"
"His father did!" exclaimed Mrs. Cavanagh; "now, did he say so, Gerald?"
"Well, in troth he did--said that he had I set his heart upon it, an'
that if she hadn't a gown to her back he'd make him marry her."
"The Lord direct us for the best!" exclaimed his wife, whose opinion of
the matter at this last piece of information had again changed in favor
of Hycy. "Sure, afther all, one oughtn't to be too sevare on so young
a man. However, as the sayin' is, 'time will tell,' an' Kathleen's own
good sense will show her what a match he'd be."
The sisters then retired to bed; but before they went, Kathleen
approached her mother, and putting an open palm affectionately upon each
of the good woman's cheeks, said, in a voice in which there was deep
feeling and affection:--
"Good-night, mother dear! I'm sure you love me, an' I know it is because
you do that you spake in this way; but I know, too, that you wouldn't
make me unhappy and miserable for the wealth of the world, much less
for Hycy Burke's share of it. There's a kiss for you, and
good-night!--there's another for you, father; God bless you! and
good-night, too. Come, Hanna darling, come!"
In this state matters rested for some time. Bryan M'Mahon, however, soon
got an opportunity of disclosing his intentions to Kathleen, if that can
be called disclosing, which was tolerably well known for a considerable
time previous to the disclosure.
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