"
Kathleen started, looked around her, as if with amazement, and without
seeming to know exactly what she did, went towards the door, and
was about to walk out, when Hanna, detaining her, asked with
alarm--"Kathleen, what ails you, dear? Where are you going?"
"Going," she replied; "I was going to--where?--why?--what--what has
happened?"
"The news came upon her too much by surprise," said Hanna, looking
towards the priest.
"Kathleen, darlin'," exclaimed her mother, "try and compose yourself.
Lord guard us, what can ail her?"
"Let her come with me into the parlor, mother, an' do you an' Father
Magowan stay where you are."
They accordingly went in, and after about the space of ten minutes she
recovered herself so far as to make Hanna repeat the intelligence which
the simple-hearted priest had, with so little preparation, communicated.
Having listened to it earnestly, she laid her head upon Hanna's bosom
and indulged in a long fit of quiet and joyful grief. When she had
recovered a little, Father Magowan entered at more length into the
circumstances connected with the changes that had affected her lover's
character so deeply, after which he wound up by giving expression to the
following determination--a determination, by the way, which we earnestly
recommend to all politicians of his profession.
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