Mary, who had noticed nothing particular in the incidents just related, now urged Mave to depart; and the latter, on exchanging glances with Dalton, could perceive that a feeble hectic had overspread his face.  She looked on him earnestly for a moment, then paused as if in thought, and going round to his bedside, knelt down, and taking his hand, said—­

“Con, if there is any earthly thing that I can do to give ease and comfort to your mind, I am ready to do it.  If it would relieve you, forget that you ever saw me, or ever—­ever—­knew me at all.  Suppose I am not living—­that I am dead.  I say this, dear Con, to relieve you from any pain or distress of mind that you may feel on my account.  Believe me, I feel everything for you, an’ nothing now for myself.  Whatever you do, I tell you that a harsh word or thought from me you will never have.”

Mave, while she spoke, did not shed a tear; nor was her calm, sweet voice indicative of any extraordinary emotion.  Sarah, who had been weeping until the other began to speak, now rose up, and approaching Mave, said—­

“Go, Mave Sullivan—­go out of this dangerous house; and you, Condy Dalton, heed not what she has said.  Mave Sullivan, I think I understand your words, an’ they make me ashamed of myself, an’ of the thoughts that have been troublin’ me.  Oh, what am I when compared to you?—­nothing nothing.”

Mave had, on entering, deposited the little matters she had brought for their comfort, and Mary now came over, and placing her hand on her shoulder, said: 

“Sarah is right, dear Mave; for God’s sake do not stay here.  Oh, think—­only think if you tuck this faver, an’ that anything happened you.”

“Come,” said Sarah, “leave this dangerous place; I will see you part of the way home—­you can do nothing here that I won’t do, and everything that I can do will be done.”  Her lover’s eyes had been fixed upon her, and with a feeble voice—­for the agitation had exhausted him—­he added his solicitations for her departure to theirs.

“I hope I will soon be better, dear Mave, and able to get up too—­but may God bless you and take care of you till then!”

Mave again went round and took his hand, on which he felt a few tears fall.

“I came here, dear Con,” she said, “to take care of you all, and why need I be ashamed to say so—­to do all I could for yourself.  Sarah here wishes me to spake the truth, an’ why shouldn’t I?  Think of my words then, Con, and don’t let me or the thoughts of me occasion you one moment’s unhappiness.  To see you happy is all the wish I have in this world.”

She then bade them an affectionate farewell, and was about to take her departure, when Sarah, who had been musing for a moment, went to Dalton, and having knelt on one knee, was about to speak, and to speak, as was evident from her manner, with great earnestness, when she suddenly restrained herself, clasped her hands with a vehement action, looked distractedly from him to Mave, and then suddenly rising, took Mave’s hand, and said: