hat's only some of them
you know, Miss, who don't be quite frindly to Ballycloran--that the
Captain don't main to be married at all, and is only playing his
tricks with you, and that he's a schamer. But I knew you wouldn't be
letting him go on that way, and so I said to Pat."

Feemy didn't quite like all this--it was a corroboration of what her
brother had said; for though the Captain had certainly promised to
marry her, he had never thought it necessary to ask her. She knew the
matter did not rest on a proper footing; and though she was hardly
aware of it, she felt the indignity of the probability of being
jilted being talked over by such persons as Pat Brady.

"Your brother, Mary, might have saved himself the throuble of telling
lies about either the Captain or me; not of course that I care."

"Oh! it warn't Pat, Miss, said it, only he heard it you know, Miss,
through the counthry."

"Well, it don't signify who said it, but don't you be repeating what
I told you."

"Is it I, Miss? Sorrow a word, Miss, will any one hear from me av it.
Would I tell a lie about it? But I'll be glad to see the day you're
married, for that'll be the great wedding through the counthry.--Oh
laws!"

This exclamation was not a part of the last speech, but was a kind of
long-drawn, melancholy sigh, which did not take place for some minute
or two after she had done speaking, during which time Feemy had been
thinking of her own affairs, quite forgetful of Mary Brady and her
wedding.

"My! Mary, what are you sighing about?"

"Well then, Miss Feemy, and isn't it a dreadful thing to be laving
one's home, and one's frinds like, and to be going right away into
another house intirely, Miss; and altogether the thoughts of what is
the married life at all frets me greatly."

"Why, you needn't be married unless you like it, Mary."

"Oh! Miss Feemy, that's in course too; but then a young woman is
behove to do something for her family."

"But you haven't a family, you know, Mary, now."

"No, but Miss Feemy alanna, you know the chances is I shall have now
I'm to be married; and it's for them, the little innocents, I does
it."

The strength of this argument did not exactly strike Feemy, but she
thought it was all right, and said nothing.

"And then the throubles of a married life, darling,--supposing them
is too many for me, what'll I do at all? I wonder, Miss Feemy, will I
get any sleep at all?"

"Indeed, Mary, I was never married; but wh