"For God's sake, then, if you can, be quick; for there's little time to
be lost," said Ellen.

"Give him this message," replied the man, and he whispered half a dozen
words into her ear.

"Is that true?" she asked him; "and may he depend upon it?"

"He may, as there's a God above me. Good night!" He passed on at a rapid
pace. When Ellen entered his aunt's humble cabin, Lamh Laudher had just
risen from his knees. Devotion, or piety if you will, as it is in many
cases, though undirected by knowledge, may be frequently found among
the peasantry associated with objects that would appear to have little
connection with it. When he saw her he exclaimed with something like
disappointment:--

"Ah! Ellen dear, why did you come? I would rather you hadn't crossed me
now, darling."

His manner was marked by the same melancholy sedateness which we have
already described. He knew the position in which he stood, and did not
attempt to disguise what he felt. His apparent depression, however, had
a dreadful effect upon Ellen, who sat down on a stool, and threw back
the hood of her cloak; but the aunt placed a little circular arm-chair
for her somewhat nearer the fire. She declined it in a manner that
argued something like incoherence, which occasioned O'Rorke to, glance
at her most earnestly. He started, on observing the wild lustre of her
eye, and the woebegone paleness of her cheek.