whole frame
trembled excessively.

"You are too weak even to sit without support," said Connor, "your
head is droopin'. For God's sake, lean it over on me! Oh! I'd give ten
thousand lives to have it on my breast only for one moment!"

Her paleness still continued; she gazed on him, and, as he gently
squeezed her hand, a slight pressure was given in return. He then drew
her head over upon his shoulder, where it rather fell than leaned; a
gush of tears came from her eyes, and the next moment, with sobbing
hearts, they were encircled in each other's arms.

From this first intoxicating draught of youthful love, they were
startled by the voice of Mrs. O'Brien calling upon her daughter, and,
at the same time, to their utter dismay, they observed the portly dame
sailing, in her usual state, down towards the arbor, with an immense
bunch of keys dangling from her side.

"Oonagh, Miss--Miss Oonagh--where are you, Miss, Ma Colleen?--Here's
a litther," she proceeded, when Una appeared, "from Mrs. Fogarty, your
school-misthress, to your fadher--statin' that she wants you to
finish your Jiggraphy at the dancin', wid a new dancin'--teacher from
_Dubling_. Why--Eah! what ails you, Miss, Ma Colleen? What the dickens
wor you cryin' for?"

"These nasty bees that stung me," returned the girl. "Oh, for goodness
sake, mother dear, don't come any farther, except you wish to have a
whole hive upon you!"

"Why, sure, they wouldn't sting any one that won't meddle wid them,"
replied the mother in a kind of alarm.

"The sorra pin they care, mother--don't come near them; I'll be in, by
an' by. Where's my father?"

"He's in the house, an' wants you to answer Mrs. Fogarty, statin' feder
you'll take a month's larnin' on the _flure_ or not."

"Well, I'll see her letter in a minute or two, but you may tell my
father he needn't wait--I won't answer it to-night at all event's."

"You must answer it on the nail," replied her mother, "becase the
messager's waitin' in the kitchen 'ithin."

"That alters the case altogether," returned Una, "and I'll follow you
immediately."

The good woman then withdrew, having once more enjoined the daughter to
avoid delay, and not to detain the messenger.

"You must go instantly," she said to Connor. "Oh, what would happen me
if they knew that I lov--that I--" a short pause ensued, and she blushed
deeply.

"Say, what you were goin' to say," returned Connor; "Oh, say that one
word, and all the misfortunes t