back of her father's garden she found that Phil had not
arrived, but somewhat to her relief she was accosted by Poll Doolin,
who approached from a clump of trees that stood in deep and impenetrable
shadow, whilst she and Poll were easily visible under the dim light of
what is called a watery and cloudy moon.

Poll, as she addressed her, spoke eagerly, and her voice trembled with
what appeared to Mary to be deep and earnest agitation.

"Miss M'Loughlin," she exclaimed, in a low, but tremulous voice, "I now
forgive your father all--I forgive him and his--you need not forgive,
for I never bore you ill-will--but I am bound to tell you that there's
danger over your father's house and hearth this night. There is but one
can save them, and he will. You must go into your own room, raise the
window, and he will soon be there."

"What is that, Poll," said Mary, seriously alarmed, "I thought I heard
the sound of low voices among the trees there. Who are they, or what is
it?"

"Make haste," said Poll, leading the way, "go round to your room and
come to the window. It's an awful business--there is people there in the
clump--be quick, and when you come to the window raise it, and I'll tell
you more through it."

Mary, in a state of great terror, felt that ignorant as she was of the
dangers and difficulties by which she was surrounded, she had no other
alternative than to be guided by Poll, who seemed to know the full
extent of the mysterious circumstances to which she made such wild and
startling allusions.

Poll immediately proceeded to Miss M'Loughlin's bed-room, the window of
which was soon opened by Mary herself, who with trembling hands raised
it no higher than merely to allow the necessary communication between
them.

"You don't know, nor could you never suspect," said Poll, "the struggles
that Misther Phil is makin' for you and yours. This night, maybe
this hour, will show his friendship for your family. And now, Mary
M'Loughlin, if you wish to have yourself and them safe--safe, I say,
from his own father's blood-hounds," and this she hissed into her ear,
squeezing her hand at the same time until it became painful--in a voice
so low, earnest, and condensed, that it was scarcely in human nature to
question the woman's sincerity; "if," she continued, "you wish to have
them safe--and Harman safe, be guided by him, and let him manage it
his own way. He will ask you to do nothing that is wrong or improper in
itself; but a