und an exceedingly lively scene in the large parlor of the inn;
but, in fact, every available room in the house was crowded. Then, after
they had looked on for some time, every eye soon singled out the
pride and beauty of the assembly in the person of Grace Davoren, whose
features were animated into greater loveliness, and her eyes into
greater brilliancy, by the light-hearted spirit which prevailed. She
was dressed in her new drugget gown, had on her new shoes and blue
stockings, a short striped blue and red petticoat, which displayed as
much of her exquisite limbs as the pretty liberal fashion of the day
allowed; her bust was perfection; and, as her black, natural ringlets
fluttered about her milk-white neck and glowing countenance, she not
only appeared inexpressibly beautiful, but seemed to feel conscious
of that beauty, as was evident by a dash of pride--very charming,
indeed--which shot from her eye, and mantled on her beautiful cheek.

"Why, Charles," exclaimed Woodward, addressing his brother in a whisper,
"who is that lovely peasant girl?"

"Her father is one of our tenants," replied Charles; "and she was about
to be married some time ago, but it was discovered, fortunately in time,
that her intended husband was head and leader of the outlaws that infest
the country. It was he, I believe, that leaped over the bonfire."

"Was she fond of him?"

"Well, it is not easy to say that; some say she was, and others that
she was not. Barney Casey says she was very glad to escape him when he
became an outlaw."

"By the way, where is Barney? I haven't seen him since I came to look at
this nonsense."

"Just turn your eye to the farthest corner of the room, and you may see
him in his glory."

On looking in the prescribed direction, there, sure enough, was Barney
discovered making love hard and fast to a pretty girl, whom Woodward
remembered to have seen that morning in Mr. Goodwin's, and with whom
he (Barney) had become acquainted when the families were on terms of
intimacy. The girl sat smiling on his knee, whilst Barney who had a
glass of punch in his hand, kept applying it to her lips from time to
time, and pressing her so lovingly toward him, that she was obliged
occasionally to give him a pat upon the cheek, or to pull his whiskers.
Woodward's attention, however, was transferred once more to Grace
Davoren, from whom he could not keep his eyes--a fact which she soon
discovered, as was evident by a slight hauteur