CHAPTER XVI.—(Continued)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 6 January 1893, Page 21

CHAPTER XVl.— (Continued)

" Ponsonby is in the kitchen," said Tom, resuming the conversation with Mr Armstrong. "He brought a hare for Mr Cormack." " I suppose I had better get the poor fellow his supper," said Mrs Cormack. "He brings me a great many rabbits ; but I don't remember bis bringing me a hare before. Do you think there is any danger tbat he'll be prosecuted for killing hares ?" '* He's going to make Mr Armstrong a present of his greyhound," returned Tom. " I think he has a dim sort of notion that he might be put to gaol. Some one must have frightened him. But be had his flapper above, and is in a hnrry back to have some talk with my father before be goes to bed. I showed him the way to get over the river, and he is delighted. He Bays he'll always come through the fields now, from Knockgrana to the mountain." " Well," said Alice, who seemed relieved by Tom's cheerful manner, " I can now find out your secret. Ponsonby is a great friend of mine, and he will ba more civil than you." 11 Take care tbat you don't attempt to make use of it," returned Tom with mock gravity, "or you may drop into Poul-na-copel, as Margaret did long ago." Alice looked scrutinizingly at her sister, who was toying with her carls, and replying in monosyllables to Mr O'Keeffe, who had drawn his chair sufficiently close to hers for a whispered conversation. " I have been wishing," said Mr O'Keeffe, turning over the leaves of " Oar Mutual Friend," which he had taken from Miss Cormack's lap—*-" for an opportunity to speak to you alone." " Yes !" returned Margaret, remarking the difference between Mr O'Keeffe's and Tom Dwyer's hands, " But perhaps it might be as well to say what I wish to say here."

"By gad, so am I," said Ned Cormack, with hit dry laugh, and rnbbing his hands gleefully. " Bddy, my man," said Father Feehan, " will you tell Joe Cooney to get the car?" "Yes, it is time," Mr O'Keeffe remarked, looking at his watch. Nannie and Nellie ran to the ball for Father Feehan's bat and muffler, while Alice helped him to put on his great -coat. " Such a pair of pretty little fairies," said Father Feehan smiling, as he took the hat and muffler. " But really, Alice, I don't know what to think of you. You are quite tall enough now. But yon must get a little stouter. However, I'm glad to see the colour has come back to your cheeks. Do yon feel quite strong now ?" "Oh yes," Alice replied ; " I think I was never stronger. I did not feel the leaßt tired after the walk to Shannaclongh on Saturday. I expect to be as good a walker as mamma soon." " I hope yoa will be as good every way," returned Father Feebao, as he shook hands with Mrs Oormack. '* They are lovely little creatures," Mr Armstrong remarked, with a motion of his head towards Nannie and Nellie. " And very smart and intelligent," Mrs Cormack replied. "You ought to speak to their mother to let them go to school more regularly. She seems to Beize upon every excuse to keep them at home. She says she has been so nervous since the message came from the landlord that he would expect the tenants to vote as he desired, she should keep the children at home. So they have not been at school for the last fortnight. The Nuds spoke to me about it several times. Bat I really felt delicate in mentioning it to Mrs Dwyer. It occurs to me now that you might be able to induce her to allow them to go regularly. Tis really a great pity, and the school is an excellent one. In fact the children could teach Margaret and Alice English grammar and arithmetic and geography. The school is under the Board, as they say, and I think the system must be very good." "So it is," returned Mr Armstrong. " And I have observed that those good ladies are doing wonders. They have a nice little lending library too."

