have formed an acquaintance with a person whose
blackened face indicates the nature of his last night's occupation."

The person she addressed suddenly put up his hand, and then looking
at his fingers, immediately disclosed a set of exceedingly white and
well-formed teeth, which disclosure was made by a grin that almost
immediately quavered off into a loud and hearty laugh.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recovering his gravity, "it is no wonder, my dear
Julia, that you should not know me. Since I went out to shoot with Mogue
Moylan, yesterday morning, I have gone through many strange adventures."

"What!" she exclaimed, with evident symptoms of alarm and vexation,
"Frank M'Carthy!" and, as she spoke, the remarkable conversation which
she had had with Mogue Moylan, and the information he had given her with
respect to M'Carthy's connection with the Whiteboys, instantly flashed
upon her, accompanied now by a strong conviction of its truth.

"Explain yourself, Mr. M'Carthy," she exclaimed, in a tone of voice
which indicated anything but satisfaction. "How am I to account for this
unbecoming disguise, so much at variance with your habits of life and
education?--perhaps I should not say your habits of life--but certainly
with your education. Have you, too, been tempted to join this ferocious
conspiracy which is even now convulsing the country?"

"No wonder you should ask, my dear Julia," he replied; "but really the
incidents, which have caused me to appear as you see me, are so strange,
and yet so much in keeping with the spirit of the times, that I must
defer, until a more convenient opportunity a full account of them."

"Do so, sir," she replied quickly; "allow yourself full time to give
the best possible explanation of your conduct. I probably have put the
question too abruptly; but, in the meantime, you will have the goodness,
either to go on before me, or to fall back, as I presume, you will grant
that it is neither delicate nor becoming for me, who wear no disguise
and am known, to be seen at such an hour holding conversation with a
Whiteboy."

The impropriety of the thing struck him at once, and he replied, "You
are right, Julia; but I perceive that something has given you offence;
if it be my appearance, I tell you that I can afford you a satisfactory
explanation. Proceed now--I shall remain here for a time;--whether with
black face or white, I should not wish it to be supposed that we held a
clandestine meeting at thi