and drank as audibly and nearly as much as a horse. Then holding his hands to receive the remaining contents of the pitcher, which his followers poured into his monstrous palms, he soused his face, which he afterwards wiped in a wisp of grass, which was the only towel of Jack's which was not then at the wash. Having thus made his toilet, Big Jack went down stairs, and as soon as his great bull-head disappeared beneath the trap, one of the men above said, "We'll have a shilloo soon, boys." And sure enough they did, after some time, hear an extraordinary row. Jack first roared for Bridget, and no answer was returned; the call was repeated with as little effect, and at last a most tremendous roar was heard above-but not from a female voice. Jack was heard below, swearing like a trooper, and in a minute or too, back he rushed " up stairs again, and began cursing his myrmidons most awfully, and foaming at the mouth with rage. "What's the matther ?" cried the men. "Matther!" roared Jack; "oh, you 'tarnal villians !-You're a purty set to carry off a girl for a man-a purty job you've made of it!" 66 66 Arrah, didn't we bring her to you?" Her, indeed-bring her―much good what you brought is to me!” "Tare an 'ouns! what's the matther at all? We dunna what you mane!" shouted the men, returning rage for rage. "Come down, and you'll see what's the matther," said Jack, descending the ladder; and the men hastened after him. He led the way to the farther end of the cavern, where a small glimmering of light was permitted to enter from the top, and lifting a tattered piece of canvass, which served as a screen to the bed, he exclaimed with a curse, "Look there, you blackguards!" The men gave a shout of surprise, for-what do you think they saw? An empty bed! CHAPTER XLII. Ir may be remembered that, on Father Phil's recommendation, Andy was to be removed out of the country, to place him beyond the reach of Larry Hogan's machinations, and that the proposed journey to London afforded a good opportunity of taking him out of the way. Andy had been desired by Squire Egan to repair to Merryvale; but as some days had elapsed, and Andy had not made his appearance, the alarms of the Squire that Andy might be tampered with, began to revive, and Dick Dawson was therefore requested to call at the Widow Rooney's cabin as he was returning from the town, where some business with Murphy, about the petition against Scatterbrain's return, demanded his presence. Dick, as it happened, had no need to call at the widow's, for, on his way to the town, who should he see approaching but the renowned Andy himself. On coming up to him, Dick pulled up his horse, and Andy pulled off his hat. "God save your honour," said Andy Why didn't you come to Merryvale, as you were bid ?” said Dick. "I couldn't, sir, bekase "Hold your tongue, you thief; you know you never can do what you're bid-you are always wrong one way or other." "You're hard on me, Misther Dick." "Did you ever do any thing right?—I ask yourself!" Indeed, sir, this time it was a rale bit o' business I had to do." "And well you did it, no doubt.—Did you marry any one lately?” said Dick, with a waggish grin, and a wink. "Faix, then, maybe I did," said Andy, with a knowing nod. "And I hope Matty is well?" said Dick. Ah, Misther Dick, you're always goin' on with your jokin, so you are.-So you heerd o' that job, did you?-faix, a purty lady she is oh, it's not her at all I am married to, but another woman." "Another woman!" exclaimed Dick, in surprise. 66 Yis, sir, another woman-a kind craythur." "Another woman!" reiterated Dick, laughing, "married to two women in two days!—why you're worse than a Turk !” "Bigamy, by this and that, flat bigamy!-You'll only be hanged, as sure as your name's Andy." 66 Sure, let me tell harm, good or bad. you how it was, sir, and you'll see I am quit of all 'Twas a pack o' blackguards, you see, came to take off Oonah, sir." "6 Yis, sir ;- —so the women dhressed me up as a girl, and the blackguards, instead of the seduction of Oonah, only seduced me." 66 66 66 Capital !" cried Dick; " well done, Andy !—and who seduced you ?* Ho, ho! a dangerous customer to play tricks on, Andy." "Sure enough, faith, and that's partly the rayson of what happened; but by good luck, Big Jack was blind dhrunk when I got there, and I shammed screechin' so well, that his sisther took pity on me, and said she'd keep me safe from harm in her own bed that night." 66 Dick gave a view halloo," when he heard this, and shouted with laughter, delighted at the thought of Shan More, instead of carrying off a girl for himself, introducing a gallant to his own sister. 66 Oh, now I see how you are married," said Dick; "that was the biter bit, indeed." "Oh, the divil a bit I'd ha' bit her, only for the cross luck with me, for I wanted to schame off out o' the place, and escape; but she wouldn't let me, and cotch me and brought me back.” "I should think she would indeed," said Dick, laughing. next?" 66 "What Why I drank a power o' punch, sir, and was off my guard, you see, and couldn't keep the saycret so well afther that, and by dad she found it out." "Just what I would expect of her," said Dick. "Well, do you know, sir, though the thrick was agen her own brother, she laughed at it a power, and said I was a great divil, but that she couldn't blame me. So then I sthruv to coax her to let me make my escape, but she towld me to wait a bit till the men above was faster asleep; but while I was waitin' for them to go to sleep, faix, I went to sleep myself, I was so tired; and when Bridget, the craythur, woke me in the morning, she was cryin' like a spout afther a thundher shower, and said her characther would be ruined when the story got abroad over the counthry, and sure she darn't face the world, if I wouldn't make her an honest woman." 