tioo. I My to Father Feeban that he already practically hai denominational education ; tod I ask him are the priests at earnest as they ought to be in getting the people to keep tbeir children at school." " The bishop Bays that they are not," said Ned Oormack. " His letter on that subject was very good. He attributed the backward state of education in the diocete to three causes —the inefficiency of the teachers, which is the natural result of insufficient pay ; the, indifference of parents in sending their children to school ; and, lastly, the carelessness and want of energy of the clergy. Bet the wonder is that we are not as ignorant as savages." 11 Ob, why do yon say that T " Mrs Oormack asked. 11 Do yon not forgtt the penal laws 1 " returned her husband. •' I nnderstand yon now," she rejoined with a smile. " I thought first yon meant to blame the priests." " I read that letter of the bishop's," Mr Armstrong remaiked ; 41 1 think it must do good. Bat I would not like to be so hard on tbe priests," he continued, laughing, "as a Roman Catholic friend of mine, who said, when he read tbe letter, that if the bishop gave a shilling a bead every Christmas morning to the parish priest for every child who attended school regularly during the year, his lord, •bip would soon see a change for tbe better." " People are too ready to talk in that way," said Mrs Oormack. " The priebts must live." " I agree with you," returned Mrs Armstrong. " Tbe Irish priest well earns what he gets. He is worthy of bis hire, and no one ought to grudge it to him." " Father Feehan says," Alice remarked, looking ronnd — having found the song she wanted — " that Irish children are taught nothing of the history of their own country in the National schools." " And did you ever learn anything of Irish history at your conTent boarding sohool?" Mr Armstrong asked, with a smile that made Alice think she had never seen so benevolent a face in her life. " No," she replied. " I was never told anything about Irish history." " I find it is the same in all the seminaries and colleges I have ever heard of which are conducted by Catholic clergymen," returned Mr Armstrong. "And that's why I think they ought not to throw all the blame on tbe Government. Now Nellie and Nannie cm recite more pot try cf Moore's and other Irish poets than you can. And they have learned it at a National school — for the Nuns' school is under tbe Board of Education." "I'll eing one of the melodies for jou," said Alice. " Yes, do," returned Mr Armstrong eagerly. " But it was not in your convent you learned it." Alice sang "Let Brio Remember the Days of Old" in a way that put Tom Dwyer into that condition which he described as 11 wondering what was coming over you." " Margaret rose from her chair and stood by the piano. She felt sbut out from the happy little group that had silently drawn closer to the singer, and seemed to wieh to call their attention to her presence. And in truth the was overlooked and forgotten. Bne saw that even tbe children turned tbeir eyes upon her with indifference. Margaret felt uneasy and looked at her sister with a little frown, remembering that even Mr O'Keeffe seemed to have forgotten her while Alice was singing. With an almost angry glaoca at Tom Dwyer, wbo leant upon the back of a chair with his hand pressed over bis eyes, Margaret sailed out of the room, Mr Armstrong alone having a faint consciousness that the pale blue robe and the golden iinglets had vanished from the scene. Half an hour later Mr Armstrong was standing upon Corriglea biidge. Of course he could not pass the bridge without stopping particularly as tbe maon waß up, and the " little bird " was singing, tinging, singing somewhere or everywhere among the hazels. Nannie and Nelllie always spoke cf ihat untiring little night minstrel as the 11 little bird." But one would think Mr Armstrong heeded neither the silver moon that looked up at him from the river, nor tbe song of the "Irish nightingale" from among the hazel bushes; for after some minuteß of silence he remarked absently, " She is very like her cunt, Tom." " Thb same thought was in my own mind, bit," Tom Dwyer replied, " tt ough I cau't remember her at all." •• Io it thd little bird, Mr Armstrong ? " Nellie asked in surprise " No, my dear," he replied gravely. " That's the willow wren, a very sweet little songster." " Didn't I Know it was not the kingfisher," said Nannie. " You always wanted to persuade me 'twas the kingfisher." " But you said it was the bullfiach from the orchard," retorted Nellie. " I only Baid maybe it was," returned Nannie. " There are two splendid bullfinches in the orchard this year, Mr Armstrong." V " Sure tbe ben is not splendid 1 " said Nellie. " Bat I saw two with red breasts at the same time, one on the wall near the seat and tbe other on the lowest branch of the white moss tree."

" I'd rather the kingfisher," said Nellie. " We'll be on the lookout for them ia the morning," Mr Armstrong interposed. " We'll try and get a look at both the kingfisher and the bullfinches. I once hai a bullfinch that could whittle part of a tnne qaite correctly. Bat he never got his red breast. Let ns go through the meadow, unless yon fear to get your fe9t wet by the dew on the grass." 11 Ob, no," the two little girls replied, " we can walk on the path." " Does not the old boose look very nice, with the ivy shining in the moonlight I " Mr Armstrong remarked, when they had got ont again upon the road. " I thing it is the nicest old honse in the world," said Nannie, looking fondly np at the old farmhouse. " I wouldn't giro it for the grandest palace erer was." Tom and Mr Armstrong exchanged looks involuntarily. They remembered their conversation of the afternoon, and the thought of these two little creatures driven forever from that dear old home again, pierced like a sharp sword through the heart of Ambrose Arm* strong — and even Alice Oormack's singing was forgotten. Just at that same moment Alice took her band from under her cheek and laughed. " Why do you laugh ? " her sister asked quietly. " I'll tell yon then," retnrned Alice. " Tom Dwyer does not care a pin about you." " What pat it into your head to think that he did T " Margaret asked. " I don't know, bat it was always in my mind," retnrned Alice. '' I was afraid he'd be unhappy. " Why so 7 " her Bister asked. " Oh, yon know why," said Alice. "What do you think of Mr Q'Kaeffe," Margaret asked, rather doubtfully. " I don'c know what to think of him. 1 could'nt depend on him, I'd be cautious if I were you." " He has proposed," said Margaret in a low, but emphatic tone, 11 And what did you say ? " Alice asked, looking rather fright* ened " I said < Yes,' was the reply." And what will papa and mamma say T " Alice continued. "Oh, that's a mere matter of detail," Margaret replied with indifference. ",Of course they knew why he was coming here, and if they had any objection to him they would at least have given some hiot of it " I hope it will be for the best, Margaret," said Alice, after some moments of thoughtful silence. " But lam glad, at all events," she added, brightening up again, '• that I was mistaken about Tom Dwyer. I'd be bo sorry for him— he is such a good-hearted poor fellow." " Ah," said their mother, who had just come into the room, " you don't know Tom Dwyer at all." " Well, I'm afraid he has not a bit of the hero in him," returned Alice, laughiog, "though jumping into Poul-na-oopel in his corduroy jacket and trousers was a very good beginning. But nothing has come of it," she added, with a sly glance at Margaret. •< And what were you saying about him t " Mrs Oormack asked. " Margaret must tell you that," Alice replied. "He forgot to give you this book," said her mother. "He sent it in by Jemmy." " 'Tis one I lent Julia Flynn," said Alice, " I wonder wheie did he get it." (To be continued.') *

