“Swear till you blister your lips, Anthony,” replied Martin:  “as for me, bein’ no residenthur, I’m not bound to it; an’ what’s more, I’m not suspected.  ‘Tis settin’ some other bit o’ work for yez I’ll be, while you’re all clearin’ yourselves from stealin’ honest Cassidy’s horse.  I wish we had him safely disposed of in the mane time, an’ the money for him an’ the other beasts in our pockets.”

Much more conversation of a similar kind passed between them upon various topics connected with their profligacy and crimes.  At length they separated for the night, after having concerted their plan of action for the ensuing scrutiny.

The next morning, before the hour appointed arrived, the parish, particularly the neighborhood of Carnmore, was struck with deep consternation.  Labor became suspended, mirth disappeared, and every face was marked with paleness, anxiety, and apprehension.  If two men met, one shook his head mysteriously, and inquired from the other, “Did you hear the news?”

“Ay! ay! the Lord be about us all, I did! an’ I pray God that it may lave the counthry as it came to it!”

“Oh, an’ that it may, I humbly make supplication this day!”

If two women met, it was with similar mystery and fear.  “Vread, (* Margaret) do you know what’s at the Cassidys’?”

“Whisht, ahagur, I do; but let what will happen, sure it’s best for us to say nothin’.”

“Say! the blessed Virgin forbid!  I’d cut my hand off o’ me, afore I’d spake a word about it; only that—­”

“Whisht! woman—­for mercy’s sake—­don’t——­”

And so they would separate, each crossing herself devoutly.

The meeting at Cassidy’s was to take place that day at twelve o’clock; but, about two hours before the appointed time, Anne, who had been in some of the other houses, came into her father’s, quite pale, breathless and trembling.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, with clasped hands, whilst the tears fell fast from her eyes, “we’ll be lost, ruined; did yez hear what’s in the neighborhood wid the Cassidys?”

“Girl,” said the father, with more severity than he had ever manifested to her before, “I never yet riz my hand to you, but ma corp an duowol, if you open your lips, I’ll fell you where you stand.  Do you want that cowardly uncle o’ yours to be the manes o’ hanging your father?  Maybe that was one o’ the lessons Martin gave you last night?” And as he spoke he knit his brows at her with that murderous scowl which was habitual to him.  The girl trembled, and began to think that since her father’s temper deepened in domestic outrage and violence as his crimes multiplied, the sooner she left the family the better.  Every day, indeed, diminished that species of instinctive affection which she had entertained towards him; and this, in proportion as her reason ripened into a capacity for comprehending the dark materials of which his character was composed.  Whether he himself began to consider detection at hand, or not, we cannot say; but it is certain, that his conduct was marked with a callous recklessness of spirit, which increased in atrocity to such a degree, that even his daughter could,only not look on him with disgust.