Once for all, then," she added, calmly, and with
a smile full of affection and good humor, "I say you may spare both
yourself and me a great deal of trouble, my dear father, I grant you
that I like and esteem Edward Burke as a friend, an' I think that he
really is what his brother Hycy wishes himself to be thought--a true
gentleman--but that is all, father, you know; for I would scorn to
conceal it, that Bryan M'Mahon has my affections, and until he proves
false to his God, his religion, and his country, I will never prove
false to him nor withdraw my affections from him."
"For all that," replied her father, "it's strongly suspected that he's
goin' over to the tories, an' will vote for Vanston to-morrow."
Kathleen rose with a glowing cheek, and an eye sparkling with an
enthusiastic trust in her lover's faith; "No, father," said she, "by the
light of heaven above us, he will never vote for Vanston--unless Vanston
becomes the friend of our religion. I have only one worthless life, but
if I had a thousand, and that every one of them was worth a queen's, I'd
stake them all on Bryan M'Mahon's truth. If he ever turns traitor--let
me die before I hear it, I pray God this night!"
As she spoke, the tears of pride, trust, and the noble attachment by
which she was moved, ran down her cheeks; in fact, the natural dignity
and high moral force of her character awed them, and her father
completely subdued, simply replied:--
"Very well, Kathleen; I'll say no more, dear; I won't press the matter
on you again, and so I'll tell Jemmy Burke.
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