"Yes.l" And Margaret raised her eyes to the gold studs in the spotless and creaseless shirt front. "Ton must have observed that my visits have been rather frequent latterly. " "7m." And Margaret, while seeming to be closely examining the tips of .two or her curls, and comparing one with the other, was ladly remarking how white and regular Mr O'Keeffe's teeth were. "Well, I'll be plain. I bad a motive in coming so often. I need say no more. You understand what I mean." " Yes." " And what do yon Bay ?" 11 Oh, I'm not the only person to decide." "Of course, But may I speak to your father ?" Margaret dropped her eyes, feeling faint and trembling, in spite of herself. "What is your answer?' be asked with a quick sharp glance, which seemed to have something of doubt and alarm in it, with possibly a flash of incipient anger. " Yes," said Margaret faintly, as if compelled to repeat the little monosyllable over now, whether Bhe would or no. A flush of satisfaction suffused Mr O'KeeflVu smooth red and white face as he closed the book which he had pretended to be looking over, and laid it on the table. There was triumph, too, in Margaret's blue eyes. But. she could not conceal from herself that the j lea&ure she certainly did feel at tbat moment was not bappines?. Alice saw that something out of the common bad occurred between ber sister and Mr O'Keeffe. But a new thought seemed to have struck ber as she watched Tom Dwyer, while he went on chatting pleasantly with ber mother and Mr Armstrong without Beeming to take any notice whatever of the t4te-A4ete over " Our Mutual Friend." l . "We thought we'd have joi canvassing next week," said Mr O'Keeffe. " Your name was given to the committee." " Oh, I feel no great interest in the matter," Tom replied. " I'm Tery glad we have escaped a contest."

" Did they get the children to sing for you ?" Mrs Oormack asked. "It is wonderful!' Mr Armstrong leplied with enthusiasm. " I was never so astonished. And the very poorest children look sobright and clean now, it is a pleasure to meet them on their way toand from school. I wish something could be done in the way of improving the dwellings of the poor. Witbont that I fear even the best system of education will fail to do all that it could do, if the people had comfortable bouses to live in,*' " Who is to build the houses for them ?" Ned Cormack asked. " You, and others like yon — or perhaps the landlords," said Mr Armstrong. " What a notion the landlords have of doing it," returned Mr Cormack sarcastically, "The law, of course, must compel them," rejoined Mr Armstrong. " I ccc no great difficulty in the way if Government took the matter in hands. Will your Liberal candidate be of any use in such matters ? " 41 My Liberal candidate," replied Ned Cormack. " I don't believe in Liberal candidates or any other sort of candidates. They are all a pack of rascals." " Ob, a great deal of good might be done for the country," said Mr Armstrong. "But the people must be more intelligent than what they are. However, lam not a politician ; so I'll ask Alice to sing another song before I go." " I wes just going to ask you, 1 ' said Mrs Cormack, while Alice was turning over her music, "what you thought of the National school eyßtem in reference to religion." "Well, the question is a difficult one," be replied. "Most people would wish that their children should get religions instruction at school. The system is practically denominational here, as yon are all Catholics. And I believe it is the same among the Protestants and Presbyterians in many districts in the North. I'm inclined to think that when that state of things exists these vexations restrictions upon religious instructions should be removed. The Parliamentary people, however, are making capital out of this ques-