Willy Reilly / The Works of William Carleton, Volume One

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whole time in private profligacy-for he was a hypocrite, too-in racking his tenantry, and exhibiting himself as a champion for Protestant principles. Whenever an unfortunate Roman Catholic, whether priest or layman, happened to infringe a harsh and cruel law of which probably he had never heard, who so active in collecting his myrmidons, in order to uncover, hunt, and run down his luckless victim? And yet he was not popular. No one, whether

d that barbarous old blockhead of a squire, who was so near throwing me off for a beggarly Papist rebel: and doubly, trebly, quadruply cursed be that same rebel for crossing my path as he has done. The cursed light-headed jade loves

pened as he went down, and he ordered lights into the back parlor. In a few minutes they wer

ming as much dignity as he coul

sir; we bagged nothing

nly, "and none of this cant. Did you

ess if a party led and commanded by George Johnston

t did you see

comfortable one it is; and we heard fr

drunk, J

; besides, I never discharge my duty half so w

ou to get drunk on duty aga

fig I care whether you do or not; I'm

; I will overlook this, for you are a very

Robert, that I'm a bet

I shall order yo

Steen, "I have a charge to m

ou are a staunch, steady fello

r on the old bridle road beyond Reilly'

on his way to my uncle's to stop there for the night. Divil a sc

o Johnston the necessity of sending a couple of men up with him to ascertain whether what, he said was

or a Papish that breaks the law with any man livin', but hang

ree, now in military uniform, entered the parlor

"what or who do you suppo

aree, sir, or

hat description of disguises do these villains usu

egal subject, but, before that, three-fourths of us-of the

been secured it might have been necessary for them to escort him to Sligo. Well, take half a dozen mounted I men, and, as you very properly suggested, proceed with all haste to farmer Graham

ith them, your honor,"

bert, "I have other bus

hey'll scarcely make it out in the dark, for it's a good way back in the fields-I mane the cabin of widow Buckley. If there's one house more than another in the whole countryside where! Reilly is likely to take shelter in, that's it. He gave her that c

I have other occupati

without much difficulty. "They had been there," they said, "some six or eight months before

could have known Fergus the next day if they had met him. They knew, however, that O'Donnel, the Rapparee, was a good authority on the subject, and the discovery of the pretended mendicant's imposture was a proof of it. On this account, when they had reached the boreen alluded to, on their return from Graham's, they came to

were still seated, maintaining the usual chat with Mrs. Buckl

or two; there's-a circumstance I wish to mention to Molly-I assure you

t, at all events, to stretch my legs

ngly left

s not for nothing I came here to-ni

Mr. Reilly, even before I hear it-that is, suppos

and be certain that it shall be

at's aisily done. And where a

ome future occasion-perhaps wit

twenty miles to deliver it-and w

e so far; but there is one thing you are to obser

knew me bette

o be too strict here, because you d

r Christ's sake, snuff out the candle, and Reilly-fl

at you saw me, or that there was any one here!-Put out the candl

e party, whoever they might be, which they could do in safety. This act of reconnoitering, however, was performed by the ear, and not

s Sir Robert's, it is likely that I may have an opportunity of securing my cash and papers." On reaching the cross-roads alluded to, the party, much to the satisfaction of Reilly and his companion, did turn tow

ouse, or other place of concealment, having been left unexamined-they were about to enter,

. Mark me, I will place Tom Corrigan-you know him-at this window, and if you happen to see anything in the shape of a huma

though, indeed, when we consider his care and anxiety, we can scarcely say so. At all events, Reilly returne

ight?" as

o an arrangement to sit up, two in turn each night, so as to be r

e these papers?" asked his com

lace for a day or two. Only that the hour is so unseasonable, I could feel little difficulty in finding a

hat if a horse! happened to get into one of them he went down to the saddle-skirts. They were treacherous, too, and such as no caution could guard against; because, where the whole surface of the road was one mass of mud, it was impossible to distinguish these horse-traps at all. Then, in addition to these, were deep

and not a little alarmed, to see a horse, without a rider, struggling to extricate him

eilly, "is without! a r

on examining the place discovered a man ly

at his rider has been hurt; he is lying sensel

killed; let us instantly assist him. Hold this portf

n, and on approaching found the man

wn, sir," said Reilly; "I trust i

t I was stunned, and have been insensib

" exclaimed Reilly,

e able to stand upon them." Reilly did so, but found that he could not stand o

t you home. It is very fortunate that you have not many perch

must take a bed at my house tonight. I am aware of your position," he added in a confid

n the Protestant rector of the parish, a man with whom Reilly was on the most friendly and intimate terms, and a man, we may add, who omitted no opportunity of extending shelter, protection, and countenance to such Roman Catholics as fell

ducted to a private room, without the knowledge of the servants, who were sent as soon as possible to bed. Before Reilly withdrew, however, that night, he requested Mr. Brown to take charge of his money and family papers, which th

he was a good deal mistaken, however, Sir Robert Whitecraft had now gained a complete ascendancy over the disposition and passions of her father. The latter, like many another country squire-especially of that day-when his word and will were law to his tenants and dependants, was a very great man indeed, when dealing with them. He could bluster and threaten, and even carry his threats into execution with a confident swagger that had more of magisterial pride and the pomp of property in it, than a sense of either light

caitiff had a double motive in this. He found that if her father should "pepper her with persecution," as the old fellow said, before marriage, its consequences might fall upon his own unlucky head afterwards-in other words, that Helen would most assuredly make hi

t conversation they had on this subject, "you m

e order of the day? If she doesn't marry you quietly and

love so much as opposition and violence. The fair ones begin to look upon themselves as martyrs, and in proportion as you are severe and inexorable, so in proportion are they resolved to win the crown that is before them. I would not press your daughter but that I be

rd you say. However, I dare say it may be very good sens

illy immediately after paying either my mind or person any compliment. Allow the young lady to remain quiet for a time. Treat her with your usual kindness and affection; for it is possible, after all

what a son-in-law I should have! I

doubt: but until we shall be able to accomplish either one or the other, we have not much to expect in the shape of complianc

at him with a pair of round eyes tha

s food, or ra

quire indignantly; "do you want

applied by the poets,

ver, go on-let us understand fairly what you're at. I think I see a glimpse of it; and knowing your characte

l enter into an agreement with me, I shall undertake so to make the laws bear upon Reilly as to rid either the world or the country of him; and you shall promise not to

il's that?" s

in-law, "that she must be well watched

up at once?" said her father. "Tha

t. "So sure as you lock her up,

rety for the due appearance of any young woman disposed to run away. I think the best way would be to make h

ccasionally to puzzle his frie

o, Mr. Folliard; if you will be advised by me, try the soothing syst

I didn't think you knew half so much as you do. That last, however, is a tickler-a nut that I can't crack. I wish I could onl

uld teach them a li

ge able to understand you. You will become a perfect oracle. But, in the meantime, let us see how the arrangement stands. Imprimus, you are to hang or transport Keilly; and, until then, I am not t

rd. I did not say so; I fear n

t down you staggered it. Omitting the comparis

conscious, "after all, that he had g

tell you what, Sir Robert, I know you carry a long noddle, with more hard words in

ould watch her personally

hem, if you wish, but to watch a woman, Sir Robert-and that woman keen and sharp upon the cause of such vigilance-without her knowing it in one hal

perform your part of this arrangement, and, with the bles

ok himself home, to reflect upon the best means of performing his part of it, w

nfounded by either a difficult word or a hard sentence, he always took it for granted that there was something unusually profound and clever in the matter laid before him. Sir Robert knew this, and on that ac