_, by which I only meant _quasi vino +gravatus_; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober +until I'm half seas over--for it is then that I have all my wits +properly about me." + +"In fact, gentleman," proceeded the priest, "in consequence of certain +disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I +deemed it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here. She +is accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who +refuses to be separated from her--and insists, consequently, on coming +along with her. I don't exactly know what her motive may be in this; but +I am certain she has a motive. It is a gratification to me, however, to +find, gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion. +I sent word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M'Mahon; for I thought it only +fair that Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any +charge may be brought against him. I expect M'Mahon, too." + +"Let us remove, then, to my office," said, Chevydale--"it is now a few +minutes past twelve, and I dare say they will soon be here." + +They accordingly did so; and, as he had said, the parties almost +immediately made their appearance. + +"Now, gentlemen," said Father Magowan, "I am of opinion that the best +way is for this girl to state what she knows concerning these Hogans; +but I think I can now persave the raison why Kate Hogan has made it a +point to come with her. It is quite evident from her manner that she +wishes to intimidate this girl, and to prevent her from stating fully +and truly what she knows." + +"No," replied Kate, "it is no such thing--she must either state the +whole truth or nothing; that's what I want, an' what she must do--put +the saddle on the right horse, Nanny--since you will spake." + +"It is a good proverbial illustration," observed Finigan, "but I will +improve it--put the saddle of infamy, I say, upon the right horse, +Nanny. You see, gintlemen," he added, turning to the magistrates, "my +improvement elevates the metaphor--proceed, girsha." + + +"Gentlemen," said Hycy, "I received a note from Father Magowan informing +me that it was probable certain charges might be brought against me--or +at least some complaints made," he added, softening the expression--"and +I should be glad to know what they are all about, before this girl +commences formally to state them; I say so in order that I may not be +taken by surprise." + +"You know," replied the priest, "that you cannot be taken by surprise; +because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that +are against you." + +Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston--and we +may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale. + +"By the way," asked the former of these gentlemen, "does this +investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?" + +"Not, sir, so far as I am aware of--I come here because Father Magowan +wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country +now," he added in a tone of deep melancholy, "there's an end to that for +ever." + +"Now, my good girl," said Chevydale, "you will state all you know +connected with these Hogans fully and truly--that is, neither more nor +less than the truth." + +"All the truth, Nanny," said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly +condensed power; "Hycy Burke," she proceeded, "you ruined Bryan +M'Mahon here--and, by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's +heart--she's gone--no docthor could save her now; and for this you'll +soon know what Kate Hogan can do. Go on, Nanny." + +"Well, gintlemon," Nanny began, "in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here +that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by +the fine." + +Hycy laughed. "Excellent!" said he; "Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did +not imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn +out to be enacted exactly in your office." + +"Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate," said the schoolmaster; +"but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become +a tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed, +girsha." + +"How do you know," asked Chevydale, "that this charge is true?" + +"If I don't know it," she replied, "my aunt here does,--and I think so +does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others." + +"Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?" asked Chevydale, +addressing Kate. + +"Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make +the Still, set it up--and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he +didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all +knew it was--'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above, +where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra." + +"I assure you, gentlemen," said Hycy, "that the respectability of the +witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments +and sense of justice;--a common vagabond and notorious thief on the one +hand, and a beggarman's brat on the other. However, proceed--I perceive +that I shall be obliged to sink under the force of such testimony--ha! +ha! ha!" + +At this moment old Jemmy Burke, having accidentally heard that morning +that such an investigation was to take place, and likely to bear upon +the conduct of his eldest son, resolved to be present at it, and he +accordingly presented himself as Hycy had concluded his observations. + +The high integrity of his character was at once recognized--he was +addressed in terms exceedingly respectful, if not deferential, by +the two magistrates--Chevydale having at once ordered the servant in +attendance to hand him a chair. He thanked him, however, but declined it +gratefully, and stood like the rest. + +In the meantime the investigation proceeded. "Mr. Burke," said +Chevydale, addressing himself to the old man, whose features, by the +way, were full of sorrow and distress--"it may be as well to state to +you that we are not sitting now formally in our magisterial capacity, to +investigate any charges that may be brought against your son, but simply +making some preliminary inquiries with respect to other charges, which +we have been given to understand are about to be brought against the +notorious Hogans." + +"Don't lay the blame upon the Hogans," replied Kate, fiercely--"the +Hogans, bad as people say they are, only acted under Hycy Burke. It was +Hycy Burke." + +"But," said Chevydale, probably out of compassion for the old man, "you +must know we are not now investigating Mr. Burke's conduct." + +"Proceed, gintlemen," said his father, firmly but sorrowfully; "I have +heard it said too often that he was at the bottom of the plot that +ruined Bryan M'Mahon, or that wint near to ruin him; I wish to have that +well sifted, gintlemen, and to know the truth." + +"I can swear," continued Kate, "that it was him got up the whole plan, +and gave them the money for it. I seen him in our house--or, to come +nearer the truth, in Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where we live--givin' them +the money." + +"As you are upon that subject, gentlemen," observed Harry Clinton, "I +think it due to the character of Bryan M'Mahon to state that I am in a +capacity to prove that Hycy Burke was unquestionably at the bottom--or, +in point of fact, the originator--of his calamities with reference to +the act of illicit distillation, and the fine which he would have been +called on to pay, were it not that the Commissioners of Excise remitted +it." + +"Thank you, Mr. Clinton," replied Hycy; "I find I am not mistaken in +you--I think you are worthy of your accomplices"--and he pointed to Kate +and Nanny as he spoke--"proceed." + +"We are passing," observed Vanston, "from one to another rather +irregularly, I fear; don't you think we had better hear this girl fully +in the first place; but, my good girl," he added, "you are to understand +that we are not here to investigate any charges against Mr. Hycy Burke, +but against the Hogans. You will please then to confine your charges to +them." + +"But," replied Nanny, "that's what I can't do, plase your honor, widout +bringin' in Hycy Burke too, bekaise himself an' the Hogans was joined in +everything." + +"I think, gintlemen," said the priest, "the best plan is to let her tell +her story in her own way." + +"Perhaps so," said Chevydale; "proceed, young woman, and state fully and +truly whatever you have got to say." + +"Well, then," she proceeded, "there's one thing I know--I know who +robbed Mr. Burke here;" and she pointed to the old man, who started. + +The magistrates also looked surprised. "How," said Vanston, turning his +eyes keenly upon her, "you know of the robbery; and pray, how long have +you known it?'" + +"Ever since the night it was committed, plaise your honor." + +"What a probable story!" exclaimed Hycy; "and you kept it to yourself, +like an honest girl as you are, until now!" + +"Why, Mr. Burke," said Vanston, quickly and rather sharply, "surely you +can have no motive in impugning her evidence upon that subject?" + +Hycy bit his lip, for he instantly felt that he had overshot himself by +almost anticipating the charge, as if it were about to be made against +himself;--"What I think improbable in it," said Hycy, "is that she +should, if in possession of the facts, keep them concealed so long." + +"Oh, never fear, Mr. Hycy, I'll soon make that plain enough," she +replied. + +"But in the mean time," said Chevydale, "will you state the names of +those who did commit the robbery?" + +"I will," she replied. + +"The whole truth, Nanny," exclaimed Kate. + +"It was Bat Hogan, then, that robbed Mr. Burke," she replied; +"and--and--" + +"Out wid it," said Kate. + +"And who besides, my good girl?" inquired Vanston. + +The young woman looked round with compassion upon Jemmy Burke, and the +tears started to her eyes. "I pity him!" she exclaimed, "I pity him--that +good old man;" and, as she uttered the words, she wept aloud. + +"This, I fear, is getting rather a serious affair," said Vanston, in a +low voice to Chevydale--"I see how the tide is likely to turn." + +Chevydale merely nodded, as if he also comprehended it. "You were about +to add some other name?" said he; "in the mean time compose yourself and +proceed." + +Hycy Burke's face at this moment had become white as a sheet; in fact, +to any one of common penetration, guilt and a dread of the coming +disclosure were legible in every lineament of it. + +"Who was the other person you were about to mention?" asked Vanston. + +"His own son, sir, Mr. Hycy Burke, there." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Chevydale; "Mr. Hycy Burke, do you say? Mr. Burke," +he added, addressing that gentleman, "how is this? Here is a grave and +serious charge against you. What have you to say to it?" + +"That it would be both grave and serious," replied Hycy, "if it +possessed but one simple element, without which all evidence is +valueless--I mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well +name either of yourselves, gentlemen, as me." + +"How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?" asked Hycy. + +"Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs." + +"How did you see him?" asked Vanston. + +"Through a hole in the partition," she replied, "where a knot of the +deal boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet +off o' the room the money was in." + +"Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?" asked Vanston of the old +man. + +"It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue." + +"Well, proceed," said Chevydale. + +"I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it +creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the +chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he +had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I +folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of +the room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the +mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full--but in the teeth. I was +above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she +stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout +bein' seen myself. Well, when the mistress met him she was goin' to bawl +out wid terror, an' would, too, only that Masther Hycy flew to her, put +his hand on her mouth, an' whispered something in her ear. He then went +over to Bat, and got a large shafe of bank-notes from him, an' motioned +him to be off wid himself, an' that he'd see him to-morrow. Bat went +down in the dark, an' Hycy an' his mother had some conversation in a +low voice on the lobby. She seemed angry, an' he was speakin' soft an' +strivin' to put her into good humor again. I then dipt back to bed, but +the never a wink could I get till mornin'; an' when I went down, the +first thing I saw was Bat Hogan's shoes. It was hardly light at the +time; but at any rate I hid them where they couldn't be got, an' it was +well I did, for the first thing I saw was Bat himself peering about the +street and yard, like a man that was looking for something that he had +lost." + +"But how did you know that the shoes were Hogan's?" asked Vanston. + +"Why, your honor, any one that ever seen the man might know that. One +of his heels is a trifle shorter than the other, which makes him halt a +little, an' he has a bunion as big as an egg on the other foot." + +"Ay, Nanny," said Kate, "that's the truth; but I can tell you more, +gentlemen. On the evenin' before, when Mr. Hycy came home, he made up +the plan to rob his father wid Phil Hogan; but Phil got drunk that night +an' Bat had to go in his place. Mr. Hycy promised to see the Hogans that +mornin' at his father's, about ten o'clock; but when they went he had +gone off to Ballymacan; an' as they expected him every minute, they +stayed about the place in spite o' the family, an' mended everything +they could lay their hands on. Bat an' Mr. Hycy met that night in Teddy +Phat's still-house, in Glendearg, an' went home together across the +mountains aftherward." + +"Well, Mr. Burke, what have you to say to this?" asked Chevydale. + +"Why," replied Hycy, "that it's a very respectable conspiracy as it +stands, supported by the thief and vagabond, and the beggar's brat." + +"Was there any investigation at the time of its occurrence?" asked +Vanston. + +"There was, your honor," replied Nanny; "it was proved, clearly enough +that Phil and Ned Hogan were both dead drunk that night an' couldn't +commit a robbery; an' Masther Hycy himself said that he knew how Bat +spent the night, an' that of course he couldn't do it; an' you know, +your honors, there was no gettin' over that. I have, or rather my father +has, Bat Hogan's shoes still." + +"This, I repeat, seems a very serious charge, Mr. Burke," said Chevydale +again. + +"Which, as I said before, contains not one particle of truth," replied +Hycy. "If I had resolved to break open my father's chest to get cash out +of it, it is not likely that I would call in the aid of such a man +as Bat Hogan. As a proof that I had nothing to do with the robbery in +question, I can satisfy you that my mother, not many days after the +occurrence of it, was obliged to get her car and drive some three or +four miles' distance to borrow a hundred pounds for me from a friend of +hers, upon her own responsibility, which, had I committed the outrage in +question, I would not have required at all." + +Old Burke's face would, at this period of the proceedings, have extorted +compassion from any heart. Sorrow, distress, agony of spirit, and shame, +were all so legible in his pale features--that those who were present +kept their eyes averted, from respect to the man, and from sympathy with +his sufferings. + +At length he himself came forward, and, after wiping away a few bitter +tears from his cheeks, he said--"Gentlemen, I care little about the +money I lost, nor about who took it--let it go--as for me, I won't miss +it; but there is one thing that cuts me to the heart--I'm spakin' about +the misfortune that was brought, or near bein' brought, upon this honest +an' generous-hearted young man, Bryan M'Mahon, through manes of a black +plot that was got up against him--I'm spakin' of the Still that was +found on his farm of Ahadarra. That, if my son had act or part in it, is +a thousand times worse than the other; as for the takin' of the money, +I don't care about it, as I said--nor I won't prosecute any one for it; +but I must have my mind satisfied about the other affair." + +It is not our intention to dwell at any length upon the clear proofs of +his treachery and deceit, which were established against him by Harry +Clinton, who produced the anonymous letter to his uncle--brought home to +him as it was by his own evidence and that of Nanny Peety. + +"There is, however," said Vanston, "another circumstance affecting the +reputation and honesty of Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, which in your presence, +Mr. M'Gowan, I am anxious to set at rest. I have already contradicted it +with indignation wherever I have heard it, and I am the more anxious +to do so, now, whilst M'Mahon and Burke are present, and because I have +been given to understand that you denounced him--M'Mahon--with such +hostility from the altar, as almost occasioned him to be put to death in +the house of God." + +"You are undher a mistake there, Major Vanston, with great respect," +replied the priest. "It wasn't I but my senior curate, Father M'Pepper; +and he has already been reprimanded by his Bishop." + +"Well," replied the other, "I am glad to hear it. However, I, now +solemnly declare, as an honest man and an Irish, gentleman, that neither +I, nor any one for me, with my knowledge, ever gave or sent any money to +Bryan M'Mahon; but perhaps we may ascertain who did. M'Mahon, have you +got the letter about you?" + +"I have, sir," replied Bryan, "and the bank-note, too." + +"You will find the frank and address both in your own handwriting," said +Hycy. "It was I brought him the letter from the post-office." + +"Show me the letter, if you plaise," said Nanny, who, after looking +first at it and then at Hycy, added, "and it was I gave it this little +tear near the corner, and dhrew three scrapes of a pin across the paper, +an' there they are yet; an' now I can take my oath that it was Mr. Hycy +that sent that letther to Bryan M'Mahon--an' your Reverence is the very +man I showed it to, and that tould me who it was goin' to, in the street +of Ballymacan."' + +On a close inspection of the letter it was clearly obvious that, +although there appeared at a cursory glance a strong resemblance between +the frank and the address, yet the difference was too plain to be +mistaken. + +"If there is further evidence necessary," said Vanston, looking at Hycy +significantly, "my agent can produce it--and he is now in the house." + +"I think you would not venture on that," replied Hycy. + +"Don't be too sure of that," said the other, determinedly. + +"Sir," replied Father Magowan, "there is nothing further on that point +necessary--the proof is plain and clear; and now, Bryan M'Mahon, give +me your hand, for it is that of an honest man--I am proud to see that +you stand pure and unsullied again; and it shall be my duty to see that +justice shall be rendered! you, and ample compensation made for all that +you have suffered." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Bryan, with an air of deep dejection, "but I +am sorry to say it is now too late--I am done with the country, and with +those that misrepresented me, for ever." + +Chevydale looked at him with deep attention for a moment, then whispered +something to Vanston, who smiled, and nodded his head approvingly. + +Jemmy Burke now prepared to go. "Good mornin', gintlemen," he said, "I +am glad to see the honest name cleared and set right, as it ought to be; +but as for myself, I lave you wid a heavy--wid a breakin' heart." + +As he disappeared at the door, Hycy rushed after him, exclaiming, +"Father, listen to me--don't go yet till you hear my defence. I will go +and fetch him back," he exclaimed--"he must hear what I have to say for +myself." + +He overtook his father at the bottom of the hall steps. "Give me a +hundred pounds," said he, "and you will never see my face again." + +"There is two hundre'," said his father; "I expected this. Your mother +confessed all to me this mornin', bekaise she knew it would come out +here, I suppose. Go now, for undher my roof you'll never come again. If +you can--reform your life--an' live at all events, as if there was a God +above you. Before you go answer me;--what made you bring in Bat Hogan +to rob me?" + +"Simply," replied his son, "because I wished to make him and them feel +that I had them in my power--and now you have it." + +[Illustration: PAGE 635-- Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse] + +Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in +a moment--"Ah!" exclaimed the old man, with bitterness of soul, "what +mightn't he be if his weak and foolish mother hadn't taken it into her +head to make a gentleman of him! But now she reaps as she sowed. She's +punished--an' that's enough."--And thus does Hycy the accomplished make +his exit from our humble stage. + +"Gintlemen," said Finigan, "now that the accomplished Mr. Hycy is +disposed of, I beg to state, that it will be productive of much public +good to the country to expatriate these three virtuous worthies, _qui +nomine gaudent_ Hogan--and the more so as it can be done on clear legal +grounds. They are a principal means of driving this respectable young +man, Bryan M'Mahon, and his father's family, out of the land of their +birth; and there will be something extremely appropriate--and indicative +besides of condign and retributive punishment--in sending them on their +travels at his Majesty's expense. I am here, in connection with others, +to furnish you with the necessary proof against them; and I am of +opinion that the sooner they are sent upon a voyage of discovery it will +be so much the better for the rejoicing neighborhood they will leave +behind them." + +The hint was immediately taken with respect to them and Vincent, all +of whom had been engaged in coming under Hycy's auspices--they were +apprehended and imprisoned, the chief evidence against them being Teddy +Phats, Peety Dhu, and Finigan, who for once became a stag, as he called +it. They were indicted for a capital felony; but the prosecution having +been postponed for want of sufficient evidence, they were kept in +durance until next assizes;--having found it impossible to procure bail. +In the meantime new charges of uttering base coin came thick and strong +against them; and as the Crown lawyers found that they could not succeed +on the capital indictment--nor indeed did they wish to do so--they +tried them on the lighter one, and succeeded in getting sentence of +transportation passed against every one of them, with the exception of +Kate Hogan alone.--So that, as Finigan afterwards said, "instead of Bryan +M'Mahon, it was they themselves that became 'the Emigrants of Ahadarra,' +at the king's expense--and Mr. Hycy at his own." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII.--Conclusion. + + +How Kathleen Cavanagh spent the time that elapsed between the period +at which she last appeared to our readers and the present may be easily +gathered from what we are about to write. We have said already that her +father, upon the strength of some expressions uttered in a spirit of +distraction and agony, assured Jemmy Burke that she had consented to +marry his son Edward, after a given period. Honest Jemmy, however, never +for a moment suspected the nature of the basis upon which his worthy +neighbor had erected the superstructure of his narrative; but at +the same time he felt sadly puzzled by the melancholy and declining +appearance of her whom he looked upon as his future daughter-in-law. The +truth was that scarcely any of her acquaintances could recognize her as +the same majestic, tall, and beautiful girl whom they had known before +this heavy disappointment had come on her. Her exquisite figure had lost +most of its roundness, her eye no longer flashed--with its dark mellow +lustre, and her cheek--her damask cheek--distress and despair had fed +upon it, until little remained there but the hue of death itself. Her +health in fact was evidently beginning to go. Her appetite had abandoned +her; she slept little, and that little was restless and unrefreshing. +All her family, with the exception of her father and mother, who +sustained themselves with the silly ambition of their daughter being +able to keep her jaunting-car--for her father had made that point a +_sine qua non_--all, we say, with the above exceptions, became seriously +alarmed at the state of her mind and health. + +"Kathleen, dear," said her affectionate sister, "I think you have +carried your feelings against Bryan far enough." + +"My feelings against Bryan!" she exclamed. + +"Yes," proceeded her sister, "I think you ought to forgive him." + +"Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have +long since forgiven him, Hanna." + +"Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?" + +"I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can +nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when +brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal--the man that +would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of +corruption--he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and he +must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling +principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is +because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that +I am as you see me." + +"Then you do intend to marry?" asked Hanna, with a smile. + +"Why do you ask that, Hanna?" + +"Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man +your husband is to be." + +"Hanna," she replied, solemnly, "look at my cheek, look at my eye, look +at my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can. +Don't you see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it." + +Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst +into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief. + +"Oh, you are changed, most woefully, Kathleen, darlin'," she exclaimed, +kissing her tenderly; "but if you could only bear up now, time would set +everything right, and bring you about right, as it will still, I hope." + +Her sister mused for some time, and then added--"I think I could bear +up yet if he was to stay in the country; but when I recollect that he's +going to another land--forever--I feel that my heart is broken: as it +is, his disgrace and that thought are both killin' me. To-morrow the +auction comes on, and then he goes--after that I will never see him. I'm +afraid, Hanna, that I'll have to go to bed; I feel that I'm hardly able +to sit up." + +Hanna once more pressed her to her heart and wept. + +"Don't cry, Hanna dear--don't cry for me; the bitterest part of my fate +will be partin' from you." + +Hanna here pressed her again and wept aloud, whilst her spotless and +great-minded sister consoled her as well as she could. "Oh, what would +become of me!" exclaimed Hanna, sobbing; "if anything was to happen you, +or take you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die." + +"Hanna," said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on +that distressing subject; "on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan +to clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that +you'll do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing +me about Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him +your husband yet, and I think he's worthy of you--that's saying a great +deal, I know. You love him, Hanna--I know it, and he loves you, Hanna, +for he told me so the last day but one he was here;--you remember they +all went out, and left us together, and then he told me all." + +Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when +a rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this +dialogue took place in the parlor--exclaiming, "God save all here! How +do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?" + +"Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl +that's a little low spirited for some time past." + +"Ay, ay, I know the cause of that--it's no secret--where is she now? If +she's in the house let me see her." + +The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features, +immediately made their appearance. + +"God be good to us!" he exclaimed, "here's a change! Why, may I never +sin, if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard +us! look at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?" + +"Nothing on airth," she replied; "her complaint's upon the spirits, an' +we didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her." + +"Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your +sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he +ever was--an honest an' upright young man." + +Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without +seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and +was about to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with +alarm--"Kathleen, what ails you, dear? Where are you going?" + +"Going," she replied; "I was going to--where?--why?--what--what has +happened?" + +"The news came upon her too much by surprise," said Hanna, looking +towards the priest. + +"Kathleen, darlin'," exclaimed her mother, "try and compose yourself. +Lord guard us, what can ail her?" + +"Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father +Magowan stay where you are." + +They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she +recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which +the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated. +Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom +and indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had +recovered a little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the +circumstances connected with the changes that had affected her lover's +character so deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the +following determination--a determination, by the way, which we earnestly +recommend to all politicians of his profession. + +"As for my part," said he, "it has opened my eyes to one thing that +I won't forget:--a single word of politics I shall never suffer to +be preached from the altar while I live; neither shall I allow +denouncements for political offences. The altar, as the bishop told +me--and a hard rap he gave Mr. M'Pepper across the knuckles for Bryan's +affair--'the altar,' said he, 'isn't the place for politics, but for +religion; an' I hope I may never hear of its being desecrated with +politics again,' said his lordship, an' neither I will, I assure you." + +The intelligence of the unexpected change that had taken place in favor +of the M'Mahon's, did not reach them on that day, which was the same, +as we have stated, on which their grandfather departed this life. The +relief felt by Thomas M'Mahon and his family at this old man's death, +took nothing from the sorrow which weighed them down so heavily in +consequence of their separation from the abode of their forefathers +and the place of their birth. They knew, or at least they took it for +granted that their grandfather would never have borne the long voyage +across the Atlantic, a circumstance which distressed them very much. His +death, however, exhibiting, as it did, the undying attachment to home +which nothing else could extinguish, only kindled the same affection +more strongly and tenderly in their hearts. The account of it had gone +abroad through the neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the +auction would be postponed until that day week. And now that he was +gone, all their hearts turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and +almost agonizing' struggles which their coming departure caused their +father to contend with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained +them all, absolutely feared that his courage would fail him, or that his +very health would break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister, +Dora, who, although too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings, +did not endure the less on that account. + +"My dear Dora," said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, "I +know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between +the Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had +intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God +knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in +denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel." + +"Don't fret for me, Bryan," she replied; "I'm willin' to bear my share +of the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything +mane or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and +lave him for ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must +submit to it. May God strengthen and enable me! and that's my earnest +prayer. I also often prayed that you an' Kathleen might be reconciled; +but I wasn't heard, it seems. I sometimes think that you ought to go to +her; but then on second thoughts I can hardly advise you to do so." + +"No, Dora, I never will, dear; she ought to have heard me as you said +face to face; instead o' that she condemned me without a hearin'. An' +yet, Dora," he added, "little she knows--little she drames, what I'm +sufferin on her account, and how I love her--more now than ever, I +think; she's so changed, they say, that you could scarcely know her." As +he spoke, a single tear fell upon Dora's hand which he held in his. + +"Come. Bryan," she said, assuming a cheerfulness which she did not feel, +"don't have it to say that little Dora, who ought and does look up to +you for support, must begin to support you herself; to-morrow's the +last day--who knows but she may relent yet?" Bryan smiled faintly, then +patted her head, and said, "darling little Dora, the wealth of nations +couldn't purchase you." + +"Not to do any thing mane or wrong, at any rate," she replied; after +which she went in to attend to the affairs of the family, for this +conversation took place in the garden. + +As evening approached, a deep gloom, the consequence of strong inward +suffering, overspread the features and bearing of Thomas M'Mahon. For +some time past, he had almost given himself over to the influence of +what he experienced--a fact that was observable in many ways, all more +or less tending to revive the affection which he felt for his departed +wife. For instance, ever since their minds had been made up to emigrate, +he had watched, and tended, and fed Bracky, her favorite cow, with his +own hands; nor would he suffer any one else in the family to go near +her, with the exception of Dora, by whom she had been milked ever since +her mother's death, and to whom the poor animal had now transferred her +affection. He also cleaned and oiled her spinning-wheel, examined her +clothes, and kept himself perpetually engaged in looking at every object +that was calculated to bring her once more before his imagination. + +About a couple of hours before sunset, without saying where he was +going, he sauntered down to the graveyard of Gamdhu where she lay, and +having first uncovered his head and offered up a prayer for the repose +of her soul, he wept bitterly. + +"Bridget," said he, in that strong figurative language so frequently +used by the Irish, when under the influence of deep, emotion; "Bridget, +wife of my heart, you are removed from the thrials and throubles of this +world--from the thrials and throubles that have come upon us. I'm come, +now--your own husband--him that loved you beyant everything on this +earth, to tell you why the last wish o' my heart, which was to sleep +where I ought to sleep, by your side, can't be granted to me, and to +explain to you why it is, in case you'd miss me from my place beside +you. This unfortunate counthry, Bridget, has changed, an' is changin' +fast for the worse. The landlord hasn't proved himself to be towards us +what he ought to be, and what we expected he would; an' so, rather than +remain at the terms he axes from us, it's better for us to thry our +fortune in America; bekaise, if we stay here, we must only come to +poverty an' destitution, an' sorrow; an' you know how it 'ud break my +heart to see our childre' brought to that, in the very place where they +wor always respected. They're all good to me, as they ever wor to' us +both, acushla machree; but poor Bryan, that you loved so much--your +favorite and your pride--has had much to suffer, darlin', since you left +us; but blessed be God, he bears it manfully and patiently, although +I can see by the sorrow on my boy's brow that the heart widin him is +breakin'. He's not, afther all, to be married, as you hoped and wished +he would, to Kathleen Cavanagh. Her mind has been poisoned against him; +but little she knows him, or she'd not turn from him as she did. An' +now, Bridget, asthore machree, is it come to this wid me? I must lave +you for ever. I must lave--as my father said, that went this day to +heaven as you know, now--I must lave, as he said, the ould places. I +must go to a strange country, and sleep among a strange people; but +it's for the sake of our childre' I do so, lavin' you alone there where +you're sleepin'? I wouldn't lave you if I could help it; but we'll +meet yet in heaven, my blessed wife, where there won't be distress, or +injustice, or sorrow to part us. Achora machree, I'm come, then, to take +my last farewell of you. Farewell, then, my darlin' wife, till we meet +for evermore in heaven!" + +He departed from the grave slowly, and returned in deep sorrow to his +own house. + +About twelve o'clock the next morning, the family and those neighbors +who were assembled as usual at the wake-house, from respect to the dead, +were a good deal surprised by the appearance of Mr. Vanston and their +landlord, both of whom entered the house. + +"Gentlemen, you're welcome," said old M'Mahon; "but I'm sorry to say +that it's to a house of grief and throuble I must welcome you--death's +here, gentlemen, and more than death; but God's will be done, we must be +obaidient." + +"M'Mahon," said Chevydale, "give me your hand. I am sorry that either +you or your son have suffered anything on my account. I am come now to +render you an act of justice--to compensate both you and him, as far +as I can, for the anxiety you have endured. Consider yourselves +both, therefore, as restored to your farms at the terms you proposed +originally. I shall have leases prepared--give up the notion of +emigration--the country cannot spare such men as you and your admirable +son. I shall have leases I say prepared, and you will be under no +necessity of leaving either Carriglass or Ahadarra." + +Need we describe the effect which such a communication had upon this +sterling-hearted family? Need we assure our readers that the weight +was removed from all their hearts, and the cloud from every brow? Is it +necessary to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his high-minded Kathleen were +married? that Dora and James followed their example, and that Edward +Burke, in due time, bestowed his hand upon sweet and affectionate Hanna +Cavanagh? + +We have little now to add. Young Clinton, in the course of a few +months, became agent to Chevydale, whose property soon gave proofs that +kindness, good judgment, and upright principle were best calculated not +only to improve it, but to place a landlord and his tenantry on that +footing of mutual good-will and reciprocal interest upon which they +should ever stand towards each other. + +We need scarcely say that the sympathy felt for honest Jemmy Burke, in +consequence of the disgraceful conduct of his son, was deep and general. +He himself did not recover it for a long period, and it was observed +that, in future, not one of his friends ever uttered Hycy's name in his +presence. + +With respect to that young gentleman's fate and that of Teddy Phats, +we have to record a rather remarkable coincidence. In about three years +after his escape, his father received an account of his death from +Montreal, where it appears he expired under circumstances of great +wretchedness and destitution, after having led, during his residence +there, a most profligate and disgraceful life. Early the same day +on which the intelligence of his death reached his family, they also +received an account through the M'Mahons to the effect that Teddy Phats +had, on the preceding night, fallen from one of the cliffs of Althadawan +and broken his neck; a fate which occasioned neither surprise nor +sorrow. + +We have only to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his wife took Nanny Peety +into their service; and that Kate Hogan and Mr. O'Finigan had always a +comfortable seat at their hospitable hearth; and the latter a warm glass +of punch occasionally, for the purpose, as he said himself, of keeping +him properly sober. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + +***** This file should be named 16011.txt or 16011.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16011/ + +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. 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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: The Emigrants Of Ahadarra + The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two + +Author: William Carleton + +Illustrator: M. L. Flanery + +Release Date: June 7, 2005 [EBook #16011] +Last Updated: March 2, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <h1> + THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA. + </h1> + <h2> + By William Carleton + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate603.jpg" alt="Frontispiece " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/tilepage2.jpg" alt="Titlepage " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CONTENTS + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I.</a> A strong Farmer's + Establishment and Family.<br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II.</a> Gerald + Cavanagh and his Family <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III.</a> Jemmy + Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0004"> + CHAPTER IV.</a> A Poteen Still-House at Midnight—Its + Inmates. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V.</a> Who + Robbed Jemmy Burke? <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> CHAPTEE VI.</a> Nanny + Peety looks mysterious <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VII.</a> The + Spinster's Kemp. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VIII.</a> Anonymous + Letter with a Name to It <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER IX.</a> A + Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER X.</a> More of the Hycy + Correspondence <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> CHAPTEE XI.</a> Death + of a Virtuous Mother. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER XII.</a> Hycy + Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> + CHAPTER XIII.</a> Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XIV.</a> Mysterious Letter + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XV.</a> State of + the Country <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XVI.</a> A + Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> + CHAPTER XVII.</a> Interview between Hycy and Finigan <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVIII.</a> A Family Dialogue + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XIX.</a> Bryan + Bribed—is Rejected by Kathleen. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0018"> + CHAPTER XX.</a> M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XXI.</a> Thomas M'Mahon is + forced to determine on Emigration. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> + CHAPTER XII.</a> Mystery Among the Hogans <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXIII.</a> Harry Clinton's + Benevolence Defeated <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXIV.</a> Thoughts + on Our Country and Our Countrymen <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0023"> + CHAPTER XXV.</a> The Old Places—Death of a Patriarch. + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> CHAPTEE XXVI.</a> Containing + a Variety of Matters. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXVII.</a> Conclusion. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + List of Illustrations + </h2> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0001"> Frontispiece </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Titlepage </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkplate403"> Page 403—Peety Dhu Turned Towards the House + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0003"> Page 603— Country Where I'd Not See These + Ould Hills </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0004"> Page 623— I Must Leave You—I Must + Go </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0005"> Page 635— Hycy Received the Money, Set + Spurs to his Horse </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I.—A strong Farmer's Establishment and Family. + </h2> + <p> + It was one summer morning, about nine o'clock, when a little man, in the + garb and trim of a mendicant, accompanied by a slender but rather handsome + looking girl about sixteen, or it may be a year more, were upon their way + to the house of a man, who, from his position in life, might be considered + a wealthy agriculturist, and only a step or two beneath the condition of a + gentleman farmer, although much more plain and rustic in his manners. The + house and place had about them that characteristic appearance of abundance + and slovenly neglect which is, unfortunately, almost peculiar to our + country. The house was a long slated one, and stood upon a little + eminence, about three or four hundred yards from the highway. It was + approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue, as it might be + called, that was in very good keeping with the premises to which it led. + As you entered it from the road, you had to pass through an iron gate, + which it was a task to open, and which, when opened, it was another task + to shut. In consequence of this difficulty, foot passengers had made + themselves a way upon each side of it, through which they went to and came + from the house; and in this they were sanctioned by the example of the + family themselves, who, so long as these side paths were passable, + manifested as much reluctance to open or close the gate as any one else. + </p> + <p> + The month was May; and nothing could be more delightful and exhilarating + than the breeze which played over the green fields that were now radiant + with the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun. + Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labor from + which the hopes of ample and abundant harvests always spring. Here, fixed + in the ground, stood the spades of a boon* of laborers, who, as was + evident from that circumstance, were then at breakfast; in another place + might be seen the plough and a portion of the tackle lying beside it, + being expressive of the same fact. Around them, on every side, in hedges, + ditches, green fields, and meadows, the birds seemed animated into joyous + activity or incessant battle, by the business of nest-building or love. + Whilst all around, from earth and air, streamed the ceaseless voice of + universal melody and song. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A considerable number of men working together. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="linkplate403" id="linkplate403"></a><br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="plate403 (146K)" src="images/plate403.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + On reaching the gate, Peety Dhu and his pretty daughter turned up towards + the house we have alluded to—which was the residence of a man named + Burke. On reaching it they were observed by a couple of large dogs, who, + partaking of the hospitable but neglected habits of the family, first + approached and looked at them for a moment, then wagged their tails by way + of welcome, and immediately scampered off into the kitchen to forage for + themselves. + </p> + <p> + Burke's house and farmyard, though strongly indicative of wealth and + abundance in the owner, were, notwithstanding, evidently the property of a + man whose mind was far back in a knowledge of agriculture, and the + industrial pursuits that depend upon it. His haggard was slovenly in the + extreme, and his farmyard exceedingly offensive to most of the senses; + everything lay about in a careless and neglected manner;—wheelbarrows + without their trundles—sacks for days under the rain that fell from + the eaves of the houses—other implements embedded in mud—car-houses + tumbling down—the pump without a handle—the garden-gate open, + and the pigs hard at work destroying the vegetables, and rooting up the + garden in all directions. In fact, the very animals about the house were + conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly. If one of + the dogs, for instance, was hunted at the pigs, he ran in an apparent fury + towards that which happened to be nearest him, which merely lifted its + head and listened for a time—the dog, with loud and boisterous + barking, seizing its ear, led it along for three or four yards in that + position, after which, upon the pig demurring to proceed any further, he + very quietly dropped it and trotted in again, leaving the destructive + animal to resume its depredations. + </p> + <p> + The house inside bore the same character. Winter and summer the hall-door, + which had long lost the knocker, lay hospitably open. The parlor had a + very equivocal appearance; for the furniture, though originally good and + of excellent materials, was stained and dinged and hacked in a manner that + denoted but little sense of care or cleanliness. Many of the chairs, + although not worn by age, wanted legs or backs, evidently from ill-usage + alone—the grate was without fire-irons—a mahogany bookcase + that stood in a recess to the right of the fireplace, with glass doors and + green silk blinds, had the glass all broken and the silk stained almost + out of its original color; whilst inside of it, instead of books, lay a + heterogeneous collection of garden seeds in brown paper—an almanac + of twenty years' standing, a dry ink-bottle, some broken delf, and a large + collection of blue-moulded shoes and boots, together with an old blister + of French flies, the lease of their farm, and a great number of their + receipts for rent. To crown all, the clock in the other recess stood + cobwebbed about the top, deprived of the minute hand, and seeming to + intimate by its silence that it had given note of time's progress to this + idle and negligent family to no purpose. + </p> + <p> + On the drawing-room stairs there lay what had once been a carpet, but so + inseparable had been their connection that the stairs were now worn + through it, and it required a sharp eye to distinguish such fragments of + it as remained from the color of the dirty boards it covered and the dust + that lay on both. + </p> + <p> + On entering the kitchen, Peety and his little girl found thirteen or + fourteen, in family laborers and servants of both sexes, seated at a long + deal table, each with a large wooden noggin of buttermilk and a spoon of + suitable dimensions, digging as if for a wager into one or other of two + immense wooden bowls of stirabout, so thick and firm in consistency that, + as the phrase goes, a man might dance on it. This, however, was not the + only picture of such enjoyment that the kitchen afforded. Over beside the + dresser was turned upon one side the huge pot in which the morning meal + had been made, and at the bottom of which, inside of course, a spirit of + rivalry equally vigorous and animated, but by no means so harmonious, was + kept up by two dogs and a couple of pigs, which were squabbling and + whining and snarling among each other, whilst they tugged away at the + scrapings, or residuum, that was left behind after the stirabout had been + emptied out of it. The whole kitchen, in fact, had a strong and healthy + smell of food—the dresser, a huge one, was covered with an immense + quantity of pewter, wood, and delf; and it was only necessary to cast + one's eye towards the chimney to perceive, by the weighty masses of black + hung beef and the huge sides and flitches of deep yellow bacon which lined + it, that plenty and abundance, even to overflowing, predominated in the + family. + </p> + <p> + The “chimney-brace” projected far out over the fire-place towards the + floor, and under it on each side stretched two long hobs or chimney corner + seats, on which nearly a dozen persons could sit of a winter evening. Mrs. + Burke, a smart, good-looking little woman, though somewhat advanced in + years, kept passing in a kind of perpetual motion from one part of the + house to the other, with a large bunch of bright keys jingling at one + side, and a huge house-wife pocket, with a round pin-cushion dangling + beside it, at the other. Jemmy Burke himself, a placid though solemn-faced + man, was sitting on the hob in question complacently smoking his pipe, + whilst over the glowing remnants of an immense turf fire hung a singing + kettle, and beside it on three crushed coals was the teapot, “waitin',” as + the servants were in the habit of expressing it, “for the masther and + misthress's breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + Peety, who was well known and a great favorite on his rounds, received a + warm and hospitable welcome from Jemmy Burke, who made him and the girl + sit upon the hob, and immediately ordered them breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Nancy Devlin, get Peety and the girsha their skinfuls of stirabout + an' milk. Sit over to the fire, alanna, an' warm yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “Warm, inagh!” replied Peety; “why, sure it's not a fire sich a blessed + mornin' as this she'd want—an' a blessed mornin' it is, glory be to + God!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, an' you're right, sure enough, Peety,” replied the good-natured + farmer; “a blessed saison it is for gettin' down the crops. Go over there, + now, you an' the girsha, to that other table, an'—whish!—kick + them pigs an' dogs out o' the house, an' be d—d to them! One can't + hear their ears for them—you an' the girsha, an' let us see what you + can do. Nancy, achora, jist dash a gawliogue o' sweet milk into their + noggins—they're not like us that's well fed every day—. it's + but seldom they get the likes, the creatures—so dash in a brave + gawliogue o' the sweet milk for them. Take your time, Peety,—aisy, + alanna, 'till you get what I'm sayin; it'll nourish an put strinth in + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Misther Burke,” replied Peety, in a tone of gratitude peculiar to his + class, “you're the ould* man still—ever an' always the large heart + an' lavish hand—an' so sign's on it—full an' plinty upon an' + about you—an' may it ever be so wid you an' yours, a chierna, I + pray. An how is the misthress, sir?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * That is to say, the same man still. +</pre> + <p> + “Throth, she's very well, Peety—has no raison to complain, thank + God!” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, indeed! and betther may she be, is my worst wish to her—an' + Masther Hycy, sir?—but I needn't ax how he is. Isn't the whole + country ringin' wid his praises;—the blessin' o' God an you, + acushla”—this was to Nancy Devlin, on handing them the new milk—“draw + over, darlin', nearer to the table—there now”—this to his + daughter, whom he settled affectionately to her food. “Ay, indeed,” he + proceeded, “sure there's only the one word of it over the whole Barony + we're sittin' in—that there's neither fetch nor fellow for him + through the whole parish. Some people, indeed, say that Bryan M'Mahon + comes near him; but only some, for it's given up to Masther Hycy all to + pieces.” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, an' I for one, although I'm his father—amn't I, Rosha?” he + added, good-humoredly addressing his wife, who had just come into the + kitchen from above stairs. + </p> + <p> + “Throth,” said the wife, who never replied with good humor unless when + addressed as Mrs. Burke, “you're ill off for something to speak about. How + are you, Peety? an' how is your little girl?” + </p> + <p> + “In good health, ma'am, thank God an' you; an' very well employed at the + present time, thanks to you still!” + </p> + <p> + To this Mrs. Burke made no reply; for it may be necessary to state here, + that although she was not actually penurious or altogether without + hospitality, and something that might occasionally be termed charity, + still it is due to honest Jemmy to inform the reader in the outset, that, + as Peety Dhu said, “the large heart and the lavish hand” were especially + his own. Mrs. Burke was considered to have been handsome—indeed, a + kind of rustic beauty in her day—and, like many of that class, she + had not been without a due share of vanity, or perhaps we might say + coquetry, if we were to speak the truth. Her teeth were good, and she had + a very pretty dimple in one of her cheeks when she smiled, two + circumstances which contributed strongly to sustain her good humor, and an + unaccountable tendency to laughter, when the poverty of the jest was out + of all proportion to the mirth that followed it. Notwithstanding this + apparently light and agreeable spirit, she was both vulgar and arrogant, + and labored under the weak and ridiculous ambition of being considered a + woman of high pretensions, who had been most unfortunately thrown away, if + not altogether lost, upon a husband whom she considered as every way + unworthy of her. Her father had risen into the possession of some + unexpected property when it was too late to bestow upon her a suitable + education, and the consequence was that, in addition to natural vanity, on + the score of beauty, she was a good deal troubled with purse-pride, which, + with a foolish susceptibility of flattery, was a leading feature in her + disposition. In addition to this, she was an inveterate and incurable + slattern, though a gay and lively one; and we need scarcely say that + whatever she did in the shape of benevolence or charity, in most instances + owed its origin to the influences of the weaknesses she was known to + possess. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast, at length, was over, and the laborers, with an odd hiccup here + and there among them, from sheer repletion, got their hats and began to + proceed towards the farm. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys,” said Jemmy, after dropping a spittle into his pipe, pressing + it down with his little finger, and putting it into his waistcoat pocket, + “see an' get them praties down as soon as you can, an' don't work as if + you intended to keep your Christmas there; an' Paddy the Bounce, I'll + thank you to keep your jokes an' your stories to yourself, an' not to be + idlin' the rest till afther your work's done. Throth it was an unlucky day + I had anything to do wid you, you divartin' vagabone—ha! ha! ha! + When I hired him in the Micklemas fair,” proceeded Jemmy, without + addressing himself to any particular individual, “he killed me wid + laughin' to such a degree, that I couldn't refuse the mehony whatsomever + wages he axed; an' now he has the men, insteed o' mindin' their work, + dancin' through the field, an' likely to split at the fun he tells them, + ha! ha! ha! Be off, now, boys. Pettier Murphy, you randletree, let,the + girl alone. That's it Peggy, lay on him; ha! devil's cure to you! take + what you've got any way—you desarve it.” + </p> + <p> + These latter observations were occasioned by a romping match that took + place between a young laborer and a good-looking girl who was employed to + drop potatoes for the men. + </p> + <p> + At length those who were engaged in the labor of the field departed in a + cheerful group, and in a few minutes the noise of a horse's feet, + evidently proceeding at a rapid trot, was heard coming up the boreen or + avenue towards the house. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” exclaimed Burke, with a sigh, “there comes Hycy at a trot, an' the + wondher is it's not a gallop. That's the way he'll get through life, I + fear; an' if God doesn't change him he's more likely to gallop himself to + the Staff an' Bag (* Beggary.) than to anything else I know. I can't nor I + won't stand his extravagance—but it's his mother's fault, an' she'll + see what it'll come to in the long run.” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely concluded when his son entered the kitchen, alternately + singing and whistling the Foxhunter's jig in a manner that betokened + exuberant if not boisterous spirits. He was dressed in top boots, a green + riding-coat, yellow waistcoat, and drab cassimere small clothes—quite + in jockey trim, in fact. + </p> + <p> + Hycy rather resembled his father in the lineaments of his face, and was, + consequently, considered handsome. He was about the middle size, and + remarkably well proportioned. In fact, it would be exceedingly difficult + to find a young fellow of manlier bearing or more striking personal + attractions. His features were regular, and his complexion fresh and + youthful looking, and altogether there was in his countenance and whole + appearance a cheerful, easy, generous, unreflecting dash of character that + not only made him a favorite on first acquaintance, but won confidence by + an openness of manner that completely disarmed suspicion. It might have + been observed, however, that his laugh, like his mother's, never, or at + least seldom, came directly from the heart, and that there was a hard + expression about his otherwise well-formed mouth, such as rarely indicated + generosity of feeling, or any acquaintance with the kinder impulses of our + nature. He was his mother's pet and favorite, and her principal wish was + that he should be looked upon and addressed as a gentleman, and for that + purpose she encouraged him to associate with those only whose rank and + position in life rendered any assumption of equality on his part equally + arrogant and obtrusive. In his own family his bearing towards his parents + was, in point of fact, the reverse of what it ought to have been. He not + only treated his father with something bordering on contempt, but joined + his mother in all that ignorant pride which kept her perpetually bewailing + the fate by which she was doomed to become his wife. Nor did she herself + come off better at his hands. Whilst he flattered her vanity, and turned + her foibles to his own advantage, under the guise of a very dutiful + affection, his deportment towards her was marked by an ironical respect, + which was the more indefensible and unmanly because she could not see + through it. The poor woman had taken up the opinion, that difficult and + unintelligible language was one test of a gentleman; and her son by the + use of such language, let no opportunity pass of confirming her in this + opinion, and establishing his own claims to the character. + </p> + <p> + “Where did you ride to this mornin' Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Down to take a look at Tom Burton's mare, Crazy Jane, ma'am:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Away, my boys, to horse away, + The Chase admits of no delay—'” + </pre> + <p> + “Tom Burton!” re-echoed the father with a groan; “an so you're in Tom + Burton's hands! A swindlin', horse-dalin' scoundrel that would chate St. + Pether. Hycy, my man, if you go to look for wool to Tom you'll come home + shorn.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule + Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl, + That there's wrath and despair—” + </pre> + <p> + Thank you, father—much obliged; you entertain a good opinion of me.” + </p> + <p> + “Do I, faith? Don't be too sure of that.” + </p> + <p> + “I've bought her at any rate,” said Hycy—“thirty-five's the figure; + but she's a dead bargain at fifty.” + </p> + <p> + “Bought her!” exclaimed the father; “an' how, in God's name, do you expect + to pay for her?” + </p> + <p> + “By an order on a very excellent, worthy man and gentleman-farmer—ycleped + James Burke, Esquire—who has the honor of being father to that + ornament of the barony, Hycy Burke, the accomplished. My worthy sire will + fork out.” + </p> + <p> + “If I do, that I may—” + </p> + <p> + “Silence, poor creature!” said his wife, clapping her hand upon his mouth—“make + no rash or vulgar oaths. Surely, Misther Burke—” + </p> + <p> + “How often did I bid you not to misther me? Holy scrapers, am I to be + misthered and pesthered this way, an' my name plane Jemmy Burke!” + </p> + <p> + “You see, Hycy, the vulgarian will come out,” said his mother. “I say, + Misther Burke, are you to see your son worse mounted at the Herringstown + Hunt than any other gentleman among them? Have you no pride? + </p> + <p> + “No, thank God! barin' that I'm an honest man an' no gentleman; an', as + for Hycy, Rosha—” + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Burke, father, if you please,” interposed Hycy; “remember who your + wife is at all events.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Hycy, she'll come better off if I forget that same; but I tell you + that instead of bein' the laughin'-stock of the same Hunt, it's betune the + stilts of a plough you ought to be, or out in the fields keepin' the men + to their business.” + </p> + <p> + “I paid three guineas earnest money, at all events,” said the son; “but + 'it matters not,' as the preacher says— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'When I was at home I was merry and frisky, + My dad kept a pig and my mother sold whiskey'— +</pre> + <p> + Beg pardon, mother, no allusion—my word and honor none—to you + I mean— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'My uncle was rich, but would never be aisy + Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.' +</pre> + <p> + Fine times in the army, Mr. Burke, with every prospect of a speedy + promotion. Mother, my stomach craves its matutinal supply—I'm in + excellent condition for breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + “It's ready. Jemmy, you'll—Misther Burke, I mane—you'll pay + for Misther Hycy's mare.” + </p> + <p> + “If I do—you'll live to see it, that's all. Give the boy his + breakwhist.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, worthy father—much obliged for your generosity— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Oh, love is the soul of a nate Irishman + He loves all that's lovely, loves all that he can, + With his sprig of—' +</pre> + <p> + Ah, Peety Dhu, how are you, my worthy peripatetic? Why, this daughter of + yours is getting quite a Hebe on our hands. Mrs. Burke, breakfast—breakfast, + madam, as you love Hycy, the accomplished.” So saying, Hycy the + accomplished proceeded to the parlor we have described, followed by his + maternal relative, as he often called his mother. + </p> + <p> + “Well, upon my word and honor, mother,” said the aforesaid Hycy, who knew + and played upon his mother's weak points, “it is a sad thing to see such a + woman as you are, married to a man who has neither the spirit nor feelings + of a gentleman—my word and honor it is.” + </p> + <p> + “I feel that, Hycy, but there's no help for spilt milk; we must only make + the best of a bad bargain. Are you coming to your breakfast,” she shouted, + calling to honest Jemmy, who still sat on the hob ruminating with a kind + of placid vexation over his son's extravagance—“your tay's filled + out!” + </p> + <p> + “There let it,” he replied, “I'll have none of your plash to-day; I tuck + my skinful of good stiff stirabout that's worth a shipload of it. Drink it + yourselves—I'm no gintleman.” + </p> + <p> + “Arrah, when did you find that out, Misther Burke?” she shouted back + again. + </p> + <p> + “To his friends and acquaintances it is anything but a recent disco very,” + added Hycy; and each complimented the observation of the other with a + hearty laugh, during which the object of it went out to the fields to join + the men. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid it's no go, mother,” proceeded the son, when breakfast was + finished—“he won't stand it. Ah, if both my parents were of the same + geometrical proportion, there would be little difficulty in this business; + but upon my honor and reputation, my dear mother, I think between you and + me that my father's a gross abstraction—a most substantial and + ponderous apparition.” + </p> + <p> + “An' didn't I know that an' say that too all along?” replied his mother, + catching as much of the high English from him as she could manage: + “however, lave the enumeration of the mare to me. It'll go hard or I'll + get it out of him.” + </p> + <p> + “It is done,” he replied; “your stratagetic powers are great, my dear + mother, consequently it is left in your hands.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, whilst in the kitchen, cast his eye several times upon the handsome + young daughter of Peety Dhu, a circumstance to which we owe the instance + of benevolent patronage now about to be recorded. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” he proceeds, “I think it would be a charity to rescue that + interesting little girl of Peety Dhu's from a life of mendicancy.” + </p> + <p> + “From a what?” she asked, staring at him. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” he replied, now really anxious to make himself understood—“from + the disgraceful line of life he's bringin' her up to. You should take her + in and provide for her.” + </p> + <p> + “When I do, Hycy,” replied his mother, bridling, “it won't be a beggar's + daughter nor a niece of Philip Hogan's—sorrow bit.” + </p> + <p> + “As for her being a niece of Hogan's, you know it is by his mother's side; + but wouldn't it be a feather in her cap to get under the protection of a + highly respectable woman, though? The patronage of a person like you, Mrs. + Burke, would be the making of her—my word and honor it would.” + </p> + <p> + “Hem!—ahem!—do you think so, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, mother—that indeed!—can there be a doubt about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, in that case, I think she may stay—that is, if the + father will consent to it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, mother, for that example of protection and benevolence. I feel + that all my virtues certainly proceed from your side of the house and are + derived from yourself—there can be no doubt of that.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I think so myself, Hycy, for where else would you get them? You + have the M'Swiggin nose; an' it can't be from any one else you take your + high notions. All you show of the gentleman, Hycy, it's not hard to name + them you have it from, I believe.” + </p> + <p> + “Spoken like a Sybil. Mother, within the whole range of my female + acquaintances I don't know a woman that has in her so much of the + gentleman as yourself—my word and honor, mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Behave, Hycy—behave now,” she replied, simpering; “however truth's + truth, at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + We need scarcely say that the poor mendicant was delighted at the notion + of having his daughter placed in the family of so warm and independent a + man as Jemmy Burke. Yet the poor little fellow did not separate from the + girl without a strong manifestation of the affection he bore her. She was + his only child—the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for him + upon the desert of life. + </p> + <p> + “I lave her wid you,” he said, addressing Mrs. Burke with tears in his + eyes, “as the only treasure an' happiness I have in this world. She is the + poor man's lamb, as I have hard read out of Scripture wanst; an' in lavin' + her undher your care, I lave all my little hopes in this world wid her. I + trust, ma'am, you'll guard her an' look afther her as if she was one of + your own.” + </p> + <p> + This unlucky allusion might have broken up the whole contemplated + arrangement, had not Hycy stepped in to avert from Peety the offended + pride of the patroness. + </p> + <p> + “I hope, Peety,” he said, “that you are fully sensible of the honor Mrs. + Burke does you and your daughter by taking the girl under her protection + and patronage?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, God knows.” + </p> + <p> + “And of the advantage it is to get her near so respectable a woman—so + highly respectable a woman?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, in troth.” + </p> + <p> + “And that it may be the making of your daughter's fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “It may, indeed, Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “And that there's no other woman of high respectability in the parish + capable of elevating her to the true principles of double and simple + proportion?” + </p> + <p> + “No, in throth, sir, I don't think there is.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor that can teach her the newest theories in dogmatic theology and + metaphysics, together with the whole system of Algebraic Equations if the + girl should require them?” + </p> + <p> + “Divil another woman in the barony can match her at them by all accounts,” + replied Peety, catching the earnest enthusiasm of Hycy's manner. + </p> + <p> + “That will do, Peety; you see yourself, mother,” he added, taking her + aside and speaking in a low voice, “that the little fellow knows right + well the advantages of having her under your care and protection; and it's + very much to his credit, and speaks very highly for his metempsychosis + that he does so—hem!” + </p> + <p> + “He was always a daicent, sinsible, poor creature of his kind,” replied + his mother “besides, Hycy, between you and me, she'll be more than worth + her bit.” + </p> + <p> + “There now, Peety,” said her son, turning towards the mendicant; “it's all + settled—wait now for a minute till I write a couple of notes, which + you must deliver for me.” + </p> + <p> + Peety sat accordingly, and commenced to lay down for his daughter's + guidance and conduct such instructions as he deemed suitable to the + situation she was about to enter and the new duties that necessarily + devolved upon her. + </p> + <p> + In due time Hycy appeared, and placing two letters in Peety's hands, said—“Go, + Peety, to Gerald Cavanagh's, of Fenton's Farm, and if you can get an + opportunity, slip that note into Kathleen's hands—this, mark, with + the corner turned down—you won't forget that?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well—you're then to proceed to Tom M'Mahon's, and if you find + Bryan, his son, there, give him this; and if he's at the mountain farm of + Ahadarra, go to him. I don't expect an answer from Kathleen Cavanagh, but + I do from Bryan M'Mahon; and mark me, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure you do?” + </p> + <p> + “Sartin, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Silent as the grave then is the word in both cases—but if I ever + hear—” + </p> + <p> + “That's enough, Masther Hycy; when the grave spakes about it so will I.” + </p> + <p> + Peety took the letters and disappeared with an air rendered important by + the trust reposed in him; whilst Mrs. Burke looked inquiringly at her son, + as if her curiosity were a good deal excited. + </p> + <p> + “One of them is to Kate or Kathleen Cavanagh, as they call her,” said + Hycy, in reply to her looks; “and the other for Bryan M'Mahon, who is soft + and generous—<i>probatum est</i>. I want to know if he'll stand for + thirty-five—and as for Kate, I'm making love to her, you must know.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen Cavanagh,” replied his mother; “I'll never lend my privileges to + sich match.” + </p> + <p> + “Match!” exclaimed Hycy, coolly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she replied warmly; “match or marriage will never—” + </p> + <p> + “Marriage!” he repeated, “why, my most amiable maternal relative, do you + mean to insinuate to Hycy the accomplished, that he is obliged to propose + either match or marriage to every girl he makes love to? What a prosaic + world you'd have of it, my dear Mrs. Burke. This, ma'am, is only an + agreeable flirtation—not but that it's possible there may be + something in the shape of a noose matrimonial dangling in the background. + She combines, no doubt, in her unrivalled person, the qualities of Hebe, + Venus, and Diana—Hebe in youth, Venus in beauty, and Diana in + wisdom; so it's said, but I trust incorrectly, as respects one of them—good-bye, + mother—try your influence as touching Crazy Jane, and report + favorably— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Friend of my soul, this goblet sip, + 'Twill chase the pensive tear. &c.'” + </pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II.—Gerald Cavanagh and his Family + </h2> + <h3> + —Tom M'Mahon's return from Dublin. + </h3> + <p> + The house of Gerald Cavanagh, though not so large as that of our + kind-hearted friend, Jemmy Burke, was a good specimen of what an Irish + farmer's residence ought to be. It was distant from Burke's somewhat + better than two miles, and stood almost, immediately inside the highway, + upon a sloping green that was vernal through the year. It was in the + cottage style, in the form of a cross, with a roof ornamentally thatched, + and was flanked at a little distance by the office-houses. The grass was + always so close on this green, as to have rather the appearance of a well + kept lawn. The thorn-trees stood in front of it, clipped in the shape of + round tables, on one of which, exposed to all weathers, might be seen a + pair of large churn-staves, bleached into a white, fresh color, that + caused a person to long for the butter they made. On the other stood a + large cage, in which was imprisoned a blackbird, whose extraordinary + melody had become proverbial in the neighborhood. Down a little to the + right of the hall-door, a pretty winding gravelled pathway led to a clear + spring well that was overshadowed by a spreading white-thorn; and at each + gable stood a graceful elder or mountain-ash, whose red berries during the + autumn had a fine effect, and contrasted well with the mass of darker and + larger trees, by which the back portion of the house and the offices was + almost concealed. Both the house and green were in an elevated position, + and commanded a delightful expanse of rich meadows to the extent of nearly + one hundred acres, through which a placid river wound its easy way, like + some contented spirit that glides calmly and happily through the gentle + vicissitudes of an untroubled life. + </p> + <p> + As Peety Dhu, whilst passing from the residence of our friend Jemmy Burke + to that of Gerald Cavanagh, considered himself in his vocation, the reader + will not be surprised to hear that it was considerably past noon! when he + arrived at Fenton's Farm; for by this name the property was known on a + portion of which the Cavanaghs lived. It might be about the hours of two + or three o'clock, when Peety, on arriving at the gate which led into + Cavanagh's house, very fortunately saw his daughter Kathleen, in the act + of feeding the blackbird aforementioned; and prudently deeming this the + best opportunity of accomplishing his mission, he beckoned her to approach + him. The good-natured girl did so: saying at the same time—“What is + the matter, Peety?—do you want me? Won't you come into the kitchen?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, avourneen, but I can't; I did want you, but it was only to + give you this letther. I suppose it will tell you all. Oh, thin, is it any + wondher that you should get it, an' that half the parish should be dyin' + in love wid you? for, in troth, it's enough to make an ould man feel young + agin even to look at you. I was afraid they might see me givin' you the + letther from the windy, and that's what made me sign to you to come to me + here. Good-bye <i>a colleen dhas</i> (* Pretty girl.)—an' it's you + that's that sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + The features, neck, and bosom of the girl, on receiving this + communication, were overspread with one general blush, and she stood, for + a few moments, irresolute and confused. In the mean time Peety had passed + on, and after a pause of a few minutes, she looked at the letter more + attentively, and slowly broke it open. It was probably the first epistle + she had ever received, and we need scarcely say that, as a natural + consequence, she was by no means quick in deciphering written hand. Be + this as it may, after having perused a few lines she started, looked at + the bottom for the name, then at the letter again; and as her sister Hanna + joined her, that brow on which a frown had been seldom ever seen to sit, + was now crimson with indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Why, gracious goodness!” exclaims Hanna, “what is this, Kathleen? + Something has vexed you!—ha! a love-letter, too! In airnest, what + ails you? an' who is the letter from, if it's fair to ax?” + </p> + <p> + “The letter is not for me,” replied Kathleen, putting it into her sister's + hand, “but when you read it you won't wonder that I'm angry.” + </p> + <p> + As Hanna began to go slowly through it, she first laughed, but on + proceeding a little further her brow also reddened, and her whole features + expressed deep and unequivocal resentment. Having concluded the perusal of + this mysterious document, she, looked at her sister, who, in return, gazed + upon her. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen, after all,” said Hanna, “it's not worth while losing + one's temper about it. Never think of it again; only to punish him, I'd + advise you, the next time you see Peety, to send it back.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't suppose, Hanna, that I intended to keep it; but indeed,” she + added, with a smile; “it is not worth while bein' angry about.” + </p> + <p> + As the sisters stood beside each other, holding this short conversation, + it would be difficult to find any two females more strikingly dissimilar + both in figure, features, and complexion. Hanna was plain, but not + disagreeable, especially when her face became animated with good humor. + Her complexion, though not at all of a sickly hue, was of that middle tint + which is neither pale nor sallow, but holds an equivocal position between + both. Her hair was black, but dull, and without that peculiar gloss which + accompanies either the very snowy skin of a fair beauty, or, at least, the + rich brown hue of a brunette. Her figure was in no way remarkable, and she + was rather under the middle size. + </p> + <p> + Her sister, however, was a girl who deserves at our hands a more accurate + and lengthened description. Kathleen Cavanagh was considerably above the + middle size, her figure, in fact, being of the tallest; but no earthly + form could surpass it in symmetry, and that voluptuous fulness of outline, + which, when associated with a modest and youthful style of beauty, is, of + all others, the most fascinating and irresistible. The whiteness of her + unrivalled skin, and the gloss of health which shone from it were almost + dazzling. Her full bust, which literally glowed with light and warmth, was + moulded with inimitable proportion, and the masses of rich brown hair that + shaded her white and expansive forehead, added incredible attractions to a + face that was remarkable not only for simple beauty in its finest sense, + but that divine charm of ever-varying expression which draws its lights + and shadows, and the thousand graces with which it is accompanied, + directly from the heart. Her dark eyes were large and flashing, and + reflected by the vivacity or melancholy which increased or over-shadowed + their lustre, all those joys or sorrows, and various shades of feeling by + which she was moved, whilst her mouth gave indication of extraordinary and + entrancing sweetness, especially when she smiled. + </p> + <p> + Such was Kathleen Cavanagh, the qualities of whose mind were still + superior to the advantages of her person. And yet she shone not forth at + the first view, nor immediately dazzled the beholder by the brilliancy of + her charms. She was unquestionably a tall, fine looking country girl, + tastefully and appropriately dressed; but it was necessary to see her more + than once, and to have an opportunity of examining her, time after time, + to be able fully to appreciate the surprising character of her beauty, and + the incredible variety of those changes which sustain its power and give + it perpetual novelty to the heart and eye. It was, in fact, of that + dangerous description which improves on inspection, and gradually develops + itself upon the beholder, until he feels the full extent of its influence, + and is sensible, perhaps, when too late, that he is its helpless and + unresisting victim. + </p> + <p> + Around the two thorn-trees we have alluded to were built circular seats of + the grassy turf, on which the two sisters, each engaged in knitting, now + sat chatting and laughing with that unrestrained good humor and + familiarity which gave unquestionable proof of the mutual confidence and + affection that subsisted between them. Their natural tempers and + dispositions were as dissimilar as their persons. Hanna was lively and + mirthful, somewhat hasty, but placable, quick in her feelings of either + joy or sorrow, and apparently not susceptible of deep or permanent + impressions; whilst Kathleen, on the other hand, was serious, quiet, and + placid—difficult to be provoked, of great sweetness of temper, with + a tinge of melancholy that occasionally gave an irresistible charm to her + voice and features, when conversing upon any subject that was calculated + to touch the heart, or in which she felt deeply. Unlike her sister, she + was resolute, firm, and almost immutable in her resolutions; but that was + because her resolutions were seldom hasty or unadvised, but the result of + a strong feeling of rectitude and great good sense. It is true she + possessed high feelings of self-respect, together with an enthusiastic + love for her religion, and a most earnest zeal for its advancement; + indeed, so strongly did these predominate in her mind, that any act + involving a personal slight towards herself, or indifference to her creed + and its propagation, were looked upon by Kathleen as crimes for which + there was no forgiveness. If she had any fellings, it was in these two + points they lay. But at the same time, we are bound to say, that the + courage and enthusiasm of Joan of Arc had been demanded of her by the + state and condition of her country and her creed, she would have + unquestionably sacrificed her life, if the sacrifice secured the + prosperity of either. + </p> + <p> + Something of their difference of temperament might have been observed + during their conversation, while sitting under the white thorn. Every now + and then, for instance, Hanna would start up and commence a series of + little flirtations with the blackbird, which she called her sweetheart, + and again resume her chat and seat as before; or she would attempt to + catch a butterfly as it fluttered about her, or sometimes give it pursuit + over half the green, whilst Kathleen sat with laughing and delighted eyes, + and a smile of unutterable sweetness on her lips, watching the success of + this innocent frolic. In this situation we must now leave them, to follow + Peety, who is on his way to deliver the other letter to Bryan M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + Our little black Mercury was not long in arriving at the house of Tom + M'Mahon, which he reached in company with that worthy man himself, whom he + happened to overtake near Carriglass where he lived. M'Mahon seemed + fatigued and travel-worn, and consequently was proceeding at a slow pace + when Peety overtook him. The latter observed this. + </p> + <p> + “Why, thin, Tom,” said he, after the first salutations had passed, “you + look like a man that had jist put a tough journey over him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' so I ought, Peety,” he replied, “for I have put a tough journey over + me.” + </p> + <p> + “Musha where were you, thin, if it's fair to ax?” inquired Peety; “for as + for me that hears everything almost, the never a word I heard o' this.” + </p> + <p> + “I was in Dublin, thin, all the way,” replied the farmer, “strivin' to get + a renewal o' my laise from ould Squire Chevydale, the landlord; an' upon + my snuggins, Peety, you may call a journey to Dublin an' home agin a tough + one—devil a doubt of it. However, thank God, here we are at home; + an' blessed be His name that we have a home to come to; for, afther all, + what place is like it? Throth, Peety, my heart longed for these brave + fields of ours—for the lough there below, and the wild hills above + us; for it wasn't until I was away from them that I felt how strong the + love of them was in my heart.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was an old but hale man, with a figure and aspect that were much + above the common order even of the better class of peasants. There could + be no mistaking the decent and composed spirit of integrity which was + evident in his very manner; and there was something in his long flowing + locks, now tinged with gray, as they rested upon his shoulders, that gave + an air of singular respect to his whole appearance. + </p> + <p> + On uttering the last words he stood, and looking around him became so much + affected that his eyes filled with tears. “Ay,” said he, “thank God that + we have our place to come to, an' that we will still have it to come to, + and blessed be His name for all things! Come, Peety,” he added, after a + pause, “let us see how they all are inside; I'm longin' to see them, + especially poor, dear Dora; an'—God bless me! here she is!—no, + she ran back to tell them—but ay—oh, ay! here she is again, my + darlin' girl, comin' to meet me.” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely uttered the words when an interesting, slender girl, about + eighteen, blushing, and laughing, and crying, all at once, came flying + towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, fell upon his + bosom, kissed him, and wept with delight at his return. + </p> + <p> + “An' so, father dear, you're back to us! My gracious, we thought you'd + never come home! Sure you worn't sick? We thought maybe that you took ill, + or that—that—something happened you; and we wanted to send + Bryan after you—but nothing happened you?—nor you worn't + sick?” + </p> + <p> + “You affectionate, foolish darlin', no, I wasn't sick; nor nothing ill + happened me, Dora.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, thank God! Look at them,” she proceeded, directing his attention to + the house, “look at them all crowdin' to the door—and here's Shibby, + too, and Bryan himself—an' see my mother ready to lep out of herself + wid pure joy—the Lord be praised that you're safe back!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment his second daughter ran to him, and a repetition of welcome + similar to that which he received from Dora took place. His son Bryan + grasped his hand, and said, whilst a tear stood even in his eye, that he + was glad to see him safe home. The old man, in return, grasped his hand + with an expression of deep feeling, and after having inquired if they had + been all well in his absence, he proceeded with them to the house. Here + the scene was still more interesting. Mrs. M'Mahon stood smiling at the + door, but as he came near, she was obliged once or twice to wipe away the + tears with the corner of her handkerchief. We have often observed how much + fervid piety is mingled with the affections of the Irish people when in a + state of excitement; and this meeting between the old man and his wife + presented an additional proof of it. + </p> + <p> + “Blessed be God!” exclaimed his wife, tenderly embracing* him, “blessed be + God, Tom darlin', that you're safe back to us! An' how are you, avourueen? + an' wor you well ever since? an' there was nothin—musha, go out o' + this, Ranger, you thief—oh, God forgive me! what am I sayin'? sure + the poor dog is as glad as the best of us—arrah, thin, look at the + affectionate crathur, a'most beside himself! Dora, avillish, give him the + could stirabout that's in the skillet, jist for his affection, the + crathur. Here, Ranger—Ranger, I say—oh no, sorra one's in the + house now but yourself, Tom. Well, an' there was nothing wrong wid you?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin', Nancy, thanks be to the Almighty—down, poor fellow—there + now, Ranger—och, behave, you foolish dog—musha, see this!” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, Tom,” continued his loving wife, “let what will happen, it's the + last journey ever we'll let you take from us. Ever an' ever, there we wor + thinkin' an' thinkin' a thousand things about you. At one time that + something happened you; then that you fell sick an' had none but strangers + about you. Throth we won't; let what will happen, you must stay wid vis.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed an' I never knew how I loved the place, an' you all, till I went; + but, thank God, I hope it's the last journey ever I'll have to take from + either you or it.” + </p> + <p> + “Shibby, run down to—or do you, Dora, go, you're the souplest—to + Paddy Mullen's and Jemmy Kelly's, and the rest of the neighbors, an' tell + them to come up, that your father's home. Run now, acushla, an' if you + fall don't wait to rise; an' Shibby, darlin', do you whang down a lot o' + that bacon into rashers, 'your father must be at death's door wid hunger; + but wasn't it well that I thought of having the whiskey in, for you see + afther Thursday last we didn't know what minute you'd dhrop in on us, Tom, + an' I said it was best to be prepared. Give Peety a chair, the crature; + come forrid, Peety, an' take a sate; an' how are you? an' how is the + girsha wid you, an' where is she?” + </p> + <p> + To these questions, thus rapidly put, Peety returned suitable answers; but + indeed Mrs. M'Mahon did not wait to listen to them, having gone to another + room to produce the whisky she had provided for the occasion. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” she said, reappearing with a huge bottle in one hand and a glass + in the other, “a sip o' the right sort will help you afther your long + journey; you must be tired, be coorse, so take this.” + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, Bridget,” exclaimed her husband, “don't fill it; you'll make me + hearty.” (* tipsy) + </p> + <p> + “Throth an' I will fill it,” she replied, “ay, an' put a heap on it. There + now, finish that bumper.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, with a smiling and happy face, received the glass, and taking + his wife's hand in his, looked at her, and then upon them all, with an + expression of deep emotion. “Bridget, your health; childre', all your + healths; and here's to Carriglasa, an' may we long live happy in it, as we + will, plase God! Peety, not forgettin' you!” + </p> + <p> + We need hardly say that the glass went round, nor that Peety was not + omitted in the hospitality any more than in the toast. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Bryan,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “lay that bottle on the dresser, it's + not worth while puttin' it past till the neighbors comes up; an' it's they + that'll be the glad neighbors to see you safe back agin, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + In this she spoke truth. Honest and hearty was the welcome he received + from them, as with sparkling eyes and a warm grasp they greeted him on his + return. Not only had Paddy Mullin and Jemmy Kelly run up in haste—the + latter, who had been digging in his garden, without waiting to put on his + hat or coat—but other families in the neighborhood, young and old, + crowded in to welcome him home—-from Dublin—for in that lay + the principal charm. The bottle was again produced, and a holiday spirit + now prevailed among them. Questions upon questions were put to him with + reference to the wonders they had heard of the great metropolis—of + the murders and robberies committed upon travellers—the kidnapping + of strangers from the country—the Lord Lieutenant's Castle, with + three hundred and sixty-four windows in it, and all the extraordinary + sights and prodigies which it is supposed to contain. In a few minutes + after this friendly accession to their numbers had taken place, a youth + entered about nineteen years of age—handsome, tall, and well-made—in + fact, such a stripling as gave undeniable promise of becoming a fine, + powerful young man. On being handed a glass of whiskey he shook hands with + M'Mahon, welcomed him home, and then drank all their healths by name until + he came to that of Dora, when he paused, and, coloring, merely nodded + towards her. We cannot undertake to account for this omission, nor do more + than record what actually happened. Neither do we know why Dora blushed so + deeply as she did, nor why the sparkling and rapid glance which she gave + him in return occasioned him to look down with an appearance of confusion + and pain. That some understanding subsisted between young Cavanagh—for + he was Gerald's son—and Dora might have been evident to a close + observer; but in truth there was at that moment no such thing as a close + observer among them, every eye being fixed with impatience and curiosity + upon Tom M'Mahon, who had now most of the conversation to himself, little + else being left to the share of his auditors than the interjectional + phrases and exclamations of wonder at his extraordinary account of Dublin. + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Bryan, “about the business that brought you there? Did + you get the Renewal?” + </p> + <p> + “I got as good,” replied the simple-hearted old man, “an' that was the, + word of a gintleman—an' sure they say that that's the best security + in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but how was it?” they exclaimed, “an' how did it happen that you + didn't get the Lease itself?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you see,” he proceeded in reply, “the poor gintleman was near his + end—an' it was owin' to Pat Corrigan that I seen him at all—for + Pat, you know, is his own man. When I went in to where he sat I found Mr. + Fethertonge the agent wid him: he had a night-cap on, an' was sittin' in a + big armchair, wid one of his feet an' a leg swaythed wid flannel. I + thought he was goin' to write or sign papers. 'Well, M'Mahon,' says he—for + he was always as keen as a briar, an' knew me at once—'what do you + want? an' what has brought you from the country?' I then spoke to him + about the new lease; an' he said to Fethertonge, 'prepare M'Mahon's lease, + Fothertonge;—you shall have a new lease, M'Mahon. You are an honest + man, and your family have been so for many a long year upon our property. + As my health is unsartin,' he said, turning to Mr. Fethertonge, 'I take + Mr. Fethertonge here to witness, that in case anything should happen me I + give you my promise for a renewal—an' not only in my name alone, but + in my son's; an' I now lave it upon him to fulfil my intentions an' my + words, if I should not live to see it done myself. Mr. Fethertonge here + has brought me papers to sign, but I am not able to hould a pen, or if I + was I'd give you a written promise; but you have my solemn word, I fear my + dyin' word, in Mr. Fethertonge's presence—that you shall have a + lease of your farm at the ould rint. It is such tenants as you we want, + M'Mahon, an' that we ought to encourage on our property. Fethertonge, do + you in the mane time see that a lease is prepared for M'Mahon; an' see, at + all events, that my wishes shall be carried into effect.' Sich was his + last words to me, but he was a corpse on the next day but one afterwards.” + </p> + <p> + “It's jist as good,” they exclaimed with one voice; “for what is betther, + or what can be betther than <i>the word of an Irish gentleman?</i>” + </p> + <p> + “What ought to be betther, at all events?” said Bryan. “Well, father, so + far everything is right, for there is no doubt but his son will fulfil his + words—Mr. Fethertonge himself isn't the thing; but I don't see why + he should be our enemy. We always stood well with the ould man, an' I hope + will with the son. Come, mother, move the bottle again—there's + another round in it still; an' as everything looks so well and our mind is + aisy, we'll see it to the bottom.” + </p> + <p> + The conversation was again resumed, questions were once more asked + concerning the sights and sounds of Dublin, of which one would imagine + they could scarcely ever hear enough, until the evening was tolerably far + advanced, when the neighbors withdrew to their respective homes, and left + M'Mahon and his family altogether to themselves. + </p> + <p> + Peety, now that the joy and gratulation for the return of their father had + somewhat subsided, lost no time in delivering Hycy Burke's communication + into the hands of Bryan. The latter, on opening it, started with surprise + not inferior to that with which Kathleen Cavanagh had perused the missive + addressed to her. Nor was this all. The letter received by Bryan, as if + the matter had been actually designed by the writer, produced the selfsame + symptoms of deep resentment upon him that the mild and gentle Kathleen + Cavanagh experienced on the perusal of her own. His face became flushed + and his eye blazed with indignation as he went through its contents; after + which he once more looked at the superscription, and notwithstanding the + vehement passion into which it had thrown him, he was ultimately obliged + to laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Peety,” said he, resuming his gravity, “you carried a letter from Hycy + Burke to Kathleen Cavanagh to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Who says that?” replied Peety, who could not but remember the solemnity + of his promise to that accomplished gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “I do, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I can't help you, Bryan, nor prevent you from thinking so, sure—stick + to that.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I know you did, Peety.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, acushla, an' if you do, your only so much the wiser.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I understand,” continued Bryan, “it's a private affair, or intended + to be so—an' Mr. Hycy has made you promise not to spake of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Sure you know all about it, Bryan; an' isn't that enough for you? Only + what answer am I to give him?” + </p> + <p> + “None at present, Peety; but say I'll see himself in a day or two.” + </p> + <p> + “That's your answer, then?” + </p> + <p> + “That's all the answer I can give till I see himself, as I said.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-bye, Bryan, an' God be wid you!” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Peety!” and thus they parted. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III.