he had ever witnessed before.
Notwithstanding all this, she was sustained by the eager and impatient
buoyancy of first affection; which, when imagination pictured the
handsome form of her young and manly lover, predominated for the time
over every reflection and feeling that was opposed to itself. Her mind,
indeed, resembled a fair autumn landscape, over which the cloud-shadows
may be seen sweeping for a moment, whilst again the sun comes out and
turns all into serenity and light.

The place appointed for their interview was a small paddock shaded by
alders, behind her father's garden, and thither, with trembling limbs
and palpitating heart, did the young and graceful daughter of Bodagh
Buie proceed.

For a considerable time, that is to say, for three long years before
this delicious appointment, had Connor O'Donovan and Una been wrapped
in the elysium of mutual love. At mass, at fair, and at market, had they
often and often met, and as frequently did their eyes search each other
out, and reveal in long blushing glances the state of their respective
hearts. Many a time did he seek an opportunity to disclose what he felt,
and as often, with confusion, and fear, and delight, did she afford him
what he sought. Thus did one opportunity after another pass away, and as
often did he form the towering resolution to reveal his affection if
he were ever favored with another. Still would some disheartening
reflection, arising from the uncommon gentleness and extreme modesty
of his character, throw a damp upon his spirit. He questioned his own
penetration; perhaps she was in the habit of glancing as much at others
as she glanced at him. Could it be possible that the beautiful daughter
of Bodagh Buie, the wealthiest man, and of his wife, the proudest woman,
within a large circle of the country, would love the son of Fardorougha
Donovan, whose name had, alas, become so odious and unpopular? But then
the blushing face, and dark lucid eyes, and the long earnest glance,
rose before his imagination, and told him that, let the difference in
the character and the station of their parents be what it might, the
fair dark daughter of O'Brien was not insensible to him, nor to the
anxieties he felt.

The circumstance which produced the first conversation they ever had
arose from an incident of a very striking and singular character. About
a week before the evening in question, one of Bodagh Buie's bee-skeps
hived, and the young colony, thoug