ce to reassure
him on the score of his daughter's safety, detailing, at the same time,
the circumstances which compelled him to turn off in a direction the
opposite of that he intended. Fagan drank in every word with eagerness,
his gray eyes piercingly fixed on the speaker all the while. Great
as was his agitation throughout, it became excessive when MacNaghten
chanced to allude to Polly personally, and to speak of the courage she
displayed.

"She told you that she was not afraid?--she said so to yourself?" cried
he, eagerly.

"Ay, a dozen times," replied Dan, freely. "It was impossible to have
behaved better."

"You said so,--you praised her for it, I have no doubt," said the other,
with a grim effort at a smile.

"To be sure I did, Tony. By Jove, you've reason to be proud of her.
I don't speak of her beauty,--that every one can see; but she's a
noble-minded girl. She would grace any station in the land."

"She heard you say as much with pleasure, I 'm certain," said Fagan,
with a smile that was more than half a sneer.

"Nay, faith, Tony, I did not go so far. I praised her courage. I told
her that not every man could have behaved so bravely."

MacNaghten paused at this.

"And then--and then, sir," cried Fagan, impatiently.

Dan turned suddenly towards him, and, to his amazement, beheld a
countenance tremulous with passionate excitement.

"What then, sir? Tell me what then? I have a right to ask, and I will
know it. I 'm her father, and I demand it."

"Why, what in Heaven's name is the matter?" exclaimed MacNaghten. "I
have told you she is safe,--that she is yonder."

"I speak not of that, sir; and you know it," cried Fagan, imperiously.
"The dissimulation is unworthy of you. You ought to be a man of honor."

"Egad, good temper would be the best quality for me just now," said the
other, with a smile; "for you seem bent on testing it."

"I see it all," cried Fagan, in a voice of anguish. "I see it all. Now
hear me, Mr. MacNaghten. You are one who has seen much of the world, and
will readily comprehend me. You are a man reputed to be kind-hearted,
and you will not pain me by affecting a misunderstanding. Will you leave
this to-morrow, and go abroad, say for a year or two? Give me your hand
on it, and draw on me for one thousand pounds."

"Why, Tony, what has come over you? Is it the air of the place has
disordered your excellent faculties? What can you mean?"

"This is no answer to my question, sir," s