They haven't left me a leg to stand upon. Honest Jemmy never had any
wish to make Edward a priest, and he tells my father that it was all
a trick of the wife to get everything for her favorite; and he's now
determined to disappoint them. What will you do?"
"What would you recommend me?" asked Kathleen, looking at her with
something of her own mood, for although her brow was serious, yet there
was a slight smile upon her lips.
"Why," said the frank and candid girl, "certainly to run away with Bryan
M'Mahon; that, you know, would settle everything."
"Would it settle my father's heart," said Kathleen, "and my
mother's?--would it settle my own character?--would it be the step that
all the world would expect from Kathleen Cavanagh?--and putting all the
world aside, would it be a step that I could take in the sight of God,
my dear Hanna?"
"Kathleen, forgive me, darlin'," said her sister, throwing her arms
about her neck, and laying her head upon her shoulder; "I'm a foolish,
flighty creature; indeed, I don't know what's to be done, nor I can't
advise you. Come out and walk about; the day's dry an' fine."
"If your head makes fifty mistakes," said her sister, "your heart's an
excuse for them all; but you don't make any mistakes, Hanna, when
you're in earnest; instead of that your head's worth all our heads put
together.
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