"I declare, John," said she, on seeing him, "I thought at first you
weren't here."

"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