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