I feel myself getting weak." This Barney proceeded to do, in which operation we shall leave him, assisted by the unfortunate girl who was indirectly the means of bringing this dreadful calamity upon him.
Shaivn-na-Middogue.

was not out of the reach of hearing when Grace shouted after him, having paused to ascertain, if possible, whether he had done his work effectually.

That Harry Woodward was Grace's paramour, he knew; and that Charles was innocent of that guilt, he also knew.
All that Caterine Collins had told him on the preceding night went for nothing, because he felt that Woodward had coined those falsehoods with a view to screen himself from his (Shawn's) vengeance.

But in the meantime Grace's words, uttered in the extremity of her terror, assured him that there had been some mistake, and that one brother might have come to explain and apologize for the absence of the other.

He consequently crept back within hearing of their conversation, and ascertained with regret the mistake he had committed.