ally rubs himself
where he's not itching, but there's worse news than that before you."

"What is it, then?" asked Alick; "if you know it, let us hear it, and
don't stand humming and hawing as if you were afraid to speak."

"Faith, an' it's no wondher I would, sir, when it's to tell you that
you'll find your father a murdhered corpse at home before you."

"Great God! what do you mean, sir? asked John.

"Why, gintlemen, it seems that himself an' Parson Turbot wor both shot
in the parsonage garden to-day. The parson's takin' his rest in his own
house, but your father's body was brought home upon the car. The bullet
entered your worthy father's breeches' pocket, cut through a sheaf of
notes that he had to pay the parson his tides wid, and from that it went
on----"

Human patience could not endure the ill-suppressed and heartless
satisfaction with which the fellow was about to enter into the details,
and accordingly, ere he had time to proceed further, John Purcel turning
a hunting-whip, loaded for self-defense, left him sprawling on the
earth.

"Now, you ill-conditioned scoundrel," he exclaimed, "whether he is
murdered or not, take that for your information. Alick, lay on Hacket
there, you are the nearest to him," he added, addressing his brother.

Hacket at once took to his heels, but the other, touching his horse with
the spurs, cantered up to him, and brought the double thong of his whip
into severe contact with his neck and shoulders. When this was over, the
two fiery young men exclaimed:--

"There, now, are our thanks, not merely for your information, but for
the good will with which it was given, and that to the very sons of the
man whom, by your own account, you have murdered among you. If his blood
however, has been shed, there is not a drop of it for which we will not
exact a tenfold retribution."

They then dashed home, at the highest speed of which their horses
were capable, and throwing themselves out of the saddle, rushed to the
hall-door, where they knocked eagerly.

"Is my father at home, Letty?"

"Yes, sir, he's in the parlor."

"In the parlor," exclaimed Alick, looking keenly into her face; "what is
he doing in the parlor, eh?"

"Why, he's readin' a letther, sir."

"Reading a letter, is he?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank God!" exclaimed both the young men, breathing freely; "that will
do, Letty--here, Letty, is half-a-crown for you to buy a ribbon."

"And another from me, Letty, to buy anythin