was dressed in her new drugget gown, had on her new shoes and blue stockings, a short striped blue and red petticoat, which displayed as much of her exquisite limbs as the pretty liberal fashion of the day allowed; her bust was perfection; and, as her black, natural ringlets fluttered about her milk-white neck and glowing countenance, she not only appeared inexpressibly beautiful, but seemed to feel conscious of that beauty, as was evident by a dash of pride—­very charming, indeed—­which shot from her eye, and mantled on her beautiful cheek.

“Why, Charles,” exclaimed Woodward, addressing his brother in a whisper, “who is that lovely peasant girl?”

“Her father is one of our tenants,” replied Charles; “and she was about to be married some time ago, but it was discovered, fortunately in time, that her intended husband was head and leader of the outlaws that infest the country.  It was he, I believe, that leaped over the bonfire.”

“Was she fond of him?”

“Well, it is not easy to say that; some say she was, and others that she was not.  Barney Casey says she was very glad to escape him when he became an outlaw.”

“By the way, where is Barney?  I haven’t seen him since I came to look at this nonsense.”

“Just turn your eye to the farthest corner of the room, and you may see him in his glory.”

On looking in the prescribed direction, there, sure enough, was Barney discovered making love hard and fast to a pretty girl, whom Woodward remembered to have seen that morning in Mr. Goodwin’s, and with whom he (Barney) had become acquainted when the families were on terms of intimacy.  The girl sat smiling on his knee, whilst Barney who had a glass of punch in his hand, kept applying it to her lips from time to time, and pressing her so lovingly toward him, that she was obliged occasionally to give him a pat upon the cheek, or to pull his whiskers.  Woodward’s attention, however, was transferred once more to Grace Davoren, from whom he could not keep his eyes—­a fact which she soon discovered, as was evident by a slight hauteur and affectation of manner toward many of those with whom she had been previously on an equal and familiar footing.

“Charles,” said he, “I must have a dance with this beautiful girl; do you think she will dance with me?”

“I cannot tell,” replied his brother, “but you can ask her.”

“By the way, where are my father and the rest?  They have left the room.”

“The landlord has got them a small apartment,” replied Charles, “where they are now enjoying themselves.  If you dance with Grace Davoren, however, be on your good behavior, for if you take any unbecoming liberties with her, you may repent it; don’t imagine because you see these humble girls allowing their sweethearts to kiss them in corners, that either they or their friends will permit you to do so.”

“That’s as it may be managed, perhaps,” said Woodward, who immediately approached Grace in imitation of what he had seen, and making her a low bow, said,