—Jemmy Burke Refuses to be, Made a Fool Of + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy and a Confidant + </h3> + <p> + Hycy Burke was one of those persons who, under the appearance of a + somewhat ardent temperament, are capable of abiding the issue of an event + with more than ordinary patience. Having not the slightest suspicion of + the circumstance which occasioned Bryan M'Mahon's resentment, he waited + for a day of two under the expectation that his friend was providing the + sum necessary to accommodate him. The third and fourth days passed, + however, without his having received any reply whatsoever; and Hycy, who + had set his heart upon Crazy Jane, on finding that his father—who + possessed as much firmness as he did of generosity—absolutely + refused to pay for her, resolved to lose no more time in putting Bryan's + friendship to the test. To this, indeed, he was urged by Burton, a wealthy + but knavish country horse-dealer, as we said, who wrote to him that unless + he paid for her within a given period, he must be under the necessity of + closing with a person who had offered him a higher price. This message was + very offensive to Hycy, whose great foible, as the reader knows, was to be + considered a gentleman, not merely in appearance, but in means and + circumstances. He consequently had come to the determination of writing + again to M'Mahon upon the same subject, when chance brought them together + in the market of Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the + matter:— + </p> + <p> + “I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane,” said + he, “and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty deeply in + your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but, as you + like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no money.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a + minute, and said in quite a different tone— + </p> + <p> + “What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?” + </p> + <p> + “Not knowingly—but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say + about it.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not aware of it,” replied the other—-“my word and honor I'm + not.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not + openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the + grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and + Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection, + would have been an act of great presumption on his part. + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Hycy,” said he; “I have tould you my mind, and now I've done + with it.” + </p> + <p> + “With all my heart!” said the other—“that's a matter of taste on + your part. You're offended, you say; yet you choose to put the offence in + your pocket. It's all right, I suppose—but you know best. Good-bye + to you, at all events,” he added; “be a good boy and take care of + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon nodded with good-humored contempt in return, but spoke not. + </p> + <p> + “By all that deserves an oath,” exclaimed Hycy, looking bitterly after + him, “if I should live to the day of judgment I'll never forgive you your + insulting conduct this day—and that I'll soon make you feel to your + cost!” + </p> + <p> + This misunderstanding between the two friends caused Hycy to feel much + mortification and disappointment. After leaving M'Mahon, he went through + the market evidently with some particular purpose in view, if one could + judge from his manner. He first proceeded to the turf-market, and looked + with searching eye among those who stood waiting to dispose of their + loads. From this locality he turned his steps successively to other parts + of the town, still looking keenly about him as he went along. At length he + seemed disappointed or indifferent, it was difficult to say which, and + stood coiling the lash of his whip in the dust, sometimes quite + unconsciously, and sometimes as if a wager depended on the success with + which he did it—when, on looking down the street, he observed a + little broad, squat man, with a fiery red head, a face almost scaly with + freckles, wide projecting cheek-bones, and a nose so thoroughly of the + saddle species, that a rule laid across the base of it, immediately + between the eyes, would lie close to the whole front of his face. In + addition to these personal accomplishments, he had a pair of strong bow + legs, terminating in two broad, flat feet, in complete keeping with his + whole figure, which, though not remarkable for symmetry, was nevertheless + indicative of great and extraordinary strength. He wore neither stockings + nor cravat of any kind, but had a pair of strong clouted brogues upon his + feet; thus disclosing to the spectator two legs and a breast that were + covered over with a fell of red close hair that might have been long and + strong enough for a badger. He carried in his hand a short whip, + resembling a carrot in shape, and evidently of such a description as no + man that had any regard for his health would wish to come in contact with, + especially from the hand of such a double-jointed but misshapen Hercules + as bore it. + </p> + <p> + “Ted, how goes it, my man?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Ghe dhe shin dirthu, a dinaousal?</i>” replied Ted, surveying him with + a stare. + </p> + <p> + “D—n you!” was about to proceed from Hycy's lips when he perceived + that a very active magistrate, named Jennings, stood within hearing. The + latter passed on, however, and Hycy proceeded:—“I was about to abuse + you, Ted, for coming out with your Irish to me,” he said, “until I saw + Jennings, and then I <i>had</i> you.” + </p> + <p> + “Throgs, din, Meeisther Hycy, I don't like the <i>Bairlha</i> (* English + tongue)—'caise I can't sphake her properly, at all, at all. Come you + 'out wid the Gailick fwhor me, i' you plaise, Meeisther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n your Gaelic!” replied Hycy—“no, I won't—I don't + speak it.” + </p> + <p> + “The Laud forget you for that!” replied Ted, with a grin; “my ould + grandmudher might larn it from you—hach, ach, ha!” + </p> + <p> + “None of your d—d impertinence, Ted. I want to speak to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat would her be?” asked Ted, with a face in which there might be read + such a compound of cunning, vacuity, and ferocity as could rarely be + witnessed in the same countenance. + </p> + <p> + “Can you come down to me to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “No; I'll be busy.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are you at work now?” + </p> + <p> + “In Glendearg, above.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if you can't come to me, I must only go to you. Will you be + there tonight? I wish to speak to you on very particular business.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss; you <i>will</i>, dhin, wanst more?” asked the other, + significantly. + </p> + <p> + “I think so.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—ay—vary good. Fwen will she come?” + </p> + <p> + “About eleven or twelve; so don't be from about the place anywhere.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—-dhin—vary good. Is dhat all?” + </p> + <p> + “That's all now. Are your turf <i>dry</i> or <i>wet</i>* to-day?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * One method of selling Poteen is by bringing in kishes of + turf to the neighboring markets, when those who are up to + the secret purchase the turf, or pretend to do so; and while + in the act of discharging the load, the Keg of Poteen is + quickly passed into the house of him who purchases the + turf.—Are your turf wet or dry? was, consequently, a pass- + word. +</pre> + <p> + “Not vary dhry,” replied Ted, with a grin so wide that, as was humorously + said by a neighbor of his, “it would take a telescope to enable a man to + see from the one end of it to the other.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy nodded and laughed, and Ted, cracking his whip, proceeded up the town + to sell his turf. + </p> + <p> + Hycy now sauntered about through the market, chatting here and there among + acquaintances, with the air of a man to whom neither life nor anything + connected with it could occasion any earthly trouble. Indeed, it mattered + little what he felt, his easiness of manner was such that not one of his + acquaintances could for a moment impute to him the possibility of ever + being weighed down by trouble or care of any kind; and lest his natural + elasticity of spirits might fail to sustain this perpetual buoyancy, he by + no means neglected to fortify himself with artificial support. Meet him + when or where you might, be it at six in the morning or twelve at night, + you were certain to catch from his breath the smell of liquor, either in + its naked simplicity or disguised and modified in some shape. + </p> + <p> + His ride home, though a rapid, was by no means a pleasing one. M'Mahon had + not only refused to lend him the money he stood in need of, but actually + quarrelled with him, as far as he could judge, for no other purpose but + that he might make the quarrel a plea for refusing him. This + disappointment, to a person of Hycy's disposition, was, we have seen, + bitterly vexatious, and it may be presumed that he reached home in + anything but an agreeable humor. Having dismounted, he was about to enter + the hall-door, when his attention was directed towards that of the kitchen + by a rather loud hammering, and on turning his eyes to the spot he found + two or three tinkers very busily engaged in soldering, clasping, and + otherwise repairing certain vessels belonging to that warm and spacious + establishment. The leader of these vagrants was a man named Philip Hogan, + a fellow of surprising strength and desperate character, whose feats of + hardihood and daring had given him a fearful notoriety over a large + district of the country. Hogan was a man whom almost every one feared, + being, from confidence, we presume, in his great strength, as well as by + nature, both insolent, overbearing, and ruffianly in the extreme. His + inseparable and appropriate companion was a fierce and powerful bull-dog + of the old Irish breed, which he had so admirably trained that it was only + necessary to give him a sign, and he would seize by the throat either man + or beast, merely in compliance with the will of his master. On this + occasion he was accompanied by two of his brothers, who were, in fact, + nearly as impudent and offensive ruffians as himself. Hycy paused for a + moment, seemed thoughtful, and tapped his boot with the point of his whip + as he looked at them. On entering the parlor he found dinner over, and his + father, as was usual, waiting to get his tumbler of punch. + </p> + <p> + “Where's my mother?” he asked—“where's Mrs. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + On uttering the last words he raised his voice so as she might distinctly + hear him. + </p> + <p> + “She's above stairs gettin' the whiskey,” replied his father, “and God + knows she's long enough about it.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy ran up, and meeting her on the lobby, said, in a low, anxious voice— + </p> + <p> + “Well, what news? Will he stand it?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she replied, “you may give up the notion—he won't do it, an' + there's no use in axin' him any more.” + </p> + <p> + “He won't do it!” repeated the son; “are you certain now?” + </p> + <p> + “Sure an' sartin. I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' worse + he got.” + </p> + <p> + Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are not + in possession at present; he immediately added:— + </p> + <p> + “Well, never mind. Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am—to be united to + such a d—d—hem!—to such a—a—such a—gentleman!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to + indulge in any compassion of the kind. + </p> + <p> + “The thing's now past cure,” she said; “I'm a marthyr, an' that's all + that's about it. Come down till I get you your dinner.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the “Bay of + Biscay:”— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, + The rain a deluge pours; + The clouds were rent asunder + By light'ning's vivid—' +</pre> + <p> + By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing at + the kitchen door there?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, whatever they like,” she replied. “I tould that vagabond, Philip, + that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best judge of + that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, an' takes + everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat a mendin' an' + sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' 'by your lave.'” + </p> + <p> + “It's perfectly well known that they're robbers,” said Hycy, “and the + general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who are + in this part of the country at present. However, I'll speak to the + ruffians about such conduct.” + </p> + <p> + He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal to + one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood. During + a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, but of what + character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the distance at which + they stood rendered it impossible for any one to ascertain. Hycy then + returned to dinner, whilst his father in the meantime sat smoking his + pipe, and sipping from time to time at his tumbler of punch. Mrs. Burke, + herself, occupied an arm-chair to the left of the fire, engaged at a + stocking which was one of a pair that she contrived to knit for her + husband during every twelve months; and on the score of which she pleaded + strong claims to a character of most exemplary and indefatigable industry. + </p> + <p> + “Any news from the market, Hycy?” said his father. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Hycy, in that dry ironical tone which he always used to his + parents—“rather interesting—Ballymacan is in the old place.” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise,” replied his father, with more quickness than might be expected, + as he whiffed away the smoke with a face of very sarcastic humor; “I hard + it had gone up a bit towards the mountains—but I knew you wor the + boy could tell me whether it had or not—ha!—ha!—ha!” + </p> + <p> + This rejoinder, in addition to the intelligence Hycy had just received + from his mother, was not calculated to improve his temper. “You may + laugh,” he replied; “but if your respectable father had treated you in a + spirit so stingy and beggarly as that which I experience at your hands, I + don't know how you might have borne it.” + </p> + <p> + “My father!” replied Burke; “take your time, Hycy—my hand to you, he + had a different son to manage from what I have.” + </p> + <p> + “God sees that's truth,” exclaimed his wife, turning the expression to her + son's account. + </p> + <p> + “I was no gentleman, Hycy,” Burke proceeded. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, is it possible?” said the son, with a sneer. “Are you sure of that, + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Nor no spendthrift, Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the wife, “you never had the spirit; you were ever and always a + <i>molshy</i>.” (* A womanly, contemptible fellow) + </p> + <p> + “An' yet <i>molshy</i> as I was,” he replied, “you wor glad to catch me. + But Hycy, my good boy, I didn't cost my father at the rate of from a + hundre'-an'-fifty to two-hundre'-a-year, an' get myself laughed at and + snubbed by my superiors, for forcin' myself into their company.” + </p> + <p> + “Can't you let the boy ait his dinner in peace, at any rate?” said his + mother. “Upon my credit I wouldn't be surprised if you drove him away from + us altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “I only want to drive him into common sense, and the respectful feeling he + ought to show to both you an' me, Rosha,” said Burke; “if he expects to + have either luck or grace, or the blessing of God upon him, he'll change + his coorses, an' not keep breakin' my heart as he's doin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you pay for the mare I bought, father?” asked Hycy, very seriously. + “I have already told you, that I paid three guineas earnest; I hope you + will regard your name and family so far as to prevent me from breaking my + word—besides leading the world to suppose that you are a poor man.” + </p> + <p> + “Regard my name and family!” returned the father, with a look of + bitterness and sorrow; “who is bringin' them into disgrace, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “In the meantime,” replied the son, “I have asked a plain question, Mr. + Burke, and I expect a plain answer; will you pay for the mare?” + </p> + <p> + “An' supposin' I don't?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Mr. Burke, if you don't you won't, that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “I must stop some time,” replied his father, “an' that is now. I wont pay + for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, sir, I shall feel obliged, as your respectable wife has just + said, if you will allow me to eat, and if possible, live in peace.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm speakin' only for your—” + </p> + <p> + “That will do now—hush—silence if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy dear,” said the mother; “why would you ax him another question about + it? Drop the thing altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “I will, mother, but I pity you; in the meantime, I thank you, ma'am, of + your advice.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” she continued, with a view of changing the conversation; “did you + hear that Tom M'Bride's dead?” + </p> + <p> + “No ma'am, but I expected it; when did he die?” + </p> + <p> + Before his father could reply, a fumbling was heard at the hall-door; and, + the next moment, Hogan, thrust in his huge head and shoulders began to + examine the lock by attempting to turn the key in it. + </p> + <p> + “Hogan, what are you about?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon,” replied the ruffian; “I only wished to know if the + lock wanted mendin'—that was all, Misther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone, sirra,” said the other; “how dare you have the presumption to + take such a liberty? you impudent scoundrel! Mother, you had better pay + them,” he added; “give the vagabonds anything they ask, to get rid of + them.” + </p> + <p> + Having dined, her worthy son mixed a tumbler of punch, and while drinking + it, he amused himself, as was his custom, by singing snatches of various + songs, and drumming with his fingers upon the table; whilst every now and + then he could hear the tones of his mother's voice in high altercation + with Hogan and his brothers. This, however, after a time, ceased, and she + returned to the parlor a good deal chafed by the dispute. + </p> + <p> + “There's one thing I wonder at,” she observed, “that of all men in the + neighborhood, Gerald Cavanagh would allow sich vagabonds as they an Kate + Hogan is, to put in his kiln. Troth, Hycy,” she added, speaking to him in + a warning and significant tone of voice, “if there wasn't something low + an' mane in him, he wouldn't do it.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Tis when the cup is smiling before us. + And we pledge unto our hearts—' +</pre> + <p> + “Your health, mother. Mr. Burke, here's to you! Why I dare say you are + right, Mrs. Burke. The Cavanagh family is but an upstart one at best; it + wants antiquity, ma'am—a mere affair of yesterday, so what after all + could you expect from it?” + </p> + <p> + Honest Jemmy looked at him and then groaned. “An upstart family!—that'll + do—oh, murdher—well, 'tis respectable at all events; however, + as to havin' the Hogans about them—they wor always about them; it + was the same in their father's time. I remember ould Laghlin Hogan, an' + his whole clanjamfrey, men an' women, young an' old, wor near six months + out o' the year about ould Gerald Cavanagh's—the present man's + father; and another thing you may build upon—that whoever ud chance + to speak a hard word against one o' the Cavanagh family, before Philip + Hogan or any of his brothers, would stand a strong chance of a shirtful o' + sore bones. Besides, we all know how Philip's father saved Mrs. Cavanagh's + life about nine or ten months after her marriage. At any rate, whatever + bad qualities the vagabonds have, want of gratitude isn't among them.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'———That are true, boys, true, + The sky of this life opens o'er us, + And heaven—' +</pre> + <p> + M'Bride, ma'am, will be a severe loss to his family.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth he will, and a sarious loss—for among ourselves, there was + none o' them like him.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Gives a glance of its blue—' +</pre> + <p> + “I think I ought to go to the wake to-night. I know it's a bit of a + descent on my part, but still it is scarcely more than is due to a decent + neighbor. Yes, I shall go; it is determined on.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'I ga'ed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate I fear I'll dearly rue; + I gat my death frae twa sweet een, + Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.' +</pre> + <p> + “Mine are brown, Mrs. Burke—the eyes you wot of; but alas! the + family is an upstart one, and that is strongly against the Protestant + interest in the case. Heigho!” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke, having finished his after-dinner pipe and his daily tumbler + both together, went out to his men; and Hycy, with whom he had left the + drinking materials, after having taken a tumbler or two, put on a strong + pair of boots, and changed the rest of his dress for a coarser 'suit, bade + his mother a polite good-bye, and informed her, that as he intended to be + present at M'Bride's wake he would most probably not return until near + morning. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV.—A Poteen Still-House at Midnight—Its Inmates. + </h2> + <p> + About three miles in a south-western direction from Burke's residence, the + country was bounded by a range of high hills and mountains of a very + rugged and wild, but picturesque description. Although a portion of the + same landscape, yet nothing could be more strikingly distinct in character + than the position of the brown wild hills, as contrasted with that of the + mountains from which they abutted. The latter ran in long and lofty ranges + that were marked by a majestic and sublime simplicity, whilst the hills + were of all shapes and sizes, and seemed as if cast about at random. As a + matter of course the glens and valleys that divided them ran in every + possible direction, sometimes crossing and intersecting each other at + right angles, and sometimes running parallel, or twisting away in opposite + directions. In one of those glens that lay nearest the mountains, or + rather indeed among them, was a spot which from its peculiar position + would appear to have been designed from the very beginning as a perfect + paradise for the illicit distiller. It was a kind of back chamber in the + mountains, that might, in fact, have escaped observation altogether, as it + often did. The approach to it was by a long precipitous glen, that could + be entered only at its lower end, and seemed to terminate against the + abrupt side of the mountain, like a cul de sac. At the very extremity, + however, of this termination, and a little on the right-hand side, there + was a steep, narrow pass leading into a recess which was completely + encompassed by precipices. From this there was only one means of escape + independently of the gut through which it was entered. The moors on the + side most approachable were level, and on a line to the eye with that + portion of the mountains which bounded it on the opposite side, so that as + one looked forward the space appeared to be perfectly continuous, and + consequently no person could suspect that there lay so deep and + precipitous a glen between them. + </p> + <p> + In the northern corner of this remarkable locality, a deep cave, having + every necessary property as a place for private distillation, ran under + the rocks, which met over it in a kind of gothic arch. A stream of water + just sufficient for the requisite purposes, fell in through a fissure from + above, forming such a little subterraneous cascade in the cavern as human + design itself could scarcely have surpassed in felicity of adaptation to + the objects of an illicit distiller. + </p> + <p> + To this cave, then, we must take the liberty of transporting our readers, + in order to give them an opportunity of getting a peep at the inside of a + Poteen Still-house, and of hearing a portion of conversation, which, + although not remarkable for either elegance or edification, we are, + nevertheless, obliged to detail, as being in some degree necessary to the + elucidation of our narrative. Up in that end which constituted the + termination of the cave, and fixed upon a large turf fire which burned + within a circle of stones that supported it, was a tolerably-sized Still, + made of block-tin. The mouth of this Still was closed by an air-tight + cover, also of tin, called the Head, from which a tube of the same metal + projected into a large keeve, or condenser, that was kept always filled + with cool water by an incessant stream from the cascade we have described, + which always ran into and overflowed it. The arm of this head was fitted + and made air-tight, also, into a spiral tube of copper, called the Worm, + which rested in the water of the cooler; and as it consisted of several + convolutions, like a cork-screw, its office was to condense the hot vapor + which was transmitted to it from the glowing Still into that description + of spirits known as poteen. At the bottom of this cooler, the Worm + terminated in a small cock or spigot, from which the spirits projected in + a slender stream, about the thickness of a quill, into a vessel placed for + its reception. Such was the position of the Still, Head, and Worm, when in + full operation. Fixed about the cave, upon rude stone stillions, were the + usual vessels requisite for the various processes through which it was + necessary to put the malt, before the wort, which is its first liquid + shape, was fermented, cleared off, and thrown into the Still to be + singled; for our readers must know that distillation is a double process, + the first product being called singlings, and the second or last, + doublings—which is the perfect liquor. Sacks of malt, empty vessels, + piles of turf, heaps of grains, tubs of wash, and kegs of whiskey, were + lying about in all directions, together with pots, pans, wooden trenchers, + and dishes, for culinary uses. The seats were round stones and black + bosses which were made of a light hard moss found in the mountains and + bogs, and frequently used as seats in rustic chimney corners. On entering, + your nose was assailed by such a mingled stench of warm grains, sour barm, + putrid potato skins, and strong whiskey, as required considerable + fortitude to bear without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. + </p> + <p> + The persons assembled were in every way worthy of the place and its + dependencies. Seated fronting the fire was our friend Teddy Phats, which + was the only name he was ever known by, his wild, beetle brows lit into a + red, frightful glare of savage mirth that seemed incapable, in its highest + glee, to disengage itself entirely from an expression of the man's + unquenchable ferocity. Opposite to him sat a tall, smut-faced, + truculent-looking young fellow, with two piercing eyes and a pair of grim + brows, which, when taken into conjunction with a hard, unfeeling mouth, + from the corners of which two right lines ran down his chin, giving that + part of his face a most dismal expression, constituted a countenance that + matched exceedingly well with the visage of Teddy Phats. This worthy + gentleman was a tinker, and one of Hogan's brothers, whom we have already + introduced to our readers. Scattered about the fire and through the cavern + were a party of countrymen who came to purchase whiskey for a wedding, and + three or four publicans and shebeenmen who had come on professional + business. Some were drinking, some indulging in song, and some were + already lying drunk or asleep in different parts of this subterraneous + pandemonium. Exalted in what was considered the position of honor sat a + country hedge-schoolmaster, his mellow eye beaming with something between + natural humor, a sense of his own importance, and the influence of pure + whiskey, fresh it is called, from the Still-eye. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Teddy,” said one of the countrymen, “will you fill the bottle + again.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Teddy, who though as cunning as the devil himself, could + seldom be got to speak anything better than broken English, and that of + such a character that it was often scarcely intelligible. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he replied; “I gav'd you wan bottle 'idout payment fwhor her, an' by + shapers I won't give none oder.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you burning beauty, aren't we takin' ten gallons, an' will you + begrudge us a second bottle?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—devil purshue de bottle more ye'll drunk here 'idout de <i>airigad</i>, + (* Money) dat's fwhat you will.” + </p> + <p> + “Teddy,” said the schoolmaster, “I drink propitiation to you as a + profissional gintle-man! No man uses more indepindent language than you + do. You are under no earthly obligation to Messrs. Syntax and Prosody. + Grammar, my worthy friend, is banished as an intruder from your elocution, + just as you would exclude a gauger from your Still-house.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat about de gagur!” exclaimed Teddy, starting; “d—n him an' + shun-tax an' every oder tax, rint an' all—hee! hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + We may as well let our readers know, before we proceed farther, that in + the opinion of many, Teddy Phats understood and could speak English as + well as any man of his station in the country. In fairs or markets, or + other public places, he spoke, it is true, nothing but Irish unless in a + private way, and only to persons in whom he thought he could place every + confidence. It was often observed, however, that in such conversations he + occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English to + him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have possessed a + greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We believe the + fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller, had found it, on + some peculiar occasions connected with his profession, rather an + inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some evidence in + his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on behalf of his + friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to believe, that the + Irish language, when properly enunciated through the medium of an + interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially when resorted to + within the precincts of the country court-house and in hearing of the + judge. + </p> + <p> + “You're a fool, Teddy,” said Hogan; “let them drink themselves; blind—this + liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way, why, blazes + to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for another cargo.” + </p> + <p> + Teddy immediately took the hint. + </p> + <p> + “Barney Brogan,” he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub, half + knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted as + messenger, spy, and vidette; “listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere dat + bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em—ha, ha, + ha!” + </p> + <p> + “More power to you, Vaynus,” exclaimed Keenan; “you're worth a thousand + pounds, quarry weight.” + </p> + <p> + “I am inclined to think, Mr. Keenan,” said the schoolmaster, “that you are + in the habit occasionally of taking slight liberties wid the haythen + mythology. Little, I'll be bound, the divine goddess of beauty ever dreamt + she'd find a representative in Teddy Phats.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo! masther,” replied Keenan, “you're the boy can do—only that + English is too tall for me. At any rate,” he added, approaching the worthy + preceptor, “take a spell o' this—it's a language we can all + understand.” + </p> + <p> + “You mane to say, Darby,” returned the other, “that it's a kind of + universal spelling-book amongst us, and so it is—an alphabet aisily + larned. Your health, now and under all circumstances! Teddy, or Thaddeus, + I drink to your symmetry and inexplicable proportions; and I say for your + comfort, my worthy distillator, that if you are not so refulgent in beauty + as Venus, you are a purer haythen.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat a bloody fwhine <i>Bairlha</i> man the meeisther is,” said Teddy, + with a grin. “Fwhaicks, meeisthur, your de posey of Tullyticklem, + spishilly wid Captain Fwhiskey at your back. You spake de Bairlha up den + jist all as one as nobody could understand her—ha, ha, ha!” + </p> + <p> + The master, whose name was Finigan, or, as he wished to be called, + O'Finigan, looked upon Teddy and shook his head very significantly. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid, my worthy distallator,” he proceeded, “that the proverb which + says '<i>latet anguis in herba</i>,' is not inapplicable in your case. I + think I can occasionally detect in these ferret-like orbs that constitute + such an attractive portion of your beauty, a passing scintillation of + intelligence which you wish to keep <i>a secretis</i>, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Finigan,” said Keenan, who had now returned to his friends, “if you + wouldn't be betther employed to-morrow, you'd be welcome to the weddin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Mr. Keenan,” replied Finigan; “I accept your hospitable + offer wid genuine cordiality. To-morrow will be a day worthy of a white + mark to all parties concerned. Horace calls it chalk, which is probably + the most appropriate substance with which the records of matrimonial + felicity could be registered, <i>crede experto</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, Misther Finigan, give the boys a holiday to-morrow, and be + down wid us airly.” + </p> + <p> + “There is not,” replied Finigan, who was now pretty well advanced, “I + believe widin the compass of written or spoken language—and I might + on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good + authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves + the beauty of elocution—I say, then, there is not widin the compass + of spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable + to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a <i>Plantation + Seminary</i>; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you + that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly + pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock.” + </p> + <p> + Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such + complacent volubility—a volubility that was deeply indebted to the + liquor he had taken—the following dialogue took place in a cautious + under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy. + </p> + <p> + “So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss.” + </p> + <p> + “B—t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I won't,” replied the other, angrily; “I'll spake as I likes.” + </p> + <p> + “What brings him up, do you know?” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon <i>her</i> here,” he + replied, pointing to the still. “<i>You'll</i> have a good job of her, + fwhedher or no.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, will he want a new one, do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, to be sure—would ye tink I'd begin to <i>run</i> (* A slang + phrase for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token + moreover, dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets—hee! + hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, all that's right—don't work for him widout a new one + complate, Teddy—Still, Head, and Worm.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't—he thried her afore, though.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!—no he didn't.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, ha! ay dhin—an' she milked well too—a good cow—a + brave <i>cheehony</i> she was for him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' why did he give it up?” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhy—fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he + couldn't hunt wid de <i>dinnaousais</i>—wid de gentlemans.” + </p> + <p> + “An' what if he's discovered now?” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhat?—fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now + an' den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he + carries.” + </p> + <p> + “If I don't mistake,” proceeded Hogan, “either himself or his family, + anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, Batt?” asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside + him during this dialogue—“how is dhat now?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't rightly know—I can't say,” replied Hogan, with a smile + murderously grim but knowing—“I'm not up; but the sportheen's a made + boy, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Dher cheerna!</i> you <i>are</i> up,” said Teddy, giving him a furious + glance as he spoke; “there must be no saycrits, I say.” + </p> + <p> + “You're a blasted liar, I tell you—I am not, but I suspect—that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + “What brought you up dhis night?” asked Teddy, suspiciously. + </p> + <p> + “Because I hard he was to come,” replied his companion; “but whether or + not I'd be here.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Tha sha maigh</i>—it's right—may be so—shiss, it's + all right, may be so—well?” + </p> + <p> + Teddy, although he said it was all right, did not seem however to think + so. The furtive and suspicious glance which he gave Hogan from under his + red beetle brows should be seen in order to be understood. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Hogan, re-echoing him—“it is well; an' what is more, my + Kate is to be up here wid a pair o' geese to roast for us, for we must + make him comfortable. She wint to thry her hand upon somebody's roost, an' + it'll go hard if she fails!” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhail!” exclaimed Teddy, with a grin—“ah, the dioual a fwhail!” + </p> + <p> + “An' another thing—he's comin' about Kathleen Cavanagh—Hycy + is. He wants to gain our intherest about her!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, an' what harm?” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe there is, though, it's whispered that he—hut! doesn't he say + himself that there isn't a girl of his own religion in the parish he'd + marry—now I'd like to see them married, Teddy, but as for anything + else—” + </p> + <p> + “Hee! hee! hee!—well,” exclaimed Teddy, with a horrible grimace that + gave his whole countenance a facequake, “an' maybe he's right. Maybe it + 'udn't be aisy to get a colleen of his religion—I tink his religion + is fwhere Phiddher Fwhite's estate is—beyant the beyands, Avhere the + mare foaled the fwhiddler—hee! hee! hee!” + </p> + <p> + “He had better thry none of his sckames wid any of the Cavanaghs,” said + Bat, “for fraid he might be brought to bed of a mistake some fine day—that's + all I say; an' there's more eyes than mine upon him.” + </p> + <p> + This dialogue was nearly lost in the loudness of a debate which had + originated with Keenan and certain of his friends in the lower part of the + still-house. Some misunderstanding relative to the families of the parties + about to be united had arisen, and was rising rapidly into a comparative + estimate of the prowess and strength of their respective factions, and + consequently assuming a very belligerent aspect, when a tall, lank, but + powerful female, made her appearance, carrying a large bundle in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “More power, Kate!” exclaimed Hogan. “I knew she would,” he added, digging + Teddy's ribs with his elbow. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, man!” said his companion; “if you love me, say so, but don't hint + it dat way.” + </p> + <p> + “Show forth, Kate!” proceeded her husband; “let us see the prog—hillo!—oh, + holy Moses! what a pair o' beauties!” + </p> + <p> + He then whipped up a horn measure, that contained certainly more than a + naggin, and putting it under the warm spirits that came out of the + still-eye, handed it to her. She took it, and coming up towards the fire, + which threw out a strong light, nodded to them, and, without saying a + word, literally pitched it down her throat, whilst at the same time one of + her eyes presented undeniable proofs of a recent conflict. We have said + that there were several persons singing and dancing, and some asleep, in + the remoter part of the cave; and this was true, although we refrained + from mingling up either their mirth or melody with the conversation of the + principal personages. All at once, however, a series of noises, equally + loud and unexpected, startled melodists, conversationalists, and sleepers + all to their legs. These were no other than the piercing cackles of two + alarmed geese which Hogan's wife had secured from some neighboring farmer, + in order to provide a supper for our friend Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Ted,” said the female, “I lost my knife since I came out, or they'd be + quiet enough before this; lend me one a minute, you blissed babe.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss, to be sure, Kate,” he replied, handing her a large clasp knife + with a frightful blade; “an', Kate, whisper, woman alive—you're + bought up, I see.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that, you red rascal?” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise, don't I see dat de purchaser has set his mark upon ye?—hee! + hee! hee!” and he pointed to her eye* as he spoke. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A black eye is said to be the devil's mark. +</pre> + <p> + “No,” she replied, nodding towards her husband, “that's his handy work; + an' ye divil's clip!” she added, turning to Teddy, “who has a betther + right?” + </p> + <p> + She then bled the geese, and, looking about her, asked— + </p> + <p> + “Have you any wet hay or straw in the place?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, plenty of bote,” replied Teddy; “an' here's de greeshavigh ready.” + </p> + <p> + She then wrapped the geese, feathers and all, separately in a covering of + wet hay, which she bound round them with thumb-ropes of the same material, + and clearing away a space among the burning ashes, placed each of them in + it, and covered them up closely. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said she, “put down a pot o' praities, and we won't go to bed + fastin'.” + </p> + <p> + The different groups had now melted into one party, much upon the same + principle that the various little streamlets on the mountains around them + all run, when swollen by a sudden storm, into some larger torrent equally + precipitous and turbulent. Keenan, who was one of those pertinacious + fellows that are equally quarrelsome and hospitable when in liquor, now + resumed the debate with a characteristic impression of the pugilistic + superiority of his family:— + </p> + <p> + “I am right, I say: I remember it well, for although I wasn't there + myself, my father was, an' I often h'ard him say—God rest his sowl!”—here + he reverently took off his hat and looked upwards—“I often h'ard him + say that Paddy Keenan gave Mullin the first knock-down blow, an' Pether—I + mane no disrespect, but far from it—give us your hand, man alive—you're + going to be married upon my shisther to-morrow, plaise God!—masther, + you'll come, remimber? you'll be as welcome as the flowers o' May, masther—so, + Pether, as I was sayin'—I mane no offince nor disrespect to you or + yours, for you are, an' ever was, a daisent family, an' well able to fight + your corner when it came upon you—but still, Pether—an' for + all that—I say it—an' I'll stand to it—I'll stand it—that's + the chat!—that, man for man, there never was one o' your seed, + breed, or generation able to fight a Keenan—that's the chat!—here's + luck! + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Oh, 'twas in the month of May, + When the lambkins sport and play, + As I walked out to gain raycrayation, + I espied a comely maid. + Sequestrin' in the shade— + On her beauty I gazed wid admiraytion,' +</pre> + <p> + No, Pether, you never could; the Mullins is good men—right good men, + but they couldn't do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Barney,” said the brother of the bridegroom, “you may thank God that + Pether is going to be married to your sisther to-morrow as you say, or + we'd larn you another lesson—eh, masther? That's the chat too—ha! + ha! ha! To the divil wid sich impedence!” + </p> + <p> + “Gintlemen,” said Finigan, now staggering down towards the parties, “I am + a man of pacific principles, acquainted wid the larned languages, wid + mathematics, wid philosophy, the science of morality according to Fluxions—I + grant you, I'm not college-bred; but, gintlemen, I never invied the + oysther in its shell—for, gintlemen, I'm not ashamed of it, but I + acquired—I absorbed my laming, I may say, upon locomotive + principles.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, masther!” said Keenan; “that's what some o' them couldn't say—” + </p> + <p> + “Upon locomotive principles. I admit Munster, gintlemen—glorious + Kerry!—yes, and I say I am not ashamed of it. I do plead guilty to + the peripatetic system: like a comet I travelled during my juvenile days—as + I may truly assert wid a slight modicum of latitude” (here he lurched + considerably to the one side)—“from star to star, until I was able + to exhibit all their brilliancy united simply, I can safely assert, in my + own humble person. Gintlemen, I have the honor of being able to write + 'Philomath' after my name—which is O'Finigan, not Finigan, by any + means—and where is the oyster in his shell could do that? Yes, and + although they refused me a sizarship in Trinity College—for what + will not fear and envy do? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Tantaene animis celesiibus irae' +</pre> + <p> + Yet I have the consolation to know that my name is seldom mentioned among + the literati of classical Kerry—<i>nudis cruribus</i> as they are—except + as the Great O'Finigan! In the mane time—” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, Masther!” exclaimed Keenan, interrupting him. “Here, Ted! another + bottle, till the Great O'Finigan gets a glass of whiskey.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, gintlemen,” proceeded O'Finigan, “the alcohol shall be accepted, <i>puris + naturalibus</i>—which means, in its native—or more properly—but + which comes to the same thing—in its naked state; and, in the mane + time, I propose the health of one of my best benefactors—Gerald + Cavanagh, whose hospitable roof is a home—a domicilium to erudition + and respectability, when they happen, as they ought, to be legitimately + concatenated in the same person—as they are in your humble servant; + and I also beg leave to add the pride of the barony, his fair and virtuous + daughter, Kathleen, in conjunction wid the I accomplished son of another + benefactor of mine—honest James Burke—in conjunction, I say, + wid his son, Mr. Hyacinth. Ah, gintlemen—Billy Clinton, you thievin' + villain! you don't pay attention; I say, gintlemen, if I myself could + deduct a score of years from the period of my life, I should endeavor to + run through the conjugations of <i>amo</i> in society wid that pearl of + beauty. In the mane time—” + </p> + <p> + “Here's her health, masther,” returned Keenan, “an' her father's too, an' + Hycy Burke's into the bargain—is there any more o' them? Well, no + matter.” Then turning to his antagonist, he added, “I say agin, thin, that + a Mullin's not a match for a Keenan, nor never was—no, nor never + will be! That's the chat! and who's afeard to say it? eh, masther?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a lie!” shouted one of the opposite party; “I'm able to lick e'er a + Keenan that ever went on nate's leather—an' that's my chat.” + </p> + <p> + A blow from Keenan in reply was like a spark to gunpowder. In a moment the + cavern presented a scene singularly tragic-comic; the whole party was one + busy mass of battle, with the exception of Ted and Batt, and the wife of + the latter, who, having first hastily put aside everything that might be + injured, stood enjoying the conflict with most ferocious glee, the + schoolmaster having already withdrawn himself to his chair. Even Barney + Broghan, the fool, could not keep quiet, but on the contrary, thrust + himself into the quarrel, and began to strike indiscriminately at all who + came in his way, until an unlucky blow on the nose happening, to draw his + claret very copiously, he made a bound up behind the sill, uttering a + series of howlings, as from time to time he looked at his own blood, that + were amusing in the extreme. As it happened, however, the influence of + liquor was too strong upon both parties to enable them to inflict on each + other any serious injury. Such, however, was the midnight pastime of the + still-house when our friend Hycy entered. + </p> + <p> + “What in the devil's name—or the guager's—which is worse—” + he asked, addressing himself to Batt and Teddy, “is the meaning of all + this?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, you know a'most as much about it,” replied Hogan, laughing, “as we + do; they got drunk, an' that accounts for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said Finigan, who was now quite tipsy; “I am delighted to be + able to—to—yes, it is he,” he added, speaking to himself—“to + see you well.” + </p> + <p> + “I have my doubts as to that, Mr. Finigan,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Fame, Mr. Burke,” continued the other, “has not been silent with regard + to your exploits. Your horsemanship, sir, and the trepid pertinacity with + which you fasten upon the reluctant society of men of rank, have given you + a notorious celebrity, of which your worthy father, honest Jemmy, as he is + called, ought to be justly proud. And you shine, Mr. Burke, in the loves + as well as in the—<i>tam veneri quam</i>—I was about to add <i>Marti</i>, + but it would be inappropriate, or might only remind you of poor Biddy + Martin. It is well known you are a most accomplished gintleman, Mr. Burke—<i>homo + fadus ad unguem—ad unguem</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy would have interrupted the schoolmaster, but that he felt puzzled as + to whether he spoke seriously or ironically; his attention besides was + divided between him and the party in conflict. + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said he, addressing Hogan and Teddy, “put an end to this work, and + why did you, you misbegotten vagabond,” he added, turning to the latter, + “suffer these fellows to remain here when you knew I was to come up?” + </p> + <p> + “I must shell my fwisky,” replied Teddy, sullenly, “fwhedher you come or + stay.” + </p> + <p> + “If you don't clear the place of them instantly,” replied Hycy, “I shall + return home again.” + </p> + <p> + Hogan seemed a good deal alarmed at this intimation, and said—“Ay, + indeed, Terry, we had better put them out o' this.” + </p> + <p> + “Fwhor fwhat?” asked Teddy, “dere my best customers shure—an' fwlay + would I quarrel wid 'em all fwor wan man?” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, then, you misshapen ruffian,” said Burke, about to go. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy, Mr. Burke,” said. Hogan; “well soon make short work wid them. Here, + Ted, you devil's catch-penny, come an' help me! Hillo, here!” he shouted, + “what are you at, you gallows crew? Do you want to go to the stone jug, I + say? Be off out o' this—here's the guager, blast him, an' the + sogers! Clear out, I tell you, or every mother's son of you will sleep + undher the skull and cross-bones to-night.” (* Meaning the County Prison) + </p> + <p> + “Here you, Barney,” whispered Teddy, who certainly did not wish that Burke + should return as he came; “here, you great big fwhool you, give past your + yowlin' dere—and lookin' at your blood—run out dere, come in + an' shout the gauger an' de sogers.” + </p> + <p> + Barney, who naturally imagined that the intelligence was true, complied + with the order he had received in a spirit of such alarming and dreadful + earnestness, that a few minutes found the still-house completely cleared + of the two parties, not excepting Hogan himself, who, having heard nothing + of Teddy's directions to the fool, took it now for granted that that alarm + was a real one, and ran along with the rest. The schoolmaster had fallen + asleep, Kate Hogan was engaged in making preparations for supper at the + lower end of the casern, and the fool had been dispatched to fetch Hogan + himself back, so that Hycy now saw there was a good opportunity for + stating at more length than he could in the market the purpose of his + visit. + </p> + <p> + “Teddy,” said he, “now that the coast's clear, let us lose no time in + coming to the point. You are aware that Bryan M'Mahon has come into the + mountain farm of Ahadarra by the death of his uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss; dese three years.” + </p> + <p> + “You will stick to your cursed brogue,” said the other; “however, that's + your own affair. You are aware of this?” + </p> + <p> + “I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have made my mind up to take another turn at this,” and he tapped + the side of the still with his stick; “and I'll try it there. I don't know + a better place, and it is much more convenient than this.” + </p> + <p> + Teddy looked at him from under his brows, but seemed rather at a loss to + comprehend his meaning. + </p> + <p> + “Fwor fhy 'ud you go to Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “It's more convenient, and quite as well adapted for it as this place, or + nearly.” + </p> + <p> + “Well! Shiss, well?” + </p> + <p> + “Well; why that's all I have to say about it, except that I'm not to be + seen or known in the business at all—mark that.” + </p> + <p> + “Shiss—well? De Hogans must know it?” + </p> + <p> + “I am aware of that; we couldn't go on without them. This running of + your's will soon be over; very well. You can go to Ahadarra to-morrow and + pitch upon a proper situation for a house. These implements will do.” + </p> + <p> + “No, dey won't; I wouldn't tink to begin at all wid dat ould skillet. You + must get de Hogans to make a new Still, Head and Worm, an' dat will be + money down.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well; I'll provide the needful; let Philip call to me in a day or + two.” + </p> + <p> + “Dat Ahadarra isn't so safe,” said Teddy. “Fwhy wouldn't you carry it on + here?” and he accompanied the query with a piercing-glance as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” replied Hycy, “I have been seen here too often already, and my + name must not in any way be connected with your proceedings. This place, + besides, is now too much known. It's best and safest to change our bob, + Ted.” + </p> + <p> + “Dere's trewt in dhat, anyhow,” said the other, now evidently more + satisfied as to Hycy's motive in changing. “But,” he added, “as you is now + to schange, it 'ud be gooder to shange to some better place nor Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I know of none better or safer,” said Burke. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, fifty,” returned his companion, resuming his suspicious looks; “but + no matther, any way you must only plaise yerself—'tis all the shame + to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ahadarra it must be then,” said the other, “and that ends it.” + </p> + <p> + “Vary well, den, Ahadarra let her be,” said Ted, and the conversation on + this subject dropped. + </p> + <p> + The smuggler's supper now made it's appearance. The geese were beautifully + done, and as Hycy's appetite had got a keen stimulus by his mountain walk, + he rendered them ample justice. + </p> + <p> + “Trot,” said Teddy, “sich a walk as you had droo de mountains was enough + to sharpen anybody's appetite.” + </p> + <p> + Hogan also plied him with punch, having provided himself with sugar for + that express purpose. Hycy, however, was particularly cautious, and for a + long time declined to do more than take a little spirits and water. It was + not, in fact, until he had introduced the name of Kathleen Cavanagh that + he consented to taste punch. Between the two, however, Burke's vanity was + admirably played on; and Hogan wound up the dialogue by hinting that Hycy, + no matter how appearances might go, was by no means indifferent to the + interesting daughter of the house of Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + At length, when the night was far advanced, Burke rose, and taking his + leave like a man who had forgotten some appointment, but with a very + pompous degree of condescension, sought his way in the direction of home, + across the mountains. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely gone, when Hogan, as if struck by a sudden recollection, + observed as he thought it would be ungenerous to allow him, at that hour + of the night, to cross the mountains by himself. He accordingly whispered + a few words to his wife, and left them with an intention, as he said, to + see Mr. Hycy safe home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V.—Who Robbed Jemmy Burke? + </h2> + <p> + On the second morning after the night described in the last chapter, Bryan + M'Mahon had just returned to his father's house from his farm in Ahadarra, + for the purpose of accompanying him to an Emigration auction in the + neighborhood. The two farms of Carriglass and Ahadarra had been in the + family of the M'Mahon's for generations, and were the property of the same + landlord. About three years previous to the period of our narrative, Toal + M'Mahon, Bryan's uncle, died of an inflammatory attack, leaving to his + eldest nephew and favorite the stock farm of Ahadarra. Toal had been a + bachelor who lived wildly and extravagantly, and when he died Bryan + suceeeded to the farm, then as wild, by the way, and as much neglected as + its owner had been, with an arrear of two years' rent upon it. In fact the + house and offices had gone nearly to wreck, and when Bryan entered into + occupation he found that a large sum of money should be expended in + necessary improvements ere the place could assume anything like a decent + appearance. As a holding, however, it was reasonable; and we may safely + assert that if Toal M'Mahon had been either industrious or careful he + might have lived and died a wealthy man upon it. As Ahadarra lay in the + mountain district, it necessarily covered a large space; in fact it + constituted a townland in itself. The greater portion of it, no doubt, was + barren mountain, but then there were about three hundred acres of strong + rough land that was either reclaimed or capable of being so. Bryan, who + had not only energy and activity, but capital to support both, felt, on + becoming master of a separate farm, that peculiar degree of pride which + was only natural to a young and enterprising man. He had now a fair + opportunity, he thought, of letting his friends see what skill and + persevering exertion could do. Accordingly he commenced his improvements + in a spirit which at least deserved success. He proceeded upon the best + system then known to intelligent agriculturalists, and nothing was left + undone that he deemed necessary to work out his purposes. He drained, + reclaimed, made fences, roads, and enclosures. Nor did he stop here. We + said that the house and offices were in a ruinous state when they came + into his possession, and the consequence was that he found it necessary to + build a new dwelling house and suitable offices, which he did on a more + commodious and eligible site. Altogether his expenditure on the farm could + not have been less than eight hundred pounds at the period of the + landlord's death, which, as the reader knows is that at which we have + commenced our narrative. + </p> + <p> + Thomas M'Mahon's family consisted of—first, his father, a + grey-haired patriarch, who, though a very old man, was healthy and in the + full possession of all his faculties; next, himself; then his wife; Bryan, + the proprietor of Ahadarra; two other sons, both younger, and two + daughters, the eldest twenty, and the youngest about eighteen. The name of + the latter was Dora, a sweet and gentle girl, with beautiful auburn hair, + dark, brilliant eyes, full of intellect and feeling, an exquisite mouth, + and a figure which was remarkable for natural grace and great symmetry. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Bryan,” said the father, “what news from Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing particular from Ahadarra,” replied the son, “but our good-natured + friend, Jemmy Burke, had his house broken open and robbed the night before + last.” + </p> + <p> + “Wurrah deheelish” exclaimed his mother, “no, he hadn't!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, mother,” replied Bryan, laughing, “maybe not. I'm afeard it's too + true though.” + </p> + <p> + “An' how much did he lose?” asked his father. + </p> + <p> + “Between seventy and eighty pounds,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “It's too much,” observed the other; “still I'm glad it's no more; an' + since the villains did take it, it's well they tuck it from a man that can + afford to lose it.” + </p> + <p> + “By all accounts,” said Arthur, or, as he was called, Art, “Hycy, the + sportheen, has pulled him down a bit. He's not so rich now, they say, as + he was three or four years ago.” + </p> + <p> + “He's rich enough still,” observed his father; “but at any rate, upon my + sowl I'm sorry for him; he's the crame of an honest, kind-hearted + neighbor; an' I believe in my conscience if there's a man alive that + hasn't an ill-wisher, he is.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it known who robbed him?” asked the grandfather, “or does he suspect + anybody?” + </p> + <p> + “It's not known, of course, grandfather,” replied Bryan, “or I suppose + they would be in limbo before now; but there's quare talk about it. The + Hogans is suspected, it seems. Philip was caught examinin' the hall-door + the night before; an' that does look suspicious.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the old man, “an' very likely they're the men. I remember them + this many a long day; it's forty years since Andy Hogan—he was lame—Andy + Boccah they called him—was hanged for the murdher of your + great-granduncle, Billy Shevlin, of Frughmore, so that they don't like a + bone in our bodies. That was the only murdher I remember of them, but many + a robbery was laid to their charge; an' every now and then there was + always sure to be an odd one transported for thievin', an' house-breakin', + and sich villainy.” + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't be surprised,” said Mrs. M'Mahon, “but it was some o' them + tuck our two brave geese the night before last.” + </p> + <p> + “Very likely, in throth, Bridget,” said her husband; “however, as the ould + proverb has it, 'honesty's the best policy.' Let them see which of us I'll + be the best off at the end of the year.” + </p> + <p> + “There's an odd whisper here an' there about another robber,” continued + Bryan; “but I don't believe a word about it. No, no;—he's wild, and + not scrupulous in many things, but I always thought him generous, an' + indeed rather careless about money.” + </p> + <p> + “You mane the sportheen?” said his brother Art. + </p> + <p> + “The Hogans,” said the old man, recurring to the subject, as associated + with them, “would rob anybody barrin' the Cavanaghs; but I won't listen to + it, Bryan, that Hycy Burke, or the son of any honest man that ever had an + opportunity of hearin' the Word o' God, or livin' in a Christian counthry, + could ever think of robbin' his own father—his own father! I won't + listen to that.” + </p> + <p> + “No, nor I, grandfather,” said Bryan, “putting everything else out of the + question, its too unnatural an act. What makes you shake your head, Art?” + </p> + <p> + “I never liked a bone in his body, somehow,” replied Art. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but my goodness, Art,” said Dora, “sure nobody would think of robbin' + their own father?” + </p> + <p> + “He has been doin' little else these three years, Dora, by all accounts,” + replied Art. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but his father,” continued the innocent girl; “to break into the + house at night an' rob him like a robber!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I say, it's reported that he has been robbin' him these three years + in one shape or other,” continued Art; “but here's Shibby, let's hear what + she'll say. What do you think, shibby?” + </p> + <p> + “About what, Art?” + </p> + <p> + “That Hycy Burke would rob his father!” + </p> + <p> + “Hut, tut! Art, what puts that into your head? Oh, no, Art—not at + all—to rob his father, an' him has been so indulgent to him!” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I agree with you, Shibby,” said Bryan; “for although my opinion + of Hycy is changed very much for the worse of late, still I can't and + won't give in to that.” + </p> + <p> + “An what has changed it for the worse?” asked his mother. “You an' he wor + very thick together always—eh? What has changed it, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan began to rub his hand down the sleeve of his coat, as if freeing it + from dust, or perhaps admiring its fabric, but made no reply. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, Bryan,” she continued, “what has changed your opinion of him?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, nothing of much consequence, mother,” replied her son; “but sometimes + a feather will toll one how the wind blows.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the + family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly + allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving that + none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of + understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that the + sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. Dora, + his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking his hand in + hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish laugh, that spoke a + full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but beautiful features + into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes which, in one of her + years, gives a look of almost angelic purity and grace. After about a + minute or two, during which she paused, and laughed, and blushed, and + commenced to whisper, and again stopped, she at last put her lips to his + ear and whispered:—“Bryan, I know the reason you don't like Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “You do?” he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his turn;—“well—an'—ha!—ha!—no, + you fool, you don't.” + </p> + <p> + “May I never stir if I don't!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, an' what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh—now!” + </p> + <p> + “An' what do I care about that?” said her brother. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you thief!” she replied; “don't think you can play upon me. I know + your saycret.” + </p> + <p> + “An' maybe, Dora,” he replied, “I have my saycrets. Do you know who was + inquirin' for you to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she returned, “nor I don't care either—sorra bit.” + </p> + <p> + “I met James Cavanagh there below”—he proceeded, still in a whisper, + and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, + however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned her + whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to become + expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned upon him + with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with her mouth + near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up quickly, shook + back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and silken curls about her + blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: “No—no. Let me alone Bryan;” and on + uttering these words she hurried into another room.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way,” observed her sister. “What did you + say to her?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail,” he replied, laughing; “however, as + to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you no + lies.” + </p> + <p> + “Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry,” continued Shibby, + “an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you're fishin' now, Shibby,” he replied, “and many thanks for your + good intentions. It's a saycret, an' that's all you're going to know about + it. But it's as much as 'll keep you on the look out this month to come; + and now you're punished for your curiosity—ha!—ha!—ha! + Come, father, if we're to go to Sam Wallace's auction it's time we should + think of movin'. Art, go an' help Tom Droogan to bring out the horses. + Rise your foot here, father, an' I'll put on your spur for you. We may as + well spake to Mr. Fethertonge, the agent, about the leases. I promised + we'd call on Gerald Cavanagh, to—an' he'll be waitin' for us—hem!” + </p> + <p> + His eye here glanced about, but Dora was not visible, and he accordingly + seemed to be more at his ease. “I think, father,” he added, “I must trate + you to a pair of spurs some of these days. This one, it's clear, has been + a long time in the family.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, an' on that account,” replied M'Mahon, “I'm not goin' to part wid + it for the best pair that ever were made. No, no, Bryan; I like everything + that I've known long. When my heart gets accustomed to anything or to + anybody”—here he glanced affectionately at his wife—“I can't + bear to part wid them, or to think of partin' wid them.” + </p> + <p> + The horses were now ready, and in a brief space he and his son were + decently mounted, the latter smartly but not inappropriately dressed; and + M'Mahon himself, with his right spur, in a sober but comfortable suit, + over which was a huge Jock, his inseparable companion in every fair, + market, and other public place, during the whole year. Indeed, it would + not be easy to find two better representatives of that respectable and + independent class of Irish yeomanry of which our unfortunate country + stands so much in need, as was this man of high integrity and his + excellent son. + </p> + <p> + On arriving at Gerald Cavanagh's, which was on their way to the auction, + it appeared that in order to have his company it was necessary they should + wait for a little, as he was not yet ready. That worthy man they found in + the act of shaving himself, seated very upright upon a chair in the + kitchen, his eyes fixed with great steadiness upon the opposite wall, + whilst lying between his legs upon the ground was a wooden dish half + filled with water, and on a chair beside him a small looking-glass, with + its backup, which, after feeling his face from time to time in an + experimental manner, he occasionally peeped into, and again laid down to + resume the operation. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Mrs. Cavanagh set forward a chair for Tom M'Mahon, and + desired her daughter Hannah to place one for Bryan, which she did. The two + girls were spinning, and it might have been observed that Kathleen + appeared to apply herself to that becoming and feminine employment with + double industry after the appearance of the M'Mahons. Kate Hogan was + sitting in the chimney corner, smoking a pipe, and as she took it out of + her mouth to whiff away the smoke from time to time, she turned her black + piercing eyes alternately from Bryan M'Mahon to Kathleen with a peculiar + keenness of scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + “An' how are you all up at Carriglass?” asked Mrs. Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we can't complain, thank God, as the times goes,” replied M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “An' the ould grandfather?—musha, but I was glad to see him look so + well on Sunday last!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth he's as stout as e'er a one of us.” + </p> + <p> + “The Lord continue it to him! I suppose you hard o' this robbery that was + done at honest Jemmy Burke's?” + </p> + <p> + “I did, indeed, an' I was sorry to hear it.” + </p> + <p> + “A hundre' an' fifty pounds is a terrible loss to anybody in such times.” + </p> + <p> + “A hundre' an' fifty!” exclaimed M'Mahon—“hut, tut!—no; I + thought it was only seventy or eighty. He did not lose so much, did he?” + </p> + <p> + “So I'm tould.” + </p> + <p> + “It was two—um—it was two—urn—urn—it was—um—um—it + was two hundre' itself,” observed Cavanagh, after he had finished a + portion of the operation, and given himself an opportunity of speaking—“it + war two hundre' itself, I'm tould, an' that's too much, by a hundre' and + ninety-nine pounds nineteen shillings an' eleven pence three fardens, to + be robbed of.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth it is, Gerald,” replied M'Mahon; “but any way there's nothin' but + thievin' and robbin' goin'. You didn't hear that we came in for a visit?” + </p> + <p> + “You!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh—“is it robbed? My goodness, no!” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” he proceeded, “we'll be able to get over it afore we die, I hope. + On ere last night we had two of our fattest geese stolen.” + </p> + <p> + “Two!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh—“an' at this saison of the! year, + too. Well, that same's a loss.” + </p> + <p> + “Honest woman,” said M'Mahon, addressing Kate Hogan, “maybe you'd give me + a draw o' the pipe?” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe so,” she replied; “an' why wouldn't I? Shough! that is here!” + </p> + <p> + “Long life to you, Katy. Well,” proceeded the worthy man, “if it was a + poor person that wanted them an' that took them from hardship, why God + forgive them as heartily as I do: but if they wor stole by a thief, for + thievin's sake, I hope I'll always be able to afford the loss of a pair + betther than the thief will to do without them; although God mend his or + her heart, whichever it was, in the mane time.” + </p> + <p> + During this chat Bryan and Hanna Cavanagh were engaged in that + good-humored badinage that is common to persons of their age and position. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't see you at Mass last Sunday, Bryan?” said she, laughing; “an' + that's the way you attend to your devotions. Upon my word you promise + well!” + </p> + <p> + “I seen you, then,” replied Bryan, “so it seems if I haven't betther eyes + I have betther eyesight.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I suppose,” she replied, “you see everything but what you go to + see.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” he replied, with an involuntary glance at + Kathleen, who seemed to enjoy her sister's liveliness, as was evident from + the sweet and complacent smile which beamed upon her features. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I suppose you're right,” she replied; “I suppose you go to say + everything but your prayers.” + </p> + <p> + “An' is it in conversation with Jemmy Kelly,” asked Bryan, jocularly, + alluding to her supposed admirer, “that you perform your own devotions, + Miss Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, achora,” said the father, “I think you're playin' the second + fiddle there—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + The laugh was now general against Hanna, who laughed as loudly, however, + as any of them. + </p> + <p> + “Throth, Kathleen,” she exclaimed, “you're not worth knot's o' straws or + you'd help me against this fellow here; have you nothing,” she proceeded, + addressing Bryan, and nodding towards her sister, “to say to her? Is + everything to fall on my poor shoulders? Come, now,” with another nod in + the same direction, “she desarves it for not assistin' me. Who does she + say her devotions with?” + </p> + <p> + “Hem—a—is it Kathleen you mane?” he inquired, with rather an + embarrassed look. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” she replied ironically, “but my mother there—ha! ha! + ha! Come, now, we're waitin' for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, now?” he repeated, purposely misunderstanding her—“oh, begad, + that's a fair challenge;” and he accordingly rose to approach her with the + felonious intent of getting a kiss; but Hanna started from her wheel and + ran out of the house to avoid him. + </p> + <p> + “Throth, you're a madcap, Hanna,” exclaimed her mother, placidly—“an + antick crather, dear knows—her heart's in her mouth every minute of + the day; an' if she gets through the world wid it always as light, poor + girl, it'll be well for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, will you get me a towel or praskeen of some sort to wipe my + face wid,” said her father, looking about for the article he wanted. + </p> + <p> + “I left one,” she replied, “on the back of your chair—an' there it + is, sure.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, achora, it's you that laves nothing undone that ought to be done; an' + so it is here, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Gerald,” asked Tom M'Mahon, “in the name o' wonder what makes + you stick to the meal instead o' the soap when you're washin' yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Throth, an' I ever will, Tom, an' for a good raison—becaise it's + best for the complexion.” + </p> + <p> + The unconscious simplicity with which Cavanagh uttered this occasioned + loud laughter, from which Kathleen herself was unable to refrain. + </p> + <p> + “By the piper, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, “that's the best thing I h'ard this + month o' Sundays. Why, it would be enough for one o' your daughters to + talk about complexion. Maybe you paint too—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + Hanna now put in her head, and asked “what is the fun?” but immediately + added, “Kathleen, here's a message for you.” + </p> + <p> + “For me!” said Kathleen; “what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Here's Peety Dhu's daughter, an' she says she has something to say to + you.” + </p> + <p> + “An' so Rosha Burke,” said Mrs. Cavanagh, “has taken her to live wid them; + I hope it'll turn out well for the poor thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you come out, Kathleen,” said Hanna, again peeping in; “she mustn't + tell it to anyone but yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “If she doesn't she may keep it, then,” replied Kathleen. “Tell her I have + no secrets,” she added, “nor I won't have any of her keeping.” + </p> + <p> + “You must go in,” said Hanna, turning aside and addressing the girl—“you + must go in an' spake to her in the house.” + </p> + <p> + “She can tell us all about the robbery, anyway,” observed Mr. Cavanagh. + “Come in, a-colleen—what are you afeard of?” + </p> + <p> + “I have a word to say to her,” said the girl—“a message to deliver; + but it must be to nobody but herself. Whisper,” she proceeded, approaching + Kathleen, and about to address her. + </p> + <p> + Kathleen immediately rose, and, looking on the messenger, said, “Who is it + from, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I mustn't let <i>them</i> know,” replied the girl, looking at the rest. + </p> + <p> + “Whatever it is, Or whoever it's from, you must spake it out then, Nanny,” + continued Kathleen. + </p> + <p> + “It's from Hycy Burke, then,” replied the girl; “he wants to know if you + have any answer for him?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell Hycy Burke,” replied Kathleen, “that I have no answer for him; an' + that I'll thank him to send me no more messages.” + </p> + <p> + “Hut tut! you foolish girl,” exclaimed her mother, rising up and + approaching her daughter; “are you mad, Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “What's come over you,” said the father, equally alarmed; “are you beside + yourself, sure enough, to send Hycy Burke sich a message as that? Sit + down, ma colleen, sit down, an' never mind her—don't think of + bringin' him back sich a message. Why, then,” he added, “in the name o' + mercy, Kathleen, what has come over you, to trate a respectable young man + like. Hycy Burke in that style?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, father, because I don't wish to receive any messages at all from + him.” + </p> + <p> + “But your mother an' I is of a different opinion, Kathleen. We wish you to + resave messages from him; an' you know you're bound both by the laws of + God an' man to obey us an' be guided by us.” + </p> + <p> + “I know I am, father,” she replied; “an' I hope I haven't been an + undutiful child to either of you for so far.” + </p> + <p> + “That's true, Kathleen—God sees it's truth itself.” + </p> + <p> + “What message do you expect to bring back, Nanny?” said the mother, + addressing the girl. + </p> + <p> + “An answer,” replied the girl, seeing that everything must be and was + above board—“an answer to the letther he sent her.” + </p> + <p> + “Did he send you a letther?” asked her father, seriously; “an' you never + let us know a word about it?—did he send you a letther?” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen paused a moment and seemed to consult Hanna's looks, who had now + joined them. At length she replied, slowly, and as if in doubt whether she + ought to speak in the affirmative or not—“no, he sent me no letter.” + </p> + <p> + “Well now, take care, Kathleen,” said her mother; “I seen a letther in + your hands this very mornin'.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen blushed deeply; but as if anxious to give the conversation + another turn, and so to relieve herself, she replied, “I can't prevent + you, mother, or my father either, from sending back whatever answer you + wish; but this I say that, except the one I gave already, Hycy Burke will + never receive any message or any answer to a message from me; an' now for + the present let us drop it.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said her mother; “in the mane time, my good girsha, sit down. + Is it thrue that Jemmy Burke's house was robbed a couple o' nights ago?” + </p> + <p> + “True enough,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + “And how much did he lose?” asked M'Mahon; “for there's disputes about it—some + say more and some say less.” + </p> + <p> + “Between seventy and eighty pounds,” replied Nanny; “the masther isn't + sure to a pound or so; but he knows it was near eighty, any way.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just like him,” said Cavanagh; “his careless way of managin'. Many + a time I wondher at him;—he slobbers everything about that you'd + think he'd beggar himself, an' yet the luck and prosperity flows to him. I + declare to my goodness I think the very dirt under his feet turns to + money. Well, girsha, an' have they any suspicion of the robbers?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the girl, “they talk about”—she paused, and it was quite + evident from her manner that she felt not only embarrassed, but distressed + by the question. Indeed this was no matter of surprise; for ever since the + subject was alluded to, Kate Hogan's black piercing eyes had not once been + removed from hers, nor did the girl utter a single word in reply to the + questions asked of her without first, as it were, consulting Kate's looks. + </p> + <p> + A moment's reflection made Cavanagh feel that the question must be a + painful one to the girl, not only on her own account, but on that of Kate + herself; for even then it was pretty well known that Burke's family + entertained the strongest suspicion that the burglary had been committed + by these notorious vagabonds. + </p> + <p> + “Well, ahagur,” said Cavanagh, “no matter now—it's all over unless + they catch the robbers. Come now,” he added, addressing M'Mahon and his + son, “if you're for the road I'm ready.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it true, Mrs. Burke,” asked Bryan, “that you're goin' to have a Kemp + in your barn some o' these days?” + </p> + <p> + “True enough, indeed,” replied the good woman, “an' that's true, too, tell + the girls, Bryan, and that they must come.” + </p> + <p> + “Not I,” said the other, laughing; “if the girls here—wishes them to + come, let them go up and ask them.” + </p> + <p> + “So we will, then,” replied Hanna, “an' little thanks to you for your + civility.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish I knew the evenin',” said Bryan, “that I might be at Carriglass.” + </p> + <p> + “When will we go, Kathleen,” asked her sister, turning slyly to her. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're sich a light-brained cracked creature,” replied Kathleen, + “that I can't tell whether you're joking or not.” + </p> + <p> + “The sorra joke I'm jokin',” she replied, striving suddenly to form her + features into a serious expression. “Well, then, I have it,” she + proceeded. “Some Thursday, Bryan, in the middle o' next week—now you + know I'm not jokin', Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you come, Kathleen?” inquired Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Why, if Hanna goes, I suppose I must,” she replied, but without looking + up. + </p> + <p> + “Well then I'll have a sharp look-out on Thursday.” + </p> + <p> + “Come now,” said Gerald, “let us move. Give the girsha something to ate + among you, for the credit of the house, before she goes back,” he added. + “Paddy Toole, girth that horse tighter, I tell you; I never can get you to + girth him as he ought to be girthed.” + </p> + <p> + On bidding the women good-bye, Bryan looked towards Kathleen for a moment, + and her eye in return glanced on him as he was about to go. But that + simple glance, how significant was its import, and how clearly did it + convey the whole history of as pure a heart as ever beat within a female + bosom! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE VI.—Nanny Peety looks mysterious + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy proves himself a good Judge of Horse-Flesh. + </h3> + <p> + The day was all light, and life, and animation. The crops were going down + fast in every direction, and the fields were alive and cheerful with the + voice of mirth and labor. As they got into the vicinity of Wallace's house + they overtook or were over-taken by several of their neighbors, among whom + was seen our old friend, Jemmy, or as I his acquaintances generally called + him, honest Jemmy Burke, mounted upon a brood mare with a foal at her + heels, all his other horses having been engaged in the labor of the + season. + </p> + <p> + After having sympathized with him upon the loss he had sustained, they + soon allowed the subject to drop; for it was quite clear from the + expression of care, if not of sorrow, that was legible in his face, that + the very mention of it only caused him to feel additional anxiety. + </p> + <p> + At length they reached Wallace's house, where they found a tolerably large + crowd of people waiting for the auction, which was not to commence until + the hour of one o'clock. + </p> + <p> + Sam Wallace was a respectable Protestant farmer, who finding, as he said, + that there was no proper encouragement given to men who were anxious and + disposed to improve their property, had deemed it a wiser step to dispose + of his stock and furniture than to remain as he was—not merely with + no certain prospect of being able to maintain even his present position, + but with the chances against him of becoming every day a poorer and more + embarrassed man. His brother, who like himself, after having been on the + decline for a considerable period, had emigrated to America, where he was + prospering, now urged him to follow his example and leave a country in + which he said, in language that has become a proverb, “everything was + going to the bad.” Feeling that his brother's words were unfortunately too + true, Wallace, at all events, came to the determination of following his + example. + </p> + <p> + The scene at which our friends arrived was indeed a striking and + impressive one. The majority of the crowd consisted of those who belonged + either to the Protestant or Presbyterian forms of worship; and it might be + with truth asserted, that nothing could surpass the clear unquestionable + character of independent intelligence which prevailed among them. Along + with this, however, there was an obvious spirit of dissatisfaction, + partial, it is true, as to numbers, but yet sufficiently marked as to + satisfy an observer that such a people, if united upon any particular + subject or occasion, were not for a moment to be trifled with or cajoled. + Their feelings upon the day in question were stirred into more than usual + warmth. A friend, a neighbor, a man of an old and respectable family, + frugal, industrious, and loyal, as they said, both to king and country, + was now forced from want of due encouragement from his landlord, to + disturb all his old associations of friendship and kindred, and at rather + an advanced state of life to encounter the perils of a long voyage, and + subject himself and his family to the changes and chances which he must + encounter in a new world, and in a different state of society. Indeed, the + feeling which prompted the expression of these sentiments might be easily + gathered from the character that pervaded the crowd. Not to such an + extent, however, with respect to Wallace himself or any portion of his + family, There might be observed upon him and them a quiet but resolute + spirit, firm, collected, and cheerful; but still, while there were visible + no traces of dejection or grief, it was easy to perceive that under this + decent composure there existed a calm consciousness of strong stern + feeling, whose dignity, if not so touching, was quite as impressive as the + exhibition of louder and more clamorous grief. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said M'Mahon to his son, as the auction was proceeding, “I'll + slip up to the agent's, and do you see if them sheep goes for a fair value—if + they do, give a bid or two any how. I'm speakin' of that lot we wor + lookin' at, next the wall there.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll pay attention to it,” said Bryan; “I know you'll find the agent at + home now, for I seen him goin' in a while ago; so hurry up, an' ax him if + he can say how soon we may expect the leases.” + </p> + <p> + “Never fear, I will.” + </p> + <p> + On entering Fethertonge's Hall, M'Mahon was treated with very marked + respect by the servant, who told him to walk into the parlor, and he would + let his master know. + </p> + <p> + “He entertains a high opinion of you, Mister M'Mahon,” said he; “and I + heard him speak strongly about you the other day to some gentlemen that + dined with us—friends of the landlord's. Walk into the parlor.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes M'Mahon was shown into Fethertonge's office, the walls of + which were, to a considerable height, lined with tin boxes, labelled with + the names of those whose title-deeds and other valuable papers they + contained. + </p> + <p> + Fethertonge was a tall, pale, placid looking man, with rather a benevolent + cast of countenance, and eyes that were mild, but very small in proportion + to the other features of his face. His voice was exceedingly low, and + still more musical and sweet than low; in fact it was such a voice as, one + would imagine, ought to have seldom been otherwise employed than in + breathing hope and, consolation to despairing sinners on their bed of + death. Yet he had nothing of either the parson or the preacher in his + appearance. So far from that he was seldom known to wear a black coat, + unless when dressed for dinner, and not very frequently even then, for he + mostly wore blue. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said he, “take a seat. I am glad to see you. How are your + family?” + </p> + <p> + “Both I an' they is well, I'm thankful to you, sir,” replied the farmer. + </p> + <p> + “I hope you got safe home from the metropolis. How did you travel?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, I walked it, sir, every inch of the way, an' a long stretch it is. + I got safe, sir, an' many thanks to you.” + </p> + <p> + “That was a sudden call poor Mr. Chevydale got, but not more so than + might, at his time of life, have been expected; at all events I hope he + was prepared for it, and indeed I have reason to think he was.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust in God he was, sir,” replied M'Mahon; “so far as I and mine is + consarned, we have raison to wish it; he didn't forget us, Mr. + Fethertonge.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the other, after some pause, “he did not indeed forget you, + M'Mahon.” + </p> + <p> + “I tuck the liberty of callin' down, sir,” proceeded M'Mahon, “about the + leases he spoke of, an' to know how soon we may expect to have them + filled.” + </p> + <p> + “That is for your son Bryan and yourself. How is Bryan proceeding with + Ahadarra, by the way? I spoke to him some time ago about his system of + cropping that farm, and some other matters of the kind; I must ride up one + of these days to see how he is doing. As to the leases, there is no + difficulty in the way, M'Mahon, except to get our young landlord to sign + them. That we will easily do, of course; in the meantime, do you go on, + improve your land, and strive to do something for your children, M'Mahon; + for, in this world, he that won't assist himself will find very few that + will. The leases are in Dublin; if you wish, I'll send for them, and have + them ready for the landlord's signature whenever he comes down here; or + I'll leave them in town, where I shall be more likely to see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “I lave it all in your own hands, for I + know that if you won't be my friend, you won't be my enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well—certainly—I hope not. Will you take anything? Here, + James, bring in some brandy.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's protest against the brandy was anything but invincible. + Fethertonge's manner was so kind, so familiar, and his interest in the + success of himself and his family so unaffectedly warm and sincere, that, + after drinking his health, he took his leave with a light and. happy + heart. + </p> + <p> + Their journey home was a little more lively than the depression of Jemmy + Burke's mind had allowed it to be on their way to the auction. Yet each + had his own peculiar feelings, independently of those which were elicited + by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of Wallace's liquor, + as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did, was consequently in + a better and more loquacious humor than he had been during the day. On + this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for it was the opinion + of every one there, that he had got the best bargain disposed of during + the day—a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime condition. Gerald + Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as closely as possible to + his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of adhesion, with which our + readers are already acquainted; and Bryan, who saw and understood his + motives, felt by no means comfortable at witnessing such strong symptoms + of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon did not speak much, for, in truth, he + could not overcome the depressing effects of the scene he had witnessed, + nor of the words uttered by Wallace, as they bade each other farewell. + </p> + <p> + Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between whom + a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a + public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop + together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses in + token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption occurred, + that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their dialogue, + which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the mare whenever + her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and abrupt manner + in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to return and look + for it. + </p> + <p> + On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot, but + with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the Hogans, + who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip and one of + his brothers slept in their usual residence—Cavanagh's corn-kiln—on + that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his wife Kate were + both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion might, indeed, + very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence of Hycy himself, + who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from any suspicion, as + he knew both how and where they had passed the night in question. So far, + therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were unquestionably reputed to + be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all suspicion. + </p> + <p> + The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned + by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be + at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with + them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined, yet + it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a suspicion that + Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance of the money. In + about three or four days he happened to see her thrust something into her + father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he could not avoid + remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was furtive and + hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not right. He + resolved, however, to follow up the impression which he felt, and + accordingly in a few minutes after her father had taken his departure, he + brought her aside, and without giving her a moment to concoct a reply, he + asked what it was that he saw her thrusting in such a hurried manner into + his bag. She reddened like scarlet, and, after pausing a moment, replied, + “Nothing, sir, but an ould pair of shoes.” + </p> + <p> + “Was that all?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “That was all, sir,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + The blush and hesitation, however, with which she answered him were far + from satisfactory; and without more ado he walked briskly down the avenue, + and overtook her father near the gate at its entrance. + </p> + <p> + “Peety,” said he, “what was that your daughter Nanny put into your bag a + while ago? I wish to know?” + </p> + <p> + “Deed an its scarcely worth your while, Master Hycy,” replied the + mendicant; “but since you'd like to know, it was a pair of ould brogues, + and here they are,” he added, “if you wish to see them.” + </p> + <p> + He laid down the bag as he spoke, and was proceeding to pull them out, + when Hycy, who felt angry with himself as well as ashamed at being + detected in such a beggarly and unbecoming act of espionage, turned + instantly back, after having vented several hearty curses upon the + unfortunate mendicant and his bags. + </p> + <p> + As he approached the hall-door, however, he met Nanny crossing into the + kitchen-yard, and from the timid and hesitating glance she cast at him, + some vague suspicion again occurred, and he resolved to enter into further + conversation with her. It struck him that she had been watching his + interview with her father, and could not avoid yielding to the impression + which had returned so strongly upon him. + </p> + <p> + “I saw your father, Nanny,” he said, in as significant and dry a tone as + possible. + </p> + <p> + “Did you, sir?” said she; and he remarked that while uttering the words, + she again colored deeply and did not raise her eyes to his face. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he replied; “but he did not bear out what you said—he had no + pair of shoes in his bag.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you see what he had in it, Master Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said he, “a—hem—a—a—I didn't look—but + I'll tell you what, Nanny, I think you look as if you were in possession + of some secret. I say so, and don't imagine you can for a moment impose + upon me. I know what your father had in his bag.” + </p> + <p> + “Well then, if you do, sir,” she replied, “you know the saycrit.” + </p> + <p> + “So there is a secret, then?” + </p> + <p> + “So you say, Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” he proceeded, “it occurs to me now that you never underwent a + formal examination about this robbery that took place in our house.” + </p> + <p> + “That wasn't my fault,” she replied; “I mostly happened to be out.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but do you know anything about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a thing—no more than yourself, Mr. Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + Her interrogator turned upon her a hard scrutinizing glance, in which it + was easy to see that she read a spirit of strong and dissatisfied + suspicion. She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing + upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion. + </p> + <p> + “Because, Nanny,” he proceeded, “if you knew anything about it, and didn't + mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one of the + robbers.” + </p> + <p> + “An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?” she replied; “surely the + first thing I'd do would be to tell.” + </p> + <p> + “It's very strange,” observed Hycy, “that such a robbery could be + committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue + whatsoever to a discovery.