The Kellys and the O'Kellys

of the oft-repeated assurance that there is not a headache in a hogshead of it, whiskey punch will sicken one, as well as more expensive and more fashionable potent drinks.

n after that, but nothing further. Surely, he could not have killed her? he could not even have hurt her very much, or he would have heard of it before this. If anything serious had happened, the servants would have taken care that he should have heard enough about it ere now. Then he began to think what o'clock it could be, and that it must be late, for his watch was run down; the general fate of drunkards, who are doomed to utter ignorance of the hour at which they wake to the consciousness of their miserable disgrace. He feared to ring the bell for the servant; he was afraid to

tumbled into bed with most of his clothes on-Terry's red head appeared at the door, showing an anxiety, on the part of i

, by his own state, into rather more courtesy th

lieve it's past

ch a headache. I was screw

yer war,

was it when

asn't only about ten when I tuk in the last hot

e." This was a feeler. If anything was the matter with Anty, Terry would

tainly, there had been some row between him and Anty, it would probably blow over; and then, also, he b

a manner, earned a right to be idle for that day, by her activity during the night; and the other girl had endeavoured to enjoy the same luxury, for she had been found once or twice during the

where Miss Anty's gone, Terry?

hure, he may find it out his

when he finds she's taken up wi

being murthered up here? He'd be k

se than him, and ain't it rasonable he shouldn't be quiet

with Martin than up here wid him? Any ways it d

ne, for Anty, in her confusion, had taken away the

stracted at the bed-room door, was angrily asked by his thirsty master why the tea didn't appear? The truth was now

again. Had she gone to a magistrate, to swear against him

he gone, Terry?" said

rightly knowing; but I hear tell

d you, y

yer honer, i

here's

at not a know she knowed how it had come about, or what had induced the widow to come, or Miss Anty to go, or anything about it; only, for shure, Miss Anty was down there, snug enough, w

s hatred for her returned again, all his anxious wishes that she might be somehow removed from his path, as an obnoxious stumbling-block. A few minutes ago, he was afraid he had murdered her, and he now almos

This she very wisely refrained from retailing, but, having procured the keys, gave them to the messenger, merely informing him,

ge, and making his sister obedient to his wishes. "Confound her," he said, almost aloud, as he thought, with bitter vexation of spirit, of her unincumbered moiety of the property, "confound them all!" grinding his teeth, and meaning by the "all" to include with Anty his father, and every one who might have assisted his father in making the odious will, as well as his own attorney in Tuam, who wo

ified himself with sundry glasses of wine, he formed his resolution. He would make one struggle more; he would first go down to the widow, and claim his sister, as a poor simple young woman, inveigled away from her natural guardian; and, if this were unsuccessful, as he felt pretty sure it would be, he would take proceedings to prove her a lunatic. If he failed, he might still delay, and finally put off the marriage; and he was sure he could get some attorney to put him in the way of doing it, and to undertake the work for him. His late father's attorney had been a fool, in not breaking the will, or at any rate trying it, and he would go to Daly. Young Daly, he knew, was a sharp fellow, and wanted practice, and this would just suit him. And then, if at last he found that nothing could be done by this means, if his sister and the property mu

ake the best of a pis aller [14], when he was forced to do so. If beaten, he would make use of Martin Kelly;

coward, and had a strong tongue in her head. However, it must be done, and the sooner the better. He first of all looked at himself in his glass, to see that his appearance was sufficiently haughty and indignant, and, as he fl

scribed; and, while she was gone on her errand, he remained alone there, lash

e her mother, and Jane, and Anty, were at dinner,

, and he can't come near you. Shure, he'll ni

urned pale, and dropped her knife and fork. "What'll I do, Mrs Kelly?" she said, as she sa

tay in the shop he is. I'll go to him immediately. But, as for giving you up, I mane you to stay here, till you've a proper home of your own; and Barry Lyn

t was to take place; and the other clasped Anty's hand, to re-assure her, having first thrown open the door of one of

customed place behind the counter. "Were you wanting me, this evening?" and she took up the knife with which she cut penn'ort

