is, if no calamitous occurrence should take place to prevent us; and there, after our nuptials shall have been duly celebrated, I will live happy with Reilly—­that is, Connor, as happy as absence from my dear father will permit me—­and Reilly will live happy, and, at least, free from the persecution of bad laws, and such villains as base and vindictive Whitecraft.  You, Connor, must accompany me to the back of the garden, and see me off.  Take this purse, Connor, as some compensation for your truth and the loss of your situation.”

It was now, when the moment of separation approached, that Connor’s tears began to flow, far less at the generosity of her mistress than her affection, and that which she looked upon as probably their final separation.

“Dear Connor,” said her mistress, “I would expect that support to my breaking heart which I have hitherto experienced from you.  Be firm now, for you see I am not firm, and your tears only render me less adequate to encounter the unknown vicissitudes which lie before me.”

“Well, then, I will be firm, my dear mistress; and I tell you that if there is a God in heaven that rewards virtue and goodness like yours, you will be happy yet.  Come, now, he is waiting for you, and the less time we lose the better.  We shall go out by the back way—­it is the safest.”

They accordingly did so, and had nearly reached the back wall of the garden when they met Malcomson and Cummiskey, on their way into the kitchen, in order to have a mug of strong ale together.  The two men, on seeing the females approach, withdrew to the shelter of a clump of trees, but not until they were known by Connor.

“Come, my dear mistress,” she whispered, “there is not one second of time to be lost.  Cummiskey, who is a Catholic, might overlook our being here at this hour; because, although he is rather in the light of a friend than a servant to your father, still he is a friend to Reilly as well; but as for that ugly Scotchman, that is nothing but bone and skin, I would place no dependence whatever upon him.”

We will not describe the meeting between Reilly and the Cooleen Bawn.  They had no time to lose in the tender expressions of their feelings.  Each shook hands with, and bid farewell to, poor affectionate Connor, who was now drowned in tears; and thus they set off, with a view of leaving the kingdom, and getting themselves legally married in Holland, where they intended to reside.

CHAPTER XX.—­The Rapparee Secured

—­Reilly and the Cooleen Bawn Escape, and are Captured.

Cummiskey had a private and comfortable room of his own, to which he and the cannie Scotchman proceeded, after having ordered from the butler a tankard of strong ale.  There was a cheerful fire in the grate, and when the tankard and glasses were placed upon the table the Scotchman observed: 

“De’il be frae my saul, maisther Cummiskey, but ye’re vera comfortable here.”