s, 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