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy—if what your father + and mother an' all o' them say is true—that it wasn't often the + hall-door was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was + fastened on that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to + prevent any one from comin' in.” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Nanny,” he replied, “very true; and we have paid severely for + our negligence.” + </p> + <p> + This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever + source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions as + connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however, to watch + her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the impression + that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few days after + the robbery. + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent character, + was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, “always keep an eye + to the main chance.” He was by no means over-tidy either in his dress or + farming; but it mattered little in what light you contemplated him, you + were always certain to find him a man not affected by trifles, nor rigidly + systematic in anything; but at the same time you could not help observing + that he was a man of strong points, whose life was marked by a course of + high prosperity, that seemed to flow in upon him, as it were, by some + peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, however, was little less than the + natural result of shrewd mother-wit, happily applied to the: ordinary + transactions of life, and assuming the appearance of good fortune rather + than of sound judgment, in consequence of the simplicity of character + under which it acted. Ever since the night of the robbery, he had devoted + himself more to the pipe than he had ever been known to do before; he + spoke little, too; but what he did say was: ironical, though not by any + means without a tinge of quiet but caustic humor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking + as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed + in more than her usual finery. + </p> + <p> + “What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?” she inquired. “Hycy, do you see any + appearance of him?” + </p> + <p> + “No, ma'am,” replied the son; “I didn't know you wanted him.” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing away + the smoke, asked—“And well, Rosha—begs pardon—Mrs. Burke—is + it a fair question to ax where you are bound for?” + </p> + <p> + “Fair enough, Mr. Burke,” she replied; “but I'm not goin' to answer it.” + </p> + <p> + “You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm bound for a journey, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; “I'm afraid + it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh it doesn't signify,” he replied, dryly; “it's no novelty, I believe, + to hear a man—a married man—groan in this world; only if you + wor for a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my + power.” + </p> + <p> + “You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?” she exclaimed—“wishin' me + to go my long journey!” + </p> + <p> + “Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?” asked the worthy son. + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” replied Jemmy. “There's gintlemen enough o' the name—I'm + afraid one too many.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception + of the look of a martyr as possible, “I'm sufferin' at all events; but I + know my crown's before me.” + </p> + <p> + “Sich as it is,” replied her husband, “I dare say it is.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'—but here's the car. + Come fardher up, Patsy.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. “Of + course, he'll discover it all,” said he, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “I know he will,” she replied; “but when it's over, it's over, and that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + Jemmy now met his son at the hall-door, and asked him if he knew where his + mother had gone. + </p> + <p> + “I really cannot undertake to say,” replied the other. “Mrs. Burke, + father, is a competent judge of her own notions; but I presume to think + that she may take a drive upon her own car, without being so severely, if + not ungenerously catechised about it. I presume to think so, sir; but I + daresay I am wrong, and that even that is a crime on my part.” + </p> + <p> + His father made no reply, but proceeded at an easy and thoughtful pace to + join his men in the field where they were at labor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, after his mother's return that evening, seemed rather in low + spirits, if one could form any correct estimate of his character by + appearances. He was very silent, and somewhat less given to those broken + snatches of melody than was his wont; and yet a close observer might have + read in his deportment, and especially in the peculiar expression of his + eye, that which seemed to indicate anything rather than depression or + gloom. His silence, to such an observer, might have appeared rather the + silence of satisfaction and triumph, than of disappointment or vexation. + </p> + <p> + His father, indeed, saw little of him that night, in consequence of the + honest man having preferred the hob of his wealthy and spacious kitchen to + the society of his wife and son in the parlor. The next morning, however, + they met at breakfast, as usual, when Hycy, after some ironical + compliments to his father's good taste, asked him, “if he would do him the + favor to step towards the stable and see his purchase.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't mane Crazy Jane?” said the other, coolly. + </p> + <p> + “I do,” replied Hycy; “and as I set a high value on your opinion, perhaps + you would be kind enough to say what you think of her.” + </p> + <p> + Now, Hycy never for a moment dreamt that his father would have taken him + at his word, and we need hardly say that he was a good deal disconcerted + at the cool manner in which the other expressed his readiness to do so. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke,” he proceeded, when they had reached the stable, “there + she is. Pray what do you think of her?” + </p> + <p> + The old man looked at her from various points, passed his hand down her + limbs, clapped her on the back, felt her in different places, then looked + at her again. “She's a beauty,” said he, “a born beauty like Billy + Neelin's foal; what's this you say you paid for her?” + </p> + <p> + “Thirty-five pounds.” + </p> + <p> + “Tare-an-ounty, Hycy, she's dog chape—thirty-five!—why she's + value for double the sum.” + </p> + <p> + “Nearly,” replied Hycy, quite elevated and; getting into good humor; “is + she not really now, father, a precious bit of flesh?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! you may swear that, Hycy; I tell you you won't act the honest man, if + you don't give him fifteen or twenty pounds over an' above what you paid + him. Tom Burton I see's too simple for you. Go and do what I bid you; + don't defraud the poor man; you have got a treasure, I tell you—a + beauty bright—an extraordinary baste—a wonderful animal—oh, + dear me! what a great purchase! Good-bye, Hycy. Bless my sowl! what a + judge of horseflesh you are!” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words in a tone of grave and caustic irony, he left + his worthy son in a state of chagrin almost bordering on resentment, at + the strong contempt for Crazy-Jane, implied by the excessive eulogium he + had passed upon her. This feeling, however, was on reflection considerably + checked by his satisfaction on finding that the matter was taken by his + father so coolly. He had calculated on receiving a very stormy lecture + from him the moment he should become aware of his having the animal in his + possession; and he now felt rather relieved that he should have escaped so + easily. Be this as it may, Hycy was now in excellent spirits. Not only had + Crazy Jane been secured, but there were strong symptoms of his being in + cash. In a few days after the incident of the stable, he contrived to see + Philip Hogan, with whom he appointed a final meeting in Cavanagh's kiln on + the night of the Kemp; at which meeting, Teddy Phats and the other two + Hogans were also to be present, in order to determine upon the steps which + he ultimately proposed to take, with a view to work out his purposes, + whatever those purposes may have been. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII.—The Spinster's Kemp. + </h2> + <p> + A kemp, or camp, is a contest of industrial skill, or a competition for + priority in a display of rustic labor. Among men it is principally + resorted to in planting potatoes or reaping of corn, and generally only on + the day which closes the labor at each for the season; but in the sense in + which it is most usually practised and contested, it means a trial of + female skill at the spinning of linen yarn. It is, indeed, a very cheerful + assemblage of the fair sex; and, although strong and desperate rivalry is + the order of the day, yet it is conducted in a spirit so light-hearted and + amicable that we scarcely know a more laudable or delightful recreation in + country life. Its object is always good, and its associations + praiseworthy, inasmuch as they promote industry, a spirit of becoming + emulation, and principles of good will and kindness to our neighbor. + </p> + <p> + When a kemp is about to be held, the matter soon becomes generally known + in the neighborhood. Sometimes the young women are asked, but in most + instances, so eager are they to attend it that invitations are + unnecessary. In the whiter months, and in mountain districts, it is often + as picturesque as it is pleasant. The young women usually begin to + assemble about four o'clock in the morning; and, as they always go in + groups, accompanied besides by their sweethearts or some male relatives, + each of the latter bearing a large torch of well-dried bogfir, their + voices, and songs, and loud laughter break upon the stillness of night + with a holiday feeling, made ten times more delightful by the surrounding + darkness and the hour. When they have not the torches the spinning-wheels + are carried by the males, amidst an agreeable din of fun, banter, + repartee, and jest, such as scarcely any other rustic amusement with which + we are acquainted ever occasions. On arriving at the house where the kemp + is to be held, they are placed in the barn or some clean outhouse; but + indeed the numbers are usually such as to crowd every available place that + can be procured for their accommodation. From the moment they arrive the + lively din is incessant. Nothing is heard but laughter, conversation, + songs, and anecdotes, all rising in a loud key, among the louder humming + of the spinning-wheels and the stridulous noise of the reeds, as they + incessantly crack the cuts in the hands of the reelers, who are + perpetually turning them from morning to night, in order to ascertain the + quantity which every competitor has spun; and she, of course, who has spun + most wins the kemp, and is the queen for the night. + </p> + <p> + A kemp invariably closes with a dance—and a dance too upon an + unusually extensive scale. Indeed, during the whole day the fair + competitors are regaled from time to time with the enlivening strains of + the fiddle or bagpipes, and very often with the united melody of both + together. + </p> + <p> + On that morning the dwelling-house and mostly all the out-offices of + Gerald Cavanagh bore, in stir and bustle, a stronger resemblance to the + activity of so many bee-hives about to swarm than to anything else to + which we can think of comparing them. Mirth in all its shapes, of + laughter, glee, and song, rang out in every direction. The booming of + wheels and the creaking of reels, the loud banter, the peals of laughter, + the sweet Irish songs that filled up the pauses of the louder mirth, and + the strains of the fiddle that ever and anon added to the enlivening + spirit of the scene, all constituted such a full and general chorus of + hilarity as could seldom be witnessed. + </p> + <p> + There were many girls present who took no part in the competition, but + who, as friends and acquaintances of Kathleen and Hanna, came to enjoy the + festive spirit of the day. Hanna herself, however, who had earned some + celebrity as a spinster, started for the honor of winning, as did Dora + M'Mahon, whose small and beautiful fingers seemed admirably adapted for + this graceful and peculiarly feminine process of Minerva. Towards evening + the neighbors assembled in considerable numbers, each interested in the + success of some peculiar favorite, whose former feats had induced her + friends to entertain on her behalf strong, if not certain, hopes of + victory. Kathleen, from a principle of generosity, patronized her young + friend, Dora M'Mahon; and Shibby M'Mahon, on the other hand, took Hanna + Cavanagh under her protection. As the evening advanced, and the spectators + and friends of the parties began to call, in order to be present at the + moment of victory, it would be difficult to witness any assemblage of + young women placed under circumstances of such striking interest. The + mirth and song and general murmur diminished by degrees, until they + altogether ceased, and. nothing was to be heard but the perpetual cracking + of the reels, the hum of the rapid wheels, and the voices of the reelers, + as they proclaimed the state of this enlivening pool of industry. As for + the fair competitors themselves, it might have been observed that even + those among them who had no, or at least but slight pretensions to beauty, + became actually interesting from the excitement which prevailed. Their + eyes lit by the active spirit of rivalry within them, sparkled with + peculiar brilliancy, their cheeks became flushed or got pale as they felt + themselves elevated or depressed by the prospect or loss of victory. Nor + were there wanting on this occasion some vivid glances that were + burthened, as they passed aslant, their fair faces, with pithier feelings + than those that originated from a simple desire of victory. If truth must + be told, baleful flashes, unmeasured both in number and expression, were + exchanged in a spirit of true defiance between the interested and + contending parties, as the close of the contest approached. At length, by + the proclamation of the reelers, the great body of the competitors were + thrown out, and they consequently gave up the contest. It was now six + o'clock, and the first sound of seven o'clock by Captain Millar's bell was + to close the proceedings, and enable the reelers to proclaim the victor. + Only four names now remained to battle it out to the last; to wit, a + country farmer's daughter, named Betty Aikins, Dora M'Mahon, Hanna + Cavanagh, and a servant-girl belonging to another neighbor, named Peggy + Bailly. This ruck, as they say on the turf, was pretty well up together, + but all the rest nowhere. And now, to continue the metaphor, as is the + case at Goodwood or the Curragh, the whole interest was centered upon + these four. At the commencement of the last hour the state of the case was + proclaimed as follows: Betty Aikins, three dozen and eight cuts; Dora + M'Mahon, three dozen and seven cuts; Hanna Cavanagh, three dozen and five + cuts; and Peggy Bailly, three dozen and four cuts. Every individual had + now her own party anxious for her success, and amidst this hour of + interest how many hearts beat with all hopes and fears that are incident + even to the most circumscribed contest of human life. Opposite Dora stood + the youth whom we have already noticed, James Cavanagh, whose salvation + seemed but a very trifling thing when compared or put into opposition with + her success. Be this as it may, the moment was a most exciting one even to + those who felt no other interest than that which naturally arises from + human competition. And it was unquestionably a beautiful thing to witness + this particular contest between, four youthful and industrious young + women. Dora's otherwise pale and placid features were now mantling, and + her beautiful dark eyes flashing, under the proud and ardent spirit of + ambition, for such in fact was the principle which now urged and animated + the contest. When nearly half an hour had passed, Kathleen came behind + her, and stooping down, whispered, “Dora, don't turn your wheel so + quickly: you move the, foot-board too fast—don't twist the thread + too much, and you'll let down more.” + </p> + <p> + Dora smiled and looked up to her with a grateful and flashing eye. “Thank + you, Kathleen,” she replied, nodding, “I'll take your advice.” The state + of the contest was then proclaimed:—Betty Aikins—three dozen + and ten cuts; Dora M'Mahon—three dozen and ten cuts; Hanna Cavanagh + —three dozen, six cuts and a half; Peggy Bailly—three dozen, + five and a half. + </p> + <p> + On hearing this, Betty Aikin's cheek became scarlet, and as it is useless + to disguise the fact, several flashing glances that partook more of a + Penthesilean fire than the fearful spirit which usually characterizes the + industrious pursuits of Minerva, were shot at generous Dora, who sustained + her portion of the contest with singular spirit and temper. + </p> + <p> + “You may as well give it up, Dora M'Mahon,” exclaimed Betty; “there never + was one of your blood could open against an Aikins—the stuff is not + in you to beat me.” + </p> + <p> + “A very little time will soon tell that,” replied Dora; “but indeed, + Betty, if I am doin' my best to win the kemp, I hope it's not in a bad or + unfriendly spirit, but in one of fair play and good humor.” + </p> + <p> + The contest now went on for about fifteen minutes, with surpassing + interest and animation, at the expiration of which period, the seven + o'clock bell already alluded to, rang the hour for closing their labors + and determining the victory. Thus stood their relative position—Dora + M'Mahon, four hanks and three cuts; Betty Aikins, four hanks; Hanna + Cavanagh, three hanks and nine cuts; Peggy Bailly, three hanks and eight + cuts. + </p> + <p> + When this result was made known, Betty Aikins burst into a loud fit of + grief, in which she sobbed as if her very heart would break, and Kathleen + stooping down, congratulated the beautiful girl upon her victory, kissing + her at the same time as she spoke—an act of love and kindness in + which she would have joyfully been followed by several of her male + friends, if they had dared to take that delicious liberty. + </p> + <p> + The moment of victory, we believe, is that which may be relied upon as the + test of true greatness. Dora M'Mahon felt the pride of that moment in its + fullest extent, but she felt it only to influence her better and nobler + principles. After casting her eyes around to gather in, as it were, that + honest approbation which is so natural, and exchanging some rapid glances + with the youth we have alluded to, she went over to her defeated + competitor, and taking her hand said, “Don't cry, Betty, you have no right + to be ashamed; sure, as you say, it's the first time you wor ever beaten; + we couldn't all win; an' indeed if I feel proud now, everyone knows an' + says I have a right to be so; for where was there—ay, or where is + there—such a spinner as you are? + </p> + <p> + “Shake hands now an' there's a kiss for you. If I won this kemp, it was + won more by chance than by anything else.” + </p> + <p> + These generous expressions were not lost on Betty; on the contrary, they + soothed her so much that she gave her hand cordially to her young and + interesting conqueress, after which they all repaired to a supper of new + milk and flummery, than which there is nothing more delicious within the + wide range of luxury. This agreeable meal being over, they repaired to the + large barn where Mickey M'Grory the fiddler, was installed in his own + peculiar orchestra, consisting of an arm-chair of old Irish oak, brought + out from Gerald Cavanagh's parlor. + </p> + <p> + It would indeed be difficult to find together such a group of happy faces. + Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, Tom M'Mahon and his better half, and several + of the neighbors, of every age and creed, were all assembled; and, in this + instance, neither gray hairs nor length of years were looked upon as + privileged from a participation in the festivities of the evening. Among + the rest, gaunt and grim, were the three Hogans, looking through the + light-hearted assemblage with the dark and sinister visages of thorough + ruffians, who were altogether incapable of joining in the cheerful and + inoffensive amusements that went forward around them. Kate Hogan sat in an + obscure corner behind the fiddler, where she was scarcely visible, but + from which she enjoyed a full view of everything that occurred in the + house. + </p> + <p> + A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader has + already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the stable, + where he disposed of it <i>sub silentio</i>, by which we mean without the + knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such person + about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him. Among the + rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O'Finigan the Philomath + made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably advanced in + liquor. The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen of the kemp, as + he styled her, was told that he might know her by the flowers in her hair. + “There she is, masther,” said one of them, “wid the roses on her head.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said O'Finigan, looking about him with surprise, “I have, before + now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed of + that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess that + this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been + quadrupled. Instead of one queen, wid Flora's fragrant favors in her lock, + I think I see four.” + </p> + <p> + Finigan indeed was right. Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet + of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity + generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every + brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and + anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in + its honors. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, + nor of the good humor which prevailed among them. It is enough to say that + the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young folks, + jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon doors, by + rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and amusement were + indulged in on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + We have said that Tom M'Mahon and his family were there, but we should + have added, with one exception. Bryan did not arrive until the evening was + far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected with + his farm. On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of + welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him. Up until then there + were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and we must + ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion. Its was clear that + during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, if not actually + depressed, although a general observer would have seen nothing in her + beyond the natural sedateness of her manner. The two in question were Kate + Hogan and Dora M'Mahon. On Bryan's arrival, however, the color of her + cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more sparkling, and a + much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth. Such, however, we + are, and such is the mystery of our nature. It might have been remarked + that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his appearance, with glances + expressive of anything but good feeling. It was not, however, when he + first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that these boding glances + were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his performing a reel with + Kathleen. It might have been noticed that they looked at him, and + afterwards at each other, in a manner that could admit of but little + misapprehension. + </p> + <p> + “Philip,” observed Finigan, addressing the elder Hogan,—“Philip, the + Macedonian—monarch of Macedon, I say, is not that performance a + beautiful specimen of the saltatory art? There is manly beauty, O Philip! + and modest carriage. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'With aquil beauty formed, and aquil grace, + Hers the soft blushes of the opening morn, + And his the radiance of the risen day.'” + </pre> + <p> + “It's night now, misther, if you plaise,” returned Hogan, gruffly; “but we + don't want your opinion here—stick to your pothooks and hangers—keep + to your trade.” + </p> + <p> + “The <i>pot-hooks</i> and <i>hangers</i> are more <i>tui generis</i>, you + misbegotten satyr,” replied the schoolmaster; “that is, more appropriately + concatenated with your own trade than wid mine. I have no trade, sirra, + but a profession, and neither have you. You stand in the same degraded + ratio to a tradesman that a rascally quack does to a regular surgeon.” + </p> + <p> + “You had better keep a civil tongue in jour head,” replied Hogan, nettled + at the laughter which the schoolmaster raised at his expense. + </p> + <p> + “What! a civil tongue for you! Polite language for a rascally sotherer of + ould skillets and other anonymous utensils. Why, what are you?—firstly, + a general violation of the ten commandments; and, secondly, a misshapen + but faithful impersonation of the seven deadly sins. Take my word for it, + my worthy Macedonian, you will die any death but a horizontal one—it's + veracity I'm telling you. Yet there is some comfort for you too—some + comfort, I say again; for you who never lived one upright hour will die an + upright death. A certain official will erect a perpendicular with you; but + for that touck of Mathematics you must go to the hangman, at whose hands + you will have to receive the rites of your church, you monstrous + bog-trotting Gorgon. Mine a trade! Shades of Academus, am I to bear this!” + </p> + <p> + Finigan was, like most of his class, a privileged man; but on this + occasion the loudness of the mirth prevented Hogan's reply from being + heard. As to violence, nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever + dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the + consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when + provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon. When he + first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as scarcely to + be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of the crowded + house by no means improved him. + </p> + <p> + In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the + good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke among + them—not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that set + off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In fact, Hycy was + a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full of liveliness and + apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly perfect. He addressed + the persons present with an air of easy condescension, and went over + immediately and shook hands, in a very cordial manner, with Gerald + Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned round and bowed to the + daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom Kathleen was sitting. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “there will be mistakes in the best of families. I hate + enmity. How, do you do?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan nodded, and replied, “Pretty well, Hycy—how are you?” + </p> + <p> + Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the good + man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him every + conceivable mark of attention. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Cavanagh,” said he, after some chat, “may I be permitted to indulge + in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “Which of them?” asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a + reply—“to be sure you may.” + </p> + <p> + “The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it was + not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius Finigan—ah, + no; the early indoctrinations will tell;—that is clear.” + </p> + <p> + “I mean Miss Kathleen,” replied Hycy, without paying any attention to + Finigan's observations. + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” exclaimed both; “of course you will—go over and bring her + out.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner, + “Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel with + you?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke,” she replied gravely; “I have just danced + a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any more + to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “A simple reel?” said Hycy; “perhaps you will so far favor me? I shall + consider it as a favor, I assure you.” + </p> + <p> + “Excuse me, Mr. Burke, but I won't dance any more to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “That's hard,” he replied, “especially as I came all the way to have that + pleasure. Perhaps you will change your mind, Miss Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not in the habit of changing my mind, Mr. Burke,” she replied, “and I + don't see any reason why I should do so now. I say once for all that I + won't dance any more to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it,” asked the mother, on perceiving her hesitation; “won't she + dance wid you? Hut, tut, Kathleen, what nonsense is this? To be sure you + must dance wid Mr. Burke; don't take any refusal, Mr. Burke—is that + all you know about girls.—sure nineteen refusals is aquil to one + consent. Go over, Gerald, and make her dance wid him,” she added, turning + to her husband. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Kathleen, that you won't dance wid Mr. Hycy?” asked + the good man. + </p> + <p> + “Because I have danced all I will dance to-night, father.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, nonsense, you foolish girl—it's proud you ought to be that + he'd ax you. Get up and dance a reel wid him.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, who knew her sister's resolution when once formed, immediately came + to her rescue. “Don't ask her, father,” she said; “the truth is, that I + believe she has a headache—however, I'll take her place—have + you any objection to me, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + None in the world—he would be very happy—only he regretted + that he could not have that pleasure also with his sister. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Hycy—which is properly Hyacinthus,” said Finigan; “I am + able to perceive that Cupid declines to be propitious in that quarter, or + perhaps it's the <i>irae amantium</i>,—-which is, on being rendered + into vernacularity, a falling out of lovers; and if so, do not despair; + for as certain as it is, it will be followed by that most delectable of + processes, the <i>redintegratio amoris</i>, or the renewing of love. In + fact, he is a little better than a tyro—an ignoramus, who doesn't + quarrel at least once a week, wid the fair object of his amorous + inclinations, an' that for the sake of the reconciliaitons.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy and Hanna were now about to dance, when Philip Hogan came forward, + and, with an oath, declared that Kathleen must dance—“He wouldn't + see Mr. Burke insulted that way by any such airs—and by—she + must dance. Come,” said he, “what stuff is this—we'll see whether + you or I is strongest;” and as he spoke he seized her rudely by the arm, + and was about to pull her out on the floor. + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon sprung to his feet. “Let her go, you ruffian,” he exclaimed; + “let her go this instant.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I won't,” replied the savage; “an' not for you, at any rate. Come, + Miss Kathleen, out you'll go:—for you indeed,” he added, in a + ferocious parenthesis, looking at Bryan; “it's you that's the cause of all + this. Come, miss, dance you must.” + </p> + <p> + The words were scarcely uttered when M'Mahon, by a single blow on the + neck, felled him like an ox, and in an instant the whole place was a scene + of wild commotion. The Hogans, however, at all times unpopular, had no + chance in an open affray on such an occasion as this. The feeling that + predominated was, that the ruffianly interference of Philip had been + justly punished; and ere many minutes the usual harmony, with the + exception of some threatening looks and ferocious under growls from the + Hogans, was restored. Hycy and Hanna then went on with their dance, and + when it was over, the schoolmaster rose to depart. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said he, “you are and have the reputation of being a perfect + gentleman <i>homo factus ad unguem</i>—as has been said by the + learned little Roman, who, between you and me, was not overburthened with + an excess of morality. I take the liberty, jinteels, of wishing you a + good-night—<i>precor vobia prosperam noctem!</i> Ah, I can do it + yet; but it wasn't for nothing that I practised the peripatetics in larned + Kerry, where the great O'Finigan is not yet forgotten. I shall now seek a + contiguous place of repose, until the consequences of some slight + bacchanalin libations on my part shall have dispersed themselves into thin + air.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly departed, but from the unsteadiness of his step it was + clear that, as he said, the place of his repose must be contiguous indeed. + Had he been conscious of his own motions it is not likely he would have + sought for repose in Cavanagh's kiln, then the habitation of the Hogans. + It was probably the fact of the door having been left open, which was + generally the case in summer, that induced him to enter—for enter he + did—ignorant, it is to be presumed, that the dwelling he was about + to enter was then inhabited by the Hogans, whom he very much disrelished. + </p> + <p> + The place was nearly waste, and had a very desolate look. Scattered + around, and littered upon shake-down beds of straw, some half dozen young + besmutted savages, male and female, lay stretched in all positions, some + north, others south, without order or decency, but all seeming in that + barbarous luxury which denotes strong animal health and an utter disregard + of cleanliness and bodily comfort. Over in one of the corners lay three or + four budgets, old iron skillets, hammers, lumps of melted lead, broken + pots, a quantity of cows' horns for spoons, wooden dishes that required + clasping, old kettles that wanted repair, a couple of cast off Poteen + Stills, and a new one half made—all of which were visible by the + light of a large log of bog-fir which lay burning in the fire-place. On + looking around him, he descended a flight of stone steps that led to the + fireplace or the kiln or opening in which the fuel used to dry the grain + was always burned. This corner, which was eight or ten feet below the + other portion of the floor, being, in general, during the summer months + filled with straw, received the drowsy pedagogue, who, in a few minutes, + was as sound asleep as any of them about him. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, who was conscious of his good figure, danced two or three times + afterwards. + </p> + <p> + Dora M'Mahon had the honor of being his partner, as had one or two of the + best looking girls present. At the close of the last dance he looked + significantly at the Hogans, and nodded towards the door; after which it + might have been observed, that they slunk out one at a time, followed in a + few minutes by Kate Hycy, after some further chat with Gerald Cavanagh and + his wife, threw half a crown to Mickey M'Grory, and in his usual courteous + phraseology, through which there always ran, by the way, a vein of strong + irony, he politely wished them all a good night. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII.—Anonymous Letter with a Name to It + </h2> + <h3> + —Finigan's Dialogue with Hycy + </h3> + <p> + The severest tax upon Hycy's powers of invention was, in consequence of + his habits of idleness, to find means of occupying his time. Sometimes, it + is true, he condescended to oversee the men while at work, but there it + was generally found that so far from keeping them to their employment, he + was a considerable drawback upon their industry. The ordinary business of + his life, however, was riding about the country, and especially into the + town of Ballymacan and home again. He was also a regular attendant in all + the neighboring fairs; and we may safely assert that no race in the + province ever came off without him. + </p> + <p> + On the second day after his interview with Teddy Phats and the Hogans, he + was riding past the post-office, when he heard the window tapped, and, on + approaching, a letter was handed out to him, which on opening he found to + contain the following communication:— + </p> + <p> + “Worthy Mr. Hyacinthus— + </p> + <p> + “A friend unknown to you, but not altogether so to fame, and one. whom no + display of the subtlest ingenuity on behalf of your acute and sagacious + intellect could ever decypher through the medium of this epistle, begs to + convey to you a valuable portion of anonymous information. When he says + that he is not unknown to fame, the assertion, as far as it goes, is + pregnant wid veracity. Mark that I say, as far as it goes, by which is + meant the assertion as well as the fame of your friend, the inditer of + this significant epistle. Forty-eight square miles of good sound fame your + not inerudite correspondent can conscientiously lay claim to; and although + there is, with regret I admit it, a considerable portion of the square + superficies alluded to, waste and uncultivated moor, yet I can say, wid + that racy touch of genial and expressive pride which distinguishes men of + letters in general, that the other portions of this fine district are + inhabited by a multitudinity of population in the highest degree + creditable to the prolific powers of the climate. 'Tisn't all as one, + then, as that thistle-browsing quadruped. Barney Heffeman, who presumes, + in imitation of his betters, to write Philomath after his name, and whose + whole extent of literary reputation is not more than two or three beggarly + townlands, whom, by the way, he is inoculating successfully wid his own + ripe and flourishing ignorance. No, sir; nor like Gusty Gibberish, or (as + he has been most facetiously christened by his Reverence, Father + O'Flaherty) Demosthenes M'Gosther, inasmuch as he is distinguished for an + aisy and prodigal superfluity of mere words, unsustained by + intelligibility or meaning, but who cannot claim in his own person a mile + and a half of dacent reputation. However, <i>quid multis</i> Mr. + Hyacinthus; 'tis no indoctrinated or obscure scribe who now addresses you, + and who does so from causes that may be salutary to your own health and + very gentlemanly fame, according as you resave the same, not pretermitting + interests involving, probably, on your part, an abundant portion of + pecuniarity. + </p> + <p> + “In short, then, it has reached these ears, Mr. Hyacinthus, and between + you and me, they are not such a pair as, in consequence of their + longitudinity, can be copiously shaken, or which rise and fall according + to the will of the wearer; like those of the thistle-browser already + alluded to; it has reached them that you are about to substantiate a a + disreputable—excuse the phrase—co-partnership wid four of the + most ornamental villains on Hibernian earth, by which you must understand + me to mane that the villains aforesaid are not merely accomplished in all + the plain principles and practices of villainy, but finished off even to + its natest and most inganious decorations. Their whole life has been most + assiduously and successfully devoted to a general violation of the ten + commandments, as well as to the perpetual commission of the seven deadly + sins. Nay, the 'reserved cases' themselves can't escape them, and it is + well known that they wont rest satisfied wid the wide catalogue of + ordinary and general iniquity, but they must, by way of luxury, have a + lick at blasphemy, and some of the rarer vices, as often as they can, for + the villains are so fastidious that they won't put up wid common + wickedness like other people. I cannot, however, wid anything + approximating to a safe conscience, rest here. What I have said has + reference to the laws of God, but what I am about to enumerate relates to + the laws of man—to the laws of the land Wid respect, then, to them, + I do assure you, that although I myself look upon the violation of a great + number of the latter wid a very vanial squint, still, I say, I do assure + you that they have not left a single law made by Parliament unfractured. + They have gone over the whole statute-book several times, and I believe + are absolutely of opinion that the Parliament is doing nothing. The most + lynx-eyed investigator of old enactments could not find one which has + escaped them, for the villains are perfectly black letter in that respect; + and what is in proper keeping wid this, whenever they hear of a new Act of + Parliament they cannot rest either night or day until they break it. And + now for the inference: be on your guard against this pandemonial squad. + Whatever your object may be in cultivating and keeping society wid them, + theirs is to ruin you—fleece was the word used—an I then to + cut and run, leaving Mr. Hycy—the acute, the penetrating, the + accomplished—completely in the lurch. Be influenced, then, by the + amicitial admonitions of the inditer of this correspondence. Become not a + smuggler—forswear poteen. The Lord forgive me, Mr. Hycy—no, I + only wished to say forswear—not the poteen—but any connection + wid the illegal alembic from which it is distillated, otherwise they will + walk off wid the 'doublings,' or strong liquor, leaving you nothing but + the residuum or feints. Take a friend's advice, therefore, and retrograde + out of all society and connection wid the villains I have described; or if + you superciliously overlook this warning, book it down as a fact that + admits of no negation, that you will be denuded of reputation, of honesty, + and of any pecuniary contingencies that you may happen to possess. This is + a sincere advice from + </p> + <p> + “Your Anonymous Friend, + </p> + <p> + “Patricius O'Finigan, Philomath.” + </p> + <p> + After perusing this characteristic production, Hycy paused for a little, + and felt it very probable that there might be some reasonable grounds for + its production, although he could scarcely understand upon what motive + these fellows should proceed to practice treachery towards him. That they + were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied; but he knew + it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters connected with + their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's blunder—for + such it evidently was—in signing his name to a document that he + intended to be anonymous. + </p> + <p> + “At all events,” thought he, “I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he + calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me + such a warning.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin + that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little + bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating from a + different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of common, + where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour Mr. O'Finigan + went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The little village + of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood, was composed of a + couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small grocer's and publican's, + together with a Pound at the entrance, through which ran a little stream + necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to drink. + </p> + <p> + On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his own + name repeated by at least two dozen voices. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a gintleman, masther”—“It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir “—“It + is, bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen—” + </p> + <p> + “Him that rides the race, masther”—“Ay, an' he has on top-boots and + buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman—” + </p> + <p> + “Silence!” said Finigan, “silence! I say; is this proper scholastic + decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you + reptiles, or castigation shall result. Here, Paddy Sparable,” he added, + rising up—“here, you nailroad, assume my office, and rule the + establishment till I return; and, mark me, as the son of a nailer, sirra, + I expect that you will rule them with a rod of iron—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but Paddy Pancake's here to-day, sir, an' he's able to welt me; so + that's it's only leathered I'd get, sir, i' you plase.” + </p> + <p> + “But have you no officers? Call in aid, I ordher you. Can't you make Sam + Scaddhan and Phiddher Mackleswig there two policeman get Pancake down—flatten + him—if he prove contumacious during my absence. Pancake, mark me, + obedience is your cue, or, if not, the castigator here is your + alternative; there it is, freshly cut—ripe and ready—and you + are not to be told, at this time o' day, what portion of your corpus will + catch it. Whish-h-h!—silence! I say. How do you do, Mr. Burke? I am + proud of a visit from you, sir; perhaps you would light down and examine a + class. My Greeks are all absent to-day; but I have a beautiful class o' + Romans in the Fourth Book of Virgil—immortal Maro. Do try them, Mr. + Hycy; if they don't do Dido's death in a truly congenial spirit I am no + classic. Of one thing I can assure you, that they ought; for I pledge my + reputation it is not the first time I've made them practice the Irish cry + over it. This, however, was but natural; for it is now well known to the + learned that, if Dido herself was not a fair Hibernian, she at least spoke + excellent Irish. Ah, Mr. Hycy,” he added, with a grin, “the birch is the + only pathetic switch growing! Will you come in, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, Mr. Finigan; but perhaps you would have the goodness to + come out for a little;” and, as he spoke, he nodded towards the + public-house. “I know the boys will be quiet until you return.” + </p> + <p> + “If they don't,” replied Finigan, “the alternative is in no shape + enigmatical. Mark what I've already said, gintlemen. Sparable, do you keep + a faithful journal of the delinquents; and observe that there are offices + of importance in this world besides flagellating erudition into reptiles + like you.” + </p> + <p> + He then looked about him with an air of vast importance, and joined Hycy + on his way to the public-house. Having ordered in the worthy pedagogue's + favorite beverage, not forgetting something of the same kind for himself, + he addressed Finigan as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Finigan, I received a devilish queer letter from you to-day—take + your liquor in the mean time—what did you mean by it?” + </p> + <p> + “From me, Mr. Hycy—<i>nego</i>, I say—<i>pugnis et calc bu + nego</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, you know you wrote me an anonymous letter, referring to some + ridiculous copartnership or other that I can neither make head nor tail + of. Tell me candidly what you meant.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Mr. Burke; but sure I know of old that jocularity was always + your forte—even when laying in under my own instruction that sound + classical substratum on which the superstructure of your subsequent + knowledge was erected, you were always addicted to the facetious and the + fabulous—both of which you contrived to blend together with an ease + and volubility of language that could not be surpassed.” + </p> + <p> + “That is all very well; but you need not deny that you wrote me the + letter. Let me ask you seriously, what was it you warned me against?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Propino tibi salulem</i>—here's to you. No, but let me ask you + what you are at, Mr. Hycy? You may have resaved an anonymous letter, but I + am ignorant why you should paternize it upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because it has all the marks and tokens of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh?—to what does that amount? Surely you know my handwriting?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly; but this is disguised evidently.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith,” said the other, laughing, “maybe the inditer of it was disguised + when he wrote it.” + </p> + <p> + “It might be,” replied Hycy; “however, take your liquor, and in the mean + time I shall feel exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Finigan, if you will + tell me the truth at once—whether you wrote it or whether you did + not?” + </p> + <p> + “My response again is in the negative,” replied Finigan—“I disclaim + it altogether. I am not the scribe, you may rest assured of it, nor can I + say who is.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Hycy, “I find I must convict you yourself of the + fabulous at least; read that,” said he, placing the letter in his own + hands. “Like a true Irishman you signed your name unconsciously; and now + what have you to say for yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied the other, “that some knave, of most fictitious + imagination, has forged my name to it. No man can say that that is my + manuscription, Mr. Hycy.” These words he uttered with great coolness; and + Hycy, who was in many things a shrewd young fellow, deemed it better to + wait until the liquor, which was fast disappearing, should begin to + operate. At length, when about three-quarters of an hour had passed, he + resolved to attack his vanity. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Finigan, as regards this letter, I must say I feel a good + deal disappointed.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so, Mr. Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because I did not think there was any other man in the country who + could have written it.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh? how is that now?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, it's very simple; the letter is written with surprising ability—the + language is beautiful—and the style, like the land of Canaan, + flowing with milk and honey. It is certainly a most uncommon production.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, seriously, do you think so? At all events, Mr. Hycy, it was written + by a friend of yours—that's a clear case.” + </p> + <p> + “I think so; but what strikes me is its surprising ability; no wonder the + writer should say that he is not unknown to fame—he could not + possibly remain in obscurity.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Hycy, your health—I remember when you were wid me you certainly + were <i>facile princeps</i> for a ripe judgment, even in your rudiments; + so then, you are of opinion that the epistle in question has janius? I + think myself it is no everyday production; not I believe such as the + thistle-browser Heffernan, or Misther Demosthenes M'Gosther could achieve—the + one wid his mile and a half, and the other wid his three townlands of + reputation. No, sir, to the divil I pitch them both; they could never + indite such a document. Your health, Mr. Hycy—<i>propino tibi</i>, I + say; and you are right, <i>ille ego</i>—it's a a fact; I am the man, + sir—I acknowledge the charge.” + </p> + <p> + This admission having been made, we need scarcely add that an explanation + was at at once given by Finigan of the motive which had induced him to + write the letter. + </p> + <p> + “On laving the kemp,” said he, “and getting into the open air—<i>sub + diu</i>, Mr. Hycy—I felt a general liquidation of my whole bodily + strength, with a strong disposition to make short excursions to the right + or to the left rather than hold my way straight a-head, with, I must + confess, an equal tendency to deposit my body on my mother earth and enact + the soporiferous. On passing Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where the Hogans + kennel, I entered, and was greeted wid such a chorus of sternutation as + you might expect from a pigsty in midsummer, and made me envy the unlicked + young savages who indulged in it. At the period spoken of neither you nor + they had come in from the kemp. Even this is but a dim recollection, and I + remember nothing more until I overheard your voice and theirs in dialogue + as you were about to depart. After you went, I heard the dialogue which I + hinted at in the letter, between Teddy Phats and them; and knowing my + position and the misbegotten satyrs by whom I was surrounded, I patiently + waited until they were asleep, when I quietly took my departure.” + </p> + <p> + Burke could not help inferring from Finigan's manner, that he had + overheard a greater portion of their conversation on the occasion alluded + to than he seemed disposed to acknowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Finigan,” he said, “I feel disposed to place every confidence in + you. Will you answer candidly the question I am about to propose to you? + Did you hear Bryan M'Mahon's name mentioned?” + </p> + <p> + “You say, Mr. Hycy,” replied Finigan, emptying his glass, “that you would + enthertain no apprehension in placing confidence in me?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the slightest,” replied Hycy; “I believe you to be the very soul of + honor; and, besides, are you not my old master? As you say yourself, did I + not break grammatical ground, under you?” + </p> + <p> + “The soul of honor,” replied the pedagogue, complacently—“that is + excellently said. Well, then, Mr. Burke, I shall not deal out my + confidence by beggarly instalments—I did hear Bryan M'Mahon's name + mentioned; and I heard a plan alluded to between you and them for reducing + him to—” + </p> + <p> + “That was all humbug, Finigan, so far as I am concerned; but for the + present I am obliged to let them suppose what you allude to, in order to + keep them honest to myself if I can. You know they have a kind of + hereditary hatred against the M'Mahons; and if I did not allow them to + take their own way in this, I don't think I could depend on them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, there is raison in that too,” replied Finigan. + </p> + <p> + “I am sure, Finigan,” proceeded Hycy, “that you are too honorable a man to + breathe either to Bryan M'Mahon or any one else, a single syllable of the + conversation which you overheard merely by accident. I say I am certain + you will never let it transpire, either by word of mouth or writing. In me + you may always calculate on finding a sincere friend; and of this let me + assure you, that your drink, if everything goes right with us, won't cost + you much—much! not a penny; if you had two throats instead of one—as + many necks as Hydra, we should supply them all.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me your hand, Mr. Hycy—you are a gintleman, and I always said + would be one—I did, sir—I prognosticated as much years ago; + and sincerely felicitous am I that my prognostications have been verified + for so far. I said you would rise—that exaltation was before you—and + that your friends might not feel at all surprised at the elevated position + in which you will die. <i>Propino tibi</i>, again—and do not fear + that ever revelation of mine shall facilitate any catastrophe that may + await you.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy looked keenly into the schoolmaster's face as he uttered the last + observation; but in the maudlin and collapsed features then before him he + could read nothing that intimated the sagacity of a double meaning. This + satisfied him; and after once more exacting from Finigan a pledge of what + he termed honorable confidence, he took his departure. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX.—A Little Polities, Much Friendship, and Some Mystery + </h2> + <p> + This communication determined Hycy to forego his intention for the + present, and he consequently allowed the summer and autumn to pass without + keeping up much intercourse with either Teddy Phats or the Hogans. The + truth is, that Burke, although apparently frank and candid, was + constitutionally cautious, and inclined a good deal to suspicion. He + feared that no project, the knowledge of which was held in common with + Finigan, could be long kept a secret; and for that reason he make up his + mind to postpone the matter, and allow it to die away out of the + schoolmaster's mind ere he bestowed any further attention upon it. In the + meantime, the state of the country was gradually assuming a worse and more + depressing character. The season was unfavorable; and although we do not + assert that many died of immediate famine, yet we know that hundreds—nay, + thousands—died from the consequences of scarcity and destitution—or, + in plainer words, from fever and other diseases induced by bad and + insufficient food, and an absence of the necessary comforts of life. + Indeed, at the period of our narrative, the position of Ireland was very + gloomy; but when, we may ask, has it been otherwise, within the memory of + man, or the records of history? Placed as the country was, emigration went + forward on an extensive scale,—emigration, too, of that peculiar + description which every day enfeebles and impoverishes the country, by + depriving her of all that approaches to anything like a comfortable and + independent yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of depletion which no + country can bear long; and, as it is, at the moment we are writing this, + progressing at a rate beyond all precedent, it will not, we trust, be + altogether uninteresting to inquire into some of the causes that have + occasioned it. Let not our readers apprehend, however, that we are about + to turn our fictitious narrative into a dissertation on political economy. + Of course the principle cause of emigration is the poverty and depressed + state of the country; and it follows naturally, that whatever occasions + our poverty will necessarily occasion emigration. The first cause of our + poverty then, is Absenteeism, which, by drawing six or seven millions out + of the country, deprives our people of employment and means of life to + that amount. The next is the general inattention of Irish landlords to the + state and condition of their own property, and an inexcusable want of + sympathy with their tenantry, which, indeed, is only a corollary from the + former; for it can hardly be expected that those who wilfully neglect + themselves will feel a warm interest in others. The next is the evil of + subletting, by which property becomes overloaded with human beings, who, + for the most part, are bound by no ties whatsoever to the owner of the + soil. He is not their landlord, nor are they his tenants; and so far from + their interests being in any way reciprocal, they are actually + adversative. It is his interest to have them removed, and, as + circumstances unfortunately stand, it is theirs to remain, inasmuch as + their alternative is ruin since they have no place of shelter to receive + them. + </p> + <p> + Political corruption, in the shape of the forty-shilling franchise, was + another cause, and one of the very worst, which led to the prostration of + the country by poverty and moral degradation, and for this the proprietors + of the soil are solely responsible. Nor can the use of the potato, as the + staple food of the laboring classes, in connection with the truck system, + and the consequent absence of money payments, in addition to the necessary + ignorance of domestic and social comforts that resulted from them, be left + out of this wretched catalogue of our grievances. Another cause of + emigration is to be found in the high and exorbitant rents at which land + is held by all classes of farmers—with some exceptions we admit, as + in the case of old leases—but especially by those who hold under + middlemen, or on the principle of subletting generally. By this system a + vast deal of distress and petty but most harrassing oppression is every + day in active operation upon the property of the head landlord, which he + can never know, and for which he is in no other way responsible unless by + having ever permitted the existence of it for any purpose whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + In a country distracted like Ireland, it would be impossible to omit the + existence of political and religious animosity as a strong and prominent + cause of our wretched poverty, and consequently of emigration. The priest, + instead of leaving temporal affairs to temporal men, most improperly + mingles himself in the angry turmoils of politics, to which, by his + interference, he communicates a peculiar and characteristic bitterness. + The landlord, on the other hand, having his own interests to consult, does + not wish to arm a political opponent with such powers as he knows will + most assuredly be turned against himself, and consequently often refuses + to grant a lease unless to those who will pledge themselves to support + him. This state of things, involving, as it does, much that is wrong on + both sides, is, has been, and will be, a present and permanent curse to + the country—a curse, too, which, until there is more of humanity and + justice on the one side, and of education and liberal feeling on the + other, is not likely to disappear from the country. + </p> + <p> + Though last, not least, comes the unaccountable and guilty neglect of our + legislature (if we can call it ours) in everything that pertained to Irish + interests. This, together with its almost necessary consequence of + dishonest agitation on the one hand, and well founded dissatisfaction on + the other, nearly completes the series of the causes which have produced + the poverty of the country, and, as a direct result, the emigration of all + that is most comfortable, independent, and moral among us. + </p> + <p> + This poverty, arising, as it does, from so many causes, has propagated + itself with a rapidity which is startling; for every one knows that + poverty is proverbially prolific. And yet it is a grievous anomaly to + reflect that a country so far steeped in misery and destitution as to have + nearly one-half of its population in a state of most pitiable pauperism, + possesses a soil capable of employing and maintaining three times the + number of its inhabitants. When the causes, however, which we have just + enumerated are seriously looked at and considered, we think its + extraordinary result is, after all, so very natural, that the wonder would + indeed be were the state of Ireland otherwise than it is. As matters stand + at present, and as they are likely to continue, unless parliament shall + interfere by a comprehensive measure of legislation, we must only rest + contented with seeing the industrious, moral, and respectable portion of + our countrymen abandoning the land of their birth and affections, and + nothing but the very dregs—degraded alike by idleness and immorality—remaining + behind to multiply and perpetuate their own wretchedness and degradation. + </p> + <p> + It has been often said, and with great truth, that no man is more + devotedly attached to his native soil than an Irishman; yet it may + reasonably be asked, how this principle of attachment can be reconciled + with the strong tendency to emigration which characterizes our people. We + reply, that the tendency in question is a proof of the love of honest + industry, enterprise, and independence, by which our countrymen, when not + degraded by neglect and poverty, are actuated. It is not of this class, + however so degraded, that we now speak. On the contrary we take the decent + and respectable farmer as the subject of our illustration—the man + who, loving his native fields as if they were of his blood, would almost + as soon part with the one as the other. This man it is, who, with the most + child-like tenderness of affection towards the land on which he and his + have lived for centuries, will, nevertheless, the moment he finds himself + on the decline, and with no cheering hope of prosperity or encouragement + before him or his family, resolutely determine to forget everything but + the noble duties which he owes to himself and them. He sees clearly, from + the unhappy state of the country, and the utter want of sympathy and + attention which he experiences at the hands of those who ought to have his + interests at heart, that if he attempt to hold his position under + circumstances so depressing and unfavorable, he must gradually sink, until + he and his become mingled with the great mass of pauperism which lies lik + a an incubus upon the energies of the country. What, therefore, can + possibly prove more strongly than this that the Irishman who is not + dragged into the swamp of degradation, in which hope and energy are + paralyzed, is strongly and heroically characterized by I those virtues of + industry and enterprise that throw their lustre over social life? + </p> + <p> + There are other and still more indefensible causes, however, which too + frequently drive the independent farmer out of the country. In too many + cases it happens that the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, + countenanced or stimulated by the necessities and reckless extravagance of + the landlord, fall, like some unwholesome blight, upon that enterprise and + industry which would ultimately, if properly encouraged, make the country + prosperous and her landed proprietors independent men. We allude to the + nefarious and monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who have made + improvements, or, when permitted to remain, making them pay for the + improvements which they have made. A vast proportion of this crying and + oppressive evil must be laid directly to the charge of those who fill the + responsible situation of agents to property in Ireland, than whom in + general there does not exist, a more unscrupulous, oppressive, arrogant, + and dishonest class of men. Exceptions of course there are, and many, but + speaking of them as a body, we unhappily assert nothing but what the + condition of property, and of those who live upon it, do at this moment + and have for many a year testified. + </p> + <p> + Several months had now elapsed, and although the M'Mahons had waited upon + the agent once or twice since the interview which we have already + described between him and Tom, yet there seemed no corresponding anxiety + on the part of Fethertonge to have the leases prepared or executed. This + neglect or reluctance did not occasion much uneasiness to the old man, who + was full of that generous and unsuspecting confidence that his countrymen + always repose in the promise of a landlord respecting a lease, which they + look upon, or did at least, as something absolutely inviolable and sacred, + as indeed it ought to be. Bryan, however, who, although a young man, was + not destitute of either observation or the experience which it bestows, + and who, moreover, had no disposition to place unlimited confidence in + Fethertonge, began to entertain some vague suspicions with reference to + the delay. Fethertonge, however, had not the reputation of being a harsh + man, or particularly unjust in his dealings with the world; on the + contrary, he was rather liked than otherwise; for so soft was the melody + of his voice, and so irresistible the friendship and urbanity of his + manner, that many persons felt as much gratified by the refusal of a favor + from him as they did at its being granted by another. At length, towards + the close of October, Bryan himself told his father that he would, call + upon the agent and urge him to expedite the matter of the leases. “I don't + know how it is,” said he, “but some way or other I don't feel comfortable + about this business: Fethertonge is very civil and very dacent, and is + well spoken of in general; but for all that there's always a man here an' + there that says he's not to be depended on.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth an' he is to be depended on,” said his generous father; “his words + isn't like the words of a desaver, and it isn't till he shows the cloven + foot that I'll ever give in that he's, dishonest.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Bryan, “I'm sure I for one hope you may be right; but, at any + rate, as he's at home now I'll start and see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Do then,” said his father, “bekaise I know you're a favorite of his; for + he tould me so wid his own lips.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the other, laughing, “I hope you're right there too; I'm + sure I have no objection;” and he accordingly set out to see Fethertonge, + but with something of an impression that the object of his visit was not + likely to be accomplished without difficulty, if accomplished at all. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the agent's house he met a thin, tall man, named Clinton, with + a hooked nose and sinister aspect, riding down the avenue, after having + paid Fethertonge a visit. This person was the gauger of the district, a + bachelor and a man of considerable wealth, got together, it is suspected, + by practices that were not well capable of bearing the light. His family + consisted of a niece and a nephew, the latter of whom had recently become + a bosom friend of the accomplished Hycy Burke, who, it was whispered, + began to look upon Miss Clinton with a partial eye. Hycy had got + acquainted with him at the Herringstown races, where he, Hycy, rode and + won a considerable sweepstakes; and as both young gentlemen were pretty + much of the same habits of life, a very warm intimacy had, for some time + past, subsisted between them. Clinton, to whom M'Mahon was known, + addressed him in a friendly manner, and, after some chat, he laid the + point of his whip gently upon Bryan's shoulder, so as to engage his + attention. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said he, “I am glad I have met you, and I trust our meeting + will be for your good. You have had a dispute with Hycy Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir,” replied Bryan, smiling, “if I had it wasn't such as it was + worth his while to talk about.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, M'Mahon, that's generously said on your part—now, listen to + me; don't allow yourself to be drawn into any illegal or illicit + proceedings by any one, friend or foe—if so, you will only put + yourself into the power of your enemies; for enemies you have, I can + assure you.” + </p> + <p> + “They say, sir, there is no one without them,” replied Bryan, smiling; + “but so far as I am consarned, I don't exactly understand what you mane. I + have no connection with anything, either illegal or—or—wrong + in any way, Mr. Clinton, and if any one tould you so, they spoke an + untruth.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay,” said Clinton, “that may be so, and I hope it is so; but you know + that it could not be expected you would admit it even if it be true. Will + you in the mean time, be guided by a friend? I respect your father and his + family; I respect yourself, M'Mahon; and, consequently, my advice to you + is—keep out of the meshes of the law—avoid violating it—and + remember you have enemies. Now think of these words, and so good-bye, + M'Mahon! Indeed, I am glad for your own sake I met you—good-bye!” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered the last words he dashed on and left Bryan in a state of + perfect amazement at the strange and incomprehensible nature of the + communication he had just received. Indeed, so full was his mind of the + circumstance, that forgetting all his suspicions of Fethertonge, and urged + by the ingenuous impulse of an honest heart, he could not prevent himself + in the surprise and agitation of the moment from detailing the + conversation which he had just had with the gauger. + </p> + <p> + “That is singular enough,” said Fethertonge—“he named Hycy Burke, + then?” + </p> + <p> + “He did, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “It is singular,” proceeded the other, as if speaking to himself; “in + truth, my dear M'Mahon, we were talking about you, discussing, in fact, + the same subject not many minutes ago; and what you tell me now is only an + additional proof that Clinton, who is sometimes harshly spoken of by the + way, is a straightforward, honest man.” + </p> + <p> + “What could he mane, sir?” asked Bryan, “I never had anything to do + contrary to the law—I haven't now, nor do I ever intend to have—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm sure I do not know,” replied the agent: “he made no illusion of + that kind to me, from a generous apprehension, I dare say, lest he might + injure you in my opinion. He only desired me not rashly to listen to + anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who were + laboring to injure you in some way—but how—he either would not + tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for I + shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice.” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you beforehand, sir,” said Bryan, with the conscious warmth of + rectitude, “and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear + anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should say + that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or justice, + you'll hear a falsehood—I don't care who it comes from—and the + man who tells you so is a liar.” + </p> + <p> + “I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve me + to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn into + anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual of your + family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve me—deeply + would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so honest—but no, I + will not, for I cannot suppose it.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could + not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation + which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were + now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of + which he knew nothing. + </p> + <p> + “You take it lightly,” said Fethertonge, with something of a serious + expression; “but remember, my dear Bryan, that I now speak as one + interested in, and, in fact, representing the other members of your + family. Remember, at all events, you are forewarned, and, in the meantime, + I thank Clinton—although I certainly would not have mentioned names. + Bryan, you can have no objection that I should speak to your father on + this subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Not the slightest, sir,” replied Bryan; “spake to any one you like about + it; but, putting that aside, sir, for the present—about these + leases?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what apprehension have you about them, Byran?” + </p> + <p> + “No apprehension, sir, sartinly; but you know yourself, Mr. Fethertonge, + that to a man like me, that's layin' out and expendin' money every day + upon Adaharra farm, and my father the same way upon Carriglass—I + say, to a man like me, to be layin' out his money, when you know yourself + that if the present landlord should refuse to carry his father's dying + words into effect—or, as you said this minute yourself, sir, if some + enemy should turn you against me, amn't I and my father and the whole + family liable to be put out, notwithstanding all the improvements we've + made, and the money we've spent in makin' them?” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said Fethertonge, after a pause, “every word you say is + unfortunately too true—too true—and such things, are a + disgrace to the country; indeed, I believe, they seldom occur in any + country but this. Will it in the mean time satisfy you when I state that, + if old Mr. Chevydale's intentions are not carried into effect by his son, + I shall forthwith resign my agency?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan's conscience, generous as he was, notwithstanding his suspicions, + smote him deeply on hearing this determination so unequivocally expressed. + Indeed the whole tenor of their dialogue, taken in at one view—especially + Fethertonge's intention of speaking to Tom M'Mahon upon the mysterious + subject of Bryan's suspected delinquencies against the law—so + thoroughly satisfied him of the injustice he had rendered Fethertonge, + that he was for a time silent. + </p> + <p> + At length he replied—“That, sir, is more than we could expect; but + at any rate there's one thing I'm now sartin of—that, if we're + disappointed, you won't be the cause of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but of course you must put disappointment out of the question. The + landlord, will, without any doubt, grant the leases—I am satisfied + of that; indeed, there can be no doubt about it. By the way, I am anxious + to see Ahadarra and to ascertain the extent to which you have carried your + improvements. Clinton and I will probably take a ride up there some day + soon; and in the meantime do you keep improving, M'Mahon, for that's the + secret of all success—leave the rest to me. How is your father?” + </p> + <p> + “Never was better, sir, I'm thankful to you.” + </p> + <p> + “And your grandfather? how does he bear up?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, sir, wonderfully, considering his age.” + </p> + <p> + “He must be very old now?” + </p> + <p> + “He's ninety-four, sir, and that's a long age sure enough; but I'm sorry + to say that my mother's health isn't so well.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what is the matter with her? I'm sorry to hear this.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we can't say; she's very poorly—her appetite is gone—she + has a cough, an' she doesn't get her rest at night.” + </p> + <p> + “Why don't you get medical advice?” + </p> + <p> + “So we did, sir. Dr. Sexton's attendin' her; but I don't think somehow + that he has a good opinion of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Sexton's a skilful man, and I don't think she could be in better hands; + however, Bryan, I shall feel obliged if you will send down occasionally to + let me know how she gets on—once a week or so.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed we will, sir, an' I needn't say how much we feel obliged to you + for your kindness and good wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “It must be more than good wishes, Bryan; but I trust that she will get + better. In the meantime leave the other matters to me, and you may expect + Clinton and I up at your farm to look some of these days.” + </p> + <p> + “God forgive me,” thought Bryan, as he left the hall-door, “for the + injustice I did him, by supposin' for one minute that he wasn't disposed + to act fairly towards us. My father was right; an' it was foolish of me to + put my wit against his age an' experience. Oh, no, that man's honest—there + can;t be any mistake about it.” + </p> + <p> + From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way home, + to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity towards + him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy Burke had, + in general, the character of being a generous, dashing young fellow, with + no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a thoughtless inclination + for extravagance; for such were the gentle terms in which habits of + seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in the expenditure of money were + clothed by those who at once fleeced and despised him, but who were + numerous enough to impress those opinions upon a great number of the + people. In turning over matters as they stood between them, he could trace + Burke's enemity to no adequate cause; nor indeed could he believe it + possible that he entertained any such inveterate feeling of hostility + against him. They had of late frequently met, on which occasion Hycy spoke + to him with nearly as much cordiality as ever. Still, however, he could + not altogether free himself from the conviction, that both Clinton and + Fethertonge must have had unquestionable grounds for the hints which they + had in such a friendly way thrown out to him. + </p> + <p> + In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet + behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him + at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, on + seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, “If you are + not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you.” + </p> + <p> + The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, “a word, Bryan! ay, a + hundred—certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have + some conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” proceeded Bryan, “I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow + me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?” + </p> + <p> + “Will you answer me another question?” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “If I can I will,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” replied Hycy, “I will answer you most candidly, Bryan—not + the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling + against me.” + </p> + <p> + “And you wor right, too,” returned Bryan “for I really had.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember,” proceeded Hycy, “that when I asked you to lend me + thirty-five pounds—and by the way that reminds me that I am still + pretty deep in your debt—you would neither lend it nor give any + satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that feeling, + Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my + pocket,” replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which + Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself. “Read that,” said he, + “and I think you'll have no great trouble in understanding why I felt as I + did;—an' indeed, Hycy, to tell you the truth, I never had the same + opinion of you since.” Hycy, to his utter amazement, read as follows: + </p> + <p> + “My Dear Miss Cavanagh:— + </p> + <p> + “Will you permit little Cupid, the god of Love, to enrol the name of Hycy + Burke on the long list of your adorers? And if you could corrupt the + little stone-blind divinity to blot out every name on it but my own, I + should think that a very handsome anticipation of the joys of Paradise + could be realized by that delightful fact. I say anticipation—for my + creed is, that the actual joys of Paradise exist no where, but within the + celestial circle of your ambrosial arms. That is the Paradise which I + propose to win; and you may rest assured that I shall bring the most + flaming zeal, the most fervent devotion, and all the genuine piety of a + true worshipper, to the task of attaining it. I shall carry, for instance, + a little Bible of Love in my pocket—for I am already a divinity + student or a young collegian under little Cupid aforesaid—and I will + have it all dogeared with refreshing texts for my edification. I should + state, however, that I am, as every good Christian is, awfully exclusive + in my creed; and will suffer no one, if I can prevent it, to approach the + Paradise I speak of but myself. In fact I am as jealous as the very Deuce—whoever + that personage may be—quite an Othello in my way—a perfect + raw-head-and-bloody-bones—with a sharp appetite and teeth like a + Walrus, ready to bolt my rivals in dozens. It is said, my divine creature, + or rather it is hinted, that a certain clodhopping boor, from the + congenial wilds of Ahadarra, is favored by some benignant glances from + those lights of yours that do mislead the moon. I hope this is not so—bow + wow!—ho! ho!—I smell the blood of a rival; and be he great or + small, red or black, or of any color in the rainbow, I shall have him for + my. breakfast—ho! ho! You see now, my most divine Kathleen, what a + terrible animal to all rivals and competitors for your affections I shall + be; and that if it were only for their own sakes, and to prevent carnage + and cannibalism, it will be well for you to banish them once and forever, + and be content only with myself. + </p> + <p> + “Seriously, my dear Kathleen, I believe I am half-crazed; and, if so, you + are the sole cause of it. I can think of no other object than your + beautiful self; and I need scarcely say, that I shall have neither peace + nor happiness unless I shall be fortunate enough to gain a place in your + tender bosom. As for the Ahadarra man, I am surprised you should think of + such an ignorant clodhopper—a fellow whose place Providence + especially allotted to between the stilts of a plough, and at the tail of + a pair of horses. Perhaps you would be kind enough to take a walk on + Thursday evening, somewhere near the river—where I hope I shall have + an opportunity of declaring my affection for you in person. At all events + I shall be there with the ardent expectation of meeting you. + </p> + <p> + “Ever your devoted worshipper, + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke. + </p> + <p> + “P.S.—Beware the clodhopper—bow wow!—ho! ho!” + </p> + <p> + On looking at the back of this singular production he was thunderstruck to + perceive that it was addressed to “Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, Ahadarra”—the + fact being that, in the hurry of the moment, he had misdirected the + letters—Bryan M'Mahon having received that which had been intended + for Kathleen, who, on the contrary, was pressingly solicited to lend him + thirty-fine pounds in order to secure “Crazy Jane.” + </p> + <p> + Having perused this precious production, Hycy, in spite of his chagrin, + was not able to control a most irresistible fit of laughter, in which he + indulged for some minutes. The mistake being now discovered in Bryan's + case was necessarily discovered in that of both, a circumstance which to + Hycy, who now fully understood the mature and consequences of his blunder, + was, as we have stated, the subject of extraordinary mirth, in which, to + tell the truth, Bryan could not prevent himself from joining him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, but after all, Bryan,” said he, “what is there in this letter to + make you angry with me? Don't you see it's a piece of humbug from + beginning to end.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, and I did,” replied Bryan; “but at that time I had never spoken + upon the subject of love or marriage to Kathleen Cavanagh, and I had no + authority nor right to take any one to task on her account, but, at the + same time, I couldn't even then either like or respect, much less lend + money to, any man that could humbug her, or treat such a girl with + disrespect—and in that letther you can't deny that you did both.” + </p> + <p> + “I grant,” said Hycy, “that it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not + intended to offend her.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy,” observed Bryan; “an' that if she + had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to your + discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken there + though.” + </p> + <p> + “She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan—very far from it, + indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther + for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter + to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth, Bryan, + I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “As to that,” replied the other, smiling, “we'll keep never minding—but + you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther, an' I'm + thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first question—have + you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to injure me?” + </p> + <p> + “Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill + feeling against you, nor any design to injure you.” + </p> + <p> + “That's enough, Hycy,” replied his companion; “I think I'm bound to + believe your words.” + </p> + <p> + “You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you + that I had—and if so, who was the person?” + </p> + <p> + “It's enough for you to know,” said Bryan, “that whoever told it to me I + don't believe it.” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly have a right to know,” returned Hycy; “but as the matter is + false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it—all I can + say to satisfy you is, what I have said already—that I entertain no + ill will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no + earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at the + present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing.” + </p> + <p> + “You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?” + </p> + <p> + “No: devil a syllable.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy pulled up his horse. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you,” he exclaimed. “Is it right to + have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that there's + something wrong with your upper works.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” replied Bryan, laughing, “I'm satisfied—the thing's a + mistake—so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the + kind against you and it's all right.” + </p> + <p> + “What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?” exclaimed + Hycy.. + </p> + <p> + “There now,” continued Bryan, “that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfied? + Move on, now and overtake your friend—by the way he's a fine + horseman, they say?” + </p> + <p> + “Very few better,” said Hycy; “but some there are—and one I know—ha! + ha! ha! Good-bye, Bryan, and don't be made a fool of for nothing.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan nodded and laughed, and Hycy dashed on to overtake his friend + Clinton. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's way home lay by Gerald Cavanagh's house, near which as he + approached he saw Nanny Peety in close conversation with Kate Hogan. The + circumstance, knowing their relationship as he did, made no impression + whatsoever upon him, nor would he have bestowed a thought upon it, had he + been left to his own will in the matter. The women separated ere he had + come within three hundred yards of them; Kate, who had evidently been + convoying her niece a part of the way, having returned in the direction of + Cavanagh's, leaving Nanny to pursue her journey home, by which she + necessarily met M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny,” said the latter, “how are you?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, very well, I thank you, Bryan; how are all the family in + Carriglass?” + </p> + <p> + “Barring my mother, they're all well, Nanny. I was glad to hear you got so + good a place, an' I'm still betther plaised to see you look so well—for + it's a proof that you feel comfortable in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Why I can't complain,” she replied; “but you know there's no one widout + their throubles.” + </p> + <p> + “Troubles, Nanny,” said Bryan, with surprise; “why surely, Nanny, barrin' + it's love, I don't see what trouble you can have.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, and may be it is,” said the girl, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, in that case,” replied Bryan, “I grant you're to be pitied; poor + thing, you look so ill and pale upon it, too. An' what is it like, Nanny—this + same love that's on you?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix,” she replied, archly, “it's well for you that Miss Kathleen's not + to the fore or you daren't ax any one sich a question as that.” + </p> + <p> + “Well done, Nanny,” he returned; “do you think she knows what it's like?” + </p> + <p> + “It's not me,” she replied again, “you ought to be axin' sich a question + from; if you don't know it I dunna who ought.” + </p> + <p> + “Begad, you're sharp an' ready, Nanny,” replied Bryan, laughing; “well, + and how are you all in honest Jemmy Burke's?” + </p> + <p> + “Some of us good, some of us bad, and some of us indifferent, but, thank + goodness, all in the best o' health.” + </p> + <p> + “Good, bad, and indifferent,” replied Bryan, pausing a little. “Well, now, + Nanny, if one was to ask you who is the good in your family, what would + you say?” + </p> + <p> + “Of coorse myself,” she returned; “an' stay—let me see—ay, the + masther, honest Jemmy, he and I have the goodness between us.” + </p> + <p> + “And who's the indifferent, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “Wait,” she replied; “yes—no doubt of it—if not worse—why + the mistress must come in for that, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “And now for the bad, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + She shook her head before she spoke. “Ah,” she proceeded, “there would be + more in that house on the bad list than there is, if he, had his way.” + </p> + <p> + “If who had his way?” + </p> + <p> + “Masther Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why is he the bad among you?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God I know him now,” she replied, “an' he knows I do; but he + doesn't know how well I know him.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Nanny, are you in airnest?” asked Bryan, a good deal surprised, and + not a little interested at what he heard, “surely I thought Mr. Hycy a + good-hearted, generous young fellow that one could depend upon, at all + events?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, it's little you know him,” she replied; “and I could”—she + looked at him and paused. + </p> + <p> + “You could what?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “I could tell you something, but I daren't.” + </p> + <p> + “Daren't; why what ought you be afraid of?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matther, I daren't an' thats enough; only aren't you an' Kathleen + Cavanagh goin' to be married?” + </p> + <p> + “We will be married, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, keep a sharp look-out, an take care her father an' mother + doesn't turn against you some o' these days. There a many a slip between + the cup and the lip; that's all I can say, an' more than I ought; an' if + you ever mention my name, its murdhered I'll be.” + </p> + <p> + “An' how is Hycy consarned in this? or is he consarned in it?” + </p> + <p> + “He is, an' he is not; I dursn't tell you more; but I'm not afraid of him, + so far from that, I could soon—but what am I sayin'? Good-bye, an' + as I said, keep a sharp lookout;” and having uttered these words, she + tripped on hastily and left him exceedingly surprised at what she had + said. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X.—More of the Hycy Correspondence + </h2> + <h3> + A Family Debate—Honest Speculations. + </h3> + <p> + Kathleen's refusal to dance, at the kemp, with Hycy Burke, drew down upon + her the loud and vehement indignation of her parents, both of whom looked + upon a matrimonial alliance with the Burkes as an object exceedingly + desirable, and such as would reflect considerable credit on themselves. + Gerald Cavanagh and his wife were certainly persons of the strictest + integrity and virtue. Kind, charitable, overflowing with hospitality, and + remarkable for the domestic virtues and affections in an extraordinary + degree, they were, notwithstanding, extremely weak-minded, and almost + silly, in consequence of an over-weening anxiety to procure “great + matches” for their children. Indeed it may be observed, that natural + affection frequently assumes this shape in the paternal heart, nor is the + vain ambition confined to the Irish peasant alone. On the contrary, it may + be seen as frequently, if not more so, in the middle and higher classes, + where it has ampler scope to work, than in humbler and more virtuous life. + It is this proud and ridiculous principle which consigns youth, and + beauty, and innocence, to the arms of some dissipated profligate of rank, + merely because he happens to inherit a title which he disgraces. There is, + we would wager, scarcely an individual who knows the world, but is + acquainted with some family laboring under this insane anxiety for + connection. Sometimes it is to be found on the paternal side, but, like + most of those senseless inconsistencies which entail little else than + ridicule or ruin, and sometimes both, upon those who are the object of + them, it is, for the most part, a female attribute. + </p> + <p> + Such as it is, however, our friend, Gerald Cavanagh, and his wife—who, + by the way, bore the domestic sceptre in all matters of importance—both + possessed it in all its amplitude and vigor. When the kemp had been broken + up that night, and the family assembled, Mrs. Cavanagh opened the debate + in an oration of great heat and bitterness, but sadly deficient in + moderation and logic. + </p> + <p> + “What on earth could you mane, Kathleen,” she proceeded, “to refuse + dancin' wid such a young man—a gintleman I ought to say—as + Hycy Burke, the son of the wealthiest man in the whole parish, barring the + gentry? Where is the girl that wouldn't bounce at him?—that wouldn't + lave a single card unturned to secure him? Won't he have all his father's + wealth?—won't he have all his land when the ould man dies? and + indeed it's he that will live in jinteel style when he gets everything + into his own hands, as he ought to do, an' not go dhramin' an' dhromin' + about like his ould father, without bein' sartin whether he's alive or + not. He would be something for you, girl, something to turn out wid, an' + that one could feel proud out of; but indeed, Kathleen, as for pride and + decency, you never had as much o' them as you ought, nor do you hold your + head as high as many another girl in your place would do. Deed and throth + I'm vexed at you, and ashamed of you, to go for to hurt his feelins as you + did, widout either rhyme or raison.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth,” said her father, taking up the argument where she left it, “I + dunno how I'll look the respectable young man in the face afther the way + you insulted him. Why on airth wouldn't you dance wid him?” + </p> + <p> + “Because, father, I don't like him.” + </p> + <p> + “An' why don't you like him?” asked her mother. “Where is there his aquil + for either face or figure in the parish, or the barony itself? But I know + the cause of it; you could dance with Bryan M'Mahon. But take this with + you—sorra ring ever Bryan M'Mahon will put on you wid my consent or + your father's, while there's any hope of Hycy Burke at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, during this long harangue, sat smiling and sedate, turning her + beautiful and brilliant eyes sometimes upon one parent, sometimes upon + another, and occasionally glancing with imperturbable sweetness and good + nature at her sister Hanna. At length, on getting an opportunity of + speaking, she replied,— + </p> + <p> + “Don't ask me, mother, to give anything in the way of encouragement to + Hycy Burke; don't ask me, I entrate you, for God's sake—the thing's + impossible, and I couldn't do it. I have no wish for his father's money, + nor any wish for the poor grandeur that you, mother dear, and my father, + seem to set your heart upon. I don't like Hycy Burke—I could never + like him; and rather than marry him, I declare solemnly to God, I would + prefer going into my grave.” + </p> + <p> + As she uttered the last words, which she did with an earnestness that + startled them, her fine features became illuminated, as it were, with a + serene and brilliant solemnity of expression that was strikingly + impressive and beautiful. + </p> + <p> + “Why couldn't you like him, now?” asked her father; “sure, as your mother + says, there's not his aquil for face or figure within many a mile of him?” + </p> + <p> + “But it's neither face nor figure that I look to most, father.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but think of his wealth, and the style he'll live in, I'll go bail, + when he gets married.” + </p> + <p> + “That style maybe won't make his wife happy. No, father, it's neither + face, nor figure, nor style that I look to, but truth, pure affection, and + upright principle; now, I know that Hycy Burke has neither truth, nor + affection, nor principle; an' I wondher, besides, that you could think of + my ever marrying a man that has already destroyed the happiness of two + innocent girls, an' brought desolation, an' sorrow, an' shame upon two + happy families. Do you think that I will ever become the wife of a + profligate? An' is it you, father, an' still more you, mother, that's a + woman, that can urge me to think of joining my fate to that of a man that + has neither shame nor principle? I thought that if you didn't respect + decency an' truth, and a regard for what is right and proper, that, at all + events, you would respect the feelings of your child that was taught their + value.” + </p> + <p> + Both parents felt somewhat abashed by the force of the truth and the + evident superiority of her character; but in a minute or two her worthy + father, from whose dogged obstinacy she inherited the firmness and + resolution for which she had ever been remarkable, again returned to the + subject. + </p> + <p> + “If Hycy Burke was wild, Kathleen, so was many a good man before him; an' + that's no raison but he may turn out well yet, an' a credit to his name, + as I have no doubt he will. All that he did was only folly an' + indiscretion—we can't be too hard or uncharitable upon our + fellow-craytures.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” chimed in her mother, “we can't. Doesn't all the world know that a + reformed rake makes a good husband?—an' besides, didn't them two + huzzies bring it on themselves?—why didn't they keep from him as + they ought? The fault, in such cases, is never all on one side.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen's brow and face and whole neck became crimson, as her mother, in + the worst spirit of a low and degrading ambition, uttered the sentiments + we have just written. Hanna had been all this time sitting beside her, + with one arm on her shoulder; but Kathleen, now turning round, laid her + face on her sister's bosom, and, with a pressure that indicated shame and + bitterness of heart, she wept. Hanna returned this melancholy and + distressing caress in the same mournful spirit, and both wept together in + silence. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh was the first who felt something like shame at the rebuke + conveyed by this tearful embrace of his pure-hearted and ingenuous + daughters, and he said, addressing his wife:— + </p> + <p> + “We're wrong to defend him, or any one, for the evil he has done, bekaise + it can't be defended; but, in the mane time, every day will bring him more + sense an' experience, an' he won't repute this work; besides, a wife would + settle him down.