“God’s grace be upon you, whoever you are, young man!” exclaimed the carman; “for wid His help an’ your own good arm, it’s my downright opinion that you saved us from bein’ both robbed an’ murthered.”

“I’m of that opinion myself,” replied Lamh Laudher.

“There is goodness, young man, in the tones of your voice,” observed the female; “we may at least ask the name of the person who has saved our lives?”

“I would rather not have my name mentioned in the business,” he replied; “a woman, or a devil, I think, that I don’t wish to cross or provoke, has had a hand in it.  I hope you haven’t been robbed?” he added.

She assured him, with expressions of deep gratitude, that she had not.

“Well,” said he, “as you have neither of you come to much harm, I would take it as the greatest favor you could do me, if you’d never mention a word about it to any one.”

To this request they agreed with some hesitation.  Lamh Laudher accompanied them into the town, and saw them safely in a decent second-rate inn, kept by a man named Luke Connor, after which he returned to his father’s house, and without undressing, fell into a disturbed slumber until morning.

It is not to be supposed that the circumstances attending the quarrel between him and Meehaul Neil, on the preceding night, would pass off without a more than ordinary share of public notice.  Their relative positions were too well known not to excite an interest corresponding with the characters they had borne, as the leaders of two bitter and powerful factions:  but when it became certain that Meehaul Neil had struck Lamh Laudher Oge, and that the latter refused to fight him, it is impossible to describe the sensation which immediately spread through the town and parish.  The intelligence was first received by O’Rorke’s party with incredulity and scorn.  It was impossible that he of the Strong Hand, who had been proverbial for courage, could all at once turn coward, and bear the blow from a Neil!  But when it was proved beyond the possibility of doubt or misconception, that he received a blow tamely before many witnesses, under circumstances of the most degrading insult, the rage of his party became incredible.  Before ten o’clock the next morning his father’s house was crowded with friends and relations, anxious to hear the truth from his own lips, and all, after having heard it, eager to point out to him the only method that remained of wiping away his disgrace, namely, to challenge Meehaul Neil.  His father’s indignation knew no bounds; but his mother, on discovering the truth, was not without that pride and love which, are ever ready to form an apology for the feelings and errors of an only child.

“You may all talk,” she said; “but if Lamh Laudher Oge didn’t strike him, he had good reasons for it.  How do you know, an’ bad cess to your tongues, all through other, how Ellen Neil would like him after weltin’ her brother?  Don’t ye think she has the spirit of her faction in her as well as another?”