66 y?" Sure, her karacther “The brazen baggage!" said Dick; "and what did you say? 'Why what could any man say, sir, afther that. would be gone if "Gone," said Dick "faith it might have gone farther before it fared worse.". "Arrah! what do you mane, Misther Dick?" "Pooh, pooh! Andy-you don't mean to say you married that one?" 'Faix, I did," said Andy. 66 66 'Well, Andy," said Dick, grinning, "by the powers, you have done it this time!-good morning to you ;" and Dick put spurs to his horse. CHAPTER XLIII. ANDY, "knocked all of a heap," stood in the middle of the road, looking after Dick as he cantered down the slope. It was seldom poor Andy was angry-but he felt a strong sense of indignation choking him as Dick's parting words still rung in his ears. "What does he mane?" said Andy, talking aloud;—" What does he mane ?" he repeated; anxious to doubt, and therefore question the obvious construction which Dick's words bore. "Misther Dick is fond of a joke, and maybe this is one of his making, but if it is, 'tis not a fair one, 'pon my sowl: a poor man has his feelins as well as a rich man.-How would you like your own wife to be spoke of that way, Misther Dick, as proud as you ride your horse there-humph ?" Andy, in great indignation, pursued his way towards his mother's cabin, to ask her blessing upon his marriage. On his presenting himself there, both the old woman and Oonah were in great delight at witnessing his safe return. Oonah particularly, for she, feeling that it was for her sake Andy placed himself in danger, had been in a state of great anxiety for the result of the adventure, and on seeing him, absolutely threw herself into his arms, and embraced him tenderly, impressing many a hearty kiss upon his lips, between whiles that she vowed she would never forget his generosity and courage; and ending with saying there was nothing she would not do for him. Now Andy was flesh and blood, like other people, and as the showers of kisses from Oonah's ripe lips fell fast upon him, he was not insensible to the embrace of so very pretty a girl-a girl, moreover, he had always had a "sneaking kindness" for, which Oonah's distance of manner alone had hitherto made him keep to himself; but now, when he saw her eyes beam gratitude, and her cheek flush, after her strong demonstration of regard, and heard her last words, so very like a hint to a shy man, it must be owned a sudden pang shot through poor Andy's heart, and he sickened at the thought of being married, which placed the tempting prize before him hopelessly beyond his reach. He looked so blank, and seemed so unable to return Oonah's fond greeting, that she felt the pique which every pretty woman experiences who fancies her favours disregarded, and thought Andy was the stupidest lout she ever came across. Turning up her hair, which had fallen down in the excess of her friendship, she walked out of the cottage, and, biting her disdainful lip, fairly cried for spite. In the meantime Andy popped down on his knees before the widow, and said, "Give me your blessing, mother!" "For what, you omadhawn ?" said his mother fiercely, for her woman's' nature took part with Oonah's feelings, which she quite comprehended, and she was vexed with what she thought Andy's disgusting insensibility. "For what should I give you my blessin' ?" "Bekase I'm marri'd, ma'am." "What!" exclaimed the mother. "It's not marri'd again you are? -You're jokin', sure." "Faix, it's no joke," said Andy, sadly; "I'm marri'd, sure enough ; so give us your blessin' any how," cried he, still kneeling. "And who did you dar' for to marry, sir, if I may make so bowld to ax, without my lave or license ?" "There was no time for axin', mother, 'twas done in a hurry, and I can't help it, so give us your blessin' at oncet " "Tell me who she is, before I give you my blessin'." "Shan More's sisther, ma'am." "What!" exclaimed the widow, staggering back some paces," Shan More's sisther, did you say ?--Bridget rhua,* is it?" "Yis, ma'am." "Oh, wirrasthru !-phillilew -millia murther!" shouted the mother, tearing her cap off her head,—" Oh, blessed Vargin, holy St. Dominick, Pether an' Paul the 'possle, what'll I do?—Oh. patther anʼave—you dirty bosthoon-blessed angels and holy marthyrs .-kneelin' there in the middle o' the flure as if nothing happened,-look down on me this day, a poor vartuous dissolute woman!-Oh, you disgrace to me and all belongin' to you,—and is it the impidence to ask for my blessin' you have, when it's whippin' at the cart's tail you ought to get, you shameless scapegrace!" She then went wringing her hands, and throwing them upwards in appeals to Heaven, while Andy still kept kneeling in the middle of the cabin, lost in wonder. The widow ran to the door, and called Oonah in. "Who do you think that blackguard is marri'd to ?" said the widow. "Married!" exclaimed Oonah, growing pale. 66 Ay, marri'd, and who to, do you think?-why, to Bridget rhua." Oonah screamed, and clasped her hands. Andy got up at last, and asked what they were making such a rout about; he wasn't the first man who married without asking his mother's leave; and wanted to know what they had to " 66 say agen it." Oh, you barefaced scandal o' the world!" cried the widow, "to ax sitch a question, to marry a thrampin' sthreel like that,—a great redheaded Jack "She can't help her hair," said Andy. "I wish I could cut it off, and her head along with it, the sthrap !Oh, blessed Vargin, to have my daughter-in-law a "What?" said Andy, getting rather alarmed. "That the whole county knows is "What?" cried Andy. "Not a fair nor a market-town doesn't know her as well as wirra! wirra!" * Red-haired Bridget. -Oh, |