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Hanna, now speaking for the first time, “there's one + thing that strikes me in the business you're talkin' about, an' it's this—how + do you know whether Hycy Burke has any notion, good, bad, or indifferent, + of marrying Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied her mother, “didn't he write to her upon the subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, indeed, mother, it's not an easy thing to answer that question,” + replied Hanna. “She sartinly resaved a letther from him, an' indeed, I + think,” she added, her animated face brightening into a smile, “that as + the boys is gone to bed, we had as good read it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Hanna, darling, don't,” said Kathleen—“I beg you won't read + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but I beg I will,” she replied; “it'll show them, at any rate, what + kind of a reformation is likely to come over him. I have it here in my + pocket—ay, this is it. Now, father,” she proceeded, looking at the + letter, “here is a letter, sent to my sister—'To Miss Cavanagh,' + that's what's on the back of it—and what do you think Hycy, the + sportheen, asks her to do for him?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I suppose,” replied her mother, “to run away wid him?” + </p> + <p> + “Na” + </p> + <p> + “Then to give her consent to marry him?” said her father. + </p> + <p> + “Both out,” replied Hanna; “no, indeed, but to lend him five-and-thirty + pounds to buy a mare, called Crazy Jane, belonging to Tom Burton, of the + Race Road!” + </p> + <p> + “'My Dear Bryan—For heaven's sake, in addition to your other + generosities—for-which I acknowledge myself still in your debt—will + you lend me thirty-five pounds, to secure a beautiful mare belonging to + Tom Burton, of the Race Road? She is a perfect creature, and will, if I am + not quick, certainly slip through my fingers. Jemmy, the gentleman'— + </p> + <p> + “This is what he calls his father, you must know. + </p> + <p> + “'Jemmy, the gentleman, has promised to stand to me some of these days, + and pay off all my transgressions, like a good, kind-hearted, soft-headed + old Trojan as he is; and, for this reason, I don't wish to press him now. + The mare is sold under peculiar circumstances; otherwise I could have no + chance of her at such a price. By the way, when did you see Katsey'— + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Katsey!—think of that, now—doesn't he respect your + daughter very much, father? + </p> + <p> + “'By the way, when did you see Katsey Cavanagh?—'” + </p> + <p> + “What is this you're readin' to me?” asked her father. “You don't mean to + say that this letter is to Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, no; but so much the better—one has an opportunity now of + seein' what he is made of. The letter was intended for Bryan M'Mahon; but + he sent it, by mistake, to Kathleen. Listen—- + </p> + <p> + “'When did you see Katsey Cavanagh? She certainly is not ill-looking, and + will originate you famous mountaineers. Do, like a good fellow, stand by + me at this pinch, and I will drink your health and Kat-sey's, and that you + may—' (what's this?) 'col—colonize Ahadarra with a race of + young Colossusses that the world will wonder at. + </p> + <p> + “'Ever thine, + </p> + <p> + “'H. Burke.' + </p> + <p> + “Here's more, though: listen, mother, to your favorite, that you want to + marry Kathleen to:— + </p> + <p> + “'P.S. I will clear scores with you for all in the course of a few months, + and remember that, at your marriage, I must, with my own hand, give you + away to Katsey, the fair Oolossa.'” + </p> + <p> + The perusal of this document, at least so far as they could understand it, + astonished them not a little. Until they heard it read, both had been of + the opinion that Hycy had actually proposed for Kathleen, or at least felt + exceedingly anxious for the match. + </p> + <p> + “An' does he talk about givin' her away to Bryan M'Mahon?” asked her + mother. Sorrow on his impidence!—Bryan M'Mahon indeed! Throth, it's + not upon his country side of wild mountain that Kathleen will go to live. + An' maybe, too, she has little loss in the same Hycy, for, afther all, + he's but a skite of a fellow, an' a profligate into the bargain.” + </p> + <p> + “Paix an' his father,” said Gerald—“honest Jemmy—tould me that + he'd have it a match whether or not.” + </p> + <p> + “His father did!” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; “now, did he say so, Gerald?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, in troth he did—said that he had I set his heart upon it, an' + that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her.” + </p> + <p> + “The Lord direct us for the best!” exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of + the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor of + Hycy. “Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young a man. + However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own good sense + will show her what a match he'd be.” + </p> + <p> + The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen approached + her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each of the good + woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep feeling and + affection:— + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because + you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't make + me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less for Hycy + Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and good-night!—there's + another for you, father; God bless you! and good-night, too. Come, Hanna + darling, come!” + </p> + <p> + In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon + got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can + be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable + time previous to the disclosure. Between them it was arranged that he and + his father should make a formal proposal of marriage to her parents, as + the best means of bringing the matter to a speedy issue. Before this was + done, however, Gerald, at the instigation of his wife, contrived once more + to introduce the subject as if by accident, in a conversation with Jemmy + Burke, who repeated his anxiety for the match as the best way of settling + down his son, and added, that he would lay the matter before Hycy himself, + with a wish that a union should take place between them. This interview + with old Burke proved a stumbling-block in the way of M'Mahon. At length, + after a formal proposal on the behalf of Bryan, and many interviews with + reference to it, something like a compromise was effected. Kathleen + consented to accept the latter in marriage, but firmly and resolutely + refused to hear Burke's name as a lover or suitor mentioned. Her parents, + however, hoping that their influence over her might ultimately prevail, + requested that she would not engage herself to any one for two years, at + the expiration of which period, if no change in her sentiments should take + place, she was to be at liberty to marry M'Mahon. For the remainder of the + summer and autumn, and up until November, the period at which our + narrative has now arrived, or, in other words, when Bryan M'Mahon met + Nanny Peety, matters had rested precisely in the same position. This + unexpected interview with the mendicant's daughter, joined to the hints he + had already received, once more caused M'Mahon to feel considerably + perplexed with regard to Hycy Burke. The coincidence was very remarkable, + and the identity of the information, however limited, appeared to him to + deserve all the consideration which he could bestow upon it, but above all + things he resolved, if possible, to extract the secret out of Nanny Peety. + </p> + <p> + One cause of Hycy Burke's extravagance was a hospitable habit of dining + and giving dinners in the head inn of Ballymacan. To ask any of his + associates to his father's house was only to expose the ignorance of his + parents, and this his pride would not suffer him to do. As a matter of + course he gave all his dinners, unless upon rare occasions, in Jack + Shepherd's excellent inn; but as young Clinton and he were on terms of the + most confidential intimacy, he had asked him to dine on the day in + question at his father's. + </p> + <p> + “You know, my dear Harry,” he said to his friend, “there is no use in + striving to conceal the honest vulgarity of Jemmy the gentleman from you + who know it already. I may say ditto to madam, who is unquestionably the + most vulgar of the two—for, and I am sorry to say it, in addition to + a superabundant stock of vulgarity, she has still a larger assortment of + the prides; for instance, pride of wealth, of the purse, pride of—I + was going to add, birth—ha! ha! ha!—of person, ay, of beauty, + if you please—of her large possessions—but that comes under + the purse again—and lastly—but that is the only well-founded + principle among them—of her accomplished son, Hycy. This, now, being + all within your cognizance already, my dear Hal, you take a pig's cheek + and a fowl with me to-day. There will be nobody but ourselves, for when I + see company at home I neither admit the gentleman nor the lady to table. + Damn it, you know the thing would be impossible. If you wish it, however, + we shall probably call in the gentleman after dinner to have a quiz with + him; it may relieve us. I can promise you a glass of wine, too, and that's + another reason why we should keep him aloof until the punch comes. The + wine's always a <i>sub silencio</i> affair, and, may heaven pity me, I get + growling enough from old Bruin on other subjects.” + </p> + <p> + “Anything you wish, Hycy, I am your man; but somehow I don't relish the + idea of the quiz you speak of. 'Children, obey your parents,' says Holy + Scripture; and I'd as soon not help a young fellow to laugh at his + father.” + </p> + <p> + “A devilish good subject he is, though—but you must know that I can + draw just distinctions, Hal. For instance, I respect his honesty—” + </p> + <p> + “And copy it, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly—I respect his integrity, too—in fact, I appreciate + all his good qualities, and only laugh at his vulgarity and foibles.” + </p> + <p> + “You intend to marry, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Or, in other words, to call you brother some of these days.” + </p> + <p> + “And to have sons and daughters?” + </p> + <p> + “Please the fates.” + </p> + <p> + “That will do,” replied Clinton, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho!” said Hycy, “I see. Here's a mentor with a vengeance—a + fellow with a budget of morals cut and dry for immediate use—but + hang all morality, say I; like some of my friends that talk on the + subject, I have an idiosyncrasy of constitution against it, but an + abundant temperament for pleasure.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a good definition,” said Clinton; “a master-touch, a very correct + likeness, indeed. I would at once know you from it, and so would most of + your friends.” + </p> + <p> + “This day is Friday,” said Hycy, “more growling.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, when I eat meat on a Friday, the pepper and sauce cost me nothing. + The 'gentlemen' lays on hard, but the lady extenuates, 'in regard to it's + bein' jinteel.'” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but you have certainly no scruple yourself on the subject?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I have, sir, a very strong one—in favor of the meat—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “D—n me, whoever christened you Hycy the accomplished, hit you off.” + </p> + <p> + “I did myself; because you must know, my worthy Hal, that, along with all + my other accomplishments, I am my own priest.' + </p> + <p> + “And that is the reason why you hate the clergy? eh—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “A hit, a hit, I do confess.” + </p> + <p> + “Harke, Mr. Priest, will you give absolution—to Tom Corbet?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Hal, no more an' thou lovest me—that sore is yet open. Curse + the villain. My word and honor, Hal, the gentleman' was right there. He + told me at the first glance what she was. Here comes a shower, let us move + on, and reach Ballymacan, if possible, before it falls. We shall be home + in fair time for dinner afterwards, and then for my proposal, which, by + the word and honor—” + </p> + <p> + “And morality?” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, Harry; is a man to speak nothing but truth or Scripture in this + world?—No—which I say by the honor of a gentleman, it will be + your interest to consider and accept.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, most accomplished. We shall see, and we shall hear, and then + we shall determine.” + </p> + <p> + A ham and turkey were substituted for the pig's cheek and fowl, and we + need not say that Hycy and his friend accepted of the substitution with + great complacency. Dinner having been discussed, and a bottle of wine + finished, the punch came in, and each, after making himself a stiff + tumbler, acknowledged that he felt comfortable. Hycy, however, anxious + that he should make an impression, or in other words gain his point, + allowed Clinton to grow a little warm with liquor before he opened the + subject to which he had alluded. At length, when he had reached the proper + elevation, he began:— + </p> + <p> + “There's no man, my dear Harry, speaks apparently more nonsense than I do + in ordinary chat and conversation. For instance, to-day I was very + successful in it; but no matter, I hate seriousness, certainly, when there + is no necessity for it. However, as a set-off to that, I pledge you my + honor that no man can be more serious when it is necessary than myself. + For instance, you let out a matter to me the other night that you probably + forget now. You needn't stare—I am serious enough and honorable + enough to keep as an inviolable secret everything of the kind that a man + may happen to disclose in an unguarded moment.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on, Hycy, I don't forget it—I don't, upon my soul.” + </p> + <p> + “I allude to M'Mahon's farm in Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't forget it; but you know, Hycy, my boy, I didn't mention either + M'Mahon or Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “You certainly did not mention them exactly; but, do you think I did not + know at once both the place and the party you allude to? My word and + honor, I saw them at a glance.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, go on with your word and honor;—you are right, I did + mean M'Mahon and Ahadarra—proceed, most accomplished, and most moral—” + </p> + <p> + “Be quiet, Harry. Well, you have your eye upon that farm, and you say you + have a promise of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Something like it; but the d—d landlord, Chevydale, is + impracticable—so my uncle says—and doesn't wish to disturb the + M'Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do so—but + d—n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to their + interests—d—n the fellow, I say.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't curse or swear, most moral. Well, the lease of Ahadarra has + dropped, and of Carriglass too;—with Carriglass, however, we—that + is you—have nothing at all to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed?' + </p> + <p> + “Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have not + been able to get either yes or no out of you.” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me—proceed, + most accomplished. Where do you get your brandy? This is glorious. Well!” + </p> + <p> + “Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent + way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M'Mahon shall be + obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “How will you do it?” + </p> + <p> + “That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my power. + You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my father's + property.” + </p> + <p> + “Come; I shall hold myself neuter—will that satisfy you? You shall + have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is + enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, + besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and + favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out.” + </p> + <p> + “Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!” + </p> + <p> + “Curse them both! Will you promise this—to support me so far?” + </p> + <p> + “Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot + water, and that waited on us at dinner—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You don't + answer?” + </p> + <p> + “But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you—discard you—give + you to the winds?—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold myself + bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a beggar.” + </p> + <p> + “What! as a beggar?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for + succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion.” + </p> + <p> + “Hum! as a beggar. But the poor fellow never offended me. Confound it, he + never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know. I don't much relish + that, Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be done though in any other way.” + </p> + <p> + “I say—how do you call that girl?—Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, + or what?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry. If not, I shall drop the + subject altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “There now—proceed, O Hyacinthus.” + </p> + <p> + “How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is more, + to your own interests?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! my own interests!—well I am alive to them.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it a bargain, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious + Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra—to get possession + of it—and calculate upon my most—let me see—what's the + best word—most strenuous advocacy. That's it: there's my hand upon + it. I shall support you, Hycy; but, at the same time, you must not hold me + accountable for my sister's conduct. Beyond fair and reasonable + persuasion, she must be left perfectly free and uncontrolled in whatever + decision she may come to.” + </p> + <p> + “There's my hand, then, Harry; I can ask no more.” + </p> + <p> + After Clinton had gone, Hycy felt considerably puzzled as to the manner in + which he had conducted himself during the whole evening. Sometimes he + imagined he was under the influence of liquor, for he had drunk pretty + freely; and again it struck him that he manifested an indifference to the + proposal made to him, which he only attempted to conceal lest Hycy might + perceive it. He thought, however, that he observed a seriousness in + Clinton, towards the close of their conversation, which could not have + been assumed; and as he gave himself a good deal of credit for + penetration, he felt satisfied that circumstances were in a proper train, + and likely, by a little management, to work out his purposes. + </p> + <p> + Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the + parlor, and called Nanny Peety—“Nanny,” said he, “which of the + Hogans did you see to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you give her the message?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did.” + </p> + <p> + “What did you say, now?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first, + that St. Pether was dead.” + </p> + <p> + “And what did she say to that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was.” + </p> + <p> + “And what did she mean by that, do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Faix, then, I dunna—barrin' that you're in the black books wid him, + and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that + didn't know you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” he replied, laughing, “you are certainly a very smart girl, and + indeed a very pretty girl—a very interesting young woman, indeed, + Nanny; but you won't listen to reason.” + </p> + <p> + “To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor + evil in that.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too + much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you know + I won't.” + </p> + <p> + “So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in spakin' + to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my character + to look to.” + </p> + <p> + “And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him, + too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this + family?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” sir; “but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going + out of it.” + </p> + <p> + “It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed, + impracticable girls here.” + </p> + <p> + “You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr. + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out + to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must + not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, how can I help it? It's very + natural thing, you know, to love a pretty girl.” + </p> + <p> + “But not so natural to lave her, Mr. Hycy, as you have left others before + now—I needn't name them—widout name, or fame, or hope, or + happiness in this world.” + </p> + <p> + “I won't be in until late, Nanny,” he replied, coolly. “Sit up for me. + You're a sharp one, but I can't spare you yet a while;” and, having nodded + to her with a remarkably benign aspect he went out. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said she, after he had gone; “little you know, you hardened and + heartless profligate, how well I'm up to your schemes. Little you know + that I heard your bargain this evenin' wid Clinton, and that you're now + gone to meet the Hogans and Teddy Phats upon some dark business, that + can't be good or they wouldn't be in it; an' little you know what I know + besides. Anybody the misthress plaises may sit up for you, but I won't.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE XI.—Death of a Virtuous Mother. + </h2> + <p> + It could not be expected that Bryan M'Mahon, on his way home from + Fethertonge's, would pass Gerald Cavanagh's without calling. He had, in + his interview with that gentleman, stated the nature of his mother's + illness, but at the same time without feeling any serious apprehensions + that her life was in immediate danger. On reaching Cavanagh's, he found + that family over-+shadowed with a gloom for which he could not account. + Kathleen received him gravely, and even Hanna had not her accustomed jest. + After looking around him for a little, he exclaimed—“What is the + matther? Is anything wrong? You all look as if you were in sorrow.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna approached him and said, whilst her eyes filled with tears—“We + are in sorrow, Bryan; for we are goin', we doubt, to lose a friend that we + all love—as every one did that knew her.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, darling,” said Kathleen, “this won't do. Poor girl! you are likely + to make bad worse; and besides there may, after all, be no real danger. + Your mother, Bryan,” she proceeded, “is much worse than she has been. The + priest and doctor have been sent for; but you know it doesn't follow that + there is danger, or at any rate that the case is hopeless.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, my God!” exclaimed Bryan, “is it so? My mother—and such a + mother! Kathleen, my heart this minute tells me it is hopeless. I must + leave you—I must go.” + </p> + <p> + “We will go up with you,” said Kathleen. “Hanna, we will go up; for, if + she is in danger, I would like to get the blessing of such a woman before + she dies; but let us trust in G-od she won't die, and that it's only a + sudden attack that will pass away.” + </p> + <p> + “Do so, Kathleen,” said her mother; “and you can fetch us word how she is. + May the Lord bring her safe over it at any rate; for surely the family + will break their hearts afther her, an' no wondher, for where was her + fellow?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan was not capable of hearing these praises, which he knew to be so + well and so justly her due, with firmness; nor could he prevent his tears, + unless by a great effort, from bearing testimony to the depth of his + grief. Kathleen's gaze, however, was turned on him with an expression + which gave him strength; for indeed there was something noble and. + sustaining in the earnest and consoling sympathy which he read in her dark + and glorious eye. On their way to Carriglass there was little spoken. + Bryan's eye every now and then sought that of Kathleen; and he learned, + for the first time, that it is only in affliction that the exquisite + tenderness of true and disinterested love can be properly appreciated and + felt. Indeed he wondered at his own sensations; for in proportion as his + heart became alarmed at the contemplation of his mother's loss, he felt, + whenever he looked upon Kathleen, that it also burned towards her with + greater tenderness and power—so true is it that sorrow and suffering + purify and exalt all our nobler and better emotions. + </p> + <p> + Bryan and his companions, ere they had time to reach the house, were seen + and. recognized by the family, who, from the restlessness and uncertainty + which illness usually occasions, kept moving about and running out from + time to time to watch the arrival of the priest or doctor. On this + occasion Dora came to meet them; but, alas! with what a different spirit + from that which animated her on the return of her father from the + metropolis. Her gait was now slow, her step languid; and they could + perceive that, as she approached them, she wiped away the tears. Indeed + her whole appearance was indicative of the state of her mother; when they + met her, her bitter sobbing and the sorrowful earnestness of manner with + which she embraced the sisters, wore melancholy assurances that the + condition of the sufferer was not improved. Hanna joined her tears with + hers; but Kathleen, whose sweet voice in attempting to give the + affectionate girl consolation, was more than once almost shaken out of its + firmness, did all she could to soothe and relieve her. + </p> + <p> + On entering the house, they found a number of the neighboring females + assembled, and indeed the whole family, in consequence of the alarm and + agitation visible them, might not inaptly be compared to a brood of + domestic fowl when a hawk, bent on destruction, is seen hovering over + their heads. + </p> + <p> + As is usual with Catholic families in their state of life, there were + several of those assembled, and also some of themselves, at joint prayer + in different parts of the house; and seated by her bedside was her + youngest son, Art, engaged, with sobbing voice and eyes every now and then + blinded with tears, in the perusal, for her comfort, of Prayers for the + Sick. Tom M'Mahon himself went about every now and then clasping his + hands, and turning up his eyes to heaven in a distracted manner, + exclaiming—“Oh! Bridget, Bridget, is it come to this at last! And + you're lavin' me—you're lavin' me! Oh, my God! what will I do—how + will I live, an' what will become of me!” + </p> + <p> + On seeing Bryan, he ran to him and said,—“Oh! Bryan, to what point + will I turn?—where will I get consolation?—how will I bear it? + Sure, she was like a blessin' from heaven among us; ever full of peace, + and charity, and goodness—the kind word an' the sweet smile to all; + but to me—to me—oh! Bridget, Bridget, I'd rather die than live + afther you!” + </p> + <p> + “Father, dear, your takin' it too much to heart,” replied Bryan; “who + knows but God may spare her to us still? But you know that even if it's + His will to remove her from amongst us”—his voice here failed him + for a moment—“hem—to remove her from amongst us, it's our duty + to submit to it; but I hope in God she may recover still. Don't give way + to sich grief till we hear what the docthor will say, at all events. How + did she complain or get ill; for I think she wasn't worse when I left + home?” + </p> + <p> + “It's all in her stomach,” replied his father. “She was seized wid cramps + in her stomach, an' she complains very much of her head; but her whole + strength is gone, she can hardly spake, and she has death in her face.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment his brother Michael came to them, and said—“Bryan—Bryan”—but + he could proceed no farther. + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, Michael,” said the other; “this is a shame; instead of supportin' + and cheer-in' my father, you're only doing him harm. I tell you all that + you'll find there's no raison for this great grief. Be a man, Michael—” + </p> + <p> + “She has heard your voice,” proceeded his brother, “and wishes to see + you.” + </p> + <p> + This proof of her affection for him, at the very moment when he was + attempting to console others, was almost more than he could bear. Bryan + knew that he himself had been her favorite son, so far as a heart + overflowing with kindness and all the tender emotions that consecrate + domestic life and make up its happiness, could be said to have a favorite. + There was, however, that almost imperceptible partiality, which rarely + made its appearance unless in some slight and inconsiderable + circumstances, but which, for that very reason, was valuable in proportion + to its delicacy and the caution with which it was guarded. Always indeed + in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the partiality she bore him + observable; and sometimes it consisted in a postponement of his wishes or + comforts to those of her other children, because she felt that she might + do with him that which she could not with the others—thus + calculating as it were upon his greater affection. But it is wonderful to + reflect in how many ways, and through what ingenious devices the human + heart can exhibit its tenderness. + </p> + <p> + Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been reading + for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied. On + approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, + which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features. On leaving + home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not further + diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally occasion. + But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk into half + its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, stamped with + the unequivocal impress of death. + </p> + <p> + Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult to + conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, now so + full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, he + stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible + sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, dear,” she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat + subsided, “why will you give way to this? Sure it was on you I placed my + dependence—I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for + weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow—I + sent for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God + to take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' + especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the + pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I know he'll + suffer when I'm gone. May the Lord pity and give him strength!—for I + can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I ever seen his face + until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind look, an' that you + all know.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh how could he, mother dear? how could any one give you that? Who was it + that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and + affection?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my childre', + and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not frightened at death. + An', Bryan, listen to the words of your dyin' mother—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, don't say that yet, mother,” replied her son, sobbing; “don't say so + yet; who knows but God will spare your life, an' that you may be many + years with us still; they're all alarmed too much, I hope; but it's no + wondher we should, mother dear, when there's any appearance at all of + danger about you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, whether or not, Bryan, the advice I'm goin' to give you is never + out o' saison. Live always with the fear of God in your heart; do nothing + that you think will displease Him; love your fellow-creatures—serve + them and relieve their wants an' distresses as far as you're able; be like + your own father—kind and good to all about you, not neglectin' your + religious duties. Do this, Bryan, an' then when the hour o' death comes, + you'll feel a comfort an' happiness in your heart that neither the world + nor anything in it can give you. You'll feel the peace of God there, an' + you will die happy—happy.” + </p> + <p> + Her spirit, animated by the purity and religious truth of this simple but + beautiful morality, kindled into pious fervor as she proceeded, so much so + indeed, that on turning her eyes towards heaven, whilst she uttered the + last words, they sparkled with the mild and serene light of that simple + but unconscious enthusiasm on behalf of all goodness which had + characterized her whole life, and which indeed is a living principle among + thousands of her humble countrywomen. + </p> + <p> + “This, dear Bryan, is the advice I gave to them all; it an' my love is the + only legacy I have to lave them. An' my darlin' Dora, Bryan—oh, if + you be kind and tendher to any one o' them beyant another, be so to her. + My darlin'Dora! Oh! her heart's all affection, an' kindness, an' + generosity. But indeed, as I said, Bryan, the task must fall to you to + strengthen and console every one o' them. Ay!—an' you must begin + now. You wor ever, ever, a good son; an' may God keep you in the right + faith, an' may my blessin' an' His be wid you for ever! Amin.” + </p> + <p> + There was a solemn and sustaining spirit in her words which strengthened + Bryan, who, besides, felt anxious to accomplish to the utmost extent the + affectionate purpose which had caused her to send for him. + </p> + <p> + “It's a hard task, mother darlin,” he replied; “but I'll endeavor, with + God's help, to let them see that I haven't been your son for nothing; but + you don't know, mother, that Kathleen's here, an' Hanna. They wish to see + you, an' to get your blessin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring them in,” she replied, “an' let Dora come wid them, an' stay + yourself, Bryan, becaise I'm but weak, an' I don't wish that they should + stay too long. God sees its not for want of love for the other girls that + I don't bid you bring them in, but that I don't wish to see them sufferin' + too much sorrow; but my darlin' Dora will expect to be where Kathleen is, + an' my own eyes likes to look upon her, an' upon Kathleen, too, Bryan, for + I feel my heart bound to her as if she was one of ourselves, as I hope she + will be.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, bless her! bless her! mother,” he said, with difficulty, “an' tell + her them words—say them to herself. I'll go now and bring them in.” + </p> + <p> + He paused, however, for a minute or two, in order to compose his voice and + features, that he might not seem to set them an example of weakness, after + which he left the apartment with an appearance of greater composure than + he really felt. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes the four returned: Bryan, with Kathleen's hand locked in + his, and Hanna, with her arm affectionately wreathed about Dora's neck, as + if the good-hearted girl felt anxious to cherish and comfort her under the + heavy calamity to which she was about to be exposed, for Dora wept + bitterly. Mrs. M'Mahon signed to Hanna to approach, who, with her + characteristic ardor of feeling, now burst into tears herself, and + stooping down kissed her and wept aloud, whilst Dora's grief also burst + out afresh. + </p> + <p> + The sick woman looked at Bryan, as if to solicit his interference, and the + look was immediately understood by Kathleen as well as by himself. + </p> + <p> + “This is very wrong of you, Hanna,” said her sister; “out of affection and + pity to them, you ought to endeavor to act otherwise. They have enough, + an' to much, to feel, without your setting them example; and, Dora dear, I + thought you had more courage than you have. All this is only grieving and + disturbing your mother; an' I hope that, for her sake, you'll both avoid + it. I know it's hard to do so, but it's the difficulty and the trial that + calls upon us to have strength, otherwise what are we better than them + that we'd condemn or think little of for their own weakness.” + </p> + <p> + The truth and moral force of the words, and the firmness of manner that + marked Kathleen as she spoke, were immediately successful. The grief of + the two girls was at once hushed; and, after a slight pause, Mrs. M'Mahon + called Kathleen to her. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Kathleen,” she said, “I did hope to see the day when you'd be one of + my own family, but it's not the will of God, it appears, that I should; + however, may His will be done! I hope still that day will come, an' that + your friends won't have any longer an objection to your marriage wid + Bryan. I am his mother, an' no one has a better right to know his heart + an' his temper, an' I can say, upon my dyin' bed, that a better heart an' + a better temper never was in man. I believe, Kathleen, it was never known + that a good son ever made a bad husband. However, if it's God's will to + bring you together, He will, and if it isn't, you must only bear it + patiently.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan was silent, but his eye, from time to time, turned with a long + glance of love and sorrow upon Kathleen, whose complexion became pale and + red by turns. At length Dora, after her mother had concluded, went over to + Kathleen, and putting her arms around her neck, exclaimed, “Oh! mother + dear, something tells me that Kathleen will be my sisther yet, an' if + you'd ask her to promise—” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen looked down upon the beautiful and expressive features of the + affectionate girl, and gently raising her hand she placed it upon Dora's + lips, in order to prevent the completion of the sentence. On doing so she + received a sorrowful glance of deep and imploring entreaty from Bryan, + which she returned with another that seemed to reprove him for doubting + her affection, or supposing that such a promise was even necessary. “No, + Dora dear,” she said, “I could make no promise without the knowledge of my + father and mother, or contrary to their wishes; but did you think, + darling, that such a thing was necessary?” She kissed the sweet girl as + she spoke, and Dora felt a tear on her cheek that was not her own. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. M'Mahon had been looking with a kind of mournful admiration upon + Kathleen during this little incident, and then proceeded. “She says what + is right and true; and it would be wrong, my poor child, to ask her to + give such a promise. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl—oh, do! + an' if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the + best gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here—come to me—let + me put my hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest + upon you for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree.” Hanna + kissed her again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might + not be able to restrain it, took her away. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” proceeded the dying woman, “come to me, you Kathleen, my daughter—sure + you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and stay with me + awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to any one out o' my + own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own child? Because I hope + you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower of + warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing pressure, + that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just expressed. + Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more resuming her + firmness, awaited the expected blessing. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour, I + endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son, + listen to me—love him as you may, and as I know you do.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should I deny it?” said Kathleen, “I do love him.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and + wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you.” + </p> + <p> + She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety + and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that was + clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her to the + rest which she now required so much. + </p> + <p> + The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In the + course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she appeared + somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the worst, and in + confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with dreadful violence, + and in the lapse of two hours after his visit, this pious and virtuous + woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a patience and fortitude that + could not be surpassed, expired in the midst of her afflicted family. + </p> + <p> + It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and + undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by + death, there supervenes upon the sorrow of many, a feeling of awful + sympathy with that individual whose love for the object has been, the + greatest, and whose loss is of course the most irreparable. So was it with + the M'Mahons. Thomas M'Mahon himself could not bear to witness the + sufferings of his wife, nor to hear her moans. He accordingly left the + house, and walked about the garden and farm-yard, in a state little short + of actual distraction. When the last scene was over, and her actual + sufferings closed for ever, the outrage of grief among his children became + almost hushed from a dread of witnessing the sufferings of their father; + and for the time a great portion of their own sorrow was merged in what + they felt for him. Nor was this feeling confined to themselves. His + neighbors and acquaintances, on hearing of Mrs. M'Mahon's death, almost + all exclaimed:— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, what will become of him? they are nothing an will forget her soon, as + is natural, well as they loved her; but poor Tom, oh! what on earth will + become of him?” Every eye, however, now turned toward Bryan, who was the + only one of the family possessed of courage enough to undertake the task + of breaking the heart-rending intelligence to their bereaved father. + </p> + <p> + “It must be done,” he said, “and the sooner it's done the better; what + would I give to have my darlin' Kathleen here. Her eye and her advice + would give me the strength that I stand so much in need of. My God, how + will I meet him, or break the sorrowful tidings to him at all! The Lord + support me!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but Bryan,” said they, “you know he looks up to whatever you say, and + how much he is advised by you, if there happens to be a doubt about + anything. Except her that's gone, there was no one—” + </p> + <p> + Bryan raised his hand with an expression of resolution and something like + despair, in order as well as he could to intimate to them, that he wished + to hear no allusion made to her whom they had lost, or that he must become + incapacitated to perform the task he had to encounter, and taking his hat + he proceeded to find his father, whom he met behind the garden. + </p> + <p> + It may be observed of deep grief, that whenever it is excited by the loss + of what is good and virtuous, it is never a solitary passion, we mean + within the circle of domestic life. So far from that, there is not a + kindred affection under the influence of a virtuous heart, that is not + stimulated, and strengthened by its emotions. How often, for instance, + have two members of the same family rushed into each other's arms, when + struck by a common sense of the loss of some individual that was dear to + both, because it was felt that the very fact of loving the same object had + now made them dear to each other. + </p> + <p> + The father, on seeing Bryan approach, stood for a few moments and looked + at him eagerly; he then approached him with a hasty and unsettled step, + and said, “Bryan, Bryan, I see it in your face, she has left us, she has + left us, she has left us all, an' she has left me; an' how am I to live + without her? answer me that; an then give me consolation if you can.” + </p> + <p> + He threw himself on his son's neck, and by a melancholy ingenuity + attempted to seduce him as it were from the firmness which he appeared to + preserve in the discharge of this sorrowful task, with a hope that he + might countenance him in the excess of his grief—“Oh,” he added, + “I've have lost her, Bryan—you and I, the two that she—that—she—Your + word was everything to her, a law to her; and she was so proud out of you—I + an' her eye would rest upon you smilin', as much as to say—there's + my son, haven't I a right to feel proud of him, for he has never once + vexed his mother's heart? nayther did you, Bryan, nayther did you, but now + who will praise you as she did? who will boast of you behind your back, + for she seldom did it to your face; and now that smile of love and + kindness will never be on her blessed lips more. Sure you won't blame me, + Bryan—oh, sure above all men livin', you won't blame me for feelin' + her loss as I do.” + </p> + <p> + The associations excited by the language of his father were such as Bryan + was by no means prepared to meet. Still he concentrated all his moral + power and resolution in order to accomplish the task he had undertaken, + which, indeed, was not so much to announce his mother's death, as to + support his father under it. After a, violent effort, he at length said:— + </p> + <p> + “Are you sorry, father, because God has taken my mother to Himself? Would + you wish to have her here, in pain and suffering? Do you grudge her + heaven? Father, you were always a brave and strong, fearless man, but what + are you now? Is this the example you are settin' to us, who ought to look + up to you for support? Don't you know my mother's in heaven? Why, one + would think you're sorry for it? Come, come, father, set your childre' an + example now when they want it, that they can look up to—be a man, + and don't forget that she's in God's Glory, Come in now, and comfort the + rest.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but when I think of what she was, Bryan; of what she was to me, + Bryan, from the first day I ever called her my wife, ay, and before it, + when she could get better matches, when she struggled, and waited, and + fought for me, against all opposition, till her father an' mother saw her + heart was fixed upon me; hould your tongue, Bryan, I'll have no one' to + stop my grief for her, where is she? where's my wife, I tell you? where's + Bridget M'Mahon?—Bridget, where are you? have you left me, gone from + me, an' must I live here widout you? must I rise in the mornin,' and + neither see you nor hear you? or must I live here by myself an' never have + your opinion nor advice to ask upon anything as I used to do—Bridget + M'Mahon, why did you leave me? where are you from me?” + </p> + <p> + “Here's Dora,” said a sweet but broken voice; “here's Dora M'Mahon—your + own Dora, too—and that you love bekaise I was like her. Oh, come + with me, father, darlin'. For her sake, compose yourself and come with me. + Oh, what are we to feel! wasn't she our mother? Wasn't she?—wasn't + she? What am I sayin'? Ay, but, now—we have no mother, now!” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon still leaned upon his son's neck, but on hearing his favorite + daughter's voice, he put his arm round to where she stood, and clasping + her in, brought her close to him and Bryan, so that the three individuals + formed one sorrowing group together. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” repeated Dora, “come with me for my mother's sake.” + </p> + <p> + He started. “What's that you say, Dora? For your mother's sake? I will, + darlin'—for her sake, I will. Ay, that's the way to manage me—for + her sake. Oh, what wouldn't I do for her sake? Come, then, God bless you, + darlin', for puttin' that into my head. You may make me do anything now, + Dora, jewel—if you just ax it for her sake. Oh, my God! an is it + come to this? An' am I talkin' this way?—but—well, for her + sake, darlin'—for her sake. Come, I'll go in—but—but—oh, + Bryan, how can I?” + </p> + <p> + “You know father,” replied Bryan, who now held his arm, “we must all die, + and it will be well for us if we can die as she died. Didn't father Peter + say that if ever the light of heaven was in a human heart, it was in + hers?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but when I go in an' look upon her, an' call Bridget, she won't + answer me.” + </p> + <p> + “Father dear, you are takin' it too much to heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, it'll be the first time she ever refused to answer me—the + first time that ever her lips will be silent when I spake to her.” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said the sweet girl at his side, “think of me. Sure I'll be + your Dora more than ever, now. You know what you promised me this minute. + Oh, for her sake, and for God's sake, then, don't take it so much to + heart. It was my grandfather sent me to you, an' he says he want's to see + you, an' to spake to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” he exclaimed, “My poor father, an' he won't be long afther her. But + this is the way wid all, Bryan—the way o' the world itself. We must + go. I didn't care, now, how soon I followed her. Oh, no, no.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say so, father; think of the family you have; think of how you love + them, and how they love you, father dear. Don't give way so much to this + sorrow. I know it's hard to bid you not to do it; but you know we must + strive to overcome ourselves. I hope there's happy days and years before + us still. We'll have our leases soon, you know, an' then we'll feel firm + and comfortable: an' you know you'll be—we'll all be near where she + sleeps.” + </p> + <p> + “Where she sleeps. Well, there's comfort in that, Bryan—there's + comfort in that.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, though very feeble, on seeing him approach, rose up and met + him. “Tom,” said he, “be a man, and don't shame my white hairs nor your + own. I lost your mother, an' I was as fond of her, an' had as good a + right, too, as ever you were of her that's now an angel in heaven; but if + I lost her, I bore it as a man ought. I never yet bid you do a thing that + you didn't do, but I now bid you stop cryin', an don't fly in the face o' + God as you're doin'. You respect my white hairs, an' God will help you as + he has done!” + </p> + <p> + The venerable appearance of the old man, the melancholy but tremulous + earnestness with which he spoke, and the placid spirit of submission which + touched his whole bearing with the light of an inward piety that no age + could dim or overshadow, all combined to work a salutary influence upon + M'Mahon. He evidently made a great effort at composure, nor without + success. His grief became calm; he paid attention to other matters, and by + the aid of Bryan, and from an anxiety lest he should disturb or offend his + father by any further excess of sorrow, he was enabled to preserve a + greater degree of composure than might have been expected. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII.—Hycy Concerts a Plot and is urged to Marry. + </h2> + <p> + The Hogans, who seldom missed a Wake, Dance, Cockfight or any other place + of amusement or tumult, were not present, we need scarcely assure our + readers, at the wake-house of Mrs. M'Mahon. On that night they and Teddy + Phats were all sitting in their usual domicile, the kiln, already + mentioned, expecting Hycy, when the following brief dialogue took place, + previous to his appearance: + </p> + <p> + “What keeps this lad, Hycy?” said Bat; “an' a complate lad is in his coat, + when he has it on him. Troth I have my doubts whether this same gentleman + is to be depended on.” + </p> + <p> + “Gentleman, indeed,” exclaimed Philip, “nothing short of that will sarve + him, shure. To be depinded on, Bat! Why, thin, its more than I'd like to + say. Howanever, he's as far in, an' farther than we are.” + </p> + <p> + “There's no use in our quarrelin' wid him,” said Phats, in his natural + manner. “If he's in our power, we're in his; an' you know he could soon + make the counthry too hot to hold us. Along wid all, too, he's as + revengeful as the dioule himself, if not a thrifle more so.” + </p> + <p> + “If he an' Kathleen gets bothered together,” said Philip, “'twould be a + good look up for us, at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + Kate Hogan was the only female present, the truth being that Philip and + Ned were both widowers, owing, it was generally believed, to the brutal + treatment which their unfortunate wives received at their hands. + </p> + <p> + “Don't quarrel wid him,” said she, “if you can, at any rate, till we get + him more in our power, an' that he'll be soon, maybe. If we fall out wid + him, we'd have to lave the place, an' maybe to go farther than we intend, + too. Wherever we went over the province, this you know was our + headquarters. Here's where all belongin' to us—I mane that ever died + a natural death, or drew their last breath in the counthry—rests, + an' I'd not like to go far from it.” + </p> + <p> + “Let what will happen,” said Philip, with an oath, “I'd lose my right arm + before Bryan M'Mahon puts a ring on Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “I can tell you that Hycy has no notion of marry in' her, thin,” said + Kate. + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” asked her husband. + </p> + <p> + “I've a little bird that tells me,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “Gerald Cavanagh an' his wife doesn't think so,” said Philip. “They and + Jemmy Burke has the match nearly made.” + </p> + <p> + “They may make the match,” said Kate, “but it's more than they'll be able + to do to make the marriage. Hycy's at greater game, I tell you; but + whether he is or not, I tell you again that Bryan M'Mahon will have her in + spite of all opposition.” + </p> + <p> + “May be not,” said Phats; “Hycy will take care o' that; he has him set; + he'll work him a charm; he'll take care that Bryan won't be long in a fit + way to offer himself as a match for her.” + </p> + <p> + “More power to him in that,” said Philip; “if he makes a beggarman of him + he may depend on us to the back-bone.” + </p> + <p> + “Have no hand in injurin' Bryan M'Mahon,” said Kate. “Keep him from + marryin' Kathleen if you like, or if you can; but, if you're wise, don't + injure the boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” asked Philip. + </p> + <p> + “That's nothing to you,” she replied; “for a raison I have; and mark me, I + warn you not to do so or it'll be worse for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, who are we afraid of, barrin Hycy himself?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matther; there's them livin' could make you afeard, an' maybe + will, too, if you injure that boy.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd just knock him on the head,” replied the ferocious ruffian, “as soon + as I would a mad dog.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht,” said Phats, “here's Hycy; don't you hear his foot?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy entered in a few moments afterwards, and, after the usual greetings, + sat down by the fire. + </p> + <p> + “De night's could,” said Phats, resuming his brogue; “but here,” he added, + pulling out a bottle of whiskey, “is something to warm de blood in us. + Will you thry it, Meeisther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “By-and-by—not now; but help yourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “When did you see Miss Kathleen, Masther Hycy,” asked Kate. + </p> + <p> + “You mean Miss Kathleen the Proud?” he replied—“my Lady Dignity—I + have a crow to pluck with her.” + </p> + <p> + “What crow have you to pluck wid her?” asked Kate, fiercely. “You'll pluck + no crow wid her, or, if you do, I'll find a bag to hould the fedhers—mind + that.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said Philip; “whatever's to be done, she must come to no harm.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the crow I have to pluck with her, Mrs. Hogan, is—let me see—why—to—to + marry her—to bind her in the bands of holy wedlock; and you know, + when I do, I'm to give you all a house and place free gratis for nothing + during your lives—that's what I pledge myself to do, and not a rope + to hang yourselves, worthy gentlemen, as Finigan would say. I pass over + the fact,” he proceeded, laughing, “of the peculiar intimacy which, on a + certain occasion, was established between Jemmy, the gentleman's old oak + drawers, and your wrenching-irons; however, that is not the matter at + present, and I am somewhat in a hurry.” + </p> + <p> + “You heard,” said Bat, “that Bryan M'Mahon has lost his mother?” + </p> + <p> + “I did,” said the other; “poor orphan lad, I pity him.” + </p> + <p> + “We know you do,” said Bat, with a vindictive but approving sneer. + </p> + <p> + “I assure you,” continued Hycy, “I wish the young man well.” + </p> + <p> + “Durin' der lives,” repeated Phats, who had evidently been pondering over + Hycy's promised gift to the Hogans;—“throth,” he observed with a + grin, “dere may be something under dat too. Ay! an' she wishes Bryan + M'Mahon well,” he exclaimed, raising his red eyebrows. + </p> + <p> + “Shiss,” replied Hycy, mimicking him, “her does.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must have de still-house nowhere but in Ahadarra for alls dat.” + </p> + <p> + “For alls dats” replied the other. “Dat will do den,” said Phats, + composedly. “Enough of this,” said Hycy. “Now, Phats, have you examined + and pitched upon the place?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” replied Phats, speaking in his natural manner, “I have; an' + a betther spot isn't in Europe than there is undher the hip of Cullamore. + But do you know how Roger Cooke sarved Adam Blakely of Glencuil?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly well,” replied Hycy, “he ruined him.” + </p> + <p> + “But we don't know it,” said Ned; “how was it, Teddy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, he set up a still on his property—an' you know Adam owns the + whole townland, jist as Bryan M'Mahon does Ahadarra—an' afther three + or four runnin she gets a bloody scoundrel to inform upon Adam, as if it + was him an' not himself that had the still. Clinton the gauger—may + the devil break his neck at any rate!—an' the redcoats—came + and found all right, Still, Head, and Worm.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Bat, “an' how did that ruin him?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, by the present law,” returned Phats, “it's the townland that must + pay the fine. Poor Adam wasn't to say very rich; he had to pay the fine, + however, and now he's a beggar—root an' branch, chick an' child out + of it. Do you undherstand that, Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “you're mistaken; I have recourse to the still, + because I want cash. Honest Jemmy the gentleman has taken the <i>sthad</i> + an' won't fork out any longer, so that I must either run a cast or two + every now an' then, or turn clodhopper like himself. So much I say for + your information, Mr. Phats. In the meantime let us see what's to be done. + Here, Ned, is a five-pound note to buy barley; keep a strict account of + this; for I do assure you that I am not a person to be played on. There's + another thirty-shilling note—or stay, I'll make it two pounds—to + enable you to box up the still-house and remove the vessels and things + from Glendearg. Have you all ready, Philip?” he said, addressing himself + to Hogan. + </p> + <p> + “All,” replied Philip; “sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in + Europe—ready to be set to work at a minute's notice.” + </p> + <p> + “When,” said Hycy, rising, “will it be necessary that I should see you + again?” + </p> + <p> + “We'll let you know,” replied Phats, “when we want you. Kate here can drop + in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, good-night—stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I + go; and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every + one of you on this occasion?” + </p> + <p> + “We do,” replied Philip; “no doubt of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul of + you ever breathes—I hope, by the way, that these young savages are + all asleep—” + </p> + <p> + “As sound as a top,” said Bat, “everyone o' them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to a + human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the + business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold + you—and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of + you if it went to that.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance, which + was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have something + derisive in it. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable Mrs. + Hogan?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + Kate gave either a feigned or a real start as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Laughed at!” she exclaimed, as if surprised; “throth I wasn't thinkin of + you at all, Mr. Hycy. What wor you sayin'?” + </p> + <p> + “That if my name ever happens to be mentioned in connection with this + business, I'll send the whole kit of you—hammers, budgets, and + sothering-irons—to hell or Connaught; so think of this now, and + goodnight.” + </p> + <p> + “There goes as d——d vagabond,” said Ned, “as ever stretched + hemp; and only that it's our own business to make the most use we can out + of him, I didn't care the devil had him, for I don't like a bone in his + skin.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Philip, “I see what he's at now. Sure enough he'll put the + copin'-stone on Bryan. M'Mahon at any rate—that, an' if we can get + the house and place out of him—an' what need we care?” + </p> + <p> + “Send us to hell or Connaught,” said Kate; “well, that's not bad—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “What are you neigherin' at?” said her husband; “and what set you + a-caoklin' to his face a while ago?” + </p> + <p> + She shook her head carelessly. “No matther,” she replied, “for a raison I + had.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you let me know your raison, if you plaise?” + </p> + <p> + “If I plaise—ay, you did well to put that in, for I don't plaise to + let you know any more about it. I laughed bekaise I liked to laugh; an' I + hope one may do that 'ithout being brought over the coals about it. Go to + bed, an' give me another glass o' whiskey, Ted—it always makes me + sleep.” + </p> + <p> + Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating. + </p> + <p> + “He is a good boy,” said he; “but at any rate our hands is in the lion's + mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had. been in + for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him considerable + satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as possible in + executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself, who was a + thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great relish for + business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old uncle the + gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked upon him as + unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a cheap farm, + such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of idleness and + expense to those of application and industry. Being aware, from common + report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in Ahadarra was + out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but knew not exactly + in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing it if he could, + without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of obloquy besides. + Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners who, without + either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep as good terms + with the world as they can, whilst at the same time they laugh and despise + in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and respect in it. His nephew, + however, had some positive good, and not a little of that light and + reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for heart and spirit. Hycy and + he, though not very long acquainted, were, at the present period of our + narrative, on very intimate terms. They had, it is true, a good many + propensities in common, and these were what constituted the bond between + them. They were companions but not friends; and Clinton saw many things in + Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and scarcely anything more than the + contemptuous manner in which he spoke of and treated his parents. He liked + his society, because he was lively and without any of that high and + honorable moral feeling which is often troublesome to a companion who, + like Clinton, was not possessed of much scruple while engaged in the + pursuit of pleasures. On this account, therefore, we say that he relished + his society, but could neither respect nor esteem him. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning at breakfast, his uncle asked him where he had + dined the day before. + </p> + <p> + “With Hycy Burke, sir,” replied the nephew. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; that is honest Jemmy's son—a very great man in his own + conceit, Harry. You seem to like him very much.” + </p> + <p> + Harry felt a good deal puzzled as to the nature of his reply. He knew very + well that his uncle did not relish Hycy, and he felt that he could not + exactly state his opinion of him without bringing in question his own + penetration and good taste in keeping his society. Then, with respect to + his sister, although he had no earthly intention of seeing her the wife of + such a person, still he resolved to be able to say to Hycy that he had not + broken his word, a consideration which would not have bound Hycy one + moment under the same circumstances. + </p> + <p> + “He's a very pleasant young fellow, sir,” replied the other, “and has been + exceedingly civil and attentive to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!—do you like him—do you esteem him, I mean?” + </p> + <p> + “I dare say I will, sir, when I come to know him better.” + </p> + <p> + “Which is as much as to say that at present you do not. So I thought. You + have a portion of good sense about you, but in a thousand things you're a + jackass, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir,” replied his nephew, laughing heartily; “thank you for + the compliment. I am your nephew, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “You have a parcel of d——d scruples, I say, that are + ridiculous. What the devil need a man care about in this world but + appearances? Mind your own interests, keep up appearances, and you have + done your duty.” + </p> + <p> + “But I should like to do a little more than keep up appearances,” replied + his nephew. + </p> + <p> + “I know you would,” said his uncle, “and it is for that especial reason + that I say you're carrying the ears. I'm now a long time in the world, + Masther Harry—sixty-two years—although I don't look it, nor + anything like it, and in the course of that time—or, at all events, + ever since I was able to form my own opinions, I never met a man that + wasn't a rogue in something, with the exception of—let me see—one—two—three—four—five—I'm + not able to make out the half-dozen.” + </p> + <p> + “And who were the five honorable exceptions?” asked his niece, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “They were the five fools of the parish, Maria—and yet I am wrong, + still—for Bob M'Cann was as thievish as the very devil whenever he + had an opportunity. And now, do you know the conclusion I come to from all + this?” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose,” said his niece, “that no man's honest but a fool.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Maria, Well done—you've hit it. By the way, it's seems + M'Mahon's wife, of Carriglass, is dead.” + </p> + <p> + “Is she?” said Harry; “that is a respectable family, father, by all + accounts.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, they neither rob nor steal, I believe,” replied his uncle. “They are + like most people, I suppose, honest in the eye of the law—honest + because the laws keep them so.” + </p> + <p> + “I did not think your opinion of the world was so bad, uncle,” said Maria; + “I hope it is not so bad as you say it is.” + </p> + <p> + “All I can say, then,” replied the old Cynic, “that if you wait till you + find an honest man for your husband, you'll die an old maid.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but excuse me, uncle, is that safe doctrine to lay down before your + nephew, or myself?” + </p> + <p> + “Pooh, as to you, you silly girl, what have you to do with it? We're + taikin' about men, now—about the world, I say, and life in general.” + </p> + <p> + “And don't you wish Harry to be honest?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, where it is his interest; and ditto to roguery, where it can be done + safely.” + </p> + <p> + “I know you don't feel what you say, uncle,” she observed, “nor believe it + either.” + </p> + <p> + “Not he, Maria,” said her brother, awakening out of a reverie; “but, + uncle, as to Hycy Burke—I don't—hem.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't what?” asked the other, rising and staring at him. + </p> + <p> + His nephew looked at his sister, and was silent. + </p> + <p> + “You don't mean what, man?—always speak out. Here, help me on with + this coat. Fethertonge and I are taking a ride up tomorrow as far as + Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a man I don't like,” said the nephew. “He's too soft and too + sweet, and speaks too low to be honest.” + </p> + <p> + “Honest, you blockhead! Who says he's honest?” replied his uncle. “He's as + good a thing, however, an excellent man of the world that looks to the + main point, and—keeps up appearances. Take care of yourselves;” and + with these words, accompanied with a shrewd, knavish nod that was peculiar + to him, in giving which with expression he was a perfect adept, he left + them. + </p> + <p> + When he was gone, the brother and his sister looked at each, other, and + the latter said, “Can it be possible, Harry, that my uncle is serious in + all he says on this subject?” + </p> + <p> + Her brother, who paid more regard to the principles of his sister than her + uncle did, felt great reluctance in answering her in the affirmative, so + much so, indeed, that he resolved to stretch a little for the sake of + common decency. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, Maria; no man relishes honesty more than he does. He only + speaks in this fashion because he thinks that honest men are scarce, and + so they are. But, by-the-way, talking about Hycy Burke, Maria, how do you + like him?” + </p> + <p> + “I can't say I admire him,” she replied, “but you know I have had very + slight opportunities of forming any opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “From what you have seen of him, what do you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Let me see,” she replied, pausing; “why, that he'll meet very few who + will think so highly of him as he does of himself.” + </p> + <p> + “He thinks very highly of you, then.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” she asked somewhat quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, Maria, from the best authority—because he himself told me + so.” + </p> + <p> + “So, then, I have had the honor of furnishing you with a topic of + conversation?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, and you may prepare yourself for a surprise. He's + attached to you.” + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” she replied calmly. + </p> + <p> + “Why so?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Because, if you wish to know the truth, I do not think him capable of + attachment to any one but himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, a very good reason, Maria; but, seriously, if he should introduce + the subject, I trust, at all events, that you will treat him with + respect.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall certainly respect myself, Harry. He need not fear that I shall + read him one of my uncle's lectures upon life and honesty.” + </p> + <p> + “I have promised not to be his enemy in the matter, and I shall keep my + word.” + </p> + <p> + “So you may, Harry, with perfect safety. I am much obliged to him for his + good opinion; but”—she paused. + </p> + <p> + “What do you stop at, Maria?” + </p> + <p> + “I was only about to add,” she replied, “that I wish it was mutual.” + </p> + <p> + “You wish it,” he exclaimed. “What do you mean by that, Maria?” + </p> + <p> + She laughed. “Don't you know it is only a form of speech? a polite way of + saying that he does not rank high in my esteem?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” he replied, “settle that matter between you; perhaps the + devil is not so black as he's painted.” + </p> + <p> + “A very unhappy illustration,” said his sister, “whatever has put it into + your head.' + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and I don't know what put it there. However, all I can say in the + matter I have already said. I am not, nor shall I be, his enemy. I'll + trouble you, as you're near it, to touch the bell till George gets the + horse. I am going up to his father's, now. Shall I tell him that John + Wallace is discarded; that he will be received with smiles, and that—” + </p> + <p> + “How can you be so foolish, Harry?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-bye, at any rate. You are perfectly capable of deciding for + yourself, Maria.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust so,” she replied. “There's George with your horse now.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a blue look-up, Master Hycy,” said Clinton to himself as he took his + way to Burke's. “I think you have but little chance in that quarter, oh, + most accomplished Hycy, and indeed I am not a whit sorry; but should be + very much so were it otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + It is singular enough that whilst Clinton was introducing the subject of + Hycy's attachment to his sister, that worthy young gentleman was + sustaining a much more serious and vehement onset upon a similar subject + at home. Gerald Cavanagh and his wife having once got the notion of a + marriage between Kathleen and Hycy into their heads, were determined not + to rest until that desirable consummation should be brought about. In + accordance with this resolution, we must assure our readers that Gerald + never omitted any opportunity of introducing the matter to Jemmy Burke, + who, as he liked the Cavanaghs, and especially Kathleen herself, who, + indeed, was a general favorite, began to think that, although in point of + circumstances she was by no means a match for him, Hycy might do still + worse. It is true, his wife was outrageous at the bare mention of it; but + Jemmy, along with a good deal of blunt sarcasm, had a resolution of his + own, and not unfrequently took a kind of good-natured and shrewd delight + in opposing her wishes whenever he found them to be unreasonable. For + several months past he could not put his foot out of the door that he was + not haunted by honest Gerald Cavanagh, who had only one idea constantly + before him, that of raising his daughter to the rank and state in which he + knew, or at least calculated that Hycy Burke would keep her. Go where he + might, honest Jemmy was attended by honest Gerald, like his fetch. At + mass, at market, in every fair throughout the country was Cavanagh sure to + bring up the subject of the marriage; and what was the best of it, he and + his neighbor drank each other's healths so repeatedly on the head of it, + that they often separated in a state that might be termed anything but + sober. Nay, what is more, it was a fact that they had more than once or + twice absolutely arranged the whole matter, and even appointed the day for + the wedding, without either of them being able to recollect the + circumstances on the following morning. + </p> + <p> + Whilst at breakfast on the morning in question, Burke, after finishing his + first cup of tea, addressed his worthy son as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Hycy, do you intend to live always this way?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not, Mr. Burke. I expect to dine on something more substantial + than tea.” + </p> + <p> + “You're very stupid, Hycy, not to understand me; but, indeed, you never + were overstocked wid brains, unfortunately, as I know to my cost—but + what I mane is, have you any intention of changing your condition in life? + Do you intend to marry, or to go on spendin' money upon me at this rate!” + </p> + <p> + “The old lecture, Mrs. Burke,” said Hycy, addressing his mother. “Father, + you are sadly deficient in originality. Of late you are perpetually + repeating yourself. Why, I suppose to-morrow or next day, you will become + geometrical on our hands, or treat us to a grammatical praxis. Don't you + think it very likely, Mrs. Burke!” + </p> + <p> + “And if he does,” replied his mother, “it's not the first time he has been + guilty of both; but of late, all the little shame he had, he has lost it.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and if I hadn't got a large stock, I'd a been run out of it this + many a day, in regard of what I had to lose in that way for you, Hycy. + However I'll thank you to listen to me. Have you any intention of marryin' + a wife?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, Mr. Burke. Not a doubt of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I am glad to hear it. The sooner you're married, the sooner you'll + settle down. You'll know, then, my lad, what life is.” + </p> + <p> + Honest Jemmy's sarcasm was likely to carry him too far from his purpose, + which was certainly not to give a malicious account of matrimony, but, on + the contrary, to recommend it to his worthy son. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke,” said Hycy, winking at his mother, “proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “The truth is, Hycy,” he added, “I have a wife in my eye for you.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought as much,” replied the other. “I did imagine it was there you + had her; name—Mr. Burke—name?” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, I'm ashamed, Hycy, to name her and yourself on the same day.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, can't you name her to-day, and postpone me until to-morrow?” + </p> + <p> + “It would be almost a pity to have her thrown away upon you. A good and + virtuous wife, however, may do a great deal to reclaim a bad husband, and, + indeed, you wouldn't be the first profligate that was reformed in the same + way.” + </p> + <p> + “Many thanks, Mr. Burke; you are quite geological this morning; isn't he, + ma'am?” + </p> + <p> + “When was he ever anything else? God pardon him! However, I know what he's + exterminatin' for; he wants you to marry Kathleen Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay do I, Rosha; and she might make him a respectable man yet,—that + is, if any woman could.” + </p> + <p> + “Geological again, mother; well, really now, Katsey Cavanagh is a splendid + girl, a fine animal, no doubt of it; all her points are good, but, at the + same time, Mr. Burke, a trifle too plebeian for Hycy the accomplished.” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you she's a devilish sight too good for you; and if you don't + marry her, you'll never get such a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth,” answered Mrs. Burke, “I think myself there's something over you, + or you wouldn't spake as you do—a wife for Hycy—one of Gerald + Cavanagh's daughters make a wife for him!—not while I'm alive at any + rate, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + “While you're alive; well, may be not:—but sure if it plases God to + bring it about, on your own plan, I must endaivor to be contented, Rosha; + ay, an' how do you know but I'd dance at their weddin' too! ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, then, it's you that's the bitther pill, Jemmy Burke! but, thank God, + I disregard you at all events. It's little respect you pay to my feelings, + or ever did.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust, my most amiable mother, that you won't suffer the equability of + your temper to be disturbed by anything proceeding from such an + antiphlogistic source. Allow me to say, Mr. Burke, that I have higher game + in view, and that for the present I must beg respectfully to decline the + proposal which you so kindly made, fully sensible as I am of the honor you + intended for me. If you will only exercise a little patience, however, + perhaps I shall have the pleasure ere long of presenting to you a lady of + high accomplishments, amiable manners, and very considerable beauty.” + </p> + <p> + “Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest + Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as possible, + for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine.” + </p> + <p> + “You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?” + </p> + <p> + “For the present I say most assuredly not,” replied the son, in the same + ironical and polite tone. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there + was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, “as poor Gerald was a + good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry her—<i>to + oblige him</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous + sarcasm implied in these words. “Father,” said he, to save trouble, and to + prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I think it + right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl as + Cavanagh's daughter.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” continued his mother, “nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the father; “is that your mind?” + </p> + <p> + “That's my mind, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better + manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother + home from school,—suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,—and + suppose I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a + gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is + something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men.” + </p> + <p> + He took up his hat as he spoke and went out to the fields, leaving both + mother and son in no slight degree startled by an intimation so utterly + unexpected, but which they knew enough of him to believe was one not at + all unlikely to be acted on by a man who so frequently followed up his own + determinations with a spirit amounting almost to obstinacy. + </p> + <p> + “I think, mother,” observed the latter, “we must take in sail a little; + 'the gentleman' won't bear the ironical to such an extent, although he is + master of it in his own way; in other words, Mr. Burke won't bear to be + laughed at.” + </p> + <p> + “Not he,” said his mother, in the tone of one who was half angry at him on + that very account, “he'll bear nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n it, to tell that vulgar bumpkin, Cavanagh, I suppose in a state + of maudlin drunkenness, that he would make me marry his daughter—to + oblige, him!—contempt could go no further; it was making a complete + cipher of me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but I'm disturbed about what he said going out, Hycy. I don't half + like the face he had on him when he said it; and when he comes to discover + other things, too, money matthers—there will be no keepin the house + wid him.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear as much,” said Hycy; “however, we must only play our cards as well + as we can; he is an impracticable man, no doubt of it, and it is a sad + thing that a young fellow of spirit should be depending on such a— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, + How can you bloom so fresh and fair, + How can ye chant, ye little birds, + And I sae weary fu' o' care, &c., &c. +</pre> + <p> + “Well, well—I do not relish that last hint certainly, and if other + projects should fail, why, as touching the fair Katsey, it might not be + impossible that—however, time will develop. She is a fine girl, a + magnificent creature, no doubt of it, still, most maternal relative, as I + said, time will develop—by the way, Mrs. M'Mahon, the clodhopper's + mother, is to be interred to-morrow, and I suppose you and 'the gentleman' + will attend the funeral.” + </p> + <p> + “Sartinly, we must.” + </p> + <p> + “So shall 'the accomplished.' Clinton and I shall honor that lugubrious + ceremony with our presence; but as respecting the clodhopper himself, + meaning thereby Bryan of Ahadarra, he is provided for. What an unlucky + thought to enter into the old fellow's noddle! However, <i>non constat</i>, + as Finigan would say, time will develop.” + </p> + <p> + “You're not gainin' ground with him at all events,” said his mother; “ever + since that Crazy Jane affair he's changed for the worse towards both of + us, or ever since the robbery I ought to say, for he's dark and has + something on his mind ever since.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm in the dark there myself, most amiable of mothers; however, as I said + just now, I say time will develop.” + </p> + <p> + He then began to prepare himself for the business of the day, which + consisted principally in riding about seeking out new adventures, or, as + they term it, hunting in couples, with Harry Clinton. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII.—Mrs. M'Mahon's Funeral. + </h2> + <p> + On the morning of Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, the house as is usual in such + cases, was filled with relatives and neighbors, each and all anxious to + soothe and give comfort to the afflicted family. Protestants and + Presbyterians were there, who entered as deeply and affectionately into + the sorrow which was felt as if they were connected to them by blood. + Moving about with something like authority, was Dennis O'Grady, the Roman + Catholic Parish Clerk, who, with a semi-clerical bearing, undertook to + direct the religious devotions which are usual on such occasions. In + consequence of the dearth of schools and teachers that then existed in our + unfortunate country, it frequently happened, that persons were, from + necessity, engaged in aiding the performance of religious duties, who were + possessed of very little education, if not, as was too often the case, + absolutely and wholly illiterate. Dennis was not absolutely illiterate, + but, in good truth, he was by no means far removed from that uncomfortable + category. Finigan, the schoolmaster, was also present; and as he claimed + acquaintance with the classics, and could understand and read with + something like correctness the Latin offices, which were frequently + repeated on these occasions it would be utterly impossible to describe the + lofty scorn and haughty supercilious contempt with which he contemplated + poor Dennis, who kept muttering away at the <i>Confiteor</i> and <i>De + Profundis</i> with a barbarity of pronunciation that rendered it + impossible for human ears to understand a single word he said. Finigan, + swollen with an indignation which he could no longer suppress, and + stimulated by a glass or two of whiskey, took three or four of the + neighbors over to a corner, where, whilst his eyes rested on Dennis with a + most withering expression of scorn, he exclaimed—“Here, hand me that + manual, and get out o' my way, you illiterate nonentity and most + unsufferable appendage to religion.” + </p> + <p> + He then took the book, and going over to the coffin, read in a loud and + sonorous voice the <i>De Profundis</i> and other prayers for the dead, + casting his eyes from time to time upon the unfortunate clerk with a + contemptuous bitterness and scorn that, for force of expression, could not + be surpassed. When he had concluded, he looked around him with a sense of + lofty triumph that was irresistible in its way. “There,” said he, “is + something like accent and quantity for you—there is something that + may, without derogation to religion, be called respectable perusal—an' + yet to say that a man like me, wid classical accomplishments and + propensities from my very cradle, should be set aside for that illiterate + vulgarian, merely because, like every other janius, I sometimes indulge in + the delectable enjoyment of a copious libation, is too bad.” + </p> + <p> + This in fact was the gist of his resentment against O'Grady. He had been + in the habit for some time of acting as clerk to the priest, who bore with + his “copious libations,” as he called them, until common decency rendered + it impossible to allow him any longer the privilege of taking a part as + clerk in the ceremonies of religion. + </p> + <p> + When this was over, a rustic choir, whom the parish clerk had organized, + and in a great measure taught himself, approached the body and sang a hymn + over it, after which the preparations for its removal began to be made. + </p> + <p> + Ever since the death of his wife, Thomas M'Mahon could not be prevailed + upon to taste a morsel of food. He went about from place to place, marked + by such evidences of utter prostration and despair that it was painful to + look upon him, especially when one considered the truth, purity, and + fervor of the affection that had subsisted between him and the inestimable + woman he had lost. The only two individuals capable of exercising any + influence upon him now were Bryan and his daughter Dora; yet even they + could not prevail upon him to take any sustenance. His face was haggard + and pale as death, his eyes red and bloodshot, and his very body, which + had always been erect and manly, was now stooped and bent from the very + intensity of his affliction. + </p> + <p> + He had been about the garden during the scene just described, and from the + garden he passed round through all the office-houses, into every one of + which he entered, looking at them in the stupid bereavement of grief, as + if he had only noticed them for the first time. On going into the + cow-house where the animals were at their food, he approached one of them—that + which had been his wife's favorite, and which would suffer no hand to milk + her but her own—“Oh, Bracky,” he said, “little you know who's gone + from you—even you miss her already, for you refused for the last + three days to let any one of them milk you, when she was not here to do + it. Ah, Bracky, the kind hand and the kind word that you liked so well + will never be wid you more—that low sweet song that you loved to + listen to, and that made you turn round while she was milkin' you, an' + lick her wid your tongue from pure affection—for what was there that + had life that didn't love her? That low, sweet song, Bracky, you will + never hear again. Well, Bracky, for her sake I'm come to tell you, this + sorrowful mornin', that while I have life an' the means of keepin' you, + from me an' them she loved you will never part.” + </p> + <p> + While he spoke the poor animal, feeling from the habit of instinct that + the hour of! milking had arrived, turned round and uttered once or twice + that affectionate lowing with which she usually called upon the departed + to come and relieve her of her fragrant burthen. This was more than the + heart-broken man could bear, he walked back, and entering the wake-house, + in a burst of vehement sorrow—“Oh, Bridget, my wife, my wife—is + it any wondher we should feel your loss, when your favorite, Bracky, is + callin' for you; but you won't come to her—that voice that so often + charmed her will never charm the poor affectionate creature again.” + </p> + <p> + “Father dear,” said Bryan, “if ever you were called upon to be a man it is + now.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Byran, as God is to judge me,” replied his father, “the cow—her + own cow—is callin' for her in the cow-house widin—its truth—doesn't + everything miss her—even poor Bracky feels as if she was dasarted. + Oh, my God, an' what will we do—what will we do!” + </p> + <p> + This anecdote told by the sorrowing husband was indeed inexpressingly + affecting. Bryan, who had collected all his firmness with a hope of being + able to sustain his father, was so much overpowered by this circumstance + that, after two or three ineffectual attempts to soothe him, he was + himself fairly overcome, and yielded for the moment to bitter tears, + whilst the whole family broke out into one general outburst, of sorrow, + accompanied in many cases by the spectators, who were not proof against + the influence of so natural and touching an incident. + </p> + <p> + Their neighbors and friends, in the meantime, were pouring in fast from + all directions. Jemmy Burke and his wife—the latter ridiculously + over-dressed—drove there upon their jaunting-car, which was + considered a great compliment, followed soon afterwards by Hycy and Harry + Clinton on horse-back. Gerald Cavanagh and his family also came, with the + exception of Kathleen and Hanna, who were, however, every moment expected. + The schoolmaster having finished the <i>De Profundis</i>, was, as is + usual, treated to glass of whiskey—a circumstance which just + advanced him to such a degree of fluency and easy assurance as was + necessary properly to develop the peculiarities of his character. Having + witnessed Bryan's failure at consolation, attended as it was by the + clamorous grief of the family, he deemed it his duty, especially as he had + just taken some part in the devotions, to undertake the task in which + Bryan had been so unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + “Thomas M'Mahon,” said he, “I'm disposed to blush—do you hear me, I + say? I am disposed to blush, I repate, for your want of—he doesn't + hear me:—will you pay attention? I am really disposed to blush”—and + as he uttered the words he stirred M'Mahon by shaking his shoulders two or + three times, in order to gain his attention. + </p> + <p> + “Are you?” replied the other, replying in an absent manner to his words. + “God help you then, and assist you, for it's few can do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Can do what?” + </p> + <p> + “Och, I don't know; whatever you wor sayin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Patience, my good friend, Thomas M'Mahon. I would call you Tom + familiarly, but that you are in affliction, and it is well known that + every one in affliction is, or at least ought to be, treated with respect + and much sympathetical consolation. You are now in deep sorrow; but don't + you knows that death is the end of all things? and believe me there are + many objects in this world which a wise and experienced man would lose wid + much greater regret than he would a mere wife. Think, for instance, how + many men there are—dreary and subdued creatures—who dare not + call their souls, if they have any, or anything else they do possess, + their own; think, I repate, of those who would give nine-tenths of all + they are worth simply to be in your present condition! Wretches who from + the moment they passed under the yoke matrimonial, to which all other + yokes are jokes, have often heard of liberty but never enjoyed it for one + single hour—the Lord help them!” + </p> + <p> + “Amen!” exclaimed M'Mahon, unconsciously. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” proceeded Finigan, “unfortunate devils whose obstinacy has been + streaked by a black mark, or which ought rather to be termed a black and + blue mark, for that is an abler and more significant illustration, Poor + quadrupeds who have lived their whole miserable lives as married men under + an iron dynasty; and who know that the thunderings of Jupiter himself, if + he were now in vogue, would be mere music compared to the fury of a + conjugal tongue when agitated by any one of the thousand causes that set + it a-going so easily. Now, Thomas, I am far from insinuating that ever you + stood in that most pitiable category, but I know many who have—heigho!—and + I know many who do, and some besides who will; for what was before may be + agin, and it will be nothing but ascendancy armed with her iron rod on the + one hand, against patience, submission, and tribulation, wid their groans + and penances on the other. Courage then, my worthy friend; do not be + overwhelmed wid grief, for I can assure you that as matters in general go + on the surface of this terraqueous globe, the death of a wife ought to be + set down as a proof that heaven does not altogether overlook us. 'Tis true + there are tears shed upon such occasions, and for very secret reason's + too, if the truth were known. Joy has its tears as well as grief, I + believe, and it is often rather difficult, under a blessing so completely + disguised as the death of a wi—of one's matrimonial partner, to + restrain them. Come then, be a man. There is Mr. Hycy Burke, a + tender-hearted young gentleman, and if you go on this way you will have + him weeping' for sheer sympathy, not pretermitting Mr. Clinton, his + companion, who is equally inclined to be pathetic, if one can judge from + apparent symptoms.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm obliged to you, Masther,” replied M'Mahon, who had not heard, or + rather paid attention to, a single syllable he had uttered. “Of course + it's thruth you're savin'—-it is—it is, <i>fureer gair</i> it + is; and she that's gone from me is a proof of it. What wondher then that I + should shed tears, and feel as I do?” + </p> + <p> + The unconscious simplicity of this reply to such a singular argument for + consolation as the schoolmaster had advanced, caused many to smile, some + to laugh outright, and others to sympathize still more deeply with + M'Mahon's sorrow. Finigan's allusion to Hycy and his companion was + justified by the contrast which the appearance of each presented. Hycy, + who enjoyed his lecture on the tribulations of matrimonial life very much, + laughed as he advanced in it, whilst Clinton, who was really absorbed in a + contemplation of the profound and solemn spirit which marked the character + of the grief he witnessed, and who felt impressed besides by the touching + emblems of death and bereavement which surrounded him, gradually gave way + to the impressions that gained on him, until he almost felt the tears in + his eyes. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Kathleen and her sister Hanna entered the house, and a + general stir took place among those who were present, which was caused by + her strikingly noble figure and extraordinary beauty—a beauty which, + on the occasion in question, assumed a peculiarly dignified and majestic + character from the deep and earnest sympathy with the surrounding sorrow + that was impressed on it. + </p> + <p> + Hycy and his companion surveyed her for many minutes; and the former began + to think that after all, if Miss Clinton should fail him, Kathleen would + make an admirable and most lovely wife. Her father soon after she entered + came over, and taking her hand said, “Come with me, Kathleen, till you + shake hands wid a great friend of yours—wid Misther Burke. This is + herself, Misther Burke,” he added, significantly, on putting her hand into + that of honest Jemmy, “an' I think no father need be ashamed of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor no father-in-law,” replied Jemmy, shaking her cordially by the hand, + “and whisper, darlin',” said he, putting his mouth close to her ear, and + speaking so as that he might not be heard by others, “I hope to see you my + daughter-in-law yet, if I could only get that boy beyant to make himself + worthy of you.” + </p> + <p> + On speaking he turned his eyes on Hycy, who raised himself up, and + assuming his best looks intimated his consciousness of being the object of + his father's allusion to him. He then stepped over to where she stood, and + extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor said, “I hope + Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father, won't refuse to + honor the son.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply + still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty + that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption. + </p> + <p> + “This, Mr. Hycy,” she replied, “is neither a time nor a place for empty + compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake + hands with him; but not till that time comes.” + </p> + <p> + On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and + for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot both + grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured its unalloyed + sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt mortified, and bit + his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of excessive vanity, the + repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to its publicity. Gerald + Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his wife could not help + exclaiming aloud, “Kathleen! what do you mane? I declare I'm ashamed of + you!” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon + forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the + funeral. + </p> + <p> + This was indeed a trying and heart-rending scene. The faithful wife, the + virtuous mother, the kind friend, and the pious Christian, was now about + to be removed for ever from that domestic scene which her fidelity, her + virtue, her charity, and her piety, had filled with peace, and love, and + happiness. As the coffin, which had been resting upon two chairs, was + about to be removed, the grief of her family became loud and vehement. