object in view, he hung about the place until her return should afford him an opportunity of making such an explanation as might soothe her into good humor and a more friendly feeling towards him.  Nay, he even determined to promise her marriage, in order to disarm her resentment and avert the danger which, he knew, was to be apprehended from it.  He accordingly stationed himself in the shelter of a ditch, along which he knew she must pass on her way home.  He had not long, however, to wait.  In the course of half an hour he saw her approach, and as she was passing him he said in a low, confidential voice,—­

“Caterine!”

“Who is that?” she asked, but without exhibiting any symptoms of alarm.

“It’s me,” he replied, “Shawn.”

“Well,” she replied, “and what is that to me whether it’s you or not?”

“I have thought over our discourse a while ago, and I’m sorry for what I’ve said;—­will you let me see you a part of the way home?”

“I can’t prevent you from comin’,” she replied, “if you’re disposed to come—­the way is as free to you as to me.”

They then proceeded together, and our readers must gather from the incidents which are to follow what the result was of Shawn’s policy in his conversation with her on the way.  It is enough to say that they parted on the best and most affectionate terms, and that a certain smack, very delicious to the lips of Caterine, was heard before Shawn bade her good-night.

Barney Casey, who suspected there was something in the wind, in consequence of the secret interview which took place between Caterine Collins and Harry, conscious as he felt that it was for no good purpose, watched that worthy gentleman’s face with keen but quiet observation, in the hope of being able to draw some inference from its expression.  This, however, was a vain task.  The face was impassable, inscrutable; no symptom of agitation, alarm, or concealed satisfaction could be read in it, or anything else, in short, but the ordinary expression of the most perfect indifference.  Barney knew his man, however, and felt aware, from former observations, of the power which Woodward possessed of disguising his face whenever he wished, even under the influence of the strongest emotions.  Accordingly, notwithstanding all this indifference of manner, he felt that it was for no common purpose Caterine Collins sought an interview with him, and with this impression on his mind he resolved to watch his motions closely.

The next day Harry and Charles went out to course, accompanied by Barney himself, who, by the way, observed that the former made a point to bring a case of pistols and a dagger with him, which he concealed so as that they might not be seen.  This discovery was the result of Barney’s vigilance and suspicions, for when Harry was prepared to follow his brother, who went to put the dogs in leash, he said: 

“Barney, go and assist Mr. Charles, and I will join you both on the lawn.”