“Faix, an’ he’s in consate wid you these three months past, an’ intinds to be at the dance on Friday next, in Jack Gormly’s new house. Now, good bye, alanna; keep your own counsel till the time comes, an’ mind what I said to you. It’s not behind every ditch the likes of Paul Heffernan grows. _Bannaght lhath!_ My blessin’ be wid you!” Thus would Rose depart just at the critical moment, for well she knew that by husbanding her information and leaving the heart something to find out, she took the most effectual steps to excite and sustain that kind of interest which is apt ultimately to ripen, even from its own agitation, into the attachment she is anxious to promote. The next day, by a meeting similarly accidental, she comes in contact with Paul Heffernan, who, honest lad, had never probably bestowed a thought upon Biddy Sullivan in his life. “_Morrow ghud_, Paul!--how is your father’s son, ahager?” “_Morrow ghuteha_, Rose!--my father’s son wants nothin’ but a good wife, Rosha.” “An’ it’s not every set day or bonfire night that a good wife is to be had, Paul--that is, a _good_ one, as you say; for, throth, there’s many o’ them in the market sich as they are. I was talkin’ about you to a friend of mine the other day--an’, trogs, I’m afeard you’re not worth all the abuse we gave you.” “More power to you, Rose! I’m oblaged to you. But who is the friend in the manetime?” “Poor girl! Throth, when your name slipped out an her, the point of a rush would take a drop of blood out o’ her cheek, the way she crimsoned up. ‘An’, Rose,’ says she, ‘if ever I know you to breathe it to man or mortual, my lips I’ll never open to you to my dyin’ day.’ Trogs, whin I looked at her, an’ the tears standin’ in her purty black eyes, I thought I didn’t see a betther favoured girl, for both face and figure, this many a day, than the same Biddy Sullivan.” “Biddy Sullivan! Is that long Jack’s daughter of Cargah?” “The same. But, Paul, avick, if a syllable o’ what I tould you----” “Hut, Rose! honour bright! Do you think me a _stag_, that I’d go and inform on you?” “Fwhishsper, Paul; she’ll be at the dance on Friday next in Jack Gormly’s new house. So _bannaght lhath_, an’ think o’ what I betrayed to you.” Thus did Rose very quietly and sagaciously bind two young hearts together, who probably might otherwise have never for a moment even thought of each other. Of course, when Paul and Biddy met at the dance on the following Friday, the one was the object of the closest attention to the other; and each being prepared to witness strong proofs of attachment from the opposite party, every thing fell out exactly according to their expectations.