husband he is, and that's the life
I lead. Now, this property is mine, and I can leave it to any one I
please; he hasn't even a life interest in it."

"O," exclaimed the son, in surprise, "is that the case?"

"It is," she replied, "and yet you see how I am treated."

"I was not aware of that, my dear mother," responded worthy Harry. "That
alters the case entirely. Why, Lindsay, in these circumstances, ought to
put his hands under your feet; so ought they all I think. Well, my dear
mother, of one thing I can assure you, no matter how they may treat you,
calculate firmly upon my support and protection; make yourself sure
of that. But, now, about Miss Milk-and-curds--what do you think of my
project?"

"I have been frequently turning it over in my mind, Harry, since the
morning you praised her so violently, and I think, as you cannot get the
property without the girl, you must only take her with it. The notion of
its going into the hands of strangers would drive me mad."

"Well, then, we understand each other; I have your sanction for the
courtship."

"You have; but I tell you again, I loathe her as I do poison. I never
can forgive her the art with which she wheedled that jotter-headed old
sinner, your uncle, out of twelve hundred a year. Unless it returns to
the family, may my bitter malediction fall upon her and it."

"Well, never mind, my dear mother, leave her to me--I shall have the
girl and the property--but by hook or crook, the property. I shall ride
over there, now, and it will not be my fault, if I don't tip both her
and them the saccharine."

"By the way, though, Harry, now that I think of it, I'm afraid you'll
have opposition."

"Opposition! How is that?"

"It is said there is a distant relation of theirs, a gentleman named
O'Connor, a Ferdora O'Connor, I think, who, it is supposed, is likely
to be successful there; but, by the way, are you aware that they are
Catholics?"

"As to that, my dear mother, I don't care a fig for her religion; my
religion is her property, or rather will be so when I get it. The other
matter, however, is a thing I must look to--I mean the rivalry; but on
that, too, we shall put our heads together, and try what can be done. I
am not very timid; and the proverb says, you know, a faint heart never
won a fair lady."

Our readers may perceive, from the spirit of the above conversation,
that the son was worthy of the mother, and the mother of the son. The
latter, however, had