She's more to me than all Kilgorman! Trust me, Mr Maurice--I'll breathe never a word if you'll but save Mike.

It's false--he never had a hand in it! Some day truth will out--if the lad's mine no harm shall come to him.

I'll use him against you, Mr Maurice.

The truth's buried, but it's safe.
There's more than earth under a hearthstone." And she laughed in a terrible way.
After a minute she opened her eyes again and saw me.
"Not gone, Barry?
For pity's sake, fetch him, or I must go myself." And she even tried to get up from her bed.
This settled it, and I rushed from the house, whimpering with misery and terror.
What was it all about?
Why did she send me away thus on a fool's errand?
For Mr Gorman was not likely to come out on a night like this at the bidding of Mike Gallagher's English wife.
If there had only been some one I could have sent to mind her while I was gone! But our cabin on the bleak headland was miles from a neighbour--Knockowen, whither I was speeding, was indeed the nearest place.
For a lad of twelve it was no easy task on a dark stormy night like this to cross the lough.

But I thought nothing of that.