"We couldn't account," said her parents, "for the way we loved you
the day we met you before the magistrate; every word you said, Alice
darling, went into our hearts wid delight, an' we could hardly ever
think of your voice ever since, that the tears didn't spring to our
eyes. But we never suspected, as how could we, that you were our child."

She declared that she felt the same mysterious attachment to them, and
to her brother also, from the moment she heard the tones of his voice on
the night the robbery was attempted.

"Nor could I," said Lamh Laudher Oge, "account for the manner I loved
you."

Their attention was now directed to Nell, who again spoke.

"Nanse, give her back the money I robbed her of. There was more of my
villainy, but God fought against me, an'--here--. You will find, it
along with her marriage certificate, an' the gospel she had about her
neck, when I kidnapped her, all in my pocket. Where's my son? Still,
still, bad as I am, an' bad as he is, isn't he my child? Amn't I his
mother? put his hand in mine, and let me die as a mother 'ud wish!"

Never could there be a more striking contrast witnessed than that
between the groups then present; nor a more impressive exemplification
of the interposition of Providence to reward the virtuous and punish the
guilty even in this life.

"Lamh Laudher More," said she, "I once attempted to stab you, only for
preventin' your relation from marryin' a woman that you knew Andy Hart