lf hardly knew how to take the sting from the
rebuke, which he was aware his mission could not but convey; and he
was no less aware, that unless the dose had a little sugar in it, at
any rate to hide its unprepossessing appearance even if it did not
render it palatable, his patient would never take it.

"Thady, you know, was dining with me yesterday, and we were talking
over Ballycloran and old Flannelly's money matters; and I was, you
see, just making a bad tenant's excuses to him, and so on from one
thing to another, till we got talking about you, Feemy;--in short, he
didn't seem quite happy about you."

"I don't know I ever did anything to make him unhappy."

"No, it wasn't anything you had done to make him unhappy, but he is
afraid you ain't happy in yourself; and Feemy, my dear, you should
always remember, that though Thady is rough in his manners, and
perhaps not at all times so gentle in his words as he should be, his
heart is in the right place,--at any rate where you are concerned.
Though maybe he doesn't say so as often as others might, he's a very
fond brother to you."

"And I'm sure I'm always very fond of him--but then he's so queer;
but, Father John, if I've offended Thady, I'll beg his pardon, for
I'm sure I don't want to be out with him."

"I'm sure you don't, Feemy; but that's not exactly it either. Thady's
not the least in life offended with you; he's not at all easy to take
offence, at least not with you; but he doesn't think you are just at
ease with yourself; and to come to the truth at once, he was telling
me what passed between you yesterday."

Feemy blushed up to her paper curls, but she said nothing.

"Now, I'm thinking Thady didn't go about saying what he wanted to say
yesterday, quite the way he should have done, and I am not sure I
shall do it any better myself. But I thought it as well to step up,
as I was certain you'd hear whatever your priest had to say to you."

"I don't think the better of Thady, though, for going and talking
about me. If he'd only let me alone by myself I'd do well enough;
it's all that talking does the harm, Father John."

Father John didn't exactly like to tell Feemy that girls in her
situation were just the people that ought not to be left alone by
themselves,--which probably means being left alone with some one of
their own choosing; and that he was of opinion that she would not
do very well if left alone in that way. That, however, was what he
wished to