A shebeen-man, named Parra Bradagh, father to Barney, whom the reader has already met in the still-house, brought a cask of poteen to the stable, where he disposed of it sub silentio, by which we mean without the knowledge of Gerald Cavanagh, who would not have suffered any such person about his place, had the circumstance been made known to him.  Among the rest, in the course of the evening, our friend O’Finigan the Philomath made his appearance, and as was his wont very considerably advanced in liquor.  The worthy pedagogue, on inquiring for the queen of the kemp, as he styled her, was told that he might know her by the flowers in her hair.  “There she is, masther,” said one of them, “wid the roses on her head.”

“Well,” said O’Finigan, looking about him with surprise, “I have, before now, indulged in the Cerelian juice until my eyes have become possessed of that equivocal quality called the double vision, but I must confess that this is the first occasion on which the quality aforesaid has been quadrupled.  Instead of one queen, wid Flora’s fragrant favors in her lock, I think I see four.”

Finigan indeed was right.  Dora, on being presented with a simple chaplet of flowers, as the heroine of the night, in a spirit of true magnanimity generously divided the chaplet among her three rivals, thus, like every brave heart, resting satisfied with the consciousness of victory, and anxious that those who had approached her so nearly should also share in its honors.

It is not our intention to enter into a detailed account of the dancing, nor of the good humor which prevailed among them.  It is enough to say that the old people performed minuets and cotillions, and the young folks, jigs, reels, and country dances; hornpipes were performed upon doors, by rural dancers, and all the usual variations of mirth and amusement were indulged in on the occasion.

We have said that Tom M’Mahon and his family were there, but we should have added, with one exception.  Bryan did not arrive until the evening was far advanced, having been prevented by pressing business connected with his farm.  On making his appearance, he was greeted by a murmur of welcomes, and many an honest hand was extended to him.  Up until then there were two individuals who observed Kathleen Cavanagh closely, and we must ourselves admit that both came to the same conclusion.  Its was clear that during the whole evening she had been unusually pensive, if not actually depressed, although a general observer would have seen nothing in her beyond the natural sedateness of her manner.  The two in question were Kate Hogan and Dora M’Mahon.  On Bryan’s arrival, however, the color of her cheek deeped into a richer beauty, the eye became more sparkling, and a much slighter jest than before moved her into mirth.  Such, however, we are, and such is the mystery of our nature.  It might have been remarked that the Hogans eyed Bryan, soon after making his appearance, with glances expressive of anything but good feeling.  It was not, however, when he first arrived, or danced with Hanna Cavanagh, that these boding glances were turned upon him, but on the occasion of his performing a reel with Kathleen.  It might have been noticed that they looked at him, and afterwards at each other, in a manner that could admit of but little misapprehension.