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 d