I done all that could be done; but it's worse an' worse he got." Something escaped Hycy in the shape of an ejaculation, of which we are not in possession at present; he immediately added:-- "Well, never mind.

Heavens! how I pity you, ma'am--to be united to such a d--d--hem!--to such a--a--such a--gentleman!" Mrs.Burke raised her hands as if to intimate that it was useless to indulge in any compassion of the kind.
"The thing's now past cure," she said; "I'm a marthyr, an' that's all that's about it.

Come down till I get you your dinner." Hycy took his seat in the parlor, and began to give a stave of the "Bay of Biscay:"-- "'Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder, The rain a deluge pours; The clouds were rent asunder By light'ning's vivid--' By the way, mother, what are those robbing ruffians, the Hogans, doing at the kitchen door there ?" "Troth, whatever they like," she replied.

"I tould that vagabond, Philip, that I had nothing for them to do, an' says he, 'I'm the best judge of that, Rosha Burke.' An, with that he walks into the kitchen, an' takes everything that he seen a flaw in, an' there he and them sat a mendin' an' sotherin' an' hammerin' away at them, without ever sayin' 'by your lave.'" "It's perfectly well known that they're robbers," said Hycy, "and the general opinion is that they're in connection with a Dublin gang, who are in this part of the country at present.

However, I'll speak to the ruffians about such conduct." He then left the parlor, and proceeding to the farmyard, made a signal to one of the Hogans, who went down hammer in hand to where he stood.
During a period of ten minutes, he and Hycy remained in conversation, but of what character it was, whether friendly or otherwise, the distance at which they stood rendered it impossible for any one to ascertain.