the
speaker, who seemed a few years younger than the other. "_I_ was bid
spake to yer honor about the little place I have up the mountains, and
that Mr. Leslie gave my father rent-free--"

"Oh, you are the man from Maam, an't you?"

"The same, sir; Owen Connor."

"That's the mountain I told you of, Major," said Lucas in a whisper;
then, turning to Owen, resumed: "Well, I wished to see you very much,
and speak to you. I've heard the story about your getting the land
rent-free, and all that; but I find no mention of the matter in the
books of the estate; there is not the slightest note nor memorandum that
I can see, on the subject; and except your own word--which of course, as
far as it goes, is all very well--I have nothing in your favour."

While these words were being spoken, Owen went through a thousand
tortures; and many a deep conflicting passion warred within him. "Well,
sir," said he at last, with a heavily drawn sigh, "well, sir, with God's
blessin', I'll do my best; and whatever your honour says is fair, I'll
thry and pay it: I suppose I'm undher rent since March last?"

"March! why, my good fellow, there's six years due last twenty-fifth;
what are you thinking of?"

"Sure you don't mean I'm to pay, for what was given to me and my
father?" said Owen, with a wild look that almost startled the agent.

"I mean precisely what I say," said Lucas, reddening with anger at the
tone Owen assumed. "I mean that you owe six years and a half of rent;
for which, if you neither produce receipt nor money, you'll never owe
another half year for the same holding."

"And that's flat!" said the Major, laughing.

"And that's flat!" echoed Lucas, joining in the mirth.

Owen looked from one to the other of the speakers, and although never
indisposed to enjoy a jest, he could not, for the life of him, conceive
what possible occasion for merriment existed at the present moment.

"Plenty of grouse on that mountain, an't there?" said the Major, tapping
his boot with his cane.

But, although the question was addressed to Owen, he was too deeply sunk
in his own sad musings to pay it any attention.

"Don't you hear, my good fellow? Major Lynedoch asks, if there are not
plenty of grouse on the mountain."

"Did the present landlord say that I was to pay this back rent?" said
Owen deliberately, after a moment of deep thought.

"Mr. Leslie never gave me any particular instructions on your account,"
said Lucas smiling; "nor do I