Willy Reilly / The Works of William Carleton, Volume One

nd in him such prejudices were singularly strong in words, although often feeble in fact he added, "it matters not-we owe our lives to him-the deepest and most imp

ll; and as you have acted so much like a brave man and a ge

d they will swing, each of you, from as many gibbets, as soon as the course of the law can reach you. You know me, sir, and my influence over those who protect you. As for you, Fergus," he added, addressing one of the Rapparee's followers, "you are, thank God! the only one of my blood who has ever disgraced it by leading such a lawless and guilty life. Be advised by me-l

eels a disposition to injure you, but is restrained by terror; or, which is quite as appropriate, a cowardly

sir," said Reilly; "y

"what's to prevent me from putting a bulle

in less than twenty-four hours you would find yourself in Sligo jail-or, to co

you have crossed me to-night. Suppose now I should try-and suppose, too, that not one of you thr

is right hand, about eight or ten persons made their appearan

tal nature as escape. Yes, and I will take you in the midst of your ruffian guards, and in the deepest of your fastnesses, if ever you provoke me as you have done on other occasions, or if you ever inj

arge frieze great-coat, which he gladly accepted, and having thus formed a guard of safety for him a

nd his companions looked after the

ave had a full and sweet revenge. However, never mind: it'll go hard with me, or I'll have it

our intention, Randal?" asked the pers

robbing the house to-night, and taking away his daughter to the mountains. I have lo

"neither make nor meddle with that family afther this night. If

Rapparee, knitting his shaggy eyebrows, an

nse enough to let him alone. When you took away Mary Traynor, and nearly kilt her brother, the young priest-you know they were Reilly's tenants-I needn't tell you what happened: in four hours' time he had the country up, followed you and your party-I wasn't with you then, but you know it's truth I'm spakin'-and when he had five

he hit me," said the Ra

; "you know he knocked you down as fast as ever you

t, Randal," they replied; "y

t me, he's the only man in the country able to do it; but it

t the Protestants have towards him for their advantage, wherever he can. The man that would injure Willy Reilly is an enemy to our religion, as well as to every thing that's good and generous; and mark me, Randal, if

ling out a purse; "there's twenty guineas for you, an

God forgive me for ever joinin' you. When I want money I can get it; as for t

ay along the same road by which t

l betray us," sa

part of the family; he is not come from any of the Queen's O'Reillys.

s who were faithfu

wars in Ireland wer

en's friends, to di

name who had oppose

the wars which deso

of the family of wh

ignated as the Q

p like a top. Wouldn't it be a good opportunity to attack the house-aise him of his money, for he's as rich as a Jew-and take a

a celebrated Rappa

ured principally as

mals concealed in r

nd dyed them in su

ize them. These cave

and are now known

chief in the for

O'Manion. It is sai

se he never had any

ld, notwithstanding,

ron with as much

erbr

hang yourself, and

replied their leader indignantl

," replied his followers, "

and be off to Am

th the Cooleen Bawn, if

tables. She'll be able to find her way back to her father's, never fear. Come, boys, now o

this conversation went on; and now that their dreadful project had been determined on, they too

ess of, or rather the belief in, his extraordinary height gave an extremely ludicrous appearance. Poor Tom was about five feet nine in height, but imagined himself to be at least a foot higher. His whole family were certainly tall, and one of the greatest calamities of the poor fellow's life was a bitter reflection that he himself was by several inches the lowest of his race. This was the only exception he made with respect to height, but so deeply did it affect him that he could scarcely ever allude to it without shedding tears. The life he had was similar in most respects to that of his unhappy class. He wandered about through the country, stopping now at one farmer's house, and now at another's, where he always experienced a kind reception, because he was not only amusing and inoffensive, but capable of making himself useful as a messenger and drudge. He was never guilty of a dishonest act, nor ever known to commit a breach of trust; and as a quick messenger, his extraordinary speed of foot rendered him unrivalled. His great delight, however, was to attend sportsmen, to whom he was invaluable as a guide and director. Such was

off Cooleen Bawn dough, nor rob her fader avder. Come, Tom, Steeple Tom, out with your two legs, one afore toder, and put Rapparee's nose out o' joint. Cool

hood-a characteristic which is often appended to the want of reason, and from which, we presume, the

known by the name of "a sling trot," and after getting out upon the old road he turned himself in the

readful scene into which he had been so unexpectedly cast had passed away without danger, began to rise so exubera

ust, and you needn't say nay, now, for I shall neither take excuse

enerally called, Willy Reilly. The name, sir, though an honorable one, is, in th

with me, Mr. Reill

l not leave you until I see that all risk of danger

"I believe a Papist can be a gentleman-

s religion to make him either dishonorable or

eligion, sir, if it prevents one man from being thankful, and grateful too, to another, when that other has saved his life. What's your state and condition in society, Mr.-? confound the scoundrel! he'd have shot me. We must hang t

