"
Bryan remained silent. In fact, he felt so completely overwhelmed that
he was incapable of uttering a syllable. On seeing Cavanagh return, he
was about to speak, when he looked upon the glowing cheeks, flashing
eyes, and panting bosom of his heroic little sister.
"You are right, my darling Dora. I must be proud on receiving such a
message. Kathleen has done me injustice, and I must be proud in my own
defence."
The full burthen of this day's care, however, had not been yet laid upon
him. On returning home, he heard from one of his laborers that a notice
to quit his farm of Ahadarra had been left at his house. This, after
the heavy sums of money which he had expended in its improvement and
reclamation, was a bitter addition to what he was forced to suffer. On
hearing of this last circumstance, and after perusing the notice which
the man, who had come on some other message, had brought with him, he
looked around him on every side for a considerable time. At length he
said, "Dora, is not this a fine country?"
"It is," she replied, looking at him with surprise.
"Would you like," he added, "to lave it?"
"To lave it, Bryan!" she replied. "Oh, no, not to lave it;" and as she
spoke, a deadly paleness settled upon her face.
"Poor Dora," he said, after surveying her for a time with an expression
of love and compassion, "I know your saicret, and have done so this long
time; but don't be cast down.
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