e'll not mind the marriage,' says his rivirence; 'but go back and
bring me your father,--the jug, I mean,--and we 'll try and get him out
of trouble; for it 's trouble he 's in, or he would n't be that way.
Give me the two pound ten,' says the priest; 'you had it for the
wedding, and it will be better spent getting your father out of
purgatory than sending you into it. '"

"Arrah, aren't you ashamed of yourself?" cried the cook, with a look of
ineffable scorn, as he concluded.

"Look now," said Darby, "see this; if it is n't thruth--"

"And what became of your father?" interrupted the butler.

"And Biddy Finn, what did she do?" said the housemaid.

Darby, however, vouchsafed no reply, but sat back in his chair with an
offended look, and sipped his liquor in silence.

A fresh brew of punch under the butler's auspices speedily, however,
dispelled the cloud that hovered over the conviviality of the party; and
even the cook vouchsafed to assist in the preparation of some rashers,
which Darby suggested were beautiful things for the thirst at this
hour of the night; but whether in allaying or exciting it, he did n't
exactly lay down. The conversation now became general; and as they
seemed resolved to continue their festivities to a late hour, I took the
first opportunity I could, when unobserved, to steal away and return to
my own room.

No sooner alone again than all the sorrow of my lonely state came back
upon me; and as I laid my head on my pillow, the full measure of my
misery flowed in upon my heart, and I sobbed myself to sleep.

CHAPTER III. THE DEPARTURE

The violent beating of the rain against the glass, and the loud crash of
the storm as it shook the window-frames or snapped the sturdy branches
of the old trees, awoke me. I got up, and opening the shutters,
endeavored to look out; but the darkness was impenetrable, and I could
see nothing but the gnarled and grotesque forms of the leafless trees
dimly marked against the sky, as they moved to and fro like the arms
of some mighty giant. Masses of heavy snow melted by the rain fell at
intervals from the steep roof, and struck the ground beneath with a
low sumph like thunder. A grayish, leaden tinge that marked the horizon
showed it was near daybreak; but there was nought of promise in this
harbinger of morning. Like my own career, it opened gloomily and
in sadness: so felt I at least; and as I sat beside the window, and
strained my eyes to pierce the dark