296 MEMOIR OF HENNESSEY. 



ful influence, the old fellow her father was obstinate in refusing 

 to break off the match. 



" Hennessey was no man to see his handsome mistress con- 

 signed without her own consent to the arms of a rival. He 

 made the usual arrangements, and I encouraged him to carry 

 her oif. The evening came he left the Lodge in a boat, with 

 six fine young peasants; and crossing the bay, landed by 

 moonlight at a little distance from the village where his ina- 

 morata dwelt. 



" That very night a multitude of the Malleys had accom- 

 panied the accepted suitor to conclude all necessary prelimina- 

 ries. The cabin of the heiress was crowded, and all within 

 was noisy revelry. Hennessey, with one companion, stole to 

 the back of the house. 



" He knew the chamber of the bride elect, for he had more 

 than once c when all the world were dreaming,' visited his 

 pretty mistress. He looked through the little casement, and, 

 sight of horror ! there she was, seated on the side of the bed, 

 and the Kearne's arm around her waist, with all the familiarity 

 of a privileged lover ! There, too, was the priest of Inniskea, 

 and divers elders of c both the houses' while the remainder 

 of the company, for whose accommodation this grand chamber 

 was insufficient, were indulging in the kitchen or dancing in 

 the barn. 



" Since the days of Lochinvar, there never was a more 

 daring suitor than my foster-brother ; yet he did not consider 

 it a prudent measure to enter the state apartment ' 'mong 

 bridesmen, and kinsmen, and clansmen, and all,' but waited 

 patiently at the window, to see what some lucky chance might 

 do. Nor did he wait in vain. Kathleein turned her pretty 

 eyes on the moonlit casement, and thought, poor girl ! how 

 often' her young lover had stolen there in secret, and told his 

 tale of passion. A tap, too light for any but the ear of love 

 to detect, arrested her attention, and she saw the indistinct 

 form of a human face outside ; and whose could it be but her 

 favoured youth ? Seizing an early opportunity, she stole from 

 the apartment ; she soon was in her lover's arms; a few words, 

 and a few kisses, and all was settled : and while the Kearne, 

 the priest, and the father, were regulating the exact quanti- 

 ties of cattle and plenishing,* that were to dower the hand- 



* Plenishing, means household furniture, beds, blankets, &c. 