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Bridget!” exclaimed her husband, “and is it to come to this at last! + And you are lavin' us for evermore! Don't raise the coffin,” he proceeded, + “don't raise it. Oh! let us not part wid her till to-morrow; let us know + that she's undher the same roof wid us until then. An', merciful Father, + when I think where you're goin' to bring her to! Oh! there lies the heart + now widout one motion—dead and cowld—the heart that loved us + all as no other heart ever did! Bridget, my wife, don't you hear me? But + the day was that you'd hear me, an' that your kind an' lovin' eye would + turn on me wid that smile that was never broken. Where is the wife that + was true? Where is the lovin' mother, the charitable heart to the poor and + desolate, and the hand that was ever ready to aid them that was in + distress? Where are they all now? There, dead and cowld forever, in that + coffin. What has become of my wife, I say? What is death at all, to take + all we love from us this way? But sure God forgive me for saying so, for + isn't it the will of God? but oh! it is the heaviest of all thrials to + lose such a woman as she was!” + </p> + <p> + Old grandfather, as he was called, had latterly become very feeble, and + was barely able to be out of bed on that occasion. When the tumult reached + the room where he sat with some of the aged neighbors, he inquired what + had occasioned it, and being told that the coffin was about to be removed + to the hearse, he rose up. + </p> + <p> + “That is Tom's voice I hear,” said he, “and I must put an end to this.” He + accordingly made his appearance rather unexpectedly among them, and + approaching his son, said, putting his hand commandingly upon his + shoulder, and looking in his face with a solemn consciousness of authority + that was irresistible, “I command you, Tom, to stop. It's not many + commands that I'll ever give you—maybe this will be the last—and + it's not many ever I had occasion to give you, but now I command you to + stop and let the funeral go on.” He paused for a short time and looked + upon the features of his son with a full sense of what was due to his + authority. His great age, his white hairs, his venerable looks and + bearing, and the reverence which the tremulous but earnest tones of his + voice were calculated to inspire, filled his son with awe, and he was + silent. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said he, “I will; I'll try and obey you—I will.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless you and comfort you, my dear son,” said the old man. “Keep + silence, now,” he proceeded, addressing the others, “and bring the coffin + to the hearse at wanst. And may God strengthen and support you all, for + it's I that knows your loss; but like a good mother as she was, she has + left none but good and dutiful childre' behind her.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Dora, during the whole morning, had imposed a task upon herself that + was greater than her affectionate and sorrowing heart could bear. She was + very pale and exhausted by the force of what she had felt, and her + excessive weeping; but it was observed that she now appeared to manifest a + greater degree of fortitude than any of the rest. Still, during this + assumed calmness, the dear girl, every now and then, could not help + uttering a short convulsive sob, that indicated at once her physical + debility and extraordinary grief. She was evidently incapable of entering + into conversation, or at least, averse to it, and was consequently very + silent during the whole morning. As they stooped, however, to remove the + coffin, she threw herself upon it, exclaiming, “Mother, its your own Dora—mother—mother—don't, + mother—don't lave me don't—I won't let her go—I won't + let her go! I—I—” Even before she could utter the words she + intended to say, her head sank down, and her pale but beautiful cheek lay + exactly beside the name, Bridget M'Mahon, that was upon it. + </p> + <p> + “The poor child has fainted,” they exclaimed, “bring her to the fresh + air.” + </p> + <p> + Ere any one had time, however, to raise her, James Cavanagh rushed over to + the coffin, and seizing her in his arms, bore her to the street, where he + placed her upon one of the chairs that had been left there to support the + coffin until keened over by the relatives and friends, previous to its + being-placed in the hearse; for such is the custom. There is something + exceedingly alarming in a swoon to a person who witnesses it for the first + time; which was the case with James Cavanagh. Having placed her on the + chair, he looked wildly upon her; then as wildly upon those who were + crowding round him. “What ails her?” he exclaimed—“what ails her?—she + is dead!—she is dead! Dora—Dora dear—Dora dear, can't + you spake or hear me?” + </p> + <p> + Whilst he pronounced the words, a shower of tears gushed rapidly from his + eyes and fell upon her beautiful features, and in the impressive + tenderness of the moment, he caught her to his heart, and with rapturous + distraction and despair kissed her lips and exclaimed, “She is dead!—she + is dead!—an' all that's in the world is nothing to the love I had + for her!” + </p> + <p> + “Stand aside, James,” said his sister Kathleen; “leave this instantly. + Forgive him, Bryan,” she said, looking at her lover with a burning brow, + “he doesn't know what he is doing.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Kathleen,” replied, her brother, with a choking voice, “neither for + you nor for him, nor for a human crature, will I leave her.” + </p> + <p> + “James, I'm ashamed of you,” said Hanna, rapidly and energetically + disengaging his arms from about the insensible girl; “have! you no respect + for Dora? If you love her as you say, you could hardly act as you did.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said he, staring at her, “what did I do?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan took him firmly by the arm, and said, “Come away, you foolish boy; I + don't think you know what you did. Leave her to the girls. There, she is + recoverin'.” + </p> + <p> + She did soon recover; but weak and broken down as she was, no persuasion + nor even authority could prevail upon her to remain at home. Jemmy Burke, + who had intended to offer Kathleen a seat upon his car, which, of course, + she would not have accepted, was now outmanoeuvred by his wife, 'who got + Dora beside herself, after having placed a sister of Tom M'Mahon's beside + him. + </p> + <p> + At length, the coffin was brought out, and the keene raised over it, on + the conclusion of which it was placed in the hearse, and the procession + began to move on. + </p> + <p> + There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly + indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of persons + which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In such a case, + the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which the party has + been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a mile long. All + the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, or half-sirs in + the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect for the virtues of + the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity and upright spirit of the + family that had been deprived of her so unexpectedly. + </p> + <p> + Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, the + schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as to + render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no wish for + it. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Harry,” said his companion, “what do you think of the last scene?” + </p> + <p> + “You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl + that fainted, poor thing!” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I do,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the other, “I think the whole thing was very simple, and + consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in love—there + is no doubt of that—thought she had died; and upon my soul, Hycy, + there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of such a + passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, I can + understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the tenderness by + which he was actuated.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?” asked Hycy, with more of interest + than he had probably ever felt in her before. + </p> + <p> + “What do I think?” said the other, looking at him with a good deal of + surprise. “What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste or + common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her one of + the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! what would + not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a polished and + comprehensive education?” + </p> + <p> + “She is very much of a lady as it is,” added Hycy, “and has great natural + dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has left me + under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little + Dora, which is quite captivating,” observed Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” replied the other, “I make jou a present of the two fair + rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education and + manner do. Maria is a delightful girl.” + </p> + <p> + “She is an amiable and a good girl,” said her brother; “but, in point of + personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been + speaking of.” + </p> + <p> + “Finigan,” said Hycy—“I beg your pardon, O'Finigan—the great + O'Finigan, Philomath—are you a good judge of beauty?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, Mr. Hycy,” replied the pedagogue, “I think, above all + subjects, that a thorough understanding of that same comes most natural to + an Irishman. It is a pleasant topic to discuss at all times.” + </p> + <p> + “Much pleasanter than marriage, I think,” said Clinton, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Clinton,” replied the other, with a shrug, “<i>de mortuis nil + nisi bonum</i>; but as touching beauty, in what sense do you ask my + opinion?” + </p> + <p> + “Whether now, for instance, would your learned taste prefer Miss Cavanagh + or Miss Dora M'Mahon? and give your reasons.” + </p> + <p> + “Taste, Mr. Hycy, is never, or at least seldom, guided by reason; the + question, however, is a fair one.” + </p> + <p> + “One at least on a fair subject,” observed Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Very well said, Mr. Clinton,” replied the schoolmaster, with a grin—“there + goes wit for us, no less—and originality besides. See what it is to + have a great janius!—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” pursued Hycy, “but about the ladies? You have not + given us your opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, they are both highly gifted wid beauty, and strongly + calculated to excite the amorous sentiments of refined and elevated + affection.” + </p> + <p> + “Well done, Mr. Plantation,” said Hycy; “you are improving—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Cavanagh, then,” continued Finigan, “I'd say was a goddess, and Miss + M'Mahon her attendant nymph.” + </p> + <p> + “Good again, O'Finigan,” said Clinton; “you are evidently at home in the + mythology.” + </p> + <p> + “Among the goddesses, at any rate,” replied the master, with another grin. + </p> + <p> + “Provided there is no matrimony in the question,” said Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Clinton, don't, if you please. That's a subject you may respect + yet as much as I do; but regarding my opinion of the two beauties in + question, why was it solicited, Mr. Hycy?” he added, turning to that + worthy gentlemen. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, I'm not able to say, most learned Philomath; only, is it true that + Bryan, the clodhopper, has matrimonial designs upon the fair daughter of + the regal Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Sic vult fama</i>, Mr. Hycy, upon condition that a certain + accomplished young gentleman, whose surname commences with the second + letter of the alphabet, won't offer—for in that case, it is + affirmed, that the clodhopper should travel. By the way, Mr. Clinton, I + met your uncle and Mr. Fethertonge riding up towards Ahadarra this + morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” exclaimed both; and as they spoke, each cast a look of inquiry + at the other. + </p> + <p> + “What could bring them to Ahadarra, gentlemen?” asked Finigan, in a tone + of voice which rendered it a nice point to determine whether it was a + simple love of knowledge that induced him to put the question, or some + other motive that might have lain within a kind of ironical gravity that + accompanied it. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I suppose a pair of good horses,” replied Hycy, “and their own + inclination.” + </p> + <p> + “It was not the last, at all events,” said Finigan, “that ever brought a + thief to the gallows—ha! ha! ha! we must be facetious sometimes, Mr. + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “You appear to enjoy that joke, Mr. Finigan,” said Hycy, rather tartly. + </p> + <p> + “Faith,” replied Finigan, “it's a joke that very few do enjoy, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “What is?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the gallows, sir—ha! ha! ha! but don't forget the O if you + plaise—ever and always the big O before Finigan—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Clinton,” said Hycy, “move on a little. D—n that fellow!” he + cried—“he's a sneering scoundrel; and I'm half inclined to think he + has more in him than one would be apt to give him credit for.” + </p> + <p> + “By the way, what could the visit to Ahadarra mean?” asked Clinton. “Do + you know anything about it, Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Not about this; but it is very likely that I shall cause them, or one of + them at least, to visit it on some other occasion ere long; and that's all + I can say now. Curse that keening, what a barbarous practice it is!' + </p> + <p> + “I think not,” said the other; “on the contrary, I am of opinion that + there's something strikingly wild and poetical in it something that argues + us Irish to be a people of deep feeling and strong imagination: two of the + highest gifts of intellect.” + </p> + <p> + “All stuff,” replied the accomplished Hycy, who, among his other excellent + qualities, could never afford to speak a good word to his country Or her + people. “All stuff and barbarous howling that we learned from the wolves + when we had them in Ireland. Here we are at the graveyard.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” said his friend, “it never occurred to me to thing of asking what + religion you believe in.” + </p> + <p> + “It is said,” replied Hycy, “that a fool may propose a question which a + wise man can't answer. As to religion, I have not yet made any + determination among the variety that is abroad. A man, however, can be at + no loss; for as every one of them is the best, it matters little which of + them he chooses. I think it likely I shall go to church with your sister, + should we ever do matrimony together. To a man like me who's indifferent, + respectability alone ought to determine.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton made no reply to this; and in a few minutes afterward they entered + the churchyard, the coffin having been taken out of the hearse and borne + on the shoulders of her four nearest relatives,—Tom M'Mahon, in deep + silence and affliction, preceding it as chief mourner. + </p> + <p> + There is a prostrating stupor, or rather a kind of agonizing delirium that + comes over the mind when we are forced to mingle with crowds, and have our + ears filled with the voices of lamentation, the sounds of the death-bell, + or the murmur of many people in conversation. 'Twas thus M'Mahon felt + during the whole procession. Sometimes he thought it was relief, and again + he felt as if it was only the mere alternation of suffering into a sharper + and more dreadful sorrow; for, change as it might, there lay tugging at + his heart the terrible consciousness that she, I the bride of his youthful + love and the companion of his larger and more manly affection—the + blameless wife and the stainless woman—was about to be consigned to + the grave, and that his eyes in this life must; never rest upon her again. + </p> + <p> + When the coffin was about to be lowered down, all the family, one after + another, clasped their arms about it, and kissed it with a passionate + fervor of grief that it was impossible to witness with firmness. At length + her husband, who had been looking on, approached it, and clasping it in + his arms like the rest, he said—“for ever and for ever, and for + ever, Bridget—but, no, gracious God, no; the day will come, Bridget, + when I will be with you here—I don't care now how soon. My happiness + is gone, asthore machree—life is nothing to me now—all's + empty; and there's neither joy, nor ease of mind, nor comfort for me any + more. An' this is our last parting—this is our last farewell, + Bridget dear; but from this out my hope is to be with you here; and if + nothing else on my bed of death was to console me, it would be, and it + will be, that you and I will then sleep together, never to be parted more. + That will be my consolation.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, father dear,” said Bryan, “we didn't attempt to stop or prevent you, + and I hope you'll be something calm and come away for a little.” + </p> + <p> + “Best of sons! but aren't you all good, for how could you be otherwise + with her blood in your veins?—bring me away; come you, Dora darlin'—ay, + that's it—support the: blessed child between you and Hanna, Kathleen + darlin'. Oh, wait, wait till we get out of hearin, or the noise of the + clay fallin' on the coffin will kill me.” + </p> + <p> + They then walked to some distance, where they remained until the “narrow + house” was nearly filled, after which they once more surrounded it until + the last sod was beaten in. This being over, the sorrowing group sought + their way home with breaking hearts, leaving behind them her whom they had + loved so well reposing in the cold and unbroken solitude of the grave. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV.—Mysterious Letter + </h2> + <h3> + —Hycy Disclaims Sobriety—Ahadarra's in for it. + </h3> + <p> + One day about a month after Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral, Harry Clinton was on + his way to Jemmy Burke's, when he met Nanny Peety going towards + Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny,” he inquired, “where are you bound for, now?” + </p> + <p> + “To the post-office with a letter from Masther Hycy, sir. I wanted him to + tell me who it was for, but he would not. Will you, Mr. Clinton?” and she + held out the letter to him as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + Clinton felt a good deal surprised to see that it was addressed to his + uncle, and also written in a hand which he did not recognize to be that of + Hycy Burke. + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure, Nanny,” he asked, “that this letter was written by Mr. + Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Didn't I see him, sir?” she replied; “he wrote it before my eyes a minute + before he handed it to me. Who is it for, Mr. Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “Why are you so very anxious to know, Nanny?” he inquired. + </p> + <p> + “Sorra thing,” she replied, “but curiosity—a woman's curiosity, you + know.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Nanny, you know, or ought to know, that it would not be right in me + to tell you who the letter is for, when Mr. Hycy did not think proper to + do so.” + </p> + <p> + “True enough, sir,” she replied; “an I beg your pardon, Mr. Clinton, for + asking you; indeed it was wrong in me to tell you who it came from even, + bekaise Mr. Hycy told me not to let any one see it, only jist to slip it + into the post-office unknownst, as I passed it; an' that was what made me + wish to know who it was goin' to, since the thruth must be tould.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton in turn now felt his curiosity stimulated as to the contents of + this mysterious epistle, and he resolved to watch, if possible, what + effect the perusal of it might have on his uncle, otherwise he was never + likely to hear a syllable that was contained in it, that worthy relative + being, from official necessity, a most uncommunicative person in all his + proceedings. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder,” observed Clinton, “that Mr. Hycy would send to any one a + letter so slurred and blotted with ink as that is.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, but he blotted it purposely himself,” replied Nanny, “and that too + surprised me, and made me wish to know what he could mane by it.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps it's a love-letter, Nanny,” said Clinton, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “I would like to know who it is to, at any rate,” said the girl; “but + since you won't, tell me, sir, I must try and not lose my rest about it. + Good-bye, Mr. Clinton.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Nanny;” and so they started. + </p> + <p> + Young Clinton, who, though thoughtless and fond of pleasure, was not + without many excellent points of character, began now to perceive, by + every day's successive intimacy, the full extent of Hycy Burke's + profligacy of morals, and utter want of all honorable principle. + Notwithstanding this knowledge, however, he felt it extremely difficult, + nay, almost impossible, to separate himself from Hycy, who was an + extremely pleasant young fellow, and a very agreeable companion when he + pleased. He had in fact gained that personal ascendancy over him, or that + licentious influence which too many of his stamp are notorious for + exercising over better men than themselves; and he found that he could not + readily throw Hyoy off, without being considerably a loser by the act. + </p> + <p> + “I shall have nothing to do with his profligacy,” said he, “or his want of + principle, and I shall let him know, at all events, that I will not abide + by the agreement or compromise entered into between us some time since at + his father's. He shall not injure an honest man for me, nor shall I + promise him even neutrality with respect to his proposal for my sister, + whom I would rather see dead a hundred times than the wife of such a + fellow.” + </p> + <p> + The next morning, about half an hour before breakfast, he told his uncle + that he was stepping into town and would bring him any letters that might + be for him in the post-office. He accordingly did so, and received two + letters, one Hycy's and the other with the crest and frank of the sitting + member for the county, who was no other than young Chevydale. His uncle + was at breakfast when he handed them to him, and we need hardly say that + the M.P. was honored by instant attention. The Still-hound read it over + very complacently. “Very well,” he exclaimed; “very well, indeed, so far. + Harry, we must be on the alert, now the elections are approaching, and + Chevydale will be stoutly opposed, it seems. We must work for him, and + secure as many votes as we can. It is our interest to do so, Harry,—and + he will make it our interest besides.” + </p> + <p> + “Has principle nothing to do with it, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Principle! begad, sir,” retorted the uncle, “there's no such thing as + principle—lay that down as a fact—there's no such thing in + this world as principle.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but consistency, uncle. For instance, you know you always vote on + the Tory side, and Chevydale is a Liberal and an Emancipator.” + </p> + <p> + “Consistency is all d—d stuff, Harry, as principle. What does it + mean? why that if a man's once wrong he's always to be wrong—that is + just the amount of it. There's Chevydale, for instance, he has a brother + who is a rank Tory and a Commissioner of Excise, mark that; Chevydale and + he play into each other's hands, and Chevydale some of these days will + sell the Liberals, that is, if he can get good value for them. If I now + vote on the Tory side against Chevydale, his brother, the Tory + Commissioner, will be my enemy in spite of all his Toryism; but if I vote + and exert myself for Chevydale, the Liberal, I make his Tory of a brother + my friend for life. And now, talk to me about principle, or consistency + either.” + </p> + <p> + His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle + were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly + pursued the subject no further. + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” exclaimed the Still-hound, “what d—d scrawl have we got here? + Ay, ay, why this is better than I expected.” + </p> + <p> + “What is better, uncle?” said the nephew, venturing an experiment. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied the sagacious old rascal, “for you to mind your business, + if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent + inquiries, Master Harry.” With these words he went and. locked up both + letters in his desk. As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his + desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying it + in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers— + </p> + <p> + “To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: + </p> + <p> + “Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you'd find a + Still-Hed an' Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in + Ahadarra. Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung's Orringemen an' a fren to the + axshize.” + </p> + <p> + The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you + have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a Still—hem.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter. Very well. Your father's death + last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for the + present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into practice, + with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?” + </p> + <p> + “Unfortunately, sir, it is too true.” + </p> + <p> + “In the mean time you may leave 'unfortunate' out, and thank God that you + had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, that I + was a bachelor. Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home for you; + but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for yourself; for + I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich. You don't + relish surgery, you say?” + </p> + <p> + “I can't endure it, uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “But you like farming?” + </p> + <p> + “Above every other mode of life.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into + before long.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are + fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands.” + </p> + <p> + “Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my + brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must make + our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I respect + the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would never + work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise, not so + much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if they + could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of + honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both.” + </p> + <p> + “Uncle,” said his nephew, “one word with you before you go.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse me + for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives me + good advice.” + </p> + <p> + “If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better.” + </p> + <p> + “You say you will procure me a farm. Now, uncle, there is one thing I + should wish in connection with that transaction, which is, that you would + have no underhand—hem!—no private understanding of any kind + with Mr. Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Me a private understanding with Hycy Burke! What in the devil's name has + put such a crotchet as that into your head?” + </p> + <p> + “I only speak as I do, because I believe you have received a private + communication from him.” + </p> + <p> + “Have I, faith! If so I am obliged to you—but I am simply ignorant + of the fact you mention; for, with my own knowledge', I never received a + line from him in my life.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must be wrong,” replied Harry; “that is all.” + </p> + <p> + “Wrong! Certainly you are wrong. Hycy Burke, I am told, is a compound of + great knave and gross fool, the knavery rather prevailing. But how is + this? Are not you and he inseparable?” + </p> + <p> + “He is a companion, uncle, but not a friend in the true sense—nor, + indeed, in any sense of that word. I spoke now, however, with reference to + a particular transaction, and not to his general character.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I have no underhand dealings with him, as you are pleased to + call them, nor ever had. I never to my knowledge received a line from him + in my life; but I tell you that if he comes in my way, and that I can make + use of him, I will. Perhaps he may serve us in the Elections. Have you + anything else to ask?” + </p> + <p> + “No sir,” replied Harry, laughing. “Only I hope you will excuse me for the + liberty I took.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, with all my heart, and you shall be always welcome to take the + same liberty. Good-bye, again.” + </p> + <p> + Clinton now felt satisfied that Hycy's letter to his uncle was an + anonymous one, and although he could not divine its contents, he still + felt assured that it was in some way connected with the farm transaction, + or at all events detrimental to Bryan M'Mahon. He consequently resolved to + see Hycy, against whom, or rather against whose principles he was + beginning to entertain a strong repugnance, and without any hesitation to + repudiate the engagement he had entered into with him. + </p> + <p> + He found Hycy at home, or rather he found him in conversation with Bat + Hogan behind his father's garden. + </p> + <p> + “What was that ruffian wanting with you, Hycy, if it's a fair question?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly,” said Hycy, “from you; but not in sooth from your worthy + uncle.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, he wants to know if I'd buy a keg of Poteen which, it seems, he + has to sell. I declined because I have a sufficiently ample stock of it on + hands.” + </p> + <p> + “My uncle,” said Clinton, prefers it to any other spirits; indeed, at home + he never drinks any other, and whenever he dines, thanks those who give it + the preference.” + </p> + <p> + “Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time,” said + Hycy, “for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous relish + for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best.” + </p> + <p> + Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on. + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” proceeded his companion, “with respect to that foolish arrangement + or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything to say or do in + it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my account. I was half + drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have listened to such a + proposal.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and a + pause of some time, “I don't understand you.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with + reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most + amiable (d—n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the + other?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be tipsy, + though.” + </p> + <p> + “I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d—dest, hypocritical + rascal in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get + drunk in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. + However, in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” replied his friend, “it was a disgraceful affair on both sides, + and the less that's said of it the better.” + </p> + <p> + By some good deal of persuasion, however, and an additional glass of grog, + he prevailed on Clinton to repeat the substance of the stipulation; on + hearing which, as if for the first time, he laughed very heartily. + </p> + <p> + “This liquor,” he proceeded, “is a strange compound, and puts queer + notions into our head. Why if there's an honest decent fellow in Europe, + whom I would feel anxious to serve beyond another, next to yourself, + Harry, it is Bryan M'Mahon. But why I should have spoken so, I can't + understand at all. In the first place, what means have of injuring the + man? And what is stronger still, what inclination have I, or could have—and + what is still better—should have?” + </p> + <p> + “I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me + sooner about it. Still,” he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion of + it I should not wish to see cancelled—I mean your advocacy with Miss + Clinton.” + </p> + <p> + “To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I + won't promise advocacy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well neutrality?” + </p> + <p> + “The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. I have + reason to think that my sister's objections against you are insuperable.” + </p> + <p> + “On what do they rest?” asked the other. + </p> + <p> + “They are founded upon your want of morals,” replied Clinton. + </p> + <p> + “Well, suppose I reform my morals?” + </p> + <p> + “That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the elements + of reformation are rather slight within you.” + </p> + <p> + “Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be + judged of his morals before marriage, but after.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, + right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to be + such.” + </p> + <p> + “But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither have I + the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and over-impulsive + from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off with the new + state. No, no, d—n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe such + prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down and + bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most edifying + attention. Another glass of grog?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no.” + </p> + <p> + “But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making + impressions against me.” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that + quarter.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you allow me to try?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “I have not the slightest objection,” replied the other, “because I know + how it will result.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,—thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, + seriously speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of + lives we ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. + On the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more + highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only the + best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might stop + and dine?” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my + dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me a call when in town.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, after Clinton's departure, began to review his own position. Of + ultimately succeeding with Miss Clinton he entertained little doubt. So + high and confident was his vanity, that he believed himself capable of + performing mighty feats, and achieving great successes, with the fair sex,—all + upon the strength of having destroyed the reputation of two innocent + country girls. Somehow, notwithstanding his avowed attachment for Miss + Clinton, he could not help now and then reverting to the rich beauty and + magnificent form of Kathleen Cavanagh; nor was this contemplation of his + lessened by considering that, with all his gentlemanly manners, and + accomplishments, and wealth to boot, she preferred the clod-hopper, as he + called Bryan M'Mahon, to himself. + </p> + <p> + He felt considerably mortified at this reflection, and the more + especially, as he had been frequently taunted with it and laughed at for + it by the country girls, whenever he entered into any bantering + conversation. A thought now struck him by which he could, as he imagined, + execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen, and perhaps, + ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed with Miss Clinton; + for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public instances of + contempt with which she had treated him. There was still, however, another + consideration. His father had threatened to bring home his brother Edward, + then destined for the church, and altogether to change his intentions in + that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic manner of the old man + towards him of late, he began to entertain apprehensions upon the subject. + Taking therefore all these circumstances into consideration, he resolved + in any event to temporize a little, and allow the father to suppose that + he might be prevailed upon to marry Kathleen Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he were + together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject himself. + </p> + <p> + “I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something like + a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the + accomplished Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “I did, God forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + “I have been thinking over that subject since.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you, indeed,” said his father; “an' am I to make Ned a priest or a + farmer?” he asked, dryly. + </p> + <p> + “The church, I think, Mr. Burke, is, or ought to be, his destination.” + </p> + <p> + “So, after all, you prefer to have my money and my property, along wid a + good wife, to your brother Ned—Neddy I ought to call him, out of + compliment to you—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be facetious.” + </p> + <p> + “To your brother Ned—Neddy—having them, and maybe along wid + them the same, wife too?” + </p> + <p> + “No, not exactly; but out of respect to your wishes. + </p> + <p> + “What's that?” said the old man, staring at him with a kind of comic + gravity—“out of respect to my wishes!” + </p> + <p> + “That's what I've said,” replied the son. “Proceed.” + </p> + <p> + His father looked at' him again, and replied, “Proceed yourself—-it + was you introduced the subject. I'm now jack-indifferent about it.” + </p> + <p> + “All I have to say,” continued Hycy, “is that I withdraw my ultimate + refusal, Mr. Burke. I shall entertain the question, as they say; and it is + not improbable but that I may dignify the fair Katsey with the honorable + title of Mrs. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish you had spoken a little sooner, then,” replied his father, + “bekaise it so happens that Gerald Cavanagh an' I have the match between + her and your brother Ned as good as made.” + </p> + <p> + “My brother Ned! Why, in the name of; all that's incredible, how could + that be encompassed?” + </p> + <p> + “Very aisily,” said his father, “by the girl's waitin' for him. Ned is + rather young! yet, I grant you; he's nineteen, however, and two years + more, you know, will make him one-and-twenty—take him out o' + chancery, as they say.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, Mr. Burke, very good; in that case I have no more to say.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” pursued the father, in the same dry, half-comic, half-sarcastic + voice, “but what do you intend to do with yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “As to that,” replied Hycy, who felt that the drift of the conversation + was setting in against him, “I shall take due time to consider.” + </p> + <p> + “What height are you?” asked the father, rather abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “I can't see, Mr. Burke, I really can't see what my height has to do with + the question.” + </p> + <p> + “Bekaise,” proceeded the other, “I have some notion of putting you into + the army. You spoke of it wanst yourself, remimber; but then there's an + objection even to that.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, what is the objection, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's most likely you'd have to fight—if you took to the + milintary trade.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, upon my word, Mr. Burke, you shine in the sarcastic this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “But, at any rate, you must take your chance for that. You're a fine, + active young fellow, and I suppose if they take to runnin' you won't be + the last of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Good, Mr. Burke—proceed, though.” + </p> + <p> + “An accordingly I have strong notions of buying you a corplar's or a + sargent's commission. A good deal of that, however, depends upon yourself; + but, as you say, I'll think of it.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, who could never bear ridicule, especially from the very man whom he + attempted to ridicule most, bounced up, and after muttering something in + the shape of an oath that was unintelligible, said, assuming all his + polite irony:— + </p> + <p> + “Do so, Mr. Burke; in the mean time I have the pleasure of wishing you a + very good evening, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a good-evening, sir,” replied the old fellow, “and when you come home + from the wars a full non-commissioned officer, you'll be scowerin' up your + halbert every Christmas an' Aisther, I hope; an' telling us long stories—of + all you killed an' ate while you were away from us.” + </p> + <p> + Harry Clinton, now aware that the anonymous letter which his uncle had + received that morning was the production of Hycy, resolved to watch the + gauger's motions very closely. After a great deal of reflection upon + Hycy's want of memory concerning their bargain, and upon a close + comparison between his conduct and whole manner on the night in question, + and his own account of the matter in the course of their last interview, + he could not help feeling that his friend had stated a gross falsehood, + and that the pretended want of recollection was an ingenious + after-thought, adopted for the purpose of screening himself from the + consequences of whatever injury he might inflict upon Bryan M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “Harry,” said his uncle, as nine o'clock approached, “I am going upon duty + tonight.” + </p> + <p> + “In what direction, sir? may I ask.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you may, but I'm not bound to tell you. In this instance, however, + there is no necessity for secrecy; it is now too late to give our + gentleman the hard word, so I don't care much if I do tell you. I am bound + for Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “For Ahadarra—you say for Ahadarra, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “I do, nephew.” + </p> + <p> + “By heavens, he is the deepest and most consummate scoundrel alive,” + exclaimed Harry; “I now see it all. Uncle, I wish to God you would—would—-I + don't know what to say.” + </p> + <p> + “That's quite evident, nor what to think either. In the mean time the + soldiers are waiting for me in Ballymacan, and so I must attend to my + duty, Harry.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it upon the strength of the blotted letter you got this morning, sir, + that you are now acting”?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; but upon the strength of a sure spy dispatched this day to the + premises. I am a little too shrewd now, Master Harry, to act solely upon + anonymous information. I have been led too many devil's dances by it in my + time, to be gulled in my old age on the strength of it.” + </p> + <p> + He immediately prepared himself for the excursion, mounted his horse, that + was caparisoned in a military saddle, the holsters furnished with a case + of pistols, which, with a double case that he had on his person and two + daggers, constituted his weapons of offence and defence. + </p> + <p> + Their path lay directly to the south for about two miles. Having traversed + this distance they reached cross-roads, one of which branched towards the + left and was soon lost in a rough brown upland, into which it branched by + several little pathways that terminated in little villages or solitary + farmer's houses. For about two miles more they were obliged to cross a + dark reach of waste moor, where the soil was strong and well capable of + cultivation. Having avoided the villages and more public thoroughfares, + they pushed upward until they came into the black heath itself, where it + was impossible that horses could travel in such darkness as then + prevailed; for it was past ten o'clock, near the close of December. + Clinton consequently left his horse in the care of two soldiers on a bit + of green meadow by the side of Ahadarra Lough—a small tarn or + mountain lake about two hundred yards in diameter. They then pushed up a + long round swelling hill, on the other side of which was a considerable + stretch of cultivated land with Bryan M'Mahon's new and improved houses at + the head of it. This they kept to their right until they came in sight of + the wild but beautiful and picturesque Glen of Althadhawan, which however + was somewhat beyond the distance they had to go. At length, after + breasting another hill which was lost in the base of Cullimore, they + dropped down rapidly into a deep glen through which ran a little streamlet + that took its rise not a quarter of a mile above them, and which supplied + the apparatus for distillation with soft clear water. This they followed + until near the head of the glen, where, in a position which might almost + escape even a gauger's eye, they found the object of their search. + </p> + <p> + Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic rocks + thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or diversion—between + two of which the still-house was built in such a way, that, were it not + for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible to discover it, or at + all events, to suppose that it could be the receptacle of a human being. + </p> + <p> + On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find the + place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such + occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light of + a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in Hycy's + letter—to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the + exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash that + was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides. + </p> + <p> + The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the + Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were in + the process of distillation. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, “I think I understand + this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense—but a sure enough + card in another. The fine is certain, and Ahadarra is most undoubtedly in + for it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV.—State of the Country + </h2> + <p> + —Hycy's Friendship for Bryan M'Mahon—Bryan's Interview with + his Landlord. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's last interview with Fethertonge was of so cheering a nature, and + indicated on the part of that gentleman so much true and sterling kindness + towards the young man and his family, that he felt perfectly satisfied on + leaving him, and after having turned their conversation over in his mind, + that he might place every confidence in the assurance he had given him. + His father, too, who had never for a moment doubted Feathertonge, felt + equally gratified at Bryan's report of their interview, as indeed did the + whole family; they consequently spared neither labor nor expense in the + improvements which they were making on their farms. + </p> + <p> + The situation of the country and neighborhood at this period was indeed + peculiar, and such as we in this unhappy country have experienced both + before and since. I have already stated, that there was a partial failure + of the potato crop that season, a circumstance which uniformly is the + forerunner of famine and sickness. The failure, however, on that occasion + was not caused by a blight in the haulm, or to use plainer words, by a + sudden withering of the stalks, but by large portions of the seed failing + to grow. The partial scarcity, however, occasioned by this, although it + did not constitute what can with propriety be termed famine, cause the + great mass of pauperism which such a season always extends and increases, + to press so heavily upon the struggling farmers, that their patience and + benevolence became alike tired out and exhausted. This perpetually + recurring calamity acts with a most depressing effect upon those persons + in the country who have any claim to be considered independent. It + deprives them of hope, and consequently of energy, and by relaxing the + spirit of industry which has animated them, tends in the course of time to + unite them to the great body of pauperism which oppresses and eats up the + country. But let us not be misunderstood. This evil alone is sufficiently + disastrous to the industrial energies of the class we mention; but when, + in addition to this, the hitherto independent farmer has to contend with + high rents, want of sympathy in his landlord, who probably is ignorant of + his very existence, and has never seen him perhaps in his life; and when + it is considered that he is left to the sharp practice and pettifogging, + but plausible rapacity of a dishonest agent, who feels that he is + irresponsible, and may act the petty tryant and vindictive oppressor if he + wishes, having no restraint over his principles but his interest, which, + so far from restraining, only guides and stimulates them;—when we + reflect upon all this, and feel, besides, that the political principles + upon which the country is governed are those that are calculated to + promote British at the expense of Irish interests—we say, when we + reflect upon and ponder over all this, we need not feel surprised that the + prudent, the industrious, and the respectable, who see nothing but gradual + decline and ultimate pauperism before them—who feel themselves + neglected and overlooked, and know that every sixth or seventh year they + are liable to those oppressive onsets of distress, sickness, and famine—we + need not, we repeat, feel at all surprised that those who constitute this + industrious and respectable class should fly from the evils which surround + them, and abandon, whilst they possess the power of doing so, the country + in which such evils are permitted to exist. + </p> + <p> + It is upon this principle, or rather upon these principles, and for these + reasons, that the industry, the moral feeling, the independence, and the + strength of the country have been passing out of it for years—leaving + it, season after season, weaker, more impoverished, and less capable of + meeting those periodical disasters which, we may almost say, are generated + by the social disorder and political misrule of the country. + </p> + <p> + The fact is, and no reasonable or honest man capable of disencumbering + himself of political prejudices can deny it, that up until a recent period + the great body of the Irish people—the whole people—were + mainly looked upon and used as political instruments in the hands of the + higher classes, but not at all entitled to the possession of separate or + independent interests in their own right. It is true they were allowed the + possession of the forty-shilling franchise; but will any man say that the + existence of that civil right was a benefit to the country? So far from + that, it was a mere engine of corruption, and became, in the hands of the + Irish landlords, one of the most oppressive and demoralizing curses that + ever degraded a people. Perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, were + its fruits, and the only legacy it left to the country was an enormous + mass of pauperism, and a national morality comparatively vitiated and + depraved, in spite of all religious influence and of domestic affections + that are both strong and tender. Indeed it is exceedingly difficult to + determine whether it has been more injurious to the country in a political + than in a moral sense. Be that as it may, it had a powerful effect in + producing the evils that we now suffer, and our strong tendencies to + social disorganization. By it the landlords were induced, for the sake of + multiplying, votes, to encourage the subdivision of small holdings into + those that were actually only nominal or fictitious, and the consequences + were, that in multiplying votes they were multiplying families that had no + fixed means of subsistence—multiplying in fact a pauper population—multiplying + not only perjury, fraud, falsehood, and dishonesty, but destitution, + misery, disease and death. By the forty-shilling franchise, the landlords + encumbered the soil with a loose and unsettled population that possessed + within itself, as poverty always does, a fearful facility of reproduction—a + population which pressed heavily upon the independent class of farmers and + yeomen, but which had no legal claim upon the territory of the country. + The moment, however, when the system which produced and ended this + wretched class, ceased to exist, they became not only valueless in a + political sense, but a dead weight upon the energies of the country, and + an almost insuperable impediment to its prosperity. This great evil the + landlords could conjure up, but they have not been able to lay it since. + Like Frankenstein in the novel, it pursues them to the present moment, and + must be satisfied or appeased in some way, or it will unquestionably + destroy them. From the abolition of the franchise until now, an incessant + struggle of opposing interests has been going on in the country. The + “forties” and their attendants must be fed; but the soul on which they + live in its present state is not capable of at the same time supporting + them and affording his claims to the landlord; for the food must go to + England to pay the rents and the poor “forties” must starve. They are now + in the way of the landlord—they are now in the way of the farmer—they + are in fact in way of each other, and unless some wholesome and human + principle, either of domestic employment or colonial emigration, or + perhaps both, shall be adopted, they will continue to embarrass the + country, and to drive out of it, always in connection with other causes, + the very class of persons that constitute its remaining strength. + </p> + <p> + At the present period of our narrative the neighborhood of Ballymacan was + in an unsettled and distressful state. The small farmers, and such as held + from six to sixteen acres, at a rent which they could at any period with + difficulty pay, were barely able to support themselves and their families + upon the produce of their holdings, so that the claims of the landlord + were out of the question. Such a position as this to the unhappy class we + speak of, is only another name for ruin. The bailiff, who always lives + upon the property, seeing their condition, and knowing that they are not + able to meet the coming gale, reports accordingly to the agent, who, now + cognizant that there is only one look-up for the rent, seizes the poor + man's corn and cattle, leaving himself and his family within cold walls, + and at an extinguished hearth. In this condition were a vast number in the + neighborhood of the locality laid in our narrative. The extraordinary, but + natural anxiety for holding land, and the equally ardent spirit of + competition which prevails in the country, are always ready arguments in + the mouth of the landlord and agent, when they wish to raise the rent or + eject the tenant. “If you won't pay me such a rent, there are plenty that + will. I have been offered more than you pay, and more than I ask, and you + know I must look to my own interests!” In this case it is very likely that + the landlord speaks nothing but the truth; and as he is pressed on by his + necessities on the one hand, and the tenant on the other, the state of a + country so circumstanced with respect to landed property and its condition + may be easily conceived. + </p> + <p> + In addition, however, to all we have already detailed, as affecting the + neighborhood of Ahadarra, we have to inform our readers that the tenantry + upon the surrounding property were soon about to enjoy the luxury of a + contested election. Chevydale had been the sitting member during two + sessions of Parliament. He was, as we have already stated, an Emancipator + and Liberal; but we need scarcely say that he did not get his seat upon + these principles. He had been a convert to Liberalism since his election, + and at the approaching crisis stood, it was thought, but an indifferent + chance of being re-elected. The gentleman who had sat before was a sturdy + Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but possessing that rare + and inestimable quality, or rather combination of qualities which + constitute an honest man. He was a Major Vanston, a man of good property, + and although somewhat deficient in the <i>suaviter in modo</i>, yet in + consequence of his worth and sincerity, he was rather a favorite with the + people, who in general relish sincerity and honesty wherever they find + them in public men. + </p> + <p> + Having thus far digressed, we now beg leave to resume our narrative and + once more return, from the contemplation of a state of things so painful + to the progress of those circumstances which involve the fate of our + humble individuals who constitute our <i>dramatis personae</i>. + </p> + <p> + The seizure of the distillery apparatus on M'Mahon's farm of Ahadarra, was + in a few days followed by knowledge of the ruin in which it must + necessarily involve that excellent and industrious young man. At this time + there was an act of parliament in existence against illicit distillation, + but of so recent a date that it was only when a seizure similar to the + foregoing had been made, that the people in any particular district became + acquainted with it. By this enactment the offending individual was looked + upon as having no farther violated the laws in that case made and + provided, than those who had never been engaged in such pursuits at all. + In other words, the innocent, were equally punished with the guilty. A + heavy fine was imposed—not on the offender, but on the whole + townland in which he lived; so that the guilt of one individual was not + visited as it ought to have been on the culprit himself, but equally + distributed in all its penalties upon the other inhabitants of the + district in question, who may have had neither act nor part in any + violation of the laws whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed him, + scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally alarmed, and + with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to incredible + lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in question was + enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a kind of legal + confederacy against a system so destructive of industry and morals. The + act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not merely imperative,—but + fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It immediately became the engine of + malice and revenge between individual enemies—often between rival + factions, and not unfrequently between parties instigated against each + other by political rancor and hatred. Indeed, so destructive of the lives + and morals of the people was it found, that in the course of a very few + years it was repealed, but not until it had led to repeated murders and + brought ruin and destruction upon many an unoffending and industrious + family. + </p> + <p> + Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger + and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled, if + possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for his + destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass, where + he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, “Having come + that far on his way,” he said, “to see him, and to ascertain the truth of + the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy responsibility under + which the illicit distillation had placed him.” Bryan was naturally + generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding this, it was + impossible that he should not entertain some slight surmises touching the + sincerity of Burke. + </p> + <p> + “What is this, Bryan?” said the latter. “Can it be possible that you're in + for the Fine, as report goes?” + </p> + <p> + “It's quite possible,” replied Bryan; “on yesterday I got a notice of + proceedings from the Board of Excise.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” pursued his friend, “what devil could have tempted you to have + anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of + it?” + </p> + <p> + “I had no more to do with it,” replied Bryan, “than you had—nor I + don't even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say + it was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that has their hands in everything + that's wicked and disgraceful. They would ruin me if they could,” said + Bryan, “and I suppose it was with the hope of doing so that they set up + the still where they did.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, now,” replied Hycy, with an air of easy and natural generosity, “I + should be sorry to think so: they are d—d scoundrels, or rather + common ruffians, I grant you; but still, Bryan, I don't like to suspect + even such vagabonds without good grounds. Bad as we know them to be, I + have my doubts whether they are capable of setting about such an act for + the diabolical purpose of bringing you to ruin. Perhaps they merely deemed + the place on your farm a convenient one to build a still-house in, and + that they never thought further about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Or what,” replied Bryan, “if there was some one behind their backs who is + worse than themselves? Mightn't sich a thing as that be possible?” + </p> + <p> + “True,” replied Hycy, “true, indeed—that's not improbable. Stay—no—well + it may be—but—no—I can't think it.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it you can't think?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, such a thing might be,” proceeded Hycy, “if you have an enemy; but I + think, Bryan, you are too well liked—and justly so too—if you + will excuse me for saying so to your face—to have any enemy capable + of going such nefarious lengths as that.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan paused and seemed a good deal struck with the truth of Hycy's + observation—“There's raison, sure enough in what you say, Hycy,” he + observed. “I don't know that I have a single enemy—unless the Hogans + themselves—that would feel any satisfaction in drivin' me to + destruction.” + </p> + <p> + “And besides,” continued Hycy, “between you and me now, Bryan, who the + devil with an ounce of sense in his head would trust such scoundrels, or + put himself in their power?” + </p> + <p> + Bryan considered this argument a still more forcible one than the other. + </p> + <p> + “That's stronger still,” Re replied, “and indeed I am inclined to think + that after all, Hycy, it happened as you say. Teddy Phats I think nothing + at all about, for the poor, misshapen vagabone will distil poteen for any + one that employs him.” + </p> + <p> + “True,” replied the other, “I agree with you; but what's to be done, + Bryan? for that's the main point now.” + </p> + <p> + “I scarcely know,” replied Bryan, who now began to feel nothing but + kindness towards Hycy, in consequence of the interest which that young + fellow evidently took in his misfortune, for such, in serious truth, it + must be called. “I am the only proprietor of Ahadarra,” he proceeded, + “and, as a matter of course, the whole fine falls on my shoulders.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that's the devil of it; but at all events, Bryan, there is nothing + got in this world without exertion and energy. Mr. Chevydale, the Member, + is now at home: he has come down to canvass for the coming-election. I + would recommend you to see him at once. You know—but perhaps you + don't though—that his brother is one of the Commissioners of Excise; + so that I don't know any man who can serve you more effectually than + Chevydale, if he wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “But what could he do?” asked Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Why, by backing a memorial from you, stating the particulars, and making + out a strong case, he might get the fine reduced. I shall draw up such a + memorial if you wish.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Hycy—I'm obliged to you—these, I dare say, will be + the proper steps to take—thank you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! but perhaps I may serve you a little in another way. I'm very + intimate with Harry Clinton, and who knows but I may be able to influence + the uncle a little through the nephew.” + </p> + <p> + “It's whispered that you might do more through the niece,” replied Bryan, + laughing; “is that true?” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, I tell you,” replied Hycy, affecting confusion; “for Heaven's + sake, Bryan, say nothing about that; how did it come to your ears?” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, and that's more than I can tell you,” replied the other; “but I + know I heard it somewhere of late.” + </p> + <p> + “It's not a subject, of course,” continued Hycy, “that I should wish to + become the topic of vulgar comment or conversation, and I'd much rather + you would endeavor to discountenance it whenever you hear it spoken of. At + all events, whether with niece or nephew,” proceeded Hycy, “you may rest + assured, that whatever service I can render you, I shall not fail to do + it. You and I have had a slight misunderstanding, but on an occasion like + this, Bryan, it should be a bitter one indeed that a man—a generous + man at least,—would or ought to remember.” + </p> + <p> + This conversation took place whilst Bryan was proceeding to Fethertonge's, + Hycy being also on his way home. On arriving at the turn of the road which + led to Jemmy Burke's, Hycy caught the hand of his companion, which he + squeezed with an affectionate warmth, so cordial and sincere in its + character that Bryan cast every shadow of suspicion to the winds, + </p> + <p> + “Cheer up, Bryan, all will end better than you think, I hope. I shall draw + up a memorial for you this evening, as strongly and forcibly as possible, + and any other assistance that I can render you in this unhappy difficulty + I will do it. I know I am about ninety pounds in your debt, and instead of + talking to you in this way, or giving you fair words, I ought rather to + pay you your money. The 'gentleman,' however, is impracticable for the + present, but I trust—” + </p> + <p> + “Not a word about it,” said Bryan, “you'll oblige me if you'll drop that + part of the subject; but listen, Hycy,—I think you're generous and a + little extravagant, and both is a good man's case—but that's not + what I'm going to spake about, truth's best at all times; I heard that you + were my enemy, and I was desired to be on my guard against you.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy looked at him with that kind of surprise which is natural to an + innocent man, and simply said, “May I ask by whom, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “I may tell you some other time,” replied Bryan, “but I won't now; all I + can say is, that I don't believe it, and I'm sure that ought to satisfy + you.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall expect you to tell me, Bryan,” said the other, and then after + returning a few steps, he caught M'Mahon's hand again, and shaking it + warmly, once more added, “God bless you, Bryan; you are a generous + high-minded young fellow, and I only wish I was like you.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, after they had separated, felt that Hycy's advice was the very best + possible under the circumstances, and as he had heard for the first time + that Chevydale was in the country, he resolved to go at once and state to + him the peculiar grievance under which he labored. + </p> + <p> + Chevydale's house was somewhat nearer Ahadarra than Fethertonge's, but on + the same line of road, and he accordingly proceeded to the residence of + his landlord. The mansion indeed was a fine one. It stood on the brow of a + gentle eminence, which commanded a glorious prospect of rich and highly + cultivated country. Behind, the landscape rose gradually until it + terminated in a range of mountains that protected the house from the + north. The present structure was modern, having been built by old + Chevydale, previous to his marriage. It was large and simple, but so + majestic in appearance, that nothing could surpass the harmony that + subsisted between its proportions and the magnificent old trees which + studded the glorious lawn that surrounded, it, and rose in thick extensive + masses that stretched far away behind the house. It stood in a park, which + for the beauties of wood and. water was indeed worthy of its fine + simplicity and grandeur—a park in which it was difficult to say + whether the beautiful, the picturesque, or the wild, predominated most. + And yet in this princely residence Mr. Chevydale did not reside more than + a month, or at most two, during the whole year. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the hall-door, M'Mahon inquired from the servant who appeared, + if he could see Mr. Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid not,” said the servant, “but I will see; what's your name?” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, one of his tenants.” + </p> + <p> + The servant returned to him in a few moments, and said, “Yes, he will see + you; follow me.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan entered a library, where he found his landlord and Fethertonge + apparently engaged in business, and as he was in the act of doing so, he + overheard Chevydale saying—“No, no, I shall always see my tenants.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan made his obeisance in his own plain way, and Chevydale said—“Are + you M'Mahon of Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “I am, sir,” replied Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “I thought you were a much older man,” said Chevydale, “there certainly + must be, some mistake here,” he added, looking at Fethertonge. + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon of Ahadarra was a middle-aged man several years ago, but this + person is young enough to be his man.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak of his uncle,” replied Fethertonge, “who is dead. This young + man, who now owns his uncle's farm, is son to Thomas M'Mahon of + Carriglass. How is your father, M'Mahon? I hope he bears up well under his + recent loss.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed but poorly, sir,” replied Bryan, “I fear he'll never be the same + man.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale here took to reading a newspaper, and in a minute or two + appeared to be altogether unconscious of Bryan's presence. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afeard, sir,” said Bryan, addressing himself to the agent, who was + the only person likely to hear him, “I'm afeard, sir, that I've got into + trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “Into trouble? how is that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, there was a Still, Head, and Worm found upon Ahadarra, and I'm + going to be fined for it.” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” replied the agent, “I am sorry to hear this, both on your own + account and that of your family. If I don't mistake, you were cautioned + and warned against this; but it was useless; yes, I am sorry for it; and + for you, too.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't properly understand you, sir,” said Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Did I not myself forewarn you against having anything to do in matters + contrary to the law? You must remember I did, and on the very last + occasion, too, when you were in my office.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember it right well, sir,” replied Bryan, “and I say now as I did + then, that I am not the man to break the law, or have act or part in + anything that's contrary to it. I know nothing about this business, except + that three ruffianly looking fellows named Hogan, common tinkers, and + common vagabonds to boot—men that are my enemies—are the + persons by all accounts who set up the still on my property. As for + myself, I had no more to do in it or with it than yourself or Mr. + Chevydale here.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied Fethertonge, “I hope not. I should feel much disappointed + if you had, but you know, Bryan,” he added, good-humoredly, “we could + scarcely expect that you should admit such a piece of folly, not to call + it by a harsher name.” + </p> + <p> + “If I had embarked in it,” replied M'Mahon, “I sartinly would not deny it + to you or Mr. Chevydale, at least; but, as I said before, I know nothing + more about it, than simply it was these ruffians and a fellow named Phats, + a Distiller, that set it a-working,—however, the question is, what + am I to do? If I must pay the fine for the whole townland, it will beggar + me—ruin me. It was that brought me to my landlord here,” he added; + “I believe, sir, you have a brother a Commissioner of Excise?” + </p> + <p> + “Eh? what is that?” asked Chevydaie, looking up suddenly as Bryan asked + the question. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was obliged to repeat all the circumstances once more, as did + Feathertonge the warning he had given him against having any connection + with illegal proceedings. + </p> + <p> + “I am to get a memorial drawn up tomorrow, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “and I + was thinking that by giving the Board of Excise a true statement of the + case, they might reduce the fine; if they don't, I am ruined—that's + all.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said his landlord, “that is a very good course to take; + indeed, your only course.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope, sir,” proceeded Bryan, “that as you now know the true + circumstances of the case, you'll be kind, enough to support my petition; + I believe your brother, sir, is one of the Commissioners; you would + sartinly be able to do something with him.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Chevydaie, “I would not ask anything from him; but I shall + support your Petition, and try what I can do with the other Commissioners. + On principle, however, I make it a point never to ask anything from my + brother.” + </p> + <p> + “Will I bring you the Petition, sir?” asked Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Fetch me the Petition.” + </p> + <p> + “And Bryan,” said Fethertonge, raising his finger at him as if by way of + warning—and laughing—“hark ye, let this be the last.” + </p> + <p> + “Fethertonge,” said the landlord, “I see 'Pratt has been found guilty, and + the sentence confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief.” + </p> + <p> + “You will insist on it,” said Bryan, in reply to the agent, “but—” + </p> + <p> + “There now, M'Mahon,” said the latter, “that will do; good day to you.” + </p> + <p> + “I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the + bell?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, sir,” replied the other, ringing as he spoke; “Neville's + testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did + not certainly look like sobriety.” + </p> + <p> + “I had one other word to say, gentlemen,” added M'Mahon, “if you'll allow + me, now that I'm here.” + </p> + <p> + Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful but + friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed the + subject. “I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some other + time, Bryan.” + </p> + <p> + “But you know the proverb, sir,” said Bryan, smiling, “that there's no + time like the present; besides it's only a word.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked the landlord. + </p> + <p> + “About the leases, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “to know when it would be + convanient for you to sign them.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to + Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant. At + this moment a servant entered, saying, “The horses are at the door, + gentlemen.” + </p> + <p> + “Come some other day, M'Mahon,” said Fethertonge; “do you not see that we + are going out to ride now—going on our canvass? Come to my office + some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the + country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, come some other day, Mr.—Mr.—ay—M'Mahon; if there + are leases to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do + my duty as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. + You know I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, + unless when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any + necessary paper.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of + remonstrance, which seemed to say, “Why will you thus persist, when you + see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not your + friend?” Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the result + of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over him, and + in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that which he had + placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most assuredly not + becoming stronger. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI.—A Spar Between Kate and Philip Hogan + </h2> + <p> + —Bryan M'Mahon is Cautioned against Political Temptation—He + Seeks Major Vanston's Interest with the Board of Excise. + </p> + <p> + The consequences of the calamity which was hanging over Bryan M'Mahon's + head, had become now pretty well understood, and occasioned a very general + and profound sympathy for the ruin in which it was likely to involve him. + Indeed, almost every one appeared to feel it more than he himself did, and + many, who on meeting him, were at first disposed to offer him consolation, + changed their purpose on witnessing his cheerful and manly bearing under + it. Throughout the whole country there was but one family, with another + exception, that felt gratified at the blow which had fallen on him. The + exception we speak of was no other than Mr, Hycy Burke, and the family was + that of the Hogans. As for Teddy Phats, he was not the man to trouble + himself by the loss of a moment's indifference upon any earthly or other + subject, saving and excepting always that it involved the death, + mutilation, or destruction in some shape, of his great and relentless foe, + the Gauger, whom he looked upon as the impersonation of all that is + hateful and villainous in life, and only sent into this world to war with + human happiness at large. That great professional instinct, as the French + say, and a strong unaccountable disrelish of Hycy Burke, were the only two + feelings that disturbed the hardened indifference of his nature. + </p> + <p> + One night, shortly after Bryan's visit to his landlord, the Hogans and + Phats were assembled in the kiln between the hours of twelve and one + o'clock, after having drunk nearly three quarts of whiskey among them. The + young savages, as usual, after the vagabond depredations or mischievous + exercises of the day, were snoring as we have described them before; when + Teddy, whom no quantity of liquor could affect beyond a mere inveterate + hardness of brogue and an indescribable effort at mirth and melody, + exclaimed—“Fwhy, dhen, dat's the stuff; and here's bad luck to him + that paid fwor it.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll not drink it, you ugly <i>keout</i>,” exclaimed Philip, in his deep + and ruffianly voice; “but come—all o' yez fill up and drink my + toast. Come, Kate, you crame of hell's delights, fill till I give it. No,” + he added abruptly, “I won't drink that, you leprechaun; the man that ped + for it is Hycy Burke, and I like Hycy Burke for one thing, an' I'll not + dhrink bad luck to him. Come, are yez ready?” + </p> + <p> + “Give it out, you hulk,” said Kate, “an' don't keep us here all night over + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, then,” exclaimed the savage, with a grin of ferocious mirth, + distorting his grim colossal features into a smile that was frightful and + inhuman—“Here's may Bryan M'Mahon be soon a beggar, an' all his + breed the same! Drink it now, all o' yez, or, by the mortal counthryman, + I'll brain the first that'll refuse it.” + </p> + <p> + The threat, in this case, was a drunken one, and on that very account the + more dangerous. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Teddy, “I don't like to drink it; but if—” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Honomondiaul!</i> you d——d disciple,” thundered the giant, + “down wid it, or I'll split your skull!” + </p> + <p> + Teddy had it down ere the words were concluded. + </p> + <p> + “What!” exclaimed Hogan, or rather roared again, as he fastened his + blazing eyes on Kate—“what, you yalla mullotty, do you dar to + refuse?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, do dar to refuse!—an' I'd see you fizzin' on the devil's + fryin'-pan, where you'll fiz yet, afore I'd dhrink it. Come, come,” she + replied, her eye blazing now as fiercely as his own, “keep quiet, I bid + you—keep calm; you ought to know me now, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “Drink it,” he shouted, “or I'll brain you.” + </p> + <p> + “Howl him,” said Teddy—“howl him; there's murdher in his eye. My + soul to happiness but he'll kill her.” + </p> + <p> + “Will he, indeed?” said Bat, with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by + Ned—“will he, indeed?” they shouted. “Go on, Kate, you'll get fair + play if you want it—his eye, Teddy! ay, but look at her's, man alive—look + at her altogether! Go on, Kate—more power!” + </p> + <p> + Teddy, on looking at her again, literally retreated a few paces from sheer + terror of the tremendous and intrepid fury who now stood before him. It + was then for the first time that he observed the huge bones and immense + muscular development that stood out into terrible strength by the force of + her rising passion. It was the eye, however, and the features of the face + which filled him with such an accountable dread. The eyes were literally + blazing, and the muscles of the face, now cast into an expression which + seemed at the same time to be laughter and fury, were wrought up and + blended together in such a way as made the very countenance terrible by + the emanation of murder which seemed to break from every feature of it. + “Drink it, I say again,” shouted Philip. Kate made no reply, but, walking + over to where he stood, she looked closely into his eyes, and said, with + grinding teeth—“Not if it was to save you from the gallows, where + you'll swing yet; but listen.” As she spoke her words were hoarse and low, + there was a volume of powerful strength in her voice which stunned one + like the roar of a lioness. “Here,” she exclaimed, her voice now all at + once rising or rather shooting up to a most terrific scream—“here's + a disgraceful death to Hycy Burke! and may all that's good and prosperous + in this world, ay, and in the next, attend Bryan M'Mahon, the honest man! + Now, Philip, my man, see how I drink them both.” And, having concluded, + she swallowed the glass of whiskey, and again drawing her face within an + inch of his she glared right into his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Howl me,” he shouted, “or I'll sthrike, an' we'll have a death in the + house.” + </p> + <p> + She raised one hand and waved it behind her, as an intimation that they + should not interfere. + </p> + <p> + The laughter of the brothers now passed all bounds. “No, Kate, go on—we + won't interfere. You had better seize him.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she replied, “let him begin first, if he dar.” + </p> + <p> + “Howl me,” shouted Philip, “she'll only be killed.” + </p> + <p> + Another peal of laughter was the sole reply given to this by the brothers. + “He's goin',” they exclaimed, “he's gone—the white fedher's in him—it's + all over wid him—he's afeerd of her, an' not for nothing either—ha! + ha! ha! more power, Kate!” + </p> + <p> + Stung by the contemptuous derision contained in this language, Philip was + stepping back in order to give himself proper room for a blow, when, on + the very instant that he moved, Kate, uttering something between a howl + and a yell, dashed her huge hands into his throat—which was, as is + usual with tinkers, without a cravat—and in a moment a desperate and + awful struggle took place between them. Strong as Philip was, he found + himself placed perfectly on the defensive by the terrific grip which this + furious opponent held of his throat. So powerful was it, indeed, that not + a single instant was allowed him for the exercise of any aggressive + violence against her by a blow, all his strength being directed to unclasp + her hands from his throat that he might be permitted to breathe. As they + pulled and tugged, however, it was evident that the struggle was going + against him—a hoarse, alarming howl once or twice broke from him, + that intimated terror and distress on his part. + </p> + <p> + “That's right, Kate,” they shouted, “you have him—press tight—the + windpipe's goin'—bravo! he'll soon stagger an' come down, an' then + you may do as you like.” + </p> + <p> + They tugged on, and dragged, and panted, with the furious vehemence of the + exertion; when at length Philip shouted, in a voice half-stifled by + strangulation, “Let g—o—o—o, I—I sa—y—y; + ah! ah! ah!” + </p> + <p> + Bat now ran over in a spirit of glee and triumph that cannot well be + described, and clapping his wife on the back, shouted—“Well done, + Kate; stick to him for half a minute and he's yours. Bravo! you clip o' + perdition, bravo!” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely uttered the words when the giant carcass of Philip + tottered and fell, dragging Kate along with it, who never for a moment + lost or loosened her hold. Her opponent now began to sprawl and kick out + his feet from a sense of suffocation, and in attempting to call for + assistance, nothing but low, deep gurgling noises could issue from his + lips, now livid with the pressure on his throat and covered with foam. His + face, too, at all times dark and savage, became literally black, and he + uttered such sternutations as, on seeing that they were accompanied by the + diminished struggles which betoken exhaustion, induced Teddy to rush over + for the purpose of rescuing him from her clutches. + </p> + <p> + “Aisy,” said the others; “let them alone—a little thing will do it + now—it's almost over—she has given him his gruel—an' + divil's cure to him—he knew well enough what she could do—but + he would have it.” + </p> + <p> + Faint convulsive movements were all now that could be noticed in the huge + limbs of their brother, and still the savage tigress was at his throat, + when her husband at length said:— + </p> + <p> + “It's time, Ned—it's time—she may carry it too far—he's + quiet enough now. Come away, Kate, it's all right—let him alone—let + go your hoult of him.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, however, as if she had tasted his blood, would listen to no such + language; all the force, and energies, and bloody instincts of the + incarnate fury were aroused within her, and she still stuck to her victim. + </p> + <p> + “Be japers she'll kill him,” shouted Bat, rushing to her; “come, Ned, till + we unclasp her—take care—pull quickly—bloody wars, he's + dead!—Kate, you divil!—you fury of hell! let go—let go, + I say.” + </p> + <p> + Kate, however, heard him not, but still tugged and stuck to the throat of + Philip's quivering carcass, until by a united effort they at length + disentangled her iron clutches from it, upon which she struggled and + howled like a beast of prey, and attempted with a strength that seemed + more akin to the emotion of a devil than that of a woman to get at him + again and again, in order to complete her work. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Kate,” said her husband, “you're a Trojan—by japers you're a + Trojan; you've settled him any way—is there life in him?” he asked, + “if there is, dash wather or something in his face, an' drag him up out o' + that—ha! ha! Well done, Kate; only for you we'd lead a fine life wid + him—ay! an' a fine life that is—a hard life we led until you + did come—there now, more power to you—by the livin' + Counthryman, there's not your aquil in Europe—come now, settle down, + an' don't keep all movin' that way as if you wor at him again—sit + down now, an' here's another glass of whiskey for you.” + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Ned and Teddy Phats succeeded in recovering Philip, whom + they dragged over and placed upon a kind of bench, where in a few minutes + he recovered sufficiently to be able to speak—but ever and anon he + shook his head, and stretched his neck, and drew his breath deeply, + putting his hands up from time to time as if he strove to set his windpipe + more at ease. + </p> + <p> + “Here Phil, my hairo,” said his triumphant brother Bat, “take another + glass, an' may be for all so strong and murdherin' as you are wid others + you now know—an' you knew before what our woman' can do at home wid + you.” + </p> + <p> + “I've—hoch—hoch—I've done wid her—she's no woman; + there's a devil in her, an' if you take my advice, it's to Priest + M'Scaddhan you'd bring her, an' have the same devil prayed out of her—I + that could murdher ere a man in the parist a'most!” + </p> + <p> + “Lave Bryan M'Mahon out,” said Kate. + </p> + <p> + “No I won't,” replied Phil, sullenly, and with a voice still hoarse, “no, + I won't—I that could make smash of ere a man in the parish, to be + throttled into perdition by a blasted woman. She's a devil, I say; for the + last ten minutes I seen nothin' but fire, fire, fire, as red as blazes, + an' I hard somethin' yellin', yellin', in my ears.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” replied Kate, “I know you did—that was the fire of hell you + seen, ready to resave you; an' the noise you hard was the voices of the + devils that wor comin' for your sowl—ay, an' the voices of the two + wives you murdhered—take care then, or I'll send you sooner to hell + than you dhrame of.” + </p> + <p> + The scowl which she had in return for this threat was beyond all + description. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I have done wid you,” he replied; “you're not right, I say—but + never mind, I'll put a pin in M'Mahon's collar for this—ay will I.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't!” she exclaimed, in one fearful monosyllable, and then she added in + a low condensed whisper, “or if you do, mark the consequence.” + </p> + <p> + “Trot, Phil,” said Teddy, “I think you needn't throuble your head about + M'Mahon—he's done fwhor.” + </p> + <p> + “An' mark me,” said Kate, “I'll take care of the man that done for him. I + know him well, betther than he suspects, an' can make him sup sorrow + whenever I like—an' would, too, only for one thing.” + </p> + <p> + “An' fwhat's dhat wan thing?” asked Phats. + </p> + <p> + “You'll know it when you're ouldher, may be,” replied Kate; “but you must + be ouldher first—I can keep my own secrets, thank God, an' will, too—only + mark me all o' yez; you know well what I am—let no injury come to + Bryan M'Mahon. For the sake of one person he must be safe.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” observed Teddy, “let us hear no more about them; it's all settled + that we are to set up in Glen Dearg above again—for this Hycy,—who's + sthrivin' to turn the penny where he can.” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” said Bat; “an', to-morrow night, let us bring the things up—this + election will sarve us at any rate—but who will come in?” (* That + is, be returned.) + </p> + <p> + “The villain of hell!” suddenly exclaimed Kate, as if to herself; “to go + to ruin the young man! That girl's breakin' her heart for what has + happened.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you talkin' about?” asked her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” she replied; “only if you all intend to have any rest to-night, + throw yourselves in the shake-down there, an' go sleep. I'm not to sit up + the whole night here, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + Philip, and Ned, and Teddy tumbled themselves into the straw, and in a few + minutes were in a state of perfect oblivion. + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke is a bad boy, Bat,” she said, as the husband was about to + follow their example; “but he is marked—I've set my mark upon him.” + </p> + <p> + “You appear to know something particular about him,” observed her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Maybe I do, an' maybe I don't,” she replied; “but I tell you, he's marked—that's + all—go to bed now.” + </p> + <p> + He tumbled after the rest, Kate stretched herself in an, opposite corner, + and in a few minutes this savage orchestra was in full chorus. + </p> + <p> + What an insoluble enigma is woman! From the specimen of feminine delicacy + and modest diffidence which we have just presented to the reader, who + would imagine that Kate Hogan was capable of entering into the deep and + rooted sorrow which Kathleen Cavanagh experienced when made acquainted + with the calamity which was about to crush her lover. Yet so it was. In + truth this fierce and furious woman who was at once a thief, a liar, a + drunkard, and an impostor, hardened in wickedness and deceit, had in spite + of all this a heart capable of virtuous aspirations, and of loving what + was excellent and good. It is true she was a hypocrite herself, yet she + detested Hycy Burke for his treachery. She was a thief and a liar, yet she + liked and respected Bryan M'Mahon for his truth and honesty. Her heart, + however, was not all depraved; and, indeed, it is difficult to meet a + woman in whose disposition, however corrupted by evil society, and + degraded by vice, there is not to be found a portion of the angelic + essence still remaining. In the case before us, however, this may be + easily accounted for. Kate Hogan, though a hell-cat and devil, when + provoked, was, amidst all her hardened violence and general disregard of + truth and honesty, a virtuous woman and a faithful wife. Hence her natural + regard for much that was good and pure, and her strong sympathy with the + sorrow which now fell upon Kathleen Cavanagh. + </p> + <p> + Kathleen and her sister had been sitting sewing at the parlor window, on + the day Bryan had the interview we have detailed with Chevydale and the + agent, when they heard their father's voice inquiring for Hanna. + </p> + <p> + “He has been at Jemmy Burke's, Kathleen,” said her sister, “and I'll wager + a nosegay, if one could get one, that he has news of this new sweetheart + of yours; he's bent, Kathleen,” she added, “to have you in Jemmy Burke's + family, cost what it may.” + </p> + <p> + “So it seems, Hanna.” + </p> + <p> + “They say Edward Burke is still a finer-looking young fellow than Hycy. + Now, Kathleen,” she added, laughing, “if you should spoil a priest afther + all! Well! un-likelier things have happened.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be,” replied Kathleen, “but this won't happen for all that, + Hanna. Go, there he's calling for you again.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—yes,” she shouted; “throth, among you all, Kathleen, you're + making a regular go-between of me. My father thinks I can turn you round + my finger, and Bryan M'Mahon thinks—yes, I'm goin',” she answered + again. “Well, keep up your spirits; I'll soon have news for you about this + spoiled priest.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Hanna,” thought Kathleen; “where was there ever such a sister? She + does all she can to keep my spirits up; but it can't be. How can I see him + ruined and beggared, that had the high spirit and the true heart?” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, her father, and mother, held a tolerably long discussion together, + in which Kathleen could only hear the tones of their voices occasionally. + It was evident, however, by the emphatic intonations of the old couple, + that they were urging some certain point, which her faithful sister was + deprecating, sometimes, as Kathleen could learn, by seriousness, and at + other times by mirth. At length she returned with a countenance combating + between seriousness and jest; the seriousness, however, predominating. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said she, “you never had a difficulty before you until now. + They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any wish + to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all a trick of + the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now determined to + disappoint them. What will you do?” + </p> + <p> + “What would you recommend me?” asked Kathleen, looking at her with + something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there + was a slight smile upon her lips. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the frank and candid girl, “certainly to run away with Bryan + M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Would it settle my father's heart,” said Kathleen, “and my mother's?—would + it settle my own character?—would it be the step that all the world + would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?—and putting all the world + aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God, my dear + Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, forgive me, darlin',” said her sister, throwing her arms about + her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; “I'm a foolish, flighty + creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't advise you. + Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine.” + </p> + <p> + “If your head makes fifty mistakes,” said her sister, “your heart's an + excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when you're + in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put together. + Come, now.” + </p> + <p> + They took the Carriglass road, but had not gone far when they met Dora + M'Mahon who, as she said, “came down to ask them up a while, as the house + was now so lonesome;” and she added, with artless naivete, “I don't know + how it is, Kathleen, but I love you better now than I ever did before. + Ever since my darlin' mother left us, I can't look upon you as a stranger, + and now that poor Bryan's in distress, my heart clings to you more and + more.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, the generous Hanna's eyes partook of the affection and admiration + which beamed in Dora's, as they rested on Kathleen; but notwithstanding + this, she was about to give Dora an ironical chiding for omitting to say + anything gratifying to herself, when happening to look back, she saw Bryan + at the turn of the road approaching them. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a friend of ours,” she exclaimed; “no less than Bryan M'Mahon + himself. Come, Dora, we can't go' up to Carriglass, but we'll walk back + with you a piece o' the way.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan, who was then on his return from Chevydale's, soon joined them, and + they proceeded in the direction of his father's, Dora and Hanna having, + with good-humored consideration, gone forward as an advanced guard, + leaving Bryan and Kathleen to enjoy their tete-a-tete behind them. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Kathleen,” said Bryan, “I was very anxious to see you. You've h'ard + of this unfortunate business that has come upon me?” + </p> + <p> + “I have,” she replied, “and I need not say that I'm sorry for it. Is it, + or will it be as bad as they report?” + </p> + <p> + “Worse, Kathleen. I will have the fine for all Ahadarra to pay myself.” + </p> + <p> + “But can nothing be done. Wouldn't they let you off when they come to hear + that, although the Still was found upon your land, yet it wasn't yours, + nor it wasn't you that was usin' it?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know how that may be. Hycy Burke tells me that they'll be apt to + reduce the fine, if I send them a petition or memorial, or whatever they + call it, an' he's to have one Written for me to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid Hycy's a bad authority for anybody, Bryan.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think you do poor Hycy justice, Kathleen; he's not, in my + opinion, so bad as you think him. I don't know a man, nor I haven't met a + man that's sorrier for what has happened me; he came to see me yesterday, + and to know in what way he could serve me, an' wasn't called upon to do + so.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope you're right, Bryan; for why should I wish Hycy Burke to be a bad + man, or why should I wish him ill? I may be mistaken in him, and I hope I + am.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I think you are, Kathleen; he's wild a good deal, I grant, and + has a spice of mischief in him, and many a worthy young fellow has both.” + </p> + <p> + “That's very true,” she replied; “however, we have h'ard bad enough of + him. There's none of us what we ought to be, Bryan. If you're called upon + to pay this fine, what will, be the consequence?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that I'll have to give up my farm—that I won't be left worth + sixpence.” + </p> + <p> + “Who put the still up in Ahadarra?” she inquired. “Is it true that it was + the Hogan's?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I believe there's no doubt about it,” he replied; “since I left + the landlord's, I have heard what satisfies me that it was them and Teddy + Phats.