Our friends the M'Mahons, urged by motives at once so strong and
painful, were not capable of resisting the contagion of emigration
which, under the circumstances we have detailed, was so rife among
the people. It was, however, on their part a distressing and mournful
resolve. From the, moment it was made, a gloom settled upon the
whole family. Nothing a few months before had been farther from their
thoughts; but now there existed such a combination of arguments for
their departure, as influenced Bryan and his father, in spite of their
hereditary attachment to Ahadarra and Carriglass. Between them and the
Cavanaghs, ever since Gerald had delivered Kathleen's message to Bryan,
there was scarcely any intercourse. Hanna, 'tis true, and Dora had an
opportunity of exchanging a few words occasionally, but although the
former felt much anxiety for a somewhat lengthened and if possible
confidential conversation with her sparkling little friend, yet the
latter kept proudly if not haughtily silent on one particular subject,
feeling as she did, that anything like a concession on her part was
humiliating, and might be misconstrued into a disposition to compromise
the independence of her brother and family. But even poor Dora,
notwithstanding her affectionate heart and high spirit, had her own
sorrows to contend with, sorrows known only to her brother Bryan, who
felt disposed to befriend her in them as far as he could.
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