Petticoat interest prevails, and I escape; but I put my head into
the lion's den.
There was no time for apology, and stepping over Kathleen, I buried
myself under the clothes by her side. The mother then hastened
downstairs, and arrived at the door just as they had succeeded in forcing
it open, when in pounced a dozen men armed, with their faces blackened.
"Holy Jesus! what is it that you want?" screamed the landlady.
"The blood of the tithe proctor, and that's what we'll have," replied
the O'Tooles.
"Not in my house--not in my house!" cried she. "Take him away, at all
events; promise me to take him away."
"So we will, honey darlint; we'll take him out of your sight, and out
of your hearing too, only show us where he may be."
"He's sleeping," replied the mother, pointing to the door of the bedroom,
where I had been lying down.
The party took the light from her hand, and went into the room, where
they perceived the bed empty and the window open. "Devil a bit of a
proctor here, anyhow," cried one of them, "and the window open. He's
off--hurrah! my lads, he can't be far."
"By the powers! it's just my opinion, Mrs M'Shane," replied the elder
O'Toole, "that he's not quite so far off; so with your lave, or by your
lave, or without your lave, we'll just have a look over the premises."
"O! and welcome, Mister Jerry O'Toole; if you think I'm the woman to hide
a proctor, look everywhere just as you please."
The party, headed by Jerry O'Toole, who had taken the light out of Mrs
M'Shane's hand, now ascended the ladder to the upper storey, and as I
lay by Kathleen, I felt that she trembled with fear. After examining
every nook and cranny they could think of, they came to Mrs M'Shane's
room, "O! go in--go in and look, Mr O'Toole; it's a very likely thing
to insinuate that I should have a tithe proctor in my bed. Search, pray,"
and Mrs M'Shane led the way into her own room.
Every part had been examined, except the small sleeping-room of Kathleen;
and the party paused before the door. "We must search," observed O'Toole
doggedly.
"Search my daughter's! very well, search if you please; it's a fine story
you'll have to tell, how six great men pulled a poor girl out of her bed
to look for a tithe proctor. It will be a credit to you anyhow; and you,
Corny O'Toole, you'll stand well in her good graces, when you come to
talk about the wedding day; and your wife that is to be, pulled out of
her bed by a dozen men. What will ye say to Kathleen, when you affront
her by supposing that a maiden girl has a tithe proctor in bed with her?
D'ye think that ye'll ever have the mother's consent or blessing?"
"No one goes into Kathleen's room," cried Corny O'Toole, roused by the
sarcasms of Mrs M'Shane.
"Yes, Corny," replied Mrs M'Shane, "it's not for a woman like me to be
suspected, at all events; so you, and you only, shall go into the room,
if that will content ye, Mr Jerry O'Toole."
"Yes!" replied the party, and Mrs M'Shane opened the door.
Kathleen rose up on her elbow, holding the bed clothes up to her throat,
and looking at them, as they entered, said, "O Corny! Corny! this to me?"
Corny never thought of looking for anybody, his eyes were rivetted upon
his sweetheart. "Murder, Kathleen, is it my fault? Jerry will have it."
"Are you satisfied, Corny?" said Mrs M'Shane.
"Sure enough I was satisfied before I came in, that Kathleen would not
have any one in her bedroom," replied Corny.
"Then good-night, Corny, and it's to-morrow that I'll talk with ye,"
replied Kathleen.
Mrs M'Shane then walked out of the room, expecting Corny to follow; but
he could not restrain himself, and he came to the bedside. Fearful that
if he put his arms round her, he would feel me, Kathleen raised herself,
and allowed him to embrace her. Fortunately the light was not in the
room, or I should have been discovered, as in so doing she threw the
clothes off my head and shoulders. She then pushed back Corny from her,
and he left the room, shutting the door after him. The party descended
the ladder, and as soon as Kathleen perceived that they were all down,
she sprang out of bed and ran into her mother's room. Soon after I heard
them depart. Mrs M'Shane made fast the door, and came up stairs. She
first went to her own room, where poor Kathleen was crying bitterly from
shame and excitement. I had got up when she came into Kathleen's room
for her clothes, and, in about five minutes, they returned together. I
was sitting on the side of the bed when they came in: the poor girl
coloured up when our eyes met. "Kathleen," said I, "you have, in all
probability, saved my life, and I cannot express my thanks. I am only
sorry that your modesty has been put to so severe a trial."
"If Corny was to find it out," replied Kathleen, sobbing again. "How
could I do such a thing!"
"Your mother bid you," replied Mrs M'Shane, "and that is sufficient."
"But what must you think of me, sir?" continued Kathleen.
"I think that you have behaved most nobly. You have saved an innocent man
at the risk of your reputation, and the loss of your lover. It is not now
that I can prove my gratitude."
"Yes, yes, promise me by all that's sacred, that you'll never mention it.
Surely you would not ruin one who has tried to serve you."
"I promise you that, and I hope to perform a great deal more," replied I.
"But now, Mrs M'Shane, what is to be done? Remain here I cannot."
"No; you must leave, and that very soon. Wait about ten minutes more, and
then they will give up their search and go home. The road to E----" (the
post I had lately come from) "is the best you can take; and you must
travel as fast as you can, for there is no safety for you here."
"I am convinced that rascal M'Dermott will not leave me till he has rid
himself of me." I then took out my purse, in which I still had nearly
twenty guineas. I took ten of them. "Mrs M'Shane, I must leave you in
charge of my portmanteau, which you may forward by-and-bye, when you
hear of my safety. If I should not be so fortunate, the money is better
in your hands than in the hands of those who will murder me. Kathleen,
God bless you! you are a good girl, and Corny O'Toole will be a happy
man if he knows your value."
I then wished Kathleen good-bye, and she allowed me to kiss her without
any resistance; but the tears were coursing down her cheeks as I left the
room with her mother. Mrs M'Shane looked carefully out of the windows,
holding the light to ascertain if there was anybody near, and, satisfied
with her scrutiny, she then opened the door, and calling down the saints
to protect me, shook hands with me, and I quitted the house. It was a
dark, cloudy night, and when I first went out, I was obliged to grope,
for I could distinguish nothing. I walked along with a pistol loaded in
each hand, and gained, as I thought, the high road to E----, but I made
a sad mistake; and puzzled by the utter darkness and turnings, I took,
on the contrary, the road to Mount Castle. As soon as I was clear of the
houses and the enclosure, there was more light, and I could distinguish
the road. I had proceeded about four or five miles, when I heard the
sound of horses' hoofs, and shortly afterwards two men rode by me. I
inquired if that was the way to E----. A pause ensued, and a whisper.
"All's right!" replied a deep voice. I continued my way, glad to find
that I had not mistaken it, and cogitating as to what must be the purpose
of two men being out at such an hour. About ten minutes afterwards I
thought I again heard the sound of horses' feet, and it then occurred
to me that they must be highwaymen, who had returned to rob me. I cocked
my pistols, determined to sell my life as dearly as I could, and awaited
their coming up with anxiety; but they appeared to keep at the same
distance, as the sound did not increase. After half an hour I came to
two roads, and was undecided which to take. I stopped and listened--the
steps of the horses were no longer to be heard. I looked round me to
ascertain if I could recognise any object so as to decide me, but I could
not. I took the road to the left, and proceeded, until I arrived at a
brook which crossed the road. There was no bridge, and it was too dark
to perceive the stepping stones. I had just waded about half way across,
when I received a blow on the head from behind, which staggered me. I
turned round, but before I could see my assailant, a second blow laid
me senseless in the water.