want my own faction to put their feet upon me, an' drive me from among
them?"

"John," she replied, bursting into tears, "I do know that it's a sore
obligation to lay upon you, when everything's taken into account; but
if you wouldn't do this for me, who would you do it for? Before heaven,
John, I dread a meetin' between you an' my brother, afther what he tould
me; an' the only way of preventin' danger is for you not to strike him.
Oh, little you know what I have suffered these two days for both your
sakes! Lamh Laudher Oge, I doubt it would be well for me if I had never
seen your face."

"Anything undher heaven but what you want me to do, Ellen."

"Oh! don't refuse me this, John. I ask it, as I said, for both your
sake, an' for my own sake. Meehaul wouldn't strike an unresistin' man.
I won't lave you till you promise; an' if that won't do, I'll go down on
my. knees an' ask you for the sake of heaven above, to be guided by me
in this."

"Ellen, I'll lave the country to avoid him, if that'll plase you."

"No--no--no, John: that doesn't plase me. Is it to lave your father
an' family, an' you the staff of their support? Oh, John, give me your
promise. Here on my two knees I ask it from you, for my own, for your
own, and for the sake of God above us! I know Meehaul. If he got a blow
from you on my account, he'd never forgive it to either you or me."

She joined her hands in supplication to him as she knelt, and the tears
chased each other like rain down her cheeks. The solemnity with which