me to hear her called Lady Whitecraft; still, I say, I don’t care for rank or ambition; nor would I sacrifice my child’s happiness to either.  And, between you and me, if she declines to have him, she shan’t, thats all that’s to be said about it.  He’s quite round in the shoulders; and yet so inconsistent are women that she calls a protuberance that resembles the letter C the line of beauty.  Then again he bit me in ‘Hop-and-go-constant;’ and you know yourself, Willy, that no person likes to be bit, especially by the man he intends for his son-in-law.  If he gives me the bite before marriage, what would he not do after it?”

“This, sir, is a subject,” replied Reilly, “on which I must decline to give an opinion; but I think that no father should sacrifice the happiness of his daughter to his own inclinations.  However, setting this matter aside, I have something of deep importance to mention to you.”

“To me!  Good heavens!  What is it?”

“The Red Rapparee, sir, has formed a plan to rob, possibly to murder, you, and what is worse—­”

“Worse!  Why, what the deuce—­worse!  Why, what could be worse?”

“The dishonor of your daughter.  It is his intention to carry her off to the mountains; but pardon me, I cannot bear to dwell upon the diabolical project.”

The old man fell back, pale, and almost insensible, in his chair.

“Do not be alarmed, sir,” proceeded Keilly, “he will be disappointed.  I have taken care of that.”

“But, Mr. Reilly, what—­how—­for heaven’s sake tell me what you know about it.  Are you sure of this?  How did you come to hear of it?  Tell me—­tell me every thing about it!  We must prepare to receive the villains—­we must instantly get assistance.  My child—­my life—­my Helen, to fall into the hands of this monster!”

“Hear me, sir,” said Reilly, “hear me, and you will perceive I have taken measures to frustrate all his designs, and to have him a prisoner before to-morrow’s sun arises.”

He then related to him the plan laid by the Red Rapparee, as overheard by Tom Steeple, and as it was communicated to himself by the same individual subsequently, after which he proceeded: 

“The fact is, sir, I have sent the poor fool, who is both faithful and trustworthy, to summon here forty or fifty of my laborers and tenants.  They must be placed in the out-houses, and whatever arms and ammunition you can spare, in addition to the weapons which they shall bring along with them, must be made available.  I sent orders that they should be here about nine o’clock.  I, myself, will remain in this house, and you may rest assured that your life, your property, and your child shall be all safe.  I know the strength of the ruffian’s band; it only consists of about twelve men, or rather twelve devils, but he and they will find themselves mistaken.”