beautiful complexion; the delicately-formed features, so exquisite when
taken singly, so indescribable when combined, so purely artless, yet so
meet for all expression. She was a thing so very beautiful, you could
not look on her without feeling your heart touched as by sweet music.
Whose lightest action was a grace--whose lightest word a spell--no
limner's art, though ne'er so perfect, could shadow forth her beauty;
and do I dare with feeble words try to make you see it?(1) Providence
is indeed no respecter of persons, its blessings and its inflictions are
apportioned with an undistinguishing hand, and until the race is over,
and life be done, none can know whether those perfections, which seemed
its goodliest gifts, many not prove its most fatal; but enough of this.

(1) Father Purcell seems to have had an admiration for the beauties of
nature, particularly as developed in the fair sex; a habit of mind which
has been rather improved upon than discontinued by his successors from
Maynooth.--ED.

Dwyer strolled carelessly onward by the banks of the stream, leaving his
young companion leaning over the gate in close and interesting parlance
with Ellen Heathcote; as he moved on, he half thought, half uttered
words to this effect:

'Insolent young spawn of ingratitude and guilt, how long must I submit
to be trod upon thus; and yet why should I murmur--his day is even now
declining--and if I live a year, I shall see the darkness cover him and
his for ever. Scarce half his broad estates shall save him--but I
must wait--I am but a pauper now--a beggar's accusation is always a
libel--they must reward me soon--and were I independent once, I'd make
them feel my power, and feel it SO, that I should die the richest or the
best avenged servant of a great man that has ever been heard of--yes,
I must wait--I must make sure of something at least--I must be able to
stand by myself--and then--and then--' He clutched his fingers together,
as if in the act of strangling the object of his hatred. 'But one thing
shall save him--but one thing only--he shall pay me my own price--and if
he acts liberally, as no doubt he will do, upon compulsion, why he saves
his reputation--perhaps his neck--the insolent young whelp yonder would
speak in an humbler key if he but knew his father's jeopardy--but all in
good time.'

He now stood upon the long, steep, narrow bridge, which crossed the
river close to Carrigvarah, the family mansion of the O'Mar