I know," she proceeded, "that it's not
possible for him ever to clear himself of this shocking and shameful
conduct; but lest there might be any chance of it, I now say before you
all, that if something doesn't come about within three months, that may
and ought to change my feelings towards him, I'll live afterwards as if
I had never known him."
"Mightn't you see him, however, an' hear what he has to say for
himself?" asked Hanna.
"No," the other replied; "he heard my message, and was silent. You may
rest assured if he had anything to say in his own defence, he would
have said it, or asked to see me. Oh, no, no, because I feel that he's
defenceless."
In this peculiar state of circumstances our readers need not feel
surprised that every possible agency was employed to urge her beyond the
declaration she had made, and to induce her to receive the addresses of
Edward Burke. Her own parents, old Jemmy Burke, the whole body of her
relatives, each in turn, and sometimes several of them together, added
to which we may mention the parish priest, who was called in by both
families, or at least by old Jemmy Burke and the Cavanaghs--all we say
perpetually assailed her on the subject of a union with Edward Burke,
and assailed her so pertinaciously, that out of absolute apathy, if not
despair, and sick besides of their endless importunities, she at last
said--"If Edward Burke can be satisfied with a wife that has no heart to
give him, or that cannot love him, I don't care much how I am disposed
of; he may as well call me wife as another, and better, for if I cannot
love, I can at least respect him.
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