As he spoke, it might have been observed that he looked around upon the family with an appearance of awakened consciousness that was very nearly allied to shame. He recovered his composure, however, on perceiving that none among them gave, either by look or manner, any indication of understanding what he felt. This relieved him: but he soon found that the sense of relief experienced from it was not permitted to last long. Dora, his favorite sister, glided over to his side and gently taking his hand in hers began to play with his fingers, whilst a roguish laugh, that spoke a full consciousness of his secret, broke her pale but beautiful features into that mingled expression of smiles and blushes which, in one of her years, gives a look of almost angelic purity and grace. After about a minute or two, during which she paused, and laughed, and blushed, and commenced to whisper, and again stopped, she at last put her lips to his ear and whispered:--“Bryan, I know the reason you don't like Hycy.” “You do?” he said, laughing, but yet evidently confused in his turn;--“well--an'--ha!--ha!--no, you fool, you don't.” “May I never stir if I don't!” “Well, an' what is it?” “Why, bekaise he's coortin' Kathleen Cavanagh--now!” “An' what do I care about that?” said her brother. “Oh, you thief!” she replied; “don't think you can play upon me. I know your saycret.” “An' maybe, Dora,” he replied, “I have my saycrets. Do you know who was inquirin' for you to-day?” “No,” she returned, “nor I don't care either--sorra bit.” “I met James Cavanagh there below”--he proceeded, still in a whisper, and he fixed his eyes upon her countenance as he spoke. The words, however, produced a most extraordinary effect. A deep blush crimsoned her whole neck and face, until the rush of blood seemed absolutely to become expressive of pain. Her eye, however, did not droop, but turned upon him with a firm and peculiar sparkle. She had been stooping with her mouth near his ear, as the reader knows, but she now stood up quickly, shook back her hair, that had been hanging in natural and silken curls about her blushing cheeks, and exclaimed: “No--no. Let me alone Bryan;” and on uttering these words she hurried into another room.” “Bryan, you've vexed Dora some way,” observed her sister. “What did you say to her?” “Nothing that vexed her, I'll go bail,” he replied, laughing; “however, as to what I said to her, Shibby, ax me no questions an' I'll tell you no lies.” “Becaise I thought she looked as if she was angry,” continued Shibby, “an', you know, it must be a strong provocation that would anger her.”