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen paused and sighed. “They are a vile crew,” she added, after a + little; “but, be they what they may, they're faithful and honest, and + affectionate to our family; an' that, I believe, is the only good about + them. Bryan, I am very sorry for this misfortune that has come upon you. I + am sorry for your own sake.” + </p> + <p> + “And I,” replied Bryan, “am sorry for—I was goin' to say—yours; + but it would be, afther all, for my own. I haven't the same thoughts of + you now, dear Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + She gazed quickly, and with some surprise at him, and asked, “Why so, + Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm changed—I'm a ruined man,” he replied; “I had bright hopes of + comfort and happiness—hopes that I doubt will never come to pass. + However,” he added, recovering himself, and assuming a look of + cheerfulness, “who knows if everything will turnout so badly as we fear?” + </p> + <p> + “That's the spirit you ought to show,” returned Kathleen; “You have before + you the example of a good father; don't be cast down, nor look at the dark + side; but you said you had not the same thoughts of me just now; I don't + understand you.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think,” he replied, with a smile, “that I meant to say my + affection for you was changed? Oh, no, Kathleen; but that my situation is + changed, or soon will be so; and that on that account we can't be the same + thing to one another that we have been.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” she replied, “you may always depend upon this, that so long as + you are true to your God and to yourself, I will be true to you. Depend + upon this once and forever.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, that's like yourself, but I could not think of bringing you to + shame.” He paused, and turning his eyes full upon her, added—“I'm + allowin' myself to sink again. Everything will turn out better than we + think, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope so,” she added, “but whatever happens, Bryan do you always act an + open, honest, manly part, as I know you will do; act always so as that + your conscience can't accuse you, or make you feel that you have done + anything that is wrong, or unworthy, or disgraceful; and then, dear Bryan, + welcome poverty may you say, as I will welcome Bryan M'Mahon with it.” + </p> + <p> + Both had paused for a little on their way, and stood for about a minute + moved by the interest which each felt in what the other uttered. As + Bryan's eye rested on the noble features and commanding figure of + Kathleen, he was somewhat started by the glow of enthusiasm which lit both + her eye and her cheek, although he was too unskilled in the manifestations + of character to know that it was enthusiasm she felt. + </p> + <p> + They then proceeded, and after a short silence Bryan observed—“Dear + Kathleen, I know the value of the advice you are giving me, but will you + let me ask if you ever seen anything in my conduct, or heard anything in + my conversation, that makes you think it so necessary to give it to me?” + </p> + <p> + “If I ever had, Bryan, it's not likely I'd be here at your side this day + to give it to you; but you're now likely to be brought into trials and + difficulties—into temptation—and it is then that you may think + maybe of what I'm sayin' now.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen,” he replied, smiling, “you're determined at all events + that the advice will come before the temptation; but, indeed, my own + dearest girl, my heart this moment is proud when I think that you are so + full of truth, an' feelin', and regard for me, as to give me such advice, + and to be able to give it. But still I hope I won't stand in need of it, + and that if the temptations you spoke of come in my way, I will have your + advice—ay, an' I trust in God the adviser, too—to direct me.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure, Bryan,” and she surveyed him closely as she spoke—“are + you sure that no part of the temptation has come across you already?” + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised as she asked him this singular question. “I am,” said + he; “but, dear Kathleen, I can't rightly understand you. What temptations + do you mane?” + </p> + <p> + “Have you not promised to vote for Mr. Vanston, the Tory candidate, who + never in his life voted for your religion or your liberty?” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mane me, dearest Kathleen?” + </p> + <p> + “You, certainly; who else could I mean when I ask you the question?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I never promised to vote for Vanston,” he replied; “an' what is more—but + who said I did?” + </p> + <p> + “On the day before yesterday,” she proceeded, “two gentlemen came to our + house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to + vote for them—that is for Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true. I + didn't promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me. Are you + satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?” + </p> + <p> + “I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart is + easy. Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a + beggarly farm?” + </p> + <p> + “But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded. “What signifies poverty, + Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the conscience + clear and without a spot? Nothing—oh, nothing! As God is to judge + me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, as I said + awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate by your + side, if you could prove false to either.” + </p> + <p> + The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire which + animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, and Bryan, + to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with something + like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + He caught her hand and said “My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know + you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a + traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don't, my dear Bryan; for you + may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would + feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to his + religion or his suffering country.” + </p> + <p> + “How could I,” he replied, “with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a + guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me? Well, now that your mind is + aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too. I have no doubt but we'll + be happy yet—at least I trust in God we will. Who knows but + everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they + may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my good + name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII.—Interview between Hycy and Finigan + </h2> + <h3> + —The Former Propones for Miss Clinton—A love Scene + </h3> + <p> + Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he + had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he + ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to + Bryan. The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience he + knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, in + excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy Phats, + was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would inform upon + him. After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came to the conclusion + that the school-master, Finigan, must have been the traitor, and with this + impression he resolved to give that worthy personage a call upon his way + home. He found him as usual at full work, and as usual, also, in that + state which is commonly termed half drunk, a state, by the way, in which + the learned pedagogue generally contrived to keep himself night and day. + Hycy did not enter his establishment, but after having called him once or + twice to no purpose—for such was the din of the school that his + voice could not penetrate it—he at length knocked against the half + open door, which caused him to be both seen and heard more distinctly. On + seeing him, the school-master got to his limbs, and was about to address + him, when Hycy said— + </p> + <p> + “Finigan, I wish to speak a few words to you.” + </p> + <p> + “O'Finigan, sir—O'Finigan, Mr. Burke. It is enough, sir, to be + deprived of our hereditary territories, without being clipped of our + names; they should lave us those at all events unmutilated. O'Finigan, + therefore, Mr. Burke, whenever you address me, if you plaise.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. O'Finigan,” continued Hycy, “if not inconvenient, I should wish + to speak a few words with you.” + </p> + <p> + “No inconvenience in the world, Mr. Burke; I am always disposed to oblige + my friends whenever I can do so wid propriety. My advice, sir, my + friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to guide + them—my friendship to sustain—and my purse—hem!—ha, + ha, ha—I think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there,” he added, + laughing, “inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers + term a vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen,” he proceeded, addressing the + scholars, “I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a + social cup wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence + of a short interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my <i>locum + tenens</i> until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put + the names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign' is + the word; an' see, Gusty—mairk me well—no bribery—no + bread nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the culprits—otherwise + you shall become their substitute in the castigation, and I shall teach + you to look one way and feel another, my worthy con-disciple.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, Finigan—I beg your pardon—O'Finigan,” said Hycy, when + they were seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with + refreshments before them, “I think I have reason to be seriously + displeased with you.” + </p> + <p> + “Displeased with me!” exclaimed his companion; “and may I take the liberty + to interrogate wherefore, Mr. Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “You misrepresented me to Bryan M'Mahon,” said Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Upon what grounds and authority do you spake, sir?” asked Finigan, whose + dignity was beginning to take offence. + </p> + <p> + “I have good grounds and excellent authority for what I say,” replied + Hycy. “You have acted a very dishonorable part, Mr. Finigan, and the + consequence is that I have ceased to be your friend.” + </p> + <p> + “I act a dishonorable part. Why, sir, I scorn the imputation; but how have + I acted a dishonorable part? that's the point.” + </p> + <p> + “You put Bryan M'Mahon upon his guard against me, and consequently left an + impression on his mind that I was his enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the other, with a good deal of irony, “that is good! Have I, + indeed? And pray, Mr. Burke, who says so?” + </p> + <p> + “I have already stated that my authority for it is good.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must name you authority, sir, no lurking assassin shall be + permitted wid impunity to stab my fair reputation wid the foul dagger of + calumny and scandal. Name your authority, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “I could do so.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, why don't you? Let me hear the name of the illiterate + miscreant, whoever he is, that has dared to tamper with my unblemished + fame.” + </p> + <p> + “All I ask you,” continued Hycy, “is to candidly admit the fact, and state + why you acted as you did.” + </p> + <p> + “Name your authority, sir, and then I shall speak. Perhaps I did, and + perhaps I did not; but when you name your authority I shall then give you + a more satisfactory reply. That's the language—the elevated language—of + a gentleman, Mr. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “My authority then is no other than Bryan M'Mahon himself,” replied Hycy, + “who told me that he was cautioned against me; so that I hope you're now + satisfied.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” replied Finigan, assuming a lofty and impressive manner, “I + have known the M'Mahons for better than forty years; so, in fact, has the + country around them; and until the present moment I never heard that a + deliberate falsehood, or any breach of truth whatsoever, was imputed to + any one of them. Tom M'Mahon's simple word was never doubted, and would + pass aquil to many a man's oath; and it is the same thing wid the whole + family, man and women. They are proverbial, sir, for truth and integrity, + and a most spontaneous effusion of candor under all circumstances. You + will pardon me then, Mr. Hycy, if I avow a trifle of heresy in this + matter. You are yourself, wid great respect be it spoken, sometimes said + to sport your imagination occasionally, and to try your hand wid + considerable success at a <i>lapsus veritatis</i>. Pardon me, then, if I + think it somewhat more probable that you have just now stated what an ould + instructor of mine used to call a moral thumper; excuse me, I say; and at + all events I have the pleasure of drinking your health; and if my + conjecture be appropriate, here's also a somewhat closer adhesion to the + <i>veritas</i> aforesaid to you!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to insinuate that I'm stating what is not true?” said Burke, + assuming an offended look, which, however, he did not feel. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” replied Finigan, retorting his look with one of indignant + scorn, “far be it from me to insinuate any such thing. I broadly, and in + all the latitudinarianism of honest indignation, assert that it is a d—d + lie, begging your pardon, and drinking to your moral improvement a second + time; and ere you respond to what I've said, it would be as well, in order + to have the matter copiously discussed, if you ordhered in a fresh supply + of liquor, and help yourself, for, if the proverb be true—<i>in vino + veritas</i>—there it is again, but truth will be out, you see—who + knows but we may come to a thrifle of it from you yet? Ha! ha! ha! Excuse + the jest, Mr. Hycy. You remember little Horace,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Quid vetat ridentem dicere verum?'” + </pre> + <p> + “Do you mean to say, sirra,” said Hycy, “that I have stated a lie?” + </p> + <p> + “I mean to say that whoever asserts that I misrepresented you in any way + to Bryan M'Mahon, or ever cautioned him against you, states a lie of the + first magnitude—a moral thumper, of gigantic dimensions.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, will you tell me what you did say to him?” + </p> + <p> + “What I did say,” echoed Finigan. “Well,” he added, after a pause, during + which he I surveyed Hycy pretty closely—having now discovered that + he was, in fact, only proceeding upon mere suspicion—“I believe I + must acknowledge a portion of the misrepresentation. I must, on secondary + consideration, plead guilty to that fact.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought as much,” said Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Here then—,” proceeded Finigan, with a broad and provoking grin + upon his coarse but humorous features, “here, Mr. Hycy, is what I did say—says + I, 'Bryan, I have a word to say to you, touching an accomplished young + gentleman, a friend of yours.' + </p> + <p> + “'What is that?' asked the worthy Beit-nardus. + </p> + <p> + “'It is regarding the all-accomplished Mr. Hyacinthus Burke,' I replied, + 'who is a <i>homo-factus ad unguem</i>. Mr. Burke, Bryan,' I proceeded, + 'is a gentleman in the—hem—true sense of that word. He is + generous, candid, faithful, and honest; and in association wid all his + other excellent qualities, he is celebrated, among the select few who know + him best, for an extraordinary attachment to—truth.' Now, if that + wasn't misrepresentation, Mr. Hycy, I don't know what was. Ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “You're half drunk,” replied Hycy, “or I should rather say whole drunk, I + think, and scarcely know what you're saying; or rather, I believe you're a + bit of a knave, Mr. O'Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, sir; many thanks for the prefix. Proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “I have nothing more to add,” replied Hycy, rising up and preparing to go. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Finigan, with another grin, “a bit of a knave, am I? Well, now, + isn't it better to be only a bit of a knave than a knave all out—a + knave in full proportions, from top to toe, from head to heel—like + some accomplished gentlemen that I have the! honor of being acquainted + wid. But in the I meantime, now, don't be in a hurry, man alive, nor look + as if you were fatted on vinegar. Sit down again; ordher in another + libation, and I shall make a disclosure that will be worth your waiting + for.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have the libation, as you call it, at all events,” said Hycy, + resuming his seat, but feeling, at the same time, by no means satisfied + with the lurking grin which occasionally played over Finigan's features. + </p> + <p> + After much chat and banter, and several attempts on the part of Hycy to + insinuate himself into the pedagogue's confidence, he at length rose to + go. His companion was now in that state which strongly borders on + inebriety, and he calculated that if it were possible to worm anything out + of him, he was now in the best condition for it. Every effort, however, + was in vain; whenever he pressed the schoolmaster closely, the vague, + blank expression of intoxication disappeared for a moment, and was + replaced by the broad, humorous ridicule, full of self-possession and + consciousness, which always characterized Finigan, whether drunk or sober. + The man was naturally cunning, and ranked among a certain class of topers + who can be made drunk to a certain extent, and upon some particular + subjects, but who, beyond that, and with these limitations, defy the + influence of liquor. + </p> + <p> + Hycy Burke was one of those men who, with smart and showy qualities and + great plausibility of manner, was yet altogether without purpose or + steadfast principle in the most ordinary affairs of life. He had no fixed + notions upon either morals, religion, or politics; and when we say so, we + may add, that he was equally without motive—that is, without <i>adequate</i> + motive, in almost everything he did. + </p> + <p> + The canvass was now going on with great zeal on the part of Chevydale and + Vanston. Sometimes Hycy was disposed to support the one and sometimes the + other, but as to feeling a firm attachment to the cause or principles of + either, it was not in his nature. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the approach of a general election was at all times calculated to + fill the heart of a thinking man with a strong sense of shame for his + kind, and of sorrow for the unreasoning and brutal tendency to slavery and + degradation which it exhibits. Upon this occasion the canvass, in, + consequence of the desperate struggle that must ensue, owing to the + equality of the opposing forces, was a remarkably early one. Party feeling + and religious animosity, as is usual, ran very high, each having been made + the mere stalking-horse or catchword of the rival candidates, who cared + nothing, or at least very little, about the masses on either side, + provided always that they could turn them to some advantage. + </p> + <p> + It was one morning after the canvass had been going forward with great + activity on both sides for about a week, that Hycy, who now felt himself + rather peculiarly placed, rode down to Clinton's for the purpose of + formally paying his addresses to the gauger's interesting niece, and, if + possible, ascertaining his fate from her own lips. His brother Edward had + now been brought home in accordance with the expressed determination of + his father, with whom he was, unquestionably, a manifest favorite, a + circumstance which caused Hycy to detest him, and also deprived him in a + great degree of his mother's affection. Hycy had now resolved to pay his + devoirs to Kathleen Cavanagh, as a <i>dernier</i> resort, in the event of + his failing with Miss Clinton; for, as regarding affection, he had no + earthly conception what it I meant. With this view he rode down to + Clinton's as we said, and met Harry coming out of the stable. + </p> + <p> + “Harry,” said he, after his horse was put I up, “I am about to ask an + interview with your sister.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think she will grant it,” replied her brother, “you are by no + means a favorite; with her; however, you can try; perhaps she may. You + know the old adage, '<i>varium et imutabile semper</i>.' Who knows but she + may have changed her mind?” + </p> + <p> + “Is your uncle within?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied his nephew, “he's gone to Fethertonge's upon some election + business.” + </p> + <p> + “Could you not contrive,” said Hycy, “to leave her and me together, then, + and allow me to ascertain what I am to expect?” + </p> + <p> + “Come in,” said Harry—“never say it again. If I can I will.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, as we have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of + persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his + really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit which + he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a presentiment of + success that is almost inseparable from persons of his class, who can + scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided rejection by a woman + as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry Clinton himself, though but + a young man, thought, as he afterwards stated to his sister, that he never + saw Hycy have so much the appearance of a puppy as upon that occasion. As + had been proposed, he withdrew, however, and the lover being left in the + drawing-room with Miss Clinton began, with a simper that was rather + coxcombical, to make allusions to the weather, but in such a way as if + there was some deep but delightful meaning veiled under his commonplaces. + At length he came directly to the 'point. + </p> + <p> + “But passing from the weather, Miss Clinton, to a much more agreeable + topic, permit me to ask if you have ever turned your thoughts upon + matrimony?” + </p> + <p> + The hectic of a moment, as Sterne. says, accompanied by a look that + slightly intimated displeasure, or something like it, was the only reply + he received for a quarter of a minute, when she said, after the feeling + probably had passed away—“No, indeed, Mr. Burke, I have not.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, Miss Clinton,” said Hycy, with another smirk, “that won't + pass. Is it not laid down by the philosophers that you think of little + else from the time you are marriageable?” + </p> + <p> + “By what philosophers?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, let me see—by the philosophers in general—ha! ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + “I was not aware of that,” she replied; “but even if they have so ruled + it, I see no inference we can draw from that, except their ignorance of + the subject.” + </p> + <p> + “It is so ruled, however,” said Hycy, “and philosophy is against you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am willing it should, Mr. Burke, provided we have truth with us.” + </p> + <p> + “Very good, indeed, Miss Clinton—that was well said; but, seriously, + have you ever thought of marriage?” + </p> + <p> + “Doesn't philosophy say that we seldom think of anything else?” she + replied, smiling. Ask philosophy, then.” + </p> + <p> + “But this really is a subject in which I feel a particular interest—a + personal interest; but, as for philosophy, I despise it—that is as + it is usually understood. The only philosophy of life is love, and that is + my doctrine.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that your only doctrine?” + </p> + <p> + “Pretty nearly; but it is much the same as that which appears in the world + under the different disguises of religion.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust you do not mean to assert that love and religion are the same + thing, Mr. Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “I do; the terms are purely convertible. Love is the universal religion of + man, and he is most religious who feels it most; that is your only genuine + piety. For instance, I am myself in a most exalted state of that same + piety this moment, and have been so for a considerable time past.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Clinton felt a good deal embarrassed by the easy profligacy that was + expressed in these sentiments, and she made an effort to change the + subject. + </p> + <p> + “Are you taking part in the canvass which is going on in the country, Mr. + Burke?” + </p> + <p> + “Not much,” said he; “I despise politics as much as I cherish the little + rosy god; but really, Miss Clinton, I feel anxious to know your opinions + on marriage, and you have not stated them. Do you not think the nuptial + state the happiest?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a subject I feel no inclination whatsoever to discuss, Mr. Burke; it + is a subject which, personally speaking, has never occupied from me one + moment's thought; and, having said so much, I trust you will have the + goodness to select some other topic for conversation.” + </p> + <p> + “But I am so circumstanced, just now, Miss Clinton, that I cannot really + change it. The truth is, that I have felt very much attached to you for + some time past—upon my word and honor I have: it's a fact, I assure + you, Miss Clinton; and I now beg to make you a tender of myself and—and—of + all I am possessed of. I am a most ardent admirer of yours; and the upmost + extent of my ambition is to become an accepted one. Do then, my dear Miss + Clinton, allow me the charming privilege—pray, do.” + </p> + <p> + “What will be the consequence if I do not?” she replied, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word and honor, I shall go nearly distracted, and get quite + melancholy; my happiness depends upon you, Miss Clinton; you are a very + delightful girl, quite a <i>nonpareil</i>, and I trust you will treat me + with kindness and consideration.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” replied the lady, “I am much obliged for the preference you + express for me; but whether you are serious or in jest, I can only say + that I have no notion of matrimony; that I have never had any notion of + it; and that I can safely say, I have never seen the man whom I should + wish to call my husband. You will oblige me very much, then, if in future + you forbear to introduce this subject. Consider it a forbidden one, so far + as I am concerned, for I feel quite unworthy of so gifted and accomplished + a gentleman as Mr. Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not discard me surely, Miss Clinton?” + </p> + <p> + “On that subject, unquestionably.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, my dear Miss Clinton, you will not say so; do not be so cruel; + you will distress me greatly, I assure you. I am very much deficient in + firmness, and your cruelty will afflict me and depress my spirits.” + </p> + <p> + “I trust not, Mr. Burke. Your spirits are naturally good, and I have no + doubt but you will ultimately overcome this calamity—at least I + sincerely hope so.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Miss Clinton, you little know the heart I have, nor my capacity for + feeling; my feelings, I assure you, are exceedingly tender, and I get + quite sunk under disappointment. Come, Miss Clinton, you must not deprive + me altogether of hope; it is too cruel. Do not say no forever.” + </p> + <p> + The arch girl shook her head with something of mock solemnity, and + replied, “I must indeed, Mr. Burke; the fatal no must be pronounced, and + in connection with forever too; and unless you have much virtue to sustain + you, I fear you run a great risk of dying a martyr to a negative. I would + fain hope, however, that the virtue I allude to, and your well-known sense + of religion, will support you under such a trial.” + </p> + <p> + This was uttered in a tone of grave ironical sympathy that not only gave + it peculiar severity, but intimated to Hycy that his character was fully + understood. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Miss Clinton,” said he, rising with a countenance in which there + was a considerable struggle between self-conceit and mortification, a + struggle which in fact was exceedingly ludicrous in its effect, “I must + only hope that you probably may change your mind.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Burke,” said she, with a grave and serious dignity that was designed + to terminate the interview, “there are subjects upon which a girl of + delicacy and principle never can change her mind, and this I feel obliged + to say, once for all, is one of them. I am now my uncle's housekeeper,” + she added, taking up a bunch of keys, “and you must permit me to wish you + a good morning,” saying which, with a cool but very polite inclination of + her head, she dismissed Hycy the accomplished, who cut anything but a + dignified figure as he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said her brother, who was reading a newspaper in the parlor, “is + the report favorable?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Hycy, “anything but favorable. I fear, Harry, you have not + played me fair in this business.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” asked the other, rather quickly. + </p> + <p> + “I fear you've prejudiced your sister against me, and that instead of + giving me a clear stage, you gave me the 'no favor' portion of the adage + only.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not in the habit of stating a falsehood, Hycy, nor of having any + assertion I make questioned; I have already told you, I think, that I + would not prejudice my sister against you. I now repeat that I have not + done so; but I cannot account for her prejudices against you any more than + I shall attempt to contradict or combat them, so far from that I now tell + you, that if she were unfortunately disposed to many you, I would endeavor + to prevent her.” + </p> + <p> + “And pray why so, Harry, if it is a fair question?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly fair; simply because I should not wish to see my sister married + to a man unburthened with any kind of principle. In fact, without the + slightest intention whatsoever, Hycy, to offer you offence, I must say + that you are not the man to whom I should entrust Maria's peace and + happiness; I am her only brother, and have a right to speak as I do. I + consider it my duty.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” replied Hycy, “if you think so, I cannot blame you; but I see + clearly that you misunderstand my character—that is all.” + </p> + <p> + They separated in a few minutes afterwards, and Hycy in a very serious and + irritable mood rode homewards. In truth his prospects at this peculiar + period were anything but agreeable. Here his love-suit, if it could be + called so, had just been rejected by Miss Clinton, in a manner that + utterly precluded all future hope in that quarter. With Kathleen Cavanagh + he had been equally unsuccessful. His brother Edward was now at home, too, + a favorite with, and inseparable from his father, who of late maintained + any intercourse that took place between himself and Hycy, with a spirit of + cool, easy sarcasm, that was worse than anger itself. His mother, also, in + consequence of her unjustifiable attempts to defend her son's + irregularities, had lost nearly all influence with her husband, and if the + latter should withdraw, as he had threatened to do, the allowance of a + hundred a year with which he supplied him, he scarcely saw on what hand he + could turn. With Kathleen Cavanagh and Miss Clinton he now felt equally + indignant, nor did his friend Harry escape a strong portion of his + ill-will. Hycy, not being overburthened with either a love or practice of + truth himself, could not for a moment yield credence to the assertion of + young Clinton, that he took no stops to prejudice his sister against him. + He took it for granted, therefore, that it was to his interference he owed + the reception he had just got, and he determined in some way or other to + repay him for the ill-services he had rendered him. + </p> + <p> + The feeling of doubt and uncertainty with which Bryan M'Mahon parted from + his landlord and Fethertonge, the agent, after the interview we have + already described, lost none of their strength by time. Hycy's memorial + had been entrusted to Chevydale, who certainly promised to put his case + strongly before the Commissioners of Excise; and Bryan at first had every + reason to suppose that he would do so. Whether in consequence of that + negligence of his promise, for which he was rather remarkable, or from + some sinister influence that may have been exercised over him, it is + difficult to say, but the fact was that Bryan had now only ten days + between him and absolute ruin. He had taken the trouble to write to the + Secretary of Excise to know if his memorial had been laid before them, and + supported by Mr. Chevydale, who, he said, knew the circumstances, and + received a reply, stating that no such memorial had been sent, and that + Mr. Chevydale had taken no steps in the matter whatsoever. We shall not + now enter into a detail of all the visits he had made to his landlord, + whom he could never see a second time, however, notwithstanding repeated + solicitations to that effect. Fethertonge he did see, and always was + assured by him that his case was safe and in good hands. + </p> + <p> + “You are quite mistaken, Bryan,” said he, “if you think that either he or + I have any intention of neglecting your affair. You know yourself, + however, that he has not a moment for anything at the present time but + this confounded election. The contest will be a sharp one, but when it is + over we will take care of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but it will then be too late,” replied Bryan; “I will be then a + ruined man.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear Bryan, will you put no confidence in your friends? I tell + you you will not be ruined. If they follow up the matter so as to injure + you, we shall have the whole affair overhauled, and justice done you; + otherwise we shall bring it before Parliament.” + </p> + <p> + “That may be all very well,” replied Bryan, “but it is rather odd that he + has not taken a single step in it yet.” + </p> + <p> + “The memorial is before the Board,” said the other, “for some time, and we + expect an answer every day.” + </p> + <p> + “But I know to the contrary,” replied Bryan, “for here is a letther from + the Secretary stating that no such memorial ever came before them.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind that,” replied Fethertonge, “he may not have seen it. The + Secretary! Lord bless you, he never reads a tenth of the memorials that go + in. Show me the letter. See there now—he did not write it all; don't + you see his signature is in a different, hand? Why will you not put + confidence in your friends, Bryan?” + </p> + <p> + “Because,” replied the independent and honest young fellow, “I don't think + they're entitled to it—from me. They have neglected my business very + shamefully, after having led me to think otherwise. I have no notion of + any landlord suffering his tenant to be ruined before his face without + lifting a finger to prevent it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! fie, Bryan, you are now losing your temper. I shall say no more to + you. Still I can make allowances. However, go home, and keep your mind + easy, we shall take care of you, notwithstanding your ill humor. Stay—you + pass Mr. Clinton's—will you be good! enough to call and tell Harry + Clinton I wish to speak to him, and I will feel obliged?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, sir,” replied Bryan, “with pleasure. I wish you good morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Could it be possible,” he added, “that the hint Hycy Burke threw out + about young Clinton has any truth in it—'Harry Clinton will do you + an injury;' but more he would not say. I will now watch him well, for I + certainly cannot drame why he should be my enemy.” + </p> + <p> + He met Clinton on the way, however, to whom he delivered the message. + </p> + <p> + “I am much obliged to you,” said he, “I was already aware of it; but now + that I have met you, M'Mahon, allow me to ask if you have not entrusted a + memorial to the care of Mr. Chevydale, in order that it might be sent up + strongly supported by him to the Board of Excise?” + </p> + <p> + “I have,” said Bryan, “and it has been sent, if I am to believe Mr. + Fethertonge.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen to me, my honest friend—don't believe Fethertonge, nor don't + rely on Chevydale, who will do nothing more nor less than the agent allows + him. If you depend upon either or both, you are a ruined man, and I am + very much afraid you are that already. It has not been sent; but observe + that I mention this in confidence, and with an understanding that, for the + present, you will not name me in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “I sartinly will not,” replied Bryan, who was forcibly struck with the + truth and warmth of interest that were evident in his language and manner; + “and here is a letter that I received this very mornin' from the Secretary + of Excise, stating that no memorial on my behalf has been sent up to them + at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, just so; that is the true state of the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “What, in God's name, am I to do, then?” asked Bryan, in a state of great + and evident perplexity. + </p> + <p> + “I shall tell you; go to an honest man—I don't say, observe, that + Chevydale is not honest; but he is weak and negligent, and altogether the + slave and dupe of his agent. Go to-morrow morning early, about eight + o'clock, fetch another memorial, and wait upon Major Vanston; state your + case to him plainly and simply, and, my life for yours, he will not + neglect you, at all events. Get a fresh memorial drawn up this very day.” + </p> + <p> + “I can easily do that,” said Bryan, “for I have a rough copy of the one I + sent; it was Hycy Burke drew it up.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy Burke,” repeated Clinton, starting with surprise, “do you tell me + so?” + </p> + <p> + “Sartinly,” replied the other, “why do you ask?” + </p> + <p> + Clinton shook his head carelessly. “Well,” he said, “I am glad of it; it + is better late than never. Hycy Burke”—he paused and looked serious + a moment,—“yes,” he added, “I am glad of it. Go now and follow my + advice, and you will have at least a chance of succeeding, and perhaps of + defeating your enemies, that is, if you have any.” + </p> + <p> + The pressure of time rendered energy and activity necessary in the case of + Bryan; and, accordingly, about eight o'clock next morning, he was seeking + permission to speak to the man against whom he and his family had always + conscientiously voted—because he had been opposed to the spirit and + principles of their religion. + </p> + <p> + Major Vanston heard his case with patience, inquired more minutely into + the circumstances, asked where Ahadarra was, the name of his landlord, and + such other circumstance as were calculated to make the case clear. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, who drew up this memorial?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Hycy Burke, sir,” replied Bryan. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, indeed,” said he, glancing with a singular meaning at M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “You and Burke are intimate then?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, we are, sir,” replied Bryan, “on very good terms.” + </p> + <p> + “And now—Mr.'Burke has obliged you, I suppose, because you have + obliged him?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't know that he has obliged me much,” said Bryan, “but I know + that I have obliged him a good deal.” + </p> + <p> + Vanston nodded and seemed satisfied. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” he proceeded; “but, with respect to this memorial. I can't + promise you much. Leave it with me, however, and you shall probably hear + from me again. I fear we are late in point of time; indeed, I have but + faint hopes of it altogether, and I would not recommend you to form any + strong expectations from the interference of any one; still, at the same + time,” he added, looking significantly at him, “I don't desire you to + despair altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “He has as much notion,” thought Bryan, “of troubling his head about me or + my memorial, as I have for standin' candidate for the county. D—n + them all! they think of nobody but themselves!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII.—A Family Dialogue + </h2> + <h3> + —Ahadarra not in for it—Bryan's Vote. + </h3> + <p> + Honest Jemmy Burke, we have already said, had brought home his second son, + Edward, from school, for the purpose of training him to agricultural + pursuits, having now abandoned all notions of devoting him to the Church, + as he would have done had Hycy manifested towards him even the ordinary + proofs of affection and respect. + </p> + <p> + “You druv me to it, Rosha,” said he to his wife; “but I'll let you both + know that I'm able to be masther in my own house still. You have made your + pet what he is; but I tell you that if God hasn't said it, you'll curse + one another with bitther hearts yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sure you have your own way,” replied his wife, “but you wor ever + and always self-willed and headstrong. However, it's all the mane blood + that's in you; it breaks your heart to see your son a gintleman; but in + spite of your strong brogues and felt caubeen, a gentleman he is, and a + gentleman he will be, an' that's all I have to say about it. You'll tache + your pet to hate his brother, I'll go bail.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, Rosha,” he replied, “I know my duty to God and my childre' + betther than to turn them against one another; but it's only a proof of + how little you know about Edward and his warm and lovin' heart, when you + spake as you do.” + </p> + <p> + This indeed was true. Edward Burke was but a short time at home when he + saw clearly how matters stood in the family. He was in fact a youth of a + most affectionate and generous disposition, and instead of attempting to + make the breach wider, as Hycy had he been in his place would have done, + he did everything in his power to put the parties into a good state of + feeling with each other, and to preserve peace and harmony in the family. + </p> + <p> + One morning, a few days after Hycy's rejection by Miss Clinton, they were + all at breakfast, “the accomplished” being in one of his musical and + polite moods, his father bland but sarcastic, and Edward in a state of + actual pain on witnessing the wilful disrespect or rather contempt that + was implied by Hycy towards his parents. “Well, Ned,” said his father, + “didn't we spend a pleasant evenin' in Gerald Cavanagh's last night? Isn't + Kathleen a darlin'?” + </p> + <p> + “She is a delightful girl,” replied Edward, “it can't be denied; indeed, I + don't think I ever saw so beautiful a girl, and as for her figure, it is + perfect—perfect.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the father, “and it's she that knows the difference between a + decent sensible boy and a—gintleman—a highflyer. She was both + kind and civil to you, Ned.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know as to the kindness,” replied Edward; “but she was certainly + civil and agreeable, and I don't think it's in her nature to be anything + else.” + </p> + <p> + “Except when she ought,” said his father; “but listen, Ned—dress + yourself up, get a buff waistcoat, a green jockey coat, a riding whip, and + a pair o' shinin' top-boots, titivate yourself up like a dandy, then go to + her wid lavendher water on your pocket-handkerchy, an' you'll see how + she'll settle you. Be my sowl, you'll be the happy boy when you get her; + don't you think so, Misther Hycy?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably, Mr. Burke, when you speak you shame an Oracle; as for + Master Ned—why— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'I'm owre young,—I'm owre young, + I'm owre young to marry yet, + I'm owre young, 'twould be a sin + To take me from my Daddy yet.' +</pre> + <p> + I think, Master Edward, the Boy-god has already taken occupation; the + vituline affection for the fair Katsey has set in; heigho, what a + delightful period of life is that soft and lickful one of calf love, when + the tongue rolls about the dripping lips, the whites of the eyes are + turned towards the divine, the ox-eyed Katsey, and you are ready to + stagger over and blare out the otherwise unutterable affection.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well described, Hycy, I see you have not forgotten your Homer yet; + but really Kathleen Cavanagh is a perfect Juno, and has the large, liquid, + soft ox-eye in perfection.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me look at you,” said Hycy, turning round and staring at him with a + good deal of surprise; “begad, brother Ned, let me ask where you got your + connoisseurship upon women? eh? Oh, in the dictionary, I suppose, where + the common people say everything is to be found. Observe me, Mr. Burke, + you are taking your worthy son out of his proper vocation, the Church. + Send him to 'Maynewth,' he is too good a connoisseur on beauty to be out + of the Tribunal.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” replied his brother, “these are sentiments that do you no credit, + it is easy to sneer at religion or those who administer it,—much + easier than to praise the one, it would appear, or imitate the virtues of + the other.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +“Beautiful rebuke,” said Hycy, again staring at him; “why, Masther +Edward, you are a prodigy of wonderful sense and unspotted virtue; love + has made you eloquent—“'I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, + A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue, + I gat my death frae twa sweet e'en, + Twa lovely e'en o' bonnie blue, &c, &c.'” + </pre> + <p> + “I am not in love yet, Hycy, but as my father wishes to bring about a + marriage between Kathleen and myself, you know,” he added, smiling, “it + will be my duty to fall in love with her as fast as I can.” + </p> + <p> + “Dutiful youth! what a treasure you will prove to a dignified and + gentlemanly parent,—to a fond and doting wife! Shall I however put + forth my powers? Shall Hycy the accomplished interpose between Juno and + the calf? What sayest thou, my most amiable maternal relative, and why + sittest thou so silent and so sad?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, it's no wondher I would, Hycy,” replied his mother, whom Edward's + return had cast into complete dejection, “when I see your father strivin' + to put between his own childre'.” + </p> + <p> + “Me, Rosha!” exclaimed her husband; “God forgive you for that! but when I + see that one of my childre' wont spake a word to me with respect or + civility—no, not even in his natural voice, it is surely time for ma + to try if I can't find affection in his brother.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said she, “that's your own way of it; but it's easy seen that your + eggin' up Ned agin his brother, bringin' ill will and bad feelin' among a + family that was quiet before; ay, an' I suppose you'd be glad to see my + heart broke too, and indeed I didn't care it was,” and as she spoke the + words? were accompanied by sobbings and tears. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” said Hyoy, still in the mock heroic—“where is the pride and + dignity of woman? Remember, oh maternal relative, that you are the mother + of one Gracchus at least! Scorn the hydraulics, I say; abandon the + pathetic; cast sorrow to the winds, and—give me another cup of tea.” + </p> + <p> + Edward shook his head at him, as if remonstrating against this most + undutiful and contemptuous style of conversation to his mother. “Don't + give way to tears, my dear mother,” he said; “indeed you do my father + injustice; he has neither said nor done anything to turn me against Hycy. + Why should he? So far from that, I know that he loves Hycy at heart, all + that he wishes is that Hycy would speak to him in his natural voice, and + treat him with respect, and the feeling that surely is due to him. And so + Hycy will, father; I am sure he respects and loves you in spite of this + levity and affectation. All we want is for each to give up a little of his + own way—when you become more respectful, Hycy, my father's manner + will change too: let us be at least sincere and natural with each other, + and there is nothing that I can see to prevent us from living very + happily.” + </p> + <p> + “I have some money saved,” said Burke, turning to his wife—“a good + penny—too, more than the world thinks; and I declare to my God I + would give it twice over if I could hear that young man,” pointing to + Hycy, “speak these words with the same heart and feelings of him that + spoke them; but I fear that 'ud be a hopeless wish on my part, an' ever + will.” + </p> + <p> + “No, father,” said Edward, “it will not—Hycy and you will soon + understand one another. Hycy will see what, his duty towards you is, and, + sooner than be the means of grieving your heart, he will change the + foolish and thoughtless habit that offends you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Edward, may God grant it,” exclaimed his father rising up from + breakfast, “and that's all I have to say——God grant it!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Sir Oracle, junior,” said Hycy, after his father had gone out, “or + rather Solomon Secundus, if you are now an unfledged philosopher on our + hand, what will you not be when your opinions are grown?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear brother,” replied Edward, I cannot see what on earth you can + propose to yourself by adopting this ridiculous style of conversation I + cannot really see any object you can have in it. If it be to vex or annoy + my father, can you blame him if he feels both vexed and annoyed at it. + </p> + <p> + “Most sapiently said, Solomon Secundus— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “'Solomon Lob was a ploughman stout, + And a ranting cavalier; + And, when the civil war broke out, + It quickly did appear + That Solomon Lob was six feet high, + And fit for a grenadier. + So Solomon Lob march'd boldly forth + To sounds of bugle horns + And a weary march had Solomon Lob, + For Solomon Lob had corns. + Row,—ra—ra—row—de—dow.' +</pre> + <p> + “And so I wish you a good morning, most sapient Solomon. I go on business + of importance affecting—the welfare of the nation, or rather of the + empire at large—embracing all these regions, antipodial and + otherwise, on which the sun never sets. Good morning, therefore; and, + maternal relative, wishing the same to thee, with a less copious + exhibition of the hydraulics, a-hem!” + </p> + <p> + “Where is he going, mother, do you know?” asked Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I don't know, Edward,” she replied; “he seldom or never tells us + anything about his motions; but it vexes me to think that his father won't + make any allowance for his lightheartedness and fine spirits. Sure now, + Edward, you know yourself it's not raisonable to have a young man like him + mumpin' and mopin' about, as if there was a wake in the house?” + </p> + <p> + The only reply Edward made to this weak and foolish speech was, “Yes; but + there is reason in everything, my dear mother. I have heard,” he added, + “that he is working for the Tory candidate, Vanston, and hope it is not + true.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said his mother, “what differ does it make?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied the other, “that Vanston votes to keep us slaves, and + Chevydale to give us our political freedom: the one is opposed to our + religion and our liberty, and the other votes for both.” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, as to religion,” observed the mother, “the poor boy doesn't + trouble his head much about it—bat it's not aisy for one that goes + into jinteel society to do so—an' that's what makes Hycy ait mate of + a Friday as fast as on any other day.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry to hear that, mother,” replied Edward; “but Hycy is a very + young man still, and will mend all these matters yet.” + </p> + <p> + “And that's what I'm tellin' his father,” she replied; “and if you'd only + see the way he looks at me, and puts a <i>cuir</i> (* a grin—mostly + of contempt) upon him so bitther that it would a'most take the skin off + one.” + </p> + <p> + Edward's observations with respect to Hycy's having taken a part in + forwarding the interests of Major Vanston were not without foundation. He + and Bryan M'Mahon had of late been upon very good terms; and it so + happened that in the course of one of their conversations about Kathleen + Cavanagh, Bryan had mentioned to him the fact of Kathleen's having heard + that he was pledged to vote with Vanston, and repeated the determination + to which she had resolved to come if he should do so. Now, it so happened, + that a portion of this was already well known to Hycy himself, who, in + fact, was the very individual who had assured Major Vanston, and those who + canvassed for him, that he himself had secured Bryan. On hearing now from + Bryan that Kathleen had put the issue of their affection upon his + political truth and consistency he resolved to avail himself of that + circumstance if he could. On hearing, besides, however, that Harry Clinton + had actually sent him (M'Mahon) to Vanston, and on being told, in the + course of conversation, that that gentleman asked who had drawn up the + memorial, he felt that every circumstance was turning in his favor; for he + determined now to saddle Clinton with the odium which, in this treacherous + transaction, was most likely to fall upon himself. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention here to describe the brutal and disgraceful scenes + that occur at an election. It is enough to say that, after a long, bitter, + and tedious struggle, the last day of it arrived. Bryan M'Mahon, having + fully satisfied himself that his landlord had not taken a single step to + promote his interests in the matter of the memorial, resolved from the + beginning not to vote in his favor, and, of course, not to vote at all. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the last day, with the exception of himself alone, a + single voter had not been left unpolled; and the position of the two + candidates was very peculiar, both having polled exactly the same number + of votes, and both being consequently equal. + </p> + <p> + Bryan, having left home early, was at breakfast about eleven o'clock, in a + little recess off the bar of the head-inn, which was divided from one end + of the coffee-room by a thin partition of boards, through which anything + spoken in an ordinary tone of voice in that portion of the room could be + distinctly heard. Our readers may judge of his surprise on hearing the + following short but pithy dialogue of which he himself formed the subject + matter. The speakers, with whom were assembled several of his landlord's + committee, being no other than that worthy gentleman and his agent. + </p> + <p> + “What's to be done?” asked Chevydale; “here is what we call a dead heat. + Can no one prevail on that obstinate scoundrel, the Ahadarra man—what + do ye call, him? M'Master—M'Manus—-M'—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” replied Fethertonge, “I fear not; but, at all events, we must + try him again. Vote or not, however, we shall soon clear him out of + Ahadarra—we shall punish his insolence for daring to withhold his + vote; for, as sure as my name is Fethertonge, out he goes. The fine and + distillation affair, however, will save us a good deal of trouble, and of + course I am very glad you declined to have anything to do with the support + of his petition. The fellow is nothing else than shuffler, as I told you. + Vote or not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he does, I have + a good tenant to put in his place.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore + that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should never + go to the support of such a man. + </p> + <p> + Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle + arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and + inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied the postmaster; “but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him I + have here one for him, from Major Vanston—it's his frank and his + handwriting.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm going directly to him,” said Hycy, “and will bring it to him; so you + had better hand it here.” + </p> + <p> + The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his + way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making. + </p> + <p> + “Nanny,” said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in + the stable and entered the parlor, “will you fetch me a candle and some + warm water?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Nanny; “but you must wait till I boil some, for there's + none hot.” + </p> + <p> + “Be quick, then,” said he, “for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door + after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I have + spoken to you about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Becaise it's never done,” she replied; “nobody ever bids me shut it but + yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll thank you,” he said, “to pay more attention to what I say to + you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny; and, + mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall pitch + your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here.” + </p> + <p> + “Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + “Begone now and get me the hot water,” he said, with a frown of anger and + vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which the + possession of Vanston's letter had already put him. + </p> + <p> + We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable + manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is enough + to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to peruse the + contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:— + </p> + <p> + Sir,—I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from + the Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much + pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory + result of your memorial. + </p> + <p> + “I am, sir, very sincerely yours, + </p> + <p> + “Egbert Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, + </p> + <p> + “Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + (The enclosed.) + </p> + <p> + “Sir,—I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of + Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial to + the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the + circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character which + memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce the + fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The + Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way + connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his + property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have not + the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law has + given them authority. + </p> + <p> + “I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant, + </p> + <p> + “Francis Fathom. + </p> + <p> + “To Major Vanston, &c, &c.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as + to evade all suspicion of their having been opened. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” thought he, “what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is + possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for I + know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be thrown + by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First and + foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I + establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure Vanston + the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory gentleman + that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into truth, and make + Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it was by Harry + Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift the odium of his + voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose body, by the way, + does not contain a single bone that I like; and, thirdly, having by his + apostacy and treachery, as it will be called, placed an insurmountable + barrier between himself and the divine Katsey, I will change my course + with Jemmy, the gentleman—my sarcastic dad—return and get + reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and by becoming a good + Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt but I shall secure the + 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other morning. This, I think, + will be making the most of the cards, and, as the moment is critical, I + shall seek the clod-hopper and place this seasonable communication in his + hands.” + </p> + <p> + He accordingly rode rapidly into town again, where he had not been many + minutes when he met M'Mahon, burning with indignation at the language of + his landlord and the agent. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot have patience, Hycy,” he exclaimed, “under such scoundrelly + language as this; and while I have breath in my body, he never shall have + my vote!” + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter, Bryan?” he asked; “you seem flushed.” + </p> + <p> + “I do, Hycy, because I am flushed, and not without reason. I tell you that + my landlord, Chevydale, is a scoundrel, and Fethertonge a deceitful + villain.” + </p> + <p> + “Pooh, man, is that by way of information? I thought you had something in + the shape of novelty to tell me. What has happened, however, and why are + you in such a white heat of indignation?” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon immediately detailed the conversation which he had overheard + behind the bar of the inn, and we need scarcely assure our readers that + Hycy did not omit the opportunity of throwing oil upon the fire which + blazed so strongly. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “I know the agent to be a scoundrel, and what is nearer + the case still, I have every reason—but you must not ask me to state + them yet,—I have every reason to suspect that it is Fethertonge, + countenanced by Chevydale, who is at the bottom of the distillation affair + that has ruined you. The fact is, they are anxious to get you out of + Ahadarra, and thought that by secretly ruining you, they could most + plausibly effect it.” + </p> + <p> + “I have now no earthly doubt of it, Hycy,” replied the other. + </p> + <p> + “You need not,” replied Hycy; “and maybe I'm not far astray when I say, + that the hook-nosed old Still-hound, Clinton, is not a thousand miles from + the plot. I could name others connected with some of them—but I + wont, now.” + </p> + <p> + When M'Mahon recollected the conversation which both Clinton and the agent + had held with him, with respect to violating the law, the truth of Hycy's + remark flashed upon him at once, and of course deepened his indignation + almost beyond endurance. + </p> + <p> + “They are two d—d scoundrels,” pursued Hycy, “and I have reasons, + besides, for suspecting that it was their wish, if they could have done it + successfully, to have directed your suspicions against myself.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon was, in fact, already convinced of this, and felt satisfied that + he saw through and understood the whole design against him, and was + perfectly aware of those who had brought him to ruin. + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” said Hycy, “let me not forget that I have been looking for + you this hour or two; here is a letter I got for you in! the post-office + this morning. It has Vanston's frank, and I think is in his handwriting.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon's face, on perusing the letter, beamed with animation and delight. + “Here, Hycy,” said he, “read that; I'm safe yet, thank God, and not a + ruined man, as the villains thought to make me.” + </p> + <p> + “By my soul and honor, Bryan,” exclaimed the other, “that is noble on the + part of Vanston, especially towards an individual from whom, as well as + from his whole family, he has ever experienced the strongest opposition. + However, if I were in your coat, I certainly would not suffer him to outdo + me in generosity. Good heavens! only contrast such conduct with that of + the other scoundrel, his opponent, and then see the conclusion you must + come to.” + </p> + <p> + “Let Vanston be what he may, he's an honest man,” replied Bryan, “and in + less than ten minutes I'll have him the sittin' member. I would be + ungrateful and ungenerous, as you say, Hycy, not to do so. Come along—come + along, I bid you. I don't care what they say. The man that saved me—who + was his enemy—from ruin, will have my vote.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly proceeded towards the court house, and on their way Hycy + addressed him as follows:—“Now, Bryan, in order to give your conduct + an appearance of greater generosity, I will pretend to dissuade you + against voting for Vanston, or, rather, I will endeavor, as it were, to + get your vote for Chevydale. This will make the act more manly and + determined on your part, and consequently one much more high-minded and + creditable to your reputation. You will show them, besides, that you are + not the cowardly slave of your landlord.” + </p> + <p> + It was accordingly so managed; the enthusiastic gratitude of the young man + overcame all considerations; and in a few minutes Major Vanston was + declared by the sheriff duly elected, by a majority of one vote only. + </p> + <p> + It is no part of our intention to describe the fierce sensation which this + victory created among the greater portion of the people. The tumult + occasioned by their indignation and fury was outrageous and ruffianly as + usual; but as the election had now terminated, it soon ceased, and the + mobs began to disperse to their respective homes. Bryan for some three + hours or so was under the protection of the military, otherwise he would + have been literally torn limb from limb. In the mean time we must follow + Hycy. + </p> + <p> + This worthy and straightforward young gentleman, having now accomplished + his purpose, and been the means of M'Mahon having exposed himself to + popular vengeance, took the first opportunity of withdrawing from him + secretly, and seeking Vanston's agent. Having found him, and retired out + of hearing, he simply said— + </p> + <p> + “I will trouble you for three hundred.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have it,” replied that honest gentleman; “you shall have it. We + fully acknowledge the value of your services in this matter; it is to them + we owe our return.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no doubt in the matter,” replied Hycy; “but you know not my + difficulty, nor the dexterous card I had to play in accomplishing my + point.” + </p> + <p> + “We are sensible of it all,” replied the other; “here,” said he, pulling + out his pocket-book, “are three notes for one hundred each.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me two fifties,” said Hycy, “instead of this third note, and you + will oblige me. By the way, here is the major.” With this the other + immediately complied, without the major having been in any way cognizant + of the transaction. + </p> + <p> + On entering the inner room where they stood, Vanston shook hands most + cordially with Hycy, and thanked him in very warm language for the part he + took, to which he had no hesitation in saying he owed his return. + </p> + <p> + “Look upon me henceforth as a friend, Mr. Burke,” he added, “and a sincere + one, who will not forget the value of your influence with the young man + whose vote has gained me the election. I have already served him + essentially,—in fact saved him from ruin, and I am very glad of it.” + </p> + <p> + “I really feel very much gratified, Major Vanston, that I have had it in + my power,” replied Hycy, “to render you any service of importance; and if + I ever should stand in need of a favor at your hands, I shall not hesitate + to ask it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor I to grant it, Mr. Burke, if it be within the reach of my influence.” + </p> + <p> + “In the mean time,” said Hycy, “will you oblige me with a single franc?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Mr. Burke; with half a dozen of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir, one will be quite sufficient; I require no more.” + </p> + <p> + The major, however, gave him half a dozen of them, and after some further + chat, and many expressions of obligation on the part of the new M.P., Hycy + withdrew. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX.—Bryan Bribed—is Rejected by Kathleen. + </h2> + <p> + In the course of about two or three hours after the transaction already + stated, old Peety Dim was proceeding towards the post-office with a + letter, partly in his closed hand, and partly up the inside of his sleeve, + so as that it might escape observation. The crowds were still tumultuous, + but less so than in the early part of the day; for, as we said, they were + diminishing in numbers, those who had been so long from home feeling a + natural wish to return to their families and the various occupations and + duties of life which they had during this protracted contest been forced + to neglect. Peety had got as far as the market-house—which was about + the centre of the street—on his way, we say, to the post-office, + when he met his daughter Nanny, who, after a few words of inquiry, asked + him where he was going. + </p> + <p> + “Faith, an' that's more than I dare tell you,” he replied. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” she said, “is there a saicret in it, I'm sure you needn't keep it + from me, whatever it is.” + </p> + <p> + This she added in a serious and offended tone, which, however, was not + lost on the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, “considherin' the man he is, an' what you know about him, + I think I may as well tell you. It's a letther I'm bringin' to slip into + the post-office, unknownst.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it from Hycy?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “From Hycy, and no other.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll hould a wager,” she replied, “that that's the very letther I seen + him openin' through the key hole doar this mornin'. Do you know who it's + to?” she inquired. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, the sorra know; he said it was a love-letther, and that he did not + wish to be seen puttin' it in himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait,” said she, “give it to me here for a minute; here's Father M'Gowan + comin' up, and I'll ax him who it's directed to.” + </p> + <p> + She accordingly took the letter out of his hand, and approaching the + priest, asked him the name of the person to whom it was addressed. + </p> + <p> + “Plaise your reverence,” she said, “what name's on the back of this?—I + mane,” said she, “who is goin' to?” + </p> + <p> + The priest looked at it, and at once replied, “It is goin' to Bryan + M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, the traitor, and it comes from Major Vanston, the + enemy to his liberty and religion, that his infamous vote put into + Parliament, to rivet our chains, and continue our degradation. So there, + girl, you have now the bigot from whom it comes, and the apostate to whom + it goes. Who gave it to you?” + </p> + <p> + Nanny, who from some motives of her own, felt reluctant to mention Hycy's + name in the matter, hastily replied, “A person, plaise your reverence, + from Major Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, girl, discharge your duty,” said the priest; “but I tell you + the devil will never sleep well till he has his clutches in the same + Major, as well as in the shameless apostate he has corrupted.” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words, he passed on, and Nanny in a minute or two + afterwards returned the letter to her father, who with his own hands put + it into the post-office. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said she to her father, “the people is scatterin' themselves + homewards; and the streets is gettin' clear—but listen—that + letter is directed to Bryan M'Mahon; will you keep about the post-office + here; Bryan's in town, an' it's likely when the danger's over that he may + be passin'. Now you know that if he does, the people in the shop where the + post-office is kep' will see him, an' maybe he'll get the letter to-day, + or I'll tell you what, watch Hycy; take my word for it, he has some scheme + afoot.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy's no favorite wid you, Nanny.” + </p> + <p> + “Why you know he's not, an' indeed I don't know why he's one wid you.” + </p> + <p> + “Throth an' he is, many a shillin' an' sixpence he throws me,—always + does indeed wherever he meets me.” + </p> + <p> + “No matter, maybe the day will soon come when you'll change your opinion + of him, that's all I say, except to keep your eye on him; and I'll tell + you why I bid you, some day soon.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, achora, maybe I may change my opinion of him; but at present I say + he is my favorite, an' will be so, till I know worse about him.” + </p> + <p> + Nanny, having bade him good-bye, and repeated her wish that the old man + would watch the post-office for some time, proceeded up the street in the + direction of the grocer's, to whom she had been dispatched for groceries. + </p> + <p> + Two hours more had now elapsed, the crowds were nearly dispersed, and the + evening was beginning to set in, when Hycy Burke called at the + post-office, and for the second time during the day, asked if there was a + letter for him. + </p> + <p> + The post-master searched again, and replied, “No; but here's another for + Bryan M'Mahon.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” he exclaimed, “another for Bryan! Why he must have an extensive + correspondence, this Bryan M'Mahon. I wonder who it's from.” + </p> + <p> + “There's no wonder at all about it,” replied the post-master, “it's from + Major Vanston. Here's his frank and handwriting in the direction and all.” + </p> + <p> + “Allow me to look,” said Hycy, glancing at it. “Yes, you are quite right, + that is the gallant Major's hand, without any mistake whatsoever. I will + not fetch him this letter,” he proceeded, “because I know not when I may + see him; but if I see him, I shall tell him.” + </p> + <p> + Peety Dim, who had so placed himself in the shop attached to the + post-office, on seeing Hycy approach, that he might overhear this + conversation without being seen, felt, considerably surprised that Hycy + should seem to have been ignorant that there was a letter for M'Mahon, + seeing that it was he himself who had sent it there. He consequently began + to feel that there was some mystery in the matter; but whatever it might + be, he knew that it was beyond his power to develop. + </p> + <p> + On coming forward from the dark part of the shop, where he had been + standing, he asked the post-master if there was a second letter for + M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied the man, “there is only the one. If you see him, tell him + there's a letter from Major Vanston in the office for him.” + </p> + <p> + We must still trace Hycy's motions. On leaving the post-office, he went + directly to the Head Inn, where he knew Bryan M'Mahon was waiting until + the town should become perfectly calm and quiet. Here he found Bryan, + whose mind was swayed now to one side and now to another, on considering + the principle on which he had voted, and the consequences to which that + act might expose him. + </p> + <p> + “I know I will have much to endure,” he thought, while pacing the room by + himself in every way, “but I little value anything the world at large may + think or say, so that I don't lose the love and good opinion of Kathleen + Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Bryan,” said Hycy, as he entered, “I think you must provide a + secretary some of these days, your correspondence is increasing so + rapidly.” + </p> + <p> + “How is that?” inquired the other. + </p> + <p> + “Simply that there's another letter in the post-office for you, and if I + don't mistake, from the same hand—that of our friend the Major.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not aware of anything he could have to write to me about now,” + replied Bryan; “I wonder what can it be?” + </p> + <p> + “If you wish I shall fetch you the letter,” said Hycy, “as you have an + objection I suppose to go out until the town is empty.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Hycy, I'll feel obliged to you if you do; and Hycy, by the + way, I am sorry that you and I ever mistook or misunderstood one another; + but sich things happen to the best of friends, and why should we hope to + escape?” + </p> + <p> + “Speak only for yourself, Bryan,” replied Hycy, “the misunderstanding was + altogether on your side, not on mine. I always knew your value and + esteemed you accordingly. I shall fetch your letter immediately.” + </p> + <p> + On returning he placed the document aforesaid in M'Mahon's hands, and + said, in imitation of his friend Teddy Phats—“Come now, read her + up.” Bryan opened the letter, and in the act of doing so a fifty pound + note presented itself, of which, as it had been cut in two, one half fell + to the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo!” exclaimed Hycy, suddenly taking it up, “this looks well—what + have we here? A fifty pound note!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied Bryan; “but why cut in two? here however is something + written, too—let me see— + </p> + <p> + “'Accept this as an earnest of better things for important services. The + fine imposed upon you has been reduced to fifty pounds—this will pay + it. + </p> + <p> + “A DEEPLY OBLIGED FRIEND.'” + </p> + <p> + The two young men looked at each other for some time without speaking. At + length M'Mahon's face became crimsoned with indignation! + </p> + <p> + “Who could have dared to do this?” said he, once more looking at the + bank-note and the few lines that accompanied it. “Who durst suppose that a + M'Mahon would sell his vote for a bribe? Did Vanston suppose that money + would sway me? for this I am sure must be his work.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” replied Hycy; “don't be too sure that it's + not some one that wishes you worse than Vanston does. In my opinion, + Bryan, that letter and the note contained in it were sent to you by some + one who wishes to have it whispered abroad that you were bribed. It surely + could not be Vanston's interest to injure your character or your + circumstances in any sense; and I certainly think him too honorable to + deal in an anonymous bribe of that kind.” + </p> + <p> + “Some scoundrel has done it, that's clear; but what would you have me to + do, Hycy? You are up to life and know the world a great deal better than I + do; how ought I to act now?” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you candidly, my dear Bryan, how I think you ought to act, or + at least how I would act myself if I were in your place.” He then paused + for a minute and proceeded:—“You know I may be wrong, Bryan, but I + shall advise you at all events honestly, and to the best of my ability. I + would keep this letter and this note, and by the way, what else can you + do?—I would say nothing whatsoever about it. The secret, you know, + rests with yourself and me, with the exception of the party that sent it. + Now, mark me, I say—if the party that sent this be a friend, there + will be no more about it—it will drop into the grave; but if it came + from an enemy the cry of bribery will be whispered about, and there will + be an attack made on your character. In this case you can be at no loss as + to the source from whence the communication came—Fethertonge will + then most assuredly be the man; or, harkee, who knows but the whole thing + is an electioneering trick resorted to for the purpose of impugning your + vote, and of getting Vanston out on petition and scrutiny. Faith and + honor, Bryan, I think that this last is the true reading.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm inclined to agree with you there,” replied Bryan, “that looks like + the truth; and even then I agree with you still that Fethertonge is at the + bottom of it. Still how am I to act?” + </p> + <p> + “In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said. Keep the letter and the + bank-note; say nothing about it—that is clearly your safest plan; do + not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be + necessary to your own character to show them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy. As you say no one knows the + secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say + nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered + about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me by + any bargain of mine.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as + much as to say—“Exactly so, that is precisely the fact,” and thus + ended the dialogue. + </p> + <p> + We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath + necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most minute + speck will be offensively visible. So it is with human character and + integrity. Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary + reputation—to a family who had generally participated in all the + good and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of + society, his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party + for a very brief period—just as other votes given from the usual + motives—sometimes right and honorable—sometimes wrong and + corrupt—usually do. In his case, however, there was something + calculated to startle and alarm all those who knew and were capable of + appreciating the stainless honor and hereditary integrity of the family. + The M'Mahon's, though inoffensive and liberal in their intercourse with + the world, even upon matters of a polemical nature, were nevertheless + deeply and devotedly attached to their own religion, and to all those who + in any way labored or contributed to relieve it of its disabilities, and + restore those who professed it to that civil liberty which had been so + long denied them. This indeed was very natural on the part of the + M'Mahons, who would sooner have thought of taking to the highway, or + burning their neighbor's premises, than supporting the interests or + strengthening the hands of any public man placed, in a position to use a + hostile influence against them. There was only one other family in the + barony, who in all that the M'Mahon's felt respecting their religion and + civil liberty, Were far in advance of them. These were the Cavanaghs, + between whom and the M'Mahons their existed so many strong points of + resemblance that they only differed from the others in degree—especially + on matters connected with religion and its privileges. In these matters + the Cavanaghs were firm, stern, and inflexible—nay, so heroic was + the enthusiasm and so immovable the attachment of this whole family to + their creed, that we have no hesitation whatever in saying that they would + have laid down their lives in its defence, or for its promotion, had such + a sacrifice been demanded from them. On such a family, then, it is + scarcely necessary to describe the effects of what was termed Bryan + M'Mahon's apostacy. The intelligence came upon them in fact like a + calamity. On the very evening before, Gerald Cavanagh, now a fierce + advocate for Edward Burke, having, in compliance with old Jemmy, + altogether abandoned Hycy, had been urging upon Kathleen the prudence and + propriety of giving Bryan M'Mahon up, and receiving the address of young + Burke, who was to inherit the bulk of his father's wealth and property; + and among other arguments against M'Mahon he stated a whisper then gaining + ground, that it was his intention to vote for Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “But I know to the contrary, father,” said Kathleen, “for I spoke to him + on that very subject, and Bryan M'Mahon is neither treacherous nor + cowardly, an' won't of course abandon his religion or betray it into the + hands of its enemies. Once for all, then,” she added, calmly, and with a + smile full of affection and good humor, “I say you may spare both yourself + and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you that I like + and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he really is what + his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought—a true gentleman—but + that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to conceal it, that Bryan + M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves false to his God, his + religion, and his country, I will never prove false to him nor withdraw my + affections from him.” + </p> + <p> + “For all that,” replied her father, “it's strongly suspected that he's + goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an + enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; “No, father,” said she, “by the + light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston—unless + Vanston becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless + life, but if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a + queen's, I'd stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns + traitor—let me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!” + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by which + she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity and high + moral force of her character awed them, and her father completely subdued, + simply replied:— + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter on + you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen, after wiping away her tears, thanked him, and said with a smile, + and in spite of the most boundless confidence in the integrity of her + lover, “never, at any rate, father, until Bryan M'Mahon turns a traitor to + his religion and his country.” + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the next day, or rather late at night, her father + returned from the scene of contest, but very fortunately for Kathleen's + peace of mind during that night, he found on inquiry that she and Hanna + had been for a considerable time in bed. The following morning Hanna, who + always took an active share in the duties of the family, and who would + scarcely permit her sister to do anything, had been up a short time before + her, and heard from her mother's lips the history of Bryan's treachery, as + it was now termed by all. We need scarcely say that she was deeply + affected, and wept bitterly. Kathleen, who rose a few minutes afterwards, + thought she saw her sister endeavoring to conceal her face, but the idea + passed away without leaving anything like a fixed impression upon it. + Hanna, who was engaged in various parts of the house, contrived still to + keep her face from the observation of her sister, until at length the + latter was ultimately struck by the circumstance as well as by Hanna's + unusual silence. Just as her father had entered to breakfast, a sob + reached her ears, and on going over to inquire if anything were wrong, + Hanna, who was now fairly overcome, and could conceal her distress no + longer, ran over, and throwing herself on Kathleen's neck, she exclaimed + in a violent burst of grief, “Kathleen, my darling sister, what will + become of you! It's all true. Bryan has proved false and a traitor; he + voted for Vanston yesterday, and that vote has put the bitter enemy of our + faith into Parliament.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan M'Mahon a traitor!” exclaimed Kathleen; “no, Hanna—no, I say—a + thousand times no. It could not be—the thing is impossible—impossible!” + </p> + <p> + “It is as true as God's in heaven, that he voted yesterday for Vanston,” + said her father; “I both seen him and heard him, an' that vote it was that + gained Vanston the election.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna, whose arms were still around her sister's neck, felt her stagger + beneath her on hearing those words from her father. + </p> + <p> + “You say you saw him, father, and h'ard him vote for Vanston. You say you + did?” + </p> + <p> + “I both seen the traitor an' h'ard him,” replied the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Hanna, dear, let me sit down,” said Kathleen, and Hanna, encircling her + with one hand, drew a chair over with the other, on which, with a cheek + pale as death, her sister sat, whilst Hanna still wept with her arms about + her. After a long silence, she at last simply said:— + </p> + <p> + “I must bear it; but in this world my happiness is gone.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't take it so much to heart avourneen,” said her mother; “but, any + way, hadn't you betther see himself, an' hear what he has to say for + himself. Maybe, afther all, it's not so bad as it looks. See him, + Kathleen; maybe there's not so much harm in it yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No, mother, see him I will not, in that sense—Bryan M'Mahon a + traitor! Am I a dreamer? I am not asleep, and Bryan M'Mahon is false to + God and his country! I did think that he would give his life for both, if + he was called upon to do so; but not that he would prove false to them as + he has done.” + </p> + <p> + “He has, indeed,” said her father, “and the very person you hate so much, + bad as you think him, did all in his power to prevent him from doin' the + black deed. I seen that, too, and h'ard it. Hycy persuaded him as much as + he could against it; but he wouldn't listen to him, nor pay him any + attention.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said her sister, “the angels in heaven fell, and surely it + isn't wonderful that even a good man should be tempted and fall from the + truth as they did?” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen seemed too much abstracted by her distress to hear this. She + looked around at them all, one after another, and said in a low, composed, + and solemn voice, “All is over now between that young man and me—and + here is one request which I earnestly entreat you—every one of you—to + comply with.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it darling?” said her mother. + </p> + <p> + “It is,” she replied, “never in my hearing to mention his name while I + live. As for myself, I will never name him!” + </p> + <p> + “And think, after all,” observed her father, “of poor Hycy bein' true to + his religion!” + </p> + <p> + It would seem that her heart was struggling to fling the image of M'Mahon + from it, but without effect. It was likely she tried to hate him for his + apostacy, but she could not. Still, her spirit was darkened with scorn and + indignation at the act of dishonor which she felt her lover had committed, + just as the atmosphere is by a tempest. In fact, she detested what she + considered the baseness and treachery of the vote; but could not of a + sudden change a love so strong, so trusting, and so pure as hers, into the + passions of enmity and hatred. No sooner, however, had her father named + Hycy Burke with such approval, than the storm within her directed itself + against him, and she said, “For God's sake, father, name not that + unprincipled wretch to me any more. I hate and detest him more than any + man living he has no good quality to redeem him. Ah! Hanna, Hanna, and is + it come to this? The dream of my happiness has vanished, and I awake to + nothing now but affliction and sorrow. As for happiness, I must think of + that no more, father, after breakfast, do you go up to that young man and + tell him the resolution I have come to, and that it is over for ever + between him and. me.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after this, she once more exacted a promise from them to observe a + strict silence on the unhappy event which had occurred, and by no means + ever to attempt offering her consolation. These promises they religiously + kept, and from this forth neither M'Mahon's name nor his offence were made + the topics of any conversation that occurred between them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX.—M'Mahon is Denounced from the Altar + </h2> + <h3> + —Receives his Sentence from Kathleen, and Resolves to Emigrate. + </h3> + <p> + Whatever difficulty Bryan M'Mahon had among his family in defending the + course he had taken at the election, he found that not a soul belonging to + his own party would listen to any defense from him. The indignation, + obloquy, and spirit of revenge with which he was pursued and harassed, + excited in his heart, as they would in that of any generous man conscious + of his own integrity, a principle of contempt and defiance, which, however + they required independence in him, only made matters far worse than they + otherwise would have been. He expressed neither regret nor repentance for + having voted as he did; but on the contrary asserted with a good deal of + warmth, that if the same course lay open to him he would again pursue it. + </p> + <p> + “I will never vote for a scoundrel,” said he, “and I don't think that + there is anything in my religion that makes it a duty on me to do so. If + my religion is to be supported by scoundrels, the sooner it is forced to + depend on itself the better. Major Vanston is a good landlord, and + supports the rights of his tenantry, Catholic as well as Protestant; he + saved me from ruin when my own landlord refused to interfere for me, an' + Major Vanston, if he's conscientiously opposed to my religion, is an + honest man at all events, and an honest man I'll ever support against a + rogue, and let their politics go where they generally do, go to the + devil.” + </p> + <p> + Party is a blind, selfish, infatuated monster, brutal and vehement, that + knows not what is meant by reason, justice, liberty, or truth. M'Mahon, + merely because he gave utterance with proper spirit to sentiments of plain + common sense, was assailed by every description of abuse, until he knew + not where to take refuge from that cowardly and ferocious tyranny which in + a hundred shapes proceeded from the public mob. On the Sunday after the + election, his parish priest, one of those political fire-brands, who + whether under a mitre or a white band, are equally disgraceful and + detrimental to religion and the peaceful interests of mankind—this + man, we say, openly denounced him from the altar, in language which must + have argued but little reverence for the sacred place from which it was + uttered, and which came with a very bad grace from one who affected to be + an advocate for liberty of conscience and a minister of peace. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” he proceeded, standing on the altar, “it is well known to our + disgrace and shame how the election was lost. Oh, well may I say to our + disgrace and shame. Little did I think that any one, bearing the once + respectable name of M'Mahon upon him, should turn from the interests of + his holy church, spurn all truth, violate all principle, and enter into a + league of hell with the devil and the enemies of his church. Yes, you + apostate,” he proceeded, “you have entered into a league with him, and + ever since there is devil within you. You sold yourself to his agent and + representative, Vanston, You got him to interfere for you with the Board + of Excise, and the fine that was justly imposed on you for your smugglin' + and distillin' whiskey—not that I'm runin' down our whiskey, because + it's the best drinkin of that kind we have, and drinks beautiful as + scalhleen, wid a bit of butther and sugar in it—but it's notorious + that you went to Vanston, and offered if he'd get the fine off you, that + you'd give him your vote; an' if that's not sellin' yourself to the devil, + I don't know what is. Judas did the same thing when he betrayed our Savior—the + only difference is—that he got a thirty shilling note—an' God + knows it was a beggarly bargain—when his hand was in he ought to + have done the thing dacent—and you got the fine taken off you; + that's the difference—that's the difference. But there's more to + come—more corruption where that was. Along wid the removal of the + fine you got a better note than Mr. Judas got. Do you happen to know + anything about a fifty pound note cut in two halves? Eh? Am I tickling + you? Do you happen to know anything about that, you traicherous apostate? + If you don't, I do; and plaise God before many hours the public will know + enough of it, too. How dare you, then, polute the house of God, or come in + presence of His Holy altar, wid such a crust of crimes upon your soul? Can + you deny that you entered into a league of hell wid the devil and Major + Vanston, and that you promised him your vote if he'd get the fine + removed?” + </p> + <p> + “I can,” replied Bryan; “there's not one word of truth in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear that, my friends?” exclaimed the priest; “he calls your + priest a liar upon the altar of the livin' God.” + </p> + <p> + Here M'Mahon was assailed by such a storm of groans and hisses as, to say + the least of it, was considerably at variance with the principles of + religion and the worship of God. + </p> + <p> + “Do you deny,” the priest proceeded, “that you received a bribe of fifty + pounds on the very day you voted? Answer me that.” + </p> + <p> + “I did receive a fifty-pound note in a—” + </p> + <p> + Further he could not proceed. It was in vain that he attempted to give a + true account of the letter and its enclosure; the enmity was not confined + to either groans or hisses. He was seized upon in the very chapel, dragged + about in all directions, kicked, punched, and beaten, until the + apprehension of having a murder committed in presence of God's altar + caused the priest to interfere. M'Mahon, however, was ejected from the + chapel; but in such a state that, for some minutes, it could scarcely be + ascertained whether he was alive or dead. After he had somewhat recovered, + his friends assisted him home, where he lay confined to a sick bed for + better than a week. + </p> + <p> + Such is a tolerably exact description of scenes which have too frequently + taken place in the country, to the disgrace of religion and the dishonor + of God. We are bound to say, however, that none among the priesthood + encourage or take a part in them, unless those low and bigoted firebrands + who are alike remarkable for vulgarity and ignorance, and who are + perpetually inflamed by that meddling spirit which tempts them from the + quiet path of duty into scenes of political strife and enmity, in which + they seem to be peculiarly at home. Such scenes are repulsive to the + educated priest, and to all who, from superior minds and information, are + perfectly aware that no earthly or other good, but, on the contrary, much + bitterness, strife, and evil, ever result from them. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh was by no means so deeply affected by M'Mahon's vote as + were his two daughters. He looked upon the circumstance as one calculated + to promote the views which he entertained for Kathleen's happiness. Ever + since the notion of her marriage with Hycy Burke or his brother—it + mattered little to him which—he felt exceedingly dissatisfied with + her attachment to M'Mahon. Of this weakness, which we may say, was the + only one of the family, we have already spoken. He lost little time, + however, in going to communicate his daughter's determination to that + young man. It so happened, however, that, notwithstanding three several + journeys made for the purpose, he could not see him; the fact being that + Bryan always happened to be from home when he went. Then came the + denouncing scene which we have just described, when his illness put it out + of his power, without danger to himself, to undergo anything calculated to + discompose or disturb him. The popular feeling, however, was fearfully + high and indignant against him. The report went that he had called Father + M'Pepper, the senior curate, a liar upon the very altar; and the + commencement of his explanation with respect to the fifty-pound note, was, + not unnaturally—since they would not permit him to speak—construed + into an open admission of his having been bribed. + </p> + <p> + This was severe and trying enough, but it was not all. Chevydale, whom he + unseated by his vote, after having incurred several thousand pounds of + expense, was resolved to make him suffer for the loss of his seat, as well + as for having dared to vote against him—a purpose in which he was + strongly supported, or into which, we should rather say, he was urged by + Fethertonge, who, in point of fact, now that the leases had dropped, was + negotiating a beneficial bargain with the gauger, apart from Chevydale's + knowledge, who was a feeble, weak-minded man, without experience or a + proper knowledge of his duties. In fact, he was one of,those persons who, + having no fixed character of their own, are either good or evil, according + to the principles of those by whom they happen for the time to be managed. + If Chevydale had been under the guidance of a sensible and humane agent, + he would have been a good landlord; but the fact being otherwise, he was, + in Fethertonge's hands, anything but what a landlord ought to be. Be this + as it may, the period of M'Mahon's illness passed away, and, on rising + from his sick bed, he found the charge of bribery one of universal belief, + against which scarcely any person had the courage to raise a voice. Even + Hycy suffered himself, as it were, with great regret and reluctance, to + become at length persuaded of its truth. Kathleen, on hearing that he + himself had been forced to admit it in the chapel, felt that the gloom + which had of late wrapped her in its shadow now became so black and + impervious that she could see nothing distinctly. The two facts—that + is to say, the vote and the bribery—seemed to her like some + frightful hallucination which lay upon her spirits—some formidable + illusion that haunted her night and day, and filled her whole being with + desolation and sorrow. + </p> + <p> + With respect to his own feelings, there was but one thought which gave him + concern, and this was an apprehension that Kathleen might be carried away + by the general prejudice which existed against him. + </p> + <p> + “I know Kathleen, however,” he would say; “I know her truth, her good + sense, and her affection; and, whatever the world may say, she won't + follow its example and condemn me without a hearing. I will see her + tomorrow and explain all to her. Father,” he added, “will you ask Dora if + she will walk with me to the Long-shot Meadow? I think a stroll round it + will do me good. I haven't altogether recovered my strength yet.