“It has come,” she said to herself. “It looks with the eyes—it will speak with the voice—of that man.”      

       My father broke the silence that followed, addressing himself to the bailiff.     

       “You see, Dermody,” he said, “here is my son in your cottage—when he ought to be in my house.” He turned, and looked at me as I stood with my arm round little Mary, patiently waiting for my opportunity to speak.       “George,” he said, with the hard smile which was peculiar to him, when he was angry and was trying to hide it, “you are making a fool of yourself there. Leave that child, and come to me.”      

       Now, or never, was my time to declare myself. Judging by appearances, I was still a boy. Judging by my own sensations, I had developed into a man at a moment’s notice.     

       “Papa,” I said, “I am glad to see you home again. This is Mary Dermody. I am in love with her, and she is in love with me. I wish to marry her as soon as it is convenient to my mother and you.”      

       My father burst out laughing. Before I could speak again, his humor       changed. He had observed that Dermody, too, presumed to be amused. He seemed to become mad with anger, all in a moment.     

       “I have been told of this infernal tomfoolery,” he said, “but I didn’t believe it till now. Who has turned the boy’s weak head? Who has encouraged him to stand there hugging that girl? If it’s you, Dermody, it shall be the worst day’s work you ever did in your life.” He turned to me again, before the bailiff could defend himself. “Do you hear what I say? I tell you to leave Dermody’s girl, and come home with me.”      

       “Yes, papa,” I answered. “But I must go back to Mary, if you please, after I have been with you.”      

       Angry as he was, my father was positively staggered by my audacity.     

       “You young idiot, your insolence exceeds belief!” he burst out. “I tell you this: you will never darken these doors again! You have been taught to disobey me here. You have had things put into your head, here, which no boy of your age ought to know—I’ll say more, which no decent people would have let you know.”      

       “I beg your 

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