M’Mahon, on his return home, found Bryan, who now spent most of his time at Carriglass, before him.  On entering the house his family, who were all assembled, saw by the expression of his face that his heart had been deeply moved, and was filled with sorrow.

“Bryan,” said he, “you are right—­as indeed you always are.  Childre’,” he proceeded, “we must lave the place that we loved so much; where we have lived for hundreds of years.  This counthry isn’t one now to prosper in, as I said not long since—­this very day.  We must lave the ould places, an’ as I tould Fethertonge, the M’Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass will be the M’Mahons of Ahadarra and Carriglass no more; but God’s will be done!  I must look to the intherest of you all, childre’; but, God help us, that’s what I can’t do here for the future.  Every one of sense and substance is doin’ so, an’ why shouldn’t we take care of ourselves as well as the rest?  What we want here is encouragement and fair play; but fareer gair, it isn’t to be had.”

The gloom which they read in his countenance was now explained, but this was not all; it immediately settled upon the other members of the family who were immediately moved,—­all by sorrow, and some even to tears.  Dora, who, notwithstanding what her brother had said with regard to his intention of emigrating, still maintained a latent hope that he might change his mind, and that a reconciliation besides might yet be brought about between him and Kathleen, now went to her father, and, with tears in her eyes, threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming:  “Oh, father dear, don’t think of leaving this place, for how could we leave it?  What other country could we ever like as well? and my grandfather—­here he’s creepin’ in, sure he’s not the same man within the last few months,—­oh, how could you think of bringin’ him, now that he’s partly in his grave, an’ he,” she added, in a whisper full of compassion, “an’ he partly dotin’ with feebleness and age.”

“Hush!” said her father, “we must say nothing of it to him.  That must be kept a secret from him, an’ it’s likely he won’t notice the change.”

Kitty then went over, and laying her hand on her father’s arm, said:  “Father, for the love of God, don’t take us from Carriglass and Ahadarra:—­whatever the world has for us, whether for good or evil, let us bear it here.”

“Father, you won’t bring us nor you won’t go,” added Dora; “sure we never could be very miserable here, where we have all been so happy.”

“Poor Dora!” said Bryan, “what a mistake that is!  I feel the contrary; for the very happiness that I and all of us enjoyed here, now only adds to what I’m sufferin’.”