He then stepped over to where she
stood, and extending his hand with an air of gallantry and good humor
said, "I hope Miss Cavanagh, who has so far honored our worthy father,
won't refuse to honor the son."
Kathleen, who had blushed at his father's words, now blushed more deeply
still; because in this instance, there was added to the blush of modesty
that of offended pride at his unseasonable presumption.
"This, Mr. Hycy," she replied, "is neither a time nor a place for empty
compliments. When the son becomes as worthy as the father, I'll shake
hands with him; but not till that time comes."
On returning to the place she had left, her eyes met those of Bryan, and
for a period that estimable and true-hearted young fellow forgot
both grief and sorrow in the rush of rapturous love which poured
its unalloyed sense of happiness into his heart. Hycy, however, felt
mortified, and bit his lip with vexation. To a young man possessed of
excessive vanity, the repulse was the more humiliating in proportion to
its publicity. Gerald Cavanagh was as deeply offended as Hycy, and his
wife could not help exclaiming aloud, "Kathleen! what do you mane? I
declare I'm ashamed of you!"
Kathleen, however, sat down beside her sister, and the matter was soon
forgotten in the stir and bustle which preceded the setting out of the
funeral.
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