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 down
stairs, 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
bed-room, 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 McShane," 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
McShane'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 McShane'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 McShane 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 McShane.
"Yes, Corny," replied Mrs McShane, "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 McShane 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 McShane.
"Sure enough I was satisfied before I came in, that Kathleen would not
have anyone in her bed-room," replied Corny.
"Then good night, Corny, and it's to-morrow that I'll talk with ye,"
replied Kathleen.
Mrs McShane 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 McShane 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 McShane, "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 McShane, 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 McDermott 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 McShane, I must leave you in
charge of my portmanteau, which you may forward by-and-by, 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 McShane 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.