There is nothing in the rural districts of this country that so clearly indicates the respect entertained for any family as the number of persons which, when a death takes place in it, attend the funeral. In such a case, the length of the procession is the test of esteem in which the party has been held. Mrs. M'Mahon's funeral was little less than a mile long. All the respectable farmers and bodaghs, as they call them, or half-sirs in the parish, were in attendance, as a mark of, respect for the virtues of the deceased, and of esteem for the integrity and upright spirit of the family that had been deprived of her so unexpectedly. Hycy and his friend, Harry Clinton, of course rode together, Finigan, the schoolmaster, keeping as near them as he could; but not so near as to render his presence irksome to them, when he saw that they had no wish for it. “Well, Harry,” said his companion, “what do you think of the last scene?” “You allude to Cavanagh's handsome young son, and the very pretty girl that fainted, poor thing!” “Of course I do,” replied Hycy. “Why,” said the other, “I think the whole thing was very simple, and consequently very natural. The young fellow, who is desperately in love--there is no doubt of that--thought she had died; and upon my soul, Hycy, there is a freshness and a purity in the strongest raptures of such a passion, that neither you nor I can dream of. I think, however, I can understand, or guess at rather, the fulness of heart and the tenderness by which he was actuated.” “What do you think of Miss Cavanagh?” asked Hycy, with more of interest than he had probably ever felt in her before. “What do I think?” said the other, looking at him with a good deal of surprise. “What can I think? What could any man, that has either taste or common-sense think? Faith, Hycy, to be plain with you, I think her one of the finest girls, if not the very finest, I ever saw. Heavens! what would not that girl be if she had received the advantages of a polished and comprehensive education?” “She is very much of a lady as it is,” added Hycy, “and has great natural dignity and unstudied grace, although I must say that she has left me under no reason to feel any particular obligations to her.” “And yet there is a delicate and graceful purity in the beauty of little Dora, which is quite captivating,” observed Clinton. “Very well,” replied the other, “I make jou a present of the two fair rustics; give me the interesting Maria. Ah, Harry, see what education and manner do. Maria is a delightful girl.” “She is an amiable and a good girl,” said her brother; “but, in point of personal attractions, quite inferior to either of the two we have been speaking of.” “Finigan,” said Hycy--“I beg your pardon, O'Finigan--the great O'Finigan, Philomath--are you a good judge of beauty?”