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I will go with you, Bryan,” said the bright-eyed and + affectionate sister; “to be sure I will; it's on my way to Gerald + Cavanagh's; and I'm going down to see how they are, and to know if + something I heard about them is thrue. I want to satisfy myself; but they + musn't get on their high horse with me, I can tell them.” + </p> + <p> + “You never doubted me, Dora,” said Bryan, as they went along—“you + never supposed for a moment that I could”—he paused. “I know,” he + added, “that it doesn't look well; but you never supposed that I acted + from treachery, or deceit, or want of affection or respect for my + religion? You don't suppose that what all the country is ringin' with—that + I took a bribe or made a bargain with Vanston—is true?” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you ask me such questions?” she replied. “You acted on the spur of + the minute; and I say, afther what you heard from the landlord and agent, + if you had voted for him you'd be a mane, pitiful hound, unworthy of your + name and family. You did well to put him out. If I had been in your place, + 'out you go,' I'd say, 'you're not the man for my money.' Don't let what + the world says fret you, Bryan; sure, while you have Kathleen and me at + your back, you needn't care about them. At any rate, it's well for Father + M'Pepper that I'm not a man, or, priest as he is, I'd make a stout + horsewhip tiche him to mind his religion, and not intermeddle in politics + where he has no business.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're a great little soldier, Dora,” replied Bryan, smiling on her + with affectionate admiration. + </p> + <p> + “I hate anything tyrannical or overbearing,” she replied, “as I do + anything that's mane and ungenerous.” + </p> + <p> + “As to Father M'Pepper, we're not to take him as an example of what his + brother priests in general are or ought to be. The man may think he is + doing only his duty; but, at all events, Dora, he has proved to me, very + much at my own cost, I grant, that he has more zeal than discretion! May + God forgive him; and that's the worst I wish him. When did you see or hear + from Kathleen? I long to give her an explanation of my conduct, because I + know she will listen to raison.” + </p> + <p> + “That's more than I know yet, then,” replied Dora. “She has awful high + notions of our religion, an' thinks we ought to go about huntin' after + martyrdom. Yes, faix, she thinks we ought to lay down our lives for our + religion or our counthry, if we were to be called on to do so. Isn't that + nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them.” + </p> + <p> + “It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought—that is, if our + deaths would serve either the one or the other.” + </p> + <p> + “And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I + would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but I + know one who would.” + </p> + <p> + “I know too—Kathleen.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her life + for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a sacrifice + could be necessary.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought + to tell it to you or not.” + </p> + <p> + “I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor can + you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy + myself—that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and + that everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to + know whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I + ever did.” + </p> + <p> + “And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks I'm + as bad as I'm reported to be.” + </p> + <p> + “And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask you + the raison of it like a—ha! ha!—I was goin' to say like a man? + Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to + explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back, and, + when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong.” + </p> + <p> + “She'd do nothing at the expense of truth,” replied her brother. + </p> + <p> + “Truth!” exclaimed the lively and generous girl, now catching the warmth + from her own enthusiasm, “truth! who'd regard truth—” + </p> + <p> + “Dora!” exclaimed Bryan, with a seriocomic smile. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! ha! ha!—truth! what was I sayin'? No, I didn't mean to say + anything against truth; oh, no, God forgive me!” she added, immediately + softening, whilst her bright and beautiful eyes filled with tears, “oh, + no, nor against my darlin' Kathleen either; for, Bryan, I'm tould that she + has never smiled since; and that the color that left her cheeks when she + heard of your vote has never come back to it; and that, in short, her + heart is broken. However, I'll soon see her, and maybe I won't plade your + cause; no lawyer could match me. Whisht!” she exclaimed, “isn't that + Gerald himself comin' over to us?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” replied Bryan, “let us meet him;” and, as he spoke, they turned + their steps towards him. As they met, Bryan, forgetting everything that + had occurred, and influenced solely by the habit of former friendship and + good feeling, extended his hand with an intention of clasping that of his + old acquaintance, but the latter withdrew, and refused to meet this usual + exponent of good will. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Gerald,” said M'Mahon, smiling, “I see you go with the world too; + but, since you won't shake hands with me, allow me to ask your business.” + </p> + <p> + “To deliver a message to you from my daughter, and she'd not allow me to + deliver it to any one but yourself. I came three times to see you before + your sickness, but I didn't find jou at home.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the message, Gerald?” + </p> + <p> + “The message, Bryan, is—that you are never to spake to her, nor will + she ever more name your name. She will never be your wife; for she says + that the heart that forgets its duty to God, and the hand that has been + soiled by a bribe, can never be anything to her but the cause of shame and + sorrow; and she bids me say that her happiness is gone and her heart + broken. Now, farewell, and think of the girl you have lost by disgracin' + your religion and your name.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan paused for a moment, as if irresolute how to act, and exchanged + glances with his high-minded little sister. + </p> + <p> + “Tell Kathleen, from me,” said the latter, “that if she had a little more + feeling, and a little less pride or religion, I don't know which, she'd be + more of a woman and less of a saint. My brother, tell her, has disgraced + neither his religion nor his name, and that he has too much of the pride + of an injured man to give back any answer to sich a message. That's my + answer, and not his, and you may ask her if it's either religion or common + justice that makes her condemn him she loved without a hearing? Goodbye, + now, Gerald; give my love to Hanna, and tell her she's worth a ship-load + of her stately sister.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that he + was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he was + about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing eyes, and + panting bosom of his heroic little sister. + </p> + <p> + “You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a + message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own + defence.” + </p> + <p> + The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon + him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice to + quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after the + heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and + reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On + hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which the + man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he looked + around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he said, + “Dora, is not this a fine country?” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” she replied, looking at him with surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Would you like,” he added, “to lave it?” + </p> + <p> + “To lave it, Bryan!” she replied. “Oh, no, not to lave it;” and as she + spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face. + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora,” he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression of + love and compassion, “I know your saicret, and have done so this long + time; but don't be cast down. You have been a warm and faithful little + friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet.” + </p> + <p> + Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with tears. + “I won't deny what you know, Bryan,” she replied; “and unless he——” + </p> + <p> + “Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come + what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not stay. + Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an expense + of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken out of my + hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket of the + landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house and home + without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and other + improvements that I made on that farm.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a hard and cruel case,” said Dora; “an there can be no doubt but + that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't + you challenge them, an' fight them?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!” replied her brother, smiling; “but + you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely + out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every + tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it. No, + no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country. We will go to + America; but, in the mean time, I'll see what I can do for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Bryan, dear,” she said in a voice of entreaty, “don't think of it. Oh, + stay in your own country. Sure what other country could you like as well?” + </p> + <p> + “I grant you that, Dora; but the truth is, there seems to be a curse over + it; whatever's the raison of it, nothing goes right in it. The landlords + in general care little about the state and condition of their tenantry. + All they trouble themselves about is their rents. Look at my own case, an' + that's but one out of thousands that's happenin' every day in the country. + Grantin' that he didn't sarve me with this notice to quit, an' supposin' + he let me stay in the farm, he'd rise it on me in sich a way as that I + could hardly live in it; an' you know, Dora, that to be merely strugglin' + an' toilin' all one's life is anything but a comfortable prospect. Then, + in consequence of the people depondin upon nothing but the potato for + food, whenever that fails, which, in general, it does every seventh or + eighth year, there's a famine, an' then the famine is followed by fever + an' all kinds of contagious diseases, in sich a way that the kingdom is + turned into one great hospital and grave-yard. It's these things that's + sendin' so many thousands out of the country; and if we're to go at all, + let us go like the rest, while we're able to go, an' not wait till we + become too poor either to go or stay with comfort.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I suppose,” replied his sister, “that what you say is true enough; + but for all that I'd rather bear anything in my own dear country than go + to a strange one. Do you think I'd not miss the summer sun rising behind + the Althadawan hills? an' how could I live without seein' him set behind + Mallybeney? An' then to live in a country where I'd not see these ould + hills, the green glens, and mountain rivers about us, that have all grown + into my heart. Oh, Bryan, dear, don't think of it—don't think of + it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate603.jpg" + alt="Page 603-- Country Where I'd Not See These Ould Hills " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + “Dora,” replied the other, his fine countenance overshadowed with, deep + emotion as he spoke, “you cannot love these ould hills, as you cull them, + nor these beautiful glens, nor the mountain rivers better than I do. It + will go to my heart to leave them; but leave them I will—ay, and + when I go, you know that I will leave behind me one that's dearer ten + thousand times than them all. Kathleen's message has left me a heavy and + sorrowful heart.” + </p> + <p> + “I pity her now,” replied the kind-hearted girl; “but, still, Bryan, she + sent you a harsh message. Ay, I pity her, for did you observe how the + father looked when he said that she bid him tell you her happiness was + gone, and her heart broken; still, she ought to have seen yourself and + heard your defence.” + </p> + <p> + “I can neither blame her, nor will; neither can I properly justify my + vote, I grant; it was surely very wrong or she wouldn't feel it as she + does. Indeed. I think I oughtn't to have voted at all.” + </p> + <p> + “I differ with you there, Bryan,” replied Dora, with animation, “I would + rather, ten times over, vote wrongly, than not vote from cowardice. It's a + mane, skulkin', shabby thing, to be afeard to vote when one has a vote—it's + unmanly.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it is; and it was that very thought that made me vote. I felt that + it would look both mane and cowardly not to vote, and accordingly I did + vote.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, and you did right,” replied his spirited sister, “and I don't care + who opposes you, I'll support you for it, through thick and thin.” + </p> + <p> + “And I suppose you may say through right and wrong, too?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, would I,” she replied; “eh?—what am I sayin?—throth, I'm + a little madcap, I think. No, I won't support you through right and wrong—it's + only when you're right you may depend on me.” + </p> + <p> + They had now been more than an hour strolling about the fields, when + Bryan, who did not feel himself quite so strong as he imagined he was, + proposed to return to his father's, where, by the way, he had been + conveyed from the chapel on the Sunday when he had been so severely + maltreated. + </p> + <p> + They accordingly did so, for he felt himself weak, and unable to prolong + his walk to any greater distance. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI.—Thomas M'Mahon is forced to determine on Emigration. + </h2> + <p> + Gerald Cavanaugh felt himself secretly relieved by the discharge of his + message to M'Mahon. + </p> + <p> + “It is good,” thought he, “to have that affair settled, an' all + expectation of her marriage with him knocked up. I'll be bound a little + time will cool the foolish girl, and put Edward Burke in the way of + succeeding. As for Hycy, I see clearly that whoever is to succeed, he's + not the man—an' the more the pity, for the sorra one of them all so + much the gentleman, nor will live in sich style.” + </p> + <p> + The gloom which lay upon the heart of Kathleen Cavanagh was neither moody + nor captious, but on the contrary remarkable for a spirit of extreme + gentleness and placidity. From the moment she had come to the resolution + of discarding M'Mahon, she was observed to become more silent than she had + ever been, but at the same time her deportment was characterized by a + tenderness towards the other members of the family that was sorrowful and + affecting to the last degree. Her sister Hanna's sympathy was deep and + full of sorrow. None of them, however, knew her force of character, nor + the inroads which, under guise of this placid calm, strong grief was + secretly making on her health and spirits. The paleness, for instance, + which settled on her cheeks, when the news of her lover's apostacy, as it + was called, and as she considered it, reached her, never for one moment + left it afterwards, and she resembled some exquisitely chiselled statue + moving by machinery, more than anything else to which we can compare her. + </p> + <p> + She was sitting with Hanna when her father returned, after having + delivered her message to M'Mahon. The old man seemed, if one could judge + by his features, to feel rather satisfied, as in fact was the case, and + after having put up his good hat, and laid aside his best coat, he said, + “I have delivered your message, Kathleen, an' dear knows I'm glad there's + an end to that business—it never had my warm heart.” + </p> + <p> + “It always had mine, then,” replied Hanna, “an' I think we ought not to + judge our fellow creatures too severely, knowin' as we do that there's no + such thing as perfection in this world. What the sorra could have come + over him, or tempted him to vote as he did? What did he say, father, when + you brought him the message?” + </p> + <p> + “Afther I declared it,” replied her father, “he was struck dumb, and never + once opened his lips; but if he didn't spake, his sister Dora did.” + </p> + <p> + “An' what did she say—generous and spirited little Dora!—what + did she say, father?” + </p> + <p> + He then repeated the message as accurately as he could—for the + honest old man was imbued with too conscientious a love for truth to + disguise or conceal a single syllable that had been intrusted to him on + either side—“Throth,” said he, “the same Dora has the use of her + tongue when she pleases; 'ax her,' said she, spakin' of Kathleen, here, + 'if it's either religion or common justice that makes her condemn my + brother without hearin' his defence. Good-bye, now,' says she; 'give my + love to Hanna, and tell her 'she's worth a ship-load of her stately + sister.'” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora!” exclaimed Hanna, whilst the tears came to her eyes, “who can + blame her for defending so good and affectionate a brother? Plague on it + for an election! I wish there was no sich thing in the country.” + </p> + <p> + “As for me,” said Kathleen, “I wouldn't condemn him without a hearing, if + I had any doubt about his conduct, but I have not. He voted for Vanston—that + can't be denied; and proved himself to have less honesty and scruple than + even that profligate Hycy Burke; and if he made a bargain with Vanston, as + is clear he did, an' voted for him because the other got his fine reduced, + why that is worse, because then he did it knowingly an' with his eyes + open, an' contrary to his conscience—ay, an' to his solemn promise + to myself; for I'll tell you now what I never mentioned before, that I put + him on his guard against doing so; and he knew that if he did, all would + and must be over between him and me.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that true, Kathleen?” said Hanna with surprise; “but why need I ask + you such a question—it's enough that you say it—in that case + then I give him up at last; but who, oh, who could a' believed it?” + </p> + <p> + “But that is not all,” continued Kathleen, in the same mournful and + resigned tone of voice—“there's the bribe—didn't hundreds hear + him acknowledge publicly in the chapel that he got it? What more is + wanting? How could I ever respect a man that has proved himself to be + without either honesty or principle? and why should it happen, that the + man who has so openly and so knowingly disgraced his religion and his name + fall to my lot? Oh, no—it matters little how I love him, and I grant + that in spite of all that has happened I have a lingering affection for + him even yet; still I don't think that affection will live long—I + can now neither respect or esteem him, an' when that is the case I can't + surely continue long to love him. I know,” she proceeded, “that it's not + possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful + conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you + all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may + and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if I + had never known him.” + </p> + <p> + “Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for himself?” + asked Hanna. + </p> + <p> + “No,” the other replied; “he heard my message, and was silent. You may + rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would have + said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's + defenceless.” + </p> + <p> + In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel + surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the + declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of + Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her + relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added to + which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both + families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs—all we + say perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke, + and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not + despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last said—“If + Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to give him, + or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed of; he may as + well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot love, I can at + least respect him.” + </p> + <p> + These circumstances, together with the period allowed to M'Mahon for + setting himself, if possible, right with Kathleen, in due time reached his + ears. It soon appeared, however, that Kathleen had not all the pride—if + pride it could be called—to herself. M'Mahon, on being made + acquainted with what had occurred, which he had heard from his sister + Dora, simply said—“Since she has not afforded myself any opportunity + of tellin' her the truth, I won't attempt to undeceive her. I will be as + proud as she is. That is all I say.” + </p> + <p> + “And you are right, Tom,” replied Dora, “the name of M'Mahon mustn't be + consarned with anything that's mane or discreditable. The pride of our old + blood must be kept up, Tom; but still when we think of what she's + sufferin' we musn't open our lips against her.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” he replied; “I know that it's neither harshness nor weakness, + nor useless pride that makes her act as she's doin', but a great mind and + a heart that's full of truth, high thoughts, and such a love for her + religion and its prosperity as I never saw in any one. Still, Dora, I'm + not the person that will ever sneak back to entreat and plead at her feet + like a slave, and by that means make myself look still worse in her eyes; + I know very well that if I did so she'd despise me. God bless her, at all + events, and make her happy! that's the worst I wish her.” + </p> + <p> + “Amen,” replied Dora; “you have said nothing but the truth about her, and + indeed. I see, Tom, that you know her well.” + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the generous dialogue of Dora and her affectionate brother, who + after all might have been induced by her to remain in his native country + and share whatever fate it might allot him, were it not that in a few days + afterwards, his father found that the only terms on which he could obtain + his farm were such as could scarcely be said to come within the meaning + and spirit of the landlord's adage, “live and let live.” It is true that + for the terms on which his farm was offered him he was indebted to + Chevydale himself, who said that as he knew his father had entertained a + high respect for old M'Mahon, he would not suffer him to be put out. The + father besides voted for him, and always had voted for the family. “Do + what you please with the son,” he proceeded—“get rid of him as you + like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him have the farm + upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't you think now + it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to vote for Vanston, + although he knew that I had it in my power to send him about his + business?” + </p> + <p> + “It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I + witnessed,” returned the other. “The wily rascal calculated upon your + forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might do + what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us, + in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of + Excise.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves in + the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have such + a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad example, and + calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous principles + among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for us, rather + well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious—and I have it + from the best authority—one of the parties who was cognizant of his + conduct—that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate + compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty + pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself, + being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was + mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already + infamous in the country.” + </p> + <p> + “What, for receiving a bribe!” exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent + with a significant smile; “and what, pray, is the distinction between him + who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little, my good + Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we do. A man + would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that you never had + bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is the consciousness + of bribery on our own part that prevents us from attempting to unseat + Vanston.” + </p> + <p> + “That's all very true, I grant you,” replied the other; “but in the mean + time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards M'Mahon, + is—not so much whether he is corrupt or not, as whether he has + unseated you; that is the fatal fact against him; and if we allow that to + pass without making him suffer for it, you will find that on the next + election he may have many an imitator, and your chances will not be worth + much—that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Fethertonge,” replied the indolent and feeble-minded man, “I + leave him to you; manage him or punish him as you like; but I do beg that + you will let me hear no more about him. Keep his father, however, on the + property; I insist on that; he is an honest man, for he voted for me; keep + him on his farm at reasonable terms too, such,—of course, as he can + live on.” + </p> + <p> + The reasonable terms proposed by Fethertonge were, however, such as old + Tom M'Mahon could not with any prospect of independence encounter. Even + this, however, was not to him the most depressing consideration. Faith had + been wantonly and deliberately broken with him—the solemn words of a + dying man had been disregarded—and, as Fethertonge had made him + believe, by that son who had always professed to regard and honor his + father's memory. + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, M'Mahon,” replied the agent, in the last interview he ever + had with him, “I assure you I have done all in my power to bring matters + about; but without avail. It is a painful thing to have to do with an + obstinate man, M'Mahon; with a man who, although he seems quiet and easy, + will and must have everything his own way.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir,” replied M'Mahon, “you know what his dying father's words wor + to me.” + </p> + <p> + “And more than I know them, I can assure you,” he whispered, in a very + significant voice, and with a nod of the head that seemed to say, “your + landlord knows them as well as I do. I have done my duty, and communicated + them to him, as I ought.” + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon shook his head in a melancholy manner, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, at any rate I know the worst. I couldn't now have any + confidence or trust in such a man; I could depend upon neither his word or + his promise; I couldn't look upon him as a friend, for he didn't prove + himself one to my son when he stood in need of one. It's clear that he + doesn't care about the welfare and prosperity of his tenantry; and for + that raison—or rather for all these raisons put together—I'll + join my son, and go to a country where, by all accounts, there's better + prospects for them that's honest and industrious than there is in this + unfortunate one of ours,—where the interest of the people is so much + neglected—neglected! no, but never thought of at all! Good-bye, + sir,” he added, taking up his hat, whilst the features of this sterling + and honest man were overcast with a solemn and pathetic spirit, “don't + consider me any longer your tenant. For many a long year has our names + been—but no matther—the time is come at last, and the + M'Mahon's of Carriglass and Ahadarra will be known there no more. It + wasn't our fault; we wor willin' to live—oh! not merely willin' to + live, but anxious to die there; but it can't be. Goodbye, sir.” And so + they parted. + </p> + <p> + M'Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time + at Carriglass, before him. On entering the house his family, who were all + assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been + deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Bryan,” said he, “you are right—as indeed you always are. + Childre',” he proceeded, “we must lave the place that we loved so much; + where we have lived for hundreds of years. This counthry isn't one now to + prosper in, as I said not long since—this very day. We must lave the + ould places, an' as I tould Fethertonge, the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and + Carriglass will be the M'Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but + God's will be done! I must look to the intherest of you all, childre'; + but, God help us, that's what I can't do here for the future. Every one of + sense and substance is doin' so, an' why shouldn't we take care of + ourselves as well as the rest? What we want here is encouragement and fair + play; but <i>fareer gair</i>, it isn't to be had.” + </p> + <p> + The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this + was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family + who were immediately moved,—all by sorrow, and some even to tears. + Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his + intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might + change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought + about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears in + her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming: “Oh, father dear, + don't think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it? What other + country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather—here he's + creepin' in, sure he's not the same man within the last few months,—oh, + how could you think of bringin' him, now that he's partly in his grave, + an' he,” she added, in a whisper full of compassion, “an' he partly dotin' + with feebleness and age.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said her father, “we must say nothing of it to him. That must be + kept a secret from him, an' it's likely he won't notice the change.” + </p> + <p> + Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father's arm, said: + “Father, for the love of God, don't take us from Carriglass and Ahadarra:—whatever + the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let us bear it here.” + </p> + <p> + “Father, you won't bring us nor you won't go,” added Dora; “sure we never + could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Dora!” said Bryan, “what a mistake that is! I feel the contrary; for + the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds to + what I'm sufferin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Childre',” said the father, “our landlord has broken his own father's + dyin' promise—you all remember how full of delight I came home to + you from Dublin, and how she that's gone”—he paused;—he + covered his face with his open hands, through which the tears were seen to + trickle. This allusion to their beloved mother was too much for them. + Arthur and Michael sat in silence, not knowing exactly upon what grounds + their father had formed a resolution, which, when proposed to him by + Bryan, appeared to be one to which his heart could never lend its + sanction. No sooner was their mother named, however, than they too became + deeply moved, and when Kitty and Dora both rushed with an outcry of sorrow + to their father, exclaiming, “Oh, father dear, think of her that's in the + clay—for her sake, change your mind and don't take us to where we + can never weep a tear over her blessed grave, nor ever kneel over it to + offer a prayer within her hearin' for her soul!” + </p> + <p> + “Childre,” he exclaimed, wiping away his tears that had indeed flowed in + all the bitterness of grief and undeserved affliction; “childre',” he + replied, “you must be manly now; it's because I love you an' feels anxious + to keep you from beggary and sorrow at a future time, and destitution and + distress, such as we see among so many about us every day in the week, + that I've made up my mind to go. Our landlord wont give us our farm + barrin' at a rent that 'tid bring us down day by day, to poverty and + distress like too many of our neighbors. We have yet some thrifle o' money + left, as much as will, by all accounts, enable us to take—I mane to + purchase a farm in America—an' isn't it betther for us to go there, + and be independent, no matther what it may cost our hearts to suffer by + doin' so, than to stay here until the few hundre' that I've got together + is melted away out of my pocket into the picket of a landlord that never + wanst throubles himself to know how we're gettin' on, or whether we're + doin' well or ill. Then think of his conduct to Bryan, there; how he + neglected him, and would let him go to ruin widout ever movin' a finger to + save him from it. No, childre', undher sich a man I won't stay. Prepare + yourselves, then, to lave this. In biddin' you to do so, I'm actin' for + the best towards you all. I'm doin' my duty by you, and I expect for that + raison, an' as obedient childre'—which I've ever found you—that + you'll do your duty by me, an' give no further opposition to what I'm + proposin' for your sakes. I know you're all loath—an' you will be + loath—to lave this place; but do you think?—do you?—'that + I—I—oh, my God!—do you think, I say, that I'll feel + nothing when we go? Oh! little you know of me if you think so! but, as I + said, we must do our duty. We see our neighbors fallin' away into poverty, + and distress, and destitution day by day, and if we remain in this + unfortunate country, we must only folly in their tracks, an' before long + be as miserable and helpless as they are.” + </p> + <p> + His family were forced to admit the melancholy truth and strong sense of + all he had uttered, and, although the resolution to which he had come was + one of bitterness and sorrow to them all, yet from a principle of + affection and duty towards him, they felt that any opposition on their + part would have been unjustifiable and wrong. + </p> + <p> + “But, sure,” the old man proceeded, “there's more than I've mentioned yet, + to send us away. Look at poor Bryan, there, how he was nearly ruined by + the villany of some cowardly scoundrel, or scoundrels, who set up a still + upon his farm; that's a black business, like many other black business + that's a disgrace to the country—an inoffensive young man, that + never made or did anything to make an enemy for himself, durin' his whole + life! An' another thing, bekaise he voted for the man that saved him from + destruction, as he ought to do, an' as I'm proud he did do, listen now to + the blackguard outcry that's against him; ay, and by a crew of vagabonds + that 'ud sell Christ himself, let alone their country, or their religion, + if they were bribed by Protestant goold for it! Throth I'm sick of the + counthry and the people; for instead of gettin' betther, it's worse + they're gettin' every day. Make up your minds then, childre'; there's a + curse on the counthry. Many o' the landlords are bad enough, too bad, and + too neglectful, God knows; but sure the people themselves is as bad, an' + as senseless on the other hand; aren't they blinded so much by their bad + feelin's, and short-sighted passions, that it is often the best landlords + they let out their revenge upon. Prepare then, childre'; for out of the + counthry, or at any rate from among the people, the poverty and the misery + that's in it, wid God's assistance, we'll go while we're able to do so.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII.—Mystery Among the Hogans + </h2> + <h3> + —Finigan Defends the Absent. + </h3> + <p> + The three Hogans, whom we have lost sight of for some time, were, as our + readers already know, three most unadulterated ruffians, in every sense of + that most respectable term. Yet, singular as it may appear, + notwithstanding their savage brutality, they were each and all possessed + of a genius for mechanical inventions and manual dexterity that was + perfectly astonishing when the low character of their moral, and + intellectual standard is considered. Kate Hogan, who, from her position, + could not possibly be kept out of their secrets, at least for any length + of time, was forced to notice of late that there was a much closer and + more cautious intimacy between Hycy Burke and them than she had ever + observed before. She remarked, besides, that not only was Teddy Phats + excluded from their councils, but she herself was sent out of the way, + whenever Hycy paid them a visit, which uniformly occurred at a late hour, + in the night. + </p> + <p> + Another circumstance also occurred about this time which puzzled her not a + little: we mean the unusual absence of Philip for about a fortnight from + home. Now, there certainly nothing more offensive, especially to a female, + than the fact of excluding her from the knowledge of any secret, a + participation in which she may consider as a right. In her case she felt + that it argued want of confidence, and as she had never yet betrayed any + trust or secret reposed in her, she considered their conduct towards her, + not merely as an insult, but such as entitled them to nothing at her hands + but resentment, and a determination to thwart their plans, whatever they + might be, as soon as she should succeed in making herself acquainted with + them. What excited her resentment the more bitterly was the arrival of a + strange man and woman in company with Philip, as she was able to collect, + from the metropolis, to the former of whom they all seemed to look with + much deference as to a superior spirit of the secret among them this man + and his wife were clearly in possession, as was evident from their + whisperings and other conversations, which they held apart, and uniformly + out of her hearing. It is true the strangers did not reside with the + Hogans, but in a small cabin adjacent to that in which Finigan taught his + school. Much of the same way of thinking was honest Teddy Phats, whom they + had now also abandoned, or rather completely cast off, and, what was still + worse, deprived of the whole apparatus for distillation, which, although + purchased by Hycy Burke's money, they very modestly appropriated to + themselves. Teddy, however, as well as Kate, knew that they were never + cautious without good reason, and as it had pleased them to cut him, as + the phrase goes, so did he, as Kate had done, resolve within himself to + penetrate their secret, if human ingenuity could effect it. + </p> + <p> + In this position they were when honest Philip returned, as we have said, + after a fortnight's absence, from some place or places unknown. The + mystery, however, did not end here. Kate observed that, as before, much of + their conversation was held aloof from her, or in such enigmatical phrases + and whisperings, as rendered the substance of it perfectly inscrutable to + her. She observed, besides, that two of them were frequently absent from + the kiln where they lived; but that one always remained at home to make + certain that she should not follow or dog them to the haunt they + frequented. This precaution on their part was uniform. As it was, however, + Kate did not seem to notice it. On the contrary, no one could exhibit a + more finished appearance of stupid indifference than she assumed upon + these occasions, even although she knew by the removal of the tools, or a + portion of them, that her friends were engaged in some business belonging + to their craft. In this manner matters proceeded for some weeks subsequent + to the period of Philip's return. + </p> + <p> + Kate also observed, with displeasure, that among all those who joined in + the outcry against Bryan M'Mahon, none made his conduct, such as it was + conceived to have been, a subject of more brutal and bitter triumph than + the Hogans. The only circumstance connected with him which grieved them to + the heart, was the fact that the distillation plot had not ruined him as + they expected it would have done. His disgrace, however, and unjust + ejectment from Ahadarra filled them with that low, ruffianly sense of + exultation, than which, coming from such scoundrels, there is scarcely + anything more detestable in human nature. + </p> + <p> + One evening about this time they were sitting about the fire, the three + brothers, Kate, and the young unlicked savages of the family, when Philip, + after helping himself to a glass of quints, said,— + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, there'll be no match between Miss Kathleen and that + vagabond, Bryan M'Mahon. I think we helped to put a nail in his coffin + there, by gob.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Kate, “an' you may boast of it, you unmanly vagabone; an' yet + you purtind to have a regard for the poor girl, an' a purty way you tuck + to show it—to have her as she is, goin' about wid a pale face an' a + broken heart. Don't you see it's her more than him you're punishin', you + savage of hell?” + </p> + <p> + “You had betther keep your tongue off o' me,” he replied; “I won't get + into grips wid you any more, you barge o' blazes; but, if you provoke me + wid bad language, I'll give you a clink wid one o' these sotherin'-irons + that'll put a clasp on your tongue.” + </p> + <p> + “Never attempt that,” she replied fiercely, “for, as sure as you do, I'll + have this knife,” showing him a large, sharp-pointed one, which, in + accordance with the customs of her class, hung by a black belt of strong + leather from her side—“I'll have this customer here greased in your + puddins, my buck, and, when the win's out o' you, see what you'll be worth—fit + for Captain James's hounds; although I dunno but the very dogs themselves + is too clane to ait you.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said Bat, “we'll have no more o' this; do you, Philip, keep quiet + wid your sotherin'-iron, and, as for you, Kate, don't dhraw me upon you; + <i>na ha nan shin</i>—it isn't Philip you have. I say I'm right well + plaised that we helped to knock up the match.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure,” replied Kate, “that it is knocked up; don't now, mind + my words; an' take care that, instead of knockin' it up, you haven't + knocked yourselves down. Chew your cud upon that now.” + </p> + <p> + “What does she mane?” asked Ned, looking on her with a baleful glance, in + which might be read equal ferocity and alarm. “Why, traichery, of coorse,” + replied Philip, in his deep, glowing voice. “Kate,” said her husband, + starting into something' like an incipient fit of fury, but suddenly + checking himself—“Kate, my honey, what do you mane by them words?” + </p> + <p> + “What do I mane by them words?” she exclaimed, with an eye which turned on + him with cool defiance; “pick that out o' your larnin', Bat, my pet. You + can all keep your saicrets; an' I'll let you know that I can keep mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Be the Holy St. Lucifer,” said her husband, “if I wanst thought that + traichery 'ud enter your head, I'd take good care that it's in hell you'd + waken some fine mornin' afore long. So mind yourself, Kate, my honey.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you in nobody else's power but mine?” she replied, “ax yourselves + that—an' now do you mind yourself, Bat, my pet, and all o' yez.” + </p> + <p> + “What is the raison,” asked her husband, “that I see you an' Nanny Peety + colloguin' an' huggermuggerin' so often together of late?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she replied, with a toss of disdain, “what a manly fellow you are to + want to get into women's saicrets! you may save your breath though.” + </p> + <p> + “Whatever you collogue about, all I say is, that I don't like a bone in + the same Nanny Peety's body. She has an eye in her head that looks as if + it knew one's thoughts.” + </p> + <p> + “An' maybe it does. One thing I know, and every one knows it, that it's a + very purty eye.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell her, then, to keep out o' this; we want no spies here.” + </p> + <p> + “Divil a word of it; she's my niece, an' the king's highway is as free to + her as it is to you or anybody else. She'll be welcome to me any time she + comes, an' let me see who'll dare to mislist her. She feels as she ought + to do, an' as every woman ought to do, ay, an' every man, too, that is a + man, or anything but a brute an' a coward—she feels for that + unfortunate, heart-broken girl 'ithout;' an' it'll be a strange thing if + them that brought her to what she's sufferin' won't suffer themselves yet; + there's a God above still, I hope, glory be to His name! Traichery!” she + exclaimed; “ah, you ill-minded villains, it's yourselves you're thinkin' + of, an' what you desarve. As for myself, it's neither you nor your + villainy that's in my head, but the sorrowful heart that's in that poor + girl 'ithout—ay, an' a broken one; for, indeed, broked it is; and + it's not long she'll be troub'lin' either friend or foe in this world. The + curse o' glory upon you all, you villains, and upon every one that had a + hand in bringing her to this!” + </p> + <p> + Having uttered these words, she put her cloak and bonnet upon her, and + left the house, adding as she went out, “if it's any pleasure to you to + know it, I'll tell you. I'm goin' to meet Nancy Peety this minute, an' you + never seen sich colloguin' an' hugger-muggerin' as we'll have, plaise + goodness—ah, you ill-thinkin', skulkin' villains!” + </p> + <p> + Kate Hogan, though a tigress when provoked, and a hardened, reckless + creature, scarcely remarkable for any particular virtue that could be + enumerated, and formidable from that savage strength and intrepidity for + which she was so well known, was yet not merely touched by the sufferings + of Kathleen Cavanagh, but absolutely took an interest in them, at once so + deep and full of sympathy, as to affect her temper and disturb her peace + of mind. Notwithstanding her character she was still a woman; and, in + matters involving the happiness of an innocent and beautiful creature of + her own sex, who had been so often personally kind to herself, and whose + family were protectors and benefactors to her and her kindred, she felt as + a woman. Though coarse-minded upon most many matters, she was yet capable + of making the humane distinction which her brutal relatives could not + understand or feel;—we mean the fact that, in having lent themselves + to the base conspiracy planned and concocted by Hycy Burke, and in having + been undoubtedly the cause of M'Mahon's disgrace, as well as of his + projected marriage with Kathleen having been broken up, they did not + perceive that she was equally a sufferer; or, if they did, they were + either too cunning or too hardened to acknowledge it. For this particular + circumstance, Kate, inasmuch as it involved deep ingratitude on their + part, could not at all forgive them. + </p> + <p> + At this time, indeed, the melancholy position of Kathleen Cavanagh was one + which excited profound and general sorrow; and just in proportion as this + was sincere, so was the feeling of indignation against him whose + corruption and want of principle were supposed to have involved her in + their consequences. Two months or better of the period allotted by + Kathleen to the vindication of his character, had now elapsed, and yet + nothing had been done to set himself right either with her or the world. + She consequently argued and with apparent reason, that everything in the + shape of justification was out of his power, and this reflection only + deepened her affliction. Yes, it deepened her affliction; but it did not; + on that account succeed in enabling her to obliterate his image the more + easily from her heart. The fact was, that despite the force and variety of + the rumors that were abroad against him—and each succeeding week + brought in some fresh instance of his duplicity and profligacy, thanks to + the ingenious and fertile malignity of Hycy the accomplished—despite + of this, and despite of all, the natural reaction of her heart had set in—their + past endearments, their confidence their tenderness, their love, now + began, after the first vehement expression of pride and high principle had + exhausted the offended mind of its indignation, to gradually resume their + influence over her. A review, besides, of her own conduct towards her + lover was by no means satisfactory to her. Whilst she could not certainly + but condemn him, she felt as if she had judged him upon a principle at + once too cold and rigorous. Indeed, now that a portion of time had enabled + her mind to cool, she could scarcely understand why it was that she had + passed, so harsh a sentence upon him. She was not, however, capable of + analyzing her own mind and feelings upon the occasion, or she might have + known that her severity towards the man I was the consequence, on her + part, of that innate scorn and indignation which pure and lofty minds + naturally entertain against everything dishonorable and base, and that it + is a very difficult thing to disassociate the crime from the criminal, + even in cases where the latter may have had a strong hold upon the + affections of such a noble nature. Nay, the very fact of finding that + one's affections have been fixed upon a person capable of such dishonor, + produces a double portion of indignation at the discovery of their + profligacy, because it supposes, in the first place, that something like + imposture must have been practised upon us in securing our affections, or + what is still more degrading, that we must have been materially devoid of + common penetration, or we could not have suffered ourselves to become the + dupe of craft and dissimulation. + </p> + <p> + Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject of + her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts, and + detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act + inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists + temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach + it. + </p> + <p> + Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her + heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by the + shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly passed + away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the severity of + the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to look back upon + her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more softened medium + of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her slowly but surely, + until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess of her own severity + towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally return, as it were, to + a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor, from an unconscious + principle of self-love, to work herself up into that lofty hatred of + dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the effort was in vain. + Every successive review of his guilt was attended by a consciousness that + she had been righteous overmuch, and that the consequences of his treason, + even against their common religion, were not only rapidly diminishing in + her heart, but yielding to something that very nearly resembled remorse. + </p> + <p> + Such was the state of her feelings on the day when Kate Hogan and her male + relatives indulged in the friendly and affectionate dialogue we have just + detailed. Her heart was smitten, in fact, with sorrow for the harsh part + she had taken against her lover, and she only waited for an opportunity to + pour out a full confession of all she felt into the friendly ear of her + sister. + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanagh's family at this period was darkened by a general spirit + of depression and gloom. Their brother James, from whatever cause it may + have proceeded, seemed to be nearly as much cast down as his sister; and + were it not that Cavanagh himself and his wife sustained themselves by a + hope that Kathleen might ultimately relax so far as to admit, as she had + partly promised to do, the proposals of Edward Burke, it would have been + difficult to find so much suffering apart from death under the same roof. + </p> + <p> + On the day in question, our friend O'Finigan, whose habits of intemperance + had by no means diminished, called at Cavanagh's, as he had been in the + habit of doing. Poor Kathleen was now suffering, besides, under the + consequences of the injunction not to mention M'Mahon's name, which she + had imposed upon her own family—an injunction which they had ever + since faithfully observed. It was quite evident from the unusually easy + fluency of O'Finigan's manner, that he had not confined his beverages, + during the day, to mere water. Hanna, on seeing him enter, said to + Kathleen, in a whisper,— + </p> + <p> + “Hadn't you better come out and take a walk, Kathleen? This O'Finigan is + almost tipsy, and you know he'll be talking about certain subjects you + don't wish to hear.” + </p> + <p> + “Time enough, dear Hanna,” she replied, with a sorrowful look at her + sister, “my heart is so full of suffering and pain that almost anything + will relieve it. You know I was always amused by Finigan's chat.” Her + sister, who had not as yet been made acquainted with the change which had + taken place in her heart, on hearing these words looked at her closely, + and smiled sorrowfully, but in such a manner as if she had at that moment + experienced a sensation of pleasure, if not of hope. Hitherto, whenever a + neighbor or stranger came in, Kathleen, fearing that the forbidden name + might become the topic of conversation, always retired, either to another + room or left the house altogether, in order to relieve her own family from + the painful predicament in which their promise of silence to her had + placed them. On this occasion, however, Hanna perceived with equal + surprise and pleasure that she kept her ground. + </p> + <p> + “Sit ye, merry jinteels!” said Finigan, as he entered; “I hope I see you + all in good health and spirits; I hope I do; although I am afraid if what + fame—an' by the way, Mrs. Cavanagh, my classicality tells me, that + the poet Maro blundered like a Hibernian, when he made the same fame a + trumpeter, in which, wid the exception of one point, he was completely out + of keeping. There's not in all litherature another instance of a female + trumpeter; and for sound raisons—if the fair sex were to get + possession of the tuba, God help the world, for it would soon be a noisy + one. However, let me recollect myself—where was I? Oh! ay—I am + afraid that if what fame says—an' by the way, her trumpet must have + been a speaking one—be true, that there's a fair individual here + whose spirits are not of the most exalted character; and indeed, and as I + am the noblest work of God—an honest man—I feel sorry to hear + the fact.” + </p> + <p> + The first portion of this address, we need scarcely say, was the only part + of it which was properly understood, if we except a word or two at the + close. + </p> + <p> + “God save you, Misther Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “O'Finigan, if you plase, Mrs. Cavanagh.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” she replied, “O'Finigan, since it must be so; but in troth I + can!t always remember it, Misther Finigan, in regard that you didn't + always stand out for it yourself. Is there any news stirrin', you that's + abroad?” + </p> + <p> + “Not exactly news, ma'am; but current reports that are now no novelty. The + M'Mahon's—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, never mind them,” exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh, glancing at her daughter, + “if you have any 'other news let us hear it—pass over the M'Mahons—they're + not worth our talk, at least some o' them.” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, Mrs. Cavanagh;—if Achilles at the head of his myrmidons + was to inform me to that effect, I'd tell him he had mistaken his + customer. My principle, ma'am—and 'tis one I glory in—is to + defend the absent in gineral, for it is both charitable and ginerous to do + so—in gineral, I say; but when I know that they are unjustly + aspersed, I contemplate it as' an act of duty on my part to vindicate + them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “that's all very right an' thrue, Mr. + Finigan.” + </p> + <p> + “It is, Mr. Finig—O'Finigan,” observed James Cavanagh, who was + present, “and your words are a credit and an honor to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, James, for the compliment; for it is but truth. The scandal I say + (he proceeded without once regarding the hint: thrown out by Mrs. + Cavanagh) which has! been so studiously disseminated against Bryan M'Mahon—spare + your nods and winks, Mrs. Cavanagh, for if you winked at me with as many + eyes as Argus had, and nodded at me wid as many heads as Hydra, or that + baste in the Revelaytions, I'd not suppress a syllable of truth;—no, + ma'am, the <i>suppressio veri's</i> no habit of mine; and I say and assert—ay, + and asseverate—that that honest and high-spirited young man, named + Bryan or Bernard M'Mahon, is the victim of villany and falsehood—ay, + of devilish hatred and ingenious but cowardly vituperation.” + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” whispered her sister, “will you come out, darlin'? this talk + must be painful to you.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen gave her a look of much mingled sorrow and entreaty as went to + her heart. Hanna, whose head had been lovingly reclining on her sister's + bosom, pressed her gently but affectionately to her heart, and made no + reply. + </p> + <p> + “You wor always a friend of his,” replied Mrs. Cavanagh, “an' of course + you spake as a friend.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Finigan, “I always was a friend of his, because I always knew + his honesty, his love of truth, his hatred of a mane action, ay, and his + generosity and courage. I knew him from the very egg, I may say—<i>ab + ovo</i>—Mrs. Cavanagh; it was I instilled his first principles into + him. Oh! I know well! I never had a scholar I was so proud out of. Hycy + Burke was smart, quick, and cunning; but then he was traicherous—something + of a coward when he had his match—strongly addicted to fiction in + most of his narratives, and what was still a worse point about him, he had + the infamous ingenuity, whenever he had a point to gain—such as + belying a boy and taking away his characther—of making truth + discharge all the blackguard duties of falsehoood. Oh! I know them both + well! But who among all I ever enlightened wid instruction was the boy + that always tould the truth, even when it went against himself?—why, + Bryan M'Mahon. Who ever defended the absent?—why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who + ever and always took the part of the weak and defenceless against the + strong and tyrannical?—why, Bryan M'Mahon. Who fought for his + religion, too, when the young heretics used to turn it, or try to turn it, + into ridicule—ay, and when cowardly and traicherous Hycy used to sit + quietly by, and either put the insult in his pocket, or curry favor wid + the young sneering vagabonds that abused it? And yet, at the time Hycy was + a thousand times a greater little bigot than Bryan. The one, wid a + juvenile rabble at his back, three to one, was a tyrant over the young + schismatics; whilst Bryan, like a brave youth as he was, ever and always + protected them against the disadvantage of numbers, and insisted on + showing them fair play. I am warm, Mrs. Cavanagh,” he continued, “and + heat, you know, generates thirst. I know that a drop o' the right sort + used to be somewhere undher this same roof; but I'm afraid if the <i>fama + clamosa</i> be thrue, that the side of the argument I have taken isn't + exactly such as to guarantee me a touch at the native—that is, + taking it for granted that there's any in the house.” + </p> + <p> + This request was followed by a short silence. The Cavanagh's all, with the + exception of Kathleen, looked at each other, but every eye was marked + either by indecision or indifference. At length Hanna looked at her + sister, and simply said, “dear Kathleen!” + </p> + <p> + “He has done,” replied the latter, in a low voice, “what I had not the + generosity to do—he has defended the absent.” + </p> + <p> + “Darling Kathleen,” Hanna whispered, and then pressed her once more to her + heart. “You must have it, Mr. O'Finigan,” said she—“you must have + it, and that immediately;” and as she spoke, she proceeded to a cupboard + from which she produced a large black bottle, filled with that peculiar + liquid to which our worthy pedagogue was so devotedly addicted. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said he, on receiving a bumper from the fair hand of Hanna, “let the + M'Mahons alone for the old original—indeed I ought to say—aboriginal + hospitality. Thanks, Miss Hanna; in the meantime I will enunciate a toast, + and although we shall not draw very strongly upon sentiment for the terms, + it shall be plain and pithy; here is 'that the saddle of infamy may be + soon placed upon the right horse,' and maybe there's an individual not a + thousand miles from us, and who is besides not altogether incognizant of + the learned languages, including a tolerably comprehensive circle of + mathematics, who will, to a certain extent, contribute to the consummation + of that most desirable event; here then, I repate, is the toast—'may + the saddle of infamy soon be placed upon the right horse!'” + </p> + <p> + Having drunk off the glass, he turned the mouth of it down upon his + corduroy breeches, as an intimation that he might probably find it + necessary to have recourse to it again. + </p> + <p> + Hanna observed, or rather we should say, felt, that as Finigan proceeded + with his reminiscences of M'Mahon's school-boy days and the enumeration of + his virtues, her sister's heart and bosom quivered with deep and almost + irrepressible emotion. There was a good deal of enthusiasm in the man's + manner, because he was in earnest, and it was quite evident that + Kathleen's spirit had caught it as he went along, and that her heart + recognized the truth of the picture which he was drawing. We say she + literally felt the quiverings of her sister's heart against her own, and + to do the admirable girl justice, she rejoiced to recognize these + manifestations of returning affection. + </p> + <p> + “It was only yesterday,” continued Finigan, resuming the discourse, “that + I met Bryan M'Mahon, and by the way, he has sorrow and distress, poor + fellow, in his face. 'Bryan,' said I, 'is it true that you and your + father's family are preparing to go to that <i>refugium peccatorum</i>, + America—that overgrown cupping-glass which is drawing the best blood + of our country out of it?' + </p> + <p> + “'The people of Ireland,' he replied, 'have a right to bless God that + there is such a country to fly to, and to resave them from a land where + they're neglected and overlooked. It is true, Mr. O'Finigan,' he proceeded—!' + we have nothing in this country to live for now.' + </p> + <p> + “'And so you are preparing?' I asked. + </p> + <p> + “'I ought rather say,' he replied, 'that we are prepared; we go in another + month; I only wish we were there already.' + </p> + <p> + “'I fear, Bryan,' said I, 'that you have not been well trated of late.' He + looked at me with something like surprise, but said nothing; and in a + quarter, I added, 'that was the last from which you were prepared to + expect justice without mercy.' + </p> + <p> + “'I don't understand you,' he replied sharply; 'what do you mean?' + </p> + <p> + “'Bryan,' said I, 'I scorn a moral circumbendibus where the direct truth + is necessary; I have heard it said, and I fear it is burthened wid too + much uncomfortable veracity, that Kathleen Cavanagh has donned the black + cap* in doing the judicial upon you, and that she considers her sentence + equal to the laws of the Medes and Persians, unchangeable—or, like + those of our own blessed church—wid reverence be the analogy made—altogether + infallible.' His eye blazed as I spoke; he caught me where by the collar + wid a grip that made me quake—'Another word against Kathleen + Cavanagh,' he replied, 'and I will shake every joint of your carcass out + of its place.' His little sister, Dora, was wid him at the time; 'Give him + a shake or two as it is,' she added, egging him on, 'for what he has said + already;' throth she's a lively little lady that, an' if it wasn't that + she has a pair of dark shining eyes, and sweet features—ay, and as + coaxin' a figure of her own—however, sorra may care, somehow, I defy + any one to, be angry wid her.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Alluding to the practice of putting on the black cap when + the Judge condemns a felon to death. +</pre> + <p> + “Come, Mr. O'Finigan,” said James, approaching him, “you must have another + glass.” + </p> + <p> + “Well no, James,” he replied, “I think not.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, but I say you will; if it was only to hear what Dora—hem—what + Bryan said. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the master, allowing him to take the glass which he + received again brimming, “thanks, James.” + </p> + <p> + “'Well,' said Bryan, lettin' go my collar, 'blame any one you like; blame + me, blame Vanston, blame Chevydale, Fethertonge, anybody, everybody, the + Priest, the Bishop, the Pope,—but don't dare to blame Kathleen + Cavanagh.' + </p> + <p> + “'Why,' said I, 'has she been right in her condemnation of you?' + </p> + <p> + “'She has,' he replied, with a warmth of enthusiasm which lit up his whole + features; 'she has done nothing but what was right. She just acted as she + ought, and all I can say is, that I know I'm not worthy of her, and never + was. God bless her!' + </p> + <p> + “'And don't let me hear,' said Dora, taking up the dialogue, 'that ever + you'll mention her name wid disrespect—mark that, Mr. O'Finigan, or + it'll be worse for you a thrifle.' + </p> + <p> + “Her brother looked on her wid complacent affection, and patting her on + the head, said, 'Come, darling, don't beat him now. You see the risk you + run,' he added, as they went away, 'so don't draw down Dora's vengeance on + your head. She might forgive you an offence against herself; but she won't + forgive you one against Kathleen Cavanagh; and, Mister O'Finigan, neither + will I.'” + </p> + <p> + “Masther,” said James Cavanagh, “you'll stop to-night with us?” + </p> + <p> + “No, James, I have an engagement of more importance than you could ever + dhrame of, and about—but I'm not free or at liberty to develop the + plot—for plot it is—at any greater length. Many thanks to you + in the mane time for your hospitable intentions; but before I go, I have a + word to say. Now, what do you think of that young man's ginerosity, who + would rather have himself thought guilty than have her thought wrong; for, + whisper,—I say he's not guilty, and maybe—but, no ruatther, + time will tell, and soon tell, too, plaise God.” + </p> + <p> + So saying he took up his hat, and politely wished them a pleasant evening, + but firmly refused to taste another drop of liquor, “lest,” he added, “it + might denude him of the necessary qualifications for accomplishing the + enterprise on which he was bint.” + </p> + <p> + When he was gone, Kathleen brought her sister to their own room, and + throwing herself on her bosom, she spoke not, but wept calmly and in + silence for about twenty minutes. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen,” said Hanna, “I am glad to see this, and I often wished for + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Whisht, dear Hanna,” she replied; “don't speak to me at present. I'm not + fit to talk on that unfortunate subject yet. 'Forgive us our trespassess + as we—we—forgive them that trespass against us!' Oh! Hanna + darling, how have I prayed?” They then rejoined the family. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII.—Harry Clinton's Benevolence Defeated + </h2> + <p> + —His Uncle's Treachery—The Marriage of Kathleen and Edward + Burke Determined on + </p> + <p> + This partial restoration of M'Mahon to the affections of Kathleen Cavanagh + might have terminated in a full and perfect reconciliation between them, + were it not for circumstances which we are about to detail. From what our + readers know of young Clinton, we need not assure them that, although wild + and fond of pleasure, he was by no means devoid of either generosity or + principle. There were indeed few individuals, perhaps scarcely any, in the + neighborhood, who felt a deeper or manlier sympathy for the adverse fate + and evil repute which had come so suddenly, and, as he believed in his + soul, undeservedly, upon Bryan M'Mahon. He resolved accordingly to make an + effort for the purpose of setting the unfortunate young man's character + right with the public, or if not with the public, at least in that quarter + where such a service might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald + Cavanagh's family. Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle + sat reading the newspaper, he addressed him as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or two.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking me + any question you wish? Why should you not?” + </p> + <p> + “This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of your—your—profession.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?—what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of + Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “I do perfectly well.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who + furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor + desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I do not.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it + did.” + </p> + <p> + “Should you wish to know, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that + fortunate event.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “I should wish to know, though.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray have you the letter?” + </p> + <p> + “I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't say + which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it turned up + among some other communications of a similar stamp.” + </p> + <p> + In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his + hands. + </p> + <p> + “Now, uncle,” he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, “you admit + that this is the letter?” + </p> + <p> + “I admit—why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as + much?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter.” + </p> + <p> + “I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises his + tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to make + use of them. Go on.” + </p> + <p> + “The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Very likely,” replied the cool old Still-Hound; “But I did not think he + would ever place us—” + </p> + <p> + “You, sir, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation to + him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?” + </p> + <p> + His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny Peety, + and the discovery he had made through her of the letter having been both + written and sent by Hycy to the post-office. In order, besides, to satisfy + his relative that the getting up of the still was a plan concocted by Hycy + to ruin M'Mahon, through the, medium of the fine, he detailed as much of + Hycy's former proposal to him as he conveniently could, without disclosing + the part which he himself had undertaken to perform in this concerted + moment. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Harry,” replied the old fellow after a pause, “he's a d—d + scoundrel, no doubt; but as his scoundrelism is his own, I don't see why + we should hesitate to avail ourselves of it. With respect, however, to + M'Mahon, I can assure you, that I was informed of his intention to set up + a Still a good while before I made the capture, and not by anonymous + information either. Now, what would you say if both I and Fethertonge knew + the whole plot long before it was put in practice?” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, he screwed his hard keen features into a most knavish + expression. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he added; “and I can tell you that both the agent and I forwarned + M'Mahon against suffering himself to engage in anything illegal—which + was our duty as his friends you know—hem!” + </p> + <p> + “Is that possible?” said his nephew, blushing for this villianous + admission. + </p> + <p> + “Quite possible,” replied the other; “however, as I said, I don't see why + we should hesitate to avail ourselves of his villany.” + </p> + <p> + “That is precisely what I was about to say, sir,” replied his nephew, + still musing on what he had heard. + </p> + <p> + “Right, Harry; the farm is a good thing, or will be so, at least.” + </p> + <p> + “The farm, sir! but I did not speak with reference to the farm.” + </p> + <p> + “Then with reference to what did you speak?” + </p> + <p> + “I meant, sir, that we should not hesitate to avail ourselves of his + villany, in setting M'Mahon right with the public as far as we could.” + </p> + <p> + “With the whole public!—whew! Why, my good young man, I thought the + days of giants and windmills had gone by.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir,” continued the nephew, “at all events there is one thing you + must do for me. I wish you to see old Gerald Cavanagh, and as far as you + can to restore his confidence in the honesty and integrity of young + M'Mahon. State to him that you have reason to know that his son has a + bitter enemy in the neighborhood; that great injustice had been done to + him in many ways, and that you would be glad that a reconciliation should + take place between the families.” + </p> + <p> + “And so I am to set out upon the wild goose chase of reconciling a wench, + and a fellow, without knowing why or wherefore.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir—not at all—-I will make Cavanough call upon you.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand this,” replied the uncle, rubbing behind his ear; “I + don't perceive; but pray what interest have you in the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Upon my honor, uncle, none in life, unless an anxiety to serve poor + M'Mahon. The world is down upon him about that vote which, considering all + the circumstances, was more creditable to him than otherwise. I know, + however, that in consequence of the estrangement between him and Miss + Cavanagh, he is bent on emigrating. It is that fact which presses upon him + most. Now will you oblige me in this, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Let Cavanagh call upon me,” he replied, “and if I can say anything to + soften the old fellow, perhaps I will.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, uncle—thank you—I shall not forget this kindness.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his uncle, “I am going down to Fethertonge on a certain + matter of business, you understand, and—let me see—why, if + Cavanagh calls on me tomorrow about eleven, I shall see him at all + events.” + </p> + <p> + Young Clinton felt surprised and grieved at what his uncle had just hinted + to him; but on the other hand, he felt considerably elated at the prospect + of being able to bring about a reconciliation between these two families, + and with this excellent motive in view he went to Cavanagh, with whom he + had a private conversation. Having been made aware by M'Mahon himself of + Cavanagh's prejudice against him, and the predilections of himself and his + wife for an alliance into Burke's family, he merely told him that his + uncle would be glad to see him the next day about eleven o'clock, upon + which the other promised to attend to that gentleman. + </p> + <p> + Old Clinton, on his way to Fethertonge's, met that worthy individual + riding into Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + “I was going down to you,” said he; “but where are you bound for?” + </p> + <p> + “Into town,” replied the agent; “have you any objection to ride that way?” + </p> + <p> + “None in the world; it is just the same to me. Well, how are matters + proceeding?” + </p> + <p> + “Not by any means well,” replied the other, “I begin to feel something + like alarm. I wish we had those M'Mahons out of the country. Vanston has + paid that d—d goose Chevydale a visit, and I fear that unless the + Ahadarra man and his father, and the whole crew of them, soon leave the + country, we shall break down in our object.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you tell me so?” said the gauger, starting; “by Jove, it is well I + know this in time.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” continued. Clinton, “I was about to take a foolish step to-morrow + morning, for the express purpose, I believe, of keeping him, and probably + the whole family in the country.” + </p> + <p> + He then detailed the conversation that he had with his nephew, upon which + Fethertonge convinced him that there was more in the wind with respect to + that step, than either he or his nephew, who he assured him was made a + cat's paw of in the business, suspected. “That's a deep move,” said the + agent, “but we shall defeat them, notwithstanding. Everything, however, + depends upon their leaving the country before Chevydale happens to come at + the real state of the case; still, it will go hard or we shall baffle both + him and them yet.” + </p> + <p> + Whether Clinton Was sure that the step urged upon him by his nephew was + the result of a generous regard for M'Mahon, or that the former was made a + mere tool for ultimate purposes, in the hands of the Ahadarra man, as he + called him it is not easy to determine. Be this as it may, when the hour + of eleven came the next morning, he was prepared to set his nephew's + generosity aside, and act upon Fethertonge's theory of doing everything in + his power to get the whole connection out of the country, “Ha,” he + exclaimed, “I now understand what Harry meant with respect to their + emigration—'It is that fact which presses upon him most.' Oh ho! is + it so, indeed! Very good, Mr. M'Mahon—we shall act accordingly.” + </p> + <p> + Gerald Cavanaugh had been made acquainted by his wife on the day before + with the partial revival of his daughter's affection for Bryan M'Mahon, as + well as with the enthusiastic defense of him made by Finigan, two + circumstances which gave him much concern and anxiety. On his return, + however, from Clinton's, his family observed that there was something of a + satisfactory expression mingled up with a good deal of grave thought in + his face. The truth is, if the worthy man thought for a moment that the + ultimate loss of M'Mahon would have seriously injured her peace of mind, + he would have bitterly regretted it, and perhaps encourage a + reconciliation. This was a result, however, that he could scarcely + comprehend. That she might fret and pine for a few months or so was the + worst he could calculate upon, and of course he took it for granted, that + the moment her affection for one was effaced, another might step in, + without any great risk of disappointment. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Gerald,” said his wife, “what did Ganger Clinton want with you?” + </p> + <p> + Gerald looked at his two daughters and sighed unconsciously. “It's not + good news,” he proceeded, “in one sense, but it is in another; it's good + news to all my family but that girl sittin' there,” pointing to Kathleen. + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately no evil intelligence could have rendered the unhappy girl's + cheek paler than it was; so that, so far as appearances went, it was + impossible to say what effect this startling communication had upon her. + </p> + <p> + “I was down wid Misther Clinton,” he proceeded; “he hard a report that + there was about to be a makin' up of the differences between Kathleen + there and Bryan, and he sent for me to say, that, for the girl's sake—who + he said was, as he had heard from all quarthers, a respectable, genteel + girl—he couldn't suffer a young man so full of thraichery and + desate, as he had good raisons to know Bryan M'Mahon was, to impose + himself upon her or her family. He cautioned me,” he proceeded, “and all + of us against him; and said that if I allowed a marriage to take place + between him and my daughter, he'd soon bring disgrace upon her and us, as + well as himself. 'You may take my word for it, Mr. Cavanagh,' says he, + 'that is not a thrifle 'ud make me send for you in sich a business; but, + as I happen to know the stuff he is made of, I couldn't bear to see him + take a decent family in so distastefully. To my own knowledge, Cavanagh,' + said he, 'he'd desave a saint, much less your innocent and unsuspectin' + daughter.'” + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said Hanna, “you know there's not a word of truth in that + report; and mayn't all that has been said, or at least some of what has + been said against Bryan, be as much a lie as that? Who on earth: could + sich a report come from?” + </p> + <p> + “I axed Mr. Clinton the same question,” said the father, “and it appears + that it came from Bryan himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, God forbid!” exclaimed Hanna; “for, if it's a thing that he said + that, he'd say anything.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know,” returned the father, “I only spake it as I hard it, and, + what is more, I believe it—I believe it after what I hard this day; + everybody knows him now—man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an + escape that innocent girl had of him!” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon his + shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after looking + at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and calm but + concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not sit down. + </p> + <p> + “After all,” she exclaimed, “there has been no new crime brought against + him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't do so + again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three weeks to + clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within that time, + take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish—of course Hycy's out + of the question—since you must have it so, for the sooner I go to my + grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it; but, in the + mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear this long; + there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon it will soon + put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow. Oh, Bryan M'Mahon, + can you be what is said of you! and, if you can, oh, why did we ever meet, + or why did I ever see you!” + </p> + <p> + Her sister Hanna attempted to console her, but for once she failed. + Kathleen would hear no comfort, for she said she stood in need of none. + </p> + <p> + “My mind is all dark,” said she, “or rather it is sick of this miserable + work. Why am I fastened upon by such suffering and distraction? Don't + attempt at present to console me, Hanna; I won't, because I can't be + consoled. I wish I knew this man—whether he is honest or not. If he + is the villain they say he is, and that with a false mask upon him, he has + imposed himself on me, and gained my affections by hypocrisy and deceit, + why, Hanna, my darling sister, I could stab him to the heart. To think + that I ever should come to love a villain that could betray his church, + his country, me—and take a bribe; yes, he has done it,” she + proceeded, catching fire from the force of her own detestation of what was + wrong. “Here, Hanna, I call back my words—I give him no further + warning than he has got: he knows the time, the greater part of it is + past, and has he ever made a single attempt to clear himself? No, because + he cannot. I despise him; he is unworthy of me, and I fear he ever was. + Here, father,” she said with vehemence, “listen to me, my dear father; and + you, my mother, beloved mother, hear me! At the expiration of three weeks + I will marry Edward Burke; he is a modest, and I think an honest young + man, who would not betray his religion nor his country, nor—nor—any + unhappy girl that might happen to love him; oh, no, he would not—and + so, after three weeks—I will marry him. Go now and tell him so—say + I said so; and you may rest assured I will not break my word, although—I + may break—break my heart—my heart! Now, Hanna, come out and + walk, dear—come out, and let us chat of other matters; yes, of other + matters; and you can tell me candidly whether you think Bryan M'Mahon such + a villain.” Struck by her own words she paused almost exhausted, and, + bending down, put her face upon her hands, and by a long persevering + effort, at length raised her head, and after a little time appeared to + have regained a good deal of composure; but not without tears—for + she had wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + On that night she told her sister that the last resolution she had come to + was that by which she was determined to abide. + </p> + <p> + “You would not have me like a mere girl,” she said, “without the power of + knowing my own mind—no; let what may come I will send no messages + after him—and as sure as I have life I will marry Edward Burke after + the expiration of three weeks, if Bryan doesn't—but it's idle to + talk of it—if he could he would have done it before now. Good-night, + dear Hanna—good-night,” and after many a long and heavy sigh she + sank to an uneasy and troubled slumber. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Gerald Cavanagh, who laid great stress upon the + distracted language of his daughter on the preceding night paid an early + visit to his friend, Jemmy Burke. He found the whole family assembled at + breakfast, and after the usual salutations, was asked to join them, which + invitation, however, having already breakfasted, he declined. Hycy had of + late been very much abroad—that is to say he was out very much at + night, and dined very frequently in the head-inn of Ballymacan, when one + would suppose he ought to have dined at home. On the present occasion he + saluted honest Gerald with a politeness peculiarly ironical. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Cavanagh,” said he, “I hope I see you in good health, sir. How are + all the ladies?—Hannah, the neat, and Kathleen—ah, Kathleen, + the divine!” + </p> + <p> + “Troth, they're all very well, I thank you, Hycy; and how is yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Free from care, Mr. Cavanagh—a chartered libertine.” + </p> + <p> + “A libertine!” exclaimed the honest farmer; “troth I've occasionally heard + as much; but until I heard it from your own lips divil a word of it I + believed.” + </p> + <p> + “He is only jesting, Mr. Cavanagh,” said his brother; “he doesn't mean + exactly, nor indeed at all, what you suppose he does.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he mean anything at all, Ned?” said his father, dryly, “for of late + it's no aisy matther to understand him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well said, Mr. Burke,” replied Hycy; “I am like yourself, becoming + exceedingly oracular of late—but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this + exquisite union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed—does + it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt + clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?” + </p> + <p> + “Gerald,” said the father, “as there's none here so handy at the nonsense + as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Begad, Jemmy,” said Cavanagh, “to tell you the truth, I haven't nonsense + enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he takes to + speakin' common-sense I won't undhertake to hould any further discourse + wid him.” + </p> + <p> + “Why will you continue,” said his brother in a low voice, “to render + yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?” + </p> + <p> + “Well said, most vituline—<i>Solomon secundus</i>, well said.” + </p> + <p> + “Hycy,” said his mother, “you ought to remimber that every one didn't get + the edi cation you did—an' that ignorant people like your father and + Gerald Kavanagh there can't undhercomestand one-half o' what you say. Sure + they know nothing o' book-lamin', and why do you give it them?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke. They are two of the most + notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don't possess + your powers of ratiocination, madam?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied his father; “nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, + Hycy.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, “One would think that joke is + pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke. Couldn't you strike out + something original now?” + </p> + <p> + “All I can say is,” replied the father, “that the joke has betther bottom + than the garran it was made upon.” + </p> + <p> + Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty + ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and + rode towards Ballymacan. + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, + unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them + Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward. It is + sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was absolutely + made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the exception of + the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at their next + meeting. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV.—Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen + </h2> + <h3> + —Dora and Her Lover. + </h3> + <p> + The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full of + gloom and depression. Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our + independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our great + seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the case for + many a season previously. That something was wrong, and that something is + wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the myriad's who, whilst + they have the means in their hands, are anxious to get out of it as fast + as they can. And yet there is not a country in the world, a population so + affectionately attached to the soil—to the place of their birth—as + the Irish. In fact, the love of their native fields, their green meadows, + the dark mountains, and the glorious torrents that gush from them, is a + passion of which they have in foreign lands been often known to die. It is + called Home Sickness, and we are aware ourselves of more than one or two + cases in which individuals, in a comparatively early stage of life, have + pined away in secret after their native hills, until the malady becoming + known, unfortunately too late, they sought once more the green fields and + valleys among which they had spent their youth, just in time to lay down + their pale cheeks and rest in their native clay for ever those hearts + which absence and separation from the very soil had broken. + </p> + <p> + Now, nothing can be a greater proof of the pressure, the neglect, the + hopelessness of independence or comfort, which the condition of the + people, and the circumstances which occasioned it, have produced, than the + fact that the strong and sacred attachment which we have described is + utterly incapable of attaching them as residents in a country so + indescribably dear to their best affections. People may ask, and do ask, + and will ask, why Ireland is in such a peculiarly distressed state—why + there is always upon its surface a floating mass of pauperism without + parallel in Europe, or perhaps in the world? To this we reply simply + because the duties of property have uniformly been neglected. And in what, + may it be asked, do the duties of property consist? To this we reply + again, in an earnest fixed resolution to promote, in the first place, the + best social and domestic interests of the people, to improve their + condition, to stock their minds with, useful and appropriate knowledge, to + see that they shall be taught what a sense of decent comfort means, that + they shall not rest satisfied with a wad of straw for a bed, and a meal of + potatoes for food, and that they shall, besides, come to understand the + importance of their own position as members of civil society. Had the + landlords of Ireland paid attention to these and other matters that + directly involve their own welfare and independence, as well as those of + their neglected tenantry, they would not be, as they now are, a class of + men, some absolutely bankrupt, and more on the very eve of it; and all + this, to use a commercial phrase painfully appropriate,—because they + neglect their business. + </p> + <p> + Who, until lately, ever heard of an Irish landlord having made the subject + of property, or the principles upon which it ought to be administered, his + study? By this we do not mean to say that they did not occasionally bestow + a thought upon their own interests; but, in doing so, they were guided by + erroneous principles that led them to place these interests in antagonism + with those of the people. They forgot that poverty is the most fertile + source of population, and that in every neglected and ill-regulated state + of society, they invariably reproduce each other; but the landlords kept + the people poor, and now they are surprised, forsooth, at their poverty + and the existence of a superabundant population. + </p> + <p> + “We know,” said they, “that the people are poor; but we know also that, by + subsisting merely upon the potato, and excluding better food and a higher + state of comfort, of course the more is left for the landlord.” This in + general was their principle—and its consequences are now upon + themselves. + </p> + <p> + This, however, is a subject on which it is not our intention to expatiate + here. What we say is, that, in all the relations of civil life, Her people + were shamefully and criminally neglected. They were left without + education, permitted to remain ignorant of the arts of life, and of that + industrial knowledge on which, or rather on the application of which, all + public prosperity is based. + </p> + <p> + And yet, although the people have great errors, without which no people so + long neglected can ever be found, and, although they have been for + centuries familiarized with suffering, yet it is absolute dread of poverty + that drives them from their native soil; They understand, in fact, the + progress of pauperism too well, and are willing to seek fortune in any + clime, rather than abide its approach to themselves—an approach + which they know is in their case inevitable and certain. For instance, the + very class of our countrymen that constitutes the great bulk of our + emigrants is to be found among those independent small farmers who appear + to understand something like comfort. One of these men holding, say + sixteen or eighteen acres, has a family we will suppose of four sons and + three daughters. This family grows up, the eldest son marries, and the + father, having no other way to provide for him, sets apart three or four + acres of his farm, on which he and his wife settle. The second comes also + to marry, and hopes his father won't treat him worse than he treated his + brother. He accordingly gets four acres more, and settles down as his + brother did. In this manner the holding is frittered away and subdivided + among them. For the first few years—that is, before their children + rise—they may struggle tolerably well; but, at the expiration of + twenty or twenty-five years, each brother finds himself with such a family + as his little strip of land cannot adequately support, setting aside the + claims of the landlord altogether; for rent in these cases is almost out + of the question. + </p> + <p> + What, then, is the consequence? Why, that here is to be found a population + of paupers squatted upon patches of land quite incapable of their support; + and in seasons of famine and sickness, especially in a country where labor + is below its value, and employment inadequate to the demand that is for + it, this same population becomes a helpless burthen upon it—a + miserable addition to the mass of poverty and destitution under which it + groans. + </p> + <p> + Such is the history of one class of emigrants in this unhappy land, of + ours; and what small farmer, with such a destiny as that we have detailed + staring him and his in the face, would not strain every nerve that he + might fly to any country—rather than remain to encounter the + frightful state of suffering which awaits him in this. + </p> + <p> + Such, then, is an illustration of the motives which prompt one class of + emigrants to seek their fortune in other climes, while it is yet in their + power to do so. There is still a higher class, however, consisting of + strong farmers possessed of some property and wealth, who, on looking + around them, find that the mass of destitution which is so rapidly + increasing in every direction must necessarily press upon them in time, + and ultimately drag them down to its own level. But even if the naked + evils which pervade society among us were not capable of driving these + independent yeomen to other lands, we can assure our legislators that what + these circumstances, appalling as they are, may fail in accomplishing, the + recent act for the extra relief of able-bodied paupers will complete—an + act which, instead of being termed a Relief Act, ought to be called an act + for the ruin of the country, and the confiscation of its property, both of + which, if not repealed, it will ultimately accomplish. We need not mention + here cases of individual neglect or injustice upon the part of landlords + and agents, inasmuch as we have partially founded our narrative upon a + fact of this description. + </p> + <p> + It has been said, we know, and in many instances with truth, that the + Irish are a negligent and careless people—without that perseverance + and enterprise for which their neighbors on the other side of the channel + are so remarkable. We are not, in point of fact, about to dispute the + justice of this charge; but, if it be true of the people, it is only so + indirectly. It is true of their condition and social circumstances in this + country, rather than of any constitutional deficiency in either energy or + industry that is inherent in their character. In their own country they + have not adequate motive for action—no guarantee that industry shall + secure them independence, or that the fruits of their labor may not pass, + at the will of; their landlords, into other hands. Many, therefore, of the + general imputations that are brought against them in these respects, ought + to be transferred rather to the depressing circumstances in which they are + placed than to the people themselves. As a proof of; this, we have only to + reflect upon their industry, enterprise, and success, when relieved from + the pressure of these circumstances in other countries—especially in + America, where exertion and industry never, or at least seldom, fail to + arrive at comfort and independence. Make, then, the position of the + Irishman reasonable—such, for instance, as it is in any other + country but his own—and he can stand the test of comparison with any + man. + </p> + <p> + Not only, however, are the Irish flying from the evils that are to come, + but they feel a most affectionate anxiety to enable all those who are + bound to them by the ties of kindred and domestic affection to imitate + their example. There is not probably to be found in records of human + attachment such a beautiful history of unforgotten affection, as that + presented by the heroic devotion of Irish emigrants to those of their + kindred who remain here from inability to accompany them.