"
"Did you ever know me to be late!--" said John, taking her by the hand,
and placing her beside him; "and what would you a' done, Ellen, if I
hadn't been here?"
"Why, run home as if the life was lavin' me, for fear of seein'
something."
"You needn't be afeard, Ellen, dear; nothing could harm you, at all
events. However, puttin' that aside, have you any betther tidin's than
you had when we met last?"
"I wish to heaven I had, John! but indeed I have far worse; ay, a
thousand times worse. They have all joined against me, an' I'm not to
see or speak to you at all."
"That's hard," replied Lamh Laudher, drawing his breath tightly; "but
I know where it comes from. I think your father might be softened a
little, ay, a great deal, if it wasn't for your brother Meehaul."
"Indeed, Lamh Laudher, you're wrong in that; my father's as bitther
against you as he is. It was only on Tuesday evenin' last that they told
me, one an' all they would rather see me a corpse than your wife. Indeed
an' deed, John, I doubt it never can be."
"There," replied John, "I see plain enough that they'll gain you over
at last. That will be the end of it: but if you choose to break the vows
and promises that passed between us, you may do so."
"Oh! Lamh Laudher," said Ellen, affected at the imputation contained in
his last observation; "don't you treat me with such suspicion.
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