ff we had this morning.
He's angry now, Father John, just through my telling him he couldn't
count all the money he'd received this week."

Father John observed the different manners of the young men towards
each other, and from Thady's silence, was quite sure that matters had
gone amiss between them.

"I didn't know it before then, Captain Ussher," said Thady; "but if
you must know, I've business to spake to Father John about."

"Oh, well; open confession's good for the soul; I hope he'll absolve
you for your bad temper."

"It's I am to get the absolution, if I can, this time; it's the old
story. Captain, 'a thrifle of rint that's owing, nothing more.'"

"Well, it's all one to me: good night to you all," and Captain Ussher
rode away home to Mohill.

Father Cullen reseated himself by the fire, and again assumed his
gaze at the hot turf, just as he was before Ussher came in, and
looked hopelessly immovable. Thady shifted about uneasily in his
chair, then got up and walked round the room, and then sat down
again; but the curate wouldn't move. At last Father John ended the
affair by saying,

"Any more punch, Cullen?"

"Thank you, no, Sir."

"Then just go home, there's a good fellow."

Cullen rose up, not the least offended--nothing would offend
him--took his hat, and did as he was bid. At last Thady and Father
John were left alone.

"Now, my boy," said the priest, as he put on more turf, "we'll be
alone for half an hour, or it is odd. Well, you spoke to Feemy?"

"I did spake to her, Father John; but I'd better have left it alone;
for when I began she only snubbed me, and she told me she'd manage
her own business; but oh Father John, I fear it will be a bad
business! She told me she loved him, and that he had gone so far as
asking her to marry him, and all that; but as far as I could learn,
it was only just talk, that. But I could say nothing to her, for she
got the better of me, and then flew out of the room, saying, it did
not matter what I said."

And then Macdermot told the priest exactly what had passed; how
headstrong Feemy was, how infatuated she was with her lover, and how
regardless of what any one could say to her on the subject; "and now,
Father John, what on 'arth shall I do at all, for the heart's broken
in me, with all the throubles that's on me."

"I'll tell you what, Thady: don't be falling out with Captain
Ussher--any way, not yet--for he may mean honestly, you know, though
I own my hear