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m-STOI^-CiE- 0VE\;liyES-JI^M-7^;^^ "^f^^^' COif^DUCTED-BY WHICH BS I^!COI\PO^XED e^^umiBiut^0m^m SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1872 satisfaction and unwillingness to gratify her. THE WICKED WOODS OF She exacted from him a hundred little marks TOBEREEVIL. of homage, such as May had never looked BY THB AUTHOR OF ** HESTER'S HISTORY.'* for, nor thought of. He became so busy with her, and so tormented by her, that he soon found he had very little time to CHAPTER XXIX. PAUL S TROUBLES BEGIN. attend to his business. He became curiously DAYS passed, and Katherine had domes changed in a short space of time, his temper ticated herself thoroughly at Monasterlea. alternating between bursts of anger at him She had taken possession of all the best self and her, indulged in generally during things in the house with the most charming the hours of his absence from her side, and goodwill. The prettiest and most com unreasoning fits of mirth, which almost in fortable furniture had been carried into her variably took possession of him whilst in room, and she had the warmest seat at the her presence, and left bitterness of heart fire and at the table. The little red couch and exhaustion of body when they passed under the black archway in the parlour, away. Avhich was covered with Miss Martha's Meanwhile May stood aside patiently, knitting, and cushioned with pillows stuffed not wondering that the brilliant beauty with down off Miss Martha's own geese, should be found more amusing and attrac she had at once made quite her own. She tive than herself. She stifled her heartache, had taken possession of Bridget, so that for was she not sure of Paul's love ? And the handmaiden did little besides attend why need she be jealous, and ungenerous, upon Miss Archbold. The visitor had also and unkind ? Tender trust such as Paul her hostess in thorough subjection, and she felt in her was a. thousand times more Avrought her will pretty freely upon May, precious than the admiration of a mo in spite of that young lady's rebellion ment. Therefore she would be tolerant, against the tyranny of her rule. and await, however longingly, the happy But Katherine's attentions were chiefly hour when Katherine should take her Avay devoted to Paul, and to no one else did back to Camlough. But as weeks went she care to be agreeable. All through the by, and Paul's strange unhappiness in dark winter days, in the quiet little cot creased, all thought of her own pain passed tage, she was restless and troublesome, and away, and keen fear for his welfare caused sorely tried the patience of her enter her a misery far more sharp than she had tainers ; but when the evening brought yet suffered. It was but a short time since Paul her mood was sure to change. She he had begged her to save him from any took as much pains to amuse May's lover thing that should look to her like^ the be as though her life had depended on his ginning of that evil which he believed to being merry. And Paul was glad to be lie in wait for him. And it seemed to her amused, though he did not like Katherine. now that it was time to be up and doing He did not like Katherine, and yet it for his sake. Avas certain that she exercised an extra One night the three young people were ordinary influence over his actions. She sitting late over the fire. The keeping of absorbed his attention, in spite of his dis late hours made one of the changes Avhich •^ 434 [April G, 1872.] ALL THB YEAR ROUND, [Conducted by Katherine had introduced into the house. is a view of the matter which I did not She loved to amuse herself a long way into take before. But then—suppose I turn the night, though the servants grumbled, into a miser, and some bolder kinsman and even Miss Martha was dissatisfied. comes forward and murders me ? It mio-ht The mild old lady had been obliged to be wiser to take the thing into my own yield the point. She might go to bed her hands." self when her eyes would not keep open, " Nonsense !" said Katherine. " I forbid but midnight often found the three young you to ruin yourself by anything so silly. heads bent together over the fire. May on Have a little patience, and don't believe in such occasions would be as merry as her bogies. The old man will die, and you guest. She would have laugh for laugh Avill get possession of all the wealth. You and jest for jest with Katherine; and she will leave this mouldy place, and become would not be disheartened even when a great man in England, Avhere taste and she found that Paul would listen to the money are appreciated. You are cultivated stranger, and would give little heed to her. and accomplished. You can have your AVIU " Tell me about TobereeAdl," said Kathe of all the good things of the world. You rine to Paul. " I have heard scraps of the may marry the handsomest woman of your history, but I want to know it all. There time—but, oh, I forgot! I beg 'your par could not be a better time for an uncom don !" and Katharine glanced at May, and fortable story." laughed in make-believe confusion. Paul's face darkened, as he gloomily But May was bravely at her post, and prepared to comply with her request. He out-laughed her. Avent steadily through the whole of the " Go on, please,"she said, blithely. "Go Avild tale, passing from one lean hero to on and finish the story. We must let another amongst his ancestors, till he nothing interfere Avith the hero's grandeur. <1 finished with Simon, the present terror of You must wed him to a princess—unless, p'i the country. indeed, you can find an unmarried queen. pi "Oh, dear!" said Katherine, when he You are bound not to stop until you have m had done. " And you are the next-of-kin. placed him on a throne." ^\ Why the end of it is that you will be the " I am bound to no such thing!" said o richest man in Ireland." Katherine, pettishly. " And he shall not a: " That is it," said Paul; " and there will go on a throne, for kings are wretched r' not be many wealthier elsewhere. I have creatures." tail lately been calculating the old man's wealth. " Well," said May, "that does not prove Think of the accumulation during many that your hero may not be a king. You have hundreds of years!" not done anything for him yet to prevent He said this with his broAV bent and his his being a very Avretched creature. But eyes on the fire, and a look in his face which all I say is this, that I hope he wfll be May had never seen there before. allowed to look after his poor subjects "What is this old man like?" asked in these parts. There is a long account Katherine, who had lost all her levity, and due to them from the forefathers of his become for once grave and earnest. " Is majesty. We will include the settling he very old ? Is he in good health ? Is of this amongst the pleasures you have he likely to die soon ?" mentioned." "That is as may be," said Paul, grimly. Katherine laughed a cynical laugh. " No, " He may live long enough unless some one indeed!" she said, "no such thing! My interfere to help him out of the world be hero shall send Tobereevil to the hammer. fore his time. You know it is on the cards He shall fly from this land of beggars and that I, being his kinsman, may do him that of bogs. He shall revel in his inheritance, good office." not squander it for nothing." " But you could never be so silly !" cried "We talk about 'my hero,' and 'my Katherine, eagerly. " You would be pro hero,' " said May, smilingly, " but the heir bably found out, and if you did escape of Tobereevil must declare for himself. Let punishment, there would still be a great him speak and say if he will turn his back deal of trouble and unpleasantness. Be upon his people." sides, if you are of a superstitious turn of Both bright pairs of eyes were turned on mind, as I strongly suspect you to be, it Paul, May's with more eagerness and might interfere with the enjoyment of your anxiety lurking in them than their owner happiness." cared that they should betray. Paul gi'ew " That is true," said Paul, dryly. "It troubled and embarrassed under their gaze. Charles Dickeus.] THE WICKED WOODS OF TOBEREEVIL. [Apni e, 1872.] 485 " I don't know," he said; " I am not pre while May became like some pale spirit pared to declare. But I am not sure that hovering on the threshold of this dwelling the wisest plan for the future master of which had been her own, and kept aloof Tobereevil Avould not be to get rid of the by the demons that had driven her out. Avhole thing, and leave the curse and the It had taken three strange months to woods to rot or flourish as they please." bring things to this point, and one bleak May grcAV pale, but she answered readily, day in March Katherine took a fancy to before Katherine had time to speak.