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + *The following extract, from a very sensible pamphlet by + Mr. Murray, is so appropriate to this subject, that we cannot + deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it here:— + + “You have been accustomed to grapple with and master + figures, whether as representing the produce of former + tariffs, or in constructing new ones, or in showing the + income and expenditure of the greatest nation on the earth. + Those now about to be presented to you, as an appendix to + this communication, are small, very small, in their separate + amounts, and not by any means in the aggregate of the + magnitude of the sums you have been accustomed to deal with; + but they are large separately, and heaving large in the + aggregate, in all that is connected with the higher and + nobler parts of our nature—in all that relates to and + evinces the feelings of the heart towards those who are of + our kindred, no matter by what waters placed asunder or by + what distance separated. They are large, powerfully large, + in reading lessons of instruction to the statesman and + philanthropist, in dealing with a warm-hearted people for + their good, and placing them in a position of comparative + comfort to that in which they now are. The figures represent + the particulars of 7,917 separate Bills of Exchange, varying + in amount from £1 to £10 each—a few exceeding the latter + sum; so many separate offerings from the natives of Ireland + who have heretofore emigrated from its shores, sent to their + relations and friends in Ireland, drawn and paid between the + 1st of January and the 15th of December, 1846—not quite one + year; and amount in all to £41,261 9s. 11d. But this list, + long though it be, does not measure the number and amount of + such interesting offerings. It contains only about one-third + part of the whole number and value of such remittances that + have crossed the Atlantic to Ireland during the 349 days of + 1846. The data from which this list is complied enable the + writer to estimate with confidence the number and amount + drawn otherwise; and he calculates that the entire number, + for not quite one year, of such Bills, is £24,000, and the + amount £125,000, or, on an average, £5 4s. 3d. each. They + are sent from husband to wife, from father to child, from + child to father, mother, and grand-parents, from sister to + brother, and the reverse; and from and to those united by + all the ties of blood and friendship that bind us together + on earth. + + In the list, you will observe that these offerings of + affection are classed according to the parts of Ireland they + are drawn upon, and you will find that they are not confined + to one spot of it, but are general as regards the whole + country.”—<i>Ireland. its Present Condition and Future + Prospects, In n letter addressed to the Right Honorable Sir + Robert Peel, Baronet, by Robert Murray. Esq. Dublin, James + M'Olashan, 21 D'Olier Street, 1847</i>. +</pre> + <p> + Let it not be said, then, that the Irishman is deficient in any of the + moral elements or natural qualities which go to the formation of such a + character as might be made honorable to himself and beneficial to the + country. By the success of his exertions in a foreign land, it is clear + that he is not without industry, enterprise, and perseverance; and we have + no hesitation in saying that, if he were supplied at home with due + encouragement and adequate motive, his good qualities could be developed + with as much zeal, energy, and success as ever characterized them in a + foreign country. + </p> + <p> + We trust the reader may understand what the condition of the country, at + the period of our narrative to which we refer, must have been, when such + multitudes as we have described rushed to our great seaports in order to + emigrate; the worst feature in this annual movement being that, whilst the + decent, the industrious, and the moral, all influenced by creditable + motives, went to seek independence in a distant land, the idle, the + ignorant, and the destitute necessarily remain at home—all as a + burthen, and too many of them as a disgrace to the country. + </p> + <p> + Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and painful, + were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration which, under the + circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among the people. It was, + however, on their part a distressing and mournful resolve. From the, + moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the whole family. Nothing a few + months before had been farther from their thoughts; but now there existed + such a combination of arguments for their departure, as influenced Bryan + and his father, in spite of their hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and + Carriglass. Between them and the Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had + delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan, there was scarcely any intercourse. + Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an opportunity of exchanging a few words + occasionally, but although the former felt much anxiety for a somewhat + lengthened and if possible confidential conversation with her sparkling + little friend, yet the latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one + particular subject, feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on + her part was humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to + compromise the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora, + notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own + sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who felt + disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could. So indeed would every + one of the family, had they known them, for we need scarcely say that the + warm and generous girl was the centre in which all their affections met. + And this indeed was only justice to her, inasmuch as she was willing on + any occasion to sacrifice her interests, her wishes, or anything connected + with her own welfare, to their individual or general happiness. We have + said, however, that she had her own sorrows, and this was true. From the + moment she felt assured that their emigration to America was certain, she + manifested a depression so profound and melancholy, that the heart of her + brother Bryan, who alone knew its cause, bled for her. This by the rest of + the family was imputed to the natural regret she felt, in common with + themselves, at leaving the old places for ever, with this difference to be + sure—they imagined that she felt the separation more acutely than + they did. Still, as the period for their departure approached, there was + not one of the family, notwithstanding what she felt herself, who labored + so incessantly to soothe and sustain the spirits of her father, who was + fast sinking under the prospect of being “forever removed,” as he said, + “from the places his heart had grown into.” She was in fact the general + consoler of the family, and yet her eye scarcely ever met that of her + brother that a tear did not tremble in it, and she felt disposed to burst + out into an agony of unrestrained grief. + </p> + <p> + It was one evening in the week previous to their departure, that she was + on her return from Ballymacan, when on passing a bend of the road between + Carriglass and Fenton's farm, she met the cause of the sorrow which + oppressed her, in the handsome person of James Cavanaugh, to whom she had + been for more than a year and a half deeply and devotedly attached, but + without the knowledge of any individual living, save her lover himself and + her brother Bryan. + </p> + <p> + On seeing him she naturally started, but it was a start of pleasure, and + she felt her cheek flush and again get pale, and her heart palpitated, + then was still a moment, and again resumed its tumultuous pulsations. + </p> + <p> + “Blessed be God, my darlin' Dora, that I've met you at last,” said James; + “in heaven's name how did it happen that we haven't met for such a length + of time?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure that's more than I can tell,” replied Dora, “or rather it's what + both, you and I know the cause of too well.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, poor Dora,” he exclaimed, “for your sake I don't wish to spake about + it at all; it left me many a sore heart when I thought of you.” + </p> + <p> + Dora's natural pale cheek mantled, and her eyes deepened with a beautiful + severity, as she hastily turned them on him and said, “what do you mane, + James?” + </p> + <p> + “About poor Bryan's conduct at the election,” he replied, “and that + fifty-pound note; and may hell consume it and him that tempted him with + it!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you forget,” she said, “that you're spaking to his sister that knows + the falsehood of it all; an' how dare you in my presence attempt to say or + think that Bryan M'Mahon would or could do a mane or dishonest act? I'm + afeard, James, there's a kind of low suspicion in your family that's not + right, and I have my reasons for thinking so. I fear there's a want of + true generosity among you; and if I could be sure of it, I tell you now, + that whatever it might cost me, I'd never—but what am I sayin'? + that's past.” + </p> + <p> + “Past! oh, why do you spake that way, Dora dear?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matter what I may suffer myself,” she replied; “no matter at all + about that; but wanst and for all, I tell you that let what may happen, + I'm not the girl to go into a family that have treated my dear brother as + yours has done. Your sister's conduct has been very harsh and cruel to the + man she was to be married to.” + </p> + <p> + “My sister, Dora, never did anything but what was right.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, let her go and marry the Pope, with reverence be it spoken, + for I don't know any other husband that's fit for her. I'd like to see the + girl that never did anything wrong; it's a sight I never saw yet, I know.” + </p> + <p> + “Dora, dear,” replied her lover, “I don't blame you for being angry. I + know that such a load of disgrace upon any family is enough to put one + past their temper. I don't care about that, however,” he proceeded; “if he + had betrayed his church and his country ten times over, an' got five + hundred pounds instead of fifty, it wouldn't prevent me from makin' you my + wife.” + </p> + <p> + Her eyes almost emitted fire at this unconsciously offensive language of + Cavanagh. She calmed herself, however, and assumed a manner that was cool + and cuttingly ironical. + </p> + <p> + “Wouldn't you, indeed?” she replied; “dear me! I have a right to be proud + of that; and so you'd be mane enough to marry into a family blackened by + disgrace. I thought you had some decent pride, James.” + </p> + <p> + “But you have done nothing wrong, Dora,” he replied; “'you're free from + any blame of that kind.” + </p> + <p> + “I have done nothing wrong, haven't I?” she returned. “Ay, a thousand + things—for, thank God, I'm not infallible like your sister. Haven't + I supported my brother in every thing he did? and I tell you that if I had + been in his place I'd just 'a' done what he did. What do you think o' me + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that every word you say, and every lively look—ay, or angry if + you like—that you give—makes me love you more and more. An' + plase God, my dear Dora, I hope soon to see you my own darlin' wife.” + </p> + <p> + “That's by no means a certain affair, James; an' don't rely upon it. + Before ever I become your wife Kathleen must change her conduct to my + brother.” + </p> + <p> + “'Deed and I'm afraid that shell never do, Dora.” + </p> + <p> + “Then the sorra ring ever I'll put on you while there's, breath in my + body.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, didn't she give him three months to clear himself?” + </p> + <p> + “Did she, indeed? And do you think that any young man of spirit would pay + attention to such a stilted pride as that? It was her business to send for + him face to face, and to say—'Bryan M'Mahon, I never knew you or one + of your family to tell a lie or do a dishonest or disgraceful act'—and + here as she spoke the tears of that ancient integrity and hereditary pride + which are more precious relics in a family than the costliest jewels that + ever sparkled in the sun, sprang from her eyes—'and now, Bryan + M'Mahon, I ax no man's word but your own—I ax no other evidence but + your own—I put it to your conscience—to that honor that has + never yet been tarnished by any of your family, I say I put it to + yourself, here face to face with the girl that loves you—and answer + me as you are in the presence of God—did you do what they charge you + with? Did you do wrong knowingly and deliberately, and against your own + conscience?” + </p> + <p> + The animated sparkle of her face was so delightful and fascinating that + her lover attempted to press her to his bosom; but she would not suffer + it. + </p> + <p> + “Behave now,” she said firmly; “sorra bit—no,” she proceeded; “and + whilst all the world was against him, runnin' him down and blackenin' him—was + she ever the girl to stand up behind his back and defend him like a—hem—defend + him, I say, as a girl that loved him ought, and a generous-girl would?” + </p> + <p> + “But how could she when she believed, him to be wrong?” + </p> + <p> + “Why did she believe him to be wrong upon mere hearsay? and granting that + he was wrong! do you think now if you had done what they say he did (and + they lie that say it), an' that I heard the world down on you for your + first slip, do you think, I say, that I'd not defend you out of clane + contrariness,—and to vex them—ay, would I.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, darlin', that you'd do everything that's generous an' right; but + settin' that affair aside, my dear Dora, what are you and I to do?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know what we're to do,” she replied; “it's useless for you to ax + me from my father now; for he wouldn't give me to you,—sorra bit.” + </p> + <p> + “But you'll give me yourself, Dora, darling.” + </p> + <p> + “Not without his consent, no nor with it,—as the families stand this + moment; for I tell you again that the sorra ring ever I'll put on you till + your sister sends for my brother, axes his pardon, and makes up with him, + as she ought to do. Oh why, James dear, should she be so harsh upon him,” + she said, softening at once; “she that is so good an' so faultless afther + all? but I suppose that's the raison of it—she doesn't know what it + is to do anything that's not right.” + </p> + <p> + “Dora,” said her lover, “don't be harsh on Kathleen; you don't know what + she's sufferin'. Dora, her heart's broke—broke.” + </p> + <p> + The tears were already upon Dora's cheeks, and her lover, too, was silent + for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “She has,” resumed the warm-hearted girl, “neither brother nor sister that + loves her, or can love her, better than I do, afther all.” + </p> + <p> + “But in our case, darling, what's to be done?” he asked, drawing her + gently towards him. + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you then what I'd recommend you to do,” she replied; “spake to + my brother Bryan, and be guided by him. I must go now, it's quite dusk.” + </p> + <p> + There was a moment's pause, then a gentle remonstrance on the part of + Dora, followed, however, by that soft sound which proceeds from the + pressure of youthful lips—after which she bade her lover a hasty + good-night and hurried home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/platechxxv.jpg" + alt="Page 623-- I Must Leave You--i Must Go " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV.—The Old Places—Death of a Patriarch. + </h2> + <p> + As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, + etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing + distress settled upon the whole family. It had not been their purpose to + apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, and + neither indeed had they done so. The fact, however, reached him from the + neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his family to + conceal the circumstance from him—at least as long as they could—entered + into conversation with him upon it, and by this means he became acquainted + with their determination. Age, within the last few months—for he was + now past ninety—had made sad work with both his frame and intellect. + Indeed, for some time past, he might be said to hover between reason and + dotage. Decrepitude had set in with such ravages on his constitution that + it could almost be marked by daily stages. Sometimes he talked with + singular good sense and feeling; but on other occasions he either babbled + quite heedlessly, or his intellect would wander back to scenes and + incidents of earlier life, many of which he detailed with a pathos that + was created and made touching by the unconsciousness of his own state + while relating them. They also observed that of late he began to manifest + a child-like cunning in many things connected with himself and family, + which, though amusing from its very simplicity, afforded at the same time + a certain indication that the good old grandfather whom they all loved so + well, and whose benignant character had been only mellowed by age into a + more plastic affection for them all, was soon to be removed from before + their eyes, never again to diffuse among them that charm of domestic truth + and love, and the holy influences of all those fine old virtues which + ancestral integrity sheds over the heart, and transmits pure and + untarnished from generation to generation. + </p> + <p> + On the day he made the discovery of their intention, he had been sitting + on a bench in the garden, a favorite seat of his for many a long year + previously; “And so,” said he to the neighbor with whom he had been + speaking, “you tell me that all our family is goin' to America?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, dear me,” replied his acquaintance, “is it possible you didn't know + it?” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” he exclaimed, “I undherstand now why they used to be whisperin' + together so often, and lookin' at me; but indeed they might spake loud + enough now, for I'm so deaf that I can hardly hear anything. Howaniver, + Ned, listen—they all intend to go, you say; now listen, I say—I + know one that won't go; now, do you hear that? You needn't say anything + about it, but this I tell you—listen to me, what's your name? + Barney, is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, is it possible, you don't know Ned Gormley?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Ned Gormley—och, so it is. Well listen, Ned—there's one + they won't bring; I can tell you that—the sorra foot I'll go to—to—where's + this you say they're goin' to, Jemmy?” + </p> + <p> + Gormley shook his head. “Poor Bryan,” said he, “it's nearly all over wid + you, at any rate. To America, Bryan,” he repeated, in a loud voice. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, to America. Well, the sorra foot ever I'll go to America—that + one thing I can tell them. I'm goin' in. Oh! never mind,” he exclaimed, on + Gormley offering him assistance, “I'm stout enough still; stout an' active + still; as soople as a two-year ould, thank God. Don't I bear up + wonderfully?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, indeed you do, Bryan; it is wonderful, sure enough.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes they arrived at the door; and the old man, recovering as + it were a portion of his former intellect, said, “lavin' this place—these + houses—an' goin' away—far, far away—to a strange country—to + strange people! an' to bring me, the ould white-haired grandfather, away + from all! that would be cruel; but my son Tom will never do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, at any rate, Bryan,” said his neighbor, “whether you go or stay, + God be wid you. It's a pity, God knows, that the like of you and your + family should leave the country; and sure if the landlord, as they say, is + angry about it, why doesn't he do what he ought to do? an' why does he + allow that smooth-tongued rap to lead him by the nose as he does? + Howandiver, as I said, whether you go or stay, Bryan, God be wid you!” + </p> + <p> + During all that morning Thomas M'Mahon had been evidently suffering very + deeply from a contemplation of the change that was about to take place by + the departure of himself and his family from Carriglass. He had been + silent the greater part of the morning, and not unfrequently forced to + give away to tears, in which he was joined by his daughters, with the + exception of Dora, who, having assumed the office of comforter, felt + herself bound to maintain the appearance of a firmness which she did not + feel. In this mood he was when “grandfather,” as they called him, entered + the house, after having been made acquainted with their secret. “Tom,” + said he, approaching his son, “sure you wouldn't go to bring an ould man + away?” + </p> + <p> + “Where to, father?” asked the other, a good deal alarmed. + </p> + <p> + “Why, to America, where you're all goin' to. Oh! surely you wouldn't bring + the old man away from the green fields of Carriglass? Would you lay my + white head in a strange land, an' among a strange people? Would you take + poor ould grandfather away from them that expects him down, at Carndhu + where they sleep? Carndhu's a holy churchyard. Sure there never was a + Protestant buried in it but one, an' the next mornin' there was a boortree + bush growin' out o' the grave, an' it's there yet to prove the maricle. + Oh! ay, Carndhu's holy ground, an' that's where I must sleep.” + </p> + <p> + These words were uttered with a tone of such earnest and childlike + entreaty as rendered them affecting in a most extraordinary degree, and + doubly so to those who heard him. Thomas's eyes, despite of every effort + to the contrary, filled with tears. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “he has found it + out at last; but how can I give him consolation, an' I stands in need of + it so much myself?” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said he, rising and placing the old man in the arm-chair, which + for the last half century had been his accustomed seat, “father, we will + go together—we will all be wid you. You'll not be among strangers—you'll + have your own about you still.” + </p> + <p> + “But what's takin' you all away?” + </p> + <p> + “Neglect and injustice, an' the evil tongues of them that ought to know us + betther. The landlord didn't turn out to be what he ought to be. May God + forgive him! But at any rate I'm sure he has been misled.” + </p> + <p> + “Ould Chevydale,” said his father, “never was a bad landlord, an' he'd not + become a bad one now. That's not it.” + </p> + <p> + “But the ould man's dead, father, an' its his son we're spakin' of.” + </p> + <p> + “And the son of ould Chevydale must have something good about him. The + heart was always right wid his father, and every one knows there's a great + deal in true blood. Sooner or later it'll tell for itself—but what + is this? There was something troublin' me this minute. Oh! ay, you're + goin' away, then, to America; but, mark my words:—I won't go. You + may, but I'll stay here. I won't lave the green fields of Carriglass for + any one. It's not much I'll be among them now, an' it isn't worth your + while to take me from them. Here's where I was born—here's where the + limbs that's now stiff an' feeble was wanst young and active—here's + where the hair that's white as snow was fair an' curlin' like goold—here's + where I was young—here's where I grew ould—among these dark + hills and green fields—here you all know is where I was born; and, + in spite o' you all, here's where I'll die.” + </p> + <p> + The old man was much moved by all these recollections; for, as he + proceeded, the tears fell fast from his aged eyes, and his voice became + tremulous and full of 'sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Wasn't it here, too,” he proceeded, “that Peggy Slevin, she that was + famed far an' near for her beauty, and that the sweet song was made upon—'Peggy + Na Laveen'—-ay—ay, you may think yourselves fine an' handsome; + but, where was there sich a couple as grandfather and Peggy Na Laveen was + then?” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered these words, his features that had been impressed by grief, + were lit up by a smile of that simple and harmless vanity which often + attends us to the very grave; after which he proceeded:— + </p> + <p> + “There, on the side of that hill is the roofless house where she was born; + an' there's not a field or hill about the place that her feet didn't make + holy to me. I remember her well. I see her, an' I think I hear her voice + on the top of Lisbane, ringin' sweetly across the valley of the Mountain + Wather, as I often did. An' is it to take me away now from all this? Oh! + no, childre', the white-haired grandfather couldn't go. He couldn't lave + the ould places—the ould places. If he did, he'd die—he'd die. + Oh, don't, for God's sake, Tom, as you love me!” + </p> + <p> + There was a spirit of helpless entreaty in these last words that touched + his son, and indeed all who heard him, to the quick. + </p> + <p> + “Grandfather dear, be quiet,” he replied; “God will direct all things for + the best. Don't cry,” he added, for the old man was crying like an infant; + “don't cry, but be quiet, and everything will be well in time. It's a + great trial, I know; but any change is better than to remain here till we + come, like so many others, to beggary. God will support us, father.” + </p> + <p> + The old man wiped his eyes, and seemed as if he had taken comfort from the + words of his son; whereas, the fact was, that his mind had altogether + passed from the subject; but not without that unconscious feeling of pain + which frequently remains after the recollection of that which has + occasioned it has passed away. + </p> + <p> + It was evident, from the manner of the old man, that the knowledge of + their intended emigration had alarmed into action all the dormant + instincts of his nature; but this was clearly more than they were + competent to sustain for any length of time. Neither the tottering frame, + nor the feeble mind was strong enough to meet the shock which came so + unexpectedly upon them. The consequence may be easily anticipated. On the + following day he was able to be up only for an hour; yet he was not sick, + nor did he complain of any particular pain. His only malady appeared to + consist in that last and general prostration of bodily and intellectual + strength, by which persons of extreme old age, who have enjoyed + uninterrupted health, are affected at, or immediately preceding their + dissolution. His mind, however, though wandering and unsteady, was + vigorous in such manifestations as it made. For instance, it seemed to be + impressed by a twofold influence,—the memory of his early life,—mingled + with a vague perception of present anxiety, the cause of which he + occasionally was able to remember, but as often tried to recollect in + vain. + </p> + <p> + On the second day after his discovery he was unable to rise at all; but, + as before, he complained of nothing, neither were his spirits depressed. + On the contrary they were rather agitated—sometimes into + cheerfulness, but more frequently into an expression of sorrow and + lamentation, which were, however, blended with old by-gone memories that + were peculiarly reflecting to those who heard them. In this way he went + on, sinking gradually until the day previous to the auction. On that + morning, to their surprise, he appeared to have absolutely regained new + strength, and to have been gifted with something like renovated power of + speech. + </p> + <p> + “I want to get up,” said he, “and it's only Tom an' Dora that I'll allow + to help me. You're all good, an' wor always good to grandfather, but Tom + was my best son, and signs on it—everything thruv wid him, an' God + will prosper an' bless him. Where's Dora?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, grandfather.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that's the voice above all o' them that went like music to my heart; + but well I know, and always did, who you have that voice from; ay, an' I + know whose eyes—an' it's them that's the lovely eyes—Dora has. + Isn't the day fine, Dora?” + </p> + <p> + “It is, grandfather, a beautiful day.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, thank God. Well then I want to go out till I look—take one look + at the ould places; for somehow I think my heart was never so much in them + as now.” + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to say how or why the feeling prevailed, but the fact + was, that the whole family were impressed with a conviction that this + partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed the + lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he spoke + occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous + patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he called + Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with streaming + eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After having reached a + little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of the rich country + beneath and around them, he called for his chair; “an', Bryan,” said he, + “the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me. A blessin' will + follow you, Bryan—a blessin' will follow my manly grandson, that I + often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan,” he proceeded, when the latter + had returned with the chair and placed him in it, “listen, Bryan—when + you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married—but I needn't say it—where + was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing in that respect?—but + when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your own father was to her + that's gone—ever and always kind and lovin', an' what your + grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last time, was to her + that's long, long an angel in heaven—my own Peggy Slevin—but + it's the Irish sound of it I like—Peggy Na Laveen. Bring them all + out here—but what is this?—why are you all cryin'? Sure; + there's nothing wrong—an' why do you cry?” + </p> + <p> + The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and the + good old man proceeded:— + </p> + <p> + “Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me.” The latter, with uncovered head, did + so; and his father resumed:—“Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' + son I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to + you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;—that is, that I + have any right to lave you—I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may + God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to + give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant you + health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! little you know, grandfather dear,” replied Shibby, “that we've done + wid both of them for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Shibby, God bless you, achora,” he returned; “but the ould man's lips can + spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin' from + the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words.” He then + paused for a few minutes, but appeared to take a comprehensive view of the + surrounding country. + </p> + <p> + “But, grandfather,” proceeded simple-hearted Shibby, “sure the match + between Bryan and Kathleen Cavanagh is broken up, an' they're not to be + married at all.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't I say, darlin', that they will be married, an' be happy—ay, + an' may God make them happy! as He will, blessed be His holy name! God, + acushla, can bring about everything in His own good way.” + </p> + <p> + After another pause of some minutes he murmured to himself—“Peggy Na + Laveen—Peggy Na Laveen—how far that name has gone! Turn me + round a little. What brought us here, childre'? Oh! ay—I wanted to + see the ould places—there's Claghleim, where the walls of the house + she was born in, and the green garden, is both to the fore; yet I hope + they won't be disturbed, if it was only for the sake of them that's gone; + an' there's the rock on the top of Lisbane,where, in the summer evening, + long, long ago, I used to sit an' listen to Peggy Na Laveen singin' over + our holy songs—the darlin' ould songs of the counthry. Oh! clear an' + sweet they used to ring across the glen of the Mountain Wather. An' + there's the hills an' the fields where she an' I so often sported when we + wor both young; there they are, an' many a happy day we had on them; but + sure God was good to us, blessed be His name, as He ever will be to them + that's obadient to His holy will!” + </p> + <p> + As he uttered the last words he clasped his two hands together, and, + having closed his eyes, he muttered something internally which they could + not understand. “Now,” said he, “bring me in again; I have got my last + look at them all—the ould places, the brave ould places! oh, who + would lave them for any other country? But at any rate, Tom, achora, don't + take me away from them; sure you wouldn't part me from the green fields of + Carriglass? Sure you'd not take me from the blessed graveyard of Carndhu, + where we all sleep. I couldn't rest in a sthrange grave, nor among strange + people; I couldn't rest, barrin' I'm wid her, Peggy Na Laveen.” These + words he uttered after his return into the house. + </p> + <p> + “Grandfather,” said Bryan, “make your mind aisy; we won't take you from + the brave ould places, and you will sleep in Carndhu with Peggy Na Laveen; + make your heart and mind easy, then, for you won't be parted.” + </p> + <p> + He turned his eyes upon the speaker, and a gleam of exultation and delight + settled upon his worn but venerable features; nor did it wholly pass away, + for, although his chin sank upon his breast, yet the placid expression + remained. On raising his head they perceived that this fine and + patriarchal representative of the truthful integrity and simple manners of + a bygone class had passed into a life where neither age nor care can + oppress the spirit, and from whose enjoyment no fear of separation can + ever disturb it. + </p> + <p> + It is unnecessary to describe the sorrow which they felt. It must be + sufficient to say that seldom has grief for one so far advanced in years + been so sincere and deep. Age, joined to the knowledge of his affectionate + heart and many virtues, had encircled him with a halo of love and pious + veneration which caused his disappearance from among them to be felt, as + if a lamb of simple piety and unsullied truth had been removed from their + path for ever. + </p> + <p> + That, indeed, was a busy and a melancholy day with the M'Mahons; for, in + addition to the death of the old grandfather, they were obliged to receive + farewell visits to no end from their relations, neighbors, and + acquaintances. Indeed it would be difficult to find a family in a state of + greater distress and sorrow. The auction, of course, was postponed for a + week—that is, until after the old man's funeral—and the + consequence was that circumstances, affecting the fate of our <i>dramatis + personae</i> had time to be developed, which would otherwise have occurred + too late to be available for the purposes of our narrative. This renders + it necessary that we should return to a period in it somewhat anterior to + that at which we have now arrived. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTEE XXVI.—Containing a Variety of Matters. + </h2> + <p> + Our readers cannot have forgotten the angry dialogue which Kate Hogan and + her male relations indulged in upon the misunderstanding that had occurred + between the Cavanaghs and M'Mahons, and its imputed cause. We stated at + the time that Hycy Burke and the Hogans, together with a strange man and + woman, were embarked in some mysterious proceedings from which both Kate + Hogan and Teddy Phats had been excluded. For some time, both before and + after that night, there had been, on the other hand, a good, deal of + mysterious communication between several of our other characters. For + instance Kate Hogan and Nanny Peety had had frequent interviews, to which, + in the course of time, old Peety, Teddy Phats, and, after him, our friend + the schoolmaster had been admitted. Nanny Peety had also called on Father + Magowan, and, after him, upon young Clinton; and it was evident, from the + result of her disclosures to the two latter, that they also took a warm + interest, and were admitted to a participation in, the councils we + mention. To these proceedings Clinton had not been long privy when he + began to communicate with Vanston, who, on his part, extended the mystery + to Chevydale, between whom and himself several confidential interviews had + already taken place. Having thrown out these hints to our readers, we beg + them to accompany us once more to the parlor of Clinton the gauger and his + nephew. + </p> + <p> + “So, uncle, now that you have been promoted to the Supervisorship, you + abandon the farm; you abandon Ahadarra?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, won't I be out of the district, you blockhead? and you persist in + refusing it besides.” + </p> + <p> + “Most positively; but I always suspected that Fethertonge was a scoundrel, + as his conduct in that very business with you was a proo—hem, ahem.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on,” said the uncle, coolly, “don't be ashamed, Harry; I was nearly as + great a scoundrel in that business as he was. I told you before that I + look upon the world as one great pigeon, which every man who can, without + exposing, himself, is obliged to pluck. Now, in the matter of the farm, I + only was about to pluck out a feather or two to put in my own nest—or + yours, if you had stood it.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate, uncle, I must admit that you are exceedingly candid.” + </p> + <p> + “No such thing, you fool; there is scarcely an atom of candor in my whole + composition—I mean to the world, whatever I may be to you. Candor, + Harry, my boy, is a virtue which very few in this life, as it goes, can + afford to practice—at least I never could.” + </p> + <p> + “Well but, uncle, is it not a pity to see that honest family ruined and + driven out of the country by the villany of Burke on the one hand, and the + deliberate fraud and corruption of Fethertonge, on the other. However, now + that you are resolved to unmask Fethertonge, I am satisfied. It's a proof + that you don't wish to see an honest family oppressed and turned, without + reasonable compensation, out of their property.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a proof of no such thing, I tell you. I don't care the devil had the + M'Mahons; but I am bound to this ninnyhammer of a landlord, who has got me + promoted, and who promises, besides, to get an appointment for you. I + cannot see him, I say, fleeced and plucked by this knavish agent, who + winds him about his finger like a thread; and, as to those poor honest + devils of M'Mahons, stop just a moment and I will show you a document that + may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in order to enhance + the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come nearer the truth, the + value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a document, which I will + immediately show you, in my hands.” + </p> + <p> + He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned and + handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and + Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a + certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” he proceeded, “there's a document which proves Fethertonge, + notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have reduced + it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to his account, + he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old Chevydale, it + appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove, the day before + he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to writing, which he did, + and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons, to whom, of course, it was + never given.” + </p> + <p> + “But what claim had you to it, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I might + let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward methods + of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow Burke has + thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those other + mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is all about + and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or + transportation among them.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession + of them:—There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty + girl—” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay—no fear but there must be that in it; go along.” + </p> + <p> + “A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's, + Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the various + stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this girl, but + without success. Her virtue was incorruptible.” + </p> + <p> + “Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I + should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you + there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length—that is about + a week ago—was obliged to disclose to her father the endless + persecution which she had to endure at the hands of Hycy Burke; and in + addition to that disclosure, came another, to the effect that she had been + for a considerable period aware of a robbery which took place in old + Burke's—you may remember the stir it made—and which robbery + was perpetrated by Bat Hogan, one of these infamous tinkers that live in + Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, and under the protection of his family. The girl's + father—who, by the way, is no other than the little black visaged + mendicant who goes about the country—” + </p> + <p> + “I know him—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “Her father, I say, on hearing these circumstances, naturally indignant at + Hycy Burke for his attempts to corrupt the principles of his daughter, + brought the latter with him to Father Magowan, in whose presence she + stated all she knew; adding, that she had secured Bat Hogan's hat and + shoes, which, in his hurry, he had forgotten on the night of the robbery. + She also requested the priest to call upon me, 'as she felt certain,' she + said, 'in consequence of a letter of Burke's which I happened to see as + she carried it to the post-office, that I could throw some light upon his + villany. He did so.' It was on that affair the priest called here the + other day, and I very candidly disclosed to him the history of that + letter, and its effect in causing the seizure of the distillery apparatus—the + fact being that everything was got up by Hycy himself—I mean at his + cost, with a view to ruin M'Mahon. And this I did the more readily, as the + scoundrel has gone far to involve me in the conduct imputed to M'Mahon, as + his secret abbettor and enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” observed his uncle, “all that's a very pretty affair as it stands; + but what are you to do next?” + </p> + <p> + “There is worse behind, I can assure you,” continued his nephew. “Hycy + Burke, who is proverbially extravagant, having at last, in an indirect + way, ruined young M'Mahon, from the double motive of ill-will and a wish + to raise money by running illicit spirits—” + </p> + <p> + “The d—d scoundrel!” exclaimed the gauger, seized with a virtuous + fit of (professional) indignation, “that fellow would scruple at nothing—proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” observed the other, rather maliciously, “he made a complete + tool of you in M'Mahon's affair.” + </p> + <p> + “He did, the scoundrel,” replied his uncle, wincing a good deal; “but, as + the matter was likely to turn up, he was only working out my purposes.” + </p> + <p> + “He is in a bad mess now, however,” continued his nephew. + </p> + <p> + “Why, is there worse to come?” + </p> + <p> + “This same Nanny Peety, you must know, is a relative, it seems, to Bat + Hogan's wife. For some time past there has come a strange man named + Vincent, and his wife, to reside in the neighborhood, and this fellow in + conjunction with the Hogans, was managing some secret proceedings which no + one can penetrate. Now, it appears that Hogan's wife, who has been kept + out of this secret, got Nanny Peety to set her father to work in order to + discover it. Peety, by the advice of Hogan's wife, called in Teddy Phat's—” + </p> + <p> + “What's that? Teddy Phats? Now, by the way, Harry, don't abuse poor Teddy. + You will be surprised, Hal, when I tell you that he and I have played into + each other's hands for years. Yes, my boy, and I can assure you that, + owing to him, both Fethertonge and I were aware of Hycy's Burke's plot + against M'Mahon long before he set it a-going. The fellow, however, will + certainly be hanged yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, sir,” replied Harry, “instead of being hanged himself, he's likely + to hang others. In consequence of an accidental conversation which Teddy + Phats, and Finigan the tippling schoolmaster had, concerning Vincent, the + stranger I spoke of, who, it appears, lives next to Finigan's + school-house, Teddy discovered, through the pedagogue, who, by the way, is + abroad at all hours, that the aforesaid Vincent was in the habit of going + up every night to the most solitary part of the mountains, but for what + purpose, except upon another distillation affair, he could not say.” + </p> + <p> + The old gauger or supervisor, as he now considered himself, became here so + comically excited—or, we should rather say, so seriously excited—that + it was with difficulty the nephew could restrain his laughter. He moved as + if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, his eyes brightened, and + his naturally keen and knavish-looking features were sharpened, as it + were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that he resembled a staunch + old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh slot of a hare. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, rubbing his hands—“well, go on—what happened? + Do you hear, Harry? What happened? Of course they're at the distillation + again. Don't you hear me, I say? What was the upshot?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the upshot was,” replied the other, “that nothing of sufficient + importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that + they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in that + of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy Burke, or + Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, tut!” exclaimed Clinton, disappointed—“so after all, there has + been nothing done?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these matters + have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three interviews + with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young M'Mahon from + the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds such a position + now with his employer that an infant's breath would almost blow him out of + his good opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you to + punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge should + escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it should not, + we will give him a breeze.” + </p> + <p> + “I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an + investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous + letter with me—it may serve an honest man and help to punish a + rogue. What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the uncle, “for the novelty of the thing I don't care if I + do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not + prepared for it.” + </p> + <p> + After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with Hycy's + anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which the old + squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his son. They + found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would have expected; + but, in reality, the state of the country was such as forced them to open + their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere political resentments + or senseless party prejudices against each other, but to the absolute + necessity that existed for looking closely into the state of their + property, and the deplorable condition to which, if they did not take + judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be reduced. They now + began to discover a fact which they ought, long since, to have known—viz.:—that + the condition of the people and that of their property was one and the + same—perfectly identical in all things; and that a poor tenantry + never yet existed upon a thriving or independent estate, or one that was + beneficial to the landlord. + </p> + <p> + Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival + of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps, be + without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of it. + </p> + <p> + “So,” says Vanston, “you are beginning to feel that there is something + wrong on your property, and that your agent is not doing you justice?” + </p> + <p> + “I have reason to suspect,” replied Chevydale, “that he is neither more + nor less than feathering his own nest at the expense of myself and my + tenantry. I cannot understand why he is so anxious to get the M'Mahons off + the estate; a family unquestionably of great honesty, truth, and + integrity, and who, I believe, have been on the property before it came + into our possession at all. I feel—excuse me, Vanston, for the + admission, but upon my honor it is truth—I feel, I say, that, in the + matter of the election—that is, so far as M'Mahon was concerned, he—my + agent—made a cat's paw of me. He prevented me from supporting young + M'Mahon's memorial; he—he—prejudiced me against the family in + several ways, and now, that I am acquainted with the circumstances of + strong and just indignation against me under which M'Mahon voted, I can't + at all blame him. I would have done the same thing myself.” + </p> + <p> + “There is d——d villany somewhere at work,” replied Vanston. + “They talk of a fifty-pound note that I am said to have sent to him by + post. Now, I pledge my honor as an honest man and a gentleman, that I have + sifted and examined all my agents, and am satisfied that he never received + a penny from me. Young Burke did certainly promise to secure me his vote; + but I have discovered Burke to be a most unprincipled profligate, corrupt + and dishonest. For, you may think it strange that, although he engaged to + procure me M'Mahon's vote, M'Mahon himself, whom I believe, assured me + that he never even asked him for it, until after he had overheard, in the + head inn, a conversation concerning himself that filled him with bitter + resentment against you and your agent.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember it,” replied Chevydale, “and; yet my agents told me that Burke + did everything in his power to prevent M'Mahon from voting for you.” + </p> + <p> + “That,” replied the other, “was to preserve his own character from the + charge of inconsistency; for, I again assure you that he had promised us + M'Mahon's vote, and that he urged him privately to vote against you. But d—n + the scoundrel, he is not worth the conversation we had about him. Father + Magowan, in consequence of whose note to me I wrote to ask you here, + states in the communication I had from him, that the parties will be here + about twelve o'clock—Burke himself, he thinks, and M'Mahon along + with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out of the + parish—a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we shall + soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking of the + country, what is to be done?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied Chevydale, “that we, the landed proprietors of Ireland, + should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile causes of + division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited us, but set + us together by the ears, we should take counsel among ourselves, and after + due and serious deliberation, come to the determination that it is our + duty to prevent Irish interests from being made subservient to English + interests, and from being legislated for upon English principles.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture. + Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation. When + we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British Parliament—I + allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal members—what hope can + we entertain of honesty and love of country from such men? When we look, + too, at many of our Corporations and strike an average of their honesty + and intellect, have we not a right to thank God that the interests of our + country are not confided to the management of such an arrogant, corrupt, + and vulgar crew as in general compose them. The truth is, Vanston, we must + become national in our own defense, and whilst we repudiate, with a firm + conviction of the folly on the one hand, and the dishonesty on the other, + of those who talk about Repeal, we shall find it our best policy to forget + the interests of any particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down + into one great principle of national love and good-will toward each other. + Let us only become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when + we were unanimous upon other occasions.” + </p> + <p> + “I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say,” replied + Vanston, “and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must identify + ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably are ours.” + </p> + <p> + “As to myself,” continued Chevydale, “I fear I have much to repair in my + conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy—in + fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil, + according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until + now, I did not suspect.” + </p> + <p> + “The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others,” + replied Vanston; “but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity of + management in Irish property—such indifference and neglect upon our + part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in + most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under + show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently, + much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances.” + </p> + <p> + The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his + nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they + brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we + should detail there conversation at full length. + </p> + <p> + “I must confess,” said Clinton, “that I would have some reason to feel + ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it + not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the + commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to + excite any feeling one way or the other.” + </p> + <p> + “But you must have known, Clinton,” said Chevydale, “that it was a most + iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest + agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man.” + </p> + <p> + “What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?” + </p> + <p> + “But had you not in your own possession my father's written promise—written, + too, on his death-bed—to these honest men, that they should have + their leases renewed?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not + mine.” + </p> + <p> + “As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle + you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the + transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say there + is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here.” + </p> + <p> + “Faith, to tell you the truth,” replied Clinton, “as I said to Harry here, + because <i>I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not + prepared for it</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, “I am myself + very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say + that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been + made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take care that + it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can deliberately + avow his participation in such shameless profligacy would be to identify + myself with it. You have been doubly treacherous, Mr. Clinton; first to + me, whom you know to be your friend, and, in the next place, to the + unfortunate partner in your villany, and at my expense; for d——d + if I can call it less. What noise is that?” + </p> + <p> + Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two + voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with + each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend + O'Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in + the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not + allow the great O to be suppressed. + </p> + <p> + “Behave, and keep quiet, now,” said his Reverence, “you unfortunate + pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated.” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, your Reverence,” replied O'Finigan; “<i>non ebrius sed vino + gravatus</i>, devil a thing more.” + </p> + <p> + “Get out, you profligate,” replied the priest, “don't you know that + either, at this time o' day, is too bad?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Nego, dominie—nego, Dominie revendre</i>—denial is my + principle, I say. Do you assert that there's no difference between <i>ebrius</i> + and <i>gravatus vino</i>?” + </p> + <p> + “In your case, you reprobate, I do. Where would you get the vino? + However,” he proceeded, “as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is + possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular + subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and it's + likely we may get more truth out of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said the schoolmaster, “upon the principle that <i>in vino veritas</i>; + but you know that <i>gravatus vino</i> and <i>ebrius</i> are two different + things—<i>gravatus vino</i>, the juice o' the grape—och, och, + as every one knows, could and stupid; but <i>ebrius</i> from blessed + poteen, that warms and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart.” + </p> + <p> + The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance + and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” said the priest, “I trust you will excuse me for the society + in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that this Finigan—” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn of—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really + inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence can + be of any advantage to us.” + </p> + <p> + “He says,” replied the master, “that I am <i>ebrius</i>, whereas I replied + that I was only <i>vino gravatus</i>, by which I only meant <i>quasi vino + gravatus</i>; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober + until I'm half seas over—for it is then that I have all my wits + properly about me.” + </p> + <p> + “In fact, gentleman,” proceeded the priest, “in consequence of certain + disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I deemed + it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here. She is + accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who refuses + to be separated from her—and insists, consequently, on coming along + with her. I don't exactly know what her motive may be in this; but I am + certain she has a motive. It is a gratification to me, however, to find, + gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion. I sent + word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M'Mahon; for I thought it only fair that + Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any charge may + be brought against him. I expect M'Mahon, too.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us remove, then, to my office,” said, Chevydale—“it is now a + few minutes past twelve, and I dare say they will soon be here.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly did so; and, as he had said, the parties almost + immediately made their appearance. + </p> + <p> + “Now, gentlemen,” said Father Magowan, “I am of opinion that the best way + is for this girl to state what she knows concerning these Hogans; but I + think I can now persave the raison why Kate Hogan has made it a point to + come with her. It is quite evident from her manner that she wishes to + intimidate this girl, and to prevent her from stating fully and truly what + she knows.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied Kate, “it is no such thing—she must either state the + whole truth or nothing; that's what I want, an' what she must do—put + the saddle on the right horse, Nanny—since you will spake.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a good proverbial illustration,” observed Finigan, “but I will + improve it—put the saddle of infamy, I say, upon the right horse, + Nanny. You see, gintlemen,” he added, turning to the magistrates, “my + improvement elevates the metaphor—proceed, girsha.” + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” said Hycy, “I received a note from Father Magowan informing + me that it was probable certain charges might be brought against me—or + at least some complaints made,” he added, softening the expression—“and + I should be glad to know what they are all about, before this girl + commences formally to state them; I say so in order that I may not be + taken by surprise.” + </p> + <p> + “You know,” replied the priest, “that you cannot be taken by surprise; + because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that are + against you.” + </p> + <p> + Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston—and + we may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “By the way,” asked the former of these gentlemen, “does this + investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?” + </p> + <p> + “Not, sir, so far as I am aware of—I come here because Father + Magowan wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country + now,” he added in a tone of deep melancholy, “there's an end to that for + ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, my good girl,” said Chevydale, “you will state all you know + connected with these Hogans fully and truly—that is, neither more + nor less than the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “All the truth, Nanny,” said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly condensed + power; “Hycy Burke,” she proceeded, “you ruined Bryan M'Mahon here—and, + by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's heart—she's gone—no + docthor could save her now; and for this you'll soon know what Kate Hogan + can do. Go on, Nanny.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, gintlemon,” Nanny began, “in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here + that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by + the fine.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy laughed. “Excellent!” said he; “Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did not + imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn out + to be enacted exactly in your office.” + </p> + <p> + “Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate,” said the schoolmaster; + “but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become a + tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed, girsha.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know,” asked Chevydale, “that this charge is true?” + </p> + <p> + “If I don't know it,” she replied, “my aunt here does,—and I think + so does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?” asked Chevydale, + addressing Kate. + </p> + <p> + “Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make the + Still, set it up—and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he + didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all + knew it was—'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above, + where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + “I assure you, gentlemen,” said Hycy, “that the respectability of the + witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments and + sense of justice;—a common vagabond and notorious thief on the one + hand, and a beggarman's brat on the other. However, proceed—I + perceive that I shall be obliged to sink under the force of such testimony—ha! + ha! ha!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment old Jemmy Burke, having accidentally heard that morning + that such an investigation was to take place, and likely to bear upon the + conduct of his eldest son, resolved to be present at it, and he + accordingly presented himself as Hycy had concluded his observations. + </p> + <p> + The high integrity of his character was at once recognized—he was + addressed in terms exceedingly respectful, if not deferential, by the two + magistrates—Chevydale having at once ordered the servant in + attendance to hand him a chair. He thanked him, however, but declined it + gratefully, and stood like the rest. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the investigation proceeded. “Mr. Burke,” said Chevydale, + addressing himself to the old man, whose features, by the way, were full + of sorrow and distress—“it may be as well to state to you that we + are not sitting now formally in our magisterial capacity, to investigate + any charges that may be brought against your son, but simply making some + preliminary inquiries with respect to other charges, which we have been + given to understand are about to be brought against the notorious Hogans.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't lay the blame upon the Hogans,” replied Kate, fiercely—“the + Hogans, bad as people say they are, only acted under Hycy Burke. It was + Hycy Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Chevydale, probably out of compassion for the old man, “you + must know we are not now investigating Mr. Burke's conduct.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed, gintlemen,” said his father, firmly but sorrowfully; “I have + heard it said too often that he was at the bottom of the plot that ruined + Bryan M'Mahon, or that wint near to ruin him; I wish to have that well + sifted, gintlemen, and to know the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “I can swear,” continued Kate, “that it was him got up the whole plan, and + gave them the money for it. I seen him in our house—or, to come + nearer the truth, in Gerald Cavanagh's kiln, where we live—givin' + them the money.” + </p> + <p> + “As you are upon that subject, gentlemen,” observed Harry Clinton, “I + think it due to the character of Bryan M'Mahon to state that I am in a + capacity to prove that Hycy Burke was unquestionably at the bottom—or, + in point of fact, the originator—of his calamities with reference to + the act of illicit distillation, and the fine which he would have been + called on to pay, were it not that the Commissioners of Excise remitted + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Mr. Clinton,” replied Hycy; “I find I am not mistaken in you—I + think you are worthy of your accomplices”—and he pointed to Kate and + Nanny as he spoke—“proceed.” + </p> + <p> + “We are passing,” observed Vanston, “from one to another rather + irregularly, I fear; don't you think we had better hear this girl fully in + the first place; but, my good girl,” he added, “you are to understand that + we are not here to investigate any charges against Mr. Hycy Burke, but + against the Hogans. You will please then to confine your charges to them.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” replied Nanny, “that's what I can't do, plase your honor, widout + bringin' in Hycy Burke too, bekaise himself an' the Hogans was joined in + everything.” + </p> + <p> + “I think, gintlemen,” said the priest, “the best plan is to let her tell + her story in her own way.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps so,” said Chevydale; “proceed, young woman, and state fully and + truly whatever you have got to say.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” she proceeded, “there's one thing I know—I know who + robbed Mr. Burke here;” and she pointed to the old man, who started. + </p> + <p> + The magistrates also looked surprised. “How,” said Vanston, turning his + eyes keenly upon her, “you know of the robbery; and pray, how long have + you known it?'” + </p> + <p> + “Ever since the night it was committed, plaise your honor.” + </p> + <p> + “What a probable story!” exclaimed Hycy; “and you kept it to yourself, + like an honest girl as you are, until now!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr. Burke,” said Vanston, quickly and rather sharply, “surely you + can have no motive in impugning her evidence upon that subject?” + </p> + <p> + Hycy bit his lip, for he instantly felt that he had overshot himself by + almost anticipating the charge, as if it were about to be made against + himself;—“What I think improbable in it,” said Hycy, “is that she + should, if in possession of the facts, keep them concealed so long.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, never fear, Mr. Hycy, I'll soon make that plain enough,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “But in the mean time,” said Chevydale, “will you state the names of those + who did commit the robbery?” + </p> + <p> + “I will,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “The whole truth, Nanny,” exclaimed Kate. + </p> + <p> + “It was Bat Hogan, then, that robbed Mr. Burke,” she replied; “and—and—” + </p> + <p> + “Out wid it,” said Kate. + </p> + <p> + “And who besides, my good girl?” inquired Vanston. + </p> + <p> + The young woman looked round with compassion upon Jemmy Burke, and the + tears started to her eyes. “I pity him!” she exclaimed, “I pity him—that + good old man;” and, as she uttered the words, she wept aloud. + </p> + <p> + “This, I fear, is getting rather a serious affair,” said Vanston, in a low + voice to Chevydale—“I see how the tide is likely to turn.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale merely nodded, as if he also comprehended it. “You were about to + add some other name?” said he; “in the mean time compose yourself and + proceed.” + </p> + <p> + Hycy Burke's face at this moment had become white as a sheet; in fact, to + any one of common penetration, guilt and a dread of the coming disclosure + were legible in every lineament of it. + </p> + <p> + “Who was the other person you were about to mention?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “His own son, sir, Mr. Hycy Burke, there.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” exclaimed Chevydale; “Mr. Hycy Burke, do you say? Mr. Burke,” he + added, addressing that gentleman, “how is this? Here is a grave and + serious charge against you. What have you to say to it?” + </p> + <p> + “That it would be both grave and serious,” replied Hycy, “if it possessed + but one simple element, without which all evidence is valueless—I + mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well name either of + yourselves, gentlemen, as me.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?” asked Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs.” + </p> + <p> + “How did you see him?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “Through a hole in the partition,” she replied, “where a knot of the deal + boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet off o' + the room the money was in.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?” asked Vanston of the old + man. + </p> + <p> + “It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, proceed,” said Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it + creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the + chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he + had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I + folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of the + room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the + mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full—but in the teeth. I + was above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she + stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout bein' + seen myself. Well, when the mistress met him she was goin' to bawl out wid + terror, an' would, too, only that Masther Hycy flew to her, put his hand + on her mouth, an' whispered something in her ear. He then went over to + Bat, and got a large shafe of bank-notes from him, an' motioned him to be + off wid himself, an' that he'd see him to-morrow. Bat went down in the + dark, an' Hycy an' his mother had some conversation in a low voice on the + lobby. She seemed angry, an' he was speakin' soft an' strivin' to put her + into good humor again. I then dipt back to bed, but the never a wink could + I get till mornin'; an' when I went down, the first thing I saw was Bat + Hogan's shoes. It was hardly light at the time; but at any rate I hid them + where they couldn't be got, an' it was well I did, for the first thing I + saw was Bat himself peering about the street and yard, like a man that was + looking for something that he had lost.” + </p> + <p> + “But how did you know that the shoes were Hogan's?” asked Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “Why, your honor, any one that ever seen the man might know that. One of + his heels is a trifle shorter than the other, which makes him halt a + little, an' he has a bunion as big as an egg on the other foot.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Nanny,” said Kate, “that's the truth; but I can tell you more, + gentlemen. On the evenin' before, when Mr. Hycy came home, he made up the + plan to rob his father wid Phil Hogan; but Phil got drunk that night an' + Bat had to go in his place. Mr. Hycy promised to see the Hogans that + mornin' at his father's, about ten o'clock; but when they went he had gone + off to Ballymacan; an' as they expected him every minute, they stayed + about the place in spite o' the family, an' mended everything they could + lay their hands on. Bat an' Mr. Hycy met that night in Teddy Phat's + still-house, in Glendearg, an' went home together across the mountains + aftherward.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Burke, what have you to say to this?” asked Chevydale. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” replied Hycy, “that it's a very respectable conspiracy as it + stands, supported by the thief and vagabond, and the beggar's brat.” + </p> + <p> + “Was there any investigation at the time of its occurrence?” asked + Vanston. + </p> + <p> + “There was, your honor,” replied Nanny; “it was proved, clearly enough + that Phil and Ned Hogan were both dead drunk that night an' couldn't + commit a robbery; an' Masther Hycy himself said that he knew how Bat spent + the night, an' that of course he couldn't do it; an' you know, your + honors, there was no gettin' over that. I have, or rather my father has, + Bat Hogan's shoes still.” + </p> + <p> + “This, I repeat, seems a very serious charge, Mr. Burke,” said Chevydale + again. + </p> + <p> + “Which, as I said before, contains not one particle of truth,” replied + Hycy. “If I had resolved to break open my father's chest to get cash out + of it, it is not likely that I would call in the aid of such a man as Bat + Hogan. As a proof that I had nothing to do with the robbery in question, I + can satisfy you that my mother, not many days after the occurrence of it, + was obliged to get her car and drive some three or four miles' distance to + borrow a hundred pounds for me from a friend of hers, upon her own + responsibility, which, had I committed the outrage in question, I would + not have required at all.” + </p> + <p> + Old Burke's face would, at this period of the proceedings, have extorted + compassion from any heart. Sorrow, distress, agony of spirit, and shame, + were all so legible in his pale features—that those who were present + kept their eyes averted, from respect to the man, and from sympathy with + his sufferings. + </p> + <p> + At length he himself came forward, and, after wiping away a few bitter + tears from his cheeks, he said—“Gentlemen, I care little about the + money I lost, nor about who took it—let it go—as for me, I + won't miss it; but there is one thing that cuts me to the heart—I'm + spakin' about the misfortune that was brought, or near bein' brought, upon + this honest an' generous-hearted young man, Bryan M'Mahon, through manes + of a black plot that was got up against him—I'm spakin' of the Still + that was found on his farm of Ahadarra. That, if my son had act or part in + it, is a thousand times worse than the other; as for the takin' of the + money, I don't care about it, as I said—nor I won't prosecute any + one for it; but I must have my mind satisfied about the other affair.” + </p> + <p> + It is not our intention to dwell at any length upon the clear proofs of + his treachery and deceit, which were established against him by Harry + Clinton, who produced the anonymous letter to his uncle—brought home + to him as it was by his own evidence and that of Nanny Peety. + </p> + <p> + “There is, however,” said Vanston, “another circumstance affecting the + reputation and honesty of Mr. Bryan M'Mahon, which in your presence, Mr. + M'Gowan, I am anxious to set at rest. I have already contradicted it with + indignation wherever I have heard it, and I am the more anxious to do so, + now, whilst M'Mahon and Burke are present, and because I have been given + to understand that you denounced him—M'Mahon—with such + hostility from the altar, as almost occasioned him to be put to death in + the house of God.” + </p> + <p> + “You are undher a mistake there, Major Vanston, with great respect,” + replied the priest. “It wasn't I but my senior curate, Father M'Pepper; + and he has already been reprimanded by his Bishop.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the other, “I am glad to hear it. However, I, now solemnly + declare, as an honest man and an Irish, gentleman, that neither I, nor any + one for me, with my knowledge, ever gave or sent any money to Bryan + M'Mahon; but perhaps we may ascertain who did. M'Mahon, have you got the + letter about you?” + </p> + <p> + “I have, sir,” replied Bryan, “and the bank-note, too.” + </p> + <p> + “You will find the frank and address both in your own handwriting,” said + Hycy. “It was I brought him the letter from the post-office.” + </p> + <p> + “Show me the letter, if you plaise,” said Nanny, who, after looking first + at it and then at Hycy, added, “and it was I gave it this little tear near + the corner, and dhrew three scrapes of a pin across the paper, an' there + they are yet; an' now I can take my oath that it was Mr. Hycy that sent + that letther to Bryan M'Mahon—an' your Reverence is the very man I + showed it to, and that tould me who it was goin' to, in the street of + Ballymacan.”' + </p> + <p> + On a close inspection of the letter it was clearly obvious that, although + there appeared at a cursory glance a strong resemblance between the frank + and the address, yet the difference was too plain to be mistaken. + </p> + <p> + “If there is further evidence necessary,” said Vanston, looking at Hycy + significantly, “my agent can produce it—and he is now in the house.” + </p> + <p> + “I think you would not venture on that,” replied Hycy. + </p> + <p> + “Don't be too sure of that,” said the other, determinedly. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” replied Father Magowan, “there is nothing further on that point + necessary—the proof is plain and clear; and now, Bryan M'Mahon, give + me your hand, for it is that of an honest man—I am proud to see that + you stand pure and unsullied again; and it shall be my duty to see that + justice shall be rendered! you, and ample compensation made for all that + you have suffered.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, sir,” replied Bryan, with an air of deep dejection, “but I am + sorry to say it is now too late—I am done with the country, and with + those that misrepresented me, for ever.” + </p> + <p> + Chevydale looked at him with deep attention for a moment, then whispered + something to Vanston, who smiled, and nodded his head approvingly. + </p> + <p> + Jemmy Burke now prepared to go. “Good mornin', gintlemen,” he said, “I am + glad to see the honest name cleared and set right, as it ought to be; but + as for myself, I lave you wid a heavy—wid a breakin' heart.” + </p> + <p> + As he disappeared at the door, Hycy rushed after him, exclaiming, “Father, + listen to me—don't go yet till you hear my defence. I will go and + fetch him back,” he exclaimed—“he must hear what I have to say for + myself.” + </p> + <p> + He overtook his father at the bottom of the hall steps. “Give me a hundred + pounds,” said he, “and you will never see my face again.” + </p> + <p> + “There is two hundre',” said his father; “I expected this. Your mother + confessed all to me this mornin', bekaise she knew it would come out here, + I suppose. Go now, for undher my roof you'll never come again. If you can—reform + your life—an' live at all events, as if there was a God above you. + Before you go answer me;—what made you bring in Bat Hogan to rob + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply,” replied his son, “because I wished to make him and them feel + that I had them in my power—and now you have it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/plate635.jpg" + alt="Page 635-- Hycy Received the Money, Set Spurs to his Horse " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Hycy received the money, set spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in a + moment—“Ah!” exclaimed the old man, with bitterness of soul, “what + mightn't he be if his weak and foolish mother hadn't taken it into her + head to make a gentleman of him! But now she reaps as she sowed. She's + punished—an' that's enough.”—And thus does Hycy the + accomplished make his exit from our humble stage. + </p> + <p> + “Gintlemen,” said Finigan, “now that the accomplished Mr. Hycy is disposed + of, I beg to state, that it will be productive of much public good to the + country to expatriate these three virtuous worthies, <i>qui nomine gaudent</i> + Hogan—and the more so as it can be done on clear legal grounds. They + are a principal means of driving this respectable young man, Bryan + M'Mahon, and his father's family, out of the land of their birth; and + there will be something extremely appropriate—and indicative besides + of condign and retributive punishment—in sending them on their + travels at his Majesty's expense. I am here, in connection with others, to + furnish you with the necessary proof against them; and I am of opinion + that the sooner they are sent upon a voyage of discovery it will be so + much the better for the rejoicing neighborhood they will leave behind + them.” + </p> + <p> + The hint was immediately taken with respect to them and Vincent, all of + whom had been engaged in coming under Hycy's auspices—they were + apprehended and imprisoned, the chief evidence against them being Teddy + Phats, Peety Dhu, and Finigan, who for once became a stag, as he called + it. They were indicted for a capital felony; but the prosecution having + been postponed for want of sufficient evidence, they were kept in durance + until next assizes;—having found it impossible to procure bail. In + the meantime new charges of uttering base coin came thick and strong + against them; and as the Crown lawyers found that they could not succeed + on the capital indictment—nor indeed did they wish to do so—they + tried them on the lighter one, and succeeded in getting sentence of + transportation passed against every one of them, with the exception of + Kate Hogan alone.—So that, as Finigan afterwards said, “instead of + Bryan M'Mahon, it was they themselves that became 'the Emigrants of + Ahadarra,' at the king's expense—and Mr. Hycy at his own.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII.—Conclusion. + </h2> + <p> + How Kathleen Cavanagh spent the time that elapsed between the period at + which she last appeared to our readers and the present may be easily + gathered from what we are about to write. We have said already that her + father, upon the strength of some expressions uttered in a spirit of + distraction and agony, assured Jemmy Burke that she had consented to marry + his son Edward, after a given period. Honest Jemmy, however, never for a + moment suspected the nature of the basis upon which his worthy neighbor + had erected the superstructure of his narrative; but at the same time he + felt sadly puzzled by the melancholy and declining appearance of her whom + he looked upon as his future daughter-in-law. The truth was that scarcely + any of her acquaintances could recognize her as the same majestic, tall, + and beautiful girl whom they had known before this heavy disappointment + had come on her. Her exquisite figure had lost most of its roundness, her + eye no longer flashed—with its dark mellow lustre, and her cheek—her + damask cheek—distress and despair had fed upon it, until little + remained there but the hue of death itself. Her health in fact was + evidently beginning to go. Her appetite had abandoned her; she slept + little, and that little was restless and unrefreshing. All her family, + with the exception of her father and mother, who sustained themselves with + the silly ambition of their daughter being able to keep her jaunting-car—for + her father had made that point a <i>sine qua non</i>—all, we say, + with the above exceptions, became seriously alarmed at the state of her + mind and health. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, dear,” said her affectionate sister, “I think you have carried + your feelings against Bryan far enough.” + </p> + <p> + “My feelings against Bryan!” she exclamed. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” proceeded her sister, “I think you ought to forgive him.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have + long since forgiven him, Hanna.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?” + </p> + <p> + “I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can + nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when + brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal—the man that + would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of + corruption—he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and + he must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling + principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is + because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that I + am as you see me.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you do intend to marry?” asked Hanna, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you ask that, Hanna?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man + your husband is to be.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna,” she replied, solemnly, “look at my cheek, look at my eye, look at + my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can. Don't you + see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it.” + </p> + <p> + Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst + into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you are changed, most woefully, Kathleen, darlin',” she exclaimed, + kissing her tenderly; “but if you could only bear up now, time would set + everything right, and bring you about right, as it will still, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + Her sister mused for some time, and then added—“I think I could bear + up yet if he was to stay in the country; but when I recollect that he's + going to another land—forever—I feel that my heart is broken: + as it is, his disgrace and that thought are both killin' me. To-morrow the + auction comes on, and then he goes—after that I will never see him. + I'm afraid, Hanna, that I'll have to go to bed; I feel that I'm hardly + able to sit up.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna once more pressed her to her heart and wept. + </p> + <p> + “Don't cry, Hanna dear—don't cry for me; the bitterest part of my + fate will be partin' from you.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna here pressed her again and wept aloud, whilst her spotless and + great-minded sister consoled her as well as she could. “Oh, what would + become of me!” exclaimed Hanna, sobbing; “if anything was to happen you, + or take you away from me, it would break my heart, too, and I'd die.” + </p> + <p> + “Hanna,” said her sister, not encouraging her to proceed any further on + that distressing subject; “on to-morrow, the time I allowed for Bryan to + clear himself, if he could, will be up, and I have only to beg that you'll + do all you can to prevent my father and mother from distressing me about + Edward Burke; I will never marry him, but I expect to see him your husband + yet, and I think he's worthy of you—that's saying a great deal, I + know. You love him, Hanna—I know it, and he loves you, Hanna, for he + told me so the last day but one he was here;—you remember they all + went out, and left us together, and then he told me all.” + </p> + <p> + Hanna's face and neck became crimson, and she was about to reply, when a + rather loud but good-humored voice was heard in the kitchen, for this + dialogue took place in the parlor—exclaiming, “God save all here! + How do you do, Mrs. Cavanagh? How is Gerald and the youngsters?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed all middlin' well, thank your reverence, barrin' our eldest girl + that's a little low spirited for some time past.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, I know the cause of that—it's no secret—where is she + now? If she's in the house let me see her.” + </p> + <p> + The two sisters having composed their dress a little and their features, + immediately made their appearance. + </p> + <p> + “God be good to us!” he exclaimed, “here's a change! Why, may I never sin, + if I'd know her no more than the mother that bore her. Lord guard us! look + at this! Do you give her nothing, Mrs. Cavanagh?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing on airth,” she replied; “her complaint's upon the spirits, an' we + didn't think that physic stuff would be of any use to her.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, perhaps I will find a cure for her. Listen to me, darling. Your + sweetheart's name and fame are cleared, and Bryan M'Mahon is what he ever + was—an honest an' upright young man.” + </p> + <p> + Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without + seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and was about + to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with alarm—“Kathleen, + what ails you, dear? Where are you going?” + </p> + <p> + “Going,” she replied; “I was going to—where?—why?—what—what + has happened?” + </p> + <p> + “The news came upon her too much by surprise,” said Hanna, looking towards + the priest. + </p> + <p> + “Kathleen, darlin',” exclaimed her mother, “try and compose yourself. Lord + guard us, what can ail her?” + </p> + <p> + “Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father + Magowan stay where you are.” + </p> + <p> + They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she + recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which + the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated. + Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom and + indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had recovered a + little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the circumstances + connected with the changes that had affected her lover's character so + deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the following + determination—a determination, by the way, which we earnestly + recommend to all politicians of his profession. + </p> + <p> + “As for my part,” said he, “it has opened my eyes to one thing that I + won't forget:—a single word of politics I shall never suffer to be + preached from the altar while I live; neither shall I allow denouncements + for political offences. The altar, as the bishop told me—and a hard + rap he gave Mr. M'Pepper across the knuckles for Bryan's affair—'the + altar,' said he, 'isn't the place for politics, but for religion; an' I + hope I may never hear of its being desecrated with politics again,' said + his lordship, an' neither I will, I assure you.” + </p> + <p> + The intelligence of the unexpected change that had taken place in favor of + the M'Mahon's, did not reach them on that day, which was the same, as we + have stated, on which their grandfather departed this life. The relief + felt by Thomas M'Mahon and his family at this old man's death, took + nothing from the sorrow which weighed them down so heavily in consequence + of their separation from the abode of their forefathers and the place of + their birth. They knew, or at least they took it for granted that their + grandfather would never have borne the long voyage across the Atlantic, a + circumstance which distressed them very much. His death, however, + exhibiting, as it did, the undying attachment to home which nothing else + could extinguish, only kindled the same affection more strongly and + tenderly in their hearts. The account of it had gone abroad through the + neighborhood, and with it the intelligence that the auction would be + postponed until that day week. And now that he was gone, all their hearts + turned with sorrow and sympathy to the deep and almost agonizing' + struggles which their coming departure caused their father to contend + with. Bryan whose calm but manly firmness sustained them all, absolutely + feared that his courage would fail him, or that his very health would + break down. He also felt for his heroic little sister, Dora, who, although + too resolute to complain or urge her own sufferings, did not endure the + less on that account. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Dora,” said he, after their grandfather had been laid out, “I + know what you are suffering, but what can I do? This split between the + Cavanaghs and us has put it out of my power to serve you as I had + intended. It was my wish to see you and James Cavanagh married; but God + knows I pity you from my heart; for, my dear Dora, there's no use in + denyin' it, I understand too well what you feel.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't fret for me, Bryan,” she replied; “I'm willin' to bear my share of + the affliction that has come upon the family, rather than do anything mane + or unworthy. I know it goes hard with me to give up James and lave him for + ever; but then I see that it must be done, and that I must submit to it. + May God strengthen and enable me! and that's my earnest prayer. I also + often prayed that you an' Kathleen might be reconciled; but I wasn't + heard, it seems. I sometimes think that you ought to go to her; but then + on second thoughts I can hardly advise you to do so.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Dora, I never will, dear; she ought to have heard me as you said face + to face; instead o' that she condemned me without a hearin'. An' yet, + Dora,” he added, “little she knows—little she drames, what I'm + sufferin on her account, and how I love her—more now than ever, I + think; she's so changed, they say, that you could scarcely know her.” As + he spoke, a single tear fell upon Dora's hand which he held in his. + </p> + <p> + “Come. Bryan,” she said, assuming a cheerfulness which she did not feel, + “don't have it to say that little Dora, who ought and does look up to you + for support, must begin to support you herself; to-morrow's the last day—who + knows but she may relent yet?” Bryan smiled faintly, then patted her head, + and said, “darling little Dora, the wealth of nations couldn't purchase + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Not to do any thing mane or wrong, at any rate,” she replied; after which + she went in to attend to the affairs of the family, for this conversation + took place in the garden. + </p> + <p> + As evening approached, a deep gloom, the consequence of strong inward + suffering, overspread the features and bearing of Thomas M'Mahon. For some + time past, he had almost given himself over to the influence of what he + experienced—a fact that was observable in many ways, all more or + less tending to revive the affection which he felt for his departed wife. + For instance, ever since their minds had been made up to emigrate, he had + watched, and tended, and fed Bracky, her favorite cow, with his own hands; + nor would he suffer any one else in the family to go near her, with the + exception of Dora, by whom she had been milked ever since her mother's + death, and to whom the poor animal had now transferred her affection. He + also cleaned and oiled her spinning-wheel, examined her clothes, and kept + himself perpetually engaged in looking at every object that was calculated + to bring her once more before his imagination. + </p> + <p> + About a couple of hours before sunset, without saying where he was going, + he sauntered down to the graveyard of Gamdhu where she lay, and having + first uncovered his head and offered up a prayer for the repose of her + soul, he wept bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Bridget,” said he, in that strong figurative language so frequently used + by the Irish, when under the influence of deep, emotion; “Bridget, wife of + my heart, you are removed from the thrials and throubles of this world—from + the thrials and throubles that have come upon us. I'm come, now—your + own husband—him that loved you beyant everything on this earth, to + tell you why the last wish o' my heart, which was to sleep where I ought + to sleep, by your side, can't be granted to me, and to explain to you why + it is, in case you'd miss me from my place beside you. This unfortunate + counthry, Bridget, has changed, an' is changin' fast for the worse. The + landlord hasn't proved himself to be towards us what he ought to be, and + what we expected he would; an' so, rather than remain at the terms he axes + from us, it's better for us to thry our fortune in America; bekaise, if we + stay here, we must only come to poverty an' destitution, an' sorrow; an' + you know how it 'ud break my heart to see our childre' brought to that, in + the very place where they wor always respected. They're all good to me, as + they ever wor to' us both, acushla machree; but poor Bryan, that you loved + so much—your favorite and your pride—has had much to suffer, + darlin', since you left us; but blessed be God, he bears it manfully and + patiently, although I can see by the sorrow on my boy's brow that the + heart widin him is breakin'. He's not, afther all, to be married, as you + hoped and wished he would, to Kathleen Cavanagh. Her mind has been + poisoned against him; but little she knows him, or she'd not turn from him + as she did. An' now, Bridget, asthore machree, is it come to this wid me? + I must lave you for ever. I must lave—as my father said, that went + this day to heaven as you know, now—I must lave, as he said, the + ould places. I must go to a strange country, and sleep among a strange + people; but it's for the sake of our childre' I do so, lavin' you alone + there where you're sleepin'? I wouldn't lave you if I could help it; but + we'll meet yet in heaven, my blessed wife, where there won't be distress, + or injustice, or sorrow to part us. Achora machree, I'm come, then, to + take my last farewell of you. Farewell, then, my darlin' wife, till we + meet for evermore in heaven!” + </p> + <p> + He departed from the grave slowly, and returned in deep sorrow to his own + house. + </p> + <p> + About twelve o'clock the next morning, the family and those neighbors who + were assembled as usual at the wake-house, from respect to the dead, were + a good deal surprised by the appearance of Mr. Vanston and their landlord, + both of whom entered the house. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen, you're welcome,” said old M'Mahon; “but I'm sorry to say that + it's to a house of grief and throuble I must welcome you—death's + here, gentlemen, and more than death; but God's will be done, we must be + obaidient.” + </p> + <p> + “M'Mahon,” said Chevydale, “give me your hand. I am sorry that either you + or your son have suffered anything on my account. I am come now to render + you an act of justice—to compensate both you and him, as far as I + can, for the anxiety you have endured. Consider yourselves both, + therefore, as restored to your farms at the terms you proposed originally. + I shall have leases prepared—give up the notion of emigration—the + country cannot spare such men as you and your admirable son. I shall have + leases I say prepared, and you will be under no necessity of leaving + either Carriglass or Ahadarra.” + </p> + <p> + Need we describe the effect which such a communication had upon this + sterling-hearted family? Need we assure our readers that the weight was + removed from all their hearts, and the cloud from every brow? Is it + necessary to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his high-minded Kathleen were + married? that Dora and James followed their example, and that Edward + Burke, in due time, bestowed his hand upon sweet and affectionate Hanna + Cavanagh? + </p> + <p> + We have little now to add. Young Clinton, in the course of a few months, + became agent to Chevydale, whose property soon gave proofs that kindness, + good judgment, and upright principle were best calculated not only to + improve it, but to place a landlord and his tenantry on that footing of + mutual good-will and reciprocal interest upon which they should ever stand + towards each other. + </p> + <p> + We need scarcely say that the sympathy felt for honest Jemmy Burke, in + consequence of the disgraceful conduct of his son, was deep and general. + He himself did not recover it for a long period, and it was observed that, + in future, not one of his friends ever uttered Hycy's name in his + presence. + </p> + <p> + With respect to that young gentleman's fate and that of Teddy Phats, we + have to record a rather remarkable coincidence. In about three years after + his escape, his father received an account of his death from Montreal, + where it appears he expired under circumstances of great wretchedness and + destitution, after having led, during his residence there, a most + profligate and disgraceful life. Early the same day on which the + intelligence of his death reached his family, they also received an + account through the M'Mahons to the effect that Teddy Phats had, on the + preceding night, fallen from one of the cliffs of Althadawan and broken + his neck; a fate which occasioned neither surprise nor sorrow. + </p> + <p> + We have only to add that Bryan M'Mahon and his wife took Nanny Peety into + their service; and that Kate Hogan and Mr. O'Finigan had always a + comfortable seat at their hospitable hearth; and the latter a warm glass + of punch occasionally, for the purpose, as he said himself, of keeping him + properly sober. him properly sober. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Emigrants Of Ahadarra, by William Carleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EMIGRANTS OF AHADARRA *** + +***** This file should be named 16011-h.htm or 16011-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1/16011/ + +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. 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