“The truth is, you see, your sister’s in her full senses; there’s the divil a doubt of that; the money’s her own, and she can marry whom she pleases.  All that we can do is to try and make the Kellys think they have got into a scrape.”

“But this letter—­What on earth am I to say to her?”

“I’ll just put down what I would say, were I you; and if you like you can copy it.”  Daly then wrote the following letter—­

   My Dear Anty,

Before taking other steps, which could not fail of being very disagreeable to you and to others, I wish to point out to you how injudiciously you are acting in leaving your own house; and to try to induce you to do that which will be most beneficial to yourself, and most conducive to your happiness and respectability.  If you will return to Dunmore House, I most solemnly promise to leave you unmolested.  I much regret that my violence on Thursday should have annoyed you, but I can assure you it was attributable merely to my anxiety on your account.  Nothing, however, shall induce me to repeat it.  But you must be aware that a little inn is not a fit place for you to be stopping at; and I am obliged to tell you that I have conclusive evidence of a conspiracy having been formed, by the family with whom you are staying, to get possession of your money; and that this conspiracy was entered into very shortly after the contents of my father’s will had been made public.  I must have this fact proved at the Assizes, and the disreputable parties to it punished, unless you will consent, at any rate for a time, to put yourself under the protection of your brother.

   In the meantime pray believe me, dear Anty, in spite of
   appearances,

   Your affectionate brother,

   BARRY LYNCH.

It was then agreed that this letter should be copied and signed by Barry, and delivered by Terry on the following morning, which was Sunday.  Daly then returned to Tuam, with no warm admiration for his client.

In the meantime the excitement at the inn, arising from Anty’s arrival and Martin’s return, was gradually subsiding.  These two important events, both happening on the same day, sadly upset the domestic economy of Mrs Kelly’s establishment.  Sally had indulged in tea almost to stupefaction, and Kattie’s elfin locks became more than ordinarily disordered.  On the following morning, however, things seemed to fall a little more into their places:  the widow was, as usual, behind her counter; and if her girls did not give her as much assistance as she desired of them, and as much as was usual with them, they were perhaps excusable, for they could not well leave their new guest alone on the day after her coming to them.