CHAPTER XXV .-- The Old Places--Death of a Patriarch.
As the day appointed for the auction of the M'Mahon's stock, furniture, etc., etc., at Carriglass drew near, a spirit of deep and unceasing distress settled upon the whole family.

It had not been their purpose to apprise the old man of any intention on their part to emigrate at all, and neither indeed had they done so.

The fact, however, reached him from the neighbors, several of whom, ignorant that it was the wish of his family to conceal the circumstance from him--at least as long as they could--entered into conversation with him upon it, and by this means he became acquainted with their determination.

Age, within the last few months--for he was now past ninety--had made sad work with both his frame and intellect.

Indeed, for some time past, he might be said to hover between reason and dotage.