pite 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