another hour it rained incessantly, after which it ceased; the
hemisphere became lighter--and the sun shone out once more upon the
countenance of nature with its former brightness. The congregation then
decanted itself out of the chapel--the spirits of the people dancing
with that remarkable buoyancy or juvenility which is felt after a
thunderstorm, when the air is calm, soople, and balmy--and all nature
garmented with glittering verdure and light. The crowd next began to
commingle on their way home, and to make the usual observations upon the
extraordinary storm which had just passed, and the probable effect it
would produce on the fruit and agriculture of the neighborhood.

"When the three young women, whom we have already introduced to our
respectable readers, had evacuated the chapel, they determined to
substantiate a certitude, as far as their observation could reach, as
to the truth of what Kitty Carroll had hinted at, in reference to John
O'Callaghan's attachment to Rose Galh O'Hallaghan, and her taciturn
approval of it. For this purpose they kept their eye upon John, who
certainly seemed in no especial hurry home, but lingered upon the chapel
green in a very careless method. Rose Galh, however, soon made her
appearance, and, after going up the chapel-road a short space, John
slyly walked at some distance behind, without seeming to pay her any
particular notice, whilst a person up to the secret might observe Rose's
bright eye sometimes peeping back to see if he was after her. In this
manner they proceeded until they came to the river, which, to their
great alarm, was almost fluctuating over its highest banks.

"A crowd was now assembled, consulting as to the safest method of
crossing the planks, under which the red boiling current ran, with less
violence, it is true, but much deeper than in any other part of the
stream. The final decision was, that the very young and the old, and
such as were feeble, should proceed by a circuit of some miles to a
bridge that crossed it, and that the young men should place themselves
on their knees along the planks, their hands locked in each other, thus
forming a support on one side, upon which such as had courage to venture
across might lean, in case of accident or megrim. Indeed, anybody that
had able nerves might have crossed the planks without this precaution,
had they been dry; but, in consequence of the rain, and the frequent
attrition of feet, they were quite slippery; an