A thought now struck him by which he could, as he
imagined, execute a very signal revenge upon M'Mahon through Kathleen,
and perhaps, ultimately upon Kathleen herself, if he should succeed
with Miss Clinton; for he did not at all forgive Kathleen the two public
instances of contempt with which she had treated him. There was still,
however, another consideration. His father had threatened to bring home
his brother Edward, then destined for the church, and altogether to
change his intentions in that respect. Indeed, from the dry and caustic
manner of the old man towards him of late, he began to entertain
apprehensions upon the subject. Taking therefore all these circumstances
into consideration, he resolved in any event to temporize a little, and
allow the father to suppose that he might be prevailed upon to marry
Kathleen Cavanagh.
In the course of that evening, after dinner, while his father and he
were together and his mother not present, he introduced the subject
himself.
"I think, Mr. Burke, if I remember correctly, you proposed something
like a matrimonial union between the unrivalled Katsey Cavanagh and the
accomplished Hycy."
"I did, God forgive me."
"I have been thinking over that subject since."
"Have you, indeed," said his father; "an' am I to make Ned a priest or a
farmer?" he asked, dryly.
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