Bartle stared at him; "Bodagh Buie's!--what do I know about Bodagh Buie?

are you ravin'?"

"Bartle," said Connor, smiling, "my father and mother knows all about it--an' about your going to Una with the letter. I have no secrets from them."

"Hoot toot! That's a horse of another color; but you wouldn't have me, widout knowin' as much, to go to betray trust. In the mane time, I may as well finish my supper before I begin to tell you what-som-ever I happen to know about it."

Another deep groan from Fardorougha followed the last observation.

At length the work of demolition ceased, and after Honor had put past the empty dish, Bartle, having wiped his mouth, and uttered a hiccup or two, thus commenced to dole out his intelligence:--

"Whin I wint to the Bodagh's," said Bartle, "it was wid great schamin' an' throuble I got a sight of Miss Una at all, in regard of --(hiccup)--in regard of her not knowin' that there was any sich message for her--(hiccup). But happenin' to know Sally Laffan, I made bould to go into the kitchen to ax, you know, how was her aunt's family up in Skelgy, when who should I find before me in it but Sally an' Miss Una--(hiccup). (Saver of earth this night! from Fardorougha.) Of coorse I shook hands wid her--wid Sally, I mane; an', 'Sally,' says I, 'I was sent in wid a message from the masther to you; he's in the haggard an'

wants you.' So, begad, on---(hiccup) out she goes, an' the coast bein'

clear, 'Miss Una,' says I, 'here's a sc.r.a.p of a letther from Misther Connor O'Donovan; read it, and if you can write him an answer, do; if you haven't time say whatever you have to say by me.' She go--(hiccup) she got all colors when I handed it to her; an' run away, say--in' to me, 'wait for a while, an' don't go till I see you.' In a minute or two Sally comes in agin as mad as the d.i.c.kens wid me, 'The curse o' the crows an' you!' says she, 'why did you make me run a fool's erran' for no rason? The masther wasn't in the haggard, an' didn't want me good or bad.'"

"Bartle," said the impatient lover, "pa.s.s all that over for the present, an' let us know the answer, if she sent any."

"Sent any! be my sowl, she did so! Afther readin' your letther, an'

findin' that she could depind on me, she said that for fear of any remarks bein' made about my waitin', espishally as I live at present in this family, it would be better she thought to answer it by word o'

mouth. 'Tell him,' said she, 'that I didn't think he wa--(hiccup) (Queen o' heaven!) was so dull an' ignorant o' the customs of the country, as not to know that whin young people want to see one another they stay away from ma.s.s wid an expectation that'--begad, I disremimber exactly her own words; but it was as much as to say that she staid at home on last Sunday expectin' to see you."

"Well, but Bartle, what else?--short an' sweet, man."

"Why, she'll meet you on next Thursday night, G.o.d willin', in the same place; an' whin I axed her where, she said you knew it yourself."

"An' is that all?"

"No, it's not all; she sed it 'ud be better to mention the thing to her father. Afther thinkin' it over she says, 'as your father has the na--(hiccup) '(Saints above!) the name of being so rich, she doesn't know if a friend 'ud interfere but his consint might be got;' an' that's all I have to say about it, barrin' that she's a very purty girl, an' I'd advise you not to be too sure of her yet, Bartle. So now I'm for the barn--Good night, Far--(hiccup) (at my cost, you do it!) Fardorougha."

He rose and proceeded to his sleeping--place in the barn, whither Connor, who was struck by his manner, accompanied him.

"Bartle," said O'Donovan, "did you take anything since I saw you last?"

"Only a share of two naggins wid my brother Antony at Peggy Finigan's."

"I noticed it upon you," observed Connor; "but I don't think they did."

"An' if they did, too, it's not high thrason, I hope."

"No; but, Bartle, I'm obliged to you. You've acted as a friend to me, an' I won't forget it to you."

"An' I'm so much obliged to you, Connor, that I'll remimber your employin' me in this the longest day I have to live. But, Connor?"

"Well, Bartle."

"I'd take the sacrament, that, after all, a ring you'll never put on her."

"And what makes you think so, Bartle?"

"I don't--I do--(hiccup) don't know; but somehow something or another tells it to me that you won't; others is fond of her, I suppose, as well as yourself; and of coorse they'll stand betune you."

"Ay, but I'm sure of her."

