"I'm sure you don't, Feemy; but that's not exactly it either. Thady's not the least in life offended with you; he's not at all easy to take offence, at least not with you; but he doesn't think you are just at ease with yourself; and to come to the truth at once, he was telling me what passed between you yesterday." Feemy blushed up to her paper curls, but she said nothing. "Now, I'm thinking Thady didn't go about saying what he wanted to say yesterday, quite the way he should have done, and I am not sure I shall do it any better myself. But I thought it as well to step up, as I was certain you'd hear whatever your priest had to say to you." "I don't think the better of Thady, though, for going and talking about me. If he'd only let me alone by myself I'd do well enough; it's all that talking does the harm, Father John." Father John didn't exactly like to tell Feemy that girls in her situation were just the people that ought not to be left alone by themselves,--which probably means being left alone with some one of their own choosing; and that he was of opinion that she would not do very well if left alone in that way. That, however, was what he wished to convey to her. "Oh, but, my dear, you must think better of Thady for wishing to protect you as well as he can, and you left alone so much yourself here. So you know,"--and Father John even blushed a little as he said it,--"it's about this fine lover of yours we are speaking. Now, my dear, I've nothing whatever to say against Captain Ussher, for you know he and I are great cronies; indeed, it's only last night he was taking his punch with your brother and Cullen down at the cottage--" "You weren't saying anything to Captain Ussher about me, Father John?" "You may take your oath of that, my dear. I respect a lady's secret a great deal too much for that. No; I was only saying that he was down at the cottage last night, to prove that he and I are friends, and it's not out of any prejudice I'm speaking--about his being a Protestant, and all that; not but that I'd sooner be marrying you to a good Catholic, Feemy--but that's neither here nor there. But you've known him now a long time; it's now four months since we all heard for certain it was to be a match; and, to tell you the truth, my dear, people are saying that Captain Ussher doesn't mean anything serious." "I think they'll dhrive me mad with their talk! And what good will it do for you and Thady to be coming telling me what they say?" "This good, Feemy; if what they say is false and unfounded, as I am sure I hope it is,--and if you're so fond of Captain Ussher,--don't you think it would be as well to put an end to the report by telling your father and brother of your being engaged, and settling something about your marriage, and all that?" "I did tell my brother I was engaged, Father John; what would you have?"