ans so well acquainted with the path as his
companion, followed him in the way pointed out, and in a few minutes
they found themselves walking at a brisk pace in a direction that led
homewards by a shorter cut. Connor's mind was too much depressed for
conversation, and both were proceeding in silence, when Flanagan started
in alarm, and pointed out the figure of some one walking directly
towards them. In less than a minute the person, whoever he might be,
had come within speaking distance, and, as he shouted "Who comes there?"
Flanagan bolted across the ditch, along which they had been going, and
disappeared. "A friend," returned Connor, in reply to the question.

The other man advanced, and, with a look of deep scrutiny, peered into
his face. "A friend," he exclaimed; "faith, it's, a quare hour for a
friend to be out. Who are you, eh? Is this Connor O'Donovan?"

"It is; but you have the advantage of me."

"If your father was here he would know Phil Curtis, any way.''

"I ought to 'a known the voice myself," said Connor; "Phil, how are you?
an' what's bringin' yourself out at this hour?"

"Why, I want to buy a couple o' milk cows in the fair o' Kilturbit,
an' I'm goin' to catch my horse, an' make ready. It's a stiff ride from
this, an' by the time I'm there it I'll be late enough for business, I'm
thinkin'. There was some one wid you; who was it?"

"Come, come," said Connor, good--humoredly, "he was out coortin', and
doesn't wish to be known; and Phil, as you had the luck to meet me, I
beg you, for Heaven's sake, not to breathe that you seen me near Bodagh
Buie's to-night; I have various reasons for it."

"It's no secret to me as it is," replied Curtis; "half the parish knows
it; so make your mind asy on that head. Good night, Connor! I wish you
success, anyhow; you'll be a happy man if you get her; although, from
what I hear has happened, you have a bad chance, except herself stands
to you."

The truth was, that Fardorougha's visit to the Bodagh, thanks to the
high tones of his own shrill voice, had drawn female curiosity, already
suspicious of the circumstances, to the keyhole of the parlor-door,
where the issue and object of the conference soon became known. In
a short time it had gone among the servants, and from them was
transmitted, in the course of that and the following day, to the tenants
and day-laborers! who contrived to multiply it with such effect, that,
as Curtis said, it was indeed no secret to th