the meantime,
altogether repress a smile; and Darby, taking his hat with a kind of
shrewd and confidential grin, ran out of the office.

Our narrative now passes to the house of Poll Doolin, which was situated
in a row of cottages towards the north side of Castle Cumber. Her son
Raymond and she were its only inmates, and the former was in the act of
replacing a hat among the _tria juncta in uno_, which he always wore.

"Raymond," said his mother, "now that you've got your supper, you must
keep house till I come back."

"Must I indeed?---why must I? answer me that, there now, that's one."

"Becase I'm goin' out on business."

"What business?--where to?--what brought Phil M'Clutchy here
yestherday?--tell me that--eh?"

"Oh, I couldn't tell you that, Raymond."

"Don't do anything for Phil, he's Val's son, that keeps the
blood-hounds. Ah, poor Brian, and his white head--no', he'll never
waken--never waken--an' what has she now to look at! Mother, I'd give
all the cocks I ever had to see him and his white head in his mother's
arms again--God's curse on Val! God's curse on him! I hate him--I hate
Phil--I hate all of them--don't mother; do nothing for them."

"You foolish boy, what do you know about it?--keep the house till I come
back, and I'll bring you a pennyworth of tobaccy?"

"But you will go?" said Raymond.

"I must, you fool."

"Very well, then, take it out o' that--there now, that's one."

It was now drawing on towards dusk, and Poll, assuming her black bonnet,
and throwing her black cloak about her shoulders, sallied out with that
furtive air which always accompanies one who is conscious of something
that requires concealment. Her motions always were rapid, but on
this occasion she walked like one whose mind brooded lover
difficulties--sometimes she went very quick, then slackened her pace,
and once or twice stood still, musing with her right hand to her chin.
At length she reached the residence of Brian M'Loughlin, just after
night had set it--she entered not, but glided about the house, waited,
watched, listened, and peeped into the house, very like a thief that
was setting the premises. Ultimately she took her stand at a particular
window in the rear of the building, where she kept watch with great
patience, though for what purpose it would appear very difficult to
guess. Patience, however, is often rewarded, and it was so in the case
before us. After about half an hour a light fell through the glass