Father O'Rourke, and he had now still less cause
to admire him. He guessed, too, from the character of the man, that
although he would encourage the people round to rebel, he was not likely
to run himself into danger. He was not surprised, therefore, after
hearing him inflame the passions and ardour of his misguided countrymen,
to see him quietly take his departure after uttering his blessing and
promising them success if they would follow his injunctions.

We must now return to the vicarage. Scarcely had Dermot left the house
on the pony, than Miss O'Reilly began to regret that she had allowed him
to go. She went to the door and felt the blast blowing keenly from the
north, and knowing the lateness of the hour, she feared that he would be
benighted long before he could reach the castle. She would willingly
have despatched some one to him, but she had no person to send.

While standing at the door, she heard a voice, singing one of the wild
and plaintive airs of the country, down in the valley beneath the
vicarage. She knew by the sounds that the singer was drawing nearer and
nearer the house.

"It is poor mad Kathleen," she said to herself, "though she has but a
small amount of brains, yet she is fleet of foot, and would soon
overtake the lad, and bring him back to the house. It would be better
to do that, than let him go on with the pony he ill knows how to
bestride."

The song continued, and in a short time the singer stood in front of the
vicarage.

"Well, Kathleen, what brings you here?" asked Miss O'Reilly, addressing
her in a kind tone.

"What brings me here takes me wherever I list to go, my own free will,"
answered the mad girl, who was still young, and possessed of an amount
of beauty which made those who saw her feel even more sympathy and
compassion than they might have done, had her appearance been less
attractive.

"You are good and kind, Kathleen," said Miss O'Reilly; "you would do me
a kindness, I know, if I were to ask you."

"That I would, lady!" answered the girl, in the broken Saxon which was
spoken by not many of the peasantry in that part of Ireland; "I would do
anything to serve you, just say what it is."

Miss O'Reilly, in a few words, explained to Kathleen what she wished to
have done.

"You know him, you know young Dermot O'Neil?"

"Oh yes, I know him well; he is a gentle lad and a good one, and I would
gladly serve him, as I would you, lady."

Miss O'Reilly again endeav