his money; and felt that nothing, except a
powerful effort, could succeed in drawing his attention to the scene
which was passing before him.

"What," said he; "what is it that's wrong wid Connor?"

"He must come to jail," said one of the men, looking at him with
surprise; "we have already stated the crime for which he stands
committed."

"To jail! Connor O'Donovan to jail!"

"It's too true, father; Bartle Flanagan has sworn that I burned Mr.
O'Brien's haggard."

"Connor, Connor," said the old man, approaching him as he spoke, and
putting his arms composedly about his neck, "Connor, my brave boy, my
brave boy, it wasn't you did it; 'twas I did it," he added, turning to
the constables; "lave him, lave him wid her, an' take me in his place!
Who would if I would not--who ought, I say--an' I'll do it--take me;
I'll go in his place."

Connor looked down upon the old man, and as he saw his heart rent, and
his reason absolutely tottering, a sense of the singular and devoted
affection which he had ever borne him, overcame him, and with a full
heart he dashed away a tear from his eye, and pressed his father to his
breast.

"Mother," said he; "this will kill the old man; it will kill him!"

"Fardorougha, a hagur," said Ha wife, feeling it necessary to sustain
him as much as possible, "don't take it so much to heart, it won't
signify--Connor's innocent, an' no harm will happen to him!"

"But are you lavin' us, Connor? are they--must they bring you to jail?"

"For a while, father; but I won't be long there I hope."

"It's an unpleasant duty on our part," said the principal of them;
"still it's one we must perform. Your father should lose no time in
taking the proper steps for your defence."

"And what are we to do?" asked the mother; "God knows the boy's as
innocent as I am."

"Yes," said Fardorougha, still upon dwelling the resolution he had made;
"I'll go stand for you, Connor; you won't let them bring me instead of
you."

"That's out of the question," replied the constable; "the law suffers
nothing of the kind to take place; but if you will be advised by me,
lose no time in preparing to defend him. It would be unjust to disguise
the matter from you, or to keep you ignorant of its being a case of life
and death."

"Life and death! what do you mane?" asked Fardorougha, staring vacantly
at the last speaker.

"It's painful to distress you; but if he's found guilty, it's death."

"Death! hanged!" shrieked the o