"But you're not; wait till I see you man and wife, an' thin I'll say so.

Here's myself, Bartle, is in love, an' dhough I don't expect ever the girl will or would marry me, be the cra.s.s of heaven, no other man will have her. Now, how do you know but you may have some one like me--like me, Connor, to stand against you?"

"Bartle," said Connor, laughing, "your head's a little moidher'd; give me your hand; whish! the devil take you, man! don't wring my fingers off. Say your prayers, Bartle, an' go to sleep. I say agin I won't forget your kindness to me this night."

Flanagan had now deposited himself upon his straw bed, and, after having tugged the bedclothes about him, said, in the relaxed, indolent voice of a man about to sleep,

"Good night, Connor; throth my head's a little soft to-night--good night."

"Good night, Bartle."

"Connor?"

"Well?"

"Didn't I stand to you to-night? Very well--goo--(hiccup) good night."

On Connor's return, a serious conclave was held upon the best mode of procedure in a manner which presented difficulties that appeared to be insurmountable. The father, seizing upon the advice transmitted by Una herself, as that which he had already suggested, insisted that the most judicious course was to propose for her openly, and without appearing to feel that there was any inferiority on the part of Connor.

"If they talk about wealth, Connor," said he, "say that you are my son, an' that--that--no--no--I'm too poor for such a boast, but say that you will be able to take good care of anything you get."

At this moment the door, which Connor had not bolted, as his father would have done, opened, and Bartle, wrapped in the treble folds of a winnow--cloth, made a distant appearance.

"Beg pardon, Connor; I forgot to say that Una's brother, the young priest out o' Maynooth, will be at home from his uncle's, where it appears he is at present; an' Miss Una would wish that the proposal 'ud be made while he's at his father's. She says he'll stand her friend, come or go what will. I forgot, begad, to mintion it before--so beg pardon, an' wishes you all good--night!"

This information tended to confirm them in the course recommended by Fardorougha. It was accordingly resolved upon that he (Fardorougha) himself should wait upon Bodagh Buie, and in the name of his son formally propose for the hand of his daughter.

To effect this, however, was a matter of no ordinary difficulty, as they apprehended that the Bodagh and his wife would recoil with indignation at the bare notion of even condescending to discuss a topic which, in all probability, they would consider as an insult. Not, after all, that there existed, according to the opinion of their neighbors, such a vast disparity in the wealth of each; on the contrary, many were heard to a.s.sert, that of the two Fardorougha had the heavier purse. His character, however, was held in such abhorrence by all who knew him, and he ranked, in point of personal respectability and style of living, so far beneath the Bodagh, that we question if any ordinary occurrence could be supposed to fall upon the people with greater amazement than a marriage, or the report of a marriage, between any member of the two families. The O'Donovans felt, however, that it was better to make the experiment already agreed on, than longer to remain in a state of uncertainty about it. Should it fail, the position of the lovers, though perhaps rendered somewhat less secure, would be such as to suggest, as far as they themselves were concerned, the necessity of a more prompt and effectual course of action. Fardorougha expressed his intention of opening the matter on the following day; but his wife, with a better knowledge of female character, deemed it more judicious to defer it until after the interview which was to take place between Connor and Una on the succeeding Thursday. It might be better, for instance, to make the proposal first to Mrs. O'Brien herself, or, on the other hand, to the Bodagh; but touching that and other matters relating to what was proposed to be done, Una's opinion and advice might be necessary.

Little pa.s.sed, therefore, worthy of note, during the intermediate time, except a short conversation between Bartle and Connor on the following day, as they returned to the field from dinner.

"Bartle," said the other, "you wor a little soft last night; or rather a good deal so."

"Faith, no doubt o' that--but when a man meets an old acquaintance or two, they don't like to refuse a thrate. I fell in wid three or four boys--all friends o' mine, an' we had a sup on account o' what's expected."

As he uttered these words, he looked at Connor with an eye which seemed to say--you are not in a certain secret with which I am acquainted.

"Why," replied Connor, "what do you mane, Bartle? I thought you were with your brother--at laste you tould me so."

Flanagan started on hearing this.

"Wid my brother," said he--"why, I--I--what else could I tell you? He was along wid the boys when I met them."

"Took a sup on account o' what's expected!--an' what's the manin'o'

that, Bartle?"