"I do want to speak to you. My sister has foolishly left her home this

r, upstairs, this very moment;" and she rapped t

lly, I'll step up, and speak t

me down at your bidding. No; we're not so bad as that, to lave her all alone; and as for your seeing he

'd better take care what you're doing, Mrs Kelly. I don't want to say anything harsh at present, but you'd better

at's more, I'll take care of your sister, too. And, to give you a bit of

s Kelly, and I will not do so. In fact, it is ver

in, pray lave it! We

say, that I have come here at all; but my sister, who is, unfortunately, not

asy, out of your door, and into mine. But that's a lie, for it was out of

how she came here, but h

like to be a poor crature, av'

be aware that a road-side public-house, however decent, or a village shop, however respectable, is not the proper place for my sister; and, though I may n

ne, now, Mis

sense enough to see the folly-not to speak of the

ill you put inside this, unless you're intending to force your way, and I don't think you'll be for trying that. And as to bearing the danger, why, I'll do my best; and, for all the harm you're l

y, you'll take upon yourself t

as wishing it, as well as

ung woman is of weak mind, and unable to judge for herself, and

. And as for brother, Masther Barry, why didn't you think of that before you struck her, like a brute, as you are-before you got dhrunk, like a baste, and then threatened to murdher her? Why didn't you think about brother and sisther before you thried to rob the poor wake crature, as you call her; and when you found she wasn't quite wake enough, as you call it, swore to have her life, av' she wouldn't act at your bidding? That's being a brother and a guardian, is it, Masther Barry? Talk to me of danger, you ruffian," continued the widow,

e open shop, than to Barry, who stood, during this tirade, half stupefied with rage, and half frightened, at the open attack made on him wi

and that dearly. You've invented these lies, as a pretex

h, the biggest liar in all Connaught-not to talk of robber and ruffian! You'd betther take yourself out of that, fair and asy, while you're let. You'll find you'll have

r you, Mrs Kelly, Ma

lone widdy, so it is," said a virago, who seemed wel

a Lynch-barring Miss Anty

em," put in a fourth, presuming that the intended

good for the best of

et nigh it. Miss Anty Lynch has come to me for protection; and, by the Blessed Virgin, she shall have it, as long as my name's Mary Kelly, and I ain't like to change it; so that's the long

Lynch a lunatic, as every one here knows she unfortunately is; and, as sure as you stand there, you'll have to answer for detaining her; and you're much m

pponent; "who cares for her money? It's not come to that ye

ssion of my sister," and Barry turned to the door. "But you'

Ma'am, he'll get you put in along with Dan and Father Tierney

efore hearing the last of the

ave the coat off your back, and your face well mauled, before I let you out of the shop!" And so ended

Christian, and a mother; and merely saying, with a kind of inward chuckle, "Come to me, indeed, with his roguery! he's got the wrong pig b

rself, said a word which was more than necessarily violent; and assured Anty over and over again, that, out of respect to her feelings, and because the man was, after all, her brother, she had refrained from doing and saying what she would have done and said, had she been treated in such a manner by anybody else. She seemed, however, in spite of the ill-treatment which she had undergone, to be in a serene and happ

It was however only what he had expected, and calculated upon; and what should he care for the Dunmore people? They wouldn't rise up and kill him, nor would

" said Jacky, "don't forget your

there again, I'll have you

e widdy's? That's well; it's a fine thing to see you on good terms, since you're soon like to be so sib. Wel

or this, but Jacky was out of his reach; so he merely muttered

by Terry, mounted for the occasion, and directed on no account to return without an answer. If M

House, F

ear

ce, and I am induced to think it will be more ably handled by you than by Mr Blake, my father's man of bus

ir, Your fai

Y LY

hat you are coming to me,-not that my bus

sq., Solic

re he had brought back an answer, saying that Mr Daly would be at Dunmore House to dinner on the following day. And Te