Maud did not even smile at this proof of a grandmother’s weakness, though she felt and saw all its absurdity.  Heart was ever so much uppermost with the excellent matron, that it was not easy for those she loved to regard anything but her virtues; and least of all did her daughter presume to indulge in even a thought that was ludicrous at her expense.  Profiting by the assent, therefore, Maud quietly made a motion for Mike to follow, and proceeded at once to the room she had named.

Not a word was exchanged between the parties until both were in the library, when Maud carefully closed the door, her face pale as marble, and stood looking inquiringly at her companion.  The reader will understand that, Mr. Woods and Joyce excepted, not a soul at the Hut, out of the limits of the Willoughby connection, knew anything of our heroine’s actual relation to the captain and his family.  It is true, some of the oldest of the blacks had once some vague notions on the subject; but their recollections had become obscured by time, and habit was truly second nature with all of the light-hearted race.

“That was mighty injanious of you, Miss Maud!” Mike commenced, giving one of his expressive grins again, and fairly winking.  “It shows how fri’nds wants no spache but their own minds.  Barrin’ mistakes and crass-accidents, I’m sartain that Michael O’Hearn can make himself understood any day by Miss Maud Willoughby, an’ niver a word said.”

“Your success then, Mike, will be greater at dumb-show than it always is with your tongue,” answered the young lady, the blood slowly returning to her cheek, the accidental use of the name of Willoughby removing the apprehension of anything immediately embarrassing; “what have you to tell me that you suppose I have anticipated?”

“Sure, the like o’ yees needn’t be tould, Miss Maud, that the majjor bad me spake to ye by yerself, and say a word that was not to be overheerd by any one else.”

“This is singular—­extraordinary even—­but let me know more, though the messenger be altogether so much out of the common way!”

“I t’ought ye ’d say that, when ye come to know me.  Is it meself that ’s a messenger? and where is there another that can carry news widout spilling any by the way?  Nick’s a cr’ature, I allows; but the majjor know’d a million times bhetter than to trust an Injin wid sich a jewty.  As for Joel, and that set of vagabonds, we’ll grind ’em all in the mill, before we’ve done wid ’em.  Let ’em look for no favours, if they wishes no disapp’intment.”

Maud sickened at the thought of having any of those sacred feelings connected with Robert Willoughby that she had so long cherished in her inmost heart, rudely probed by so unskilful a hand; though her last conversation with the young soldier had told so much, even while it left so much unsaid, that she could almost kneel and implore Mike to be explicit.  The reserve of a woman, notwithstanding, taught her how to preserve her sex’s decorum, and to maintain appearances.