give you hope?"

"You, Poll, what can you mean? You!"

"Yes, me," said Poll, "poor as I stand here now."

"Well, but how?"

"Through them that can turn old Val the Vulture round their finger. What
do you think brought me here--or who do you think sent me? Don't you
know that I have no raison to like a bone in the skin of one o' your
family, and that it's more, of coorse, to plaise others than myself that
I'm here; but, over and above that, you, Miss M'Loughlin, never offended
or injured me, and I'm willin' to sarve you in this business, if you
will sarve yourself."

"But, how--but, how?" replied the distracted girl, "only tell me how?"

"There is one, and only one, that can twist Val round his finger, and
in this same business is willing to do so--and that one is his own son,
Phil."

Mary stood for a moment without even breathing; indeed, she exhibited
strong symptoms of disgust at his very name.

"He is a person I detest," she replied, "beyond any human creature."

"That may be," said Poll, "but still he can save the man that is to be
your husband; and that's what you ought to think of--the time is short
now, and the loss of a day may ruin all. Listen Miss M'Loughlin:--Mr.
Phil desired me to say to you, that if you will allow him a few minutes'
conversation with you behind the garden, about dusk or a little after
it, he'll satisfy you that he can and will save him--but it must be on
the condition of seeing you, as I say."

"Let him be generous," she replied, "and impose no such condition."

"He won't interfare on any other terms," replied Poll; "he knows, it
seems, that you have an unfavorable opinion of him, and he wishes to
prove to you that he doesn't desarve it."

Mary paused for some time, and appeared very much distressed. I fear,
thought she, it is selfish in me to think of my own feelings, or to have
a moment's hesitation in sacrificing them to his safety. It is certainly
a disgusting task to meet this man; but what ought I not to do,
consistent with conscious rectitude of motive, to save my dear Harman's
life, for I fear the circumstances come to that.

"Well, then, Poll, if I meet this man, mark me, it is solely for the
purpose of striving to save Mr. Harman's life; and observe, because Mr.
M'Clutchy is ungenerous enough to make my meeting him the condition of
his interference."

"That," said Poll, "is for yourself to consider; but surely you would
be a strange girl, if you refused to meet hi