"Is that you, Feemy, here at this hour? What the d---- are you doing there, this time of night? Here, take my arm, and come home; it's time you had some one to mind you, I'm thinking." Feemy saw that her brother was intoxicated, and was frightened; she turned, though she did not take his arm, and Ussher turned too. "Your sister's not alone, Macdermot; as I'm with her, I don't think you have much cause to fear, because she is about a mile from Ballycloran." "May be, Captain Ussher, you're being with her mayn't make her much safer; at any rate you'll let me manage my own affairs. I suppose I can take my sisther to her own home without your interference," and he took hold of his sister's arm, as if to drag it within his own. "Good heavens, Thady, what are you afther? shure an't I walking with you; don't be dragging me!" "It appears to me, Macdermot," said Ussher, "that though your sister was in want of no protector before you came, she is in great want of one now." "She wanted it thin, and she wants it now, and will do as long as she's fool enough to put herself in the way of such as you; but, by G----d, as long as I'm with her, she shall have it!" and he dragged her along by the arm. "But, Thady," said the poor girl, afraid both of her brother and her lover, and hardly knowing to which to address herself; "but, Thady, you're hurting me, and I'll walk with you quiet enough. I was only getting a little cool afther the dancing, and what's the great harm in that?" "Well--there," and he let her go, "I'm not hurting you now; it's very tender you've got of a sudden, when I touch you. Captain Ussher, if you'll plaze to go on, or stay behind, I'll be obliged, for I want to spake to Feemy; and there's no occasion in life for my throubling you to hear what I've to say." "You can say what you like, Macdermot, but I shan't leave you; for though Feemy's your sister, you're not fit to guide her, or yourself either, for you're drunk." "And there you lie, Captain Ussher! you lie--that's what you're used to! but it's the last of your lies she'll hear." "Ah! you're drunk," replied Ussher, "besides, you know I'd not notice what you'd say before your sister; if, however, you're not so very drunk as to forget what you've called me to-morrow morning, and would then like to repeat it, I'll thrash you as you deserve." "Then, by Jasus, you'll have your wish! you asked me to-night if I had a mind to quarrel with you, and now I'll tell you, if I find you at Ballycloran schaming agin, you'll find me ready and willing enough." "That's where you'll find me to-morrow morning then, for I'll certainly come to ask your sister how she is, after the brutal manner you've frightened her this night; and then perhaps you'll have the goodness to tell me what you mean by what you call 'schaming.'"