lied Reilly, "but I have heard enough

h that I deny your words-you have s

dignantly. "I am not in the habit of stating a false

he same time I'm bound to say as a loyal man that Protestantism is my forte, Mr. Reilly-there's where I'm strong, a touch of Hercules about me there, Mr. Reilly-Willy, I mean. Well, you are a thorough good fellow, Papist and all, though you-ahem!-never mind though, you shall see my daughter, and you shall hear my daughter; for, by the great Boyne, she must salute the man that saved her father's life, and prevented her from being an orphan. And yet see, W

h a smile, "and I believe she is loved by every one

even for one of their own childer, go between them and heaven. As for the masther, he

u know about it?-you who never had wife or child? isn't she

well you wouldn't m

an, you despica

she doesn't like, as you're goin' to do. That

st without exception, I beg to let you know, sir, that I frequently have the Papist priest of our parish to dine with me; and if that isn't liberality the devil's in it. Isn't that true, you s

always abusing the Papists, as he calls us, and yet for every Protestant servant undher hi

and it's a pity that a good and benevolent man s

n, and yet he'll go any length to serve one o' them, if they want a friend, and has a good c

evil! are you dead or asleep there? Brady, y

saying, "I beg your honor's pardon. Ned is up at t

d good nature as could not for a moment be mistaken; "we

nk God, and

sense. When you thank God, thank him; and when you thank me, why thank me; but don't unite us, as you do him and your Popish saints, for I tell you, Molly, I'm no

h a number of large wax tapers. The furniture of the room was exceedingly rich, but somewhat curious and old-fashioned. It was such, however, as to give ample proof of great wealth and comfort, and, by the heat of a large peat fire which blazed in the capacious hearth, it c

ithout waiting for a reply, he added, "here are twenty pounds

f my tenants: they have only performed towards you a duty, which common hum

umble men-and as it is only the reward of a kind office, I th

ould not listen to him. John was, accordingly, dispatch

met the butler, whom he approached wi

Tom Steeple-ha, ha-you good man too, Mista John-give Tom bull

h him, Tom? he's enga

. Hicko! hicko! God's sake, Mista John: God's sake!

s, then? What have you to say t

mmunicating with Reilly, bolted in, and as the parlor door s

, "Willy Reilly, dere's news for you-for de squire too-bad news-God's

Tom?" asked Reilly;

y," replied the kind-hearted f

om Steeple? Go to the kitchen, Tom, and get one of your 'bull

and unconscious sense of the squire's kindness, was depicted

hat I remember, remained behind us in the old ruin-and then he is in tears. What can this mean? I will

t minutes, after which he re-entered the parlor with a face which st

e-"you see, by the way, I mak

ly. "Well, what was this mighty matt

other, "but a matter

e butler entered, "did you give

ed the other, they were

ey say-you with duck-shooting and I with a long ride-besides, I am quite too much fatigued to change my dress-John, some Madeira. I'm better than I was-but still dreadfully exhausted and afterwards, John, tell your mistress that her father wishes to see her here. First, the Ma

at the appearance of myself and my compani

as he took the glass in his trembling hand-"Willy-John, withdraw and send down, my daughter-Willy"-the old man looked at him, but was too full to utter a word. At this moment his daughter entered the roo

burst of his grief was over, "what has affec

"Look at him, my life, and observe him well; there he stands who has this night saved your loving father

be termed absolutely divine; such symmetry of form; such harmony of motion; such a seraphic being in the shape of woman, he had, in fact, never seen or dreamt of. She seemed as if surrounded by an atmosphere of light, of dignity, of goodness, of grace; but that which, above all, smote him, heart on, the moment was the spirit of tenderness and profound sensibility which seemed to predominate i

rk, deep, and terrible eyes upon Reilly, who in the meantime felt rapt, spell-bound, and stood, whilst his looks were riveted upon these irr

alas! how many hours of misery-of sorrow-of s

xion now pale, and again over-spread with deep blushes. "What do I say? Alas-a task! to thank

t her in his arms just in tim

to the settee. There, God bless you!-God bless you!-she will soon recover. Helen! my child! my life! What, Helen! Come, dearest love, be a woman. I am safe, as you may see, dearest. I tell you I sustained no injury in life-not a hair

mount altogether to insensibil

ed for the account of this dreadful affair. Excuse me, sir; surely you will admit that a murderous attack on dear

to it, darling; you a

n-who will be kind enough to imagine my thanks, for, indeed, no language

would be better to defer the explanation

ill occasion me greater suffering, I am sure, than t

l of entreaty and gratitude, and something like joy-for who does not know the many languages which the single

the shock has passed, perhaps to make her briefly acqu

re has been no harm done. Look at this now! Get away, you saucy baggage! Your poor lovi

ngue, but your generous and charitable and noble heart?" and again she wound her exquisite

l not tell you any thing more about my rescue by

, and the glance was as speedily followed by a blush, and a

circumstances with which the reader is already acquainted. At the close, however, when he came to the part which Reilly had borne in the matter, and dwelt at more len

p-bless me, how it pit-a-pats. There, now, you've heard it all-here I am, safe-and there stands the gentleman

who really had dined, were flun

ress. I am sure Helen here will not find fault with it. Come, Helen, use your influence, love. And you, sir, Willy Reilly, give h