eard; but
on perceiving that it was only some ordinary person, all subsided again
into a brooding stillness that was equally singular and impressive.

Under this peculiar feeling was the multitude, when Meehan and his
brother were seen approaching it from their own house. The elder, with
folded arms, and hat pulled over his brows, stalked grimly forward,
having that remarkable scowl upon his face, which had contributed to
establish for him so diabolical a character. Denis walked by his side,
with his countenance strained to inflation;--a miserable parody of that
sullen effrontery which marked the unshrinking miscreant beside him.
He had not heard of the ordeal, owing to the caution of Anthony: but,
notwithstanding his effort at indifference, a keen eye might have
observed the latent anxiety of a man who was habitually villanous, and
naturally timid.

When this pair entered the crowd, a few secret glances, too rapid to be
noticed by the people, passed between them and their accomplices. Denis,
on seeing them present, took fresh courage, and looked with the heroism
of a blusterer upon those who stood about him, especially whenever he
found himself under the scrutinizing eye of his brother. Such was the
horror and detestation in which they were held, that on advancing into
the assembly, the persons on each side turned away, and openly avoided
them: eyes full of fierce hatred were bent on them vindictively, and
"curses, not loud, but deep," were muttered with indignation which
nothing but a divided state of feeling could repress within due limits.
Every glance, however, was paid back by Anthony with interest, from eyes
and black shaggy brows tremendously ferocious; and his curses, as they
rolled up half smothered from his huge chest, were deeper and more
diabolical by far than their own. He even jeered at them; but, however
disgusting his frown, there was something truly apalling in the dark
gleam of his scoff, which threw them at an immeasurable distance behind
him, in the power of displaying on the countenance the worst of human
passions.

At length Mr. Nicholson, Father Farrell, and his curate, attended by the
Cassidys and their friends, issued from the house: two or three servants
preceded them, bearing a table and chairs for the magistrate and
priests, who, however, stood during the ceremony. When they entered one
of the rings before alluded to, the table and chairs were placed in the
centre of it, and Father Farrel