“Oh, certainly!” said Dempsey, without the slightest sign of umbrage; “would never have thought of joining you had it not been from overhearing an expression so exactly pat to my own condition, that I thought we were brothers in misfortune; you scarcely bear up as well as I do, though.” Darcy turned abruptly round, as the fear flashed across him, and he muttered to himself, “This fellow knows me; if so, the whole county will soon be as wise as himself, and the place become intolerable.” Oppressed with this unpleasant reflection, the Knight moved on, nor was it till after a considerable interval that he was conscious of his companion's presence; for Mr. Dempsey still accompanied him, though at the distance of several paces, and as if following a path of his own choosing. Darcy laughed good-humoredly at the pertinacity of his tormentor; and half amused by the man, and half ashamed of his own rudeness to him, he made some casual observation on the scenery to open a reconciliation. “The coast is much finer,” said Dempsey, “close to your cottage.” This was a home-thrust for the Knight, to show him that concealment was of no use against so subtle an adversary. “'The Corvy' is, as you observe, very happily situated,” replied Darcy, calmly; “I scarcely know which to prefer,--the coast-line towards Dunluce, or the bold cliffs that stretch away to Bengore.” “When the wind comes north-by-west,” said Dempsey, with a shrewd glance of his greenish gray eyes, “there 's always a wreck or two between the Skerries and Portrush.” “Indeed! Is the shore so unsafe as that?” “Oh, yes. You may expect a very busy winter here when the homeward-bound Americans are coming northward.” “D----n the fellow! does he take me for a wrecker?” said Darcy to himself, not knowing whether to laugh or be angry. “Such a curiosity that old 'Corvy' is, they tell me,” said Dempsey, emboldened by his success; “every species of weapon and arm in the world, they say, gathered together there.” “A few swords and muskets,” said the Knight, carelessly; “a stray dirk or two, and some harpoons, furnish the greater part of the armory.” “Oh, perhaps so! The story goes, however, that old Daly--brother, I believe, of our friend at Mother Fum's--could arm twenty fellows at a moment's warning, and did so on more than one occasion too.” “With what object, in Heaven's name?” “Buccaneering, piracy, wrecking, and so on,” said Dempsey, with all the unconcern with which he would have enumerated so many pursuits of the chase. A hearty roar of laughter broke from the Knight; and when it ceased he said, “I would be sincerely sorry to stand in your shoes, Mr. Dempsey, so near to yonder cliff, if you made that same remark in Mr. Daly's hearing.” “He 'd gain very little by me,” said Mr. Dempsey; “one and eightpence, an old watch, an oyster-knife, and my spectacles, are all the property in my possession--except, when, indeed,” added he, after a pause, “Bob remits the quarter's allowance.”