His men, hastening to his assistance, hardly dared to raise him from the ground, and when they had at last mustered courage to do so, they were under the firm belief that it was the corpse of their master which they were carrying home.  But Peter Rorke was not dead yet, and to the surprise of all who had known him, soon demonstrated that he was going to cheat a certain Old Gentleman—­who had been considered his intimate friend during his long life—­of his company at the close of it.  His end in fact was most edifying.  He made his peace with both God and man before he departed.  To the last he remained persuaded that the horned face, which had peered at him through the ruins of Donoughmor, was that of the devil himself.

The explanation that the McEvoys’ goat, which had been tethered on the hill, had broken loose and clambered up the ruined wall did not seem to him to have any bearing on the case.  It was his belief that the “Ould Boy” had somewhat prematurely appeared to claim him; and his most anxious endeavour was to cheat him of his due.  So Peter accomplished deeds which, under other circumstances, would have been impossible to him.  He made his will to begin with, leaving a good deal of money in charity, and the bulk of his fortune to Roseen; he left directions that the Clancys were to be reinstated in their cabin and emphatically announced that he forgave Mike.  When this last item, by the way, was reported to Pat, the old man’s indignation knew no bounds.

Peter’s last hours were not, however, disturbed by any hint as to the Clancys’ attitude, and it was with the most peaceful and resigned disposition that he, at last, betook himself to another world, with the full assurance that it would prove a better one.

When Roseen had in some measure recovered from the shock of her grandfather’s death, her thoughts turned at once to the Clancys.  One of the family indeed had never been absent from them, and it was with surprise and indignation that she learnt that old Peter’s forgiveness would in no manner affect Mike’s actual position.  The crime of which he was accused was so serious in character that he would have to await his trial at the approaching Sessions.

For his parents, however, something could be done, and Roseen, now finding herself mistress of Monavoe and all who dwelt there, proceeded to give orders right and left with an assurance which surprised those who had formerly known her.  Injunctions were issued that the Clancys’ cottage should be re-roofed and made habitable without delay, and, meanwhile, she announced her intention of taking the old couple to live with her at Monavoe.  Many were the jokes and comments made upon this act of hers; a few people of what had now become her own standing in the neighbourhood offered her sage pieces of advice; some of her former cronies laughed and inquired if she were going to set up a home for incurables, as what between ould Judy that had no sense to speak of, an’ Pat Clancy with ne’er a sound limb in his body, and his wife, God help her! hardly able to crawl with rheumatics, she would have her hands full up there.  Roseen thanked her advisers kindly and laughed with the jokers, and went her own way.