Clinton the same question," said the father, "and it appears
that it came from Bryan himself."
"Oh, God forbid!" exclaimed Hanna; "for, if it's a thing that he said
that, he'd say anything."
"I don't know," returned the father, "I only spake it as I hard it, and,
what is more, I believe it--I believe it after what I hard this day;
everybody knows him now--man, woman, an' child, Gheernah! what an escape
that innocent girl had of him!"
Kathleen rose up, went over to her father, and, placing her hand upon
his shoulder, was about to speak, but she checked herself; and, after
looking at them all, as it were by turns, with a look of distraction and
calm but concentrated agony, she returned again to her seat, but did not
sit down.
"After all," she exclaimed, "there has been no new crime brought against
him, not one; but, if I acted wrongly and ungenerously once, I won't
do so again. Hanna, see his sister Dora, say I give him the next three
weeks to clear himself; and, father, listen! if he doesn't do so within
that time, take me, marry me to Edward Burke if you wish--of course
Hycy's out of the question--since you must have it so, for the sooner
I go to my grave the better. There's his last chance, let him take it;
but, in the mean time, listen to me, one and all of you. I cannot bear
this long; there's a dry burning pain about my heart, and a weight upon
it will soon put me out of the reach of disappointment and sorrow.
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