do. Oh, God of Heaven!" he exclaimed, clasping his hands,
"must I lave you, my darling Una, forever? I must, I must! an' the drame
of all we hoped is past--but never, never, will she lave my heart! Her
eye dim, an' her cheek pale! an' all forme--for a man covered with shame
and disgrace! Oh, John, John, what a heart!--to love me in spite of all
this, an' in spite of the world's opinion along with it!"

At this moment one of the turnkeys entered, and told him that his mother
and a young lady were coming up to see him.

"My mother!" he exclaimed, "I am glad she is come; but I didn't expect
her till the day after to--morrow. A young lady! Heavens above, what
young lady would come with my mother?"

He involuntarily exchanged looks with O'Brien, and a thought flashed on
the instant across the minds of both. They immediately understood each
other.

"Undoubtedly," said John, "it can be no other--it is she--it is Una.
Good God, how is this? The interview and separation will be more than
she can bear--she will sink under it."

Connor made no reply, but sat down and pressed his right hand upon his
forehead, as if to collect energy sufficient to meet the double trial
which was now before him.

"I have only one course, John," said he, "now, and that is, to appear to
be--what I am not--a firm--hearted man. I must try to put on a smiling
face before them."

"If it be Una," returned the other, "I shall withdraw for a while.
I know her extreme bashfulness in many cases; and I know, too, that
anything like restraint upon her heart at present--in a word, I shall
retire for a little."

"It may be as well," said Connor; "but so far as I am concerned, it
makes no difference--just as you think proper."

"Your mother will be a sufficient witness," said the delicate--minded
brother; "but I will see you again after they have left you."

"You must," replied O'Donovan. "Oh I see me--see me again. I have
something to say to you of more value even than Una's life."

The door then opened, and assisted, or rather supported, by the governor
of the gaol, and one of the turnkeys, Honor O'Donovan and Una O'Brien
entered the gloomy cell of the guiltless convict.

The situation in which O'Donovan was now placed will be admitted,
we think, by the reader, to have been one equally unprecedented and
distressing. It has been often said, and on many occasions with perfect
truth, that opposite states of feeling existing in the same breast
generall