and energetic, betokening a degree of
agitation and interest on her part, for which he could not account.
As she had no object in bringing him far from the house, she availed
herself of the first retired spot that presented itself, in order to
disclose the purport of her visit. "Meehaul Neil," said she, "we're now
upon the Common, where no ear can hear what passes between us. I ax have
you spirit to keep your sister Ellen from shame and sorrow?" The young
man started, and became strongly excited at such a serious prelude to
what she was about to utter.

"_Millia diououl!_ woman, why do you talk about shame or disgrace comin'
upon any sister of mine?" What villain dare injure her that regards his
life? My sisther! Ellen Neil! No, no! the man that 'ud only think of
that, I'd give this right hand a dip to the wrist in the best blood of
his heart."

"Ay, ay! it's fine spakin': but you don't know the hand you talk of.
It's one that you had better avoid than meet. It's the strong hand, an'
the dangerous one when vexed. You know Lamh Laudher Oge?"

Meelmul started again, and the crone could perceive by his manner that
the nature of the communication she was about to make had been already
known to him, though not, she was confident, in so dark and diabolical a
shape as that in which she determined to put it.

"Lamh Laudher Oge!" he exclaimed; "surely you don't mane to say that he
has any bad design upon Ellen! It's not long since I gave him a caution
to drop her, an' to look out for a girl fittin' for his station. Ellen
herself knows what he'll get, if we ever catch him spakin' to her again.
The day will never come that his faction and ours can be friends."

"You did do that, Meehaul," replied Nell, "an' I know it; but what 'ud
you think if he was so cut to the heart by your turnin' round upon
his poverty, that he swore an oath to them that I could name, bindin'
himself to bring your sister to a state of shame, in order to punish you
for your words? That 'ud be great glory over a faction that they hate."

"Tut, woman, he daren't swear such an oath; or, if he swore it fifty
times over on his bare knees, he'd ate the stones off o' the pavement
afore he'd dare to act upon it. In the first place, I'd prepare him
for his coffin, if he did; an' in the next, do you think so inanely
of Ellen, as to believe that she would bring disgrace an' sorrow upon
herself and her family? No, no, Nell; the old _dioul's_ in you, or
you're besi